Nobody really knew who Rukia liked to confide in; who she told her secrets or her fears or her passions. Most people probably assumed it was a friend; maybe it was Abarai or that ryoka girl with the nice rack or the shinigami with orange hair and a sword as tall as he is. No one would ever guess that Kuchiki Rukia's confider is someone who isn't in the world; simply someone in her heart.
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Her Confider
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(Post-423)
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The dirt of the floors of Seireitei are gritty underneath her sandals, the sunshine feeling unfitting and unwanted; too warm and friendly on the back of her shihakusho. Rukia keeps walking, eyes downcast, not really paying much attention to her surroundings- mines the occasional glance up to make sure she was going in the right direction, until she spotted the Kuchiki Manor looming about in front of her.
For no reason at all, she feels tired, a little lost and confused. She feels like she's forgetting something. her heart feels void.
When she enters the manor, she first goes to find her Nii-sama, and tells him that she has returned and that everything has gone... they way it was expected. Nii-sama does not pry; doesn't ask questions. For some reason, she is glad.
Rukia leaves, heading for the place in this house that would be known as her room, but along the oddly comforting wooden walls of the place, finds herself in a different one completely.
She steps in, sliding the door shut quietly behind her. The light scent of the incense is familiar, the lit candles giving the room a comforting glow. Rukia's tired eyes stare at the large shelves across the room, in front of her, and she slowly closes the distance, instinctively folding her arms around her; over her chest and now gripping her sides. It was a strange habit she had; a way to provide herself comfort.
Blue-gray eyes look up slowly from her feet, to meet the tired but kind gaze of the photograph in front of her, with a smile to match. Rukia stares back at the eyes, and wonders about this person that she had never known. It was, perhaps, a bit abnormal, but even though she had never known this person personally... was it ok to feel close to her?
She inhales slowly, and for some reason, it's as if the air in her lungs causes her eyes to well up. Rukia struggles to keep her eyes on Hisana's and not on the floor.
"Nee-chan..."
She sniffles almost childishly as tears quickly fall from her eyes, falling on face like little diamonds. Rukia's arms are still around herself, and her grip on her shirt tightens, pulling up her shirt from the back slightly, so the smooth, pale skin on her lower back shows just barely. Hisana is silent, listening.
"I'm sorry..." Rukia can hardly keep back her sobs as she falls to her knees, eyes closing as her head bows and her arms keep tight around her, trying to stop shaking, "I can't... I can't bring Ichigo to meet you anymore...!"
Outside the door, in the hallway, stands Nii-sama, who is listening, eyes closed, before walking away silently, not to disturb. Not because he doesn't care, but because even he, with all his rank and authority and power, cannot bring Kurosaki Ichigo back, nor mend Rukia's broken heart.
Byakuya feels useless, even more so in the fact that Rukia cannot confide something like this in him, but instead does so to the photo of his passed wife.
Hisana's smile is the only comfort Rukia has.