Chapter 3:

Saki frowned as she woke up hearing her father banging on the door. "Saki get up! We have a visitor for breakfast I want you to meet!"

"Leave me alone! I'm sleeping!" She called back while burring her head under her pillow.

"If you are not out in the next twenty minutes, completely ready, then you will be punished!" He called. "And when I say punished I mean you will be put on house arrest for the rest of the year." Saki weighed the choices. She didn't really want to meet her father's friend, but it couldn't be worse than being stuck in the house for the next year. She got up and started to get ready. Once she was done she walked out and headed down. She froze as she found her father talking to a man.

Of course man wasn't entirely correct. He appeared to be a few years younger than her, and still had a babyish face. He had smoothed back dark brown hair and green eyes. Saki instantly knew what her dad was doing. "Ah! Saki!" Her dad turned and walked over to her, as if they had not just had an argument the night before. "Saki this is Rakio Sukito, of the minor Sukito family. Rakio this is my daughter Saki."

"Hello Miss Yokoaya." Rakio smiled bowing. Saki instantly took a disliking to him. She admitted that when he got older he would become handsome, but right now she could tell he was just like all the others. All he wanted was to use her to get higher and become a high class noble.

"Hello... It's nice to meet you." Saki nodded politely. "Father I'm going to find Kouki. I had a favor to ask of him." Before her father could say anything, she made her escape. She hurried to her brother's room and found him just relaxing. "Hey Kouki."

"Oh, hey sis." Kouki said looking up. "What's up?"

"I was just trying to escape dad."

"Ah yeah... I heard about his plan..." He blinked as Saki collapsed onto his bed. "Ah... Sis?"

"You've got to help me Kouki... Have you seen dad's pick?... For one thing I'm sure he's younger than me... And he has a baby face!" She moaned spreading her arms above her head. "I can't stand it! Why can't dad just let me choose!?"

"Because he's worried you won't find a good enough partner." Kouki said calmly. "Dad told me, so I know it's true."

"Yeah I guess..." Saki paused. "Wait a second... He... told... you... so in other words... You knew all about his plan... And you didn't tell me..." Saki turned and glared at her brother.

"Uh...uh..." Kouki flinched. He sighed, "Alright I admit it... I knew... Dad told me all about his plan a few months ago... I know I should have warned you... But dad threatened me... He said if I told you he'd force me to, for a whole month, live with Sensei Midako..." He shivered.

Saki sighed understanding her brother's silence. "It's okay little brother." She patted his head. Sensei Midako was the Yokoaya teacher. She taught each of the children raised in the household. She was known for her strictness and stern outlook on everything. She was part of the reason Saki had hated her childhood. "I guess you can't help me either."

"Sorry." He sighed. "But I could never stay with her... It would kill me!" He looked at her with a childish face of fear.

"Don't worry about it... You may not be able to help me, but I can take care of myself... I'll just scare them all off." She smirked. "And I know just the person to help me."

For the next month everyday her father would invite a new 'friend' over to introduce to Saki. Most of them were people she had never met, but a few of them were nobles she had known as a child. Those had been the easiest to get rid of. With Natsumi's help, she scared them all off. She knew her father was furious, but she was equally angry.

"So no new guests today?" Natsumi asked as they relaxed on the roof of a building with in the Yokoaya complex. Saki had been grounded to stay within the complex.

"Not so far." Saki nodded. "Maybe my dad has hit a dead end. There are only so many nobles."

"Yep. Or maybe he has given up." Natsumi laughed.

"I can only hope..." Saki sighed and looked up at the sky. "I just want him to leave me alone... All these nobles care about is marrying me so they can raise their standings... None of them will ever actually care about me... At least not as anything more than a prize or stepping stone."

"That is stupid." Natsumi frowned. "I'm glad I'm not a noble!.. .Oh sorry."

"No its fine... I wish I wasn't as well... I love my family, even my stupid dad... But I hate the conditions I was born into... I just want to find a guy who loves me... And not because of my family name... That's all I want in life..."

"Yeah... I know the feeling... To find the perfect guy would be great, but I don't dare dream... Cause then I will only be disappointed."

"...I guess that is true." Saki sighed sitting up. "But I'd rather not get married, then live married to a man I was forced to marry."

"Good for you!" Natsumi laughed. "Come on; let's go do something to get our minds off it... Maybe plan our next trick?"

Saki laughed. "I still love the one you did to Oragi. His face when he saw your zanpacto hanging from the roof of my room... Man he rushed out of there as if death was on his tail." Saki fell back laughing. "I think he won't ever be able to come back to our household again!"

"I've got another great idea. I think you'll-."

"Miss Saki!" Takeshi called. The two girls sat up and looked over the edge of the building to see Takeshi looking up at them. "Miss Saki your father is calling for you... He has a friend over that he wants you to meet."

"More like a new suitor looking to get ahead in life by using me." She sighed. "Do you have that plan ready?" Saki turned to Natsumi.

"It will be ready soon. Get him out to the back porch and I will deal with it." She smirked and shot off.

"Right..." Saki jumped down next to Takeshi.

"Saki..." He sighed. "I know you don't like this..."

"No, I hate it." She corrected. "And you know why Takeshi... Don't try to convince me to listen to my father on this. "I refuse."

"I understand... But it will only make him more determined... You two share that. The more something is pushed at you, the more you push back."

She smiled. "Thanks Takeshi... But I'm determined to win this fight... Come on before he decides to ground me to only the house." She started walking.

"Saki..." He jogged up next to her. "You know I'm always here for you... No matter what happens... No matter what anyone does, I will always remain by your side.. Faithful."

