Author's Note:
Hey guys! Thanks for the views and thanks to TheHedgehog22 and ArsinoetheXXVII for the reviews! :D
I really want to stay as true to the characters as possible, and I really adore this pairing, but I don't want to make a story with them totally OOC so I'll try my best! This is my first fic ever so any tips along the way will be greatly appreciated! Thanks to anyone who read, I hope you enjoyed and will continue to enjoy my works. :)
Do As Told
"Captain! I went to the squad thirteen barracks today for lunch with Rukia but Captain Ukitake said she stayed home because she was sick! Is she all right?!" Renji, bursting into Byakuya's office, was questioning in panic.
"Abarai, how many times must I tell you to keep your composure? Did you even finish the work I assigned to you before taking a lunch break?" the captain demanded, not bothering to look up from the piles of papers on his desk.
"But, Captain! I just want to know if Rukia is okay!" his lieutenant persisted.
Byakuya rubbed his temple and sighed. How did he get stuck with such a rowdy subordinate?
"This morning she had a fever and a mild cough; I made her stay home despite her protests. I haven't heard any news of her condition getting worse so she'll most likely be back to work tomorrow," he explained. "Now, is that enough for you?"
Renji exhaled, relieved. "That's good to hear... I was really worried for a while! She never misses a day of duties..."
Getting agitated with his lieutenant's lack of work ethic, Byakuya gave Renji a cold glare. "Now that you know, get back to work or I'll double your load and I don't want another exclamation, do you understand?"
"Er... Yes Captain, thank you..."
Honestly, can I not have peace at all today? Byakuya thought. He did wonder how his sister was doing, but that wasn't important right now. What was important was that he signed all these forms and reviewed the reports stacking up before deadline.
-LATER-
"Welcome home Kuchiki-sama!" one of the servants, Mako, greeted. "I trust you had a good day?"
"It was all right," he replied. He'd had to bring many of the forms home with him to be completed because of all the distractions throughout the day. There had been a surprising amount of people asking him about Rukia's wellbeing and it took time out of his work day. "How is Rukia doing?"
"Um, well..." Mako grimaced. "She isn't any worse than she was this morning, however..."
Byakuya hated it when people beat around the bush. He preferred straight, honest answers. "However?" he pushed, still wearing his trademark expression of no emotion.
"Rukia-sama has been a bit... difficult today. Not really troublesome, it's just that she refused to take any medicine, and she's tried to leave a few times to go to work..."
"She's been disobeying my order to stay and rest?"
"T-tried to sir, but only because she said she was feeling better." Mako obviously didn't like telling these things to Byakuya, he didn't want to rat out the young miss, but he was concerned about her health so he decided to anyway.
"Is she in her room now?" Byakuya asked.
"Yes sir, last I saw."
The clan leader, without another word, headed towards his sister's room. He knocked before entering, respecting a young woman's privacy, and once he heard the maid from within give him permission to enter, he did so.
"Rukia."
"Oh, welcome home my lord," the maid greeted with a smile from the bedside. She was swapping the cold compress on Rukia's forehead and also poured more water into the glass on the nightstand table.
"Hello, Nii-sama. How was your day?"
"Fine, until that hopeless lieutenant of mine found out about you being sick and half your barrack began asking me about your absence."
"Oh," she frowned, looking down at her hands. "I'm sorry for troubling you, Nii-sama..."
Byakuya sighed. "It's fine... However, I heard that you tried to leave? Also, you refuse to take any medication?"
Rukia looked up at him, "They told you?"
His brow raised and he gave her a look that seemed to say 'Are you really surprised by that?' Sure enough, his words fit the expression. "Did you think they'd hide it from me?"
"No, Nii-sama, not at all! I just hoped that they wouldn't mention it unnecessarily..."
"As I recall, I told you to stay home today. Why did you try to go against my order?"
She fidgeted. "I got tired of sitting around, there was nothing to do and I wasn't feeling too bad..."
"And the medicine?"
"It's pointless, I'm already feeling better. Besides, it makes me nauseous and drowsy; I don't like it."
Byakuya glanced at the nightstand and saw the medicine sitting there, untouched. "Don't be such a child. It's supposed to make you sleep, and it's not made for flavor, it isn't candy."
"I'm still not taking it, it's absolutely disgusting..." she crossed her arms.
He was beginning to become a bit agitated, his patience, which seemed endless on the outside, was actually quite thin. The look he gave the maid signaled to her that it was time for her to go.
"Excuse me Kuchiki-sama, Rukia-sama, but I'll be going to help prepare supper now. Please let me know if you need anything," she bowed, then left the room in a bit of a hurry.
Byakuya went to the bedside table and opened the bottle of liquid medicine, pouring the proper dosage into the small measuring cup it came with. He handed the little cup to rukia, but she shook her head.
"I don't want it," she frowned.
"Rukia," he began. "As a noble woman, you shouldn't behave like a child. Take the medicine."
She hesitantly took the cup. Byakuya could feel the victory, but then she took a sniff of the liquid and handed it back.
"Rukia..."
She didn't say anything.
Byakuya sighed. None of the other maids had been able to persuade this stubborn girl to take her medicine today, even after they'd mentioned it was by his order. "Why must you be so difficult?"
He put the cup back in her hand. "Drink it. If the taste is really that awful to you, hold your breath while you gulp it down. It doesn't matter how you do it, just get it over with."
She really didn't want to upset her brother, so she took a deep breath. "Are you sure that will work, Nii-sama?" she asked shyly.
"It will help."
With those words of wisdom from her brother, she pinched her nose, squeezed her eyes shut, and quickly took down the medicine in one swig. After swallowing, she coughed and nearly gagged. Byakuya handed her the glass of water and she gladly accepted it gulping that down as well.
"What a terrible after taste!" she coughed out. "Nii-sama, it was still terrible!"
He blinked, seeming indifferent. "I said it would help, not that it would taste better."
She scowled at him; he'd tricked her! "You won't get me with that next time Nii-sama!"
"It's all right, your next dosage isn't for another twelve hours. I'm sure I'll think of other ways to make you take your medicine by then."
At that moment someone knocked on the door. "I beg your pardon, young lord and lady," one of the servants bowed, "but supper is ready. Rukia-sama, if you aren't feeling well enough, we can make something else to your liking and-"
"Oh, it's fine," she smiled gratefully. "I'm suddenly very eager for something to eat. I'm hoping it will cover up the fowl taste in my mouth from the medication I just consumed."
"You took it? Very good! I'm hoping you recover quickly, Lady Kuchiki!"
Byakuya allowed himself the faintest of smiles. It was all a bit amusing to him.
So whatcha think? Not too OOC I hope? I tried to keep that blank facade of Byakuya's but I figured he would have even a little bit of emotion with Rukia, considering the fact that she is his sister and all... Either way, it's just the beginning so let's see how this little story turns out! :)
Once again, thanks to everyone that bothers to read! I will update often, I promise! (I have no life and lots of time on my hands LOL) And all reviews are greatly appreciated! Believe it or not, I take feedback very seriously, so don't hesitate to tell me if I make a mistake! After all, making a mistake, and not correcting it is making another mistake, right?
Thank You! :D
