Disclaimer: All characters and settings belong to Kubo Tite.

Kuchiki Byakuya looked up from his paperwork and frowned in annoyance as the excited chatter outside his division grew louder. He set down his brush and pushed back his chair as he heard another howl of laughter. He made his way outside and glared at the group of noisy shinigamis that were disturbing his peace.

"Ah, Taichou! Look at this!" shouted Abarai Renji as he handed a piece of paper gleefully to Byakuya.

Byakuya read the paper carefully which apparently was a notification from the captain-commander, Yamamoto Genryusai. He gave the letter another read and stared at his lieutenant. "Is the captain-commander serious about this?"

"I certainly hope he is!" replied Renji cheerfully. "We could use that one week break and enjoy ourselves!"

Kira Izuru nudged Renji in the ribs. "Why does Kuchiki Taichou seem displeased? This is the first time our captain-commander is being so generous! One whole week of relaxation in the real world and our rooms are paid for!"

"You know my Taichou. He'll probably think that it's a waste of time and all of us could get a lot of serious stuff done in the meantime." replied Renji.

Byakuya shook his head in disbelief as he walked away from the noisy chatter when he bumped into Ukitake Jushiro.

"Good day, Kuchiki Taichou. You must have heard about the notification." Ukitake greeted pleasantly.

"Yes, I have."

Ukitake chuckled, "Well, you don't seem pleased about it."

"I personally think that the time could be used for better purposes." said Byakuya. "I am going to notify the captain-commander of my absence from this programme."

"Ah, don't bother doing that, Kuchiki Taichou." smiled Ukitake. "Hitsugaya Taichou has already tried but the captain-commander was very insistent that all captains and lieutenant attend this."

"And why is that so?"

"Well, he says that it will be a great opportunity to strengthen the bonds between captains, lieutenants and divisions. I agree with him, actually. It isn't every day we get to have a long break together like this." replied Ukitake happily.

"Does that mean there is no way to get out of this?" asked Byakuya.

"Not at all, Kuchiki Taichou. So my advice for you is just to go and have fun." replied Ukitake with a smile. "You deserve a break from work too."

Byakuya gave a stiff nod. "If it means that much to the captain-commander, then rest assured, I will be present."

"Ah, I'm sure it will be fun. I had better get going. Unohana Taichou will be ready with my supply of medicine anytime soon." said Ukitake as he waved goodbye to Byakuya.

"Are you just bringing these, Kuchiki-san?" Inoue Orihime asked as she rummaged through the contents of Rukia's bag.

Kuchiki Rukia frowned. "Did I forget to pack my toothbrush? I remember putting it inside."

Orihime giggled. "Yes, you've packed your toothbrush but you forgot to pack your swimsuit!"

Rukia smiled. "I don't need a swimsuit. I'm not going there to swim."

"But our hotel will just be by the beach!" exclaimed Orihime. "With the sun and the sand, won't you feel like swimming? Almost everyone will be down by the beach."

"Well, I threw away my swimsuit just two weeks ago so I don't have one now." replied Rukia.

Orihime smiled happily, "Oh, don't worry! I'll help you pick out one at the beach supplies shop tomorrow!"

Rukia grinned. "Thanks, Inoue! It would be kind of embarrassing to pick out a swimsuit all by myself."

"No problem!" replied Orihime. "I have to get going now. It's already 7p.m. So I'll see you and the rest there tomorrow?"

Rukia smiled and waved goodbye but as soon as her friend left, Rukia let out a sigh. The whole manor seemed to have quietened down after Inoue left. Rukia hated it. She hated the silence that seemed to engulf the manor every time she is alone with the servants. It had gotten worse recently. Byakuya was hardly home. He would always leave the manor in a hurry after his breakfast and would only arrive back late at night. Whenever Rukia tried to strike up a conversation with him, he would always brush her off and walked away quickly saying that he is busy and told her not to bother him.

"And I still thought that things were progressing well between us." scoffed Rukia. Things had indeed turned better ever since the whole incident of Byakuya revealing that Rukia's sister was Hisana and the few times where Byakuya had saved Rukia. But recently it seemed as though Byakuya had been avoiding her on purpose. Rukia thought she might be paranoid but there were a few times when she could sensed Byakuya's reiatsu but when she was about to approach him, his reiatsu would suddenly disappear again.

Rukia glanced up suddenly as she heard the servants addressing her brother. She opened her door immediately and stepped out.

