Hello again! Thanks for the reviews on the previous chapter/prologue. Hope you like this one too. I promise there'll be some action in the next chapter! ;) Also, kudos to the people who get the chapter title. ^^
Disclaimer: The characters belong to Kubo Tite. Only the story is mine.
Pairings: IchiRuki, some others thrown in for fun.
I Went to Buy a Loaf of Bread, Bread, Bread…
As hundreds of tiny, pink blades threatened to crash down on Kuchiki Rukia, she moved out of the way and leapt high into the air. She knew that the dust her brother's attack created would be the perfect way to hide her movement from Hollows. Her brother was no Hollow though. She knew her attack was pointless. Kuchiki Byakuya wasn't a Captain for nothing.
Rather than concentrate on the power gap between them, Rukia aimed her left hand at Byakuya and began to chant an incantation. "Sprinkled on the bones of the beast! Sharp tower, red crystal, steel ring. Move and become the wind, stop and become the calm. The sound of warring spears fills the empty castle! Way of Destruction, number sixty-three, Raikoho!"
As she spoke a sparking yellow orb grew under her palm. Her brows wrinkled in concentration as she focused her energy through the spell. She was far more accustomed to fighting with Shakkahou and Soukatsui; both were level thirty spells. If she wanted to get stronger she had to learn how to use other spells in battle as well.
The completed attack shot downwards towards Kuchiki Byakuya and she saw his Zanpakuto move to block the lightning-like attack before it hit him. As dust rose from the clash, Rukia let out a breath slowly. Her guard slipped a little and before she had time to react she was surrounded by Senbonzakura's petal-blades.
Rukia's grip on the white katana in her right hand tightened. No choice. I've got to try it. Her expression turned grim as she said, "Some no mai, Tsukishiro." What she was trying was risky. She hadn't perfected the use of Tsukishiro as a defence but she had little choice unless she forfeited the training match. A white circle formed on the ground below but the middle part faded away quickly. Ice formed where the white glowed and extended far up into the sky.
Byakuya watched with mild appreciation as his Senbonzakura hit the ice pillar and stopped. He could shatter the ice and crush Rukia completely but the point was to make his sister stronger, not make her have to rely on the Fourth Squad's hospitality. The ice pillar glowed white briefly before breaking apart and disappearing. Byakuya's eyes narrowed a fraction when he noticed that Rukia had released her katana's shikai and she was holding her arm. Evidently she had pushed herself a little too far.
Byakuya returned his katana to normal and sheathed it before Rukia made it to where he was standing. "We are done for today, Rukia," he told her, his tone cold and formal as always. He sighed mentally as the small woman took it the wrong way. He hadn't meant to sound like he was scolding her. "You did well today. We shall spar again tomorrow."
As predicted, Rukia brightened enough to smile up at her adoptive older brother. "Thank you, Nii-sama!" Then there was another person there, perched playfully on Byakuya's shoulders with a grin. "L-lieutenant Yoruichi!" Rukia exclaimed in surprise. Judging by the mildly shocked expression on her brother's face he had not noticed Yoruichi's approach any more than she had.
"Oh? What's this? Brother-sister bonding? How cute, Little Byakuya," the dark skinned woman purred. When Byakuya made a move to grab Yoruichi she Shunpo'd to behind Rukia. "Kisuke requests your presence at First Squad Barracks, Rukia." Byakuya frowned faintly before turning and beginning to walk away. "Nii-sama?" He glanced over his shoulder at his sister and merely said, "Don't keep Captain-Commander Urahara waiting." Then it was just two people again.
"He never changes, does he?" Yoruichi asked rhetorically. Rukia rounded on her with a frown. "He does change! He has changed." The older woman chuckled softly before reaching for Rukia's injured arm. The black haired Shinigami winced at the contact, gentle though it was. "What have ya done to yourself, Rukia?" Yoruichi asked with a soft sigh of concern. Rukia watched Yoruichi's free hand hover over the paler than usual skin for a moment before glowing.
"I didn't know you could us healing Kidou?" Rukia asked curiously. She didn't really expect an answer so when Yoruichi smiled kindly at her and answered she was quite surprised. "I dabbled in it in my spare time. Not that I ever had a lot of it. Being a princess is never easy, is it, Rukia?" Rukia blinked in confusion. It was like Yoruichi was saying she was a princess too…. "Don't give me that look. You're a part of the Kuchiki house, so that makes you their princess." Rukia's face burned red at the compliment Yoruichi was paying her.
"I…thank you," she finally said in response.
"Hmm," Yoruichi hummed innocently. "So, how'd you manage to get hurt? Byakuya pushing you too hard?"
"No, never. I just…I was trying something new and it backfired."
Admitting as much wasn't easy for Rukia. She had never been good about sharing her problems with others. Captain Ukitake had been one of the few that managed to get her to come to him occasionally for help. His death had hit her hard though she refused to show that outwardly. The absence of Ichigo was even worse than that of Ukitake.
Yoruichi's voice brought her back out of her thoughts gently, "- get it eventually."
"Ah…yes, thank you," Rukia said. She assumed that the First Squad Lieutenant had been giving her encouragement though she couldn't be completely sure.
"Let's go." At Yoruichi's word the two headed towards First Squad barracks using Shunpo. "Is Little Byakuya teaching you Shunpo too?"
