AN: A true drabble. It's that short.

Disclaimer: Don't sue o.o

Peripheral

A menos grande.

When Ishida had started this so called 'competition', he would have never thought. At the time Ichigo ran off to save his family, he hadn't even heard of one. She, herself, had only thought of Uryuu's recklessness. Besides, a menos grande was like something out of a dark fairytale.

Nobody had seen it coming.

Except for, of course, Kisuke.

Now, she sat frozen and bound to the ground, watching Ichigo run blindly at a gigantic hollow.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

Hell, even Uryuu knew better then to attack the menos grande straight on.

Stupid, Ichigo! The first thing you do is run at it! As if I didn't specifically mention that you always have to a strategy!

Every muscle in her body was tense. The last moments of Kaien's death flashed before her. Don't die. Don't die.

It was in that moment a hand came to rest on the crook of her shoulder.

Restricted as she was, Rukia was clearly aware that it was Kisuke's. His thumb kneaded softly in small circles.

As annoyed as she was by him and his stupid kidos, a part of her admitted it was soothing.

"Don't worry." He bent down, his face swimming into her field of vision. "If anything happens, I'll interfere." In her peripheral, she could see the end of Benihime's sheath. Urahara is better then any Soul Society strike squad.

Like magic, her body relaxed and she stopped straining against the kido.

So, the two watched silently as the battle progressed. Ichigo, amazingly enough, was able to land a blow and ward the hollow back into Hueco Mundo, just as Kisuke had hinted and Ishida actually did prove to be useful if only for the aftermath with Ichigo's fluctuating powers.

In other circumstances, Rukia would already have bounded over to his side, drop kicked him, and be in the progress of giving him an earful. But, the minor fact that Kisuke continued to stroke circles on her back was enough to keep her still.

-Owari

Well, I already have 4 or 5 other drables, so yes you can expect more. Problem is they are all post SS arc & I can't really think of a way to bridge the gap b/w where I am now & there. So, if anyone has any ideas, it would definitely help if at least the get the creative gears flowing. Wish me luck. .

THANK YOU to all who reviewed!

xSayuriStang