"Sit. There." Rukia pointed to a purple cushioned chair.

Renji sat obediently.

With a sigh, the small girl gently massaged her forehead with the tips of her fingers.

Curse it. Another headache...

"Renji." She snapped.

He looked up, hopeful. She had brought him inside. Maybe she had reconsidered and--

"Stay in that chair or die. I'm going outside."

Or not.

"Wait! Rukia!" Renji grabbed her retreating shoulder.

She glared. "What, Renji?"

Stop glaring at me! What did I do? I'm trying to help you... You won't be happy in here, like this...alone.

"Let's talk, Rukia. Please."

I see it on your face! Stop trying to hide!

She locked gazes with him for a second, then sighed resignedly.

"Let me get some Tylonel first..." She muttered, and grabbed a backpack.

A backpack lying in the library of Taichou's house.

A backpack, grey-blue, worn and over-used.

Renji squinted his eyes. It looked so familiar.

Rukia glanced at him while taking some compact purple objects. She looked a bit...wary?

Upon swallowing the items, she took a small steaming china cup and sipped some tea, sighed, then sat down in a luxurious chair across from her friend.

She stared at him, sipping her drink every other second.

Renji was getting uncomfortable. "What?"

She gave a confused glance. "Didn't you want to talk? If not, I'll just go take--"

Renji shook his head. "No, no... it's okay." He leaned back, trying to get comfortable. It wasn't hard.

She sipped her tea, her lusterous eyes closed for a second as the hot liquid entered her mouth.

"So?" She held the china in her lap loosely. "What is it, Renji?"

He snapped to attention. How long had he been staring at her?

"Uhm." He scratched his head, trying to get his bearings. "Well... Where to start..."

He suddenly glanced up, into her eyes, motive found. "We got data from Kurotsuchi yesterday."

"Mmhmm?" She sipped her tea.

"Karakura had sightings of arrancars."

She nodded, swallowing. "Yes. You told me this before."

"And..." He felt pressure building. "You have friends there, right?"

She was silent.

The air seemed so dense.

"Your powers should be back by tonight. Why not tag along?"

How could she sip her tea so casually?

This wasn't Rukia.

"CURSE IT, RUKIA!!!! LOOK UP AND TALK TO ME!!!"

He was standing, out of the comfort of the cushioned seat, one hand outstretched to his side, the other in a fist.

When she looked up, she had the Kuchiki face on.

The face that was born when Renji let her go.

The face that melted when Ichigo made his way into her heart.

The face that she now wore as an icy curtain.

"Renji. Please do not yell in Nii-sama's house." She stood, tea still in hand. "I have to decline your offer."

No.

"There are sure to be others more capable than I."

No.

"I don't have a seat yet, nor am I very good with the sword."

No, curse it.

"That being said, would you like to be escorted out?" She walked up and around to his side, and touched his arm.

He shrugged her off. "No, thank you."

He bowed stiffly, then walked himself out.

----------------------

A pale mess of spiky hair looked out onto the horizon.

Nothing but blue, sideways buildings.

Boring.

Everything here was so boring.

The rain pelted his face, the black teeth stretched out in a nasty sneer.

He needed to get out of here.

This time, the horse will ride the king.