Ophidiophobia
Second chapter. WARNING: SWEARING, DARK CONTENT, MATURE SEXUAL THEMES. –basically it's not light reading and Gin is a twisted bastard.
The tea tray wobbles a little in her dainty hands, full and heavy with temperate water, steam overflowing from hand-painted porcelain cups and a small clay brewing pot. Rukia is careful she doesn't move too fast on her way to the Captain's office. The day is early and only the seated officers of the Thirteen Division have just risen to drag themselves to their desks. But Rukia -unlike most of the company who are still asleep- is happy for a 06:00 start, it means she doesn't see her Nii-sama until the afternoon -if at all.
As she rounds a corridor corner in the main office block her heart jolts at the horror injecting sight of Gin approaching her. He comes at her like a monster would a cornered victim and damns herself for being alone. She holds the tea trays unsteady because her hands are shaking. Little chattering clinks give her terror away and make his unseelie smile stretch wider.
"What a pretty lil' surprise." He calls when he is close, one meter away.
"Ichimaru." she acknowledges him. Rukia knows that any weakness she shows only fuels his sick enjoyment
"Now, now: manners, Subordinate-chan… shall I teach ya some?" The twitch of his mouth, lilt of sadistic pleasure, I feel ill.
"No, please excuse me." Rukia clutches the wooden tray hard and tries to step back, a tilt of his head stops her.
"No? Not 'no Captain Sir'? Well this calls for a disciplinin'"
He takes a teacup full of steaming tea from the tray and yanks up her left sleeve and before she can jerk away he tips the boiling liquid on to her exposed skin.
Rukia drops the tray in reflex and cries out from the pain -a high pleading wail. Clamping her opposite hand down on the burn and pressing hard. The shattering clatter never comes and she sees Gin has the tray balanced on one hand and the teacup still in the other. Rukia with eyes wide and watering turns to run.
Gin drops the burden with a crash and grabs her tiny wrist. Please!
"STAND STILL!" Gin thunders, Rukia wants to scratch away her eyes but knows that will do not good to erase the brief flash of red slits she saw, his irises are the colour of blood.
The image will be forever branded into her memory. Broken shards are on the floor between them and the water that splashed onto her tabi socks is only luck warm compared to the pain all over her arm.
He brings the little white porcelain cup to touch her cheek but Rukia won't give him the satisfaction of hearing her whimper. When he pours the scalding water over her chest Rukia bites her lip and cuts her palms with crescent nails to keep the scream in her throat.
It hurts! IT BURNS!
"Play in' tough never got no one nowhere." Her tormentor tells her lightly. The scent of tea is strong and sweet but it's relaxing catharsis is so perverse in this situation Rukia winces. Please… no more…
Gin drops the hollow cup and it smashes with the other fragmented pieces. His cruel hand then is on her hair, stroking gently. Rukia cannot bear his physical touch and terror turns her blood cold while her pale skin continues to burn. Its scalding her, forming red shiny blisters.
"There's no need ta start tremblin' Rukia-chan, I'm just pettin' ya." He fists his hand and pulls her head back so she has to look up at him. Her fear is so intense that her vision is dimming. "Now what am I goin' ta do with you? I can't have ya walkin' around wet like this so let's go find ya new uniform. I'll even help bandage those burns." She shook her head and murmurs-
"No. " Trying reticently to tug away Gin tightens his grip and tears prick the corners of her eyes.
"I can be insistent Rukia-chan..." the pain in her scalp increases as he twists his fingers savagely.
Please help…
"ICHIMARU TAICHOU!"
A man barks and Rukia almost collapses in relief to recognize Kaien Shiba's booming drill-sergeant voice. Gin's hands drop and she flinches away.
Her vice-Captain reaches them, his eyes unusually hard sweep over her then scrutinise Gin before he reaches out and takes her –unknowingly, thankfully-by her uninjured arm and tugs her behind his large body as he faces Gin.
"Do you have any business with her Sir?" he asks through gritted teeth, his voice almost a growl.
"Not anymore, I was just here to see yer Captain when I happened upon lil' Rukia here who dropped her tray, I think she might have burned herself so don't scold her to hard. I'll be going' now, nice seein' you Vice-Cap'tn. Goodbye Rukia-chan! Until next time!" Gin's venomous gaze and underlying vow made her shiver. She clutches at Kaien's sleeve to keep herself from crying. He's gone, he'sgone. Kaien's warm strong hands closed over her shaking shoulders and pressed her to him. Rukia could taste the relief, it was cool and clear like ice melting in her mouth.
Kaien kneels in front of her, legs beneath him so now they were the same height.
"Are you okay Kuchiki?" He asks in open concern and fury. "Did he hurt you?"
'Yes!' She wanted to cry and tell him everything that had happened but she is a soldier and a member of the Kuchiki family, as such, deplorable displays of weakness were not tolerated.
"I'm f-fine K-Kaien-dono." Rukia stutters, breathing sharply. Kaien stares at her intently, his eyes frightened almost, but it didn't make sense for him to be frightened. Over me?
"C'mere Kuchiki, you've really burned your arm." Her kind-hearted Lieutenant pressed his large hand to her red scarred arm and blue healing Kidou glows on her skin. Then his hand moves to her chest, then stomach and cooled the scalding blisters there as well. "I'm not really good with healing" he tells her, voice rough and comforting. "All I'm doing is numbing the pain, but that's better than feeling it right?"
"Thank you Kaien-dono." She mumbles, watching his face soften in the soothing blue light.
"Anytime Kuchiki, you know I'll always be around to protect you from the freaks."
-X-X-X-
To be continued...
A review would be nice.
And yes I know Gin's eyes are light blue; but you tell that to episode 48.