Hello there, it has been some time, hasn't it? I am happy to say that I have managed to write up another chapter for this fic, partly due to the fact that I am currently on holidays now and that I have recently received notification for 2 reviews that really got me inspired to write. Actually the first one already got me writing, and then the second one came in today while I was finishing up the chapter. :)

So I dedicate this chapter to marguitar and Eurisse. I hope both of you will be reading this, and I thank you for your input. I have replied both of your reviews in the Author's Note at the end of this chapter.

Thank you for all the reviews of the previous chapter of this fic, I have read all of them and I thank you for the response. :)

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Bleach, that series and characters belong to Kubo Tite. I happily own this fanfiction.

Rukia had always thought marriage was a very happy union between two individuals, often a dream-like fairytale for the groom to whisk his bride away to somewhere splendid. But that was then, now was now. And now, she was starting to think marriage was really an impossible feat… especially marriage to one Kuchiki Byakuya.

One early morning, she had been woken up to Kazumasa's kind voice, telling her that rehearsals for the wedding would commence today. Rukia had gobbled down breakfast and then dragged herself over to the enormous Kuchiki guest hall, where Kazumasa stood waiting with a senior of the Kuchiki family.

The young girl had then endured an hour-long of lecture by the Kuchiki senior on the virtues of a good wife, in which she had dozed off at least fifteen times. This was then followed by Kazumasa demonstrating what would be happening on the wedding day itself, which Rukia found much more useful. However, it did not prevent her from finding the steps awfully difficult.

On the wedding day, she was to be made up and dressed in the bridal robes in her chamber, and then be escorted out to the Kuchiki main hall, where Byakuya would await her. All the way, she would only be allowed to make small steps and keep her head down as customary, never meeting anyone's eyes.

This was the first thing Rukia had found difficult, she immediately found impatience in those little steps taught by Kazumasa. That, and she seldom kept her head down.

The Kuchikis were the highest of nobles in Soul Society, therefore it would be difficult to hold the wedding in an actual Shinto shrine outside. The wedding was to be held instead within the grounds of the mansion, in the ancestral Kuchiki shrine, in the presence of a Shinto priest.

And then, the ceremony itself was described in detail. The wedding centered around the ritual of san-san-kudo, in which both bride and groom had to sip three times from three sacred cups, symbolizing heaven, earth and humankind. The ritual sounded simple enough, except that Rukia struggled to identify which cup was which, given that the Kuchiki family used identical cups for all three components.

There were so many rules and it was all vexing for the young bride-to-be… and that was just the beginning of the wedding.

"Otousan?"

Isshin looked up from tidying the blankets at the foot of the bed. "Ah, my little Yuzu! What is it?"

Yuzu smiled timidly as she stepped into the bedroom. "Otousan, you are cleaning in here?"

Isshin nodded, as he smoothed the bed sheet. "You never know, she might come knocking on the door anytime soon." The older man winked at his daughter.

Yuzu's eyes widened, and then she smiled happily. "You think so? You think Nee-san will come back to us?"

"Definitely! Therefore…" Isshin winked again as he wagged a finger at his young daughter. "… we cannot afford to let this room dust."

"Hai!" Yuzu nodded earnestly. "I will draw up a timetable to make sure one of us cleans up this room everyday!"

Isshin nodded as his young daughter started to turned away from the door.

"Ne, Otousan?"

"Yes, Yuzu?"

"Onii-san has been coming home very late this week. Sometimes I don't think he even comes home. Is he alright?"

"Don't be worried. That stupid son is probably catching up on homework at Sado or Ishida's house!" The father flashed his daughter a thumbs-up and a wink.

Yuzu smiled. "I guess so. Good night, Otousan!" The little girl ran back to her room happily.

Isshin finished tidying up the blanket and turned to look out the window at the moon. His expression suddenly turned serious. "He's catching up on homework."

Life in Soul Society was always going to surprise Rukia, there was always something new she learnt everyday.

