Thank you for those who reviewed! School is starting in less than a week for me so I'm trying to get out as many chapters as I can before that... but we'll see...

Chapter 3

Mossy walls, blue sheets, white pillow, white desk, and wooden drawers all neatly compacted into a solid little room. She sat on the bed and stared out the single window just above the bureau. That first night she had come into the inn, it was dark and by candle light, the halls seemed so eerie. But during the twilight like this, she could see how empty the room seemed despite the closed courters. She had brought nothing with her, she hadn't even been told about her leaving Seireitei till the night of the arrangement and had little time to even pull on her stockings or to change from her nightgown.

She remembered how as they pushed her out of the back entrance of the Kuchiki mansion, there was the lingering feeling of humidity from the late summer that year. The air had felt so tight and heavy as it tickled her skin. The clouds that night had been so thick, the moon was barely visible in the sky. The maid escorting her had made a comment about how there would most likely be thunder storms coming. She shuttered and unconsciously reached for her collar.

Slowly, she reached down under the collar of her new dress, something that Urahara had given her as a "welcoming gift" he had called it. She wore it alternately with her other dress as she constantly was washing her clothes. Between her new room, the kitchen, and the washroom out back, she rarely went anywhere else. Her fingers grazed over the texture of a leather thong that hung loosely around her neck. She was in Karakura…

There was a knock on the door. She stood to answer, opening to find Senna on the other end.

"Senna-san," Rukia said.

She smiled to her. "Urahara told me to call you down for dinner."

Rukia nodded her head and watched as Senna turned to leave, not bothering to see if she was following. She always came back late, around sunset or a bit later. Where she went, Rukia never questioned. But even though they had said those things on the first day, "I hope we get along well" and that sort of thing, it wasn't a lie, but not entirely true. Neither one made an effort to really "get along". They merely made the effort to co-exist.

"Kuchiki-san," Urahara slurred out, "Well, I hope you enjoy stew over rice."

"It's fine," Rukia said taking her seat beside Senna.

He nodded and placed her bowl down in front of her. Senna had already started eating, spoon sticking out of her mouth. It was strange, how during times like these, they're eyes never met. They see each other, but never do they look at each other.

"How was school Senna-san?" Urahara asked, giving no signs that he noticed the odd relationship of the two.

"It was good," Senna said with her usual smile.

Urahara nodded his head, turning his attention to Rukia who just aimlessly spooned at her dinner. He tilted his head, sandy hair falling across his face. He never wore his bucket hat at the table. When meals came around or he sat down to drink some tea around the third low bell, he always set his hat down on his lap. He didn't touch it till he had stood and was away from the table. He looked back over to Senna.

"And I don't suppose you ate while you were over at-,"

Senna threw her head back laughing. Spoon still in her mouth, Rukia looked over and was afraid she would accidentally choke herself. Like this, Senna always acted like this. Rukia smiled. She seemed so much a like a little child, bouncing and laughing and giggling.

"Of course I did," Senna admitted shamelessly, "They offered and I was hungry." She sucked a little on her spoon. "But I didn't eat too much, just a little."

Urahara nodded his head, turning his attention to Rukia.

"And you Kuchiki-san, it's almost been two weeks since you've arrived here on Karakura." Urahara stated as he put down his spoon into the bowl. "I'd ask what you think of our humble little island, but you've barely stepped foot out of your own room. Why is that?"

Rukia stopped prodding at her bowl.

"I wasn't aware I was allowed to," she mumbled under her breath.

Urahara raised a brow, his gray eyes questioning. "Of course you are Kuchiki-san. This is your home now, not a prison."

"I never said-,"

"Senna-san," Urahara cut in, "why don't you introduce Kuchiki-san to your friends? You remember how difficult it was to adjust to life here in Karakura."

Swallowing some of her rice, Senna nodded her head.

"Senna has very devoted friends," Urahara commented, "I'm sure you'll get along well with them."

And yet, it seemed like a lie. It was always that Kuchiki pride she had been taught that would keep her remaining silent. Otherwise she would have called him out on it.

There was a ring of the front bell and Urahara stood from his seat. Stepping away from the table he slid on his bucket hat and exited into the front where the desk and shop were located.

"I'm closed," Urahara could be heard saying from the kitchen. Then there was a pause and his voice changed to that playful tone. "Oh! What a pleasant surprise to be visited by you. Are you here for Senna-…?"

There was another pause as the other person spoke, too low to be audible from their distance. It was no secret that both Senna and Rukia were trying to listen in on who it could be coming this late to the Urahara inn.

