Undertones
By: WhisperedSilvers
X
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Nobody needs to fall in love
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strategic movements
Byakuya looked at the plum tree that was tucked in between the stone bench and small koi pond just a few feet away from the bright white flowers that clouded and surrounded the rocks of that small spring. His garden was his sanctuary of peace, the clan meeting had not gone well, and so his sanctuary was poisoned with contained irritation and chaos that was nearly leaked from his tightly concealed reiatsu.
Of course this was not his first clan meeting of the week, it was his fifth, and it was only Tuesday. An heir. The Kuchiki clan wanted an heir. Should something happen to their clan leader—they would need an heir. Under no circumstance would Byakuya marry again—nor would he allow the Elders to pressure Rukia into marrying. Charcoal-colored orbs narrowed—which led to another problem.
Captain Hitsugaya.
The child genius.
The left side of his jaw twitched, well, apparently, he wasn't a child anymore.
Byakuya respected Captain Hitsugaya, he was intelligent, practical, a good leader, intuitive—everything a Captain should be. However, he did not—did not understand, just why he was—Byakuya couldn't even think of the word—just why was he so—curious maybe? About his sister?
He could understand that Captain Ukitake wanted Rukia to train with Captain Hitsugaya because they both shared the same element, he could also understand that training with Captain Hitsugaya would also help her control her reiatsu that was leaking, thus advancing her powers into the shinsei sainou—was it necessary for the ice-captain to take up so much of his younger sister's time?
The only time Byakuya saw his sister was after dinner—sometimes in the hallways of the compounds. Other than that, she was either sleeping or training—or with Captain Hitsugaya—he did not like it.
Byakuya blinked when a light breeze caressed his cheek.
The last thing that bothered him was the evolution of the Menos. If the Menos can really cause them to see time—he paused.
When Rukia gave the report of the Menos Grande, she had a son—she saw her son—which meant—
The pieces fell into place.
The heir.
The Kuchiki clan will have an heir.
But how does Captain Hitsugaya fit into all this?
X
"No."
"Why?"
"I said no."
"Oh come on, Rukia. It's Shuhei's birthday, Rangiku will be there."
"I know, send my regards to Shuhei, but what you are asking for is mayhem."
Renji sighed; he scratched his neck before slamming his fists onto the table, "Rukia. It's Shuhei's birthday. Rangiku is going, Ikkaku is going, Yumichika, Captain Zaraki, Yachiru—"
"Renji, if Nii-sama hears that I went to a bar—"
"Captain Kyoraku and Captain Ukitake are going to be there!"
"So?"
Renji nearly groaned, "Your brother is not even going to be in the Seireitei."
She blinked, "What?"
"Captain Kuchiki is going on a trip. A business meeting of some sort, outside the capital—"
"You must be joking—where the hell would Nii-sama go for business?" Rukia asked dryly, "Everything he needs is located within the capital—"
"Alright—alright," Renji sighed, he rubbed his hand down his face before looking at her with mild apprehension, "I didn't want to tell you this, Captain didn't want you worried. He has summit tonight, for the four noble clans."
Violet orbs widened, "Do you know why?"
"I'm assuming on something on more of a political manner. I don't really know." He confessed, his fingers crossed on the table, "But if it's nothing—it's nothing. Now will you go?"
She stared at him, contemplating on the outcomes of this party. If her brother came home late, she could beat him back and he would never know that she was out late—but if he was home early?
She could blame Renji—she nodded to herself.
It was all his fault. Right? Right.
"Fine, I'll go." Rukia sighed in acceptance; she looked over at the sunset. Captain Hitsugaya had give her the day off—too much work and not enough rest was not good for a shinigami, which was slightly ironic, work was the only thing that made their eternity seem less repetitive and prevented them from going insane. His other excuse was that he had to train those recruits of his—she wondered if she could persuade her brother into having a training session with them—a joint training—she internally smiled—maliciously.
"When?"
Renji looked over at the sun and then calculated the time from the distance of the shadows, "Now," He grabbed her wrist, grinning, "Let's go!"
He used Flash Steps, dragging her across the capital, protesting loudly, with nails digging into the insides of his wrists—Kyoko's Pub, she blinked wildly, wasn't she here—yesterday?
"Renji. I was here yesterday."
"I know," A pause, "By the way, how was your date?"
Rukia scowled, she stomped on his foot before opening the door, satisfied with his pained yelp, she noticed that the restaurant part of the establishment was closed off, the bar was open and small tables were scattered along the floor. Shuhei, Rangiku, Ikkaku, Yumichika and Kira were on one side of an oblong table, sake and small cups were adjacent to each person.
"Rukia~" Matsumoto sang before swaying over towards her, "I'm so glad you made it!"
Rukia smiled timidly, "Well, I heard it was Shuhei's birthday—" Amethyst orbs flickered over to the dark-haired man, "I apologize I couldn't grab a gift—I was told of this outing three minutes ago."
Hisagi chuckled, "Don't worry about it, Rukia." He motioned for to sit across from him, "Take one drink for me—as compensation for that gift."
She looked at the cup warily when she sat on the bench. "One drink. Nii-sama will probably seal me inside the compound if I came home…intoxicated."
Ikkaku snorted, "Captain Kuchiki's big brother senses would probably still tingle, even straight through hell."
Yumichika slammed the bottom of his fist into the middle of his shoulder blade; a tight smile plastered on his pore less skin, "Ikkaku, if Captain Kuchiki catches this conversation…" He trailed off, his eyes held a silent warning.
Ikkaku laughed, a sense of dread pooling in his stomach, "Right."
Rangiku poured a cup of sake for Rukia, placing the glass in front of her, she watched with meticulous sapphire orbs, watching for the slightest hint of a waver. The dark-haired woman surprised the routine drinkers by downing the cup with one go, not even wincing when the strong liquor burnt the back of her throat.
Kira blinked.