For one, bathing in Soul Society did not require the use of a shower.

"Miko, I really don't think this is necessary…" Rukia shifted gingerly in the enormous wooden bathing tub filled with warm water. Today, the ever-eager maid was persistent in accompanying Rukia during her bathtime.

"It is alright." Miko smiled. "Is the water to your liking? Too cold? I could bring in some hot water-

"No, no, there's no need to bring hot water! It's just nice!" Rukia shook her head. She turned to look at her maid. "You know, you don't have to do that, Miko..."

"Do what?" Miko frowned slightly as she arranged dry towels on the table.

"You… don't have to wait on me." Rukia struggled to explain. "I'm not used to being waited on, so just be yourself around me! If you are tired, just go to bed... and if you are hungry, just go and eat, that sort of thing. You don't have to serve me. I just want to be friends! You are not my maid!"

To her surprise, Miko smiled. "Kazumasa-san was right when he said you were special, Rukia-san." She smoothed the last of the towels on the table. "Nobody has said that to me before, you are very kind. And I think you will make a wonderful Lady of the house."

"I don't want to be a Lady of any house," Rukia muttered as she leaned against the side of the wooden tub.

"Rukia-san, what is... this?"

"Hmm?" Rukia turned to see Miko, who had been going through her soiled clothes.

"That is my undergarment! My bra!"

"Bra?" Miko questioned, her expression curious as she handled the piece of undergarment. "What is that?"

"Oh… well, it's a form of undergarment that we use in the real world."

"I thought it was a hair accessory!" And Rukia was met with a sight that she was sure she was never going to be able to banish from her mind forever... the sight of Miko placing the bra over her own head like swimming goggles.

"No, take it off your head! That is an undergarment!" Rukia shouted. "It is supposed to be worn here… here!" Rukia gestured to her chest, careful not to expose herself above the water. "It is supposed to cover your bust!"

"What an odd thing. Why do you need it?"

Rukia stared at Miko in surprise. "Like I said, it is supposed to cover the bust."

"We have the shihakusho for that, Rukia-san." Miko smiled and gestured to the thin white rope draped against the table.

"Well, we do not have that in the real world." Rukia shook her head. "We have what we call bras, used to cover women's modesty. It's because we do not wear robes often, we wear tops and bottoms."

"Oh… that is rather strange."

Rukia had to laugh… it looked like bath time was going to very long today.

The week flew by, almost as if someone had fixed the clocks to work at double speed. After dozens of rehearsals and virtue lessons, Rukia soon found herself preparing for bedtime on the eve of her wedding.

She hadn't eaten much at dinner tonight, given a lack of appetite and a sense of apprehension for the wedding tomorrow. Miko had tried to cheer Rukia up but to no avail.

Strangely enough, Rukia had not caught a sight of the Shinigami Byakuya all week. It seemed as if he was in a very bad mood, or rather he just preferred to avoid her. Which was alright with Rukia, because she did not want to meet him as well. But it only made it harder when she contemplated how much time she would soon be spending in his presence after the wedding tomorrow.

Rukia looked up at the moon outside her window, and then she closed her eyes to pray.

She prayed that the storms at sea had stopped, and that harvest was now plentiful in Karakura. She hoped her family was healthy, and that they would stop worrying about her.

She prayed that her as a Sacrifice and the wedding tomorrow would all be worth it for the ones she loved.

Rukia took a deep breath of the morning air as she patted her face dry. She turned toward Miko, who nodded encouragingly. "It is time, Lady Rukia."

Lady Rukia. How odd the name sounded, as if it did not really belong together. Rukia mused over it as she silently sat herself down before the mirror, and the senior maids approached her with trays of white powder and brushes. They started to dab powder over her face, as a younger maid took the ends of her hair up and rolled it up into a bun at the back of her head (which Rukia considered a rather great feat as her hair wasn't all that long to begin with, the ends barely brushing her shoulder). Golden flower pins were set into her hair followed by the white headdress with sakura patterns, which complimented the same pattern of her bridal robes.