"Oh, well, come in then." And Urahara's voice got closer, Rukia and Senna kept their attention on their bowls. "We were just eating dinner, would you like some tea?"

"No," A male's tone entered into the room. Rukia looked up, and saw a dark haired and spectacled boy had come in. His expression was hard and much too professional for his age. Something she could imagine of many people in the Kuchiki family to have. He seemed to notice Senna first and gave her a nod.

"Hello Senna-san," He said.

Senna's expression seemed to lighten as she gave a full wave.

"What brings you here Ishida-taichou?"

He adjusted his glasses as his eyes roamed around the room. Finally, they landed on Rukia.

"You must be Kuchiki Rukia," Uryuu said. Stepping closer to her, he extended a hand for her take.

She got the message and stood to her feet, giving him a firm grip.

"Yes," She nodded, "That would be me."

"I'm Ishida Uryuu, student council president of Karakura Secondary School." He reached over into the book bag he had been carrying across his shoulder. "I have your uniform and a document for you to sign."

"Uniform? A document? For what?" She asked.

He paused in his actions and gave her a questioning stare. "I thought you had been informed?"

She gave a sad smile as her eyes looked away. "I'm never really informed of anything Ishida-san."

Giving her a sympathetic look, he didn't dwell on her whisperings too long to answer.

"Well, you'll be attending Karakura Secondary School and almost all of the proper arrangements have been made. You just need your uniform and to sign an agreement sheet."

He handed her a nicely wrapped bundle, which she assumed was her uniform, along with a paper. She took both with both hands and set the bundle on the table. She skimmed over the paper he had handed her and read over its contents. It was simple things on adhering to school rules and regulations, uniform and dress code, understanding zero tolerance and such and so on.

"Alright, may I have a pen?" She asked, extending an open hand.

Uryuu nodded and pulled one from his book bag. After she signed at the bottom, she handed both back to him.

"Well," he said, putting the things back into his bag, "With this, you'll be able to start attending tomorrow."

"So soon?" Rukia asked, not expecting things to happen so quickly.

"Yes," Uryuu replied. "Things have to be done discretely and fast. People still haven't settled down about the lighthouse incident."

He eyed Urahara who gave a guilty grin.

"How would you expect that ship to have come in safely in the night without my lighthouse to guide them?" Urahara reasoned playfully.

Uryuu seemed agitated by his comment, but did an armature job at hiding it; as Rukia noted.

"You had the whole island talking about the lighthouse turning back on! Do you know how worried over half the students were last week?" Uryuu's tone of voice did little to help his already irritated expression. His teeth grit, but he quickly composed himself, standing straight and readjusting his glasses. "Anyways, Kuchiki-san, it has yet to be decided who, but you'll be meeting your teacher around ten tomorrow morning and he or she will be escorting you to class. Then at noon lunch, I'll give you a tour around the school facilities."

"Thank you for your effort," Rukia said diplomatically and gave a small bow.

Uryuu blushed, taken aback by the gesture. He cleared his throat and nodded, giving her a small bow in return.

"Well, I'll be taking my leave then."

He and Urahara left to the front.

"Thank you for stopping by," Urahara said.

Once the sound of the shoji door shut, there was a moment of silence as Urahara came back into the kitchen to see Rukia and Senna quietly eating their dinner.

"So Kuchiki-chan will be joining me in school," Senna suddenly said, "That's good."

She turned to give Rukia a smile, and all she could do was smile in return.

"It would seem so."

And it was silent once again.

Seven high bells rang through the island as Rukia sat in her room, staring at the gray and white uniform sitting on her bureau. After dinner, she had haphazardly thrown it there, just thinking that it'd be what she was going to wear the next day. It wasn't hideous, but she couldn't bring her eyes to wonder in that direction all night. Perhaps it was just that she was afraid of what the next day might bring. School… school in Karakura to be exact.

"I'll be going," Senna called from down stares just like she always did. Then there was a pause. "Good luck Kuchiki-chan."

Rukia couldn't help but smile at the encouragement. Then, sighing, she picked herself up and grabbed the uniform from atop her bureau. Heading down the stairs moments later, she was fully dressing in white blouse, gray pleated skirt, white socks, and red ribbon.

"Well, it isn't silk garments but it suits you Kuchiki-san," Urahara greeted with his usual snide remark.

"Are there any words of comfort you can give?" Rukia asked as she sat down to a cup of tea on the table.

