haaay remember when Renji choked and tried to kill Rukia and it was never mentioned again and then we totally believed they're in a happy healthy relationship?
ya me neither.
A Long Way From Elysium
She knew he didn't mean it.
They were running late. The morning was hectic enough and then Ichika decided that her eggs needed to be cooked over easy not hard and then she dropped the last egg they had, the gooey mass splattering across the kitchen along with a shower of shell. She couldn't help the oh for fuck's sake that slipped out as she scrambled to clean yet another mess and still try and make the captain's meeting on time. Grumbling to herself as she scooped up the last of the yolk and went on to find the broom for the shells, she bumped into her far less stressed husband as he munched on his own breakfast and watched her with amusement.
"What Renji?" She demanded, rolling her eyes. "What is so funny? I'm going to be late and Ichika hasn't even eaten yet and there's egg all over this damn floor!"
"It's fine Rukia, relax I'll clean everything up and get Ichika ready. You don't have to get all choked up about it-"
(-nails scraping against an inescapable hold)
The punch she throws is almost involuntary.
(Renji let me goletmego-!)
It hits his jaw and his head snaps back so quickly she can hear his neck crack. Ichika, who was babbling at the table is now silent and the sounds of morning activity have stilled. When he looks down at her she can see the horror and pain and remorse in his eyes and she leaves the room before he can utter an apology.
It's been years and she can still feel the panic threatening to overtake her as her had blurred and windpipe was slowly crushed. She's never told him the nightmares she had for months after but didn't have to. He knows what he did and she knows he'll spend the rest of his life punishing himself but that doesn't erase past deeds, won't erase the memories of the man she sleeps next to gripping her throat in a vice and coming at her with his blade.
She's not sure what she devastates her more.
That he made her a victim,
.
.
.
.
.
or that she married him anyway.
The lack of closure about this situation is something that has pissed me off for a while. I'm forever lukewarm about Byakuya because of the whole i tried to murder my sister thing. He redeemed himself a little for almost dying for her after and his whole tragic backstory and then spending the rest of series overcompensating but still, never sat well with me.
And then Renji, who we never see apologizing or owning up or even them having some sort of discussion about this mess, MARRIES HER AND HAS A KID WITH HER. I can't be the only one who thought that was incredibly gross. Hullo, he CHOKED HER and THREATENED TO KILL HER and then HANDED HER OFF TO THE EXECUTIONER. Fuck off with the whole marriage shit, no way in hell that relationship is anything close to healthy.