Rukia watched the maids work about her as they smoothed the white cloth at her arms, and around her back. She looked into the mirror, her reflection one of resignation.

Am I really getting married today?

Byakuya stared at his reflection as he easily tightened the knot around his robes. The robes were expensive dark silk made by master weaver Tsujishirō Kuroemon, made especially for the wedding.

His expression was stoic, unreadable as ever. As required of a noble, as required of a Kuchiki.

Byakuya turned to slide open the shoji doors of his chamber. The next time he would do so, there would be another person here with him.

Another inconvenience.

The slate grey eyes narrowed slightly but then the moment passed, and Kuchiki Byakuya stepped out of his room for the wedding.

Rukia could feel her heart hammering in her chest as she walked, albeit slowly, amongst the bridal entourage headed toward the ancestral shrine in the Kuchiki grounds. There were many people present for the shrine ceremony, half of them were nobles (Rukia could tell by their expensive clothing and placid expressions) and the other half was certainly Shinigami.

Rukia tried to focus on her steps but she glanced upward as she noticed another group of people joining the entourage.

Her eyes widened.

His back was to her as he walked many steps in front of her, separated by at least five people… but there was no mistaking him. After all, his back was the first thing that she had seen during their first encounter. He was dressed in dark blue robes, white hairpieces fastened at the back of his head. He walked straight and tall, without the slightest break in step.

Kuchiki Byakuya.

Her soon-to-be husband.

Rukia quietly turned her eyes downward, and focused on her footsteps.

The ancestral shrine was an ancient-looking structure with traditional roofs built at the west side of the Kuchiki mansion. The walk there was long, made even longer by Rukia's heavy robes and customary small footsteps. The bride grumbled to herself silently as she walked along the clean footpath, bordered by tall green trees. Rukia was sure she would enjoy this walk any other day, the trees were large and shady and seemed perfect for a little picnic under their natural shade.

The entourage soon reached the entrance of the ancestral shrine, where the Shinto priest waited at the altar. The bride and groom walked forward, the bride keeping three paces behind the groom as was customary. The senior Kuchiki family members followed, and stood on either side of the shrine.

Rukia took her position next to Byakuya, as they both faced the priest, an old and stern-looking man with a white beard. The priest started to speak regarding the ritual and the reunion of two souls, but the young bride could only hear her own rapid heartbeat beating loudly in her eardrums. Rukia could feel her palms sweating as she clasped them together within her bridal robes. She could feel a thousand eyes on her, and it did not help the fear and panic already building within her since morning. She fleetingly wondered if this was to end similarly like her attempt at singing onstage during school a few years ago. Some stupid fool had put her on stage to do a song in front of the entire school and before she could even start on the lines, she had keeled over and woke up in the nurses' office with a sore forehead.

It was getting a little harder to breathe now... was she really going to faint?

"Please face each other now."

Rukia visibly jumped as she heard the priest speak and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Byakuya started to turn to her. Rukia hurriedly did the same.

Her eyes widened slightly as she finally saw her husband properly for the first time on their wedding day.

His bridal robes were dark blue and the sleeves were lined in black, complimenting his fair skin perfectly. He did not wear his Captain haori today and in its absence, his shoulders appeared straight and broad and gave prominence to his imposing height. The robes were tied together with a black silk sash, and a gold clasp fastened the upper collars of his kimono. His hair was set with white hairpieces at the back as usual, leaving strands to fall over his left eye. The look was simple yet elegant, and the nobleman carried it off without any hint of effort.

If Rukia swallowed her pride… she would have to admit that he was a rather good-looking man. 'Still… he's a rude, cold-hearted walking ice block of a man!'

His grey eyes were emotionless as they gazed upon her as they stood across from each other, and Rukia suddenly felt somewhat self-conscious.

