Lieutenant's Mayhem

by Mystic Blade

Ruka Kyōraku was happy as the third seat of the seventh squad but once Komamura transfers her as a lieutenant for ninth squad, she finds out it's not all it's cracked up to be when madness and mayhem follow her path. Still, there's a division to rebuild to return the old splendor of the Gotei 13 and shake the foundations of Soul Society itself. (AU, a decade after the Winter War).

46. How To Build A Secret Lair

Music Inspiration: Jack Wall & Sam Hulick- "Vigil"

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How to Build a Secret Lair

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Sajin enjoyed his morning tea, inhaling the clean fresh air from his open window, and completely ignoring the pacing lieutenant in his office. Ruka had dropped by for their weekly brunch to catch up on life and brought an assortment of desserts. By assortment, Sajin meant she had brought five neatly packed boxes that would be impossible to eat between them. She was covert with her gifts and he knew she missed their squad after decades of building a home there. Division nine had now become her home and although Ruka had been initially resistant and wary about the future, it was progressing positively.

"The Oracle freaked my mind, Sajin!" Ruka declared with stunned dismay at being unable to find scientific logic to explain away fake abilities. Nanao had ignored her prattling after they left the place while Rangiku laughed to her curiosities on her future. She had been pretty clear on who she believed her dark knight would be while Ruka had chucked the idea into the deepest trench in the human oceans. Waving her hands in the air, she brushed it through her wavy hair to sigh, "I have no answers to explain it!"

"Many beings exist in our realm - look at me" Sajin reminded her because he was the biggest anomaly among the Gotei 13 forces. Sure, Captain Kurotsuchi would horrify people with his appearance but that was by choice. Underneath the mask, the man was as humanoid as Ruka. As for himself, he came from an ancient species that lived in the farthest outskirts of Rukongai and Elysium.

"Yeah, but you're cool!" she reasoned easily with a wave of her hand and the captain laughed at her normalizing behavior. While others held apprehension and disdain for him, whether in Rukongai or the Seireitei, Ruka had never shied away from him. To her, he was a mysterious being that was better than any human or Soul Society born soul because of his kindness. For a noble to hold him in high regard, even as a teenager, humbled him and he shielded her like a parent.

Sajin cleared his throat loudly and motioned to the chair in front of his desk, pausing her circular strides. Ruka's shoulders sunk to being placed on a time out in the chair but it would help sort her thought process. He would often give her a pen and paper to make sense of her mind but he had stopped reordering the sketchbooks once she left, forwarding the purchased order to Shūhei. The brunette sat neatly in the chair to pay rapt attention and he suggested an answer to her query, "Before the Gotei Forces were formed, even the Seireitei, souls had to find a way to defend themselves from extinction from Hollows. You personify it yourself by not relying on your zanpakutō in fights and souls evolved from that to become shinigami. Who is to say our inhabitants don't carry unique abilities-"

"Anyone living in the Seireitei with spiritual ability has to be under Gotei jurisdiction, Sajin" she interjected with a knowing gleam in her blue eyes because everyone with ability had to be registered. Although her cousins were stationed in the Kido Forces, Takeo and Kenzo were still accounted for in the archives. Soul Society kept track of its gifted souls and a rogue would not be excused from hiding within society where they could pose harm to civilians. The great noble families were notorious for brushing things under rugs and she abhorred it. Jabbing a finger into his desk, she finished matter-of-factly, "Otherwise, they pose a danger to civilians and must be secluded to the Maggot's Nest."

"Now you're sounding like Captain Kuchiki or Feng" he stated with mild amusement to hearing the responsible side of his old subordinate. For all her humorous hijinks, she was scrupulous with the law in order to protect her squad and innocent civilians that could suffer from errors or injustice. She would raise a fuss to being deemed a model shinigami but there was honor in her heart that made him proud as her longest-standing captain.

Ruka shook her head to such an idea because both captains held the law against their chest like holy scripture. Byakuya had recently become more lenient in its interpretation while Suì-Fēng followed it without question. As the decades passed and she grew older, not to mention exposure to the entire realm, Ruka had begun to question its incorporation into society. Furrowing her brow, she crossed her arms to divulge with frankness, "The laws are meant to protect the innocent and maintain balance . . . but sometimes, our laws don't make sense."

"Ruka" Sajin warned because the laws were in place to keep peace and he didn't want seeds of desertion being planted.

"Hear me out" she assured with a faint smile to his parental worry that she had become the next Aizen. She was not focused on conglomerating power at all but more on its fair distribution through society. Sajin hoped she would not be writing protest signs anytime soon to bombard the outside of the Central 46 chambers. His golden eyes met hers to grant her request, stirring a happy giggle from her, and she pointed out, "Nobility has the highest swaying power here and the secretive Central 46 doesn't make matters any better. If a noble breaks the law, a slap on the wrist. If a Rukongai breaks the law- oh, we better send a hit squad to put them in jail for five decades."

"That's not-" he tried to interject to explain the judicial process for crimes but Ruka wasn't having it.

"Come on, Rukongai has horrible representation in the Seireitei and this is coming from a noble" she pointed out shrewdly to allowing nobles to practically prance out of the courtroom to continue living life while Rukongai shinigami were stuck with fees or incarceration. The shinigami were also allowed some lax rules that concerned her, given that Byakuya and Suì-Fēng were about to kill fellow shinigami without a decent claim to self-defense. Again, the noble background didn't slip her mind. Shifting the focus elsewhere, she suggested another angle, "Let's take Rukongai, for example. There is no balance there in the lower districts and Hollows can rampage all they want. Cleaning up Rukongai from its criminal activity and providing a safe district where souls can grow food, eat, learn, and be provided shinigami from their own townships can bring a much better world."

He could see that she was incensed about something and leaned forward to coax gently, "What happened with the Oracle? I won't remind you that adventures with Matsumoto never end well."

The fatherly concern fizzled away her irritation cloud and she crossed her arms to mull over the answer. She had not told anyone about the woman's advice on her future, focusing on the silly romance to block out that portion. Her life had not flourished the way she had imagined as a new officer and could see rookie Ruka kicking rocks out of disappointment. Shrugging lightly, she came clean with the truth to reveal, "She told me to continue my dream to bridge the world but in order to do that. . ."

"You would need to become a captain" Sajin finished simply to adding more sway in decisions that could lead to the improvement of society. Unfortunately, his little bird was greatly reluctant to step into the big field of captains and flew quietly under the lower ranks. That was the downside that kept her from pushing forth her research to prove her potential.

As expected, she shook her head vehemently and refused, "Sajin, I can't."

He was not going to hear another dozen excuses because he had likely heard them all by this point. She needed a push past her current plateau to reach her maximum potential. Like himself during his younger days, there was fear of the unknown and she preferred staying in the shadows to tinker to her heart's content. There was also a hint of her first captain in her by the staunch nature to stick to the seventh squad but duty called her to serve a greater purpose. Like Urahara, she had a bright mind and a kinder heart than Kurotsuchi. Clasping his hands together over the desk, he spoke earnestly to alleviate her hesitation, "There's a point in our lives where we have to stop running. Don't let the fear of failure consume you, control it to your benefit. I was very much like you, worrying over what others would think and whether I would be good enough, but in the end- your merit will shine through."

"I want to stay out of the spotlight because it keeps me safe" Ruka mumbled sheepishly to being scrutinized from head to toe by the captains. Sure, she had friends in their ranks but impartiality was critical to avoid clouding one's judgment. She didn't see herself ranking halfway in their strength or leadership.

She rubbed her hands together out of anxiety to working through her personal issues but she trusted her ex-captain. He had watched her grow for decades, treated her with kindness, and became her adoptive father/mentor figure. Plus, he knew how to keep a secret. He decided to steer the conversation in another direction by asking, "True, but what of the people who need you for that same safety? Will you fail them?"

"I haven't been lieutenant for a year" she pointed out hastily because trying to seek a promotion within a short time span was too ambitious. Not to mention, insane! Being lieutenant under Captain Hisagi fell perfectly in line with her personality since they tackled their workload methodically as an efficient team. They respected the power of their zanpakutō and tried not to really on it for every fight, prioritizing strategy over brute force. She was learning as much from her new division as she did with Captain Komamura's and she squirmed in her seat to squeak, "It's way too soon to take a bite of the big chocolate Chappy in the sky!"

Sajin, however, believed she was long overdue for her current position and kept concealing it. Scratch that, him and several other captains, which had been over a few decades ago. She did not accept position offerings to other squad lieutenancies but when every seat filled except one, seniority and skill won. That, and Captain Kuchiki finally gave her the figurative kick she needed in a promotion letter. The next road would not happen in an instant and he advised calmly, "What you're dreaming of achieving is big, Ruka. It doesn't need to be all at once but baby steps."

"My dream is to have my research improve the world" she murmured weakly because power and responsibility weren't appealing. Much like her uncle, she liked being casual about everyday life and being stress-free. As a captain, she would have to worry about assignments, missions, training, paychecks, the dreaded budget, new hires, housekeeping, landscaping, food- oh my, how did her uncle deal with all that?!

Oh, right, Nanao, she thought to the number one asset in his division because she took diligent care of his paperwork. I'm gonna need a really good Nanao 2.0!

He saw that he was losing her when a glossy look crossed her eyes and he snapped his fingers. She blinked quickly to refocus, groaning into her hands, and he pointed out, "You're a shinigami, you swore an oath to protect our realm and all of its people fall under that. Your passions lie in science and nobody is taking that away but what about your other talents? Will you forsake and hide them or use them to help people?"

Ruka increased the volume of her dejected groan with dread for assuming more responsibility and he admitted quietly, "I don't meet many nobles like you, Ruka, and as a soul that lived outside the Seireitei, I would have felt humbled that someone cared whether I had food or a roof over my head. You carry a different spark in your eyes and I am proud of the woman you've become. Others would have run from me but you've always treated me kindly."

His wise advice brought a heavyweight to her heart and a lump formed in her throat to hearing of his past. She was uncertain of the future because she preferred going unnoticed and not having to bear monumental responsibility. However, she wasn't keen on abandoning people that she could help and an innate part of her soul fought against being idle. Despite her emotional trauma, she was fortunate in having food, shelter, and safety in the Kyōraku estate. The somber stories of the Rukongai born like Shūhei, Sajin, Hisana, Rukia, and Rangiku were enough to shift her empathetic thinking into useful productivity.

Breathing in deeply, she picked up her imaginary big girl pants and nodded to agree solemnly, "I have to revitalize the Rukongai districts. Once I have completed the implementation of the commando team, it will be my focus. If not to make a better world, a kinder one."

"You're a guardian, Ruka, it's been in your blood for generations" he chuckled warmly to her future potential because her family already held high ranks in the Gotei Forces. They did not seek prestige or power but rather, maintaining a balance and keeping to their duty. Captain Kyōraku could have chosen any other captain after she left the thirteenth division but placed trust in him to protect his niece. What other noble would have done that? They had been the first to invite him to an estate for meals, but he had been embarrassed on showing his true appearance there. He had underestimated the laidback nature of the Kyōraku and when he finally agreed, cherished their friendliness when they failed to flinch at the sight of him.

Ruka prodded the center of her chest with her index finger in disapproval to her fate. A second later, she ran her fingers through her hair to dissipate the melancholic mood. That wouldn't do anyone any good. Sajin let her be, aware of her quirks to liven herself up, and instructed her on the next steps of her journey, "You must be discreet in learning the skills of a captain."

"Why do you say that?" she asked cautiously, wondering if that would be granting her a target sign on her back.

His revelation, however, went on a different spectrum when he pointed out lightheartedly, "Because you inadvertently gave away your bankai achievement."

"Crap!" she blurted with dismay, blue eyes widening to their fullest, but she quickly shifted into awkward laughter to spin a bluff, "I meant, darn it! How dare I try to act like I can do better? Did I forget it takes decades to achieve?"

"Ruka, I've known you for a very long time" he explained flatly to nip her spinning tale in the bud and she slumped in her seat, hanging her head in defeat. As a captain, he could gauge the levels of experience in shinigami and it had been half a century since she started holding back on her abilities. He had kept an eye on the progress of her and Iba through the years and by giving her covert lieutenant-grade missions (with technological supervision), she had handled them well. He would never pressure her to be anything she didn't want to be and smiled kindly, "Nothing eludes me about you."

"Thanks, Sajin" she smiled sheepishly to her number one supporter and broke fraternization code by jumping from her seat to hug him. Sajin simply sighed under his breath while she clung to his neck because standing upright, she could barely grasp his elbow. She considered herself lucky for having a mentor to keep her grounded and stated easily, "I didn't run from your unmasked self because I already knew your heart. I felt your energy the moment we met and it was one of friendly radiance and sympathy."

The defection of his old friend dealt a blow to his confidence and she had targeted them for elimination after Aizen injured her captain. She had seen her best friend and father figure under medical care on the field, shattering the stable ground she built after the last trauma. Her blue gaze turned stern as she locked gazes with him and she pointed out, "After Tosen's defection, it became wilted with resentment and confusion. I never want to see my captain go through that again or see you risk your life in a futile effort."

"I would risk my life for my subordinates and friends, just like I know you would do" he spoke earnestly about his principles in protecting comrades and duty on the battlefield. The cycle of death was inevitable but he would do his best to ensure it didn't leave unneeded casualties.

"If I do become a captain one day, you have to promise to stick with me" she declared firmly to make a pact and avoid the possibility of losing him again. He had always watched her back on the battlefield and she would return the same for life, regardless of what division she was in. She swung against him like a pendulum to instill with a frown on her lips, "No blind vengeance, suicide missions, or crazy heroics."

"Ruka" he lectured gently with an amused smile because she barely budged him. How he found himself having a little noble as an unofficial child was an unanswered question only known by the Soul King. Still, he counted himself lucky for the rare opportunity.

"I told you their souls were numb and frigid" she whispered sneakily to the aura they gave off when in her vicinity. Unlike her grandmother, she didn't need to touch anyone and a mere brush of their presence set off her alarms to their internal emotions. She didn't have the ability to interpret pieces of short-term memories like her, but a soul could be read in other ways. Or maybe she would grow into it? After all, her grandmother had lived for millennia. Ruka shuddered visibly as she held onto her ex-captain and frowned with distaste, "Ichimaru's made me itch for days, it was weird."

"It is a unique ability" he agreed with a sympathetic smile to her humorous pouting and crossed his fingers to remind her of his promise. She had placed her immense trust in him and he would never break it.

---

Later that evening, Ruka found herself being summoned by her oldest friend and she hoped that there was not an inbound lecture. The recent weeks had brought a relaxed ambiance between them that she almost wondered if her best friend had been replaced. His collected but random outburst at the café had been humorous enough but they had quietly brushed it under a rug and thrown it into a cellar. Captain Östberg had left her team with homework and her captain wondered if they were back in school instead of training. He was a theoretical type of teacher and after training in the dome, he would provide them with educational packets for them to study for the following day. Compared to Ryo, Ruka found her friend as kind as a peach for the break because being set on fire three times a week wasn't healthy for anyone.

When she was instructed to follow him into the Seireitei and received no clue to where she was going, she wondered if he was about to unveil a joint mission. While he was focused on keeping the Seireitei neat and tidy, her brain was wandering to Rukongai. Instead, she found herself entering one of the civilian plazas by the northern gate with people wandering about. Was he taking her to the scene of a crime or shopping?

Her eyes became wider by the minute when they entered a shop dedicated to animals and saw nobody lying in bloody heaps on the floor. What the hell was going on? Byakuya, as always, was tightlipped about anything and simply closed the door behind her. Oh no, was she about to be hauled away into a secret room and be carted off into the unknown? Or worse, fed to the animals in the store?

"What are we doing here?" she asked hesitantly, boggled with confusion, and slowly walked down the aisle where fish aquariums lined the wall. They were both keepers of animals on their estates but neither had opted to add new ones. At least, she hadn't. Snapping her fingers, she hoped for a clue by suggesting, "New Hell Butterflies? More carp for your ponds?"