Shuhei flickered his eyes to Ikkaku, wondering if they saw, what he saw. Yumichika had to hide a snicker, Renji stood proud behind her and—
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Rukia asked, her eyebrows rose.
"It's just that," Izuru stumbled on his words, his brown orbs widened, "We didn't know you drank, I mean," His eyebrows furrowed, "It's just—"
Renji saved Kira by releasing a loud bark of laughter, "I taught Rukia to drink, especially when Captain Kuchiki leaves for overnight meetings and assignments, she could hold her liquor well enough." The redhead paused to take a seat next to his childhood friend, "Surprised you, didn't she?" He looked like a proud mother that was boasting his daughter's grades to the elder folk, "It was the time when the Kuchiki clan had that celebration dance—recital—thing."
"You seem quite proud in corrupting Rukia," Shuhei stated dryly, the door slammed open and high squeal emitted through the doorway, "Speaking of corruption, Captain Zaraki and Lieutenant Yachiru have arrived."
"Captain, the drinking game doesn't start till another hour." Yumichika greeted, midnight-blue orbs watched his evil grin.
"I guess we're just going to have to start early!" Kenpachi laughed, his teeth sharp and maniacal. Yachiru smiled, her red orbs gleeful.
The dim lights reflected off of Yachiru's cotton candy colored hair, the murmuring of the bar had gotten louder, and Rukia had excused herself and sat in a stall watching the commotion from afar. It was funny how they amused themselves with such simplistic things, Renji was laughing almost animatedly, with his hand slapping Yumichika on his back, whom was quite irritated with his beastly manner, and Captain Kyoraku was laughing at almost everything that Rangiku was saying—which in return made Shuhei annoyed.
Captain Ukitake decided that it was time to check up on Rukia, considering that he hasn't seen his officer in the span of a week, "How are you, Rukia? Shiro sure keeps you busy, hm?"
There were always those double implications when he spoke—always.
She quirked her lips, a small husky chuckle released from the confines of her mouth, "He's a slave driver. How could you release me into his charge?"
It was spoken teasingly of course, but it did astonish Ukitake. Prim and proper—that's what she was. Rukia had mountains, upon stonewalls around her heart, she didn't let just anyone in. But it was the way she worded her words rather than the tone of her voice—no; it was everything. She spoke freely, embracing—light and airy. There wasn't the need for prim and proper manners—it was like she was comfortable in her own skin—he mentally shook his head, no, that wasn't it either.
Rukia was always comfortable in her own skin—ability-wise. Humble. It's like a weight that has been lifted off of her shoulders, carefree, and it suited her marvelously.
Perhaps, this arrangement worked for the best, he mused.
"Shiro-chan can't be that bad," Ukitake smiled, his eyes crinkled in that good-hearted way, with his head tilted slightly, innocuous.
The dark-haired woman shook her head, her eyes glittered with something akin to amused exasperation, "He had me as a practice dummy for the new recruits."
Her Captain winced, "That was a bit much," He leant his back against the chair, "And your shinsei sainou?"
Rukia grinned subtly, cupping her chin with her left palm she blew against his cup, a gentle frost covered the bottom of the cup, turning the drink into an ice cube, "It's really good,"
Captain Ukitake threw his head back and laughed, "That's incredible Rukia, your powers are only getting better and better."
She was hesitant to bring it up, only because she never spoke to her Captain about it, "Captain Hitsugaya thinks that I should take the Lieutenant's exam."
His laughter came to an immediate stop, now his eyebrows rose, "Now, why would he think that?"
A new voice interjected, a hand pressed onto the top bar of the chair where Rukia sat, an elbow pressed onto the hard corner of her chair, and when he spoke, he spoke right next to her ear, words that seemed louder than she thought was possible—she was so stunned to hear his voice, she didn't even flinch.
"Who, would think what?" Hitsugaya asked, his voice was a soft drawl; the dim lights made his hair seem like a soft gold, despite the silver highlight.
Ukitake blinked at the sudden closeness that the ice-captain chose to accumulate with his subordinate, just what in the world? He tilted his head and smiled anyway. "Why, Captain Hitsugaya, we were talking about you."
He raised an eyebrow even though Rukia couldn't see it, she could feel it. The underside of her jaw twitched imperceptibly, his hands were still on the rail of her chair, she wasn't leaning, but if she did, his hands would be beneath her shoulder blades. She shifted the weight to her core, leaning onto the table.
"Oh?" He took a seat next to Rukia, she didn't turn her head to look at him, she wanted to of course, but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her startled expression. "About what?"
The man with long-haired was still smiling, Rukia decided that her Captain's smile could count as weapon, the man was cunning—like Captain Unohana in a way, but still remained kind to her and to his squad members.
"Rukia tells me that you think she should take the Lieutenant's exam. Now why is that? And how do you even know about the exam?" It was a sharp smile he gave.
The ice-captain didn't blink, but looked at him shrewdly, the dark-haired woman decided now was the time to look at him, because he was the one that announced to his recruits that she would be taking the exam.
"You of all people should know that Rukia is more than capable of becoming a Lieutenant."
It was more of the way he carelessly used her first name rather than her surname, which captured Captain Ukitake's attention, his notice—sharpened. He could have sworn that when he spoke to her, he used her surname—what changed?
"I know Rukia is capable of becoming a Lieutenant," Ukitake's smile became sharper, "She is my subordinate of course."
Hitsugaya snorted, "Yes, that may be true. However," He flickered his teal orbs to meet her patient violet ones, "You have seem to have forgotten that I have been training with her as well, so wouldn't that make her my subordinate as well?"
Jushiro Ukitake was a kind man by nature. He was the type of man that could have been passed as royalty, for the grace and humility that he exuded when speaking and by his actions. He treated those around his with regard—honorable, that was what the Soul Society saw him as. Ukitake is extremely protective of the members of his squad and his subordinates—especially Rukia.
