AN: Thank you Everyone who has been so kind as to review my story!! They made me so happy!! You have no idea!! ^-^ Though I have a few things to fix, because I suppose I confused some of you. Ichigo is not cheating on Rukia. He's just spending a lot of time with Orihime, and Rukia is not comfortable with it, but she doesn't want to complain. Make sense? Huzzah!!

Still a lot of OC moments, and not so OC. Please enjoy the story, and remember to review!!

Your Honesty Keeps Me Honest

Chapter 2

Deep sapphire eyes stared up at the ceiling. It wasn't even day break yet, and she was nervous, scared, and ready to train. She could finally make it to being a lieutenant. Excitement filled her eyes. Laying there in her bed, staring, with the soft, plain sleeping yukata covering her. Arms stretched out, and hands limp, what else could she do? A shower did sound good. Maybe....the princess turned on her side, and heart contracted so painfully, most people would cry. On the night stand, there was a picture of Ichigo. Eyes brimmed for a moment, before light tossing of her head made her look up. Not going to cry, was her motto for when she was here. Even if her heart ached for him. Even if all she wanted was to just be wrapped up in his arms.

"Shower...." she told herself, and got up. She had to get up. She needed to shower and get ready. Being early was a good thing, and she could practice without her teacher for a moment. Cold water, and now warm washed over her, making her numb. Numb was good, she thought. Numb meant no pain, no desire, no tears. She counted the number of times she massaged her scalp. The number of times she polished her skin, the number of times it took her to get all of the conditioner out of her thick ink hair. Counting things helped keep her mind away from things that were painful. Pain like, knowing the man she gave her heart to was with another woman. Or, curious if she was trying to take him away. It wouldn't take her much, and Rukia knew it.

Wrapped up in her towel, Rukia walked quietly to the room. She stood for a moment, looking at herself in the small vanity mirror. She wasn't 'built' like Orihime, her eyes weren't innocent like hers, she wasn't clueless like Orihime. So, truly, she wondered what was it about her that made Ichigo turn to her after Orihime left him. Tossing the towel, and binding her breast, Rukia, put on the soft blue panties. "......I wish you were here..." she whispered, looking to the picture of a happy couple. A small smile grew on her face, and then it vanished, as she grabbed the under garb for her uniform. Pride entered her chest. She looked herself over, as she grabbed her sword. She was a shinigami. a strong one at that. She could have been higher seated, if her Onii-sama hadn't put pressure on her taichou. Looking out a large circular window that was towards her door, she could see the rising sun growing brighter. Time to go, she told herself, and left without breakfast. She wasn't sure where she was suppose to meet Hitsugaya-taichou, but she would find him.

She jogging increased, as she found herself at a very familiar part of the squad headquarters. Rukia knew it well, because when she first started out, she would come here often. A large gathering of cherry blossoms, near where squad six was. She would sit there to read, sometimes to just read, or daydream. The dancing petals made Rukia smile, remembering her brother. Now they were...on better terms.

Walking towards them, she grinned a little. Its beautiful, as always, as she walked under them. She bowed, thankful that most people didn't know of this place. "Mae, Sode no Shirayuki...." she whispered softly. The beautiful white blade appeared and Rukia began to dance softly, each step just as beautiful as the next, each movement graceful and almost too exotic, as she continued, now bending back, the white ribbon gliding above her. Anyone who saw, would think this goddess wasn't real, with her movements.

However, the strong teal eyes staring at her from above was amazed. The 'Ice Prince' was sleeping, hiding from his drunken lieutenant. But, the soft voice that called out her sleeping sword awoken him to dances that he never thought any normal shinigami could do. How beautiful she looked, if not for the almost teary sapphire eyes that spoke of unbelievable pain. If only he could talk to her, this ice princess, to ask who would dare bring sorry to those eyes. Unspeakable pain still danced in her eyes as she finished. Might as well make his entrance now, he thought, now gliding down from where he sat, landing before her. "You've got good form."

Rukia felt her face flush for a moment before she nodded her head. She didn't really doubt that. She just wasn't as strong as she could be. She wanted to be really strong. "Arigatou." She then took not of the cherry blossom's in his hair. It looked rather funny, but then again, this area almost fit him perfectly. Poetically speaking, with his teal eyes and white hair, it somehow worked. "ano...taichou, how long have you been here?"

