A/N:I'm just going to go straight ahead to thanking a few people, don't mind if I spell your name wrong:

Psychegloom(I always look forward to your reviews, luv 'em), Ichkak(If you weren't such a darn good reviewer I'd put you on my deathnote list for taking Mr.Sexy), Rukia death Kuchiki, IcyRosePetals, Sun-Bloom(glad you find my writing style funny, I'm actually crappy at making people laughXD), lilangel, kiki, nitrolead, wynn12...wait, let me take a breath...RukiIchigo93, svetili, Janitorial ninja, GIR-Z, Rockstar1093...huffhuff...JasmineXiao, smileyface dude(can't make the emoticon here), Hajnalmadar, Wynn(have no idea if your wynn12 but you're in the list nonetheless), ByaRukifan, Byakuya117, Deadly Tears, Kaisumi23, Martyna6868...ah shit, too long too long...Silver Ice Dragon Princess, Kaien lover, rukiaxxxicexxxdeathgoddess(Ahhh, couldn't your name be any shorter!?) and finally Lepoma(glad you finally read my story)...you all are invited to my online party where I will be serving cookies shaped like Byakuya and giving away exclusive ByaRuk merchandise. Ah jeez, got that off my chest, lets move on.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach and the owners will not sue me if and only if I stay away from Byakuya. Ah, this is getting tiring. I'm not interested in Bya, I think he only looks good with Rukia. Onwards now!

Chapter 5

Rukia paused outside the door of nii-sama's room, thinking up a good apology or anything that might lighten his mood. Her maid had told her that he was still furious and had told everyone to not disturb him unless Seireitei was under attack.

Rukia gulped. He had been positively murderous in the afternoon by the forest and Rukia had gone and done the only thing that would assure that she never become lieutenant; disobey him.

He was the head of the Kuchiki clan, the highest authority and she had gone and disobeyed his direct order! During that moment, she had forgotten that no matter how much their sibling relationship had improved, she was still a lowly peasant of the Rukongai and he a noble by birth. Urgh! How could she be so stupid!

Perhaps if she were to go down on her knees and beg for his forgiveness, maybe nii-sama would reduce her punishment. He was known to be extremely brutal when it came to punishing people. Usually, he would just kill off the offender.

Rukia hoped that wouldn't be the case with her. She might be his adopted sister but experience had taught her that that tiny fact was insignificant when it came to committing a crime.

Perhaps if she were to, how had Ichigo put it? Kiss his ass?

She stood there contemplating on what she would say when the door to his room suddenly slid open; revealing a chest covered by a white robe. Rukia looked up to see a startled Byakuya looking back. He had taken his Kenseiken off; leaving his hair to freely fall on his face and down his elegant neck.

Rukia's breath hitched in her chest. They were so close that she could actually count every eyelash framing his eyes. If she stood on her toes, her lips would actually be an inch away from his own.

Rukia blushed furiously and pointedly looked down at the floor, taking a few steps back to give them space. She bowed down; glad the action hid her red face. "I-I'm sorry nii-sama. I came here to receive my punishment." She rattled on, buying time till her face cooled down. "I'm really sorry for disobeying Byakuya nii-sama, it was highly wrong of me to forget my position in this household. It's truly unforgiv-"

"Rukia."

"-able, yes Byakuya nii-sama?" her back was beginning to ache but she continued to bow; she would rather dislocate her spinal cord than look at him.

"You are pardoned from your punishment," Byakuya replied calmly.

Rukia straightened her back so fast it snapped. She winced but ignored the pain to see if he was joking. He wasn't exactly looking at her but his face was completely serious. "What did you say?"

"Don't make me repeat it again, you are pardoned from your punishment but from now on will not be if you defy my orders again. You are dismissed" He silently slid the door shut, leaving a shocked Rukia on the other side.

Byakuya stood on the other side of his door. He had wanted to walk in the garden; getting some fresh air always cooled him down. But he had opened to door and nearly bumped into the last person he had wanted to see.

She had been so damn close that Byakuya had, for a second, forgotten to act impassive. She had mumbled something about punishment which he had not gotten at first; all he could think about was how close she was. I'll thoughts of giving her her punishment flew out of the window and he had pardoned her without realizing it, dismissing her as fast as he could before he would have done something he would have deeply regretted.

Thinking about it now, he was relieved he had pardoned her. Rukia hadn't done anything wrong in the first place, infact, if it had not involved them, Byakuya would actually be proud of her for standing up like that. It showed how good her character was.

Besides, he probably would have screwed brotherly love aside and demanded she apologize with her body.

