Ichigo bit the inside of his lip, trying not to laugh.

The noble was ticklish, imagine that.

Byakuya had his arms around himself protectively, glaring heavily at the boy, no pretence of calm collectedness in sight. "Stop doing that Ichigo."

Snorting out a laugh through his nose, he held up his hands in a placating gesture. "I'm sorry, but you asked me to scrub your back."

"Yes, my back, not my ribs or my arms," Byakuya snapped back.

"You could have just told me you were ticklish."

"I'm not ticklish," he muttered, turning away from Ichigo, eyes melting holes into the tub.

Trying and failing to hold back a grin, Ichigo slowly put the brush back to the nobles back. "Yeah, completely not ticklish, you must just compulsively shake and giggle normally."

Byakuya glanced back at Ichigo, his glare losing some of its heat. "You could try to look at least a little sorry."

Smirking, Ichigo pushed him back around. "Come on, you want to be clean don't you?"

"Then don't do it so softly. Of course it will make me… ticklish… if you do it that lightly."

"Fine, fine, fine!" Laughing again, Ichigo pressed the brush back down, scrubbing a little harder. "What's happening today anyway? Everyone's running around like crazy people… and your sister popping around for a visit? Don't tell me this is ordinary."

Byakuya stared out the window. "No it isn't. I suppose I should tell you…" he muttered, mostly to himself before glancing back at Ichigo. "I'm having some guests – important guests. Rukia came back for it and everyone is preparing for it. Actually, we might need to find you some different clothes."

He stared down at Ichigo's clothes pointedly. The clothes that he had originally worn were burnt somewhere – in ruins from his first experience of the whip and he was now wearing a simple black shihakusho.

"What's wrong with this?" he demanded.

Byakuya's eyebrow arched slightly at Ichigo's tone. He didn't say anything though, despite how much he wanted to beat the boy into submission. If he were honest with himself, he knew he should be happy that Ichigo was even obeying him at all and unless he wanted to whip him to death, it was hardly worth worrying about his tone.

It seemed Ichigo was being a little more reasonable these days however because at the look he received, his face screwed up slightly in distaste but he looked down as he scrubbed.

"There isn't anything wrong with them but everyone needs to look good when they arrive. However they won't be doing so till tomorrow."

"But Rukia…?"

"She wanted to get home early to surprise me I suppose."

There was silence as Ichigo continued to wipe the noble down before he asked, a little hesitant, "W – will the Aizen household be there?"

Byakuya turned to Ichigo, finding himself a little astonished. "I thought you didn't know anything about nobles?"

Ichigo flushed – irritation making his lip curl. "I didn't say I didn't know anything. I know a little. Besides, Sōsuke – Aizen – he…" He paused, eyes widening in surprise before he shut his mouth firmly, staring holes into Byakuya's back.

"He what?" Byakuya frowned, watching the boy. His reaction had been sudden and confusing though he guessed it was because Ichigo hadn't meant to tell him anything at all.

Ichigo shoved the noble slightly to turn him back around, shrugging a little. "It's nothing."

"Ichigo," he warned, eyes narrowing in his direction.

"It's none of your business," Ichigo told him firmly. "You've got everything else of mine; I think I should be able to keep this to myself."

Byakuya didn't know how he felt about those words. Perhaps he should feel a little happy that Ichigo seemed to have at least admitted to himself that Byakuya owned him. Still… "Ichigo, how do you know him?"

Growling, Ichigo scrubbed harder. "I just met him once… It's nothing – really. I met him and thought he was creepy. There, happy?"

Giving him a blank look, Byakuya was silent for a moment. That wasn't the truth at all. "Ich-"

"Brother, I was wondering if we could go shopping today…"

Byakuya and Ichigo both paused, looking toward the door where Rukia's voice had come from.

"Rukia, now isn't the time to-"

"I'm sorry brother but I was hoping to go shopping to find a gift for Renji… he's coming tomorrow as well."

"Of course I know that Renji is coming. But why on earth would you need to get him a present?"

Ichigo quite enjoyed the exchanges between Rukia and Byakuya because it seemed that Byakuya was closest to human when he was around her – like now – he was clearly exasperated but was trying hard to keep it in.

"B – because it's our anniversary in a few days," she admitted quietly.

"Anniversary?" Ichigo echoed, confused. Wasn't Rukia a noble? Why was she married to a soldier?

"Very well – you may go shopping but I can't come with you. I have work to complete today."

Rukia exhaled loudly and Ichigo could hear her shuffle impatiently. "Then who am I meant to go with?"

Byakuya was silent for a minute, considering when his eyes travelled to meet Ichigo's.

Ichigo violently shook his head. "No, no way. I'm not going shopping!"

Raising a brow in amusement, Byakuya turned back towards the door as he stood. "Ichigo will go with you today."

"Tsk," Rukia muttered. "Do I really have to take him?"

"Yeah, I agree. I don't want to follow her around."

"Not even out in the town?" Byakuya asked as he wrapped himself in a robe.

Ichigo froze, staring at him from his spot on the floor. "Y – you mean… out, out?"

