Here is the next chapter! Again this chapter may seem slow, but it will build up. Thanks for all the favorites and follows from the first chapter! Please read, review and enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or its characters

Chapter 1: Winding the Thread

3 years later

A sliver of light ran across the room, cutting across the pale face of a girl no older than eighteen. The young lady started to stir with the disruption of the light inside the dark room. Groaning softly, she pushed back the covers, detesting the sun for its reminder it was time to get up.

I was not able to sleep last night. I wish how I could just sleep the day away. Or even the rest of my life…

Slowly standing up, she padded her way towards a tall mirror placed in the corner of her room. Rukia nearly groaned out loud about her appearance. Her raven hair was tousled and full of knots. Her nightgown was wrinkled, its size too large for her petite size, causing it to fall off one shoulder. Unconsciously combing her fingers through the tangled mess of her hair, Rukia couldn't help but wonder if she could ever cut it again, and avoid its unpleasant antics.

No, she quickly chided, Nii-sama would never let me go back to my short hair. After all it wasn't noble custom to have short hair and appear as a boy. It might have been alright a few years ago, back when she was a child, uncared for her appearance and status. But now she was older, a young woman, a noble woman.

And they wanted her to look like one too.

Fiddling with the tangled ends, Rukia came to the conclusion that she didn't completely hate long hair. There were so many styles her maids could do allowing her to stay up top standards with society's current fashion. And she had to admit she liked some of those styles. It was just she didn't want to be part of the almighty noble scheme. No, she wanted something completely different. Something that most people wouldn't understand or care for her desire.

Kuchiki Rukia wanted freedom.

Sadly that was taken from her three years ago with that unfortunate incident. The petite woman visibly cringed as she remembered when her brother had found out about her heroine adventures, and his cold attitude towards her.

Not saying that Nii-sama wasn't never cold towards to her. Hell, Rukia would be in shock if Byakuya would ever say more than one sentence to her. It was the look in his eye that had scared her. His eyes were usually cool and collect, blending in perfectly with his solid, emotionless mask. Yet that time was different, she saw a crack in his usual perfect mask. She saw rage and fear.

Rukia never saw those emotions on him as long as she could remember. It had scared her to see such intense emotions from her only sibling. Though his voice was still cool and authoritative, his eyes were shinning in detest.

(Flashback)

"I'm very disappointed in you, Rukia." His monotone voice made her winced inside as she bowed low once more.

"I understand, Nii-sama."

"I do not believe you do understand. Do you have any idea what this could possibly reflect upon our clan, on our name? Do you have any thought of what this rumor could do to me?"

"I do realize the possible reprisals and I apologize greatly, Nii-sama." Rukia replied quietly, keeping her head down, her eyes shifting. Staring at her hands, her clothing, the floor, anywhere but looking her brother straight in the eye. She knew he was upset, and Rukia couldn't really protest about him scolding her. After all she did something that was deeply frowned upon in her society.

Doesn't mean I'll ever regret what I did. I'm thankful for all the time I could help others.

"Do you understand, Rukia?" Byakuya's sharp tone cut into her thoughts.

"I apologize for whatever shame I brought upon our clan, the name of Kuchiki, or whatever shame I brought upon you, Nii-sama. I was only doing what I felt was right. Even as a noble I cannot turn away from those in need."

Byakuya raised an eyebrow as he measured his sister's sincerity. Though they were able to keep the truth about her fighting Hollows within the heads of the family, other rumors have spread in the truth's place. The disgraceful gossips of her immersing herself in with those lower than them had increased among the other families quickly.

In order to protect his clan he had to publicly announce the dismissal of the rumors, and with this he will take whatever measures in order for these ridiculous scandals to not start again. This includes doing what he believes is best for his young sister, even if she does not agree.

"I know you for your kind, open heart. Yet, that is not the problem. You are a noble, a high figure in society and even though you are only fifteen, marriage proposals will soon be upon you. We must not do anything to endanger a fine match in welcome marriage."

Rukia resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Though she was still a few good years off from the respectable marriage age, she knew she wouldn't get many suitors anyway. Other nobles didn't want her part of her family, and she was completely fine with it. Rukia just wished her brother would not drone on about it.

"Besides marriage, fighting alone is an unheard calamity of someone of your status. I might have allowed for you to learn simple skills in order to protect yourself. I did not however give you permission to leave the city's walls and start attacking Hollows."

