A/N: Glad you guys are enjoying it so far. For those of you who questioned the believability of the first bit and thought that Rukia would have fared better in that situation, you should realize that Rukia was completely surrounded with at least one of the men behind her at all times. If she were to try anything she would be attacked at once. People aren't as slow and stupid as hollows. That being said I probably should have written her as at least trying something before they all jumped her. Anyways, this is chapter 2.
Disclaimer: I do not own the world... or Bleach... or anything anyone would even care about.
It was well into the afternoon when Rukia Kuchiki next found herself awake. A healthy yawn escaped her wide open mouth as she sat upright in a foreign bed. Her body still ached with pain from the previous night's wounds, yet this was a more subtle subdued sort of pain; she could tell her wounds had already mostly healed.
With much effort Rukia removed herself from the bed, finding her body to be quite heavy as she took several steps forward. Kukaku, it seemed had taken the time to dress her in a warm, thick robe, that was noticeably several sizes too large for the Kuchiki girl. Rukia surmised that any clothes she obtained from Kukaku would have the same problem for her.
With a degree of effort for each step she took, Rukia walked in the direction of the door to her room. Opening it she found a rather large, steep staircase. This didn't really surprise Rukia, as having been to this house on one other occasion she already knew fairly well of its bizarre layout. The oversized basements, the truly strange outside appearance, it all made for a unique environment.
As she began to achingly climb the stairs toward the ground level of the Shiba home Rukia began to wonder. How was it that Kukaku was able to transport her the full distance between South district 78 and this place and then down all these stairs in one night with her handicap? No matter how she looked at it Rukia couldn't find an answer. Her thoughts then turned elsewhere as she finally reached the top of the staircase and opened the door.
Rukia emerged into a room full of life. It was filled with not just Kukaku, but her brother Ganju as well, Ganju's large pet boar Bonnie, and also the two loyal Shiba family servants Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko.
Ganju took immediate notice of Rukia's emergence, saying in a a somewhat surprised tone, "Rukia! What's Rukia doing in our basement?!"
"Huh. Eh, I don't know." Kukaku answered her brother's question in a nonchalant manner.
"What do you mean you don't know!? You're the one who brought me down there!" Rukia shouted in disbelief.
"Really? Now why'd I go and do that?" Kukaku said, playing ignorant.
"Don't you remember... you saved me..." Rukia said in a slow yet still intense way.
"Oh yeah! Sorry, but you can't expect me to remember every time I stick my neck out to protect a shinigami from her own stupidity." Kukaku said in a harsh way causing Rukia to give her a scowl.
"So you're the one who put Rukia in our basement, sis." Ganju said with a still somewhat lost expression.
"Yeah. I guess so." Kukaku sighed. Her mouth slowly formed a smile before she asked, "So, your injuries any better today?"
"Injuries? What exactly happened, sis?!" Ganju asked, again confused.
"Nothing that concerns morons like you." Kukaku growled fiercely, shooting her brother an angry look.
"There's still some pain, but I think they're healing up nicely." Rukia explained, moving her afflicted parts to test as she did so.
"That's good." Kukaku said with a slight grin. Then abruptly she asked, "You hungry?"
Considering that people in Soul Society never truly got hungry this was a rather odd question to ask. However, Rukia had since entering this room noticed a strong, pleasant smell lingering in the air around her. Maybe she didn't need food, but after last night she'd take anything to restore her happiness.
"I guess so." Rukia said in a low tone. Kukaku motioned for her to take up a seat on the floor next to Ganju while she went over to a large pot.. She returned to present Rukia with a good sized bowl of stew. Tasting it Rukia found it to be quite good; it had a strong robust flavor, and was full of meat and vegetables. She ate it happily.
"Good, isn't it?"Kukaku asked with a short proud laugh.
"Oh yes, it's very good, Kukaku." Rukia replied, smiling.
"Yeah, sis sure can make some good food, huh? I mean, look how much my little Bonnie loves it!" Ganju said with an exuberant nod. Rukia took direction, finding that the large boar on the other side of Ganju had her snout buried in a bowl of the same stew Rukia was eating. Rukia decided a single bowl would be enough.
"So anyway, you think you're up for a walk, Rukia?" Kukaku asked suddenly as Rukia stood and placed her empty bowl on a nearby counter.
"I'm not so sure I should really be moving around in my condition..." Rukia said smartly, a little perplexed at the suggestion.
