Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach!

Bleach Star

Chapter Twelve- Mismatch?

Inoue sang the last line the "One Star at Sea" concert song opener. It was written by their label's songwriter. The remainder of the concert songs were to be written by Moto and Sun Hime except for the lucky one that wins the concert songwriting contest. The deadline for the contest wasn't up yet so they and the creative directors were focusing on the songs they already had and finalizing them. It was pretty hectic; class, rehearsal, home, homework then again the next day. And now she had to work out a way to fit in Ishida after Professor Kisuke little (gigantic really) surprise today in class.

"Wonderful girls, take a few." The producer said,

Inoue sat on the stage while Moto motioned for a chair from one of the stagehands, after him came a young lady with water and lemon tea. Inoue choose the tea, outside was a little chilly though the hall they were practicing in was fairly warm. Regardless of her huge to-do list she so far knew the entire opening song, 'It Begins', and was finishing up her first two songs, she and Ishida made good progress today with their project but of course more still had to be done. Her other assignments were a little behind but she was sure she could handle them, maybe even tonight.

"What are you thinking about with your face like that, ehhh?" Moto asked, before a sip of her water.

"My schedule." Inoue answered simply,

"I see. And how are you?"

"Sigh, think I've on taken more than I could handle." Inoue admitted, she didn't want to blame Moto, but the original plan for Karakura was to just be normal for a while.

"Well, the school thing isn't that necessary, you can always get tutored."

"Yes, I know that, but I wanted to go, I told you that when you said that we were taking a break here." Inoue pointed out calmly,

"But you don't have to, we are stars we perform." Moto said between another sip lazily,

"We were normal people first, well I was."

"Huh?"

"It's nothing."

"Look, In-Sun, I've been there, and a time will come when you have to choose."

"But you said we could have a break, what is wrong with a simple break?" Sun said her voice rising,

"Sun…"

"I am done for today."

Ignoring the looks from those who heard, Sun took up her bag and headed for the changing rooms close to the back exit.

I just wanted a break argggghhhhhh~

Sun went inside the room and changed her clothes. She put on a very simply cut close-fitted red dress and cobalt leggings. Over that was an oversize black T-shirt, jeans and loafers covered in stars and she held an oversize handbag that was green. Sun then carefully put in her contacts, finger comb her long hair and cover her eyes with heavily tinted sunglasses. Looking in the mirror she doubled check then exited.

Once she got pass the few workers that where in the hall, she exited and dismissed the presence of her bodyguards. In the alley now, she walked swiftly looking behind her back. Making sure the coast was clear she quickly slipped off her loafers first and switched them with pink ones; she slipped on a wig cap and fixed her black wig on expertly quickly, took off her T-shirt revealing the red dress and placed everything in her bag. Then, it was the bag's turn for it make-over, she unclipped the outer shell of the bag, folded it and placed in the bag also. The bag was now pink to match the shoes. She completed with her second double check and walked onto the streets to where they led her.

Everything was set. Rukia realized that disguises were fast becoming a part of her life. She now had blond hair, contacts, very little make-up and wore a maid's uniform, which even though it was a maid's uniform was quite prestigious in its own right. No typical black and white but each maid had the option to choose from lilac, wintergreen, baby blue, pink and peach. Kiyone's uniform was peach for the day so that was what Rukia wore. She had already told her guardians she would be retiring for the evening. So that was one phase over with. She had fifteen minutes before the second check was made so she had to hurry.

Kiyone was already tucked in bed with her hair cover in a black wig. Rukia thoroughly went through her sleep patterns. Her guards were very alert and noticed anything slight. The thing with Kiyone was she quite the actor and proved it on many accounts in her past. Isane was out in the hall as the maid standing outside. They were two every night along with the four guards and Kiyone, who was actually Rukia, was going to be the other maid. She just made the first fifteen minute check.

There were more guards than maids in the mansion, however the maids and guards changed position regularly to maintain maximum operations. This being so; some guards have only meet some maids once. Rukia didn't even have to switch any schedule because these guards she knew had never seen Kiyone and would not notice the minor difference.

Opening the door, Rukia, now Kiyone, stepped out and took her position next to Isane.

"She is sleeping calmly."

"In good time, we are here to relieve you, Isane-san, Kiyone-san."

Rukia turned slighty not wanting to look anyone directly in the eye.

"Thank you." Isane replied,

The guards took up their positions, two on either side of the door and two facing, as they did every night. Rukia and Isane proceed to walk down the hall and began venturing to a part of the house Rukia never did before, the Maid Quarters. Every part of the mansion use to house a princess such as Rukia was spotless and covered in many artifacts; enough to remind Rukia of her lineage and her true identity in case she ever could forget. There were paintings of her countries such as the landscape from the white rose field that her dad commanded be planted after her mother's death to the lavender one her mom did for Rukia when she was born. Seirei was everywhere in the house. Turning, she followed Isane to the West wing of the mansion. It wasn't as populated by artifacts but there was a huge painting for her royal family at the center of that wing's common room. Caught off guard, Rukia stood and stared at the painting suddenly longing for her old life, the one with her mother.

