Chapter 34: Choices

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN BLEACH OR ANYTHING ASSOCIATED TO IT

Byakuya Kuchiki was currently sighing as he trudged his way up the hotel whilst carrying some extra baggage on his back which was more commonly known as his brilliant little sister, Rukia Kuchiki. He shook his head and wondered just where in the world did she get such genes? Hisana was perfectly well mannered but it wasn't like he always got her drunk, was it that woman who hated him?

If anything, Rukia had her mother's temper.

And Byakuya hated that woman with a passion.

Though he could never truly hate Rukia.

Byakuya recalled their talk earlier and it made him contemplate on his life. It was funny hearing about things from her perspective and it would seem that a little alcohol gave her enough courage to talk to him with complete honesty. It enlightened him on so many things, just when he had everything under control, someone of the same family just had to turn everything upside down.

Hisana had a knack for doing the unexpected and Rukia just happened to share that particular talent.

Not that Byakuya had any complaints, it was in fact something very welcome in his life. Most especially when his life was something his family had chosen for him, spontaneous things seemed to dazzle him but the way he viewed things changed when he grew older. He soon came to understand his family and somehow he managed to trap Rukia without his knowledge.

He didn't mean to trap her, he just thought it was the best way to go about it.

Not to mention the fact that she blatantly told him that he was always cold her to her... Well that was after six ounces of something but still, she was the honest kind of drunk and it was rather enlightening.

He honestly did not mean to be cold to her, didn't she notice how tense he was whenever they had a family discussion or perhaps it was the way he spoke. Maybe he sounded to rigid and stiff but it was too late for him to change the way he spoke but it wouldn't be too difficult to change his decisions.

Byakuya sighed for the hundredth time.

He was getting nearer to her room and he wasn't getting tired because Rukia's petite figure made her very light. He anticipated that she might just surprise him with her weight but sadly, she was as light as he expected her to be. He smiled when he realized that she was just as light as Hisana, those two were just way too alike yet they were just so different.

Hisana was more gentle and subtly yet she could be assertive if she wanted.

Rukia was headstrong, stubborn and so willful. She was ambitious and determined, she was also talented. Not that her sister wasn't talented but Rukia was a different brand of genius.

Byakuya looked over his shoulder and he saw the exact same thing, his sister was still fast asleep. Sleeping without a care in the world, like she don't have a single problem to worry about. That was probably the one thing Rukia did that Hisana did too with absolutely certainty.

"Ichigo..." she murmured in her sleepy and she said it rather pleasantly.

Byakuya shook his head, why she chose to fall in love with someone like him baffled him to no end. He clearly contradicted Rukia's taste in men... Well, it contradicted what he observed from her but then again, who was he to judge? It would seem like they absolutely hated each other when they met, it was rather interesting to watch but that was just a bystander's opinion.

Byakuya cringed the moment he stood in front of her hotel room door, no doubt he would be in there. It was impossible to get in and out quietly and he was bound to encounter Rukia's lovely... boyfriend.

It left a bad taste even in his head.

"There can be no success without trial and error." he mumbled to himself but it came out forced, then again it was forced. He was just lying to himself really, he didn't want to have a conversation with that man.

He knocked on the door begrudgingly, every knock was sharp and clipped and he hoped that the man was awake or he would have to steal his sister's hotel card key. He preferred the latter but he doubted he could achieve what he wanted to do without waking her up. He waited for a moment in complete silence before he heard someone stir through the door.

Byakuya was now positive that he was in there sleeping and that he was waking up.

Byakuya heard a rather loud yawn through the door and frowned deeper as the door swung open ever so slowly.

"Rukia is that you because—"

Byakuya could tell easily that Ichigo Kurosaki had just been asleep though he had to give the boy some points for having enough decency to sleep with a shirt on. He would have hated to see him in some state of undress, that would have been mortifying. Ichigo looked at him with wide eyes, his amber eyes seemed unfocused but they continued to burn like they always did.

Ichigo swallowed thickly.

"Byakuya..." He mumbled in a daze but it was loud enough for Byakuya to hear.

Byakuya's eyebrows furrowed deeply and he tried to cast of his irritation, he glowered at Ichigo with his classic glare before deciding that he needed to at least talk to the boy.

