Anon: Yes! Shuuhei did not know that Byakuya had a sister. You know Byakuya is all business when he fights, and he's not one to talk about his private life in front of others. This chapter should explain most of your lingering questions. The date will be the next chapter so I'll include some information in there as Shuuhei elaborates to Rukia his relationship with her brother.

That 1 person: Yeah the stripper in the cake seemed like something Rangiku would do! I do like Kaien a lot! But he seemed more useful in making him the ex-boyfriend in this case. It was a toss-up between him and Renji, but Kaien won.

I want to give y'all a very big thank you for reading this series of once shots! Y'all are awesome! :)

A flash back is in italics.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or its wonderful characters.

Chapter 4

Shuuhei drove nervously to the address that Rukia gave him. The neighborhood was lined with extravagant houses. If Rukia lived here, then why did she work at Urahara's Café if her family was rich. Could Rukia just be even more awesome than he thought? Did she like paying for her own way in the world without relying on family? He could see Rukia being exactly like that since she was so down to earth. His respect for the petite woman increased tenfold.

The GPS interrupted Shuuhei's thoughts as it told him to turn down this lone road surround by tall trees. Not even a road sign was presence to mark the road. Going on a limb of faith, he decided to give the normally reliable GPS a chance so he followed its instructions. Five miles later down the dense wooded road, Shuuhei was trying to figure out where the hell he was as the evening light faded.

Now, only his car lights and a small faint glow off in the distance were the only sources of light. He had a strange feeling that he had seen this in a horror movie before, but he wasn't turning back just yet. He traveled toward the faint glow before he called Rukia asking for directions. He didn't want to seem like an idiot since he couldn't find her address.

Finally, Shuuhei came upon the source of lights - gated area. Two muscular guards stood in each of the towers where large lamps were lit. A bead of sweat ran down his face. Just who the is freak was Rukia? Was she part of the Yakuza? How could a small beautiful, seeming innocent café worker be that? Was he going to die now for learning her secret? What if they dated for years and they broke up? Would he end up getting fed to the fish?

A brief flicker of self preservation ran across Shuuhei's yelling RUN! But a tall, red haired guard's knock on his car's window intruded his thoughts. "Name, sir?"

Shuuhei cleared his throat. "This is where Rukia Kuchiki lives right?" The bald guard tried not to laugh while the red-haired guard remained serious. He looked like he wanted to throw Shuuhei over a bridge with a block of comment tied around his feet.

"What is your name, kid?" The red-haired guard leveled a menacing glare at the dark-haired doctor.

"Shuuhei Hisagi." He replied as a few sweat drops trailed down the back on his head. He prayed the men would just tell him where or if Rukia was even here.

With a nod, the guard yelled. "He's cleared." He turned back to the car. "Welcome to Kuchiki Manor. Lady Kuchiki is expecting you."

"Lady Kuchiki?" Shuuhei replied with wide eyes. He turned a little pale before he drove through the gates. She was a noble? He expected her to have a rich family after having a house in this neighborhood, but a noble? This shock was going to last a while. Although, he was curious as to why she didn't tell him before. Now that he thought about it though, Rukia didn't mention her family much; granted, neither one of them asked about each other's family either. Maybe she was waiting for him to break the ice first.

Shuuhei followed the road until he pulled up to this large stone building with circular ends like a tower. "This isn't a manor! This is a damn castle!" Shuuhei murmured as he exited the car. He made sure his dark jeans and his best shirt was not wrinkled. He wanted to make a good impression. Unfortunately, most families didn't like him till they got to know him due to his choices of tattoos.

A nervous Shuuhei walked up to the large, daunting door with a boutique of white, pink, and orange tulips. Just before he knocked, the door opened on its own according.

"Hello?" Shuuhei called out to see a very familiar face. "Byakuya?" His longtime sparring partner and friend stood in the dark doorway in his steel gray work suit.

