"Don't be an idiot," Rukia scolded. "You always over-exaggerate things."

Renji stuck the last of the onigiri in his mouth and said something in protest to Rukia's comment, but with a mouthful of rice, none of his words were understandable.

Rukia made an annoyed face. "Swallow first. Please."

Renji gulped down the remnants of what was in his mouth. "Don't think you can act all high and mighty with me now, Rukia." He took the back of his hand and wiped the corner of his mouth. "Just because you're a lieutenant now."

"That's right, so it's Lieutenant Kuchiki to you now," Rukia boasted.

Renji scoffed. "So are you gonna address me as Lieutenant Abarai now? You seem to have forgotten that I'm also a Lieutenant, and I got the position way before you did."

"That was because Nii-sama--" Rukia stopped. Though it was true that Byakuya prevented her from having a seated position, she knew it was only because he wanted to protect her. As much as that made her feel oppressed, she still felt touched that Byakuya, who had gained a reputation for being emotionless, actually did care about her. She smiled playfully. "Anyway, I could kick your ass any day."

The red-headed man gasped loudly.

"See, there you go again, over-exaggerating."

Though they constantly argued, Rukia and Renji never meant any harm to each other. In fact, that was the last thing that either of them wanted to do. It was their odd way of showing their care for each other. Both of them didn't like to be openly affectionate if they could avoid it. Somehow, all of that fluffy and mushy stuff that Rangiku always showed Rukia during their Shinigami Women's Association meetings never sank in. And Renji. He just had too big of an ego to give in. It was the main reason why Rukia decided to start making onigiri for Renji. It wasn't a screaming confession of love, but it still showed that she cared. Renji couldn't complain that he didn't enjoy it either.

"Come on, you little shrimp," Renji teased the petite girl. "You should get going. I heard Captain Ukitake is sick again, and you've got a lot of work to do."

Rukia sighed. "His condition is better than it was before, but yeah… He's been having those coughing fits again. I guess I should get back to the Division and get something done." She took a look around. "And I think you should do the same," she added, looking at the various papers scattered about the room. She bid Renji goodbye and left his office.

Renji waved to Rukia as she left and kept waving at the doorway where she was. He didn't know why, but she had always had this effect on him. Ever since they met each other in Rukongai, he felt an attraction to her that only grew as the years passed. She was the only person who could get inside of him without even trying. She understood him, and she never judged or condemned him. Something about her presence always put him at ease. Her scolding was pretty much in vain most of the time seeing as how he never really listened. He just felt so relaxed when she was near him that whatever negative comments she was making just melted away. And he knew Rukia knew this about him, but she still made it a point to get her opinions across. Both of them had always been stubborn. How they managed to get along and become so close was beyond the two of them, but they never complained. Snapping back to reality, Renji looked around at the mess of papers and sighed heavily, picking a stack up that lay next to his feet.

Instead of going back to the Thirteenth Division like she should have, Rukia went to the Kuchiki manor. Kiyone and Sentarou were diligent enough to take over for a while. They had done it before Rukia was appointed their Lieutenant. Those two always liked to make their work a competition, so things always got done efficiently. No wonder Captain Ukitake never had many concerns about his Division.

Rukia made her way to the kitchen, where the head cook greeted her.

"Rukia-sama," the elderly woman smiled. "Back so soon?"

Rukia returned the smile. "I had so much fun making one that I couldn't wait to make more."

"What happened to the first onigiri you made?" The woman stepped aside and let Rukia join her next to the counter. Rukia was always a favorite among the servants. Compared to her stoic brother, Rukia was a warm person and tried to connect with the servants. She took the time to talk to them and know them. They felt like a part of the family when Rukia was around.

"The recipient was very pleased," Rukia said proudly. "Though I guess he usually eats anything and is happy to get any kind of food…"

"A he?" the head cook said playfully as she raised an eyebrow.

"Erm, that is--" Rukia stammered and felt her face flush a deep red.

"Your secret is safe with me," the woman winked. "So who's the lucky fellow getting these treats?"

Rukia hesitated.

"That's alright, Rukia-sama." The woman returned to tending a pot of soup simmering on the stove. "I'm just being nosy. You know how it is. We older women love to gos--"

"Renji," Rukia stated.

