Title: Out with the Old

Author: DawnValentine101

Pairing: Bleach/ IchiRuki AU

Summary: Rukia's classified ad helped her get rid of something she'd held on to for too long-and find something she hadn't even known she was looking for!

Rukia's POV

It was funny how a little classified ad could give me such a lift: FREE upright piano. Needs some repair. You haul. And no, it wasn't because I wanted a piano for myself. I was trying to get rid of a piano.

It had belonged to Renji, my ex-boyfriend, who'd left the piano at my place because he'd never had room for it in his apartment. For a year, it has sat silent in my living room, partially blocking a sunny window. Once upon a time, I'd loved listening to Renji play that piano, but now he was long gone, so the piano had to go, too. I hoped my ad would do the trick.

I didn't have to wait long-the word "free" always gets people's attention. But the first person to come by took one look and said, "I didn't realize it was so big." My second visitor was concerned about the repair issues-one key stuck and two of the pedals didn't work.

By the time the third person called, my hopes were fading. "I could come over in a little while, if that's okay," the voice said. It was a nice, deep voice that made me wonder about the guy who went with it.

While I waited, I changed out of my sweatpants and into my nice jeans. After all, he had a nice voice, and you never know!

I wasn't disappointed. When I answered the door an hour later, a smiling, spiky raven black-haired man waved and said, "Hi, I'm Kaien. I called about the piano."

"I'm Rukia," I said, showing him in. "There it is by the window."

"This is a nice piano," Kaien said, running his hand lovely over the wood. "You're willing to part with it for free?"

"Yep, for free. Go ahead and try it out."

"Oh, I don't play. It's for my wife. She likes to play and we only have an electronic keyboard right now."

Wife. Darn. "One thing," I said, "The B key right below middle C sticks and the pedals need some-"

Kaien's aqua green eyes crinkled merrily as he laughed. (Wife. Darn.) "No problem—I'm sure it's fixable. I mean, this is a free piano, after all."

When the doorbell rang, Kaien said, "That'll be my brother. I asked him to help me move it."

"So you're going to take it, then?" I asked.

"Definitely," I heard him say, as I opened to see another Kaien, but with orange hair and chocolate brown eyes.

"This is my little brother, Ichigo," Kaien said. "Ichigo, this is Rukia." Ichigo gave Kaien a look.

The resemblance between them was uncanny.

"Little brother by four minutes," Ichigo said. He smiled and his bright brown eyes crinkled merrily. "Nice to meet you, Rukia." He jerked his thumb toward Kaien. "We're twins, but he loves to say he's the big brother." His gaze lingered on me briefly, then he looked at the piano. "So we're hauling this out of here, then?"

A few minutes later, Kaien and Ichigo had rolled the piano across the room and were maneuvering it through the door. I stayed out the way.

"Pleasure doing business, Rukia," Kaien said, as we shook hands. Then Ichigo extended his hand. When our eyes met, I could tell he felt the spark too. Kaien leaned in toward Ichigo and said, "Will you ask her already? I'll wait outside."

To me, Kaien said, "He's wanted to ask you out since he got here. I know-it's a twin thing." He waved and walked out.

"I guess having a older brother can be a good thing," Ichigo said. "Kaien has always been bolder than me." He shrugged. "So, can I call you? I've got your number right here." He waved the ad like a little flag.

I laughed and nodded, thinking, it's just amazing what you can find in the classifieds these days!