A/N: Helloooo, again! First up, I want to thank you guys. YOU GUYS ARE EFFING AWESOME. I woke up this morning – HELLOO four reviews.

That seriously was more than I was expecting. Meh.

Disclaimer: Nope, I'm sorry. My name isn't Kubo Tite.

I knocked on his study door and opened it. "Nii-sama? You asked to see me?"

"Ah. Rukia. Come in and sit down," as always, his cool and collected voice calmed me. This time, however, there was a slight tone of worry in it. Normal people won't pick it up, thinking that he is as cold as ever, but living with nii-sama helps me notice these slight details.

I sat down on the plush armchair facing him, with only his mahagony desk between us. I could see all the paperwork regarding Kuchiki Corp. spread out in neat little folders across his desk, most of them bearing his signature. Behind him stood a majestic bookshelf, filled with record books, diaries of the Kuchiki ancestors, past invests and original historic books, written by the Emperor himself, a long time ago. However, every time I sat across from him, my eyes would draw itself to a portrait to the left of him. A portrait of me. Correction: a portrait of a lady who looks like me, save for the two bangs falling down the bridge of her nose. Hisana. Nee-chan. She died a while ago, leaving nii-sama even colder due to his depression, but nii-sama recovered well from it.

I watched nii-sama organize his documents and place them in the correct places in his drawers. Then he took out another folder, labeled 'Kuchiki Rukia'. I've only seen the folder once before. The time when he had to take out the folder labeled 'Kuchiki Hisana' to file her death certificate. He had to take out my folder in the process of getting nee-chan's. I never knew what was inside it.

He pushed it towards me. 'Go through the documents, and make sure all information is correct. I have checked, but you must check yourself and sign on the last document. You may go.' Hm. Dignified as always.

I bowed. 'Hai, nii-sama. When would you like this back?" I kept my head down respectfully.

He paused the skritch-scratching of his pen to look at me. 'Please have it on my desk by nine, tomorrow.' The noise on the paper resumed.

'Hai. Good afternoon, nii-sama," with my head still low, I backed out of the office and headed up the stairs, with the folder safely tucked under my arm.

Entering my room and gently closing the sliding door, I set the folder down on my desk and turned on the lamp. I plopped down on my Chappy armchair and rolled towards the desk and picked up my pen. I wonder what brought this on. Opening the folder and feeling like a teacher, I settled down on the first document.

My birth certificate? How… How did nii-sama get that? I didn't even know who my mother was and here was a birth certificate? My eyes narrowed as a cautiously scanned it. Oh. Nii-sama just applied for my birth certificate. I checked all the information. Nope. Nothing wrong. I turned onto the next page. Adoption papers. I filled these out myself so they shouldn't be wrong. I checked again. Next.

I worked on the folder all the way until dinner was brought to my room. Oh. Nii-sama had guests? I only ever ate in my room when nii-sama brought business guests home. He told me that his business partners divorced his wife because she couldn't bear children and now he hates anyone who is under thirty. 'Must be bitterness,' he had said.

Passport applications, old visa applications, citizenship papers, primary school report cards, middle school report cards, high school applications, university results. All of them were in order and I turned to the last few documents. One bold word caught my eye. Marriage?

Rukia, I read. Nii-sama's handwriting!

As you may be aware, it is the tradition in the noble Kuchiki family for the heir, or heiress to be married off to someone their guardian approves of.

Hisana and I have arranged for you to marry another man a long time ago. He is the son of a successful clinic doctor. Being a noble of Seireitei doesn't mean we look down upon those who are not as fortunate as us to be as wealthy. You and your sister were not wealthy, yet I still married your sister. This marriage has been planned and due to take place a week after you turn 22.

The man's name is Kurosaki Ichigo. I suggest you get to know him before you are due to wed.

Regards,

Kuchiki Byakuya.

Accompanying the note was a few sheafs of paper – drafts of what the marriage certificate would look like. I dropped my pen and hung my head back. Why? Why? I was fine. I didn't need an arranged marriage. I like Renji and I'm happy with the way I am right now. Why must I get married to a random stranger?

Another slip of paper caught my eye.

Kurosaki Clinic.

Dr. Kurosaki Isshin.

Apprentice Kurosaki Ichigo.

Kurosaki Ichigo. He sounds incredibly snobbish. Being rich, I had dealt with snobby people all my life, and I didn't need another one in it. Renji was the only male exception. It's no wonder I'm happy with him. But I know I can't argue with nii-sama's wish. I might as well call this Ichigo and get this done and over with.

Noble tradition. Pffft.

Noble tradition can kiss my ass.

A/N: YES. THEY ARE MEETING EACH OTHER TOMORROW/NEXT CHAPTER. AAAAHHHHHH! I'M EXCITED, WHY AREN'T YOU? As always, review! *flames suddenly shoot around Romance* OR I WILL FREEZE YOU WITH HYORINMARU. (Get it? Flames? Hyrorinmaru? Ice? *maniac laughter slowly fades off* I need to get some new jokes, don't I?) You have one day to leave a review and make it into the honorary roll in the next chapter! Eh. That won't motivate a lot of people, but it was worth a try!

Reviewers for last chapter: ShepardxMiranda, gumgum22, darknexusthedude, kjmb, capslock-nanao and naro.

Favourites for last chapter: capslock-nanao and Nes77

Alerts for last chapter: sayaphitam, lemonorangevanilladrop, DeviantHollow23 and Rukes

Replies for Reviews:

ShepardxMiranda: LEMON? O.O" LEMON? Well… Errr… Thanks for reviewing? AHA. Still, if enough people pressure me for a lemon, I might make a lemony goodness sequel AFTER this story is finished.

Gumgum22: Ditto. I won't be changing the rating for this one… So…

Darknexusthedude:Here's me continuing! I will (most likely) update tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that and… I have no life.

Kjmb:I agree. ICHIRUKI rules. Anyone who doesn't agree, well… THEY CAN GO AND FREEZE IN HELL. Wait. That doesn't work…

Capslock-nanao: YAY! Very good so far! I hope that goodness continues on here… BTW, how do you feel about another HitsuGin battle? Or a chapter in Yamamoto's POV?

Naro: Updated! :)