"Move over." He stated with authority.

Ichigo nodded and stepped aside, the boy wasn't usually this submissive so Byakuya just assumed that it was because he was sleepy. It was only then that he noticed that Byakuya had his sister on his back, Ichigo shook of his drowsiness and closed the door behind him.

"Do you need help?" Ichigo offered, his voice sounded more gentle.

Probably because Rukia was there, Byakuya thought.

Byakuya gently brought her to the bed, her lowered her down softly and had managed to do so without a sound. He sighed and pulled out the card key he had stolen from his sister earlier. He placed the card on the side table before turning around and looking towards Ichigo who was standing behind him with a stern expression.

"I know you have questions." Byakuya stated.

He was replied with silence and Ichigo made no attempt to speak so Byakuya decided to carry on. He made noble strides across the room with his hands behind his back before he continued speaking.

"As you have expected, I will not answer them." Byakuya said as he stopped in his tracks. "If she asks, Miyako found her and called you. She will come to her own conclusions for as long as you hold your tongue."

"Why?" He asked.

Byakuya was anticipating for him to finally speak. Ichigo may have respect in his tone but his body language was hostile. The boy obviously viewed him as an adversary so it was only natural for him to be cautious.

"I have my part and you have yours. I would like to keep it that way just so we're clear."

Ichigo crossed his arms stubbornly and shut his eyes in irritation as he leaned against a wall. "Crystal but I dislike asking twice. Why?"

"It is of no concern to you... Yet. Whatever she tells you after she gets off the elevator may not be entirely the truth, it's only natural after consuming alcohol. Get her some pills for the morning and note that she was with no one. Tell her to just simply ask Miyako."

Ichigo obviously didn't like it but who was he to argue?

"Of course..." He replied.

"Good. You're unusually obedient."

He laughed through his nose and managed a smirk. "Rukia would kill me and besides... This is for her I presume."

"How shrewd of you. Nonetheless, you are correct so it would be wise if we could all get through all of this without incident. I know you are smarter than you let on so I pray that you won't disappoint me."

Ichigo narrowed his amber eyes towards Byakuya's cool grey ones. He crossed his arms in obvious distaste before scowling deeper. "Of course." He replied before continuing. "That is the last thing on my list."

"I thank you Ichigo Kurosaki, for your cooperation. I shall depend on your talent should she ask questions."

Ichigo was slightly pleased that Byakuya held his talent as an actor with some respect or he would never had mentioned it otherwise. Ichigo stepped out of Byakuya's way when he decided to exit the premises in a clandestine fashion. Ichigo merely watched Byakuya leave and sighed in relief when the door closed with a quiet thud.

He ran a hand through his unkempt orange hair before gazing at Rukia's sleeping form. He smiled softly as he sat down quietly next to her on the bed, Ichigo's fingers began to play with her hair as she slept through the early hours of the morning. He sighed before gazing out the window.

"Oh Rukia... Will we ever catch a break?"

—

Rukia had found herself awoken by the sound of the television, she squinted her eyes when some of the light streaming in glared in her eyes. She sighed softly and was immediately amused when she found Ichigo, sitting on the edge of the bed. He was currently watching some kids program with robots in it, the very notion of him watching a kids program made her want to laugh.

Well. Maybe she could do the laughing when part of her killer headache stopped.

She shifted uncomfortably under the shears before she managed to sit up and lean against a pillow. Ichigo noticed her movie and be instantly grinned, he hopped off the bed and made his way to her side of the bed with a litheness of a cat. "Good morning sunshine." He greeted her with a swift kiss to the lips.

"Sunshine? Are you high on something?" She snarled back but she couldn't hide how pleased she was to see him.

He laughed casually before grabbing the glass of water on the side table and handing it over to her. "It's supposed to ease the morning hangover but I think it's doing the opposite. Water?"

"Gee, how considerate of you." She replied as she accepted it gratefully.

Rukia tool a sip of water and felt a little relief. The cool water was just what she needed to soothe her dry throat, now only if she had something for her throbbing head. Rukia instinctively rubbed the part of her head that hurt as her eyes zeroed on the flat screen television set. "What the hell are you watching?"

