A/N: Thank you for reading this story. This will be a pretty long story, so I humbly ask that you bear with it as it may seem to start out slow. Thank you all who took the time to review, PM me, fav and/or follow this story. It means a great deal to me. My apologies if I and MS Word have overlooked any grammatical/spelling errors.
Warnings: AU. OOC. Original characters.

' ' denotes thoughts by the character.
Italics denotes dreaming/flashback

Disclaimer: Bleach concept and characters belong to Kubo Tite. Original characters and story is mine. This is for pure entertainment and no money is made from this.

Chapter 3

Ukitake Jūshirō sat at his desk typing away on his laptop as he was making his final notes on his last patient of the day. He had made all the morning rounds at the hospital and he was tired. Not physically, tired even if he has been working since 5 in the morning, but emotionally tired. It's tough when your family owns and operates several medical facilities. The expectation in the Ukitake family was for Jūshirō to be his father's successor and take over the family business of running 5 major hospitals in the Kantō region and another 7 in the Kansai region.

Sighing for the hundredth time since he's been at his desk he ponders if he wants to remain a physician since he will have to stop being a practicing physician when he becomes CEO/President of Ugendō, LLC. Thinking back on his decision to go through with medical school, it was so that he could be educated and familiarize with what the doctors do in the hospital. There were other things to consider besides the main goal of saving lives. It was the day to day job of checking on patients, creating a plan of action on each patient that is under his care or any doctor's care, updating charts and staff meetings. There's the occasional seminars and research if you're in a particular field of expertise. Quite a lot of work than simply seeing patients as most would think of for just being a doctor.

But the truth is, running a consolidation of hospitals is really more of a business transaction then it is about saving lives. It's about profits, credentials and recognitions. Being one of the state-of-the art hospitals means you have to have great doctors that strive to be the best in their fields. Thus, you have to be up-to-date on current medical technology, practice and procedures. You have to be willing to have doctors do exchange programs with other medical facilities worldwide to share and learn of different techniques. Of course, it also goes hand and hand with the latest medical equipments as well.

Jūshirō has one year left of freedom before his father retires and hands him the reigns over to him. And in the last two years, he has significantly tailored down the time spent working with patients to more of business management, meetings, and traveling between all the Ugendō, LLC. owned hospitals. Being the first son and the eldest of 7 brothers and sisters, he had to be the perfect model for his siblings. Not that his siblings couldn't do the job, but it was tradition to pass it down to the eldest son. None of his siblings showed an interest in running the family business. They had their own dreams and Jūshirō would always support them in their dreams no matter what.

Though it was a comfort to him that a few of his siblings went into the medical field; three out of the seven were also doctors. The other four siblings had different career paths. Two are in law school, one is studying to be an architect, and one is studying to be a civil engineer. Neither one of his siblings wanted to pressure to be the heir and successor; this burden, a constant reminder, fell on Jūshirō's shoulders.

While the business aspects of the work did not bother him much, it was all the social functions that come with it that he detest. Being in the same room with pretentious people who flaunt their power and wealth was by no means enjoyable way to spend any available time. His parents did so because of obligations and of course, expectations. But Jūshirō would prefer to not attend unless it was absolutely crucial or beneficial to the hospitals, which to him seem like never.

So it came down to the annual charity event that is hosted by Tokyo's governor, Inose Naoki. The list of people attending were all the wealthiest business conglomerates in the area, the politicians, some famous actors and actresses and note worthy people that have made great contributions to society. This year his father insisted that Jūshirō attend so that he can formally introduce him to the power players of high society. Jūshirō was also expected to have a date and seeing that he has yet to find a suitable girlfriend, his parents had set up several omiai meetings for him hoping he would find a nice, suitable woman as his future wife. However, Jūshirō never liked any one of the women that he met with so he didn't have a date for this event.

Sighing again when he checked his appointment book, he said to no one by himself, "Why do I have to go to this damn thing tonight?" He secretly hoped for a medical emergency to pop up needing him so he could get out of this event tonight.

"Oh right, I said I would call her today," Jūshirō suddenly remembered that he had asked Rukia to go with him to the event.

As a last minute thought, Jūshirō decided he asks his friend, Kita Rukia, if she would be willing to accompany him to this event. Though she was 8 years younger than him, they had become friends over the years and looked at her like a baby sister. And it had been a while since he had spoken or saw her due to his busy schedule. He figured that if he was going to attend this dreaded social event, he might as well enjoy it with someone he knows and can actually have an interesting conversation with and not be bored to tears.

