First, I'd like to thank you all for being so patient with me. I know it's been a looooooooooooooong time, but I'll keep on updating, even if it takes this long. I'm going to finish this fic, guys, promise.

Also, my eternal gratitude for everyone that has reviewed/favorited/folowed this. You can't imagine how happy I get every time I get a notification. Even after all this time. It really brightens my day. You are all wonderful.

Well, you've waited for too long. Let's go to chapter three!

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, or places, or references from Bleach.

Warnings: Ichigo

"I could not be happy with a man whose taste did not in every point coincide with my own. He must enter in all my feelings; the same books, the same music must charm us both."
— Jane Austen (Sense and Sensibility)

Chapter 3

He is very handsome.

When Soi-Fong told Rukia that a man was interested in her, she thought about an older man like her uncle, or Lord Ukitake. That was usually the kind of man that courted her, the ones her uncle had to send away with the excuse that she was too young to be married.

She certainly was not expecting anything like him.

The way he talked showed his noble background, and the grace of his movements was feline-like, and in her mind she could easily portrait him as a black panther moving majestically in the jungle, causing fear and admiration to rise in his prey's hearts. His eyes were sharp, intelligent, and looked at everyone analytically.

But the way he looked at her... it was just different. She could feel he looked at her with eyes of... hope? Desire? She couldnot identify the emotion in his eyes, but she knew that they were warm and welcoming.

Duke Kuchiki was such a fascinating man. Rukia thought he was very intelligent, and, more than that, he was smart. He had a very discreet way to woo her as well, making her blush lightly every now and then with his light but heartfelt compliments. And no, he did not praise her beauty (like most men usually did), but he took his time to really know her, learn about her tastes and opinions. She felt so appreciated by him.

They talked for what seemed hours, all the rest forgotten...

Until Rukia found herself being pulled from Duke Kuchiki's presence, only to be surrounded by a familiar pair of strong arms. But she was always so happy to seehim. Her "brother".

"Ichigo!" The boy hugged her tightly, his musky scent filling her nostrils. He let go of her, a warm smile on his handsome face.

"I missed you, Shorty."

"Do not call me that, Ichigo!" She blushed a little. Duke Kuchiki was not going to be pleased by such childish behavior.

"Why should I do that?" the orange haired boy made a cynical face, amused by his cousin's unusual nervousness. He knew it was because of this Duke Kuchiki, but it did not mean that he liked it.

Ichigo was used to men courting his beautiful cousin. She was, after all, a young lady, with a most excellent background and education. She was very beautiful and charming, and her gentleness was something that made every person like her in instants.

But he also knew of his father's intentions towards Rukia, and himself. Ichigo knew Isshin was planning on marrying them. The orange-haired boy was happy about that. They liked each other, and got along pretty well; except when they were acting childishly, like in this moment.

And, that was what bothered him the most. If his father planned to marry them, why let other man court Rukia? What could his man offer her that he, Ichigo, could not? Was that because he was a noble? He was sure Rukia did not care about that kind of thing.

But he was jealous, anyway. Because Rukia, his precious little cousin, was clearly interested in this Duke Kuchiki. She looked at him with an interest that she only reserved for bunnies and colored stuff. She looked at him with dark, desiring eyes, and the noble looked at her the same way.

Oh yes, Ichigo was jealous.

For some reason, he couldn't bring himself to claim her. As he looked at her, so nervous at him for making her look like a fool in front of this man… She was so beautiful. She was more than that. She was perfect.

Ichigo had a very bad feeling about this situation. He did not feel like he was going to lose his cousin to another man. No. He felt like he was losing his cousin forever.

And Ichigo didn't like this.

Byakuya was definitely amused.

Miss Rukia was such an incredible young lady.

As he looked at her, so flustered by her very obnoxious cousin antics, he couldn't help but smile.

She was so… adorable.

He had just met her for a few hours, but he knew that he was already in love with her.

Everything he had learned about her so far, had thrown the seeds of this feeling rapidly growing within him. Her jovial and gentle behavior, her quiet intelligence, the expressiveness of her oh-so-enchanting eyes. These were qualities that not every lady possessed. Most rich young ladies he met were vain, proud and arrogant. Even Byakuya himself was a proud, sometimes very arrogant man, but he knew that those were not the best of adjectives. But these characteristics, while Rukia's, turned into qualities, as her vanity only entranced her natural beauty, and her pride could never be taken as arrogance.

No, she was proud of herself and all of her accomplishments as a young lady, but her kind nature made her a very admirable person.

Yes, Byakuya was very much in love with her already. And he needed to do something about it.

As soon as Byakuya had these thoughts, Yoruichi sat by his side.