He shrugged. "Childhood, I'm feeling nostalgic." He said as he leaned over to get a tablet from the side table. He handed it over to her and she instantly popped it in her mouth. "I bet you're having a killer headache."

"No shit Sherlock." She snarled before drinking some water and swallowing with the tablet altogether.

"I'm glad you're still a bitch." He replied.

"Yes." She replied in a light manner before she flashed him a smiled. "Your bitch to be precise. You decided to date a Kuchiki, it's only natural you get the whole bargain."

Ichigo simply laughed as he turned off the TV is one fell swoop before sitting down next to her on the bed. "Dear."

"Yes darling?" She replied sarcastically.

"Have you ever tried dating you?" He asked her with a cross expression.

She smiled wryly. "Of course I have. I couldn't stand it really, I wasn't clingy or anything. It's just that I was too judgmental and so indifferent, I wasn't very affectionate and I was too sarcastic or cynical. On the bright side, I was excellent eye candy."

Ichigo grinned as he raised an eyebrow, he put an arm over her shoulders and pulled her close. "Are you sure you're having a hangover?"

She leaned into him. "Positive." She said as she placed the glass on the side table.

"Are you absolutely sure?" He asked as began by kissing her cheek affectionately. He then followed that up by kissing her on the side of her lips. "Because I am dying to jump you."

Ichigo smirked wickedly as he claimed her lips for his own sinister purposes. His hand was holding the nape of her neck tenderly, pulling her closer to him. He felt her smile into the kiss as she instantly wrapped her arms around his neck to draw him closer. Rukia quickly found herself on top of him and kissing him with as much fervor as he did.

She really did have a headache the size of the Empire State Building but making out with Ichigo like a hormonal teenager was certainly more appealing.

"I see you have an ulterior motive Kurosaki." She whispered against his lips before leaning down to reclaim them.

He tore his lips from hers with a smile before he began to run wet kisses down her neck in a very tempting way. "With you Kuchiki, always." He replied in the brief moment where his lips were not on her.

Rukia had her neck thoroughly ravaged by him and his talented tongue. His hands had wondered elsewhere on the other hand, he had one on her ass and the other was trailing its was past her midriff. He was pulled back into a searing kiss before he went down for her neck again and bit her.

Rukia gasped before raising an eyebrow in intrigue and smiling coyly. "Ooh, that was a foul Kurosaki."

He grinned, it was a boyish grin that exhibited his boyish charm. "I only do it when you flirt with me."

"Liar, you bite me all the time." She snarled.

He smirked that signature smirk of his. "Really? I didn't notice." He shot back in a deep tone that indicated that he was trying to get her out of her pants. Again.

She shook her head and climbed off him expertly, she slowly hopped off the bed and began to stretch around. Rukia grabbed a hair scrunchie from one of the drawers of the room and quickly tied her ebony hair into a rather unkempt ponytail. She yawned before walking over to the refrigerator and yanked it open.

"Hey Ichigo, don't you have canned coffee or something?"

He sat up begrudgingly as shrugged. "No but we can make use of the hotel service. We're in a five star skiing resort, I'll bet they have good food." He replied nonchalantly.

"Point taken, breakfast does sound good. What time is it anyway?"

Ichigo glanced at the digital clock on the side table. "Almost nine. I suppose breakfast does sound good." He replied.

"Hey Ichigo...?"

"Yeah?"

Rukia faced him with a more serious expression indicating that a serious question was coming. Ichigo leaned back and assumed Indian position on the bed, it felt rather comfortable at the moment. "How did I get back here?"

"Get back from where?" He asked her, feigning ignorance.

"The hotel bar downstairs... I was having a drink with—" she started before she stopped mid-sentence. "Never mind..."

"If you're wondering, Miyako was the one who called me to get you. She said she found you drinking alone or something." Ichigo lied, he was an actor so he could pull it off.

"She did?" Rukia asked, surprise was evident in her tone. She sighed and looked rather disappointed. "Too good to be true I guess, maybe I did dream it up." She mumbled.

Ichigo just simply flashed a normal smile but he pretended not to hear whatever she had been mumbling. He wasn't sure what Byakuya Kuchiki was up to but that man made it clear that it was in Ichigo's best interest to keep things quiet. He merely moved over the bed and reached for the phone.

"Go get the menu thingy from the drawer while I make the call." He told her.

