R was escorted back to her quarters, where Byakuya san was walking along her room, past her desk. There was no way he did not sense her coming. So she waited at the door, forcing him to eventually look up at her.
"They're going to execute me," she said with a straight face.
For a millisecond, his steel eyes flashed. Her own eyes widened in response, but by then, he was the same gravestone grey.
"I figure they did not get any useful information out of you," he said, his eyes closed. "When do I have to bring you to the Tower of Penitence?"
"Wow! You were just waiting to throw me in there?" She raised her voice in disbelief. "It's good to know that some things don't change around here. Your fascination with executing innocents, gruel for meals, lack of ball-pens..."
He frowned at her. "Are you going to be executed or not?"
"Do you think you wouldn't have heard by now if I was?" She retorted.
He sighed. "It seems I am indefinitely stuck babysitting a clueless kid who can't even use calligraphy brushes." He returned her sarcasm back to her.
"Yep. Too bad. And by the way, we have something called pens in the real world, you know, things that don't require a mess to set up?" She was turning red with annoyance.
"I have no patience for humans who like to trample on our customs," he said coolly. "If you won't be executed for breaking in, you might as well be executed for those unsightly blotches you call writing," he said, glancing at the papers on her desk.
"HAH?" she shouted. "You—" But he was gone in a whoosh. "I'm not a kid!" She shouted to the empty air. But he was making her into a fidgety ball of nervousness and angst by just being around her. "Act your age, R," she sighed to herself. "Also, that flash in his eye was nothing related to concern. It was probably murderous intent."
She looked at the paper, in which she had written a message for her mum. It was a mess. It had been smudged with a couple of tears. I miss you mum. Perhaps magic wasn't for me after all.
…
Byakuya halted midway to his own room. Did I just run from her? He thought to himself. He hadn't been able to control himself from mouthing off to her. He hadn't been able to stop his flush of annoyance. He hadn't even asked her how it went with the Sou taichou. And yet here he was, flash stepping away from this woman who seemed to see right through his rigidity. A mere peasant of the human world, who could never understand the thousands of years of history his great lineage proclaimed.
He recalled Yoruichi's adamant free spiritedness. She too, had seen right through him. He was certain that the years he had spent being trained by her had worsened his self-control, his propriety. But propriety was his safety blanket. He had grown up with nothing close to his heart except the certainty that pride will deliver him. His pride commanded fear, respect, it kept people away from acting on their blatant curiosity over him. His pride enabled him to bring Hisana into his home. He had done no wrong as a Kuchiki, thus he could act as a man. His name preceded him. And Kuchikis needed nothing more than that.
If she gets executed or returned, that's one liability off my hands, and that's all it'll be. He thought to himself as he returned to his room.
…
Urahara collected the last droplets of reiatsu that had followed R into Seireitei. He was at the spot where she first appeared, having received reports that the area had unusual reishi activity. Definitely, it seemed that the beads of energy he collected seemed to be identical to what was surrounding R. It was not reiatsu, but it was. What puzzled him was how his reports went into overdrive days after she had appeared. The energy was not in conflict with reishi. It should have dispersed in a few hours. She was after all, human. But he was sure that it had been getting stronger day by day, which was why he only received the reports then. If leftover energy had the power to restructure itself with time, what about the energy surrounding that living, breathing girl? Despite his inclination not to get involved with Soul Society (at least openly), he wanted to get this job done, so he could tell what she was, and, perhaps, prevent the tragedy which was bound to happen.
…
The clang of swords filled the air.
Rukia looked at her hand, her energy freely flowing all around it. Just days in Soul Society had replenished her with enough reiatsu to materialize her sword again. She watched Renji train with Ikkaku and smiled to herself at their taunts toward each other. Their uncouth wording reminded her of Ichigo. Wonder what that baka is doing, she thought to herself.
She'd chosen to stay in Soul Society for obvious reasons: to fix her body, and her relationships. But she'd been most surprised at Ichigo calmly letting her stay back. He wouldn't have, had he believed she was still in danger. However, he'd also grown up. A lot, she would say. He had understood her boundaries, and she had also seen it in his eyes: it's not the end.
He had reassured her that they would meet again, with just a smile. Rukia found herself wondering why she had trusted him to give half her powers to him. Was it the determination on his face? Was it her own guilt at losing someone dear to her, to a hollow?
She remembered the moment before her sword plunged into his chest, when she had introduced herself. She was a Kuchiki Rukia, not just a Shinigami.
The image of Kaien dono floated into her mind. When we talk, or when we think of someone, the heart is born, Kuchiki.
Something hit her on her head. Hard. She winced in pain and turned over, rubbing her head, to see Renji grinning. At her feet was a piece of Ikkaku's Houzukimaru.
"Bakamono!" She screamed. "What do you use your eyes for?!"
"Oops! Sorry Rukia!" Renji gave her a thumbs up and grinned, his victory over Ikkaku obviously blinding him to Rukia's injury.
"That's right, I should make you sorry!"
"Hah? I apologized already, what else do you want me to do?"
"Using your brains a little more often would be nice." She smirked.
Nearby, Yumichika snorted in laughter, as Renji turned red.
"Teme… are you itching for a fight?"
"Sureee" Rukia answered. "Let's have a kido fight. We'll see if you can let off a no.31 shakkahou without it exploding in your face!"
"Nandatou?!" Renji advanced toward her, baring his teeth, and was suddenly standing in front of Byakuya.
"Renji. Would you like me to help you shut that mouth, since you're incapable of silence?"
Renji gulped. "Ah, no, Taichou. I apologize greatly."
Behind Byakuya, Rukia laughed at him silently. Renji boiled seeing this, but froze just as rapidly as he found his taichou still watching him.
"Remember whose squads you're standing upon," Byakuya continued. Renji, still frozen, wondered if those were really dark clouds gathering behind his taichou's scary face. "Or I'll bakudo your throat." He walked away.
Renji looked at Rukia, still laughing soundlessly. "Is this the rich kids bullying the poor ones?" He smirked at her.
"No, it just means you're safely in Kuchiki hands," she grinned.
Renji broke into a smile. How long though, would they have these normal days?
