Author's Note: Got some symbolism here. A gold star to anyone who understands who the real birdie is. ;)

A Little Birdie

"Just a little higher."

"Damn it, Rukia, could you hurry up?"

"If you'd stand a little higher I'd be done by now."

Grumbling, Ichigo put his hand against the tree for balance and stood on tiptoe, giving a little more height to Rukia who was sitting on his shoulder, her shoes hitting his ribs as she strained upwards, reaching. The baby bird in her hands plopped into its nest happily, chirping as she put it back where it belonged. It must have fallen out while its mother was away and Rukia, showing her usual concern for cute things, wouldn't leave without making sure it was safe.

"There," she said, content. Ichigo gaze a long-suffering sigh and settled back on his heels, wrapping an arm around her knees to make sure she didn't slip off as he straightened.

"Good. Can we go now? I've got loads of homework."

"Aa," she replied, but instead of slipping down from her perch on his shoulder, she put an arm on his head as if he were an armrest and gazed up at the nest, something moving in her dark eyes.

Feeling the annoyed expression slip from his face, he spoke to her quietly. "It'll be alright, you know."

"Of course! I know that," she said, a little too quickly. He restrained another sigh and knelt down, letting her hop off of him, the pleats of her skirt brushing his cheek. He stood.

In the tree, a flap of wings announced the arrival of the momma bird and he smiled slightly despite himself. "See? He's going to be fine. He's got her to make sure he doesn't fall again."

Something eased in her expression and she glanced at him. "He does?"

He stilled, suddenly wondering what they were really talking about. His voice came softer than he would have liked. "Yeah, he does."

She turned away. "Ichigo! Didn't you say you had homework to do? Come on, let's go home." And she strode off, forcing him to catch up.

"Rukia," he growled, but he didn't mean it. Instead, he shoved his hands in his pockets and followed her.

He had to make sure she never fell.

The End.