Chapter 1: The Beginning

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

Ichigo Kurosaki

"Are you listening to me Rukia?" She distantly nodded. But he knew better, she wasn't really listening to him. The news had been a shock to her. Probably the last thing she had expected from a call from Urahara. Although Ichigo had to admit to himself, none of Urahara's calls contained information they would consider 'expected'. Ichigo pretended he believed her and silently continued walking toward the famous Urahara shop.

He noticed that Rukia looked extremely nervous... and with reason. What would she even begin to say when she came face to face with the older sister who abandoned her as a baby? He couldn't speak for Rukia but he himself thought that Hisana did deserve the chance to make it right, well as long as she apologized and all. What she did was unforgivable as an older sibling, yet she had realized her mistake and pretty much died trying to make it right again. But that's what he thought. It didn't really matter what he thought, the only opinion that mattered here was Rukia's. And by the look of her, she looked like she was completely lost in her thoughts and her body must have been on autopilot or something.

Man... I'm only here because Rukia pretty much looked wrecked when I told her the news, she shouldn't be walking around alone like this. She'd probably cross the street without lookin' and wind up getting run over or something. Always lookin' out for the midget I guess. He smiled slightly and started thinking about how close he and Rukia have been getting over the last two weeks. A month after he left the soul society for the last time, he got a surprise visit from Rukia in his room. Turns out that as the lieutenant she got assigned to lead a small troop of squad thirteen members, who were all being tested for the open eighth seat position in the squad, for two weeks. The test being their ability to take down a set of real life hollows, all while exhausted from sleep deprivation, due to them also having to patrol the town at night. It was fun, on some nights Ichigo would sneak out and go watch the midget boss around a bunch of underlings and occasionally help out. He liked seeing Rukia in charge, with her abilities it was about time Byakuya let her take the position she deserved, and as the days passed he found himself spending more of his nights with her.

The test was successful and the eighth seat was chosen however, Rukia received special permission from Ukitake to stay the following week in the world of the living. He sighed because his plans with Rukia came to an abrupt end with this phone call. Also, he knew he was going to end up being knee deep in emotional crap he had nothing to do with and cringed a little at the thought. Do it for the midget. Do it for her. He repeated to himself.
During those long nights under the moonlight with nothing to do while overseeing the squad members performing their patrolling duties, they talked for hours on end, sort of like reconnecting after those 17 months of separation. Two nights ago they shared a small kiss, it was half because of the setting under the moonlight and half because of the fact that they talked about how hard these 17 months have been without each other. No one knew about the kiss yet, but secretly he was glad things were getting back to normal, well define normal, but he got one of his best friends back and they were getting closer day by day. All he could hope for was for nobody to fuck everything up again.

After a while they both found themselves in front of Urahara's shop, they both could sense that he had already arrived… Even Ichigo could tell. That guy was making no effort whatsoever to hide his reiatsu; he could be suffocating any poor creature with weak spiritual pressure. According to Ichigo only one good thing would for sure come out of this meeting, seeing Byakuya Kuchiki's shell of self-composure start to crack, or completely crack. This is something he would be looking forward to. He'd always wondered what the ever so stoic Byakuya would be like as any other guy head over heels in love with a woman.

"Ara! Theeeey're heeeereeee! Lovely to see you lovebirds together, it's always heartwarming to see you two reconnecting after so long, isn't it Yoruichi-san?" Said person appeared before them, surprisingly in human form, and couldn't help but give a playful grin.

"Would you care to explain to us what the hell is going on here? As usual we get a vague phone call from you basically telling us what you managed to cook up and telling us to get our asses here asap." Urahara just barely listened to what Ichigo was saying and instead turned his head to look at Rukia, who was surprisingly silent this whole time. He gave her a serious look and then opened his fan while pointing to a room.

"She's asleep and he refuses to leave her side until she wakes up. Now would be a good time to sit with her in peace with your thoughts." he said with a serious face. Rukia was definitely not herself for she did not even give him a cold look at the fact that he suggested what she ought to do, she just walked out of the room.

Rukia Kuchiki

She could hear Urahara offering Ichigo some tea and an explanation while he waited. Before she knew it she was in front of the door. She put her ear against it and heard dead silence.

How would her brother react to her showing up here? What would he say once she woke up to find Rukia there with them? What would her own sister do once she sees Rukia once again?

But more importantly, how was Rukia going to react to all this? She's always dreamt of what it would be like to have her sister back with her and often fantasized about them three being a family together. Now that it's actually happening it's become a little too much for her to handle at once and she's unsure of what to do next. She's too afraid to be happy because it all seems too unreal and does not want to go through the horror of it, this dream of a happy family, being ripped from her. She needed to be pinched… Hard.

