Rukia Kuchiki clutched the soft plush toy to her chest with all her might, pushing her pale pink lips into a pout. Big, bold violet eyes grew wide and teared up beneath black strands.
Renji twitched. "Rukia . . ."
She snuggled the giant rabbit even more and trembled even more. A single tear escaped from her eye.
"Oh sweet Kami . . . FINE!"
Renji watched his best friend snap expressions within an instant. Her child-like puppy-dog face had snapped to a victorious smirk within seconds. She dropped the rabbit onto the counter and watched with beady eyes as renji forked the money out of his wallet. Renji looked down at his best-friend in all her five-foot-two glory, feeling embarrassed by her childlike manner.
"Most women your age would prefer something far more mature than children's merchandise for their twenty-third birthday. No bag thanks."
The checkout assistant handed over the bunny to Rukia, who bounded throughout the store, ignoring the strange glances she received from the older customers.
"I already have everything i could possibly need, Renji. I've visited over a million concerts and i have far too many clothes for my own taste buds. I'd rather just get something for me for once, not something that i'll be putting on display for others."
The pair bounded out through the carpark over to Rukia's car. It was a beautiful Black 1967 Ford Mustang fastback, a classic beauty refurbished and restored to its former glory. As Renji's bright maroon red hair disappeared into the car, Rukia quickly did a once-over of her appearance. She was dressed casually, sporting a baggy emerald sweater, black leggings and worn red vans. She swung her petite body into the car, pushing the toy in between the front seats and turning the key in the ignition. Rukia loved the sound of the engine purring to life, snarling like a panther in mid-chase of its prey. renji barely had time to strap himself in before she took off out of the car park. Rukia heard Renji silently offer up a prayer of hope to whichever god was watching that the 'speed demon' wouldn't kill him.
"Who's coming over tonight?" he asked, clenching his fist. He cringed as Rukia overtook a car, barely a millimeters gap between them and the station wagon.
"The Shiba's, Ukitake-sensei, Byakuya's associate Kyoraku, and maybe Yoruichi-sama if she can. Not expecting it to be very big tonight."
Rukia pushed onto the brake as they went around a sharp corner, with renji knocking his head onto the window. In that same moment she pressed the accelerator and rushed up a barren road.
"Baka! Next time slow down or you'll kill us!" Renji moaned.
"Oh keep your pants on pineapple," Rukia teased, urging the car around the twists and turns in the road. "I'm a professional."
Up ahead Rukia pulled off onto a long driveway that lead to an amazing two-storey house. Rukia thought that if this house had a gender, it would definitely be male. It was all sharp angles and had a minimalist colour scheme of charcoal greys, warm browns, and off-whites. Windows were placed all around in an effort to absorb the sunlight that shone throughout the day. The driveway curled around a central sakura tree, passing the footpath leading up to the door of the house. Everything was orderly, the gardens kept immaculate and under control. Several cars were parked up in various spots.
Rukia parked her car in front of a Jeep, letting the engine die. The minute the car had died, Renji hurtled himself out of the car, falling spread-eagle on the concrete. "Oh sweet Kami, thank you, thank you, thank you . . ."
Rukia merely laughed as she carried out her prize, stepping over Renji's body and walking straight to the door. Just as she was about to open it, it swung back.
"Happy birthday brat!" Kukaku shouted, squishing Rukia into her arms. Long ash black hair was pulled to the side, revealing a black butterfly tattooed along her collarbone. The red singlet she wore brought out the fierce green-blue eyes, while tight-fitting jeans emphasized the long legs that Rukia envied. "You're just in time to watch Kaien get the smack-down from your sister. He made a bet he could tap her three times in a round."
"My money's on Kaien," Renji said, following the girls through the house.
Rukia smirked. "As much as i adore that boy, your brother won't survive Kukaku. Hisana will have him decimated."
"Shame how true that is," Kukaku agreed.
They passed through the lounge, bejewelled with blue and green balloons. Purple and silver streamers draped themselves across the roof like spiders-silk. Outside the deck accommodated an outdoor furniture seat, complete with a swing-seat, several rattan seats of various lengths and sizes, and a black coffee table. The furniture had been abandoned as its occupants gathered at the edge in favour of watching the match.
