Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of the characters for it, only the love for it.
Summary: A mother isn't the person who births you; it's the person who rears you and shows you love. (Please, just give it a go. You'll be pleasantly surprised!)
Okaasan
Part one
The sun came filtering through the fine bamboo blinds of Captain Unohana's guest bedroom, strips of morning gold fanning over the room and all within. Retsu's eyes fluttered as the rays reached her eyes letting her know morning had arrived. She had done it. Rukia had made it through the night. Retsu had waited patiently by the small girl's bedside the entire time. It had been a long night. However, with the morning came the assurance that in time Rukia would mend. Both physically and mentally from everything that had happened. Rising slowly, her stationary bones cracking as she moved for the first time in hours, Retsu yawned heartedly, stretching her arms high above her head. She had to notify Byakuya of the good news immediately. However, as she made to leave, a flutter of movement caught her eye and with bated breath Retsu watched in relief as Rukia began to stir.
Slowly but surely her eyelids began to flutter and blink until finally consciousness settled on the aching girl. Reluctant to open her eyes properly, the light harsh, Rukia squinted blearily. She felt as though someone had slammed her into wall repeatedly until every bone in her body was broken and reduced to a fine dust.
With a whisper of a groan, the small Shinigami rolled over onto her side. Her heavy eyes gradually grew accustomed to the light and Rukia finally opened her eyes fully. Her stomach suddenly jolted horribly in panic as she realised she had no idea where she was. She sat up fast, head spinning; she threw the covers aside with the intent of scarpering when a pale hand landed on her collar bone, stilling her instantly. Needless to say, the unexpected presence of another person was a surprise and elicited a little screech from Rukia, who cranked her neck round to view the unknown assailant.
"Calm down dear, it is alright." replied the soothing, gentle lilt of none other than Retsu Unohana. Despite the comforting tone of the elder woman's voice, Rukia found very little comfort to be had. Retsu Unohana had the reputation only a dumb person would ignore. She was extremely powerful and ruthless; able to bring even the toughest of captains to tears or quaking in their sandals. Rukia had always been afraid of the woman, avoiding any run in with the superior for fear she may offend the woman and earn her infamous rebuttal.
Yet here she was lying in what she assumed was her home, under the covers of an extremely fine cotton bed spread, with the taller woman's hand still upon her shoulder. She involuntarily shuddered, unable to look her superior in the eyes; a fact that Unohana had swiftly caught on to. With slow, open movement, Unohana gently placed her hand under Rukia's chin, coaxing her to look up, until finally, the clear blue eyes of the frightened girl met her own dark purple orbs.
"Hello." Unohana greeted with a welcoming smile, relieved when Rukia returned the smile, albeit small and fleeting.
"H...hello, C...Captain Unohana." Rukia babbled quickly, attempting to bow her head, but Retsu's fingertips held firm against the bottom of her chin.
"You've no idea what's going on do you." Retsu summarised, giving Rukia a sympathetic smile. When Rukia continued to stare wide eyed at her, Retsu dropped her hand from Rukia's chin and instead, sat down beside her. She had had a feeling Rukia would suffer some sort of memory loss after what had happened. The question was how much had she forgot?
"What is the last thing you remember dear?" Retsu asked.
Rukia looked away, red creeping into her cheeks as she practically shied away from the question.
"Okay. How about in the last few days?" Retsu softly reassured. It was obvious Rukia still remembered.
Remembered her brother going away on business, remembered inviting Renji, Ichigo and gang round, remembered getting drunk on Byakuya's special high proof sake and getting into a little argument and getting mad. She remembered training all day the next day, and the next and the next. She remembered not stopping for food or drink or sleep, and how her body had begun to grow fatigued. But then, it all went blank. With slightly guilty eyes she looked back up at Retsu and replied as much in one quick whispered confession.
"Do you remember what happened after that?" Retsu replied, seemingly unimpressed with her answer.
"Y...yes...no, I don't know. I mean, I remember training and I remember being so angry and...And d...determined but I don't remember any fight or battle, I d...don't remember getting injured." Rukia answered in a haplessly stutter filled explanation, sitting up slightly.
"There was no fight, no battle."