Rukia shrugged and made her way towards the aforementioned drawer, she opened it and pulled out the said menu from within it. She made her way to Ichigo and they began to pick a random breakfast set that suited them as they waited for the line to connect.

Rukia's poker face may have been good but deep down, she couldn't help but feel disappointed that she merely dreamed up her encounter with Byakuya. It was so pleasant and so unexpected, it felt like a real thing. Something her brother might have actually done, it was more accurate because it was awkward.

She sighed softly.

It had to be real.

She still had Byakuya's note after all.

The one regarding Kaien.

The question was, why would Ichigo or perhaps Miyako lie to her? All she knew was that it was probably Byakuya's idea and if it was then why was he breaking off their newfound understanding?

Oh Hisana, just how did you ever put up with him?

Rukia had her eyes closed in heavy anticipation, not once had she attempted to do this ever since she had gone on this impromptu trip. In fact, she hadn't had a conversation with that damned woman since her wedding but she needed to talk. Rukia missed her best friend and she desperately needed to confide in Momo Hitsugaya.

The dial tone just sounded so evil, it was mocking you. You know your call was connecting but all you could do was wait for someone to pick up the phone and end the agony of waiting. Rukia sighed before cursing under her breath. When she needed to talk to Momo, it was so hard to reach when usually, Momo was there always there. Offering her opinion when Rukia didn't want it.

It was rather sad really, Rukia was currently hiding in the spa area of the resort. It was a place where Ichigo was least likely to step foot in and she most certainly did not want him to eavesdrop on her. For both their sakes and for Rukia's sanity, this conversation needed privacy and although Momo didn't seem like a good choice, she actually was.

Trust Rukia to choose her friends well.

Rukia was lost in her own thought, she was only brought back with a bright and chipper hello. It was a very welcome greeting and it brightened up Rukia's sour face. She fought a smile but somehow, she missed her best friend. "Momo, you have no idea how nice it is hear from you."

Momo paused and Rukia simply laughed. "Umm... I am talking to Rukia Kuchiki right?" She asked reluctantly.

"Kuchiki Princess and Kickass Lawyer Extraordinaire at your service." She replied with much pride.

"Oh. Okay, now I'm sure that's you. Don't tell me you're bored of Ichigo already? I thought you loved him with every fiber of your being?" Momo joked.

"Nah, Ichigo's fine. I just wanted to talk about something else. Speaking of which, how do you know about the whole Ichigo thing?" Rukia inquired.

"Bitch please." Momo started with a haughty know-it-all tone. "I'm your best friend, it's my business to know what's going on in your life. But if you must know, Renji told me."

Rukia grinned. "Well that was a stupid question."

"Understatement dear." Momo replied in an instant.

Rukia leaned back into the comfort of the soft leather chair she was seated in as someone had just come in to give her a pedicure. "Anyways, listen. I'm going to tell you something unbelievable and I trust that you'll keep this under the strictest confidence." She started out.

"Of course, I only spill for your own good." Momo scoffed.

Rukia raised an eyebrow as she pressed her phone against her ear even harder. "Which probably explains the elevator incident and the whole wedding dilemma."

"My wedding was awesome and you know it." Momo insisted with glee.

"Yes yes, whatever you say but that is besides the point." Rukia retorted as the lady who came in asked her to deep her feet in the hot water. A soothing sensation shot through her feet and it was strangely relaxing.

"Then go straight to the point in lawyer mode, like you always do." Momo suggested.

Rukia sighed. "Fine then. I'll just dive right in."

Before she began her thorough explanation, a woman approached her and asked her if she wanted something to drink. Rukia simply asked for coffee before she placed her phone against her ear. "Byakuya caught me but he didn't react the way I thought he would."

"What do you mean?" Momo asked, surprised.

Rachel exhaled the pent up air she didn't she was holding. She leaned further back and thought of what to say. "Let's start from the very beginning then... Hmm, where to start. Lets start with why we're here to begin with."

"Ichigo got free accommodations to this particular resort because one of the producers of his most recent movie couldn't make the trip, therefore he gave it to Ichigo or something like that."

"Oh, well I think I can take it from there. It's not that hard to piece things together, I am a psychiatrist you know." Momo said with a sense of pride in her work.

