A/N New story everyone! In fact, this is my first Bleach/IchiRuki story ever. So I hope you enjoy and always remember the cardinal rule, REVIEWS ARE AN AUTHORS BEST FRIEND!

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or any of its characters. That's the property of the incredibly talented Tite Kubo.

Rukia Kuchiki looked ominously up at the large dorm and gulped audibly. You can do this Rukia. It's only college. How hard could that be? Yeah, right. This was the scariest thing that she had ever done. All of the Kuchiki family dinners filled with judgemental relatives and proper manners were child's play compared to the start of her freshmen year at Karakura University.

Why had she done this?

Oh, yeah. To fit her adopted brother's ridiculous expectations on her life. Of course, this small and local university was not up to par with the type of higher education Byakuya Kuchiki was expecting. He planned on her going overseas to America and attending the Ivy League schools that were fitting for a Kuchiki. Unfortunately that was a little much for Rukia to handle, intelligence wise.

It wasn't that she was dumb. In fact, she was very much the opposite. Even at her prestigious private school that she had attended since kindergarden, she always made straight A's and was even an officer in the honors society during high school. But traveling thousands of miles to a foreign country and attending a university where only straight A's during high school put you at the bottom of the intelligence food chain? That didn't sound very appealing. In fact, it was so unappealing that Rukia flat out refused her brother's persistent efforts to get her to apply. Which, considering Byakuya's view on dignity and honor, was saying something.

So she suggested Karakura University. It was only an hour away from the Kuchiki manor and offered the right classes for Rukia's choice of major: business. Not only that, but she earned a great scholarship (not that she needed it considering her brother's immense wealth) and she already knew a student there. What more could she want in a college?

It had been tough convincing Byakuya though. She showed him all the right pamphlets and they went to all the right tours and he still kept pushing the schools in America. It wasn't until a business partner of his mentioned his daughter was going in the fall that Byakuya began to sway. He eventually agreed, she got in, and the business associates' daughter was arranged to be Rukia's roommate.

Happily ever after, right?

Yeah, not exactly. A few weeks ago that fear began to creep inside of her as she prepared to leave for college. Would she ever get homesick living in a tiny dorm room as opposed to a giant manor? Would the classes be too much to handle? Would she ever make any friends? These questions swirled around her head even now as she stood at the entrance to the building she would be staying in with her expensive piece of luggage at her side and a book bag over her shoulder.

She shook the fears from her head despite her pounding heart and entered the dorm. It was chaotic inside as students and parents moved things in, signed papers, and said tearful goodbyes. She felt a small pang in her heart when she realized that she was completely alone. She didn't have any parents to share this momentous occasion in her life and Byakuya, her only family, was out of town on business.

Of course. When is Byakuya ever in town?

She expelled the bitterness building up inside her and stood in line to get her various orientation papers and room assignment. After what seemed like forever she finally got all she needed and began to make her way up the stairs to her new room.

As she entered the small and empty space, she heaved a large sigh. Carrying this large suitcase up four flights of stairs wasn't exactly an easy task. She took a moment to observe her dorm room. There were two small beds that lay on opposite sides of the room with a large closet on one side to accommodate both girls. Two study desks beside each bed finished out the room. The whole place was rather small and dull. Rukia was used to bedrooms with large beds, vibrant silk curtains, and exquisite artifacts and wall hangings. This was just a cramped and boring old dorm room that was supposed to house two teenage girls. So this is what it's like being a college student. It sucks already.

Rukia trudged her suitcase over to her bed (she picked the one on the left) and began to unpack. It wasn't until she was almost done cramming her clothes into her half of the closet that she heard a soft knock on the already open door.

"Hi," squeaked a high voice as a girl with long auburn hair and a cute face shyly walked through the door.

"Oh hello," Rukia replied as she sized up the girl, who she assumed was her roommate. She had chocolate brown eyes and a beautiful smile. Rukia also couldn't help but notice her rather ample, ahem, assets. Despite this, she was dressed modestly in dark blue jeans and a long-sleeved burgundy top. She looked nice enough. Extending her hand in true Kuchiki fashion Rukia introduced herself. "My name is Rukia Kuchiki. I take it you're my new roommate?"

The girl seemed a little surprised by Rukia's formal manner, but she smiled and shook her hand anyway. "Yes, I am. My name is Orihime Inoue. It's very nice to meet you!"

"Likewise."

Orihime rolled her numerous suitcases and bags into the room and plopped them down either on or beside the other bed.

"I hope you don't me taking this one," Rukia said, indicating her own bed. "But I was here first and you know first come, first serve and all that."

