A/N: For readers, here's the wikipedia paragraph that permeates the story: In chaos theory, the butterfly effect is the sensitive dependence on initial conditions; where a small change at one place in a nonlinear system can result in large differences to a later state.

The picture that also launched a thousand ships (metaphorically speaking of course; in my case, it was what started this) was that of Rukia with the six protagonists in the story, all of whom were in school uniforms. It was just so adorable that I had to write this.

There are several themes to this story, but the poem in the first paragraph is a homage to different literary pieces that tout the main theme, that of the Butterfly Effect. Squint and you may also find other cultural references scattered throughout the story.

This is dedicated to MangKulas and breadsticks, who taught me that writing fanfic is as enjoyable as reading them.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. If I did, then it wouldn't be Bleach in the first place. Now go pester some other poor bloke.

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A shy butterfly flaps its wings, and chaos ensues;

A thrown pebble ripples in a pond, and time diverges;

A music box plays, and tragedy follows;

A black pendulum swings, and worlds crumble.

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...one…

Hitsugaya stepped through the arched gateway to the Karakura Academy, school bag in hand and indifferent to the impersonal opulence unfolding before him. Another boring day, he thought. He went over the advanced classes and assignments he had for the day, barely noticing the sound of running feet behind him. Twenty minutes later he would be paying more attention to those sounds.

…two…

Byakuya picked up his cellphone while weaving through traffic on his way to school, his other hand gripping the wheel of his car. Jushiro looked out the window of the passenger seat. "This is Byakuya Kuchiki."

He listened for a few seconds and his normally stoic features seemed to glaciate even more. "I understand, I will look for her then." He turned off his phone and proceeded with his drive to Karakura Academy, as aloof as always. Thirty five minutes later his expression would be changing slightly to one of exasperation - and something else that he would not define.

…three…

Renji kicked a Coke can littering the street and accidentally hit a stray black cat with it. He immediately felt chagrined when the cat hissed back angrily, and would have picked it up to soothe it if he hadn't caught Shuhei's smirk at him. Damn fool, he would think I'm going soft. He made a disgruntled sound and walked ahead of his sparring partner instead.

He looked over his shoulder to glare at him, when he noticed the cat following them. The little git is stalking me? Shuhei saw the cat too and started sniggering, probably amused that two strays were coming together.

They were both so preoccupied with the latest addition to their small group that they did not notice the Coke can rolling down the road, or the blur of a pale, shapely leg. Forty two minutes later, in Karakura Academy, they would be glaring at each other over a different feline.

…four…

Ichigo scowled at the painted ivory skull mask in his hand, wondering who on earth ever came up with the idea of Masque Balls. His other hand held onto his coffee cup and bag, juggling both items precariously.

Che, old goat face should never have found out about that Karakura Academy event, he silently fumed. His father corralled Yuzu and Karin to make the mask for him, effectively forcing him to go to the ball, or else suffer his sisters' cries of disappointment.

Seventeen months, and he still hasn't made any friends in the posh school his father enrolled him in. That was probably why his father, in his usual over-the-top way, was pushing Ichigo to go to a social event. If anything, his trademark scowl deepened even more. This is why I need to keep some secrets from adults.

However, instead of an overly excitable father, it was his uncertain grip on his coffee cup that was his eventual undoing. Shit! He watched aghast as the coffee spilled out like pouring rain, like a torrent, on a petite figure that happened to come by at the wrong moment. Through the shock and embarrassment, he glimpsed violet irises widening, and then constricting in annoyance. Nearly an hour later, he would be violently keeping himself from drowning in its depths.

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One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four. The symphony started up, and Rukia danced. Tomorrow, she would be going to Karakura Academy. In a corner of her room, opened and barely read, was her Math textbook. The book was open on The Theory of Numbers and Probability.

"Rukia, shouldn't you be studying?" A slim figure stood by the door, glasses shielding her eyes and book adorning her hands.

Rukia sighed and stopped. "Nanao, I know. It's just-" This is my last day before my transfer, she wanted to say. But of course, she was trained to keep from voicing her wishes like that. Instead she kept them to herself, and walked quietly over to her book.

Nanao knew what she wanted to say, however. Shunsui, I will definitely hit you with that etiquette book next time. "You will also like it there. We sent you for a visit one time, remember? You were so young then, but I'm sure you remember."

