I DON'T OWN BLEACH

Dedicated to my Yaoi Fangirl Council and Gloaming Grove my hard working beta and dear friend.

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage." Lao Tzu

Chapter 12; Denial is the first sign of a problem

"I thought that if you went with me, it would be less suspicious." Rukia's large eyes look up at him, waiting for his response.

"So many distractions...indeed."

"Ridiculous, there is no reason for me to-" "Deny everything!"

"Nii-sama, perhaps I should have worded my request more carefully." Rukia taps her index fingers together in false modesty. "Will you accompany me to the relief station?"

"Alright." He replies, colder than usual, stepping next to her as they walk to the relief station. Since when did Rukia learn to handle him so well? He sees through her request, but something compels him to be gentle with his little sister. It's weakness and self-indulgence to allow her influence over him. Kurosaki is kind to his sisters, maybe it's normal to patronize younger siblings? It doesn't matter, the bigger issue is, how is she aware of his... relationship? (Is that the right word for the thing between him and Ichigo?) Just how does she know about it? If Renji told her...torture! Blunt can be first, he can hit him with the hilt of Senbonzakura.

Thankfully Rukia didn't feel the need to say anything else until they walked into the relief station. Byakuya's gratitude will be short lived. She turns to him in an eerie high pitched voice saying the one thing he hadn't a contingency for.

"Nii-sama, I'll distract Renji for you so you can talk to Ichigo alone."

"Why do I-"

"Nii-sama, my room is next to yours." Rukia's voice drops low to a whisper, she leans motions Byakuya around the corner.

"I don't understand."

"You talk in your sleep."

"Shit! Fix that right away!"

True to her word, Rukia manages to drag Renji out of Ichigo's room to 'talk'. Byakuya considers turning around and walking out the door. He rethinks that, squinting his eyes, no way he was going to run from anything. He is a Kuchiki, they don't run away but... they do deny things. Just pretend nothing happened, and you can go back to your comfortable life. With a brilliant plan in his head on how to act around Kurosaki, he walks into his room. Byakuya takes one look at his amber eyes and curses under his breath. "Damn it, he looks sad."

"Hey, Byakuya what brings you here?" Ichigo turns his head away from the dark-haired noble, forcing his gaze out the window.

"Rukia." Byakuya answers with his normal disinterested tone, secretly hoping his is acting is as convincing as his sister's.

"Ah, that sounds like her." He scratches his head, shifting his weight from foot to foot. "I always knew I'd end up here, but I assumed it would be a long time from now."

"Your decision was wise, for Orihime's and your sake."

"How is Inoue?" He turns to look at him for the first time; his eyes scan Byakuya's pale smooth skin.

"When Shinji was released they vanished into the night." Byakuya steps toward the door, fighting the urge to look in his eyes.

"Then she'll be fine, Shinji can protect her." Ichigo walks in over to the bed and picks up his sword.

"I have stayed too long, excuse me."

"Byakuya, I won't cause trouble for you."

Byakuya stops in his tracks, hearing Ichigo's strained words, his hand touching the warm wood of the door.

"I-I did not expect you too."

"Oi! Ichigo!" Renji bursts through the door, blowing Byakuya's hair back from his face. "Oh, sorry captain Kuchiki, I didn't know you were in here."

"I was just leaving vice-captain Abarai."

"Renji! I still think that picture is crooked, come back here and fix it!" Rukia yells, dragging Renji by the sleeve.

"Ichigo, I pulled some strings and turns out you can stay in the barracks with me until they place you in your division." Renji pats Ichigo on the back with a big grin on his face. Byakuya begins to walk out the door when Rukia speaks up.

"That's too bad because I already invited him to stay at the manor." Rukia elbows Byakuya for a reply. "Isn't that right, Nii-sama?" Byakuya stands there, dumbfounded at Rukia's actions. "If he stays with you, maybe..." Byakuya frowns creasing his brows together. "Just ignore it, another distraction."

"Rukia, I-I don't want to be any trouble." Ichigo replies, sweat drips from his brow, the room feels steamer than a hot spring.

"I told you already, you are not trouble." Byakuya adds before flash stepping away.

"Then it's settled. Ichigo will stay with us!" Rukia's violet eyes shimmer with a devious plan. "Tee-hee, I am so brilliant!"

XXX

Dinner at the Kuchiki house is formal, served promptly at seven every evening. The whole house seems on edge when the master of the house arrives from his shinigami duties. Byakuya walks directly to his office, passing by Ichigo's new room.

"I'm wearing five extra pounds of clothes." Ichigo scratches at the formal kimono feeling like he is melting into his tabi socks. "The blue hakama pants are kinda cool though." Ichigo tugs on his final layer of clothing, a navy blue nagajuban, looking into the mirror. He brushes his hair, struggling to tame a wild hair sticking to his forehead, heavy from sweating. "I feel like I need another bath already."

