Chapter 5: Rukia receives some news, Hitsugaya becomes a third wheel
Before he could think about it, he extended his hand to her. In apparently the same unthinking frame of mind, she took it.
Hitsugaya had convinced himself that asking Kuchiki to stay with him in his office had been a reasonable request. It had been about a month that they had been together and it had been on his mind where she disappeared to every morning. He knew she was nearby but Kuchiki had become so good at manipulating her reiatsu that he couldn't ever pinpoint where she was.
It began to wear on his concentration, wondering where she was. A few times he had taken to walking around outside on his breaks but he never saw a trace of her. It gave him an itchy feeling to feel her so near but not be able to see her. So, for the sake of his concentration and his work he had asked her to stay with him.
Even Hyorinmaru found this excuse to be so thin that he hadn't bothered to comment.
But even with Kuchiki being right there where he could see her, Hitsugaya found himself distracted all the same, this time by the little Shinigami directly. To be fair, the girl didn't try to be distracting. She sat quietly and generally didn't talk to him unless he was on a break. Even when Matsumoto was there, Kuchiki made it a point to keep their chatting quiet—it was probably for this reason that Matsumoto diligently stayed away from his office during this time, or at least, more than she did normally. Kuchiki had gotten over herself and brought her knitting with her and he had watched the soft ball of blue yarn become a long, soft scarf. It was not perfect but the attention and effort she put into making it enthralled Hitsugaya. Several times he had almost asked her why she was doing it, or, more specifically, if she was making it for herself or someone else, but always caught himself.
She also spent her free time practising her calligraphy. When he had asked her why, since she was already so competent at writing, and she had somewhat sheepishly explained that Byakuya excelled at calligraphy.
Hitsugaya also found himself talking to her quite a lot. Kuchiki talked to him about all manner of things but seemed especially curious about the inner workings of the Gotei Thirteen, specifically things only captains would generally know. In return, she told him about her experiences in the Human World.
When she had been arrested there, and again when the dust had settled after Aizen's betrayal, there had been an official report of the entire thing, but it was different hearing her speak about it directly. The more Hitsugaya learned, the more he realized that they really had made a mess of things themselves during that time, with how they had handled the whole thing. It made him feel that Kuchiki was somewhat pitiful, though he now knew she was anything but. At the very least, the girl didn't seem to want an apology.
Talking to her also seemed to be detrimental to his paperwork; because Kuchiki diligently only spoke to him when he was taking a break, he found himself taking more frequent, longer breaks so he could talk to her more.
He found himself looking at her often, too. That she was pretty he already knew—Matsumoto had pointed it out to him the first time he had ever seen her, many years ago across the street, trailing behind Ukitake. He hadn't thought much of it at the time; pretty or ugly made no difference to him. He thought about it quite often now, though, and frequently found himself wanting to tell her this, just to see the way her eyes would widen and her face would flush.
Altogether, though he found his thoughts wandering more often than not, his time spent with Kuchiki was rather enjoyable, and he could admit that he liked having her around. He was aware of course, that eventually, she would leave. This thought made him frown and he looked over at the girl.
She was currently asleep, napping on the tabletop with her face pressed flat against the surface, causing her cheek to bulge almost comically. He was pretty sure she was resting on the calligraphy she had just been practising, brush still held loosely in her hand, and he hoped for her sake that the ink had dried before she had decided to fall asleep there.
There was a small soft frown between her eyes, dark eyebrows pulled together ever so slightly, and he wondered if she were dreaming.
Carefully, he got to his feet and approached her. Looking down at her from above it struck him how defenceless she seemed right then. Having trained with her for the better part of a month, Hitsugaya knew she was quite strong and fierce and that her looks betrayed almost nothing of what she was truly capable of. But even so, he couldn't help the protectiveness he felt in that moment, and reached down to pull the brush carefully from her hand.
As he had suspected, the black ink had already bled onto the side of her face, the writing properly smudged by her cheek. The ink was a stark contrast against her fair skin and his lips twitched at the sight.
Carefully, Hitsugaya sat down next to her, only to arrange the writing utensils on the desk, he told himself. But when he was done, he didn't leave right away. A few strands of her dark hair had fallen across her face and he found himself carefully brushing them away. Gentle wasn't a word often used to describe the Tenth Division captain, but he could truly be called it in that moment.
