Disclaimers: How I wish there's money lol Bleach belongs to Kubo Tite, Hana Yori Dango belongs to Yoko Kamio.

Note: My simple love story is threatening to blow out of proportion. I need to re-evaluate the original plot. Damn these characters making things complicated. Thanks for reading and please review~!

To CharmedNightSkye: I noticed what you mean. I had to reread the previous chapters and chap9 again to see it lol I think I might've been half dead/asleep when I wrote the last chapter. It looked hurried (at least in terms of sentence structure) but I couldn't edit it when I tried. It's as much as Ichigo's disjointed and shocked flow of thoughts as it is my lazy writing lol

Chapter 10: We Are Who We Are

"Do not forget that you are Kuchiki Rukia." Byakuya makes sure to hold her gaze as he says these very important words. He is aware of Eitoku Academy's reputation and its students. The place is a simplified and almost barbaric version of the world she will be in once of age and it's as good a training as any. If she wants to attend school, then he wants her in a place where she can actually learn. And be safe at the same time.

"Yes, Nii-sama. I will see you later." She glides out of the car with as much finesse as a young lady of her standing. Renji closes the door and begins to walk with her. He stops when she waves him off and continues on her own. Byakuya is proud and almost smiles as he watches from behind the tinted glass.

Once Renji is back inside the car, Byakuya tells him the agenda for the day. "Sodeno Shirayuki should be at Ukitake's by now. Let's pick up the pace."

Renji looks surprised and nods. He tells the driver where to go and they leave Rukia on her own in a den of wolves.

"What are you doing, Tsukasa?"

Tsukasa, a boy who towers over all his friends, waves a red tag happily. "It's been boring lately and I heard there's a new student today. Dunno the name but that doesn't matter. I know the locker." He breaks the door open by punching the surface and tapes the tag in. "These lockers suck. They break so easily. Haha."

"Makino won't like this, I'm telling you."

"She loves me, she'll get over it." Tsukasa grins and walks away, humming. All three of his friends give a collective sigh and follow. Today will at least be interesting.

It's not long before the rumor spreads that a red flag's been given after several months of nothing ever since the Makino Tsukushi incident at the start of the school year. This news reaches Makino Tsukushi, relentless weed of the school, and she immediately goes after the source of all her troubles. "You!"

"Me!" Tsukasa greets back his self-proclaimed girlfriend who has yet to officially say yes but he doesn't really care about minor details like that. "Miss me already?"

"No!" She shoves him hard which really doesn't do much but make him tilt a centimeter or so from where he's standing. "What's this I hear that there's a red tag? I thought you gave that up already!"

"It's been really boring around here," he whines. "I promise not to go too far."

"No. You will take that tag out right now!" His two friends snicker and his best friend hides an obvious grin behind a hand.

"You're such a drag, Makino." Tsukasa sighs and shoves both hands in his pockets, pouting. "Nothing will happen. Whoever this new student is will just be teased for a while. No big. Besides, he's a late enrollee. It's just punishment from me."

Makino pulls her hair in frustration and marches out towards the locker area.

Tsukasa dutifully follows. As do all his friends.

When they get there, there's already a riot. It's only been about half an hour since Tsukushi found out about the red tag. These brats are fast to prey on anybody if their king says so.

She's horrified to see a small girl held up by boys with trash and dirt all over her once pristine uniform. Her dark hair's wet and there's even raw egg dripping down her forehead. The sleeves of her school jacket are torn and already have pen marks that say "newbie". Her books are all over the floor with her open bag and torn notebooks.

Tsukushi shoots a cold glare at the cause of this. She points her finger at him, "Your fault. Remember this." Then she folds the sleeves of her uniform up, preparing for battle.

When she's close enough, she sees the small girl is struggling hard and putting up a real fight. The boys who held her all have bruises and are bleeding. It's a valiant effort but she's outnumbered, and won't last long.

"Hey! Let go of her!" Tsukushi shouts and begins to push people out of her way. "Back off!"

Seeing the four boys behind her, everyone immediately lets go and takes a step back.

Tsukushi glares at the four boys, particularly at its leader who doesn't even look apologetic. Then at the entire student body and finally, her eyes soften at the sight of the new girl. So small and they all bullied her on her first day. She looks like a discarded porcelain doll with her pale skin and petite build and the torn clothes. Let's not forget the torn and dirty clothes, she tells herself in an angry huff.

