A/N : It's been long ,thank you so much to everyone who reviewed ,favourited and followed. This chapter has been written from Byakuya's perspective as I was itching to write in the big brother persona. Leave a review this time around too Love. Bye.
Set after the Soul Society Arc , References the Turn Back the Pendulum Arc .
Gratitude
Where the elder Kuchiki sibling peruses over all that he is grateful for , painkillers notwithstanding.
It was almost Sakura season, and as the plum blossoms withered and fell his days of mourning for Hisana also ended . Byakuya was solemn while the household was in a flurry of activity. After all the cherry blossom viewing happened only once a year, and was always the most exquisite at the Kuchiki family's garden.
As the season gave way to spring Byakuya used to ponder over what he was grateful for over the past year. This year , he had a lot to be grateful for , yet he would never accept that out loud . Especially in front of the loud and brash 15 year old boy, who actually reminded him too much of his own younger years of scowling and breaking rules, when the Shihouin were-cat-lady used to be intolerable .
As he looked out the window he realized that he had to thank the boy, after all Rukia's eyes never shined like that before. He was not blind to their relationship, and knew that while they said they were merely friends , they had a bond which had already transcended life and death itself . The boy had shown him the truth. While Ichigo wasn't only fighting Byakuya , and was simply being impeded by Soul Society's Laws , Byakuya felt as if he too opened his eyes during that bout.
Hence he would let their friendship slide , the boy was a good influence on Rukia after all , and if he was what made her happier he would stay . Rukia spoke to him now not in fear , but with confidence and happiness. He had no one but the boy to thank for that .
On hearing a crash, Byakuya realises the substitute soul reaper had just broken through the walls and entered into the compound ,he hears Rukia yelling at him and he tugs in a smile (for god-forbid he may ever be seen smiling) and returns to his stoic self . He makes a note of one last detail – while the boy had broken the compound wall, he had also broken into and made a place for himself in Rukia's heart now. Which meant that he would be staying for a while, no matter what Rukia said or did, the boy was stubborn and would withstand the harshest of winters by her side; This he was grateful for .
Added for funsies :
In the Sixth's barracks:
"Renji , In the human world , gifts are given to show gratitude , are they not ?"
"Yes, Captain. Gifts are given either to show gratitude or for an occasion such as a birthday and so on. "
"And must the gift be something in particular?"
" No Captain , it can be anything as long as it conveys the message that the giver wants to convey ".
"I see. You may return to your work Abarai "
"Yes Captain Kuchiki"
Three weeks later:
Outside the Kurosaki home, Ichigo Kurosaki finds a packet .
"Midget is this some kind of joke? Why has someone sent me a SeaWeed Ambassador Keychain ; There's no name , only an inscription saying ' With Gratitude'".
