reesen555 - I really love having you as a reader. :3 Well, everything has a reason for happening so for Toshiro's characteristics, you will have to see~ :3 I won't spoil it for you, I will simply just tell you that I know why he is being very friendly towards Rukia. (I said no spoilers but I never said no cliffhangers. XD) I agree with you that that would be a later part of the story though. Judging by the way I am updating, it would probably be soon enough. :3 I seriously need to pace my chapters or I am gonna run out of chapters to post. T_T Some things are universal. Aizen was the 'Mastermind' (That is just what I am determined on calling him, as twisted as it sounds) of IchiRuki in Bleach, he's the mastermind of Rukia's issue in my story. Yup. Universal. XD With this chapter, you will find that he would be crossing a whole lot of lines. XD Yeah, I was surprised at FanFiction originally as well. T_T Bad Fanfiction. D:

Well, it was already bugging my mind that Rukia was so submissive towards Ichigo. (I was the one who wrote the chapters amd I was pulling my hair in frustration every moment of Rukia being submissive, I will have you know that. XD) So, when your suggestion came in, it was a fitting suggestion as to what I thought of Rukia in Bleach (Having a damn backbone) and I simply thought: Why not I give Rukia Tachibana some personality? Therefore, the name-calling 'Kurosaki' was formed. :3

FafaCute - Welcome Back! :3 I have no idea whether they (Ikkaku, Momo, Rukia) will remain friends or not. I can only tell you that they are being civil to one another. :3

Ichirukitrash4ever (Guest) - When I saw your review, I was sad that you couldn't read up to the current Chapter. I actually thought about your suggestion but I actually deleted all my previous documents once I post them on FanFiction so I couldn't recover them even if I wanted to. But, my other readers had successfully sent reviews and I succesfully received them so I have my fingers crossed and here's hoping that next time that I see your review, you can read all the Chapters you missed! .

Guest - When I am writing some of the things Ichigo would be doing to Rukia, I have to honestly say I felt like jumping into the story and slapping Ichigo myself. XD So, I am proud to say you are not alone in this aspect. :3 I can only say Rukia is going through a 'Phase' and Ichigo only cares about his emotion when he lashes out towards Rukia. Bad Ichigo. D: Universal as well. I mean, honestly, can anyone imagine Hanatarou as a villan in any Universe? :3

Guest - For some reasons, the Guest review won't pop out but I received an email that you reviewed. It's been continuing for a while now but I saw your review the first time you reviewed. Thank You for taking the time to review once again though! :3

Disclaimer: I neither own Bleach nor its characters. :3

Currently at a bar in the financial district, it wasn't a place that Ichigo would frequent for a business meeting. But, as Ichimaru was the one who had suggested it, there he was. After the dinner 'Date' Ichigo had with Ichimaru yesterday, he was confident that the deal between them was a 100%. Ichimaru had asked to meet up for a happy hour tonight and Ichigo was almost sure that he would be going home a much happier man than he had been when he woke up this morning. The dinner had placed Ichigo in a good mood, it had made him feel alright about Rukia. Maybe, admist this 'Arranged Marriage', Rukia could serve a purpose after all, Ichigo had thought. Nothing made Ichgo feel as good as getting his job done with a victory and with Ichimaru, he was sure he had gotten a victory. "Hey, there he is. Kurosaki!"

Ichigo turned to see Ichimaru making his way over to him, an unfamiliar face behind him as Ichigo stood up and offered Ichimaru his hand. "How's it going?" Ichigo smiled warmly at Ichimaru. Being in the business world, Ichigo knew that first impressions count. At the same time, it was important to follow-ups as well and Ichigo Kurosaki was a pro at follow-ups. Just ask the girls who he has sex with throughout, they would only have praises for Ichigo's follow-up performances.

"Good, good." Ichimaru responded, clapping Ichigo on the back as he introduced the third party in he group. "Thanks for meeting us. This is Kira, my go-to guy. An advisor, shall we say."

"Hey, Kira." Ichgo smiled as he shook Kira's hand. If Ichigo had been less mature, he would have danced inside the bar right at that moment. Bringing an advisor to a meeting was equivalent to saying more than interested. Really, Ichigo couldn't wait to see the expression on Isshin's face once he clinched the deal. "What are you gentleman drinking?"

Waving over the bartender, Ichigo noticed the bartender was kind of cute. High-school kind of cute and shy. "I will take a whiskey."

"Make it 2."

