(AN): Sorry for the late update! This chapter is a little longer, so I hope you enjoy it!

I do not own Bleach.


Chapter 9

An annoyed Rukia marched towards the garage to borrow a car. She had one goal in mind, and neither Kuchiki was going to stand in her way. Hell, she signed a marriage contract just to go see her two childhood, idiotic friends.

Rukia made it all the way to the key house without being interrupted by anyone. Then, out of the corner of eye, she caught a flash of red hair followed by a blur of black. Instantly, she thought about calling Byakuya to yell at him for not keeping his promise. Why did she have to be guarded 24/7 in the manor? It's not like she planned on leaving and never coming back.

Byakuya's right-hand man, Lieutenant Renji Abarai, was the first to approach Rukia as she through the keys for the vehicle that she wanted while another of Byakuya's guards, Shuuhei Hisagi, watched the scene unfold before him. The tattoos made each man look opposing, but Rukia knew the truth. They were teddy bears when it came to women, even if they were great soldiers.

"And just where do you think you're going, Rukia?" The red-haired man asked as he slightly leaned over her figure.

"None of your damn business, Renji, so move." The petite woman slightly shoved the larger man out of the way causing Hisagi to hide his snicker. The black-haired man was just waiting for a showdown between those two.

"You know, you're not supposed to leave the manor, midget." Renji sneered. Renji always knew how to antagonize the petite "she-devil" as Senbonzakura fondly called her. Rukia turned around and kicked him in the shin causing the red head to hop around on one leg. Then, she turned around to glare at Hisagi who had a smirk on his lips.

"Don't look at me, princess. I'm just here to protect you, but I think you have that handled." Hisagi murmured in amusement as one of their best fighters cussed a mile-wide streak as he rubbed his sore leg.

Before Renji could retaliate, his phone rang. Rukia couldn't hear much, but she assumed the caller was one of the twins. When she heard Renji reply "Yes, captain" through gritted teeth, she knew then that the caller was Byakuya. Everyone under his command still referred to him as captain from his stint in the special arms forces.

Without a word, Renji got up and walked across to a different key house, grabbing a specific set for the petite woman. He walked over and gave them to Rukia, who stood in shock for a minute before accepting the keys. "Rukia, the captain would like for you to take his SUV." Renji declared.

By the look in Renji's eyes, Rukia knew then that she wouldn't be able to leave without using this vehicle. She sighed heavily. "It's all blacked out with bullet proof windows, isn't it?" Rukia asked as she watched a smirk form on Renji's face at her slight annoyance.

So much for blending into the crowd! But you have to give and take, Rukia. This is sort of a peace offering from the boys…even if he did force your hand... So, give those sexy idiots some peace of mind and take the vehicle.

"Alright, Renji. That won't be a problem. Just point me in the right direction of his majesty's vehicle." She demanded.

The red head walked over to the car and opened the door for her. A serious look crossed his face. "Are you sure that you don't want us following you?" He asked even though Byakuya warned him not to.

"I'll be fine, Renji. You and Hisagi go have a drink to calm your nerves," she teased.

"Be safe, Rukia. You never know who is out there." She nodded at his concern. Before he left, Renji also told her, "If you run into trouble, there is a gun under the steering wheel, one in the console, and a set of knives in the driver's side door."

"He's a little over protective, isn't he? But at least he's following through with his promise." Rukia muttered to herself as she climbed in a black SUV. Byakuya and Senbonzakura may be paranoid, but at least they were working with her for now.

Renji and Hisagi waved good bye as she backed out of the parking garage. As soon as she pulled out of the drive way, Rukia used the SUV to call Kaien.

"Hello?" He answered skeptically not knowing the telephone number.

"Look, Kaien, Tell the guard at the at the gate that you are expecting a visitor is a blacked-out SUV. You, Ichigo, and I needed to have a long chat." She told him.

"Come around to the servants' entrance when you arrive. We'll be sure to have everyone clear of the area in 35 minutes."

"Thanks, Kai! See you soon!"

"Be safe, Rukia, and watch your back." Kaien told her solemnly.

Little did Kaien know how much his words would mean to her. Fifteen minutes into her trip to the Shiba residence, Rukia felt a chill run down her spine.

"It's nothing. Keep on driving, Ru," she told herself out loud, but a navy car caught her eye. The car had been following her for a little while now. Sensing that she needed to do something, Rukia made a few loops through the neighborhood taking curves like an Indy car driver, but the car stayed with her no matter what maneuver she made.

