Chapter 2
Rukia sighed heavily as she flattened herself against the seat. She heard the horse's hooves before the carriage was set into motion with a gentle buck. She wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead and pulled the curtain blocking her view from the outside.
She flapped the top of her garments to cool herself down. It was not uncommon for her to be dressed in more clothing even on days with the most extreme of heat. It gave rise to many questions (especially from Ichigo) which she often dismissed by bragging of her title as noble and how she would never stoop to wearing basic garments despite the weather. Whilst fanning herself she glimpsed at the chest binder wrapped around her. Her movement ceased and Rukia found her body shift into an upright position much like the stiff manner her father often sat in.
Renji observed Rukia with a furrowed brow. "You alright?"
"Of course," she answered with a small smile. "Right! Tell me, how were your travels this time? Did father send you far? You were gone for a while. Did you pick up anything interesting?"
Renji watched Rukia as she barraged him with endless questions. Her hands waved in the air and her wide eyes followed them animatedly.
Renji smirked and leaned forward. "I can't tell ya about it yet but-" he reached into his garments and pulled out a bunny shaped toy. "I found this in the neighbouring village, apparently they're pretty popular with-."
Rukia snatched the object and her eyes widened at the level of adorableness within the palm of her hands. She pinched the toy at the cheeks and flapped the ears. She 'oohed' in amusement, the rest of the world lost to her in that moment.
"-children." Renji finished with a crooked smile and sighed. He leaned back into his seat, observing the young Kuchiki. His eyes fell on her form. There were only three other people who knew of Rukia's secret: Byakuya Kuchiki, Lady Hisana Kuchiki, and himself. The first time he had heard it through the mouth of his master, Byakuya, he almost laughed. However, as he soon came to learn, Byakuya Kuchiki was never a humorous man. And at fourteen years old, Renji who had been taken in by the Kuchiki family, became not only a right-hand servant to Byakuya but a protector for his then ten year old daughter, Rukia. By day he ran errands for his master and by night he was trained fiercely.
Rukia never knew of the nights he had stayed awake watching over her room from the shadows. She had often slept soundly through the nights where he had killed assassins sent by members of the Kuchiki clan to kill her and her mother. She had been oblivious to the compromised toys and poisoned sweets she would happily receive which Renji would quietly dispose of.
Renji felt the scar across his chest begin to itch and his mind took him back to the night when he had almost failed Byakuya. It was around the time the Queen had died. Rukia had been twelve years old at the time. Most nights, he had spent in his usual position; seated cross legged on one of the large branches of an old sakura blossom tree just behind the main manor. From that angle he had had perfect view of any comings and goings of the servants and particularly the heiresses' room.
The night had been uneventful as per usual after the young Kuchiki had been placed to sleep. He watched as Lady Hisana departed the room and accepted the bows of servants with a slight bow of her own. He watched the naturally timid woman disappear before settling his eyes on Rukia's room. He rolled his eyes at the thought of the child. For the most part he had hated the child, citing that she was a 'coddled little brat' but as he came to understand the true nature of her life, he began to pity her. He still didn't like her - just pitied her. At least he didn't have a bunch of old farts plotting to kill him and his mother.
Renji kept watch of the slightest sounds around him. He had begun to enjoy the silence when he had been startled almost half to death by a hiss. He almost drew his blades but stopped when he saw the black cat beneath the tree clawing at its bark and hissing at him. The mangy beggar was at it again. The black feline was a common trespasser to the mansion. She mostly went ignored but often found her way to bother him at night. He hushed the feline before throwing down pieces of the half-eaten rice ball he had taken from the kitchen.
He watched the feline eat the pieces and lazily gobbled down the rest of it. He rolled his eyes as the feline stretched her spine and waved her tail before scaling the tree to reach the branch opposite him. Renji watched her for a few moments before returning to the Kuchiki's room.
It had taken Renji a few seconds to register that the Kuchiki's door was slight ajar.
His eyes widened and he leapt from the tree, making it to the Kuchiki's room. He ignored the surprised guards as he approached her room and slammed door open. Time stood still in that moment. All his senses had abandoned him the instant he laid eyes on the empty sheets.
Rukia was gone.
He felt his heart stop. How could this happen? How would he explain- Byakuya would never forgive-
He turned and his feet carried him before he could think. He had to find the child.
Where? His hand ran through his short red hair. Where was he going to find her?
When? He had been watching the whole time! A voice in the back of his mind interrupted his thoughts, sounding oddly like Byakuya. 'Were you really watching her or feeding a cat? Was the cat worth her life, Renji? After everything this family has done for you, Renji.'