He frowned slightly at his dwindling fish in the ponds, hating the reminder, and stated tightly, "No, I'm going to solve that issue rather than waste more money."

"You can't keep using the old carp excuse when you wish to back out of missions" she teased impishly and earned a glare for the jab at his work ethic. It wasn't meant to find fault in him because she would do her best to keep her birds, turtles, swans, and all the other critters of her gardens safe. Byakuya, however, focused on his fish alone to match her swan dedication and she laughed aloud, "I heard you stuck poor Captain Hitsugaya with watch duty in the human world for your carp problem. Low blow, Kuchiki."

"I would not refuse a mission unless it is vital or I have a personal emergency" he stated sharply to dissipate any negative light on his work ethic. He was not a fan of the human world unless he absolutely needed to go and back then, he had been the first to be given leave with his excuse. Plus, he had accrued enough hours of paid time off to do so. Ruka was not convinced in the slightest, keeping a poker face against him, and he frowned slightly, "Don't do that, your lack of blinking unnerves me."

"Don't be silly" she laughed, shooting him a raspberry, and glanced around the store. It was mainly fish-oriented from what she saw lined against the walls and the shelves stocking supplies also geared towards that type. Now, she was incredibly curious as to why he brought her there and hoped it wasn't a covert 'you'll swim with the fishes' joke. Placing her hands on her hips, she smiled widely to ask, "So what's our mission here, bestie?"

He motioned for her to follow him further inside, amused by her tentative slow steps, and noticed her eyes were flicking between him and the walls. Her mind was undoubtedly firing off a dozen questions and he would not keep her in the dark anymore. Otherwise, she might bolt and head for the nearest café. Meeting her confused gaze, he revealed the reason for their impromptu trip, "I've noticed that you have a fish tank since arriving. . .with nothing inside."

Ruka shrugged noncommittally but her cheeks blushed faintly to her odd habits. He wasn't judging her at all, finding her quirks amusing and dare he say- endearing. She found interest in the simplest of things which was a trait that failed to leave her. Her shoulders slumped sheepishly as she crossed her arms, turning her head away to murmur modestly, "It has tank decorations, that's just as good. I mean, if you call colorful stones and a plastic castle decent decoration."

"It's time you had an actual one" he pointed out with sympathy to her low-key nature and she blinked awkwardly. Lost to his meaning, Byakuya found it entertaining that he was the one piecing the puzzle together for her this time. Releasing a small sigh from his lips, he answered flatly to her unasked question, "Fish, Ruka."

"Oh, it can be used like a terrarium too and whatnot" she muttered sheepishly and ran a hand through her hair nervously. She hadn't been given a gift in a long while and didn't know how to reply. Gifts between noble families had fancy cards and a dramatic speech attached. She hated that crap!

Why was he not surprised that she would use something unconventionally? Being the honest friend that he was, he reminded her of their longevity, "Lizards can escape if you're not careful."

"I didn't even think about a reptile!" she gasped with delight but she wasn't a fan of lizards. Turtles, yes, but not the former. Byakuya hoped she wouldn't be walking out with an aggressive lizard or a spider of all creatures. Ruka wrung her hands together, a nervous smile touching her lips, before admitting, "I don't know much about fish. I've deferred to you for answers with the fish at my parents' home."

"Pick whatever fish you like and I will help you" he promised to assist her and headed further inside with her trailing behind shyly. She had not expected this to happen at all and tried to lower her thudding heart. Why couldn't he have picked a vase or something? That poor fish would depend on her at work like the swans at home. Byakuya held back a smile at noticing Ruka lingering by the end of the aisle and he encouraged her onwards, "Consider it your gift for creating a new unit."

Ruka mostly turned red in unexpected social situations but sudden gifts earned the same. Receiving them from him sent that modesty through the roof. For a moment, he considered that she had gotten an acute case of hives until she finally stammered, "No, I, um, that's, uh, I . . .I . . ."

For all the souvenirs and gifts that she had given him, any from his end flustered her. Accustomed to that aspect of Ruka, he drew her forward with his hand between her shoulder blades. Her blushing face turned from rosy pink to cherry red again to the physical contact. Curse her feminine heart and the warmth seeping from his firm hand. She hoped nobody would see her embarrassing reaction and babbled nervously, "You don't need to, my stones are pretty and I'm sure the castle doesn't need fish poking at it-"

"Will you allow me or anyone to buy you a gift in return for everything you've hauled over?" he interjected to combat her logic with his own facts and watched her pout for being right. She had always brought gifts for him whenever she returned from abroad and declined any from his end. Of course, he usually sent them to her estate with a servant to return the kind gesture and maintain tradition.

She conceded to his reasoning, trying not to groan at being defeated once more in their verbal chase game. It came from a good place in his heart, even if he wasn't vocal about it, and she smiled faintly, "Thank you."

Curious about the numerous tanks surrounding them, she smiled widely to the variety of aquarium life. Was this the indoor version of where he shopped for his fancy fishes? He would not have brought her here if the place were subpar and tried not to think of the price tag on one fish. Unfortunately, she couldn't help her instinct and before her blue eyes glanced down to find a price tag, he cleared his throat to emphasize against said action. He motioned with his hand to follow and he led her to the brighter assortment of fish, knowing her affinity for color.

He already had a few in mind to show her that would be easy to care for and handle longevity. Ruka became attached to all her pets so he would find one that didn't have a short lifespan. Each wooden aisle that held the tanks had information pamphlets stocked at each end to correlate to their displayed fish to inform potential owners of their new friend. He picked out four for her to peruse over and while most people frowned at him for making them learn, she grabbed them eagerly to open them. Her eyes darted over each line of script with a speed that surpassed him and before he could offer suggestions, she closed them neatly to grin, "I want this one!"

She pointed to a small bluefish at the center of the aisle, walking over to watch it zigzag across its tank with a peppy smile. He had given her the choices of a blue glass guppy, an Angelfish, a Neon tetra, and a Wakin goldfish, to avoid accidentally killing them. The color and petite size of the blue glass guppy appealed to her and she smiled with success to finding her new friend. She was almost tempted to put her hands on the tank to peer at it until a huge sign that read 'no touching' stopped her.

Byakuya, on the other hand, was baffled by her impulse choice. He didn't even get to say anything about them! His pro and con list had been created in vain! He had pegged her apparent favorite as the backup option and supplied to have her reconsider, "Not the Neon tetra?"

"Look at the huge blue fin!" she exclaimed with awe to the pretty little fish that would liven up her office. Buying a fish wasn't as bad as she originally thought. Although, her friend looked like he had swallowed a lemon. She figured his choice had been the tetra and her gaze was swept towards a speckled fish above her chosen one. Pointing to the higher tank, she called out to him, "Oh, what about this pearl gouramis?"

"Not until you level up on fishkeeping" he answered flatly because he was starting her off at the beginner's level. You didn't give automatic shikai to a student but started them off in the basics. Ruka pouted to being denied a prettier fish but shrugged a second later- a fish was a fish friend!

"Can I get my guppy a friend?" she compromised to modify her new gift and flashed him an innocent smile. Byakuya tried not to deadpan to her sneaky attempt to leave the store with multiple new friends. However, that was often the case with her. It was exactly why he had chosen the specific fish in case she had buyer's remorse for not giving the fish a companion. The smile turned into a pout when it failed to work to draw warmth from his dull eyes and she pointed to the fish tank full of fish to reason, "They'll be lonely in my tank."

"What happened to not being ready for one fish?" he questioned swiftly to her initial reluctance because he had to budge her to get her moving. She had switched out of that modest demeanor rather quickly and he blamed the colorful fish.

"They're pretty" she shot back to being caught in her web of scoring another free fish and her cheeks flushed pink. When she tagged along for a shopping trip with him, he was the one calling the shots- even when she was purchasing her own stuff. She still remembered throwing paint swatch cards at him when she decided to redecorate her own bathroom. Crossing her arms, she played her best card on the table and pointed out, "Besides, I thought I could choose whatever I wanted?"

Byakuya straightened his shoulders to accept her words with great reluctance. After all, he had decided to do this so he only had himself to blame. Why his heart decided to start beating for the feisty brunette boggled him. It had already turned out horribly but apparently, his heart enjoyed walking straight into a line of active fire. He reached inside the top layer of his uniform to mutter quietly to agree with her demand, "Fine, let me grab my wallet."

She tapped her hands happily to avoid clapping and accidentally losing her new fish friends. One never knew where they would land based on Byakuya's mood. With a perky kick in her step, she followed him to the front of the store to finalize the purchase. While she was excited about the new pets, he warned her quickly when passing the other tanks, "Do not turn into Matsumoto before we reach the checkout line."

Rolling her eyes to her drama llama, she kept her promise and stared straight ahead at the entrance. It was only when he pulled the back of her neckline that she stopped in her steps and turned to him. Flashing him a thumbs up, she maintained the compliant attitude he wanted for the sake of the fish. Byakuya tried to ignore her peppy mood to maintain his stoicism, displaying a clear night and day duo to the poor cashier. He instructed them on the four new fish that would be hers and when he was informed that tetras preferred more companions for contentment, he fell prey to Ruka's gentle nudging to his right arm. He expected to walk out with one fish, not ten!

You did pick the tetra, Senbonzakura reminded flatly of his choice because one fish would not satisfy Ruka. Unless the species preferred being solitary, she would grant them friends.

"Make sure the tetras are all one gender" he ordered coldly to avoid uncontrolled repopulation in her tank. The cashier nodded hastily to the noble's order, already aware of the man's status and shopping habits. Ruka did not help his mood when she formed her hands into a heart and smiled happily. Damn it, why did she affect him with silence as well? With great reluctance, he finished the order with thinned lips, "I also need a month's supply of food, a water filter for a 20-gallon tank, temperature regulation, water conditioner, vacuum, and lighting."

Ruka's eyes were wide to the bundle of supplies and sheepish embarrassment hit to his precise ordering. She really didn't know much about fish in comparison to him. Her attention was seized by his black wallet (why was everything black recently?) and she squinted to ask bluntly, "That's your wallet?"

"Yes, why?" he asked hesitantly to the unexpected remark and easily handed the man their total sum in cash. Ruka felt her Chappy wallet grow tinier inside her pocket since she used the newly fashioned bank cards for her purchases. It was less to carry and decreased the chance of a random mugging. Her friend apparently swagged with his money and a powerful bankai to kill an entire city if someone dared to rob him.

"What happened to the one I bought you for your birthday?" she retorted to unleash her fury for having one of her own gifts discarded while he was buying her one. The irony was shameful. She had bought him a nice wallet after perusing through numerous catalogs and still remembered that he promised to use it! For once, she had clicked her feet happily that it wouldn't be placed in a drawer somewhere to be forgotten and gather dust. What else was he lying about?

Byakuya realized he was caught in a sticky situation where an incensed Ruka and glass were nearby. The cashier was quick to finish the transaction, sliding his change across the counter, and running away to fetch their new purchase. Dropping his cold front with the privacy at the counter, he whispered quickly, "Can we please not do this here?"

"It cost over 200,000 kan!" she exclaimed indignantly for splurging on something nice and realizing that her friend didn't care for it. When had she ever tossed out his gifts? She had been grateful for any, just like her grandmother taught her to be, and returned the same kindness. Why, she ought to smack him silly!

"It was navy" he stated coolly with distaste to the choice in color and she grasped at her hair because both wallets were dark colors. By the way he made it sound, she might as well have gotten him a leopard print wallet! She thought it was a complementing color to his features but apparently, she was wrong.

She pointed at his face to remind him matter-of-factly with a waving arm, "It matched your eyes! You said you loved it!"

"I was being polite?" he offered halfheartedly to accepting the gift out of respect and instead of seeing her calm, the tips of her ears matched her flushed cheeks. Oh no, he had enraged the gentle swan into a full-blown angry Canadian goose. He gracefully dove behind the nearest aisle when she grabbed a plastic container of fish food from the counter and hurled it towards his head.

Stomping her foot with frustration, she hollered with a threat from her spot at the empty register, "I should teach you to appreciate my gifts- Yoruichi style!"

(Flashback)

Ruka had been present at her old mentor's birthday lunch last year and had dropped off her gift. The scientist, however, had forgotten about his cake (which Orihime had kindly baked) to play with his best friend's gift. Ichigo deadpanned to seeing Soul Society's smartest man fall prey to a magic 8-ball and he had abandoned the party for his gift. He almost resembled a child and Yoruichi told the gathered group to dig into the cake, which promptly led to half of them fighting for the closest bathroom. Ruka had decided to deposit the acidic cake into the nearest potted plant before chugging down a can of soda.

It was only an hour later that the blond scientist returned to the party to frantically search the main foyer for something unknown. Ruka tried not to turn red when he unpotted the plant in his investigation before moving on to the pillows everyone sat on. Before Ichigo could demand what the hell was wrong, Yoruichi entered the room with a leisurely pace. She zoned in on her frantic friend to ask with deathly calm, "Kisuke, where's your birthday gift?"

"Oh god, no" he sighed with embarrassed horror to what awaited him and shook his head.

She pulled out a small wooden paddle from behind her back and grinned manically, gently smacking her opposite palm. While Kisuke's human friends wondered what the hell they stepped into, Ruka's eyes widened with curiosity. The flash-step goddess grinned to her victory at his birthday expense to state confidently, "That's what I thought."

(End)

"A paddle?" Byakuya shot back with disturbing confusion as to what kind of birthday party she had gone to. Unlike her, he preferred to ignore that realm and the duo altogether. Furrowing his brow, he tried to figure out why the woman had a paddle in the first place and called over, "Why would she- oh."

He dared to risk exposure to his face by peeking over the side of the aisle to glare at her, replying coldly, "Don't you dare."

---

"I will say I'm relieved you didn't walk out with a lizard" he admitted with silent relief to their completed trip and peered at their completed project. When it came to his hobbies, he knew how to assemble everything perfectly and Ruka learned from him. He was almost amused to seeing her scribble down notes but he would check in on her new friends to make sure his purchase didn't perish in a week. Crossing his arms, he gave her a sidelong gaze to comment dryly, "Not to mention, leaving without being escorted out by security."

Ruka watched her new fish swim happily in their new home, clasping her hands happily that nobody tried to pick a fight. It was perfectly splendid! The day had gone rather fast but she had enjoyed her unscheduled trip outside of work. Peering over her shoulder, she shot back with a sly grin, "And you without a sore derriere."

"A what?" he asked confused about her jargon and she playfully slapped the top of her butt with a laugh. Her leaning over the tank with her backside facing him did not help the image discard easily either. Averting his gaze to the ceiling, he tried to erase the entire minute that passed from his memory. Not wanting to let her slide with impropriety, he chastised her behavior nonetheless, "Stop it."

"You'd have the finest ass in Soul Society" she reasoned with a perky grin and he sighed mentally in relief when she stood upright. He did not need to stare at her backside, especially when it blocked the view of the fish. Yes, the fish was the only thing he needed to see- nothing more. Her words threatened a twitch on his face despite how many times he heard praises from the opposite sex.

"I will not dignify that with a response" he stated coolly to keep his spotless image intact and avoid delving deeper into that. Another question did sprout to mind and he wondered if someone else held the top spot in her eyes? He was still coming to terms with the return of his unsolved feelings for Ruka and blamed the accursed oracle entirely! Senbonzakura wasn't holding his breath on that being the break in the pensive dam of his wielder's love life. Focusing his mind elsewhere, he asked with curiosity about one thing, "Did Urahara ever find the gift?"

A cocky grin crossed her lips to the drama that came from an ordinary party and answered, "Yeah, turns out she took the 8-ball to teach him a lesson on vigilance."

"Dreadful werecat" he muttered bitterly to the horrors that Shihoin unleashed upon him but Ruka paid him no mind. She was still rowing the boat that bet being embarrassed by his childhood crush ruined his blossoming image. Besides, who didn't have a crush on the gorgeous woman?

She startled him from his chronic pouting by grabbing his right arm to gush excitedly, "They're eating and exploring!"

