reesen555 - It was when I was watching a video that I saw an email popping up, seeing that you reviewed. For some reason, I felt really happy and excited unknown to myself. LOL After reading, I went to read the fanfiction that you wrote in the review. 'I am your slave wife'. I cannot deny, with the way the story is going, it also gives me similar vibes too. I hope you enjoy this update as well! :3

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach and its characters.

Ino frowned as she watched Rukia stuff herself with food. "Are you okay?"

Rukia, halfway eating, replied with a mouthful of food. "Super."

Ino stood up before frowning. "Okay, that's gross." Rukia, in response, pouted. "At least swallow your food before you speak." Sighing, Ino went to get her food from the fridge before sitting back down by Rukia's side. "Come on, I know you better than that. Spill."

It was Rukia's turn to sigh. The troubles of having a best friend, she assumed. "I'm just really stressed out..." Ino looked at her. "Otou-San's in the hospital and we are going to have trouble paying the bills. I just had an interview with them and I somehow have the feeling that I messed up..."

"You didn't mess it up." Ino assured Rukia. "You nailed it, right? You told me yourself."

Rukia shifted her foot uneasily. "Well, I thought I did. Now..." She sighed. "I'm not so sure." That part was true. Spending the last few months as a part-timer in Ino's Flower Shop, with the privilege of Ino allowing Rukia to stay at her apartment for the period, Rukia knew that she couldn't take advantage of Ino's kindness forever and was on her way to search for another job. Chances were slim, she knew that but... With the situation at hand, she would take every opportunity that came her way. "You are a lifesaver, Ino. If it weren't for you letting me stay here, I--"

"You know I don't like to hear you saying that, Rukia." Rukia, in response, sheepishly smiled at Ino. "You know you are allowed to stay here as long as you want. I just don't want to see you wasting your life sweeping the floor of my Flower Shop when you could achieve something bigger, even if you do have adoring fans coming into the shop once in a while, asking about you. You have a Linguistic Major, for goodness sake. You are too smart for sweeping the floors of a normal Flower Shop, Rukia." Rukia raised an eyebrow. Adoring fans? Looks like Ino hadn't recognized him, after all. But, given how Ino is constantly busy at her Flower Shop, it wasn't surprising to know that Ino hadn't recognized him out of all people. "Anyway, I'm off, the store won't open by itself."

Leaving Rukia alone, Rukia's mind drifted to the previous night. Just when she thought everything was a cruel dream presented to her, her hopes were, once again, dashed when she took out her cell phone and saw one of the contacts.

Isshin Kurosaki.

Deciding to rest for the day, Rukia's mind once again drifted to the memories of the previous night.

"I want you to marry my son."

"What?" Rukia stood up, preparing to walk away from Isshin. "Is this some kind of joke? If it is, it's not funny."

He shook his head, as if realizing his mistake. "I'm so sorry, I got ahead of myself." Rukia gazed at Isshin. "Please let me explain."

Rukia gazed at the hospital entrance just behind her before gazing at Isshin once again. She had met Isshin Kurosaki before at the park, noticing that his face was full of sadness. Even now, as Isshin was requesting Rukia to listen to him, his tone was full of sincerity. Deciding that it wouldn't hurt to hear him out, Rukia nodded, gesturing for Isshin to start explaining. "After you were so kind to me this afternoon, I knew I had to pay your act of kindness forward. I visited Ino's Flower Shop. That was where the bouquet you were holding was from."

How did he know? "Yes, but..."

"I saw it on the paper. And I spoke to Ino, a lovely girl. And asked for you, Miss Rukia. She said she knew you well and that you were in a hospital because your Father had just became ill." Rukia nodded, wanting to figure whether to strangle Ino or not for revealing such personal information. "Please, forgive the question, but your family doesn't have the funding necessary to make his care... His treatment, his hospital stay, as comfortable as possible, do you?"

Rukia stared at Isshin before shaking her head. "No."

"That's where I can help you, Rukia." Rukia bit her lips. "We can help each other." Isshin smiled tenderly.

"Let me get this right, you want me to marry your son." Isshin nodded as Rukia frowned. Just like the name 'Isshin Kurosaki', 'Ichigo Kurosaki' wasn't unfamiliar to her as well. If Isshin Kurosaki was the billionaire behind Kurosaki Enterprise, Ichigo Kurosaki was a so-called celebrity with a rebellious streak as of recently. "Why me? As flattering as it is, you could have found a million girls that are out there who is more suited for your son."

"You are a pure soul, my dear." Rukia blinked at the answer, not wanting to delve into it further than necessary. "You may not know it but you are rare. I want the best for my son, as any Father would. I think you can help him. I trust my instinct, and my instinct now says this will work."