It was four thirty when Byakuya headed towards the dining room for breakfast. He used to wake up at five and have breakfast with Rukia but recently eating with her had become a problem, so he had altogether stopped that routine and woke up half an hour early instead to avoid running into her. It was annoying but it helped his cause.

He reached the dining room but suddenly halted by the door when he saw Rukia sitting quietly by the dining table; her back faced to him.

What the hell was she doing this early? Keeping in mind to look blank, he quietly walked towards the other side of the dining table.

Rukia jumped when Byakuya came in view. She silently hoped god had given her enough energy to look at him and put on the brightest smile she could muster. "Good morning Byakuya nii-sama!" she bowed down while he took his seat.

He only nodded and asked, "Why are you up so early?"

Rukia looked back up, purposefully looking at his Kenseikan; looking at his eyes would be impossible. "I just wanted to thank nii-sama for pardoning my punishment, you are truly very kind."

"Don't mention it," he muttered. There was nothing kind about the way he dreamt of her.

"Understood. But I still want to show you my gratitude, you've been waking up earlier recently due to work and we haven't had breakfast together in a long time...you know like the way we used to, so, so I thought we could have it today," she finished, still looking at his hair.

Work!? God was she oblivious, Byakuya thought. He had been avoiding her only because when she was near him; her most annoying ability of directing his thoughts towards unwanted places would kick in to action. For example, right now, he could think of an even better way for her to show her gratitude and it did not involve eating, well maybe dessert, but that was optional.

Byakuya mentally sighed. It couldn't be helped, she had woken up earlier just to have breakfast with him, the least he could do was oblige. "Very well."

She looked at his eyes then; he was looking at his food, apparently concentrating very hard on it. She felt easier when he didn't look at her. Rukia wanted to patch up things with her brother. She wanted to stop feeling those strange emotions she had begun to feel since that dream. It wasn't right, she was his sister. The sooner she got over those feelings of hers the better.

Rukia served the tea for the both of them and started to chat, or rather monologue, about recent stuff. The conversation had started awkwardly but soon she felt more comfortable. Even nii-sama was beginning to seem a bit more relaxed; he rarely looked up to look at her but that didn't deter Rukia from trying to make him feel better. At least he replied back to a few of the questions Rukia asked. Rukia even tried to joke with him, asking if would bet his scarf on who would win in the Ikkaku versus Renji match this Wednesday.

Nii-sama had shockingly replied, "Rukia, betting on such trivial matters is beneath a noble…but, if Abarai Renji looses the match I will remove him from my squad."

The fact that he had said it so matter-of-factly made Rukia wonder if he really would do that, her stricken expression told him so.

"I'm joking Rukia," he answered in the same monotone voice.

Rukia stared at him for five complete seconds before collapsing in a fit of laughter. She tried to sit straight but instead fell backwards off her chair. Byakuya couldn't find what was so funny about what he had aid but when she fell off the chair he rushed by her side to see if she was actually having a fit. "Rukia, are you okay?" He asked, slight concern ruining his impassive features as he bent down in front of her.

Rukia just continued to laugh, holding her sides so tightly; fearing they might burst, "...I…aha...okay…haha." Her laughter slowly subsided, "I'm so sorry for laughing at you…ha…nii-sahaha…but that was the first time I heard you make a joke." She looked into his eyes, her violent orbs shining brightly, "you should definitely do that more."

Byakuya just stared at her, his gaze intense. Rukia suddenly realized how close they were; their faces were only inches apart. Rukia couldn't help it; she had to look down at his lips. They were slightly parted and only inches from her own ones. Without realizing it, she licked her bottom lip.

Rukia felt a pull from those lips, beckoning her to taste them. To see if they felt as soft as they had been in her dream. Her heart was beating faster and it felt as if her breathing had stopped. She slowly inched forward and swore that she thought Byakuya had moved forward aswell.

This is wrong, this is wrong, this is wrong, THIS IS WRONG!

Both of them jumped back simultaneously, hastily getting up on their feet. Rukia quickly bowed down and mumbled something incoherent about being late while she backed away and left the dining room in a rush. Byakuya just stood where he was, looking at the empty doorway where she had departed from.

He closed his eyes in frustration and exhaled hard. His conscience was right, what he had wanted to do was wrong. But damnit he didn't like that fact one bit.

E/N: hoho, I went ahead and made no punishment at all...ain't I cruel, hoho.

Next chapter, we have the results of the Ikkaku versus Renji match and another ByaRuk-in-a-room moment, what type of a moment it is, thaaaaaaaat you'll have to find out yourself. See you till then...abuhbye.