-Stand By me-
"Is nurse Kuchiki available?"
"Dr. Abarai... Nurse Kuchiki isn't feeling well..."
"Can I at least see her? You know, check up on her?"
Renji looks around fiddling with his fingers while Ayame lets out a chuckle, "Please be patient with nurse Kuchiki... she's going through alot..."
"Nurse Kuchiki?" Renji knocks on the door before he enters and sees Rukia laying huddled in a ball on the medical bed emotionally exhausted, "You doing okay?"
"I'm okay..." Rukia muffled, "What do I owe you for such an improtu visit?"
"Wanted to check up on you and see for myself..." Renji sighs as he grabs a chair and sits next to Rukia who is huddling in a ball, "You really let yourself go..."
"Huh?" Rukia softly pipped.
"You use to be full of optimism... hope... happiness...and now...what's really going through your mind, Rukia?"
Rukia lets out a soft sigh, "Renji, it's the constant thought of losing Kiyomi. I might lose Kiyomi. She's everything I worked for. She's the one that keeps me going... She's my sunshine..."
Renji sighs. He nestles his head on the bed, facing Rukia as he moves her hair away from her face, "Don't think about it too much..."
Rukia opens her eyes as she stares into Renji's, "I can't... She was the reason I wake up for. The reason why I'm so optimistic and happy... She's the only one that cares for me...But now?" Rukia scoffs, "I'm nothing..."
Renji rolls his eyes because he knows it's not true. Everyone cares for Rukia... especially Renji who feels Rukia doesn't feel the same way about him...
"Don't you think you're the reason someone wakes up for? The season why they are still waiting?"
Rukia shakes her head chuckling, "Who? Name one person who wakes up on the morning for me? Go ahead, na-"
Renji gently pulls Rukia's head towards him as he plants a kiss on her lips, mumbling, "Well, I for one, wake up for you..."
Rukia's heart fluttered. Not the type of flutter when first met someone, nor is it the type of flutter you get when your crush tells you they return the feelings... It's the type of flutter that makes you feel cared for. The type of flutter that makes you feel you aren't alone. The type of flutter only when you feel loved for...
But Rukia knows better than that.
She was abandoned and used. She's not going to fall for the nice guy act...
Rukia pulls away, "Renji... I can't-not now... I'm going through a hard time and I don't need-"
Renji tightens his hold as he buries his face onto Rukia's neck, mumbling as he sent kisses all over her neck, "This is different... Don't categorize me with them... I won't lie, cheat, or leave you..."
Rukia relaxed. She was tired of worrying. Tired of feeling tired. She just wants someone to love and care for... Some one to love and care for her...
She wanted nothing more than to melt away...
"Renji..." Rukia slightly moves over, allowing Renji to join her on the bed, "You told me you won't lie, cheat, or leave me... promise me that?"
Renji smiles and nods as his kisses traveled away from her neck to her shoulder...
-It doesn't matter what we do -
-Where we are going to -
-We can stick around and see this night through-
"Nurse Ayame, where's nurse Kuchi-"
Ayame pulls Momo to the side, whispering, "Shhh! Don't talk about nurse Kuchiki..." Ayame looks around, making sure no one is near to hear as she continues to whisper into Momo's ear, "Nurse Kuchiki is room 326 with Dr. Abarai..."
Momo's eyes widen as she began to slightly giggle and nudge Ayame, "Come on, aren't you curious on what they are doing?"
Ayame blushes hard, "Trust me Momo... I THINK I know what nurse Kuchiki and Dr. Abarai are doing..."
Momo gives Ayame a look, "Nurse Kuchiki would never do such a thing with Dr. Abarai..."
"Momo... nurse Kuchiki has been in there with for a few hours... Something is going on in there..."
-Feather-
Rukia lets out a sigh of content. The burden and stress seemed to have melted away... the heavy feeling in her chest felt lightened. She felt new...
"What am I going to do? What if I lose Kiyomi?" Rukia buried her face onto Renji's bare chest while he runs his hand down her arm slightly hugging her tighter making Rukia feel safe. Safe from all the lies, and damage that had been inflicted upon her. Away from the pain and hurt.
"You aren't going to lose her..." Renji slightly pulls away, revealing Rukia's face, "You really need to trust yourself on this...You know her more than anyone..."
"But I'm going to face the judge and the horrible lawyer..." Rukia hugs onto Renji tighter, "I'm going to lose Kiyomi... I'm a horrible person... I can't even keep my promise..."
"Don't think like that... "
Rukia sighs as she loops her arms around Renji's neck, nestling her head on his shoulder, "But I'm tearing a family apart... Her family... I took her from them... The never had the chance to meet Kiyomi.."
"But you took her in... You gave her the love and care she needed... You did everything right..." Renji kisses Rukia on the head, "Everything will be fine..."
"How do know everthing will be fine?"
"You have practically everyone who works in this building supporting you with nothing but good words of praise..."
"Really?" Rukia looks up at Renji, "I thought I was the crazy nurse-"
Renji sliences Rukia with a kiss, "Practically everyone who works in this building supporting you with nothing but good words of praise...I know this..."
Rukia lets out a huff as she buries her face onto Renji's neck, "Thank you Renji..."
-Moon-
Both Ukyo and Rukia walk up the steps of the Court house...
Though, when they reached the doors of the court house Rukia's eyes widen.
The lobby was filled with familiar faces...
Familiar faces from the hospital...
Rukia wasn't alone...
Even Yamamoto was there for moral support..
"Rukia," Renji walks up to her, "I told you everyone supports you..."