"B...but then how come..." Rukia trailed off, suddenly feeling the tips of her eyelashes grow wet with unshed tears as suddenly, with a physical jolt, everything came flooding back with vivid remembrance. Images of splintering ice cascading down around her as she pushed herself and her bankai to the limit in the hopes of unlocking it and becoming stronger, more powerful, and able to protect those she loved and also to prove them wrong flooded through her mind. The smell of acrid vomit ghosted in her mind as she remembers retching up the empty contents of her stomach and falling to her knees. It took one look at Retsu Unohana for the memory of the self same woman standing over her in a puddle of blood and vomit before she passed out.
"Oh...oh no..." She whimpered, shaking her head in the hope to force the sudden memories back to whence they came. The tears that still stung her eyes but did not fall were now teetering on the very brim and Rukia sniffed loudly, slapping her hands to her face to cover her shame.
Retsu watched the poor girl with a mixture of sympathy and resolve, yet she was still unsure if the girl truly understood the severe recklessness she had portrayed; the danger she posed to herself. Reaching forward and wrapping her long nimble fingers around Rukia's skinny wrists, she gently tugged her hands away from her face.
"When I found you, you were close to death Rukia." Retsu scolded, though her voice never once rose above its soft comforting volume. She wanted to add that the sight had damn near stopped her heart but now wasn't the time.
"I brought you back here and I cleaned you up, I managed to get your vitals back to normal." She paused as she noticed Rukia twitch, clearly wanting to pull the covers aside. Letting go of her wrists, she watched as Rukia took a small peek beneath the cotton sheet. Unohana couldn't help but chuckle silently as she watched the pale face of the young girl turn a bright shade of red.
"T...thank you Captain." Rukia squeaked, embarrassed at the idea that she had obviously been nude at one point whilst out cold, for she was no longer in her flower print vest and shorts but a t-shirt that swamped her flat chest and fell from her shoulders comically and more embarrassingly yet, in place of her chappy print knickers was a pair of black knickers tied in a knot at the side to keep them on her skinny frame. She was clearly wearing Unohana's clothes. What else does one say other than thank you for the current situation she was in.
Retsu merely waved her hand as if it was no big deal. "I don't seek your thanks my dear, I seek your apologies." She answered, fearing young Rukia had still not grasped the seriousness of her situation entirely.
"I'm sorry Captain Unohana; I did not mean for you to be put in a situation like this and I am grateful for your generosity." Rukia's voice was strong, no sign of her stutter or shyness, she clearly meant her apology but as far as Retsu was concerned it was a waste of words. She feared that the only reason the girl was apologising at all was because she was embarrassed about being caught, she was clearly not sorry for what she had done in the first place, just that she had been discovered. With a sad shake of her head Retsu sighed.
Rukia watched her intently, the very fact that she had not said anything in reply to her apology meant something was up, and fearing the captain's reputation Rukia swiftly added.
"I...I will wash your clothes and bedspread, it is the least I could do." Again the wrong remark for Retsu now fixed her with a steely gaze, smothering the last of Rukia's courage to say anything.
"It seems to me that you still have not understood me as I had hoped." Retsu finally spoke after what felt like an age for Rukia. "You are apologising for, how did you put it, putting me in this situation. Little girl, had I not wanted to help you I would not have. You believe I am concerned for the quality of my clothes or bedding, again you are mistaken. I am truly, truly disappointed and shocked with you. I had thought you were a clever girl." She paused to let her words sink in, and sure enough Rukia's mouth opened to protest, fluttered there for a moment before clamping shut once more.
"You nearly killed yourself. I think it's safe to say you are not suicidal, but rather stubborn and headstrong and more upsettingly, reckless to your health and others." Rukia couldn't hold her tongue anymore and suddenly interrupted the elder, blushing furiously as she did so.
"I've hurt someone?" It came out as a high, terrified squeak, her blue orbs growing wider still.
"No," Retsu answered swiftly to calm the sudden rise in guilt engulfing the young girl, "but you would have. You don't think your death would hurt Byakuya? Renji, Ichigo, Orihime, Chad, shall I go on?" Rukia shook her head.
