Hey guys! This my first ever fanfic, so be nice!

Constructive criticism is greatly appreciated and flames shall be disregarded. And I am in great need of some beta-readers! Please PM or comment if you're interested. These characters, as well as Bleach, are not mine, nor will they ever be. But I like playing with them once in a while. They do, however, belong to the amazing Tite Kubo.

Baka ~ stupid/idiot

Nii-sama ~ a respectable way of saying big brother

Hōmongi kimono ~ worn by both married and unmarried women, meant to be worn semi-formally or formally

Yukata ~ casual summer kimono usually made of cotton

Haori ~ jacket worn over a kimono

Sumimasen deshita ~ apology over something that has been done

Fukutaichou ~ lieutenant

Taichou ~ captain

Gomen ~ more casual way of apologizing

Now, on with the story!

Chapter 1: For the Man who has Everything

It had been almost five years since the defeat of Aizen, five years since the loss of Ichigo's shinigami powers. It has been five years of peace in Seireitei. Today, however, held a certain tension in the air.

"AAAAARRRGGHHHHHH!" came a shriek from the Kuchiki mansion.

Violet eyes grew wide with panic and distress as the petite figure paced back and forth, practically digging a hole on the floor of her room. Kuchiki Rukia froze in her tracks for a moment, mumbling to herself, then continued to pace once again. Fortunately, it was her day off since time seemed irrelevant in a distressed Rukia's mind.

Rukia no baka! Christmas is less than a week and you still haven't found nii-sama a present. She paused. Well, it's not like I'm supposed to get him one. But still. He always gets me something nice every year and every year I end up giving him a mess.

She cringed, recalling the disastrous dinner she tried to make him two years ago. She had been daydreaming and nearly burnt down the kitchen. And, her right eye started to twitch at the memory of last year's catastrophe. Shaking her head, she pushed the thought away. Byakuya nii-sama being her nii-sama merely shrugged it off with his usual indifference and told her that it was fine.

Rukia smiled, remembering the beautiful hōmongi kimono she received from him last year. It was lavender silk with touches of sakura adorning the hem and sweeping up to the sleeves. She had not been able to wear it yet, not having an event she deemed formal enough to wear it to.

He had asked her a few months ago, while they were having tea by the pond, why she had not worn it yet. She blushed but tried to laugh it off by saying, "I don't really have anywhere to wear it to, nii-sama." His face had remained impassive but she could've sworn she saw a flicker of something in his eyes.

She felt a slight fluttering in her heart at the comparison on how they were now to how they once were. Indeed, the atmosphere between them had grown slightly more comfortable. She could sit across from him at the dinner or breakfast table without feeling suffocated or deafened by the silence. She could now look him in the eye, smile at him and make a few jokes once in a while. Slowly, she was able to be more herself around him.

Rukia recalled the first time he reciprocated her smile. It had been a year after the fall of Aizen.

/flashback/

It was summer and the blooming of the cherry blossoms was quite lovely that day. Byakuya and Rukia decided to have tea in the garden while playing a game of Go. She was dressed in a plain turquoise cotton kimono, and he in a midnight blue yukata.

He was winning and she was getting terribly frustrated, brows furrowing in concentration. From her peripheral vision, she could see the focus in his eyes as he stared at the board. She sighed inwardly before an idea popped in her head. She smirked.

"Nii-sama?" she called, trying to get his attention.

Looking up to meet her gaze, he replied, "Yes, Rukia?"

"You cup seems to be empty, would you like me to serve you your tea?" She grinned.

"Yes, that would be nice."

Her eyes twinkled with mischief as she got up and reached over to gently grab the teapot. Pouring him his tea, she smiled sweetly at him. He merely raised an eyebrow. As she made to sit back down opposite him, she pretended to trip on her feet, falling to grass and knocking the pieces off the board.

She never felt her body landing on the lawn. Rather, she felt arms on her back and under her knees. Looking up, she locked gazes with a pair of gray eyes. His smell of sweet sakura tickled her nose and the heat from his body caused tingles on hers. Quickly looking away, she blushed.

"Sumimasen deshita, nii-sama," she whispered, attempting to look as regretful as she could. "I was so clumsy. I knocked the pieces over. I guess we'll have to start the game over."

"We don't have to," he told her. "I remember where all the pieces are suppose to be."

Whipping her attention back to him, she caught the glint in his eyes.

"Cheating is never wise, Rukia."

Whatever words she wanted to say to him got lost in her throat as she saw the sides of his lips slowly go up. Rukia had to blink a few times to make sure that her eyes weren't playing tricks on her.

He smiled! She sighed happily. Such a beautiful smile.