I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry. He rubbed his eyes and tripped over a stone. He fell face first, cutting his brow and scraping his knees but quickly stood upright and brushed the blood leaking from his forehead away from his eyes with the back of his hand. He leapt over the manor boundary and ignored the pain when he landed. He stared at the paths on either side of him. Not knowing which way to go, his tears blurred his vision and he was frantic. He allowed his feet to carry him any direction.
He had to find the girl. And for the first time in his life, he prayed to every god he knew, begging for the child to be alright. He swore he would treat the girl better; he would never ignore her when she wanted to play, he would never call her a brat, he would never tease her. He would treat her better.
Renji only returned to the Kuchiki manor when the sun had begun to set. He contemplated never returning to the manor and returning to life as an orphan in one of the slums in Karakura. However, he had been taught to accept the consequences of his actions. He had to face Byakuya. His tired, and then bloodied feet carried him through the entrance of the manor. His eyes were bloodshot and black circles surrounded them.
He trudged though the corridor, somewhat surprised by the silence in the manor. On the other hand, if the worst had happened to Rukia, the silence would not be all too surprising.
He swallowed the lump in his throat as he stifled the tears that threatened to escape his eyes. At that moment, the door leading to the library slid open. Renji looked up to meet the empty glare of his master.
"Renji," he acknowledged him and Renji flinched as though he had been struck. He bowed his head lowly.
"M-Mast-" he began but the words would not escape his dried lips. He struggled to hold back the tears that burned his eyes. He had to forget his fear- it was about Rukia not him. He took a deep breath "Please Master! It's Rukia! She-"
Just then a child appeared from behind Byakuya. Her black hair neatly combed and parted to hold the Kuchiki clan clips. Her large violet eyes staring curiously from behind her father.
She wasn't hurt.
Renji felt his knees give out and he fell into a bow, resting his head against the back of his hands. His body shook as his tears fell onto the floor. Byakuya watched the boy prostrated before him, he glanced over the boys dishevelled appearance, noting the dried blood on his face and the rips on his clothes and bloodied feet. He blinked once over and walked away.
Renji heard Byakuya disappear before he felt a soft pat on his head. He looked up to see Rukia crouched down, staring at him. Her soft stare calmed his frantic eyes.
"Rice dumplings make me feel better when I'm sad, you should eat some." She tilted her head and smiled at him.
Before he could speak he heard Byakuya call for Rukia authoritatively and she darted off with a small wave. He watched her small feet chase after her father. And as though his body had reached its limits he swayed and his vision blackened.
When he next woke, he was in a bed, having been cleaned and bandaged. It was later explained to him that Rukia had snuck out of the manor to visit the Prince. A letter from the King had arrived not long after he had left. He almost felt stupid for his panic and hid under his sheets. A servant later returned to his room to place a plate of rice dumplings at his side and a crudely drawn picture of a bunny beside it.
Seven years later and Renji had kept true to his promise to treat Rukia better. He despised the Prince instead, bastard couldn't grieve on his own and burdened Rukia with comforting him. Renji returned his attention to the person in front of him. To the world she was a man but to him she was a girl- a woman. Her hair was short and she wore clothes fitting of a man but her frame- her small face, large eyes and small, pink lips-
Renji stopped himself.
He clenched his fist tightly. He had two jobs: to be Byakuya's right hand and Rukia's protector. Nothing more.
Afterall, her mind was always filled with the Prince and his whereabouts. He watched her smile amusedly at the toy in her hand. He sighed and adjusted his ponytail.
When the carriage arrived at the manor, Rukia had stepped out before him to be greeted by Hisana. Renji swore the woman grew frailer with every passing year and he had half expected she would have returned to bed rest. Rukia greeted her mother with a bow but was ushered into her mother's arms.
"You should be in bed," Rukia told her mother, pulling away only to have her cheeks pinched ever slightly.
"I'm fine, I wanted some fresh air and I got to see my daugh-"she stopped "- son- I got to see my son after a while."
Rukia smiled sadly and nodded. Hisana looked over her shoulder at Renji. Renji gave a deep bow in greeting.
"Pardon me, lady Hisana, I have a message for lord Byakuya. I must take Rukia with me." He spoke and Hisana nodded, releasing her child. She watched them disappear- her eyes focused on her daughter the entire time.
Hisana smiled warmly, having that child was like a kite breeding a hawk. Despite her status as a commoner when she married Byakuya, Rukia was borne out of their love. She would be even greater than anyone could imagine. Her hawk. She coughed into her fist. She only hoped her body would be kind enough to let her live to see the day. When she eventually calmed, she took a deep breath and headed for her chambers.