Title: Routine
Theme: A Temporary Heaven
Characters/Pairings: Rukia, Renji, Ichiruki
Rating: G (PG? Ichigo threatens Chappy)
Summary: Rukia's thoughts on the new routine her life has taken and her inability to return to the old one.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, besides a stupid headache and a sore backbone.
Notes: This is a follow-up piece to Gracious Queen of Deception. I originally meant for Rukia to find out that Ichigo was still alive, but instead this popped into my head. There will be another piece following this where Rukia is informed that Ichigo is alive and coming for her.
As the days passed, the stomach pangs grew worse and worse. It felt like something was eating her from the inside (It reminded her of Fishbone's teeth when they ripped through her torso). It was getting harder and harder to ignore. But ignore it she did.
Everyday, Renji would enter her cell with a plate full of food, and everyday, he would take back a full plate. It had become a routine. She would sit in her chair, staring up at the tiny window of her cell. He would swing open the door, always violently and with a lot of noise in an attempt to get a reaction. She would not give him one. He would approach her chair, and place the plate of food on her lap (as always, it was topped high. The higher-ups are starting to get worried). She didn't acknowledge its existence, but continued to stare at the small patch of sky that she could see through her small window. Annoyed with her, Renji would snap at her, demanding to know why she didn't eat. She would make some flippant remark about his eyebrows and his Vice-captaincy, and Renji would leave the cell stomping and growling, her mocking laughter ringing in his ears.
It was a routine that she had come to expect everyday. It did not offer the comfort it might have once done, back in a time when her hands weren't covered with blood. Instead, she found herself wishing to return to a different time, with a different routine and a different man.
Ichigo would have resorted to bribery.
"You don't want to eat, do you? Well, I don't know about you Rukia, but I don't think that Mr. Chappy will look half as handsome with only one ear."
Bastard. Stupid, stupid bastard.
With a sudden scream of rage, she grabbed the plate and hurled it against the bars.
By the time Renji arrived, she was back to sitting straight backed in her chair, staring at something only she could see, and there was only the broken china and spoilt food to evidence that she had even moved at all. Renji snapped and began screaming at her, demanding to know what was wrong with her.
She didn't even hear him. She was beyond hearing now.
It was all just part of the routine.