Ruka had never kept indoor fish or any indoor pet due to her wandering lifestyle abroad. The pets that she did have were kept in either Byakuya's or her family estate since she had always been away. There was a joy to her new fish friends but they also signified her new life in the Seireitei. They were a sign that she was stationed at home for the long run and it didn't strike resentment or fear anymore. During the first month, she sought to escape mentally or by hiding in the seventh division. Now, she stayed in her office until her clock ticked that her hours were finished. Even then, she would share meals with her subordinates and had catered food brought in when their quarterly reports were finalized. Her blue eyes widened with glee when the pretty blue guppy entered her single decoration and she beamed, "Look! Look! It went into the castle!"

He had never seen her excited for something as simple as fish but then again, she carried the same infectious attitude in childhood. Nothing had fazed her then and he was glad to see her happy now that she was home. They did not have the best early childhoods and although she tried to shield him from pain growing up, he knew she kept her own bottled. She didn't cry anymore like she did then but her awkward laughter and evasive demeanor always told him something was amiss. Today, however, she was happy and in turn, it stirred the same in his heart.

"Thank you for the gift!" she laughed giddily to loving her new fishes and pulled his arm closer to hug it with both arms this time. He was not a hugger by nature but she had worked her hardest at desensitizing him to it. She was rewarded by not being flicked away and raised her head to meet his gaze with an apology, "I'm sorry I yelled. It's unbecoming of a lady."

He accepted the affection with delighted surprise to the latter words and wondered if he heard right. Was she heeding his advice for the first time? Had the fish transformed her personality? She was stubborn when prodded with expectation but when he let her be, she managed to impress him. Her work as a lieutenant had been spotless so far, aside from her playful pranks, and he remarked simply, "You've earned a new friend."

"I guess the fish really are a 'hey, you're responsible for us now so you have to be at work every day' alarm" she mused with a soft smile to her new friends that would share her office space. They depended on her for continuing existence and she would not fail them. Her eyes widened a second later with alarm and she blurted, "What if I have a mission and have to be away-"

"I can feed your fish" he interjected to assure her they wouldn't perish because a simple detour on the way home was easy. He wouldn't be callous to let her pets die and even if she accidentally locked the office, he would figure out a way to feed them.

"Not the best way to enforce responsibility, Kuchiki" she teased with an amused laugh and pumped her fist into the air to declare, "I must take care of what is mine."

"As reluctant as I am to admit, you cause mayhem while still maintaining responsibility within the law" he muttered with a small frown to her uncanny ability and she grinned with pride to his conundrum. While he followed the law to perfection, she prodded its lines and pushed its boundaries. He was trying to conform to her way of thinking to become more reasonable in exacting justice but remarked flatly, "It baffles and annoys me."

"Aw, shucks" she smiled cheekily at the compliment because not many people could do that. He was highly intelligent and could crack cases in a week while others were still gathering clues. She would be lying if she said that type of intelligence didn't attract her but she stuffed her girlish hormones into the darkest pit in her mind. Placing her hands on her hips, she teased him, "Yet, here I thought you enjoyed the challenge."

"Don't tempt me to vocalize more than I should" he muttered with reluctance to her infectious expressions. He could be a block of ice to everyone but Ruka managed to chisel it away with mere words and a playful smile.

"Your secrets are safe with me, sir" she promised with a wink and pretended her hands were a book to close her palms together. To him, it resembled a closing door more than anything but the meaning crossed over. He did agree with her claim because she had never slipped a secret of his to anybody.

Her captain approached her open doorway with an inquisitive look to seeing her there after hours. He had been on his way back to his own office when he noticed the light and Ruka waved him inside, "Evening, Cap."

Byakuya aimed a flat stare to remind her of proper greetings to a superior but Shūhei didn't care. Frankly, he was more curious as to why the two were there after their shifts had ended. He appreciated the open friendliness of his lieutenant as she offered a nearby chair and he remarked, "I thought you were gone for the night."

"Captain Kuchiki gave me fishes so I have office children now" she grinned proudly to her new aquarium, pointing it out with glee to her captain, and Byakuya shot her a sharper glare this time for her wording. He didn't want people to think he gave random gifts to new lieutenants, especially his friend. That would spell a huge conflict of interest but he had done it as a civilian rather than a captain. Great, his roles were blurring when it came to Ruka. The petite brunette fired off her own protective glare and claimed defiantly, "If I care for them and pay for them to live, they're my babies."

Her friend decided to exit at this time to avoid more madness but she grasped the back of his haori to keep him budged in place. Shūhei was certain that if any other officer committed such a thing, they would no longer have a hand. He was even more surprised when the other captain stayed in place with a furrowed brow of annoyance. Ruka was oblivious to it as she turned her attention to him and asked with concern, "Wait, why are you still here at this hour? Are you working? Is that chicken soup I smell on you? Did you buy cheap pre-packaged ramen again?"

This time, Byakuya grabbed the back of her uniform to keep her locked in place when she attempted to sniff her captain. It appeared that he had a few more pieces of advice to discuss with her in private. He hoped she hadn't picked that trait from Captain Komamura. Her captain chuckled awkwardly to being caught in his after-hours activity and he explained with embarrassment, "I have a few more papers to finish for this year's third quarter. Then I have homework . . . why is that so weird to say?"

"Give 'em here, your LT will take care of it" she ordered simply and motioned with her right hand to take over the paperwork. He hesitated on handing over the folder because on one side, it would help but on the other, he didn't want to lose face in front of another experienced captain. Ruka, however, was insistent on helping out her superior and assured, "C'mon, it's about time you had a night off."

A night off where he wasn't being surrounded by stacks of paper did sound amazing. Although he wasn't part of their division, Byakuya nodded to him for her to receive the files. Ruka clapped with glee for paperwork of all things, earning a shared look of confusion from both captains. Shūhei appreciated the silent help from Captain Kuchiki, a rare instance, and he handed over the brown folder to her. Ruka grasped it with glee, sizing its thickness with her fingers to estimate a completion time, and she grinned, "Besides, I can sneak you the answers come morning. I did it all the time with Captain Kuchiki."

Shūhei tried to get in a word to say otherwise but she pointed to the doorway to kindly shoo him out. He often forgot that despite being her superior, she was the elder one. For Ruka, she didn't want him to burnout before his first year as captain was over. He was a good man with a sense of justice that resembled hers and he sighed with appreciation, "Thanks, Kyōraku."

Like an older sister, she shooed him out of her office with the promise that they would be on his desk tomorrow morning. Their mountain of paperwork that had stacked up during their first months was gone but every quarter, a new one would sprout. She didn't mind helping and it would also allow her to delve into the paperwork for captains. Slow and steady won the race, after all.

"That was kind of you" Byakuya remarked to her selfless traits because she had tried doing the same with him. Unfortunately, he was a stickler for the rules then and brushed her off to do his work alone. He didn't trust those dexterous fingers to not add something unexpected to his paperwork. The recent month had brought a new appreciation for her clerical skills and he muttered, "I wish my lieutenant had the same initiative."

Ruka shot him an amused look, leaning against her desk before pointing out, "He does but you likely wouldn't trust him without micromanagement."

"A valid point" he conceded on that matter because he simply didn't trust anyone but himself with important paperwork. If anyone made an error, he would regret placing that responsibility on them and decided to tackle everything himself. Was that why Taro and Renji scattered every time he asked for their paperwork? He could only wonder how his division would be if Ruka had accepted the lieutenancy years ago but she had declined. More than likely, their paperwork would be spotless but his office would have scorch marks.

"I'm going to work on these at your estate, it's quieter than my barrack, and uncle is hosting a party" she informed him flatly because those parties were raging drink-a-thons more than anything. She didn't mind the music but the screaming was awful. For once, she appreciated the silent Kuchiki estate. He was about to remind her that she didn't need to request time since she had her room there. She was free to come and go at any time. Not that he would be telling anyone that outside of his wing. Had he really been blind to his repressed feelings for her? Her voice broke him out of his thoughts when she added in matter-of-factly, "It's still in your wing and the habit of being a good guest dies hard."

"I am surprised you're not flashing your pass" he stated coolly to her usual behavior of strolling into his wing with her laminated card.

She burst into laughter as she checked her drawers to ensure they were locked properly before leaving. Her fish would be safe for the night and they were fed so they could continue their new life. Clutching the folder against her chest, she smirked slyly, "That's only to fluster you when you nag."

His brow furrowed to being called a nagger and he began firmly, "You-"

"Let me order coffee from the Busy Bean for pickup" she interjected to offer a pick me up for the night that even he couldn't resist. With her and Ryo being avid drinkers of coffee, it had not taken long for the other noble to quietly begin picking up his coffee at that franchise. He enjoyed the caffeine for keeping him alert when green tea didn't cut it and had refused any type of decaffeinated versions. His glare power failed to do anything against her grin and she stated dryly, "Don't look at me like that. I know for a fact Ryo converted you to the expressos recently."

"If you must" he muttered airily to politely accept the drink, trying not to give her the point. He and Ryo clashed a lot, mainly on their views on noble propriety, but they had begun an odd relationship around coffee. Whenever he left the estate to grab an order, Ryo would ask him if he wanted anything. Ruka and Rukia had been more than eager to foster a reconnection between the cousins, keeping it in stock around the estate. Ruka grabbed her phone to open the contact list for the number, smiling faintly when she heard, "Thank you."

---

The late hour brought tranquil silence over his grounds of the estate and it gave him mental clarity to think. Being a household with few inhabitants, he didn't expect to come across anyone at all. He approached the southern end of his wing and noticed the glow of active lanterns illuminating the area. In the center of it, Ruka sat cross-legged as she read over papers and bit the end of a writing brush absentmindedly. She wore a light blue yakata rather than her lieutenant's uniform, her hair pinned back neatly in a French twist. He forgot she stored some of her clothes in her room and mentally sighed to the conundrum he placed his heart in. This would not help him concentrate on how to deal with this new situation!

"Ruka, it's late, you should be sleeping" he spoke up quietly, approaching her while she fiddled with the papers.

She blinked at him with surprise that she was caught working in the late hours. The same occurred with him since he was very work-driven, even at home. They had very similar personalities when it came to tackling tasks and she shrugged lightly to brush it off, "I could say the same but I took a short nap when I got home- I mean, here."

He didn't miss the faint blush over her cheeks to the accidental slip of the tongue. His home had been a refuge for her plenty of times and was associated as such for her but she didn't mean to blurt it! How embarrassing. He said nothing of it since it comforted him to hear that as well. Over the years, home had become whatever Gotei she was stationed at and to hear that she familiarized it with his home was heartwarming for him.

Is that a flutter in your heart that I hear?, his zanpakutō teased slyly because the two were rather adorable at night. Without their uniforms, they appeared like ordinary people with one taking a stroll while the other tried to make sense of her papers. The recent revelations of his wielder's affection was still in both their minds and he advised, We must play this very carefully but with charm. Do not ask her out to dinner at this hour because it will be awkward.

My mind space is my own for tonight!, he ordered swiftly to avoid more embarrassing comments. If Ruka heard or saw anything amiss from his end, his image would be ruined. He wanted her to see him as the spotless noble that didn't cave to impulsive whims or blind emotion. He wasn't ready to ask her to dinner in such a manner, still struggling on the guilt he felt for shifting his love away from Hisana to Ruka.

"You should be sleeping too, Captain Lord" she teased softly with the nickname Ryo's sisters gave him and massaged the back of her neck from the hours of writing. She patted the empty spot on the walkway to invite him over and reached inside the room to pull out a zabuton. Dropping it beside her, she played mother swan to another captain by pointing out, "You need your sleep."

"I can handle it" he assured to his life built around routine, managing to survive on little sleep when he needed to. There were nights when he tossed and turned so he was not privy to easy sleep. Sitting down on the offered seat, he sat against the wall beside the doorway to relax against it. It wasn't often that he relaxed outdoors but Ruka pulled him easily into new things.

"I don't doubt it but you can't exhaust yourself" she said worriedly to his no play attitude towards work and aimed a stubborn pout at him. He worried about everything but himself sometimes. It was one reason on why she admired her old friend, but she didn't want his oversight to cost him in health. She had bought him more than just coffee on their way to his estate and they had shared several fruit desserts. Both had refused to even glance at a custard bun in the store which was pitiful for Ruka, who found them delicious. She continued reading the paper in her hands but advised calmly, "You have a lot on your plate and despite your fortitude, you're not eternal."

"I could say the same" he chided gently to her own workaholic nature and flicked the back of her paper. She smiled warmly to his subtlety in joking and lowered the paper back in its open folder.

"Don't lecture me when I'm trying to lecture you" she nagged sarcastically with a soft chuckle, wagging a finger at him for trying to be smart. Byakuya said nothing, his eyes closing to lean against the wall. She was pleased that he felt comfortable enough with her to let his guard down. Their lives were hectic enough as they were and having peace at home should be a given. She scribbled answers for the paper regarding budgetary needs before turning to him and emphasized, "I mean it. I don't want you to get sick or become burnt out from the responsibilities."

Byakuya doubted that would happen anytime soon because he kept a healthy lifestyle, reasoning quietly, "It's been over a decade."

"Don't jinx yourself" she hushed swiftly to his casual egging against life and knocked on the hardwood floor. A little extra luck helped everyone but he didn't believe in it. For him, determination and strong willpower called the shots in life. Ruka, however, would throw her kan into whatever helped and informed her friend sheepishly, "I told the captain I'd handle the papers. . . but I'm a little confused."

His left eye opened slightly to watch her pout at the papers and he remarked simply, "Next time, don't agree-"

"No lectures past ten!" she snapped hastily because she wanted to help her captain while simultaneously learning. If she learned how to do specific paperwork, they could run the division like a well-oiled machine. Byakuya sighed mentally to ending his peace of mind but he wouldn't abandon her. Despite he enjoyed his solitude for replenishing his energy, he also liked his time with her. The humorous pout aimed at him only amused him when she claimed matter-of-factly, "Besties are meant to support, not nag, past bedtime hours."

"I never agreed to that" he stated coolly to her new set of rules and hoped she hadn't created a posterboard about it. She had the arts and crafts supplies to make a glittery one. Last time, it had been a neon type that somehow glowed in the dark.

"You have now" she declared confidently to enforcing her self-made rule and handed over the folder to beckon, "Look at 'em, pretty please?"

"These questions are above your station and should be left for your captain" he stated simply to ensure she stayed out of trouble and wasn't stretching her role thin. She was a lieutenant which left her as the eyes and ears for her captain by overseeing the squads. She couldn't slack on her own work to help others, but she had a tendency to do that. With reluctance, he grabbed her folder to open it up and perused through the papers pertaining to the budget for the last quarter. Lieutenants had an easier form to fill out regarding uniform and barrack supplies while the rest fell on the captain. He wasn't new to the forms at all, finding them boringly tedious, and instructed, "For me, these are the norm but your responsibilities are different."

Her gaze turned downcast as she hit a professional roadblock in her work but his tone softened, "It's not meant as a scolding, Ruka."

She glanced away from the folder to peer in the opposite direction, hiding her disappointment for overstepping her boundaries. He was being nice about it because he would've scolded her otherwise. How was she going to secretly learn about captaincy requirements if she failed at drawing help? Even her best friend was quietly wagging a no-no at her. Crossing her arms, she leaned against the wall beside him and muttered, "It's fine. As the saying goes, 'curiosity kills the cat' and it's not my place."

He didn't want her to withdraw from his words and remembered Ryo's advice about trust. His goal was to have provide a worry-free zone where she could vent or admit anything that she had kept locked away while abroad. The Ruka who had left decades ago had changed from an open go-lucky girl that worried about hurting flies to one who stabbed enemies in their neck and had a penchant for humor. There was potential for her to become a captain- if he trusted that blasted oracle- so he was inclined to assist her. Otherwise, he was discarding her potential. He would not be the type of man to minimize her abilities and crush her hope.

"No, don't hide your concerns from me" he spoke frankly to clear up any misconceptions and her demeanor shifted to uncertainty. He had always been the voice of reason in their friendship and kept his protective bubble over her. If he hoped to show her that she was capable of being more than she currently was, he had to support her. Even when he felt like tearing his hair out. She could place her trust in him for anything and he assured her, "Friends trust each other with any situation."

