Obsession
Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply.
A/N: Hello Lara de Leon! Thank you for your compliment. Hello MangaAddict300! Yes, Rukia definitely has a problem when it comes to her Chappy addiction. Hi CrescentSnow! Yes, I didn't notice it but it does look like a HitsuRuki hint. I do apologize however but it's a ByaRuki story although I hope you'd still read it. I'll try for longer chapters in the future. Thank you for the reviews Sphinx and yes, will be doing a flashback chapter for you in the next one.
Rukia has a deep dark secret. It is an obsession. No, it's not her Chappy obsession (everyone knows about that) but rather she is literally obsessing about someone. She really did not know when it started. She also knows it's not a crush, she's once felt that way for Toshiro Hitsugaya after all (But his fascination with their mutual friend, Momo Hinamori put an end on that possibility. She tells herself it's a good thing because the elders would never approve, still she cannot help but feel irritated every time Momo speaks condescendingly to Toshiro. Doesn't she know how he feels for her?). She has hidden pictures of her object of affection underneath her Chappy tapestries and even a small doll in his image, which she carefully hides inside her bedding before she goes out of her room in the morning.
It's not that the person she likes is someone the clan will disapprove of, because despite his family coming from an impoverished minor noble clan, he has a high rank among the Shinigami. He is even a respected captain. She likes him because he is the kindest man she'd ever met. He is caring and very sensitive to other people's needs. He is gentle to everyone and has the sweetest disposition. It does not help her cause that every time he sees her, he has a small Chappy toy or candy for her. He simply does not know what it does to her.
Sometimes she would casually follow him at a distance, masking her reiatsu, something her father sent her to the 2nd Squad for in order to hone this skill. He obviously knows somebody is following him around he is a captain after all, but as easy going as he is, he doesn't bother confronting whoever is following him. She came to know of her routine and is one of the firsts to know when he is feeling ill. She makes it a point to visit him during the days when he feels sick.
In any other situation, she might have the courage to broach to her clan that she finds this man a good match for her. They may suggest that he becomes a member of their family instead of her joining his. Since he has younger brothers, there would be a continuation of his lineage. However, there are obstacles to this, the first is, he is her father's friend. That in itself is not so bad, but the biggest problem is the age difference. After all, he is more than two millennia older than her. Another sad thing is, he only looks at her as an uncle looks at his niece since he is her father's best friend.
Because of this, she uses all of her acting skills to convince the world and herself that she is not obsessed with Jushiro Ukitake.
A/N: The academy was founded some 2,100 years ago. Shunsui and Jushiro are amongst the first graduates, thus they are amongst the first students and therefore were already of age to attend the academy at that time.
