Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach unless it is in the form of Sodium Hypochlorite.

Previously:

'So Kuchiki-san will you walk with me,' asked the samurai as he reached for her knowing she couldn't refuse him.

Chapter Three: Hide and Seek

'I don't think that Kuchiki-san wants to go with you,' came a voice from behind Rukia, making the samurai freeze in mid-motion. Rukia turned to see Ichigo step out of the shadows into the moonlight towards them wearing a scowl. The samurai visibly paled as Ichigo walked up to him with one hand on the hilt of his sanpakto.

'Kuchiki-san, did you want to go with this samurai,' voiced Ichigo lightly while staring at the samurai daring him to say something.

'No,' she said figuring that the samurai would not push the matter in Ichigo's presence. What about Ichigo has this samurai so unnerved she thought as the samurai tried to regain his composure.

'Kurosaki-fukutaichou, what are you doing here?' the samurai forced out trying to sound of some importance.

'That's none of your business,' said Ichigo, 'I will escort Kuchiki-san?' Rukia nodded when he looked at her asking for permission, 'You do not need to be here now,' he continued when the samurai hesitated. That was all that was needed to send the samurai scuttling back to the pavilion.

Ichigo turned back to Rukia who was trying to frown at him. 'You didn't have to be so mean,' she said, the frown was replaced with a small grin, 'But he almost looked like he had seen a ghost when you appeared hahaha,' she laughed. 'Oh I would have paid good money to see his face again hahaha,' she gasped. Ichigo chuckled looking smug. She straightened up growing serious. 'Why did you scare him away? It's not like you were obligation to.'

'You looked like you really didn't want him around,' he shrugged, 'Do they all act like that?' Rukia sighed.

'Most of them are idiots just interested in the chase and don't really care about what happens to me,' She sighed again, 'I hate that,' her voice grew quite, 'But you can't do anything about it except refuse every idiot which tries to be a suitor.'

Ichigo wasn't expecting this from someone who was rumoured to be the biggest tease out of the ladies in-waiting. He felt slightly sorry for her. It wasn't even like she had asked for the stupid suitors.

'So you come out here to avoid that,' jerking his thumb at the pavilion, 'in there?'

'Yes. I have gotten to know that tree very well, she said indicating the willow with a wave of her hand.

The sound of laughter and giggling could be heard coming along the pathway.

'Kurosaki-kun,' called a wobbly female voice, 'where are you?'

'Quick in here,' hissed Ichigo pulling her into the overhanging leaves of the willow.

'Who is it,' Rukia whispered noticing Ichigo scowling heavily.

'I swear I saw him here a couple of minute ago Orihime,' whined the voice of one of the ladies in-waiting sounding quite drunk. 'Where did Kurosaki-kun gooo,' giggled Orihime sounding equally drunk. Rukia watched as they stumbled along the path giggling and calling out 'Kurosaki-kun' in what they obviously thought were whispers.

Rukia shook her head watching them disappear around the corner. Ichigo looked in the direction that the women had disappeared not knowing if he should be amused or annoyed that they had come looking for him. Rukia thought it would be best not to ask if Ichigo had been in the gardens hoping to avoid them. Instead she said, 'Well it seems that we are the only sensible people able to have a conversation,' trying to distract Ichigo as he looked to be staring into space.

'Yeah it seems that way,' he replied in a monotone, 'we'd best go back,' Rukia nodded and they walked back to the pavilion in silence.

Surprisingly none of Rukia's suitors approached her as she entered with Ichigo. Rukia spotted Rangiku and Momo with Orihime who didn't look to be in a good mood.

'Goodnight Kuchiki-san,' said Ichigo formally, bowing to her.

'Goodnight Kurosaki-kun,' said Rukia bowing back to him, 'until next time,' she added. Ichigo just nodded before turning and walking away. Rukia looked over to her friends to see them descend on her.

'Rukia,' drawled Rangiku huskily, 'what were you doing monopolising the most wanted man in the room?' This comment did nothing to improve the look on Orihime's face in fact, it did the reverse. Rukia knowing she wouldn't have peace until she told them what had happened, quickly outlined what had occurred, leaving out much of the conversation and hiding from Orihime and her friend. Rangiku looked disappointed that there was nothing scandalous that she could gossip about. Orihime had gone back to looking mildly unhappy and Momo just looked relieved that her friend had been saved from a very unwanted suitor. The night quickly came to a end and Rukia was glad to be able go to bed. She had expected more suitor to come and try to talk to her but they kept their distance though she did notice they in bunches talking and shooting looks first at her then at Ichigo.

Rukia was restless and unable to sleep. Frustrated she sat up, throwing off the covers. She quickly changed and grabbed a slim silk bag from the depths of her cupboard. Her now socked feet made no noise on the wooden floorboards as she glided along the deserted corridors of the place. In on hand she held her shoes and the other the silk bag which held her tessen, a battle fan normally restricted to be used by samurai. Rukia had come to the realisation soon after her first experience of court that she should be able to defend herself if she needed to. So she had settled on the tessen as weapon of choice. By changing the silk on the arms of the arms of the tessen it looked almost indistinguishable from all the other ladies in-waiting fans. The metal ribs of the fan had been sharpened to a fine point making it quite a deadly weapon in the hands of a person who knew how to use it.

Doing everything in silence, least anyone catch her, Rukia stretched and started going through exercises she had copied from watching the samurai train. Just as she was coming to the most difficult part of the exercises she heard footsteps approaching. Hopping from one foot to the other as she took of her shoes she ran across the beaten dirt of the practice court to hide. She waited as the footsteps stopped and then she heard the shuffling of feet against the dirt floor. Someone is training at this time of nigh. What idiot would train at this time? She smiled to herself as she mentally hit herself. Idiot that's exactly what your doing Rukia. There was no other option but to sit cramped up and frozen in place waiting for who ever was training to stop. An hour passed and Rukia's feet went numb. Finally the person had left she stood and almost fell as her leg collapsed beneath her, the feeling now returning with a vengeance in the form of pins and needles. She walked back to her room grumbling and extremely curious about who had interrupted her training. She fell into a dreamless sleep still pondering who it was.

Thank you to SplitToInfinity for the idea to continue the story. I had a writing block trying to resolve the plot. Thank god for reviews. See … they really do help so it's no excuse to not write a review just because you think that what you have to say isn't valued. It is! So please take the time out of your life to write me a review. Thanks!

SeraphinaDonna