I let out a tired sigh, pushing open the front door. It had been an excruciatingly long day at the clinic, and all I wanted was to collapse on my bed. Walking past the living room, where Byakuya and Rukia were quietly discussing something, I headed towards the kitchen to make myself a cup of hot tea—wait, what?
Quickly backtracking, I did a double take at the sight of Byakuya and Rukia…getting along peacefully? Cooperating?
"Yeah, I didn't believe it at first either," Renji said sourly from behind me as I stared. "It's creepy, isn't it?"
"Not that I'm not happy that they've decided to put aside their differences," I began delicately then stopped. Try as I might, I couldn't figure out a polite way of asking, 'but what the actual fuck is going on?'
Renji snorted. "Figures that the one thing they'd have in common is their artistic tastes."
"Huh?" I asked confused. I loved my sister, but even I had to admit that her taste in art was a bit…unconventional.
"Go talk to them. They won't listen to me, but maybe you'll have better luck. And whatever you do, don't encourage them," Renji warned.
At that moment, both Byakuya and Rukia looked up, having finally decided to acknowledge my presence. Rukia's expression lit up upon seeing me and she ran forward, shoving a paper in my face. I looked down to see what appeared to be a drawing of a lumpy green blob with arms and legs.
"That's…lovely, Rukia. Um—what exactly is it?" I asked, bemused. Oh god, please don't let this be a new obsession of hers. Chappy was bad enough. She beamed at me.
"That's Admiral Seaweed, nee-chan! Isn't he beautiful?" She breathed, stars in her eyes. Byakuya had stood up as well and now he graced Rukia with a rare, genuinely pleased smile. Discreetly, I pinched myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming.
"Yes, very well done, Rukia. You have improved greatly," he complimented her. Byakuya's gaze shifted to me and his expression softened into something almost tender. "Here, Hisana. I have made you a drawing as well."
I took his drawing and studied the deformed cartoon plant before me. It was obviously made with care, and if I squinted the green tones were rather unique and…
Yeah, no. Still couldn't see what was so special about it.
"Do you like it?" Byakuya asked quietly just as I was about to hand the drawing of the weird seaweed back to him. I made the mistake of glancing up. Slightly nervous posture, eyes staring earnestly into mine, voice almost pathetically hopeful…goddammit.
"I love it," I lied through my teeth. "Thank you so much, Byakuya. You too, imouto." Rukia's face lit up like the sun and Byakuya lips curled into a small smile, looking so incredibly proud that any reservations I had about lying immediately flew out the window. Behind me, Renji facepalmed.
"I'm glad. Then Rukia and I shall find a proper place to put our pictures, so that they may be portrayed in their proper glory. The kitchen seems like a good idea—you like cooking, and by hanging them there you'll be able to enjoy looking at them any time you wish."
As soon as Byakuya and Rukia left, Renji scowled fiercely at me.
"That was sad, Hisana-nee-san. Just sad," he grumbled.
"I'd like to see you say no to those faces," I muttered. Those two had the combined force of a thousand puppy dog eyes.
"Whatever. Just don't say I didn't warn you," Renji mumbled. I rolled my eyes at his dramatics. It was just a couple pictures of distorted, anthropomorphic seaweed. How bad could it be?
A week later, I came to regret my actions when the number of Admiral Seaweed pictures scattered throughout my house rose up to thirty seven.