Rukia watched her Lieutenant, her mentor, her friend—die in her arms. It broke her. Even when she was placed on his squad, she was shy, and graceful, but she was so happy. After Kaien's death, to her Captain, Rukia seemed hollow. As if something was missing, it was after intense scrutiny—mostly about Ichigo—did he notice that she became much happier—just like before.
Shunsui thought that it was his fatherly instincts, perhaps it is his fatherly instincts, he mused. The thought of Rukia of suffering like that brought something out in him, something treacherous and dark.
So imagine his surprise when Captain Hitsugaya brought up the topic, waved it in his face and, looked at her.
He knew for certain that when Hitsugaya decided to tangle his life with Rukia, that he was going to become some part of her life—a part of everything—he accepted that. Danger seemed to follow her through the pits of hell. However, Captain Ukitake did not account for Captain Hitsugaya to hold some sort of—connection, was it? It definitely wasn't attraction—that for sure he was certain, it was—something. Something.
They weren't friends, no.
It was something intangible.
Just because Ukitake gave Shiro treats and gifts and such—did not mean that he trusted him with Rukia's feelings—Hitsugaya may be similar to him in hair and in name, but this was Rukia. He was willing to put his own life on the line to save her from her execution.
If Hitsugaya hurt Rukia in anyway, there would be hell to pay.
"She is your subordinate just as she is mine." Ukitake stated simply, bark-colored orbs flickered towards his still-iced cup.
Hitsugaya followed his movements, he breathed out and it sounded like a chuckle, "Her shinsei sainou is pretty good," His eyes lit up with a bright fire, "She should ace her exam, right?"
The man was excellent in mind games.
But it was suffocation that he used. Ukitake was used to suffocation, his lungs made sure of that. He would be forced to play his hand. The disease burnt his lungs, like fluid spewing up volcano and rushing down like sludge. He knew that Shiro was master tactician and strategist—but the man was meticulous.
Ukitake wasn't looking for fight, he wasn't an aggressive type of person—he would lay the cards on the table and observe what the snow-captain would do.
"Rukia, can you get me a cup of sake. Iced alcohol isn't my specialty."
She looked hesitant, but she nodded.
When she left, Captain Ukitake's topaz orbs hardened. "Do you have any idea what you are doing Hitsugaya?" His breath was hitched, hard to put together because his lungs were burning, but it remained in that placid cool tone.
"Of course," He paused, aqua orbs burned brighter, "But I would like a reason."
And he was well within his rights to ask so.
He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Despite by not being of blood. Rukia is essential to the Kuchiki clan as the adopted sister of the head of the clan. If something should happen to Captain Kuchiki then the responsibilities as the head shall fall on Rukia. Captain Kuchiki doesn't want his sister to become a Lieutenant." His blunt fingernail dug into the ice that frosted his cup, "If she dies or something happens to her he would be forced to take a wife—again."
Hitsugaya's eyes were calculating now, the idea of Rukia becoming clan heir released a bitter taste in his mouth, Byakuya's reasons sounded irrationally selfish. He tried again, he clicked his teeth, "Lieutenant's duties cover just paperwork and political matters—they are almost never on the field—"
A new voice interrupted, "For a master tactician, you are being unusually slow." Captain Kyoraku's voice drawled in, his dark eyes were hazy, he slung his arm around his sick friend's neck, "Rukia has ties to the substitute shinigami, it is because of her we have such an ace in the hole. She has a hell of a lot more field experience that most of us. Old man Yamamoto will want to send her on more field assignments."
The ice-captain's eyebrow twitched, the drunk was pretty accurate when he wanted to be.
Ukitake coughed, "Plus the Lieutenant's exam for women—they're pretty brutal."
He didn't hesitate, "Rukia can handle it."
Jushiro looked at Shunsui, "That's what I'm afraid of."
Kyoraku shook his head, "Look Captain Hitsugaya, I know you aren't well-versed in the political manner of clans, I also know you're young and all that, and you don't really think of things like this, but—the little Kuchiki sooner or later will have to get married, and produce an heir—she can't do that if she dies."
It was like all the air in his lungs disappeared, Hitsugaya tried to rack his brain for a rational rebuttal, but things seemed to get foggy after that, "Surly not now—she's too young to get married—"
"Rukia is nearly fifty, she's about twenty years older than you—she is young enough to bare children, healthy children—"
"Her brother is a Captain—he has some power in the Thirteen Court Guard Squad, wouldn't it better for the reputation of the clan if she became a Lieutenant?"
Ukitake raised his eyebrows, he couldn't disagree, Yoruichi was chief and commander of the Covert Ops, perhaps it would buy her some time if she became a Lieutenant—he wasn't in the mood to fight with big brother Byakuya—Shiro would have to fight with him on his own.
Shunsui's voice was tinged with good humor, "It seems like are great and mighty tactician isn't so slow after all. You just found a loophole."
But of course, Ukitake and Kyoraku already knew that the little Kuchiki could become a Lieutenant—with or without the clan's approval—it was just a matter of motive.
After all, when Captain Hitsugaya is informed about the requirements and the content that is on the Lieutenant's Exam—he would think twice about pushing her to take the test.
Hitsugaya shrugged.
Rukia came back carrying a small cup of sake; she blinked when Captain Kyoraku suddenly draped himself over Captain Ukitake, almost deliberately. Her Captain was still smiling, but he swiftly to the drink and dismissed himself with the excuse of taking his best friend home.
He left quickly.
Rukia was alone with Hitsugaya sitting next to her. It wasn't awkward; she wouldn't allow it to be awkward. It was uncomfortable enough with him already, despite her spending a ridiculous amount of time with him—at least she had a reason.
Which led her to previous question.
"What are you doing here?"
She silently cursed her thoughts—she was supposed to ask: just what did her Captain say.
But it made her curious, surly he wasn't here for Shuhei's birthday—
"I was looking for my Lieutenant," Hitsugaya sighed irritably, before running his hand threw thick snow locks, "I had to pick up her slack and finish her paperwork."
