"Ukitake!" Ichigo yelled as he forced open the door to the Thirteenth Division's headquarters. "Jushiro!" His voice echoed throughout the large house-like structure. He moved from room to room, hoping to find the captain.

"Hmm…?" Shunsui raised his eyebrows as he lifted his teacup. "You didn't tell me you were expecting visitors, Jushiro," he sighed in mock exasperation.

"I wasn't expecting any, to be honest. The rest of my team was sent to train," he confessed. Before he could postulate about the intruder, a round of coughing violently racked through his body. He held his kerchief to his mouth as he forcefully coughed into the net of fabric. By the time he finished, he was out of breath. His ribs were sore from these chronic bouts, and he was at his wits' end with his illness. "Excuse me," he gasped, as he removed the fabric barrier from his mouth. He silently folded the kerchief, quickly hiding the blood-tinged sputum that stained the delicate fabric.

"It's been weeks, and you are still not well. I'm concerned, my friend," the Eighth Division's captain shared his worry. It was unusual for his school buddy to be sick for such a duration.

Jushiro raised his hand, "I'm used to this. It is nothing. I'll be like new in a few more days. The coughing is lessening."

"Perhaps Unohana could help you, hmm?" a playful smiled tugged at his lips.

"I'd prefer to not bother her over things such as coughing. Besides, she's very…motherly," he added. Unohana was one of the oldest shinigami—discounting Yamamoto, of course, and both of them. There was a long history shared between the four.

"I see," Shunsui mused, scratching his unshaven chin.

The door to their mid-afternoon tea was thrown open. Both men continued to sip their hot drinks, ignoring the sudden racket.

"Oi! Ukitake!" the orange-haired shinigami was breathing heavily. He leaned on the door frame for support. "I…need…to talk…to you.."

"Out of shape, are we?" Shunsui smirked.

"Oh, hey Shunsui! I didn't see you there. I don't know why—especially with that woman's jacket," he explained as he doubled over to catch his breath.

"It's not a woman's jacket!" the captain's voice became higher as he felt it necessary to defend his masculinity. Perhaps it was time for a new haori, even his vice-captain was making a point of joking about the cherry blossom-ladened coat. He sighed. He liked the haori. Loved it, even.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Ichigo muttered. He turned his attention to the Thirteenth Division's captain, "Do you know where Rukia is? She came back with Renji and that…uh…other guy."

Jushiro looked at Ichigo carefully, "You mean Ashido?"

"Yeah..that guy," he replied, his affect flat.

"Ashido is under the care of Fourth Division," the sickly captain replied. "And Rukia has returned to the Kuchiki Manor."

"To see Byakuya? For what?" Ichigo demanded.

"Well, aren't we disrespectful to our elders, Kurosaki?" Shunsui replied, half-jokingly. He would love to see the Kuchiki heir get his feathers in a ruffle when the young man addresses him so informally. "One day, he's going to kill you. You know that, right?"

"I'm not too worried about him. I beat him once," Ichigo dismissively explained.

"If I'm correct, I think he let you," the dark-haired captain murmured into his cup.

"WHAT did you say?"

"Nothing," Shunsui answered innocently. Jushiro shook his head in annoyance at the two men's antics. Kyoraku had been his close friend and confidante since their days at the Academy—under the tutelage of Yamamoto. He was used to this by now, though he did tire of it.

"So, you are looking for Rukia? May I inquire as to why?" Jushiro focused on the newcomer.

He could tell that Ichigo was concerned about the young shinigami, though he knew nothing of Ichigo's motivations. He, too, was concerned for her. He had always been worried by her constant silence. She always practiced diligently, often by herself. He was well aware of her discomfort at being adopted into a noble family: she disliked formal titles and the attention that status had brought with it. She was an amazingly gifted shinigami, and he had thought of promoting her to Vice-Captain on more than one occasion. The only discouraging factor was that Byakuya adamantly opposed his younger sister's attainment of a seated position. It wasn't that she didn't deserve it--as he knew that she did. It was difficult when her adopted family had so much influence on the dynamics within the Gotei Thirteen.

Ichigo narrowed his eyes as he debated how to share with the two men. "I…I wanted to speak with her, that is all."

"I see," the white-haired leader replied calmly.

"Talk to her? That's all? Bah! Boring, my man," Shunsui scoffed.