Kuchiki's frown deepened and Hitsugaya wondered if she was having a bad dream. His fingers were still hovering close to her skin and he thought back to the time she had pressed her finger to his forehead.
He had been looking into what had happened between them, of course, but could find no research that came even close. He was almost convinced that it truly had been some kind of freak accident and that it couldn't possibly happen again. But now he wondered if perhaps they really were connected somehow, but it was hard for him to decide if he really thought that or if he just wanted that to be true.
And now, with her sitting so close, he couldn't resist the temptation to just touch her, just to see. He just wanted to know if there was any chance…
Hitsugaya gently pressed the tips of his fingertips to her brow, just where that little V formed, and only had the time to register that her skin was smooth and soft there before her eyes blinked open, catching his with surprising alertness.
Both froze for a moment, but then Hitsugaya retrieved his hand. "I hope what you were writing wasn't important," he said calmly.
The girl blinked and it seemed to take her a moment to realize. A horrified look crossed her face and she immediately sat up, looking down at the hopelessly ruined piece of paper. As he had suspected, the side of her face was blotched with ink.
"Oh no," she sighed.
Hitsugaya leaned back, watching curiously as she cleaned up the mess regretfully. He studied the girl sitting next to him. "You think very highly of your brother," he noted. He himself didn't think Captain Kuchiki was any more notable than the other captains. The only captains that really stood out to him were Ukitake and Kyoraku, and the Head Captain, of course.
"I do," she said simply but firmly.
"I hope he appreciates your effort," he mumbled under his breath.
"What?" she looked at him suspiciously. It was hard to take her seriously with her mussed hair and ink-stained cheek.
"Nothing."
Her frown deepened but she seemed to let it go. She turned back to sorting through the sheets of paper and Hitsugaya went back to observing her.
"Captain Hitsugaya," she said calmly.
"Hmm?"
"Why are you here?"
"This is my office?"
"Yes, but—" Kuchiki tapped the sheets of paper on the table top so they all lined up and then put them to the side. "—why are you here?" She looked at him from the corner of her eye, the curve of her cheek that he could see dusted pink.
He cleared his throat, immediately looking to get up. "I came to wake you. It's time to train."
"Oh," she said.
Hitsugaya got to his feet and headed for his zanpakuto, strapping it to his back and completely missing the almost forlorn look that crossed her face.
It was several days later that Captain Hitsugaya received a visitor. Rukia had, unfortunately, gone to relieve her boredom by taking a walk around the squad grounds, so he wasn't sure what he was supposed to do with this visitor, exactly, who after a stiffly polite greeting, had taken to eyeing every corner of his office with unreadable eyes.
"If you are looking for Kuchiki Rukia, she should be somewhere outside nearby."
"Yes, I can tell," Kuchiki Byakuya said impassively. "I am here to see you."
Hitsugaya carefully laid his brush aside, deciding to give the other captain at least 70% of his attention, which was more than he usually gave his visitors.
"Rukia has informed me of your temporary arrangement. Without asking for details, I understand that she must stay within close range to you, for the time being, correct?"
"Yes, that's right," Hitsugaya confirmed, unable to help his scowl. "If you have a problem with that, it's a bit late—"
"Whether I have a problem with it or not is not the issue," Byakuya interrupted him, and Hitsugaya remembered why he never particularly liked talking to the Sixth Division captain.
"Rukia's birthday is tomorrow," Byakuya went on, which was news to Hitsugaya. "I came here to ask that you accommodate my taking her out for a few hours tomorrow night."
Hitsugaya arched an eyebrow. Byakuya had asked that he accommodate them, not if he would accommodate them. Hitsugaya leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms and considering the man before him. He had heard, from Matsumoto—who had heard from Renji, what had happened on the Sokyoku Hill after the traitors had fled, specifically what the Sixth Division captain had relayed to his sister. Hitsugaya hadn't cared much, at that time, but he did know enough to have a fairly good idea of Rukia's relationship with her adoptive brother. He didn't like to get involved in anyone else's matters and usually chose options that made his own life simpler—he wanted to tell Byakuya no out of convenience, but thought back to a little dark head bobbing over a calligraphy brush and thought with some sentimentality that he was growing soft in his old-ish age.
"Even if I were willing to, I'm not sure how that would be possible," he said at last.
"I will be taking her to the restaurant on the Seireitei Canal. I'm sure you are familiar with it."
Hitsugaya nodded but really, he had only ever heard of the place, he had never been there. He wasn't paid enough to go.
