Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. It's property of Tite Kubo.
Author's Note: Hi! Welcome back, guys! Today we have another one-shot set in the main timeline, just after last chapter. To be honest I have always wanted to write something like this. I know many other people have written their take on this situation, but I very much enjoyed writing it myself. Hope you guys like it too. I won't reveal much, so you're surprised when you read it, but I bet you see where this is going.
As always, thank you so much for reading and reviewing! You guys rock!
I don't have much else to say other than I hope you enjoye this story.
See ya!
worthy
Prompt: Why are you so full of rage? Because you are full of grief
Summary: And Ichigo can't stand the way they talk about her. As if she were nothing more than a nuisance. The worst part is she believes it.
There are many things that Ichigo enjoys doing when he goes to the Soul Society.
Training with Rukia, hanging out with the guys, visiting Kūkaku and Ganju, exploring the Rukongai, helping Rukia out with new trainees, and even sitting in silence with her while she fills in paperwork are all activities he greatly appreciates.
Having dinner with the Kuchiki Clan elders, however, is not one of them.
To be fair, Rukia had told him that he didn't need to go.
But he had insisted.
As she had that previous commitment, she couldn't go to Karakura.
And Ichigo, well, he wanted to see her.
So he had decided to go with her, even if it meant having dinner with a bunch of really old people.
How bad could it be, anyway?
Turns out, it could be disastrous.
Ichigo was well aware that the Kuchiki elders weren't nice people.
They hadn't approved of Byakuya's marriage to Rukia's sister, and much less of her adoption.
In bits and pieces of previous conversations, Rukia had mentioned how isolated she had been after her adoption, so Ichigo had inferred that the elders weren't precisely the kindest of people.
However, he had had no idea how terrible they truly were until now, as he has dinner with them.
There are ten elders in total and all of them are frail-looking and are as wrinkled as prunes.
Yet their tongues are sharp and their eyes spark with wickedness.
Ichigo immediately realizes they are not going to play nice, even in front of guests.
From the get go, things become awkward fast.
They ignore him and sing praises about themselves, while gossiping with each other.
They are not what he would consider cordial, but they aren't acting out right despicable just yet.
Although, as the evening progresses, he comes to know just how horrible they are and how badly they treat Rukia.
Their insults are thinly veiled but it is quite obvious what they mean.
They treat Rukia as if she were a dark mark on their impeccable tablecloth.
They are not only dismissive, but actively malicious.
They criticize her hair, her clothes, her achievements, the way she eats, and, hell, even how she sits!
They're also very clear in their disapproval of the company she keeps.
They question him.
About the color of his hair, his brash appearance, his vocabulary.
They hint his father was the reason the Shiba Clan fell in disgrace.
"Although with that Kaien's leadership it was to be expected."
Worst of all, they blame him for taking too long in defeating Yhwach, causing the destruction of several buildings in the Seireitei.
(That one manages to hurt him)
They don't mention, of course, the many lives which were lost in battle.
They don't care about other Shinigami.
Only about their luxurious life at the expense of others.
They don't care about the people in the Rukongai either.
Yet none of these things make him truly furious.
"And how's the 13th division doing nowadays? With you in charge it must be going downhill daily, nee, Rukia-chan?"
An old ass woman says bitingly, making the other nine bastards snicker.
Not even Byakuya's glare can shut them down.
It is then Ichigo loses all of his cool.
"Actually Rukia's carrying out Ukitake-san's teachings and goals for the division to the letter. There's no one else that could take over the division. That's why after years without a lieutenant, Ukitake-san chose Rukia. But it's not like you'd understand, since all you old farts do is sit on your asses all day long, counting your riches, and thinking of ways to be even more damn obnoxious than you were the day before."
His tone of voice is so cold even Byakuya can't help but flinch.
"Why! I was never so rudely spoken to in my life!"
The old woman replies, but it's not like Ichigo cares at this point.
"Save it for someone who gives a damn."
It is how he replies while standing up.
"Let's go, Rukia. There are better things to do than having dinner with these assholes."