Anger rose inside of her, as he brother started accusing her of fighting Hollows as it was a game. Lowering her voice, Rukia answered him with the utmost sincerity, "I only fought Hollows to protect others. Those poor people in the surrounding villages of Seireitei can never defend themselves. I was taught to always help others and I did that. Yes, I might have snuck out of the city to do so, but I did it for-"

"Enough!" Rukia jumped at the sharpness of his tone. Looking up, she immediately regretted staring into those cold grey eyes. She felt frozen in her spot, finding it harder to breath with each passing moment. The hard, raw of emotions of rage and disappointment stared her down, as she saw a flicker of an almost unrecognizable emotion hiding behind those slits of grey.

Was that fear?

"I care not for your excuses. You should have never left the city walls to begin with, and I will personally see you will never be allowed to follow those foolish notions of yours once more."

"What are you saying?" She said, breathing slowly, using all her will to push down her conflicting feelings.

"I'm saying you will never be able to leave the estate without my permission, and will not appear anywhere without the strictest protection and escort. The time has come for you and your simple-mindedness to understand that you are a Kuchiki and you will become a great noble without any more interruptions."

Fighting back the anger and sadness storming inside, Rukia glanced back down, her voice barely audible. "Please…"

Her brother ignored her pleas, his attention gathered elsewhere. "No more. Go back to your room."

Rukia quietly left his study, and she did not let the tears flow until she was in the sanction of her room. That was the first night she let herself cry to sleep.

(End Flashback)

Being forbidden to ever leave the mansion again without an escort, being treated like a criminal, Rukia found she could only take so much. After the incident of three years ago, Byakuya held his word true, and she never even had the possibility of sneaking out anymore. She had tried once to simply leave the mansion one night, but she was stopped outside her room. Since then her brother never trusted her to be alone much at all. He even went as far by placing guards outside her rooms and doubled the guards around the Kuchiki mansion so she couldn't even consider the idea of escaping.

Though solitude is something she used to enjoy, there is only so much pleasure someone can get from being trapped within empty, lonely walls, years passing by as a blur.

I'm trapped. And I'll be trapped until I die of old age she thought bitterly, or when I marry. The last thought made the raven haired woman shudder. She would rather accept the first fate instead of being married to those people who have the gull to call themselves humans.

A small rapping on her bedroom door pulled Rukia from her inner turmoil. "Kuchiki-san? Are you awake? Do you need any help dressing for today?"

Rukia rolled her eyes and bit back a retort at the maid's insistence to 'help' her get ready. Who was she supposed to get ready for? Somehow having the agenda of staring at the wall hardly ever required some fancy clothes.

"No, I'm fine Minna-san. I can dress myself today."

"Are you sure, my lady? I can help fix your hair, and pick out a lovely ki-"

"Yes, I'm fine." Rukia said, coldness lacing through her words. The woman was silent a moment before murmuring her pardons as she began shuffling away. If the petite noble was ever taught anything these past three years, it was the Kuchiki's coldness. Like her brother she was becoming a master at the cold, aloof behavior they were known for.

Sighing in annoyance, Rukia slowly started changing, not caring overtly of how she would appear. If anyone would visit her today, it would be her brother, and besides seeing him during dinner, she barely saw the man.

Not that I care to see him. The only pleasure I hope to ever get to seeing him is if he lives with what hell he has put me through. Then he can suffer at my…

Pulled from her cursing of her only sibling, Rukia's eyes turned soft as her fingers softly traced the long, faded scar that ran over her right shoulder, down towards the middle of her back. She saw the scar every day when she dressed, but it always made her pause and stare.

Three years, hmmm. Seems like a lifetime ago, she thought sadly as she kept tracing the scar. It was the one thing she had to remember that night. That damn Hollow left a pretty deep scar, but Rukia didn't seem to mind it anymore.

After all it is what she had to remember those days when she could fight, when she could help, protect others. All she had of him.

Him. That bright orange-haired jerk, who couldn't help but keep calling her names. Yes, she will admit she is short, that fact hasn't change all this time. But it doesn't mean the Carrot-Top had any right to say it out loud.

Yet, despite his hard-ass attitude, he had a different side, a deeper side. A similar connection she shared. The deep inner sense to protect. He only fought the Hollow to protect his family, even odder he protected her, a stranger.