"3 whiskeys, please." Ichigo smiled to the bartender. Ichigo would only say the magic word 'Please' when the person taking his order was someone he would bring home to have sex with. And, this girl was certainly someone Ichgo would bring home. "Why don't you guys go find a table and I will bring the drinks over?" Both Kira and Ichimaru nodded as the female bartender finished with their drinks, passing it to Ichigo. "Here you are."

Taking the drinks back to Ichimaru and Kira where they had secured a table, Ichimaru slapped Ichigo's back once more as a friendly smile graced his lips. "Thanks, Ichigo."

"Anytime, Ichimaru-San."

"So, let's get down to it. Kira here wants to hear your pitch, so lay it on Kira."

"Okay, Kira, here's the deal. Ichimaru-San's hotel is clearly worthwhile property. The location alone sees projection upwards of double what other corners in the same neighbourhood would give us. And it's had a good run. A stellar fucking run and please excuse my language, gentleman." Both Ichimaru and Kira let out laughs. "But, there's a time and place to walk out. And, I know your perspective on this." Ichigo gazed at Ichimaru as he spoke. "You want out now. Not only do you want out but you want to look over your shoulder and see legacy. That's what I'm offering you, Ichinaru-San. The chance to see a rebranding, to see a successful property become even more successful but also the chance to see the years you put into it... Recognized. Honoured. Your footprint will always be there if it's a Kurosaki Hotel. I can promise you that much." Gaze travelling from Ichimaru and then to Kira, Ichigo tried to gauge their reaction to the things he had said. Ichigo had thought he had done perfectly well but Kira and Ichimaru was apparently still digesting the information.

Just as Ichigo was about to say something else that could fill this deafening silence, Ichimaru clapped. "That was beautiful."

Turning to gaze at Kira, Kira's eyes still had those glazed-over, deep thought to them. "What's the timeline?"

"We are looking to start at aesthetic construction in 6 weeks, top. Lobby, spa and fitness centre to begin. We are aiming to have a new rooftop restaurant up and running by March. We are targeting business professionals." Kira nodding at every sentence Ichigo had spoken, Ichigo took it as a cue to continue. "We want the elegance of an established 5-star property, but we want it to feel fresh as well."

Ichigo was about to say more when Ichimaru interrupted him, reading something from his phone. "Wait a minute." Ichigo gazed at Ichimaru, wondering what was the interruption about. "I apologize for the interruption but... What a small world..." Ichinaru gazed at Ichigo next. "Guess who my wife ran into today!" Seriously, Ichimaru was stopping his words, his potential business deal for mere gossip? Sighing mentally, he hoped Ichimaru wouldn't have noticed the impatience in his voice. "Your wife!" Ichigo narrowed his eyes. "Matsumoto said she saw him shopping with... A man... In a hat store."

Ichimaru had said it casually enough but Ichigo knew better. When Ichimaru had placed emphasis on 'A man', it was as if Ichimaru was judging Ichigo, wondering about Rukia and Ichigo's relationship, wondering who the man shopping with Rukia was. Ichigo couldn't deny that he was wondering who the man was as well but to hell with it if he had allowed Ichimaru to think whether he could be trusted in this potential business deal or not. Not now. Not when he was so close to victory. "A small world!" Ichigo's laugh seemed forced and any idiots who was currently in the area could have seen that, actually. This time, it was Ichigo's turn to clap Ichimaru on the shoulder. "You gotta love those hats, am I right?" As Ichimaru gazed at Ichigo, a polite smile on his lips, Ichigo knew everything was going downhill and if he didn't do anything to salvage this situation, this business deal could be ruined by his fucking wife who was enjoying her time with an unknown man, interfering with his business. Even for a gold-digging slut, that isn't cool. Honestly speaking, Ichigo could care less who Rukia went out with when they weren't in public. But, in public, they were the fucking idol of love and loyalty merged into a story. How could Rukia have been so stupid? Ichigo had wanted to walk out just then and there but he had to keep his composure, especially in front of Ichimaru and Kira. As his gaze travelled to Kira, he knew that the productivity of this particular night is fucking done. When a husband couldn't keep the reins on his wife in business world, it just fucking means that Ichigo's not at that level of capability. A man who either didn't know what his wife was up to, or even care. And, he was beyond pissed by what Rukia had 'Unintentionally' done. Ichigo thought it was best to let them have their conversation over and done with as he pretended to read an email and react to it. "Gentleman. I would love to sit here with you all night but a colleague needs my help. I apologize but I would have to cut it short."