She walks closer and takes out a handkerchief to begin wiping some of the dirt off the uniform. "Here, let me help. We can wash some of these off. Don't worry, I'll protect you from these bastards."

Her hand gets slapped out of the way as the girl raises her head. "I can handle myself and I do not need your protection," she snaps. Her blue eyes glow as if she's holding back tears but is too stubborn to let it overwhelm her.

Tsukushi feels a lump in her throat and she swallows. She can empathize with the situation. She's been the butt of bullying at the beginning as well. It hurts to feel so hated and for no reason other than simply existing.

"Tell me," the girl continues, "what is the meaning of this red tag they speak of?" She bends down to pick up the red tag on the floor and waves it in front of Tsukushi's face. "Now."

"Ah, it's an old and lame tradition some jerks in this school started a long time ago." Tsukushi shoots a glare at the four boys behind her. The girl's eyes follow and narrow at the sight of the four.

"So, those four are the jerks?"

"Ah?" Tsukushi blinks. "Well, not all of them. The one at the far back with the light brown hair, that's Hanazawa Rui, he's really kind. The other two are Nishikado Soujiro and Mimasaka Akira, both playboys." The two boys wave and smile. The girl twitches but zeroes in on the last of the boys and the tallest. "That's the jerk. Domyouji Tsukasa. The school treats him as king but he's just a big bully, really. They're called F4 and sort of rule the school." Tsukushi rolls her eyes.

The girl lifts her chin and pushes Tsukushi aside as she takes small and measured steps towards the big bully. Tsukushi is honestly worried although at least she can hit Domyouji if he does anything retarded again.

The girl brings her two hands together and tears the red tag in tiny pieces in front of Domyouji. She ten throws the red confetti at his face, much to everyone's surprise. The student body gasps as one and the playboys raise brows. Rui only watches silently and Tsukushi doesn't know what to say.

Domyouji's eyes narrow. "Hey, little girl, don't you know who I am?"

"Hey, big moron, I don't give a damn."

Again with the gasps.

Domyouji's fist clenches. And knowing him, Tsukushi is worried he just might hit the girl even if she looks like she can break with just the wind blowing from the wrong direction. The girl barely reaches Domyouji's shoulder.

Tsukushi walks towards the uneven pair, already prepared to restrain Domyouji. She looks at the two behind him who seem to think along her wavelengths.

"I am Domyouji Tsukasa," Domyouji's voice is low and threatening. "You do not insult me."

"Looks like I have to repeat myself after all," the girl grins mockingly, "I don't give a damn. What's wrong? Can't fight your own battles and you let your lackeys do it for you?"

There goes the fist.

And much to everyone's shock, it's Domyouji who tilts sideways when the girl lets out a high kick to reach his head with her short legs.

"Try that again, moron."

"Why you, pipsqueak! I'm going to crush you like the stupid fly you are!" Domyouji roars and sends another fist flying, much faster than the first.

It hits her shoulder instead of her cheek and she rolls with it, but she's also managed to get another kick to his hip before she lands hard on the ground.

"Crap! Tsukasa, stop it! She's just a little girl!" Akira is struggling to hold Domyouji's arms with Soujiro, while Rui moves to help the girl up. Tsukushi is too stunned to move.

"The little girl should know her betters!"

The girl takes advantage of the restraints on Domyouji. She stands back up and is in front of Domyouji so fast, they all don't realize what she's up to until Domyouji doubles over from the blow of her small fist.

She backslaps him next and snarls, "I don't care what your name entails. Your actions degrade what honor and respect the Domyouji commands." She steps back, all emotions gone from her face and her eyes are as cold as ice. "If you are their king, then all your subjects are equal morons," she turns and spits the words to the direction of the other students.

She walks over to Tsukushi who has stayed rooted to her spot that entire time. "Thank you, anyway." Then she moves to her bag and picks up her books. She shoves everything inside the broken locker and slams it shut. It bounces back open and she glares at it, then at the crowd until they part and give way. She leaves them with as much dignity she can still pull off looking like she climbed out of a wet trash can.

"Goddamn." Akira whistles. "She's more violent than Makino."

"Who was that?" Soujiro lets go of Domyouji who is still swearing under his breath and rubbing his stomach.

