Author's note: a Byakuya x Rukia fanfiction.

Substitute Affections — A Bleach Fanfiction

by Akane-Rei

Part One: The Betrothal

Chapter Two: Bad News Travel Fast

Renji spewed.

Which was a waste of good sake, if anyone bothered to ask her. At this point, however, she was just glad she hadn't been on the receiving end.

Ichigo laughed.

She didn't think he took her seriously and his next words proved her right.

"Good one, Rukia," he told her with a smirk.

She sighed and nursed another flask of sake. She wasn't really sure, but this stuff seemed to have more of a kick that usual. Of course, it might have more to do with the fact that she hadn't had else anything all day. She took another sip. Or the unusually fast rate at whichh she had been imbibing the stuff. She shrugged.

Who knew?

"You're getting what?" Renji finally found his voice after much coughing and clearing of throat.

She looked at him with a calm that belied the inner workings of her mind. "Married," she repeated. "I'm getting married." She took another sip and felt the warm liquid lick its way through her system.

Beside her, Ichigo was still laughing.

Briefly she wondered how many of these empty flasks he had been responsible for. It could explain his unusual sense of humor.

"You really got him going, Rukia," the orange-haired Shinigami guffawed.

"Yes, well that was my goal," she said sardonically. Of all the things she expected from her friends, outright hilarity wasn't quite on the top of her list. She wondered when it would dawn on the young Shinigami that she was entirely serious.

Renji, however, seemed to finally noticed Ichigo's levity. "What are you laughing at, you ass?" he exclaimed. "Didn't you just hear her?"

"Aww come on, Renji!" he chortled. "Can't you take a joke? Of course Rukia's not getting married. Think about it. Have you seen or even heard of her seeing anybody?"

Renji scratched his head. "Now that you mention it—"

Ichigo looked back at her. "That was real good Rukia," he told her again. "You really got this idiot over here." He grinned. "Most laugh I've had all night."

"Glad to be of service," she replied flatly. She wasn't quite sure whether she should take offense of his words. She had gone out before. Just not in awhile. Okay, maybe not in a few years, but who's counting? She leaned her head back towards the futon behind her and rested her eyes for a bit. She needed to think and think clearly. Marriage was a life-altering step. Wasn't it? Surely she should have given it much more thought than she had so far.

"Stop calling me an idiot, ass!" Renji's voice interrupted her thoughts.

She sighed. Perhaps she should reiterate what she just said. Looking at her two friends, however, she wasn't quite sure how much good it would do.

"Renji," Ichigo began in loftily, "you're going to have to start thinking things through. Rukia here is a great actress who likes to pull our proverbial leg. You have to take what she says with a grain of salt."

"Hah," she muttered under her breath.

"I mean, I think we're the guys she's spent the most time with," Ichigo expounds. "If she were getting married, we would have had adequate warning, Stupid." He grinned. "Unless of course, she marries Byakuya," he added, before going through another gale of laughter at the thought.

This time Renji joined him, that stupid ass.

Her eyes narrowed.

"As a matter of fact," she said tersely, attempting to interrupt their newfound camaraderie, "I am."

Both of them paused to look at her with wide eyes, before falling down on themselves with peals of laughter. And for the second time that evening, she wasn't sure whether to be offended or amused. From an outsider's standpoint, she supposed that it was quite…incongruent. The thought of her and Nii-sama was…well…ludicrous. Rationally, she could even understand her friends' reactions.

Except she wasn't feeling rational.

Maybe coming straight here from her meeting with the Kuchiki clan wasn't such a great idea.

She stared at the sake flask in front of her.

Maybe drinking so much in such a short amount of time wasn't such a great idea either.

And their laughter wasn't helping.

How could they be laughing when inside she felt—

"Stop it," she said softly, her hands tightening around the flask. Their laughter was making it hard for her to think.

And she had to think. She had to think about this.

Not knowing if they heard her, she looked down on them as they sat gasping on the floor. Laughing. At her. At her upcoming marriage. At the very idea of her marriage.

She wiped her suddenly dry mouth.

She had just agreed to marry Nii-sama and the effects of her decision had only started to make itself felt. Her hands shaking, she placed the sake flask on the table and stared at her friends.