"I . . . I merely wanted to understand the paperwork that comes alongside the role of a captain" she admitted quietly to her secret notetaking and eyed him suspiciously in case he decided to lecture her anyway. If he gave her an opening to admit something, she would take it in the hope that he could help find her answer. He had held his role of captain for almost a century and she wanted to trust him with her innermost secrets. Glancing down at the papers, she mumbled about her slow-cruising lifestyle, "I've gotten so accustomed to writing research papers and solving calculations that I've forgotten there's many pieces to a division. Sajin would sometimes let me peek in at some of the papers, mostly for the budget portion, but never let me complete any. He's a lot like you with the rules- figures you two would be my mentors."

He accepted the compliment and wanted her to be the same as other shinigami. Was she finally accepting her potential? Or quietly planning for the future? Either way, he would support the little seedling that yearned to secretly blossom among the other plants. He placed the folder between them to provide them both with a perfect view and he met her gaze to ask, "What do you wish to know?"

A spark lit her gaze, brightening the sheepish demeanor away, and she raised her clenched fists to her chest with glee.

---

"Thank you for indulging my brain this late" she spoke softly with a grateful smile that he helped her make sense of the paperwork. There had been no chiding or lectures, simply a polite answer to each of her questions. Who knew her friend could be a great teacher when he wasn't glaring at you. He had made her night by helping her along and she could rest easy in the new knowledge. He was always her hero when she needed him and she smiled widely, "I really appreciate it."

"You desire to learn and I won't keep that from you" he answered evenly because he did respect the aspect of her that clung fiercely to knowledge. It would be wrong to deny her that as both a colleague and friend. She deserved better than that and it made him happy to see her growth as a person. He was certain that there were things she kept from him but trusted her silence on it. Maybe one day, she would divulge that truth and he would help it along by showing her he was on her side. When a cold breeze passed over the porch, he reminded her of the late hour, "We should, however, go to sleep."

With a perky nod, she grabbed her folder to return it to her captain in the morning. She could proudly present the completed work rather than return with failure seeping from every pore. Waving the folder over her head, she grinned with success at her accomplished task and told him, "I'll drop this off early. I have my training class in the morning but I wondered if you'd accompany me to a super duper secret place?"

He had no idea what she was planning on and hoped to the Soul King it wasn't another outing with her smartass friends. His pride still burned to the raunchy joke of him bedding Ruka on their say-so. If he did so, it would be because he loved her . . . and likely marriage. Snapping out of his thoughts, he focused back on Ruka as she tapped her chin to reveal, "I'm almost finished with your request for the Archives."

With the Kuchiki clan being the keepers of history, he had recruited Ruka to construct a new vault for the storage. With her skills in technology, she could modernize the dense information that dated back to the origins of Soul Society. Some of those files were still unread by him as he tried reading one file a day but he was still a young soul and Soul Society had lived for millennia. It would be no easy feat to fill his mind with all that information. He was not familiar with the science heads from abroad and Kurotsuchi had been out of the question for that project. The only person he trusted was also one who delved deeply with science and engineering so he would make his mark as head of clan with her help. Ruka had tackled the job with ease as she took care of the materials, design, layout, and simply handed him the bill.

He was surprised to hear that it was almost complete because her plans were extensive. From their layout, there were at least two levels in the library and the technology to store information had to be intricate. He glanced at her like she had grown an extra set of hands and reminded swiftly, "You said it would take ten years."

"If I was lazy" she chuckled sweetly to his relaxed expression which told her he was surprised to hear it. She always added time to her projects to work out any problems and improve upon the completed work. If she gave a timeline and wasn't finished or produced subpar work, she would be a laughing stock. With this being a project for her best friend, she would guarantee that it resonated through the ages in near perfection. She would not accept anything less for him because he trusted her to produce a valuable asset to his family. Shrugging noncommittally, she informed casually to her abilities, "Turns out I can make a massive underground lair in five. My crew was very efficient and I work fast for my loved ones."

He had already seen the projects she had kept abroad and this would be the first for the Prime Seireitei. Her infectious smile brought curiosity within him to see the finished work and he quickly perused through his mind's schedule. He would not leave his commitment to work on the backburner over his own excitement. Ruka could pull on his willpower to be impulsive sometimes but the new archive wouldn't go anywhere. With work coming first and foremost, he informed her, "I can free my schedule any time after work."

"You have to eat, silly" she chided flatly with a long sigh to his all work and no play mantra. She had half a mind to create a meal planner for him to log in his meals to see whether he actually ate anything besides breakfast and a late-night snack.

"Why? Are we climbing mountains?" he questioned suspiciously to her recommendation of a meal before the trip. Knowing her, she could create the archives in unreachable places. He had been strict about constructing it within distance of the Kuchiki estate to help with maintenance and quick access. His brunette friend scoffed to the suggestion, crossing her arms, and he insisted, "Ruka, please tell me it's not on a mountain."

"No!" she exclaimed indignantly to building it in the middle of nowhere. Now, if it were her archive, yes! Nobody would tread near it. However, her friend had given her precise orders to follow and she had. Disappointing him with her work was not on her agenda but her eyes did brighten to a new idea. Touching her chin, she pondered aloud to the possibility, "Although . . . dare I tangle with transporting matter across distances? Kurotsuchi did it."

Byakuya burst her bubble of research by reminding with a stern tone, "Ruka, one project at a time."

"Fine, but you will meet me for dinner at my office" she ordered snippily to having her dreams thwarted for another night. Before the reveal happened, she would make sure he ate food like a normal soul. Wagging a finger at his trademark frown, she pointed out defensively, "I can't let his lordship faint on my watch. Someone has to care over your stubborn self."

"Ruka" he sighed with dismay to her protectiveness but privately, appreciated the concern. Aside from his sister, she was the only one who would prod him on whether he ate and bring him food. Their outings together had been fun when it was simply the two of them and he would enjoy having dinner with her. Now, if he could figure out how to go about moving forward from his past, he could determine whether asking her on a romantic outing was possible. The brunette refused to budge from her stance, angling her crossed arms to the side for maximum scolding power until he agreed, "That is acceptable."

"Great!" she declared happily with a soft clap of her hands to that win and told him, "I'll order a pizza."

"I refuse to eat with my hands like a peasant" he objected fussily to that particular food but she aimed a glare at him that threatened him not to continue that sentence. He forgot she was a fan of that cuisine while he could live without it. Although, his life alongside Ruka had exposed him to numerous new things and he reluctantly agreed, "Fine. . . can we get the spicy chicken pizza?"

"Anything you want, Buttercup" she agreed warmly with a friendly smile to getting him onboard for a pizza night. Decades ago, he was more furious than a wet cat. He had improved in his food palette but with matters of the heart as well. Honestly, he made her heart skip like a vinyl record and she had half a mind to thump her chest to scold it. Sleep was fogging up her mind and she was looking forward to getting a decent night's sleep. Smiling at him, she bid him farewell, "Night."

Byakuya's eyes widened slightly when her lips pressed against his cheek and another thank you echoed. Wait, was this happening? He hadn't accidentally hit his head on a beam, had he? Recollecting his stoic façade quickly, he turned to her side to find her gone and heard the door to her room slide shut behind him. He swore she was a little sprite at times!

He glanced at the door for a few seconds before releasing the breath he held and turning his gaze towards the obscured gardens. A moment later, his hand rose to touch the area she had kissed to verify it happened and he'd be lying if he said it didn't stir hints of bashfulness. He hadn't felt such flutters to his heart since his days married to Hisana but that time was long gone. He was being silly to even ponder over Ruka's action, knowing how carefree she could be. For all he knew, it was a kiss of happiness. Regardless, the soft kiss twisted his heart in a pleasant way that eluded him for more than half a century. It was an innocent peck on the cheek, but nobody would dare to do as such with him. At least, if they valued existing.

We have the signal to commence charming her!, his zanpakutō burst in with joy to the night's abrupt development. He had been waiting for this moment again because he refused to believe that Ruka didn't hold a spark anymore for his wielder. His wish had been answered and he ordered swiftly, Do not disappoint me, young one. I didn't think I'd see this day for another century or the next life. You have earned your privacy for tonight!

Byakuya was not pleased with the idea he was implying and argued defensively, No, that's not-

A catcall whistled widened his eyes further and he turned to the left to see Ryo leaning against the wooden banister by his family's section. Had he seen the whole thing? How had he not detected his presence? Damn it, Ruka's tiny but significant kiss was already undoing decades of strict environmental vigilance.

"You missed your chance" Ryo remarked in observation to the potential that had been wasted. His cousin was one for proper decorum but that also meant he was tediously slow on acting. After his last relationship with Ruka, he would have hoped he moved faster!

"You're delusional" Byakuya stated coldly, hating to be reminded of what he should or should not do. The matter of Ruka and rekindling what they had was tricky to traverse. He had promised himself that Hisana would be the only woman to be his wife but Ruka held a strong pull out of decades of familiarity. With her being in his vicinity on a daily basis, it was harder to ignore her. Now that he had acknowledged his lingering sentiments, it became frustrating.

Ryo snorted to his stubborn remark and crossed his arms to point out knowingly, "That kiss wasn't."

"She kisses everyone" he reasoned quickly about her friendly behavior with others and affectionate personality. He was likely not the only person she had kissed that day and tried not to be flustered by it. Otherwise, he would give Ryo more ammunition.

"Not me" he quipped smartly because he was not as lucky as his cousin, earning a glare from Byakuya. Ruka was modest with her true affection but Byakuya had been the only man that she had eyes for through the ages. The fact that she took a leap of courage and kissed him, even if it was a soft peck, was encouraging. She hid a lot but her heart was painfully transparent when it came to his cousin.

His eyes narrowed dangerously, daring Ryo to even try it, and he threatened, "I'd kill you if she did."

"Are you hearing yourself talk?" he questioned with a bout of laughter that surprised Byakuya to his change of tone. He had expected a smart-alecky remark, not laughter. He hoped to the Soul King that Ruka wasn't accidentally overhearing any of this. Ryo shook his head to his density when it came to romance but tried the good advice road by saying, "Though I must applaud your sudden disclosure. Open your heart, you big lump of coal."

"Ruka is my friend" he stated evenly to the platonic stance where he and Ruka currently stood. If he dared to meddle with that balance, he was setting himself up for disappointment and humiliation. He would also risk losing his closest friend for his ridiculous emotions.

"Why must she remain your friend only?" Ryo shot back swiftly because trust with someone you already knew was better than starting from scratch. The two already had an intense history that only kept resurfacing in recent years. Both were a lot happier as a couple rather than friends, which they deserved. Leaning against the railing of the walkway, he pointed out easily, "You didn't let that keep you away the first time you dated."

He had no response for that and reluctantly gave Ryo the point for remembering history. There had been apprehension when he summoned up the courage to ask her to be with him. Ruka had been initially shy but once she hugged him with a smile, he knew she was his. Unfortunately, time had not been with them. Luckiness in romance had also not been on his side at all and he stated simply, "It's different now."

Ryo wondered how that was possible because he was widowed and she was alone. There was nothing tying them to other people anymore and although his cousin had been devoted to his wife, he also deserved to be happy. Hisana had been a kind woman from their brief interactions and he doubted she would want him miserable for the rest of his life. Shaking his head, he inquired about his logic and asked, "How? You're both single and growing older than Galapagos tortoises."

Before Byakuya could shoot back an insult, Hale's voice interjected the cousins with excitement, "Ryo, the game system is up and running now! Let's go!"

"Listen to my words or you'll rue this day" he nagged his cousin with a brotherly wag of the finger and reiterated firmly with haste, "Rue the-"

"Ryo! The VR prototype will only last for twenty minutes" Hale interjected to remind him of their current project, which was all about video gaming. Despite being grown men, they did not shy away from escaping reality through games. With his teal-haired friend being an engineering genius, he had tinkered with creating a role-playing game.

"Fine, I'm going" Ryo sighed dejectedly to giving up teasing his cousin for a moment to play games. Both were great options but games would win every time. He shot Byakuya a warning look before jabbing his finger in the direction of Ruka's departure to remind him of what was at stake. Turning around, he shifted into his game mode persona and raised his arms to declare, "Prepare to face my mage rage!"

How is he older than me?, Byakuya thought with dismay at his childish behavior and wondered what went wrong in the gene pool.

Ryo interrupted his train of thought when he hollered from inside his own open hosting room, "Hey Östberg, did Ruka ever kiss you when you two danced in the sheets?"

"Ryo!" Hale screeched with humiliation and his anxiety shot through the roof at being called out on his past romantic exploits. Byakuya's eyes dulled slightly at hearing frantic fumbling from inside and realized that the scientist was of no threat. Any other man that would dare to be with Ruka best be brave or he would kill them automatically. He heard another bang from the other room before another alarmed shout echoed, "Rövhatt, he's right outside!"

"He can't kill you because then he loses Ruka" Ryo assured confidently to the threat level his cousin presented, especially with Ruka nearby. He wouldn't risk ruining his reputation with her.

Byakuya had enough of their idiotic dribble and stood up to return to his own bedroom. How Ruka's bedroom somehow overlapped closer to Ryo's part of the estate flew by his head. Had he missed looking at the schematic layouts recently?

"I don't have a death wish but I do believe Ruka deserves to be happy" Hale voice spoke up behind the noble as he dared to peek over the open doorway. Only his wispy gravity-defying teal hair and silver eyes peered out for safe measure. He was risking his precious brain so hopefully, the other man wouldn't maim him. When the other noble halted in his steps and felt a rise in subdued reiatsu, he quickly corrected hastily, "Not with me! I am simply a passing comet in the space occupied by planet Ruka and although she appears to be the center of attention, she gravitates around something even more precious to her which is the sun. You are her sun and the more you pull away from her, the more her world will wilt."

Byakuya simply departed from the way he came without another word, leaving the two shinigami baffled. Ryo threw up his hands to proclaim to his silent stubbornness, "You see what I deal with?!"

The sixth captain closed the shoji door to his home, sealing it for the night to prevent unwanted guests. At this point, he would ban even Ryo. Heading in the direction of his private bedroom, he tried to ignore the past threatening to resurface. His cousin didn't help at all, neither did Ruka's sudden peck, and the foreign captain's words poked at old memories. Had Ruka told him about their past? She had promised their old relationship would remain private and only close relatives and acquaintances knew of it. Her foreign friends, on the other hand, could be a different story. He highly doubted it based on her fierce hold on privacy and leaned against the door to sigh aloud. His grasp on being neutral with Ruka was failing and that was already with using his stoic means to keep her at bay.

Still, she had always been one to dream about the stars . . .

Ruka's fingers brushed his hair back from his temples and she smiled happily, "You are my moon and stars."

"Not the sun?" he asked quietly with a faint smile, aware he wasn't a ray of sunshine. If anything, she reminded him of it with her endless cheer.

"With your dazzling persona?" she chuckled fondly to his quiet but confident nature to tackle all danger to Soul Society. Her blue eyes glittered mischievously before revealing, "The sun is a star, silly crane. A beautiful one. Your soul shines through the universe like every cherry blossom and with every supernova, you renew the world like every season of the trees."

"Then I must protect the galaxy you inhabit for as long as I can" he promised to protect the most precious person in his life that had earned that privilege.

Pinching the bridge of his nose to hold back the headache of his past with Ruka, he muttered despondently, "This is not good."

---

Ruka had a perk in her step as she led Byakuya to the secret location of the new archives for Soul Society's history. She had brought along Rukia for the ride because if anything happened to her best friend, she trusted her to continue his work. Rukia had no idea what was going on except for the words about a secret library and a plate of leftover pizza that Ruka had given her. Happy for the free pizza, Rukia tagged along behind them while chewing quietly on the spicy chicken pizza. Ruka's voice echoed through the empty estate as she headed south and told them, "In order to design an archive for the Soul Society, I needed a destination that isn't within the Gotei 13 to ensure its protection. With the Kuchiki clan being tasked with protecting history, it should be within reach in a fortified area. It should be off-limits to anyone but the head family and hard to be tracked down without a map in hand."

