He had always been considered the "ice man" of Soul Society. Just his presence made people feel like dirt. Just the sound of his voice made anyone feel unworthy. Even Donald Trump would find himself bowing low to the ground, looking humble.
Some would say that was just his personality, but Rukia would disagree. She knew that he used to be outgoing and competitive. She knew that he changed after her sister died. She knew that he vowed never to love again.
She didn't know this because he told her. No, she could tell from his expression. She could tell by the way he acted and the tone in his voice, like unspoken words. She could read him like a book, yet she never tired of reading. It was almost like a game to her.
She watched him now, doing his paperwork, looking cold and expressionless. She could tell that he was thinking of Hisana, the way his eyes softened in a hardly visible way, the way his lips almost curled into a slight grin.
He finished his paperwork and looked up, looking right in her direction. Even though she was hiding, she felt him look right at her. She ducked lower and began to crawl out of sight. She thought that he didn't notice but she was wrong. In fact, in that one moment, though no one could see it, his lips curled into a smile.