Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. I don't even have a washer/dryer in unit -_-*

Title: Kuchiki's Party

Genre: Challenge a Day: July 13th

In front of the thin sliding door, Rukia took a moment's hesitation to calm her nerves. She couldn't afford to look too timid or weak in front of the Kuchiki elders that would be attending the night's gathering. Nii-sama had entrusted her to represent the clan on his behalf, and she would not fail him. Rukia took a breath, and with an air of confidence entering her lungs, her chin rose and posture straightened. The doors opened before her and Rukia stepped boldly into the melee of Soul Societies most royal and elite members.

There was a hush as she entered the room with a the classic stone face of a Kuchiki. Rukia however was unaware that she herself donned in an almost ethereal pearl kimono, with her hair pinned delicately and lips with a hint of rose was the actual cause of the room's silence.

Upon her entrance Rukia gave a nod to those who sought her eyes and a glance at those too intimidated to do more than gawk.

"You are really scary when you put on that act." Rukia barely heard Ichigo's compliment, she took it as such, whispered in her ear as he slipped in practically unnoticed behind her despite his eye-catching hair.

She turned around, holding back any sign of her initial surprise and granted him the smallest of smiles that only he would truly notice. "I thought Nii-sama made sure your division was too stacked with paperwork for you to be able to attend."

Ichigo snorted in spite of present company around them. "That's what lieutenants are for Rukia. You know what they say rolls downhill..."

Rukia had trouble keeping the amusement off her face, as was usually the case when Ichigo was close to her. But she kept the expression to herself and only gave Ichigo a slight shake of her head. "You're going to run through another lieutenant within a week if you keep that up." She scolded softly.

"That's what I'm hoping for."

Rukia caught his meaning and inwardly felt a swell of pride. Even with his captain's haori and the respect of the whole Gotei 13, Ichigo still deemed her worthy of being by his side. It had been so long since he'd been a foolhardy ryoka boy who risked everything to save her.

Rukia turned to the man who'd grown in front of her eyes, who'd brought out the best in herself as well and held out her hand. "Would you care to join me for a dance?" She asked. Rukia delighted at Ichigo's wide eyes, the smirk falling off his face for the first time since seeing her.

"No way--"

"You could refuse me?" Rukia interrupted and filled in the blanks. "How sweet of you to say Kurosaki-taicho." She led him to the center of room, ensuring that all eyes would be on them for the entirety of the night.

Ichigo pulled her closer than she'd expected and pressed his lips intimately against her ear. Rukia's mask of confidence shook, but the tender way Ichigo held her kept her rooted and secure.

"When Byakuya gets word of this you know I'm dead right?" He muttered huskily, causing Rukia's face to warm despite her best efforts.

She looked straight into his amber eyes as if there were no height difference or crowd of scandalized nobility watching their every move.

"Then you'll need a proper lieutenant to help keep you in one piece. My transfer notice is at the bottom of that paperwork I mentioned."

AN: I'm really happy with this one because it wrote itself! I love when I can just free-write and the characters do all the work XD Thank you for reading!

Also, I just realized because I'm such a huge dork, that by sheer coincidence my chapters line up with the day of the giveaways. I just think that's cool XD