So I'm posting chapters faster than I normally would. Hah. Enjoy while the pre-written chapters thanks to NaNoWriMo lasts. XD

Thanks again for all the comments, encouragement and kudos for this fic. You guys are my inspiration. To all those who took the time, this chapter (and the rest of the work) is for you.


新生 : 一石 , 二鳥

Rebirth: One Stone, Two Birds


Rukia was up the following morning before dawn, practicing her swings at the garden all by her lonesome.

Not because Byakuya was late (heaven forbid the Kuchiki lord to be tardy about anything!) Rukia meant to have two hours before her brother was bound to show up to see how different her sword form was now compared to her peak at the previous life.

She and Sode no Shirayuki spent most of the night brainstorming on how to tackle their situation. Like much of her reiatsu, her fighting memory is at the same level it was in the old future. Rukia surmised that, since her memory was relatively intact, she can most likely be able to remember how to do her most complex sword maneuvers, stances and fighting techniques.

The main problem was getting her body to catch up with what she already knew.

Setting aside her height, she was woefully scrawny! Rukia sorely missed the muscles she had built up in the past due to her intensive training, and she had a feeling that she would tire out so easily to the point that the Lieutenant in her would find it downright humiliating.

And she would be right.

"This...is...a nightmare!" Rukia gasped, stabbing her sword to the ground. "I've only had...200 swings! I can't be...this tired already!"

/Was it not that you can only do at most 150 swings when you were at this age?/ Sode no Shirayuki remarked. /You are doing remarkably well, considering that./

Not really if my record is 500.

/Baby steps, Rukia-sama./

It wasn't just her endurance that was a problem. The forms and katas she could perform so smoothly before look and feel awkward, and the results of her chantless basic kido embarrassingly abysmal.

In short, Rukia performed like utter shit.

I can't...believe I was...this weak...! Rukia growled, having fallen onto a seated position after screwing up yet again another attempt at Byakurai without chanting. I failed...Byakurai?! Not even...a spark?! Are you...fucking kidding me?! It's just...Hado #4!

/If you think you are weak now, be thankful we did not return back to the time you were stuck in the Human World./ Sode no Shirayuki fell quiet before shaking her head. /I believe this is enough for now. You should get a bit of rest before—/

"Rukia."

/Speaking of the man himself./

"Ah, good morning, Nii-sama." Rukia forced herself into a standing position and bowed. He appeared already wearing his shihakusho, scarf and Captain haori. The younger Kuchiki berated herself for not taking a moment to make herself more presentable.

"I see you have already started."

"Well, yes, I was trying to gauge the level of fighting abilities first. I thought it would be a good place to start." At her brother's inquiring glance, Rukia blushed in embarrassment before elaborating. "I didn't do even half as well as I hoped I would…"

"That is to be expected. You have been out of commission for months. But with diligent practice, it will only be a matter of time before you return to top form." Byakuya stated evenly while drawing his sword. "Now, if you are ready, come. I wish to test see your form myself."

Rukia gripped her zanpakuto tightly with renewed energy. "Yes, Nii-sama!"


Her first spar with her brother (in this timeline) had gone much better than she had expected.

After trading sword blows with the older Shinigami for about three minutes—something Rukia had been proud of, considering her abysmal skill level at the moment—Rukia discovered a few more things about her fighting skills.

One is that, while her mind retained the sharp alertness and reflexes honed after two long wars, her body again did not. Several times had Rukia's body either moved a second too late or just flat out became uncooperative whenever her mind screamed to jump back, roll or parry. It was really frustrating that she was hit by strikes that at her peak, she could easily block and even maneuver into an opening. Looks like she'll have to add agility on her and Sode no Shirayuki's "Need to Improve" mental checklist.

The second was that, while her chantless kido was laughably weak, her chanted ones were too strong. It nearly burned her hand when she put too much power into her attempt at chanting for Byakurai, much to her surprise. Even her normally immovable brother could not stop the second-long look of shock at the sight. Overpowering a spell never really happened to her after all.

"As I have thought, your reiatsu has increased somehow in addition to becoming unstable." Byakuya said. "That may be the reason why you are having a more difficult time controlling it, aside from the effects of having the hogyoku."