Fear crept in her heart. Maybe Byakuya and Senbonzakura were right to worry. What if these people were after her?

After the next loop, the navy car turned off causing Rukia to breathe a sigh of relief. Maybe they were just lost, but I probably should to call this in just in case.

"Call Byakuya." Rukia commanded.

A ringing could be heard, but there was no answer so she hung up. She tried Senbonzakura next. "Call Zakura."

"We're sorry. This person is not in our data base," the car told her.

"Then, call Senbonzakura," Rukia commanded once again, hoping that Byakuya used his twin's full name.

On the first ring, Rukia was greeted with, "Well, hello, love. Miss me already?" Senbonzakura asked in a bemused tone.

"I think I may have an issue…" Rukia trailed off as she waited for her bodyguard to assume his normal overprotective self when she had issues.

"What happened?" He asked quickly losing any of his playfulness.

"Did you or Byakuya have anyone follow me?"

Senbonzakura scratched his head as he debated on telling her the truth. "No. We trusted you to make it to the Shibas since you were so damn determined to leave us." Senbonzakura added a slight hint of annoyance at the she-devil.

"Zakura, I'm serious."

"Are you being followed, Ru?"

"I think so. Zakura, if this is them, then I am so sorry for not listening to you and Byakuya."

"You mean you're sorry for not listening to your husband?" Senbonzakura had a smile on his face as he attempted to tease Rukia. He needed her calm for what may happen next few minutes.

"You know damn well he's not my husband. I was forced to sign papers under duress, but until I make my decision, the Shibas will think I am engaged to him. I'm not telling them I married him without a priest present."

"Whatever you say, sweetheart. Now, tell me where the hell are you so I can see who is in the area?"

"I thought you said no one was following me…" Rukia growled.

"The Shibas' mansion is on the way to two Kuchiki businesses and the grocery store. Someone is bound to be that way."

Rukia's mouth made a big O. "Sorry…" She muttered, barely loud enough for Senbonzakura to hear it.

"I'll call them, and get someone over that way to make sure you make it to the Shibas' alright. Just tell the idiots what's really going on. Maybe they'll help like you said."

"Thanks, Zakura."

"Sure thing. Be careful, she-devil. You know how to use the gun if you have to." Senbonzakura told her in a warning tone. She knew that mood all too well from their training secession.

"Yes, sensei." Rukia hung up afterwards. She kept waiting for that navy car to reappear, but she prayed that she was over reacting.

Sighing heavily, Senbonzakura ended his call with Rukia only to call his brother, "They're on the move."

"They're waiting for their time to strike." Byakuya replied as he watched patiently from his hiding spot.

"Honest to Kami, I was hoping she just was being over paranoid." Senbonzakura muttered.

"You know, she is not a frantic female, who worries over every little thing.. Rukia is level headed most of the time."

"True, unless we piss her off." He said with a laugh.

"Speaking of pissing her off, did you tell her about me?" Byakuya asked as he followed the navy car that Rukia was concerned about.

"What the hell do you think, brother?" Senbonzakura asked as he rolled his eyes. It wasn't like Byakuya could see him, but it made Senbonzakura feel better. "I might be a few minutes younger than you, but I'm not stupid. All she knows is that someone is probably in the area."

"Good." Grey eyes narrowed as the navy car sped up towards the location of Rukia's SUV. Instantly, Byakuya commanded, "Zakura, call Kaien and warn him about possible trouble. Someone needs to come get Rukia if this guy is fixing to do what I think he is." Byakuya hung up so Senbonzakura could rely his message.

Just as Byakuya was about to side swipe the navy car, it turned into Rukia's SUV smashing it into the nearest building. "Dammit!" Byakuya growled as he threw his vehicle in park and ran towards the wreck with a gun hidden at his side.

A silver haired man got out of the navy car by-passing the civilians, who stopped and stared at the wreck. They would think that he was just going to check on driver. But in reality, the man was head to either kill or kidnap Rukia.

Byakuya was approaching the wreck when shots wrung out. He just couldn't tell who was the shooter and who was the victim. All he saw was that the crumbled passenger's door was open on the SUV.

As he got closer, Byakuya saw a mop of black hair slowly emerging from the vehicle. When Rukia came into his full view, she was clutching her bleeding arm while the silver haired assailant vanished, blending into the mass of people now gathered around the wreck.

Sirens filled the air as the police approached the crime scene. Byakuya had to get Rukia out of here, and that's when he saw Kaien.

