"Are you sure it's her?"

"Yes. I have looked over everything and there is no doubt that it is her."

"Then are you sure are you sure about this? Isn't she going to be accepted into the Gotei 13 soon? Won't that put her in danger?"

"Yes, but I have already settled that problem."

"Oh?"

"I have talked with Jushiro and he is more than willing to accept her into his company. She will not come to any harm and I've already talked to Jushiro."

"When are you going to meet her?"

"Congratulations Rukia!" Momo ran up to the surprised girl with a hug. "I heard you passed!"

"Thanks Momo. And congratulations to you too!" Rukia said trying to break out of Momo's tight hold.

Momo stood back with a smile. "Thanks." Then the door opened to reveal their two friends.

"Hey Rukia! Congratulations!" said Tatsuki. "We heard you passed."

"Yeah!! Congratulations!" Orihime stepped toward the girl with a package in her hands. "Here," she said holding her arms toward Rukia. "I made you some cookies! Guess what the secret ingredient is!"

"What?" Rukia asked nervously as she accepted the platter.

"Leeks!" Orihime cried excitedly.

"Oh…um….thanks," replied Rukia as Tatsuki and Momo looked at the cookies nervously. "Orihime, when are you going to take your final exam?"

"I'm taking it at the end of the week!" said Orihime cheerily. "But, Tatsuki already took hers."

Rukia and Momo turned their heads to look at Tatsuki. "Yeah, I took it yesterday, but I don't get my results back until the end of the week."

"Yeah, but we already know you passed," said Momo with a knowing smile. "Probably the best in your class."

"No, not the best," replied Tatsuki. "I'm pretty sure that Chad did better than me." She looked to address Rukia. "So, how did your test go? I heard you got stuck with a really tough hollow."

"Yeah," replied Rukia not really elaborating. "We had to get this hollow called the Grand Fisher." She didn't mention its relationship with Ichigo.

"You're so lucky!" said Orihime. Everyone turned to give her an odd look. Why would it be lucky being assigned to something that could potentially kill you? "You got to be partnered with Ichigo! I would love to be partnered up with him!" She had a huge smile on her face and was looking out into the distance, daydreaming.

Tatsuki laughed. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you aren't a shinigami, let alone in the same company! I mean, even Rukia isn't going to be with him after they graduate."

Something inside Rukia jumped at that comment. She hadn't thought about that. But, in reality it was true. In a week they would be assigned to their companies and it was most likely that they wouldn't end up in the same one.

"Though speaking of companies," continued Tatsuki. "Which one do you think you'll be in?"

"I don't know," replied Rukia. "We haven't really heard our assignments yet."

"Yeah I know, but what do you think? You too Momo."

Momo jumped at the mention of her name and blushed. "Um…well, I wouldn't mind being in the fifth company...Aizen-taicho is really nice."

"See," said Tatsuki triumphantly. "Momo knows where she's going."

"Yeah, but still, I don't really know many of the captains and their companies." Rukia sighed she didn't really care what company she ended up in -not that they had a choice anyway. Though it would be weird working with a bunch of strangers; she had become use to working with Ichigo.

Rukia glanced over to the clock. "Sorry you guys, but I need to go."

"Huh?" Her friends looked at her confused. "Where?"

"Uh…sensei wanted to see me about something," answered Rukia. "though I don't know why."

Momo laughed. "Maybe you got some special award for doing so well."

"I doubt it," said Rukia. "I'm not the best in the class."

"You aren't?" Orihime looked confused. "Then who is better than you?"

"Well, for one Ichigo-" started Rukia.

"Really?"" interrupted Tatsuki with an amused smile on her face. "Should I tell him you said that?"

"No!" Rukia said immediately.

"No, he isn't better than you, or no, I shouldn't tell him?"

"Shut up Tatsuki," Rukia grumbled. "It's not that he's necessarily that he's better, but power wise he is defiantly stronger. Now I need to go. I'll see you guys later."

Rukia entered the office and walked over to where the teacher was working. The sensei looked up from her work to see the visitor. "Ah! Rukia you're here. Good." The sensei stood up and walked toward the door, motioning for Rukia to follow her. "Come."

Confused, yet curious, Rukia followed her teacher out of the office and down the hall where they entered one of the larger spare rooms on the right.

For the most part the room was bare, with the exception of the small group of people standing in the middle. There were four of them, two of which were flanking the others. Rukia supposed them to be guards compared to the two important looking ones in the middle. The shorter of the two was much older with round glasses and with a shawl around his shoulders.

