.:Personal Preference:.

~Chapter Three~

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, it belongs the wonderful Kubo tite.

Nor do I own the plot of this story, as it already a very popular Korean Drama, I just own my own words here...

Author Note:

Am really sorry for the late update, but I swear I had a lot on my hands!

Hope you enjoy this chapter...

Ichigo rubbed the bridge of his nose, as if trying to calm his rage down. But it simply didn't lessen down even a notch as that midget's picture popped in his mind making his gut twist in aggravation.

His model was now tattered to many irrelevant pieces, his honey amber eyes watching like a trained hunter the Hotel entrance for any sign of the help that he called for.

He would fix this mess; he is Kurosaki Ichigo after all.

Relief washed over him as he glimpsed a hint of golden hair running towards where he was sitting, model placed right in front of him on the wooden table.

Shinji sat right beside Ichigo as he dumped the plastic bag he was holding, breath all ragged from running like crazy upon Ichigo's frantic call.

Gasping a couple of times, while Ichigo was already rummaging through that new brought bag trying to find what he needed Shinji spoke rather defensively "I couldn't find acrylic right now."

Pulling his cell phone out of his pocket muttering as if to himself "I gotta contact the office. Why this should happen?"

Ichigo's gaze roamed his surrendering as it settled on the curtains decorating the hall of this grand Hotel, his well trained eyes noticed the material that those blue curtains were made off and he knew instantly that they would be a perfect match for the acrylic needed to repair the ruined model.

"Shinji!" Ichigo called his assistance slash best friend's name, the intense tone he used caught Shinji's attention immediately.

"Cut some of that!" Ichigo flickered his head, as his eyes settled on the curtains, Shinji's gaze followed Ichigo's realizing what he has just asked of him.

Sneaking while trying not to get caught, Shinji tip toed swiftly towards the curtains, scissors in hand.

Looking around a couple of times, Shinji labeled his surrendering secure, as he reached his long arm and cut a little of this blue substitute material.

The two got caught up in fixing the mess the model was, slender fingers working professionally.

~.~.~

Rukia rushed through the big door of the grand Hotel she wanted to reach since she woke up this morning, the events that festooned her early hours of the day already long forgotten as she focused on making this day successful, being a Kuchiki wasn't easy at all.

Slowing her base, Rukia walked pass lots of shops that were being held in the same expo she was participating in.

Reaching her own furniture shop she was greeted by a very semi-angry expression drawn all over Hanatarou's features.

"You're late!" he greeted rather lazily.

"Jut drop it… did any costumers come?" brushing his words as she always did, feeling that ignoring his ranting would always be the best solution in hand. Her only concern was to make this furniture line she just launched a very popular one, her brother Byakuya; the head of the Kuchiki's were attending to some important business abroad and not scheduled to be back anytime soon.

So Rukia greeted this rare opportunity that came knocking on her door, and used all her saving that her brother gave her for emergency uses only to start this furniture line, the source of her love for this crafting profession was her big and only sister, that already passed away since Rukia was still too small. Her memories were filled with only fugue remnant of what her sister was like.

The only thing she got left in this wide world, was her brother in law; Byakuya. Who only loved Hisna and will never love another, thus went into burying himself with work all of the time leaving little Rukia all alone to that endless darkness.

Rukia still lived on, and now she was working hard in order to achieve hers and her sister's dream, Rukia smiled upon remembering how warm it felt to be hugged by her sister's warmth so many years ago.

Taking a look at his shoulders shrugging as a response for her question, Rukia smiled weakly at Hanatarou.

"They'll come eventually." Rukia cheered her self up, feeling that luck might be on her side this time.

"You didn't have breakfast, did you?" Hanatarou spoke with a caring tone, concern coating his words as he broke Rukia's chain of thoughts.

Moving her head while muttering a low "Not yet" Hanatarou handed her a closed Opento as Rukia lashed it open and started emptying what ever lay inside, cooking was never her thing so living on frozen meals and canned food wasn't something new to the violet eyes little woman.

Hanatarou looked at her eating rather adoringly as he spoke proudly of himself "What would you do without me looking after you?"

Chewing on her bite then swallowing, Rukia looked into his gray eyes while patting her pretty long eye lashes of hers at him "But I have my Renji"

"Ahhh… that Renji." annoyance and aggravation was evident in his words as he spoke rather sarcastically.

"The guy who never shows up in person and just sends a potted plant?" at the moment he finished his sarcastic rant, Rukia was already staring at the only potted plant that decorated her shop entrance, calmness washed over her being as she felt his support through this simple act.

Rukia was never an easy kind of woman to get at all, being lonely made her afraid of giving her all to anyone but this time she was somehow sure that it was real, everything she felt was true and honest, so showing a little bit of her sweet side to others was okay with her in these kind of moments.

"Isn't it obvious that he ought to have made the effort to show up in person on a day like this?" that happy expression of hers pissed him off, as it wasn't meant for him at all. His words were meant to angry Rukia and hurt her mentally.

Looking at the potted plant, Rukia couldn't help but smile brightly, showing those white like pearls teeth of hers, this rare smile that could even kill, but that Renji wasn't even their to see her.

Rukia excused him for being busy, compromise was needed in any relationship, even if she felt the urge to hug him at that moment for doing such a sweet thing.

Turning her head as if his words were nothing "My Renji is quite a busy man, you know."

"You think the problem is in his schedule?" his question held so many hidden meanings as he continued with his speech "It's not that he got no time, it's that he's got no heart."

Rukia was starting to feel as if pushed in a corner which was hated by her the most as she was always the very own boss of her self "Hanatarou, did you bring the samples from the factory?"

"RENJI!" Hanatarou shouted out loud pointing behind Rukia's back which made her turn around, anticipation filling her waiting eyes "Where?... really? Where?"

"See that's proves that you're waiting for him." Feeling victorious somehow, Hanatarou smirked.

"Hey, he told me in advance that he had an important presentation today." Her tone became tense as she shot daggers right at him; she was Kuchiki Rukia for God's sake. She wasn't like those stupid girls whom waited obediently for their men to come back home at the end of the day, she was strong and always knew exactly what she wanted.

And choosing him to trust wasn't a bad decision she made, not at all.

"Presentations which in being held upstairs." Those were Hanatarou's departing words as he walked away, leaving a semi confused Rukia standing alone.

Renji might appear like the bad guy in this story (thought I LOVE him) but this is very important for the story to proceed!

If you liked it don't be shy and leave a review telling me so, ur reviews encourage me to write more ^^

Thanks for reading...

Hafous