Rukia did not want to disappoint Nanao by telling her that she had no memories of visiting the school. All her memories were of the Gotei Boarding School she was presently attending. No, not presently any more. She reined in the sigh that threatened to escape her yet again, and smiled at her senior. "I'm sure I'll like it there. Thank you for your concern, Nanao."

It was a clear dismissal. Nanao's lips twitched in a smile. Although Rukia would never admit to it, her demeanor had always been graced with an air of nobility so highly prized by the aristocratic family that adopted her. Adopted and then abandoned, she silently fumed. It took years and careful approaches to finally break down the barriers Rukia had set up, and even then, she was still as wary as a doe in guarding her emotions. Nanao knew it was thanks in large part to the incident with that damned Kaien.

She closed the door to Rukia's room behind her, and walked back to her own room. The image of Rukia dancing stayed with her, though, entranced as before with her hauntingly beautiful form. That reminds me, she thought, I need to ask Dr. Ishida whether he can get his designer son to create a couture dress for Rukia for that Karakura Masque Ball.

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"Whaaaaaaat? Karakura has a masque ball? That damnable son of mine didn't even tell me!" Isshin was crying hysterically at one corner, going on and on about inconsiderate offsprings.

Ryuken couldn't really care. He just wanted the substitute doctor out of his hospital as soon as possible. Even the slight irritation he felt that the man was eavesdropping on his private phone call with Nanao Ise was eclipsed by his driving urge to shoot something at the noisy former classmate. "Once you have stopped your tantrum, you can start finishing up on your rounds." And leaving me the hell alone and in peace.

"Aaaaaawww, Ryuken, it's been a while and you're still the grump that you were in high school. What, not getting any?"

A nerve started to twitch in Ryuken's brow. "If you really want your son to adjust to school life more, maybe you could get him to attend this ball?" And hopefully keep you busy enough that you stop pestering me.

"Gasp! What a splendid idea!" Wait, did he actually say the word gasp? "Ryuken, my bestest buddy, you are just sooo smart aren't you? ~~~"

"Kurosaki, if you do NOT unhand me this very minute, I will shoot you with my crossbow."

"What, are you getting a hard-on with me hugging you?"

"KUROSAKI!"

"What, what? You're the one who came up with all these penetration images!"

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Rukia was slightly annoyed. He could have at least waited for the news. Her (adoptive) brother had already left the house, without knowing that she has finally come to the manor house to stay and live with them. Her Grandfather Ginrei was apologetic that Byakuya had been busy as the school council president, and was hardly ever at the house. I'm sorry, Rukia, he had to go pick up his co-councillor for a school meeting. I can call him for you so that he can pick you up.

She had arrived in the town of Karakura late the night before, exhausted from studying her books. Because of this, she was not able to greet Byakuya properly, or to let him know that the family had decided to enroll her in his school. Hmp, he probably won't notice even if I did tell him. All she remembered of him was a feeling of coldness, glacial eyes that briefly looked down on her small form, and never looked again.

That memory of ice prompted Rukia to decline Ginrei's offer, and opted to walk to her new school instead. She was crossing the street when she noticed a car zooming in her direction, the dark-haired driver on the phone, and the white-haired passenger glancing at her.

He looks familiar, she thought. She yelped when she realized she was standing in the middle of the street, about to be run over, and had to quickly dodge to the side of the street. Of all the impertinent, obnoxious-

Her train of thought was cut off as scalding hot coffee poured down on her NEW AND PRISTINE uniform.

"Eeeeeek, look at what you've done!"

"Hey, midget, it wasn't my fault! YOU were the one who jumped and bumped into me!"

"Excuse me? You arrogant, selfish ass!" Rukia couldn't help it. The previous sleepless night, the morning's debacle, the stress of going to a new school, and now this. It was all too much. In a move that was completely out of character for the well-bred noble, but was reminiscent of a cackling child running in the streets, her leg flashed and kicked him in the shin.

"Owwwww! Why you little-"

Blood pounding in her head, she smirked at him and ran heedlessly through the streets, narrowly avoiding his reach. She looked back at him and saw him pursuing her with a maniacal grin. Huh, he's fast.