"And now… the san-san-kudo. Heaven, Earth and mankind… be the witness to this reunion of two souls, and may they be bound for the longest of time."

'Longest of time? No, thank you. Six months would be real nice,' Rukia thought silently.

The young bride glanced into the crowd standing at the other end of the shrine as Byakuya reached for the black tray in the middle of the altar, where three identical red cups filled with clear sake were placed.

"And with this first cup, for Heaven. May blessings be abundant, and the happiness endless for man and wife." The priest announced solemnly.

There were so many people here today for the wedding, especially the Shinigamis. Rukia was sure they were Shinigami even though they were not wearing standard Shinigami robes… because she could sense all their spiritual presence from where she was standing, even though the spiritual presences were all masked down. Clearly, the Shinigami all knew how to control and exert their spiritual powers. Especially the Shinigami now standing in front of her. Rukia remembered how he had practically made her fall to her knees using only his spiritual presence, she clearly remembered the feeling… as if someone was choking her... how tight the air had felt around her. And now in front of her, she could barely sense his spiritual aura-

"Eh hem. And the bride may proceed with the san-san-kudo."

Rukia's head whipped back as she heard the priest's words. The tray of three cups sat on the altar, and the Shinigami who was to be her husband was now looking at her with an expression that could have made water freeze into ice blocks.

'Okay… relax. Rukia, you have done this before during the rehearsal. Now just pick up the Heaven cup and take three sips from it.'

Rukia stared at the black tray, and the three little cups. It was then that she realized that she had not been paying attention to which cup Byakuya had lifted from the tray. And in her panic, the young girl could not remember which cups she used to practice with. Even the sake seemed equal in all three cups!

'Oh my god… oh my God!'

Rukia took a deep breath. 'It's alright, it's just three cups. It's heaven, right? Well, logically the most important cup would… be the one in the center?'

Making up her mind, Rukia reached for the cup in the middle of the tray.

Immediately, a soft gasp from Miko standing behind her told Rukia she had made the wrong choice. She glanced upward and noticed how the bridegroom's lips thinned even more in disapproval, if that was even possible.

"The cup closest to you would be correct,… wife." He spoke the words in a cold whisper, almost ominous.

Rukia felt her cheeks burn in utmost embarrassment as she fumbled the wrong cup back to its position and retrieved the correct cup with equal clumsiness. She hurriedly lifted the cup to her lips and in her haste, gulped almost the entire contents of sake down. The sake burned her throat and as much as she tried to suppress it, Rukia let out a small but loud cough.

The entire hall watched in silence, even the Shinto priest's eyes widened. The young bride twitched slightly and looked up, meeting the silent murderous eyes of her husband. Rukia hurriedly ducked her head back down and took two more nonexistent sips from the almost empty cup.

The Shinto priest cleared his throat. "Um, Earth."

Byakuya reached out and easily lifted the middle cup to his lips, taking three sips from it. Rukia watched him carefully this time, determined not to make any more mistakes. He was elegant in retrieving the cup, and even his sips seem measured equally, if that was even possible!

When the cup was placed back on the tray, Rukia repeated the procedure, trying not to look at Byakuya as she took her three sips from the cup. When the final cup for humankind was finally drunk from, the Shinto priest lifted his hands solemnly and pronounced both of them man and wife.

Rukia felt like he had personally pronounced her death sentence.

Rukia heaved a sigh of relief as she stepped through the doors to change for the day. The ceremony had went on without a hitch after her awful tea mistake and now while Byakuya was greeting the guests at the wedding feast, it was the bride's duty to quietly change and wait in the bridal chambers for her groom to return at night.

It was really sexist that way, but Rukia wasn't going to complain. She wasn't familiar with any of the guests at the wedding, and she wasn't keen to break any more of the Kuchiki house rules. And given that they were all illogical and numbering in thousands, made it a likely possibility for a person like herself.

