Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

To let you know, the latter portion of the chapter has text messages. Rukia's will be in italics like her thoughts normally are. Ichigo's will be in bold and Italics.

Chapter 26

Rukia thought about her date with Kenshin all day. The man was like a puzzle just waiting to be solved. Based on his eyes and his words, Rukia saw a lot of herself in Kenshin. The man was practically prefect!

"But how can the man be so perfect?" Rukia asked out loud as she raked her brain for answers, but she received a surprising answer.

"Because he's related to Lady Yoruichi." Soi Feng said as she emerged from the shadows disturbing Rukia from her walk home. "Byakuya should be honored to have a man like him courting you, Lieutenant Kuchiki."

Ah, so Yoruichi sends her spies into the mist. Its time to start playing their games now. I wonder if I could rile her feathers…

Grinning inwardly, Rukia asked the stealth force captain, "Wasn't he part of your force, Captain Soi Feng? He is a Shihoin after all. I know how fond you are of them." Hard eyes narrowed on Rukia's form as the normal interrogator became the interrogatee.

"You're getting brave, Kuchiki…" Soi Feng growled at the petite lieutenant for touching a sore subject.

Rukia's face remained innocent. "It was just a simple question, captain." She stated is a sickly sweet voice.

Instead of rising to the bait, Soi Feng realized what Rukia was doing. The little snow princess was going to be disappointed. "When Kenshin is ready to tell you his full story, he will, Kuchiki. Until then I suggest you get back to work. You wouldn't want Abarai or Kurosaki to always out do you, would you?" She asked with a slight smile.

Rukia heard the not so veiled insult. Too many people, just an insult from Soi Feng was getting off scotch free! Feeling like she won that battle, Rukia flashed stepped towards her house. Renji would be in for a good ass kicking tomorrow.

A taller form emerged from the shadows after Rukia dashed off. "She's right, Soi Feng! You do have a thing for Shihoins." Yoruichi said with a wink as a blush crept across Soi Feng's face.

"Lady Yoruichi! What are you doing here?" Her former star pupil asked.

"I like to watch my plan unfold…" she said fondly. A seriousness clouded the purple haired woman's eyes. "I also had to come check on Byakuya since our lovely plan went up in flames."

"How is any of this your problem?" Soi Feng asked her mentor.

"Really, Soi Feng? Kenshin is my cousin! I have to make sure he's happily settled." Yoruichi said with a dark smile.

"I know he's your cousin, but what were you thinking pairing Kenshin and Rukia together, Lady Yoruichi? Kenshin seems a little too polite for Rukia."

"Kenshin is the perfect offer to counter Ichigo since Rukia so rudely didn't give my brother a proper shot." Yoruichi said with a laugh, but her eyes held a different express as she stared off into the direction the petite soul reaper escaped to. "Like Byakuya said, she deserves to be happy after helping save the Soul Society multiple times. It's not fair what the elders are asking of her, but for now, they are sated because of all the nobles that she will be dating this week."

"You've given up on Kurosaki then?" A shocked Soi Feng asked. She thought Yoruichi's ultimate matchmaking was to drive Ichigo and Rukia together.

"Of course not, but we all know how dense the boy can be! He's stewing and getting berated by this father and sisters right now. Karin hardly is speaking to him without insulting his intelligence, and Yuzu is placing all of Rukia's Chappy dolls, manga, or anything else that will remind Ichigo of Rukia on his bed to torment him. Even Renji and Toshiro giving Ichigo grief when they have to go to the world of the living."

"In other words, being Kurosaki sucks right now?"

An evil laugh escaped Yoruichi's lips. "Oh yes! Even Kisuke is getting in on the action!" She said with an evil laugh. "I imagine he'll be back within a month to force Rukia to speak to him. Of course, that is if she would quit ignoring him. The boy is moping around like rain is falling on his head."

"Kuchiki is giving him the cold shoulder? I thought she saved that for Abarai or Hitsugaya."

"Rukia does what she wants. She has a lot of men wrapped around her finger without meaning to or knowing it." Yoruichi said right before she took after a familiar spiritual pressure. The man was in so much trouble for spying on the Queens of the Stealth Force.

Kuchiki manor seemed empty when she rushed through the door. This gave her the perfect opportunity to practiced her inside flash step to eventually reach her brother's skill level. Unfortunately for her, she ran smooth into Renji.

"What are you doing in my house!" Rukia asked her tattooed friend.

"I needed to talk to you." Rukia raised her raven eyebrow signaling him to continue. "Don't do that! You look too much like Captain Kuchiki when you arch your eyebrow in a superior manner!"

A swift kick to the back of his knees brought Renji to the floor. "You're getting better. I didn't see that one coming." Renji said winching and rubbing his butt from the floor.

"Hitsugaya has taught me a thing or two since you and I last tangled." She said with a victorious smile.

"Speaking of tangled..." He said with a bashful look that only meant one thing was on his mind.

"Renji don't start about forgiving Ichigo again!" Rukia whined. "My life is too complicated to involve him."

"Rukia, I get it. I really do, but at least let the man know that you're alive. He's been down since you stormed off that night without letting him explain."

"Shut it, Renji." The petite haired soul reaper lightly froze his feet to the floor as she whirlwind her way to her room in the west side of the manor.

She could feel Renji leave the house. I have to start paying attention when I'm flash stepping so fast... HUH! But he's right! I should at least text Ichigo. Maybe a little pity on him will bring good karma my way.

A brief smile graced Rukia's face as pulled out her phone.

Hey Carrot Top! I'm alive and well. BTW QUIT bugging Renji so he can actually get back to work!

If you'd learn to answer me, Midget, I wouldn't have to resort to harassing the Pineapple!