She turned a corner and - too late! - saw a Coke can rolling in her direction. She tripped over the offending object and skidded to a stop, right on top of a red-headed tattooed guy.

"What the hell-" The guy turned to her and stopped breathing for a moment, eyes widening for a fraction.

"Oi! Get your hands off her! That midget needs spanking but you pervert shouldn't be groping women!"

"What the fuck are you talking about, boy. Say groping again and I'm gonna pummel some respect into your head!"

"….er, Renji, the girl you were groping just ran away."

"….Oi! Shuhei, why didn't you stop her! Come on, man, I think I know her!"

"Hey, what the f-, don't grab me by the collar!"

Rukia snorted in mid-laugh as she looked behind her. Now there were two men running after her, one being dragged along, and a cat - of all things! - running and nipping at all their heels. The years of careful masquerade were slowly and inexorably stripped from her at that point, an exhilaration spreading from her stomach to her throat, while her fast lithe legs ran down the street. This is fun.

She was at the school gates when she saw a car parked in front, with a white-haired man standing beside it, his back to her, carrying a painting and some packages. Years of dancing gave her the reflexes to do a quick pirouette and avoid him-

-only to fall right in the arms of a man with long dark hair and smoky gray eyes. Oh, God, he must be the most handsome man I've ever seen. His arms tightened around her, and she saw his features constrict with a remembered longing.

"Hey you! Hold on to that girl, we need to talk to her!"

"Are you talking to me, you plebeian?"

"Oh, Byakuya, your new girlfriend just left, did you-"

The squabbling voices receded in the background for Rukia as she fled from the scene. Her heart was violently thumping beneath her ribcage, threatening to burst out. She could not understand why, nor did she want to dwell on it.

Instead she ran, relishing the rare freedom granted to her.

Almost there, she thought. To a world of regimented rules, constricting etiquette, and harsh realities. To a world where she could not kick a person with impunity, dazzle a stranger with an impish grin, or fall in the arms of a prince.

She saw a white-haired boy walking slowly ahead of her, and the last vestiges of the breathy abandonment she experienced in the last half hour pushed her to do a remarkable, outrageous thing. She abruptly stopped, hooked an arm through his, and whispered. "You don't mind if I walk with you, do you?"

He looked at her with disbelief and not a little surprise. "Excuse me?"

"Those boys behind me seem to be a trifle upset with me, and I just figure you're the type that likes to protect people," she said impishly. Ah, well, in the last hour, I had been manhandled by three different men, I might as well initiate it this time.

"Did you do something to them?" he asked with a decidedly untrusting look.

"Little ol' me?" her eyes widened with the ease of a practiced actress.

He must have seen through it, though, since he snorted with disdain. However, whether he believed her or not, he spun around to look contemptuously down (which was not easy given his height) on the three - no, five - men that were right behind them. "And who the hell are you people?"

"Oi, oi, you little shrimp. Don't you dare back talk to me! Give over that girl right now, she just kicked m-"

"You fucking jerk! Don't go around harassing girls!"

"Listen, you redhead freak of nature, you were the one groping her a minute ago!"

"Well, he is right, Renji-"

"Look who's talking! YOU are the freak of nature, you orange-haired bastard!"

"If the three of you are quite finished I would like SOME explanation as to why three of you lowly plebes dared to assault me!"

"Eh, Byakuya, they didn't really-"

"ENOUGH!" the young white-haired boy screeched. Damn hormones, still can't get this voice to keep from spiking to an un-adult-like falsetto. "I need one of you to explain everything, and to explain it NOW!"

"I agree, Hitsugaya." The voice came melodiously from a new figure, square glasses framing brown gentle eyes. Another figure, slim and snake-eyed, was waving enthusiastically from behind him.

"Aizen-senpai, I was just-"

"Let me see now, I think Principal Yamamoto may just want to talk to all of you to hear this explanation you're after." He smiled at all of them, without humor or kindness softening the smile. "I'm sure he can find some time for you."

Which was why, thirteen minutes later, they were all waiting in the lounge room to talk to the most feared principal in the history of Karakura Academy.