With that, he grabs her hand and practically shunpōs them away to the garden.
Byakuya likes to keep his garden in top shape.
The koi pond, his sakura trees, and all the flowers make up for a relaxing environment.
And said environment is currently being shaken up by Ichigo's outburst.
"Goddamn old geezers!" He yells the moment they get to the garden, surprising Rukia.
"Ichigo." She calls out to him, but he ignores her as he paces around the place.
"How dare they talk to you like that!"
"Ichigo." She tries again, but is once more ignored as he goes on a rant.
"How dare they treat you like you were dirt on their shoes!
You're a million times better than they are!
They don't even deserve to be in the same room as you!
And don't get me started on Byakuya!
Why does he let them speak to you like that?!
I don't care if they're super old, next time I'm kicking them in the ass!"
"Ichigo!" Rukia shouts and manages to quiet him down, pushing him on his chest.
"What?" He snaps.
"You need to calm down." She patiently scolds him, but Ichigo's not having any of that.
"I'm only gonna calm down when they apologize."
She sighs and looks down, closing herself off to him.
"It's not a big deal." She says as she crosses her arms.
"Not a big deal?! Rukia, they insulted you all dinner long! How can you say it's not a big deal?!"
"Why are you so furious?!" She exclaims.
"Because you're in pain!" He roars. "You're so full of grief and they don't care!"
"Ichigo…" Rukia whispers, shocked… hurt.
Because it is true.
Those bastards have kept insulting her from the moment she set foot on the Kuchiki manor.
And Ichigo can't stand the way they talk about her.
As if she were nothing more than a nuisance to all of them.
Just a street rat.
A stain in the Kuchiki name.
The worst part is she believes it.
Rukia believes she deserves how they treat her.
That she deserves every horrible thing they throw at her.
Ichigo doesn't fully comprehend everything she has been through.
He is aware growing up in Inuzuri couldn't have been easy, and feeling isolated by the Kuchiki Clan has probably made Rukia's trauma worse.
But he knows that she doesn't deserve it.
None of what they had put her through.
What Rukia deserves is a life where she's treated with kindness.
Where she can be who she is.
And if she's too tired to fight back, he will.
For her.
Ichigo will give her the life she is worthy of.
"Come on."
"What?" She asks, dumbfounded.
"If we leave now, the leftovers Yuzu left for us might still be warm. And then, I can show you that game I was telling you about."
He tells her and she smiles, understanding the hidden meaning of his words.
"Sure. Just don't complain when I beat you at it."
"Ha! Last time was just beginner's luck."
"Keep telling yourself that."
Yes.
He will get rightfully furious for her sake and do something about it each time she's insulted.
Because if there's anyone who deserves happiness in this world, that is Rukia.
And Ichigo will make her happy, no matter what.
A/N: So raise your hand if you also enjoyed Ichigo ripping the elders a new one! I know we've never met any of those guys, but damn, they sound like a huge pain in the ass. I'm not sure how canonical they are, but it's obvious there are more members of the Kuchiki Clan, otherwise it wouldn't be a clan and Byakuya wouldn't have cared as much with the whole rule breaking and whatnot. Also I want to make clear in this story that Byakuya is upset with the way they treat Rukia, but he's mostly ignored as elders should be respected and all that. In Japanese society (and in many other cultures as well) elders are respected and followed for advice, so normally, in strict societies you cannot go against them. So that's why Byakuya cannot be mean towards them or shut them up. But Ichigo has no such qualms, so he can tell them whatever he wants, and it was well-deserved.
Though of course Rukia got out of her funk after Ichigo saved her, I still feel that her self-hatred wouldn't go away just like that. And we saw that when Aaroniero pretended to be Kaien, and Rukia was willing to die by his hands. So I believe it will be an ongoing process for her. Thankfully Ichigo is there to remind her that she's worth it.
These last couple of one-shots have been about each other supporting the other emotionally.
We love to see it, right?
Well, I hope you guys like this and hopefully I'll be able to post tomorrow, but I have no idea what to write with the next prompt lmao.
See ya!