AN: Ah, my fans and readers! I apologize for the ridiculously long wait for my story! I haven't been able to work on my other beautiful works due to some problems with my inspiration. -_- But do not fret, I have become anew with inspiration and will not fail to please you all with my writings! So enough chit chat, on with the continuation of your fan favorite, Picture Perfect!

Warnings: Swearing, OOC, flaming, and a pinch of violence.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. *sobs*


Chapter 11: Is Ignorance Bliss?

Rukia P.O.V

Everything is back into relative peace, Tensa-kun has been released from the hospital, Nii-sama has also been discharged with a clean bill of health, but just in case, Tsuki will keep an eye out for him nonetheless. Yamamoto-san has been generous enough to let our whole staff floor with a whole week break due to Golden week. Orihime hasn't been pestering me to the brink of insanity. Life is perfect, well almost. Now all that's left to worry about is... ...is... um... that... um..that...thing...

"Gah! I can't even say it in my head!" I exclaim, falling backwards into my soft sofa cushion, landing with a audible soft thump. My face heats up just thinking about it, Jaggerjackes-san kissing my boyfriend, the famous, ultra-rich, absolutely gorgeous, sweet, intelligent, adorable, model Ichigo Kurosaki. Why in Kami's name did they chose to bestow upon a male to fall in love with my boyfriend? The Gods must truly despise me... Ichigo may have told me that he has no feelings towards Jeagerjackes-san but brotherly love, I can't shake off the feeling that he'll leave me for... for... for a fucking guy!

Buzz Buzz... I glanced up with one narrowed eye to stare at my long forgotten purple Iphone that was vibrating on the glass coffee table. I groaned, but reached out nonetheless to grasp it, tapping it before putting it next to my ear.

"Hello..?" I asked, my voice slightly muffled by the cushion. The voice didn't speak right away, but I could hear loud children screaming and giggling in the background. Eh? I mused in my head.

"..Hey Rukia. What's up? Sorry I couldn't call or message you these past few weeks, I have been babysitting my cousins kids... Hey! Rei! Don't pull on Mitsuki's pigtails!" it was Ichigo, who temporarily stopped talking to me to scold the child named "Rei", soon after I could hear a young girl crying loudly. I sighed, looked like had his hands full.

"Say, Ichigo, if you're too busy at the moment, I could hang up." I said emotionlessly, flinching at my at my voice towards Ichigo. I heard him sigh loudly, apparently trying to fix Mitsuki's hair, because of the barely coherent mumbling about "why girls hair have to be so damn complicated".

"Look, Rukia, I know you're still mad and confused about Grimmjow and all. I already told ya, there's absolutely nothing going on between me and Grimmjow. There's no need to worry midget, I only love you." my heart stopped for a moment and I could imagine Ichigo smiling sweetly, "OK? So promise me you won't worry about it anymore, you're really making me feel guilty. Did I forget to mention you're the only person in this whole world that could make me worry sick like a damn mother who has lost her child?" I giggled at his sarcasm. A smile gracing my face, and sighed.

"Alright baka, I promise on my soul that I won't worry about anymore." I even did the 'cross my heart and hoped to die' sign even though Ichigo could not see.

"...Nope, you have to swear on Chappy." I could hear the snicker in his voice as he said it. I gasped, a scowl replacing the smile.

"Never! I will never swear on Chappy you strawberry baka!" I yelled through the phone, knowing clearly well that I was so acting immaturely.

"I won't take no for an answer Rukia Kuchiki." Ichigo chuckled, and I 'hmpf-ed'.

"You're a really bastard sometimes you know that?" I growled.

"Haha, but you love me anyways, Ruki-chan~.." I felt a blush come onto my face at the nickname.

"S-Shut up! You strawberry baka! O-Orange-head! Strawberry!" I yelled random insults at the phone, stuttering as I exclaimed. All Ichigo did was laugh loudly in turn.

"..Haha.. Man you're so cute when you get mad, you know that?" my blush got redder, out of embarrassment and frustration.

"Stupid strawberry head! I'm hanging up!" I heard Ichigo laugh and mutter a "good-bye to you too sweetie" before I angrily pressed the 'end call' button. I sighed, holding my cheeks as I grunted.

"You're really an idiot..." I murmured. I lied back down onto the sofa, closing my eyes.

X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X

I sat back down onto the soft plush red chair of the restaurant that Tsuki performed at, waiting for her to come up onto the stage. I sipped my second glass of wine the waitress placed gingerly in front of me just now. Maybe having some alcohol could clear my foggy mind, after all, Ichigo said I shouldn't worry, right? But now that I thought of it, I got extremely angry at the thought of that damn blue haired bastard coming onto Ichigo. He should not come near a spitting distance of Ichigo, and should never talk to him ever again. I clenched the glass tightly, my knuckles turning white from the force. A frown made its way onto my face as the thought stayed in my head. Jeagerjackes. The fucking idiot can't get it through his thick head. God, I just wanted to grab Ichigo and keep him locked up with me forever...

I shook my head, releasing those possessive thoughts. I shouldn't be like that, perhaps it was the alcohol taking its toll. I started to sound like a fucking possessive son of a bitch. I groaned as I downed the rest of my glass, slamming it onto the clothed table, gathering a couple of the other patrons attention, frowning at a me then murmuring to one another. I snorted, they could go fuck themselves.

"Ugh.. I feel lightheaded..." I groaned, placing an arm on the table and placing my head onto it. My face felt warm, and I hiccuped. I always knew I was a light weight, but I overlooked that detail since I was in depression. My vision began fading, and all I wanted to do was go to sleep. Soon enough, everything went pitch black.

X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X

I awoke, feeling completely exhausted, and my head was swimming. I sat up slowly, clutching my throbbing head. My eyes widened to find myself in my room, I looked around frantically.