If her friends could hardly believe her, what would the rest of Soul Society think?

"Stop it!" she said again, louder this time. "Stop laughing."

What had she gotten herself into? Her whole body started to shake and she stared at her now clammy hands. She closed her eyes and leaned forward against the table. Things were getting a little bit…wobbly.

"Ne, Rukia, are you alright?" Ichigo's voice penetrated her senses.

She opened her eyes to see the blurry faces of her friends. "I think," she began softly, licking her lips, "I think I'm going into shock," she told them as calmly as she could.

"Damn, Rukia!" Ichigo's voice came in low, "Have you eaten anything at all today?"

She shook her head, feeling like the whole room was shaking with it. "Didn't have time," she slurred. "Had an important appointment with Nii-sama this afternoon." She shook her head again in a vain attempt to clear it. "We're to be married. Have I mentioned that, yet?" she asked before fainting dead to the world.

Silence greeted her last statement before the two Shinigamis were galvanized into action. Lifting the sleeping girl up, Ichigo motioned for Renji to clear the futon where he then placed Rukia to rest. He felt her forehead and listened to her even breathing.

"I think she's fine," he said curtly. "Just exhausted." He cursed. "How many of these flasks did she get to?"

Renji eyed the table before responding, "Four, I think."

"That's…that's a lot for her," Ichigo observed. "Usually, she doesn't even finish one."

"Ah," Renji agreed.

"Maybe we should call Hanatarou, just in case," he said, scratching his head.

"Ah," Renji concurred.

But no one moved. Instead, they both stared at Rukia as her last words replayed in both their heads.

"Do you think—" Renji began.

"No!" he denied quickly, vehemently. "No, I don't think," he repeated.

"You don't even know what I was going to ask," Renji protested.

"Yes, I did," he replied. "And the answer is still 'No!'"

He could feel Renji's eyes boring at him, but he refused to meet his gaze. He felt his friend move away before he looked up.

"I'm going to get Hanatarou," he told him. "Stay with Rukia 'til I get back."

And with that he was gone.

Leaving Ichigo alone with his thoughts and the sleeping girl.

Had an appointment with Nii-sama this afternoon. We're to be married. Have I mentioned that, yet?

He tried to block the words that so casually rolled off her tongue.

We're to be married. Have I mentioned that, yet?

"Rukia," he whispered softly. "This better be one of your damn jokes."

Renji flew through the rooftops of Seireitei, his mind constantly replaying the scene in his apartment. No matter what Ichigo said, he had this choking feeling—

He swallowed the thought. He wasn't going to think about it. In fact, he refused to think about it. Not now. Not until he was sure.

He clenched his fists.

It appears that I'm to be married.

He could still hear her voice. He could still remember the momentary surprise followed by the utter, utter panic that took hold of him once her words registered in his brain. In all the years he had known her, hadn't he always dreaded those words coming out of her mouth? Wasn't that the reason why he had never even considered the fact that she might have been joking?

And Ichigo had been right about one thing. If Rukia had been seeing anyone, they would have both known. What's more, he had a pretty good feeling that they would have both done something about it. Nothing drastic, mind you. Just kick the guy around a little. And let him know his place. Because…because…Rukia belonged to them.

For now.

There was an unspoken agreement between him and Ichigo. While both of them were aware of each other's feelings for a certain 13th division lieutenant, both had also been aware of the precarious nature of their relationship with each other. These past few years, they had all enjoyed a peaceful camaraderie punctuated by good-natured rivalry. And in the middle of it all was Rukia.

Rukia, who saw them both as friends. Rukia, whom they both dared not approach with anything else for fear of ruining the delicate balance between the three of them.

He clenched his jaw.

If his captain thought—

He landed outside Hanatarou's doorstep and proceeded to knock impatiently.

"Hai!" he could hear the fourth division Shinigami call out inside before the door was opened. "Abarai-san!" he exclaimed. "Is there anything I can help you with?" he asked.

"I need you to go to my place," he replied tersely, impatiently. "Take a quick look at Rukia."