"Nii-sama." she greeted as soon as her brother passed by.

Byakuya continued walking but gave a stiff nod as an acknowledgement.

"Nii-sama!" blurted out Rukia. "Are you coming with us tomorrow?"

Byakuya stopped in his tracks and nodded. "I will be present."

"O-Oh.."

"If there is nothing else, turn in early, Rukia. I will see you tomorrow." replied Byakuya as he walked back to his room.

Rukia stared at his retreating figure as he walked down the hallway until he disappeared around the corner. She then turned back into her room and continued to pack.

Byakuya laid on his bed as his thoughts starts to wander towards a certain petite black haired shinigami. This has been his routine for almost a month. Every night before he drifts off to sleep, his thoughts would wander to her. Byakuya could not understand. Why is she in his mind constantly? The first few times where she started to appear in his mind while he was doing his paperwork, he had brushed it off blaming it on fatigue. But it seemed to have gotten worse every single day. She occupied his thoughts every morning when he got out of bed, or when he's doing his paperwork in his office and every night before he goes to sleep.

Byakuya sighed as he gazed at the full moon outside his bedroom window. His thoughts drifted towards that few times where he had arrived only just in time to save her from death. He had remembered how fast his heart was pounding against his chest every time he rushed to the scene to save her and the time where he felt his heart had almost stopped functioning when he saw how the Espada, Zommari had taken control over Rukia and had Rukia pointing at her own neck with her katana while she had been unconscious. It had been almost half a year but every time Byakuya pictured that incident with Rukia almost slitting her own throat, he felt something tugging at his heart; what was it, he could not decipher.

Byakuya jolted out of his thoughts as he sensed Rukia's reiatsu approaching. He sat up on his bed and stared at his door. He could see Rukia's shadow through the translucent paper of the sliding door. She seemed to have paused there without moving for almost a minute.

"Nii-sama." She called out finally. "Are you asleep yet?"

Byakuya stood up and slid the door open as Rukia stumbled back.

"I-I'm terribly sorry to disturb you at this hour, Nii-sama, b-but I have to ask you something." stammered Rukia as she stared at her feet.

"And what is it?" asked Byakuya as he too, took a step back from her.

Rukia finally looked up. "Nii-sama, are you mad at me?"

Byakuya frowned. Well, He had not expected this. He presumed that she was going to ask him about the one week trip or perhaps she needed a favour.

"What made you say so?" asked Byakuya, his curiosity rising.

Rukia bit her lip as her eyes left Byakuya and darted around. "W-Well, I feel as though you've been avoiding me lately."

Byakuya cleared his throat uncomfortably as his own eyes settled on the garden behind Rukia. "You must be thinking too much, Rukia."

"B-But Nii-sama, are you sure you're not mad at me? Did I do something wrong again?" asked Rukia worriedly.

"No, Rukia. Everything is fine." lied Byakuya.

Rukia seemed to ponder for a moment before she smiled and replied. "Well, if Nii-sama is certain then I shall take my leave."

"Rest well, Rukia." replied Byakuya as he prepared to slide his door shut.

"Wait, Nii-sama!" exclaimed Rukia suddenly.

Byakuya paused immediately.

"Nii-sama, if there is anything that is bothering you, you can talk to me if you want." said Rukia softly.

Byakuya raised his eyebrows as he stared at Rukia.

"T-That's because I feel as though there is something bothering you, Nii-sama." explained Rukia hurriedly as her face turned a brilliant shade of magenta.

Byakuya nodded. "If there is nothing else Rukia, then I suggest we both get our sleep now."

Rukia bowed and she quickly scurried back to her room.

Byakuya sighed to himself as he closed the door behind him. He cannot avoid Rukia forever. And he noticed the smile on Rukia's face when he told her that there wasn't anything wrong. He had not seen Rukia smile once for the past month. Had she been worrying about this? He had to stop avoiding Rukia as it would not solve anything, in fact, he had thought about her more ever since he started avoiding her. He found himself frequently wondering what she is currently doing, what she is having for her lunch and how her practice was coming along. Byakuya know that it is time to stop. He knows that it is unfair to her if he continued acting this way. The only way to solve things is to compress his emotions to himself. Byakuya sighed again as he went back to bed just when the clock chimed twice.

A/N: Reviews will be much appreciated and will really get me motivated to continue this story! :D