2011 EDIT: Yes hey everyone! It's been awhile; I'm just updating some stuff in some chapters. I'm thinking about re-writing the chapters again since I believe that my writing has improved a great amount but I probably won't for awhile because I'm a lazy bum, haha. Anyway, I'm not permanently back; I'm just updating some stuff. I might be continue this story sometime but just not at the moment. Thanks everyone!

I typed this chapter in quite a rush, so forgive me for its lack in interest and possibly grammar/punctuation. Just point out my weak spots and I'll fix them to the best of my ability.

DISCLAIMER: Yesiree folks, I totally own Bleach. I mean, what else do I use to wash the laundry? /lame pun is lame

Chapter One: Just Like Any Day

12 years later

It was winter again.

However, nobody could tell that it was, considering the fact that there was no snow in Rukongai. Yes, for the first time in a long time, snow did not present itself during the first week of winter. Though no one had any idea why snow was late this year, some sighed of relief, for work could be done easier, while some who loved the snow frowned in disappointment. Rukia was definitely one of the last ones.

Sighing sadly as she leaned on the window sill, Rukia's eyes darted up to the sky, hoping to see at least a snowflake. Blank and cloudless the sky was, not a flake appearing in sight. Sighing once again, Rukia hopped off the sill and walked out of her tidy room, and headed downstairs to the kitchen for breakfast.

Rukia smiled at her mother as she placed a small dish of fried fish on the dining table who looked up and smiled back in return. Rukia found it a bit funny that as she grew older, she looked more and more like her mother. People often mistook them both as sisters rather than mother and daughter, but Rukia didn't mind. She thought her mother was the prettiest person on the Earth and her heart glowed with happiness whenever someone thought that they were siblings.

"Good morning, Rukia. Did you sleep well?" Hisana sat down on a little wooden chair next to the dining table.

Rukia nodded. "Yes I did, mom."

Hisana took both of Rukia's hands and held them, frowning. "Rukia, your hands are really cold..."

Rukia squirmed her hands free and looked away. "Mom, I'm fine. I don't feel the cold at all. Besides, it surely mustn't be that cold since there's no sight of the snow."

"I'm sorry Rukia. I really wish I could-"

Rukia gave her mother a look, knowing full well of what she might just about to say. "Mom, I'm fine. I know you try your best every day." Rukia smiled one last time at her mother before leaving in search of her father, younger sister, and older brother.

After the Kuchiki family's warm meal, Rukia was told to go shopping for some groceries down in the market, which was not too far away of where they lived. This was the Rukongai Village after all; everyone was somewhat squished together, making nearly everyone pretty close with one another.

Rukia hummed a quiet melody as she stepped out of her small house in her cream-coloured boots that her mother had made for her as a birthday present last year. Her feet had not grown much since then, so the boots still fit her. Rukia looked back to the house and waved, rolling her eyes when Byakuya, her father, told her to "be safe and steer clear of the young men." He was always protective of her. At times, the protectiveness was annoying, but Rukia understood that it was Byakuya's way of letting her know that he cared for her.

Rukia's head fell back as she looked upon the clear blue sky, searching one again for any sight of snow. Just as before, there was none. She breathed a sad sigh, disappointed that there would be a possibility of a no-show from winter's white flakes.

"Hey Rukia!" A familiar voice called out to her.

Rukia looked behind her and saw her childhood best friend, Renji Abarai, running up to her. She smiled and replied back a greeting.

"Where are you heading off to?" Renji asked, tossing a sack of hay for the horses over his shoulders.

"To the market for groceries and such. You?"

Rukia laughed as the sack of hay fell from Renji's hands but helped him pick them up.

"Thanks," Renji muttered, a blush unknown to Rukia appeared faintly against his pale cheeks as he took the hay from Rukia, their fingers slightly brushing by one another.

"I'm just heading off to feed the horses and such…They sure do eat a lot of hay, you know."

Rukia nodded in agreement, though she never had a horse of her own before. She preferred the delicate ball of fluffs named the rabbits. She could never be able to afford a small bunny from the pet store in the village since her family was too poor, but she loved to watch wild rabbits from afar or, when her parents weren't looking, she'd go right up to them and pet their soft fur.

Suddenly, much to Rukia's surprise, Renji stopped and turned half-way around so that he was facing Rukia.

"Renji? What are you doing?" Rukia asked as she stopped as well, cocking her head to side.

"Well, er…" Renji stuttered as he scratched the back of his head nervously. How should I word this… "Rukia?"

"I'm listening Renji."

Renji avoided looking at Rukia, especially her eyes as he began to ask.

"Do you…you know…"

"Yes?"

God, this is way harder than I thought it would be. Renji began to sweat as the time for him to ask came closer.

"Rukia, do you want to…go on a…Uh, da-"

"Rukiaaa!"