"Shut up!" Ichigo bellowed, his face reddening. "I…I do have a question…," His voice trailed off.

Jushiro raised his eyebrows, anticipating the inquiry, "Go ahead, Ichigo."

"Why has Rukia not been given the chance at a seat in your division?" his gaze was steady, as he studied the Thirteenth's captain.

Jushiro slowly lowered his cup. Should he be candid? Perhaps lying would be best. He sighed, opting for honestly. What could it hurt?

As if he knew his best friend's thought process, Shunsui softly intervened, "Jushiro…" his tone warned.

The pale haired man raised his hand, closing his eyes as another cough threatened to tear through his weak body, "I'm going to answer his question honestly, my friend."

"Fine by me. It's your ass," the Eight's captain smirked as he poured another cup of tea. He silently refilled Jushiro's cup as well. He sipped thoughtfully as his friend mulled over his impending answer.

"Is this something…she doesn't know?" Ichigo inferred from the exchange between the two captains. He looked from one to the other, worry etched into his brow.

"Sit down, Ichigo," Shunsui patted the floor. "Do you have a few minutes?"

Ichigo wordlessly collapsed to the floor, unsure of what he as about to hear.

"Maybe that wasn't such a good idea," Kyoraku mused. He looked toward the door that Ichigo has slammed. "I'd bill him for that door, by the way."

"Ah, I expected him to react like that," Ukitake said, as he dropped his liquid medicine into his mildly sweetened tea. It would be a nice buffer for the bitter remedy. "He should hear the truth, don't you think?" Rukia should, too, he thought to himself. His dark-haired friend nodded his agreement. Jushiro continued, "Besides, Rukia also deserves to hear the truth. She's an exceptional shinigami—and I can't tell her that because her brother bans me from doing so. She's long overdue for a promotion, yet he forbids it. What is his reasoning, I wonder?"

"I always thought he adopted her because of her likeness to her older sister. But after all of these years, he has yet to treat her like a person. I am curious as to his motives, as well. I suppose we are going to find out. Soon." The rest of the conversation hung silently between them. Both men were aware that the head of the Kuchiki household would insist on an audience with the two captains. They knew that Ichigo would go barging into the manner, creating some sort of scene. It would only be a matter of time before Byakuya came for them.

Shunsui smirked, I wish I could see Kuchiki's face when he Ichigo tears him a new one! he thought as he enjoyed his third cup of tea.


Rukia sat, her knees folded beneath her small frame as she kept her head low. She didn't dare raise her eyes to meet her brother's stare. She could feel his eyes boring into her. Minutes passed before he spoke.

"Where have you been?" his smooth voice broke into her thoughts.

Was that concern she detected in his voice? She kept her head bowed as she softly answered, "Karakura. On assignment."

"Hmm. I received information, on good authority, that you may have traveled elsewhere," his voice was steady, revealing nothing.

"Where else is there, nii-san?" she didn't meet his eyes. She could hear him lower his pen; she recognized the faint click of its weight on the table. She had heard this often, usually after she confirmed that she had not attained a seat in her division. Each time that pen hit the desk's surface, a new wave of agony would tear through her from the perceived disappointment. She knew he considered her a failure, and she did not do justice to the noble Kuchiki name.

"It is not wise to lie to your brother, Rukia," his tone remained the same.

She could not tell if he was bluffing. Is this a test? she thought nervously. Her knuckles began to turn white from her grip on the white cotton kimono. "I-I do not know what you are inferring, nii-san." Her voice began to waver as her mind raced.

"I will not ask you again. Where have you been?" Again, his silky voice was steady. He was a deadly combination of calm and stealth.

She suddenly made a silent resolution. She was tired of being a disappointment to her brother. Though he had revealed to Rukia his rationale behind her adoption—he still treated her coldly. Not once has he made eye contact with his sibling. Not once has he smiled at her or laughed with her. Nor had he ever trained her or asked her how her day went. They lived in the same manor, passed one another daily, yet no words passed between them other than the usual formal greetings. This was not how she wanted to live her life! She had always desired a family—one like Ichigo's. She clutched that resolution to her chest, holding it tightly.

She raised her violet eyes, "I went to Hueco Mundo." Her tone matched his, in her own version of unattached calm. She felt her face flush with anger as she realized he had turned back toward his desk--his back facing her. This is how it's going to be? she thought furiously.

