Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Bleach characters, no matter how much I'd like that.

Chapter 1

Renji didn't enjoy patrolling Rukongai at all.

It wasn't for the fact that he felt uncomfortable there, he had grown up in one of the shadiest districts after all, it just wasn't nearly as much fun as smashing hollows.

He was passing through the 61st district, when he heard raised voices nearby. Ignoring them was his first instinct, but then he noticed a flicker of reiatsu. He sighed and hurried over.

"Don't dare you come nearer!"

"What is it, woman, afraid of us?"

"Afraid your stench won't come off, rather."

"Now now, we're not so bad if you get to know us better."

"One step more and you'll be lying on your faces!"

Renji rounded another corner and stopped for a moment to take in the scene before his eyes.

Backed off against a dead end between two houses stood a young woman who in her cream-white and flower-adorned silk kimono, looked strangely out of place. A group of four men in sloppish clothes were closing in on her.

Just when Renji unsheathed Zabimaru, ready to rush in, the woman raised one slender arm.

"Hado #33: Sokatsui!" she screamed and blueish rays of spiritual energy burst from her palm, effectively knocking all four down.

Renji stared. Head raised high, she stepped over the bodies of her foes, her wooden geta leaving dirty imprints on their clothes. Just when she turned to walk off, one of the men silently rose behind her, suddenly holding a knife.

Without further thought, Renji knocked him out unceremoniously with the back of his sword.

The woman whirled around in surprise. Her eyes shot to the sagging man, then up to Renji, finally noticing his presence.

"Thank you", she said and with a sharp look at the badge on his forearm added, "6th squad fukutaichou... Abarai Renji, isn't it?"

Before the Redhead could even nod, she continued: "Kuchiki Shihana, pleased to meet you."

Renji stared at her with a look of astonishment. "Kuchiki-taichou's... ", he began.

"Younger cousin, yes", answered Shihana, tossing her hair.

It was then that Renji noticed the pin holding half of her chin-length hair back. It bore the crest of the Kuchiki family and seemed to be made of silver-lined porcelain. Looking her in the face he suddenly saw the striking resemblance to Kuchiki Byakuya. She had the same shiny black hair, dark-grey eyes and that aloofness, that would have seemed arrogant in anyone else.

"You seem to be surprised to meet me here", she said leisurely. "It's just that I can't stand those boring family meetings, so I slipped away to have some fun." She shrugged.

"Well, I should get back before they start to worry." Without another word, she shunpoed away leaving a rather confused Renji behind.

A feeling of dread crept upon Shihana when the Kuchiki manor appeared before her. With a heavy sigh, she walked up the stairs, passing the guards with a slight nod of her head.

Inside, she quickened her pace, praying she wouldn't run into any servants or family members. Just when she rounded a corner...

With a soft thud she slammed into the person before her. Stepping back, she smiled apologetically. Then she started. No, this person bore a disturbing likeness to Hisana, but she couldn't be her.

"Oh", escaped her lips. "You must be Rukia-san, then."

"I'm Shihana, Byakuya-san's cousin, pleased to meet you." She stretched out a slender hand and Rukia shook it, a bit baffled.

"Would you happen to know a place where they won't bother me for a while?" she whispered. "Just skipped a meeting. You won't tell on me, will you?" Rukia was surprised to find her winking at her. It was very un-Kuchiki-like.

"Yes, we could go to my quarters."

"And have some tea together? Wonderful!" Shihana beamed down at her. She was a tall woman and the geta made her tower even more over the petite Rukia. "You know", she continued, "I was always interested in meeting you."

Short after, they sat in Rukia's living room, sipping green tea. Watching the young woman, Rukia was strongly reminded of her brother. She had the same graceful, slow way of raising the cup to her lips.

After a moment of silence, a sudden thought popped up in Shihana's mind.

"Rukia-san, you don't happen to know Byakuya-san's fukutaichou?"

"You mean, Renji?" asked Rukia. "I know him pretty well, we grew up together."

"In Rukongai?", inquired Shihana.

"Yes, Shihana-sama", murmured Rukia, her eyes fixed on her tea.

"You know, you can call me Shihana plain, because I like you". The young woman laughed.

