(AN) First, I want to take a moment to thank all of you! I am completely honored that y'all have graced me with over 100 reviews XD on this fanfic. Y'all are the best! Lots of love!

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

Chapter 33

Back in the Soul Society…

The alone figure looked out his office window at his glorious gardens. Byakuya hoped that the view would calm his inner storm. He spent the past few hours contemplating Rukia's wish. Did her wish and his master mind plan go hand it hand? All his roads seemed to lead him back to one answer. Yes.

A soft wind blew into the room disturbing his tranquil space. "What are you are doing here, Yoruichi? You're supposed to be protecting Rukia." He scolded his old tormentor as he still stared out the window.

"We have a problem, Byakuya." The hint of worry in her voice caused Byakuya to turn around. His grey stormy eyes bored into her yellow ones.

"They went after her then?" He asked not surprised by the Kuchikis' reaction. Everyone wanted Rukia, but most importantly, everyone wanted the chance to control the head of the Kuchiki Clan. This would happen over Byakuya's dead body. He wouldn't allow Rukia to become anyone's puppet.

"With the help of Sui-Feng and Hitsugaya, we caught all of the Kuchikis and their spies who were trying to slip through any of the senkaimon. The prisoners are spending a lovely night under Sui-Feng's care until they give up the main conspirator."

"Does Kyoraku know?" Byakuya asked.

"Of course. He gave us his blessing. After all, he has a dog in this fight to." She said.

"Good. Then is there anything else?" Byakuya noticed for a moment that Yoruichi was hesitating. "Speak!" He commanded.

Yellow eyes glared at him. "The problem I was referring to while ago was not just the attack on this side of the senkaimon. Unfortunately, the conspirator already had someone waiting in the World of the Living. It was someone with access to powerful hollow baits and special kido abilities Byakuya. Kisuke reported that numerous baits were placed Karakura Town where the senkaimon would open. We believe their goal was to either kill her or stop her from returning." Yoruichi concluded.

"Rukia is a lieutenant with a bankai. Even when she is on her on, she isn't easy to get rid of or control for that matter. Not to mention that if Kurosaki felt like she was in trouble, the world would be on its knees before him." Byakuya state with a slight smirk. Those two were something else. But most importantly, his pride was becoming an amazing, strong woman in the sights of everyone around her.

"That's not all, Byakuya. The kido that the conspirator used was some type of barrier spell. Kisuke had two theories as to what they may have been, but without seeing them, he isn't 100 percent positive. His first theory is that the kido barrier formed a box, which sealed her spiritual pressure from being felt. This barrier also made her fight any hollows in the area until she died or they were killed. His second theory is that the barrier was a spell placed somewhere on her body to conceal her spiritual pressure. Either way, the spell did not allow any of her comrades in the World of the Living to sense her."

"Is she alright then? I'm assuming the answer is yes if your still here." He stayed with emotionless eyes. Yoruichi pitied person because going after Rukia was like going after Byakuya Kuchiki himself. The villain signed his death warrant along with anyone idiotic enough to help him.

"Yes. Rukia is fine, but extremely exhausted. She is resting at the Kurosaki residence as we speak. Right now, everyone in Karakura Town is on high alert, and Squad 10 and 11 has sent a few extra patrols to help with the hollows that keep appearing. No one liked that these people were going after Rukia. Everyone is beginning to pitch in to help because she's done so much for everyone." Yoruichi stated

Byakuya turned to glance out the window in time to see snowflakes fall past. With a deep breath, he asked, "Did she have time to talk to Kurosaki since she is at his house?"

"From what I understood, both of them were exhausted from fighting. I doubt either one will be up soon." Yoruichi concluded as she hid the smirk. From what Isshin told her, Ichigo and Rukia were cuddled up on the boy's bed, but Byakuya didn't need to know that.

"Then, it's going to be up to me to decide for her?" Byakuya's question broke Yoruichi's train of thought. She raised a purple eyebrow at him. He decided to satisfy the woman's curiosity because he knew that she wouldn't leave him alone until he answered her. "Rukia asked be to select her suitor if she was not back, and I refuse to let her marry the bastard that the elders have selected for her."

"Do you know who you are going to select?" Grey eyes threw daggers her way. "Don't give me that look! I'm betting its down to Kenshin or Ichigo, am I right?" Yoruichi asked with a smirk.

He thought about his answer for a moment. "Possibly, but I am more concerned with Rukia's safety at the moment. If they already had a person in the World of the Living, what is to stop them from having more there? We need to figure out who this is first." His weary voice stated. Byakuya kept telling himself that all this would be over soon.

