#and that’s not even counting the hisana of it all | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

fectless · 4 years ago

Text

(This is technically in response to the post right below this one, as world building totally counts for it, right?)

Anywho, more fandom thoughts, but for BLEACH this time. I recently started rewatching the anime again for the nth time as part of my language practice (and having the Japanese subtitles on while watching it in Japanese is an experience) and reached that episode where Aizen and co. get rescued by Menos Grande after declaring their intentions to Soul Society. And then a few things hit me.

The first: Rukia says, the first time Ichigo sees her sending someone on via Soul Burial, that one neither feels hunger nor gets sick in Soul Society. We know that this is false for a few reasons.

Those who can become shinigami definitely need to eat and all souls need water which implies that they can suffer from thirst (and perhaps heat exhaustion).

Captain Ukitake is suffering from an unknown disease that makes him literally cough out his lungs. I’ve read something about it being a defect in the make up of his soul that is only not killing him because of the pact with the Soul King’s arm, but I cannot recall if this was canon or fanon (as the Blood War arc was just like that). If so, does this mean that sickness does occur in Soul Society, but so rarely as to not be mentioned? Or does it occur more in the outer districts? Why does it occur?

Hisana died from a sickness as well. Yes, it’s stated to be exhaustion, but I feel like that doesn’t make sense? Like, the flashback in the anime has her abandoning Rukia after she collapses while carrying her around. And she collapses later when she regrets this and goes to look for her sister. And then she dies.

Seriously, why does it occur? It’s weird. And it cannot be an Aizen thing as I’m pretty sure Aizen is younger than Ukitake. Is it because of what happened to the soul king? Does it have something to do with when people get sent on (like if they were close to being a hollow)? Is it because they died while sick? Is it because of their resolve?

...Do we never see sick souls in Soul Society other than them because they usually just. Die pretty soon after arriving?

And if spiritual power leaking is what causes spiritual pressure, and the “vents” can be closed... do people in the districts sometimes close them by mistake and then blow up? Is spontaneous combustion a thing in the afterlife?

The second: I’m pretty sure “Ichirin no Hana” is a love song that Byakuya is singing to Hisana’s memory.

Someone has probably stated this before, but the lyrics of the song literally say how some one, a “single flower,” is precious and can’t be replaced. How that flower bloomed despite being stuck somewhere dark and how they looked lovely but like they were about to wither away. And that the singer would accept all of their pain if only that person would smile and stay with them...

The title of the song also matches the title of the chapter in which Byakuya reveals to Rukia the secrets he’d been keeping from her about Hisana. He uses the same words, “ichirin no hana” to describe the season in which she died

Literally his whole dilema during this arc, the entire way he interacted with Rukia up to this point, was that he was conflicted between his sense of duty (to his parents, his wife and keeping his word) and his feelings for his beloved Hisana. Rukia’s physical resemblance to her sister is almost uncanny and the lie she is told when she asks why she was adopted was, “You look like Byakuya’s late wife.” How much must he have hated that? A person whom he had sworn to protect that, had she arrived two years earlier might have saved his wife’s (after)life? A person that looks just like his beloved, who reminds him of her every time he sees her (for those first 50 years), but is not and never will be Hisana. And then. To know that she’s going to be executed for crimes, that she felt she could not rely upon him enough to even let him know she’d encountered trouble in the human world when he’s been doing his best to ensure she’s safe (because that is one of the few reasonable explanations for why Rukia hadn’t been promoted yet, and then was promoted during the 3 year gap)? To see her stripped of her rank, her strength even (with that collar and the stone of the prison tower). To see a small form who so resembles his beloved all listless and soon to die, wearing a white yukata like his wife had in her last days...

Watching it again made me feel things, okay? Like yeah, it seems like it’s a stupid dilema from some perspectives. Especially considering Central 46 had a run in with Aizen by then, but. Byakuya was raised in the Seireitei. He was raised knowing that his life was the Seireitei’s tool. That his duty, his reason for existing was for the sake of his family’s honor, so he must be composed, must act as the family and Soul Society bid him. That’s some mighty powerful brainwashing/indoctrination right there. And he broke it once already to marry some nobody from the slums. He did something not only against the norms, but something selfish. Maybe if she’d had high spiritual power this would have been accepted, but she was sickly and likely did not. He went against the clan elders who had probably instilled obedience in him since birth and was afraid of doing it again.