"You can accompany my sister there tomorrow evening," the other captain went on. "I have reserved two tables and will pay for your meal in exchange for your cooperation."
Hitsugaya thought the other man was rather presumptuous but all things considered, though Hitsugaya was prideful, he wasn't needlessly difficult, and he didn't particularly like being owed favours. If Kuchiki thought he needed to repay him, then Hitsugaya wasn't going to get in his way.
"Are you prepared to keep that promise, Captain Kuchiki?" he asked, a bit smug.
Byakuya's face made its first real expression in the conversation and frowned, though just barely. But Hitsugaya knew he couldn't eat enough to take a drop out of the ocean that was Byakuya's wealth and calmly waited for his response.
"I am not in the habit of saying things I don't mean," Byakuya said coolly.
"Good to know," Hitsugaya replied dryly. "But you can be assured we'll be there."
Byakuya had the good grace to give his thanks and then leave. Hitsugaya felt his spiritual pressure disappear and frowned. He hadn't even bothered to look for Rukia.
Nevertheless, Hitsugaya went out to find her and deliver the news. Which was how he stumbled upon this scene:
Rukia was standing amongst some of the newest members of his division—Hitsugaya could just see how green they were, but he had also spent a considerable amount of time staring at their faces in their application forms recently and he could name quite a few, if not all of them. She was holding out her zanpakuto in its unsealed form, the white sword captivating the small audience quite easily. Hitsugaya himself had only recently come to appreciate what was called the most beautiful zanpakuto in Soul Society, having never really seen it before, but he liked to think he didn't have stars in his eyes when he looked at it. Certainly, it was not the kind of reception Hyorinmaru received when others saw him for the first time but then again, Hyorinmaru's reputation wasn't based on beauty, it was based on power.
"It appears I don't give my new recruits enough work, if they can be found dallying so early in the day," he commented wryly.
Immediately, all eyes snapped to him. He would be lying if he said it wasn't gratifying the way they all snapped to attention, bowing, and greeting him respectfully. It hadn't always been this easy when he'd first become captain, and he'd had to work for this kind of immediate respect.
Rukia looked at the display before her with more than a little amusement and, though she didn't give the same attention as the officers around her, she nodded her head politely.
Hitsugaya directed his gaze at the tallest officer before him. "What is this about?"
"Rukia-san was just showing us her unsealed zanpakuto, sir!" said the boy who, if Hitsugaya remembered correctly, was surnamed Takeru. "Most of us have never seen one, sir."
Hitsugaya raised an eyebrow at the casual address, glancing at the girl from the corners of his eyes. Rukia didn't seem too bothered, sheathing her zanpakuto.
"And I trust that means you have already finished your duties for the day?"
Takeru faltered and the officers around him glanced at the captain nervously.
"We were taking a break," Takeru said nervously. "And Rukia-san happened to walk by, and we got to talking and…"
Hitsugaya tucked his arms into his sleeves. "I see," he said. "And when would this break be over?"
Of course, because Hitsugaya set strict restrictions for who could enter his division, the officers before him were not dumb.
"Right now, sir!" Takeru declared hastily. "We were just taking our leave." He seemed ready to scurry off, but then paused and turned back to Rukia, giving her a quick bow and saying hurriedly, "Thank you, Rukia-san, goodbye, Rukia-san!"
This was immediately followed by a rather sheepish chorus of Goodbye, Rukia-san!
Rukia just waved, bemused, watching silently as they fled.
"I would not consider this keeping a low profile," Hitsugaya commented dryly when they were alone.
Rukia just shrugged, saying, "They have each seen me around before. If your officers have good enough manners to greet me, then I won't ignore them. Besides, they seemed new and didn't even know who I was."
"For a noblewoman, you allow them to address you so casually very easily," he said, recalling how readily she had given Matsumoto permission to do just that.
This made Rukia smile and Hitsugaya realized for the first time that there was a dimple in her left cheek. "For a long time the only name I had was Rukia," she said. "I have great respect for the Kuchiki name and am well aware of my responsibility bearing it, but I have always thought those people who treat me normally can call me by my given name. Only people who see me as only a member of the Kuchiki clan usually call me as such."
Their eyes met somewhat awkwardly.