Rukia sidled up to her brother-in-law Byakuya, who starred meticulously at Kaien and Hisana. The pair were sparring on the grey marble slabs that fitted together to form the courtyard.
"How much time left?" Rukia asked.
"One minute."
She shook her head and pitied Kaien for even daring to take on Hisana. The pair were dueling with swords, and Kaien was trying his best slash his bokku at Hisana's ribs. being only twenty years old, Kaien definitely had strength and energy on his side. he was determined to beat hisana, a senior of seventeen years. But she merely deflected his blows, a small smile playing on her lips as she blocked and countered. Bearing a few more inches of height, hisana's body was far more slender and allowed for more flexibility in her movements. Rukia knew Kaien had no chance, despite his youth. Hisana had been trained by several teachers in various styles of martial arts and weaponry, and even then she was known to have a mean kick.
Kaien feinted to the left and swung back his right hand, bringing down the bokken on Hisana's unprotected head. She flipped out of the way of the blow before racing back and kicking the sword out his fickle hands. He barely had time to register his loss before hisana moved passed and kneed him in the abdomen, sending him hurtling back onto the ground.
"Time," Byakuya called sternly. "Round goes to Hisana."
Kaien's baby brother Ganju groaned and leapt off the deck. Unlike his siblings leaner builds, he was more bulky for a seventeen year old, and sported a bit of stubble along his chin. His hair was held back by a black and white bandana.
"You made me lose ten bucks!" he yelled, choking his brother in a tight vise. He flexed his arms further. "You told me you had this in the bag!"
Kaien grunted and manouvered himself out of the chokehold. "Just shut up will ya? I didn't think Hisana would go all psycho-"
"No you didn't," Ganju continued, socking him in the guts.
Everyone watched in amusement as the brothers had their little scuffle. Rukia watched Hisana bound over to them, leaving the sword on the rack and enveloping her in a warm hug. Rukia adored the maternal feeling her sister gave off.
Hisana pulled back and held her by the shoulders. "Happy Birthday little girl," she cheered. From far away she looked like the epitome of youth. The only signs of age were the little crows feet that appeared when she was stressed out or angry. "My baby sister's twenty-three," she gushed, leaning fondly into Byakuya's arms. "I can't believe it."
"What i can't believe is that my brother was stupid enough to assume he could take you on," Kukaku shouted from her seat. "That stupid baka."
"Oh don't mind him," Hisana said mildly. "It was good exercise for me."
"Oh shut up stick figure," Kukaku teased.
A man with long white hair entered Rukia's vision and her heart swelled with familial love for him. Ukitake had been her tutor and Byakuya's business associate for several years. He was well over the age of fifty, but didn't look any older than forty, sporting obsidian eyes and a warm sincere smile.
"I believe congratulations are in order," he spoke.
Rukia rolled her eyes and shrugged. "Its not that big of a deal, you know. Its not like i'm thirty or what not."
Ukitake chuckled. "All the same."
The boys were still scuffling about on the ground, with the addition of renji joining the kerfuffle. A vein pulsed in Rukia's head as the insolent twerps continued their skirmish, going to extreme lengths as to bruise each other's faces.
"Excuse me," she said sweetly, kicking off her shoes and going down to the boys. She cracked her knuckles singularly and had an evil glint in her eye. "YAMERU!" she yelled. She kicked each of the boys apart onto their backs and swiftly stabbed each of them with her heel on their crown jewels. She wore an evil smile as she looked down on the howling boys. All three looked up in terror as Rukia bore down on them, holding one raised foot in the air menacingly.
"Now," Rukia started, "we're all going to be nice and sweet to one another, okay? There's not going to be any fighting at all for the rest of the night, right?" The boys nodded fervently, begging with all their might for her forgiveness. "Otherwise i'll be upset."
They nodded. "Gomen Rukia," the boys chorused.
Rukia smiled and left them alone, watching as they staggered back onto their feet.
"Let's eat then, shall we?" Ukitake volunteered.