"But I have to get stronger, I have to be better. Else...else I won't be able to protect them, all of them, what good am I to them otherwise?" Rukia instantly argued eliciting Retsu's ever rising anger and disapproval. She had to get the young Shinigami to understand. What she did was tantamount to a kamikaze mission. Killing herself in the fight for bettering herself...to say Retsu was unusually stuck for words was an understatement; something which Rukia noticed and swiftly began to set right.
"Please Captain Unohana, you have to understand. I know that I may have taken it a little far, but I was only trying to better myself..." Retsu cut the rest of misguided torrent short with a wave of her hand.
"Enough." She ordered in a succinct sharp command. Instantly Rukia snapped her mouth shut, gulped down the rest of her excuses and bowed her head low and apologetically. Her hands began to nervously fidget with the hem of the blanket whilst she waited for Retsu to say something.
"You have sustained considerable loss of strength both physically and reiryoku. As I have already told you- you were close to death. I've spoken to your brother, and he agrees with me that you are to remain in my care for the foreseeable future; both for the purpose of rehabilitation and punishment for your ill-disciplined, childish and reckless actions. I have a feeling achieving both of those things will take you some time.
Rukia couldn't stop herself. She interrupted.
"What, nii-sama, but...you shouldn't have done that!" She accused, her voice taking on the rusty cadence whenever she raised her voice. The look Retsu gave her was by far the scariest thing she had ever, ever seen.
"Interrupt me one more time young lady and you will regret it." Retsu spoke softly, never once raising her voice unlike Rukia's outburst. If anything it made the threat even more terrifying.
"But...Captain Retsu..." Rukia had always had an inability to know when to stop talking and now was no different. Without preamble and with the quickness that belied the calm persona of the taller Shinigami, she placed her hands under Rukia's arms and lifted her swiftly and effortlessly into the air before depositing her on her feet. Rukia froze, daren't moving a muscle as she stood in complete shock directly in front of Captain Retsu. Her mind anxiously ran wild in hope to work out what was happening. Why had she picked her up? Why had she moved her hands to her waist and kept them there! Embarrassment, anger and fear raged within her stomach forcing a million words yet none left her mouth.
Retsu wasn't blind to poor Rukia's sudden inner emotional hurricane and decided to quickly rescue the girl.
"You will not heed my wisdom or that of your brother's, then so be it. Go." She spoke softly and sharply, a matter of fact and final. With that, she let go of her. Rukia, who had only just absorbed her words, suddenly found herself falling to the ground like a rag doll. She hit the ground with a little thud and squeaked in surprise and discomfort. With wide bewildered eyes and panic fuelling her arms she pushed off the ground and tried to stand only to find to her absolute horror she couldn't- literally couldn't. Retsu calmly reached down and lifted Rukia to her feet once more.
"Come on, you're so eager to go, go, there's no one stopping you." Retsu cooed, looking at Rukia like she was a child that had accidently tripped and with that she let go and watched with almost sadistic satisfaction as Rukia hit the deck once more. This time she had managed to fling her arms out last minute to catch herself but this only caused more pain as she jarred her arms on impact. She cried out louder than before, beginning to feel like at any moment she was going to throw up.
"W...what's wrong with me?" She exclaimed in building panic.
"I have already told you. But you have decided better and I have respected your wishes. Now, come on, no more wasting my time dear, off you go." She responded calmly, lifting her once more, placing her back on her feet and almost instantly letting go. This time Rukia expected the fall and grabbed hold of whatever she could before she hit the deck. That thing just happened to be Captain Retsu's knees but she clung on for dear life. She looked up, fright and exhaustion gleaming from her tear filled eyes.
"Please C...Captain Unohana..."
"Please what dear?"
"P...please help me." Rukia begged in a strained squeak, the effort to hold herself up stealing her voice.
"But I gave you my help and you refused it." Retsu answered simply, looking at Rukia with pity painted across her features. She desperately wanted to help the poor girl, but she was proving a point and so kept her hands by her side resolutely.