"Since you first released Sode no Shirayuki." His voice was cold, emotionless. As Rukia knew it to be, and as she liked it from a captain. She always found it weird whenever her own taichou's voice was kind. "Now...." Hitsugaya held out his own sword. Rukia gulped for just the moment. "Souten ni Zase, Hyourimaru!!" The dragon began to rush out from both the small captain and the ground. Ice began to freeze and Rukia felt a little over whelmed by the dragon. "Are you ready, Kuchiki-san?"

Only the small nod was Rukia's answer. Standing across from eachother, as the petals danced in the air, though getting bits of frost on them. The air though was starting to get colder and colder. Rukia felt her fingers began to get cold. She needed to make a move or, she would start to get weak. Eye focus for a moment before there was nothing before her. She turned swift to her left, blocking. The echoing sound of metal against metal became louder as now the fight was setting. Each movement one of them made was matched to with the others movement. Cold eyes stared into equally cold eyes. In a moment of almost perfect stillness, Rukia flipping over him, her head upside down and Hitsugaya just stared.

He knew she was beautiful. She knew he was beautiful. It was impossible not to notice eachother. Yet, at this moment, all Rukia wanted, was to forget the small voice in her head, crying out ofr Ichigo to appear, and stop her.

CLANG!

Rukia blocked the sword, but it was too close to her chest. Too close and uncomfortable, in her opinion. He was a captain for a reason. "....." Rukia was taking in deep, tired breaths now. Hitsugaya stood on the other side of the circle, strong and proud. Hyourimaru still gliding around them, ready to strike should his master even think it. Eyes stared for a moment before, Rukia jumped up into the air, throwing Sode no Shirayuki towards Hitsugaya. AS he moved to dodge, Rukia grabbed the last bit of the beautiful ribbon, so that she could yank at the beautiful sword, and it moved. Rukia landed, her hand now clasping the hilt again.

'She's cunning, and swift minded,' Hitsugaya nodded to the water dragon that now rushed at the small girl. Rukia flash stepped, breathing in as she was missed. though part of her clothes were starting to freeze.

'Just barely, Rukia...' she berated herself. Had to get stronger, much stronger.

"Take a break, Kuchiki-san!" Hitsugaya called, as he returned his sword to his side. She nodded her head, and placed her own beloved sword away. Her stomach grumbled, a strong reminder that she hadn't eaten much of anything today. She was too nervous. She looked, wondering if Hitsugaya knew. She felt a little blush as his eyes danced with laughter as her stomach grumbled even louder. She glared angrily as finally it was too late and Hitsugaya laughed far too loud and fell on the floor unable to control himself. Death glares couldn't get the small captain to stop the laughter that climbed up from the depths of his stomach. All she could do was grumble, ready to leave.

"Wait!" she turned, a small bento was handed to her. He stopped laughing.

"Humph...." she glared and sat next to him. black chopsticks fed her rice and bits of egg. She just stared up at the sky. Beautiful pink petals danced with light blue sky as the backdrop for their performance. She looked to the ice prince. He was munching on a bit of watermelon (AN: you know he would have some) and just looking forward. "Why are you helping me?"

"Because Ukitake-taichou said he'd stop treating me like a kid for a whole week if I did this." Rukia held back her own fit of laughter. Her captain was pretty damn funny. She just stared at Hitsugaya for the moment. He was pretty handsome, as the memory of Hinamori once singing the small man's praises. She was just going to keep that to herself though. "What are you thinking?"

"Nothing...." she said quietly, continuing eating her food. The egg and fish went well with the rice. Food was good, and her body was easing slowly into being comfortable around the aura of this strong man.

"....Liar..." she looked at him for the moment. What did he mean? But as Sapphire eyes stared into Teal eyes, it was a mistake. Her breath caught in her throat, and she wanted to take back the last few hours, and go back into her bed. Too scary, too beautiful, and too strong. "I hate liars, Kuchiki-san."

AN: And another chapter done!! Yayie!! I hope you all have loved this chapter as much as I did writing it. As a side note, as much as I love Hitsukia, this story has a sad ending. Maybe a somewhat happy one, but it is a sad ending. Don't hate me!!. Well, I love you all!! And Pleas review!!