AN: This is going to be my first AU. It was a little something that's been stuck in my head for some time, after reading this other cool IchiRuki AU about Rukia being a really talented musician without anyone realizing it. My story is a little bit like that, except it is way different from the story I read and got inspired from, and this time, I shall start this first chapter with…. A flashback! :D Yep, you got that right. So anyways, on with the fic!

10 years ago….

Little 6 yr old Rukia Kuchiki secretly hated her voice lessons. Just like most other kids forced into signing up for extra curricular activities, Rukia was forced into voice lessons by her parents. Her mother dreamed of her daughter growing up to be a Broadway star, traveling around, and entertaining the world through the platform known as the stage. Being a singer herself and marrying a cellist, Mrs. Kuchiki was very particular about raising her children to excel in music.

Byakuya Kuchiki, Rukia's brother, was already doing excellently at his guitar lessons, so Rukia's parents decided it was time for her to pursue taking lessons as well. After heated debate (Mr. Kuchiki strongly wanted his daughter to pursue the cello like he did) both parents decided that their youngest child should take voice lessons. After much whining and tantrum-throwing on Rukia's part, she finally agreed when Byakuya bluntly said she couldn't sing anyway.

Desperate to prove her brother wrong, Rukia started with the voice lessons. Her parents made sure to put both their children in the best musical teaching place in town, where one teacher taught a maximum of two students only. It was there were she had her lessons, and it was there were she met Ichigo Kurosaki.

Stepping inside, Rukia heard a beautiful song. Ichigo was playing it on his small guitar, aptly guided by his teacher. His fingers slid easily through the fret board of the guitar, and the teacher only had to correct him through the entire piece once or twice. She immediately thought his family was of musical background like hers. She didn't know however, that Ichigo's parents were merely owners of a very known bookstore.

"Oh, I'm sorry young lady! I didn't notice you there! Well, you must be Kuchiki Rukia, the new student." Cried Kisama-sensei in shock. She was looked to be around middle aged, wearing thick glasses, and a knowing expression that never faded away.

"I'm here to take voice lessons, sensei." Rukia said, in her tiny voice, and bowing politely. Ichigo regarded her with a curious expression, but said nothing.

"Oh, well that's excellent! I heard your mother was a very good singer. So this should be easy for you. Well, I would like to hear you sing first before we begin." Kisama-sensei replied, smiling. Already, Rukia began to feel nervous, as she had never tried singing before. Remembering the fact her mother sang well though, gave her a little bit of courage enough.

Opening her mouth, Rukia sang. Instead of wowing her teacher though, on her sensei's face was a rather shocked and blank expression. Rukia's voice wasn't horrible, but it wasn't the remarkable soprano Kisama-sensei expected out of the singer's daughter. She heard a lot of children sing in her long time as a voice teacher, and she was sad to realize that Rukia's voice was forgettable at her present age.

After Rukia sang, Ichigo immediately burst into laughter. "Why sensei, I thought you said her mother is a good singer? Why does she stink then?"

Rukia's cheeks flushed in embarrassment and anger, and she shot right back at Ichigo saying, "It's not like I see you doing better than me anyways!!"

"Oh yeah?! I bet I could sing a hundred times better than you!"

"All you can do is play the guitar, you orange-headed bozo!"

"What did you just call me?"

"Silence!" came the bellowing voice of Kisama-sensei. Immediately, the children stopped bickering, ending with tongues stuck out at each other.

"This is a place of music, not of mindless arguments. If I catch you two fighting in here again, you will stand in the two opposite corners of the room until I say you can sit down. Is that clear?"

Reluctantly, both children agreed with a half-hearted, yes sensei.

"Good. At least you children know discipline. Now, on with the lesson." She finished, eyeing the two children carefully. The Kurosaki is obviously gifted. He doesn't need a teacher to get through to his talent. On second hand, Rukia will definitely need a lot of help. I'll be sure to make her an outstanding soprano once I'm through with her, she thought, making mental notes to herself.

AN: Okay, so that's the end of the first chap. I may not be able to update, considering my exams are coming up and reviewing time for me is this weekend. Keep your eyes peeled though, coz this is the end of flashbacking for now. LOL, next chap will be when both of them are in sophomore year. Oh, and if you don't know what the fret board is on the guitar, it's the place where guitarists press on the strings to carry the sound.