Disclaimer: I recall quite clearly that it was "Bleach, by Tite Kubo" not "Bleach, by Jerkess".

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"Home is where the heart is." Old proverb.

Chapter 12

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After a trying first day at school and her mission, Rukia was exhausted.

Now it was the weekend, and Rukia was walking swiftly toward her quarters at the Society, ready to crash into a comfy couch and just pig out on mango ice cream or whatever else Isane might have left in the fridge.

Who knew that ballet, Wilford, and Society duty would take up so much time? But of course, she chided herself, she knew that that was going to happen. Society work had always been draining and strenuous, and her added tasks this year were not helping matters. Yet Rukia was glad of all the distractions in her life. For once, she was able to take her mind off of the events that had occurred a year ago. She felt useful, in place, and though Wilford was a rather large facility, she knew that she was at least wanted and could contribute there.

As she approached her dormitories, she had a fleeting regret about not taking up the offer for rooming at Wilford. It would have been convenient, comfortable, and not to mention exciting to have lived on campus. But… her funds were limited, and she wanted for her money to stretch as much as possible. Besides, her Society dorm had been where she had lived for a hefty chunk of her days, and she wasn't too keen on giving up the age-long bunk that she shared with Kiyone.

She heard the discordant sounds of trouble long before she even smelt the telltale signs of lilac that she planted near her abode, dorm 4-13.

Five minutes later, Rukia was inside the decorated dorm, had found Matsumoto, pulled her aside, and was breathing down her back. "Matsumoto," she began calmly, speaking in what she hoped was a reasonable voice that still carried her disguised displeasure, "why are all these 。。。people in my dorm?"

"For a party, of course." Matsumoto waved bubbly over Rukia's head to a newcomer that just hefted a huge stereo system through their door.

"Did you seek my consent before planning this?" Rukia's patience was wearing a TAD thin. "I come home from a class 4 mission and there's a huge party I never was told about in MY dorm? Hardly the welcome I hoped for…"

"No…but I figured you would need cheering up after a hellish day at a school infested with Empties."

Rukia grinned. Picking apart excuses had always been her forte. "I never said that I was going to return this weekend. For all you knew, I could have decided to stay at Byakuya-sama's."

Matsumoto saw the truth in that and shifted slightly, adjusting her ruffly shirt. It was a quite revealing costume, and Rukia could almost swear that Matsumoto's futile tuggings and attempts to 'keep it up!' were just ploys to show more skin. Not that it really mattered here. The supervision around the Society was super strict and all piss and vinegar…that is, until come the weekends. The younger, more outgoing members were always conveniently left to their own devices, to which the more 'sophisticated' members turn a blind eye. (Partially because a certain captain or two no names mentioned Shunsui taichou happened to frequent those rendezvous quite often.)

"Anyhow," Matsumoto resumed good naturedly, having known Rukia too long to take her serious interrogations to heart, said, "but aren't you glad that our telepathic bond was strong enough that I arranged to the party when I knew you were going to come home?" Matsumoto's eyes twinkled happily, and Rukia had not the heart nor the energy to get worked up and angry.

She sighed again and Matsumoto leapt at her apparent submission. "So you're happy, and I'm happy…Everyone's happy!"

"Not quite. But," Rukia scolded once Matsumoto helped her with her backpack and was showing off her decorations and the new, unbreakable punch bowl (Let's just say that someone was looking at Hinamori with a bit of leperish intentions and…Hitsugaya was present…and the only convenient weapon at his height was the deceased punch bowl… Let's leave it at that.) "You know that the Karakura district has been on high alert ever since a month ago. We can't afford to let anything go wrong because of our selfishness at wanting to party."

A swish of air caught on Rukia's uniform, and she instinctively searched about her.

"--And that's were you have us slighted."

Rukia's head shot straight up upon recognizing that voice. "Renji!" Her face lit up immediately, and two fists met with a resounding crack.