To be clear, Hitsugaya didn't only see her as a noblewoman, which she likely knew. But there were so few people he referred to by their first names, and in the Gotei Thirteen, it was pretty much only Momo. He had always felt that when people gave him permission to call them by their given names, there was an unspoken obligation to return the favour. Having fought extra hard for his recognition as a captain, he found it much simpler to just refer to everyone by their surnames. Of course, he couldn't exactly stop when someone decided to call him Toushiro, Ukitake and Kurosaki for example, but usually no one would dare. Even Matsumoto, for all of her other blatant disregard for his authority, only ever called him captain.
He and Kuchiki weren't close—they were certainly closer than they had been before, though somewhat forced by the special circumstances, but their relationship wasn't such that he could request permission to call her Rukia, nor did it allow her to simply grant him it. But Hitsugaya realized for the first time that if they continued on like they were now, they would probably get there. He also realized that if his options were to go back to how they were before after they no longer had a reason to interact, or actively continue their relationship, he would want to choose the latter. Whether he would actually choose it or not, he didn't know.
Hitsugaya cleared his throat. "Your brother has left a message for you," he said, changing the subject.
Rukia blinked and Hitsugaya found himself wishing she wouldn't do that every time she was even mildly surprised, because it just drew his attention to her large eyes. "Nii-sama? He came here?"
Hitsugaya nodded, thinking she would be disappointed that he hadn't bothered to see her in person. But she didn't seem the least perturbed.
"What did he say?" she asked instead, curious and with tempered excitement.
He explained to her what Byakuya had planned, watching as her face lit up. "Really?"
He nodded, a bit thrown at the childish quality to her voice. To his surprise, she quickly bowed.
"Thank you, Captain Hitsugaya!"
Uncomfortable with her earnestness (if anyone should be thanking him, it should be Byakuya) he nodded vaguely.
"Will you be okay?" she asked concernedly.
Hitsugaya snorted. "With your brother paying, I don't see how I could be much better."
She actually rolled her eyes, startling him and amusing him at the same time. "I meant with…Hyorinmaru, you know—and—" she gestured vaguely.
Hitsugaya was struck by the way his zanpakuto's name rolled off her tongue, easily, with familiarity, like she had said it a hundred times before. For some reason, this made the zanpakuto in question pleased.
"I will be fine," he said calmly. "I need to be using my zanpakuto to start anything, so unless a hollow decides to invite himself to your birthday dinner, it shouldn't be a problem."
Rukia giggled. After he had given her permission to do so, she did this quite often now. Apparently much of what he said sounded funny to her. Though having never thought of himself as funny, he didn't mind.
"Alright. But really, thank you, Captain."
"No need to thank me," he said dismissively. "Obviously, we won't be training tomorrow. In that case, we'll be making it up the next day, so I expect you to be prepared."
"Yes, sir." She smiled brightly at him, and he was somewhat disappointed that she was no longer even the least bit anxious about what he might have planned for her.
The restaurant on the Seireitei Canal was called Imperial Moon. It was luxurious enough to have a wide, open plan with a great distance between the tables, several private rooms, and a back deck over the river. It was on this deck that Byakuya had reserved tables.
Though he didn't care, Hitsugaya had fully expected to catch more than a few stares as the host led him and Rukia through. However, since so few people could afford to dine here, and those who could were mostly of nobility, the few customers there were well-bred enough to just ignore them.
Hitsugaya thought they were quite stare-worthy, for opposite reasons. Kuchiki had worn a yukata and tied her hair up. The yukata was not extravagant in the least, white with a small spattering of pink flowers at the hem. Yet still when Hitsugaya had collected her from her temporary room that evening, he had done a double-take, as had the host when he had greeted them at the door.
Hitsugaya had done nothing more that run a half-hearted hand through his hair. Kuchiki hadn't commented on his lack of formal dress and he didn't much care, but he hoped to be secured in his seat before Captain Kuchiki saw him and gave him his signature judgemental stare.
The tables on the deck were separated from each other by a wooden screen, to allow for some privacy. He and Kuchiki sat with their backs to each other, the screen between them.
For a while, Hitsugaya just watched as the sun set over the water.
"Your brother is late," he said flatly.
"Perhaps we are early?" she said from the other side, and he could just picture the little frown on her face. "Now that you mention it, what time did nii-sama say to be here?"
Hitsugaya thought about it. "He didn't"
"And you didn't ask? Captain Hitsugaya," she scolded.
Hitsugaya was a little tickled at the thought that he was being scolded, but he shrugged, and then remembered that she couldn't see him. "He'll get here eventually, just relax," he said.
