Chapter 2

A/N: Sorry the last chapter was short but it was the prologue and I didn't want it to be long. The rest of the story will have long chapters.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.


Rukia's POV

"This would be you, miss," Renji told me and opened the door.

"Rukia," I corrected him for what seemed like the millionth time.

He chuckled, "I have to at least act formal in front of my boss."

He held the door open for me and I stepped through. The room itself was larger than I would have expected. The walls were burgundy with some gold accents and a fireplace stood on the far right. There was two couches and a table sat in front, facing the fireplace.

Nii-sama's servants and maids were already bustling around the room, carrying luggage and already preparing some tea. I had my own ladies' maid and at the moment she was getting my room ready. I saw all of our luggage except Renji's.

"Where are you staying?" I turn to him. "There's no way this huge room would just be for Nii-sama and I."

"No. You would be correct. Byakuya thought it would be nice for Allison and I to have our own room. It's right across the hall," he assured me.

"Lady Rukia, your room is ready," my ladies' maid stood at one of the opened doors with her head bowed.

"Thank you, Andrea." I stepped forward and into what would now be my room for the rest of the voyage. She closes the door after me and I sat at my dresser. My reflection from the mirror stared back at me. I took my white hat off and started taking out all the pins that held my long, black hair up.

"Dinner will be held in an hour, miss, shall I get you different clothes?" Andrea was already going through the other dresser as I nodded.

"If it wouldn't be too much to ask-" I stopped. I was never good at asking help from the servants. I didn't like ordering and Andrea had been my ladies' maid for a little over six years. "I wouldn't mind wearing my plum dress."

"Of course," she said. "It would go great with your eyes."

I looked into my reflection. My violet eyes stood out from my pale skin and the stubborn strand of hair that hung between them seemed to draw more attention.

"Who will be joining us for dinner?" I turn my attention to Andrea who is pulling out the dress. I stand up and start dressing down. She takes my discarded clothing and I'm left standing in my corset.

"As I recall Master Byakuya saying, Mr. and Mrs. Abarai, the Ichimaru's, and Kurosaki's."

"Kurosaki's?" I have never heard that name before but they must have been important if my brother would invite them to dinner.

"Yes, father and son, I believe. Master Byakuya ran into them in the lobby and the two shared a Brandy or two and started to talk." She started re-tightening my corset and putting my dress on. She then directed me to sit back where I was and she began to brush my hair. "Apparently, Isshin Kurosaki knew Master Byakuya and were once friends. It's none of my business to eavesdrop," she looked at me apologetically through the mirror. "But they were talking about some job."

I sighed, "Probably the one Nii-sama is going to own now."

She finished lightly curling my hair and then gave her attention to the make-up.

When she finished she stepped back and let me observe her work. I stood and gave a quick twirl.

The dress was a deep plum, hugging my waist and making it appear I actually had a chest. My long raven hair flowed past my shoulders and gently framed my face. It was simple but elegant, right where I loved to be.

"How much time do we have until dinner?" I asked.

"About half an hour, miss."

I nodded. "I'll step out for a moment then. I would just like to walk around."

Andrea's eyes widened. No doubt remembering my little vanishing incident from earlier. "Don't worry, I'll let Nii-sama know so you won't be burdened to."

"No, no, Lady Rukia," she waves her hands and began walking to the door. "That's my job. Go have fun."

I smiled and grabbed my hat I wore earlier. It was wide-brimmed and the left side had an assortment of red and white roses. I hurried out of the room and into the main hall.

I walked down numerous hallways until I reached outside. I breathed in the ocean air and walked to the side. I didn't go all the way to the railing but stayed a good three feet from it. The wind gently caressed my face and made my hair swirl around me.

The sun was setting, painting the sky orange and making a chill in the air. Not many people were outside. Gentlemen were inside, drinking Brandy, smoking cigars, and talking about money. The women were drinking tea out of dainty cups nonetheless. I took refuge out in the open air. It would only last a few more minutes before I had to go back.

A sudden gust of wind hit and I tried to shy away from it but it succeeded in blowing my hat off.

