Disclaimer: Of course I don't own bleach and everybody knows it. It belongs to Kubo-sensei. Yes, Isshily is a product of my twisted imagination. I wish I could say Byakuya belongs to me but sadly, he doesn't, never did, never will. At least not the way my heart belongs to him! (*sniffs* "Oh, Byakushi!") .

Author's note: Just a little something that popped up into my head while I was obsessing over Byakuya :3

Read and review, please!

Chapter 1: The beginning

The little secluded bar in the lower district of Rukongai was abuzz with rogues and beastly men hounding and raising a ruckus. Same old chaos. She sat in her quiet corner, observing, pondering over her drink. From the corner of her eye, she kept glancing at the far table. Six shinigamis with noticeably high reiatsu were having some kind of celebration, raising toasts and shouting. She was a little surprised seeing them in such a down-market place. She recognized a red haired guy from among them as the current vice captain of sixth squad, a blond woman—who was particularly popular throughout the academy apparently because she was hot (she had to admit she really was!)—the vice captain of the tenth squad and she recognized the all too familiar face of Shuuhei Hisagi who was one of the hottest topics among the academy girls almost all the time. There was another bald head loud mouth with them whom she recognized by face, another quiet blond man with half his face covered by flicks and a weird guy with colored feathers sticking around and above his eyelashes who was filing his nails. Their reiatsus were pretty much captain-class, at least lieutenant-class. She wondered for a brief moment why they'd choose that lowlife bar to hang around and then shrugged, putting it back.

"Eh, look here," she heard a booming voice right next to her as she turned around to find a drunken rogue staring at her menacingly. "What's a little academy kiddy doing here?"

She just sat unperturbed, not giving so much as a cold glance in his direction as she continued to sip on her drink.

"Oi," the thug pursued, banging his fist on the counter in front of her so she'd look up. "I'm talkin' to you, brat."

She looked at him, her impassive face unruffled. "Talk happens between two people," she replied coolly. "And I am not the other one."

"Kono…" he glared at her.

She tsked lightly under her breath, swirling her drink of sake idly. "You're an eyesore. I don't like it when people ruin the flavor of my drink," she glared at him coldly with narrow eyes which sent him staggering back a little, blinking in surprise. He looked around at the few other beastly men now staring intently at them and straightened up, apparently trying to prove his might.

"Kid, you know who you're talking to here?" he said menacingly.

"Unfortunately for you," she turned back to the counter, still swaying her drink. "Neither are you that important, nor do I have any interest. So just get out of my face," she put the drink down with just a slight bang.

He gulped once before glaring and taking a step forward. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. He was twice as tall and probably four times bulkier than her. She looked around nonchalantly at the brazen mugs that were now staring intently at them, calculating the exact number of how many would jump in if a fight broke out. She could take them all down she knew it, but it might cause just a little bit of trouble.

"Oh, so this cocky little brat is looking for suicide, then," he closed in as she remained unperturbed. "I'll show you what happens when you pick a fight with the boss."

She heard the few men shout "Ike, okashira," from behind. She clicked her tongue. They were definitely not the ones jumping in the fight. Then she slightly pushed back the high stool and gave him her 'nonchalantly' murderous glare. "Try me, o-ka-shi-ra,"

With that, the huge man pounced right at her. She hopped back swiftly and effortlessly, kicking his head right into the counter. It looked too light coming from an even lighter puny girl but the man crashed facedown into the counter with a loud impact, his body going limp at once. She heard a few hesitant swallows before the expected men roared out, coming at her from all sides. She hopped lightly, slamming one down, punching another's nose, turning another one in a headlock while kicking one across the face. She hated getting into those filthy fights, but sometimes it just got onto her nerves how the beasts would pick on seemingly defenseless people for no reason. They were all just cowards. And she hated them with her whole being. She hated the fact that people perceived her as a defenseless little girly who'd beg them to let her go. Life in Rukongai really was ugly, gross, disgusting and pathetic. But still she came back again and again to find a little peace in that loud, crass environment.

