A/N: Thanks for the reviews, and all the people who have been reading, and who have subscribed this story to their Favourite/Alerts.

Nice to know it doesn't suck so far :P

Here's the next chapter-

Unaccountable Attractions

[The Kuchiki Manor...]

"Well how was it? How was the ball?" cried Rangiku, ploppind down on Rukia's bed when the midget returned from dinner at the Kisuke's.

She grinned sheepishly, thinking of Ichigo Kurosaki.

"Couldn't have been better"

"I told you!" Rangiku squealed, jumping up "I told you not to judge Kazuki before even meeting him-! I mean, he was bound to change, wasn't he?"

Rukia blinked up at her "Wha- no! I'm not talking about Kazuki!"

That brought the strawberry-blonde up short "Wait- not Kazuki?"

Rukia shook her head, going a little red despite herself.

Rangiku eyed her "How many men are you letting yourself on, Kuchiki?"

"Rangiku!"

"Fine- who is he, then?"

Ruka rolled over on her bed, trying to act non-chalant.

"Ichigo Kurosaki"

Surprise dawned over Rangiku's face "That pianist….? You met-"

Just then, there was a swift knock on the door and in came Kazuki.

"Um…am I disturbing you?" he asked, smiling sheepishly. "I just wanted a word with Rukia…er…alone"

Rukia's eyes bulged, but not as much as Rangiku's.

The maid's voice trailed away as she squealed in delight, "Oh my GOD you're so handsome!"

"Uh…" Kazuki looked sideways, brushing the light brown hair that always flopped down in front of his adorable eyes. "-thanks…?"

"Oh, I wish you were my fiancé!" she cried and exited the room slamming the door behind her. Her voice could still be heard from the corridor until the sound of breaking china and Byakuya's unmistakable shout "RANGIKU."

Kazuki scratched his hair "…okaaaaay….." and came closer to where Rukia sat.

He gave her a broad grin.

"Well, long time no see! How're you?"

"Yeah…" she muttered.

They sat in silence for a long time until Rukia felt really uncomfortable. Yes, Kazuki was extremely good-looking, but he was just not…he was just not for her.

"Look, Kazuki, you're a good person..but this whole marriage thing…I mean, I understand we're both Noble houses and run a good business, and this marriage would seem ideal and would bring profit to both the companies but…" she looked up to find a blank expression on her fiance's face as he tried to show that he was listening.

"..but you see, I can't marry you because I've been sleeping with someone else, and now I'm pregnant so will you help me?" she finished, observing him closely.

Kazuki nodded "Yes, yes, I understand you completely. Wait- what!"

Rukia sighed.

And this was the guy she was going to get married to.

[The next morning…]

The ringing of a phone tore through the silence in the house.

There was semi-darkness everywhere, the curtains were drawn, and Renji shifted on the couch, giving Ichigo a swift kick in his sleep, to which the latter seemed oblivious, snoring away to the glory.

The previous night, after returning from the ball, they had gone to their usual diner- or well, more like a bar. Renji had been the only one who ordered beer and had gotten into a fight in his drunken state, resulting in all of them being kicked out of the place.

Uryuu, yawning, got up from the room he shared with Toshirou, putting on his glasses and looked over at Ichigo and Renji curled up together on the couch. He fought a strong urge to take a picture. He glanced at the wall clock, making his way to the telephone. It was eleven-thirty a.m.

"Hello?" He mumbled, picking up the receiver.

Ichigo was having a queer dream about bunnies circling carrots, and then Rukia came hopping and giggling, saying she wanted a bunny and Ichigo was running after it, trying to grab it but it hopped away, again he tried to grab it….

"Kurosaki! Phone- for you!" came Uryuu's yell and with a startled cry, the orangeheaded pianist fell down from the couch.

"I'm in the same fuckin room, do you have to yell that loud?"

"Pardon me, I couldn't resist" Uryuu said sarcastically and handed him the receiver, walking away.

Ichigo put it to his ear "Hello?"

Rukia stamped downstairs, having gotten up right on time. She needed to talk to Byakuya.

Fortunately, Len Tsukimori didn't accompany the elder Kuchiki this time, who sat sipping his early morning coffee.

"I'm not marrying him!" she cried.

Byakuya looked up, ever so slightly taken aback.

"Who?"

"Kazuki! I don't even like him- I don't even know him!"

Byakuya blinked up at her "You have known him from your childhood, ever since you were brought to this manor."

"I don't- not like that…!" she fought to say the words she wanted to…but looking at Byakuya's face made her forget everything.