"Ms. Kuchiki..." the judge looks at Rukia, "You are well aware you are entitled to a lawyer if you are not able to afford one..."
"I prefer to represent myself... If that is not a problem your honnor..." Rukia calmly replied as she heard the screams and sobs of Kiyomi who waits out side...
"Very well..." the judge looks at the lawyer who nods and looks at Rukia, "I would like to call Ms. Kuchiki to the stand..."
"Go on..." Ukyo whispered, "Show them what your made of..."
Rukia nods as she gets up and walks towards the stand, facing the meancing Lawyer who clears his throat, "Ms. Kuchiki... Is it true that you are a nurse?"
"Yes, that is true..."
"And, is it true you have metal break downs when something passes-"
"You mean patients..." Rukia clenched her fists, "Please respect the dearly deceased..."
The lawyer chuckles, he found Rukia's weakness.
"When SOMETHING passes away... You have a mental break down... how can we be sure you won't be a threat to Kiyomi one day?"
"There's no worry for that... It's Kiyomi that helps with the healing process..."
"What about the accusion of beating an innocent woman?" the lawyer towers over Rukia, "I bet you enjoyed ever moment of it... Did you threaten her to drop the charges? Did you-"
"What kid of shit is that?!" Ukyo blurted angrily, "This shit lawyer is saying all the wrong shit! He's making Rukia seem like an animal when she-"
The judge annoyingly bangs his gavel, "ORDER! ORDER IN THE COURT!" he darts his eyes at Ukyo, "One more outburst from you will get you kicked out of the couty room..."
Ukyo scoffs as she slinks back into her seat mumbling, "Stupid lawyer.."
"As I was saying..." The lawyer clears his throat as he faces Rukia, "Ms. Kuchiki, why did she suddenly drop all charges?"
"It was simple. I didn't lay a finger on her. It was clear on the physical exam that was done by the hospital..."
"By the hospital you work in where everyone loves you.. Am I correct?"
"Not everyone.. but I would say a nice number of staff members appreciate me for what I do..."
The lawyer chuckles, "Right... From the looks of it," the lawyer turns around facing the audience, "it's safe to say they would do anything to help you out... Maybe even "fixing" up the exams to "prove" your innocence?"
"No..." Rukia clamly replied, "She was the one that inflicted pain on herself..."
"And why would she do such a thing?"
"She felt threaten by my presense..."
"Why would she feel threatened by you?" The lawyer mocked, "The nice, calm, collected nurse? The nurse that's all caring and loving?"
"It's simple... She was threatened by my past relations with her boyfriend..."
"Oh?" the lawyer walks up to Rukia, "So it's a love triangle... She took your boyfriend away and now you want reve-"
Rukia snapped, "Never. I would never fight for someone who won't fight for me... I would never love someone who doesn't love me... I would never love him because he would never love me..."
The lawyer sports a chummy smile as she walks towards the judge, "Your honnor, lets make it clear that Ms. Kuchiki is prone to random out bursts of anger-"
"HEY!" Ukyo angrily blurted, "Don't say things that aren't true! Rukia has the patience of an angel!"
"ORDER!" the judge bangs his gavel as his eyes dart at Ukyo, "One more out burst from you will get you kicked out of my court room.."
Hyabusa signals for the lawyer to approach him as they began to whisper to one another while Ukyo shuts her mouth and she slinks back down in her seat mumbling, "Stupid Lawyer..."
"Nothing more your honnor..."
The judge looks at Rukia, "You maybe step off the stand ..."
"Thank you...May I call Ayame to the stand?"
-Never meant to belong-
"Is this all?" The judge looks at Rukia who smiles at Ayame, Momo, Renji, Shuuhei and Ukyo.
"Yes your honnor.. That is al-"
Yamamoto clears his throat, "I think you are forgetting someone Nurse Kuchiki..."
Rukia's eyes widen. Yamamoto talking on her behalf?
"Very well then , please take the stand..."
Yamamoto slowly walks towards the stand past Rukia who whispers, "Thank you Chief Yamamoto..."
The judge clears his throat, "From what I heard today, from both sides, I think I have came to as conclu-"
"Your honnor," the lawyer interupted, "Mr. Okada has a few words he would like to address with Ms. Kuchiki..."
The judge looks at him and nods.
A fragile old man stand up as he looks at Rukia, "Kuchiki-san... I have not seen or spent time with my granddaughter... I'm an old man and my only wish is to spend time with my granddaughter. My time on earth is very limited. I may not understand why you feel hurt and pained... But you must understand, I envy you for feeling such emotions... You had the time to become emotionally attached to Kiyomi when I haven't...Please Kuchiki-san... Please don't deny me of my grandchild..."
Rukia's heart was torn. Abandon Kiyomi and let her go? Or, rip Kiyomi away from a family who longs for a lost family member?
The judge felt the tension in the room-well enough to give a recess.
Though just as the frail old man was about to leave the court room for a brief recess, Rukia gently pulled him to the side as they whispered and talked... Within 15 minutes a consense was made without the need of a judge.
"Thank you Kuchiki-san...You are more than welcomed at my place when you come and visit..."
Rukia smiles at the frail old man, "Thank you Ojii-san...When I pick Kiyomi up I promise to bring gifts and goodies..."
Mangaherecom/manga/asatte_no_houkou/v05/c019/
^ The saddest chapter in Asatte no Houkou that I'm somewhat basing this fan fic on...
It's about a little girl wishing to be older and a lady wishing to be younger... they get thier wish granted and change ages...