"Did your mama not teach you to not pick on innocent girls for no reason, eh?" she heard the bald shinigami who was now choking a man out in his grasp. She scowled at him as she slammed another guy hard into the door. Shortly, the red head jumped into the fight too. Within a minute, half of the bar population was down and half had slipped away, scared. She stood huffing as she brushed her clothes lightly. Not even a single scratch! Great! She could've thanked the two guys who were now grinning wide as they popped their joints. But she saw the thrill on their faces that little brawl had given and decided to scowl and slide back in her place. The hot blond woman walked up to her and propped her elbows over the counter. She glanced at her and got back to sipping her drink.

"Nice fighting skill you got, eh!" she smiled at her.

"Nobody asked them for help," she scowled into the drink, not looking up. "I could've taken them down by myself."

"Yeah, but then it would have been a waste coming here," she smirked. "Ikkaku dragged us all the way to pick some fight. He said he was feeling rusted lately."

She looked up at the woman. "Violent man, that," she muttered, not really wanting to continue the conversation.

"Say," she shocked her as she almost got into her face. "Join us for a drink? We're celebrating Shuuhei's promotion to captaincy."

"I… uh…" she stammered, not expecting the sudden invitation. "I don't… drink much."

"Heh?" she tilted her head. "Then what exactly are you doing here?"

She blinked at her, trying to come up with something. "Just occasionally, I mean."

"Oh so what occasion is it?" she pursued.

"I graduated from the academy today."

"What? But it's not graduation day today," she slapped her on the back lightly. "Are you graduating early?"

She nodded. And the blond woman suddenly pulled her and started dragging her towards the table they were all at.

"Another round of drinks," she yelled gleefully. "We have a new extraordinary shinigami here."

They looked up and she felt awkward. She wasn't much good around people, especially not good around higher shinigamis.

"I'm Rangiku. And that's Shuuhei. And Renji, Ikkaku, Yumichika and Kira," she pointed to each one of them as she nodded. "And this is… eto… I didn't even ask your name…"

"Isshily," she gave a slight bow.

"Let's get started, hey, Yumichika that's mine," she went around to plop between her friends.

Isshily stood awkwardly for a while then sat down in the seat the red haired guy offered her.

"A new graduate, eh?" the man with feathered eyelashes said. "So what squad are you joining?"

She shook her head. "I don't know yet."

"You should be in the eleventh, eleventh," the bald head chimed in, grinning wide. "It'll be fun sparring with you."

"I don't… like violence," she said hesitantly, looking down. She knew for a fact that the bald man loved violence. His whole being asserted his craving for violence.

"Heh? That's too bad," he muttered. "Okay, women, back off. We're starting it now."

She stared at his excited grin. Rangiku slapped his head. "I'm in on it."

"You can't," he rubbed his head. "You know you'll lose, woman."

"Stop with that 'woman' thing," she turned to Isshily. "This guy here thinks men can always beat women in every game. Let's show him!"

"Game?" she stared, not quite understanding. "What game?"

"The drinking game!" she chimed. "Whoever drinks the most without throwing up wins in the end."

"I'm telling you again, ladies," he said. "Back off."

Rangiku slapped his head again. "Like hell. Ladies are ten times better than crackhead men like you, na Isshily?" she winked at her.

She absolutely hated it when men looked down upon women. It didn't matter to her if it were just a stupid game. She wasn't going to lose this one. "Okay. I'm in."

She kept turning in one drink after another smoothly, effortlessly even though her throat was now scorching. Her eyes were intent on the bald head who was trying hard to gulp it down faster and faster. But no matter how fast he tried, she would end up finishing it at the same time he did, even though her smooth sips never got any faster. She hadn't initially had much so she was at an advantage though she could tell she was already pushing way beyond her limits. But she promised she wasn't going to lose. The others gave up one by one till only she, the bald head and the 69-tattooed hot guy were left. She kept forcing it down her throat till Ikkaku finally ran out, covering his face.

Yumichika got up with a sigh. "He's gonna pass out there in the street. It's not a beautiful sight. I should get going."

"I win," she said, putting down the last drink, her expression still sober.