(And if you count the filler arcs, you can bet that they held that one Kuchiki who went traitor against him too. Like: “he married that Hisana girl against our orders? What next? Will he betray Soul Society too?”)

And maybe I’m making a bigger deal out of his upbringing than I need to. Maybe it wasn’t really like this. But I feel like it really was. (Moreso with the filler arcs and what I’ve heard of the light novels.)

Also, this song and the way that the opening animation fit together really solidifies the whole “Ichigo and Rukia were always meant to have a tragic romance” vibe that I kept getting the first time I encountered this series.

The third: Rukia was likely younger than six months (physically) when she was abandoned, but I’m pretty sure that she was older than three months when she and Hisana died.

Her blanket was pink in the flashback.

Sure, the above might not seem to have much significance but it’s been proven in canon that clothes are part of oneself. I reblogged a post a while ago that went into detail, but to sum it up, clothes are part of your self image and your self image determines a bit about what you look like when you die.

Babies are usually no longer swaddled by the time they’re six months old, and some places recommend that you stop by the end of their second month.

Babies have pretty bad vision when they’re born. They take four to six months to reliably track objects in motion and use binocular vision decently. They take about four months to see across a room, and about two months to see farther than maybe 30 cm away. And around the three month mark, they start having decent color vision. Around then is when babies supposedly start showing color preference.

Babies tend to have poor long term memory. (To be fair, they’ve got a lot going on compared to being in the womb and sensory overload sucks.) Their memory by the age of six months is only a few weeks. Two months old had a memory span of a few days.

If she’s been consistently wrapped in a pink blanket, then by the time she’s old enough to see color, she would be old enough to remember what color her blanket usually is— or if it was a different color that particular day.

The fourth: when Gin raises his spiritual pressure on Aizen’s orders, Chad remains standing. This raised a bunch of questions as Gin is stronger than Yammy (to the best of my memory).

Chad remained standing. Yes, his whole fight with Captain Kyouraku was about his resolve and how he would stand by his friends and fight for their safety/ideals but. Like. Earlier that year, his spiritual strength was on par with Yuzu. He’d been friends with Ichigo for years which was why he was even that strong. He’d been in a Hollow attack maybe three times before Rukia was arrested and could only barely see them the time Ishida pulled a stupid and used Hollow Bait. Sure, he has experience fighting and he’d trained under Yoruichi, but it feels sus considering how the others fared.

Orihime fell to her knees pretty quickly after Gin turned up the pressure. She’d also fought against high-ranking shinigami at that point, and trained under Yoruichi, and fought off Hollow (alone even! And she was the reason why Sora moved on, despite Ichigo’s Blade purifying him) before. And yet... It could just be a lack of resolve, as that had come up in earlier chapters but it doesn’t feel right.

Ishida is excused from this due to circumstances.

Tatsuki has been friends with him for ages. Sure, it seems like they weren’t as close after his Mom’s passing, but by then they’d already known each other for quite some time. I’m pretty sure that they were hanging out semi-regularly through junior high/middle school, at which point he got close with Chad and she got close with Orihime. She also has experience fighting (admittedly in martial arts rather than the street fights Ichigo and Chad get dragged into). She experienced at least one hollow attack during Ishida’s Stupid Day. But she collapses as soon as Yammy shows up? That feels off.

In contrast, Ganju was struggling about the same amount. He was born to a noble family— who are known to typically have decently high spiritual power, like his older brother Kaien and his cousin/uncle Issin. He was raised in the Rukongai, meaning he likely came across Hollow attacks. (And those definitely occur.)

Makes me wonder things about Karin’s strength. Like, she managed to escape from the hollow who attacked their house to run for Ichigo’s help (manga) or lived long enough while alone with it that Ichigo and Rukia could come save her (anime), both of which are quite impressive for an eleven year old. She also kept up with Hitsugaya when they played soccer and he’s a captain. Based on Ichigo’s experience, it’s likely that she too will become stronger as she grows up. And does she have an inner hollow too, or is that Ichigo only? If White was simply a parasite and decided to stick to Ichigo I could accept it. But as a hollow Ichigo is a Vast Lorde, and hollows of that level can split into parts (like Starrk and Lilynette).