"I...I was wrong...I n...need you." Rukia cried, finally letting the tears fall from her eyes and down her cheeks in a steady stream. As quick as it had happened Retsu lifted Rukia up and held her tightly in her embrace and much to Rukia's stubbornness she found herself clinging on just as tightly, seeking the comfort of the older woman's arms. Retsu stood up in one graceful move and began to gently rock them both. She had noted with some concern how much Rukia's tiny frame was shaking, how her breathing had began to hitch with sobs and hiccups and how, despite wanting to get away only moments ago, the girl now buried her little face against her shoulder desperate for the contact. To say it made Retsu's heart ache was an understatement.
"Hush now my darling, it'll all be okay. You'll see." Retsu whispered against Rukia's hair. Rukia, who was crying in earnest, simply held on tighter. "I've got you my dear; I won't let you fall again." Retsu added, rubbing her hand up and down Rukia's small back. With gentle, deft fingers, she gripped Rukia's leg under the knee and positioned them around her waist, noting once more how small Rukia was, for her legs barely met around her back. Holding Rukia like a mother would her child, Retsu began to sing a little melody, still rocking back and forth, for a long time, until eventually, with hiccups and sniffs, Rukia's tears subsided and was replaced was exhausted breaths instead. It had clearly all be too much for the young girl to take in. Judging by the way she had just cried her heart out in the arms of someone she didn't really know told Retsu this girl was more fragile than she had first thought. People only cry like Rukia just did when they are truly falling apart.
Well, Retsu thought as she continued jigging back and forth gently, she knew what she was getting into when she agreed to take on the little tearaway.
Sensing the worst of Rukia's tears had subsided, Retsu gently placed the girl back onto the bed. Rukia startled with the sudden loss of warmth and reached out instinctively for Retsu. It was so different to how Rukia was when she first woke up; it brought a bubble of laughter out of Retsu before she could stop it. It was enough to snap Rukia's senses back to life and with a prominent blush; she looked down at her bare legs.
"I'm s...sorry Captain U...Unohana; I did not mean t...to be..." She trailed off, unable to put words to her emotions still firmly lodged in her throat and churning her stomach in knots. She was embarrassed; she had not only cried in front of her superior but was now grabbing at her like a child. She sighed in disappointment with herself. Retsu watched the girl in open affection; she was such a funny little thing. Still, she was growing increasingly fed up with the girl's misguided embarrassment. Enough was enough.
"Rukia Kuchiki, if you apologise one more time for something that has no need for an apology, I will have to take action. Stop it, okay?" Retsu ordered, looking pointedly at the girl who had whipped her head up to stare fearfully at her as she spoke. A small, barely there nod let Retsu know that the girl understood.
"Good girl." She sat next to the smaller girl, and encouraged her to lie back down and pulled the covers over her tiny frame, tucking the soft material close to her sides. "Now you get some rest and I'll be back before you're even awake."
"B...but where are you going?" Rukia gasped, sitting up slightly, disturbing Captain Unohana's movement as she went to stand. Once more she encouraged the girl to lie down and repositioned the bed spread around her once more.
"I'm going to fetch your belongings, I won't be long dear." Retsu answered swiftly, brushing aside the stray bang that hung in the middle of Rukia's forehead.
However, as Retsu rose once more, Rukia had shot back up with wide panicked eyes earning a look of barely veiled annoyance from Retsu.
"B...but I...what if...w...what if..." Rukia stammered fearfully, in a quick urgent voice, suddenly feeling rather afraid of the prospect of being left alone and unable to walk. She was fiercely independent- always had been, but right now- feeling like hell and unable to do much about it, the idea of being alone scared her to a blind panic. Retsu, ever the observant and all knowing, understood the girl more than Rukia could ever fathom and therefore knew what current inner battle Rukia was fighting; fear of being left alone versus her stubborn need for independence. She cocked her hip out, folded her arms over her sizeable bosom and pondered for a moment. She could easily and happily take Rukia with her, but the girl was exhausted, she wouldn't make the trip without passing out she was sure. Plus on the ethically medical side, it was tantamount cruel to force such exertion on her in her current state.
However, any argument on making the young girl stay put faded almost without memory when Retsu looked upon the doll face of Rukia, with her big piercing blue eyes forlornly looking up at her with pleading wishes not be left alone stabbing into Retsu's heart with an almighty, almost maternal, force.
