Second Story – Story of the Past

Rating – PG

Summary – When Rukia collapses during a training session, Renji recalls for Ichigo the only other time he remembers the girl being sick, and teaches Ichigo to respect Rukia a little more

Kuchiki Rukia pushed a stray lock of black hair behind her eyes, trying to ignore the fact that the world was currently spinning before her. It was probably better that way; she didn't have to go through the embarrassment of watching the new arrivals train.

It had started a few days ago. Rukia had felt sick. Not bad, kind of a warm forehead, a little sluggish. She hadn't bothered telling anyone, it would have been useless, she figured it was just a small bug. But that small bug decided it wanted to get bigger. Rukia was the queen of hiding things though, and was able to keep anyone else from knowing she was sick. That was a hard feat though, considering Ichigo and Renji could both read her like a book. Luckily though, they were both idiots.

Ichigo had been living in Soul Society for a few years now. He had risen to the rank of captain quickly, and had taken Rukia on as his vice-captain. Being Vice-Captain under Kurosaki Ichigo wasn't always an easy thing. He was every bit as lazy and obnoxious as he had always been. Nine out of ten times Rukia ended up with his paperwork. It was a real drag.

"Not exactly an impressive bunch, are they?" Renji was standing behind Rukia, watching the younger Shinigami.

"That's putting mildly," Rukia muttered, reaching up to push back the stubborn strain of black hair, "Ichigo did better then most of these guys," Renji smirked as he stepped up next to Rukia. "And don't you have your own recruits to watch?"

"I cut 'em loose," Renji said casually, "They couldn't handle it," he looked Rukia over with a criticizing eye, "Anyways, maybe you should show yourself some mercy, Rukia. You've seen better days"

"Who asked you anyway?"

"I'm just sayin', you're not gonna be much use to anyone if you collapse somewhere," Rukia took a second to think this over, then brushed it off.

"I feel fine Renji. Stop hounding me"

"Well you certainly don't look fine," Renji scowled. Rukia ignored it. "If I had to pick one thing I hate most about you," the crimson-haired Shinigami muttered as he turned away, "It'd have to be the fact that you never listen to sense. Or your height"

Rukia whirled around to slap him, but he'd already used his Shunpo to make a get away. Rukia swore under her breath as she turned back to watch the Shinigami that were training. Maybe she should cut them a little slack. It was only their third or fourth day, after all...

"All right," she called, ignoring the headache that was beginning to blossom, "Take a break and have something to eat," they'd been training all day, after all.. Everyone broke off and went their separate ways. Rukia took up a shady spot under a tree, leaning her head back and resting her eyes. She was exhausted.

Kurosaki Ichigo threw down in his pen. For once he was actually trying to do his paperwork. He was starting to realize why he left it all for Rukia.

Rukia. Now there was a head case if Ichigo had ever met one. Sometimes she seemed like her usual, forceful self, but sometimes she was a completely different person. She could surprise a person with bouts of unnatural kindness. It wasn't a side Ichigo had seen all that often in the living world.

"Oi," the orange-haired captain looked up at Renji, who was leaning against the frame of the door, smirking down at Ichigo. "Amazing. You're actually doing work?"

"Don't you have a job to do?" Ichigo grumbled, standing up, "What do you want?"

"I want to talk to you"

"I'd love to chat but-"

"It's about Rukia," Ichigo stopped. His favorite topic.

"What've you got?"

"Have you noticed that's she's been a little off the last few days?" Ichigo tried to think. She had been kind of spacey, but he didn't think it was anything bad.

"Yeah, kind of. Why, I-"

The sound of urgent feet reached Ichigo's ears, and a second later one of the trainees, Haru, appeared behind Renji. "Captain Kurosaki!"

"What's up?" Ichigo asked, trying not to sound annoyed. He was in the middle of something, couldn't Haru see that?"

"Something's happened, I think Vice-Captain Kuchiki fainted!"

Renji and Ichigo exchanged wide-eyed looks

Half an hour later, Rukia was in her room at the Kuchiki mansion, in bed sleeping. Someone from the Fourth Squad had been called to look her over. Renji and Ichigo were waiting outside Rukia's room, talking in low voices. "Typical Rukia," Ichigo rolled his eyes, "Pretending everything's okay when it's not...that's a bad habit of hers, she should try to kick it"

Renji frowned. "It's weird...she doesn't usually get sick that often. I can only remember one other time..."