Rukia cleared her throat. "I can't really tell how that happened, Nii-sama. The 4th Division didn't find anything unusual before they discharged me."

The man gave her an almost critical look before he inclined his head. "Our primary concern is for you to stabilize your reiatsu and return your body to fighting form. I do not have much time to train you, but I will teach you what I can. I expect you to apply what you have learned during your own training sessions."

Rukia bowed immediately in gratitude. "Understood. Thank you very much for your time, Nii-sama."

From then on, Rukia's days fell into a pattern: Every morning, Rukia would spend an hour practicing her swings and katas while Byakuya would correct her form every now and then, and another hour meditating and refining her control over her reiatsu. Sometimes, Byakuya would spar with her to see if anything had changed. After her brother would leave, Rukia would spend the most of her time on the conditioning exercises he recommended for her, in addition to some of her own, practice the more complicated sword moves she knew from the old future, and even more meditating. This would continue long after everyone else's day ended into late night or even early morning with as little sleep as needed in between.

The progress felt slow, but Sode no Shirayuki assured her that it was going steadily. Today, however, called for a break in her routine.

Currently, she was a bit outside Seireitei, zanpakuto in hand, ready to try releasing her shikai. It had been five days since she last tried, during her first training morning with Byakuya. All she succeeded doing back then was freezing up at the release command and making herself wish the world would swallow her whole for embarrassing herself in front of her Nii-sama.

She didn't even know why she flinched.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Rukia repeated to herself, gathering her reiatsu and focusing it on her bond with Sode no Shirayuki. She could hear the blowing of snow around her like fluttering wings. She felt the cold fuse with her reiatsu and flare.

Focus, Rukia. The girl thought. Remember how Sode no Shirayuki looked like. Remember how beautiful, how powerful she was. Remember how it felt to call her out to you.

She could see her sword's fluttering ribbon and the hilt…

Almost there. The cold was picking up. The wind was growing louder. Her vision became brighter.

Giant Gerard crushing several Shinigamis underfoot...Lille's giant owl eyes and twisting head staring right at her...Senbonakura and Äs Nödt attacking as one...

Her breathing hitched.

...and then nothing.

"GODDAMNIT!" Rukia snarled as she stabbed the ground in frustration.

/Oh, Rukia-sama, don't be discouraged. I heard your call! I was almost there! I can feel it!/

"Then why can't I do the release? I know the command, but why can't I say it? The shinigami snapped in frustration. I saw you, Shirayuki! I saw your hilt! I was so close!"

Rukia exhaled deeply before taking a seat on the grass, her sword in front of her, and closed her eyes.

I saw you, Sode no Shirayuki. I saw your hilt. I saw your blade. I was so close to reaching you. So why do I keep failing? What is it that's stopping me from reaching you?

The ground, the trees and the afternoon sky faded into a serene perpetually night and starry sky. The sound of a stream cascading into a koi pond. The beat of the bamboo fountain hitting stone. The feel of soft snow against her leg. The brush of a snowflake against her cheek.

Rukia opened her eyes to Sode no Shirayuki sitting across from her in the sanctum of their inner world.


"Sode no Shirayuki." Rukia greeted her dear friend and sole companion with a smile.

Most of the snow lady's white hair fluttered in waves down her oval face and past her shoulders, save for the portion she kept clipped with her blue hair pin, and her slender, ivory form was adorned by a simple white kimono with a white, purple and yellow obi. Her slanted purple eyes and butterfly wing delicate lashes regarded Rukia with a serious and solemn expression, her lips shimmering as if with purple lip gloss drawn into a tight line.

Sode no Shirayuki sighed. "It is as you have said, I have felt you call for me and I was closing to coming to you. But then every time I would try to cross over to your world, there would always be something blocking me."

"Blocking you? Like a wall?"

"A very loud and distorted wall." Sode no Shirayuki elaborated. "You have seen the flashes of memories every time you've tried to perform shikai, have you not?"

Rukia groaned, massaging her temples. That was another reason why she preferred staying up late to train: the memories of all the death and destruction from her past future would come haunting her with a vengeance. It would come and go, specifically if she was around something or someone who would trigger a memory (Renji was a fine example; in fact, so was Byakuya), but they mostly come either when she would try to sleep or during meditation.

