Guilt and Sidewalks

"After which they will remain; cracked and blessed. Blessed with the imbedded history of what once was....One day, sidewalks will be archeology. Sidewalks will be souvenirs" – Brandon Boyd

A clock tower was chiming one- two- three times. It was middle of the night, early morning and she couldn't sleep. Ichigo's closet was stifling and hot in this almost summer weather; Kon was clinging a little too much to a certain part of her anatomy. Hence, Rukia had opted to listlessly prowl the streets of Karakura Town, in hopes that maybe at least a hollow could break the monotony.

Unfortunately, there were none to be found.

Of all the nights for them to choose to stay in Hueco Mundo.

Rukia sank down onto the sidewalk. The nearby streetlamp was blinking. She stretched her arms and then her legs and looked out onto the road. No cars, no one. Just her, the stars, and the flickering streetlamp.

So she thought.

Suddenly, her dim world became darker as a shadow fell over her. Jumping to her feet, she was met with the sight of Urahara Kisuke.

He was smirking behind his fan. "Well, Miss Kuchiki. We seem to keep meeting like this." In the ill light, she couldn't decipher his eyes but when could she ever, really?

"Yes," Thankfully, years of Soul Society taught her to play, too. "Really, Kisuke, it seems that whenever I need you, you're never there and yet when I don't, you continually manage to pop up."

He gasped in mock offense. His fluttering fan and the blinking light cast impressive highlights and shadows to his face. "Miss Kuchiki, such harsh words. As I recall, I have only helped you." The sly grin so uniquely his, returned. "Besides, you look bored out of your mind."

Mind reader. She accused. I had felt my thoughts linked to his even before I met him, though I had never thought it would prove to be so utterly annoying.

Rukia rolled her eyes. If this were Ichigo, he would already be lying on the sidewalk in pain. Unfortunately, such antics would not work with this man.

"So why are you really out here, Miss Kuchiki? Couldn't sleep?"

His eyes looked a strong hazel green in the orange lamplight and entirely too knowing.

"No." She strived for some normalcy. "Just one of those nights."

He nodded.

Attempting to escape conversation, Rukia averted her gaze to the street. Kisuke, in turn, looked up to observe the heavens. In the pause, the blinking light died and the street was bathed in darkness. Observing him out of the corner of her eye, Rukia couldn't help but notice that moonlight looked good on his features.

He glanced down at her. "So, the gigai's not giving you anymore trouble?"

She shook her head. "Nothing more than the usual."

"Yeah, they have a tendency to act up a bit."

To be honest, she had never noticed such tendencies on previous assignments. Though, again, to be fair she had never been in a gigai this long so she let it go unremarked.

"Rukia, what will you tell Soul Society?"

She blinked at the sound of the first name life had given to her.

"I don't know." The petite woman paused. "I've been trying to think of some plausible excuse, but nothing really works."

He took off his hat and gripped it tightly in his hand. And for the first time, she could read him. And she suddenly regretted ever wanting to in the first place.

Trouble is where I live.

"Rukia, just know that no matter what you will always have a place here."

A loaded statement…

A home? With Urahara Kisuke?

Rukia swallowed. "Thank you."

And she really did mean it but-

"But, I'm sure Soul Society is already watching me. I don't want you to have to get involved any more than you have to."

"But, even when they come. And you know being the predictable bastards that they are, they are sure to come…" He paused, clenching the hat tighter. "Don't lose hope." Earnest didn't even begin to touch the honest fervor in those words.

She tilted her head in a questionable manner but just as quickly as his mood had begun, it had disappeared. Instead, Rukia was given an imperceptible nod. Backing away, he put the striped hat back on his head, and walked off into the darkness. The sound of his getas echoed in the stillness of the night, a scene reminiscent of their first meeting.

It occurred to her later that, even for Urahara, it was quite odd to be wandering around at three in the morning. With no excuse. Especially, that particular street at the precise time she would be there. On the opposite side of town. It was entirely too coincidental.

xx

AN: Well, Kisuke is guilty, as he should be. For some reason I have this inane love of writing these right before I go to bed, which keeps me up way too late. Anyways, thank you to CJ & Maelynne Naveen for reviewing. Hopefully, this wasn't too disappointing to you readers. Any review would be greatly appreciated.