Rukia visibly winced as the sudden pounding of a headache drown out her reminiscing. It was always up to the point of where he had picked up her sword that she remembered. After that, her memory is completely blank; only a deep pounding in its place.

Rukia never found out exactly what happened the rest of the night. It was obvious that someone found her and brought her home, since that is where she woke up the next morning. Her sword had returned as well, not that Rukia has been able to wield it once more. Yet, her longing questions still have not been answered these past years.

Was he okay? Did he defeat the Hollow? Did he…survive?

Rukia prayed to god that he was still alive. She already had the heavy burden of having him protect her when it was her job to protect him. Could she survive knowing it was her weakness that he died? No, the grief and regret would be too much for her to bear.

I have failed to protect before, and if I lost him to my insecurities and flaws, then I don't deserve a life that he should still have.

Driving back her feelings, Rukia quietly finished dressing, pushing away all thoughts of him. Placing her hair up in a simple style, she made her way to the other room located in her room. This one actually led to the outside, but before she could even go out two feet, two guards were already near her, in case she ever thought to leave grounds.

Ignoring their hard glares, Rukia walked out of her room, relishing the soft grass on her bare feet. Not caring about her appearance or what the suspicious guards thought of her, she kept wandering further out into the small garden that was located on the back side of the Kuchiki main manor.

The raven-haired woman stopped walking a few feet from the concrete wall that separated her from the rest of the world. Slowly reaching out her hand, she allowed her mind to relish in her last thoughts for one more moment.

Placing the hand against the wall, Rukia allowed a small, unfamiliar smile to appear. "I wonder what happen to you…Kurosaki Ichigo."

"Why are we here, again?"

"Well I'm here to see my friend, and you are here to be my escort of course!"

"I still don't understand why I have to be dragged along." A deep sigh escaped the young man as the couple approached the familiar and over-decorated entrance to the Kuchiki manor. The guards in front glared coldly at the newcomers while the short white-haired man felt annoyed with their coldness. If he had any common sense on why he was standing outside the Kuchiki estate, then he would turn around right away. That would be the case if his fiancée wasn't clinging to his arm and practically dragged him the whole way to their destination.

Ignoring the cold glances, the brown-haired woman gave a beaming smile and nudged her companion. He sent her a glare, which she also ignored. Stepping forward, he cleared his throat, "Histugaya Toshiro and Hinamori Momo have come to call upon the Kuchiki mistress."

One guard stepped forward and bowed to them. "I am afraid the Lord is not expecting any visitors, Lord Histugaya."

"That's why we are here to see his sister!" Momo piped up, not caring for the guard's answer. Toshiro let out another sigh, knowing well enough Momo wasn't going to back down easily.

"I know that Lord Kuchiki is busy and we are not here to disrupt his schedule," He said coolly, "Yet, I doubt his sister, Lady Rukia, has much business to attend to. My fiancée wishes to meet with her friend."

The guards glanced at each other, knowing full well they couldn't ignore a request from a noble, even if he was not their employer. Opening the main entrance, one guard led the couple through winding hallways of the main manor.

"I will have to inform the Lord of your arrival."

Toshiro nodded in understanding, "Very well, if we are disturbing, we will make our visit short."

Momo gasped at him and gave him a soft glare. "I'm not here for a short visit, Shiro." The guard chuckled lightly and nodded his head to Toshiro.

"This is Lady Kuchiki's room. Please enjoy your visit." With that the guard disappeared down the long hallway. Momo eyed the man leave and gave a deep sigh before turning towards the white-haired man.

"I do not like all these guards, Shiro. It seems the number has increased since last time I visited." Brown eyes met green, before the male broke contact to stare off the side.

"Maybe she tried running again," he mumbled quietly, and all Momo could do was nod slowly in agreement. After another moment of silence, she walked up and knocked lightly on the door.

The door slid opened and they were greeted by an older woman, most likely Rukia's maid. She bowed deeply to both of them before leading them across the barren room and down another hallway. Like Byakuya's rooms, Rukia had several rooms designated as 'her room.' Momo was surprised each time to find more rooms than she remembered not seeing before.

"My mistress is currently in the gardens," The maid explained as Toshiro and Momo followed her quietly. It only took them a few more moments before they reached the final room, which led out to the courtyard. "Please make yourselves comfortable."