Does Yuzu not really have any spiritual strength because she inherited more of the Quincy genes from her mom and the hollow genes she inherited don’t balance out that same way it does in her siblings...? Food for thought.

TLDR: how and why is sickness as thing in Soul Society? Byakuya listens to rock music and I’m p. sure the third opening song is him angsting over his wife’s death; it also gave me strong feelings about how he was prolly brainwashed growing up so his angst over Rukia’s fate is not actually stupid. I continue to have IchiRuki feels. Rukia and Hisana died when Rukia was about 3 months old. And I am more confused now about how spiritual power works than I was before I started rewatching the anime for language practice. Also, more questions have arisen about hollows.

#bleach meta #bleach anime #remind me to look into Japanese textiles and dyes during Meiji era #maybe I should have split this into multiple posts...#long post #wish I knew how read mores can be put in on mobile #this is more than 3 sentences #bleach

16 notes · View notes

everything-withered · 5 years ago

Note

Prompt "Flowers for a dead girl" Ichigo is SOFT, he did this literally since the beginning of the manga

I hope you don't mind an AU take on this!

Rukia knows for a fact that someone is stealing flowers out of her garden. She knew it had to happen some time. Her window opens almost directly into the pavement, and placing anything on the window sill is just asking for it to get stolen.

The grandmother that was staying at the apartment before Rukia had offered that warning lightly, before gifting her with the aforementioned flowers.

"You can't even keep cacti alive," Renji reminded her with a snort to which she'd pinched him and said, "Shut up, there's a first time for everything."

And while the flowers weren't anywhere near as healthy or full as when she'd received them, they were still in bloom! Which made their theft even more upsetting, and didn't get better once she'd realized that it probably wasn't the first time either.

I knew I wasn't imagining the flowers looking a little thin, she thinks both vindictive and resentful as she pets the leaves in apology. Whoever has been taking them plucks them straight from the stem, like a monster.

"I think it would be worse if they'd been clipped," Hisana tells her, "that would imply premeditation."

Rukia scowls. "So I should just be grateful that whoever's been kidnapping my violets is doing it because it's convenient?"

"Well," she trails, "maybe you shouldn't leave your flowers in a place where they can be easily kidnapped."

"That's victim blaming and I will not stand for it." Which is not the reason Rukia doesn't move the flower pots -- her apartment is a closet at most, and the window is the best place to keep plants anyway -- but that doesn't mean she'd refuse to move it out of spite. It's for the continued wellness of her flowers, Hisana, will you please be a good sister and just let me complain??

"Where's your sense of romance, Rukia-chan?"

She scoffs.

"Just picture it," Hisana continues, starry eyed, "a thoughtful lover on their way to be with their beau when they see your flowers and think, what a lovely gift to give their love!"

"I'm sure their love would appreciate it more if they didn't dig it out of someone else's garden," Rukia deadpans.

"It's the thought that counts."

"I think they're cheap."

"Rukia!"

Refusing to move the flowers from its perch, however, doesn't mean Rukia is taking the continued theft of her violets lying down, romantic reasons or not. No, sir. She borrows Renji's Go-Pro and points it at the window for a couple of days.

For awhile, there's no bite, and she gets several hours worth of footage of her window sill: people walking past as they carry on with their day as the violets in their planters giggle in the breeze and stretch in the sunshine before drowsily drooping off to sleep at dusk. It's pretty soothing to watch played back. But Rukia is not convinced. Her thief will be back.

Almost a full two weeks have passed before she's proven right.

The guy in the footage looks like trouble; unfriendly and scowling, Rukia isn't surprised at the appearance of her thief. While she wouldn't have pegged a guy with a leather jacket, too many rings and a leather cuff wrapped around his wrist to steal flowers, Rukia isn't going to judge him for that. Oh, no. She's too busy being incensed that this...this...asshole took way more violets than he did last time!

