Disclaimer: I'm way too young to own Bleach.
Chapter 2
She presented her right hand to him for a kiss of greeting, and though he doesn't like that kind of greeting he just went on with the flow and gave a quick peck on the back of her hand.
Then he noticed, she is wearing a golden ring with a small diamond on it. Simple, but the diamond is surely pure. "Are you engaged?" he asks. She nods and turns her head to a man who is as old as her but taller, with dark blue hair and eyes and rectangular glasses. "He's Uryuu Ishida."
"Your fiancee?" he questioned. "Yeah. He's also my childhood friend." she replied, as Uryuu stayed quiet and merely listened to their conversation.
"Did he propose or is the marriage arranged?" Rukia asked, joining in while the elders are caught up in their own talk. "Well it's arranged, but we don't find any problems with it whatsoever."
"Then that means you two love each other?" the raven head asked, her finger alternately pointing to the pair. Ichigo nodded, the blush coming back on her face. "I wish you a happy marriage." she bid, and the orange head thanks her. "Oh, it's time for my family to go. We'll see you some other time."
Rukia and Ichigo exchanged waves of goodbye, as the latter left with her younger sisters and parents. "Friends of yours?" Byakuya asked his uncle. "I was classmates with the girl's dad in my younger days." he answered.
"Okay. So we're going back home?" his uncle nodded and they all headed home through their limo, and stopped in front of their three story house that covered two large lots.
"You finished all your homework?" Rukia nodded energetically and ran back inside to change in her casual wear. He did the same and checked his schedule, wondering if he has any clients to defend but there are none so far.
From relief that he could rest for a few more days, he sighed quietly while grabbing 'Othello' by Shakespeare and rereading it for the sixth time. There's still one or two more hours before supper is ready.
After supper, his grandfather sat by the fireplace and turned on the radio, music playing in the entire manor. When few songs passed, he heard the song Amazing Grace and remembered about that girl.
Replacing the singer's voice with Ichigo's, he remembered the beauty of her voice that even though it would be unlikely of him, he wished to listen to it again. But he doesn't tell anyone about it, for they would be shocked to when did a man like him ever take interest in concerts and musicals?
A few days later...
"So we're going to have dinner with the Kuchiki family tomorrow night?" Ichigo's father nodded, offering her some hot cocoa. She accepted the drink and drank it all, not leaving a single drop.
"Why? For me and your friend's relatives to be chummy with each other?" she questioned, playing with the mouth of the cup. "It's actually an invitation. It's been a long time since I met with my friend, so we're just trying to have a good reunion."
"Oh. But, I don't even know what they're like." shrugged Ichigo, placing the cup back on the mahogany table. "They're aristocrats, that's for sure. So, show good manners in front of them." he reminded, which made her lips twitch downward.
"Again?" Ichigo sighed annoyingly. "It's difficult to act like a lady outside. I'm not saying I'm unfeminine, but you know I'm not the refined type of formal." she added. "I understand. Just at least don't come off as weird in front of them."
"That, I can do." she answered, taking another cup of cocoa. Silence followed, the absence of sound so strong that she could hear the grandfather clock in the living room.
"I'll go. I promised Uryuu that we'd have a picnic in the park." she said, before taking a basket full of treats from the table and leaving the house.
Spending time with the man always made her feel blissful. It would still take three more years before they would officially marry, but they can wait. While bringing her basket of treats, she saw Uryuu sitting against a fire tree.
At the sight of her, he waved hi and she returned the greeting, and they started their picnic, exchanging bread and sweets.
In a while, Ichigo told him about the dinner that she'll be having the next evening, and he didn't seem surprised. "Why did your dad remind you about manners?"
"Who knows. I have been formal towards other people for as long as I can remember." she sighed, just as a flower fell on her forehead. She picked it, and admired the orange color that matched her hair.
"Are you free to come with us tomorrow?" she asked, blowing the flower away as it danced into the wind. "No. I'll be going with my father to the nearby town for business matters."
In a while, they finished and exchanged a small kiss as a goodbye. While walking home, she paused when a limo swiftly passed by and left strong winds in its path, that she kept her hair in place.
Byakuya, who is inside the car, noticed her but didn't look back to continue looking at her. But through that second's glance, he noticed that she seemed to be blooming, like the flowers on the fire tree that stood tall in the park.
TBC . . .