"Shuuhei? What are you doing here? How did you know I lived here" Byakuya glanced down at the flowers in his hand. "Why did you bring flowers? I thought we were going to meet Sunday for our normal match since you were off." Then it all started to click in his head. Renji was going die for just mentioning Rukia's date was here. The red-haired baboon was probably laughing his ass off from the control room watching him and Shuuhei meet for the first time outside of the dojo.

"Uh, you see..." He was about to answer Byakuya when said answer opened the door further.

"Brother, are you tormenting my date?" Rukia emerged from her brother's side in a lovely violet dress that matched her eyes.

"Brother?" Shuuhei gulped. Never once did it cross his mind that Rukia would be related to his kendo partner. The men never talked about women or family. They only worked at improving their skills and taunting one another.

"Your date?" Byakuya asked Shuuhei with a raised eyebrow. The confused men stared down at the violet eyed problem in front of them.

"You know each other, don't you?" Rukia asked with a sigh. She thought she finally had a man that Byakuya had never meet before; therefore, he wouldn't scare her date off. The men nodded at her.

"Are you going to tell me how you know one another then, or are you just going to stand there gapping at each other like fish?" She asked as a new look emerged in her eyes. It was a cross between fire and curiosity. Shuuhei knew that look. She was debating which one of them that she would chew out first if she didn't like their answers; although, knowing her, it would be a respectable chew out.

Talking the first step, Shuuhei began, "Your brother is my kendo and sparring partner at the dojo. We've been practicing together for the last seven years. Right, Byakuya?"

Rukia's eyes widen. She turned to her brother and asked accusingly. "You've taken kendo without me, brother?"

"Yes. I have been visiting the same dojo since I was 12." Byakuya replied with a stoic look on his face. His mind was else where though thinking about his first meeting with the tattooed, black haired man in front of him.

7 years ago...

Two wild black haired boys grabbled with one another until their Sensei called time.

The tall, slimy boy with long black hair and steel grey eyes asked his opponent, "Who are you, kid?"

His opponent with black spiky hair and a 69 tattoo picked up a kendo sword and starred the entitled teen in the eye – not a thing many people dared do. "You're worst nightmare." The kid replied with a cocky grin. Byakuya wanted to strangle him. "But you can call Shuuhei Hisagi."

"Byakuya Kuchiki – as in heir to the Kuchiki empire." Byakuya wanted his opponent to be impressed but Shuuhei did not give him the satisfaction as he charged. Byakuya had to quickly defend himself as Shuuhei attack with a wild, abandoned force. Throughout a few more of his attacks, Byakuya realized his assessment of Shuuhei's attacks were wrong. They were calculated and precise driven by the force to succeed. Somehow this caused Byakuya to form a slight bit of respect for his younger opponent.

The boys traded attacks until they were interrupted by their sensei. "Shuuhei since you're the only one who can go toe to toe with Byakuya. Meet your new sparring partner from now on, and welcome to the top level on kendo, son."

The boys glared at each other, but bowed with respect to one another. Little did they know that their bond would turn into a great friendship.

Rukia poked her brother in the side bringing him back to the real world. "Brother, you do know that I have been begging you to take kendo forever, right? Why would you hide this from me! You could have taught me here! All I got was self-defense classes." An upset Rukia told her brother how she felt while Shuuhei watched them like you would follow a tennis match.

Byakuya took a deep breath before he addressed his little sister. "Rukia, it's not that simple. Ladies are expected to act a certain way." He replied as he sent Shuuhei a pleading glance, but Shuuhei wasn't that stupid. He knew the little power house in front of him packed one hell of a punch.

Instead, Shuuhei placed a hand on Rukia's shoulder and whispered in her ear, "Calm down. If it means so much to you, I'll teach you. We don't want your brother grounding you on our first date now, do we?" Shuuhei stated the last part louder so Byakuya could hear him. He saw a tall ebony nod out of the corner of his eye.