She has no idea if he's going to show up on the same day as before, but Rukia prepares for it. She sets up camp far enough from the window that she won't be seen, and waits.

Almost to the minute, a shadow lingers, and Rukia is ready! She throws the windows open with a dramatic flourish and shouts, "Gotcha!"

A white butterfly, having been innocently resting on the petals of the flowers, is startled by her sudden presence and almost flies into her face. Fortunately, the guy, to Rukia's satisfaction, recoils anyway, almost to the point of falling over as he yells back in surprise. "What the hell?"

"Caught you red handed, thief," she declares which he promptly doesn't approve of because the orange haired jerk is arguing, "I'm not a thief."

"Oh yeah, then how do you explain taking my flowers?"

At that, he splutters, "Your flowers?"

"Yes, my flowers," Rukia tells him, scowling. "I live here."

"No, you don't," he has the audacity to say. "Akiko-san lives here."

Realising it was the grandmother who'd been letting the apartment before her, Rukia's anger cools. "Not anymore. She moved out. She left me the flowers you keep stealing."

The guy's face goes through an impressive array of emotions before settling on a fine combination of disgruntled and embarrassed. "...ah..."

With a considering look, Rukia says, "I assume if you know the grandmother by name, you must've had an arrangement."

"In not so many words," is his vague reply, and though it should make her suspicious that he's lying for all that he's still blushing to his ears, Rukia decides that it's no real harm done. Just a misunderstanding.

Although, if this guy's been stealing flowers for his girl for as long as it would take to be acquainted to a grandmother he's not related to, he clearly needs help sealing the deal. Nodding to herself determinedly, course of action decided, Rukia tells him, "You can take the flowers."

That startles him, and to her relief he's not nearly as grumpy when he isn't frowning. In fact, now that she's actually looking a him, he's pretty handsome. High cheekbones, defined jaw, full lips, brown eyes. Yeah, this should be easy, she thinks with a huff. "But I'm meeting whoever you're giving them to."

"What."

Hmm, Rukia thinks. Maybe that's why he hasn't gotten a date yet...though, instead of telling him that, she poses, "Do you want the flowers or not?"

Which is how Rukia ends up meeting her thief on the sidewalk five minutes later.

"My name is Ichigo, not thief," he corrects.

"And I'd tell you it was nice to meet you, but one of us shouldn't be a liar," Rukia sniffs, and while this makes him scoff, he's also smirking a little the next time she glances at him.

"Who are you anyway?" he asks, and she thinks, rude.

Though that thought doesn't stop her from replying shortly in kind, "Rukia." Then, just for good measure, "And you could be a little less rude, I don't know how you expect to get a date with that kind of attitude."

He makes a noise of disbelief but flushes all the same.

As they walk, he eventually asks, "Why do you want to meet her anyway? The girl I give your flowers to."

"To make sure she's worth it," Rukia says. "Is she?"

There's no hesitation, "Yes."

She hums, and she could pry into Ichigo's relationship with this mystery girl, but instead she asks, "So you couldn't just buy her flowers?"

And at that he looks embarrassed, though he hides it with the same disgruntlement as before. "I always forget, and your window is on the way there. It was just...convenient."

"Nice," Rukia snorts. "I hope you don't tell her that, nothing makes a girl feel more special than stolen flowers."

After a thoughtful pause, he asks, "You're not from around here, are you?"

Her eyes narrows. "Not originally." Before, "Why?"

At that, Ichigo shoves his hands deeper into his pockets, gaze pointedly at some middle distance. "Because this is probably gonna get uncomfortable."

Rukia's brows are still furrowed in disbelief when she finally realizes where they're headed. "Oh."

Opening the gate, he lets her through first before following after.

He doesn't explain, and she doesn't ask as they walk together through the gardens. Despite his earlier decree, he seems uncomfortable too; shoulders drawn to his ears, frown deepening and eyes going distant.

Rukia almost wants to turn back around, but there's something volatile in his fragility, and she doesn't want to be the thing that shatters it. It isn't until they've come to a stop that he speaks, telling Rukia sardonically, "Well, you wanted to meet her."