"So these memories, they're the ones interfering with our bond?" Rukia clarified. "It's not just because of the fluctuations of reiatsu?"

"It is what you feel about those memories, to be precise." Sode no Shirayuki stated. "I did not realize this at the beginning when our more pressing concern is your reiatsu and you have not yet tried releasing shikai. But after the first few times, after failing for the same reasons, I strongly believe that is the other problem."

"What...I feel?"

"Even if you are not acknowledging or even aware of it, your feelings are diverting your focus, especially your fear. You need to overcome them, or perhaps even just come to accept them, in order to get to our first release."

"I am trying, Sode no Shirayuki. You know that! But…" Rukia bit her lip. "Meditation is helping me with my reiatsu, but every time I try to dig deeper into our bond looking for our shikai, I can't go further! It feels like I'm choking in my own mind! No matter how many times I keep telling myself that it's over, that we have returned to the past, that no one has died and we'll make sure that it stays so. But I...I just can't…I don't know what to do with this!"

"But you do, Rukia-sama. This situation is not new to you. You just need to remember how."

"...Is it too much to ask for you to just tell me?"

"Oh I most certainly can remind you. But believe me, this is something you need to relearn on your own."

The Shinigami let out a groan of frustration. "Well that just makes everything better! If I knew how to deal with this, I wouldn't remain stuck here, would I?"

"Being smart with me will not get you anywhere."

Rukia blushed. "Sorry."

The snow spirit shook her head. "You are understandably frustrated and confused. Perhaps it would help if you had another's perspective to point you to the right direction?"

Rukia mulled over this for a while. "You have a point, but who am I supposed to talk to about this? You know I don't have a lot of options."

"Only because you consciously limit yourself, Rukia-sama. You have people around you who are willing to help. You need but to ask, and perhaps through them, you will remember."

"If that's true, that give me at least—" But Sode no Shirayuki suddenly looked up, making Rukia pause. "Shirayuki?"

"It appears we have to cut your visit short for the time being, Rukia-sama." The snow spirit said. "You have company."

"Company?"

Sode no Shirayuki's smile was an encouraging one. "Why not go and find out for yourself?"


"Hora, if it isn't cute little Kuchiki-chan!"

Rukia looked to see two familiar figures behind her, then immediately jumping up to bow to them. "Kyoraku-taichou! Ukitake-taichou!"

Ukitake smiled kindly at his subordinate while Kyoraku gave a lazy wave.

"I'm glad you're feeling better enough to start training again, Rukia." The silver haired captain said.

"Ah, well yes. It's been quite some time since I last used my zanpakuto. I have so much to catch up on." Rukia answered. "But, if I may ask, what are you doing out here?"

"Ukitake here got bored with lying around the barracks, so I dragged him with me for some fresh air." Kyoraku answered, shooting a lopsided grin at his old friend. "Maybe a bit of sake too?"

"Ahaha, I'd normally take you on that offer, but Unohana-taichou might skin our hides if I do."

Rukia's eyes widened, remembering her Captain's condition. "That's right! Ukitake-taichou, are you sure you should be outside like this? What if you somehow worsen your illness?!"

Ukitake waved the concerns away. "I've been cooped up in my room for far too long. I appreciate Unohana-taichou's concern, but seriously, a week's bed rest for just a little cough is too much!"

It's not a little… Rukia thought, remembering how bad her captain's coughing episodes could get sometimes.

"Anyway, isn't this a little too far away for you to be doing training by yourself?" Kyoraku asked. "Especially since you can't release your shikai yet?"

Rukia tugged at the loose hair strands beside her ear. "Well, I was hoping that I would be able to perform shikai today, or at least be able to manifest some of Sode no Shirayuki's abilities, and I thought this place would be good in case I accidentally freeze something."

"And how did you do?" The disappointment must have shown in her face, for Ukitake sighed. "I take it nothing has changed?"

Rukia nodded glumly.

Ukitake let out a breath, taking a seat next to her. "Don't be too hard on yourself, Rukia. I'm sure you'll be able to regain your shikai in no time."