"Which Kuchiki have you pissed off lately with that much power?" Yoruichi asked not pulling any punches.

"Does all the elders count?" He asked with a slight up turn of lips. Anyone who saw this would have fainted. Byakuya Kuchiki has been letting his emotions show a lot more lately.

"Is Byakuya Kuchiki trying to make a joke?" Yoruichi teased.

"No..." Byakuya looked away. "We made every single one of the elders mad the other night at the council meeting. I wouldn't put it past any of them to try this."

"Rukia did well the other night, but I'm surprised neither one of you went after the elders then."

"I shouldn't be surprised that you were there somewhere hiding in the shadows." He told her with a small sneer.

"The whole thing was amusing to watch after the both of you put them in their place. But I did not understand why they were forcing her to choose now. It was Kyoraku who issued the test to Ichigo. Rukia was just the bait. None of us expected Kenpachi to go bankai on the poor boy! His blood lust destroyed half the damn district while Ichigo protected those that he could. Hell, Kenpachi and Squad 11 are doing all the rebuilding because of that stunt."

"It doesn't matter. The elders saw this as their chance to make a move and end this ridiculous matchmaking scheme. They didn't care that it was the Captain Commander who issued the order for a test. The only thing that mattered to them was Rukia being fought for. Yes, Ichigo was there for a test, but he fought Kenpachi to protect her." Byakuya stated. He knew how their minds worked. One little fault caused all the blamed to be heaped on Rukia once again.

"Why didn't you force the elders to bow down to you during the meeting. This could have solved quiet a few problems." She slyly asked.

"Yoruichi, you should know this. You have to have proper cause to go against the elders . The clan wouldn't think forcing a young, attractive noble into a marriage that she was attending matchmaking for was reason enough to end them. Now, all that's changed. They were warned not to do anything to her, but they didn't listen."

"Yes, they were warned, and they rose to the challenge in at least succeeding to deter Rukia from naming her husband."

"They only made a move, Yoruichi. In chess, you have to take out the queen. They failed. Now, it's my turn."

"Is the night going for the checkmate then?" She asked. Inwardly, Yoruichi hoped that she was wrong, but she had a feeling that Byakuya was going to chose Kenshin or pick someone off the wall just to spite the elders.

"I'm fixing to go visit the elders. It's time that they heard Rukia's decision." Byakuya stated as he flash stepped off into the evening with Yoruichi gaining speed behind him.

Karakura Town…

Dawn broke all too soon. Rukia rolled over towards the window as the first rays of sun caressed her cheek… Sunlight? I'm in a damn closet!

Then Rukia noticed the excess body heat that was emitting right along her back. Slowly, she turned her body towards the source of the heat. She came face to face with he favorite strawberry. Only this time, he was had a small smile tugging at his lips as he slept. Rukia attempted to scoot away from him, but Ichigo's arms had a mind of their own. They pulled her closer causing her to face plant into his chest.

A bright blush stained her cheeks. "Pssst… Ichigo!" Placing both hands on his chest, Rukia shook him lightly, but nothing happened.

"Ichigo!" Rukia called his name a little louder as she wiggled her way out of his grip, only to be pulled back into his tighten grip yet again.

"Dammit, strawberry! Wake the hell up!" She yelled and punched him in the face. Ichigo jerked wide awake, rolling off the bed carrying Rukia with him.

"Ooof…" They grunted as they landed hard on the floor.

"Why couldn't you sleep longer?" He asked scowling at her for the rude interruption of much needed rest. Then Ichigo noticed how Rukia was straddling Ichigo's hips, which caused him to grin slightly. The petite soul reaper never missed a beat as she whacked him upset the head yet again.

"Quit smirking at me! Now, explain why I was in your bed when I distinctly remember falling asleep in your closet." Rukia growled at him as she arched a raven eyebrow at him.

Now, it was Ichigo's turn blush. "Just tell her, idiot." His hollow whispered.

It's not like he really had to face her wrath if she disapproved of his answer. "Huh, no. I already kissed her. I am not telling her I wanted to hold her close to make sure she was protected. She'd kick my ass into next week." Ichigo replied to his hollow.

Instead, Ichigo went a classic excuse. "Well…huh… you looked cold?" He told her. In his inner world, the hollowfied version of Zangetsu was banging his head repeated against one of the buildings while the old man shook his head. They were waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"Is that a question or an answer?" Rukia asked skeptically as she jabbed him in the side.

Ichigo winched slightly before he switched their places. He was tired of her hitting him this early in the morning. Unfortunately for him, the petite woman under Ichigo was giving him a death glare. He quickly grabbed her wrist before she punched him again. "You need to move now." She hissed at him.