Orihime giggled happily and waved her hand. "Oh, that's alright. This bed is just fine."

Silence ensued as both girls unpacked their belongings and got their things situated in their new room. Rukia set her laptop on the desk and pulled a blanket over her bed while Orihime placed her clothes in the other half of the closet. Finally, Orihime spoke as she put her own colorful sheets and pillows on her bed. "Pardon me for asking but, did you only bring one suitcase?" she asked noticing Rukia's small amount of things.

Orihime knew from what her father told her that Rukia's family was very wealthy and it was a privilege to share a room with the heiress. Last she checked, heiresses didn't bring one suitcase with them to college. And wasn't she supposed to have a small dog?

"Oh, yeah. This suitcase is just supposed to last me a few days until the movers come."

Yeah, that sounded about right.

"Movers? Wow, are you going to be able to fit all of that stuff in here?"

"Of course not. I'll choose the things I absolutely need and have them send the rest of the stuff back home. My brother just asked them to pack and send everything. I knew I wouldn't be able to keep it all."

"Wow. It seems like your brother has some different views about what college life is supposed to be like."

Tell me about it, Rukia thought bitterly.

"Yeah. I think he expected me to get the penthouse dorm room or something."

Orihime let loose a small laugh at that statement and smiled. She liked this girl. Though she had only known her for a few minutes Rukia had been perfectly polite and charming. Something Orihime figured had been drilled into her head since birth.

To be honest, Orihime had dreaded sharing the room with Rukia. She was basically rooming with her father's bosses' sister. If she made one bad move, Rukia could tell her brother and her father's job could be in jeopardy. It wasn't the kind of pressure a college freshman could handle and she dreaded it. She hoped that Rukia's nice personality would be her real personality and not a fake front put up to trick Orihime into anything.

However, something about Rukia reassured Orihime that she was sincere. She didn't seem like any pretentious, rich heiress. She didn't even look like one. Her clothes, though most likely very expensive, were simple and she carried herself with grace and dignity, not pompousness.

Rukia observed Orihime as she fixed her bed set. This girl seemed sweet and Rukia hoped that she really was sweet and wasn't just pretending. Although her high pitched voice and giggle could get annoying, Rukia figured she would be able to live with this girl just fine. Who knows? She might even become her first friend here.

"So, tell me about yourself Orihime," Rukia said conversationally once they had both lapsed into silence again. They were finished unpacking and had been awkwardly sitting on their respective beds avoiding eye contact.

Orihime was glad that the awkward silence had been broken and she replied enthusiastically. "Oh, well, my family lives right here in Karakura. I actually didn't have to get a dorm room since I live so close but I really wanted the whole college experience, you know?"

Rukia did know. That was one of the reasons why she had chosen Karakura University in the first place.

"I have an older brother, Sora, but he's not really around much. He lives in Tokyo with his family so I don't get to see him very often. My mom died when I was a kid so it's just been me and my dad for awhile. I was considering going to a college farther away but I knew that if I did my dad would be really lonely."

Rukia nodded her head, though she couldn't really relate to those emotions. She didn't care if Byakuya was lonely in the manner all by himself. She was glad to be away from him for awhile. Wow, I never knew how resentful I was until recently. College sure does change you, doesn't it?

"So here I am. Let's see, what else can I say? Oh! I love to cook. Most people tell me that my cooking is different than what people are used to. I guess that's a compliment. I just like to mix different foods and see what they taste like together. Maybe you can try my cooking sometime soon!"

Even though Rukia was a little worried about why Orihime's cooking was so "different" than the norm, she enthusiastically nodded her head.

"So enough about me. Tell me something about you!"

"Oh, uh. Well, I used to live with my brother Byakuya before I came here. But I guess you already knew that. Well, Byakuya's only my adopted brother and my brother-in-law too. He married my sister Hisana about 15 years ago. A few years into their marriage she got really sick and died. Then Byakuya adopted me as his sister and I've been an official Kuchiki ever since," Rukia said passing through the story of her sister quickly. It wasn't a topic she liked to dwell on.

"What about your parents?" Orihime asked cautiously, afraid she was prodding a little too much.

Rukia paused before continuing. "I never knew them. They died shortly after my birth in a car accident. Hisana was old enough to take care of me and so she did as best as a teenage girl just out of high school could. We lived pretty rough until she met Byakuya. Ever since then, I've lived like a queen."

"Do you like it? Living with your brother, I mean," Orihime interrupted.

Rukia had to think about that one. Did she like all the expensive clothes and elaborate parties? Sure, what girl wouldn't? Did she like that the only family she had was cold, emotionless, and barely looked her way when they were together? Of course not.