"Damn it, Rukia, you didn't have to do it so hard." Renji, though grinning quite widely, was blowing on his smarting knuckles from their 'handshake'. It had been a silly tradition since their early days, and though Rukia had squawked indignantly at such primitive ways of greeting, its numerous years of use had worn the welcome as a habit into their minds.

"We have responsibly divided up duty for Karakura tonight," he informed Rukia importantly. "No more reckless fun for me."

Rukia rolled her eyes. Hadn't Renji sworn that every time they had a get together? Not that he usually stuck to the plan…He was by far the worst to hold his alcohol, and was always passed out by the time that his shift came. Rukia, being the devoted and rather maltreated friend that she was, always wordlessly shouldered Renji's task. A Renji strung out on sake was a scary Renji, and Rukia had a feeling that Karakura would actually be a lot safer with Renji safely locked up in the Society complex.

"And your new attempt at following through to your vow is…?"she asked. If it was anything like last time's, she was convinced that it wouldn't work.

"This!" Matsumoto procured a rolled document from her, er, chest. "What?" she asked, almost offended, when Rukia gave her a weird look. "It fits, and I don't have room to put it in my sleeves!"

Taking the supposed ensurer of equal duty division from Matsumoto, Rukia crooked a skeptical eyebrow as she inspected the paper. "A sign up sheet? What are we in, second grade?"

"Nah." Renji sniffed the air, apparently scenting out something good to eat. "I heard that Hitsugaya himself is going to be enforcing the shifts."

"Hey, hey," Matsumoto protested, reaching out again to store the sign up sheet back into her chest, "Only I have the special privilege of calling him that. 'It's Hitsugaya-taicho to you!'" Her ability to mimic Hitsugaya's gruff tone was uncanny, and obtained a few chuckles.

"Speaking of which, how are you enjoying your special privilege of going to Wilford?" Renji turned to Rukia, his black eyes boring a hole into Rukia's. "Anything important happen?"

Matsumoto pushed past the two and apologized quickly. "I've already heard of this over the phone, so I'm going to see the guests coming in. Later!"

"You kept in touch with her?" Rukia noted the slight application of jealousy in his tone as Matsumoto disappeared into the throng of people around her. "Ever thought of calling me?"

Rukia smirked mischievously and sploshed a few drops of lemonade down Renji's front. He protested, squawking miffedly. "Watch it! It's my new costume. You like?"

"Pretty nice," Rukia observed wryly, "though I think a chicken outfit would have complemented your hair better."

"Oh shut up. But you gotta admit, dressing out as a cowboy was pretty creative."

"Yeah. I'm sure the creator of those costumes sure thought so too."

Renji flashed her a disaproving grin and handed her a cookie from a platter nearby. "Try these," he said, speaking with his mouthful, "they're really good. I think they are called girl scout cookies. Anyhow, I made the costume myself. What now?"

She eyed the cookie with apprehension before handing it back to Renji. "Oh god, you just touched it. I don't want to get food poisoning. No, really, I'm not hungry, ate at Wilford. But I was going to say, I was wondering why the costume really sucked. Now I know."

Renji got her back by forcing an ice cube down her shirt. "Did you say that just to spite me?" Renji smiled dangerously with another ice cube at the ready. "There's no shortage of ice around here."

Rukia smiled back innocently and pretended to dust dirt off of his shoulders in affirmation. Her response was wordless.

"I shouldn't have bothered asking. You stink, Rukia."

Rukia actually blushed. "I know, I know. I haven't taken a bath yet, and Sodeno Shirayuki works us hard. Not to mention it's soot, not sweat I'm covered with."

"I didn't say that literally, Rukia."

"Yet again, I know, I know."

It was the same. Everytime that she and Renji would meet, whether after a successful mission or from a tired day of uneventful patrol duty, they would always joke around a little before coming to more serious matters. Inwardly, Renji was pleased that even though she was going to Wilford, she still maintained the same cool familiarity with him, and he was content with that.

She still had her school things with her, so they both opted to talk in Rukia's room, where they could actually hear each other.

