AN: This takes place in a different universe then everything else!!!
Neglect
I.
Ichigo had been watching her.
Of course, he always had. He was her protector. A knight in shihakusho ready to come to her defense, even when she didn't need it. Watching was just something Ichigo did. It was just part of his protecting nature.
But, now he was watching her for different reasons. At first, there was an adoration in his eyes. She'd feel his eyes on her only to turn and see him looking the farthest away from her, wearing a blush brighter then his hair. She had thought it was cute.
Rukia knew that it was bound to happen one day. Kisuke, Renji, even Byakuya had warned her. Had she listened? Not at all, instead Rukia had pushed it to the farthest corner of her mind and took love in Ichigo's company. She reveled in the feeling of having a true best friend for the first time in her long life.
But, still it had lingered in the back of her mind and now there was no way around it… Ichigo was watching her in way he wasn't supposed to.
Thankfully, after a couple of weeks the adoration faded and Rukia thought she had been let off easy. She soon came to realize it had been replaced by something more ardent, more dangerous. That look was something akin to the ones Kisuke would give her late at night. Coming from Ichigo's horribly familiar face, itt would be a lie to say it didn't spark something in her. Rukia was Ichigo's first love. And it was intoxicating. The boy who had braved the whole of Soul Society to save her. Who did what not even her beloved could do. What Kisuke had intentionally sent her to and that particular thought was jarring.
Before, a good deal of her time had been firmly established at the Urahara Shoten. Training as she had informed Ichigo. Now, her attentions were divided and she flitted from household to household.
One night, hurt grey eyes informed her, "You look at him as if he's Kaien."
For the first time, Rukia began to doubt her love for Urahara Kisuke.
II.
Soon, the gazes of both parties became unbearable. Ichigo with that gaze that lit her up and put her on Cloud 9 and Kisuke with those veiled gazes that were enough to remind her of her growing infidelity.
Two weeks later, when Ichigo asked her where she was going at night Rukia decided to cut all nightly visits to the Urahara Shoten. She then suggested that they take a different route to school and avoided Urahara Kisuke like the plague.
III.
It was late November when Ichigo made his move. They were sitting at his window looking out at the chilly night when he kissed her. It was not as skillful as one of Kisuke's kisses or as beautiful as the ones she dreamed of from Kaien, but it was instead filled of Ichigo... Something she hadn't been planning for.
IV.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
Stop panting.
I suppose I had it coming to me.
After all, everyone else had done this. Ichigo, Chad, Renji… even Ishida and Orhime had made use of Urahara's underground training room. She, on the other hand, had avoided it with fervor.
The winter had just begun and Aizen had not yet made his move. Everyone had to train. Soul Society was on full alert and the captains were bearing hard down upon their divisions making sure everything was ready. The officers in the 11th were working with all of the Gotei 13 in order to be in top fighting shape. Yamamoto had issued strict orders and now the divisions had squandered off into intense training groups. Everyone was getting as much work in as possible.
Except for her.
Ichigo and Renji had offered to train her, of course. But, it was Byakuya's & Ukitake's pointed looks that made her turn them down
Which is why I am here.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Stop panting, god damn it!
Her movements were atrociously sluggish, her balance more than a little bit off, and the Kuchiki technique that had been so painfully taught to her a tad bit rusty. If only he hadn't knocked her out of her gigai, she'd have something to blame it on.
Dodge.
Parry.
Run.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
She almost wished he were like Ukitake or Byakuya. Both of their sparing techniques consisted of the same routine of parries and dodges. Neither would hurt her even if for her own good. Which were probably the reasons they sent her to him.
Urahara Kisuke had never been orthodox in his handling of her.
V.
Either way she had avoided him, putting off her training to as long as she possibly could. Even when Ukitake had told her that Urahara had already agreed, she still found excuses. Training was not enough reason to go to that man. He with his lies and never ending machinations. Ironically, it was something as simple as Isshin and Yuzu pleading for her to bring back Ichigo to dinner that snared her in.
When she got there, Yoruichi had informed her with brisk coolness that Ichigo was down on the training grounds and of course she had naively climbed down… Not yet realizing Shihouin-san could very easily be in cohorts with the man she had been avoiding. That perhaps Isshin had lied when he said Ichigo would be at Urahara's and not with the vaizards. All she allowed herself to think about was tiptoeing in, telling Ichigo that his father needed him and then just as quickly running back out.
"Ichigo?" She hoped her suspicions were wrong. That this wasn't some elaborate ploy.
She called again and received no answer. No sounds. No nothing. Not even the slightest sign of sparing.
The silence was broken by the sound of the trap door being shut.
The long familiar voice came from behind her, "I'm not Ichigo." The next thing she knew, Benhime was slamming her into soul form and the game was on.
VII.