"That would be out of my field Kuchiki-san. But if you're nervous, I'll let you know that this isn't the first time I've seen a Kuchiki in such a state. Don't feel ashamed."

Rukia did an intake of breath.

"Well I suppose that I'm lucky then," She said shakily.

He didn't say more and left the teapot in front of her, along with a bag. She looked up and saw that it was a blue-gray book bag.

"Another house warming gift let's say," He said smirking. Then he left the kitchen to open the shop for the day.

Slowly, she reached her hand over to take the bag off the table. It felt heavier than she would have expected and she opened the flap to see what was inside. Already, several pens, a notebook, and full lunch container had been placed inside. She smiled at such kindness.

She sat there, slowly drinking tea till she heard eight high bells ringing. Then she continued to drink tea till she ran out around the nine high bells, then needing to really use the restroom she left for the washroom. Coming out, she grabbed the bag from her chair. She stepped out into the front counter/shop.

"Are you ready to leave for your first day at school?"

Urahara had already sold a couple of his items with the first two hours of opening and was counting the money he had made. She nodded.

"Well, then you just follow this road here along the water side. You pass the docking shed and lighthouse and you won't be too far from the school. So as long as you follow that road down, then you should reach the facility in no time."

"Alright, thank you." Rukia adjusted her bag and stepped outside of the shoji door. Looking around, it was the first time she had seen the outside in the light and not through a screened window pane.

It was extremely sunny and warm despite is being almost the end of autumn. She shielded her eyes as she looked up to the cloudless sky, it blended almost perfectly with the blue of the ocean. She walked forward, feeling the dirt road through the soles of her shoes her breath couldn't seem to get used to the odd lightness of the air. Passing the dock, she was surprised how unkempt it looked in the daytime. In the dark, it sounded old, but not to the extent that she was seeing it as it was at that point.

Broken and molding wood, brittle and worn walls. The chains on the door looked as though it were about ready to fall. But she continued to walk past it, just like Urahara instructed. She could tell, this road was not walked on by most. It was secluded away from whatever else was here on the island. On one side was the ocean. Then on the other was a little ledge that led down to a strip of grass.

Coming up on the left, she could see as a tall stone gate with a plaque that read 'Karakura Secondary School'. And close by, there was much more activity around this area of the island as people walked in front of the gates with carts. Standing out front was a woman, hair pulled back in a bun. She was staring down at a clipboard with writing and papers as Rukia approached her.

"Excuse me, are you my sensei?"

The woman looked startle by her sudden appearance as she fumbled to keep hold of her clipboard.

"Oh, you must be the new student." She smiled politely.

Rukia looked up and nodded her head. She didn't miss how this teacher seemed skittish and unorganized, even if she acted so composed and charming.

"Well, there's no use in standing out here," She said. "Why don't we head on into the school classroom."

The teacher turned on her heals and walked into the gates, turning back every so often to make sure that Rukia was following behind her. She looked around herself. Dirt flooring seemed to surround the courtyard and around the entire school, the edges decorated by banyan trees that reached over the stone wall. It was empty. Not a surprise as ten high bells rang through the island, class was well in session.

Walking into the building, it was empty halls, but the sound of teachers teaching and high pitched student voices were filling vacancy. As they walked up the stairs to the second floor, she looked up to the teacher as she turned her head. Bringing a finger to her lips, it looked more like a suggestion than a command. They continued up the steps and made a turn. The sign on the first classroom on the left had a sign above saying '2-D'. At the door, it didn't take much to know that it was most likely chaos inside.

"The students are really nice," the teacher assured her, as though sounding like she needed to assure herself of that fact.

Sliding the door open, a paper ball went flying into the chalkboard. The teacher sighed and walked in, immediately the students all quieted down. Placing her hands on the front podium, she rubbed her brow till all the students were in their seats.

"I see you all were having fun while I was out," she said with an irritated twinge to her voice. "Never mind, I'd like to give you all an announcement."

The whole class gave out a simultaneous moan and Rukia stiffened as she stood outside.

"Hush," the teacher shushed. "Alright, I want you all to not make a big ruckus."

"Aw Sensei," One of the students called out. "Just tell us, no stalling."

Rukia saw from the door as the sensei let her head drop into her hands. The students in the classroom started talking, speaking loudly and making exactly what the teacher hadn't wanted them to do – making a ruckus. There was loud laughter as the teacher tried to calm them all down. Several paper airplanes went flying over her head and she ducked, letting out a small yelp. Feeling the teacher's frustration, Rukia pushed her shoulders back, stood straight, and took a step into the classroom. It wasn't overly exaggerated or dramatic. She didn't even make a sound as she placed a foot through the entrance. But the moment her body entered into the room, the whole room fell into silence.