"But not it's just my reiatsu that is the problem." Rukia said in frustration. "I can feel Sode no Shirayuki coming to me, I can see her, I feel so close to summoning her, but every time I'm about to, I, I flinch for some reason and then I lose the connection." Her hands balled up in her lap.

"...Do you know what exactly is making you flinch, as you call it?" That was Kyoraku.

The petite Shinigami hesitated. Should she tell them? Kyoraku and Ukitake were amongst the most experienced members of the Gotei 13, and Ukitake was her own captain who was one of the kindest and most accepting person she knew. Kyoraku may have his quirks, but she didn't doubt that there was a shrewd mind behind his laidback demeanor.

"Whenever I try to summon my zanpakuto, I see...things." Rukia chose her words carefully. "I see memories, the most disturbing ones, about what happened. It's not that I consciously think about them, but every time I meditate or practice to regain my shikai, they just come, and I can't stop myself from freezing."

The two male Captains traded looks and Ukitake hummed thoughtfully.

"It's embarrassing, for someone who is trained for and has fought in battle to feel like this!" Rukia glowered to the ground. "I am a Shinigami! I know the life that I have chosen to lead and do not feel regret for my choices! And yet to think that I am letting myself be dragged down by something like this…"

"Now you're just being too hard on yourself, little Kuchiki." Kyoraku drawled, having already taken a seat next to Ukitake without her noticing when. "You've been through a very difficult time because of what happened with Aizen. It's understandable that you feel a bit of trauma."

It's more than just Aizen, but Rukia can't exactly mention that, can she? "But so has everyone! And I'm sure you've been through much worse! Yet I'm the only one who can't summon my shikai!"

"And compared to most of us, you were put through the worst of this mess." Ukitake said gently. "You nearly got executed, you had to watch Byakuya allow it to happen, and you had the hogyoku forcibly extracted from you. Not to mention the ghost you have not fully put to rest...that time with Shiba Kaien."

Kaien-dono. Miyako-dono. Rukia smiled sadly. She already made her peace with what happened to them after Kukaku forgiving her and her battle with Aaroniero.

But what about the other things? Like letting so many shinigami die because of her inability to protect them? Like failing to save her brother and her friends? Like indirectly causing the end of the world by her death?

A warm hand went over her shaking knuckles. "Acknowledge those feelings, Rukia." Ukitake said firmly. "The fear, the guilt, the pain. Recognize that they exist, and only then will you find freedom and the strength to fight it back."

"It won't hurt to have someone who's got your back either." Kyoraku gestured at his friend. "Ukitake here has had mine since our Academy days, spent our days studying and sparring together. Not to mention he's great for getting us out of trouble with Yama-jiji."

"Which you are responsible for, most of the time." Ukitake shook his head fondly. "But Kyoraku raises a good point. If you find your feelings too overwhelming for you to handle alone, let someone else help you sort them out. It worked well for me and Kyoraku because we've been friends for so long, and, coincidentally, both wielders of dual zanpakutos."

Rukia hummed in thought. Someone to support me...someone with the same type of zanpakuto...

Byakuya was a brilliant fighter, but no matter how far she would get during training, Rukia felt that she could never amount to his equal, or at least, someone who can challenge him to grow. The same could be said about Ichigo and her as well.

She and Renji would spar every now and then if his work at the 6th Division would permit it, but their fighting styles were so different. It was good training to keep her on her toes, but Rukia could tell that someone like Hisagi or Madarame would be a better match for him.

It's good that Ukitake-taichou and Kyoraku-taichou found the perfect training partners in each other. They're really compatible, down to their dual zanpakutos! Rukia sighed. I'm so envious of them though. I wonder if I can have a partnership like—

White hair, green eyes, almost as short as his temper, with an ice release zanpakuto, who I spent fighting back to back for two months...

Purple eyes widened at the idea. "Will that really help, me having a training partner?"

Ukitake nodded. "Certainly! Take Abarai, Hisagi and Izuru, for instance, as well as Ikkaku and Ayasegawa. The best training partners are the ones who can push you to your limits, someone you can connect and confide with, someone you can trust. It takes time to build that kind of bond, but it's always worth having someone who knows you well enough to fight in sync with in battle."

Toushirou-taichou and I had been like that before! I trust him with my life, and I could talk to him about almost anything! And since we have the same elemental zanpakuto, I can learn a lot more from him than with the others! Rukia thought with a growing smile.