Renji flicked the lights on on instinct, and Rukia collapsed on her bunny-covered bunk. She chucked a pair of heavy, proper shoes at the wall, narrowly missing Kiyone's nightstand. "God, am I glad to be free. These shoes are like cheese graters upon my feet!"

It was Renji's turn to roll his eyes at her statement. "Whatever. Go take a shower before you stink up the whole room."

With familiarity, he got a towel from a low cabinet while Rukia removed her socks and gathered her wash things.

Five minutes later, Rukia strode out of the shower, fresh and presentable. Renji, who had been flipping idly through her text books, laid the book back onto her table and scoffed.

"Why are you wearing your school uniform?" Not that he minded, or anything. For most of the time that he had known her, she was always clad in practical clothing. Practical, as in no skirts or feminine nonsense…usually consisting of the formless Society garb. Most Society females complained ceaselessly about the fashion taboo of the uniforms, but Rukia never seemed to care. The change was pleasant, anyways, he decided. She looked…prim, to be sure, but less composed than what she would normally be comfortable with.

"Maybe because I have nothing else to wear?" Rukia asked, shaking her head in exasperation. "Look, it's a costume party, so thought I could go for the school girl approach." Rukia dried her hair on a towel, standing near a vent in hopes that the wind would aid her in her attempt. "If it really is too big on me, like I've been told countless times, I'll just go in my normal clothes."

Renji waved a hand absently. "It's fine, really. Anyways, at least going to Wilford gets you a convenient uniform. But you really need to get out more and go shopping or something."

Rukia dismissed his suggestion with an aloof gesture. "You're starting to sound like Orihime-chan." Dang. Her hair was being unusually stubborn and water- absorbent today. She had to resort to manual means of drying. Out came the blowdryer.

"Who's that?" He picked up her schedule and ticked off eight classes. "Damn your day's busy."

"You think? That's partly why I'm so pissed that Matsumoto decided to spring this 'welcome party' on me. Anyways, Orihime's a really nice girl. She takes after Matsumoto, if you get my drift."

Renji guffawed and was about to say something before Rukia cut in. "--And no, you may not meet her. She has a really protective friend that watches her like a hawk. The friend had a hard time accepting me, so I think big ugly men will be less than hospitably received."

"Are you saying that I'm a big ugly man?" Renji did something weird with his eyebrows so that the ink designs seemed to wiggle. He inspected himself critically in a mirror and flashed himself a stunning grin. "I don't know what you are talking about. Personally, I think I'm quite handsome."

"Right. And Hitsugaya-taichou will finally acknowledge the fact that he is shorter than me," she retorted in a sarcastic way. Rukia slung the towel over a chair and shot Renji an annoyed glance before cleaning up all the crap that Renji had taken from her bag. "Thanks for messing up my backpack," she said. "I really appreciate you getting my room disorganized, not like Kiyone doesn't do that either." She bustled about, still half heartedly trying to get ready for the party.

Renji only laughed at her empty, backhanded praises and took a plaque from the table and fingered it thoughtfully. It was the first plaque Rukia had ever won, and on the day of the competition, he still remembered sneaking out from behind Captain Ukitate's back (though Sentaro had later informed Renji that Ukitate had clearly observed him going out) and getting higher strung than Rukia when she competed. Memories.

"So, tell me about Wilford." He said to bring back the present.

Rukia paused infront of her vanity, her brush still laced halfway in her hair. She considered his question and set her hands down. "I guess it's okay. I mean, it's totally different from the Society, but not as bad as Matsumoto had dramatically predicted it."

"No Empties?"

"I wouldn't say that. There were a few potential ones, but most of the people there are normal kids on fundings and whatnot." Rukia saw Renji's intense expression from the mirror, and she sighed contently to reassure him. "But I'm really enjoying myself, Renji. It's totally fine there. You don't have to worry. I'm strong, dude!"

Renji snorted and turned away, a bit embarrassed that she had caught him staring at her.

"You keep on insisting that you're strong this, able at that, but Rukia, I think you've been putting too much pressure on yourself. Ballet, Wilford, the Society, and your art job…isn't that a bit much?"