Rukia was tired, these bridal robes were no joke. They were expensive and beautiful, but they were also heavy and extremely inconvenient to move in. Rukia had not eaten anything since morning, and now combined with the hunger and butterflies in her stomach, she was not feeling so well.

Miko had disappeared after helping Rukia through the changing room, as she was not a qualified senior attendant for the wedding. Left alone without her faithful maid, Rukia felt helpless and unsure of herself. The other maids worked around her, fussing with her hair and clothes, slowly removing the expensive bridal robes layer by layer, with each careful untying of every knot.

"Are you afraid, my Lady?" One of the maids politely asked.

Rukia's head jerked at the question, it was the first time someone had formally addressed her as lady of the house. That realization brought forth the fear and apprehension that came with that title. What was expected of her?

The maid only smiled as she removed the sash around Rukia's waist. "Do not be afraid, Lady Rukia. I understand that this is your first night with our Lord Byakuya."

Rukia felt whatever colour left in her cheeks drain away. The iciness crept around her fingers, as her heart thudded fast. First night?

"Our Lord is a good man, so there will be no need to fear." The maid removed the final layer of Rukia's bridal dress and she was left in nothing but her thin shihakusho. Rukia shifted uncomfortably and tried to put her hands around her body in a vain attempt to cover her body.

"We look forward to a great heir for the Kuchiki family." The maid smiled.

The dread in Rukia's stomach only got worse.

"Congratulations, Kuchiki Taichou."

Byakuya nodded curtly as he ushered the last of the guests after the wedding feast. He had dealt with the occasion with as much diplomacy as his noble blood required of him, and now he desired some rest in his chamber.

Except that a certain someone was now awaiting him in his chamber.

Byakuya frowned slightly, as he deliberated on how best to deal with the situation. After all, this was what he was going to face for the next six months, and a systematic plan would make sure things flowed smoothly until the "marriage" period was over.

The human girl had been practically terrified of this union, but she had put on a rather decent display of courage during the ceremony. But Byakuya had easily read the fear and apprehension in her violet eyes as she stood across from him in the shrine. Yes, her violet eyes. They were big and round, and wildly expressive of all the emotions she had felt… and funnily enough were the only colour in her pale face. She wore white bridal robes with a sakura motif, Byakuya concluded that Kazumasa had chosen the fabric knowing his preference for the flower.

"My Lord. Will you be proceeding to the bridal chamber shortly?" A senior maid bowed politely behind him. "Preparations have been made, your new wife awaits."

Wife.

Byakuya had never been married before, even though there had been countless, and futile, attempts by his clan members to secure a marriage with a noble lady. As one of the responsibilities as head of the Kuchiki clan, Byakuya had attended several miais with women deemed suitable as his life partner. The miais had all been proper, as was befitting for noble families, evening tea with polite talk. The women whom his clan had carefully chosen all came from noble backgrounds, were softspoken and very polite. However, not a single one had caught his fancy or made him feel remotely interested.

As a noble and the twenty-eighth head of the Kuchiki clan, he understood the requirements that came with the high position. And he would go through it as all his predecessors had. One day, a suitable noblewoman will be selected as his wife and he would marry her as stipulated, take care of his wife as a proper husband would and sire heirs for the clan.

"I will be going to my chamber now," Byakuya announced. The servants and maids bowed and followed him.

Byakuya already had a plan in his mind… he had arranged it thoroughly all through the week and it will all flow smoothly exactly as he had planned. As always.

Rukia fiddled with the sleeves of her sleeping robe, trying to calm her fast-beating heart. She had been brought to Byakuya's chamber after they had changed her out of her bridal robes, and was told to wait here until his arrival.

'This sleeping robe is too transparent!' Rukia looked down at her clothing in dismay. It was white and delicate that she could just make out her skin showing through, and she had never worn something so… so bare before in her life, let alone in front of a man.

