Before the Dawn



A/N: remember important note at the bottom!


Chapter 3

Rukia's POV

My breath catches in my throat as I stare at him and they take their seats. His expression is guarded and his gaze is somewhat dark and full of fire, yet when we stare at each other he lets a small smile play across his lips. So he recognizes me, I realize. Of course he would, part of my brain argues. I just ran into him only minutes ago!

Despite being shy, Allison was the first to speak up. She turned her head to her left and said to the older man that sat at the other head of the table, "So you're Isshin Kurosaki. It's very nice to meet you."

The older man-Isshin-nodded politely to her. "The pleasure is all mine, madam. May I introduce my son,Ichigo."

Where the two men ended up sitting had Ichigo next to Allison, so we sat diagonally from each other. The whole time they spoke, our eyes never left. But hearing his name made him break the gaze and turn his attention. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs..."

"Abarai," she told him before quickly adding, "but Allison is just fine. This would be my husband, Renji Abarai." She places her hand on Renji's shoulder and the two men nodded to each other. Soon, introductions were being thrown out.

"Gin Ichimaru." Being across from Ichigo, Gin stuck his hand out and he politely shook it in return. "And my wife, Rangiku." She smiled gleefully.

All to soon, I realized I was next to introduce myself since they already knew Nii-sama. Ichigo's auburn eyes were already landed on me.

"Rukia Kuchiki," I stated."It's nice to meet you."

It's not until I pull away from his endless eyes that I realize my brother had been staring at Ichigo with a heated glare. Ichigo didn't seem to notice. Or perhaps he had but chose to ignore it.

Byakuya cleared his throat. "The Kurosaki's are joining us from second class," he informs the table as if it really matters. Although it seems to be directed more to me than anyone else. I nod in return, letting Nii-sama know that I understand.

"I believe we already had the privilege of meeting," Ichigo confessed. My eyes widen. No, no,don't mention that here! I thought to myself.

"Excuse me?" Byakuya demands. I feel his glare turn to me.

"No names were exchanged,Nii-sama," I whisper, feeling everyone's questioning gazes on me. "It was on upper deck. He only caught my hat."

"I see," he retorted. "You were sure to thank him, then?"

"Yes." This was going to be along eleven course dinner.

I was saved from saying anymore since our first course came in, under trays and on carts. The waiters placed the dishes in front of each of us. They took off the lids to reveal some oysters.

I snuck a glance at Ichigo and saw him staring at the food, almost like it was unexpected. His face made me smile and I had to stifle a laugh. I guessed that second classic accommodations didn't serve what we were eating tonight.

Ichigo's POV

So I finally got to meet the mystery girl from upper deck. Already I could tell that her brother didn't like me. Rukia, on the other hand hid her emotions. She hadn't made any move to start a conversation.

Byakuya was talking to my father while everyone else talked amongst themselves. The only two that weren't talking were Rukia and I. So naturally, by the fifth course I decided to take manners into my own hands.

Looking up from my half eaten lamb, I caught Rukia's eyes. That's when I realized I was in a dilemma. I couldn't talk to her without raising my voice and disrupting everyone's side conversations. I didn't want to be considered rude and have her brother invest in another reason to not like me. Usually I don't care what other people think of me, but Byakuya was higher than me at this table. Hell, it was clear as day that he was higher than anyone at this table.

The only person that probably held the next rank would have been the tattooed guy.

Renji, I reminded myself. It would be awful if I forgot even one of their names. First impressions were everything and it gave everyone an open window to who you were as a person.

I could already tell who liked who at the table. It was clear Byakuya was the richest man at the table. He obviously cared for Rukia and was the guardian of her.

The Abarai's seemed like well-rounded people. It was the Ichimaru couple that had me. Whether, it was the man in particular. He seemed to always have this creepy smile on his face as if he found everything amusing. His teal-blue eyes added to the fact and seemed mocking. Something about him had me uneasy, as if I shouldn't trust him.

I gave a nearly silent sigh as I cut into my half finished lamb, mentally making sure that my back was straight, my elbows off the table, trying my hardest to keep my appearance elegant and refined when I truly wished I could have slouched a bit and relax.