"It'll just be a simple walk. I'm sure a little exercise will actually help you return to your normal self faster." Kukaku argued in an insistent fashion as she motioned for the other to follow her out the door.
"Where you goin, sis?" Ganju asked as he observed the two women move toward the door.
"I'm just going out to do a little restocking real quick." Kukaku said simply, Ganju seemed to understand. The two Shiba guardsmen got to their feet to accompany their mistress in her leave but she dissuaded them with a simple shake of her head. Slowly the two women made their way out of the Shiba home. Rukia smiled upon looking back at the house's truly unique exterior.
"So where are we actually going, Kukaku?" Rukia asked, still greatly lost from being suddenly dragged outside.
"Inuzuri district." Kukaku said simply, with a devious smile.
"What!? What the hell would make you think I would wan to go back there?!" Rukia shouted in protest, completely taken aback by this revelation.
"I figured it'd be the better alternative for you. Better than just leaving you back at the house " Kukaku said i a somewhat sad fashion that served to calm the other.
"What do you mean?" Rukia asked softly.
"Ganju was still pretty young when it happened. It's harder for him to forgive, and I'm not sure he has completely yet." Kukaku said somberly, Rukia felt the incredible tinge of guilt pulse through her body that typically occurred when she thought of Kaien and what had happened so many years back. Kukaku's voice took a lighter tone as she continued, "Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko are exceptionally loyal but they're really pretty strange guys. And that pig really isn't the greatest conversationalist either. I figured you'd enjoy my company the best."
"Well you know I could have just went straight home." Rukia said in an insistent manner.
"And tell that big brother of yours the reason your body is covered in bandages?" Kukaku added with a short laugh. Rukia blushed, realizing that the other woman was very right, there was no way she could risk Byakuya learning about what had happened the previous night.
"I suppose you have a point. Still I don't see why we would be going back there after what happened last night." Rukia said in a pointed fashion.
"You have to have figured that one out! Come on, you don't honestly believe the only reason I was down there in Inuzuri last night was to save your ass." Kukaku said harshly with a short laugh. Rukia blushed yet again, she had never even considered the possibility that Kukaku had had her ow reasons for being there last night.
"So what were you doing down there last night?" Rukia asked, now immensely curious.
"I have a dealer who works out of Inuzuri." Kukaku answered, not noticing the look of further confusion the answer placed on Rukia's face.
"Dealer?! Just what are you involved in, Kukaku?!" Rukia near-shouted. Kukaku couldn't help but laugh.
"I can't do it all with just Kido tricks, you know. To put on a real fireworks show you need plenty of the genuine article. This guy in Inuzuri is one of the few guys in all 320 districts of the Rukongai able to stock me with all the powders and plastics I need to put on the light shows I'm famous for. He buys most of his stuff off a shinigami friend who sneaks the stuff back from the human world. " Kukaku explained in a simple way.
"Oh, I see." Rukia said with a smug look. She gave a short laugh before saying in a somewhat sarcastic way, "And do you typically meet with this guy in the dead of the night?"
"I go whenever I have time." The fireworks expert answered in a casual way.
"So what, it's stupid for me to go down there all alone at night and yet for you it's fine?!" The shinigami yelled in indignation.
"Yeah pretty much." Kukaku said with a cool laugh.
"And why the hell is that?!" Rukia demanded an explanation.
"You're soft, you're unarmed, and you're a target." Kukaku sighed a response.
"What do you mean soft?! I can kick some serious ass if I have to!" Rukia said roughly, in defense.
"Yeah, you learned the attitude it seems, from the time you spent down here. But I wager it's been a while since you've had to put it to use. Being a pampered member of the Kuchiki family isn't the best thing for your instincts." Kukaku said in a light way, shaking her head slightly at the other.
"Hmph, I doubt that. And what is it that makes me a 'target' anyway?"Rukia still held a degree of anger to her words.
"That one should be obvious. People who fail are naturally inclined to feel animosity towards those who succeed. Scum like that are the ultimate examples of failure, whereas you, Rukia, are a prime example of success." Kukaku continued to seem unaffected by the angry glares the other was shooting her with.
"You really think so?" Rukia said, somewhat intrigued.
"Yeah. You, escaped the hell of lower Rukongai and became a shinigami. Not only that but you found yourself adopted right into one of the powerful noble clans. It shouldn't really come as much of a surprise that people around here would detest you." Kukaku said with a laugh, they had been walking for some time, and had now penetrated the deeper, more impoverished sections of the Rukongai. Rukia noticed many of the citizens were glaring at her horribly.