Ichinaru nodded as he stood up, his tone taking on a more serious tone than before, all friendliness gone. "We will be in touch."

"Perfect. Goodnight."

Without retrieving his card and forgetting about the girl he wanted to bring home, Ichigo walked out of the bar. It was until Ikkaku's car stopped in front of him that he remembered both and anger was seen through his gaze. Enough was simply enough. Not only was his 'Wife' fucking with his business, she was also fucking with his sex life. This needs to stop, seriously.

Humming to herself, Rukia was currently baking cookies. Say what you want, Rukia loved to bake and was a fan of anything that required her to use her hands to create something, or rather, something that came with a recipe, that is. Just placing the cookies into the oven, she heard the elevator buzz to life. Looking at the long hallway, she wondered would there be enough time to go into her room. Before she could place it into action, the doors opened. Ichigo was in the elevator, his gaze screaming bloody murder with a suit jacket slinging over his arm. Before Rukia could even greet him, Ichigo stomped over to her. "Who the FUCK were you shopping with today?"

Rukia frowned. Did something crawl up her husband's ass and die? Where's his manners? Nobody just stomps up to somebody and ask these kind of questions! Wait, what question did he ask? "What?"

"Who was the man?"

Okay, Rukia knew her schedule today and if Ichigo was talking about a man, it can only be him. "My friend? Toshiro."

"Oh, Toshiro." The tone of Ichigo's voice made it abundantly clear that Ichigo was mocking her and if she was a lesser girl, she would have smacked him upside down. "Let me make something very clear to you, Rukia Kurosaki. Everything you do comes back to me. EVERYTHING." Seriously, somebody needs to give Ichigo a chill-out pill as Rukia has no fucking idea what was Ichigo talking about. Taking a few seconds to make either head or tail about his outburst, realization dawned on Rukia. Oh. Could it be...? "I had a business meeting with Ichimaru-San." That definitely answered Rukia's question in her own mind. "He said his wife saw you shopping... With a man." Okay, stop right there. She had heard wrongly and she was sure of it. Was it... jealousy that laced Ichigo's tone? "I don't give a shit what you do on your own time, in your own space." As expected, she heard wrongly. "But, you don't fucking interfere with my business. You will not embarrass me again. Do you understand me?"

"You listen to me, Kurosaki -- "

"LISTEN TO ME." Ichigo slammed his hand on the kitchen counter, successfully cutting off Rukia's own outburst. Rukia was surprised, though, that Momo hadn't ran out wondering what the commotion was about already. "You are not to be in public with any man that is not me. You might have cost the company the fucking DEAL. Do you get that? Do you get how stupid you were? I forbid you from seeing that man until the deal closes."

"You FORBID me, Kurosaki?" She couldn't believe the audacity of this man!

"You heard me. You are living under my roof, using my money, you can abide by a simple fucking rule. Besides, if old man was to find out you were doing anything to screw this deal, you would have more to answer to, not just me."

Rukia had a lot of colourful words to tell Ichigo at that point of time. All of those words involved violating the contract that she had signed with Isshin. She was getting really exhausted recently, she didn't have the energy to constantly fight Ichigo. Losing Ino, Aizen's messages, Ukitake in a coma, Ukitake's treatment and now the only good thing that happened in her life, her only friend in this lonely world, Toshiro, was being forcefully taken away from her. Ichigo, noticing the resignation on Rukia's face, turned away and marched into his bedroom, slamming the door for good measure. "It wouldn't be the first time you earned my hatred, Kurosaki."

Really, it wasn't the first time that she had felt alone in her bedroom but it was the first time without either Ino or Toshiro. Both of her old safety nets, old AND new, hadn't wanted anything to do with her. Rukia had called Toshiro after Ichigo had blew up at her, telling Toshiro about the forbidding rule that Ichigo had just set up. Rukia had tried to laugh it off, honestly, at all the absurdity it had. For some reasons, Toshiro wasn't laughing when he had gotten the news.

"Ichigo Kurosaki forbade you from seeing me? Like... Me, specifically?"

"Yeah. But, it's just until this deal closes -- "

"That's messed up. Seriously messed up. I can't have the biggest name hating me like that. It feels like there's a target on me or something like that."

"What?" Seriously, that was not how she wanted the conversation to go. "No, Toshiro, he's just overreacting."

"Rukia, I gotta go, okay?" With that, Toshiro had hung up. The same line when Ino had hung up and Rukia had a feeling their friendship was over, just like that.

