Yo. Sorry about the extremely long hiatus. You all probably hate me now. Well, I have an explanation. I've written two real novels, both of which exceed over 300 pages. Yay! –claps for Mrs. Kuchiki-. I am now trying to be in the publication process. Woot-woot! Oh, BTW, they are much better than this story. 'Cuz they are like…professional and stuff…. Anywho, read and comment! Yay! (Oh, and sorry about putting "Kiyoshi" in the previous chapter. That was a typo. Long story…)

~Kaien's POV~

Kiss her? Kiss her? What the hell was i thinking? Was i out of my mind? And why did i have the sudden urge to do that? I was never going to be able to look at her again without blushing. I felt so embarrassed! She was only-what, fourteen?-and i was nineteen. What was I doing? Well, i did have a relative who married someone nine years older than her-WAIT, what was i thinking jumping to conclusions like that! Well, age is but a number...

NO! I DO NOT LIKE HER! She is a pupil of mine...more like a sister. I most certainly do not love her!

The next morning i was the first to get up, and second was Hitsugaya. Everyone else was still in bed, thank God, and I was talking to him.

"Bullet?" He said, repeating the name that I told him i called my horse. "Yup, Bullet...name yours."

"Alright then..." He walked over to the second horse that was yet to be named. "I'll name you..." He walked over to it's ear, "Look!" he gasped. I walked over to him, and behind his ear was a small furless patch that looked like...a lightining bolt. How weird...

"Bolt! That'll be his name! Bolt!"

I laughed...what an odd looking bald spot...

"Bullet and Bolt? Ok then...good enough."

A sudden voice behind me made me jump, "Hey guys." I turned around and sighed...it was Ichigo. "Hey jumpy..." he said.

I laughed, "Sorry, I thought you were Rukia..."

He raised an eyebrow, confused. "What's wrong with Rukia?"

My eyes widened...I wasn't supposed to say that, was I? Dang, I'm stupid! "Nothing, never mind."

There was only one thing I could do. Lie. Whenever Rukia would ask me a question about what happened last night, I would lie. I didn't want to, I had to. After all, I don't even like her; something just happened...I didn't know what, though.

There was a tap on my shoulder and I turned around, nearly bumping into the last person I wanted to see right now: Rukia.

"Oh hey..." I said, smiling, with my eyes closed.

"Um...hi." She said, shyly.

I opened my eyes, "What's up?"

"'What's up'? That's all?"

I felt so stupid..."What else am I supposed to say?"

"Can I talk to you, sensei?" She said quietly.

I exhaled. Oh God..."Uh, sure, why not?"

I followed her onto the other side of our campsite, where no one was. When we sat down, she was looking down, blushing, and saying nothing. "About...last night..." She started, "What...happened?"

I tried to act confused, "Whaddya mean?"

"Last night...in the one meadow place you took me to..." She said, blushing immensely.

"I don't know what you're talking about...Rukia, did you get enough sleep?"

Rukia looked completely confused...and angry. I hated lying to her.

"Um, not really, 'cuz I was thinking about last night!"

I sighed, "Rukia I think you need some more rest."

"More rest? I just woke up...!"

l was getting annoyed at this point. I exhaled deeply, "Just what last night did i do that made you so...angry?"

"Not angry! Annoyed! You were about to kiss me!" She screamed.

I tried to act surprised. My heart skipped a beat. "What in the world are you talking about?" I gave one of my sincere fake smiles, "Get some rest Miss Kuchiki you're-"

"Annoyed? Hell yeah! I know you were about to kiss me! Are you're afraid to admit it? Do you not like me that much?" She screamed, standing now.

God...what did I say wrong? I glared at her; I didn't like it when she cursed at me. "C'mon, Rukia, you know that's not true..."

She was still angry. I don't get what I did that made her so upset,

"Sensei...you've been putting on the fake smile for too long! Since the moment I met you...I've seen through it. When are you going to be real with me? When are you going to be the sensei that I love so much? Like when you took me to that one waterfall place, running. And we left Histugaya behind...that was you. What's wrong now? I know we're all devastated...but...sensei..." Now she was crying.

It ached at my heart to see her so upset. Now the dreadful feeling of guilt was eating at me..."Rukia...I..." Was all I managed to say.

"Was your sensei like this? Never real? Fake?" She said.