"Before you kill me for doing this, I want you to hear me out." He pleaded.

"Hear you out?" Rukia yelled. Her face was flushed as she tried to escape his grip. "I think not!" Just as the words left her mouth, Ichigo's hands started to freeze, but he refused to let go.

"Rukia Kuchiki, you're going to listen." He told her with a hint of authority in his voice as he pressed his weight down slightly to make sure he had her undivided attention.

Rukia froze for a moment as she stared into his face. Wide amethyst eyes met one yellow eye with black surrounding it while the other was a beautiful amber orb. "I see that you won't allow me to move until you get whatever off your chest, so go ahead, Ichigo." She told him calmly now, but that was only on the outside. Rukia's words held veiled death threats while the look in her eyes told him that he would be paying if she didn't like his answer.

"Okay. So as you figured, you didn't look cold latest night. Honestly, you were sleeping peacefully in the closet." A frown lined emerged on Rukia's forehead. "See the thing was that I was so shocked and happy to see you last night so I scooped you up." He told her.

"Really?" She asked suspiciously, but at least she was grinning at him slightly now.

"Yes...No... Okay, it's both. I was worried that I didn't feel your spiritual pressure until was a few feet from you." He told her with a bright red face.

Shock registered on Rukia's face. Did I lose that much spiritual pressure fighting then?

Seeing that she was still absorbing his words, Ichigo tried again. Now, two amber eyes told her the truth yet again. "Rukia, I never once could tell that you were in the world of the living until I was in the same room with you. Hell, even Uryuu couldn't feel you, and you know how he is with sense spiritual pressures!"

"You never knew I was here? At all? I was fighting hollows, Ichigo! You should have felt my powers." Her voice cracked. She never excepted things to go this far.

"That's just it, Rukia. All sorts of hollows appeared through Karakura Town. Karin, Chad, Uryuu, and Orihime were teamed up fighting in certain areas. Even Kisuke and his gang helped out."

"And no one felt me?" Rukia asked yet again as she tried to piece the puzzle together.

"Midget, I told you twice that none of us felt you come into town." He told her silently watching as she paled as everything feel into place.

"No. You don't understand, Ichigo. There was a specific reason that I came here. If I couldn't find you or died fighting, then…." Rukia trailed off. Then a look on determination was on her face. "Get off of me! We need to go!"

"Go where?" He asked as he watched her face change from shock to astonishment to murder.

"It's time to go pay the damn elders another visit." She growled. "Those assholes tried to kill me!"

Ichigo just looked completely confused. Surely a marriage to the nobles wasn't that big of a deal. "Rukia, maybe they just…"

"Shut up, carrot top! I had to fight 11 damn hollows to get here! Each bigger than the last! They'd hoped to kill me or drain all my spiritual pressure so I would sleep it off and not make my deadline!" Rukia yelled.

"Rukia, I think that you need to calm down." Ichigo tried to get her to relax.

"Why are you still on me, Ichigo? I have people to kill, and one of them isn't you!" Rukia shoved Ichigo over with all of her strength. He just stared at her like a idiot while his hollow was drooling over his Queen.

"She's amazing! We're marrying her, right? If not, I'll gladly kill the man who stands in my way." His hollow asked while the old man nodded in agreement.

"Shut up!" Ichigo yelled to both Zangetsu. Rukia turned around yanked him up off the floor. "What was that for?" He asked.

"You're moving to slow! We need to get to go or it may be over for us." Rukia grabbed his hand as she made her way to summon a portal on the roof of the residence. The time of reckoning had come.

Thank you for reading, reviewing, following, and favoriting! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and most questions were answered!... well except for the main one :D Just a heads up, this should be the second to last chapter, then an epilogue will occur.

Bleach Power: Thank you for the review my friend! Yes, drama is around the corner :D As for your questions, I reread the guidelines/rules. Basically, I've seen everything that they list as actions not allowed in FF. You just have to make sure you put the disclaimer there and not work on any of the artist that were listed below. Because if everyone followed their entries not allowed, there wouldn't be a FF to being with. Hell, everyone's work comes under the entries not allowed so don't worry. Just use the disclaimer like I said and you should be good. If you want I suggest asking some FF people who have been on longer since I started around last May.

Guest: Thank you for the review! Yes! Ichigo, whether he was willing to admit it or not, wanted Rukia to back to them after the war and everything. He kept a special place for her besides in his heart :D

That 1 person: I'm sorry that you're conflicted! So let me ask you this, is it the story Ichigo that you do not like or Ichigo in general? Thanks for your reviews!