And there's a lot of things a normal person could say when faced with a headstone, things like I'm sorry for your loss, and I can't believe I was a jerk to you. Along with other things like why would other people be so aware of the loss of your mom that you had to ask if I was from around here to know of it? and I'm sorry people think of you in relation to whatever tragedy caused your loss.

Except Ichigo looks like he's already preparing to block it out after too many years of too many people being too aware of his grief, "You're not from around here, are you?"

So what Rukia does instead is bow, and say, "Kurosaki-san, I'm sorry your son is cheap."

Ichigo is so surprised by her that he doesn't even think to be offended, instead spluttering in denial. His mask of nonchalance cracked, Rukia continues earnestly to his mother, "If I'd known he was relying on my subpar gardening skills, I'd have tried harder to make sure the flowers he got you were in better shape."

"Shut up, I don't know what you're talking about. Your flowers are fine," he argues.

Then, in a hiss out of respect for Kurosaki Masaki's final resting place, Rukia says, "They're for your mom, Ichigo, oh my god." Aloud, she tells his mother, "I'm so sorry, I know you raised him better. I'll make sure he gets you proper flowers next time."

"You'll make sure of that, huh?"

"If you insist on taking flowers from my window, yes, next time," Rukia tells him with crossed arms and a haughty look. "I can't believe you were stealing flowers for your mom."

"Hey," he defends, "you asked if she was worth it, was I lying?"

She rolls her eyes and persists, "Next time, we're bringing her something better."

"Fine, it's a date."

"Fine," Rukia huffs in return.

It's only after Ichigo's walked her home after a detour to a convenience store to replace her violets, and a reminder that he'll pick her up next week, does Rukia realize what she's agreed to.

To her newly purchased sunflowers, she shakes her head and says, "I can't believe he stole a date right from under me!"

#ichiruki #deathberry

104 notes · View notes

fenikkusunohisana · 4 years ago

Text

Physical Touch & Closeness

🌸 I find it mostly hilarious and cute that Byakuya just needs to touch her hand or sit approximately a fraction of a distance away for Hisana’s heart to practically jump out of her chest and for her to get flustered. It makes her so happy to have some form of connection..or closeness like that. Such small things like that, she appreciates so much. Any small subtle touches or quiet displays of affection is better than nothing. She is touch and love starved for a variety of complex reasons- on both their ends-but the positive aspect of that is she adores the little things all the more. Almost like a puppy hjbjad

Point is, these simple things from /him/ elicits a strong reaction. Trying to imagine more..intimate touches or even a hug would be very overwhelming..not because of her past..but more so..her own insecurities, how long she has yearned for one and the fact it was too good to be true. She’d never admit it..but she really..yearns for his touches and affection--some form of it. Even a hug from time to time..would make all the difference in the world. Pretty sure if she received a hug from him--the angst one does not count--she would cry. kjnjsf She just wants to be held sometimes or just touched..but it is complicated with her husband. Hisana understands that and bears with it. His happiness and familial reputation were far too important. One of these days..I am certain she is going to just drop everything --in private--and just give the man a damn hug. She needs it. Not simply want--but need. He can be as shook as he want but :’) she is going to just bury herself into his warmth because is not.a wife supposed to lean on her husband for support and vice versa ? Ahhh. Also she has so much love to give him--she’s just nervous, awkward and flustered--.Hence the love letter.

#=hc=#=about muse=#=Fragile Blossom of Regrets; Hisana=#=this started off funny and then got sad quickly WHY=#=seriously marriage counsellors where u at kjsnfsf=

2 notes · View notes

recurring-polynya · 5 years ago

Text

I have finally gotten my shit together and posted my collected drabbles in someplace that is not the constantly flowing garbage river of Tumblr.

Squad Six is Jerks and Other Stories (AO3 | ff.net)

Summary: A collection of short fiction (they're generally too long to be drabbles but too short to stand on their own), mostly arising from Tumblr Asks. You may notice that none of them are actually called “Squad Six is Jerks.”

