A/N: A group to thank for reviews: SasuTenLuvr, Thunder Claw03, Rukia's Reflection, ShadowSword524, ichigoloverrrr, Reason to Scatter, Rukia Kurosakii, Alex Spotlight, and Assault Godzilla. And thank you to those that put this or its author on their lists. Now someone came up with the saying "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree," but for the life of me I can't find it in the reviews or remember who said it. Anyway, you asked, so here it is. With my own twist, of course.
Some of you know that I haven't been able to update chapters because of an error in the system. While it isn't fixed, I have been told of a way around that for now. My thanks to L.M. Avalon for telling me how.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Bleach characters, manga, anime, movies, etc. They belong by copyright laws to Tite Kubo et al.
Every Teen's Worst Nightmare
The Cherry Doesn't Fall Far From The Tree
Byakuya stood at the podium and refrained from continuing to argue with Ichigo. He watched the class as they tried to quiet the dolls and had to stop himself from rubbing the headache that was beginning to pound in his temple away. To make the move would show weakness and that he wouldn't do in front of the ryoka.
Instead he opened the folder he'd been given and went through the lesson plan Ochi-sensei had graciously left for him. During the time that he'd waited in the teachers' room, he'd brushed up on his history, knowing that he'd largely ignored what had gone on in the Living World unless it had affected the Soul Society.
His tutors as a child had been thorough so he was in no danger of giving away the fact that he was not human. Kurosaki and his friends were not likely to say anything, even in surprise. The fact that they could keep such a secret under pressure said a lot about their trustworthiness.
"Nii-sama…" Rukia whispered, approaching him with the doll. "Why are you really here?"
"Hn, I am going to assess your curriculum. If it does not meet my approval, you will be taken out of this school."
"But Nii-sama, I'm supposed to keep track of Ichigo and the others. How can I do that effectively if I'm not with them during the day? Too many people can see me in my soul form. It might attract unwanted attention if the half of the class is staring out the window the entire day because I'm hanging around."
The noble didn't admit that she had several valid points. "We shall see," he said instead. "Return to your seat, Rukia. I believe history is next on the agenda."
Rukia barely kept her sigh to herself. She went back to her desk, cradling the doll in her arm. It would be so much easier if there was someplace she could set it down while the lecture was going on. She would not be able to ignore class this time. Her brother would know if she was just pretending to learn. For once she'd be studious and concentrate on her lectures. Hopefully there would be no quizzes or tests that would show her lack of academic improvement.
Ichigo watched her posture become stiff and her expression remote. She always took on that attitude when confronted with prolonged contact with her brother. Briefly he glared at the noble but said nothing for the rest of history lecture. When the break came, he silently took the doll from Rukia so that she could stretch.
"Oi, midget, are you all right?"
"I'm glad that Nii-sama's so interested but this is going to be a problem."
"Ah, what can he do while we're in school? Having his stuck up self as a teacher is an annoyance but as long as he doesn't follow us home, nothing too messed up should happen. And it's not like he's a bad teacher. I've had worse substitutes."
"I am glad you think so, Kurosaki. I do have something to discuss with you. Your home is small and inconvenient for this project. I could tell that the crying doll interrupts your sisters' sleep and there is no extra room for the thing to have its own space. As my sister cannot sleep in the same room with you, she will have trouble sharing the responsibilities of parenting."
The conversation around them stopped at the captain's words, each of the war heroes getting a bad feeling. Instincts had been honed during the last several months and interaction with the noble had taught them that he did not lecture or even talk unless he had a point. Tatsuki straightened, figuring that what was about to come out of the handsome mouth would not be good for her childhood friend. She had already come to the conclusion that Byakuya Kuchiki was a jerk who thought his way was best regardless of evidence to the contrary.
"I don't mind, Nii-sama. Ichigo took over last night and I'll do it tonight. We'll swap out Hollow exorcising during the night so we don't lose too much sleep." Rukia tried to convince her brother that she was fine where she was because something told her that she was not going to like the plan she could sense he had.
"You need not concern yourself with your Hollow exterminating duties. The resident Shinigami has been informed that he had best not count on you or your friends for the duration of this project. I, myself, have had a word with him and made sure he understood the consequences of failing his duty."
