Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters; that right belongs to Hiro Mashima.

Author's Note: For reference I did a bit of research to find things that were all in one time period and would overlap with my concept for this story. And, while it is a Bleach and Inuyasha crossover, I ask that you all have patience in how slow I will be updating this, along with the fact that I don't think this story will be more than 10 to 20 chapters long.

Year 832, Month July, Day 31

Lucy sat there, silent and staring at her clasped hands in her lap. Her mind was going over what had happened after she had been given to the head of the Kuchiki Clan, Genrei. Sarah had been promptly dismissed, and she had been shuffled away by the palace servants to be checked her over. They were rather rude in their shock at how clean she was. Not a single tick, flea, or lice on her body. Though their attention to her skin was annoying and left Lucy uncomfortable.

From there, she was again shuffled with her meager belongings (keys had vanished when she had been stripped thankfully) into a private study where she was educated about proper etiquette and stuff for her new position in the Kuchiki house. Again, the headmistress was rude in her level of shock at the fact that Lucy knew what she needed to know. Before her hands were roughly grabbed and inspected, revealing the callouses she had gained from years of doing all the chores and whatever else Sarah had given her.

The moment she was presented back to Emperor Shunshui, Advisor Jushiro, and the Genrei. Lucy had to listen as the report was given. Then she was being dragged along behind the head of the Kuchiki Clan, Jushiro beside her oddly enough. He talked in a whisper to her, telling her that if she ever needed to, she had a haven to return to in the palace and then slipped her a small beaded talisman with the Ukitake Clan symbol on it. Lucy was not stupid; she knew what this was and meant.

"Lucy."

At the sound of her name, Lucy lifted her head but didn't meet the man's eyes. Knowing it was a sign of disrespect. And she didn't want to be beaten upon arrival to the house. Silently she waited for Lord Genrei to continue to speak. Knowing he was going to question her.

"Tell me what you know how to do," Lord Genrei commanded.

Taking a deep breath to help keep her calm. Lucy answered his question, "My Lord, I am quite capable of cooking, cleaning, and sewing. And know how to chop wood, basic carpentry to do repairs, tacking. Again fixing and cleaning it. I know the basics of reading and writing, as well."

Lucy didn't tell him that she knew how to play two instruments, do Ikebana, Dance, knew how to do simple math, and was versed in History. Or how to do basic hand to hand fighting. Something her step-brothers had intentionally taught her to defend herself after she started to mature physically. Women were not supposed to know such things; it was blasphemy.

"And you are the daughter of the former Leader and Hero of the Hayato People," Lord Genrei responded. "I was not aware that they would put a person of importance to menial labor."

She couldn't help it as her body stiffened at the insult. And she knew that it had displeased Lord Genrei by how his hands curled in his lap.

"Speak your piece, child; this will be the only time you will be able to," Lord Genrei stated.

Slowly giving a nod of her head, Lucy took another deep breath and spoke, "Our Village, while near the sea, is not as prosperous. And even though I am my father's daughter, that does not make me above anyone else in the Village, my Lord. I am human, just like them. If you were to cut me open, I'd bleed red just like them, like you and the other nobles. So, I did my fair share of the work around the Village. As a woman, I know my place, but I also know that a good Leader, a true Leader, helps their people. And does not Lord it over them like they are lesser beings."

A heavy silence filled the carriage as it swayed back and forth. Lord Genrei had given her the right to speak freely. And while she had spoken true, Lucy hadn't told the whole truth. It started slowly and softly, breaking the silence in the carriage, before growing in louder. Lucy lifted her head to see the man across from her, laughing in what seemed to be good nature. His dark gray eyes were glimmering as he met her gaze head-on before Lucy dropped her head again.

"You are most definitely your father's daughter," Lord Genrei stated. "He as a warrior that kept me on my toes when I took to the battlefield. A man of honor and principal. I watched him break from his fight with me to help one of his own before returning to finish his fight against me. I can respect a person for that. It was just a shame and waste to me that his people chose to continue to cause strife by keeping the war going."

Lucy said nothing as she kept her eyes pinned to Lord Genrei's hands on his lap. Her mother had a few times that Lucy could recall, said the same things to her father in the privacy of their own home. She, too, didn't understand the need to keep this fight going, it was pointless in her mind. The number of people who died and the pain of that loss that those left behind carried on both sides. If she remembered, Rogue said that Lord Genrei's son and daughter-in-law had died because of an ambush by her people, leaving their two sons without parents.

"I have one more thing to ask you, and you need to answer honestly, Lucy," Lord Genrei spoke, his voice going hard. "I do not tolerate liars and certain other things in my household. It causes descent and divides."

Swallowing as she felt his gave grow heavy on the top of her head, Lucy nodded that she would answer.

"Have you taken many men to your bed?" Lord Genrei asked.

The question was offensive and embarrassing. And Lucy felt heat flood her face as she jerked up to glare at the man sitting across from her. She hated how he looked detached and uncaring.

"I will say this only once, my Lord," she said, stressing his title by hissing it. "I am not a whore. No man has ever graced my bed and will not until the day I am married if I ever chose to get married. And I am well aware that all Nobility think that because we are country folk, savage warriors, the women must be loose and whore themselves for both pleasure and survival."

She saw shock appear briefly in his eyes before they narrowed at her for the tone she was using and the way she spoke to him, insulting him.

"I stated that you could speak freely in the carriage. But that does not mean you have the right as a servant in my house to degrade me," Lord Genrei said, his voice soft and cold at the same time. "And let me inform you, I do not think all women of common birth, whether in the city or country, are whores. So, think before you speak thus again, or I will have you whipped with a cane, do you understand me?"

Lucy kept her eyes narrowed as she continued to stare at him. She was assessing as she tried to figure out if he was lying to her or not. Finally, she gave a small nod of her head before dropping her gaze. It was apparent he was telling the truth. A slight shock to her system. So, she did as her mother and father taught her to do for being brash and rude like she just had been.

"I am sorry, my Lord. I will do my best not to speak like that again," she said as a way of apologizing.

"Good, we have arrived," Lord Genrei stated as the carriage came to a halt. "Let me introduce you to those of my family that is currently in the compound."

With that, Lucy waited until he got out of the carriage, then offered her a hand to help her out before Lucy was his whole household. Family and staff.

"Lucy, this young man here is my grandson Byakuya and next to him is my granddaughter by marriage, Rukia," Lord Genrei stated. "And those gathered are the head of my maids, manservants, kitchen, and stables."

She gave a polite bow, not raising her eyes from their waistline. Knowing it would overstep her place.

"Grandfather, have you figured out where you will place her in the household?"

Lucy felt her eyes go wide as the deep, softly spoken words. She hadn't heard a voice that smooth and cultured before, and it affected her in a way that she didn't want to acknowledge.

"Yes, I am going to make her Rukia's hand-maiden. She will attend to Rukia," Lord Genrei answered his grandson. "Rukia, she will help you get ready, be presentable, and attend to you throughout the day, as well as clean for you."

There was a tension in the air that made Lucy feel as if it was hard to breathe. This was not what she had expected. Being told she was going to serve as his granddaughter (of which she wasn't aware existed) hand-maiden was a great honor. But it also put her where he could also observe her.

"Grandfather, why?"

"Because, Rukia, she is the same age as you. And more than capable of being able to do something as simple as keeping you from acting like a tomboy and more like a Lady of your station," Lord Genrei said.

At that moment, Lucy couldn't help but feel that she had a near-impossible task set before her. The idea of doing the house laundry was more appealing.

TBC!