They lapsed into silence for a while.
And then: "I have a question."
"I'm not surprised," he drawled. There was more silence and he imagined her pouting. "What is it?" he asked, gentler this time.
"Your zanpakuto…" she began hesitantly, "Was he treating you coldly before? Why?"
"Why do you think he was treating me coldly?" he countered calmly.
"Well," he imagined she was counting off on her fingers, "He didn't tell you about what happened when I entered your soul. You weren't really sure about the details of your trial. You said you wanted me to help you because he liked me. And you mentioned that he wasn't talking to you. My zanpakuto spirit isn't very chatty herself but she wouldn't do those things, I don't think."
"And why should I tell you?"
"You don't have to," Kuchiki admitted. "I was just curious."
"If I tell you, will you answer a question of mine?"
"Sure," she said readily.
Hitsugaya looked down at his hand, his thumb tracing the callouses there where Hyorinmaru's hilt usually rested. "My zanpakuto is usually withdrawn," he said, "But lately he has been more so than usual, and reluctant to answer my questions. As to why…" Hitsugaya gazed out at the rippling water. "I assume it is because he is disappointed in my failures. I don't think he believes that I am ready to, or capable of, becoming more powerful." The dragon remained silent inside of him but Hitsugaya didn't try to reach him anyway.
"I don't think that's true," Kuchiki said, contemplative, but firm. Surprised, Hitsugaya turned his head in her direction, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm not sure you're qualified to say that, Kuchiki."
"I'm not saying that I am," she countered easily. "I just don't think that's true."
"I'm not sure it really matters what you think," he said, not unkindly. She hummed but didn't respond.
"Now it's my turn," he said. "I want to know why you forgave your brother so easily."
It wasn't like Hitsugaya didn't know he had asked a highly sensitive, deeply personal question, but as the silence stretched between them he thought he might have underestimated how incensed she would be.
Just when he began to prepare his apology, she spoke.
"I forgave him because I wanted to," she said quietly. "But really, I never really blamed him."
This made Hitsugaya frown. "Abandoning you to die under suspicious circumstances, even going so far as to say he would kill you himself, is not worthy of blame?"
"I had no idea you felt so strongly about this, Captain Hitsugaya," she said dryly, and a little mockingly.
"It's a matter of principle," he said, defensive.
"My brother also has principles," and he heard the rustling of cloth and guessed that she had folded her arms over her chest. "Which is why he did what he did, and I understand, even if you don't."
He opened his mouth to argue but she cut him off: "Nii-sama has done a lot for me," she said softly, "He didn't have to and it cost him a lot to do it, and I never really had the right to ask for more. So no matter what nii-sama did or didn't do, the thing I felt most for him was gratitude. Even up until the last moment, I was still grateful."
Hitsugaya leaned back in his chair. That last part was said so softly he was sure he wasn't meant to hear.
"Besides," she said, voice brighter. "Things are better now. Nii-sama is very straightforward when it comes to the things he dislikes. But when it comes to the things he likes, it's harder to tell. Things like this, remembering my birthday, taking me out—even coming to ask you for a favour, these things may be easy for you and me, but for nii-sama they are huge. That's all that matters to me."
Hitsugaya wanted to say that that just meant her standards were low, but he had already decided that the relationship between the two Kuchiki siblings was not something he could comment on.
Byakuya might not treat his sister the way Hitsugaya would treat Rukia if he were her brother, or the way he thought she deserved to be treated, but Byakuya seemed to treat her well enough (now) and if Rukia was happy with the situation, then maybe that really was all that mattered.
"You're very forgiving," he concluded, feeling the sudden approach of Byakuya's reiatsu.
"I'm not, I just don't find many things worth holding a grudge over—oh! Nii-sama!"
There was the sound of a chair dragging hastily across the floor, followed by a few seconds of what Hitsugaya could only describe as flusteredness, and then things quieted down again. Hitsugaya settled himself comfortably in his chair as the server approached, preparing himself for a long night.
The Kuchiki siblings didn't talk much, but that was fine with him. He ate his meal in peace and restrained himself from truly testing how far Byakuya's generosity extended. At one point, towards what Hitsugaya guessed to be the end of dessert, Rukia drew her brother's attention to some inane observation of the canal. Hitsugaya wasn't paying attention, not wanting to eavesdrop, but he heard clearly when Byakuya said, "Rukia," in a serious and determined voice.