Bowing once more, she exited the room. As soon as she was gone, Momo quickly bounded out of the room and outside, running full speed at the short figure at the end of the garden.

"Rukia!"

Said person turned around quickly before being tackled to the ground with someone squeezing the life out of her. "M-momo…what are you doing here?" She asked in between breaths as Momo hugged her tighter.

"Oh Rukia! I missed you so much. Look at you, you're so pale! You need to get out a lot more." Rukia resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the 'pale' comment. Her skin was already natural pale and that would never change. Yet, she allowed a ghost smile to grace her lips at her friend's worrying. It felt good to have someone who was actually worried about her well-being and happiness.

Hinamori Momo was her only friend that her brother still allowed her to talk with. From a lower rank house, Momo was sweet and kind but only knew the Kuchiki's through her betrothed since childhood, Toshiro. Since their first meeting, despite being on opposite ends of the scale of personalities, Momo and Rukia have became really close.

Now, Momo was Rukia's only chance of being part of the outside world, beyond those walls.

"What are you doing here, Momo?" The violet eye woman asked again as she eyed both her friend and her hesitant fiancé who stayed near the house.

Clapping her hands together, the brown-haired woman smiled brightly, "I'm here to see you, silly. And to get your spirits up."

Surprised, Rukia raised her eyebrows in curiosity. How did Momo expected to lift up her spirits? It wasn't that Rukia did not enjoy her surprise visits. No, Momo couldn't help her with the one thing she wanted, freedom.

"Oh, don't give me that dull look."

"I did not give you such a look."

"Yes, you did. Don't even bother Rukia. I have memorized all your expressions!" Impossible, Rukia thought glaring at her friend. Even though they were close, that didn't mean Momo could read beyond her mask. No one, not even her brother could crack it.

Except that one time…

Pushing her thoughts aside, the black-haired woman watched the other. "I am curious, though. How will you lift my spirits then?" She asked her voice low as in a challenge. When Momo put her hand under her chin in order to think, Rukia had to resist sighing out loud. She knew Momo didn't really have an answer.

"I know!" Momo shouted suddenly causing Rukia to jump. Intense, determined brown eyes met hers and Rukia felt herself somewhat nervous. Wait, why am I nervous, she angrily thought, this is Momo were talking about. She'll probably want to try on new clothes or…

"Let's go see the markets outside of Seireitei!"

What the hell…

"W-what in the world are you talking about, Momo?" Rukia asked her voice shaking. She surely couldn't have heard that right.

The brown-haired woman pouted and pointed behind Rukia at the wall, or what was beyond it. "Let's go out there! I haven't ever been the shops near the villages and I heard they are amazing."

"Are you nuts?!" Rukia shouted, quickly covering her mouth as her eyes roamed over to the side where a pair of guards watched her suspiciously from her outburst. Taking a deep breath, she lowered her voice, her anger still evident though. "What are you going on about? You know we can't go out there. Well you, possibly. But for me, I cannot even leave the manor!"

Momo simply smiled, which made Rukia more concerned. "I know you can't leave."

"Then why are you proposing such absurd ideas?"

"They are not absurd, because that is what we are doing." Rukia simple shook her head, wondering if the other woman was sick or something.

Surely she must be ill if she doesn't remember I haven't left the manor in almost three years. Right?!

"Momo…"

Her friend smiled once more, winking quickly at Rukia. "Trust me," She said quietly, her head tipping to the side towards the guards. "Come tomorrow, and you'll be out among others, with normal people." With that she skipped her way back to Toshiro who was also eyeing her suspiciously. Rukia watched as they exchange a few words before Momo turned and waved while Toshiro bowed.

Bowing quickly back, her violet eyes followed their disappearing figures while her heart seemed to start battling with her mind. The mind was capable of making it clear that Momo was just having another insane notion. But her heart jumped and warmed at the chance to be possibly outside once again.

Is it even possible? Am I getting my hopes up for nothing? I thought I had chances before, but they always failed. What could Momo do that I, a Kuchiki heiress, could not?

For the second time that day, Rukia smiled as her heart slowly started opening up. "Maybe, just maybe I can have my chance after all…and then I could answer my questions from all these years."

Are you still alive…Ichigo…along with my last bit of life I seemed to have left with you so long ago.

(A/N) I hope you liked this chapter. This chapter focused mainly on Rukia, but Ichigo will be in the next chapter for sure and they will meet again soon! Till next chapter!