"Eh?" he gasped. "Is there something wrong with Rukia-san?" he asked, concern etched on his features.

And for a moment, Renji wondered bitterly if Hanatarou was another one of Rukia's conquests.

"Nothing to worry about," he snapped, before attempting to soften his tone. They did need the him, after all. "But check just in case."

"Of course, Abarai-san!" the medic replied eagerly. "I'll head over there right now." He paused, obviously noting Renji's lack of movement. "Aren't you going with me, Abarai-san?" he asked, perplexed.

"I'll follow you in a bit," he replied, looking at the dark horizon. "There's something I need to check out first." And with that, he left the medic and headed for the noble house of Kuchiki.

Darkness had fallen when he found his lieutenant in his office. The servants had informed him of his presence just after dinner. To say that he was surprised would have been a lie. He had known the exact moment Renji had stepped foot in Kuchiki property. He had been expecting it the moment Rukia had agreed to the marriage.

And now, as he stared at the mutinous eyes of his second-in-command, he wondered how best to handle a wounded dog.

"Captain Kuchiki," he was greeted once he entered his office.

"Was there something you needed, Renji?" he asked, knowing full well what the Shinigami came for.

He waited as Renji seemed to struggle for words.

"I…I wanted to—" he paused, before looking up at him searchingly. There was an air of uncertainty in his address.

Byakuya looked at him closely. Surely Rukia had informed Renji already of what was to take place? Hazarding a guess, he commented, "I see you must have spoken to Rukia." After the slightest of pauses, he continued, "Where is my betrothed, by the way? I had thought her with you and Kurosaki."

He watched as his lieutenant's eyes widened at his words.

He tsked. "Surely Rukia has told you by now," he stated, strangely bothered by the possibility that she hadn't.

"She…she did," Renji replied.

Although from his tone, Byakuya surmised that his lieutenant might have had trouble believing her.

"I…I've come to relay my…congratulations," Renji bit out.

"My thanks then," he said, eying the obviously surprised man by his side. "For that matter, where is Rukia?" he asked curiously.

"She's with Ichigo," came the abrupt answer. "I just stopped by here on my way back from picking something up."

"I see," responded. And he did. His vice-captain had come here to confirm something. "Well then, if there is no other business," his voice drifted.

"None, sir," he replied. "I'll be on my way."

Byakuya nodded, dismissing him. He watched as Renji practically ran out of his office.

Perhaps he should have been kinder. He knew his lieutenant, knew of his feelings for his adopted sister. He had known since that day at the Shinigami Academy when he had interrupted the meeting between Rukia and the Kuchiki clan. He had made it his business to know all there was to know about Renji Abarai when he took him as his vice-captain. He even knew Renji's deep-seated desire to surpass him in every way even before Renji himself informed him of that goal. In the end, he even knew why Renji had been so determined, so one-track minded when it came to his training.

And it all had to do with Rukia.

Renji ran as fast as his legs would take him away from the Kuchiki House. In his mind, he could hear his captain's word echoing loudly and repeatedly.

Where is my betrothed?

Damn him, and damn Rukia!

We're to be married.

He tried to block the words but they kept pounding into his brain. What had possessed her to agree to a marriage with that cold fish?

Thinking back to Rukia's condition when he left her, his anger rose up full force. Was that why she had drunk the sake like there was no tomorrow? Was the thought of her upcoming nuptials that abhorrent to her? If so, then why did she agree to it?

What the hell had she been thinking? It was one thing to get adopted to the family, but quite another to marry into it.

He cursed and cursed and cursed under his breath, trying to release the pent-up frustration he had felt at having to calmly listen to Captain Kuchiki ask for his betrothed. If it wasn't for the years of discipline drilled into him by the sixth division captain himself, he was afraid he would have actually rammed his fist against that smug face instead of relaying his stilted congratulations.

He paused from his run, breathing deeply and looking up to the sky.

He had just congratulated his captain on his upcoming marriage. He had just congratulated the man responsible for taking Rukia away not once, but twice! Gods, he was such a fool! He smashed his fist against the nearest wall. He felt the pain shoot up from his knuckles and up his arm and watched as the blood dripped silently onto the street.