"But they accept you?" Rukia said softy, now feeling somewhat uneasy.
"My situation's really opposite to yours. I lived a luxurious noble's life in the Seireitei then lost it all. Trust me, what you see in hatred, I get in pity." Kukaku shook her head as she looked down at the ground where they walked, she was obviously thinking about something intently.
"But still, don't you think a good portion of the dangerous people around here could care less what a women's social standing is when they see her walking alone at night." Rukia resumed in arguing the danger Kukaku faced.
"Yeah, that's a good point. Still, cute, innocent looking girls like you are more popular with creeps like that anyways." Kukaku said coolly.
"What exactly makes me look 'innocent'?!"Rukia said with an angry glare. Not waiting for a response, she then commented, "And I would think a woman as beautiful as you are would at least face some danger."
"Heh, 'beautiful'. That's nice of you to say. But seriously, no matter how big my chest is, I'm not the type scum like that stalk. I'm a bit rough for them, and a lot would find the lack of limb unsettling." Kukaku said in a realistic way. Rukia gave a slight blush.
"I guess you win. Just make sure you're careful when you're down here all alone." Rukia decided to finally acquiesce.
"Don't worry. I can take care of myself pretty good." Kukaku said offering a smug expression. Silence perforated the air between them for a good while before Kukaku found it fit to speak once more, "So the area start to look familiar yet?"
"Yeah, this is district 78 alright." Rukia said as she looked around at the streets she had one time called a home.
Seeing these streets in the light of day, made Rukia remember the reason she had come to Rukongai the previous night. Suddenly her thoughts were filled with the faces of childhood friends long forgotten. She remembered the streets, the buildings, the trees, everything. She remembered all the hard but not entirely unpleasant days spent in this place with Renji and her other friends. A smile crept onto her face.
"Aren't many who smile when they stare at the rundown streets of the Inuzuri district." Kukaku gave a soft laugh as she followed the others eyes.
"I know. But part of me still thinks of this place as home." Rukia said in a far-off way.
"I suppose memories can be odd like that. No matter how much something seems to annoy you while their around, after it's gone you can't help but miss it." Kukaku sighed once more.
"I find it hard to believe that someone like you would miss the boring life of a noble in Seireitei, Kukaku." The Kuchiki girl said in return.
"Ha, maybe Rukongai does suit me better. That doesn't change the fact that part of me is still nostalgic for that boring, monotonous life I used to have, just as part of me yearns for everything I have ever lost." Kukaku said in a deeply reflective way.
Rukia had been enjoying her conversation with Kukaku. Despite her rough outward appearance, this woman was someone very easy to talk to, and also very interesting. She was one of the few people around who had seen everything Rukia had. Still, when she heard this woman talk of loss, she couldn't help but feel a terrible pang of guilt ache deep in her heart.
"I'm sorry." Rukia said simply, softly, and shyly. Her eyes were averted toward the ground. She had stopped walking.
"You've apologized already once. Doing it any more than that just makes you seem stupid." Kukaku said in a blunt way; surprisingly Rukia didn't recoil with anger.
"It's just that... if I hadn't.. then he might..." Rukia started shaking where she stood. She felt terrible.
"Just stop it. It's over. He's gone now. It wasn't your fault anyways." Kukaku said in a solemn way. It was less than comforting for the other.
"We've been talking all this time like nothing ever happened, but deep down I know you really must hate me..." Rukia said in a miserable way, a tear running down her cheek.
"If I hated you so much, I could have let you get raped and killed last night instead of saving you and tending to you." Kukaku still kept her cool even though the other had become emotional. Rukia eventually began to calm down. Kukaku smiled at the other as she addressed her further, "And I know it wasn't your fault. In fact you've probably suffered for it just as much as I have, if not more."
"He was your brother." Rukia protested softly. The two began to walk forward once more.
"Yeah, and what's that mean? I mean, how close are you and your brother?" Kukaku laughed as she posed this question.
"Well... um... I-I... we are..." Rukia struggled for an answer, giving a soft blush.
"Kaien was a great guy to hang around with. He let me do as I pleased, and was always real fun. He was a pretty irresponsible clan head though. He was easily more proud to be the lieutenant of the 13th squad than he was to be the head of the Shiba family." Kukaku gave an off grin as she spoke.
