Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach!

Bleach Star

Chapter Eleven- Upcoming Events~

The posters for the KT Christmas production were printed and disturbed more than enough times in all the school's classrooms. Test scripts were handed in and the head literature teachers were reading and discussing the possible winner. It was going to takes at least a couple more weeks but the school just could not stop buzzing about it. Rukia, Tatsuki, Renji (mostly for food) and Ishida were among the buzzers while Ichigo, Sado and Inoue weren't very buzzy at all. It was all they talked about every lunch. Rukia asked a bundle of questions and her eyes glistened with every answer, it was like she was never in a school play before.

Sitting in class, Inoue leaned and looked around, her eyes involuntarily (well that is what she told herself) on Ichigo. He was looking out the window as always not really caring for anything, it appeared, but Inoue knew different. He was hiding, just like she was but she wondered what. She could not see his face, but she felt like she could read his expression anyway, listlessly eyes, and a mouth that wanted to say something but didn't.

"What are you looking at?"

Inoue jumped out of her skin and chair. Face already red, she grabbed the book that was on her table and pulled it to her face.

"Huh? I was reading! Umm this …this…uh..."

"Book, I think that's what it called, last I checked." Tatsuki said sarcastically.

"Yes! A book, with words and pictures to stare at, very interesting!" Inoue sat back into her chair and hunch her back as if she was deeply engrossed in the maths textbook. There were in fact no pictures.

Tatsuki looked behind at Ichigo and muttered, "Sure it is."

Inoue about burned her eyes into the book, she was dying to look back to see if Ichigo looked at her after Tatsuki's accusing tone but she didn't want to risk her eyes meeting his. Blushing again, she began to read. She could allow herself the privileges of friends and a normal school life but her heart, she could not. She didn't know how long she'll be here and even so, she wasn't this Inoue Orhime not with the wig or the contacts or the hatred of singing. All of that was a lie.

The door flew open, and in walked Professor Kisuke.

"Class! I have a surprise for you."

Everyone jumped out their skins, back in and sat shaken while Professor Kisuke filled the blank board within a minute.

I'll never get use to him… Inoue thought.

"Today I'm giving you a project that will make up a good part of your end of year mark. Don't hand it you fail. You will work in groups of two and you all have a whole month to complete it. The project is a research assignment. I teach you all history but sometimes its best for you to dig into it yourselves, it doesn't has to be that far back, as long as it is a good few years and peaks your interest it is pliable. These outlines have all the dos and don'ts, Keigo hand these out."

"Hai!" Keigo's knees buckled under the weight as Professor Kisuke, dropped them in his wavering hands. Each outline was roughly 2 inches thick.

"It will take the whole month to read those outlines." Renji muttered under his throat.

"If you started now, probably not." The professor said with a wink. "Well that is all, good-bye class, get to reading."

As quickly was he was in, he was out leaving the class quite stun.

"Umm…does he always get on in this manner?" Rukia asked Keigo who just landed an outline on her desk.

"Yip, especially when he drops stuff like this on us." While saying "drops" he dropped one on Inoue's desk.

"About dropping, here are the names for the groups, ta ta." The entire class was startled again as the professor stepped in threw a sheet of paper and disappeared again. The paper hadn't even touched the ground yet and he was gone.

"You sure?" Rukia asked raising an eyebrow.

Mizuiro picked up the paper and began to read out the group pairings.

"Yuko- Hyasu, Rukia-Renji, Chizuru-Tatsuki (loud groan from Tatsuki) Keigo-Michiru, Ichigo-Ryo, Ishida-Inoue…" Inoue stopped listening after her name was called.

I'm not paired with Ichigo…it doesn't matter

That thought was such a lie, but she didn't dwell.

"Of all the others in class I get stuck with Chizuru." Tatsuki complained and muttered continuously as Chizuru made her way to them.

"Tatsuki!"

"I'm out of here." Inoue watched as Tatsuki ducked and leaped over tables till she was at the classroom's exit and out. Chizuru, actually no one would have been able to catch her.

"Where did she go?" the bright red hair busted girl with glasses asked.

"Inoue…"

"Hai, Ishida-kun." Inoue replied,

"A month is a long time, but since the professor left maybe we should get a head start."

"Yea… think that is a good idea."

Eventually the entire class were paired up and all attempting to read the outline.

"Professor Kisuke's outlines are basically the same project after project just changes after a few things to makes us read the whole damn thing."

"Really?" Inoue asked with a laugh,

"Yip, but most don't know that cause they never read any of them, like Renji."

"That is a relief, so we could just get started then."

"Yea, skimmed through most of it already, so I'll just point out something that is against the rules if you bring it up."

"Great."

Inoue smiled, working with Ishida she realized was going to be very comfortable. He was pretty much the class genius anyway, though she knew that Ichigo was quite smart too.

"Have you any ideas?" he asked shaking her thoughts of Ichigo.

"Umm…I haven't really anything in history that interest me."

"Hmm, nothing you seen or heard at all?"

"No, just watched some documentary the other day but it wasn't about any history here."

"Doesn't have to be here," Ishida said tapping the outline.