"It has its ups and downs," Rukia eventually replied cryptically.

Orihime nodded her head in understanding. "I guess I can see that."

"So that's the story of my family. What else do you want to know?"

"Well, tell me some of your hobbies!"

"Hobbies? Well, I enjoy reading a lot. Byakuya was always so strict about how I spent my free time. He didn't allow many of the things my friends from school did all the time like going to the mall and having sleepovers. I didn't really mind though. He was glad that I liked to read so much so he bought me tons of books. I have a huge bookshelf in my room back home that takes up an entire wall. I've read everything from classic poets like Edgar Allen Poe to novelists like Charles Dickens. I really love them all!"

"Well then you'll probably enjoy your classes here. I've heard that the majority of the work you do is reading books, and writing papers of course," Orihime said, her enthusiasm dropping down a notch. She wasn't too excited about that part of the college experience.

"Yeah, I've heard that too. I just hope the books I read here are just as interesting as the ones I have back home."

"Do you like to do anything besides reading?"

"Well, sort of. In fact, it's kind of embarrassing," Rukia said, her cheeks starting to go red.

"Oh you can tell me. We all have our guilty pleasures that we indulge in!"

"Okay, but you have to promise not to laugh." Orihime nodded her head and leaned in closer, ready to hear Rukia's secret. "I have a rather large infactuation with…Chappy the Rabbit."

Orihime's eyes widened and she had to put a hand over her mouth to stifle her giggle. It wasn't that it was an embarrassing thing to like, it was just that Orihime never figured the great Rukia Kuchiki would be obsessed with something so childish as a pink bunny.

"I know it's stupid. It's just that, Chappy is so cute and cuddly with his long ears and cute little eyes," Rukia said her voice growing much higher to where it sounded as if she was talking to a small child.

Orihime couldn't help the giggle that passed through her lips. Yep, she would definitely like this girl.

"Don't worry. When the movers come, you'll get to see the full extent of my Chappy collection."

"I can't wait," Orihime said with a hint of a laugh in her voice.

The girls chatted for awhile before another knock sounded on their door and a handsome young man with rather large muscles and a perfect smile stepped through. Orihime almost passed out.

"Hey ladies," he said in a low and husky voice. Even Rukia's breathing started to escalate and she wasn't one to indulge in the pleasures of the opposite sex.

"H-Hello," Orihime stuttered.

"There's a welcome party happening on the third floor. I'd really like it if you two would come," he said leaning his perfect body against the wall and crossing his arms over his chest in the typical alpha male stance.

Orihime immediately nodded her head and got off her bed. "We'd love to. Come on Rukia," she said as she began to exit with the hot guy.

Rukia hesitated. She had heard many stories of these college parties and she knew that if she went, she might have to face some consequences. And she knew that while she was here Byakuya expected only the best out of her. One drunken party would completely taint her Kuchiki name.

"Oh, that's okay Orihime. I think I'll just stay here and write some emails. Byakuya will be expecting a full report soon."

"Are you sure? It'll be real fun!" Orihime whined.

"You're friend's right," the greek god said, stepping into the conversation. "They'll be a lot of people there, great music, and of course plenty of alcohol."

That's what I'm worried about.

"No, that's really okay," Rukia said, trying her best to fight the dreaded peer pressure.

Despite her objections, Rukia could tell that this guy didn't like to take no for an answer. He looked around the room and spotted her book bag hanging off the end of her bed. He quickly swiped it up and held it to his chest.

"Hey!" Rukia said indignantly as she tried to get her book bag out of the grasps of the young man.

"If you ever want to see this bag again, you'll have to come to the party with me and your friend," he said with a fake serious expression on his face.

"That's totally unfair! Give it back," Rukia said, again reaching for her bag. The man pulled away again and that gorgeous smile spread across his face again.

"You'll have to catch me if you want to get it back!" he said before rushing out the door followed quickly by Orihime. Rukia shook her head and laughed as she fully participated in this guy's little game to get her to come to the party.

She rushed out of her room not even bothering to close the door as she chased Orihime and the man. She was running so fast that she didn't even bother dodging another man who was in the hallway carrying a box into his dorm room. Rukia bumped her shoulder into the man and said a quick apology before rushing off again.

His honey-amber eyes narrowed and he scowled after the small girl with raven black hair who dared bump into him and not even stop to help him with the box he had dropped. He sighed angrily, picked his box back up, and walked into his new room.

A/N Hmm, who could that mysterious stranger at the end be? I hope you enjoy! I'm trying to stay a few chapters ahead of the one I'm uploading that way I don't fall behind but I do tend to update faster if I have some motivation, aka, REVIEWS! So tell me what you think!