"Fine." Retsu chirped suddenly, her voice loud and unexpected in the quiet. Without further preamble, she strode quickly out the room and returned seconds later with a mini robe, clearly meant for bed attire only. She silently moved across the room to Rukia and without a word lifted Rukia up surprising the girl as she let her fall against her bosom, holding her securely with one hand, she held an arm of the robe out. Rukia, quick to catch on, slid her arm quickly into the sleeve, before doing the same with the other. She was placed back onto the bed whilst Retsu pulled the robe closed and wound the tie twice around Rukia's skinny waist before tying it expertly around the front. She stood back and looked down at her handy work with a small crooked smile.
It was far too big for her, what was but a mini dress on Retsu was an ankle length robe on Rukia but it would do for the short journey. Rukia flapped her arms out smiling slightly as the sleeves billowed out like wings. "Perfect." She chirped, looking up a Retsu with a soft, grateful smile.
"Perfect." Retsu agreed, once again feeling the stabbing like sensation of warmth in her chest. She chose to ignore the feeling, pleasant though it was, it was a foreign one for the elder captain and therefore she wasn't quite sure how to deal with it. Without further delay, she lifted Rukia into her arms and left.
The entire journey there, Rukia buried her face into the crook of Retsu's neck, half obscured by the Captain's long black hair, overly aware of the looks she received every now and again from people they passed. She hoped that this far out from where she was usually known to be, she wouldn't be recognised, but even so, hiding seemed the better option. Soon enough they had reached Rukia's home that she shared with her brother and before Rukia could even ask how the captain hoped to gain entry, the captain whipped out a key with an intricate design scribing the word 'trust' across the top of the small key head.
"Where do you get that?" Rukia asked her curiosity too much to contain despite her shyness around the older woman. Retsu laughed softly.
"Your brother, Byakuya-san, he gave me a spare key many, many moons ago." The answer though truthful, was not enough to satisfy Rukia and sure enough she continued her questioning.
"When? Why for? How come I'm only allowed a key when he goes away?" The questions came fast, Rukia desperate to learn about this obvious friendship between her brother and the scariest captain in the whole of soul society. However, just like before, Retsu merely laughed a little tinkling laugh before opening the door and entering the empty Kuchiki manor.
"You aren't allowed a key all the time because children don't need keys." Retsu answered deviously knowing how Rukia would react to her choice of description for her.
"I'm not a child." Rukia responded in a snap as predicted, before blushing furiously when Retsu's eyes snapped to hers as if to say otherwise. Rukia looked down with the blush as it occurred to her that to Captain Unohana, as old as she was and as a high status powerful elder, Rukia was but a child in comparison. Realising her mistake, Rukia quickly apologised with a look, her eyes fluttering to hers and back again like blue petals in the wind.
Captain Unohana replied with a soft acknowledging smile despite the fact a thousand silent reprimands shone from the dark glint in her eyes, enough to make Rukia suddenly wish she wasn't literally pressed to the older woman's chest with her hands holding onto her thigh to keep her balanced on her hip.
Somehow sensing this, Retsu placed Rukia down and before Rukia could tell her which way her bedroom was, the Captain was gone, flash stepping away leaving nothing but her breeze to taunt Rukia of the fact that she could not follow. Annoyance and indignity and guilt all tore at her stomach and before she could stop herself she called aloud sarcastically.
"I'll just wait right here then." It was the first time since waking up that Rukia felt like herself and not some helpless, terrified subordinate she was in the presence of her revered and powerful elder; whom having heard the disrespectful remark couldn't help but smile as she folded Rukia's dresses into a little suitcase. That was a bit more like the Rukia Kuchiki she'd watched and admired from afar. Cheeky and high spirited, a little warrior princess from the worst district in Soul Society back chatting her! It was outrageous and completely disrespectful and yet- Retsu loved it.
She grabbed a few pairs of shorts, some longer sleeved tops and folded it all neatly in the travel case which had Chappy the rabbit adorned all over it. She folded several pairs of knickers, noticing that even the young girl's underwear had chappy or something equally as cutesy printed on, made Retsu pause in her task. She had an idea, she would have to take a detour on the way home, but she was almost certain the girl in question would be conked out anyway.