"Not to rush you, Your Hi—Rukia, but we must get going." Isane said.

"Oh uh yea." Rukia looked away and continued to follow Isane till they came to a hallway with many doors. Rukia was guessing this was where her maids' rooms were.

"Okay, this is me and Kiyone's room, we'll get your stuff from in here and… and well you know the next part."

Rukia nodded, she hadn't told Isane about the part of the plan where she actually left the mansion. Isane unlocked the door and opened it to reveal a very comfortably size room. Rukia switched on the lights, the room was spacious and occupied by two beds, a built-in closet, two desks and chairs and a small sofa. The girls in the small space of time they were from Seirei managed to make it look quite homely and cosy. It wasn't half the size of Rukia's that was for sure but that stuff didn't matter to Rukia.

Isane opened her closest and pulled out Rukia's black and gray chappy bag. The girl had thousands of them, she pulled another bag, her own that was bigger than Rukia's own.

"Great, I'll just hide it in here." Rukia jammed her bag in the other one. Then revealing from her uniform pocket she brought out a blueprint. In shock, Isane glided her hands across it helping to spread it out.

"Your Highness, how did you acquire this?" she asked while gasping.

"I wish I could say." Rukia answered.

Isane glanced warily at Rukia; months before the transfer from Seirei to Karakura, the council drilled the staff through many workshops and procedures, such as gathering information, hiding it, spying artfully and some defense classes, all of this unknown to the princess. The council and her father did everything to feed her mediocre information, sheltering her and molding her into the Queen they wanted in the further. Yet right in for her eyes, this same princess was displaying before her the blueprint of the entire mansion. She wasn't sure who was fooling who anymore.

Rukia and Isane sat back taking in the huge map before them; Rukia had already marked out her way out and she was ready to follow it. She didn't care that she found the map in her box. Not just any box; the one she kept under her bed with all the keepsakes of her mother's, some of her father's and close friends she managed to keep in her short life time. It was rolled together in sheets of paper with lyrics on them. Her mother said they were from a friend of hers that she lost a while back. Rukia never paid them much mind but this evening when she was going through it as she did to rid her of her bad moods, the blueprint appeared. Like some weird fairy godmother was looking out for her or something.

"I'm going to follow this."

"Your Highness…Rukia, are you sure? It isn't safe out there."

"I want to know, I have to just go this once."

Rukia saw the worry expression on Isane's face. She so selfishly wanted to be away from her father's control she didn't see the risk she was putting those who helped her in. Regardless of all pleas and protest she could possibly make, the council and her father would never forgive Isane and Kiyone for any part they played if they ever found out. But she was determined, they wouldn't find out and they wouldn't keep her in.

"Let's go."

Rukia and Isane cautiously walked through the halls of the mansion, they dodged many times and hide in places that really weren't possible. Rukia knew it was risky she and Isane sneaking through the hallways but she needed her help. From Isane's room they turned to the left and walked pass the other maids' rooms, they turned off into the common room again and into the maid's kitchen. The best part about the path she noticed was that it wasn't near the rooms of her guardians. In the kitchen, a few of the maids were still in it talking amongst themselves.

"Kiyone, Isane are you hungry?" asked a tall woman with blue eyes and dark hair cut in an asymmetrical bob.

"No no not tonight, Osa." Isane said causally, she whisked past grabbing an apple from a nearby basket, "Not overwhelmingly hungry tonight."

"Me either, stomach ache.' Rukia said quickly while moving right behind Isane.

"Why the bag?" some other maid asked?

"Laundry." and Isane and Rukia was out before they could ask anything else.

Indeed the next room was the laundry room and after that another hallway. While walking Rukia just stopped in the middle of it and began looking around.

"What are you looking for?"

When you come to the hallway after the washroom of the maids, search for a tapestry.

"Tapestry…" Rukia twirled around slowly twice before she spotted it just to her left.

"Here." She rushed to it and gently felt through it till she pulled out a long key.

"Your Highness…"

Behind the tapestry there is a door use the key to unlock the door

Doing so, Rukia opened the door and she and Isane disappeared from the hallway. In a small room with no light, Rukia search her thoughts.

Look for a wall, feel for a slight indentation, apply pressure and slide up.

Rukia repeated all the instructions she saw scribbled on the back of the blueprint. There was no explanation for them but they didn't fail her so far. She followed the last one and waited. Like in the movies, a small part of the wall sunk in and slid hiding to the left leaving a small space for Rukia to enter. Rukia looked back at Isane with a fearless and excited smile.

"This is it."