She heard Hisagi bang down his drink. "Nope. I win."

She stared at him. Then she reached out for another drink, emptied it in one go and banged it down harder. "Nope. I win."

He smiled at her. "I guess you do."

He patted her head as he got up to leave, swinging his arm around Kira's shoulder, who had already passed out. "Good luck for the job. I wish I get to see you on my squad."

She nodded, getting up. It was late and she was feeling too sick. She left the red head guy and the blond woman passed out there and dashed out as fast as she could.

"Argh," she groaned, ducking her head over the bushes again. Her throat felt dry and scorched. Her eyes rolled back in her head as she choked out more. She was dizzied and her stomach felt shriveled. It felt like she was just going to keep throwing up all night.

"Stupid, stupid drinking game," she groaned, holding her head in her hands. She was too knocked out of it to notice a reiatsu approach. She sensed it only when it was right behind her and she turned around, hissing. It was an impulsive reaction. Old habits died hard. A tall man stood staring at her with an expressionless face, his eyes boring into hers. He had a handsome, flawless face that had a distinct air of serenity about it. His silky black hair just whirled slightly, gracefully in the wind. She noted the black kimono and the white haori that he wore. She knew him. Byakuya Kuchiki, captain of the sixth division, head of the noble Kuchiki clan. She hadn't forgotten that face, that condescending reiatsu since the first time she'd seen him while he was on a regular round in the academy. Her eyes were locked onto his. Of all the things, she had never been able to get that pair of slate grey eyes out of her head. She hadn't ever seen a color like that. It was… just grey. And yet it was a lot more than 'just grey'. She felt nauseous as her stomach finally forced her to break away from that mesmerizing view. She turned around, crouching again, puking. He did not move from the spot till she was done and offered her some water. She took it thankfully, gulping it down, trying to cool her burning throat.

"A-arigatou, Kuchiki taichou," she stammered.

He stared at her for a long second. He had seen her in the academy, practicing kidou while he was on a round as her reiatsu had begged his attention. It was on a whole other level than the ones around her. It was frightening in an odd way. He remembered that pair of solid brown eyes stare at him, the face not giving away any kind of emotion. That was the only time he had seen something that perfect brown. He remembered the reiatsu also gave him a brownish kind of feeling. It was odd in a way he couldn't explain.

"Indulging in those meaningless games, knowing they are stupid is a foolish thing," he said tonelessly.

She did not know he had heard her groaning.

"Yes, it is," her tone was as impassive as his own. "But being foolish is better than losing."

He remained unperturbed by her little reply. But her tone stirred him from inside. It was empty, toneless, and yet, somehow it had the power to hold, affect , change.

"Yes, it is," he replied coldly. "But losing is still better than putting yourself to shame like this."

No expression passed over her impassive face. She would have blushed with embarrassment. The man's cold voice could put anyone to shame just like that, but it did not sound odd to her. Because she was used to it. It was like an echo of her own cold voice.

"But losing is not an option," she replied.

He looked at her from the corner of his eye. It was odd. Her voice, her face… it was too familiar to him even when he had only seen her for the second time and had never once heard her voice before.

She too was stealing glances at him from the corner of her eye. There was something oddly familiar about him, about the way he spoke, about the condescending aura that surrounded him.

Their eyes locked onto each other's unconsciously. The impassive mask he wore and the zero expression on her face. The cold grey eyes staring into the burning brown eyes.

For the first time in decades, he was horrified.

For the first time in decades, she was frightened.

As they stared at each other, the same realization hit both of them.

IT'S LIKE I'M STARING INTO A MIRROR!

If you don't trust the future

Continue with that force

What is left to learn now

So do it

And when I look there's someone

That's runnin' by my side

Spirit inspiration

NO I CAN'T LOSE

[spirit inspiration-nothing's carved in stone.]

Author's note: I know I'm terrible at action sequencing but thanks for reading. Yes, I put it in the romance genre but that's a little way down the road. I'll try to update soon. Hope you liked it! Sorry if I disappointed you.

Please leave a review :3