Looking up Rukia's contact information on computer, he picked up the phone on his desk to give her a call. He didn't know if she was out of class yet. He figured that it would go to voicemail if she was still in class and would simply leave her a message.

He heard the phone ring and then after the second ring, he was greeted with her voicemail message.

Jūshirō leaves her a brief message, "Konnichiwa Rukia-san. I just wanted to call to let you know that I will be picking you up at 6:00 this evening at your home. The event is expected to be over at 10:00. I will see you then. Bye."

Hanging up, he lets out another sigh. "Time to wrap things up here and go meet with my father," he says to himself as he begins putting his reports and files in order.

Kita Rukia had a little oomph in her walk as she made her way to her routine bi-weekly therapy session. While she was in her taxation class, Ukitake Jūshirō called and left her a message. In a few hours she would be hanging off his arms going to the most talked about event in town. It would be all over the local news and newspapers by morning. She was giggly like any fangirl falling in love with her favorite character.

Stepping in the office, Rukia was immediately greeted by the warm middle-aged woman that has been the receptionist since she was 14 years old. Rukia's psychiatrist is a well renowned and famous doctor in Japan. He even teaches a course every other year in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis at the graduate level.

"Konnichiwa Kita-san," greeted the receptionist upon seeing Rukia enter the office. "Please have a seat and I'll let Aizen sensei know that you're here for your session."

"Konnichiwa Nakamura-san and thank you," Rukia greeted back and taking a seat as she waited to be called into Aizen sensei's office.

Dr. Aizen Sōsuke was referred to her by Ukitake sensei during the trial of her sister, Hisana. Aizen and Ukitake both attended medical school together. They were only college friends and colleagues for a short time until they parted to focus on their individual field of specialty. While they no longer cross paths too often, they follow each other's careers.

Everyone in his office, including his colleagues, Dr. Shihōin Yoruichi, Dr. Unohana Retsu and Dr. Coyote Starrk, all have watched Rukia grow up in their eyes. They remember how fragile she was when she first came to their office and how she slowly rebuild herself into a sweet, caring young lady. But she still has fears and scars that are not easily healed or seen.

"Kita-san," Nakamura-san begins to say, "Aizen sensei is ready to see you. You may go in now."

"Thank you Nakamura-san," Rukia tells her as she passes by her desk towards the hallway that leads to Aizen sensei's office.

Rukia was met by a young lady in a nurse's outfit who greeted her with a smile, "Kita-san, this way please."

Rukia nodded her acknowledgement with a polite smile, but once the young nurse's back was to her, she couldn't help roll her eyes.

'I've been coming here for the last six years and you'd think I would know my way to Aizen sensei's office,' she mentally complained to herself. 'She must be new here. I don't recall seeing her before.'

The young nurse pauses at one of the office doors and knock a couple of times before opening the door slightly and announced, "Aizen sensei, Kita-san is here for her session."

"Thank you Chiba-san," a deep male voice spoke in acknowledgment and thanks as the door open further letting Rukia into the office.

Stepping into the office, the first thing one notice is the simplicity in the design. It was modern, bright with the big windows with warm tones for the blinds and minimalistic in décor.

Her psychiatrist, Aizen Sōsuke, smiled pleasantly as he sat in an ivory high back ergonomic leather chair that faces a three seat ivory sofa. "Konnichiwa Kita-san, how are you today?" his customary greeting to her as one hand gesture for her to take her usual seat.

Rukia walked over and sat before him, settling down comfortably on the sofa as she replied, "Konnichiwa sensei. I'm going well, thank you. How about yourself?"

Aizen chuckled a little at her question, "I'm doing fine thank you for asking. However, you are the focus of my attention and we're here to discuss how things are going in your life." He gives her a fatherly grin despite the fact he is the same age as Ukitake Jūshirō.

Rukia smiles at Aizen sensei. For all the years she's come to him, he's not once changed his looks. He reminds her of a mild manner professor who's perfectly cut scholar brown hair and soft brown eyes that hides behind large brown plastic framed glasses. Rukia often wondered what he would look like if he took the glasses off. He had high cheek bones, stood at 186 cm (6'1"), weight never seems to have changed in all these years and has a smile that can easily make you feel warm and comfortable. She was sure that if he removed his glasses, he would be an attractive man. Yet, he could never be as handsome in her eyes as her Jūshirō.

"Yes, yes we are. Though it's only polite that I inquire about you since you know so much about me already," she coyly said to him.

