Disclaimer: I don't own anything in connection with Bleach… *sighs*

A/N: Hello everyone! This is my second fanfic for Byaruki… It just came to me, I've been active in the FC in Bleach Asylum lately so why not write again?! Anyway, I wanted to know what you guys think of this… (Should I continue it?) I hope you enjoy it! Review please… ^_^

I dedicate this to codegal-san of Bleach Asylum… She has been eagerly waiting for it! (hope you have fun reading this one!)

Chapter 1

"Ouch!" Rukia squealed in her seat from the pain that the needle had caused her. She suddenly shut her mouth with both of her hands and listened around if ever there are steps coming towards her room. She sighed in relief and sipped the blood coming from the small wound that the needle had caused. Rukia was never used to this kind of thing. "So this is what Ishida does everytime… it's frustrating!" She muttered to herself as she cleaned up the items to get some rest.

The next morning, Byakuya stopped by in every room looking for her adopted sister. Adopted sister, he thought deeply. Somehow or somewhere in his heart, he doubted that fact. Seeing her everyday that always made him remember about his wife, Hisana, was profoundly annoying. If only he could just revoke the papers he filed on her adoption and let her be his wife—

Byakuya made his eyes grow wide open with the thought. He pushed it away and proceeded to what he was currently doing. He heard a yelp last night. From the voice, it was somewhat painful. After that, there was silence. It was, without a doubt, her voice. He finally reached into her room which was empty.

Finally, Rukia finished her last battle with three hollows at once with her zanpaktou, Sode no Shirayuki. The mission that was given to her wasn't that tiresome, but leaving without disturbing anyone in the Kuchiki mansion and especially not asking permission from Byakuya, now that would be troublesome indeed. She even had to put a temporary barrier around the path she's going to use for her escapade. She looked around and tried to feel any reiatsu of any of these hideous creatures just in case she missed one. She let out a breth of assurance and headed back to her gigai with a box in her hands.

Meanwhile, the anxiety inside the Kuchiki clan head was killing him. He always knew that she would be fine; however, her whereabouts are unknown to his senses. He is too proud or it could be his pride that was stopping him from asking Rukia's captain, Ukitake. Suddenly, a spirit pressure that he had just felt and was now dispersed all over the place was present. Without further hesitation, he got up from his feet, which made his body go numb for who knows how many hours he's been sitting in his chair.

He gently walked in the hallway and opened the door of her room. Rukia was folding a silk scarf on her lap that she was about to neatly hide before his arrival.

It was too late.

Byakuya laid his eyes on the fine cloth she was holding. Every detail was ordinary contrast to a little image in the corner; he couldn't see it clearly because of its current fold but he was sure that it was a bunny figure. What's more was the truth that her small hands were filled of wounds wrapped in some sort of bandages or should he say 'band-aids' in the real world. Rukia caught his sight on them and still tried to conceal them from his analyzing eyes with the use of her kimono.

His composure was lost, a little bit, but remained relaxed on beginning his conversation with her.

"What's this?" he asked.

Rukia raised her head up and said, "It's a scarf, made out a very fine silk that I exchanged with captain Ukitake. I even sew a bunny image here so that it'll look better."

"Why do you need to do that? I can buy a lot of those here inside Soul Society." Byakuya stared at her with the need of an immediate answer.

"Nii-sama, it's just that this is really a great one. It was the last stock they had on the store where you always went. It also seems that you don't wear much ever since because they're always end up destroyed in your battles." Rukia said with ease as she fixed herself from her position before going numb.

He raised his eyebrow in surprise. "Exchanged?"

"Well, I told him that I'll go in a mission in a certain town just near Karakura that he was supposed to work on. It's not only for the clothing but also for him because he was sick that day. So, we made a deal." Rukia finished as if she had told everything about a crime she did in front of the authorities. Fact is, she didn't commit one.

"Ignore it." Byakuya turned his back from her and continued. Rukia watched him and listened carefully.

"Going outside without permission and exchanging a scarf for an assignment are already risky as they are. If you lose your life, how would mine go on from there, then?"

She can't believe that Byakuya would say such a thing. It was different… so caring… so loving… like he was desperate when she did that.

Then, Byakuya left without a single word after and carried himself on as he went outside of her room.

Rukia couldn't speak; she was far too shocked to say anything. Those sentences were stuck to her mind for the rest of the day.