/I am so glad you are finally seeing it my way, Rukia-sama!/

There is this one problem of me being able to push him to his limit so he can learn from me too. But if I want to be his friend again, asking if I can train under him is my best option at the moment. I don't know if I can convince him to take on someone from a different Division, but I can try, right? I just have to show him that I'm worth it!

"—and it doesn't hurt to have more good friends to save your ass either." Rukia returned to the conversation just in time to see Kyoraku's knowing look. "Judging by the look on your face, it looks like you already have someone in mind."

Dear God, was she that readable? "Ah, yes, I—I mean, no not really. Wait, that is to say, actually—!"

The brown haired and silver haired Captains traded looks before Kyoraku chortled. "What's got you worked up, little Kuchiki? There's nothing embarrassing about wanting to be someone's training partner, unless…" The man's laughter turned into a teasing smirk. "You were thinking of a different kind of partnership?"

Rukia was positive her whole face had burst into flames, and Sode no Shirayuki outright burst out laughing. "Wh—what?"

"Don't let the idea stress you out too much! Just because you'll start out as training partners, doesn't mean that's all you'll ever be." Kyoraku wagged his eyebrows suggestively. "If you want to be more, that is."

"Th—that's not what I was thinking at all!" Rukia protested. "There's no way—! H-he isn't—!"

"The forlorn girl, watching her secret love from a distance. Who knows how the fates will bind these separate hearts? Could it be, that training together is the answer?" The bearded captain downed a gulp of alcohol (where the hell did he hide that bottle?) "Ahhh, the stuff of youth and romantic dreams!"

The way Rukia's face was burning, she had to wonder how she was still conscious.

"All right, Kyoraku, that's enough." Ukitake shushed his friend, though he himself had an amused glow in his eyes. "Maa, it's already getting a bit late, don't you think? You should probably be heading home by now, Rukia."

Oh thank Seireitei! Rukia stood up and gave a bow. "Thank you very much for your time!"

"I'm your captain, Rukia. I would be happy to help you any way I can." Ukitake answered. "I'm sorry I can't offer you anything beyond advice. Taking a short walk is one thing, but Unohana-taichou strictly draws the line on sparring."

"Oh, it's OK! I understand! Please don't worry, Nii-sama is helping me too. It's thanks to him that I am getting closer to returning to fighting form." Rukia said.

"Byakuya, huh? Now that's a pleasant surprise." Kyoraku mused with a shrug. "Better not keep him waiting. That kid hasn't really changed from back then, so short tempered."

Huh...Rukia facefaulted. Her perpetually cool Nii-sama? Short-tempered? It was an image she found hard to reconcile.

"Ah, reminiscing makes me feel really old…" Ukitake laughed. "Do try to see me again sometime, Rukia. I'll see if I can find something that can be of better help to you. Even if it's just to talk!"

"Yes, Ukitake-taichou."

Kyoraku grinned. "And if you ever need advice on snagging your secret dream sweetheart—"

"I have no such thing!" No, Rukia absolutely did not squeak, no matter what Sode no Shirayuki would later insist. "P—Please excuse me!"


Rukia made her way to the 13th Division with a determined look on her face.

It had been three days since her talk with Ukitake and Kyoraku, and ever since that time, her free periods included pondering over their advice and bemoaning the fact that she wasn't able to spit out her idea when she had the chance.

To make things worse, she had somehow given Kyoraku some ammunition to tease her with, which is a completely absurd lie, absolutely baseless!

I can't believe Kyoraku-taichou would jump to that conclusion! Rukia huffed to herself. Even in the old future, Toushirou-taichou and I were just really good friends! We just get along really well, and I don't like him that way! Besides, word around is the barracks is that he liked Hinamori-fukutaichou!

/As you say, Rukia-sama./

Exactly! She nodded firmly, not noticing her zanpakuto's odd tone. It's Kyoraku-taichou's fault I wasn't able to mention my idea to Ukitake-taichou two days ago. But this time for sure! After whatever important news Ukitake-taichou has for me.

Earlier this morning, she had received a hell butterfly from the man asking to meet with him at her soonest possible convenience regarding an important matter. Rukia saw it as her chance to finally tell him her suggestion.