I carefully put the lamb in my mouth,savoring the decedent taste and casually looking around the grand dinning room, seeing everyone in fancy clothing joke about how much money they have and how they have no idea how to spend it. I wanted to slap some sense into some of these people at times, especially when they look down upon you like you are no better than the dust that falls on their coats.

Then my eyes land back on Rukia. She just sat there, eating her lamb with an elegance not even Byakuya had.

She then paused and looked up at me,her striking, violet eyes piercing me, like she was looking into my very soul.

"Thank you again, Mr. Kurosaki,"she said in a delicate, but commanding voice, that by some miracle didn't attract the attention away from the others.

"Please, call me Ichigo." I know I should have kept it formal, but I can't stand when people refer to meas 'Mr. Kurosaki'. It made it sound like they were talking to my father, and that was not something that I liked.

"Very well, Ichigo. I very much appreciated you saving my hat, it's very important to me." Her small, pale hand unconsciously reached to her head, where there was currently no hat, but long raven hair that glistened in the light sand hung down to her lower back. There were elegant braids made here and there, adding a nice effect.

"It was no trouble, Miss Kuchiki,"I reply nonchalantly. She did something very unexpected, her hand came up to her face to cover her mouth as she gave a slight giggle.

My eyes widened at hearing it. It was like listening to crystal bells.

"Ichigo, please, if I'm to refer to you by your first name then please, call me Rukia." She looked at me and smiled.

"Of course, Rukia." I gave a small smile back, the feeling foreign.

"Tell me, Ichigo, are you enjoying your meal?" The look in her eyes were playful, like she was mocking me.

I grinned, "Why yes, I have to say it is almost as good as my mother's lamb. You see, she was an excellent cook." My eyes softened when I mentioned my mother.

"Is that so? Well, I think I would like to try your mother's famous lamb," she remarked, giving me a kind smile.

"I'm very sorry to say that won't be possible," my father interjected. "You see, my late wife,Masaki died when Ichigo was at the tender age of thirteen."

Rukia's eyes widened and her mouth formed a small "o" before she composed herself. "I'm sorry to hear that, my sister has just recently past, so I understand your pain." Rukia's eyes lowered back to her plate, as she elegantly played with her food.

"Isshin, let us not reminisce on such unsavory topics and continue with our previous conversation,"Byakuya cut in.

"Of course," Isshin replied before returning his attention back to the rich man.

I held in my emotions, not wanting to have my temper ruin my family's chances at having a better future in America.

I looked up at Rukia again, her eyes were hidden by her hair and she resumed eating her lamb.

I gave a more noticeable sigh as I looked down.

Byakuya and my father continued their conversation and the woman with long strawberry blonde hair, Rangiku Ichimaru, I remembered, began talking to Rukia.

"Um, Mr. Kurosaki, I don't mean to be a bother, but if you don't move your cup of water I fear that it will fall and cause an uncomfortable situation, do you not agree?" I turned to the girl next to me, Allison.

She was a beauty, but not in the same way that Rukia was, and her English was flawless. I looked down and saw that she was correct. A small blush graced my cheeks as I moved the cup of cold water away from the edge and back to its rightful place.

"Thank you," I replied back. There was a short pause before she spoke again.

"You know, she's single," I heard Allison whisper.

I nearly choked on the wine I was currently consuming.

The table turned to me.

"Are you well?" Byakuya asked out of curtsey, not concern I can assure you.

"Yes, of course, Mr. Kuchiki. Thank you for your concern," I replied as I regained control of my breathing.

After hearing this, the occupants of the table returned to their previous conversation.

Once all had returned to normal I acted as if I was just eating before in a hushed voice I asked, "I beg your pardon?"

Allison gave a short chuckle before answering, "Mr. Kurosaki, I can assure you I am no fool. I can seethe way you two look at each other and I am simply informing that your glances are not in vain."

My eyes widened and I took another sip of my wine. I swallowed and placed the glass back on the table."Please, call me Ichigo, Allison. I know that you do not like formalities but I do not understand what you mean by implying that I have feelings for Miss Kuchiki. I can assure you that Miss Kuchiki holds no feelings for me." I looked at Rukia, she and Rangiku were laughing as they enjoyed their conversation.

