Rukia's lips opened slightly as a small "Oh!" of surprise slipped out. Her eyes widened, a sparkle of sunlight reflecting off that enchanting shade of dark purple.

He wants to…marry me?

She knew the answer before it slid off her lips.

I've been waiting for this for so long.

Byakuya waited expectantly for her answer, searching her expression. As Rukia looked downwards at the box in his hand, he saw a glint of a tear slide down her smooth porcelain cheeks. What? She's crying? Did I hurt her feelings?

As those thoughts crept into his mind, Rukia looked up at him, and with a smile on her face, lurched forward, throwing her arms around him.

Tears fell thickly down her face, as she half-smiled, half-cried into his chest.

Taken aback, Byakuya could only reach out and put an arm around her as Rukia mumbled something muffledly into his haori.

"What did you say?"

Lifting her head, she laughed, as she choked out, "I said, YES!"

--- ---

As they sat side by side, on the low branch of the tree , Rukia swung her legs happily as she looked at the snowflakes falling from the sky.

"Byakuya-sama? You know, when I was in the real world, I watched this couple's wedding in a church…and it looked really really pretty! She was in a white wedding gown and he was in a, what did they call it, a tuxedo? And they had a few little girls and boys walking in front of them as they walked down the aisle!! Their…flower girls and a page boy and, and a boy who carries the rings...a ring wearer? No that wasn't it…it was a…um…"

"A ring bearer."

"YES! Yes it was a ring bearer!" She laughed happily. Byakuya looked at her intently then. "So, you want a wedding like that?"

He got my hint!!

Her eyes shone as she nodded excitedly! "May we? Please?"

Even as she nodded, a thought struck her. "Oh, but, Byakuya-sama! I'm not a noble anymore, and you can't afford to break the rules! Does this mean…" Rukia couldn't get the rest of the words out of her mouth.

The corners of his mouth twitched upwards slightly. "Yes, that would be true, but if I am not mistaken, you were taken in by Yoruichi-sem…Yoruichi-san, am I right? And she is nobility. So, that…"

"MAKES ME A NOBLE!" Her eyes twinkled and her mouth stretched open in a large grin. "So we CAN get married! Then, can we go to Canada? Lets have an outdoor wedding and we can invite everyone there!"

Byakuya smiled then, putting his arm around her shoulder. It was going to be a long month of wedding preparations.

Matusumoto was right. All I had to do was to relax a bit more..to find my true love and meaning in life.

"Love is like playing the piano. First you must learn to play by the rules, then you must forget the rules and play from your heart." I guess that phrase really applies now huh...

--- ---

The large wooden doors of the hotel swung outwards, as Inoue, Yoruichi and Soifon entered. The simple dresses they wore fit snugly around their bodies, the plunging V-shaped neckline accentuating their shapely figures. The neckline rose up to wrap around in a halter neck, baring their backs, the pure-white colour making them seem lovelier than ever. Yourichi grinned, showing a flash of pearly white teeth which seemed to match the colour of the dress. She was so dark, the dress seemed to highlight her curves, making her shine.

A loud whistle pierced the breathtaking sight of the three girls. "HEEEEY BRIDESMAIDS!! My DEAR Yoruichi-san! You look GORGEOUS!" Urahara Kisuke, in a black suit, was waving happily from the wooden bench at the front of the aisle, nearly knocking Yumichika of his chair in his enthusiasm. "Oh goodness Kisuke. Behave damnit!" Yoruichi grumbled below her breath, but barely concealing a grin as Soifon scowled beside her.

As the music of Pachebel's Canon in D rang out, Rangiku, also dressed in the same pearly-white dress, her hair done up in a high knot, leaving the loose strands to fall softly onto her shoulders, entered. She smiled as she walked beside the best man of the wedding, Kurosaki Ichigo, looking slightly uncomfortable in a tuxedo. Byakuya watched from the front of the stage, nodding slightly as the orange-haired man grinned at him. Thank you, Kurosaki.