"How did I..." a knock on the door caught my attention, and it creaked open to show Ichigo holding a glass of water and a bottle of my aspirin. His handsome face was scrunched up into a worried frown, as he closed the door behind him and stepped towards the bed. He sighed, placing the glass of water onto the dresser next to me, he sat on the bed near my feet, opening up the aspirin bottle and handing it to me.

"Here, eat this and drink some water. You must be having a major headache." his baritone voice washed over me, and I felt somewhat better. That was until the headache came back, the true resemblance of having a jackhammer trying to get into my skull. I quickly shook out two tablets from the bottle, placing them in my mouth, and grabbing the glass and downing half of its contents. After placing it back onto the dresser, I placed my hands into my lap, looking down at them. I felt a warm hand caress my hair, petting it softly. I looked up slowly, unable to not feel a horrible stab of guilt in my chest when I see chocolate brown eyes.

"..Rukia... What's been going on? First of all, you get pissed, then you go and get yourself drunk... I told you not to worry, are you doubting me?" Ichigo asked seriously, his eyes shining with worry. I gulped, and my eyes averted away from his gaze. I bit my lower lip, trying to find an answer. Why had I gotten so angry when Ichigo said it was alright? Why had I gotten so depressed, I got drunk by accident?

Why was I doubting the guy I loved and trusted with my life?

I held my face in my hands, sobbing. Tears fell down onto the sheets, as shimmering tears began to bundle up near my eyes.

Why am I doubting him? I shouldn't be feeling and acting this way. I...I can't end up like my mother. My mother doubted Nii-sama, he loved her with all his heart, and she knew of this, but deep down in her heart somewhere, she doubted that they would be able to live together happily forever. Her fears were only pronounced when she overheard the meeting with Nii-sama and the head on the family.

Flashback

Regular P.O.V

"I forbid it." the booming voice of the head Kuchiki said loudly. Outside of the room where the door had opened just a bit, Hisana's amethyst eyes widened. Byakuya frowned, his father not allowing for him to marry Hisana was certainly troubling.

"..If I may speak father. Why are you denying Hisana and I to marry?" Byakuya spoke stoically. His father frowned.

"I am denying you nothing, Byakuya. I forbidyou to ever marry that woman. She is nothing to us but street trash. You picked her up from the Rukon district for Kami's sake! She will do nothing to benefit this family but tarnish our name! I allowed you to be with her in the household, but to wed her.. Foolishness!" Hisana winced as her body shook, tears beginning to pricking at her eyes.

"..Father, I love Hisana with all my heart. I wish to wed her. And that aside..." Byakuya paused. He had yet to inform his father Hisana had given birth to a baby girl, who was named Rukia. They had been secretly taking care of her, and with the help of a few loyal servants, Rukia has grown to be a healthy young child. Once they got married, Byakuya and Hisana would leave the grounds of the Kuchiki household, and begin a new life. As a loving couple with a beautiful daughter. With nothing to hold them back. With freedom to live as a happy family.

"That aside, I want that woman out of this household! I want all ties to be severed! I want nothing to do with that woman ever again! If she and you are to even speak to each other again, her life will be no more." the head of the clan boomed loudly, before turning to go into his private quarters. The loud resounding slam of the sliding doors echoed throughout the house. Hisana was now on the floor, hands covering her face as she sobbed loudly, tears coming through the cracks of her delicate fingers. Byakuya sat there, totally oblivious to the sobbing of his beloved as his face was stilled with shock.

Two days after the meeting, Hisana would not speak a word to Byakuya nor her beloved Rukia, who was a tender age of five. The fear was gradually eating away at her on the inside, making her unable to sleep or eat properly anymore. Soon she lost a great deal of weight, and soon was bedridden. No matter what Byakuya said or did, nothing would make the beautiful smile of hers to appear on her pale face.

And after three months, Hisana Kuchiki was announced dead. Poor little Rukia cried as her mother closed her eyes and did not wake up.

"Momma, momma, momma wake up! Momma? Please wake up... Momma!" Rukia yelled, shaking her mothers cold motionless arm, tears running down her cheeks. Byakuya stood behind Rukia, looking at the scene unfold in front of him. Hisana's pale serene face, which was so full of color and life before, looked drained of everything. His eyes widened as a single tear slowly came out of Hisana's left eye, trailing down her pale cheek as it disappeared under her kimono. Byakuya's heart clenched, and he looked away.

They buried her body respectively next to her parents, and a funeral was held for all her existing family members and friends.

And that was it. Long forgotten memories of Hisana Kuchiki were locked up into Byakuya's heart, sealed tightly. He held his stoic facade, and began ruling over the Kuchiki empire, being successful. But on the inside, he was a weeping poor man, holding onto his dead loves corpse.

Flashback end

Ichigo was holding my in a tight embrace as I cried loudly, sniffling and sobbing. I love him so much, I never want to let go.

"...Rukia, I love you." Ichigo said softly. I sobbed, shaking slightly. Yes, I wanted to hear that so much right now, especially now. I hugged him tightly, burying my face into his chest, inhaling his scent.

"...I love you too... I love you so much Ichigo.." I sobbed, clutching onto him as I continued crying.

Mother, please don't cry, Nii-sama, please don't be sad. I want you both to know I have a perfect life, so be happy. Mother, I know Nii-sama isn't really my brother. I know he was supposed to be my father. So don't cry, I'll cry for you, and Nii-sama, don't be sad, I'll be sad for you.

I want you both to smile again. Just like the family picture we took.


TT . TT That was way sad... I was listening to Nami Tamaki's Winter Fall when I wrote this... And I have noticed I've been spelling Grimmjow's last name wrong... Anyways, drop a review and share a box of tissues with a friend!