"Shall we go back to the game?" he asked, gently putting her down on the mat.

Still at a loss for words, she could do nothing but nod.

/end flashback/

However small it might have been, it was a smile and was meant for her. The sight of it had robbed her breath and caused her heart to stop for that one millisecond.

She sighed, falling back on her futon. Closing her eyes, she covered them with her arm and heaved another sigh.

"What gift can you give a man who has everything?" she muttered.

Your heart, whispered Sode no Shirayuki.

With eyes still closed, Rukia laughed humorlessly. He already has that, she replied. And he always will.

Will you ever let your feelings be known? Sode no Shirayuki asked.

Rukia visibly stiffened and whispered, "No."

A sweet voice from the other side of her door pulled her out of her reverie. "Rukia-sama?"

She sat up. "Yes, Akiko-san?"

"Matsumoto fukutaichou is here and would like to speak with you."

Rukia smiled, thinking that the lieutenant was probably here to invite her to another one of her parties. "Tell her I'll be right out."

"Hai, Rukia-sama."

I guess I'll have to think about Byakuya nii-sama's gift later, she thought with a smile as she got up to meet with her friend.

"Rukia-chan!" Matsumoto giggled in delight, hugging the petite shinigami against her oversized bosom.

"Hello Rangiku-san," said Rukia when she was finally able to catch her breath, sitting down on the mat opposite her friend. "What brings you here?"

"Well, as you know, the SWA will be holding a Christmas party two days from now and I wanted to make sure that you were coming."

"Well, you see Rangiku-san…" I still have to figure out what to get nii-sama for Christmas. "…I don't know if I'll be able to…"

"You simply can't say no Rukia-chan! Otherwise, Kuchiki-taichou will not show up without you there."

"But…"

Matsumoto placed her hand on her hips and looked at the younger woman sternly. "What other thing can be keeping you so busy? As part of the SWA, you knew we were having this and every member must attend."

"But…"

"Maybe I can help you. That way you can finish up and have time to go to the party!"

Looking at the other woman whose eyes was filled with anticipation, Rukia sighed in defeat. Maybe she can help. "You see, Rangiku-san, I don't know what to get nii-sama for Christmas."

Matsumoto's eyes shone brighter, if that were even possible. "A gift for Kuchiki-taichou? Hmmm…" Tapping her finger on her chin for a moment, she smirked. "You know, we could just cover you up with pretty wrapping paper and ribbons and leave you on his doorstep." She winked.

Heat rushed to Rukia's face, making her resemble a ripe tomato. "Rangiku-san, be serious!" she yelled.

The other woman simply tilted her head back and laughed. "Alright, alright. How about you make him Christmas dinner?"

Rukia flinched. "Uhm…let's not go there."

"Okay…well, how about you just ask him what he wants?"

"I can't simply ask him! I want it to be a surprise." Rukia sighed. "Nii-sama always gets me these beautiful gifts every year and I just want him to at least like my gifts."

"What type of gifts have you gotten him so far?"

"Well, I made him a drawing once, a few years back. I also made him a cup for his calligraphy brushes. I bought him some novels from the real world. I also recall buying him a new haori four years ago…"

Matsumoto sighed. "Rukia-chan, you really are still naïve about the minds of men."

Confused. "What do you mean?"

She smirked. "To give Kuchiki-taichou a memorable gift, you have to tap into his desires as a man. I mean, when was the last time he kissed a woman, let alone—"

"STOP!" Rukia put her hands on her ears. "I don't wanna hear it!"

Her heart was pounding so loud on her chest that she worried the other woman might hear it. The thought of Byakuya kissing another woman, let along being with another woman made her ill. She knew he was a man. She knew this, knew it better than anyone. But she always thought that maybe…

No, she inwardly shook her head. Stop it right there, Rukia. That's treacherous waters you're treading.

"Gomen, Rukia-chan," Matsumoto's voice pulling her from her thoughts. "I never realized you felt so strongly about Kuchiki-taichou. I was only kidding."

Rukia's cheeks flushed immediately. "What are you talking about Rangiku-san?" she laughed nervously. "Of course I feel strongly for him, he's my brother." Brother. The word was like a knife through her heart.

That's right, he's your brother. She frowned.

"Yes, you keep telling yourself that," Matsumoto mumbled to herself, shaking her head. Clearing her throat, she smiled. "Well, you could try asking him indirectly? Be subtle."

Rukia thought for a moment. That might work. "But how shall I ask him subtly?"

"Ask who subtly?" came a deep voice from behind her that sent shivers down her spine.

So what do you think? Reviews would be really nice!

Please and thank you ^_^