A/N: A little experiment of mine to focus a bit more on relationships and love between the different characters. There are going to be different romances in this story, but not all are going to last. Unrequited love, cheating and other dark themes. Not all is going to be like it seems to be on the first glance.

I can't promise, that this story is going to be completed, because it is just like I said before just an experiment, though I already have worked out a whole story line. There is going to be shonen ai, you've been warned.

Please excuse my bad english, it ain't my mother tongue. Feel free to tell me about any mistakes I've made, if someone wants, he/she can beta-read too, I would be very glad about that.

Now, have fun with reading!

Prologue

31st January, Kuchiki Manor

„Excuse me, Ukitake-taichou?" Ukitake turned away from the waiter of whom he had just taken a glass of champagne. "Yes, what can I do for you, Kuchiki-san?"

"I just wondered, if you could tell me, where Renji-fukutaichou has gone?"

"Hm, I think he wandered off with Kuchiki-taichou somewhere into the garden at the west."

"Thank you very much, Ukitake-taichou." Politely she bowed shortly before the captain and then turned on her heels to the location Ukitake had given her.

Carefully giving attention to not fall over her in her opinion way to long dress, she found her way through the groups of guests which were standing in the Kuchiki Manor. Nearly all of them were related to the greater noble houses of Soul Society, however, she also spotted a few high ranked captains like Soi Fon or Unohana Retsu.

It was her Nii-samas 125th birthday, which was celebrated with a great party. Though she had already been in the Kuchiki family when he became 100 and the clan invited nearly the whole Seireitei – except the 11th division, because of, well, obvious reasons, she still was amazed by the effort, the members put into these events.

Everywhere stand luxurious furniture, tables bowed under the weight of the extravagant food which lied on dishes made of porcelain and gold.

Anywhere stand formal dressed waiters, always ready to serve drinks or to refill the dishes.

Hell butterflies, especially made for this purpose, flattered shortly under the ceiling, shining in a dim golden light. Beautiful flowers stand in slender vases everywhere and filled the rooms with their scent.

But the guests had not be afraid of presenting themselves in the most wasteful ways.

Expensive dresses and colourful dresses were cast all over the hall. Only the shinigamis present had appeared in their traditional clothing.

Rukia herself was dressed into a midnight blue, full length dress which matched perfectly with her dark hair and the violet eyes. A silver necklace with a pendant in form of a dewdrop was the only jewellery she wore.

The low heels at her also blue shoes clicked with every step she took on the marble floor.

She had firmly refused to wear shoes with only centimetre higher heels, since she thought that there was not any more futile invention than shoe heels.

Finally, she had been able to make her way through the crowd and stepped into the garden. The fresh night air was not as cold as it should be at this time of the year, but with a little kido none of the guests, which appeared occasionally to have not dressed for a cold winter day as it was now, had not to worry about fetching a cold.

Above her were arches covered with vine plants. Before the black sky little fireflies lit the darkness together with the lanterns that stood aside the path.

Away from the main path and outside the lustre cone of the lights she made out two schemes, which could be Byakuya and Renji. As she walked nearer them, she recognized Renjis bright red hair.

Suddenly she watched how Renji shortened the distance between his and Byakuyas face. Shocked, she stopped in her tracks. That could not be. Renji was kissing Byakuya? Her eyes had to fool her. Just in that moment, fate decided to let one firefly fly past the two shinigami. The weak light felt only shortly on the both, but it was sufficient to confirm the truth she did not want to see.

She had seen enough. Turning on her heels, she ran away from them while her whole world crashed down.

Three months later, Karakura Town, Karakura High School

"Um, Ichigo, do you have a minute?" Surprised by the shy tone of her voice, Ichigo looked up from his lunch packet. "Of course, Rukia, what is it?" Instead of answering she grabbed his arm and dragged him out of the class room, away from the others.

Slightly wondering, he let himself be brought into an empty corner of the school building. Making sure, there were not any persons which could hear them, Rukia cleared her throat before speaking: "So, um, ya know, I've seen you looking at me all the days over the last week and I… I wondered…" "How I feel about you?" Ichigo helped her. She nodded in silence, not trusting her voice. Ichigo smiled slightly embarrassed. "Well, seems like you caught me…" Nervous, he scratched the back of his head. "So, hm, you see…" Damn it, he thought. I can't form any reasonable sentence. What shall I say, what shall I…

His thoughts stopped all at once, as he felt Rukias soft lips on his. Completely shocked he freezed in his movements, before coming back to his senses and started kissing her back.

As they finally parted, both of them were flushed and panted slightly.

Rukia was the first of them to break the silence. "I feel very strong about you", she whispered. "I don't know, if that what I'm feeling is exactly what you feel for me, but I really want to find out, so… would you like to go out with me this evening?"

Ichigo took her hands into his and smiled. "There isn't anything I would like to do more."