Packing Rukia's various felt tip pens and drawing pads knowing the girl enjoyed drawing, Retsu purveyed the room for anything else she might need. Looking around the room it was easy to see that although this was a bedroom in a highborn noble household, it was a noble youth that slept here. As if to confirm her analysis, bright yet unique drawings tacked on the wall in the far corner of the room fluttered in the breeze caught her attention. A small pile of books, one left haphazardly open was left on the floor and a bunch of pillows were piled up as a makeshift seat. Out of curiosity Retsu walked over to the little makeshift den of creativity and lowered herself until she rested against the pillows and had her legs stretched out flat on the floor before her. The first thing she noticed was the crudely drawn bunny drawings on the bottoms of the bed legs. Making a mental note to check her furniture at a later date Retsu shifted back a little. It was then she saw why Rukia sat here. Out the window, at this viewpoint she couldn't see where the land ended and the sky began, it was a nice view, a peaceful view. Retsu memorized the scene knowing that Rukia had spent many a time looking out at this same scene. For some reason it made Retsu feel like she understood Rukia a little more. Rukia...remembering she had left the girl in the living room, Retsu quickly stood up and dusted herself off, retreating out the girls bedroom within a second, the pink chappy suitcase clutched in her hand.
"All finished dear." She softly whispered as she picked up a dozing Rukia, startling the girl awake.
"Did I fall asleep?" Rukia asked in confusion. A yawn suddenly took her by surprise leaving a blush in its wake. Chuckling, Retsu shifted Rukia until she was on her back, Rukia instinctively held on tighter, laying her head on Retsu's shoulder. Out the corner of her eye Retsu could see her eyelids flicker and few times before she jolted alert again.
"Stop fighting it dear." Retsu demanded softly, already walking along the lawn of the Kuchiki manor. However, Rukia being the stubborn type lifted her head and looked at Retsu thoughtfully for a long moment.
"What?" Retsu asked finally, smiling at the way the girl's emotive eyes were fixated on her.
"How long have you and Nii-sama been friends?"
"Oh for a long time now." Retsu was deliberately being vague, enjoying the way Rukia mulled over the short answer with dissatisfaction.
"But how long is a long time?" The curiosity laced through her high voice was pleasant in Retsu's ear.
"Well, let's see. I met your brother when we were children, and we studied together through the long summers and winters, both graduating from the soul academy together. That was...at least ninety years ago give or take a century." Retsu could still see a skinny little Byakuya screwing up his homework and demanding she help him all those years ago.
"Did you know my sister?" Rukia was suddenly a lot quieter, half in awe half intimidated at the fact that this woman had been a part of Byakuya's life far longer than Rukia could even comprehend in her small years.
Retsu paused, coming to a standstill as the wind picked up, whipping up the blossom petals around Unohana's feet.
"Yes I knew her." Her voice was soft and nostalgic. Rukia suddenly felt a warm lightness blooming throughout her body. It felt for that moment like she had found a link to the sister she knew only through the eyes of her silent brother.
"She was a very gentle heart. No doubt you know about your tremendous likeness to her?" Retsu continued as Rukia nodded keenly listening. "You are smaller, but one would have to be blind not to notice the resemblance of you both. That is as far as the resemblance goes however." Rukia was listening intently, eyes wide, drinking in all that Retsu had to offer.
"I believe that part of the reason why Byakuya-san found it hard to...let you in. You reminded him every time he was in your presence of how alike yet different you two were." Retsu paused; she hated musing on her friend's cruel behaviour all those years ago. She remembers as though it was yesterday his angry face as she accused him of being heartless and imploring him to let the young Rukongai girl in.
Well, he had, and as much as Retsu didn't want to admit it, she was wrong, he wasn't heartless, he had just kept it all way, way down deep inside, too engulfed with grieve to let it show. The rusty cadence of Rukia asking yet another question brought Retsu out of her thoughts and back to the present.
"Do you miss her?" Retsu's heart ached when she thought about her answer. When she thought of her response, perhaps because the sun was setting or because could feel Rukia's soft hair wisp against her cheek reminding her why she was even talking about the past, Retsu answered softly; truthfully.
