The bunch of them find work pretty easily, she hears from Renji.
Ever the gossip, Renji tells it all as he whiddles wood with a knife from behind the screen in her room, and she can tell he is annoyed. He's about as secret about his true feelings as General Shunsui's snores from a few halls down, she told him once a long time ago. It made him laugh, and she remembers it wistfully as she watches him blabber. That was when he was allowed directly in her room, before the Incident happened. When he still trusted her.
"... The kid with the glasses has been placed at gate guard for his archery skills, but he's been observing the hospital segment quite a bit. Apparently his father was a big time doctor in the mainland, so you might be seeing more of him. The bigger guy-god, what is he, a giant? Well, not the craziest thing we've all seen-he's training with Hitsugaya in masonry. Heh, hilarious to see, if you ask me: this humongous guy being bossed around by that kid-but he melds pretty well, a lot more strength and craft than Hitsugaya can manage, the little rodent he is. Weapons they make together should be pretty cool. The girls were placed in kitchen and mending, obviously... No offense," he adds quickly, to which Rukia shrugs. He winces. "Sorry, it's not like you're doing much more... Shit. Anyway. The two girls with the lighter hair fit right in, though the older babe makes... Questionable experiments in the kitchen, if you ask me. The scrawny, darker one's having some trouble. More used to men's stuff, I guess. She'll find her place soon enough though..." He trails off, grinding his teeth. Rukia waits before prodding.
"And the leader? The one with the orange hair?"
He glances over her and snorts. "Wouldn't you like to know, he's become Yamamoto's new military pet project. Been training with some of us and looking over all and every soldier position. I don't like him. Too arrogant, doesn't know how lucky he is to just be let in like he was." Renji's fists tighten, and Rukia understands why he's really annoyed. He had to earn his place here, growing up in ranks according to the rules-comparatively, this stranger screamed at the gate and got to bypass all of that. The entire structure Renji supported his ambition on, it turns out, was a lie.
"Perhaps he's just getting basic training, before moving elsewhere?" she offers sympathetically, pulling her thread through the cloth. She's embroidering blossoms for Brother, for his upcoming birthday… That is, if he'll ever come visit her, let alone accept a gift from her.
Renji snorts in response.
"Nah, Yamamoto's been having him holed up in his quarters too, and the old man never bothers with new trainees. Something's up. And as much as I hate it, the kid's got a pretty damned good swing."
She raíses her eyes at him, and she can tell he's avoiding telling her something. "You've sparred with him?"
He shifts uncomfortably. "Well, I mean, yeah… And it was a lucky shot, and I tripped, and… Rukia c'mon."
Renji's rolling his eyes at her barely contained smile, but he's grinning. The rare lack of honorific isn't lost on her, and she thinks this is nice, it's almost like they're back to normal-
The door behind him slams open. He scampers up, wiping the smile from his face as if they weren't just talking as old friends.
She's not surprised, but she can't help but mourn the moment lost.
One of the wall guards, Ikkaku, nods at Rukia before shifting his attention to Renji. "Yo. Old Man told Boss to tell me to tell you you need to report to your captain, immediately. Change of duty."
Renji stares at him, before scoffing. "Are you joking? I've been here since Kaien-"
(Neither notice the way her hands stiffen on her embroidery at the name.)
"-And both Captain Byakuya and Old Man know that I'm the one most comfortable with Lady Rukia, as she is with me. Who's supposed to replace me? You got your information wrong, my playing telephone more."
"Nah, I don't. Old Man gave Boss a note that specifically had your name on it. Paperwork, and all that jazz." Ikkaku shrugged. "As for who's replacing you, I don't know for sure. But Vice Cap'n spilled that she heard that the new kid will be her guard. The one with the orange hair."
She can't see Renji's face, but she sees his hands tighten into fist. "Are you fucking kidding me?!"
"Look, I don't make the rules, pal. But I'd scurry to Byakuya ASAP, you've told me enough how that tightwad is with tardiness. I'm to stay put here with her until Old Man comes with whoever."
Ikkaku strides over to sit against the screen, looking up at Renji pointedly. Her friend glares back, gritting his teeth before stomping out and slamming the door behind him.
The two sit in silence, and Rukia doesn't quite know what to say to this man she's barely spoken two words to before.
She's about to return to her stitching when he speaks up.
"If it's true that the new guy will replace Renji, you better be careful around this kid, my lady," he says, not looking back at her. "He's pretty fucking good at combat. Strong and fast, too. He'll be great as your guard, but… I don't wanna see what he'd be like as a Hollowed One."
Neither did she, she almost protests-but instead she inclines her head, promising she'll be careful.