Honestly, she understood what Toshiro was rattled about. Rukia knew how it felt to be singled out as the enemy by a person in power. She knew how scary it was to know that they had more control over your future than you did. But now, it wasn't simply just Aizen Sosuke controlling her life. Her fucking husband, Ichigo Kurosaki, as well. She had to move in with him, had to hear him screaming at her for the smallest reason, be it a gold-digging slut or Isshin visiting Ichigo, which Rukia had no idea of. Now, Ichigo was even actively cutting into her personal relationship, as if Rukia Tachibana's life didn't matter one bit. She had allowed herself to let him think that she was marrying him as a gold-digging slut, neither denying nor explaining herself for that would be a violation in contract. And now, this kind of shit happens to her? Rukia was staring to fume. Fuming at Ichigo Kurosaki, fuming at Aizen Sosuke, fuming at life treating her as shit.

Stop ignoring me. You will be sorry.

Seriously? This comes now? Without looking at the sender and simply just looking at the content of said message, Rukia had known the sender was Aizen. The audacity of men with power and money, trying to control her every waking minute of her day, fucking unbelievable. Did both Aizen and Ichigo think they were God and she was just a child, just to be bossed around by them? At that moment, her phone rang and Rukia's rage went to unbelievable heights. You have GOT TO BE KIDDING HER! With rage fuelling her, she answered her phone. "LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE, WHY DON'T YOU?"

Seriously, she couldn't be bothered who the hell was calling her. At that moment, only her rage was important enough for her to remotely care about it. Soon, a response on the other side was heard. A calm voice, so eerily calm. "You are going to wish you hadn't said that to me."

Without waiting for the caller to hang up, she threw the phone away from her as far as possible, not believing what the fuck had just happened. She had enough of this. Couldn't anyone see things from Rukia Tachibana's point of view? Her phone began ringing again, this time with the notifications of new messages. Part of Rukia had wanted to ignore the messages but her curiosity got the better of her. She had known, by the response, who the caller was. It was like an accident on the highway. One had to look at the aftermath of what one causes because apparently, not knowing was worse. Crawling over to the corner and picking up her phone, she heaved a mental sigh of relief when she looked at a familiar name.

Rukia, you have to come down to see Tou-San.

Eh? Is everything okay?

He's fine but he's demanding answers.

Answers?

You have gotta tell him that you are a Kurosaki.

Right. With all the chaotic mess that was married life, she had forgotten that Ukitake hadn't known that she was married and there was only so long she could keep Ukitake in the dark before he started asking questions. Originally, Ukitake was the one who had filed for bankruptcy after all. He knew first-hand of the financial situation and that they wouldn't have been able to fork out the medical bills, with the part-time job that Rukia had. Rukia, on other hand, had always been careful to take off her wedding ring as she visited Ukitake, in case he would notice. Rukia had knew that she would have to tell Ukitake someday and she had even made both Shuuhei and Yumichiki promise Rukia that she would do it on her own terms. Knowing both Shuuhei and Yumichika, they had their hands tied to the restaurant that they hadn't had the time to push Rukia into telling Ukitake. Today marks the day of Rukia marrying Ichigo for almost a month. Looks like she couldn't avoid it any longer than necessary.

"Tou-San?"

"Come in, Darling."

Ukitake's voice was still weak. "Shuuhei told me that you were feeling better."

"I am, I am." Ukitake said, taking Rukia's hand and kissing it. "And you? What's new? Shuuhei and Yumichika said that you have news for me."

"Well..." Really, was there an easy way to tell Ukitake that she was married while he was in a fucking coma? Especially when Rukia couldn't tell him the reason why?

"Spit it out."

Rukia's gaze met Ukitake's then, knowing that there was no way she could avoid this anymore, now that she was in his hospital room. "I'm married."

"You are what?"

"Married." Rukia repeated and mentally prepared her story. "It was such a whirlwind, Tou-San. We met and we..." How could she? Ukitake was her Dad for goodness' sake! But, so what if Ukitake had known the truth as to why she was marrying Ichigo? Knowing Ukitake's personality, he would have felt too guilty and would have forced her to walk away from the Kurosakis'. She knew that Ichigo would have a blast if he knew that but it was Ukitake's life at stake. She just... Couldn't risk it. No matter what. "And we fell in love. He asked me to marry him and I said Yes. We got married a week later. I was going to tell you, Tou-San, but you were in a coma..." Lies. "I didn't know if you were going to..." More lies.