A soft knock on the sliding door woke her out of her thoughts and she wondered when exactly she motioned her hand to knock on the door. Her knock was answered with silence and decided to slide it open and slowly poke her head inside. There was a single futon lying there with a tall figure sitting next to it. Hisana was lying on the futon with her eyes closed and facing in the direction of Byakuya. He was holding onto her hand and it looked like they were talking when she must have fallen asleep. His eyes were glued to her; he did not move in the slightest when Rukia made her way closer. When she was close enough to see Hisana's face, her movements started getting slower in order to properly observe what she was seeing.

Rukia had only seen that one picture of Hisana that Byakuya kept. But the expression she wore on that picture was one with so much underlying sadness in that weak smile. That's why Rukia never liked the picture in the first place, she'd have much rather look at face she's looking at now. Hisana was clearly asleep but Rukia could tell that she was smiling in her sleep, it was absolutely lovely. Right then and there Rukia silently vowed to herself that she would make an effort to smile more often, if it did wonders for her sister, it ought to do the same for her as well.

As if he were listening to Rukia's thoughts Byakuya spoke up for the first time.

"I told her about you."

Rukia looked up at Byakuya in shock. She really didn't expect that. Just how long has Hisana been awake?

"You have Nii-Sama?" She asked and he nodded 'yes' in return.

"The second I informed her about your whereabouts she bombarded me with questions about you." He could tell Rukia was surprised and a little happy at this. "She had immediately demanded that I inform her of everything that has happened to you in your life before joining the clan and after… That smile she now bares is for you Rukia. All of your accomplishments and achievements are what has led to that smile you now see. It has been a great while since I had seen it."

Rukia was flabbergasted; she didn't know where to begin. First of all she has never had her brother open up to her like that. And second, she felt this warmth creeping up inside her and pulling her into an embrace she couldn't escape. Rukia was about to say something when her pocket started beeping. She quickly grabbed her soulpager, afraid that the racket it was making would wake Hisana. The soulpager indicated that there were 2 small hollows in the vicinity. She quickly stood and slid the door open that lead directly into the living room area in Urahara's shop.

"Ichigo le-" but before she could finish Yoruichi grabbed Ichigo by his collar while Urahara poked him in the back of his head with his cane, shoving Ichigo's soul out of his body. "I got it, c'mon Ichigo." she said. And with that they were gone in a puff of smoke, Ichigo cursing loudly at the catwoman.

Rukia all the while still in the doorway with her eyes widened at what just happened. "Okay then..." she said to the puff of smoke they left behind. She looked at Urahara while he shoved Ichigo's lifeless body into a chair while Jinta deviously grinned behind him, pulling out a marker he had in his pocket.

"Hey! Leav-"

"Rukia." she heard her brother say behind her.

Scared that she might have been too loud, she froze on the spot, fearing she'd be reprimanded by her brother.

"Rukia?" she heard an unfamiliar voice call.

The voice was incredibly warm and soothing with a very unique raspy quality to it. Rukia couldn't put her finger on it. She slowly turned around with her head down; she didn't have to see in order to know who that voice belonged to. The first thing she saw once she lifted her head was her brother, tightly holding the hand of another. Her eyes shifted to the person sitting up on the futon next to him. Hisana had her violet eyes wide open with tears starting to pour out of them and her free hand was covering her mouth in an attempt to keep some composure. Rukia could feel that the tears were also threatening to fall from her own violet orbs and would do so any moment now. While Rukia was still contemplating what she should say, Hisana abrubtly stood up, letting go of her brother's hand and quickly pulled Rukia in a tight and warm embrace. She was clearly sobbing now at this point, as a matter of fact both of them.

"I... I-"

"Shh! You don't have to-" was Rukia's first reaction.

"No. Don't say that, of course I need to apologize. I don't deserve the title of sister. I have done a horrible, horrible thing and there is no excusing myself. I need to say it. I'm sorry, I'm sorry for being incredibly selfish, I'm sorry I'm a terrible older sister, I'm sorry for leaving you alone in that place, I'm sorry." Hisana said in between her sobs.

"I'm not going to judge you. I have no right to do so and I hold no grudge against you. It was hard, but I had a great life, with great friends. I was never really alone, Nee-San." Hisana let go of Rukia and took her face between her soft hands. Violet eyes met violet eyes when Hisana started to say something but Rukia stopped her.

"Nee-San, I forgive you." Hisana's eyes widened at the words and again the tears started to fall from them. Hisana closed her eyes and leaned forward and placed a long kiss on Rukia's forehead. Rukia's eyes widened at the sudden display of affection. She has never been kissed on the forehead before. Afterwards Hisana leaned her forehead against Rukia's, her eyes were closed.

"Thank.. You.." Hisana said softly while still holding on to Rukia.

Alrighty there goes the first chapter. Hope you enjoyed reading and now I kindly ask you to review! And we'll see eachother at the next chapter.

I have been gifted with gorgeous cover art for this story by PandaCapuccino. Seriously talented, that one. Thank you!

~Snikee