"Yes, nii-sama?" And Hitsugaya could depict perfectly the way she blinked those large eyes of hers.
Byakuya didn't respond immediately, piquing Hitsugaya's interest to the point that he found himself actively listening.
"I have spoken to Captain Ukitake and the Head Captain," he spoke at last, "About having you sit the lieutenant's exam."
Hitsugaya, who was holding a delicate china teacup, almost dropped it. Rukia remained silent. He could only hope to imagine what kind of expression she was making right then.
"They have both given their consent," Byakuya said calmly, like he was merely telling her what he thought of the weather.
"And what about you, nii-sama?" Rukia whispered, voice so quiet Hitsugaya almost didn't hear it.
"I made the recommendation," Byakuya replied in his calm voice. "From now on, I will not meddle in your work in the Gotei Thirteen, unless you so wish. I will also not burden you with any personal expectations. The date of the exam has already been set and unfortunately, you will have less time to prepare than the other candidates. You will have to work harder in the time that you do have—"
"I've been doing that," Rukia interrupted quickly. "I mean—my apologies, nii-sama, I mean I have been doing that—training—every day."
"I see."
There was an odd intonation in Byakuya's voice that made the skin on the back of Hitsugaya's neck prickle. He was sure the Sixth Division captain was sending some kind of intense look to the back of his head through the screen.
"If you need to, you are welcome to come to me for help," continued Byakuya. "Your captain will also be available, should you need him, and I imagine when I inform Renji of this tomorrow, you can expect him to offer as well."
"Nii-sama…thank you."
Rukia's voice was so earnest and sincere that even Hitsugaya was touched by it.
"You don't need to thank me," Byakuya said to her, and it was probably the most human Hitsugaya had ever heard him sound, almost gentle. The girl herself seemed to be struggling for words and Byakuya went on: "Your captain will likely visit you tomorrow with the official paperwork and a meeting will be held among the captains to receive their approval."
"I understand," Rukia eked out.
"Good."
Hitsugaya heard him getting to his feet. "I trust that Captain Hitsugaya will accompany you back?"
From where he sat Hitsugaya raised his arm lazily into the air in affirmation so it could be seen over the screen.
"Very well. I will be taking my leave now. Rukia, happy birthday."
Hitsugaya waited until his spiritual pressure had completely disappeared before he got up and walked over to their table, dropping into Byakuya's vacated seat. To his surprise, Rukia was crying.
They were quiet tears, merely watery eyes that had spilled over. Silently, Hitsugaya slid a napkin over the table to her. She took it, dried her eyes, and regained her composure.
"You heard?" she asked, voice gravelly.
He nodded, folding his arms. "You have your work cut out for you."
She stilled, but then said. "I have never really thanked you for all you've done for me. I wouldn't be in a good position right now to take the exam if it wasn't for you. So, thank you, really."
"This will be the last time you thank me until you pass the exam."
He watched as her mouth opened and then closed, frowning. "And if I don't pass?"
"Then you don't pass," he said simply. "You'll learn something and try again."
She bit her lip, an act Hitsugaya couldn't help but find riveting. "You make it sound so easy."
"It is that easy, Kuchiki. The only people you would care about disappointing if you didn't pass will be less disappointed than you think, if at all. Your brother has already said he won't hold you to any expectations and Captain Ukitake has not taken another lieutenant specifically for you—he's waited this long, I'm willing to believe he'll wait as long as it takes."
"And you?"
Hitsugaya had picked up from all of their training that Rukia was worried about disappointing him, but perhaps he had underestimated just how much if she placed him in the same category as Ukitake and her brother.
"I will get rid of my own lieutenant to show my support," he said, straight-faced.
Rukia laughed, her face relaxing. Hitsugaya's entire countenance softened. Much gentler, he said to her, "Worry less about failing the exam and more on passing the exam. Between what I still have planned for you and what your brother, captain and Abarai must have planned, I don't think you'll have the time to worry about it anyway."
She nodded, "Thank yo—I mean—" She blushed in embarrassment. The poor girl looked a bit overwhelmed. Hitsugaya thought it was time that they left, so she could at least be alone in her own room.
"Let's get going, Kuchiki," he said, standing. Before he could think about it, he extended his hand to her. In apparently the same unthinking frame of mind, she took it, and he pulled her to her feet.