Rukia's eyes shone brightly. Here we go again. Renji had always been overprotective, too concerned when he oughtn'd have been. Ever since their Rukongai days, Renji would always make sure that Rukia's sandals wouldn't have holes on the bottom (because he himself had a nasty fall before), and a plethora of other silly, cautious acts that to Rukia seemed to have bordered on paranoia. She appreciated and loved Renji for his little gruff fronts and his lame excuses, but for heavens sakes, she was an assassin, and he was too, if not a more adept one.

"No need to get your panties in a twist, Renji." Rukia fished out a key from under a pile of junk and opened a window. The Society's only vulnerable parts were its dorms, and all took great care to maintain secrecy, hence the precautions.

"The only Empty-like people I've met didn't really feel like mingling with little ole me, so I keep away." She shrugged matter of factly and resumed aerating the room. "They stand out from the crowd and like to push other people around. Hard to miss. Besides, I have nothing for them to steal."

Renji looked on idly as she tried futilely to pull down a reluctant blind. It wasn't going to get pulled down by itself. He eventually gave up on ignoring her gaze that clearly implied, "well, what are you waiting for? Help me already!" And he pushed the blind down easily.

"And you just took that shit from them?"

Rukia eyed Renji incredulously, as if not believing his words. "Of course not! What do you think I am, helpless?"

Renji tried to refrain from commenting, but it was just too tempting to correct Rukia.

His eyes lingered over the now closed blinds. "Well, if windows were any indication of your overall prowess…" He trailed off.

"Don't make me hurt you, Renji. Just because you're my best friend, a vice captain…the vice captain of my brother…doesn't mean I will hesitate."

"Alright, alright." Renji put up his hands in front of him in compliance and he suddenly hugged her and whispered. "It's good to have you back."

"No need to get all teary eyed on me." Rukia stiffened, and then relaxed with a happy sigh into her friend's arms.

Renji made a ghoulish face with an expression between protest and embarrassment and she laughed.

"Yeah, it feels good to back too. It's only been a week, you know, and we don't see each other that often, even when I lived at the Society."

"That's true. But why didn't you keep in touch? I would have escorted you to Wilford had I known."

They headed out of her dorm, Rukia's hair having dried considerably. Rukia thrust a key into the lock and locked up with a particular savageness at a particular chickenhead's idiocracy.

"Renji. Do you know what it would have looked like to have arrived on the first day with a body guard? What part of inconspicuous action do you not understand?"

"Okay, Bitch Queen of January. You win." The halls were oddly empty, as all of the dorm's inhabitants were probably clustered around the kitchen or singing really bad karaoke. "You're still avoiding why you didn't tell me." There was that slightly desperate, slightly hurt timbre to his voice again.

Rukia sighed and stuck her hands in her skirt pockets. "The only reason I didn't call or whatever was because I merely speculated the fact that Byakuya-sama probably gave you more paperwork than I get homework. You know, I was looking out for you. Is that good enough for your insecure mind?"

Renji grinned and they both hurried up with the sound of the stereo blaring loudly from the next hallway. Renji nudged the door open with his foot and let Rukia glide past him.

"The party awaits."

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I'm sorry I haven't been able to update in such a ridiculous long time. V.V Please forgive me. I lost inspiration for what seemed like a year; I haven't even watched Bleach since episode 140. I'm not so caught up in the manga, but I have passed chapter 300. –hides in shame-

But I'm back. And I have everything about this story planned out. Count on getting around…24-30 chapters of "The Music Box". All the plot ends have been tied up…all that I need is to type up these ideas and actually finding a permanent Beta reader (: Thank you God'sAngel for being so faithful to this fic! She inspired me to resume this again.

Also, if I don't get 5 reviews on the story after this, I'm not sure if I'll continue it… understand that your comments are my lifeline. Five reviews are nothing… I have almost 10000 hits on this; I'm just asking for two seconds of your time . It might be weird to you how I'm so desperate for critique, but I simply must know what others think of my works.

Thanks, Jerkess