Title: Trust and betrayal

Rating: G

Pairing / Characters: Kuchiki Rukia, Kuchiki Byakuya

Word Count: 684 words

Warnings: Spoilers for the Bounto arc

Summary: Byakuya will never betray his sister again

A/N: I watched the ep where Byakuya saves Rukia again, and this little ficlet was born because Byakuya has truly become a softer man and I love him for the way he treats Rukia- and most other people- now… 

Rukia lies sleeping.

Once again, I sit by her bedside, as I have done so often over the course of the last few months, watching her.

Her hair is in her eyes again. It was always so with Hisana; she used to laugh whenever I would brush her hair away from her face.

I brush her hair out of her eyes carefully, for she is injured and I do not wish to wake her so soon after being healed. She stirs at my touch but does not waken. In sleep, my sister seems so fragile, the vitality she has been blessed with lying dormant.

I am fortunate.

Despite my ineptitude at protecting her, Rukia bears no malice towards me. It has taken many months for me to accept that I am just a man, flawed, unable to always use my strength or my position to assist her in need, and perhaps in spite of it, she still trusts me to watch over her.

I am learning to love her; it has taken just as long to realise that I do care for her, and not because she resembles Hisana in appearance, but because she truly is my sister.

I am no hero, no angelic warrior, but I have been entrusted to protect her, and I will not fail in my task. I will not risk damaging this fragile relationship that I want to nurture.

Rukia gives me a strength I have never seen in myself. Her unwavering belief that I will always be there for her makes me believe that I am capable of so much more. I betrayed her once - it never fails to amaze me that her faith in me is unchanged. I believe in myself now, not merely because I am confident in my skills as a shinigami and the head of the House of Kuchiki, but because Rukia loves me. She is different to Hisana in this regard, Hisana was… gentler, quieter, while her sister… I laugh softly.

Rukia killed a man once. She has never told me this, but I know about it nonetheless. I am not sure I wish to know her reasons, but I believe it was to do with me. Renji mentioned in passing that Rukia has my best interests at heart, and I am certain that this man angered her in some way.

There are many things my beloved sister refuses to tell me, safe in the (misguided) knowledge that I will not find out. The rabbit hock behind the rose bushes are a good example. Perhaps she thinks I do not know, but Rukia has spent the last three or so weeks in the living world, and as far as I know, I am the only person who has fed the rabbits in her absence. I have, in fact, become quite attached to one, a black and white one that I have named Kiku. I hope Rukia never finds out…

I am drawn from my thoughts by a slight movement as Rukia begins to stir. I lay my hand on her forehead and tell her to rest, that I am here, and that she is safe. I will allow no further harm to come to her. She quietens under my touch, and I find myself smiling as she rolls over, twisting the sheets. I re-cover her and instruct the servants to let her sleep for as long as necessary.

I have another task to accomplish, one that will not take me away from her side for too long. Standing, I reach for Senbonzakura and swear silently that I will avenge Rukia for the hurts inflicted upon her. Calmly, I begin to walk towards the Kusajishi forest where Kariya Jin awaits my presence.

I will avenge her.

I will never betray my sister again.