"No," Rukia said simply. She didn't want to bother her older brother too much. She felt Yoruichi's eyes on her and looked back questioningly. The woman responded with a grin before increasing her speed slightly. Wondering what she was doing, Rukia increased her speed to match. Their speed continued to increase until they got to their destination. When they finally burst into Urahara's office, Rukia was panting and sweating heavily while Yoruichi looked like she walked to the First Squad barracks. She really was the Goddess of Flash.
"Hey, hey, what's the rush?" Urahara asked, tilting his head up just enough for both women to see his eyes. They were sparkling with mischief. "If you wanted to see me so bad -" Rukia's cut him off sharply. "Don't play games with me, Urahara. What do you want?" He remained the only Captain of the Gotei Thirteen that Rukia did not always address with their title. Old habits died hard.
"Bread."
"What?" Rukia was quite confused. What did bread have to do with anything?
"You asked what I wanted. I want bread." Urahara caught Yoruichi rolling her eyes at him and he grinned.
"Then go get it yourself," Rukia said with a tired sigh. He just loved messing with her.
"But it's so far away," Urahara whined, earning a curious look from Rukia. "I order you to get me bread." Rukia opened her mouth to say something but he raised his hand to stop her. "Ah. Just wait. The bread I want is special. It's from the thirty-fourth district of Rukongai. You'll know it when you see it. Okay, now off you go!"
There was a long pause as Rukia digested what Urahara said. He was sending her to Rukongai for some bread that would probably be sta - oh hey, she had an idea. "You do realize that district thirty-four is a day and a half away. Your precious bread will be stale by the time I get back." Urahara was only mildly surprised by Rukia's resistance. It was a bit (just a bit?) of a ridiculous task but he thought she had more respect for rank than that. He decided to use a little more force. He narrowed his eyes and let a little more of his reiatsu leak out. "Are you going to disobey the Captain-Commander, Kuchiki-san?"
It had the desired effect. Rukia flinched before bowing deeply and saying, "No, Captain-Commander Urahara." He smiled broadly. Good. Resorting to intimidation wasn't his favourite tactic but time was of the essence he feared. "See you in a few days, Rukia-chan," Urahara cooed overly friendly. She glared at him but didn't say anything. Her exit from the office was quick as she fumed over the order. She desperately wanted to throttle whoever suggested that Urahara Kisuke should replace Yamamoto as Captain-Commander.
Yet at the same time, she understood why he had been called upon to fill the role. There were few who were suitable to lead the Gotei Thirteen. As much as she admired her brother he was too rigid to be Captain-Commander. The others all had something against them as well. Inexperienced, alcoholic, crazy…Urahara was none of those. Well, perhaps he was a little bit crazy, but he was no Captain Kurotsuchi or Captain Zaraki. He was probably the most intelligent Shinigami alive, strong enough to surprise Aizen without using his bankai, and could recognize when he made a mistake.
It came down to the fact that she trusted Urahara. Despite his past dishonesty. Although she preferred to owe her life to Ichigo she understood that it was because of Urahara that Ichigo had been able to rescue her. None of these facts made her any less angry with Urahara when he got into a mood to toy with her. Rukia made her way to the Kuchiki manor to deliver the news to Byakuya and pick up a few things for travel.
Rukia didn't bring much with her whenever she went anywhere, but there were a few things besides her Zanpakuto she never forgot. Her sketchbook, several markers, some necessities…and the photograph of her with her Real World friends. She slipped the picture into her Shihakushou for safe keeping and put everything else in a pack that immediately shrunk to the size of a marble.
Shinigami had been using the shrinking pack for decades. Bags weren't very handy for fighters to carry around. Only recently did Rukia discover that it was another invention of Urahara's. Her packing done, Rukia went to see Byakuya in his room. The sliding door was fully open and she cleared her throat to get his attention. He looked up at her immediately and she smiled. She remembered a time when she would speak and he wouldn't even face her direction. "Nii-sama. I have a mission. I'll be away for a few days."
"Where are you going?" He asked cautiously. Some missions couldn't be talked about. If Urahara thought to send her on one of those types of missions….
"Rukongai. Thirty-fourth division. Urahara wants some bread," Rukia replied, trying hard to keep her annoyance from her voice.
"Thirty-fourth division is restless lately." It was his way of telling her to be careful.
Rukia nodded briefly before bowing and leaving. She walked through Soul Society towards the west gate but once she got out she started running towards district thirty-four. A day and a half was at walking speed. If she ran for a while she could get there sooner and have a little extra time that she could potentially spend relaxing. Since she had left early enough in the day she should have been able to arrive late at night. Something Yoruichi had said on the way to Urahara's office made Rukia want to try and get there sooner - with the use of Shunpo. What was it that Yoruichi had said again?
Yoruichi suddenly laughed as they neared Urahara's office. "You're not bad, Rukia! You should practice some more then come play tag with me." Rukia, labouring for breath and trying to keep up with the pace Yoruichi had set, grinned and pushed herself to go just that little bit faster.
As she had done earlier, Rukia used Shunpo and pushed herself to her limits. By the time she arrived the sun was almost set and her stomach rumbled loudly. She located the only inn as quick as she could and paid for a room and food. Having missed dinner earlier the home cooked meal was very welcome. She didn't linger in the common room for long. Using so much Shunpo was tiring. She was eager to sleep in for the first time in a long time. She collapsed on the comfortable bed in her room and was asleep within moments. Her sleep was quite pleasant but her wake up call was surprising to say the least.