"Okay, then lets get to the fun part. Turns out, the annual Kuchiki family meeting would be held here in Hokkaido. It's rather strange really when the usual locations are Seoul, London, Dublin, New York, Beijing, Paris and the like so you can say that I didn't expect this."

"Hmm... I've heard about these meetings but what goes on in them anyway?"

Rukia smiled wryly. "I rarely have to attend since they hate me. Usually, they call it a business meeting but it's just an annual financial report by each working member of the family. It's stupid really..."

She heard Momo sigh. "Sounds tedious. Now as you were saying?"

Rukia shifted to a more comfortable position when her attendant began massaging her feet. How convenient really, she could get her nails cleaned and have a relaxing massage from it. "Well as I was saying, the resort is loaded with my blue blooded relatives and I'm in hiding as a result. Now I got caught by Byakuya of all people in the elevator."

"Ouch, that's the worst place ever."

"Oh, it was awkward because he didn't say a word and apparently, we were both headed for the same floor. So yeah, we just stood there in the same tiny box. Not a word to each other and then he just starts talking to me."

"Just like that?"

Rukia nodded even if she knew Momo wouldn't see her nod. Somehow, she knew that Momo guessed that she was nodding. "Just like that... Except that he didn't scold me. He didn't tell me I've shamed the family or anything like that." Rukia stated before closing her eyes momentarily. "He just said that Kaien was in the hospital. Then he gave me an address and a room number... He told me that it was up to me. If I wanted to use it or not."

Momo paused. "Wait... Kaien's in the hospital? What for?"

Rukia opened her eyes and stared at the fancy ceiling before redirecting her eyes forward. "Alcohol Poisoning... Kaien's not the same anymore. He's... weak. Well... weaker... I just don't get why."

"So? Are you gonna go back?" Momo asked with concern in her tone.

"He is my fiancé... But I don't know. I'm worried but he may not want to see me."

"I dunno about that... This man got sent to the hospital twice for you. He might just want to see you."

Rukia frowned before running a hand through her ebony locks. "This is pretty fucked up, Momo."

"Yeah, it's a freaking Soap Opera."

Rukia smiled. "I want to go... Just to see if he's alright. I'll feel guilty if I don't go to him. Ichigo, he might take it the wrong way."

"Maybe he won't. That man makes miracles for you... Maybe he might understand."

"I don't know... I've already left him for nine months. Men can be surprisingly fragile." Rukia said as she recalled the look on his face when she left him and the way Kaien looked at her when she said she would never be his.

It broke her heart, just thinking about it.

She didn't want to hurt the two of them... But she had to make a choice.

Her heart told her to just run, be with Ichigo and get disowned. She knew deep down that all the technicalities didn't matter.

At the same time, she didn't want to betray her brother's trust. He didn't make everyone his second in command, it was proof that he trusted her. This business thing with Kaien would assure her place in the family. But it wasn't the acceptance she wanted, she simply wanted to be Byakuya's pillar of support when clearly, he had been alone for far too long.

"I know... Rukia. Eventually, you'll have to fix something up. I'm sorry I can't be there for you." Momo said with remorse.

"It's okay... You just got married and all. I'm practically raining on your parade."

"Dear, no worries. It's my job as your best friend and I'm pretty sure you'd do the same for me... probably." Momo reassured her before sighing. "You are in a lot of shit though."

"I know Momo... I'm always in a lot of shit."

Momo laughed. "Still though... What are you gonna do now?"

Rukia leaned back on the chair and sighed. "It's a tough call Momo... I could go to Kaien and see if he's alright. I can do that much for him since he's my fiancé."

"But...?"

"I could stay with Ichigo... It's all I've ever wanted. I just want to be happy... Is that too much to ask?"

"No Rukia, and you of all people deserve that."

"Thanks..."

Momo breathed in deeply. "I'm not gonna tell you what to do Rukia but I think you already have your mind made up, you're just seeking a second opinion. You just want to be sure if you're doing the right thing."

Rukia didn't say anything.

"Trust me, it's a good one. Don't worry, going to Kaien won't kill you. You may act all badass on the outside but you're too kindhearted. Also, I'm sure you don't want to see him suffer a second time."