1. PacRim AU (Renji, Ichigo, mentions of Rukia) 2. Family Planning (Renruki) 3. Space Dog Laika (Renji) 4. Straight to Bankai (Renji, Ikkaku) 5. The Big Squat (Rukia, Momo, Izuru, Renji, Academy-era) 6. Confession is Good for the Soul (Renruki) 7. Mall Goths and Other Undead Creatures (the lieutenants as teens, Izuru pining for Shuuhei) 8. Study Buddies (Rukia, Momo, Izuru, Renji, Academy-era) 9. Forgive me, they were delicious (Izuru/Rangiku/Shuuhei and Toushirou with his fingers in his ears) 10. Like Her Father Before Her (Ichika, Ikkaku, Yumichika) 11. Don't Drag Me Down (Isshin, Rangiku, Toushirou) 12. A Decision, Carefully Weighed (Ichika, Byakuya, ft. a terrible illustration) 13. Hisana House (Inuzuri, world-building)

Rating: T for cussing and dirtbaggery, some references to sex.

Even tho I have been badly writer’s blocked recently, I hope you all know that you can request drabbles at any time, drabbles do not count as writing. I do, in fact, have another request I have been rolling around in my head (it’s Kira and Rose review a restaurant, in case you were wondering)

#my writing #bleach fanfiction #drabbles #remember when i wrote things?#pepperidge farm remembers

11 notes · View notes

bleachintothemultiverse · 5 years ago

Text

Internal conflict (Byakuya Drabble)

A Byakuya Kuchiki Drabble/headcanon. Word count: 1066 Drabble of how Byakuya felt when he got a order to go after Rukia. ---------------- “Capture Rukia Kuchiki, She is being charged for treason for her crimes of giving her powers to a human. Or else we be forced to send Division two after her. ” The order that came from the jigokucho, that was sent from Central 46 itself. Echoed through Byakuya’s mind. He felt like the world around him froze, as if time itself didn’t exist. Someone he promised to protect and take care of, committed the worst crime that could have been done in the soul society. Only one outcome can come out of this. This was a treason crime, treason crimes normally sentence soul reapers to death by public execution. Especially if they are a higher class of soul reaper. Meaning he would have to see someone else, he cared about dying in front of him. If that was the punishment Central 46 had for it. He let out a sigh, a sigh mix full of disappointment and hurt. He noticed the butterfly flew away from the palm of his hand. But he had nothing else to say. What more could he say? Rules are rules, and she broke a rule. He glance down at the paperwork, he was working on before all of this. Why did all of this have to go down hill? Why today of all days? Why did she care enough about a human to give her powers to them? Was this anger he was feeling? Was it just hurt? He didn’t know. He had to either keep his promise to Hisana of always protecting and taking care of Rukia. Or keep his status as the head of the Kuchiki family and keep the rules and orders of the soul society in check. He felt his chest tighten, almost as if it was hard to breath. He looked over and grabbed the cup of hot tea, he had near his paperwork, which has now cooled, though it didn’t matter to him. Picking it up gently, he took a sip from it, hoping it would calm him down and help him re collect his thoughts.

Though despite this, thoughts still stirred in Byakuya’s mind.

“Find Rukia, Protect and take care of her please…” “I swear, I will never break another rule of the Soul society again.” It was like two inner voices, arguing with each other. It wasn’t like talking with Senbonzakura. He never felt this before. He wanted it to stop. He placed the cup down on the table as he looked over the paperwork in front of him. Trying to ignore the thoughts and feelings. He loathed all of this. “You feel conflicted, don't you?” He heard the familiar sound of Senbonzakura’s voice. Conflicted? Was that what he was feeling? How would he get rid of this feeling? He hated it and all it stood for. Why couldn’t he decide what he wanted to do? What he wanted to feel? He knew that Rukia would have to be captured and brought in. There was no doubt about that. Why did it hurt so bad? For once he was doubting an order from Central 46.

Was there a loophole around this? If she got her power back from the human and then killed the human, could the sentence be reduced to just prison time? Giving your powers to a human is one of the offensives to get a treason charge. To reduce a treason charge was one of the hardest things, a Shinigami could have reduced. But he was a noble right? The head one of the most powerful families in the soul society? Wasn’t there something he could do?

