This is an modern-day AU ByaRuki story. In this one, they are not related at all. I hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

Chapter 1

Tonight was like every other night as Rukia hugged her mother and father good. Afterwards, she quickly made her way to her bedroom.

After she changed, Rukia grabbed her new book An Ember in the Ashes right before she sprawled out in her window nook to read. Shivering, she pulled her white, fluffy robe closer. Winter was her favorite season, but the house had been colder of late, especially her room.

Thirty minutes later, she heard a knock on her door. "Come in!" She called out. Only one person would be brave enough to disturb her this late at night.

The door opened and in walked her magnificent teacher and bodyguard. His long black hair was pulled into a half pony tail except for two long strands on either side of perfect face. His blue-grey eyes sparked with mischief as looked as his "young" pupil. He held two mugs of hot chocolate in his hands. "I brought your favorite." He said with his killer smile. Many women had fallen victim to this modern-day samurai, even Rukia wasn't immune to his charms.

She greeted the handsome man with a smile. "You shouldn't have, Zakura." He handed her a mug. Then Rukia noticed Chappy marshmallows floating in the top of hers. "You remembered!" She exclaimed happily.

"For you, I would get the moon." He told her. Rukia's violet eyes met his. She knew on one hand that he was just flirting. On the other hand, the man was deadly serious when it involved her.

"You're ever the flirt." She told him as she took a sip of cocoa. It warmed her to the core. Inwardly, she was relieved that he brought her the chocolate to help ease her mind from growing problems.

"You're ever the bad girl." He replied with a smirk. Senbonzakura sat down in the window nook beside her.

"Me?" Rukia asked appalled. "I'm never a bad girl!" Rukia told him in mock horror.

Slyly he asked, "Then, why did you leave earlier tonight?" He asked. Now, Rukia knew the real reason for his surprise visit. The bastard was always sneaky!

A large ball formed in Rukia's throat as she searched for words to answer his question. She didn't expect to be confronted by Senbonzakura because she thought that she hid her tracks. Oh well, now was the time to admit her guilt before their training secession tomorrow, or her "punishment" would be ten times worse if she lied to him.

"Ichigo called. He was having…" Rukia paused to figure out how to word her sentence carefully. "women problems."

Senbonzakura understood her problem. Ichigo and Senbonzakura did despised one another, but that still no excuse to leave the house without a body guard. The woman could at least have taken Shirayuki with her since she home. "Why didn't you take me with you or anyone else when you left?"

"Zakura, I am 22 years old! It's ridiculous that you have to follow me 24/7." Rukia looked out at the stars trying to avoid the pain in his eyes. They were closer than what a bodyguard/mentor and pupil should be.

"Rukia…" His husky voice called her.

"Ichigo made me promise not to bring you, okay? You know how he feels about you, and Zangetsu was there in case anything happened. I was safe." She still refused to meet his eyes. Rukia knew disappointment was in his glaze. She could take that look from anyone but him.

"You could have been kidnapped again." Senbonzakura told her in a deep, stern tone. He wasn't worried about her just because he her body guard or mentor. He was her friend. One who worried excessively about her when she wasn't in his line of sight.

Rukia wrapped her small hand around Senbonzakura's large one. "You've trained me for the past 6 years. You taught be how to get out of every situation imaginable. I'm safer because of you." She said with a smile.

Out of nowhere, a loud explosion rattled the house. Senbonzakura pulled Rukia out of the window nook and covered her body with his as the glass shattered. "Are you okay?" He asked her.

"Other than you crushing me, I'm fine." Rukia replied.

"Why do you have to be such a smart ass?" He shook his head at her in astonishment as he helped her up.

"I learned from the best." She replied.

Loud shouts and gun fire poured throughout the house. "We should go." They said at the same time. Rukia nodded for Senbonzakura to take the lead. He cautiously walked to her bedroom door to see the smoke filling the hallway.

"We need to take the secret tunnel." He said as he wrapped his hand around Rukia's. He led her over to the bookcase wall in her room. Rukia watched Senbonzakura has he touch 5 random cherry blossoms that were carved along the bookcase.

"When did you have this put in?" Controlled violence filled her voice. Senbonzakura knew there would be hell to pay later for omitting this little fact from her, but it would be a cold day in hell before he'd let something happened to her. He'd do anything to keep her safe.

"You can try to kill me later, but we need to leave. If they have your parents, then you are next my dear." His voice was strong. He knew the realization of what really was happening hadn't fully set in Rukia's mind just yet.

Gun fire hailed the bedroom wall near the hall way as the secret passage opened. The worried bodyguard shoved Rukia into the tunnel. "Run, Rukia! Don't look back. I promise to meet you at the end!"

Loud gun fire continued to pour into the room as Rukia ran forward, but she stopped when she heard Senbonzakura yell in pain. Turning back, she couldn't leave him. He meant so much to her. So she did what any sensible young woman would do, she picked up her wounded bodyguard and helped him limp to the exit.

"The lever…" He stuttered breathlessly. Rukia couldn't hear him.

"What?" Rukia asked as she yelled over the gun fire as they made their way deeper into the tunnels.

"Hit the lever…" He replied. Senbonzakura tried to focus on walking as Rukia nudged the hidden lever the tunnel's wall. Suddenly, the book case slammed closed.

The couple walked slowly through the tunnel. The enemies would be able to get inside without explosive thanks to Lord Murakami's special steel design.

Twenty minutes later, Rukia sat Senbonzakura down. She pulled up his shirt to examine his wounded body, and she applied whatever first aid that she could. Resources were extremely limited right now, but prayer was in full supply.

"Quit worrying, and have a seat." Senbonzakura commanded. Rukia did ask she was told, but she kept looking at him worriedly. "I'll live, love." She nodded at him.

Senbonzakura was hit in 4 different places. He'd survive the gun shots to his leg and arms, but he wasn't sure about the one in his side. With this realization, he knew what they had to do. Only one person would help them now if Murakami Clan was under attack. They just had to make it out alive to see his brother.

Thank you for reading my lovely readers! Please let me know what you think! Right now the story is rated T. It may change to M later, but I am not sure yet. This just got stuck in my head the other night, and I had to write it.

If y'all are wondering, Senbonzakura's age, he's 27 to Rukia's 22.