She lifted her hand to point to the blonde that was currently laughing hysterically at Kira, "She's over there."
He snorted, "I noticed."
She blinked again, but she didn't say anything. What she wanted to say was what are you still doing here?
He answered her unspoken question, "A drunk Matsumoto isn't appealing to talk to."
Which led her to her other problem. The glass of sake—right in front of her. Should she drink it, or should she not drink it? Rukia was not an alcoholic, but she would feel a hell of a lot better if she did drink it. She was conflicted. Hitsugaya seeming to pick up on her dilemma scoffed amusedly.
"I don't drink, Kuchiki," He paused, "It would be a shame to waste the drink."
Only with the slightest bit of hesitance, did she down the cup in one go and her companion watched her with raised eyebrows. The liquid burnt her throat be she forced a face of nonchalance as she place the cup back onto the table.
"Now that's something you don't see everyday."
She quirked a brow, "When have you ever seen me drink?"
He shrugged. "Again, it didn't seem like something you would do."
Rukia pointed out, "You don't know me."
Hitsugaya stared at her with such an intensity she felt something uncomfortable twist in her stomach. "I know."
It was statement but it sounded more like an unspoken promise.
There were things in life that she knew she couldn't answer to. Why did she choose to attach herself to Ichigo? Why did she have to loose her powers? Why did she feel so useless? When would the Soul Society finally have its age of peace? Why was Captain Hitsugaya like an incurable infection she couldn't get rid of?
"Why are you still here, if you're not here to—"
"Captain!" Matsumoto's voice squealed, dropping her arms around her very prickly Captain, she nuzzled him with her head as her breasts pressed flat against his back. "Are you here for Shuhei's birthday?"
Rukia watched with poorly constrained amusement.
"Matsumoto! Get off of me!" Hitsugaya tried to shrug her off, but she just tightened her grip on his shoulders, her hiccupping laughs, Rukia found endearing.
"But, why?" She whined, her hands went around his neck and he sputtered. Blurry sapphire orbs caught the small woman in front of her, the other object of her affections, hastily releasing her bluing Captain, "Rukia! You're still here!"
Rangiku all but leapt over the table to swallow the little Kuchiki in her arms, the force of the Lieutenant's ardent affections had Rukia sliding off her chair and she braced herself for the hard wood floor—
An ice claw made it's way across her waist within the time span of a quarter of a second, the claw yanked her forward, over the table and in the arms of a male.
Rukia blinked.
Wasn't she just sitting over there—
Matsumoto was on the floor with her arms hugging around an empty space.
"Would you control yourself, Matsumoto?" Hitsugaya was yelling right near her ear and she cringed.
She did not enjoy being passed around like a saltshaker.
"Stop hogging Rukia, Captain!"
Rukia was brought back to the familiar conversation, argument actually, from yesterday.
"You nearly trampled her!"
"I was going to hug her!"
A scoff, "You mean suffocate!"
An eyebrow twitched, her tightly constrained temper was just a mere seconds away from exploding—they were arguing just like, just like Ichigo and Renji! Not to mention, Hitsugaya still had her in his grip and still yelling in her ear! What was wrong with these people?
"You're so stingy—"
Rukia exasperated, she broke out of his hold and with the quick movements of her feet she stomped away, and snapped, "Would you stop arguing like children!" She pointed to Matsumoto, "You, stop baiting him!" She pointed at Hitsugaya, "You, stop screaming in my ear." She scowled darkly, "It's Shuhei's birthday, so please, for the love of God, behave!"
A headache began to pulse in her temples. The alcohol may have wavered her confine on her emotions, but they were just pissing her off—mannerisms be damned.
"You're so cute when you're angry, Rukia!" Rangiku grinned, sitting on her chair.
"Did you just yell at a Captain?"
She didn't look at him, nor did she dignify that question with an answer.
"What's going on?" Renji suddenly walked in along with Shuhei, his eyebrows raised and a frown playing on the corner of his lips, "I heard you yelling."
Rukia's scowl deepened, she pointed her finger at the two people sitting around the table, and "They were arguing—like, like children!"
She knew that she hit a sore spot for Hitsugaya; his Lieutenant on the other hand did not look so bothered by her accusation.
She knew she should have stayed home.
Rukia turned to face the intoxicated Shuhei, "I hope you have a good night, Shuhei. I'm going home."
The dark-haired man smiled and tilted his head.
She didn't bother to speak to the other witnesses in the bar as she stormed out. Her ear was still ringing from the Ice-Captain's yelling, she finally understood why her Nii-sama disliked Ichigo and sometimes Renji—they were so freakin' loud!
Rukia hadn't realized how long she stayed at Kyoko's, it was night—the sky was dark and the moon was the only light that illuminated the dirt path. Her Nii-sama would be home soon, she needed to get home.
If she didn't get home before her brother, she internally winced; she would be in for a scolding.
Despite her brother's very indifferent personality, the man would give an arm and a leg to keep his younger sister safe. Considering that he had pleaded with the Thirteen Court Guard Squad—to not recommend her to become a Lieutenant—spoke on it's own.
Really, her life was ridiculous.
"Kuchiki!" Hitsugaya's voice called out to her, instead of running towards, he used shunpo to reach her in a fraction of a second. He was suddenly in front of her and she swayed back, her eyes narrowed.
"Captain Hitsugaya, is there something I can help you with?" She gritted out, she tried to pull her cool and calm mask from the back of her brain, but she couldn't seem to grasp it. The alcohol had ruled over her inhibitions, her control, and her ire.
He glared at her, and the force of his teal orbs with the slight twitching of his jaw made it very visible that she had indeed, pissed off the Captain of the Tenth Division. But she honestly did not care.
"Don't walk away when I'm talking to you!" He nearly snarled.
She rose an eyebrow, her teeth tight, "You weren't speaking to me."