Rui walks over to the locker and takes out a notebook with rabbit designs. He stares at it momentarily, probably pondering about the mysteries of rabbits, Tsukushi thinks.

He flips it open after a while. "Kuchiki Rukia." Then he returns the notebook inside the torn bag and tries to fix the locker door before closing it properly.

Well, now the whole hall is silent.

Anyone who is somebody's child knows who the Kuchiki are.

"Do you think we committed a crime? Like treason?" Someone stupid asks.

"Stupid."

When the crowd finally disperses, only four students are left other than the F4 and Tsukushi. She notices the white-haired genius of their entire school looking at Domyouji as if sizing him up. There's a woman behind him, who Tsukushi remembers is a sophomore in Eitoku despite looking like she should be in university already. It's rumored that she's not really a student and a secret agent type instead. "Renji warned me she's a handful."

"I can see that," says the guy next to her with eyebrow accessories. The one next to him is bald with a wooden sword slung over one shoulder.

"You know her?" Tsukushi asks them.

"No, not really," says the woman. "We've met her once or twice. She doesn't really attend public functions and probably doesn't know we're here. You people ran her off, so now we can't talk to her. Pfft."

"Guess there's finally a war that I can participate in." The bald man smirks.

"I certainly hope it's not a ramble," the eyebrow guy says. "It takes a while to fix my accessories, you know."

"This school is so boring. Nothing ever happens where I can participate!" Baldy stomps his foot.

"Behave yourselves!" Ah, this little one she knows the name of: Hitsugaya Toushiro. Everybody knows him ever since he's shown up the previous year. Other than he belongs to the Hitsugaya House, one of the four Houses that can succeed the throne. "There's class in a few minutes so let's go."

He turns around and walks away, and all three immediately follow. Well, that shows who the leader is. Tsukushi raises her eyebrow. This school is full of powerful people, it's sometimes scary to think what'll happen if they stop being stupid.

The baldy twists his head to smirk at the F4. "Careful there, F4. The Nobles play it different."

"Did he just threaten me?" Domyouji narrows his eyes at the direction the group went. They meet up with another small girl just before they turn the corner and Tsukushi isn't able to see the person. It certainly isn't the Kuchiki.

"You are so stupid!" Tsukushi points at Domyouji's nose. "I'm not sure what exactly happened but it seems like you declared one of your stupid wars again!"

"So?" Domyouji scowls. "Bring it, I say. I can take them. I'm Domyouji! And we're the F4! We practically control Japan's economy!"

That's what people believe. And in truth, that's what Tsukushi believes, too, but it's all talk in the school and she now wonders how much is truth and how much is exaggeration due to blatant disregard for money. Up until today, the F4 have no contenders. She's the first to go against the group and she's nobody so all her threats are only as good as what her hands can physically do.

But these Nobles have a far longer reach and they've stayed indifferent until one of them is hurt today. The school bows to F4 because of their donations and none of the Nobles in the past have bothered with doing the same to establish their position.

Tsukushi realizes a few more things as she walks with the four carefree boys. Where the F4 stand out because of their money, the Nobles have laid low. She's actually forgotten they're in this school until that moment.

She stops walking as another realization sets in. That girl she saw in that corner is a Shihouin. That'll make three of the four Houses in Eitoku with the entrance of a Kuchiki.

"Don't worry about it," Rui tells her. She jumps a foot and clutches her heart. "Being a Noble is just a decoration, like the imperial family."

"Ah… that's true." Tsukushi nods to herself.

"But unlike the imperial family, all their properties and connections are their own. None of their families probably want their heirs to become part of the imperial house. There's no real power there, just a symbol."

"You know so much, Hanazawa-san."

He just smiles.

"Pfft, no he doesn't!" Domyouji steps between Rui and Tsukushi, and then looks at her. "Ask me. I can answer."

"What's the worst that they can do?" She stares at him hard.

"I don't know and I don't care." Then he laughs. "Really. They can do their worst. If it's a fight, I will beat them. If it's about money, I will drown them. And if it's politics, my money can buy them. All politicians are greedy, you know."

She sighs and slaps her forehead. He's such a simpleton.

"Don't worry, Tsukushi." He places a strong hand on her head and pulls her close so he can place his chin on top of her head. "I'll worry about them if and when it comes."

"You're so stupid," she mumbles.

"I like it simple."