The teacher looked up, surprised at the sudden lack of noise. Seeing as all of the students had their attention on the girl who had just made her presence known, deep purple eyes shined a dark blue. Under everyone's attention, she was able to pick out Senna in the back, but their eyes passed over each other. She looked over everyone, even if they were her height just sitting. Standing there the way she was, she looked taller than she really was.

She took another step into the room. No one made a sound. Then she took another, and still the silence remained. Slowly, she walked in further till she was standing by the teacher's podium, her height small comparing. And still, no one said a word. The class didn't think why, but her entrance felt as though she demanded undivided attention. Even in her small stature, she felt and looked important.

Giving a polite – yet diplomatic – smile, she did a small dip of the head.

"I am Kuchiki Rukia," she said slowly, as though to be sure that they all could hear her name.

But no one really needed the leisure introduction, just the name Kuchiki was enough. Still it remained silent. And Rukia wasn't sure if it was out of fear or disinterest. But all the students in the room knew, just with a glance at each other, that they all thought the same thing: She was the reason the lighthouse had turned on that was absolutely no doubt.

"Oi, Kurosaki!"

Ichigo jolted up. Uryuu had just hit him with the attendance folder, a stern look on his face.

"Oh, Uryuu…" he said sleepily. He had been taking a nap as soon as the noon high and low bell rang. Rubbing his nose he gave a quirky smile. "Do you need help with that?"

"No Kurosaki," Uryuu sighed. "Senna-san is waiting outside."

"Oh, does she need something?" Ichigo asked.

Uryuu only stared at Ichigo and shook his head in disbelief.

"You really are an idiot."

"H-hey! I'm in Class A aren't I?" Ichigo reached out to smack Uryuu in the arm, but only lightly. "Anyway, I'll just go and see if she needs anything."

He stood and walked into the hall where Senna was leaning against the windows. She looked outside till she took notice of Ichigo coming out. Immediately she gave him a smile and did a jump in his direction.

"Hey Ichigo," She said giving him a double finger salute.

"Hey, you need something?" He asked her.

Her smile seemed to freeze as she brought her hand back down to her side. Lantern eyes wandered off for a moment before coming back.

"Umm… yes," she took a step back. "I forgot to bring my lunch today and I was hoping to get some of your's."

"Really, again?" His brows furrowed, and then he sighed. "Oh well, I guess it can't be helped. Wait here a moment."

As he turned in to grab his lunch, Uryuu was just coming out and they almost collided.

"Oh, Uryuu, where are you heading for lunch? Going to see Inoue-senpai?" Ichigo asked in genuine curiosity.

Uryuu readjusted his glasses and didn't bother to look at him.

"No Kurosaki, unlike you, when I go to vicariously spend my time with a girl, I am fully aware of my intentions and her's." He said, making a discrete reference to Senna standing just a few steps away.

"Wait what? She just forgot her lunch and-,"

"I don't need to hear your reasons Kurosaki, now if you'll excuse me. I have my own business to attend to." Uryuu adjusted his glasses one more time before making his way to the stairs.

Ichigo watched as Uryuu walked down, hand rubbing the back of his head, mouth crooked in thought. He shook off the remark made earlier.

"That Uryuu, just because he has top marks has to always act like such a business man with fancy phrases." He shrugged. "Ah well, wait here."

Senna, nodded her head, smiling just a little bigger now. When Ichigo came back out a moment later with his lunch bag in hand, Senna was already skipping half way down the hall in the direction away from the stairs. He hadn't seen where she was at first, so she called out to him and waved. Then she ran back, sliding to a stop in front of him, hands tightly placed at her back.

"Sorry, thought you were taking a while," She told him.

"You really need to do something with all that energy you have. Didn't I tell you to join a club?" He said patting her on the head.

She laughed, head thrown back.

"But you don't do clubs." She pointed out, walking just a step in front of him.

He followed behind her and rubbed the back of his neck.

"No, but I help out the different clubs. You stay so late anyways you might as well."

She shrugged and continued walking.

"So, where are we going?" Ichigo asked.

"I don't know," Senna laughed. She turned around to face him, arms spread wide like wings. "How about we eat out by one of the banyan trees?"