After Shuuhei's words, tension fled Rukia's body, which Byakuya was extremely thankful for. Instead of yelling at her brother like she wanted to, Rukia asked him the lingering question that was on her mind and that she was too preoccupied to ask while ago. "Brother, since you are being so forth coming, why haven't I met Shuuhei before then or even heard about him?" Shuuhei acted like he didn't know her family when she told him her last name, and Byakuya never once mentioned him before.

"Kendo is my relaxation time, Rukia. What happens at the dojo stays there, including the people until this occurrence." Byakuya stated as Rukia just started at him like he lost his ever-loving mind. He had been watching one too many American shows lately.

"Do you know how ridiculous that sounds?" She asked him.

"Rukia, go grab your coat while I have a discussion with Shuuhei." She turned to leave until Shuuhei found his voice.

"Wait, Rukia! Before you go, these are for you." Shuuhei said as he gave her the colorful bouquet of tulips.

A mega watt smile lit up Rukia's face. "Thank you, Shuuhei! They are beautiful!" She exclaimed as she stood on her tip toes to give him a kiss on the cheek. He turned a million shades of red because Byakuya was right there. He was terrified what kind of expression - or lack there of - was on the Kuchiki noble's face at his little sister's stunt.

"Don't damage him." Rukia growled as she did what he asked. She had an idea of what her brother wanted to discuss with him like he had with Kaien and Toshiro. Byakuya never did threaten Ichigo, but that's because most of the time he was around Rangiku wasn't far behind him.

Byakuya's steel eyes glared at his friend after Rukia left. "So you and my sister?"

Shuuhei tried not to flinch under Byakuya's glare. Dark grey and steel eyes clashed like the first time seven years ago. "We never talked about family, Byakuya. If I had known she who she was, I would have asked your permission before asking her out."

Instead of giving him a real reply, Byakuya stated, "I'm assuming you were the one who helped her out a couple of weeks ago."

His reply surprised Shuuhei. "Yes. I came to get coffee right before my shift. It was the first time that I ever came there since moving into my new apartment. I thought why not? Then I come in seeing that creep try to get her. We put him in his place that night."

"Well, whatever the case was, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. She is my pride." He paused for the moment looking his friend in the eyes. "You rescuing her shows me the caliber of man that you are. Without even knowing that she's my sister, you saved her. I owe you a debt of gratitude, Shuuhei. If there is anything that the Kuchiki Clan can do for you, please let me know."

"Byakuya, I don't want this held over your head. I just want the chance to date and get to know the amazing woman I've only had a glimpse of."

"Then so it shall be. You can date Rukia, but my offer still stands. As friends, I should do that at least. Treat her will that's all that I ask. Even though if you do screw up, she'll put you in your place." Byakuya said with a laugh.

"Don't I know it! Shuuhei joined Byakuya's laughter. A few seconds later, Rukia reemerged behind Byakuya. The men both knew that she at least heard half of their conversation.

"Was he nice?" Rukia asked as she glared at her brother.

"He was Byakuya." Shuuhei stated laughing again as he earned a glare from bother of the siblings.

Byakuya leaned down and whispered something into Rukia's ear, then she smiled. "Are you ready to go Shuuhei?"

"Yes, I am beautiful." He replied as he extended his arm for her to grab. Before they left, Shuuhei mouthed the words "Thank you" to his old friend for giving him the chance to date this amazing woman in his arms.

Okay my lovely readers, did you like this? I know its a little less bloody than maybe you imagined, but Shuuhei did save Rukia so Byakuya is ever grateful. That's not to say that the brother-in-laws don't ever butt heads though! The next chapter will be the date and plan on Rukia grilling Shuuhei! HA! Thank you for dealing with my sporadic updates for this fanfic. I hope to have the date up within the next 2 weeks! I plan to use the long trip home for adding some chapters to my fanfics and starting a few reader request.