"Thanks Takeshi... You truly are a good friend..." She hugged him. "I don't know what I would do with you."

He smiled and patted her back. "Most likely you would have gone crazy long ago."

Saki laughed. "Come on, let's go see who's dad's new pick."

"...Alright." He patted her head. "Of course you'll have to be on your best behavior for this one..."

"Huh?... Never mind." Saki sighed. "I'll be fine." They walked into the house. "I'm back." She called.

"Ah! Welcome back Saki." Her dad said walking up. "Good, I want you to come met someone." He said walking into the living room.

"Here I go." She sighed and followed her father. She froze as she noticed the man sitting on the couch, sipping tea. Man fit him perfectly... Another word that fit him was handsome. No, that wasn't strong enough. Gorgeous. Saki flushed slightly. None of the others had been this good looking.

He had long black hair kept up in white headpieces. One was on the top of his head, the other on the right side. He wore a white silk scarf around his neck, and his outfit was a soul reaper's... Only he also had on a white haori on top of it with the number six on the back. She took a deep breath and then walked in. Ignore his handsomeness, he is just like the others.

"Hello." He said calmly and she felt her legs get a little wobbly. His voice was perfect, strong and firm. Nothing like any of the other weaklings she had met before.

"Uh... Good afternoon." She sat down in her usual spot, which happened to be right across from him. I wonder if dad did this just so he would be right across from me. She glanced at her dad one of the workers talking to him.

"I'm sorry, but I must be going." Her dad said nodding to the man. "I have business to attend to. I leave you in my daughter's care... Saki, be good." He turned and left.

Saki had an overwhelming urge to throw something after him, but didn't. Instead she turned to him. "Well uh.. Are you hungry? I can order something for you..." Keep it together Saki, he's just like the others. He is not here to court you, he is here to claim you as a prize. She took a deep breath and put on her best fake smile. "We can go out onto the porch for some fresh air." She got up.

"Saki Yokoaya..." He said calmly. "... I will admit you are attractive..." He said standing up as if taking notes and deciding if she was worth the trouble. Saki suddenly wanted to throw something at him!

"Uh... well... I could show you around..." She looked towards the porch. Natsumi you had better have something good for this guy!

Byakuya looked at the porch. "I am Byakuya Kuchiki." he said as they walked out onto the porch.

Saki froze. "Kuchiki?" She recognized the name instantly. In the soul society there were four head noble families. Her own family was one, the Kuchiki was another. Why is he here then? We are the same level... He has nothing to gain by marrying me. "Why are you here?" She froze realizing how she had slipped into her real self, instead of the fake self that she hide behind.

"My family has decided that I need a wife so I can continue the family line." He said calmly, as if it was that simple.

Saki flinched. So that is all I am to him... A way to continue the family line, a baby maker. She felt her temper rising. But before she could do anything a zanpacto went flying straight towards him. It missed him barely, but he remained completely calm. Before Saki could do anything he had drawn his own zanpacto, which she had missed up till now, and pointed it at the bush where Natsumi was probably hiding.

"Come out now."

Natsumi poked her head up in shock seeing the captain of squad six. Saki now realized that was why the name also rang a bell. She had forever been jealous of him. He was a noble, but at the same time he was a soul reaper. And not only that, but a captain.

"Captain Kuchiki please do not hurt her." Saki said stepping in front of Natsumi before Byakuya could see her face. "She is a friend playing a prank. She will leave now..." She looked over her shoulder giving Natsumi a look, saying go we'll talk later.

"Hmm... I've seen all I need to." Byakuya turned and left. "You are just an ordinary girl who I would have no wish of marrying."

Saki blinked. No one had ever said that to her. She instantly decided it wouldn't matter. "Well I'm glad. I have no wish to marry you either." Byakuya paused as Saki reviled her true self. He turned to see her shrug calmly. "Finally a noble doesn't need to be scared away. I guess I don't need to show you out. Well bye Byakuya Kuchiki." She rushed out, grabbing Natsumi's arm and rushed off. Smiling the whole time she ran.

"Man that was funny!" Natsumi laughed. "I've never seen anyone talk that way to Captain Kuchiki."

"Yeah... I'll probably hear about it from dad. He's going to be furious... But it was worth it... Did you hear why he was here?"

"Not really."

"His family decided he needed a wife so he could continue the family line! Those are his words not mine. Man the nerve of the guy! I was starting to think the worst would be a guy who only wanted me as a stepping stone... But that... Just wanting to marry me so I can have his kids! UGH!" She flopped back angrily.

"Well he's gone." Natsumi smiled. "So no worries."

"Yeah you're right..." Saki got up. "But still... If that is who my dad is choosing... I'm worried about who will be next... Part of me wants to run away..."

"Well if you do let me know!" Natsumi smiled. "And let me know where you're going so I can find you."

"Alright." Saki smiled and rested back. "But for now I'll stay here... But I would like to go see the world of the living again... You been there lately?"

"Not really... I've been doing a lot of work for my captain when I'm not helping you scare away suitors... But I do want to go back soon too."

"To go see that Ichigo boy." Saki smiled.

Natsumi flushed slightly as Saki elbowed her slightly. "Hey... I will admit he's not too bad... But I don't see us getting together."

"You never know." Saki smiled. "You and him might be better for each other than you realize right now."

"You know what!" Natsumi smiled. "I'll get together with Ichigo when you happily agree to marry Captain Kuchiki!"

Both girls laughed at the unlikely event. "Thanks Natsumi... I'm feeling better now."

"I'm glad." She smiled. "Now come on. Let's go practice some sword skill."

"Sounds good." Saki said getting up.