I cursed and reached for it as it mockingly landed on the ground. I frowned and took a step to it. The wind moves it back four more feet. I followed pursuit, an annoying game of tag it seemed. Every advance I made it retreated. I soon found myself jogging for it.

I mentally thought to just let it go and just wear another hat that I brought. I frowned at the thought. I needed to catch it. It belonged to my sister and she gave it to me, days before she died.

I growled and lurched forward for it again. As I bent down to grab it, another hand beat me to it.

I gasped and stumbled to a stop. The man who held it looked at me with a funny look. I smoothed out my dress and looked at him. Up, I should say. This guy was really tall. Even with the heels I wore I ended up just reaching his shoulder. Barely.

I took in his appearance. He wore a tailored suit and his shoes were polished. He had broad shoulders and had some muscle definition even under his suit. He had a sharp chin and intense amber eyes that seemed to be laughing. His hair got me. He didn't keep it cropped short like most gentlemen on the ship. Instead it was long, touching his neck but still groomed nicely. He wasn't first-class. He had to be second class and going to an important event. In a group he wouldn't stand out. That is, if he didn't have such an intense color of orange hair.

He handed my hat back without a word. I took it gently and put it back on. "Thank you, sir," I figured to be polite. He did save my hat after all even if he still had a cockiness aurora around him.

"No problem," he said.

A young girl with light brown hair ran up to him. "Ichi-nii! We have to go," she tugged on his hand.

I turned to leave, realizing I had to go, too.

"I'll see you around." His words surprised me. Not likely, I thought to myself. But being on a ship did limit oneself.

I nodded and we both went our own ways. After walking a bit I figured I could have at least introduced myself. But then I realized he didn't either. Oh, well. I reached my room and went inside, finding my brother dressed to his finest, standing next to the blazing fire drinking something and talking to Renji. Renji's wife was talking to Mrs. Ichimaru on the couch.

I went to join them. "Allison, Rangiku," I greeted.

"Hello, Rukia. Are you ready to go to dinner?" Allison asked me. "We are leaving whenever Gin gets here"

"Should be soon," Rangiku sighed, sipping her drink. She wore a long red dress that shimmered in the light and her strawberry-blonde hair was piled up on her head.

Allison was wearing a navy blue dress and, like me, had her long brown hair curled.

"I'm looking forward to meet our new members," I told them. "I take it we are meeting them there?"

Allison nodded. "I have yet to meet them. I'm sure they're nice."

No sooner had the words left her mouth when Gin walked in and took Rangiku's hand, pulling her up.

"Finally," Rangiku smiled. "Where did you go?"

Gin nonchalantly waves his hand in the air. "Took care of some quick business."

Rangiku didn't question his antics and neither did anyone else in the room.

"Shall we?" a stern voice asked. I looked up to see Byakuya looking down at me with steel gray eyes. I nodded, taking his offered hand.

We walked out of the room and into the hallway. "Rukia," Byakuya kept his gaze straight ahead as we walked. "I hope you didn't find any trouble to embarrass the Kuchiki name while wandering the ship."

I swallowed. "No, Nii-sama."

He nodded, seeming content.

A lot of the first-class passengers were already walking through the hallway on their way to dinner like the rest of us.

We came into the grand staircase and descended down to the right.

"Here we are," I heard Renji say. Two gentlemen opened the glass doors and greeted us. They directed us to a table and we took our seats. A band was playing and distinct chatter and clanging of dishes filled the room.

Byakuya sat near the head and I sat to his right. Rangiku sat next to me and Gin sat by her. On the opposite side sat Renji and Allison. That left two empty seats for our new guests who should be arriving any moment.

During the wait, I made mindless conversation with Rangiku, who was already sampling all the alcohol.

"Sorry about the wait," a male's voice said and I heard the sound of a chair being pulled back. "My daughters wouldn't let me go."

"He's lying," a younger, male voice said. "They were practically pushing you through the door."

Rangiku started to laugh and I looked up to see who had spoken. My eyes landed on a grinning orange-haired man, probably around my age. He felt my gaze and looked at me. I felt my stomach drop to the floor.

It was the man from the deck.