"Your pants are on backwards, Kurosaki." Byakuya says calmly, standing in the open doorway of Ichigo's room.

"There aren't any tags, I couldn't tell. Damn it!" Ichigo fumbles with his clothing, taking off his outer jacket to get a closer look at his pants. "How can you tell?" He tilts his head, his brown eyes squinting in the mirrors reflection. "I'm freaking burning up in all these layers!" Ichigo starts to remove his pants when he sees Byakuya's lowered gaze on his backside.

"If you are going to change at least shut the door." Byakuya notices he has been caught looking and quickly closes Ichigo's door, continuing to his office.

After turning his pants around and draping himself in a mountain of clothing Ichigo sits down for his first dinner in the Kuchiki household. It is dead quiet; Ichigo looks around watching the blank faces of the staff serving the food. "Are they even breathing?"

Byakuya strolls in shortly after followed by Rukia wearing a light blue yukata and looking happier than normal.

"Nice wax museum you have going on here Byakuya. They almost pass for human."

"..."

Ichigo stands up to wait for Rukia to sit down before returning to his seat. Rukia sits down, almost snickering aloud after seeing all the trouble Ichigo went to get dressed for dinner.

"Oh, Ichigo you look... great." Rukia motions her orange-haired friend closer to whisper in his ear. "Your pants are on backwards."

"That's impossible Bya-" Ichigo's eyes snap over to Byakuya. The black-haired noble pretends to wipe his mouth, covering the small grin steadily growing across his face. "YOU SHIT!" Ichigo scares the servants with his outburst, causing them to drop a platter of fish on Byakuya's head.

"I'm so sorry Kuchiki-sama!" The terrified maid runs from the room crying. Rukia starts cackling so hard she falls out of her chair. "Nii-nii-sama, you have a fish head stuck on-HAHAHA!"

After the fiasco during dinner Ichigo relaxes in the courtyard watching a man sweep dirt from the long wooden porch wrapped around the spacious rooms. His family's faces flash in front of him, another reminder he would need to go to the real world and say goodbye to them. Will the old-man let him?

Rukia is in her room with a devious grin on her face, ready to initiate part one of her 'Bring happiness to Nii-sama' plan.

Byakuya is in his bedroom folding his scarf to lock it in his safe. Glancing in the mirror, his reflection fades as Senbonzakura appears.

"Such turmoil, you have become weak." The armor clad samurai turns away, fading from the mirror.

"Senbonzakura..." His mind, heavy with Ichigo's painfully close presence, is swaying his emotions. Ichigo's greatest strength is his ability to connect with the hearts of everyone he meets. Byakuya will not be able to fight the tug of Ichigo's influence for long. If Byakuya gave into his building desire, what would Ichigo's reaction be? Would he reject him after what Renji said?

"I'm going to take him away from you, and then you will know what it feels like to be me."

"Looks like Urahara was right, Captain. Hanging around Ichigo's leaking spiritual power was the trigger you needed to get your powers back."

Rukia's high pitched screech shakes both men from their thoughts, causing them to run into her room.

"What happed Rukia?" Ichigo and Byakuya both appear in her room at the same time. Ichigo is holding up a broom, Byakuya has a iron in his hand. The two men exchange strange looks at each other, looking at the contents of their hands.

"OH MY GOD A GIANT RAT I'M NOT SLEEPING IN HERE UNTIL IT'S FOUND!" Rukia grabs her stuff and marches out the door before either can digest what happened. "ICHIGO YOU TRADE ROOMS WITH ME!"

"What's the iron for? Were you going to punish the rat by forcing it to do your dry cleaning?" Ichigo teases, scratching at his head with the neck on the broom.

"At least I don't break out in hives over every little thing that happens to me."

"It isn't hives it's eczema! It's a serious medical condition!" Ichigo yells back at Byakuya, pressing his forehead into Byakuya's.

"You are such a brat!" Byakuya raises his voice, pushing his head into Kurosaki's.

"It's better than being a prima donna!"

"Ichigo..." Byakuya's smoky eyes flutter down to Ichigo's soft pink lips; the small space between them seems like miles to Byakuya.

"What!"

"I-I'm going to kiss you, alright?"

"It's about damn time." Ichigo whispers, suddenly sensitive to the change in Byakuya's voice and breathing.

Author's notes; Hey all another chapter is ready woot! I do hope everyone likes it. The ducky will make an appearance soon. WINK! Thank you to everyone who took the time to encourage me! Special Thanks to Chilly Raven and Sayume-chan. Reviews are love and I need love squeak!

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