"Well, it was about this kingdom that lost a queen. She left her king and princess to the throne…"

"This meeting is officially adjorned."

Rukia was one of the first to get out her chair but was soon back down when Hinamori motioned to her to sit. It was the first she ever saw Zaraki Kenpachi at any meeting furthermore in the house. When everyone had cleared the room, Rukia sat again.

"Due to our busy schedules we were not able to appropriately discuss you time spent outside of Seirei, this is what this meeting is for now." Hinamori finished and sat again as well.

"I'm ok…fine. I'm learning quite a lot and I am progressing nicely. Can I be excuse?"

"No, Your Highness not yet, as you know this is a temporary arrangement, please do not forget the reason you were sent here."

"I have not forgotten." Rukia rose to leave,

"Sit."

Rukia looked across to the man called Zaraki, the one who just told her to sit. He was known throughout Seirei as the most feared man on the personal guard forces of the Royal party. Rukia never really liked him, but she didn't fear him either, however she sat.

"Princess Rukia, this is a necessary, please tells us about your day in detail, if we are to protect you we need to know your daily routine."

Protect me? I got kidnapped and rescued in the same night, Protect me?

Rukia restrained her mouth and remain her posture as she thought quickly of what to tell them. How can they protect her? They already failed her once, there was someone who knew exactly who she was and that she was in Kankura. Two different groups of people to be exact. Breathing in she began, leaving out all details that involved her kidnapping… and rescue.

Eventually she was finished and everything was scribed and documented. Even her daily life her dad documented. Documented…

"That is all, you may go now."

"Thank you." She muttered, she bowed after they did, her head not dropping below theirs, of course, and exited. As usual she walked past the elevator and walked up the stairs, letting out her frustration on every step.

"I." one step

"Am…" another.

"Leaving here." Two more.

"Tonight."

When she finally reached her room, she motioned to one of the many maids at her door and told her to fetch Isane and Kiyone. Entering her room she found a file with her country's coats of arms on it.

"What is this...?"

Rukia picked up the file and gingerly opened it in, inside was an invitation of the colours silver, white and purple and a letter written on her family's stationary.

"The colours of the Abarai clan." Rukia said more than ask.

"We, the Abarai clan of Seirei," Rukia read, "cordially invite Your Highness, Princess Rukia, Daughter of Queen Hisana and King Byakuya, and the heir of the throne of Seirei, to the Ball of the Suisei on 21st of December, 2011. Your attendance would be grandly appreciated and we are looking forward to your response."

Rukia took the letter from behind and read the hand writing she knew was her father's. She knew it must be important if he had taken time out to actually write.

"Dear Daughter,

The invitation accompanying this letter is from one of the founding families as you should know. It is absolutely necessary that you attend. You will be informed at a later date about you transportation arrangements.

Your Father "

"The Comet ball…" Rukia was speechless.

The comet ball was Seirei's most magical event. She wasn't alive when the first one happened but her parents were. Her mother, Hisana, told her about it. It was held every 20 years when the comet, (suisei) appeared. In the castle of the Abarai clan, there was a comet window; whenever the comet was aligned with this window the light would shine through it illuminating the entire ballroom. The light that came through that glass was said to be healing and romantic. Her mother never did go into detail and she always refuse to describe it. She did say she knew she was in love with her father then but she didn't tell her much more. Just told her one day she'll be able to go and fulfill the destiny of her heart. Rukia as a child was fascinated and curious but now she was old enough to find out, she wasn't so sure she wanted to now.

At that moment the door opened and in came Kiyone and Isane.

"Your Highness." The both said,

Rukia, I cannot tell you any more than I have, The Suisei is something to be experience on one's own and one day my dear you will.

"Your Highness?"

"…but momma I would like to know more please"

"Ohh my dear in time."

"Rukia?" Isane in a shaky whispered,

"Ohh, hi." Rukia still a bit dazed closed the folder and placed it in her desk drawer.

"Forgive us for using your name but…"

Rukia waved the rest of Isane's excuse away and turned to face the sisters.

"It's ok, I prefer if you do call me Rukia actually."

Motioning for the girls to sit, Rukia stroll over to her bay window and sat with her feet up.

"Think I want to leave here, tonight, just to see if I really can just leave when I want to." Rukia announced,

"Tonight? Are you sure, Your –Rukia?" Kiyone squeaked out,

"I am, very much so sure."

"This will take some planning." Isane stated,

"Well, let's get started."

As soon as Renji came home, his phone ran. Everyone he knew from Karakura called him on his cell, so he knew it was them. The envelope he ignored for a week now was in the batch of mail, the only one not opened. He didn't want to pick it up but it hardly mattered now.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Renji."

"Hello…Oka-san."

Renji recognized the voice of his mother, Unohana Abarai, as any son would.

"How are you, my son?"

"I am well."

"I believe you have received the mail?"

"Indeed, I have I just was not able to read…"

"Well working the way you do, which is so unnecessary, what time will you have for anything?"

Renji sighed, "I know what is on it, Oka-san."

"Then you should know we will be sending for you soon."

"Yes, I know that also."

Thanks for reading.