"So, Kuchiki… what do you think of our local gem?" She asked with a sly smile on her face. "Isn't she something special?"

Byakuya didn't answer, but kept looking at Rukia.

"Well, I think that answers my question." Yoruichi laughed. "You are in love with her already, are you not?"

"I absolutely prefer not to discuss this matter here, Lady Shihoin," Byakuya started, his voice cold, but the eyes looking at Rukia were soft and gentle, "But yes. I am very inclined towards her."

"What in Kuchiki means "I want to marry her tomorrow morning."", Yoruichi laughed. "How did your talk with Isshin Kurosaki go?"

"Very well."

That meant that Kurosaki had approved of Byakuya enough to let Byakuya try to gain her favor, she thought. Those were great news indeed. Now all that Byakuya needed was to convince Rukia to marry him.

By the looks Rukia was giving him, that wouldn't be a hard task.

Her thoughts were interrupted by her daughter's voice.

"Ladies and gentlemen."Soi-fong's strong voice was heard. "We are very happy to have all of you here to celebrate my very best friend, the very graceful Miss Rukia Shiba."

All eyes turned to the young lady, who smiled and blushed beautifully.

"Dinner will be served, and I hope you all can enjoy it. After dinner, we will open the dance room."

Dinner arrangements were made so that Rukia sat next to Duke Kuchiki, and Ichigo sat as far from them as possible. This was not only made to ease the talk between the future couple, but also to stop Ichigo from interfering in their conversation.

It was clear to the young Miss Urahara that that was the best idea. She could feel Ichigo's jealousy and anger rolling out of him in waves and she definitely didn't want her best friend's possible romance ruined by it.

Soi-fong actually liked Ichigo Kurosaki. He was a very good young man, handsome and trustworthy. She has sure he would be a great husband to whoever married him, and she didn't really oppose of his union with Rukia but…

There was something on Duke Kuchiki that somehow made him much better for his friend. Maybe it was because he was always so glum, that he would benefit from Rukia's light demeanor better. Or even, his seriousness to things that would make him so committed to her friend that he would not even dare look another woman in the face.

But in reality, it was the way he looked at her when she just entered the hall.

He was not only delighted by her beauty, but pulled by it. The shine on Rukia's eyes would become the light of his darkness, and that was what made him the best man for her friend. While Ichigo wanted Rukia, Duke Kuchiki needed her. And that, in Soi-Fong's eyes, made all the difference.

The dance room was a big, well decorated room, with large windows adorned by curtains of garnet color contrasting with the soft peach of the walls. Every corner of the room had some small tables, chairs and even a settee for the ones that were not dancing to talk and relax.

"Father."

"Yes, Ichigo."

The young Kurosaki looked at Rukia and Duke Kuchiki talking quietly but enthusiastically (at least on Rukia's part) and felt the anger fill his body.

"Why did you let him court her?"

The question surprised Isshin. His son, while hardheaded and sometimes out of limits, would never talk to him with so much rudeness. When Isshin didn't answer, Ichigo vent on, anger in his eyes and voice.

"Is it because he is rich? Because he is a noble? Or you think he could be a better man for her? Because I know I am man enough."

Isshin didin't like the way this conversation was going, so he decided to cut it.

"Ichigo, you are nothing but a child. You are nowhere ready to marry, and even though Rukia is as young as you, I will not let her wait for you to grow and mature while there is a perfectly suitable man interested in her." He said, in a serious tone he rarely used with his son. " If you think you are so good, then prove it. Not only to Rukia, but to me as well."

Ichigo left then, frustrated, and Isshin could only sigh. His son was a hard headed boy.

Renji observed everything that passed on the day with mixed feelings. He was excited about Miss Rukia, as she was such a great match for his gloomy friend. He saw the way Byakuya interacted with the girl, the way he looked at her and all of her responses to him.

Of course, Renji knew Byakuya could be very charming if he wanted to (witch was rare) but what he saw today was genuine. Byakuya really liked the girl, and apparently Rukia liked him just as much.

That was very good.

The only thing that worried him was the carrot-topped Ichigo.

AN:

So... You've been waiting for so long for a little under 2k words... sorry about that. It's been a mixture of lack of disposition/inspiration and depression, and I'm still trying to figure all this mess that I am right now. It's not getting any easier.

Anyways...

Just in case you're wondering... here goes how old they are in this fanfic.

Rukia: 17 (remember that they're celebrating her bday)

Renji: 27 (my age)

Soi-Fong : 19

Yoruichi and Urahara: 43

I really like even numbers... hehe... Aaaaand...

Byakuya: 32

See you soon (I hope!)

Review?