The last man was the most intriguing. He stood tall and straight, his face set still, his eyes piercing as they examined her. His dark hair fell to his shoulders with the exception of the strands that were used in the kenseikan hair piece. Seeing this, Rukia put together that he was some sort of noble and coat that was draped around his shoulders told her he was a captain.

Rukia shrank back slightly at the sight of these important people. What could they was with her?

She turned towards her sensei who bowed towards the man in the middle. "Kuchiki-taicho, I'll leave her to you." And with that the she turned and left leaving Rukia alone to face these strange men on her own.

Rukia turned back to look at the most distinct man in the middle that her sensei had referred to as 'Kuchiki-taicho'. As she met his eyes she immediately detected his spiritual pressure. Inwardly she gasped as her eyes went wide and her legs involuntarily shook.

Finally, the captain broke his gaze and addressed her. "What is your name?" His voice was quiet and cold, commanding the attention of everyone who could hear.

"R-rukia," she replied unsteadily.

"Rukia," he repeated as if testing out the new word. "Do you have a family name?"

It wasn't a question, it was a demand.

"I don't have one…sir," she answered. She didn't think her friends counted as family, though sometimes they felt that way.

"I see." It sounded like he had expected her answer. "Well then, my name is Byakuya Kuchiki, head of the Kuchiki clan and captain of the sixth company."

Rukia nodded her head in response. What else could she do?

"I heard about you through the student reports that are sent to the captains." Rukia nodded again, more slowly trying to see where he was going with this. "It was strange as you look very much like my late wife, Hisana Kuchiki." Then men standing next to him nodded in agreement. "For this reason, we would like to adopt you into the Kuchiki family."

The world suddenly stopped. Rukia froze in place, not daring to believe what she had heard him say. One of the most powerful families in the Seireitei wanted to adopt her?

"W-w-what…I-I..." Rukia stuttered trying to form some sort of coherent words.

"Of course you may still become a shinigami. I have even made arrangements for you to join the thirteenth company." His voice was devoid of feel and seemed indifferent.

"I-uh…" So many things were being thrown at her at once. She was still trying to get over the adoption proposal.

"And of course, after you graduate you will move into the Kuchiki manor." He acted as if she had already agreed.

"Umm…Thank you very much Kuchiki-taicho," Rukia began. "But, I don't know. I'm really not a noble at all."

"That's not a problem," Kuchiki-taicho replied, easily solving the problem. "You will have some instruction."

Rukia thought for a moment. Her? A noble? She really couldn't see that. "Uh…sir, may I ask you a question?" He didn't answer, so she took that as a yes. "What about my friends? Will I be able to see them?"

The intimidating captain gave her an odd look- the first sign of emotion he had showed so far. "…Well I don't really know how much you will see them between your duties as a shinigami and noble."

"Duties as a noble?!" Rukia squeaked. She could feel the nervousness growing in her stomach.

"Of course there will be things that you will become responsible for."

"Oh," was all she could say in reply.

Suddenly the door slammed open loudly and the group turned around to see a tall red head enter the room, with a bright smile on his face.

"Hey Rukia I-" Renji was about to continue, but he stopped, smile frozen in place, when he noticed the important looking people standing next Rukia.

The old man was the one to break the silence. "It seems we've been interrupted." He almost seemed to be glaring at Renji for interrupting. He turned to face Rukia. "Very well…We hope you accept our proposal."

The group of four then turned and walked out the door. Rukia let out a breath that she hadn't known she was holding.

Rukia turned to the figure that was standing in the door way, still frozen from the force of the nobles' spiritual pressure. She was surprised that he was here, from what she had briefly heard, he had been looking for her.

Her brain turned back to the conversation she had just had. Should she agree? She was clueless. Yes, it was true that a part of her had always wanted to be a part of a family, but... She blinked again and looked at Renji.

Yes, that was right. She did have a family. It hadn't been too long ago when she, Renji and their other friends were living together. They had been a family, they cared and watched out for each other. They had to live through what most normal families did not.

Rukia gave Renji another look. If she joined the Kuchiki clan, she would feel like she was giving up her real family. Turning to a world that was far different than anything she had ever known. Surely they wouldn't want that- right?

"Renji…?" Her voice was quiet and unsure.

Her voice brought Renji back to reality. "Oh…Geez, Rukia…That looked intense. What was that about?"