Not replying, Byakuya simply gave him a condescending smile.

He hesitated. "Is this a trick?"

Byakuya turned to the door. "On the other hand Rukia, perhaps it's best to take Mihane with yo-"

"No! I – I didn't say I wouldn't go…"

"Actually you did!" Rukia called out to him.

Ichigo growled, standing. "Well I did but I changed my mind. If – if I'm really allowed out then I'll go."

"Fine, then go."

Ichigo grinned for what felt like the first time in years, anticipation pulsing as excitement swept through his veins. "Alright. Then I'm off."

XXX

Ichigo bounded down the street, ignoring Rukia behind him. It felt as if he was free – light and free now he had the clunky chain off of his leg. Of course, he wasn't. Byakuya hadn't hesitated to remind him of just who would pay if he decided to run off now.

Though Ichigo hated it, he just couldn't bring himself to leave Mihane there knowing she was getting in trouble because of him. He was sure Byakuya couldn't be too cruel, especially if Mihane liked him, still… One tends to have a slightly skewed perspective when they hate someone.

He sprinted on the grass, throwing himself through the bushes before he heard Rukia call after him, "What are you doing? You're meant to go on the path. I can't have you running into the forest or something."

Ichigo wanted to scowl and curse but he couldn't bring himself to, not when he was so genuinely happy. "Yeah, yeah. I'm coming."

Rukia huffed, watching the ecstatic boy. "Is it that bad? Staying with my brother I mean."

"Ah god," Ichigo moaned. "Why? Why does everyone ask that?" He glared back at her, mood impressively dampened. "Why would you think it isn't? Being sold into slavery isn't my idea of a good time you know."

"Well isn't it better than the alternative?"

"What alternative? I was living with my family… I – I wasn't forced to – to act like a slave and I wasn't beaten just because I spoke up."

"You have a family?"

"Yes, of course I have a family… they're just…" Ichigo glanced away as they walked towards town. "Very far away."

Rukia looked at him for a moment. "Then why haven't you told him you have a family?"

"Because," Ichigo snapped. "Nobody seems to care. It's all, "I bought you" or "but now you're mine," sort of thing."

"Byakuya wouldn't say that you know."

"Oh yeah, sure. The type to whip his servant's into submission? Like he'd just let me go."

"Whip?" Rukia choked out, stopping Ichigo in his tracks when she grabbed his arm. "He whips you?"

Ichigo suddenly became self-conscious and strangely felt the need to keep his opinion to himself. It wasn't that he wanted to protect Byakuya exactly, just that it seemed wrong to talk about him. Maybe it was because it was his little sister…

"Uh yeah… I mean, hasn't he always?"

"Only rarely and only if it is a serious matter," she answered, frowning at the young man.

Ichigo found that hard to believe. All he did was threaten to have Mihane take his place and Mihane acted as if whipping was a regular occurrence.

"What did you do?"

"Me? Nothing! I did nothing but be myself. I just wanted to not be a servant. And I'm not about to bow in submission to somebody else."

"That's what being a servant is," Rukia told him sternly.

"I'm not a freaking servant!" Ichigo cried. "I was not, will not and never plan to be a servant. Can't you people understand? Buying me doesn't mean anything – I – I mean, it shouldn't mean anything."

Eyebrows creasing in concern, Rukia removed her hand from his arm. "He doesn't really treat you badly does he?"

"W – well I guess…" Didn't he? Ichigo's own brows creased in confusion as he stared at her. What exactly was this? His confusion… He shouldn't be confused. "Of course he freaking does. I mean… when I don't do what he tells me…"

Rukia gave him a; 'of course' look and Ichigo's temper flared.

"Still, that's not the point! I shouldn't be getting in trouble at all. I just want to go home."

Considering his words for a moment, she pursed her lips. "I don't know what is really happening but I'm sure if you tell my brother you were never intended to be a servant and explain about your family he'll help you."

Ichigo searched her face. She seemed very sure about it, but from what he had seen, Byakuya wasn't like that at all. Still, all this talk of whipping and family had depressed him and he just wanted to enjoy his day out so he just sighed, nodding. "Fine. Fine!"

Rukia seemed relieved and Ichigo felt a small rise in affection for the raven haired girl. She seemed honestly noble and good and he half-heartedly returned the warm smile she gave him.

There was silence as they stood awkwardly for a moment before Rukia suddenly bounced on her heels. "Very well, let's get going! I still have to find some clothes for tomorrow."

"You what?" Ichigo cried, dismayed. "No!"

She laughed, grinning at him before skipping down the dusty road to the market place below, leaving him scowling behind.

XXX

:)

So… Yeah. Anyway, thank-you all for being very patient with me. I hope you enjoy this update. I swear that there will actually be Byakuya and Ichigo development soon haha.
I've been very MIA lately and I apologise. You know when you just… I don't know. Can't be bothered? Well yeah, there was a lot of not being bothered-ness. Plus, I was distracted by the cuteness of my new puppy :)
So, thanks again for your reviews and your time! They make me smile.