“You know Central 46, doesn’t change their mind on their decisions easily. No matter if we are a part of a noble family. Loopholes, i'm afraid won’t work on this decision if they still decide to give out the highest form of punishment.” “You are right. But still…It's…” Byakuya replied, even in their line of communication his voice couldn’t hide the hurt and conflict he was feeling. No matter how much he tried to hide it. He hated this. He hated that this had to happen at all. “I know it's wrong, Master… But there is nothing we can do in this situation. If it was a different charge then maybe. We could do something. But this is a direct order. We cannot refuse it. They are going to go through with it one way or another. Loopholes can’t fix this now.” Senbonzakura was right. He hated that his Zanpakuto spirit was right. For once, he wished that it was wrong. Loopholes won’t work, no matter what punishment central 46 wants to give Rukia. Taking a deep breath, Byakuya stood up from his chair. An order was an order. An order that he had to follow to capture Rukia and bring her in for her crimes. Even knowing his gut feeling told him not to do this and try to help her. But the other side of him told him, it was pointless. It would only cause more problems for Rukia and himself. If he went against the orders. They could put a charge on him for helping her. He wouldn’t put it past Central 46 at this point, to do that. “I’m sorry Hisana…. I'm afraid I can no longer protect your little sister. My power as a Noble cannot get her out of this mess…” Byakuya thought as he headed out of his office. He forced himself to decide he would treat this as a normal mission. To keep his feelings to himself. His personal feelings shouldn’t matter in this situation. Any family bond he had with Rukia had to be cut for this mission. He couldn’t let feelings impact his work. It was his job as head of the Kuchiki family and as the captain of division six to keep order in the soul society and stop rule breakers, who try to disrupt the soul society. No matter if they were family related. Rule breakers have to be punished…. Even if the internal conflict in him, though it was wrong and he knew deep down that this was wrong, all of this wrong. But there was nothing he could do, except to follow orders he was given. His feelings didn’t matter in the end, the only thing that mattered was the mission. He really despise the feeling of internal conflict.

#drabble #byakuya #couldalsobecalledbyakuyahasainternalcrisis #Ilovewritingthisboy.#headcanon #Do you hate when you trying to do paperwork but get hit with a internal crisis?#apologizesforthecrappyending

1 note · View note

cooliogirl101 · 3 years ago

Note

I think Yoruichi is definitely the worst, which is ironic because I thought she would've been the best (since she had a little brother and seemed pretty good with him until she abandoned him? Not a baby, but it should count for something, right?). How do you think Urahara would do? I will laugh if he's actually the best, just by virtue of not being more terrible than the others.

Urahara:

“You locked my sister in a cage?!” Hisana shrieked, looking surprisingly intimidating for someone a solid 2 feet shorter than he was.

“A very nice cage,” he protested meekly. “It’s quite roomy, actually. I even added some lab coats for padding.”

“I. Don’t. Care,” Hisana fumed, enunciating each syllable with rage. “It’s still a goddamn cage!”

“Language,” Kisuke said automatically, then immediately regretted it at Hisana’s answering expression.

“I mean, what else was I supposed to do?” He defended himself. “She was crawling all over the place! At least this way, I could make sure she stayed in one place!”

“I suppose,” Hisana answered slowly. To Kisuke’s relief, she appeared to be calming down. “Fine. I guess your intentions were good, even if your methods left something to be desired. Still, don’t do it again!”

As she stormed off, Kisuke caught her muttering to herself,

“Well. At least he didn’t cause her to throw up.”

(Also I find it hilarious that everyone has different opinions on who’s the worst babysitter. So far I’ve gotten Yoruichi, Rose, and Kyouraku lol)

#rivals!au

37 notes · View notes

eorzeasfrozenknight · 6 years ago

Text

LFRP: Yuki Setsura (Crystal/Mateus)

The Basics ––– –

Name: Yuki Setsura

Age: 24

Birthday: 22nd Sun of the Sixth Astral Moon

Race: Au Ra, Xaela.

Gender: Female.

Sexuality: Lesbian

Marital Status: Married/Somewhat Verse dependent (Open to potentially Poly Ships with Her Original Partner)

Server: Mateus

Physical Appearance ––– –

Hair: Sky Blue, Jet Black highlights

Eyes: Rich, Amethyst with Purple limbal rings

Height: 5′3″.