Her proud peppy voice deflated into flat sarcasm when she pointed out to finish, "Lord Kuchiki, however, wanted an accessible location so it was all scrapped for this everyday path."

"You never mentioned that part" he pointed out shrewdly to being blamed on an accessible path to the archives. He didn't want to become lost or traverse a maze of traps just to reach his own collection of knowledge. Knowing Ruka, her idea could have sent him into the outskirts of Rukongai. Crossing the Seireitei was ten days' worth of walking alone!

"It was hard to do so against your nagging" she chided playfully to his glower power and mad scribbling all over her paper plans. The fact that she had her paper shredder active and he had tossed in the papers had not helped. He wanted an accessible spot for himself and his mini-Kuchiki minions one day so she would provide that. Ignoring her friend's frown and Rukia's snickering behind her chewing, she urged them onwards with a wave of the hand, "It's still a cool hideout, c'mon!"

She led the duo over to the single gazebo she had convinced her friend to construct to add for aesthetics and for scenic viewing. It was in his part of the estate and most people in his family kept away out of his private section of the gardens. This gave her an ideal spot to construct the archives because it was mostly solitary and each ruling head would have access to the fancy secret spot. She removed a clear plastic card with a silver electronic strip to tap it against the right post in the entry of the gazebo. A reading console had been strategically placed and concealed to match the white paint. She handed the card to Byakuya as she huddled them in the center of the gazebo and told him, "That's your access to your new archives. Always keep it with you. Also, make sure you keep your arms at your side as we go down."

Byakuya pocketed the card into his left sleeve before turning to her to clarify, "Down? What-"

The floor beneath them sank and Ruka's eyes widened when both siblings latched onto her shoulders. Oh boy, did nobody like going underground to a secret lair? She patted each of their hands for comfort, especially once they were engulfed by darkness when the cover to their elevator closed over their heads. Byakuya was already having second thoughts but a calm blue light emanated in the strange tube as they descended. Ruka tried not to laugh at their suspicious reactions and she sighed softly, "Guys, it's just an elevator. The archive is underground for space and concealment."

"Why didn't you tell me instead of almost giving me palpitations?" he snapped tightly to being kept in the dark (quite literally this time) and released the brunette. He would never live down his brief moment of uncertainty in a small dark space. Rukia, however, was glad that she finished her snack before the unexpected ride and burned the paper plate with kido. Otherwise, Ruka might also have pitched a fit about vomiting and the cleanup of her new elevator.

"Surprise?" she supplied weakly with a halfhearted smile to being forgetful on that part. How was she supposed to know he wasn't a fan of elevators? They could travel at great speed with shunpo and he was freaking out about the turtle's pace of the elevator. Not that it was slow but compared to mastered shunpo, yes.

She sighed in relief when the elevator stopped to signal the end and a rectangular doorway opened for them to exit. Ushering her little troop out, she guided them forward because the elevator would remain on that level as a failsafe to unwanted guests. Byakuya wasn't entirely impressed with their exit into a cramped hallway, noticing its cold metal when he placed his hand against the wall. What happened to the simplicity of wood in his sketches? Ruka approached the large square door before them that blocked their way inside and her movement activated the sensors. A triangular outline within the door illuminated with aqua and teal lines for an edgy appearance and Ruka grinned to introduce, "Welcome to the Ark, short for the Soul Society Archives."

The lighting from the sealed door illuminated the main entrance, bathing them in its blue light. In the center of the door, a round white sphere glowed brightly with pulsing energy. It eerily reminded Byakuya of a heartbeat with its even rhythm and Ruka placed her hand over the glowing space to request, "Athena, entry request to the Ark."

The floor under her feet glowed brightly in white and an electronic woman's voice greeted gently in reply, "Voice and facial authentication in progress. . ."

The illuminating white light shifted into a vertical sweep of light that extended from the door to Ruka's backside to scan her. She had spared no expense to keep the secrets of Soul Society safe and would not risk anyone jeopardizing his clan's work. There was a massive amount of information that began from the accounts of creation to current times. Hard copies were to be studied and kept protected for his eyes only which is why an electronic copy would suffice for knowledge to others without damage to the originals. She smiled brightly with pride when her virtual assistant echoed back, "Welcome, Kyōraku Ruka."

The triangular door opened in three successive layers to protect the contents inside and the bright lighting dimmed considerably. The tiny space of the hallway opened into a cavernous library and she entered with giddy steps. With a wave of the hand, she motioned for Byakuya to take her old spot to be recognized and catalogued by Athena. He was not a fan of the blinding scan that swept over him and frowned at the bothersome sweeping light. Seconds later, he heard a delighted chirp, "Clan Head Kuchiki Byakuya confirmed. Greetings, my lord."

Ruka giggled into her hand to hearing the inside joke for the first time and told him cheekily, "I programmed her to say that."

Byakuya was reluctantly accepting of it because Ruka had never been one to take his titles lightly. Even now, she rarely uttered his first name unless he was about to get in trouble. Stepping onto the metal floor of the library, he felt dwarfed by its size when he noticed stairs leading to more than one level in ascension. When Rukia passed over the scanning area, Athena's voice shifted into instant wariness, "Unknown signature. Entrance request required from the Kuchiki Clan Head."

Rukia's violet eyes widened in alarm and hoped no lasers were about to shoot out of the walls. With Ruka, anything was possible. Her brunette friend was quick to wave her hands and called out firmly, "Athena, master override. Catalog the signature as Kuchiki Rukia. Gold access for now until Lord Kuchiki changes the settings."

A second later, she dinged with the new addition to the roster and replied, "Yes. Kuchiki Rukia, sister of the 28th clan head- entrance allowed."

Rukia walked inside uncertainly, eyeing the silver walls for sudden movement and wondered if Ruka had a security robot wandering around. The brunette's footsteps echoed lightly over the metal flooring as she reached the end of the walkway that overlooked the first level of the archives. Sleek rectangular columns of silver with pale blue lines of light intersected them, along with the flooring, to glow with the technological aesthetic. Ruka had divided each floor to contain its own personality and tapped the metal railing before declaring, "Welcome to the bunker that will store every piece of information bestowed to the Kuchiki clan."

With that said, she began the tour by descending one of the bilateral stairways that led down to the first level. Byakuya always thought the SRDI was technologically advanced but Ruka's simplicity infused the ethereal color scheme of modern science without making it appear stark and intimidating. It might even push into the boundaries of new advancements, which could benefit the Gotei as well if she proposed updating their own library. Landing on the first level, Ruka motioned to the center where a square table that held tablets and desktop computers for visitors to peruse and comfortable chairs lined the table. The center of the large conference table was removed to store a holographic projector that would provide images or video data for group research. Motioning to the large table, she informed, "This is the floor level study where you can peruse the information stored in the archives. Each level holds their own study areas from here to Level 3."

Ruka leaned against the table to glance at the illuminating columns of stored data and smiled, "Byakuya needed preservation for his archives in a way no other clan head has achieved. It was an intensive venture but we cataloged the entire archives, the original paper scrolls, paintings, and ancient books into digital copies. Most are accessible but some files can only be opened with passwords alone. It is condensed enough that this vault can hold them but there are numerous floors to explore."

She pointed to the walls of the first level to show there were hardcover books lining shelves and certain documents were held behind glass display cases. To Rukia, it reminded her of a mixture between a museum and library. Ruka glanced at the captain to inform him of the newly upgraded perks compared to the old library, "The originals are encased in their own private archives and accessible to the clan head only. Even the Gotei granted you access to their files- the perks of high nobility."

"Ruka" he warned gently to her humorous undernote to his sway in Soul Society matters. He was a powerful man in his own right but he didn't exude it like others. It was in his appearance, his manner of speaking, and the way he carried himself that told others to keep walking and not waste his time.

Turning around to ignore his glare power, she picked up two pamphlets from an arched spread over the study table to hand one over to each of the Kuchiki siblings. Rukia smiled with curiosity at the souvenir and opened the blue pamphlet to find information with pictures attached. Fancy. Ruka raised her index finger to continue her tour like a peppy teacher and explained enthusiastically, "I also give you the information in a handy dandy map so the locations are easier to find!"

"How big is this place that I need a map?" Byakuya asked carefully as he stared at the unopened map in his hand, almost wary about opening it.

"Every place needs a map" she insisted cheerfully to make sure nobody became lost and they enjoyed their time. She wanted her first educative construct that was not geared for fighting to go off swimmingly without a hitch. Otherwise, those five years of work and money would be for nothing and her best friend would be pissed into Godzilla mode. Tapping the top of his unfolded pamphlet, she leaned in to meet his firm gaze and smiled charmingly, "It's printed on very nice paper."

"Ruka, I hired you for your engineering power- not artistic crafting ability" he pointed out flatly to her failed attempt to sway him with her pretty map, though it was eye-catching. Her smile deflated instantly into an offended hiss and he hoped she had only printed this set from his original estimated cost. He would not allow anyone to enter the archives without his presence so maps weren't necessary. Flipping the pamphlet back and forth, he winced slightly at seeing his current Gotei identification photo on the front of it. That was the best picture she could find of him? Casting aside that flicker of vanity, he waved the map towards her and commented on an even greater injustice, "You chose matte instead of glossy print?"

"Did I mention I installed a fallout shelter?" she supplied swiftly to stop any nitpicking at her paper choices in making pamphlets. Besides, the lighting in the archives might give off an unappealing glare on glossy paper but she wouldn't tell him that. He could be playfully fickle sometimes so she blindsided him with another secret about the Ark. Before he could complain to that new (and unrequested) addition and ask about the cost, she leaned in close to him to disclose in private, "I promised to protect you so if society crumbles, this is your shelter or for anyone else. I believe in you the most to rebuild our world if anything should happen."

"Shouldn't it be the other way around?" he proposed quietly at seeing her capability at constructing not only the technology but buildings to house information. That, and apparently robot helpers. Her mind was clever, much like Kisuke Urahara, with no secrets or ill will for her creations. He believed that made her more valuable to society than himself when he truly thought about it.

Ruka, however, only thought of him when it came to protecting their world and shook her head.

"Ruka, this is beautiful" the lieutenant gasped with admiration, breaking the two out of the conversation, as her hand hovered over one of the columns. It was quite ethereal in nature and the smooth appearance only added to its effect as her fingers ran seamlessly over the structure. It was fitting that her brother have the most advanced archive in the world and nodded with approval. Opening her new pamphlet, she saw the other levels it contained (minus the secret shelter) and smiled at the gold scheme for the second level while the third was encased in white.

It wasn't her work alone that brought the place to reality and she looked to the captain with a warm smile, "It's his legacy to future generations and my gift in remembrance to the past. He asked and I ensured it became reality."

"You and I both know this has your personality embedded" he replied simply to her talent since he had watched her sketch each floor diligently by hand. He took care of categorizing the information, purchasing materials, granting her access to the old archives, and hiring labor. He had expected an upgraded version of the old library since it had not been catalogued to his liking and required more space for future storage. His friend, however, created an entire building and he understood why she chose to have it underground. There was ample space now but the journey to the place was rather strange. Still, he would not chastise her work for his lack of elevator experience but compliment it in a rare moment, "I didn't think . . . you've surpassed what I expected."

She simply waved a hand to keep her modest demeanor and continued her tour of the Ark, approaching the next stairway that led upwards. The flooring of the second level changed on the first step as silver gave way to gold with white lines of light running through the storage columns that were spread through the level. Unlike the first floor, the walls of the second level were lined entirely with protected artifacts behind display cases. Again, an area for study was dedicated in the center to mimic the first floor and Ruka ran a hand down the nearest golden storage unit. The cold metal hummed lightly under her touch to let her know that they were running smoothly and she explained, "The first level houses public records and the newest history from the last century. The second level holds all historical archives that have been bestowed to the Kuchiki clan. The third level contains the history of the Kuchiki line, memories from individuals that I deemed important for historical remembrance, and Gotei archives."

The last staircase that led to the third level was located at the rear of the second floor and she grinned, "Kuchiki doesn't want his descendants to slack off so I figured the topmost floor would give them needed exercise."

"No elevator?" Rukia chimed in jokingly to Ruka's knack for fast transport and chuckled at her choosing a staircase. It was likely to appease her brother's taste and avoid a mechanical malfunction.

"Today has shown me the Kuchiki are not ready for one" she sighed softly with a shake of her head to their surprised reaction and tried not to laugh. She skittered to the top of the stairs to avoid any glares from her friend for the jab. Byakuya was not amused to hearing the truth but said nothing. Smacking her palm on the metal railing, she grinned impishly, "But when you are, give my descendants a call."

She inhaled to puff her chest with pride to the final level but it deflated when Byakuya commented, "This reminds me of the SRDI."

"It is nothing like the SRDI!" she shot back defensively to the comparison because she built this herself. Well, the schematics and configuration of the layout. Snapping her fingers, she called out to show off her cool virtual assistant, "Athena, ambient lighting on Level 3."

Byakuya stared at the walls awkwardly when golden lighting glowed through the clear edges between the white wall panels. Rukia gasped in wonder at the cool technological trick to adjust the lighting on the floor. They didn't even have that at home! Her brother, however, had a better question about the whole thing and asked her tightly, "Ruka, how much am I paying for this?"

Ruka coughed under her breath, mumbling incomprehensibly for a half-assed answer. She decided that avoidance of his query would do the trick and turned left to her favorite level where memories were stored. Fishing into her hakama pocket, she fished out a small pearl cube with gold accents on the corners. Showing it to them, she smiled to explain, "Using one's reiatsu triggers memory storage within these cubes. It stores similarly to digital video footage and each of these go into the larger pillars on this level, which I've deemed the Remembrance Hall."

Glancing at Rukia, she offered her a sympathetic smile to reveal, "If you're curious about your sister, the master override password is grace. Athena should give you access to everything but her algorithms might encrypt a few things."

Rukia didn't have any memories of Hisana, being much too young to remember her, and all she had were stories and paintings. Ruka raised the little cube to her own right temple and smiled solemnly, "The mind is a beautiful work of art. We have our memories but this allows us to share them. She was not here for a long time among us, but she played a big part in both of your lives. I believe that should count for something in a place like this."

Byakuya was incredibly private about his life with Hisana and Ruka had kept silent out of respect until he revealed the truth to Rukia. Even now, he was quiet on his old life to avoid reopening those painful wounds. He didn't want to have dreams of a happy future because they always came crashing down. Attempting a life with Ruka had been a punch to the heart and a life with Hisana had been catastrophic. Ruka, however, kept optimistic about life and her respect towards his ex-wife was appreciated. It only served to jab at his heart when it came to his previous lover but Ruka had been more kind to her than his own family. Frankly, he expected jealousy when he told her about his upcoming marriage but she remained cordial in all aspects.

Rukia couldn't believe she could peer into the past and leaned over to whisper to her brother, "This is unbelievable! I can't believe Ruka did all this . . . she's amazing."

"Amazing and likely robbing a year's worth of my pay" he corrected matter-of-factly because the beauty of the archive could also be eating a large size of his paycheck. Ruka managed to land a reprimanding smack on his right arm and his eyes narrowed to the brunette. His sister took this time to slide away to avoid a potential quarrel between the two and he asked with insult, "How dare you strike me?"

"I stayed within budget, jerk" she shot back to his assumption that she would rob him blind for the sake of cool results. She knew how to make the most out of her money and refrained from trying to kick his shin. She wasn't that bold, however. He was quick in dodging attacks, even the tiny petty ones, so she had expected to be swatted away. Glancing at her right hand, she voiced uncertainly to landing the strike, "I'm surprised too. Increased comfort level?"

Their recent time together and her open trust led them to dropping their exterior façade. Byakuya tried not to let her comment affect him because she was flustering him internally with every passing day. With Hisana in mind, he was disappointed in himself that he was trailing away from his vows. Rukia kept prodding him that she wouldn't want him miserable and the thought of losing Ruka to another man was disheartening. While Rukia wandered the third level to escape the two, Ruka traced her fingers over the sleek snow-white database that towered over her. Millions of pieces of information would be stored safely through the ages to bestow knowledge to future generations.

