Not-so-long-author-note: Hey! This is the second chapter of When It's Rukia! I'll say more in the author note below, so please read the author note below.

This is rated T for brief references to porn and violence.

Warning: Possible spoilers


When It's Rukia – Kyoraku Shunsui

Kyoraku Shunsui wasn't the fool most made him out to be. Nor the perv- … Well, not a complete pervert. But in any case, there was more to him than what the public usually saw, as was the case for pretty much anyone. Nobody was simple. People were always fascinating, strange, and complex, and he had come across no one as complex as Aizen Sousuke, Kurosaki Ichigo, and Kuchiki Rukia.

100 years ago, during the time when the Visored were captains and Aizen was nothing more than a competent, mild, and polite-mannered lieutenant, juxtaposed to his rougher and louder captain Hirako Shinji, he had been unaware yet aware of many trivial and non-trivial matters.

He had been aware of his vice-captain's porn-reading habits, which he supposed couldn't count as a matter he was aware of, for she made no effort to hide it and was bold and proud in expressing her interest. Lisa Yadomaru was the antithesis to his current vice-captain, Ise Nanao, in many ways. He had also been aware of, to some extent, the false-expression and demeanor Aizen constantly exuded.

It had simply started out as a sense of unease around the 5th Division lieutenant that he couldn't quite explain. After all, Aizen had exhibited nothing to the public outwardly to give them reason to distrust his person.

But Kyouraku wasn't just part of the "public". He was one of the oldest, most respected captains of the Gotei 13, and student of the current Captain Commander, Yamamoto Genryusai, so he had considerable influence, and ample time to study why exactly this bookish-looking officer unsettled him so.

He had decided it was because Aizen's manners had seemed fake. It wasn't exactly forced, but he couldn't help but notice moments when Aizen's tone had held traces of what he interpreted as disdain. Feelings of disdain and contempt for his seniors and the powerful captains of the Gotei 13, almost as if they held little power compared to him? That implication had worried Shunsui slightly. It was afterwards that he noticed Shinji's similar feelings about his adjutant, though more obvious and in the open. Suspicion brewed, but evidence did not. He was regrettably caught unawares of Aizen's deception later, and strangled with guilt and growing doubts for the next 100 years.

He was caught unawares by Aizen's illusion. He only found out later that it was the result of a sensory hypnosis by his Zanpaktou, but at the time, it had momentarily cleared his suspicions against the soon-to-be traitor. It had angered him that such promising captains had fallen victim to this traitor, this sneaky mastermind, but he was also angry with himself for many years for his rash decision to send Lisa out to the front lines. He couldn't help but coddle her at times, and that time had been no different. He had volunteered her for the job in place of the Kido Corps Captain, only to find out that she had been turned something neither Shinigami, nor Hollow, and would never settle into one or the other ever again. It also didn't help that Nanao's cold demeanor towards him partially stemmed from his broken promise that her favorite night-time reading companion would return.

His doubts grew again after the scandal when Aizen was promoted as a Captain. His wicked plots entangled everyone in Seireitei and the ryoka, and left them quite befuddled and disorganized. As the day of fruition for Aizen's plans, unbeknownst to most, he seemed to slip more and more, and the circumstances around him grew more curious and suspicious, especially his "death". Then there was the ryoka.

The ryoka. The "drifters", as they had been previously known as, brought two more interesting people to the forefront of his life: Kurosaki Ichigo and Kuchiki Rukia.

There wasn't much to say about Ichigo from his viewpoint. Like all humans, he was complex, but his motives and morals were surprisingly basic and simple, though some of his attacks and abilities were anything but. His morals were also just and pure, a fact that escaped the notice of many who focused on his somewhat insolent, brash, and reckless behavior. But Kyoraku privately thought he was a good kid at heart and liked his refreshing attitude in ol' stiff Seireitei. What? Times could use change. Ichigo was very protective of those close to him, and sometimes, even complete strangers benefited from his protection. It had come as a bit of a shock to discover his true potential, such as his destruction of the Sokyoku, but it had also shocked him that the extents Ichigo had been willing to go to rescue his savior, concerning a Hollow attack on his family.

Kuchiki Rukia.

Kuchiki Rukia was somewhat of an anomaly, not only to humans, but to Shinigami as well. Her past was similar to many Shinigami officers: a rougher upbringing than most, to be sure, but within the same vast area that was Rukongai. She preformed adequately at the Academy, but never could quite master the necessary combat skills. She was also close to, if not, anti-social with peers, save her childhood Rukongai friend, Abarai Renji, who would later become a talented lieutenant of the 6th Division's captain and the head of the Kuchiki house, Kuchiki Byakuya. And that was where a lot of scandal ensued.

A Rukongai street rat, a nobody, adopted into the prestigious Kuchiki clan, exempt of graduation tests, and introduced immediately into the Gotei 13? Such a thing was unheard of and much talked about. After a while, the clamor faded, but he sensed the same feelings of disbelief lingering around the 6th Division and the Academy.