Rukia paused a second and took a deep breath before she spoke. "They said I'm to be adopted into the Kuchiki family." Renji's eyes went wide with surprise. "And they said that when I graduate, they have made arrangements for me to enter the thirteenth company…"

As Rukia spoke, Renji tried to take in all that she was saying. The Kuchiki Family! That was an important family and he knew this would be a wonderful opportunity for her.

"Renji…I don't-"

"Rukia! That's great!"Renji grabbed her shoulders in excitement.

"Huh?" said Rukia, completely taken aback by his response.

"Congratulations! You'll never go hungry again!" He seemed to be working himself up as he went on. "I wonder what aristocrats eat? Aw! You are so lucky! I'm so jealous I can't stand it!"

Rukia's face fell as she felt her heart sink. She came to realize that she didn't want him to be jealous and happy for her. Rukia wanted him to realize that she needed the people around her. She needed her family and right now she felt like she was being abandoned.

"I see…" Rukia fiercely fought back the sadness she was desperately hiding. "Thanks."

And she turned away.

Rukia slowly trudged down the hall as she had considered her actions. After walking away from Renji, she had gone to catch up with the nobles:

"Excuse me! Kuchiki-taicho!"

The addressed immediately spun around to face her, his cold eyes meeting hers once again.

Rukia fidgeted under his hard stare as she tried to get her thoughts together.

"Sir, I would like to respond to your proposal."

"And your answer?" Still, he seemed completely emotionless.

Rukia took a deep breath and bowed. "I would be honored to be adopted into your family."

When she chanced to look up at the captain she saw that his face had made no change.

"Very well," Kuchiki-taicho replied. "I will send for you after your graduation ceremony."

Rukia straightened up. "Thank you Kuchiki-taicho," her voice showed an indifference that she didn't feel. She was already starting to act like them: emotionless.

The head of the family paused as if briefly considering something."Not 'Kuchiki-taicho' you may call me 'Nii-san'."

That final word lingered in her head. She had never really had an official brother before, though she had considered Renji and her deceased friends her brothers.

She let out a sigh.

"Hey. What's the matter?"

Rukia was broken from her thoughts by her approaching partner.

"Nothing's wrong," was her immediate response.

"Really?" Ichigo looked at her closely. "Wow. I never noticed that you were constantly miserable."

Rukia snapped. "That's you, idiot!" Though ever since the whole Grand Fisher incident he had been a lot less…angry? Well…he still didn't really smile, but still, he wasn't constantly frowning.

Ichigo laughed at her reaction. That was a little more normal Rukia behavior. "But seriously, what's wrong?"

Rukia sighed. He was going to find out one way or another. "I've been adopted into the Kuchiki family."

Ichigo raised his eyebrows in surprise, though he didn't immediately jump for joy like Renji had "And you don't want to be? What did they force you into it?"

"No, they asked," said Rukia. "But, I don't know…I thought it would be nice to finally have a family…but I also don't want to lose my friends who have almost become my family."

"Oh," Ichigo didn't know how to respond. He knew that Rukia had never known her family and he felt bad that he had that privilege while she didn't. "Well, I guess it's nice that you finally have a family." He paused. "But, you know…if you ever need anything me and your other friends will always be there for you."

The sincerity in his voice made Rukia's heart warm. He was right. "Thanks. But, you know, I'm not going that far. I'm still going to see you every chance I get!" Rukia smiled.

Ichigo returned her smile. "Good. Because I'll hold you to that, even if I have to go to the Kuchiki mansion and get you myself!"

Rukia laughed. She couldn't even image Byakuya's reaction to Ichigo barging into his house just to see her. He would probably have Ichigo arrested.

"Deal."

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Okay... So what did you think of the chapter? This was a pretty important chapter and I tried to get everything I wanted in it, but I don't know...what do you think? I was also debating leaving out that last part with Ichigo, but something made me keep it in.

Fun Fact: The inspiration for my story came from Renji's flashback in book 11 (pretty much this chapter plus the extra ch. in book 15) I was always annoyed with Renji and how he kind of ditched Rukia in school and then abandoned her when she seemed down about the whole adoption thing which is probably the reason I've been kind of hard on him. But, don't worry Renji fans! I don't hate Renji and things will get better for him :)

Anyway..PLEASE REVIEW!!! And THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of the people who reviewed for the last chapter!!!!

~StrawberryShinigami