"Aw, Ichigo, I thought you and Rukia got past the formalities. I would also like to I'm form you that unlike you, I know Rukia as if she were my sister, and I know how she thinks. Rukia doesn't give out apologies lightly." With that she turned to her husband and reclaimed, "Right, Renji, darling?"

"Of course, Love, you know Rukia so well because you grew up together." Her husband turned to me and smiled. "I advise that you listen to my wife, she is hardly ever incorrect when it comes to her 'woman's intuition'" he joked.

Allison smacked Renji's arm lightly."Oh, hush you fool, you're embarrassing me!" But her voice was all happy and her face held a delicate blush.

I decided to take this opportunity to change the subject. "So tell me, Allison, how did you and Renji meet?"

The question seemed to catch Allison off guard. She straightened her back and blinked her brown eyes before seeming to melt and chuckle a bit, getting a far off look in her eyes and thus, beginning her story.

"Well, you see, I was sixteen years old and my father was on a business trip to Japan. He owns a very large motors company that has recently done trading with Japan and of course my father believed I should become acquainted with business since I am an only child. Well, the sakura trees were in full bloom and everything was simply divine," she smiled at the memory. "My father was having a meeting with Mr. Byakuya Kuchiki, it was held in his home and we were having tea when I see this buffoon-" Allison stopped her conversation to point to Renji.

Heat tinted his cheeks before he cleared his throat and interrupted his wife. "I should hope that my wife thinks better of me than that," He responded with a small grin and took a sip of wine while the waiters came with the next course.

They took our plates and in its place sat a rather large cup with a pale orange sherbert looking thing with whip cream.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the Punch Romaine," The head waiter said.

I thanked the man and looked down at the alcoholic drink.

How in Gods name does one eat this?

I turned my gaze to the multiple spoons, forks, and knives, feeling lost.

"You use the small spoon on the right," Allison whispered while delicately eating the Punch Romaine.

"Thank you, again," I repeated and ate a bit.

"Well, now that we have some time to talk, I think I should finish with my story," Allison ate another bite. Swallowing and turning back to me she looked thoughtful. "Hmm,where was I? Oh, yes of course!" she remembered without my help."So my darling husband arrived late to the meeting. You see,Byakuya had taken Renji on as an apprentice when Renji was eighteen. And believe me, Ichigo, it was love at first sight," she sighed and took another spoon of sherbet.

Her eyes appeared to cloud over before continuing, "Soon after Renji and I started seeing each other,there was a problem. Always seems there has to be a problem,"she mused and then gave a small shake of her head as if shaking the thought from her mind. She looked back at me with a sad smile."Byakuya was going to have Renji marry Rukia so that the business would stay under his control. You know, in someone's hands that he trusted more than anyone. But I didn't give up!" she seemed lost in her world for a minute before she once again continued.

"You see, Rukia and Renji grew up together and love each other more as siblings than lovers, so Rukia was more than happy to help me with convincing her dear brother on allowing Renji to marry me instead of her. After a while, Byakuya set the 'financial' benefits of our marriage. He finally agreed, saying that he would find someone else to marry Rukia, but deep down I know that Byakuya has Renji's best interests at heart," she smiles and we both returned to our beverage.

As we ate, Allison asked one more simple question before I returned to my solitude.

"So, Ichigo, tell me, is there any special lady in your life?" The question took me off guard.

"Unfortunately none that are worth remembering."

Rukia's POV

Time had passed since I last spoke to Ichigo. We were now indulging in a decadent Waldorf Pudding,Peaches in Chartreuse jelly, chocolate painted eclairs and my favorite; a rich, creamy French Vanilla Ice Cream.

Once again Ichigo and I were left with no one to talk to, but I saw that he and Allison were having a pretty long conversation, not that I am jealous.

No, a Kuchiki is never jealous.

I had no need to be jealous. Ichigo meant nothing to me and I nothing to him.

It wasn't long before the men left fora smoke and brandy, leaving us women alone.

"I think I'm going to turn in for the night," I told Rangiku and Allison.

They stopped their conversation and Allison winked at me. "Well, looks like someone is going after Ichigo."