Isane eyed the dark hole suspiciously and sent a pleading look to Rukia.

"I've gotten this far." She said,

"I know, and I know this is what you really want but I see now why Your Majesty Kuchiki is concern for your safety."

Rukia's eyes fell upon her feet and she hesitated for a moment; just a moment.

"I came this far, and I'm not going back now."

"Yes, I know."

"I'll be back in a couple of hours, you'll see." Rukia smiled and disappeared into the rabbit hole of freedom.

Inoue wandered through the town of her temporary home. She bought a few trinkets, clothing and was now looking for a place that sold good books and food. She was enjoyed being on her own and not being bombarded by directors or teachers for that matter. The air of normalcy calmed her, she loved the street fashion and how the kids her age were walking in groups hanging out, a few even on dates.

Sigh, she sure did miss her old life.

She was walking for another twenty minutes when she picked out a distinct red hair guy sitting more like slouching in a coffee shop. Renji looked mighty broody at the moment but she was up for anything right about now. She went in and as causal as possible ambled up to his table.

"Hi, Renji."

Renji looked up fairly startled and attempted to straighten up.

"Oh, hi Inoue." He said with a soft smile.

"Mind if I join you? Just for a while."

Inoue regretted asking, he looked torn like he didn't what to hurt her feelings but didn't want to be alone either, finally he nodded and motioned the waitress over.

"Good evening , welcome to Coffee Dream, here is a menu." Inoue thanked her and peruse it. She picked her order and watched at the girl walked all the way back to the counter before turning back to Renji.

His eyes were staring out in space, like he was looking at something he didn't like. He didn't seem at all like the carefree and insulting Renji she was beginning to know.

"How are you?" she asked trying to make light conversation.

"I'm ok."

He didn't continue at all suggesting further conversation, but Inoue really wasn't about sitting in silence.

"Is the stuff here any good?"

"Yea it is, I come here often."

"That's good, was looking for a good place like this but not sure which place to try." She admitted;

"You'll get use to it, really."

"I suppose."

As if it as there was a switch, Renji leaned back in to the chair he was sitting in and smirked,

"So you were just about the place like a lost duck then?" he asked while chuckling,

"I wouldn't say a duck!" Inoue said furrowing her eyebrows.

"Looks like it to me. What other places are you looking for?"

Inoue saw right past the smirk, she afterall was hiding her true identity so she knew when someone was hiding their feelings, but she wasn't about to pry. Whatever Renji was upset about he was clearly trying to play it off. He reminded her of Ichigo.

"Well, I was looking for a bookstore. Haven't found one yet."

Renji rolled his eyes at the word "bookstore", this girl, he was thinking, was such a bore.

"Books, seriously."

"Yes, what is wrong with boys and books!"

"Nothing is wrong with boys, books however…"

Before Inoue could reply, the waitress from before showed up with her order and Inoue ate for a good few minutes.

"What is fun for you then?"

"Hmmm, I can take you to a few places I like right now."

"Right now?"

"Yes."

"What if I don't like them?" Inoue asked, thinking Renji was about to take her to some strip club.

"You will, and I'll even take you to a bookstore."

Renji at moment wanted a distraction from his life and Inoue didn't know him well enough to want to inquire about why he was upset.

"Hmm….ok, let's go."

Rukia was terrified as she travel through the pathway she found in her home. It was ten minutes since she left Isane and she still wasn't out yet. Breathing as calmly as possible she continued until in a few seconds she came to a wall. Panicking at first she though she was trapped and began pounding at the wall. It was then she realized the same method she used to open when she entered was the same to exit. Push and slide up.

The cold air hit her right in the face and she loved it. She changed quickly in the passage way and then pushed the door back into place. The secret passage way brought her at the end of the trees at the west of the mansion; directly in line to town. Being extremely cautious, she kept as hidden as possible till she reach the road and blended in with the other citizens. She didn't have long and she didn't know where she'll going but she was out and that was a small victory.

Now where to?

Rukia wandered about causally looking from place to place. She talked to a few people her age, tried a treat they suggested, watched a small band performing in an open club and just enjoyed the atmosphere. Still walking she walked past a long lake; the lake that connected and divided Karakura. The shops' lights danced upon the lake mesmerizing Rukia for a moment. It was then she saw Ichigo; sitting on the grass just staring out at the lake in a solemn state. She walked towards him slowly giving him enough time to notice she was coming.

"Oi, Ichigo."

"Oh, hi Rukia."

"Wassup?"

"Not much." He answered,

"Whatcha looking at?" Rukia asked curiously, while sitting,

"Just the lights."

Rukia reverted her attention to them again, "They are nice."

"Yip."

They sat there in silence for a good few minutes. For Ichigo, it was the norm and for Rukia, she didn't care. Silence never killed anyone and for some reason the silence out here sounded way better.

Thanks for reading!