Parry.
Run again.
Swing Shirayuki blindly.
Run away.
Dodge and roll
Shunpo over crevice.
Parry again.
They had to have been fighting for half the day now but who knows? It was hard to tell down here.
Dodge.
Run.
Parry.
Dodge.
Roll.
Where the hell was Ichigo? Renji? Orhime? Anyone for that matter?
Pant.
She paused.
Pant.
Then, Benihime nicked her thigh and just like that Rukia's moment of reprieve was over.
"Don't worry Kuchiki-san, I placed wonderful barriers over the training grounds so that way no one will disrupt our instructional time. You really haven't practiced in far too long."
Pant.
Parry.
Pant.
Her legs were shaking. Her muscles completely strained. She hadn't trained this intensely since… Kaien.
There was a sharp sound and a desolate cry from Shirayuki.
Suddenly, Urahara was before her and holding half of her zanpakto.
"So have the past months really been about me? Or about Shiba-kun?"
That stupid grin was on his face. He was taunting her.
And it worked.
As if out of nowhere, a burst of anger and adrenalin rushed through her vein prompting her to speak the four words that would end this.
Breathe in.
San no mai, shirafune.
Breathe out.
Her sword was reformed and pristine as ever.
And now he was bleeding.
She grinned at his widened eyes and rapidly fading smile.
Victory.
She walked away.
Ichigo would be wondering where she was.
She only made it halfway to the ladder, before he stood in her path again.
"I am not Kaien Shiba."
He brandished Benhime.
Rukia gulped.
Before she had time to react, he had already lunged with zanpaktou aiming straight at her throat.
She knew if she hurried she'd have a chance agaisnt his zanpaktou. Instead she welcomed what she had meant to do years ago and lifted her chin waiting for her inevitable death.
VII.
It didn't come.
She opened her eyes and there he was. In her face, practically coiled around her, but not touching.
Pant.
God damn gig-
He impaled Benihime straight into the ground behind her legs and pushed her against the hilt.
"Say my name." There was a gruff quality she had never heard before.
Her mouth was dry.
Kaien. Ichigo. Sparring. Training. Kaien-
There wasn't enough air in the world to support her lungs right now.
He pushed against her harder. Benihime's hard hilt pressed against the small of her back and something entirely different established its presence against her stomach.
"Say my name, Kuchiki-san." The hoarseness was still there but still somehow laced with a deep purr.
"Ura…"
He pressed again with his hips firmly, lips brushing against the shell of her ear. "Ura what?"
Pant.
He didn't kill me.
He knows.
Trying to save one last shard of her pride, she mustered up her sweetest voice. "Ura-chan."
He snorted with laughter.
And it appeared the moment was over.
VIII.
Thank kami, the Soul King, Yamamoto-sama, the spirits in heaven, Hisana, Ni-sama, Buddha, and any other blessed unnamed soul that might be watching...
She would get out of the training room. Kisuke really was just playing with her for old times sake. He really was just speculating on old feelings, old guilts... And she would be able to go back to Ichigo. They could eat supper. She was starving from the extensive training. Then she and Ichigo would say goodnight to his family, go to his room and he would make her forget all of th-
IX.
Except, it really wasn't over. In a blink of an eye, she was being locked firmly against Benihime. And sweet, beloved so-called Ura-chan's hands were wandering and his lips were coming closer into view.
Liar. Bastard. I hate you…
When their lips met, Kaien, Ichigo and everything else disappeared.
…But, she actually quite loved him.
Only dimly could Rukia feel the Benhime's sharp, angry heat radiating against her skin.
She could practically hear the curses spewing from the sword. Foolish girl, when will you realize to move on?
Kisuke broke away, burying his head in the crook of her neck. "I think she asked a valid question."
She looked away. Kisuke's hand wandered to play with the hairs at the nape of her neck. A shiver ran down her spine. A vision of Kaien floated before her. Benihime quickly heated and Kisuke's hands reached a sensitive part on her neck. The image dissappeared.
"Will you stay this time?"
Breathe in. Breathe out.
"Yes."
Edit: 6/2/07
AN: I really don't like this… But it's been so long since I've posted something… Who knows maybe I'll write a little sequel to it or add another ending someday. . But hey! Almost smut in this drabble!! Woooo!
Anyways, I'd like to thank Meleanne, Wynter, Windgoddess, Cup Smou for reviewing! I'd particularly like to thank Deirdre. You are AWESOME. You totally inspired this drabble which is why it's this big conglomeration of some of the ideas you gave me. Hopefully I'll be able to do the others soon. . Anyways, please REVIEW! I'd love to hear anyone's thoughts, suggestions, ideas (because really I'm writing it for you guys), or constructive criticism.
Hope you enjoyed.
Review! Review!
--Sayu Stang