Well now you know, I have to go back to work!

Don't lie, Rukia. You and I both know that you don't have work. It's what 7 o'clock in the Soul Society. You are probably grabbing a book to read or you're making one of your crappy Chappy the Rabbit drawing.

I do have work to do, idiot, unlike someone people! :P

Did you just really make a face with its tongue sticking out at me?

Goodbye, Ichigo…

I will talk to you later, midget! Don't think you've heard the last from me!

With a loud laugh, Rukia placed her phone on the night stand grinning at his determination. The boy never learned to give up.

"Rukia, why were you rushing around the manor a little while ago?" Byakuya asked curiously from the doorway. Once he asked his question, Rukia noticed then that she could feel his spiritual pressure.

Did he conceal his spiritual pressure, or am I just immune to it now?

"Hello, Brother. Sorry about that! I was... huh... practicing." Rukia replied with a smile as her violet glaze met brother's grey one. "I was about to get cleaned up then turn in for the night with a good book." Yes, Ichigo was right with his theory.

Byakuya shook his head. Rukia knew his next words were going to be ones that she didn't want to hear. "Have you forgotten that you have a date tonight?" He asked.

Rukia looked like a deer caught in the head lights. "Date? What do you mean? I thought I had a few days in-between dates after Kenshin's date."

"The elders do not think you're taking this matchmaking seriously so they picked out a man for your next four dates for the rest of the week unless you have someone else in mind to fill their shoes." Byakuya looked away for the moment. "Rangiku and I were against this, but I was over ruled. We did not have a chance to vet this man. Unfortunately, your date for tonight is written in stone." Byakuya said in an unusual tone.

So in other words, nothing short of you killing this man would stop this date from happening, brother?

If anyone else was present, they would say that Byakuya had his normal emotionless face on, but Rukia knew better. Her brother was upset. "Do you know who it is then?"

"Yes…" Byakuya almost growled as he thought about the swine attempting to court his sister for their money and status. "You should dress formally. He's a stickler for tradition."

"Byakuya, you haven't told me who it is…" Rukia plead. His subtle hint of a reaction told her this wasn't going to be good.

"As far as I know, your date is Mamushi Kuchiki."

"Him! No, thank you! I am not going out with him, brother! I don't care what you and the elders say!" Rukia yelled at a shocked Byakuya. His little sister was normally one for perfect manner around him at least, but this was a new side of her.

"Rukia, you have to go out with him. The elders have ordered it." Byakuya warned her.

"Brother, he's an ass, who tries to sleep with any available woman! His views on women working or becoming soul reapers is horrible and outdated. Not to mention, I am going to freeze him if he even looks at me the wrong way, and I will not be sorry!" Rukia stated with venom, which completely confused Byakuya because Rukia always saw the best in people.

Byakuya's grey eyes narrowed in suspicion. "It sounds like you have had a run in with him before, and you didn't tell me." He said with a hint of anger in his voice.

"You can say that." Rukia replied with a flush face. Moments of silence passed until Rukia finally told Byakuya what happened. "Don't look at me like that Byakuya! It was my fight now yours."

"Are you going to tell me what happened then?" He asked as he was swearing to kill the man for his sister. Elders be damned in this situation.

"He tried to make a move on me a few times when I first joined the clan, but Kaien was always around me. Mamushi left me alone from then on until after Ichigo rescued me. He decided to "court" me, but I denied all his advances. He wouldn't give up till he finally had a little accident while I was practicing with Sode no Shirayuki."

"So you're the reason he's missing an ear then?" Rukia nodded yes to Byakuya's question. "You know, Mamushi told everyone that he was kidnapped and robbed until the ransom was paid. The bandits suddenly cut off his ear for proof that they were serious."

"He'll be missing a lot more than that if he comes near me again." Rukia growled.

"Then maybe I can help." A dark haired man emerged from the shadows. "Nice, to meet you. I'm Sasuke Shihoin."

"Another Shihoin?" Rukia exclaimed. "You have got to be kidding me!" She rolled her eyes at the new comer. Yoruichi has it out for me!

"Rather me than that snake don't you think, right?" Sasuke replied.

"I don't even know who the hell you are!" Rukia gave the mysterious man in her room a death glare.

"But I told you, I'm Sasuke Shihoin." He replied with a cocky, smile.

Rukia growled at the dark haired, young man. "First, you enter our home without approval. Second, you're standing in my bedroom. I suggest you get your ass out of here before my brother or I hand you your ass." Byakuya remained silent as he watched the two interact.

"Calm down, ice queen. I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for Yoruichi's request." Sasuke looked away shly and mumbled, "I owed her a favor after being stupid earlier."

"You're right! Owing Yoruichi anything is a stupid mistake on you part!" Rukia muttered.

Finally, Byakuya stepped in. "Sasuke, please go to my study. Rukia needs to get ready for her date." He commanded the black haired young man. "We have much to discuss."

"Brother, what is your plan?" Rukia asked as Sasuke disappeared from the room.

Byakuya turned to answer Rukia's question with one of his own. "Do you trust me?" Byakuya asked with a troubled heart. He was trying to find a way to out maneuver the elders and Mamushi. With the new edition to their team, Byakuya just might have found away to achieve his goal.

Thank you for reading y'all!

Bleachpower: I hope that was a good thing! Kenshin is definitely a new speed to try! Also, I hope this gives you a little idea of how Ichigo is doing so far. Yes, all hell is going to have to break loose again, but in a completely different way! Ichigo will be back. You'll have to wait and see, but I think you'll be surprised about Toshiro's relationship with Rukia. Thank you for reviewing!

That1person: Yes, Kenshin is awesome! He is going to play an interesting roll in the rest of the you for reviewing!