Part 3

The day was nice and bright and the walk long, but pleasant. It was more quit a trip then the last time when she had gone with Renji. Byakuya lacked Renji's vexing eagerness and competitive zeal. It was a nice change. Instead he gave off a quiet reserve and a comforting assurance. When she was near him she felt sheltered like she had found her sanctuary in his company. As cold as he appeared, he projected a warmth to her that she never vocalized and it surrounded her and it caressed her. She gave him back that warmth in the beauty of her smile.

The surroundings changed drastically. It went from a half way decent neighborhood to a large grassy field. Luckily, the 78th district wasn't too far from Seireitei. By noon they reached the outskirts of the infamous district and soon after the main town. Anyone could tell this wasn't the safest place to be. The scent was still pleasant as food was being prepared by an over crowding of vendors desperately trying to sell their creations. There were many different kinds of food. Some easily recognizable. Other vendors seemed to have prepared questionable items in a frenzy to have something to sell.

Many people were noticeably hungry. Elderly people, wearing rags sat in doorways with blank eyes holding out their hands to passers by. Unsavory looking men stood in alleyways arguing and making deals. They leered over to the new-comers with distrust. Women, who wore noticeably undignified attire prowled the area. Every now and again one of these women would take an approaching male and disapear into a dark alley. Drunk men sat outside of stores. A shop keep chased one away with a broom. Shoeless children covered head to toe in dirt surrounded Rukia and Bayakuya begging for money or food. Rukia shooed them away.

Rukia told Byakuya to ignore it when they watched two gangs clash in the distance. It left one young male dead in the street and one bleeding heavily. The others scattered into buildings when they saw the two Shinigami. A woman with long hair and an obnoxiously loud dress dragged the bleeding man into a bar. Bayakuya wasn't sure how much of this he could take.

"Where are the authorities?" He asked her.

"You have a morbid sense of humor ni-sama." she laughed at his ignorance.

"I'm serious Rukia."

"The few authorities there are here don't have a death wish. Most stay home, and others take bribes to look the other way. Although sometimes you get one in a bad mood who feels like exerting his authority by beating to death someone smaller then him."

"Then who upholds the laws?"

"Laws? This isn't the Seireitei. The kings laws don't reach here. People like me understand that kind of order is just a useless illusion. Laws there are followed only for survival just as ones here are broken for the same reason. When the basic human necessities are taken away, everyone behaves like the people here, it can't be helped. There is only the law in this town, survive at any cost." at hearing this Byakuya was silent.

All of a sudden a feeling of shame swept through Rukia when she remembered who she was here with. He was not Renji, he was Byakuya Kuchiki-Taicho head of the noble Kuchiki clan. This was no place for someone like him. He had grown up not knowing the hunger, the cold, or the fear of being murdered at any moment. Rukia was embarrassed to be here, to have come from here and now she was giving a tour to a noble. She hung her head and wouldn't look at him. Byakuya sensed her discomfort and attempted eye contact. When he got it he said "Your stronger then I give your credit for, I am impressed you survived this." and with that she was self-assured again.

Byakuya was uncomfortable here but didn't let on. Rukia chuckled to herself when she looked at him. He had worn his uniform but without any indication he was a captain or of noble birth. He was attempting to fit in and instead stood out here like a sore thumb. His hair was clean, well groomed and shined to perfection. In direct contrast to the mess of hair piled atop the kids that ran wild in the streets and the frazzled mess the adults had covered or pulled back. Even the way he carried himself made people stop and stare. It was enough to have Shinigami in the neighborhood but he made everyone feel inferior without saying a word. Rukia had also changed into her uniform for this trip. Her uniform had never been flattering on her but she looked neat and respectable.

He wondered how she had survived here. Since he met her she had carried herself like she had been born to a noble clan, although a slip of the tongue every now and again gave her upbringing away. There was never any doubt that she could handle herself. She had changed so much since they first met. The family had put a lot of time and effort into teaching her to be a lady. She always behaved in his presence properly which only made their relationship more cold and impersonal. This was no place to behave like a lady and he was wondering how long it would be until her other personality showed. It would certainly show here.

"Let's stop here." she said motioning to a shabby looking noodle stand.

"Abarai Rukia! Its been so long! So grown! You look like a great lady!" came a happy looking man behind the counter and embraced her, picking her up off of the floor.

"Yo, Keigo-san. Yes it has been way too long. Its great to see you."

"One of so few to get out of this awful town. Me and the misses have always been so proud of having had a hand in raising a Shinigami. Used to work for us she did." he said looking Byakuya over.

"Keigo, this is my friend Byakuya." she said dropping the honorific and family name Although, surprised at hearing his name in such a manner, it still made him hold back a smile at hearing her use his name for the first time, not to mention the term friend and in the same sentence. Byakuya nodded and sat, silently observing their interaction.

"He's handsome Rukia, looks like a prince, His nails are so well manicured." The mans wife commented blushing and insinuating their relationship was more then friendship.

"They must take good care of you Shinigami. I remember the day I met Rukia. Ah, still just as sweet, looked like a little princess running wild with that gang of kids and that crazy red-headed boy." he gave a huge laugh and Bayakuya almost let out a chuckle of his own.

Rukia laughed "I remember that day I was planning on stealing some of that yummy soba you make. It's your own fault for making it so well."

"I knew exactly what she was up to. She was just so cute. I put her straight to work. I taught her how to well why don't you, for old times sake. Oh go on." He motioned to her.

"You didn't even have to ask."

She got straight to work behind the counter and in no time at all she had whipped up four soba bowls and served them. They laughed at Keigo' stories about Rukia learning how to cook, while they all ate.

"…then she nearly burned the place down." Keigo laughed again

Byakuya had never had soba so good in his life.

"You will have to show the cook how to make this when we get back home." the manner of his command was like that of a great lord, making Keigo and his wife look up suspiciously.

"Rukia do you live with him and have a cook?" Keigo's wife asked rather excitedly.

"Me? No I wished I had a cook of my own. He means the cook at the barracks. Were in the same squad.'" elbowing him in the side. Byakuya decided to remain silent for the remainder of the conversation, instead nodding, a bit too much like a king to his subjects for Rukia' liking. No matter how he tried it was obvious he wasn't from a place like this.

He had just learned that she can prepare a mean bowl of soba and she had elbowed him in the side treating him like she treats Renji. This was a step in the right direction.