"Then like how?" he asked.

"I….! Like- I don't-" she yelled in frustration inside her mind, but dared not so out loud.

"Calm down and have a seat"

She did so.

"Now, what is all this about?"

"I don't love him, Brother. So why do I have to marry him?"

An unreadable expression passed Byakuya's face and he surveyed her carefully.

"Rukia, do you remember Kaein Shiba?"

Rukia coloured and nodded.

Kaien had been her former…..well, lets just say she had been with him around the time Kazuki had left for abroad for his education, and that Byakuya or anyone else had known nothing about it, initially. Their whole affair had surfaced when Rukia had refused to defy Byakuya and run away with Kaien and marry him. Kaein had said he was disappointed in her, and a few months later she had found him married to a woman named Miyako.

Endless days of gloom and depression had passed before Rukia had pulled herself up again, and although she hated to admit it, Byakuya had not said one word about it to Len, or to her. He acted like he had completely forgotten it, and sometimes he had even suggested her to go out and do whatever she wanted to, in the hope she might cheer up. BUt now, he had finally brought that topic up.

"I do not want that to happen to you again, Rukia." Byakuya said quietly "And I suspect that is where this Kurosaki will lead you. Do not say a word" he interrupted as Rukia made to open her mouth. "I have seen the way Kurosaki looked at you last night. Kazuki may not be the man you dreamed of, but he will keep you happy- he will keep you with him at all times, and he will be by your side always. You are fortunate enough to be ridden of the cheating scums who circle this city."

Rukia thought there was a rather knowing in his eyes as he said that and then he went back to his coffee "Now, I am going to prepare a carriage for you to go downtown. You are going to go with Rangiku and you will decide what dress you would like to wear for your engagement party. I have an appointment, so I will not join you. Is that understood?"

Rukia nodded curtly, chewing. "When's the party?"

"In two days. I would also like you to give me the list of guests you would like to invite from your side, if any"

Yeah, sure, I would like to invite a bunch of my so-called acquaintances, who don't know one friggin' thing about me.

"When's the marriage?" she asked.

"Yes- about that- Mr. Tsukimori wants to take you over with him to decide the kind of flowers you would like, and all the centerpieces in your wedding."

Rukia felt like she might faint.

"When's the marriage?"

"In a month or two"

"Who was on the phone, man?" Renji asked, sitting up and walking over to where Ichigo stood, looking shocked and dazed.

"HEY STRAWBERRY!" Renji shouted when Ichigo didn't catch his attention.

There was a thump from a nearby room where Hitsugaya fell, stratled because of Renji's yell.

"Fuck you, Abarai!" came his muffled reply.

"How are you so energetic? You should be completely hung over from all that excitement last night." Uryu said, walking by and looking over at Renji, then at Ichigo, who was still standing on the same spot, surprise etched upon his face, clutching the receiver.

"Kurosaki- who was on the phone?"

"Len…."

"Len who?"

"Len Tsukimori…he said…I didn't think he was serious…but-"

Renji fell on the couch "Yeah, I gave him our number- you had disappeared off to hell knows where and he was searching for Rukia when I bumped into him. So, what'd he say?"

Ichigo blinked up at him "He wants me to play at Rukia's engagement party."

Renji jumped up and gave a loud cheer, whistling, while Uryu shook his head "That's 'Miss Kuchiki' to you, Kurosaki"

"SECOND MEETING IN A WEEK! CONGRATS, MAN!" Renji thumped the pianist in the back and whooped, punching the air.

"He's invited you guys too, if you wanna come." Ichigo turned to Renji "Says he knows that woman you wanted to be introduced to- she's someone named Tatsuki Arisawa"

"Alright!"

"I am not going" Uryu replied "Most probably, Miss Inoue won't be coming, and I need to work on my next book."

"Who cares about your damned book? I'm SO going! I'm gonna go downtown to buy a suit!" Renji cried excitedly and disappeared into the shower.

"Don't you have enough suits already?"

Toshirou sighed as he entered the living room, rubbing his eyes, irritation filled to the brim in him "Do you fools have to be at each other's throats every single minute of every day? And what are you grinning about?" he snapped at Ichigo

And Ichigo did realize that his face had broken into an unconscious smile.

..He was going to meet Rukia again.

A/N: Kinda short, and maybe not that important. It may seem like a filler, but gotta keep the story going.

Tell me suggestions, mistakes, compliments (always welcome ;) and comments and I'll be happy to improve.

Thanks for reading, do tune in next time!

~SS~