He also found that despite her anti-social tendencies at the Academy, and stiff pride she had to uphold as a new member of the Kuchiki house, she later befriended people easily. It was frowned upon for her "fraternization" with commoners, considering her noble status, but it gave a relief to the public who was scared of the cold Kuchiki head and house, as well as their influence and power. Her somewhat rebellious and easy-going personality (compared to Byakuya) gave the Kuchiki house some semblance of openness. And despite her premature graduation, she began to grow under the tutelage of her new Division's lieutenant, 13th vice-captain Shiba Kaien.

It was clear from the start to everyone that she held something of a crush on him, an innocent idol-slash-mentor sort of adoration for someone who taught her to improve her combat skills without wavering and helped to integrate her into her Division and the Gotei 13. She didn't pursue it, however, mindful of his marriage with his third seat and wife, Shiba Miyako.

Then had come that incident.

Much worry, like the incident 100 years ago, had erupted over a Hollow incident, though to a lesser degree. A rampant Hollow had managed to wipe out many Shinigami, bespeaking of great cunning and danger. Miyako was deployed with other officers to deal with the situation, but was brought back from her mission covered in injuries, and proceeded to slaughter her comrades at night due to the twisted controlling of the Hollow. His good friend and 13th Division captain Ukitake Jushiro undertook the mission with Kaien and Rukia to exterminate the Hollow, realizing the situation was quickly escalating out of control. At its location in the forest, the Hollow proceeded to horrify them with its accounts of its abilities and deeds, and soon engaged in a battle with the enraged, revenge-driven husband of its last victim. It turned ugly quickly when it gained control of Kaien's body, and used it to attack Rukia. Rukia, whether she had realized that she was going to die, or her captain's frantic orders, or had determined herself that this monstrosity could not continue, even at the cost of her mentor's life, had impaled him upon her sword, and what little that remained of her innocence cracking, withering, and fading.

It had been sad for everyone to be around her for a while.

Then she had gone on a mission to the real world, her first, and returned with much scandal and, eventually, a death sentence on her head, before Kurosaki Ichigo had come to save her. Kyoraku's friend Ukitake had been somewhat astonished at the changes in Rukia after meeting Ichigo. When he had visited her jail cell and witnessed her heated squabble with Ichigo, hope had flared for her sanity and emotional health. Despite their mutual feelings and bonds about the tragic incident in the forest, and his attempts to comfort her, she was never the same again. She had grown colder and more wary of making new relationships. Yet she had formed something indescribable, an unshakeable bond with a human boy in mere months. Intriguing.

He hadn't really observed her much other than that, too preoccupied with enjoying life with sake and flirting, trying to win the affections of Nanao (his heart panged when he saw her carrying a book, for it so reminded him of Lisa's nighttime reading with his lieutenant), and the war that that had been wrought by Aizen. But he concluded several things.

She was protective much like Ichigo, and firmly believed in what she thought was right, and stuck with it. She was startlingly pure, despite her rough past in Inuzuri, the 78th district of a part of Rukongai, her experiences in the cold Kuchiki house, the heart-damaging killing of Kaien Shiba, and the execution, as well as the following troubles at the hands of Aizen, all because of a small happiness with her fateful encounter with a human boy. She was comical and endearing, and had many equally protective friends, and was unafraid to manhandle her guy friends when the occasion called for it.

She was intriguing, nothing more than that. Nothing less. And now, Kyoraku decided, he had to take a nap, and ponder on lighter things for a while.


Super-long-author-note: Hey guys! If you read the previous author notes, congratulations! If not, please read them! I recently read on an author's profiel (I forget who) that people are more prone to read author notes at the bottom. I'm going to do an experiment. The first person to review this fic with the message (Hirako Shinji - ijnihS okariH) will get a short oneshot (one chapter) from me about the Bleach universe, preferably a pairing. I'll post the winner in the next chapter, and message that person. Please be patient, as I have little time in my hands.

This chapter is from Kyoraku Shunsui's viewpoint, since he is one of my favorite characters, and because I wanted to balance this fic with people who are and aren't so prominent in Rukia's life. I think this chapter covered too much of Aizen. Let me know if you think the same or otherwise! I love reviews, feedback, and constructive criticism! I also think I cut it a bit short at the end, but I like it that way because Kyoraku doesn't have much interactions with Rukia in the manga to begin with. And I liked it this way, so I posted it like this. This went a lot more in-depth than the first chapter, so I might add another analysis by Renji in the future or leave it. The first chapter's style was different than this.

Some other things I'll mention here. I'm a big supporter of correct mechanics (spelling, punctuation, capitalization). If you see any mistakes in mechanics or grammar in my works, feel free to notify me. I won't get mad, in fact, I'd be glad if someone would help. I want to learn from my mistakes, and it's better if someone else points it out for you.

I'm not review-hungry, so I won't nag you guys for any. But I'd like to voice the opinions I think most authors on this site have: We don't always want reviews saying "Update, please!" or "That was sexy!", etc. Most of us want to know how we did, where we can improve on, and what elements to keep and expand upon. A lot of the authors' goals on this site is to have fun sharing and reading stories. So please, the next time you are moved or impressed enough to write a review, write a little bit more, no matter how short, like: "You have good humor!" It makes a lot of positive difference. :)

Before this review gets any longer, I'll end it. Please check my profile for more info. I might set up a poll in the near future.