Rukia couldn't shunpo while wearing a yukata so Hitsugaya, still holding her hand outside of the restaurant, tugged on it and said, "It's too late to walk back. Will you allow me to carry you?"
For as impatient, brusque and single-minded as he could be, Hitsugaya still had common sense, and was a gentleman (mostly—how he treated Matsumoto didn't count) outside of the battlefield. He watched her face as she debated with herself internally, easily reading her expressions: should she choose the comfortable option and walk but inconvenience him, or should she accept and take the likely uncomfortable ride home.
Hitsugaya was already thinking about the long walk back amidst her silence when surprisingly, her fingers flexed in his grip and she said, "I might be a bit heavy but…if you don't mind?"
Kuchiki was not heavy at all. She lay still in his arms, her own wrapped awkwardly around his neck. Her hair greatly tickled the exposed skin at his neck and she was obviously trying very hard to not press her face against him in the brisk, cold wind that he generated.
Hitsugaya took the route back home that would likely have the least amount of people around because Rukia's white yukata and his white hair seemed to glow in the dark all of a sudden. When they made it back to the barracks, he carefully put her down. It took her a moment to find her footing in the dark. When she had righted herself again, she murmured a quiet Thank you, and stepped away.
"Sleep well…Rukia." And then he shunpo'd away.
The next morning there were two blond captains waiting for him outside of his office—if Ukitake could be called blond. Hirako wasn't someone Hitsugaya had interacted much with. Though he had been a captain before, Hirako was more than a stranger to Hitsugaya, and that was probably true the other way around. Hinamori had talked about her new captain a lot—the entire Fifth Division was in the process of accepting and getting used to a new captain and Hinamori desperately needed someone to share her thoughts with and of course, that someone was Hitsugaya. As far as he could tell, the girl liked her new captain, though she didn't really fully understand him yet and, according to her, he had many eccentricities that needed to be understood. Hitsugaya also couldn't forget the relief and hope he had felt when the Visored had shown up at the battle with Aizen and declared themselves not enemies of the Gotai Thirteen.
So altogether, Hitsugaya had a favourable view of the captain, but he still wasn't pleased to see him before his office because as certain as he was that Hirako had no reason to be there to see him, he was equally certain that he knew exactly why Hirako was there. And he decided he didn't like it.
"Well, if it ain't the Chibi captain," Hirako greeted him with a drawl, immediately giving Hitsugaya a clear look at what their relationship was going to be like.
"Captain Hitsugaya," he emphasized, scowling.
"Eh," Hirako shrugged.
Ukitake tried to warm the atmosphere a bit. "Captain Hitsugaya, good morning," he said pleasantly. "I was just telling Captain Hirako about Rukia's good news."
"I'm happy fer the kid," Hirako said. "Rukia-chan was my first love, y'know."
Hitsugaya, who was in the middle of unlocking his door, fixed him with a sharp stare. Even Ukitake seemed thrown, but then he laughed.
"Before you left for the Human World, you told me Inoue-san was your first love," he said.
Hirako scratched the back of his head, unconcerned. "Did I?"
Hitsugaya led them into his office, taking his seat and gesturing for them to sit. "Kuchiki should be here soon," he said.
"I may as well tell you both, then," Ukitake said. "The captains meeting to approve the lieutenant candidates will be held a week from now. The Head Captain has suspended any captain's assignments so that all the captains will be available."
"Who else is going up fer the position?" Hirako asked, scratching his ear with the tip of his fingernail. "I know Hinamori and Mashiro are, and Rukia-chan obviously."
"The 7th and 8th seat of the Eleventh and the 4th seat of the Third," Ukitake replied. "They've all received provisional acceptance by their captains."
"Well, that's good then," Hirako mused. "Should make it interestin'."
"How has Lieutenant Hinamori's training been going?" Ukitake asked politely. Hitsugaya too looked at Hirako expectantly.
"'S'fine, if I do say so myself," the captain replied, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "She's about right back in shape now. Haven't seen much recently, since I've been gone, but I asked Kensei and Rose ta look after her. I reckon she's alright."
"And what about Rukia?" Ukitake asked Hitsugaya.
He opened his mouth to speak but then the girl in question opened his door herself and stumbled in.
"Captain Ukitake, Captain Hitsugaya, Captain Hirako," she said, breathless. "My apologies. I overslept and when I felt your reiatsu I came over as quickly as I could."
She certainly looked like she had, Hitsugaya thought, hair tousled, face flushed and her forehead covered in a thin layer of sweat.