Trying to busy herself with something, Rukia gingerly walked around the bedroom. It was rather big and clean, with minimal furnishing. Rukia noticed the big tatami bed that was surely Byakuya's, and she turned away from it. Noticing a rather pretty sakura screen set up on one side of the room, Rukia approached it with curiosity. The screen was made from fine mulberry paper, and beautiful sakura trees were painted on it. Rukia moved to the side to touch it, and then she noticed that there was something behind the sakura screen.

Rukia's eyes widened.

There was a smaller tatami bed placed behind the screen, covered in white sheets. Rukia bent down to inspect it and noted that it was not dusty, so it must be new. What was this bed doing here, behind the screen? Who placed it here?

All too soon, Rukia heard steady footsteps against the wooden walkway outside and her heart seized in her chest. He's here? It seemed that there was an entourage involved, but then they all stopped outside the chamber doors.

Rukia watched with increasing nervousness as the shoji doors opened to reveal her husband in the doorway, still dressed in his bridal clothes. A line of maids and servants behind him bowed and all spoke in unison, "We wish our Lord and Lady a happy and lasting marriage."

It all sounded so monotonous to Rukia… like the entire wedding ceremony today.

"You all may leave," Byakuya spoke, his tone emotionless. The maids and servants bowed lower and one of them stepped forward dutifully to pull the shoji doors close.

Leaving Byakuya and Rukia… alone.

Byakuya's grey eyes coolly swept through the room once, and then settled on Rukia, who stood by the sakura paper screen. She was wearing a white robe, defininitely silk, with delicate floral patterns at the sleeves. The fabric was thin, and Byakuya suspected it was made for such a purpose, her skin was just faintly showing through the flimsiness of it all.

Without another word, Byakuya turned and walked away in the opposite direction toward a polished dresser. The violet eyes of his wife followed him carefully. He swiftly untied his robes, facing away from Rukia.

Rukia watched her husband start to untie his robes, as the fear clutched at her heart. What is he doing? Why is he undressing in front of me? Stop! Stop! Stop! Unable to watch further, Rukia hurriedly squeezed her eyes shut.

Byakuya finished untying his first layer of his expensive robe and neatly draped it over a chair next to the dresser. He slipped out of the second layer, leaving the final layer on, an equally expensive black silk sleeping robe. He folded the second layer and placed it into the dresser before turning back to his wife.

She stood awkwardly by the screen, arms held tightly around her body and her eyes closed shut. He suspected she was trembling a little, but Byakuya was too irritated to care.

"Open your eyes, foolish one." His voice was cold.

At his words, Rukia slowly opened her eyes with hesitation. She unconsciously let out the breath that she had been holding as she saw him fully dressed in his sleeping robes.

"Did you think I was undressing in front of you?" Byakuya stepped forward. "Bear in mind that I have no desire to touch you, woman."

Rukia's eyes widened slightly, but Byakuya had already gestured to the bed where she stood nearest. "I see you have already noticed your bed, and that is the one behind the screen where you are standing now."

Rukia nodded slowly. Where was this going?

"This is my bed." Byakuya's eyes turned to look behind him, where the larger bed occupied his nearer end of the bedroom. It was the huge tatami bed, made out of polished beechwood. The head of the bed stood against the wall, where a beautiful traditional scroll hung above, showcasing a beautiful emblem of sorts.

Byakuya's eyes moved back to Rukia. "And in no condition will you sleep in it." He moved forward another step. "We will use separate beds for the period of six months that we will be married, and you will keep this knowledge to yourself. Only Kazumasa comes into my bedroom to clean."

Rukia nodded. Though her bed was smaller, it looked very comfortable. The sakura screen was pretty too. Most importantly, she was not going to have a to share a bed with that horrible man!

"There are also certain conditions we will have to set out in this marriage," Byakuya spoke up.

"First and foremost, this marriage is a union only to name. It will not be consummated, nor will you be required to bear any heirs."

Rukia nodded earnestly. I definitely agree to that!