She admitted she was proud of her work and turning around, she found the captain's gaze already locked onto her. It sent an involuntary shiver down her spine, increasing her heart rate, and she averted her gaze to speak calmly, "I told you to utilize the best of my abilities to your advantage. This is what I give you."

Opening her arms towards the ceiling for dramatic effect, she smiled widely with pride, "Immortality through data storage to outlast the passage of time. Even if Soul Society itself is wiped clean one day, the archives are deep enough underground to sustain themselves in hibernation lockdown until found by a new generation."

Approaching the metal railing, she gripped it to peer down at the first level and informed him, "Even without a key, the archives will sleep for 1,000 years before a scouting probe is deployed to the surface to check for signs of life. I have installed an algorithm for the first contact with intelligent and peaceful life should that happen one day."

"You created a failsafe for such an attack?" he asked with surprise because he wasn't certain if anything like that was in place. He didn't focus on science at all but frankly, he had not pondered over such a stark scenario for the future. Kurotsuchi likely had something up his sleeve but it would be more self-serving than centered on preserving society. Ruka had built an advanced library for the future but a shelter underneath it all would provide safety from catastrophe. The power in that construct was fit for a project under a captain but Ruka had simply done it as a commission.

She would always think one step ahead for the bigger overall picture and trusted a place like the Ark in his hands. He was an honorable man and despite his aloof exterior, there was kindness in him that kept her rooted to his side. If his descendants were half of what he was, she would rest easy leaving the Ark in the high noble clan and she murmured, "We will fade one day but I have to preserve the knowledge of our world. Soul Society has accomplished great things but it also carries many imperfections- all should be remembered."

Byakuya had no words to express his gratitude to her ingenuity and tried his earnest to voice it, "I . . . Ruka . . . thank you."

No, that was too simple for a man of his standing and abhorred his own hesitation. She had practically created an archive that would outlast numerous generations and placed it under his name. Raising his hand, he corrected, "I mean-"

Ruka's soft laugh interrupted him as she placed her hand over his to lower it, not needing any further words. She was already aware of his preference to act over speech. He didn't withdraw, allowing himself to linger on the sensation of her warm touch, and she tugged him forward with a smile. He failed to dig his heels against the pull, curious to her intention, and stayed at ease out of trust for her. Ruka simply smiled warmly to not being flung aside and called it a win, stating confidently, "I haven't even shown you the best part."

Pulling him towards the left side of the third level that housed information on the Kuchiki line, she called out, "Athena, please open program VI: Kuchiki."

Byakuya furrowed his brow to her command since he wasn't versed in scientific jargon. He stepped back out of instinct when a translucent image of himself appeared in front of them and yanked Ruka back by the hand. How was that even possible? He wanted to place his hand through the impostor to determine whether it had any kind of solid substance. Ruka placed a hand on his shoulder to ease his insecurity and smiled to explain, "I have been unable to design you myself so I had Athena apply the verification scan she did of you at the entrance into the virtual intelligence design. Even though the Ark is ready for study, I am still at work with the assistant."

"Assistant?" he asked with confusion as to why a hologram of himself stood before them. What else was she adding on to the archives? Her mind worked faster than his at engineering so he was at a loss.

Releasing his hand, she walked forward to motion to her newest addition with pride, "He will give tours to any high-ranking shinigami or Kuchiki head family member that visits. For that, I required a voice sample and I am ashamed to say I recorded some of our banter for dissemination. Athena applied your image and with a catalogue of recorded words, I have created the virtual intelligence. With it, you will be around for generations and a role model for them through the ages - long after you are gone."

Her inventions had yet to strike him speechless until now as he stared at the digital copy of himself. Her thoughts to place him in the forefront of the archives was unbelievingly touching. It was essentially immortality to guide future shinigami of his clan and she smiled brightly at the virtual intelligence, "No question is too hard, is it, VI Kuchiki?"

"No, Lady Kyōraku" the virtual copy replied politely with a respectful dip of the head, causing her to sigh softly. The voice was still too inorganic so she needed to tinker with the audio files to smooth them down to match Athena's lifelike voice. The projected image also needed a little more density so she would fix that later.

"No, that's- never mind" she muttered flatly with an embarrassed smile to say, "He is meant to personify your lordship, much to my chagrin on etiquette."

His gaze drifted between the hologram and its creator, to which Ruka quickly shut down the virtual guide with an order. It was a little unnerving to see himself but centuries down the line, he would not appear the same. He would not mind having his likeness used but drove a hard bargain with its creator, "I will agree on one condition: a VI of yourself for cataloguing the archives."

Her cheeks flushed modestly because this was meant to stay within his family and she pointed out, "I'm not a Kuchiki, it's not my place-"

"You designed it and I am requesting it" he interjected simply to leave no room for argument and watched her lips sputter to find a loophole.

Can we make her a Kuchiki? We were willing before, Senbonzakura butted in eagerly to prod his wielder to make a move instead of standing around. At this rate, they would have no descendants to leave the archive to. Byakuya decided to mute him since he hadn't been helpful last night and heard him retort, Don't silence my logical heckling!

"I didn't do it for the credit" Ruka explained truthfully because this was his project as well, given the monetary backing. She had seen an opportunity to make her sketches a reality rather than leave them as another unfinished project. Wringing her hands, she confessed quietly to stay tucked away in the shadows, "My goal is to preserve our culture, our history, our advancements in case anything ever happens to us. Future generations should be aware of their past and to learn from our mistakes."

"You should give yourself credit more often" he stated firmly because she had talent to back the confidence she lacked. Ruka, however, shook her head vehemently because she was meant to be modest. The Kyōraku weren't cocky or boisterous by nature and she wouldn't disappoint her family by demanding glory. Byakuya, however, wanted her to accept that she deserved praise for her work and remarked, "You have a bright mind for protecting our world, don't underestimate yourself. I would like to see more of that and less explosions."

"Aw, shucks" she smiled with blush forming on her cheeks to the compliment but she did like blowing things up. Although, she had decreased her spending on fireworks and explosives recently. Had responsibility begun changing her? Months ago, she would have run and hurled a smoke bomb to escape. Now, she was setting up shop permanently and narrowed her eyes at the noble to chide, "I don't say this often but despite your nagging and rules. . . you inspire me to push my boundaries."

Rubbings her arms nervously, she chuckled awkwardly to reveal, "It's a little scary to bear responsibility but you've always been my safety blanket when I want to be better. Don't judge me too terribly, you can be brutally clever sometimes."

"Not against you" he promised gently to her flicker of uncertainty but it was a welcome breakthrough. Despite her humorous façade, maturity lurked underneath, and he would provide strength to lure out her potential. He was, after all, a patient man.

---

The library was extensive and one could become lost for hours on one level alone. Rukia had darted back and forth between the second and third levels faster than Ruka could keep track. Byakuya quickly realized that he would be allowing his little sister to borrow his key card but only because he trusted her. Ruka had stuck to the first level to finish perfecting her virtual assistants while the siblings had gone off to explore. Her petite friend, however, leaned over the railing on the second level to call down with a surprise question, "Do we really know whether the Soul King exists?"

"He is quite real" Ruka chuckled softly to the linchpin that held all the realms together to avoid cataclysm. It was normal to pose such questions after hearing about him and the separate realm so his existence was accepted by all. If the Soul King failed keeping balance, they would cease to exist in a final 'oh, crap' moment. Leaning away from the laptop that she stored on the first level, she wiped her left eye to call back, "Otherwise, we wouldn't be here."

"Can anyone really verify that?" she asked skeptically because nobody had ever seen him or the royal family. There were always artifacts to protect and shinigami knew about the Zero squad but the Soul King was an enigma. No description or images existed which begged the question of his existence. Even accounts were scarce to find. Her small eyebrows furrowed to her question and she mumbled, "I'm starting to sound like Renji with conspiracy theories."

"Trust me, He is very real" she answered quietly with a sharp undertone that unnerved Rukia a little. Her friend was cheerful by nature but the blue spark in her eyes disappeared instantly. Most people answered similarly when she asked but brushed off the question rather than delving deeper into it. The last thing she needed was a lecture from the elder two. Ruka turned away from her to return to her work on the laptop and replied simply, "He's not a myth or legend. He is an entity that is out of our reach but rules over our existence. Just as we have our roles to fulfill, he has his."

Her sudden shift in demeanor reminded Byakuya of a guarded swan more than a friendly cockatiel and he placed a hand on her shoulder to calm her. He was surprised to find her muscles incredibly tense which drew his concern due to her calm façade. When had she become him? He wondered what caused the sudden change and he addressed her gently, "Ruka."

His physical touch broke her out of the spell when he squeezed her shoulder and she chuckled awkwardly. She waved her hands to make light of her reaction, nervous about slipping away from her happy outlook. She didn't want to spook out anyone and smiled earnestly to apologize to her friend, "I'm sorry, I was a little silly there. Go enjoy the archives. Enjoy the all-access pass!"

Rukia decided not to pry further and headed back to her perusing on the second floor. Ruka exhaled softly because she would always be honest, to a fault, and leaned back in her chair to rub her eyes. Byakuya had never seen her so tense and wondered how much Ruka knew about the origins of Soul Society. The high noble families were privy to the story of creation while Ruka's family, even with their noble prominence, were not. Did she know more than she let on? Curious to her strange reaction, he commented quietly, "I have not seen you so serious before."

She lowered her hands, turning her attention to her confidante, and whispered meekly, "I've seen Him."

His eyes narrowed to the monumental reveal because only Zero squad was privy to that and he questioned, "How?"

"When I was in the critical care unit" she admitted softly to the injury that rendered her in a medical coma for a few days. She had gone over the scene numerous times to debunk it with a scientific explanation. Unfortunately, the information in the archives from old accounts about the Royal Palace only served as evidence. It was something she kept to herself because nobody else spoke up about experiencing such a thing. Trusting him with that secret, she shrugged noncommittally before admitting uncertainly, "I played it off as a dream but . . . it was real. I mean, I was legally dead for a minute-"

"What?!" he exclaimed with no regard to his tight rein on emotions, appalled to hear that. He had been waiting in the medical wing of the Northeast Gotei after that incident and refused to leave, even with his blood-soaked clothes. He had tossed them in the trash that day rather than have them cleaned after having her blood turn his gloves crimson and soak his sleeves. Now, she tells him her condition had flatlined at one point?!

"Oh, I guess uncle Shunsui didn't mention that part" she chuckled nervously to the expression of alarm on his face and tapped her index fingers together to reveal, "My soul decided to fizzle during surgery. Surprise?"

She sighed with misery when he grabbed her head to run his fingers over the old scar located at the back. Did he expect her to suddenly have staples or a new one added? Women would swoon for this kind of reaction and the feel of his fingers but she felt more embarrassed than anything. The injury had been over five years and she had healed perfectly fine under Unohana's watch. Her gaze dulled to the overdrive of concern from him and she stated flatly, "You're being silly."

"Why didn't you tell me?" he questioned firmly to being kept in the dark with that secret and narrowed his eyes. Why had she kept that from him? Did she not trust him as he trusted her? The stern look in his stormy eyes made her feel scolded instantly and he added in, "All of it."

"I had bigger things to worry about, like returning to work" she pointed out swiftly because she focused on what she needed to do rather than cry about her condition. She was not one to dwell on an injury but look towards the quickest road to recovery. At the same time, her slip in emotion back then also pushed her to run away from him. Head trauma, pain medication, and unresolved affection didn't mix well together in close quarters with the object of that sentiment. Crossing her arms, she leaned against the desk to wiggle free of his grip and tried not to sigh girlishly in her mind for that sudden touch.

Not to mention, forgetting that I kissed you like a life preserver, she thought with burning embarrassment to that moment in her patient room. Once Retsu cleared her, she had been allowed to return to the Northeast to forget about that unspoken rejection. It was easy to revert to that as a harsh reminder to avoid falling for the noble, but her heart was a glutton for pain.

"Ruka, you can't keep secrets from me at your convenience" he stated grimly, feeling a sense of deception from his oldest friend. If he couldn't trust her, who could he trust? Had he done something to prevent her from revealing her secrets? It dented his pride as her closest friend and disappointed him for not being deemed worthy enough to confide in. If he sought her as a romantic partner, that lack of trust between them would feel painfully disappointing. Quietly, he confessed with insult to being denied the full truth, "It puts my trust in you into question. I shouldn't have to think that about the one I trust most because I have never lied to you."

She gaped at him with surprise at the disclosure since he was tight-lipped about sentimental things. Pushing him away was not her intent and their recent interactions only fueled her immense trust in him. She didn't know how to begin approaching the vault of her secrets and met his firm gaze to voice despondently, "There are some things that are private to me alone. Like I said long ago, you're meant to outlive me in this world and I'll see you in the next life."

"I don't want to see you in the next but this one" he snapped tightly with concern to hearing such nihilism from a positive person and wondered where that came from. Why was she looking to the future rather than living in the present? He didn't want to risk losing her and leaned down to meet her eye-to-eye and he refrained from grasping her face. Otherwise, his indifferent façade would be shot to hell by divulging his true sentiments. She lured him to push against his reservations and he asserted, "I want us to exist here-"

She reached over to hug him by the waist out of familiarity and to abort talking about emotions. The more that he tried to connect with her, the more her heart opened to him. Unfortunately, that meant silly happy affection strengthened for him which was not so great. The fact that he was allowing her to break his personal space without complaint only served to increase her thudding heart. She tried not to blush when his breath brushed against her forehead to request, "Don't shut me out."

"You can't shut me out either" she pointed out quietly and took a deep breath to calm her heart. Being in his vicinity at close range flustered her and it wasn't from his spiritual pressure. It was a warm sensation centered in her chest that resonated in her soul and she wondered if her heart decided to have a vibrate setting. Ignoring the fuzzy warm feeling, her fingers grasped his haori between her fingers and she whispered, "Your guard has to drop."

"It has . . . somewhat" he replied reluctantly to her request but it was fair that both dropped their guard. Otherwise, they would grow distrustful of the other. Not one to back down on his word, he furrowed his brow before peering down at the top of her head to murmur, "Fine. . .so be it."

"I'll take fussy over stoicism" she grinned impishly to scoring a win but she would also grant him the truth. There was a lot to unload on her friend but this was one step in the right direction. Repeatedly tugging at each other for transparency would not be ideal and she wanted someone to trust with every piece of her life. He had been the most important person to her at one point and she raised her head to meet his firm gaze, voicing with trepidation, "I will be an open book to you but there will be pieces of me you won't approve of."

"As long as you didn't kill innocent people or brought the world to near cataclysm, it's fine" he stated calmly to avoid having her bolt and she nodded slowly with acceptance, a faint smile touching her lips. He had always claimed to know her best but she could be mysterious with her line of work. She wasn't anywhere close to Kurotsuchi but her mind was talented in creating both wonderful and frightening things. He still remembered that high-powered reishi gun and hoped to never see it again. His brow furrowed as he reminded her about his own hesitation to lower his shield, "My personality and past is not a barrel of laughs either."

"We can bury those pieces and heal together?" she proposed with a hopeful smile to breaching past that roadblock that kept them separated on opposite ends. Maybe if he understood her intentions and work, he wouldn't lecture her half the time. She refused to acknowledge the possibility of earning more lectures instead. Crossing her arms, she set her deal on the table and finished with conviction, "If you want me to confess my innermost secrets, you have to do the same. I will never hurt you again and I expect the same from you."

Her mention of their past was a brief comfort but she had yet to wound him as she did during their breakup. He nodded once to agree to her terms before pinning her with an inquisitive gaze and asked, "Did you achieve bankai?"

"Kuchiki!" she exclaimed frantically to his dead-eye interrogation skills because he struck close to her heart. Damn it, how did he zone in on the perfect questions to ask? Hoping that there was something else that interested him more, she scoffed with insult to retort, "That's your most concerning question?"

