A Mature Touch
Chapter 1: Thursday
A.N: This takes place after the 'Lost Substitute' Arc but before the 'Thousand Year Blood-War'; please R&R.
Rukia Kuchiki walked down the hallway of the Squad 4 barracks, a bit jaded from her check-up that she had to go to every year. 'Dammit Isane! You said the shot wouldn't hurt!' Her hand went to her sore left arm, regretting letting the lieutenant talk her into getting a flu shot. As she rounded the corner she came face to face to the Squad 4 captain Unohana. "Oh, hello captain."
"Hello Lieutenant Kuchiki. May I have a word in private?" the motherly captain gestured toward her office door. "Don't worry; you aren't in trouble or anything. It's just I need you to answer a few questions about your friend Ichigo."
The troubled girl followed the woman into her office. "What is it Captain? Is Ichigo in trouble? Is he sick or in a pinch?" 'Great, what's he gotten into this time?' She could think of a few possibilities. She knew that Captain Zaraki recently left of the World of the Living, so the odds of them butting heads were large; or he'd gone and pissed off her older brother. 'God only knows how many times he's done that….'
The ebony-haired captain merely smiled and shook her head. "Oh no lieutenant. Nothing like that. It's just that I noticed from several reports from you and Lieutenant Abarai that his behavior has started to become odd. As someone who knew him best, I'd hope you'd elaborate."
"What do you mean by odd behavior? I haven't noticed anything that'd suggest he's about to go off the deep end or anything."
"Well, it seems from the reports that he's been in a depression for some time. I seem to remember something in your report from two years ago stating something similar. Is there anything around this time of year that would be affecting his mood at all?
The short lieutenant pondered for a moment before realizing what was in this month. "I think I know what's wrong, Captain Unohana. This was around the time of the year his mother died." She saw Captain Unohana's eye's raise in shock before continuing. "His mother died saving him from the Hollow Grand Fisher when he was nine. Back when he first started as a substitute he encountered him and tried to avenge her. He's lived with the guilt of failure ever since."
The stoic captain stood there processing what Rukia told her before choosing her words. "Is there anything you can do to lessen his pain? I'm afraid that as it stands if he continues on like this his guilt could cause him to falter at a critical moment. If what you've said is true, then his depression is most likely only going to get worse."
Rukia shook her head sadly. "I'm afraid nothing I say or do will help. If I could help, I would've said something. Besides, he's not one to be swayed with words when it comes to this, I'm afraid."
Captain Unohana nodded, keeping quiet for a moment before speaking. "Very well then, I'll go have a talk with him. Somebody needs to help him and I'm sure I could snap him out of it."
"Really Captain Unohana, I'm sure it's-"
"Lieutenant Kuchiki…," Rukia's blood ran cold when she used that tone, her icy gaze seemed to tear through her soul, "I must insist. I'll head to the World of the Living tomorrow and speak with him." Her face softened into a warm smile. "Don't worry; I'll make sure he's ok."
With that, Rukia took her leave; giving the beautiful captain time to think. 'Perfect….' She'd been waiting for an excuse to take some leave from the squad for a much needed break. And hey, if she could help the poor boy, two birds with one stone. Besides, she couldn't deny she had a certain attraction to the boy, maybe she could scratch a certain itch she'd had for a while….