"You will share my room, but not my bed. As I have already stated before, your bed has been set up there, and that screen will maintain privacy. My personal items will remain my own, and in no condition will you touch them."

Again, Rukia nodded. She did not find his possessions of any interest to her anyway, not his calligraphy set nor his plain black night robes that he wore for walks in the gardens.

"You will maintain distance, as is proper, from me. You will address me as 'Byakuya-sama' at all times, and will always maintain honorifics when referring to me."

Rukia nodded for the third time. Is he, perhaps, gay?

"The Kuchiki family is one of the four noble families of Soul Society. As such, your conduct will reflect greatly upon my clan. You will therefore carefully watch your steps and words in public. I will not have you disgracing the Kuchiki clan… is that clear?"

Rukia felt herself bristle slightly at his arrogant order, but she chose to maintain silence.

After waiting a few more seconds to ascertain if she would speak back, Byakuya started to move toward his bed.

"Retire for the night." His final words for the day were spoken in a curt order.

And then Rukia spoke. "Wait."

"Wait."

That single word managed to surprise Byakuya and stop him in his tracks momentarily. The noble's brows furrowed slightly.

I should have known.

Byakuya inwardly sighed. This human girl was never one to easily obey orders, she almost always had to question something. Were they all made this way in the human world, Byakuya found himself wondering. In Soul Society, there was always law and order, and this was priced above anything else, even one's own life. Ever since he was born, the rules had been set down and everyone obeyed them without any questions asked.

But this human girl… sure had a lot of questions.

"What is it?" Byakuya asked coldly as he turned to his wife.

She was standing next to the sakura screen, the bright light from the lamps throwing a gold glow onto the young human girl. It was surprising how small she really was, her petite figure illuminated by the lamp behind her. She met his eyes steadfast, not flinching nor lowering her eyes.

She took a deep breath before speaking. "You have set out all the conditions on your own, and I agree to abide by all of them. But only if you will agree to just one of mine."

One condition? Byakuya frowned slightly. His voice was cold. "And that be?"

Rukia looked up at her husband, her violet eyes steadfast. "I wish to become a Shinigami."

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I wanted to write an AN to reply the two reviewers earlier, but it's already way past midnight so I might be doing it later. :)

Updated AN: To marguitar, I thank you for the absolutely long review, it's really rare to get one of these. :) I agree with the lack of ByaRuki works and now it's been dwindling even more so... Fanfiction used to be filled with them. I guess I'm also one of the guilty ByaRuki authors but I guess as you grow older, more important things take priority in life? I still love writing though, I just don't have as much time anymore... and sometimes little to no inspiration (and I used to be really inspired with all these wonderful fics on this site!) unless the manga comes up with a new chapter with some ByaRuki panel time in it. Now back to 'To Win You Back', which is my favourite of all my work here on FF. Your review actually made me re-read some of my chapters back then. But I agree with your point about Rukia being somewhat overly submissive (something which the hardheaded me a few years back might not have, but now as I read some parts of it, I do cringe at my writing at some points lol XD), I have always struggled with writing that aspect. Byakuya has always been a very dominating character to begin with, and to balance a Rukia who naturally admires and respects him and at the same time able to assert her own viewpoint at an acceptable level (so as not to seem OOC - an overly rebellious Rukia in ByaRuki also makes me cringe) is something I really do hope to achieve. But I thank you very much for your pointers, I hope I will be able to do better in future fics... possibly in this one here. Cheers.

To Eurisse, thank you for your review. Ah, my first ever written fanfic... and I'm glad you enjoyed it. As a fellow IchiRuki-er too, I also find it funny to write triangles like this... and I think the triangle has always existed in all my other ByaRuki fanfics (maybe because I cannot see Rukia with any other male besides Ichigo and Byakuya. I do not have any tendency toward RenRuki, strangely enough). But anyway thanks for the feedback and I hope you enjoy my other fics. :)

Thank you again everyone. Do kindly review this chapter for me and tell me what you think. :)

Cheers.