Ichigo blinked in surprise when he saw not only Hanatarou but Inoue as well standing by the door.

"Ichigo-san," bowed the short Shinigami weakly. "I passed by Orihime-san on the way here and she insisted on joining us."

"Kurosaki-kun!" greeted Inoue. "I heard that Kuchiki-san might be in trouble so I thought I'd come to help!"

Ichigo winced. Rukia was going to kill him for this.

"Heh," he muttered, scratching his head. There was going to be so much hell to pay if this got around. "I'm pretty sure we don't need two seated officers from the fourth division for this," he told them as he tried to block them from entering the premises.

"Eh?" Inoue's voice rose up a notch.

"Abarai-san mentioned that Rukia-san needed me to check on her," protested Hanatarou.

He closed his eyes from the headache that he could see this would bring. "Alright," he said, "but if word of this got out, I'm coming after both of you."

"Eh?"

He dragged both shinigamis inside and mentally kicked himself for not putting away all the sake flasks. He could almost see the thoughts that danced between the two medics' heads as they both faced him.

"Ne, Kurosaki-kun," Inoue looked at him accusingly. "Did you and Abarai-kun get Kuchiki-san drunk?"

"Hey!" he protested indignantly. "I didn't force the sake down her throat! She did this all on her own!"

Inoue approached him like a vengeful mother hen and pointed a finger at his chest. "Kuchiki-san is not the type to get drunk," she declared. She frowned. "What have you and Abarai-kun done now that she had thought to drown her sorrows on alcohol?"

"Nothing!" he roared defensively. "I tell you she did this on her own."

"Ano," came Hanatarou's voice.

He looked at the said medic, surprised to find that he had already began to detoxify the passed out Rukia.

"If we could just talk more softly," Hanatarou said quietly. "Rukia-san might have a headache when she wakes up."

Giving him one last glare, Inoue walked towards Rukia and leaned down to help. "What happened here?" she finally deigned to ask.

Ichigo shrugged. "I don't know. One minute she was talking some nonsense and the next thing we knew, she'd fainted."

"It is probably a combination of the fast intake of the alcohol, Rukia-san's slight frame, and the fact that she hasn't had dinner that resulted in this," Hanatarou said matter-of-factly.

"You can tell she hasn't had dinner?" asked Ichigo.

But Inoue grabbed at one tidbit of information. "Talking nonsense?" she asked. "What nonsense?"

"Che," he muttered. "Just nonsense," he said again. Because that's all they were. Nonsense, right?

Inoue looked at him curiously.

"It's nonsense, I tell you," he said. "Rukia was just trying to get a rise of out Renji." He forced a laugh. "And of course that fool fell for it."

"Oh?" her head tilted. "What did Kuchiki-san say?" she asked.

"Some idiotic thing about getting married," he told them. Maybe if he voiced it out loud, the utter ridiculousness of it all would be more obvious. "To Byakuya no less," he added. "Can you imagine?"

Inoue frowned.

"Actually," Hanatarou's voice came through.

He looked at the medic.

"Never mind," he finished off, shaking his head, before standing up.

"Hanatarou-kun?" Inoue prompted. "What were you about to say?"

"Eh-heh-heh," he laughed awkwardly. "Nothing important, Orihime-san."

"No," interrupted Ichigo. "You were going to say something." He scowled. "Spit it out."

"Eh…you see," he began, "before I went home tonight, I happened upon Captain Ukitake and Captain Unohana." He scratched his head. "It seemed that Captain Ukitake had just had a meeting with Captain Kuchiki and," his voice drifted off.

"And," Ichigo bit out. He had a feeling he wasn't going to like this.

"And it seems that Captain Kuchiki had told Captain Ukitake about his pending marriage," he paused, "to the thirteenth division vice-captain."

"But," Inoue's voice broke through, "but the thirteenth division vice-captain is—"

"Me," Rukia's voice came loud and clear.

To be continued.
more author's note: I wanted to thank everyone who's read and taken the time to review. Honestly, due to the shortage of B x R out there, I wasn't sure if there really was any interest in this. But i'm glad you all enjoyed and i hoped you liked it as much as i did writing it. Again, thanks!