He scooped up Rukia. "Byakuya?" She asked hazily. He determined that she suffered from a slight concussion on top of blood loss and who knows what else.

"You're going to be fine, Rukia. Kaien is here and you are leaving with him while I handle the police."

"Bya…The gun is still in the car."

"Don't worry. I'll handle everything." He replied as Kaien approached the couple. He sent the other man a scolding glance as if to say, 'look what you've done'. "Take her while I handle the police, then we'll go after Gin."

"We'll be at my house. I'll have Ichigo patch her while you're gone." Byakuya gave the other man a nod as he headed back towards the car.


Ichigo had the news on when Rukia and Kaien walked into the study. "What did you do with everyone?" Rukia asked as she notice the complete lack of servants and a beefed up security detail.

The carrot top noticed her injured arm the minute she entered the room. "More importantly, what the hell happened to you, midget?" Ichigo looked at her in shock for a minute, then he gestured for her to come sit beside him, which she ignored.

A loud beeping noise filled the room. "Breaking News: We have just received word that an assassination attempt was made on head of the Kuchiki Clan. Lord Byakuya Kuchiki was able to fight off his assailants and receive minor injuries, but his vehicle was totaled in the crash. He is being taken to the hospital to assess his injuries. If you or anyone you know has any information, please call the police…"

Wide amber eyes turned to Rukia, "Ru, please tell me you didn't try to kill him…"

Ignoring Ichigo's question, Rukia walked over to the liquor cabinet and poured her a shot of whiskey. The burn of the alcohol was companion to numb the pain in her arm.

"Is this what my life is now? Assassination attempts, gunfire, injuries, and a dash of forced romance?" Rukia asked as she poured herself another glass.

"Rukia…" Ichigo began to ask a question, but Kaien stopped him with a shake of his head. "You may not understand why I stayed at the Kuchikis, Ichigo, but Kaien saw firsthand earlier why I did."

The two men watched as she downed her second shot. "I mean seriously, the first time I leave their manor, and I'm nearly kidnapped or killed. If Byakuya hadn't insisted I took his vehicle, I'd probably be dead right now. Hell, if the man wasn't scared of Byakuya, I'm not sure we would be having this conversation because I doubt I hit him since I was seeing double." Rukia stated with a humorless laugh.

"Ru, we're sorry..." Kaien stated as he attempted to hug her, but Rukia side stepped him and took the whiskey with her over to the opposite couch.

"Sorry? You two don't understand anything that's been going on. Why did you have to look for me? Couldn't you leave well enough alone once you found out I was safe?" She asked as the alcohol was taking effects. Her words were becoming harsher than she ever meant them to be.

Letting her be on the couch, Ichigo told her, "Rukia, I need to do something for your arm."

"I'll be fine. The alcohol numbed the pain," she scolded him.

Instead of listening to her, Ichigo retrieved his emergency medical bag from its secret hiding place in Kaien's study. He always kept one on hand, especially at his cousin's house where brawls were known to happen, since he was going to school to fill his father's footsteps of being a doctor.

"How about you talk while I patch you up?" The carrot top asked her.

Since her glass was on the liquor cabinet, Rukia took a large swig from the whiskey container. "Do I have a choice?" She asked as she shot Ichigo an evil glare.

"No. You don't, Rukia. I promised Kuchiki that you would be patched up before he comes to get you. I'm not going to make the mistake of pissing that man off again, especially given your situation," Kaien growled placed his large hand on Rukia's shoulder to keep her from running away.

Huffing, Rukia placed the container on the table once more. "Have at it, Strawberry."

Ichigo nodded instantly going into doctor mode. He unwrapped the makeshift bandage around her arm, and she hissed at him. "So, are you going to tell us the whole story of you and the Kuchikis, or are you going to continue to curse me under your breath?" The orange haired man asked her.

With a heavy sigh, she began, "Well, you idiots know that someone killed my parents, but they thought that I was dead that was until recently. Somehow, they found out that I was staying with the Kuchikis, and I just made it a million of times worse because I made myself a target because I just had to see you two asses." Rukia snorted as she reached for the container.

Sensing the raven-haired woman would keep drinking if someone didn't stop her, Kaien grabbed the bottle only to have a small knife at his neck. He made the mistake of leaning too close to Rukia when he went for the whiskey.

"You're taking this over my dead body, Kai," she growled. The men stared at her in horror. Releasing the knife from Kaien's neck, Rukia went back to finish her tale. "Oh, where was I… Ah, yes. I've been staying with the Kuchikis because Zakura nearly died in my arms. We roped Byakuya into saving us, then out of the goodness of his heart or Zakura's demand -I'm not sure which one yet – is helping me."