"I see," was his reply. "And why was that?"

"To keep a promise I made," she answered, never removing her eyes from his back. She could feel her anger taking control.

"Yet you did not counsel me. You acted brashly, Rukia. Unlike a Kuchiki should," he replied stonily.

"I keep my word, nii-san. I thought it an honorable thing for a Kuchiki to do," she testily murmured.

"It is unacceptable for you to act in such a manner. It does not reflect well on the family," he answered calmly.

Rukia glared at his back, her eyes flashing their annoyance. "Look at me." As soon as she blurted the command, she regretted it. She was instantly shocked at her newly brazen attitude. She gripped her knees, waiting for him to lash out for her insubordination.

"It is not necessary for me to look at you when I speak to you, Rukia," he responded. Still, the same calm exterior.

"In the fifty plus years that I have been a part of your family, you have never once looked at me," she began. She couldn't control her anger as the tears sprang to her eyes. "I do not understand why you wished to adopt me only to treat me so coldly—never speaking to me, never looking at me…" She dropped her eyes to the floor as the silent tears stained the wood. "I know that I've been nothing but a disappointment to you, nii-san. I have done nothing but bring shame to this family. But, I think I deserve an explanation. Would my sister have been accepting of this relationship? Is this what she intended for me? Did you treat her this way when you married her? Did you never look at—" the words rapidly spilled from her mouth as she was unable to stop them.

"Enough!" he hissed, interrupting her barrage of questions. Emotion seeped into his voice. It was the first time she had heard him use such a tone. She raised her damp eyes, only to meet his dark ones. She could see the pain and agony that he had hidden so deeply for all these years.

She felt his unfinished grief, immediately regretting her words. "I-I'm sorry—," she began.

"You look so much like her," he confessed. He tore his eyes from her face.

"My sister?" she asked softly. She was confused by his sudden outburst.

"Yes," he whispered, closing his eyes. "So much so," he confessed.

"Does looking at me...hurt you?" she asked, the tears burning her eyes.

He did not reply to her question. He didn't have to—she knew the answer. That was why he chose to distance himself, to never look at her. It hurt him too badly to look upon the woman that reminded him of his late wife. She quickly stood, her feet silently carrying her to him. She placed a small hand on his shoulder.

"I never knew my sister," she studied his face as she spoke. "At least you have that much. I'm sure she loved you very much."

He weakly nodded his head as she gently squeezed his shoulder. "I do not want to cause you pain. If it hurts you to look at me, then I will go away—if that is what it takes. You have done so much for me, and I appreciate it, nii-san." She waited for his response, her heart racing.

He answered softly, his voice gruff with untamed emotion, "No. You are all I have left of her."

She understood the meaning behind his words. He was the only tie she had with her deceased sister—the sister she never knew. The sister who continued to smile upon her, even after death. "I forgive you," she whispered the heavy weight leaving her chest.

He met her gaze. His normal stony exterior replaced the brief lapse in his usually-collected demeanor. "I am sorry. I was wrong—am wrong—to have treated you so coldly. Hisana would be disappointed with me for treating her beloved sister in such a manner..my beloved sister," a weak smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Rukia stared at him in shock. She couldn't believe the sudden change she saw in Byakuya. She knew it would take a long time for him to truly change, but she had never expected this much in such a short period of time.

"Please excuse my digression, Rukia," he murmured. "I shall work on treating you more acceptably from here on."

"I would like that, nii-san," she replied, one last stray tear slipping down her cheek.

"Byakuya," he said softly. "Please."

"Yes, nii—er, Byakuya," she said, the name sounding unfamiliar as it rolled off her tongue. She felt as if this was some odd dream. She half-expected the door to burst open and Ichigo to sling his way into the room...

The sudden sound of doors flying open interrupted her rampant thoughts. Before she could look toward the source of the noise, a voice confirmed the interruption. She didn't need to look. She felt her stomach leap into her her throat.

"Oi, Byakuya!" he snapped, his tone filled with anger. "You have some explaining to do!"

Sorry this was so short! I wanted to get another chapter in. I have an exam on Friday so I'll be studying until then. Wish me luck :)

Oh, please review! Thank you to those of you who put me UP TO 90 reviews!! Holy hell!!!!

I don't own Bleach. Duh.