Both Renji and Rukia turned their heads toward the direction of the voice or rather, disturbance, in Renji's head.

While Renji covered his face with hand and groaned quietly, Rukia smiled and waved at their close friend, Rangiku Matsumoto who was Rukongai's bartender by night and clothing store worker by day.

Rukia frowned at Renji's abnormal state and, raising an eyebrow, asked him, "Are you okay, Renji?"

Renji jerked his head up and smiled nervously. "Yeah yeah, I'm totally fine Rukia. Just perfect."

Rukia didn't believe him but let it go, to Renji's relief. She was too busy trying to escape Rangiku's deathly hug anyway.

"It's so good to see you, Rukia! Planning on visiting the bar anytime soon?" Rangiku grinned, her arms and dare I say, chests were literally choking Rukia, whose face was turning a slight shade of blue.

"Uhm…Rangiku, I think Rukia's choking," Renji said as he tried to help his "dying" friend out.

Rangiku stared at him as though he was out of his mind but took one look at her friend who had somehow disappeared beneath her lady "blessings" and immediately let go.

"Whoops," Rangiku giggled. "Sorry there, Rukia. Didn't mean to kill ya or anything."

Rukia brushed her apology off as she tried to regain control of her breathing. "I-it's fine, Rangiku…Though I swore my soul had left me for a few seconds…"

Rangiku pouted at that comment and whined, "Hey Ru, I don't think my hug was that deathly!"

Rukia fake coughed and replied back, "Right. You try having someone hug you like that and we'll see if it's deathly or not."

Renji laughed as he watched them both argue over whether or not Rangiku's hugs were enough to kill someone, which from his own personal experience, it was. Rangiku herself didn't even know her own strength. Everyone who knew her well tried to avoid being hugged by her as much as they possibly could and for the perverted men who didn't, they certainly learned their lessons alright, from Rangiku herself. Though the girl could be clueless at times, she was pretty smart in knowing who was okay and didn't need to be murdered and who was perverted that needed to deal with her punches. While her punches were not as strong as her hugs, they were enough to knock someone out for a day or two. You certainly didn't want to act like someone wanting "more than just a drink" in front of Rangiku. She could be scary when she wanted be. Most of the time though, she was pretty "bubbly" and cheerful.

"Fine fine fine, you win this time, Ru," Rangiku sighed as she admitted defeat, not wanting to see how long Rukia's stubborn personality could take this small little disagreement for. Knowing her, it could be quite awhile until she won.

"Don't I always," Rukia grinned.

Rangiku laughed at that remark and had to admit that she was correct. "Okay, we get it Rukia. You going grocery shopping for your parents?" She asked as she noticed Rukia's basket, which was the one she carried whenever it was her turn to do the grocery shopping for her family.

Rukia nodded. "Would you like to come with me and Renji? You could stay over. That is, if you have time."

"She's probably too busy, working for that pipsqueak boss of hers," Renji commented and rolled his eyes.

Rangiku smirked. "Actually, you're right. I'm on my break right now and saw you guys while I was just walking around the town and decided to say hi and all. Speaking of that little munchkin boss of mine, he wants to know how little Momo is doing."

"He didn't actually say that, did he?" Renji asked, shocked by Rangiku's words.

Rangiku laughed. "Of course he didn't! But he certainly implied it! So, tell me Rukia, how Momo is so that the guy won't be so grumpy for the entire day. He always gives me more work to do when he is."

Rukia smiled, delighted that Momo had found someone that cared for her, though he wouldn't admit. She was worried that Momo would not be able to love anyone anymore, after that whole Aizen Souske incident. She mentally scowled at what the old bastard did to her little sister. Why, if she ever saw him again, the things she'd do…

"Tell Hitsugaya that Momo's happy, like she always is. She's been feeling slightly ill the past few days, but it shouldn't be anything too serious."

"Will do, Ru. Tell little Mo I wish her well! I have to get back to work guys; Toshirou's going to blow the roof if I'm late. See ya!" Rangiku waved as she hurried to her work place, leaving Rukia and Renji alone once again.

"So Renji, you were going to ask me before Rangiku attacked us. What was it?" Rukia asked as she continued walking again.

Renji followed her and was about to say something, but shook his head. "It was nothing important. Don't worry about it. My stop's here, Rukia. I'll see you another time?"

"Alright. I'll see you later, Ren."

Renji gave her a gentle smile, surprising Rukia a bit, and began running off.

Rukia blinked. "Well, that was odd."

She looked in the distance and saw that the sun was slowly making its way to the middle of the blue sky.

"I guess I better hurry, or I'll be late for lunch," Rukia said to herself as she started her way through a small crowd with people who, like her, were looking for the ingredients to their meals and possibly other necessities.

Little did she know, a figure was following her.

2012 EDIT: Thanks for reading this everyone!