Author's Note: Takes place between Chapters 2 and 3. Anyway, this was so sweet I almost gave myself cavities.
"…and then Aladdin set the Genie free with his final wish. The Genie bid his friend and former master farewell, and set off to travel the world outside his lamp. The Sultan, recognizing that Aladdin was worthy of his daughter and that he and Jasmine were really, truly in love, decided to lift the marriage law so that Jasmine could marry whomever she wished. She chose Aladdin, of course, and the two of them lived happily ever after."
"That's good. That law was dumb, anyway," Rukia mumbled contentedly, leaning into my side. I laughed softly, wrapping a blanket around her.
"It sure was. I promise, when you grow up, you can marry whomever you like," I said, leaning down to place a kiss on her forehead.
"Mmkay 'kaa-san," she said, scooching closer. My hand paused from where it was stroking her hair.
"Rukia-chan…you know that I'm not really your mom, right?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
"But you're like my mom, yeah? You brush my hair and hug me after nightmares and make sure I eat my veg'tables and tell me stories and take care of me. That's what a mom does. Kaori-nee-san told me," Rukia said matter-of-factly. I swallowed, throat suddenly feeling tight. Part of me felt like an imposter, because it was Yukimura Asuka who had given birth to Rukia, breast-fed her, kept her alive and healthy those first few months, but…
I'd been the one to take Rukia and run, the one who'd been there for her first word and her first step, and goddamn it all, Rukia was mine just as much as I was hers. And hearing her call me 'mother' made my eyes sting and something swell up almost painfully in my chest.
"How about you keep on being my imouto and I keep on being your nee-chan? How does that sound?" I asked shakily, throat suddenly tight.
"Like Anna and Elsa?" Rukia asked, brightening up.
"Like Anna and Elsa," I confirmed.
"Okay!" Rukia chirped cheerfully, pulling me down next to her on the futon before proceeding to wrap my arms around her. Snuggling against my chest, she added, "Love ya, nee-chan."
I pulled her close, burying my face in her hair. "Love you too, imouto. Always."