There was tick in his snowy eyebrow, his bit his tongue from saying something he knew he would regret later on, "I didn't know you had a temper."
"There are a lot of things you don't know about me."
The wind whistled threw the branches, the warm air sliding over her skin, Rukia started to walk back towards the Kuchiki compound, Hitsugaya on her footsteps.
"Aren't you going to ask what Ukitake said when you left?" He inquired curiously.
"No."
A pause, "Why?"
"Why should I?"
"It's your future." Hitsugaya bit out wryly, his words held double implications, and it caused her to pause mid-step, before she began to walk again.
"Fine," Rukia agreed with closed eyes, when she opened them she stared directly in front of her, "Then tell me, Captain."
Hitsugaya glanced at her and tried to pick on her motive. He replied bluntly, "Captain Kuchiki does not want you to be a Lieutenant. If you die then he will have to remarry and produce an heir."
She laughed bitterly, "The heir and the spare, huh?"
He tilted his head and watched the branches sway as he spoke again, "You're not surprised."
"The Kuchiki clan may be a prestigious clan, but the politics are quite brutal."
"What does that mean?"
Rukia shrugged, "If you're talking about an heir, if you're talking about me having to get married, if you're talking about anything that has to do with the clan—I've heard it all."
Hitsugaya watched her from the corner of her eye, he responded, "And it doesn't bother you?"
"There's only been one man in my life whom I wanted praise from—only one man that I wanted approval from—"
He interjected knowingly, "Your brother."
"Yes," Her amethyst orbs almost looked sad in the moonlight, "But despite that, I want to become a Lieutenant—even if he doesn't like it, I know he wouldn't stop me."
He was curious, his voice a deep rumble, "And how would you know that?"
She smiled softly at nothing in particular, "Because that's not the type of person Nii-sama is."
Hitsugaya tried to comprehend the very complicated relationship that Captain Kuchiki and Rukia Kuchiki have. Perhaps it was relationship that he, wouldn't even begin to understand. That just frustrated him even more, because now, he was so permanently invested in her life and those around her—it made everything complicated. He was left in the dark and he did not like that.
The compound wasn't far again; he could see the Calla lilies that bloomed onto the cobblestone pathway, that's where the gates lay. He took another step and felt a waiver of something—he paused mid-step, something, his eyes narrowed—it was faint like a—
There.
"Sit upon the Frosted Heavens: Hyorinmaru!" Hitsugaya sneered, ice shot in dragons towards a lightening bolt.
Rukia used shunpo to jump back and watched their attacker at a better angle. He was man with dark purple hair, a red streak towards his left sideburn—old, wrinkled, and the man-looked ancient.
Who the hell is he?
He moved again, this time swinging his blade onto the ground, electricity singed the ground and both ice-users jumped into the sky. Rukia's fingers twitched, ice ropes formed like threads weaving in the air, thrusting her hand out, the ice rope came flailing at the intruder with the force of a flail.
"So I get two ice-users, how intriguing?" The man laughed, he flung his zanpakuto towards them, lightening shooting like pure fire—she moved behind him, "Dance: Sode no Shirayuki. Hakuren!"
Ice pointed like a blizzard, Hitsugaya used his ice dragon to coil around his waist, the mist burning his skin, but suddenly he was behind her—violet orbs widening she barely managed to duck the cut—she didn't even feel him!
"Rukia!" Hitsugaya yelled, he grabbed the back of her sleeve and pulled her next to him, flicking his zanpakuto sideways he sent ice needles flying in the wind. Her shinsei sainou amplified the needles into spears—cutting the air like knives.
When the snow-captain saw that blade glimmer in the moonlight, nearly slicing her waist—he didn't think, he just did.
He fell back and laughed again, "I don't have time for your pathetic attacks—"
"Who the fuck are you?" Hitsugaya snarled and his eyes were glowing neon. He rushed forward snapping his zanpakuto against his blade, metal snapping on metal. He was angry, fuming, his ire strengthening his blows, but he still remained analytical to his moves.
Rukia winced at the profanity.
Captain Hitsugaya rarely swore and if he did, it sounded crude.
The dark-haired woman raised her hand out, her palm emitting a mist; she was burning his foot with frost—the frost not even bothering to touch her companion's feet.
"Angry are you?" He mocked emptily, "If you just give me what I'm looking for, I'll gladly be on my way."
Hitsugaya pulled back his zanpakuto; slashing it forward and then jutting it back sideways, "That is not what I asked you."
Rukia interjected, her voice blank and dark as the night sky, "And what is it that you want?"
Green eyes flickered over to her, his teeth sharpened, almost like canines, his zanpakuto swung like lightening—
"Bakudō number Sixty-One: Rikujōkōrō!" Rukia stopped his movements with six rods of light, binding him into temporary prison.
He hissed when the light slashed into his body, as if the lights were actually burning him, "You bitch—just wait. You're going to wish I killed you."
Hitsugaya, with butt of his zanpakuto, slammed the jut of his zanpakuto towards his neck—the man slamming onto the ground.
Rukia kicked his ribs, turning him over, "Now who are you and what do you want?"
He licked his lips, he snarled but didn't speak. Hitsugaya used Flash steps, and suddenly he was right next to her, his blade right under his jaw, his foot lodged on his stomach, he hissed darkly, "She asked you a question. Answer."
His foot twisted in his gut and the man choked out with venom, "Rukia Kuchiki."
She stiffened and she didn't dare look at Captain Hitsugaya. His reiatsu was pulsing, not visible but she could feel the waves of his spiritual pressure increase dramatically. But he said her name, she didn't who he was, so, what the hell did he want from her?
Hyorinmaru lay taut and sharp against the man's neck, he was burning with rage, and so he spat, "Why?"
Hitsugaya couldn't understand how Rukia made herself a target. After Aizen's fall and the Bounts invasion—he thought things would fall back into normalcy. Clearly, he was wrong. He felt something like poison seep into his blood when he heard her name escaped the bastard's mouth—what do they want with her?