"I seriously doubt that..." Rukia said uncertainly. Remembering Kaien had always been painful for her, but at this moment she wanted to remember more than anything.
"Before he died, I remember that all he would talk about was you guys. Miyako obviously, but the other members of the 13th division as well. Particularly he would talk about Captain Ukitake and a certain bright girl from the Kuchiki clan who he enjoyed training." The Shiba woman said in a warm way.
"I doubt he really said much about me." Rukia fought the idea though she smiled brghtly.
"No, he talked at lengths about you. He enjoyed training you. He thought you had what it takes, that you were really going to go places. Kaien was proud of you, Rukia." Kukaku herself smiled as she said this, as if she knew herself what she was making the other feel.
Rukia felt another pang run through her heart, and once more she felt like crying. None of this was from guilt or sadness though, but instead from her happiness at learning that one she had admired so greatly truly thought of her. A tear did escape her eyes as she muttered in softened words, "Thank you... Thank you for telling me that, Kukaku."
"No problem." Kukaku laughed.
Silence reemerged to fill the air between the two women as they walked. Rukia felt as her head once more filled with nostalgic memories. These were not the same memories as before though, they were not of Renji and the Inuzuri streets but rather of squad 13 and Kaien. They were pleasant memories, all of them filled with laughter, all of them filled with such intoxicating warmth.
"This is the place, Rukia." Kukaku attempted to call the other out of her daydream. They had arrived at their destination.
"Yes Lieutenant Shiba!" Rukia said in a dutiful fashion, hearing the words but not managing to escape her preoccupation.
"Eh, Rukia, I've never been a lieutenant... of anything before." Kukaku said, laughing at the other's daydream induced mistake.
Rukia blushed a deep red as she realized what she had just done, In a meek way she explained what needed no explanation, "I was just thinking about Kaien, and I just... thought you were him for a second..."
"Even though were related I'm pretty sure that's the first time anyone's confused me for my brother." Kukaku laughed even harder.
"Sorry." Rukia continued to blush.
"Anyways, let's get this over with." Kukaku said, walking up to the door of the particularly run down looking shack she had pointed out as being the home of the explosives dealer.
Kukaku knocked at the front door and waited. Roughly a minute passed an no one came to the door. She knocked again, yet there was still silence. Worry spread across the Shiba woman's face as she gave a third knock, this time she called out to the man who should be inside, "Hey Kozu, you in there?" No answer came.
"Maybe he isn't in right now." Rukia suggested as she listened through the silence.
"No, Kozu isn't the type to leave his shop unattended like this. It's unnatural. Somethings going on here." Kukaku seemed worried as she looked the door up and down. Rukia noticed that the lock on the door was broken.
"Let's go in to check then." Rukia said, Kukaku nodded as she opened the door.
"Kozu?! You in here?!" Kukaku called out as she walked though the dark room. Looking around Rukia noticed that the place was thoroughly damaged. Rukia had never been here before but she could tell everything was out of place. As they continued to the back of the shop the two women began to hear the sound of muffled breathing.
"Kozu!" Kukaku called out as she rushed toward the man. The explosives dealer lay in the far corner of the shop, buried under several broken planks of wood. He was bruised all over, and bleeding from a gash at the top of his head. He was an old man, bald, with a short gray beard. He was shaking as he struggled to breathe. Kuaku worked to free him.
"Kozu, what in the heck happened to you?!" Kukaku asked frantically as she sat her old friend up, examining his wounds.
"Oh Miss Shiba, thank heavens you showed up. I thought I was a goner." The old man had relief deep in his eyes as he looked up at the woman. His voice seemed somewhat faint.
"Who did this to you, Kozu?" Kukaku asked in a softer way.
"It was group of hooligans. There were three of 'em at least. They busted in here in the dead of the night and started messin' the shop up. I went to grab one of m' guns so I could get 'em good, but they got me surrounded and beat me senseless. Then they ran off with half of my most recent shipment " Kozu told his story, he seemed quite angry.
"What did they take?" Kukaku posed a new question.
"Some serious stuff. Nothing you'd want to put in fireworks, that's for sure." The old man replied, gritting his teeth.
"This is why I keep tellin' you you should move to a safer part of town." Kukaku said under her breath.
"This place has been my home for years, Miss Shiba. I'm not about to just move away. Besides it's not like this attack was exactly random." The man had a gnarled harshness to his words.
"What do you mean?!" Kukaku asked at once.
