Birds of a Feather
"So, Ichigo," says Hisana Kuchiki, smiling politely over her breakfast plate. Byakuya is sitting beside her, his face void of any emotion.
Hisana reminds Ichigo a bit of his mother, uncommonly kind, and Ichigo wonders, not for the first time since meeting the two nearly an hour ago, how such an odd couple could exist. But then, his parents had loved each other, and his father is intolerable on good days.
"Do you have any siblings?" says Hisana.
"Yeah," replies Ichigo, "I've got two sisters ... They're twins."
"I didn't know that," says Rukia, at his side, looking at him differently than she has before, quizzical.
"You've met them," says Ichigo, taking a bite from his eggs, "you and my sister, Yuzu, made a shelter for a cat once when it was raining."
Rukia's brows knit as is she's trying to recall and then suddenly her mouth drops and she's staring at Ichigo as if he's grown a second head.
"You mean the girl with the short brown hair?" she sputters, "but she was so ... Sweet." Ichigo smirks down at her, turns back to Hisana.
"The other is named Karin, they're both in college."
"How nice," Hisana smiles, "I'm sure they're both lovely!"
Ichigo is thinking about Karin's signature kick to the head, how Yuzu is a conspirator in all of his father's worst plans, how they both drop by unannounced and demand they go play laser tag on any given week night. Ichigo is thinking about how he only tells his sisters about his day, only wants to speak to Yuzu when he's sad, can't get Karin to do anything, and he smiles at it all.
"They're ... Definitely something," he says elusively, but with fondness.
The rest of breakfast passes by more normal than not, which is a feat for Ichigo, whose entire life can be summed up in abnormality. This does not stop him from noticing the ridged set of Rukia's shoulders beside him or how she only speaks when spoken to.
When Hisana starts coughing Byakuya puts a hand on her shoulder, gives her a concerned look and then says to the table:
"I believe it's time we wrap up."
Rukia nods once and stands, bowing to them both.
"It was great to see you," she smiles.
Hisana suddenly looks very frail, but this does not stop her from hugging Rukia closely.
"We'll see you next week!" She declares, and then, "will you be okay walking home?" and Rukia nods again. Byakuya hands her her coat and moved to lay cash on the table, but Ichigo has manners instilled in him by his mother's kindness and his father's ... kicks to the head, so he stops Byakuya.
"I've got it," he says, smirking. Whatever Byakuya might be tempted to say, Hisana stops him with a smile.
"Call me later, Rukia," she says, and bids them both fair well.
When they're gone Rukia sits back down at the table and takes a sip from her coffee.
"One more round?" Asks Ichigo, which Rukia seconds, and he calls the waitress for another cup for each of them.
For blistering minutes the silence is maddening, the truly awkward kind Ichigo has had in Rukia's presence. It's clear she's thinking deeply about something and Ichigo is curious.
"Care to share?" He asks. She gives him a look over the top of her mug, grabs a grape from his nearly vacant plate.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she declares, and pops it into her mouth.
Ichigo's not overly familiar with Rukia but she's got the same eyes as Yuzu when his sister is concerned but doesn't want to show it, and on normal days he might not prod, but he's been dragged around by her family all morning so he's feeling kind of prod-y.
"Don't play stupid, Rukia, it doesn't suit you. What's up?"
For a moment Rukia is pensive and eerily quiet, presumably deciding what she should tell him or how much of it. Finally, she settles, and says:
"I'm a little jealous."
And this confuses Ichigo more than the silence, he rolls his hand, a sign to continue, his brows furrowed.
"Of your relationship with your sisters," she says.
"You and Hisana seem pretty close," replies Ichigo, the knit in his brows deepening.
Rukia supposes it looks that way; and in truth, Hisana has for the last 5 years been vehemently trying to heal the scars of Rukia's childhood, but somethings come slow, even for Rukia, who wants nothing more than to forgive her sister.
And still, It's hard to forgive a sister who, at 16, made the conscious decision to abandon her. And Rukia has worked all the angles, can imagine the fear and the confusion of being so young and taking care of a baby. But Rukia had found her marry band of misfits and had never once thought to desert them, even the small ones who ate but couldn't steal, who were too kind and too innocent. Rukia loves Hisana, loves her and is so remarkably bitter towards her and the man she married.
"I suppose we are," says Rukia after a time and she smiles for affect but her heart stings and she is grateful that Ichigo is nearly a stranger, or else she worries he'd see. "You should have let me brother get the tab," she says by way of distraction, "he's pretty wealthy." And she smirks when Ichigo's face falls.
Not a satisfying ending, but I think this is where this one ends ... May move forward with it in the future but for now I think we're leaving these two in a good place to let the mind wander, and I'm good with that if you are. :')
I hope you've enjoyed, please feel free to leave a review!