"Rukia-"

"What?"

"I...you want the truth?" I asked.

"What do you think?"

"Here's the truth," I got up and hugged her, embraced her. Felt her body press against mine. The warmth of her became the warmth of me. I let go, "I'm sorry...that's the truth."

"And? What about last night?"

I sighed, "Rukia...I love you like a sister...or a daughter not...anything else." I smiled.

"That's all I needed..." She said and shifted her eyes sideways. I chuckled and smiled. She gets very mad, easily...

Note to self: Do not make Rukia mad.

~Rukia's POV~

C'mon! Give me a clue! I KNOW Kaien-sensei was about to kiss me. Ugh...God I hate this.

I was walking in the woods. It was 12:00 a.m. and everyone was asleep. Taking a walk in the woods always calmed me. I took in the earthy smell of the woods and let it soar into my lungs. I closed my eyes and felt the cool breeze of the wind hug my face. I kept walking, my hands in my pocket. For protection, I brought my sword along. My sword's name was Sakura, which, of course, meant cherry blossom.

My thoughts trailed back to the Kaien-sensei's problem. I know he was about to! After all, he didn't talk to me for a while, and whenever he met eyes with me he blushed. Doesn't that mean something? Or maybe I dreamt the whole thing. Yeah...that was probably it.

So, with that conclusion made, I kept on walking. The path I was on started to end, covered by weeds, bushes, and trees. I shrugged and then started to walk back, but when I turned around, there were three paths leading to three different places...which one did I come from?

Oh no. This could mean only one thing: I...was lost.

Why do these types of things only happen to me? I had such bad luck. I heard an owl hoot, and then a howl of a wolf. Now I was starting to get afraid. Unfortunately, Ichigo put the fire out, so now i couldnt trail back by scent. Ugh!

All of a sudden I heard the rustle of leaves. I swiftly turned my head to where it came from but saw nothing. Now i was officially afraid. "Sensei...? Is that you...?" I muttered. It wasnt more of a question really, more like a plead. "Sensei?" I said, a little more loudly.

The same noise came from behind me this time. I turned around. "Hello...?" I whimpered.

All of a sudden a hand clasped over my mouth. I tried to scream, but of course, nothing came out. I fell back but I was leaning against someone now. Now I felt wind push against my face, but it wasn't wind. We were moving. What was going on? I tried to scream "Help me!" but was unable...what was going to become of me?

A few minutes later we landed, and the hand let go of my mouth. I turned around to see who my kidnapper was.

When I saw, I was utterly surprised. It was a man he was...gorgeous!

He had dirty blonde hair that covered one eye, which were a beautiful bronze. He had a serious look on his face. Wow! I was surprised. All of a sudden...I wasn't so afraid. That was until he pulled out a knife. I guess I spoke too soon.

"Wh-what do you want with me?" I asked, my voice shaking until it reached a whole new octave.

"Are you her?" He asked.

"Who? You've got the wrong girl! I don't even know who you are!"

He glared at me now, "Hn? Is that so?"

I nodded, afraid.

He scoffed, "That's what they all say..."

He was about to strike but I yelled out "Kaien sensei! Help me!" I fell to the ground, afraid. But when i opened my eyes, I saw a shocked look on his face, as if he saw a ghost. He wasn't striking me now. He sheathed his knife and said, "What did you say?"

I looked confused, "What do you mean...?"

"Who did you just call for?"

I was still confused, "Um...my sensei, Kaien..."

The man sat down in front of me, "Shiba?"

"Huh?" I asked.

"His last name...is it Shiba?"

I nodded.

"Impossible! You are lying!"

"Why would i lie?" I asked.

"That man raised a pupil who is a thief?"

Ok. Now he lost me. "Since when was I a thief?" I asked.

"Are you not the little girl who was stealing my food?"

"Um...NO!"

"Oh...my mistake..."

I rolled my eyes. Who was this guy anyway?

"What is your name, girl?" He asked me.

"Rukia Kuchiki. Yours?"

He smiled, "Maybe he has told you about me. My name is...Eiri."

~~Rather small chapter. Oh well! I feel compelled to say this at this shocking twist-thingy: DUN DUN DUNN! Its been forever since I've updated, so you HAVE to press that green button and tell me what'cha think. Come onnnn, Kaien will give you cookies! ;)