Chapter One: The Tortures of Court

The jingle of horses harnesses mixed with the chatter of people as the Royal Court approached the summer palace, its home for the next six months. The blood red roof of the palace with eves of gold rose above the towering walls of grey stone.

'Look Rukia, look! The Summer palace,' Orihime called to her new friend, practically bouncing in her seat. Rukia sighed and gave Orihime a smile of forced delight of which her bubbly friend failed to notice.

I suppose I must prepare myself for the onslaught of parties that are sure to happen… Rukia thought grimacing inwardly. She did not really dislike the parties as such. Dressing up for herself and helping all of the other ladies in-waiting with their special kimonos and yukatas she enjoyed, it was the stupid and clumsy proposals of marriage to her after the parties that she hated. Without fail and much to the disgust of her brother she refused each and every one of them, making for herself a well-known reputation among the court. This did little to stop the endless line of possible suitors all hoping that they would be the exception to her continuous answers of no. She sighed remembering what her brother, Byakuya, had told her. She was told, more like commanded, that she find a husband within the next six months other wise she would pass the invisible time at which she could be married. Rukia pouted at the thought, twenty is no that old, just because everyone else is married at sixteen…the responsibilities of being a noble… what joy! She thought sarcastically as she watched the giant gates of the palace open for the procession of the court.

Being one of the many ladies in-waiting for Queen Yuki had its advantages. They were only called upon for major events and so they entertained themselves for the most part making for firm friendships and less of the bitchiness that came with trying to climb the social ladder. They also shared a suite of rooms all connected to a central common room in which they took their meals together.

'Rukia, Rukia,' came the husky call from a particularly well endowed strawberry-blonde, 'I am going to make you day,' she chuckled knowingly. Rukia turned to her, eyeing her with caution knowing that something was up.

'There is a party to celebrate the start of summer in three days and the Queen expects all of her ladies to attend,' Matsumoto Rangiku said trailing off into a laugh at the sight of Rukia's face as it fell, well knowing of Rukia's dislike of what usually occurred after such parties.

'Rangiku!' Rukia moaned, her personal form of torture had just arrived sooner than expected. A small hand came to gently pat her shoulder in sympathy.

'Thanks Momo,' said Rukia as she turned to her understanding friend smiling half-heartedly.

'It will be alright Rukia,' came the sweet voice of Hinamori Momo, "just help us out to get ready like you always do and it will be here and have gone before you notice it.' Rukia looked at her equally small friend wishing that she did not have such a reputation for declining proposals and that she could blend into the crowd like Momo. Both with black hair and delicate, slender bodies Rukia couldn't see what the real difference was beside the colour of their eyes. Momo was naturally unobtrusive and quite which made her blend in with the other ladies in-waiting. Rukia was like all other nobles well spoken, respectful and held herself like one of them but what set her apart was the tendency to go off like a fire cracker when something got under her skin.

The morning of the party came a bit too quickly for Rukia's liking. With trying to organise Rangiku and Momo she had hardly time to fret about the party. And now they sat doing each others hair and makeup wearing bathrobes before donning their beautiful yukatas.

'Rukia, come on you know it will be fun,' wheedled Rangiku.

'Yeah Rukia it's going to be fun. We can gossip about all of the new people at court tripping over themselves to get into the King and Queen's good graces' Momo said trying to lighten the mood. Rukia smiled.

'Okay, but you have to promise to rescue me if any guy starts to be too talkative with me,' she said.

'Deal,' Momo, Rangiku and Orihime chimed.

'Oo look at them. They are practically licking their shoes,' cooed Rangiku causing Rukia to burst into a fit of giggles.

'Oo look, the new samurai, called Orihime clapping her hands with glee, 'they are sooo handsome this year,' she giggled.

The other three looked, taking in the new faces and picking out the ones that looked the most interesting.

'See the samurai with the white hair,' whispered Rangiku, 'he is just the right height for you Momo and he looks younger too.' It earned Rangiku a resigned look from Momo, knowing exactly how Rangiku's brain worked. Indeed the white haired samurai was the shortest and the youngest among them but what he lacked in height he made up for in presence. The air temperature seemed to cool as he walked past looking over the crowd with teal eyes looking displeased that he was there.

'brr is it me or is it cool in here,' joked Rangiku, 'You'll have a hard time getting him to like you,' said Rangiku nudging Momo.

'Oh, I know who they are,' chimed in Orihime not wanting to be out done by Rangiku in knowing who was who. She pointed to a black haired man dressed in white clothes with blue star-like symbols on them and an extremely tall dark skinned man walking besides him.

'That is Uryuu Ishida in the white and Yastotora 'Chad' Sado walking next to him.' said Rangiku taking the words from Orihime.

Rukia had blocked out the noise of the court and her friends voices had faded into the background.

'I know who the next samurai is,' squealed Orihime, 'He comes from the neighbouring estates to mine and he meet him before when my family was invited to their estates,' she said smugly. The samurai in question passed by with a scowl on his face, though that was not what drew the whispers as he passed. His bright orange hair, even brighter than Orihime's own locks, stood out amongst the heads of brown and black.

'Well who is he,' said Rangiku miffed that she didn't know the samurai's name.

'He is Ichigo Kurosaki and he is said to be one of the strongest samurai in the imperial army,' said Momo beating Orihime to the punch, 'You find out a lot in the baths,' she said in defence to Rangiku's and Orihime's stares.

Well he certainly stands out. Rukia thought after watching Ichigo walk past completely oblivious to what her friends had just said. But as I can't see my future husband in this group I am going to actually talk to someone than watch them walk around with their inflated egos.

The first part of the night went well for Rukia. She talked with people she rarely got to see normally but as it grew later more and more samurai came to talk to Rukia. Orihime, Momo and Rangiku had their work cut out for them trying to save Rukia from conversations. The new group of samurai didn't know of Rukia's reputation of rejecting suitors or they ignored it thinking that they would be the exception. It became so bad that Rukia fled the pavilion for the quite of the gardens, hoping no one would pursue her there.

Rukia sighed as she walked watching the light of the moon on the water of the pond. She looked over the water only to see a samurai most likely searching for her to engage her in a conversation again. Walking quickly she slipped through the branches of a willow overhanging the water knowing no one would be able to see her there as she had used it many times before to escape particularly annoying suitors. What she did not expect was to find a person sitting on the bench she had claimed as her own.

'Oh sorry,' she whispered just making out the outline of the person in the deep shadows. The figure jumped to its feet hearing her voice. The person was quite tall and Rukia could make out a sanpakto resting on their hip as it shimmered very slightly in the moonlight filtering through the willow leaves.

So who is it? Please Review. All comments are welcome.