"I'm so tired I feel like my limbs are going to fall off any minute," Ichigo sighs, stretching his arms and massaging his shoulders.

Lunch is loud, as always. The hole Rukia left behind is still a massive hole in Ichigo's life, but his friends try to fill it with happy noise. He's grateful but he doesn't have to say these things and they don't really need to know.

"What have you been doing anyway?" Tatsuki asks after swallowing a mouthful of sushi.

"I have Kendo and Shunpo and Zanpakuto everyday." Ichigo grumbles. "Well, every other day. Zanpakuto and Kendo are lumped together and Urahara likes to switch at random trying to catch me off my guard."

"What's all this for again, Kurosaki?" Ishida raises an eyebrow. "That's a lot of martial arts you're taking all at the same time."

"I haven't even heard of Shunpo and Zanpakuto until he mentioned it last week." Tatsuki nods. "Shunpo sounds interesting though."

"It actually is. It has all this philosophy about nothing, being one with nothing and therefore I get to manipulate everything, even air. Something like that." Ichigo shrugs. "It's really confusing."

"I'd like to learn this Shunpo." Tatsuki is thoughtful.

So is Ichigo as he looks at her and tries to see the potential. He doesn't want to dampen her curiosity but he doesn't really know if she can go far.

"I'd like to learn, too." Inoue smiles first at Tatsuki and then at Ichigo.

This time, Ichigo really does not see the potential. Inoue is simply not a fighter. And other than dodging, Shunpo is an offensive art form. He looks at the others and catches Ishida frowning at Inoue. Maybe they share the same thoughts.

"The way you explain Shunpo reminds me of our family's traditional arts, actually. I haven't really learned it myself but now I am curious at how difficult it can be." Ishida frowns at Ichigo, not saying the obvious that he only wants to compete again.

"You never said what all these are for, Kurosaki-kun. Is there a competition you're training for?" Inoue looks to him curiously.

How to say these things without sounding like a total moron?

"Isn't that Rukia-chan?"

Thankfully, Keigo saves him. Keigo. How surprising.

Ichigo is up on his feet before anyone else can blink. He stands next to Keigo and squints at the school gates. They're on the roof and it's really hard to see, but Keigo is right. If that isn't Rukia, then there's a little girl standing out there staring at the roof.

His grip on the crisscrossed wire tightens. And then he's running down the stairs, unconsciously using the Shunpo he's learned for the past week.

By the time he's reached the ground floor and main doors of the school, he sees her speaking to two other people by the gates. All three of them wear the same uniform and it isn't Karakura High's. One is a boy with white hair and the other is a girl no taller than Rukia.

The girl lifts her eyes as if sensing Ichigo, then the boy and finally Rukia.

She looks surprised. Didn't she go here to see him?

The boy touches her elbow and gently guides her away from the gates. Ichigo goes after them but is shocked to find the other girl in his face all of a sudden. He's suddenly reminded of Yoruichi because of her speed.

"Back off, if you know what's good for you." And then she, too, is gone.

"Rukia!" He yells as he reaches the sidewalk outside the school gates. She's nowhere.

But he's seen her. He can't be hallucinating now.

She looks dirty as if she's been in another fight. If he's hallucinating, she'll at least be clean and safe in that imaginary world.

So this one must be real.

He turns back around to walk back inside and sees all his friends still panting. They all have questions in their eyes.

"She's Kuchiki Rukia," he says. "And I'm training to be her bodyguard someday." He can't be there for her if he isn't strong enough to protect her, is what he isn't saying.

"Is she in danger?" Tatsuki cracks her knuckles.

No one's asked about the 'Kuchiki' part of his announcement. He somehow feels glad that it doesn't bother them. Maybe he's been wrong all this time and Rukia isn't a ghost to his friends after all.

"No," he shakes his head. "At least I don't think so. But knowing her, she'll be in trouble saving someone else." He doesn't realize he's smiling.

"Then…" Inoue leans closer to Tatsuki and clutches her hands together near her heart. "Then, I want to be there, too. I'll be with Kurosaki-kun... to protect Rukia-san."

Chad nods, and strangely enough, everyone has a determined expression on their faces. Even Keigo and Mizuro. It's… a new feeling but his heart feels lighter. And the hole has something new to fill it.

Hope.

He won't be alone in what he originally thought as insanity. It's still pretty insane, but they're all weird like that.

To be continued....