Ichigo shrugged. "Don't you need chopsticks of your own?"

She laughed, "I'll just use the spoon Yuzu-chan usually puts into your lunch bag."

She seemed to hop the entire way down to the first floor, effortlessly avoiding anyone who was going in opposite direction as her. Reaching the bottom, she jumped the last three steps and spun herself around. Ichigo had just come around the bend. She giggled and stuck her tongue out at him.

"You're so slow today," she giggled. Her tone was playful and non-chiding.

He stepped down lethargically and yawned.

"Are you alright?" She asked, expressing her concern with a humorous smile. She bent over a bit and looked up at him, head tilting in an odd angle.

He shook his head, covering his mouth in another yawn.

"No, I'm fine. Just a little tired is all."

"Oh."

She popped up again, and spun in a full circle before walking forwards once more. She skipped a little, kicking a leg out, she stopped.

"Maybe I should slow down for you to keep up, ne?" She looked back and winked at him.

He shook his head.

"No, no…" He waved a hand, telling her it was fine. "I'm okay. I just need…"

As he spoke, his eyes wandered away. Looking over heads going the opposite way or walking in his direction, he saw Uryuu. And he was with a girl. He smirked, almost as if triumphant. He was speaking adamantly to a small girl – most likely a first year – in front of the grading bulletin where they posted the rankings of all the students in the school. He inwardly scoffed. Surely, Uryuu was showing off his good grades to her. After all, she had her attention fully on him.

"I should have known he preferred younger women," he mumbled to himself. He chuckled at the prospect.

"What?" Senna stopped fully and tilted her head to questioningly look at him.

He laughed.

"Uryuu, that sly bastard never tells me anything about his personal life," Ichigo chuckled.

He took a step towards them, with full intentions of seeing this mystery first year Uryuu had himself smitten with. He couldn't see her face, just her black hair as it was cropped short to her jaw line. She was pale he could tell, and very thin. She seemed like a chibi to him, but he wouldn't terrorize the girl that Uryuu liked. He wasn't that sort of guy.

He was still several meters away when her head turned to the bulletin. And he stopped, his grin was wiped clean off his face. His eyes began to widen and mouth parted open, suddenly feeling like the air was thick and too hard to breath. It suddenly felt hard and sticky. But that face… those eyes…

In the high afternoon sun that came in from nearby windows, he saw as it shined on her face and eyes. Even without the roundness of the lingering baby fat, and the much softer and smoother looking cheek bones, his heart seemed to tighten and constrict. Time slowing as it tried to make sense of what he was seeing. Dark eyes gleamed in hues of shimmering deep purples and blues. It was like a ghost, coming to haunt him. To torment him in visions and mirages that would just vaporize with his imagination. He knew this trick. But it had never seemed as real as it did then. It felt like a dream, too good to be true. Yet in the same sense, it was a nightmare, with prospects of it melting the moment it became wonderful.

His hands were shaking. Unknowingly, so were his legs. The knees bent and ready to buckle. He stumbled back. Trying to get a grip on himself, he continuously repeated a mantra of reassurance to himself. That he just needed more sleep, that this was just an illusion. He was conflicted, scared, ecstatic, horrified... the emotions went on. To believe it, he remembered all the headaches and heartbreaks whenever he woke to find that his dreams were just as they were: dreams.

He brought a hand to his face, it trembled. He couldn't make out the words and sounds around him. It all sounded muffled. He couldn't look up, he wouldn't look up. But he did.

She stared up at the bulletin, eyes just gleaming, wandering, and roamed up and down. Then, they stopped. Suddenly, a burst of midnight seemed to show in her eyes. And as if in slow motion, time froze when there was a quirk of her lips, that then led to full... toothed... smile...

And the world went black.

End Chapter 3

Well, so here was chapter three ^^ I'm hoping you enjoyed it even if the beginning was a little slow. Writing Senna's scenes is just... exhausting as I've said before. She jumps, twirls, and leaps... I run out of words to describe her movements! She moves way too darn much [/rage] But yes, as much as I am annoyed with her character, I hope she is coming off as more of a quirky kind of bubbly/ hyperactive girl. Right now, I want her to seem energetic, a little irritating, but a lot of heart... though I seriously think that I'm failing =.=

Anyway, like I said above, school is starting soon. This means updates will most definitely be slower. Though I'm aiming for at least a chapter a month at the very least. (though that's slow for me but i think that might be all I can handle O.o)

So please review ^^ They always make me happy :D and I'll do my best to update as fast as I can!