Ichigo smiled to himself. I can't stand in the way of true love, especially not after what I heard that day...Byakuya probably didnt mean for me to hear it I guess. His calling for her, those words that he spoke before passing out... "I love you". I'll keep that a secret between him and me. After seeing her reaction to his injury, I know now that I'm not gonna be the one who acn bring her happiness. He's the only one who can...and I hope Rukia will be truly happy in his arms...

Just then, loud cheers from Ikkaku, Hisagi, Kira, Yumichika and even Kenpachi rang out. The seated officers seated at the front wolf-whistled, laughed and generally made a loud ruckus as the silver-haired ring bearer emerged in the doorway.

A disgruntled Hitsugaya Toshiro was now walking down the aisle behind his quietly snickering lieutenant, carrying a cushion with the two rings on the blade of his zanpakuto, Hyorinmaru.

And as the flower girl, Hinamori, entered, a stunning sight appeared in the doorway, her hand resting gently on Renji's arm.

Rukia, dressed in a pure-white gown, stood in the doorway as Byakuya stared at her, mesmerized at the sight of her. The gown she wore was a tube-top, hugging her upper body tightly, breaking away into an elegant train from her hip down. And as she made her way down the aisle, through the thin layer of leaves and snow, Byakuya simply couldn't take his eyes of her.

--- ---

Yamamoto So-taicho cleared his throat with a loud "hrrrmph". "Let us begin this ceremony now." His croaky voice rang out loudly. "Now. You may begin Ayasegawa-san."

Yumichika responded with an over-enthusiastic "Hai!", and prancing to the front of the couple, now holding hands, he smiled sweetly.

"Do you Kuchiki Rukia take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love and to cherish; through sickness and health; till death do you part?"

"I do" Rukia replied.

"Kuchiki Byakuya, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love and to cherish, through sickness and health till death do you part?"

Byakuya glared at him at the lack of respect in calling his name but…

"I do" Byakuya replied.

"Riiiiinnnngggggssss!!" Yumichika clapped his hand s happily together and waved to Hitsugaya.

When the rings were put on, Yumichika declared: "In the power invested in me(by Yamamoto So-taicho), I now pronounce you husband and wife, You may kiss the bride" Yumichika then leant forward expextantly as a cheer rang out from the same group seated in the front.

"KISS HER!! KISS HER!!!"

And Byakuya leant forward, lifted the veil to reveal a sparkling tiara on Rukia's head, and pressed his lips on hers.

--- ---

As they walked on the beach late at night, after the wedding dinner they'd held, Rukia stopped, tugging on Byakuya's hand just before they reached their honeymoon cabin. It was a beautiful place, the cabin overlooking a lake, near the mountains. It was a warm winter, and yet their breaths still appeared in wisps in the crisp air.

"Byakuya-sama, you know..Unohona Taicho and Ichogo killed Aizen that night right? So...so now that Aizen's dead, do we still have to go back to work?" Rukia asked softly.

His low chuckle surprised her. "Of course. There'll still be other enemies."

"Would…would Aizen's army attack us again?" This time he detected a note of fear in her voice, in the darkness, he could barely make out her features.

"Maybe." Byakuya decided to be honest with her. There was an awkward pause between them, before he spoke again. "Don't worry about it." His voice was soft then as he looked at her. " I'll protect you better next time.."

"Will you really?" Uncertainty filled her voice then as she looked at his shadowed face.

For an answer, he tilted her face upwards, bent down and kissed her.

As their lips met, warmth seemed to spread through their bodies, and their bodies seemed to melt into one. Their silhouettes merged together, against the backdrop of the magnificent Aurora Borealis in the clear black sky.

It was the start of a new beginning as he picked her up in his arms and carried her, back to their room...

AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER. -THE END- hahaha.

A/N: was it a good ending? i had a good laugh imagining the wedding scene although it was really hard to write out... i also dont believe in epilogues, especially for these kind of stories.. so this is really the end! i had a lot of fun writing this and i hope you enjoyed it!

so now you know that aizen's dead, Unohana and Ichigo killed him, (with a kido (no.33) and getsuga tensho.) thats how u get the flash of blue-which is their attacks, and white-aizen's attack. :D and the elders had no choice but to let Byakuya marry her, after all, he's the head of the family and he's not breaking any rules this time! -grins- PLEASE REVIEW! review review review please:D