"Those bastards left a message for you, Miss Shiba." Kozu answered solemnly.
"For me...? Just what did they say?" Kukaku seemed as serious as Rukia had ever seen her at this point.
"They told me that they was after revenge on you.." Kozu said with a short, serious laugh.
"Then I'm sorry Kozu, it looks like it was my fault this happened to you." Kukaku said in a morose fashion, closing her eyes in thought.
"Don't beat yourself up over it, Miss. With the years of patronage you've shown me, I figure you're worth a good beatin' or two." The man said lightly, Kukaku didn't seem satisfied.
"You don't think it was the men from last night, do you Kukaku?" Rukia felt obliged to speak now. She felt bad to know she was now involved in this.
"I'm certain it is." Kukaku said at once, smiling very faintly.
"That man, he probably knew all about your connections to this place and went here right as soon as he and his subordinates were able. It was a mistake of you to go so far as to cut off his hand." Rukia seemed anxious over the less than ideal situation.
"I was thinking I didn't go far enough with that creep. With what he was about to do to you, I'm thinking there was something of his I probably should have cut off before his hand." Kukaku replied in an almost carefree fashion, though it was obvious from her expression that she did have her worries.
"Please, be serious Miss Shiba. Those men could be right dangerous with the stuff they took form here, and they said they was after you." Kozu said in a worried voice.
"Those men will probably come after me again. But I'm not going to worry too much. I'll deal with things as they happen. I have other things I need to accomplish this week." Kukaku said reflectively, she ended on a sigh.
"I'll protect you." Rukia found herself saying.
"Wha?" Kukaku seemed taken aback by the other's statement.
"I'll return to Seireitei and get my zanpakuto. Then I'll come back here and watch over you until the threat has been eliminated. It's the least I can do to repay you for saving me last night." Rukia explained a deadly serious way. Kukaku gave a soft laugh at the girl's words.
"I'm not about to tell you no, Rukia. But I don't think you need to go so far. I can take care of this mess on my own. Even if they got high powered explosives, those guys are still nothing but a pack of low-life morons." Kukaku gave a warm grin as she said this.
"Even still I would feel better if I stayed with you through tis. It's my fault, after all that you got involved with them in the first place." Rukia said with finality.
"Alright." Kukaku agreed with a nod. She then turned to the injured explosives dealer, "Kozu, you still got all the stuff I put on order."
"Oh yes, the restock for the festival Friday, everything you said is in a bag right over there." The old man, who still was unable to stand pointed in the direction of the merchandise, Kukaku spied a small sack and went to retrieve it. She then handed the man his pay.
"Okay, now that the business is outta the way, why don't you help me treat Kozu's wounds Rukia?" Kukaku said with a nod.
"Yes." Rukia nodded back and the two began to work.
A/N: End of chapter two. I was surprised at how long this chapter turned out, especially considering it's like all dialog. Anyways, you can sort of see the direction I'm taking the pairing here. Really, it's kinda difficult to push these two together. It's the second chapter and were still very light on the yuri subtext. Something is really going to have to happen in the next two chapters to move this thing along. Anyways, I hope all this dialog wasn't too boring. Kukaku's kinda difficult to write, you see so little of her in the anime, that it's kinda more difficult to keep her completely in character. I hope I did alright with that. Anyways hope you continue to read.
Now then, as is customary by now, allow me to discourse on my poll. 25 people voted. Roughly half of them (12) love Yoruichi X Soi Fon.. To me that seems low. All of you should have voted for that pairing since it is the best pairing ever. Aside from that pairing, elsewhere it seems you all worship Yoruichi as well, since both the other pairings I mentioned of hers were top vote getters. It kinda makes me wish I was able to come up with more Yoruichi pairings. Pairing I'm surprised did so well include, Unohana X Soi Fon and Kukaku X Rangiku; the former of which while not seeming to make a lot of sense, I guess works on pairing mechanics, for some reason I could just see the two together, the latter on the other hand is a bit more a stretch as Kukaku and Rangiku have little in common save for them both possessing rather large breasts. I guess characters like Momo and Nemu really aren't too popular, I can understand with Nemu since she might have too weak a personality, but I think it's be good material for a fic. Anyways, I'm still not about to write a Yoruichi X Soi Fon fic since the idea terrifies me (I don't want to mess up a pairing I love so much), so I'll probably run another poll in a few chaptersas a sort of runoff between the top vote getters from this poll. Anyways, thanks to all who voted.