Rukia smiled. "You know, mind reading is something people get burned for during the medieval times."

"Hell, go ahead and sue me."

Rukia smirked. "So you have me all figured out, I suppose that makes you proud of yourself."

"Very."

Rukia chuckled to herself.

"Listen to me Rukia Kuchiki. You may think you have wrong decisions but you don't, every decision you've made was for someone. Those can't be bad decisions... Okay?"

"Yeah..."

"So you'll go to Kaien?"

"Pretty much yeah, I have no doubt about that."

"Okay... You'll be fine. Even when everything comes crashing down for you, I'm always here 'kay?"

Rukia smiled warmly. "Thank you Momo."

"You're welcome."

Seriously... Thank you.

—

Rukia was already set to leave, she had purchased a plane ticket that could get her back to Karakura in a heartbeat. She was double checking her bags and since the room was under Ichigo's name, she didn't need to checkout. All she needed to do was get some help from the hotel service, hail a cab and go home.

Go home without Ichigo.

It was probably a horrible idea, to simply leave without telling him why. Maybe he'd understand, maybe he wouldn't but she felt like she didn't want him involved. Rukia didn't get why but her gut told her it would be better to keep him in the dark. She trusted her gut, all those court wins were proof of that so her instinct wasn't wrong.

Rukia knew very well how kind and understanding Ichigo could be. At the same time, she understood how unreasonable he could get... It's not that she didn't trust him but there was a feeling she couldn't put a finger on. It told her to just leave quietly and quickly.

She breathed in deeply and told herself that this was right. What she wanted and what her heart told her was to go to Kaien. To see if he was okay because she couldn't bear to see him otherwise. Rukia put a red scarf on but before that, she checked if her necklace was still there. Her fingers touched her neck section and she smiled, that necklace got her through tough times. Rukia then out the scarf on and put on a coat.

The hotel bellboy was already on his way up to their room and he was going to knock soon. Rukia sat on the bed and smiled to herself.

It's been a fun vacation but in the end, she was just running away from her problems and responsibilities. Forgetting your problems was different from facing them, going back would force her to confront her demons. She would go back to that place where she had to marry someone she didn't love and be in a position she didn't enjoy. Business was okay but she loved being a lawyer, nothing could top the feeling of being the one with power.

"Okay Kuchiki... It's time to face all the shit." She told herself reassuringly.

She breathed in deeply again and steeled her mind. Rukia was going to fulfill her duties instead of running from them, no more hiding and no more games. It was time to grow up, she had to wake up and smell the coffee. Life is shit and shit happens, being with Ichigo is like forcing a fairytale on reality.

Truth be told, Rukia wasn't entirely sure of the life they would lead. If they persisted to be together that is. She was scared of the unknown and she disliked things she couldn't control. Yes, it was cowardly of her to admit that now despite all of her big talk. It was very cowardly indeed to be thinking of Ichigo this was after all that they've been through and after all that they've done.

In the end, even Rukia Kuchiki had to admit it.

She was scared.

And everything she thought she knew was wrong.

Enough playing around, she was still a child in the end.

She just wanted to grow up and get on with life.

Rukia's head turned in the direction of the door when she heard the knock. Her expression saddened but she quickly remedied that, she had no time to feel sorry for herself. Rukia stood up and let the bellboy in, the young lad came in and started taking her packed luggage.

"It would appear that your companion isn't hear ma'am... Should I inform him that you're leaving?" The bellboy asked.

She shook her head. "I'd like to leave quietly."

"Of course."

Eventually, he started pushing the luggage out and she followed him. As soon as they neared the elevator, Ichigo emerged from the one opposite them. Her amethyst eyes met his ambers ones and she didn't say a word. His expression registered surprise but he kept his distance with a solemn face.

"Rukia... Where are you going?"

She shrugged and looked away before meeting his eyes again. "Home."

"I see..." He replied weakly. "Game Over?"

She looked away permanently. "It's not my call anymore..."

The elevator doors finally opened and she went in with her luggage and the bellboy. She kept looking at him past the doors and he did the same. "I'm sorry Ichigo. Farewell."

Just before the elevator doors closed, his expression changed for a brief moment. Then he gritted his teeth, kicked the carpet and walked away.

Her last memory of him was his back turned on her.