"Among others" he answered truthfully to the list that had been growing upon her return home. Senbonzakura sighed dismally from his soul space because he would be a thousand before he decided to ask about her sentiments. When did bankai trump one's heart? Byakuya was not concerned with that, mainly because they had Rukia as an audience upstairs, and he preferred privacy when speaking of such matters. Ruka drove a hard bargain for the first inquiry and he muttered flatly to relent, "Fine, my curiosity of the Soul King bests the bankai. What did you see?"

"I haven't told anyone" she answered sheepishly to that secret because nobody went around blurting such an interaction. It was easy to rationalize it as a dream but the more she read through the collection of accounts in the Kuchiki archive, the more evidence she gained that it happened. The high noble clans were meant to have more information than other clans, even into matters that concerned the Gotei. Their hand in such delicate matters drew her curiosity so if she had accidentally slipped into a few files with her all-access pass, she would keep it to herself.

(Flashback)

Ruka stood in the center of a gargantuan stark white room where golden light beamed brightly from all four sides to focus on the center. Where was she? She remembered the healing squad placing her in a cot for transfer back to Soul Society but this couldn't be it. Besides, walking on two feet after a head injury was a little too quick in healing time for her. How was that possible? Crap, had she passed away? She wore a white yukata and glanced down to find her feet bare on the white marble floor. Okay, she definitely didn't remember a wardrobe change. There was no pain in her limbs at all and her mind felt weightless, even her heartbeat was not palpable when she pressed a hand to her chest. Where was she?

Movement from the center of the room drew her attention and she turned to see a golden orb emerge from the converged light. Stepping forward tentatively, her mind threw caution to the wind and found no coldness against the floor or her exposed limbs. There was nothing. Her eyes widened when she noticed a humanoid form inside the ethereal orb and she came face to face with a figure whose skin was paler than the fairest skin tone. Its male humanoid form was enough to tell her it was neither a human, shinigami, or hollow. There was a white yukata draped over his form much like herself with a golden obi over his waist but she blinked with horror to finding his lower limbs practically translucent against the light in comparison to his solid head and torso. How was that possible? Were they missing? What the hell was going on?!

"Who are you?" she asked quietly as her voice wavered, finding herself surprised at the fear that filtered out. This was an unknown entity but she could feel its radiating power. His eyes were entirely black as night but his iris and pupil were one whole color of silver, blue, and a golden mixture that resembled a galaxy. They were beautiful but there was an ancient power behind them. He had short, cropped hair in black onyx that contrasted greatly against his pale skin and she shook against his ancient gaze.

"You're well are of who I am" he spoke faintly, barely moving his lips, but his words echoed like thunder through the hall. Falling to her knees, she touched her forehead to the cold floor in respect and shuddered to her predicament. If this were who she believed it was, she would receive no aid. The question was why she was here before him and not unconscious after her injury. His voice brought another roll of tension through her body when he remarked, "You're afraid."

"Yes, your Highness" she whispered gingerly as her mouth ran dry to meeting the ultimate being of creation. She had never imagined such a possibility in her life and briefly wondered if her parents endured the same. She felt tiny and insignificant in comparison to him. There was only one reason she would stand before him and she asked weakly, "Is it my time or have I committed an insult to you?"

"No, you piqued my curiosity- like all of your kin" he obliged with an answer to calm the little soul that withered under his gaze. It was not his intent to frighten her but his power could upset any being that didn't live in his palace.

"We never mean to offend, we're all talk and no bite" she quivered nervously to the silly but peppy reputation of her clan that was more harmless than anything. Crap, had her uncle's flamboyant nature pissed off the great one? Or did she do it? She didn't want to bring shame to herself in front of him and glued her head back to the floor to plead softly, "Please don't turn me into glittery star stuff. I will go peacefully, my king."

"You will be returning to your realm" he advised carefully to the verdict of the young soul because he would not claim her yet. He knew when it was time to lead a soul to their immortal sleep before sending them onto their next life in the human realm. It was not her turn and her head shot up to the news, blue eyes wide to hearing the news, and he informed calmly, "When the time comes for you to join the Hall of Spirits, I will come for you. It is not your time yet, little one."

Sitting up to kneel on the ground, she hugged herself for comfort to ask faintly with disbelief, "I'm going back?"

"You have much to do in Soul Society" he spoke cryptically to her role because each soul had a purpose to maintain the balance he sought between realms.

"I do?" she asked weakly to the surreal moment and wondered what he saw in her. It was a humbling and depressing mixture because she still hadn't reached her goals in science. If anything, she felt like a failure at times. Yet, here was the most powerful being in creation telling her she had a purpose. Hanging her head with disappointment, she admitted sullenly, "I can't even achieve my dreams, I never lived up to everyone's expectations. What could I possibly do for you, my king?"

"Are you attempting to have me keep your soul?" he asked softly, mulling over her question with interest. Some souls pleaded, others yelled, and others silently accepted their fate. This little soul, however, won his curiosity by inquiring about his decision. Ruka's shoulders tensed to his unearthly gaze and although she didn't want to look a gift goose in the beak, she wondered why.

"Only if you see more in me than I do" she answered hesitantly because he would be the one with the final verdict. Despite her setbacks, she tried her best to get her foot in the door to unveil her scientific skills. So far, it hadn't yielded much but she persisted. Her motivation was to improve life and settling into his own mindset of maintaining equilibrium, she pointed out, "If I can spare one valuable soul with my own, I will. A fair transaction to maintain balance."

"We will meet again" the Soul King informed her cryptically to their next interaction because her soul would return one day for the final transfer.

"Thank you" she whispered respectfully before bowing respectfully to rest her forehead low to the ground.

(End)

Byakuya stared at her with a flabbergasted expression that was never present on his stoic face. Had she really spoken that way with the almighty Soul King? He controlled the flicker of impulse that coursed through his veins to avoid swatting her over the head like a child. He was her friend, not her parent. She was not helping his heart keep a normal steady rhythm with that confession and he questioned tightly, "You tried to bargain with the Soul King?"

"I asked a legitimate question on existence, man!" she blurted to justify her behavior because she would always be honest. If she met a being of immense strength who lived at the age of creation, maximum respect was warranted. She didn't know whether it was her time and trusted his judgment on it. Her existence was based on his balance of souls and as a woman of morality, conceded that her soul should not be preferred over another's.

"Why do you keep landing in these precarious situations?" he sighed with dismay to the misadventures of his friend and placed a hand over his forehead. It took a lot of willpower not to shake her like a ragdoll to smack sense into her. Mainly, however, he was concerned if anything should happen to her. He had already lost Hisana and the thought of adding Ruka to that list hurt terribly. He didn't want to scold her, he simply wanted to hold her and reassure himself that she was safe.

Ruka resembled a withdrawn turtle to his stern gaze and tapped her index fingers together. Her large bright eyes met his with a timid spark as her voice lowered to admit sheepishly, "I don't know. . . should I ask him if I ever-"

"No!" he exclaimed quickly to avoid another meeting with the all-powerful being that ruled over numerous realms. Somehow, Ruka had found her way into his palace of all places and most likely, the hall where deceased spirits were held in sleeping limbo. He didn't want her to ever return there anytime soon out of concern of not seeing her again but Ruka had a tendency to slip out of his grasp.

She crossed her arms to the scolding, assuming he was worried more over her presentation rather than ceasing existence. At least, that's what she told herself. Otherwise, the thought of him caring for her would only confuse her more than ever. Clearing her throat, she glanced at the floor to mumble with burning embarrassment, "Yeah, that's what I figured."

---

Ruka clasped her hands together as she finished her final work on the first level with Athena's assistance. Byakuya had never seen Ruka at work in person but watching her type away at her laptop and a tablet while using the projector for cross-reference, he felt her dedication emanate from that work. She put her heart into her projects until she deemed them perfect for presentation and her current one deserved no less. He was inclined to feel bothersome to her workflow when he lingered to watch her work process but Ruka had happily pulled up a seat for company. She rarely had anyone by her side now that she was stationed at home and having him beside her was a treat. Who else could say Captain Kuchiki helped them with a project?

She could now rest happy at checking off completion on the Ark and leaning back in her seat, told the gathered siblings, "I have finished my work here so I present our Keeper of the Archives."

The Kuchiki siblings were shocked at the realistic appearance of the VI after fine-tuning him to realistic perfection while Ruka beamed proudly to the final unveiling. The voice that emitted was a perfect match to Byakuya's after recording his voice but there was a synthetic edge to it. Ruka wanted realism but not enough that it could rival scary artificial intelligence grade or be recorded for the use of hilarious prank calls. The virtual intelligence copy's expression remained serene like his model and he spoke politely, "Welcome to the Ark, I am a virtual replica of the twenty-eight Kuchiki clan head, Kuchiki Byakuya. You may ask your query and I will answer it to the best of my knowledge. If you need guidance to a certain location, I can assist or you can find a map located on the first level study desk."

He disappeared after a few seconds to remain inactive in the Ark until called. Ruka grabbed one of her handy dandy maps to wave it once more towards Byakuya but he didn't budge. He was not paying to make copies of a map when he had a virtual guide that would save trees. His eyes narrowed at only seeing one assistant and he questioned about their previous agreement, "Where are you?"

"In the Remembrance Hall" she replied earnestly with a warm smile because her VI would be just fine. She didn't need perfection but awesome reliable function for future generations. Frankly, the Kuchiki VI was capable of handling high volume queries but she obliged her friend's request. It was his archive rightfully so she would do his bidding to an extent. Shrugging nonchalantly, she admitted with a warm smile, "It seemed appropriate for my position."

Spinning around in her chair, she hopped off to stretch her arms and yawned, "I'm going to go record my memory of today's unveiling- minus the elevator ride- for the archives. I can show you how to record your own?"

Rukia raised her hand immediately with curiosity and Byakuya withheld a sigh to having her become her newest assistant. On the other hand, it could have been worse by having her live in Kurosaki's closet. How he hated knowing about those missions but he wasn't her captain. He let them head off together to earn a break and explore the archive on his own without supervision. The thought of replaying memories flickered to his mind and he tapped his finger on one of the tablet screens to turn it on. Byakuya took a moment to glance at the numerous databases that flashed on the illuminating screen and decided to take a better route. Testing the new virtual assistant, he asked aloud to assess the speed of its results, "Keeper, are there images of Kuchiki Hisana?"

His digital copy appeared beside him, unnerving him slightly, to answer politely with the data storage, "Yes, Athena has compiled several and you may scroll through them via verbal orders or accessing the work stations in the Remembrance Hall."

"Verbal order?" he asked uncertainly to what that meant since Ruka had given him a thick book of a manual to study. Being in the archive for barely an hour, he wasn't adept with handling research queries. Her advanced technology would also set him back a bit to make sure he had everything under his control. He and technology did not have the greatest relationship, plus the fat manual waiting for him didn't look appealing.

The projector in front of the table lit up with the first picture that Ruka had catalogued that showed the couple on their wedding day. He had never been a fan of photographs but his petite friend had insisted they would enjoy it decades down the line. Unfortunately, his bride would not see a decade end in their marriage and mementos were all he had nowadays. He gazed at the portrait image of Hisana with longing and melancholy, allowing his stoic façade to slip away momentarily. Despite her short time in his life, she left a deep imprint in his heart and would have her own spot in the archives of Soul Society. He was glad his friend had entered her data to store her identity whereas a family member might have made her a simple footnote in his file.

Thinking of the brunette who made it all possible, he beckoned the virtual assistant once more, "Keeper, where is the Remembrance Hall?"

"Third level, to your left."

He had to admit that having the digital helper was far better than a map or using the tablets to search for information. Could he get one of those to have at home? Obviously, with a different image or his staff would think he was painfully vain. As he ascended the stairwell, he heard the laughter of Ruka and Rukia echo from the second floor from who knows what. The important thing was that they were happy- that mattered most.

Entering the Remembrance Hall on the third level, he wondered if she chose the snow-white theme to match what she had seen in her experience with the Soul King. There was purity in white and the memories stored there belonged to souls that were long gone or would eventually fade. To him, it was almost a memorial. He walked a short distance into the large room before meeting Ruka's virtual copy as the familiar smile beamed at him. The voice, much like the one on his version, flowed perfectly from its holographic lips with cheerfulness, "Welcome, I am Kyōraku Ruka, the creator of the Ark. I'm sure you'll find more titles attached to me but that's not important. At the behest of the 28th Clan Head, Lord Kuchiki Byakuya, I am the guardian of the Remembrance Hall. Here, you will find all memories deposited for storage by numerous individuals throughout time. This collection stores knowledge and facts to help any visitor with enlightenment. Is there a particular query I can assist with?"

"Of course, you would not attach your titles" he sighed under his breath to her preference of staying out of the spotlight.

Her optimistic and friendly smile was welcoming; it was what had drawn him as a child. Being in private in the large hall, he gazed at the virtual assistant before lifting his hand to touch its cheek. He knew it wasn't the real Ruka but a copy of her allowed him to break free of his worries. There was nothing but air in his hand as it passed through her translucent form but simply gazing at her stirred warmth in his heart. She had listened to him and he was happy to know a piece of her would also live on, even if it was merely simulated.

One day, their souls would cease to exist and transfer to a new realm with no memories of the old life. Here, however, their core principles to guide new generations would continue in their VI's long after they were gone. There was great potential in his friend and he hoped to see more of it now that she was gaining confidence to present her research. He would support her work, aware that it never held ominous intent, and he briefly wondered aloud with curiosity, "Did Kyōraku Ruka store memories?"

"45,000 memories in storage" her copy replied instantly with the total accumulated.

"Really?" he blurted with surprise to the amount and wondered what exactly she had stored. That was a lot to peruse through but he was inclined to see each one if it pertained to her work abroad. She had been in life his for almost his whole existence but there were black spots on her life outside the Prime Gotei. He didn't want to use it to deceptively spy on her history and would place his trust in her that she would reveal her secrets now that they vowed to do so. Another idea popped to mind and he asked cautiously in case the other two decided to wander inside, "Did Kyōraku Ruka store memories with me?"

The virtual intelligence paused with a pout reflecting a thoughtful Ruka before piping up happily, "Precisely 22, 030 - only 21,000 are currently accessible."

He hadn't expected to hear that because he was meant to have complete control of the archives and questioned instantly, "Why?"

Ruka's virtual copy showed no emotion to his reaction and simply replied with the information relayed by Athena's core programming, "She holds Eternal override on those files. They will unlock when her date of demise is entered by the head of the Kuchiki clan or she unlocks them herself."

"What are you hiding from me?" he whispered under his breath to the petite researcher that had begun plaguing his mind and now, his heart. She could be frustratingly endearing but he would enjoy solving the puzzle of her past.

---

Shinigami Extra:

Ruka sheathed her sealed zanpakutō to release a strained breath while her heart thumped erratically. Not from her bankai release but to await the results of her exam. She had thought on her feet from years of experience and even though the fight was over, still nitpicked over what could have been better. There was always room for improvement and doubt could settle easily into her mind. Thankfully, the captain testing her abilities had been a calming familiar face that lowered the tension in her body.

Rubbing her bare arms, she tried to lower the lingering adrenaline and it subsided when she heard her husband's regal voice, "I have never been prouder of you."

He could turn her into happy goo with his deep low tone but hike up the tension with one carefully firm word. The old Captain-Commander had sent him to deliver the verdict while the witnessing captains waited on the sidelines by the combat dome. Yamamoto approved of her request to have the test inside to avoid the destruction of property. However, she had remained inside the large structure to await her news in a safe place in case she botched it.

By the look of mild approval on Byakuya's face, she figured a win was in her dossier. Was she really a captain? Would she now have a little wooden Captain Kuchiki nameplate instead of Lieutenant Kyōraku? Wait, she hadn't really thought about her surname. How would two Captain Kuchiki work? That's exactly why she kept her maiden name attached at work! They could potentially boggle the old man's mind! She crossed her arms, accepting the news with a modest smile, and took a deep breath to return to her old sassy self.