Hadn't she suffered enough?
It was fury that clouded his vision and that was dangerous. When anger blinds a person, you couldn't see anything but the person that you intend on destroying. He could end up hurting the little Kuchiki, but what the hell do they want from her?
But the Bakudō didn't last long, he broke free from his bindings, slamming his zanpakuto against the small woman, using electricity to zap her—Hitsugaya slammed his zanpakuto at his shoulder, but he ducked flipping back and Rukia trudged forward unsealing her zanpakuto, "Dance: Sode no Shirayuki. Tsukishiro!"
A beam of white, an ice pillar shot mid-air and she used to elevate her position blowing a whirlwind of ice, ice that shot like knives. Hooking threads of reiatsu into the ice, she yanked it back—like dagger slicing threw the air, she managed to cut a few swipes of his body, red scratches dripping with blood.
He snarled.
"Captain Hitsugaya! Rukia!" Renji yelled, seemingly sober, came running, "I felt your reiatsu flare are you—"
That idiot!
Rukia gritted her teeth.
"Oh? So you're Rukia, then." The man stated surprise coloring his tone, "And you do have the mannerisms and pride of a Kuchiki—but not necessarily the arrogance. How quaint." He laughed and she felt horror curl in her blood, "Looks like I walked right into my…target."
"Who the hell are you?" Renji spat, his hand on his zanpakuto twitching.
"Another guard dog!" He laughed again, green eyes looking more and more like scum every time the moon glinted in those pools of his, and he continued, "You sure have your work cut out for you, Rukia."
"Stop dodging the question, you bastard," Hitsugaya's teeth were starting to hurt, the pressure of his clenched jaw and the grinding of his teeth were starting soften the nerves, "Who the hell are you?"
He paused, "I didn't tell you my name? How unforgiving—"
"Koga Kuchiki," Byakuya's voice broke in and it startled Rukia. Captain Hitsugaya, his Lieutenant and his sister looked at him, his zanpakuto already unsealed, "You have finally decided to show your face."
Koga, looked at Byakuya, his eyes piercing, his lips curled, "Judging from the hair pins, and scarf—I'd say you're the head of the clan."
"That would be correct."
He snorted; his eyes focused on Rukia's once more, "Unfortunately, I've come for one purpose and one purpose only, and that is for Rukia Kuchiki."
Byakuya's charcoal orbs narrowed, quiet fury melted into cold calculations, "And why is that?"
Koga looked curious, just why was this bothering him so much, she was just another member of the clan, so why—then it clicked. "She must be important to you if you're getting so worked up about this—who is she, your wife?"
There was subtle twitch in the Clan's head's jaw.
"Your cousin maybe? Sister?"
The way Rukia's hand twitched gave him the answer.
"Your little sister, hm?" He mused, "And judging by the two guard dogs you have here—"
An ice dragon snapped forward, nearly ripping off his left shoulder, he jumped back and glared.
Hitsugaya looked almost uninterested, but his voice was sparking with reiatsu, a drawl that was blank, and "Sorry, but you were boring me."
Byakuya didn't even breathe when he used shunpo to slam his zanpakuto against his. Koga's zanpakuto resembled a fishing hook, there was two blades, one that cut and the other to hook. He flickered back slamming his zanpakuto to the left, cutting the air like a ghost.
Sparks filtered the air.
Koga's zanpakuto glided over Byakuya's and within a hairsbreadth—he flickered to the right, slashing Koga with his zanpakuto.
Blood splattered on the ground.
Koga cursed.
Renji was about to release his shikai and Rukia stopped him with the flick of her wrist, "Don't. This is Nii-sama's fight."
Hitsugaya pushed the rest of his weight on the back of his left leg, crossing his arms under his chest after he sheathed his zanpakuto. Politics. Clan politics. It was nasty business, but not only that—he flickered his eyes to the smaller woman next to him—it was a law for the Gotei Thirteen not to meddle in the affairs of the noble family—unless, his eyes narrowed, unless of course, there was treason against the Soul Society.
"Rukia," He started off, his posture seemed casual, but she could see the strain in his hard jaw, "Do you know him?"
"No." A pause, "I've never seen him before."
Renji cut in, "So what the hell does he want from you?"
Her eyes were crystal from a moment, "I don't know."
Koga suddenly roared, "I have had enough of your games! Kongōbaku!" A blast of fire erupted from his halberd; a red canon spitting fire came flying at Byakuya.
"Hadō Thirty-three: Sōkatsui."
A blue canon clashed with the fireball, the smoke collecting in threads and then Koga pulsed his reiatsu into the remains, a smirk curled onto his lips, her Nii-sama's eyes narrowed—like grasping straws he yanked the spiritual pressure back like a whip, the red fire cannon splitting into miniature beams.
Byakuya was not Koga's target.
"Renji, move!" Rukia used shunpo and shoved her red-headed baboon towards the left, gasping, she slid back into the air—Hitsugaya parallel to her, his hair ruffled in the wind—
The beams suddenly froze and Koga snapped his reiatsu thread back—
The beams connected like a lash and when her ancestor yanked the thread back—the strand of fire whipped her back. She slammed face front onto the ground.
"RUKIA!"
.
.
.
You tried,
You tried to warn me
.
.
.
When Rukia woke up, she noticed that she was in her room, lying on her stomach, facing her closet door with Renji, Captain Hitsugaya and Byakuya sitting near her bed. She suddenly found it hard to breathe with the way her chest was pressed tightly against the floor.
She tried to move, but she yelped when she felt blinding pain shoot over her spine.
"Easy, easy. You took the brunt of the blow." Hitsugaya chided softly, placing her shoulders parallel to her hips.
She mumbled something unintelligible.
"I'm sorry Rukia, I should've—"
"Just shut up Renji," Rukia snapped tiredly, "It's done and over—please move on."