"No worries, no worries," Ukitake told her kindly.
Hirako gave her a wide grin. "Rukia-chan!" he said with exaggerated brightness. "Yer lookin' as beautiful as always. I've brought yer some gifts from Orihime-chan. Think fast!" And he tossed her a rather large, lumpy bag she just barely managed to catch.
"Oh, thank you, Captain Hirako," she said a little awkwardly.
"Sit down, Kuchiki," Hitsugaya ordered her. Gratefully, she sat.
"I also have this for you," Ukitake handed her a single file with a smile. "It should prepare you for what to expect at the lieutenant's exam."
Rukia took it from him, holding it with reverence.
"Your brother said he would explain everything to you," he continued, to which she nodded. "Good. While you're here at the Tenth I won't be able to assist you much in your training but—" he glanced over at Hitsugaya.
"I'll take care of it," he said. "You don't need to worry."
"Now that's real cute," Hirako observed, resting his cheek in the palm of his hand. "Der two midget ice-wielders, trainin' together."
Rukia and Hitsugaya shot him identical disapproving frowns. His grin widened. "Wouldya look at that," he laughed.
Even Ukitake chuckled.
"What's with the gifts anyway?" Hirako asked, jerking his chin towards the bag he had just given her.
Rukia looked down at it. "Christmas presents, I think," she said, unwilling to open it right then.
"Christmas?" Ukitake asked her.
She nodded. "Inoue-san really sold me on the whole thing. We were going to celebrate last month." She was careful not to say anything about her assignments being cancelled but it hung in the air. Hirako seemed the most curious, knowing Rukia couldn't leave but not knowing why. Ukitake was looking at her sympathetically. Hitsugaya was frowning.
Truthfully, she had been really looking forward to it. Based on how Orihime had described it, the lights, the snow, the sweets, Rukia had very much wanted to see it all. Orihime had even gone so far as to get a Christmas tree for her apartment so they could decorate it.
Ukitake patted her comfortably on her shoulder before turning to Hitsugaya. "I should get going now,' he said. "Let me borrow Rukia for a moment, ne Shiro-chan?"
He nodded and Ukitake led her outside. As the door closed behind them, she distinctly heard Hirako snicker, "Shiro-chan?"
"How have you been, Rukia?" Ukitake asked as they walked.
"I've been fine," she assured him. "Better than fine. Captain Hitsugaya has taken over my training. Even Shirayuki has no complaints."
"I suspected he might do that," Ukitake told her, nodding. "That's good. So you haven't lost any valuable time."
"How are you, captain?" Rukia asked him. "How is the Thirteenth? It's already been so long."
"You don't need to worry about us," Ukitake told her. "In a few weeks, you'll be right where you need to be in the squad. Just focus on this for now, okay?"
She nodded. "Captain Ukitake?" she began uncertainly.
"Yes?"
"Did you…did you never fill the lieutenant's position because of me?"
If Rukia didn't know her captain as well as she did, and if Ukitake wasn't the man that he was, she wouldn't dare ask this question. But Ukitake just smiled at her.
"Did Byakuya tell you that?" he inquired.
She shook her head. "Captain Hitsugaya let it slip actually."
"That blabbermouth Shiro-chan," he sighed dramatically. They came to the Tenth Division entrance and he stopped and turned to face her. "With the work you and Kiyone and Sentaro do, the Thirteenth Division never needed to fill the position with anyone else. Do you understand?"
Smiling, Rukia nodded. "Thank you, Captain,' she said sincerely.
He waved her off. "You should go back," he told her, "Before Captain Hirako gives Captain Hitsugaya a reasonable reason to kill him."
Rukia laughed but bid her captain goodbye and took off. When she returned, however, Captain Hirako was gone, and only Hitsugaya remained with a distinctive shadow over his face. As unobtrusive as she could, she began to make her way over what she had come to call her corner of the office.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Surprised, Rukia just pointed at her corner. Hitsugaya shook his head and got to his feet.
"Not today," he said. "I remember telling you we'll have to make up yesterday's lost time today, especially now that you'll be taking the lieutenant's exam."
"Oh." Rukia watched as he secured Hyorinmaru to his back and then led her out of the office. Surprisingly, he didn't head towards the training grounds, instead leading her completely out of the Tenth Division. Hitsugaya saw her expression and gave a tiny smirk. So it seemed he could still surprise her after all.