this story is completely AU in regards to the 'what if' factor. the first of this being, what if hisana hadn't died and found rukia?

Rukia swung her sword around, making grunting noises to motivate herself into putting her all into her swings. She was going to make her brother proud by becoming part of the Gotei 13 and gaining a seated position in the squads. She couldn't wait until she got a zanpakuto and what its name would be but she knew that when she got it, she would master it quickly just like her brother did.

"You suck."

Rukia turned quickly and frowned. The red headed boy grinned at her and stood up from leaning against the tree.

"You have no range of motion! You're going to get your ass kicked all the time."

"Renji!" she yelled, growling at him.

He gave her a cocky grin and grabbed the wooden sword from her.

"Look, you have to do it like this."

Renji used the sword and swung it around. Rukia watched with slight fascination since she didn't think the young man had any grace at all. He stopped his motion and turned to her, pointing it in her face.

"That's how you wield a sword. How do you expect to get into the Gotei 13 if you can't have some vigor?"

Rukia made a face and stomped on his foot. It didn't really hurt Renji but he acted like it did.

"Because Nii-sama hasn't let me go to the Shino Academy yet. I'm sorry if you've gotten a little more proper training than I have…"

"Shouldn't you have your own instructor or something?" Renji asked, putting his hand up to his forehead and looking around overdramatically. "I mean, you are a Kuchiki and I sneak in so often it's pathetic."

Rukia hurrumphed at him and crossed her arms.

"They just look the other way since you're always doing it. Besides, Nii-sama knows you come here. Your hair is such an annoying color that it's hard not to see from a distance."

Renji's eye twitched and he grabbed her, pulling her cheek as she tried to get away.

"What did you say about my hair? Is there something wrong with it? Huh? Huh?"

"Let go! Let go!" she yelled, laughing at the same time.

Renji was still playing with her when they tripped over each other's feet and fell to the ground. Renji shook his head as he pushed himself up from on top of her.

"See what you did, you idiot klutz? How can you even be at Shino Academy with foot work like that"

Renji smiled at her as she looked up at him. They stared at each other for a moment when a small clearing of the throat caught their attention and they both looked behind them. Hisana was standing there with a small smile on her face.

"Hisa-nee…" Rukia said, pushing Renji off. "Um, I can explain…"

Renji got up and stood to attention, bowing to her quite stiffly.

"Lady Hisana; I apologize for trespassing."

Hisana laughed softly and smiled.

"Rukia has told me all about you, Abarai-san. I know it took a while to find her and I've always wanted to thank the red haired boy who looked after my sister for keeping her safe." Hisana moved her kimono so she could shift her legs and got on her knees, putting her hands in front of them. She then bowed and looked up. "Arigato, Renji-san. If not for you, I wouldn't have been able to find her."

"Nee-chan!" Rukia said, surprised at her sister's courteous attitude.

Renji was surprised too and looked away, trying to hide his embarrassment.

"Uh, you're welcome… You don't have to bow like that or nothing, it was no big deal…"

Hisana got up and smiled at him. "To you maybe, but knowing she was safe from harm because of you means the world to me." She turned to Rukia. "I came out here to tell you that supper is ready so you should change clothing."

Rukia nodded and left the two alone. As she ran she heard Hisana talking to Renji but she didn't hear everything.

Rukia woke up and looked around her room, blinking a little bit. What a memory… she said, pushing her hair out of her eyes. That had been a long time ago, a year or two right after Hisana had found her in the Rukon District and took her to her new home at the Kuchiki Mansion. Rukia sighed and got up, going to her window and taking a look outside.

There was a knock at her door and it opened, revealing the maid.

"Rukia-sama, would you like some tea?" she asked, seeing her at the window.

"Yes, that will be fine."

"You're up quite early today." She said, going to the futon to fix the covers. "Something on your mind?"

"I just had a memory in a dream. It was quite vivid." She said, looking down to the gate of the mansion, which happened to be outside her window.

"Is it about that Renji boy?"

Rukia gasped and turned to the maid.

"Tachiko-san!" she chastised as the older woman giggled behind her hand.

"I thought as much. He's a nice looking man, Rukia-sama."

"No he's not. He's still rude and conceited as ever. He may act nice in front of Nee-chan or Nii-sama but he's still as stupid as ever." She said, turning back to the window.

Tachiko smiled from behind Rukia with a knowing look.

"That boy is quite smitten with you."

"What?" Rukia said with wide eyes.

Tachiko went to the drawers to start pulling out a more formal attire for her mistress than her sleeping attire.

"It's alright if you haven't noticed, sweetheart; Byakuya-sama was just as clueless when your sister was interested in him. It takes a lot for someone to realize that another person likes them. Being clueless isn't uncommon."

"You're wrong about Renji though, Tachiko. Sure we've been friends for a long time but he isn't smitten with me."

Speaking of, as Rukia turned to look at the guards at the gate, she saw Renji walking up to switch posts with the other guard. As if he knew she was looking at him, he turned to look behind him and smirked at her before turning back.

"Ah, young love." Tachiko said beside Rukia, scaring her. "Yup, that boy is quite fascinated with you."

Rukia ignored the maid and went back to her futon.

"I thought you were going to bring tea."

"Ah, that's right. I'll be back in a moment."

She left the room and Rukia made a face at the door when it closed. She's wrong. Renji isn't like that. We're friends and always will be friends…

i do believe this will be my first romance story. we'll see how it goes. trying not to make these things go dark is... hard...