NOTES: Words and sentences inclosed in slashes '/' are thoughts.

Disclaimer: Again, BLEACH doesn't belong to me. But I can keep hoping that someday it might.

Chapter 2

"She will be your new mother." To seven-year-old Rukia, his father has never been so baffling. Can mommies be replaced?

/ I already have a mommy. She's not here right now but it doesn't mean that I need a new one. /

Rukia continued to look up at the beautiful woman standing in front of her. Some strands of her hair swayed along the gentle summer breeze, her smile seemed wider than before and warmer too.

/ Is this what a mommy looks like? /

Although their home never lacked images and memories her mother left behind, to Rukia, looking at a real life mommy was a whole other thing. Blinking a few times, she continued to stare as she tried to memorize her new mother's features. Movement to her new mother's side broke Rukia out of her trance. Grimmjoww shifted his stance; uncrossed his arms. He was now looking at her. Rukia couldn't decipher the look Grimmjoww was giving her. For a boy roughly her age and without the tantrum like pout, the expression on his face made him seem older. He seemed to be sizing her up with a million thoughts running through his head about his newly acquired little sister.

Rukia chose this time to look up at her father and say, "my... My new mommy, papa?" He simply nodded as a reply accompanied by a small yet warm smile.

Matsumoto came closer to her crounched once again to meet her gaze although not at the same level still. She is so tall maybe just a few inches shorter than Byakuya. Wearing three inch heels was helping bridge that gap too.

Her touch was unexpected but Rukia never felt hands as soft as hers - not like her nanny's nor the cooks nor any other person she has come in contact with. The fingers were so delicate and emitted this warmth that almost made Rukia's little heart flutter. Rukia was almost sure she was blushing. Her smile was so sweet, so inviting and wider that her eyes had formed into slits.

"Little Rukia, I know it's quite confusing right now but give us time to get to know each other. I've always wanted to have a little girl of my own to coddle and to dress up. Looking at how adorable you are, I'm sure we'll have lots of chance to spend time together."

For a moment, Rukia's eyes shifted from the woman in front of her to the little boy standing just a few steps behind her. Grimmjoww as he was introduced, seemed to have this blank expression on. He was staring at his mother's back. Feeling a bit left out in this new family's first meeting but when he felt eyes on him, the blank face melted into something that resembled a smile. Despite the lack of effort on his face, he was emitting this look which spoke of joy and some amusement to Rukia. In Rukia's eyes, he truly is an odd little fellow but a little fellow she liked.

The group moved from the playground to a nearby diner. Snacks were laid out for everyone while dessert was waiting to be served once all the food were eaten.

As it turned out Grimmy was three years older than Rukia. He recently celebrated his tenth birthday in an astronaut themed party organized by his mother. At the mention of the water guns the kids played with during the day, Grimmjoww's participation in the conversation increased as he went on about all the different and cool looking guns they had that day. There were guns to spray water in a lot of people. There were those that only sprayed one person at a time but had "more power behind squirt" according to Grimmjoww.
Like any boy his age, he gobbled down the spaghetti, chicken and fries on the table along with a tall cola. This wasn't the sort of meal prepared in the Kuchiki household on a daily basis but perhaps with this new addition to their family some things are bound to change. Rukia welcomed the break in the usual balanced meal filled with vegetables and courses in the Kuchiki diet. Half her plate was filled with spaghetti, along with a tiny piece of chicken Byakuya had taken apart for her. As she was chewing, she caught Grimmjoww's eyes on her. His face was twisted a bit in a curious gaze. For a moment they were just looking at each other while Rukia chewed. Once she swallowed her spaghetti, he spoke.

"Here. You have to eat it like this." His tiny bony fingers grabbed a handful of the zigzag cut potatoes and placed them on an empty portion of her plate. "And then you do this." Violet eyes widened as Grimmjoww squeezed ketchup and mayonnaise on a small plate. He used a fry from her plate to mix them together. When red and white became a pale orange, the fry made its way to his mouth. Rukia could only blink with her mouth slightly agape. Byakuya didn't allow these sorts of fast foods in the house and on the rare occasion that he did, his father did choose the healthier options for his daughter. She followed Grimmjoww's example. Dipping the fry in the mixture resulted in a wide grin on Rukia's face followed by a wider toothier smile on Grimmjoww's face.

/ Maybe having new people in our family wouldn't be so bad. /

Author's notes: Thanks so much for the reviews Anna chan & ArsinoetheXXVI. I kept this one quite short and Rukia's thoughts might be OOC for her age but I just thought to throw it out there.