Sorry! I'm so sorry! *Gets on knees and begs* Please forgive my incompetence!

Ah… *ahem* Sorry about that. I just wanted to say, I'm so sorry for not updating for ages. I've just been crazy busy and really sick -.-

Anyway, thanks for all the reviews guys because I really appreciate them. And may I politely and humbly ask that they continue?

Please and thank-you.

Uh… so… thanks for reading and hope you enjoy it! Please review :)

P.S. Love to know who you guys think owned Ichi before Byakuya ;) Maybe he'll want him back!

XXX

Ichigo stood, waiting impatiently for Byakuya to give him something to do. He glared at the back of the raven haired noble, as if he could burn holes into the back of his head with only his eyes.

"You won't injure me with your eyesight Ichigo."

Ichigo gave a start before scowling. "Well, there isn't any harm in trying."

"Get me some tea," he said as he shuffled some papers around, reading over them.

Growling, Ichigo crossed his arms. "What?"

"Tea," he repeated, staring up impassively at Ichigo. "I asked you to get me some tea. Go to the kitchen and get me some oolong tea."

Snorting, he stalked off, sparing one last heated glance behind him before disappearing.

Byakuya heaved a sigh. It had been like this for days. After finally managing to make the wild boy do as he asked, he had been making him to menial tasks. He had originally wanted Ichigo to become his personal assistant of sorts, but when he'd proven to be difficult, he had passed the idea up. Now however, it was possible.

Still, he didn't trust the boy yet, even if he had the flimsy excuse of Mihane's punishment to keep him with him. He took a deep breath, finding he could breathe easier without the boy around. Something about him made him uneasy, nervous… and he hated that. It wasn't natural.

He glanced up slightly when he heard Ichigo's footsteps approaching and he busied himself with his work.

"Here," Ichigo muttered roughly, thrusting the cup his way.

"I'm sorry?" Byakuya asked, staring up at Ichigo. "Did you say something?"

"Take your tea!" he urged, shaking it in front of his face slightly. "You wanted tea didn't you?"

Byakuya blinked at him before going back to work.

"W-what the hell?" Ichigo demanded, putting the cup down on the low table in irritation. "Fine, here's your tea, I hope you choke on it."

"It's 'Master Byakuya.'"

Ichigo paused, watching the man warily. "What did you say?"

Byakuya looked up at him seriously. "When you address me now, you will address me as 'Master Byakuya.'"

Sneering, Ichigo crossed his arms. "Yeah, no, I don't think so."

Raising one brow he considered the boy. "Are you sure you don't want to call me that?"

His eyes narrowed at the veiled threat before he muttered out a curse and replied tightly, "Fine, here's your tea, Master Byakuya." The words were heavily doused in sarcasm and mocking, but it was a start.

He nodded, picking up the tea before taking a graceful tea and placing it back down. "You need some lessons in making tea obviously."

Byakuya was extremely surprised and pleased when Ichigo blushed fiercely, choking on his own breath momentarily.

He hadn't expected such a reaction-anger and curses perhaps, but not embarrassment.

"W-well…" Composing himself, he glared at the man. "You're lucky I made you that tea at all, so just shut up about it."

Not allowing himself the pleasure of a smile, though one was desperately trying to work its way up to his face, he lowered his head to read his papers once more. "Can you read?"

Ichigo jumped a little at the question, hesitantly sitting down as far away from the noble as possible. "What's it to you? Master Byakuya?" he added the title as an afterthought.

Refusing to admit how much those words pleasured him, he continued to stare blankly at his work. "I need someone who can read. The servant you were intended to replace was my personal servant. He could read, write, organise, clean…"

"Why the hell would I want to be your personal servant?"

Byakuya looked up at him, staring at him seriously before continuing, "It is a good offer boy, and I'd take it before it expires."

Ichigo narrowed his eyes, scowling as he shifted in thought. "W-what exactly to I have to do?"

"Organise my files, have them sent away, organise the other servants and manage finances with me… Of course, you need to do some other things like get me my dinner, draw my bath and clean my room, those sorts of things. Do you think you can do that?"

Ichigo growled, glancing around as if searching for an escape before finally nodding minutely. "Yeah, I can do that."

"Good, then you start now. Read these and place them in my folders over there," he pointed to a dark mahogany desk. "I'm sure you can put them away properly before I've finished writing my letter."

Chuckling humourlessly, Ichigo went to the desk. "Yeah, I'll have this finished before you even finish your tea."

XXX

"You're quite effective when you actually attempt to work."

Ichigo snarled, staring into the gardens, through the open door, his arms crossed as Byakuya sorted through his files. "Whatever. So, am I done or not?"

Byakuya flicked through them some more before nodding. "Yes, it appears everything is in order."

Snorting, Ichigo pushed away from the door frame. "I know, I did it."

Byakuya turned to stare at the boy, placing down his work. "I find your lack of respect unnerving. Are you going to continually address me so casually?"

He scowled. "Well I ain't calling you 'Master Byakuya' every freaking minute so, you can shove that idea up your a-"

"Master Byakuya, you have a message," Mihane interrupted, glancing warningly at Ichigo before bowing, holding out the rolled parchment.

"Thank-you Mihane."

Ichigo crossed his arms, leaning back against the doorway again as he stared out across the fence only a little while away.

Byakuya noticed, placing the letter down for the moment as he considered the boy. "How did you become a servant?"

There was no reply for a few moments; Ichigo just stared out the door before his eyes found Byakuya's and he smirked. "Suddenly interested in a useless servant huh?"

Shifting slightly, his eyes narrowing a little, Byakuya glared at the boy. "Please answer the question Ichigo."

"It's Kurosaki."

"I'm sorry?"

"It's Ichigo Kurosaki, that's my name."

Byakuya watched him, confused as to why he would give him his last name. "Do you expect me to call you that now?"

"No," he snapped back, irritated. "I'm just telling you."

He pursed his lips slightly before lowering his eyes. "So then, Ichigo Kurosaki, will you answer the question?"

Ichigo laughed wryly, scratching his head. "It's not a very entertaining story Master Byakuya. In fact, it's hardly a story at all. I got picked up by someone while I was walking the streets." He grinned savagely, eyes glinting maliciously as he glanced at Byakuya. "I caused so much trouble for the guy. Then eventually, I ran away."

"I'm surprised he didn't kill you," he commented mildly.

The orange haired man cocked his head. "The same could be said of you."

There was silence as they stared at each other before Byakuya began to unroll the parchment. "I still think you might be useful."

Ichigo paused before muttering, "Yeah, he thought I was useful too."

"Why did you run away?"

"Why do you think?" Ichigo asked, stepping closer to the noble, leaning down to poke him in the chest. "I don't like being caged." He stood once again, rubbing his neck absently as he watched the sun slip down, over the garden. "I wanted to get home."

Another silence descended, though Byakuya's tongue itched to move, to ask him where home was, why he wanted to go there… He mentally shook himself. He was much too interested in the boy.

Ichigo broke the silence in the end, moving suddenly to go back towards the door. "Anyway, I gave him a mark he isn't likely to forget and got the hell out of there. I didn't get home in time though and now, here I am." Ichigo grinned humourlessly his way. "And that's how I became a servant."

Byakuya watched him for a moment longer before his oceanic depths turned to the paper in front of him. Then he rolled it back up, standing. "That's all for today Ichigo. I expect you early tomorrow as well and from now on, you will call me 'Master Byakuya.' And it will happen."

Ichigo smirked. "Yeah, whatever. I'll see you tomorrow morning."