A/N: Hey I'm back already. Lot sooner than last time. Its going to be a lot easier for me since I'm out of school for now. From here on out I am probably only going to be able to publish on Thursdays and Fridays. Even though I don't I will get them done days before. Sorry about that, but unfortunately most of my week is spent with no internet. Well, anyways I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own bleach or any of its characters. Tite Kubo does.

Chapter 1: Promise Me

Rukia couldn't get a decent sleep that night. She kept on waking up every other hour wishing for tomorrow. After hearing the news from Captain Yamamoto about going to the world of the living. Her mind was so restless, but she couldn't pin point why. Its not like she has never been to the world of the living. So what was it that made her so excited about going. She made a note to ask Ichigo about it when she got there. He could probably help. So she closed her eyes to attempt to get some sleep, even though she new it was impossible.

Once she realized it was completely useless to try to get sleep. She was determined to get some fresh air, since she was now completely awake. She got up from her bed and left her room, and walked out of the Kuchiki Mansion into the gardens. She walks through the garden to get some fresh air and to clear her thoughts. Rukia can smell the fresh aroma of flowers and the trees blowing in the wind. The garden is completely beautiful with sakura trees in bloom everywhere. She walks down a path surrounded by all sorts of plants to the middle of the garden. But once she got to an open clearing she completely froze. Her brother was sitting in the middle of the clearing. She was debating on weather she should turn around and leave. But it was to late for that. Her brother had already noticed his presence.

Byakuya didn't even turn around to look at his sister. He just patted the ground twice behind him, and said, "Come sit."

Rukia froze at his words, but there was some force making her legs move towards the spot her brother was implying to. Rukia sat down by her brother with her legs crossed.

"Why are you out so late when you have a mission tomorrow?" Byakuya never seems to amaze Rukia. He always talks to her in such a stoic voice. But she must say so herself, there relationship has gotten a lot better. It was right after Ichigo beat Byakuya. 'I guess the strawberry's good for some thing,' she thought. Lately Byakuya and Rukia have had nicer conversations, and you could tell both parties were trying to reach out to one another. So they were progressing slowly, but Rukia still couldn't help but get a little nervous in front of him.

"Well I woke up, and couldn't go back to sleep. So I decided to get some fresh air. You brother?"

Byakuya took a sip of his tea in his right hand before answering. "I've been thinking…about a lot of things. I've been wanting to talk to you about your mission."

'Please don't let this be an attempt to make me not want to go.' Rukia thought. "About what, brother."

"I know a situation may come in arise, and you will be faced with two paths. When the time comes pick the path your heart wants. Pick what makes you happy Rukia. Your probably going to be gone for a while, so don't worry about your decision."

Rukia looked at him with complete shock in her eyes. This was defiantly not the path of the conversation she thought it was going to take. She just didn't understand what he was saying at all. "Brother I don't understand."

Byakuya turned and looked at Rukia, "I know, but one day you will. When the time comes make sure you only take your opinion into consideration."

"But when will I know."

Byakuya looked ahead into nothingness and said, "You just will. Promise me this though."

Rukia just looked down with watery eyes. She was so happy right now. She nodded her head and said, "Umm, I promise. And thank you, brother."

With that Byakuya left his sister sitting in the clearing, with her wandering thoughts.

Well what did you think. Sorry about the shortness. I really jus can't seem to make my chapters long like other people can. Well, anyways most of my chapters won't be 2,000 words but will be the length of 1,000. I hope you have liked my story and please review. It really does motivate me to write faster, and when I don't get a single review on a chapter it really worries me that you guys thought it was dreadful. On another note the next chapter should be out in a few days. Oh and thank you to Death and Berry. And for you I think I updated soon enough. Hopefully you still love it. I just had to show that her and Byakuya have been getting along more instead of her already being in the world of the living. Well she still wont be in the next chapter, but I hope so after that one.