"Every day; she was like a sister to me. I promised her; I promise her that should Byakuya ever find you, I would watch over the both of you." She paused, clearing her throat softly. "I failed, but perhaps now I can make up for that." She finished enigmatically, hoisting Rukia up slightly on her back.
"What do you mean?" Rukia instantly asked, desperate to learn everything.
"Enough questions for now dear, I didn't really want you to come along, I wanted you to sleep and recover. I've got you, try to relax" Her voice brokered no allowance for arguments, she was serious, and so Rukia led her head back against Captain Unohana's shoulder.
Just like Retsu had hoped would happen, within a few quite minutes, young Rukia finally give up the ghost and fell asleep against the older woman's shoulder. Retsu smiled and made a detour to the market, moving ever gently on silent feet to not wake the girl.
"Thank you, just what I had in mind." Retsu responded to the little old man at the toy market stall. The old men bowed respectively with eagerness, blessed to have someone of such high status choose his store to purchase from.
Whilst Rukia slept, Retsu busied herself with dinner, a little work and setting about making the home more 'Rukia' friendly as she dubbed it. It was nice walking through her home, so often empty, just used to her and her ways and habits, now had to be looked upon with new eyes and Retsu wanted Rukia to be at home with her here.
And so, room by room, Retsu gracefully altered little thing things, here an there; lowering the mirror in the bathroom so Rukia could see, placing a small wooden stool under the sink so Rukia could reach, another more colourful stool for the kitchen, she organised Rukia's drawing things on the long elegant desk in the guest bedroom, and put all her clothes in their respective places. Last but not least, she placed the giant corduroy teddy, a white rabbit with two black marble eyes and pink inner ears, next to Rukia on the large bed.
It was a round six in the evening twilight when Rukia woke up. Retsu heard the girlish squeal all the way from the kitchen- it seemed she had picked right.
"Oh C...Captain Unohana, look!" Rukia squeaked in awe as she held the giant plush rabbit up for Unohana to see. Retsu smiled warmly, watching as Rukia all but crushed the rabbit to her.
"I'm glad you like it." Leaning against the door frame with a pleased smile, Retsu memorised the complete happiness shining from Rukia's eyes at that point.
Rukia pulled away from her new soft friend and looked curiously up at the Captain.
"But...why? I thought I was being punished?" She asked in a bemused little whisper, unconsciously holding on tighter to the rabbit for fear Retsu would come to her senses and take it away. However, when the older woman just laughed and shook her head in amusement, Rukia relaxed a little.
"You are a daft little thing aren't you? I'm not a complete monster. You've been through a lot and it is customary to bring gifts to those on the mend is it not? Maybe grapes would have been a better choice?" She asked, faking genuine concern over her choice.
"No! I love her! Thank you Captain Retsu!" Rukia babbled quickly, genuinely over the moon with her new friend.
"Oh it's a Her is it?" Retsu laughed, moving away from the doorframe and sitting beside Rukia on the bed. What she didn't expect was for the young girl to literally fling herself at her, throwing her arms around her middle, squeezing tightly. Tears prickled the corners of Retsu's eyes as she hugged the small girl back, pressing a kiss atop her head, holding her close against her bosom affectionately. The foreign feeling she felt earlier bloomed once more in her heart and tendrils of warmth curled around her stomach and through her arms and legs as Rukia continued to hug her. If Retsu was completely honest with herself, and she didn't like to be that often for fear of facing such unknown territories, she would say she in that moment, she was the happiest she had ever been.
However, as with all moments, it passed quickly as Retsu shook herself alert once more, extricated her hold on the girl, and stood up.
"Right then, I'll go finish with dinner, you just sit there and I'll come and get you in a little while." She left before Rukia replied.
Leaning against the wall outside, Retsu covered her face with her hands and cursed under her breathe. She couldn't get attached; she couldn't let her in. It would only hurt her...in the long run.
"She's not yours." She reminded herself aloud, quietly, lest the girl hear.
End of part one...
Well, what do you guys think? I hope it was okay. I hope the concepts not to out there. It's been playing on my mind for such a long time, I have this whole story of these two. Please review if you think I should continue and thank you for reading.
:)
