Characters: Rukia, Ichigo, Renji
Word Count: 617
Comments: I had this random thought today, about how smiles are sometimes described as golden. And if smiles are gold, then aren't they the riches of the poor? Which led me to Renji and Rukia in their early years. Because I'm a Bleach fanatic, that's why. Now go ahead, read. Can be viewed as IchiRuki, if you really want to.
Legal: I do not own Rukia, Ichigo, Renji, or Bleach in any way shape, or form. I just enjoy spending large amounts of time fascinating about what it would be like if I really did own them. They belong to Kubo Tite, amazing man who thought them up.
.:Smile:.
When Renji and Rukia were growing up together, every day had been a struggle. But they had always made it to the end of it, even if it was only because they depended so strongly on one another.
She was standoffish at first, regarding him with concern. After all, she didn't really know who he was. But after a while, she warmed up to him. She would allow him to watch her back, provided she was watching his, of course.
When she openly smiled for him the first time, he watched in wonder.
"Rukia!" he called out.
"What?" her tone was soft, but playful. She was having a good time.
"When you smile, we're the richest people in all Rukongai!" he said, in youthful ignorance, without thought.
It was the type of comment that made sense to him, but she didn't quite understand. What he'd meant to say is that her smiles were worth more than gold, that the simple emotion that she expressed to him, and only to him, made life worth it. Even the hard life that they happened to have.
However, Rukia did not understand it in that way. She missed the sentiment he had been trying to share with her. All she knew is that they were poor, dirt poor. And when they had money, they hoarded it until they absolutely had to use it.
"Then I'll save them." She replied, under her breath so only Renji could hear.
She decided then and there that she would keep her smiles in reserve. If they were as priceless as Renji had described, then she'd store them away, and only bring them out on occasions when they were needed.
Renji regretted the offhanded comment, but soon forgot the entire event. He was young, after all. And their days were filled with moments that weren't nearly as nice as this one had been.
This is why it seemed so silly to him when he remembered the scene years later. Rukia was a Kuchiki now, he had made sure of that. But he had thought that she would be happier there. She would have a family, she would have money. She wouldn't have to hide her smiles anymore. She could afford the extravagance of smiling whenever she wished. Yet whenever he saw her, she was sullen, her face a mask.
Sometimes, in passing, he swore he saw the smile in her eyes, but only for a second. Blink and it would be gone.
He later came to the conclusion that she was keeping the riches of her emotions for another occasion, maybe one that didn't involve the Kuchiki name. That she was accumulating her own wealth so that she could later break free of the 'family' she had been adopted into.
Again, he pushed the memory into the depths of his mind. He had no need for useless memories, not when he had so much to do in order to save her from the family he had abandoned her to.
The memory only raised its head one other time to Abarai Renji. And for the first time, it was bittersweet. He was standing in a field, watching as that stupid boy finally left. He turned to look at Rukia, who was safe, thank god. She was safe.
And she was smiling.
He turned in amazement to watch the back of the orange-headed moron disappear into the door, returning. And yet she smiled on, sharing the fortune she had saved for so long with those lucky enough to be around her.
Renji was jealous, but only a little. After all, she was happy, right? And that's all that mattered to him.
At least, that's what he told himself.
A/N: I don't write Renji that much, so I was a bit worried about him being Ooc. I hope that is not the case! This drabble leaves the characters happier than I usually leave them! It's amazing!
Please Review! They make me happy and keep the world spinning around!