"So, let me get this straight, both Kuchikis are your bodyguards now?" Ichigo asked as Kaien just stared at Rukia.

"Pretty much…" Rukia hiccupped, happy to not feel the pain anymore. "Oh, there is one more thing…"

"Yes, I already told him your Byakuya's fiancée," Kaien stated as Ichigo finished doctoring Rukia's wound.

"Well, you're wrong. According to Zakura, I am Byakuya's wife, but no one really knows that except for us 3 plus you 2 now." Rukia babbled on until her a noise caught her attention.

"Well speak of the devil." Kaien said as Byakuya and Senbonzakura walked into the room.

Without greeting the two cousins, the Kuchikis walked over to check Rukia out. "She had a bullet wound, but it was just a graze really. The worst part was her shoulder being out of socket; although, she's drunk enough alcohol that she didn't notice that I slid it back in place." Ichigo told them, hoping to make friends with the brothers.

Byakuya turned Rukia's face towards him causing her to lean into his standing form. A scent of mint and cherry blossoms. "Hm...You smell like Byakuya," Rukia murmured as she leaned into his leg. The alcohol and the adrenaline crash talking its toll on the petite woman. The poor man was didn't know how to act to this version of Rukia.

Shocking everyone in the room, he kindly asked, "Rukia, honey, I think it's time to go." Senbonzakura snickered at his brother's surprising gently touch while Ichigo and Kaien stared mystified at the trio.

"This is your fault." Byakuya hissed at the two idiots on the couch as he scooped Rukia up.

"Hey don't blame us. We tried to take the liquor from her, and nearly died in the process." Kaien's comment caused Senbonzakura to completely lose it while Byakuya sent his twin an evil glare.

"See!" Kaien pulled his collar away from his neck. "She had a knife and threatened to stick it in my throat so I let her keep the damn liquor. Besides, we know she's lovey-dovey when she's drunk so we weren't really worried."

"She had a concussion!" Byakuya growled as he grabbed Kaien's collar with his free hand.

Instantly, Senbonzakura took Rukia from his brother. "Come on, princess, time for bed." He whispered.

"Thaaanks ... Zakuraaa..." Rukia mumbled as she curled up into his chest.

"It's amazing she can tell the two of you apart even when she's drunk." Ichigo marveled.

"She's trained with Senbonzakura for at least 5 years, and she's been living at the Kuchiki mansion with both of them. Of course, she's going to be able to tell them apart. It's not like they're identical with Senbonzakura's hair being so long and always half up in a ponytail!" Kaien pointed out.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Ichigo look at his cousin. " I wonder what she'd do if they changed their appearance to look identical? She'd probably flip her shit and accidentally kiss the wrong brother."

"I doubt she'd complain, or they'd ever tell even if she did."

"I'm still right here, you know..." Byakuya said as the men ignored him.

The men looked over sheepishly at him. How they could forget that Byakuya Kuchiki was in a room with them was beyond their knowledge.

"Did you three clear the air before she drank herself into oblivion?" He asked.

"Yeah. Don't have to worry about us anymore. Just know that we'll do anything to help her." Kaien said as Ichigo agreed with his cousin.

"Good. We'll be in touch, Shiba. Kurosaki."

The cousins watched as the last Kuchiki left the room. Each one was still mulling over Rukia's words and her situation.

"So, he loves her?" Ichigo asked Kaien.

"I'm not sure, but both brothers care about her so I'm okay with this." Kaien told his cousin.

"Good. Now, you need to go inform Miyako that you're available or Rukia will kick your ass when she sobers up. It seems like there is nothing you can do anyway for her that the Kuchikis can't."

"Damn right. She's the best protected woman in the city, but… I think I need a drink after today." Kaien said as he poured himself and Ichigo a glass. The two sat there and poured their next move. How were they going to deal with Rukia's living family?


Thank y'all for reading, reviewing, following, and favoriting!

Lightdesired: The Kuchikis are definitely a mixture of both, which honestly makes the best men ;) But yes, they do have a noble intention of keeping Rukia alive and saving her no matter what.

Anon: Yeah no kiss lol. If you try to kiss an angry female, you're either going to get slapped/decked or she's going to kiss the living daylights out of you ha. Unfortunately for Byakuya, Rukia would have tried to deck him here.

Guest: Thank you, my dear! I am so glad you've enjoyed everything! :D