A.N. - Forgive me if this is weird. This is my first fic where Hitsugaya and Matsumoto haven't been the main character (not counting my Criminal Minds fics). Thanks for the prompt, Kok0roxGuardian! It was a pleasure using the prompt from the exchange. I do not own Bleach or its characters. Anyway, enjoy!

Downfall

The moment Rukia saw her brother in the human world after her extended stay, she knew it was going to cause her trouble. She knew he would have to abide by the law, but he wouldn't particularly like it. They had grown close over the years and she knew that he loved her. She knew Byakua acted emotionless, but he could be hurt and he could love. What she hadn't anticipated, though, was that he had changed after her disappearance. He was more shut off and he seemed colder than ever. He was cold. Byakua didn't seem to care as much and he seemed to be less obliged to protect her. That's what Rukia thought anyways. She thought he wasn't the brother she knew and grew to love. After Ichigo came to rescue her, she knew exactly what would bring her brother back.

Rukia believed that if Ichigo somehow managed to defeat Byakua, made him lose some of that pride, that everything would go back to normal. She prayed and prayed Byakua would lose the fight that would surely ensue. Rukia couldn't believe it herself. That she was praying because she is a shinigami, a god of death, and that Ichigo could win. She knew that it would be really hard to watch Byakua fall to Ichigo. She knew that it would be hard to see him get hurt and lose his pride, but Rukia wanted her brother back. She wanted Byakua. The man that hid behind a mask to protect himself. The man that would go to great lengths to protect her and his division. The man that followed the law, but found loopholes and knew when the law needed to be disregarded. Rukia knew that losing to a mere human would make him become that man again.

After Byakua lost and everything happened with Aizen, Rukia learned that her brother was torn inside. Who should he keep his promise to? His parents or the love of his life, Hisana? What could he possibly do in a situation like that? She couldn't blame him for what he did. She wouldn't know what to do in that situation either. Rukia made sure that Byakua knew it was okay. That she still loved him and that she wouldn't leave him ever again. He promised the same to her.

Rukia had a hard time seeing Byakua fall like that, losing his pride and a fight to a mere human in one fell swoop. In the end, though, she knew it was okay because it was the only way to get her brother back.