"Rukia," Byakuya started, "How are you feeling?"
She didn't know if she was on drugs or if the alcohol was still in her system, but she answered him with sarcasm lacing her tone, "Like someone shoved a damn curling iron into my spine."
Even though Rukia couldn't see, her brother blinked, as if shocked by her response. But judging from the reply she gave him, she couldn't fault him for it—today was an off day, for her.
"I couldn't get a hold of Captain Unohana," Renji grimaced, his hand patted her head, "You think you can stay like this until morning?"
Rukia apparently found enough energy to turn her head and glare at the baboon.
So she wasn't on drugs.
Perhaps it was the alcohol.
"Renji," Her Nii-sama addressed, "You may retire for the night. There is something I must discuss with Rukia."
Renji tensed for a moment before nodding, leaving the room with her, Captain Hitsugaya and Byakuya.
Hitsugaya raised a brow, "I assume you want me to leave as well."
Byakuya's tone was indifferent, colder than ice when he spoke, "Would you if I had asked you?"
"No."
"Then I saved my breath, did I not?"
Rukia did not like this. She did not like this at all.
"Nii-sama?" She croaked, maybe she would earn some sympathy points for acting pathetic.
He paused to look at his sister, his eyes fractionally warmer, and "Koga Kuchiki is our uncle. He rebelled against the Soul Society long before I was born. Grandfather told me about him before he died, that I needed to be ready to face him one day."
"So what does that have to do with me?"
"Have you had any contact with shinigami outside of the Soul Society?"
Rukia blinked, "Besides Ichigo? None."
He inhaled, "I suppose we will have to start an investigation," Charcoal orbs narrowed, "What are you still doing here?"
Hitsugaya raised an eyebrow, "Listening."
"Clearly," A pause, "As much as I appreciate you training with Rukia, you do not have any business attending to clan matters."
Teal orbs burned with a brewing storm, "I have no interest in your clan matters. However, it includes Rukia, my subordinate," He paused, "Therefore it is my business."
Not wanting to be caught in the crossfire, she exhaled loudly, she tried to lift her head to glare at the nosy Captain of Squad Ten, but the sudden movement caused her to cry out. Hurt rippled like threads of water across her back, clouding her vision to red and then white, then back again.
Hitsugaya abruptly positioned himself on the side of her back, his hand hesitating for the briefest moment before he unsheathed Hyorinmaru and sliced threw the back of her kimono.
Rukia's eyes were wide and she shrieked, "What the hell are you doing?!"
Byakuya's hand grasped his Hitsugaya's wrist in a tight, painful lock. His eyes were like smoke, raging with blackness, "Hitsugaya."
It was a warning.
He scoffed, not at all intimidated by the Head of the Kuchiki clan. "I'm going to heal her. Our shinsei sainou are compatible." His voice was slightly mocking, his eyes glinting mischief, "I do not think it is appropriate to see your sister in this state of undress."
It took all of Rukia's will power not to scream into her pillow.
Byakuya removed his grip, his eyes never leaving his and then he turned to his sister. He was in his own damn house and he couldn't do anything. His hands were tied. "Get some rest, you must recover quickly." Turning back to face the younger Captain, he looked at him in a way that would seem like a glare, "I will be back in one hours time, if you are still here—I will escort you out."
Her Nii-sama left the room without a reply, his spiritual pressure darkening with every step.
Rukia turned her head to the side, "Do you get a kick out of trying to annoy Nii-sama?"
Slightly stunned by her bluntness and her irritability, he replied back pleasantly, "Yes, it's quite amusing."
She scoffed, burying her head into the pillow.
Hitsugaya turned back to his task in front of him. He sliced threw the top part of her kimono, he removed the pieces of cloth that were strewn across her body. Two deep gashes were lashed across her back, a half-inch thick and a foot long. The maids wrapped her in bandages, and cleaned the bleeding—but the cut wasn't clotting.
He grimaced, "I'm going to remove your bindings,"
She couldn't stiffen so, she released a long breath, "What."
"Are you nervous?" He couldn't help but ask amusedly, "I won't peek if that's what you're worried about."
Her face began to burn, "No! It's just…"
"Just?"
"My bindings tie in the front," Rukia said quietly.
"Oh," A pause, "You don't have to worry about that."
Confused, she asked, "What?"
Hitsugaya hooked his zanpakuto underneath the sides of her bindings and ripped the tough cloth.
"You ripped my bindings!"
"Clearly."
"Why are you so obsessed with destroying my clothes?" She asked frustrated, she completely missed the double implications.
Hitsugaya surprised her by tucking a strand of hair that was covering her eyelashes, behind her left ear, "It's actually a favorite past time of mine now."
She didn't even bother to comment. She groaned.
Hitsugaya removed the bloodied bandages, and the rest of the cloth that was draped over her skin. She was bare from the hips up. He bit the inside of her cheek, taking the wash rag that was soaking in a bucket of water beside him, he wiped the blood that was caked onto her pale skin.
The gashes looked more like dry pink flesh, placing a hand on her lower back, he leaned onto her back, his mouth mere millimeters from her skin and started blowing a fine mist, a mist that shimmered silver in the moonlight.
The wounds began to close, the flesh healing into impeccably smooth skin.
This went on for twenty minutes—in silence.
Rukia counted the fine bumps on her walls to distract herself from how close and just where his mouth was. She felt his hair brush the sensitive skin of her back and she tried to force the goosebumps back into her skin—her body was in fact, against her.
She hid the slight tremor with a deep breath.
The hand on her lower back slid up her small waist and onto the widening backbones, his rough, callous hand unconscious caressing her bare skin, he placed pressure on her skin and she tried not to squeak.
"Tell me when it hurts," Hitsugaya finally said, he used both hands to press deep into the tissue of her back and she had hard time believing that this wasn't a massage. The heel of his palm pressed onto her shoulder blades, running down the line bumps of her spine with slow ease.