"Really? I literally pushed out your son" she asked quizzically to the feat that toppled the bar on impressing him. Her captaincy test had been shorter than her labor and she figured pushing out a child was more impressive than her elemental manipulation. She would rather do the captain's test over a dozen times if given the option. Her eyes widened for a moment before she confessed with admiration to the brutality of childbirth, "Koji felt like a damn turkey-"

"Ruka" he interjected to keep the birth of their son private and to forget the numerous smacks aimed at him that day. He suffered less in writing a commendation for her in comparison to that. It was exactly why he kept egging her on to finally take the exam and seize her true potential. His wife had been more than happy to be a mother and sit back until it began affecting her work. Not one to let her work ethic be criticized, Ruka had applied for the position in rebuttal and he scored a point in being right.

She raised her hands innocently to preen her husband with a cheeky grin, "What? Does the captaincy test best your heir? Your precious firstborn son with those sweet big blue eyes?"

"I am giving you my approval, you little sprite" he replied hastily with a low voice that told her this was not the place for their playful sides to peek through.

"I thought that was automatic with your wedding vow" she shot back matter-of-factly to his loyalty because she had his back like a stubborn barnacle. Once her name had been tied to his, their marriage became the priority. The birth of their son only added another layer of protection to keep her new family safe.

His eyes narrowed to the jab and he relied on his roles to get him out of that bind by stating, "Lord and Captain Kuchiki are two different people."

"Well, maybe Lady and Captain Ruka are too" she pointed out impishly to trying out her first name rather than their family name. Byakuya was not surprised to have his wife become the newest trendsetter and he only had himself to blame for letting her have her pick whatever name she wanted for captaincy. Hopefully, it would not be a new name entirely. He was more of a stickler when it concerned the Kuchiki clan but Ruka heeded his judgment on that one.

His brow furrowed to her logic and he called her out on it by correcting, "Wouldn't that defeat the whole purpose of your argument of our heir as a lady and bankai as-"

"Shut up" she interjected indignantly at facing the truth and tried not to stomp her foot at losing to him. He was damn good at verbal sparring but she decided to blame her recent test on lacking a decent comeback. He tried not to smirk at her defeated pout, especially when she decided to poke his chest for one last say. Not moved at all to the useless prodding, she tried not to smile at his indifferent façade.

From outside the dome, Yamamoto leaned on his cane while studying the two and remarked with surprise, "Hmm, I thought having her husband present the news would be best."

Shunsui snorted to hold back his laughter because that would not have been his first choice. Sure, Ruka respected her husband but the two were liable to bicker sarcastically after tense moments. Gentle was best when it came to his niece and unfortunately, Captain Kuchiki didn't have the greatest friendly approach. Pointing to his best friend, who stood beside him, he advised, "I would have opted for Captain Ukitake or Komamura."

A chorus of agreement echoed from the remaining six captains present.

"I don't think I understand youngsters anymore" the old man sighed with disillusion to the changing times because he figured married couples would at least behave based on etiquette. The sixth captain was a pillar of calmness in most instances, but his wife was a ray of sunshine. Now, he had the newest captain poking her spouse like a sack of flour while he pretended to be oblivious to it.

"If it makes you feel better, we don't understand them either sometimes" Jushiro pointed out warmly with a perky smile to cheer up his mentor. Shunsui couldn't hold back his laughter this time and managed to agree to that assumption.

Another chorus of agreement echoed from the group around them.

After the end of their shift, the married couple found their way through a business plaza in the north. Ruka had stopped by the Kyōraku estate to pick up their son after his nap to enjoy an evening out on the town with him. Well, not a late one because then they would rank horribly as parents. Ruka carried the eager Koji in her arms while they passed through the restaurant sector of the plaza. They had a favorite fish place already once Koji began to eat solid and complex foods. Their little one was very much like his mother in food tastes and he grinned happily when she chanted perkily, "Fish in a Barrel! Fish in a Barrel!"

Byakuya wondered how she managed to find these interestingly named eateries, glancing over his shoulder to watch Ruka waving a fist to her new chant. Koji clapped alongside his mother's catchy singing and joined in with his own excited babble, "Fish Bawell! Fish fishy! Fishy fish!"

He approached the establishment in question because there was one item on their menu that he enjoyed. Opening the door, his small family piled inside with matching eager grins to await the ordering procedure. Koji's blue eyes darted to the bright illustrated signs above the counter and he pointed to his favorite dish, calling out for his mother. Ruka snuggled her little son into an affectionate hug before promising that his father would order. Byakuya, however, had one order in mind and he approached the now empty counter to request, "I'll take a hazelnut coffee to go. That is all."

The eager faces of his wife and son were wiped away clean into horror at being denied a hot fresh meal. Koji burst into tears immediately at seeing that his father wouldn't order his favorite fried fish chips to dip in the creamy sauce. How could he?! His little clenched hands struck the open air in disillusion and Ruka attempted to kick her husband for only ordering for himself. Were they supposed to idly stand by to that? Now she had a fussy crying toddler in her arms! Byakuya efficiently dodged her nimble limbs and turned around to point out shrewdly, "We have perfectly good food at home."

Ruka cradled her hysterical son against her chest and waved her free arm at the baffled staff to request, "My baby and I would like a table."

"He's almost two" her husband pointed out because he was entering the toddler years more than being a newborn. He had lived through the crying infant stage, terrified of the crawling portion, while Ruka had feared the teething stage. Their son was able to run awkwardly with supervision but Ruka was very much a doting mother. He didn't mind her protective affection for their only child, but he wouldn't treat Koji like precious glass. Otherwise, he would end up with a spoiled child and he was not repeating the cycle by creating a miniature version of himself.

Her blue eyes narrowed into slits to having her mothering time cut short and she hissed defiantly, "You're begging to sleep in the guest room, aren't you?"

"Ruka" he lectured calmly to remind her that they had to use their indoor voices. Otherwise, they would be kicked out and possibly banned for a few months. He didn't need that in the tabloids, they earned enough attention after Koji's birth.

"How dare you order coffee and leave your devoted family out of the ordering process?" she accused with insult burning in her blue eyes and hugged her sniffling toddler closer for dramatic purpose. Koji wiped his blurry blue eyes while stammering about his beloved fish and chips. What had they done to not earn a meal? Ruka was quick to use the back of her hand to wipe away the river of tears and clear snot from his sniveling. He was an adorable child but ugly crying did not suit him, much like herself.

Byakuya simply crossed his arms to maintain his stoicism and commented airily, "I don't relate kicking me to being devoted-"

His words were cut off when she turned around to storm out of the restaurant. Koji peered over his mother's shoulder to wave in a farewell to his father, confused about their abrupt separation. Byakuya was left in the restaurant to wonder how bad he had pissed off his wife. If she was running off with their baby- son, Koji was their growing son now- then he was likely about to get into trouble. Dropping his composed routine as a captain, he shifted into his role of a husband to beckon his wife, "Ruka, come back."

"We'll have our fun on the town" Ruka smiled happily at Koji to cheer him up because he came first in her book. If she wasn't carrying him, she would've flung something at her husband. Koji was happy to see his mother smiling again and settled into her arms to await their new destination. Ruka enjoyed her post-nap son in the early evening because he was usually ready to call it a day after dinner instead of running around wildly in the mornings. Kissing his forehead, she doted on her most special person in the world, "I'm buying you all of your favorites to celebrate today. I wouldn't be here without you, my dear."

"Captain Kuchiki."

She sighed under her breath to halt at her new pending name and tensed her shoulders. Was he using her new position and adherence to the law to garner attention? Damn it. Turning around, she faced her husband to reply sarcastically, "I don't have the coat – you seriously got the coffee?!"

"I paid for it" he pointed out easily to not abandoning his order and held it close in case she decided to smack it away. Or would she try to smash it against his chest? How furious was she on the scale from zero annoyance to extinction supervolcano? He decided to reveal his hidden plan to avoid being splattered with hot coffee, "I have dinner planned for us at the Red Dragon."

Ruka had an angry protesting fist in the air but his words cut it short, leaving her to determine whether she was disappointed or delighted. Damn it, he twisted her mind around again! She had no ground to nag at him with anymore and decided to ditch it for their sassy charm. Koji tapped his mother's collarbone with a small pout to inquire whether they were mad at his father or life was normal again. Ruka squeezed her little one to reassure him everything was fine but Koji was none too pleased with that answer. He wanted his fish and chips, not a hug! Well, the hug was nice but still!

Byakuya offered his wife a sip from his cup as a peace offering but she shook her head. Koji would need to feed one last time before sleep since she was starting to wean him off. The last thing they needed was a hyperactive toddler crawling over them in bed at night. Raising an inquisitive eyebrow, she asked with a grin, "The fancy one or the one that has the cool metal dragon that breathes fire?"

She was eagerly hoping for the latter, enjoying the fun and child-friendly restaurants lately. She had never been one for prim and fancy places like her husband but joined him out of respect. Most of their dinner dates had consisted of such places while she preferred low-key and casual ambiance. Once Koji arrived and began eating solid food, they had to find a balance in their eating places to suit all their tastes. Her husband, however, began to wonder if he was being tricked by her question. For his sake, he hoped not. Bluntly, he replied with a question, "There's a difference?"

"You're really not great at surprises" she chuckled softly to his planning because they either blew up in their faces or she screamed. The same happened on his end but with a more composed expression of alarm. Only their engagement had been a true surprise but he had informed her beforehand about it. She was beginning to figure out that they simply weren't a surprise-type of couple. Still, she loved his quiet gesture and thanked him for it, "I appreciate your effort."

"No, are there really two different restaurants?" he asked pointedly because he had only seen one when he reserved the table. Had he chosen the right one? It had glowing reviews and the décor didn't seem gaudily flashy like most family places when he glanced at the indoor seating. Fishing out his phone with haste, he unlocked the screen slowly to avoid dropping his coffee while muttering heatedly under his breath, "Technology is a blight on my life and these programs-"

"Applications, love" she corrected gently with a faint smile of amusement.

"Are useless" he finished coldly about their ease of life and Ruka held out her hand for his phone. Handing it over without hesitation, she found their favorite ordering app to find the reservation. She loved her husband dearly but he was still maneuvering through phone technology. Its constant advancement didn't help. At least he stopped trying to throw his laptop in the trash after they married.

She grinned slyly to their different handle on technology and teased him, "If you hate science, you shouldn't have married an inventor."

"I don't hate it, my grasp on it is frustrating" he muttered grimly because it kept developing faster than he could keep up with it. When even her uncle began besting him in grasping the use of a laptop, he had almost called it quits. Ruka, however, had reminded him that her uncle simply liked it for the chat rooms and the search engine for adult-only photos. Changing the subject about his weak points, he asked about his sleeping arrangements, "Did I pick well or am I sleeping in the guest room?"

Ruka hesitated for dramatic effect before turning to their son to declare with glee, "Koji, you're going to see your first fake dragon because mommy accidentally kicked a real one in the west so no trips for a month!"

"Of course, he is" Byakuya muttered flatly to not getting the fancier restaurant but his family was happy. That was what mattered in the end. Koji clapped his hands happily to whatever a dragon was and babbled about food. His vocabulary wasn't the greatest yet but two-word sentences were already in his pocket. Ruka handed Byakuya the phone with the GPS directions embedded so he could read them. She would not dare to put on the voice navigator since he knew the layout of the Seireitei and would find it insulting. Walking towards their destination, he asked quietly, "Did you think I am callous enough to ignore your achievements? Not the dragon kicking one."

She held back a snort to the latter portion and shrugged lightly to reply honestly, "You strike me as the nod of approval type of husband, not the celebratory kind."

"Not your kind of celebratory" he pointed out coolly to the free-spirited Kyōraku lifestyle and hoped Koji would not turn out that way. If he ever saw his grown son standing on top of a table half-naked and chugging a sake bottle, he would call in his retirement. His wife, however, had sworn off drinking after finding out she was pregnant and unhappily sipped water as an alternative. He still remembered switching out her drinks during social outings to avoid revealing their pregnancy and keeping their baby safe. She had come a long way from the socially awkward and humorous lieutenant to a sassier captain. They had mellowed out each other from their crazier habits and he stated easily, "I am proud of you, Ruka."

Those words were a feat because she had not heard such a thing after her last promotion in the Prime Gotei. Her lieutenancy promotion was about what was expected of her and the qualities that earned the promotion. There had been no 'good job' or 'you did great', simply 'don't fail' which was not an easy thing to live with. Time, however, led her to not caring about what others thought but trusting in herself. If she listened to every ill remark or proud approval, she would spin herself into the ground in confusion. In the end, it was similar to what her uncle told her- keep the balance.

Her husband was not the same man she had met as a new lieutenant and she smiled faintly to reply, "Thank you. . . we should probably send old man Yama a food basket for our racket before he sends us on vacation."

Her eyes widened slightly at remembering their antics inside the Kill Dome and she sighed with embarrassment, "He might think we're on the verge of a separation!"

"I would never leave you" Byakuya assured because he took his vows very seriously and she was the only woman he was willing to marry. They could drive each other crazy but it would end in laughter. That or passionate angry sex that resolved their dispute. Despite he kept his poised and serene façade, his wife and child were always in his mind. Ruka smiled sheepishly at the affectionate comment, at least for him, and he added in, "Regardless of your antics."

"Hey!" Ruka protested to his smart-alecky one liner and looked down at their son. He was growing bored from their walk and decided to rest against her shoulder. Using her free hand to point at her husband, she urged him onwards, "Koji Hug Attack, go!"

"Our son isn't a Kido spell, Ruka" he stated dryly to her animated order but held out his arms to share in carrying him. Koji, however, frowned at his father and wrapped his arms even more tightly around his mother. Byakuya crossed his arms before leaning down to meet his son at eye level to remark, "Oh, are you pouting because we didn't stay in Fish in a Barrel?"

"Fish Chips!" he babbled upsettingly to his lost meal and wasn't keen on his father pointing it out. Just thinking about it again riled him up! Byakuya was reminded of his own self as a child and despite Koji carried Ruka's features, he had a spark of his tenacity. With a quivering bottom lip, he accused with disappointment, "You puh. . . puwo . . . pro . . . promised! Dad promised!"

"You're taking after your mother, aren't you?" he noted flatly because she was pretty good at reminding him about his promises. He never broke them but he sometimes forgot the unimportant ones like sending so and so a birthday card or picking out a book for their monthly read. With Koji, however, he tried to keep track to avoid losing a shred of trust with him. Ruka had been the first person in his life that he established a true friendship with and Koji was his pride and joy from that bond. He deserved nothing less. Digging into his left sleeve, he whipped out a wrapped small bread to offer it to his son with an apology, "Sweet bread? I will take you to Fish in a Barrel on the weekend. Today is your mother's day so we must be respectful."

Koji eyed his father suspiciously before quickly swiping the offered goods to nibble on it. Ruka had seen him do the same Yachiru and now, Koji had joined his list for stored freebies. Byakuya assumed it was a win when his son stopped glaring at him, waving his new treat, and Ruka laughed with amusement, "Can't tell whether you're bribing him or becoming the next pokerfaced Ukitake?"

Now, he was fine changing his nonverbal behavior around others and not being relentlessly cold in conversation. However, he would not become the unofficial father figure to youngsters in the Gotei Forces because he was still figuring out fatherhood. Looking to his wife, who was the major factor in his recent changes, he accused with narrowed eyes, "You've infected me with your kindness and affection."

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A/N: Only Ruka would find creating an underground library that serves as a secret post-apocalyptic bunker exciting. At least she got a nice new fish tank for it while poor Byakuya becomes more emotionally frustrated and now distrusts modern elevators. He'll be popping a vein in the next chapter when Ruka reveals her past with Mayuri and he'll be going Senbonzakura 2.0 on the SRDI.

To carlodiaz346: Thank you for enjoying the story, I added more Ruka and Komamura in this chapter since she'll always run to him after being mindblown and he'll support her non-crazy ideas. Shunsui, on the other hand, is the quirky uncle who'll wave her on to carry out her humorous destruction.