She was then hit by a visual of Sode no Shirayuki wave around puffed fluffs of snow that suspiciously look like...pompoms? /Go for it, hime!/

Ukitake seemed oddly energetic when Rukia came by to see him.

"Rukia, come in, come in!" The kind captain waved at her after she had opened the door to his office. "Have a seat! Would you like some tea? Some snacks? Yoruichi gave me some good ones from the real world before she left!"

"You don't have to, taichou—"

"I insist! Here!" Ukitake already shoved a carton into her hands. "Try this! It's some kind of box with fruit juice inside. I personally find it a little too sweet, but I heard that it's a hit with young ones such as yourself!"

...Watermelon flavor? Rukia blinked, torn between amused and exasperated. Even the world was hellbent on reminding her of Toushirou today. "Thank you, Ukitake-taichou. You said you wanted to see me?"

"Right, yes, see, after you left, Kyoraku and I discussed your situation a little more and we've come up with a solution!" Ukitake stated cheerfully. "I would offer to spar with you myself to supplement Byakuya's training with you, but because of my health condition nowadays, Unohana-taichou would obviously not let me, so we came up with something, or rather someone else!"

The girl stared. "You mean, you found me a sparring partner?"

"More of a mentor, actually. Since technically, you'll be working with a senior officer." The Captain said cheerfully. "Think of him as a substitute captain of sorts, at least in the training department."

Rukia couldn't help the pinch of disappointment at that. With two people training her, there was little chance she could make time to spar with Hitsugaya. But since this was arranged by Ukitake, she supposed he only had the best for her in mind. He did mention she was going to be trained by a senior officer (please don't let it be Kyoraku.)

I guess I'll just have to think of some other way to approach Hitsugaya-taichou. "Thank you very much for your help, Ukitake-taichou." Rukia bowed in gratitude. "I promise to do my best and make you proud."

"Think nothing of it! I'm always happy to help my subordinates the best I can! And also," Ukitake's voice suddenly dropped into a whisper that Rukia had to inch forward from her seat to hear. "I was hoping that you would be of help to him too, and not just with training. He's going through a rough time right now, so I think a new friend would do him some good."

Rukia blinked owlishly. "Begging your pardon, taichou, but I'm not exactly a social butterfly myself."

"Exactly why you'll be perfect! Just don't let him intimidate you, and you'll definitely see there's more to him than what meets the eye. There's also the fact that you have identical elemental zanpakuto, so it's a win-win!"

The same elemental zanpakuto? Her heart rate picked up in disbelieving anticipation. "...Ukitake-taichou, who exactly am I going to be training with?"

A voice behind the screen door cut the sickly captain off.

"Seriously, Ukitake, isn't this a little too early to—?" The door opened, and a pair of green eyes met a pair of stunned violets. "Oh."

"Perfect timing!" Ukitake smiled and waved at one apathetic and one shocked Shinigami. "Rukia, meet your new training partner, Shiro-taichou!"

"It's Hitsugaya-taichou!" Hitsugaya snapped. "And it's not like Kuchiki and I haven't met before."

"But it's the first time you'll be training together so introductions are necessary. By the way, Shiro-taichou-chan—"

"...U-Ukitake, again?! Hey, stop! I can't carry all of—!"

The sight of Ukitake showering Hitsugaya with all sorts of snacks and candies would have been a hilarious sight, if Rukia hadn't been so caught up with the turn of events that all she could do was, well, gawk while Sode no Shirayuki did a victory dance in their inner world.

Eeeeeh?!


After heaps of revisions, I am finally satisfied with the way things went with this chapter. There will be one or two more chapters dedicated to the first bit of exposition before we get to a little action.

Toodle-o!


HEADCANONS BOARD:

-Sode no Shirayuki's inner world is a perpetually snowy dimension with a miniature version of the Kuchiki manor complete with its own large garden and koi pond. Rukia and Sode no Shirayuki train in the garden most of the time, but once in a while, Rukia takes to exploring the mini manor in her inner world. The rooms never stay the same after each inner world visit.

-Ukitake partakes in Kyoraku's sake once in a while, and despite his condition, he is not a lightweight. But if he goes past two drinking sessions a week, Unohana will know, and she will skin his hide once she finds out.