Rukia sighed. "Marriage isn't a piece of paper, Isshin." She frowned. "You can't just sign a contract and fall in love."

Isshin nodded. "That may be true, but love is patient."

Isshin seemed determined on making Rukia Ichigo's wife, yet Rukia was unsure of it all. "What makes you think that I won't marry your son and divorce him the next day?"

Isshin stepped closer and took Rukia's hands in his. As compared to the rain that was currently drenching them bit by bit, Isshin's hold was warm and strangely comforting. "I don't believe you would do that, Rukia. As I said, your soul is pure." With this 'Pure Soul' talk, Rukia couldn't help but imagine Isshin as a magician before shaking her head mentally, knowing that now wasn't the time for unrealistic fantasies. "But, if you need some sort of insurance plan, look behind you." Following his gaze, Rukia stared at the hospital. "Medical bills are no joke. Treatments, rehab, around-the-clock care. It all costs money, my dear. If you hold up your end of the deal, I promise you, on my life, that I will hold up my end too."

On his life, huh...? Her gaze stayed on Isshin, not willing to relent just yet, desperately finding any reason to refuse the offer. Soon enough, she remembered the conversation she had with Shuuhei and Yumichika. "I have a second interview for another job tomorrow. I might be able to fork out--"

"Rukia." Isshin's voice halted Rukia in her rant. "Do you know how much an overnight stay in the hospital costs? A routine blood test? What about if they, God forbid, have to use the defibrillator?"

If Isshin continued talking, Rukia was sure she would be the one having a heart attack. "Please." Isshin stopped talking as Rukia closed her eyes tightly. "Please, stop. Just give me a moment to think." Ukitake was in hospital because of an incurable disease and a stroke in addition to his condition. Shuuhei and Yumichika were suggesting to put Ukitake out of his misery. Ukitake's restaurant was struggling for a few years and in addition to that, the house's mortgage was used and now, they are in debt. Years of debt, to be specific. If she had the position of 'Manager' of the job she had applied, then things would progress for the better. As selfish as it was, she knew Ino. Ino would have insisted she lived with her if staying with her would secure Ukitake's life. Isshin, on the other hand, was asking her to marry somebody that she didn't even meet, let alone love.Taking a moment to calm herself down, she opened her eyes and stared at Isshin. "Why are you even helping me in the first place?"

"When you came to me this afternoon, you answered a prayer I had sent up to the sky." Isshin began. "You gave me strength when I needed it. So, now, I'm here to answer your prayers. I'm here to give you strength, and this is how I can do it."

Listening to Isshin's answers, Rukia knew she was close to considering it. With the interactions she had with Isshin, she knew that Isshin isn't a bad guy but... "Rukia?"

Snapping out of her thoughts, Rukia sighed once more. "Can I at least have some time to think about it? This is a lot to take in, all at once."

Isshin nodded. "Of course."Handing Rukia a business card, Isshin smiled. "Give me a call when you decide." Rukia held the business card with shaking fingers. "I truly believe that this will work, Rukia. I truly, truly do."

A ringing phone snapped Rukia out of her thoughts as she got out of bed and picked up her phone, checking the caller. Instantly, she was nervous. She had a feeling she flopped the interview but Ino had assured her otherwise. No matter whether she flopped or nailed the interview, this call would give her the answer she needed. Taking a deep breath, she picked up the call. "Hello?"

"Hi, is this Rukia?"

"Speaking."

"Hi, Rukia. I'm just calling to inform you that unfortunately we have decided to move on with other applicants for this job."

"Oh." Disappointment was heard in Rukia's tone.

"We will be sure to keep your application on file should another position become available."

"Sure."

With that, Rukia hung up before throwing the phone on the bed as she looked up at the ceiling. Turns out that she flopped the interview after all. Tears swam within Rukia's eyes as she blamed herself. How could she be so useless? How could she not have not gotten the job? She needed the job, now that Ukitake's life was on the line, now that Shuuhei and Yumichika was thinking of ending his misery. Picking the phone up once more, Rukia scrolled through her contacts, her gaze staying on a certain individual: Isshin Kurosaki. Knowing that there was no other choice, Rukia sealed her fate. "Hello?"

"Isshin, it's Rukia."

"Rukia!" Isshin sounded happy, a clear difference from his tone of voice yesterday. "So, can I assume that...?"

Taking a deep breath, Rukia closed her eyes and the line was silent for a few moments. The words were heavy and Rukia knew, once those words slipped out of her mouth, there was no going back. But, once again, she saw no other choice. "Yes, I will do it." A short moment of hesitation was heard from Rukia's side. "I will marry your son."