Aizen smiles back at her as eyes never stops evaluating her every movement, every flicker of changes in her eyes and attentively observing what she doesn't say. "Well, I do appreciate the thought. It's very kind of you. Now tell me, how you have really been doing since the last time we spoke."

And with that, all formalities and pretenses drop, as Rukia excitedly tells him all that has happened since she was there two weeks ago. She spoke about receiving a call from "Chappy," the codename she uses in her session with Aizen sensei fearing that he would tell Jūshirō about her love for him before she was ready to admit it herself to him. And then about her frustrations with shopping for a dress and then finally finding one that looked quite beautiful on her thanks to the help of her girlfriends.

Aizen picked up on some important things during her talk and he made note of it as he continues to listen to her. When she was done and telling him that she's looking forward to tonight's "date" with "Chappy," he smiled and nodded to her acknowledging that she had finished telling him the basics.

"Kita-san, it's good to see you starting to want to wear dresses again. Tell me, where in the city you went to find your dress, especially the one you end up purchasing?" he asked calmly as he studied her.

Not realizing that she was fisting and unfisting as she recalled the shopping ordeal, she looks off slightly from his gaze before replying, "Well…the first time I went by myself to Shinjuku…and….and then I went with my friends to Shibuya."

"Tell me how you felt about going to Shibuya," he asked calmly.

"Well…I was a bit nervous and unhappy with the suggestion of going there," Rukia replied as she looked down remembering when Rangiku, Orihime and Momo told her that they would help her find her dress in Shibuya. "I…I really didn't want to go."

"You've not told your friends what happened six years ago," Aizen sensei concluded as he watched for her acknowledgement.

Shifting slightly, Rukia replies, "No. No I haven't. I don't think it is necessary to mention it to anyone."

"It's nothing to be ashamed of Kita-san. Or are you afraid they will say, "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree"?," he says to her.

"Ashamed of? Just what are you implying?" Rukia snaps at him with an incredulous look causing her to gaze evenly into his eyes.

"Yes, that's right. You feel they would judge you for what happened to you. Keeping it to yourself and pretending it didn't happen won't make you whole again," he calmly says.

She scoffs at his statement before saying, "I talk to you. What is there to pretend when I am reminded every two weeks?"

"Do you really think so? Then tell me more about "Chappy." Because as much as you've mentioned how you love this "Chappy," you've not told him you like him," he stated.

"So what if I haven't told him I'm in love with him? I finally get asked by him on a date. That says something right?" her tone sounding annoyed and anxious as she replied back. "Besides, this will be my chance to show him I am a woman and not a kid anymore."

"And what if "Chappy" decides to treat you as a "woman" and wants to have sex with you?" he asks.

"Wh-what? No, never. "Chappy" is the perfect gentleman. He would never do that to me," she turn her nose up at him as if he had offended her.

"Really? Did you tell "Chappy" what happened six years ago?" he probed her for more answers seeing her getting agitated.

"Look, it doesn't matter that he knows. He's been a friend and has supported me. You know that!" she nearly screamed at him losing her temper.

"I see. So he knows and he's been keeping his distance from you all this time. Interesting," he mused as he watches her varying emotions at his last statement.

"He's not keeping his distance from me. He's my friend. He's just busy with work," she tell him.

"Remind me again what "Chappy" does for work," Aizen says.

"You should know, he's a doc-…uh," Rukia stutters realizing she would be revealing too much information.

"Hm?" he probes her.

"Uh…he's a…," Rukia tried to think of an answer quickly knowing Aizen sensei's eyes blazing into her, "he's a dentist."

"I see, a "dentist" eh? Where is "Chappy" taking you on your first date that you had to go shopping for a special dress? You should have dresses at home that would have done just the job for the first date," he inquired.

"Yes, he's a dentist. And no, I don't have the proper evening dress for such a gala as Governor Inose's charity event," Rukia replied without thinking. She just wanted to get out of there and go home. After all the girls were going to help her with the make-up and styling for tonight's event. "Are we done? I really don't think we need to talk more," she said with some annoyance.

"That's fine for today. After all it's one of the biggest social event of the year and you have to lots to do to yourself to get ready. I'll see you soon then. Good day Kita-san," Aizen said as he makes notes in his notepad.

"Good day sensei," she said as she got up to leave.

As she walked to the door, she missed seeing the Cheshire grin on Aizen sensei's face. 'I look forward to seeing you and your "dentist" friend tonight Rukia-chan," Aizen smirks at his thoughts, "It'll be interesting ne?"