"And don't make such a face, is it because everyone else here treats you like you don't belong? Being purebred won't help, if you don't behave accordingly. Look at me, they think I'm really dishonourable." She laughed again and managed to coax a little smile from Rukia.

"Now about Abarai Renji. Those eyebrows..."

"Are looking weird, right", said Rukia and actually started to grin. "They're tattoos. He's got tattoos all over his body. Even I don't know where they end." She flashed a mishievous smirk. Both women looked at each other smiling.

"You know, Rukia", said Shihana, taking another sip of tea. "I really appreciate Byakuya-san's little rebellions."

A knock on the door made them pause.

The door slid open nearly soundless, revealing a deeply bowing servant.

"Kuchiki Shihana-sama, your attendance is needed in the grand salon."

Shihana rolled her eyes at Rukia, then set her cup down and stood gracefully.

"I shall be going then. We'll meet again later, Rukia-san, I hope." With a wirl of her Kimono, she was gone.

Rukia listened for a moment to the soft clatter of her shoes outside. Then she drained her own cup but remained seated, stairing into space. A small smile tugged at her lips. So there was actually someone besides Nii-sama in this family who could be quite agreeable.

It was already late in the evening, when someone knocked on Rukia's door. A moment later, Shihana peeked in.

"May I come in, Rukia-san?"

"Sure", answered Rukia and laid aside some papers she had been reading.

"I heard you are a Shinigami. Which squad are you in, if I may ask?"

"Uh, the thirteenth."

"Is it still under Ukitake Juushiro-taichou?"

"Yes", affirmed Rukia.

"You know", drawled Shihana, sinking down on a nearby couch, "my father made me learn all the taichou and fukutaichou by heart. But I don't even know how most of them look, I haven't been to Seireitei for so long. Our part of the family lives outside South-Rukongai. My parents thought the fresh air would have a good influence on me. But alas! I'm spoiled anyhow." She made a theatrical gesture and waved for Rukia to sit down beside her.

"I know how Ukitake-sama looks, though. His family is good friends with the Kuchiki clan. Did I tell you I get to work with Byakuya-san?"

"Huh?", Rukia looked up, surprised. "How so?"

"Maybe they thought I could do something unhonourable if not under constant surveillance. So they decided I should make myself useful to Kuchiki house. My luck Byakuya-san mentioned that my superior calligraphy skills could be of use in the 6th squad office. I couldn't really have borne to be with any other family member."

She sighed. "I sound stupid. They are my family, after all. You're supposed to like them."

"If it makes you feel any better", Rukia chimed in, "I don't like them, either."

Shihana smiled at her gratefully. Rukia wondered how this woman could be so cold and aloof on official occassions and so warm in private. It made her wish that Nii-sama would also drop his mask from time to time.

Soon after, Shihana said goodnight and left for her own quarters.

Nuzzling deeper into her soft feather pillow, Shihana closed her eyes. It had been a long and eventful day. Despite being around all those people only looking at her with their cold gaze, she really liked visiting Seireitei. There was always a bunch of activity on the streets, the citadel looming in the distance, the houses all gleaming in the sun with their white walls.

And she liked being around Byakuya, who had been the curse of her childhood, always teasing her, then flash stepping away. She somehow missed the pampered boy he had been, though he had grown up to be a quite impressive man.

And now she had found herself another accomplice in the familiy: Rukia. She smiled thinking of the small woman with the big blue eyes. Her parents had always only spoken of the adoption in hushed voices, as if it were a crime best left unmentioned. She herself, being fond of the dusty streets of Rukongai, because she had often sneaked there in search for some amusement, Shihana had never really understood what was so bad about people who grew up around the area. They wore plainer clothing and they didn't smell like yasemine all day, so what? They laughed and parents there hugged their children and ruffled their hair.

This open display of feelings had always fascinated her most. At home she wasn't allowed to laugh or even smile. She had to wear the indifferent mask of perfect politeness and she hated it.

But now she was here and tomorrow she would work with Byakuya-san and his red-haired fukutaichou.

So, that was the first chapter. Nothing big, but I promise things will get in motion in the next chapters.

If there are any stupid mistakes, please point them out. Being German, English is not my mother tongue, so I guess I can use that as an excuse^^