Ishida, thinking of the lack of efficiency of the afro-haired Shinigami, mentally winced. "We do not mind, Kuchiki-taicho." He really did not want to think about what punishment would be handed out for the guy's failure.
"Regardless, you will concentrate on this. I will not be going easy on your grades just because you have helped the Gotei Thirteen in the past." Byakuya directed his answer to the Quincy but he was clearly talking to them all. Thankfully most of their classmates were out of the room.
"Of course," the archer conceded.
"So what are you saying, Byakuya?" Ichigo demanded. "If my house is too small, what do you want us to do? Rukia's never minded staying with me before." Like her brother she had commented on the size of his room but she actually felt comfortable in the space. He didn't bring up the fact that she spent nearly all of her time in his room. Byakuya really didn't need to know that.
"I am saying, Kurosaki, that you and my sister will reside with me for the duration of this project."
"Nii-sama!" Rukia protested. Silently she was wondering where he was even staying. He would not be at Urahara's and she doubted that he would have even thought of staying at Ichigo's.
"I have rented the house next door for the length of my stay here in the Living World. It is small but far larger than Kurosaki's living quarters."
"You can't be serious!" Ichigo yelled.
"I am always serious, Kurosaki. You shall have your own room and a room for the doll. Tonight's assignment for the project is outfitting a nursery for a child. You will not be required to buy the furniture and supplies but I will require you to find out the cost of them. The quality will be befitting a Kuchiki."
Rukia and Ichigo opened their mouths to protest once again but ended up closing them when the latter's Hollow detector went off. "I got this!" the daiko shouted, relieved to have an excuse to leave the captain's presence. He quickly swallowed Kon's pill and left the class room at a shunpo that rivaled his speed while in bankai.
Rukia stared at her phone, wondering briefly why no order had come through. The Soul Society had probably stopped sending orders because of her brother's presence. Little got by him in regards to a Hollow's appearance and with so many people able to kill the blighted souls, it was a little redundant to send messages.
"Rukia," Byakuya began, seeing his sister's closed off expression. She had not been like that last night.
"I understand, Nii-sama. We shall stay with you for the week or so it takes to finish this project." She gave a deep bow and watched him walk away.
"You know, Kuchiki, I could really come to hate your brother," Tatsuki said. She had seen how remote the younger sibling had become at her brother's interference. "It's no wonder you like staying at Ichigo's." Her mother could be strict but no where near like that of her new teacher.
"He's not always like that," Orihime argued lightly. "He really cares about her," she went on to explain when her friends gave her incredulous looks.
"Of course he does, Inoue," Ishida agreed. "He just has an odd way of showing it. It isn't really surprising that he would want to monitor Kurosaki's interaction with his sister as much as possible though."
"Are you defending him?" Kon asked, surprised. He shivered just thinking of Byakuya. "Nee-san becomes so cold when around him. I can't even get a hug from her…"
"I never give you a hug," Rukia scowled, glad when Ichigo reappeared and claimed his body from the mod soul. "Nii-sama is merely upholding a noble's responsibilities, that's all."
"Your loyalty is to be commended, Kuchiki-san," Ishida said.
"Loyalty or not, I still don't get how you can allow him to push you around." Ichigo frowned at Rukia. He hated when she got submissive in her brother's presence. She emulated him so much when she was giving orders and acting superior but the minute she got in the same room with him, it was like all of her independence went out of the window.
Rukia's back went even straighter and she stared him down. "I do not allow him to push me around." The aristocratic edge to her voice brought a smirk to his face.
"No? Well, you certainly don't act like yourself. I like it better when you're your usual violent, midget self."
"Is that so? You must be a glutton for punishment then." Rukia was tempted to show him just how violent she could be when her brother returned to the classroom. "You're lucky Nii-sama came back. You should thank him for saving you."
"Che, that'll be the day." The look she gave him was right out of Byakuya's book of limited facial expressions. She might have only been his sister for a little over forty years but she was most definitely his sister. Ichigo supposed the saying that the apple didn't fall far from the tree was true, as much as it was clichéd.
More like the cherry doesn't fall far from the tree. The thought made him snicker, earning another glare from his partner and an equally disgusted look from Byakuya. The action only made Ichigo laugh harder, his classmates and friends all looking at him like he'd lost his mind.
"Sometimes I worry about you," Ishida sighed.