"Rukia, look at me." Said daughter did so. "Are you happy?" In that moment, Rukia felt like the happiest girl in the world. She was still able to talk to Ukitake like how a normal Father-Daughter would. No, she wasn't happy married to Ichigo but she was happy at this current moment, talking to Ukitake. With that decided, she nodded her head, smiling happily. "Then, don't you worry about me, got it? I'm happy and proud of you that my baby's a wife."

Admist smiling happily, a tear rolled down Rukia's cheeks. "Don't cry."

"I'm sorry."

"So, tell me about him."

Lifting her hands to wipe off her tears, it was at that moment Ukitake saw the ring on Rukia's fingers. "That's a rock. Guess that answers the question."

"Ichigo, my husband, he's a Kurosaki. Therefore, you don't have to worry about anything, Tou-San."

By that sentence alone, Ukitake narrowed his eyes, as if he was connecting the pieces together but then at the next moment, a smile was on his lips once again. "Well, I'm just happy that my Darling has someone to take care of her, that's all. After the last douchebag, that is."

After Rukia had resigned, Shuuhei and Yumichika had filled Ukitake in on what was happening. Ukitake only went into his room soon after knowing and emerged with a baseball bat. If Ukitake had reacted so badly back then, what would his reaction be once he knew that Aizen Sosuke was the sole reason she couldn't get the interview and, for lack of a better word, returned to her life? "So, your trial treatment's starting tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"It will work."

A smile was seen on Ukitake's lips. "You bet your ass it will work."

She held Ukitake's hand tight. She knew she would have to return soon but for now, she simply wanted to spend more time with Ukitake as her daughter.

On her way back home, she noticed how people were still doing their groceries, how parents were still talking to their children as if Rukia's life hadn't plummeted to the deep end. But, that was just it, isn't it? Her problem was simply one of the problem that this world had, it wasn't serious enough for the world to stop spinning and time to stop. Though, she was amazed that no one had doubted her story. Was she simply that good of a storyteller or was everybody in her life simply believing that Rukia Tachibana wouldn't ever lie to them? Not to her family, not even to her best friend? Deciding to distract herself from those depressing thoughts, she took out her phone and decided on The Japan Times. Not even finding anything remotely interesting, she went to social media, trying her luck. Well, she did find something, in the least. Something that made her eyes go wide.

A picture of Ichigo and her on their wedding night. Smiling at the camera, looking every inch like the newlywed they were. That was considered normal and what made her eyes go wide wasn't the picture of Ichigo and her wedding photo. It was a photo underneath their wedding photo. There was another picture -- A picture that consisted of her only. She was looking right into the camera, her damp hair hanging straight down, eyes wide. The shot showed her from her waist up and worst still -- Naked. Rukia tried hard to think of where the fuck she would have taken a photo of herself naked to no avail. She didn't even have a boyfriend for goodness' sake! How could she have even taken such a picture?! Worst still, it was plastered all over the internet. Just as she looked closer at the picture, thanking mentally for black bars blocking the location where her breasts would be, she had noticed lockers in the background. Wait, lockers? Realization dawned on Rukia. The gym in Sosuke Cooperation. It was the only gym she went to throughout her entire life, this picture must be taken when she had been changing but who...?

I always deliver. You will never work.

Right. That answered her question. Really, if she went back to Isshin and requested for a gun to end Aizen's life, would Japan mind? Closing her eyes and clenching her fists, she knew she had to remain calm. Especially at these times. If she panicked, everything would be over before she knew it.

RUKIA!!! DID YOU SEE? WTF??? YOU ARE EVERYWHERE!!!

Rukia's eyes narrowed as she focused on the text. If even Ino saw it and was texting her when she had practically ignored her texts for a few days, she knew that things were bad. Turning to her best friend on the internet, she found the exact same pictures on various websites, more websites that she could count, really. Worst still, there were some clickbait sites that hadn't bothered putting the black bar over her chest. Rukia felt the urge to puke. What the fuck? She was fucking exposed for the world to see.

Your nudes are on the internet. Remember when I told you NOT TO EMBARRASS ME?

Rukia. Call me. Now.

Great. Ino, Ichigo, Shuuhei. Although she couldn't care for Ichigo's frustrations, she knew why Ichigo would have assumed she had taken the photo herself. But, Ino and Shuuhei too? A voice in the back of her mind told Rukia not only did they see the photo, by now, the whole of Japan must have seen it as well.

Author's Notes: Bad Aizen. You crossed numerous lines. Bullying Rukia simply because she rejected you. Jeez, why can't you take rejection like a guy? Tsk.