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Toushiro was waiting in the teacher's lounge for the first time in his exemplary school life. It looked like a train station, with three sets of back-to-back couches arranged in the middle. He was sitting on the first one, right next to another white-haired man. And why does he keep mentioning our hair color? In front of him were the three boys that he was coldly glaring at - and they are certainly glaring right back - as being the source of the problem. Mr. Strawberry, Mr. Pineapple, and Mr. Noble, he seethed. Another guy, with a 69 tattoo on his face, had his back on all of them, quietly muttering about how he was dragged to this whole mess.

However, he couldn't help but try to keep an ear out for the petite girl that had so taken him unawares. She had the biggest, most lavender eyes he could imagine. And he could not name the emotion that was warming him from the inside. Soon, he heard her dainty footsteps coming into the room. They almost sound like a forgotten beat, he thought. One, two, three, four…

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Byakuya could not help but be exasperated. He should not have been here. He was the School Council President. He was a Kuchiki. He was definitely NOT someone that needed to see the principal. But here he was, nevertheless, waiting to be castigated for breaking the rules.

At least Jushiro seems to be taking everything in stride, he thought with a certain degree of resentment. His friend was smiling as if he found something extremely funny. In a corner of his mind, however, he vehemently avoided the fact that he had held on to the girl longer than necessary. She is nothing, he thought, and yet again and again he replayed her softness in his arms, the hitch in her breath, and the sound her heart made against his chest. One, two, three, four…

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Renji was glaring daggers at Shuhei, and he was throwing them right back at him, which was no mean feat considering they were sitting with their backs against each other. You know he's upset because he only gets in trouble because of you, a secret part of him whispered. Che, it was his own fault, he should have helped me to catch her.

His thoughts went back to a buried memory, of stolen water and stolen moments. It has to be her, he thought. I've been waiting for years to show her what I've become. His face turned towards the door as it opened, admitting the girl that had been haunting his dreams for the past ten years. Inexplicably, he heard a ringing in his ears, challenging him to remember, to hold on. One, two, three, four…

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Ichigo was vainly trying to rein in his legendary temper. He had gingerly placed the mask his sisters made (can't have it break) and had then proceeded to go over the entire episode. Why the hell was I even running after her? It was just a stupid kick! He couldn't come up with an answer. He didn't even want to recall that sudden twinge he had felt in his chest, when she had first turned to him, and he saw her for the first time. Kinda like a sword through his heart, he mused.

He looked at her as she came in, stealing the light from the room with a single, careless smile. He couldn't help it. Like the goddess Artemis, the white moon that reflected the sun's light, she sparkled with a radiance that whispered of The Hunt. The Hunt for what, he wondered? Of power, of friendship, of soul-searing loneliness. You will never need to be alone, he thought. And the look in her eyes answered something within him that lit a fire underneath his skin, tolling a bell of portents. One, two, three, four…

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Rukia saw all six boys in varying degrees of disquiet, and couldn't help but smile.

"Oooh! A kitty!" She jumped to the couch, in the gap between the orange-haired and the red-headed boy, and cooed at the black cat perched on the end of the couch. It mewled prettily at her.

"Okay, say cheese! One, two, three…"

click

A flash went out, and all seven pairs of eyes were looking at a small boy, disheveled and apologetic, with a camera, standing by the door. Even the cat was glaring at him.

"Oi, Hanataro, I hope that picture isn't for the Seiretei Communications school paper," muttered the boy with the bandage on his nose. "Coz if it is, since I'm the editor, I'm definitely pushing it to the trash pile."

"Eh hehehe, Hisagi-senpai, I thought this was news, what with Rukia Kuchiki being involved and all."

Silence blanketed the room.

Seven seconds later, cacophony ensued.

"You're Rukia? Byakuya's sister?"

"She is my adopted sister, Jushiro."

"I knew it! You're the one in Inuzuri when I was a kid!"

"You're the Kuchiki dancer? The one Matsumoto was going on and on about?"

"Oh fuck, did I just get involved with a dispute between nobles? Oh shit, Tousen-senpai is sooo going to be mad!"

"WHAT THE FUCK is everyone talking about! She's just a midget that kicked me!"

MEOW!

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Hanataro closed the door behind him, trembling and afraid for the pretty girl in the midst of it all. She looked so nice, should I have gone and helped her escape?

He didn't know it at the time, but the whole world he knew would change because of that girl.