Wow, is this the 4th chapter already? Took a while to get this out, sorry. Been busy but now I have Christmas break! No school!
Enjoy!
Chapter 4: "Retired"
"Sorry to see you go Rukia." The rest of the 13th squad gave her a wave before leaving for their dorms. Rukia gave them a customary smile as they left. It seemed so unfair that everything would end like this.
Her uniform was folded up neatly and set onto the shelves, where it would remain until another Shinigami came to take it for himself. The subornates always change so frequently, within only a couple days they would have someone to take her place. The thought was depressing.
Rukia took one last look at the black fabric she had to leave behind and felt herself missing it already. A Shinigami uniform is comfortable and durable, made for easy moving. The stiff kimono she wore now was for a noble woman who sat around the house all day, focusing on social and fashion matters. It was nothing that would be considered comfortable.
"Kuchiki-Sama?" Kiyone entered the small building accompanied by Sentaro.
"Yes?" Kuchiki looked over at them sweetly, trying to hide her frustration. I haven't even left the building and they're already using formalities! She remembered back when everyone in Seireitei would just call her Rukia.
"Ukitake-Taicho…" Kiyone tried to say but was quickly pushed aside by Sentaro. "Shut up, It's my turn. Ukitake-Taicho wishes to see…" "no it's my job butthead! He wishes…" "you brat!" They both, violently, pushed each other to the ground.
"He wishes to see you before you leave" The two finally said in unison.
Rukia could have laughed but they behaved like this so much it grew annoying. She nodded her head and followed them to the captains' quarters.
"Ah! Rukia! Sit down."she walked in and Ukitake motioned his hand to the seat across form him.
A maid entered into the room with a tray of green tea. The fresh brewed leaves perfumed the room. Ukitake's room was always like this. It made the room seem so much more calming.
"Where is Kaien-dono?" Rukia looked around to where the lieutenant usually sat. The seat was empty.
"He was sent out to retrieve your fiancé." Ukitake said with a bit of sweat humor. The word 'fiancé' seemed funny to him. Rukia took it in with a bit of annoyance.
"A waste of time if you ask me." The bitter words danced upon Rukia's mouth. The captain laughed.
"Not to happy on the arrangement are you?"
"Should I be happy? This Fiancé has taken everything from me." Rukia took the cup of tea and happily poured it down her mouth.
"You do not think that it is his fault, do you?"
"Who should I blame? For all I know he begged the council to marry me, knowing very well that I would have to quit being a Shinigami!"
"A human?" Ukitake's face broke, the pain of holding his own laugh looked almost unbearable. "You believe a human is conspiring against you!? You know, the council cringes even at the thought of a human knowing about us! Your theory is unimaginable."
"They want this place a secret! Then why are they bringing him here! Trust me, someone has plot this a some cruel joke."
"Perhaps," Ukitake regained his posture. His voice grew serious but a smile remained imprinted on his face. Rukia couldn't help but feel he knew something she didn't "But do you really believe he has taken everything from you?" He nodded to a servant in the corner and she left the room. She returned later with a sword in its sheath and placed it on the table. "You left this in my office earlier."
"My Zanpakuto." Rukia reached out and grasped the soul slayer, absorbing its familiarity.
"The Zanpakuto is part of you. You need to keep it."
She looked at the sword with longing eyes and reluctantly placed it back on the table. "I am no longer Shinigami. I cannot keep it."
"Yes, of course. An exshinigami, exiled from soul society, has all their powers stripped from them and they are then cast away. But you have committed no crime and I wouldn't say that you're being exiled, just an early retirement. So naturally, you keep your powers, and the soul slayer of course."
Rukia was speechless. She clutched the sword and attached it to the side of her waist. It seemed so odd not having the sword with her, like an empty space, but now that space was full. She muttered a word of thanks and the captain sent her off.
Rukia couldn't help but feel a little happier as she stood in front of the graves of her old friends. She was a 'retired' Shinigami, but not entirely. Maybe, by some chance, they will come back to me, begging for help! She played the dreams in her head, knowing how childish they where.
"So it's true." Renji unexpectedly marched up beside her. "There where rumors…" He noticed her lack of Shinigami uniform.
"What kind of rumors?" Rukia looked rather happier than she should have been.
"I don't know. Some said that you where being exiled. Then there was this crazy one where you ran away to join the gangs of the of the 79th district somewhere up north." He smirked. "And then, there was one that said you where going to get married!" Renji laughed and Rukia did her best to join in. "So which one is it?"
Rukia was still producing her fake laugh. Renji paused and examined her reaction for a moment and bent closer so their faces where only inches apart. Rukia could sense the anger seeking out of his skin. "You're not getting married, are you?" She said nothing.
"Why didn't you tell me!? Who is it?"
"Not like I see you that often."
"Who… the… hell...is it!" His words where low and spread apart like he was talking to a 5 year old.
"I don't know!"
"What do you mean you don't know?"
"I've never met the guy before in my life!" Renji drew back suddenly, stunned. It just occurred to him that Rukia was a member of one of the highest families in Soul Society. Arranged marriages where…. natural.
"Arranged? I can't believe it." He whispered to himself. Him and Rukia where like soul mates when on the streets. They where family. It was Rukia's adoption that had, almost, officially broken them apart. Now that Rukia was taken, his reasons to be with her diminishing.
"Are you ok?" Rukia stood on her toes to get a better look at Renji's face.
"Yea, I'm fine."
Note: Taicho means captain. I've watched the Anime in japanese to the point where it just seems weired not to use honorifics.
This originally was suppose to be the chapter with Ichigo finding about soul society and all of that but then I decided 2 weeks was too long for leaving Rukia alone. So I wrote about Rukia! That and I think I'm just trying to avoid writing the Ichigo chapter because it's going to be really hard for me -.-
And Guess what! Kaien is alive! His existence in the story won't bring too many spoilers I don't think…. (unless you haven't gotten far enough in the anime/manga to know who he is so to prevent further spoilers I suggest you just don't read the following). But for the past couple days I've been trying to think of who to send for Ichigo and then I thought of the awesome Kaien! So far, I haven't really planned on having Aizen in the story and since Aizen was the indirect cause of Kaien's death then the guy is still be alive! And since his death was probably the cause for the fall of the Shiba clan, him being alive would mean that the Shiba clan alive and well too! So there you have it! Kaien of the (alive and well) Shiba clan! Not too many fanfics have him anyway.
