Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. Because I can't understand Japanese.

I'm not even going to try to claim that this is my first Bleach fic, because it's not. It's my third. And the third with Byakuya and Rukia as major characters. Go figure.

Still, this is a new experience. This story is like nothing I've ever written before. So please treat it kindly.

Byakuya looked at the address on the paper again. This couldn't possibly be the right location...no member of the Kuchiki family would ever live in a place like this.

And yet, something told him that she was indeed within.

He hid his disgust as he knocked on the door. This was so...so...so degrading.

The door opened, and Byakuya was looking down into the face of his adopted sister.

She stared at him in shock. Somehow, she managed to utter, "Nii...nii-sama...?!"

"How have you been, Rukia?"

She opened the door wider, still staring at him, as though she was afraid he would vanish if she dared to blink.

"It's quite rude to stare. I thought you knew better than that."

"I...I'm sorry, nii-sama, it's just...I...I wasn't sure if you'd actually come..."

"Why would you doubt my word?"

"I don't know, I--"

"Do you expect me to just stand out here?"

"Oh, sorry! Please, um, come...in..." she said, even though he'd already come inside.

Rukia closed the door. "Oh, um, Renji's not home right now, but I'm sure he'll be happy to see you."

"No. He won't."

"Well, okay, maybe not...but, you know, nii-sama...I'm happy to see you."

He looked at her.

"It's just", said Rukia, "I thought you hated me. For marrying Renji, I mean."

He put a hand on her shoulder. "I could never hate you. I was merely...disappointed."

"Oh, but, you don't need to worry, nii-sama", said Rukia, "I know this is a lot smaller than you're used to, but we've got room for you."

She took his hand and led him to a tiny bedroom.

"It's...quaint", said Byakuya tactfully.

"Here, I'll go get your things!" Rukia ran out, then returned, struggling to carry all of his luggage.

"As I said in my letter, I'll stay for a month", said Byakuya, "Rukia. You know full well that you wedded Renji in complete defiance of my wishes. But thinking back, I fear I may have allowed my disappointment in you and the shame your defiance brought upon our family to cloud my mind, and I told you things which must have hurt you terribly. I also considered that I, too, acted unbefitting of my rank and defied the wishes of the Kuchikis in marrying Hisana. So I decided to see for myself. I want to see if what you two have is love, or nothing more than desire."

Rukia was surprised. It was rare to hear anything close to an apology from him. "I'm just glad we're on speaking terms again, nii-sama. And that you would go to all the trouble to see me yourself...you don't know how sad it's made me, nii-sama, thinking you hated me..."

"I already told you that I don't hate you. I do not like to repeat myself."

"Well, you don't have to worry, nii-sama." Rukia smiled. "You'll see that what me and Renji have is real. Just like with you."

She left. Byakuya said quietly, "We'll see."

Anyway, that's that. Please review!