My eyes widen and Rangiku joins in."Ah, Rukia finally has eyes for someone!"

I was at a loss of words. "Wh-what!That's ridiculous!"

"Is it?" Allison asks, her gaze seeming to go straight through me, a smile tugging at her lips.

I stand up from my chair. "I'm leaving now," I announce. I push my chair back in and the two ladies laugh and I can't help but flush.

Was it that obvious? Usually I'm good at hiding emotions so why now did I appear to be an open book? I shook my head and kept walking, weaving through tables to get to the doors.

"Have a good night, miss,"one of the doormen said and I smiled in return. Before I could step through, the man put his hand out, cutting me off. "It is pretty late, miss. Would you like one of our staff to escort you back to your room?"

"Thank you for the offer, but I'll be fine," I attempted to walk ahead, but he didn't move his hand.

"Really, miss," he insisted,"It would be no trouble at all."

"I can handle myself," I replied a bit to harshly. "But, thank you anyway."

The message seemed to go through as the man nodded his head and let me pass.

I leave and made a quick decision to go out on deck. I didn't want to go back to our cabin just yet, and if Nii-sama was back, I just want to hold off on talking to him for another few minutes.

I decide to go to the front of the ship this time. I open one of the doors and am immediately hit with a cold, sea breeze. I take a deep breath, feeling lighter and more free as I make my way to the bow. It's not until now that I see a silhouette sitting on the railing. Their back was to the inside of the deck and their legs were hanging off the outside, a hundred feet above the water

That's when I notice the unmistakable orange hair.

I freak and run forward. "Ichigo,are you crazy! Get off of there! You're going to fall, baka!"

I get about two feet from him and the railing before stopping. He turns his head to give me a sideways look and scoffs. "I won't fall, Rukia. It's called, being adventurous."

"Yeah, okay, just come back on the deck, it's not safe!"

"What? Are you afraid of water?"he joked.

"A bit," I reply softly,then mentally kick myself for admitting a weakness. Kuchiki's should never admit a weakness. It was something Nii-sama always scolded me about.

"You realize you're on a ship,right?" he teases.

I roll my eyes. "Please, it's not like the ship will sink. I'm perfectly safe."

He laughs, looking up at the sky,"Che,sure, whatever."

"Ichigo, come on."

He sighs, "Fine, if it will make you stop worrying." He brings his legs over and slides off the railing, giving a small, thump, as his feet hit the wooden deck.

"I wasn't worrying about you,"I defend. "I just didn't want to be apart of a suicide," I clarified.

He blinks at me. "I wasn't trying to kill myself."

"Well, that's what it looked like to me! Can you imagine the picture I saw!"

He crosses his arms and narrows his eyes. "So you were worried."

I opened my mouth to give a smart reply when the sound of heavy footsteps cut through. Ichigo and I both snapped our heads to the left and saw a fairly tall, well-dressed man walking toward us. "Young people like you shouldn't be out here so late," he states. His voice reminds me of Nii-sama's, older and dignified.

"We were just leaving," I told him. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Ichigo glowering at him,and he suddenly grabs my hand. I freeze as his touch sends an electric current through me.

"There's no rule to say we can't be here," Ichigo squints at the man, but I know it's useless. The lights that are behind the man land on his back, making it difficult to identify anything about him.

The man waved his hands. "No, no,"he replies quickly. "I'm just saying it isn't...wise. Something could happen."

Ichigo clenches his fist. "Is that a threat?" He demands, having his grip on my hand tighten.

The man stares at us for a second. At least I think he does. For all I know he could be looking above us."Of course not, sir," he sneers the last part. Without a second word he turns to leave.

"We should go," I tell Ichigo, feeling slightly creeped out.

"Why?" he asks, still staring in the direction the man left. "He's not coming back."

"Maybe not. But Nii-sama is probably wondering where I am."

"Alright," he agrees easily. He looks back at me and let's a sly smile slip. "Shall I escort you back, miss," he acts with a horrible English accent.

I can't help but laugh. "That would be lovely."


A/N: You guys decide what happens in Chapter 4! Do you want to add other characters?

Just Review!

~WhiteSheWolf17