-Sode no Shirayuki is a solid HitsuRuki shipper. Not that Rukia knows it, of course. And Kyoraku is a potential convert. :D


OMAKE:

"Ne, Kyoraku, how long are you planning to just lie around here?"

Ukitake turned to his friend lying on the grass and sipping sake. "If Nanao caught you slacking off again, don't come complaining to me that she somehow made all of your sake disappear!"

"Aww, come on, don't be like that. I've been working hard all week, haven't I? Don't I deserve a break?" Kyoraku drawled cheerily, making Ukitake sigh.

"Besides," The straw hatted man's tone went lower. "That little Kuchiki, she gave me something to think about. There is something...off about her."

Ukitake's eyes narrowed slightly. "You sensed it too?"

"Rukia-chan's come from being a victim of a power hungry maniac's machinations." Kyoraku's gaze on Ukitake was sharp. "Whatever it is that she's going through, she's not supposed to come out of it having the eyes of a veteran."

Ukitake saw the question in the other man's gaze. "Rukia has suffered much, from starting life in Soul Society in one of its most dangerous places, up to the disaster at Soukyoku Hill. I will very much regret that I let Kaien purse that Hollow till the day I die, not only because it cost me one of my best soldiers, but also because I put Rukia in a precarious position and through further, unnecessary pain."

"Good grief. This again? You think Byakuya isn't punishing you enough for that?"

"Hardly, I think. But we digress," Ukitake met Kyoraku's eyes again. "About Rukia?"

"Her problem lies in the fact that she needs to get trauma out of her system." Kyoraku fiddled with the reed he put in his mouth. "Byakuya is skilled as a fighter and he has the experience, but there's the fact that he had a hand in getting her nearly killed, which could potentially add to the mental damage, whether Rukia-chan is aware of it or not."

"Rukia's too selfless to put additional guilt on Byakuya's shoulders. And while I am sure that Byakuya will help her the best he can, she will need someone else to support her in ways Byakuya won't be able to at the moment. I would do so myself, if not for my current condition."

"What about Abarai? They're old friends, aren't they?"

"I considered that too, but I was thinking a little farther ahead. He may be able to help get Rukia past her inability to release shikai, but..."

Kyoraku shot him a questioning gaze. "...How far ahead are you thinking, exactly?"

"Once Rukia returns to top form, the only one strong enough to be a challenge to Rukia at the 13th Division would be me. But given my, ah, limitations, I won't be able to push her to develop as much as I would like. I was thinking of matching her to someone who is skilled enough to push her to her limits while not being too overbearing. Someone who can match her temperament and fighting style."

Kyoraku gave his friend a smirk. "Looks like you already have someone in mind."

Ukitake smiled back. "And looks like you already know who I'm talking about."

"You've only been fussing over that brat for the last three days. But I guess it could work, hitting two birds with one stone," Kyoraku lifted his index finger into the air. "That is if he agrees to it. You know how he is lately."

"They'll be good for each other!" Ukitake insisted. "I'll find a way to convince him!"

"Well if someone can do it, I'm sure you can." Kyoraku's grin then became teasing. "My, my, if I didn't know better myself, I'd be saying you're setting them up!"

"S—Shunsui, please! I'm merely looking out for two of my juniors!"

"Not saying that they don't look good together, because they really do." Ukitake sweatdropped at the other Captain's goofy, dreamlike expression. "The Kuchiki Princess and the Little Captain. Wonder what the children will look like?"

"...If Byakuya ever got wind of you saying that, you're on your own!"

"Oi, oi, oi, do you think little Shiro-chan could be Rukia-chan's secret dream sweetheart?"

Ukitake's eyebrows twitched. "Where did you even get that idea? As far as I know, those two have barely even talked to each other! And she's older than him!"

"Not by much, and what does age matter in romance? Tsk, tsk, Juu-chan, you sly dog, I didn't know you had it in you!"

"IDIOT! I'm going home! And stop picking on poor Rukia!"

Kyoraku raised his sakazuki dramatically. "Thus, our fair sweet Rukia melts the Ice Dragon's frozen heart—"

"Leave it alone already!"