Ichigo was intrigued. "When?"

"It was awhile ago," Renji said slowly, "When we were growing up in the Rukongai..."

----Flashback----

Renji frowned, annoyed as he looked down at Rukia. "Are you okay?"

The small, black-haired girl, who had been doubled over coughing, looked up, aggravation flashing in her violet eyes, "I'm fine, Renji"

"You sure?" Renji was surprised at how concerned he sounded, "I mean, I don't want you to collapse while we're running away"

"Don't worry," Rukia pushed herself up straight and tucked a lock of stubborn black hair behind her ears, "Just try and keep up with me when we take off"

Renji was ready to respond when the guy behind the table they were targeting turned his back. "Come on!"

Both kids darted forward. There were small pots filled with food and other things on the table, small enough for them to wrap their arms around. It didn't take them long to grab one each and run. But it also didn't take long for the guy to look back and find himself two pots short.

"Damn you brats! Get back here!"

Renji looked back. Big mistake. The guy was on their tails, brandishing a sharp knife. "Forward Renji, look forward!" Rukia shouted. Renji jumped at the sound of her voice and quickly looked towards the road again. They hadn't gotten far when a sudden coughing drew Renji's attention. He looked around and saw that Rukia was losing speed fast.

"Hey, you okay?" he gasped. They weren't much closer to home, and he was already getting tired. Pathetic.

"Yeah, fine," she managed to say between coughs. Without warning, the fit worsened, and she tripped, hitting the ground. The pot she had been cradling smashed underneath her.

"Damn," Renji skidded to a halt and darted back to her, "Rukia, come on-"

But as he pulled her up, the merchant ran up behind them. "Gotcha," he hissed, knife raised. He brought the dagger down, and Renji did the first thing that made sense. He jumped up in front of Rukia, and took the knife to the arm. He bit his lip, trying to keep from yelling in pain. The guy grabbed him and threw him aside.

"Rukia!" Renji shouted as the guy brought the knife down again. Rukia looked around just in time, and jumped away. The knife still skimmed her back though. "Dammit," Renji grumbled, jumping up. He darted forward, grabbed Rukia, and dragged her away, leaving the merchant behind, brandishing his knife and screaming. They ran all the way back to the shack they were currently calling home. Ryo, Masashi, and Soshi looked up as they walked in. Renji, scowling, pushed Rukia down on the floor. She covered her mouth to dampen the noise her cough was making. It didn't work.

"What's wrong?" Masashi asked concernedly as Soshi said at the same time, "What, no food tonight?"

"If you didn't feel good," Renji said angrily, "You should have said something. I would have taken one of these losers instead"

"I'm fine," Rukia said, opening her eyes enough to glare at Renji. Ryo crawled over to her and put a hand against her forehead.

"You feel hot"

Rukia knocked Ryo's hand away, scowling. Renji's own scowl deepened.

----End Flashback----

"I still have the scar from that," Renji shook back the sleeve on his left arm and held it up for Ichigo to see. A bright right scar about an inch long ran from the tip of his elbow. "The one on Rukia's back is worse," Renji said in response to Ichigo's shocked look. Before Ichigo could respond though, the Death God from Squad Four left Rukia's room.

"Is she okay?" the orange-haired captain switched to serious mode.

"It's just a fever," the Shinigami said, holding out a pill bottle, "I think she's been sick for awhile though, so you might want to keep an eye on her. Give her one of these when she wakes up, and then another every four hours"

Renji continued talking to the Shinigami, and Ichigo walked into Rukia's room. She'd rolled over onto her side, and had an almost serene look on her face. "I never really thought about it," he whispered, reaching out to push a lock of stubborn hair out of her eyes, "You had it rough in the Rukongai, didn't you?"

She stirred under his touch, but stayed asleep. Ichigo smiled lightly. Her rough and tough attitude, he knew, was from her upbringing. But the kindness she could sometimes subject a person to? That was just...her. It was amazing, really.

Author's Note: This one just kind of came to me on a whim. But I like it. What do you think though/pokes reader/ Come ooon, you know you wanna review... - Sam