Rukia couldn't help but melt.
Hitsugaya couldn't stop his eyes from capturing the picture that was in front of him. Her smooth skin looked almost like a pearl in the moonlight. Smooth, pristine, and satin-like. The twin dimples at the base of her spine, the jutting hips, the dramatic indent of her waist that broadened into dainty shoulders. The bumps of her spine were most endearing; she had what was that—? A small mole on the curve of her waist, he struggled not to look at the curve of her breast that was flattened against the tatami mat.
His fingers dug into the flesh right above her left hip and near the stem of her spine—she yelped.
He could actually see the muscle spasm.
He clicked his teeth, "Hold on."
Hitsugaya blew over the place that the tissue twitched; only for a moment the blue mist cooled the area.
She felt the muscle loosen. His thumbs pressed down the rest of her back and she didn't move again.
"There," Hitsugaya breathed.
Rukia, very conscious of the way she was bare from the waist down, swallowed her inhibition and grabbed the cloth that was under her chest, she pressed it to her front with a white-knuckled grip. Sitting up, she inhaled deeply, the correct amount of air filled her chest in a cold wave, she turned to face the window, her back facing him, she replied hesitantly, "Thank you for healing me, Captain Hitsugaya."
Gods, this was awkward, here, she was half-naked and she refused to look at the man due to the state of her undress.
Hitsugaya raised an eyebrow, her small bare stature in front of her looked, he couldn't quite pick the word that described what she looked like. But his teal orbs caught the small flesh of red just beneath her twin-dimples.
"I missed a spot, hold still," He replied casually, he moved towards her as she twisted her neck to look at him, kneeling, he grabbed her hips and pushed her down. Now her head was pressed towards her feet and the length of her spine was exposed to him.
"Wait! You don't have to—"
"I'm already here, might as well."
His lips hovered over the small cavity and iced the burn over—smooth skin lay in his wake.
When Hitsugaya pulled back, his lips accidentally grazed the sensitive skin of her spine and this time, he noticed the goosebumps that covered the whole of her back.
So he asked, in an incredulous tone, "Are you cold?"
Rukia shot back up, her spine visibly stiff, her dark hair brushing her shoulders—she refused—refused to look at him. A flush burnt the tip of her ears. She knew first hand, that the only time she was ever cold, was when she was sick, that or she was injured.
But she wasn't injured anymore.
She didn't know how the cold was for him anyway?
So…
"Well, I am naked from the waist up." She answered back, her tone cool and indifferent, a complete contrast to the way she was feeling inwardly.
Hitsugaya narrowed his eyes, "You're lying."
Well, damn.
A nervous giggled bubbled up her throat, but she squashed down with the shake of her head, "No, I'm not—"
A hand trailed the back of her neck and then weaved into thick, dark locks, gently tugging her backwards, she gasped sharply, dark amethyst eyes caught glittering aqua orbs. Her neck stretched back, her collarbones visible and the cloth pressed towards her chest and downwards.
He was a half a foot away from her face and she couldn't look away.
"You're lying, " He repeated, he narrowed snowy eyebrows, "Why?"
To prove his point, he pressed his hand at the same point and her eyes widened.
She squeaked and jumped.
"Alright! My lower back is sensitive, now let me go!" Rukia was so very flustered at the moment; she had never felt this vulnerable and shy before.
Hitsugaya released her from shock more than anything. His eyes were wide and his eyebrows raised, hastily she turned around and scooted back—her cheeks were blazing.
This was so embarrassing!
"Really?"
"Yes!" She groaned.
He tilted his head, but didn't react otherwise. How can he be so calm about this, Rukia wanted to ask. Here she was still under the influence of alcohol, she had a headache.
"There is going to be Captain and Lieutenant summit tomorrow." Hitsugaya stated, it was a complete change in direction. She blinked.
"About Koga?"
"Yes."
She furrowed her eyebrows, "You didn't capture him?"
His voice was flat, and "He disappeared,"
She grimaced.
"I want you to," Hitsugaya actually struggled to find words, "Accompany me along with Matsumoto at the meeting."
Rukia was flabbergasted, "But I'm not a Lieutenant."
"Clearly."
"I'm not allowed to attend the meeting."
He scoffed, "You do realize the summit will be about you, you have to attend."
"As Nii-sama's sister."
"As my subordinate."
"You aren't my Captain, Captain Ukitake is."
Hitsugaya's eyes narrowed, the slight twitch in his jaw was all the warning she needed, "Yes. But you have been spending a bountiful amount of time with me, therefore it would be most beneficial that you come with me."
Rukia suddenly stood up, she didn't even look at him, "Did you even speak to Nii-sama about this, arrangement?"
"Not yet."
"Were you planning on informing him during the meeting?" She asked dryly.
His tone was light and airy, "Well…"
She snapped her eyes to him in disbelief; she scowled "You were going—"
Her sentence ended in a squeal as she tripped on her pants that were quite long, thanks to Hitsugaya's quick cutting, the pants slung low on her hips. She braced herself for the wooden floor, but she felt a hand cover the back of her head and an arm curl around her hips.
Rukia fell back onto her tatami mat, with Captain Hitsugaya on top of her and a mere scrap of cloth covering her chest.
Her eyes locked onto his and something caused her thoughts to go completely blank.
"Rukia, I brought some tea. The healers should be—" The door slid open and Byakuya's quiet voice came to an abrupt halt.
The mere picture of Captain Hitsugaya on top of his little sister, with what looked like a rag covering the front of her chest, made his fingers twitch, his reiatsu darkening with every passing second.
Rukia actually groaned.
This will not end well.
Huzzah! Summer classes have ended!
Basically, Byakuya is going to have a real ball with Toushiro! :D
Check out "Color Theory," it's a Hitsugaya/Rukia anthology!
Note1: Song: The Birds (Part 1) by The Weeknd.
Please Review!