"Oh?" she stopped stirring and looked up. "Lieutenant Abarai?"

Rukia scooped some rice out of the vat and dumped it onto her board lying on the counter. She nervously began to form them into balls. She knew what was coming.

"Does Byakuya-sama know?"

The words that she dreaded answering. She slowly shook her head, fixating her eyes on the food items before her as she stuffed one of the rice balls with a piece of umeboshi and wrapped it in nori. It was an issue that she always avoided. Informing her big brother of her personal life. Something told her that he wouldn't take it well. She was afraid that he may condemn or threaten Renji, and who knows whatever else that man could think of. Byakuya always was a bit over-protective of her.

"I see…" was all the old woman said. A few moments of silence passed as each of them worked on their own culinary dishes. "If you ask me," she finally said, "I think that Byakuya-sama should have a right to know. You're not giving the man enough credit."

Rukia's movements slowed as she processed what she was being told.

"But then again, I'm just an old woman," she continued. "What do I know about young love nowadays?"

Rukia said nothing in response. After a few more moments of awkward silence, the cook decided to get off the subject of her other master. She didn't want to make Rukia feel uncomfortable, and clearly she was.

"Does Abarai-kun really have that big of an appetite?" the cook teased.

Rukia looked down and realized that there were half a dozen prepared onigiri in front of her. She had been so wrapped up in what the woman was saying to her that she didn't notice that pace at which she was going. The corners of Rukia's lips curved into the slightest of smiles. "I guess he won't mind some more snacks while he's working." Grabbing a box, Rukia began neatly placing the six freshly made onigiri in it. "This should be nothing for him. He didn't earn the nickname of 'freeloader' at the Urahara Shop for nothing," she chuckled. She wrapped the box with a piece of cloth and tied it shut at the top. "Thank you," she said before leaving. She gave a nod to the cook. "For everything."

Rukia pondered the elderly woman's words throughout her trip back to the Sixth Division. Tell Byakuya. Make him see that she was her own person and she was bound to have a relationship with a man eventually. Make him see that his promise to Hisana about protecting her didn't mean protecting her from every little thing in life.

As if on cue, the Sixth Division Captain appeared in front of Rukia, walking in the opposite direction down the hallway. Rukia instinctively hid the box of onigiri behind her.

"Rukia," Byakuya addressed his younger sister, "shouldn't you be at the Thirteenth Division?"

"Erm, no, all the work is being taken care of." It wasn't an outright lie. The work was being taken care of. Hopefully.

"Then you should be resting." The way Byakuya said it was almost a command, not a suggestion.

"I'm fine, Nii-sama." Rukia unconsciously took a small step backwards, as if any increase in the distance between the two of them would limit Byakuya's chances of seeing what she was hiding.

But he had already seen it.

Staring for a few moments at Rukia's face, whose eyes were glued to the ground, Byakuya decided not to question it any further. With a slight nod to Rukia, he continued down the hallway.

He may have gotten a reputation for being cold and apathetic, but that didn't mean he was stupid or oblivious. Something was going on with Rukia. She had been appearing around the Sixth Division more and more lately. He had a slight suspicion it had something to do with his lieutenant, but he wasn't quite sure yet. Rukia and Renji had always been good friends. Hell, his lieutenant tried to attack and kill him during Rukia's execution. He wouldn't be surprised if they…

Byakuya's movements froze. His little sister and his lieutenant in… a relationship? A sudden surge of… something swelled up inside him. It was a mix of confusion and frustration dashed with just a hint of happiness. Byakuya wanted nothing more than for his little sister to be happy. He had promised Hisana that he would make sure of that. But at the same time, there were some things that he had to prevent for the sake of the nobility.

Things like having a relationship with someone of non-noble blood.

He had done it once, and the elders of the Kuchiki family resented him for it. He didn't want Rukia to go through that same agony. As happy as he was with Hisana, it was always a mood-killer to pass by rooms and hear harsh gossip being spread about your wife by your own family. Saying she was never good enough, saying that she was probably a prostitute who had wormed her way into Byakuya's life. They never took the time to know Hisana. He was the head of the family, so whatever they said ultimately wouldn't matter in the end, but that doesn't erase the fact that their comments hurt.

Whatever was going on between Rukia and Renji… Byakuya had a feeling that he wouldn't like it.