Build: Athletic, Strong, Toned yet feminine.

Distinguishing Marks: Enlarged Horns, more Scales than average and a large multitude of scars covering her body, EXTRA long and extremely Dexterous tail measuring around 3.2ft from the base

Common Accessories: Glasses and a Bowie knife strapped to the small of her back in her clothes

Personal ––– –

Profession: Armor and weapons smith, Mobster, Adventurer (former)

Hobbies: Music, Reading and sometimes cooking

Languages: Common. Hingan. Yanxian and Basic Xaelic

Residence: The Goblet/Azim steppe

Birthplace: Doma Yanxia

Religion: None

Patron Deity: Oschon, the Wanderer (Eorzea), Nhaama (steppe) and The Kami (Doma/Yanxia)

Fears: Being left behind, large crowds, Losing her loved ones, Betrayal, and being left completely alone.

Relationships ––– -

Spouse: Cadette Mevois/ Somewhat Verse Dependent (Again open to potential Poly ships with Cadette Mevois)

Children: None…? >.>

Parents: Yuki’s Mother did all she could to protect her children from the horrors left behind during the Garlean invasion of Doma leaving a once proud tailor more than a little weary and bitter towards the world, Yuki’s father was conscripted into Garlean ranks by force and shipped off to parts unknown, Yuki spends some time searching for her Father wondering where he might be.

Mother: Hisana Setsura

Father: Kagetane Setsura (last known whereabouts was conscription into Garlean forces)

Siblings: 2 younger sisters, 1 older sister, and 1 older brother

Other Relatives: None

Pets: Yuki has many pets including her Chocobo Midgarsormr, fox kit Rika, Koala Joey Cuddles, hunting hawk takeshi and lesser Panda Tabane

Traits ––– -

* Bold your character’s answer.

extroverted / introverted / in between

disorganized / organized / in between

close minded / open-minded / in between

calm / anxious / in between

disagreeable / agreeable / in between

cautious / reckless / in between

patient / impatient / in between

outspoken / reserved / in between

leader / follower / in between

empathetic / unemphatic / in between

optimistic / pessimistic / in between

traditional / modern / in between

hard-working / lazy / in between

cultured / un-cultured / in between

loyal / disloyal / in between

faithful / unfaithful / in between

Additional information ––– –

Smoking Habit: None.

Drugs: None.

Alcohol: Frequently

RP Hooks ––– –

Smithy - Not being the loud and gloating sort with her work, Yuki makes a small living off of providing quality goods to the people of the Realm for remarkably affordable prices to even the poorest of citizens despite their high quality, as well as making Arms and Armor for her Company.

Dark knight for Hire - While not a full-time adventurer anymore, she still offers her combat services to those who are willing to pay, though not many are able to stomach a tank as tenaciously brutal as she can be.

A Tender but guarded soul - Yuki despite her professions is always one to lend a hand to those in need, however the many events leading her to where she is now have left her guarded and weary of those unknown her. Several counts of Betrayal have left her all but utterly bereft of her former potent ability to heal as she took to adventuring as a healer initially and has only recently shown signs of recovery. She does not take betrayal laying down and will not hesitate to cut down the one who wronged her.

Questionable Morality - Alongside her Wife, Yuki has gotten herself into some shady business. Quite a few of her actions are considered to be outside the Law and Not appropriate examples of good behavior, frequently undertaking acts that certainly fall outside the law. If you’ve dealt with her Partner, you’ve probably met her before.

Contact Information ––– –

Tumblr - eorzeasfrozenknight

Discord - on request

//New LFRP for Yuki! (Also special thanks to a certain bb for the Template <3)

#ffxiv lfrp #mateus rp #crystal lfrp #ffxiv mateus #ffxiv crystal rp #crystal dc #yuki setsura

21 notes · View notes

bleachlists2 · 7 years ago

Text

Live tweets from Ichigo and Orihime’s first date

Requested by @midnight-lightt :)

Looks like Ichigo and Orihime are finally going out on a date! But what if their friends decided to spy on them? Or all of the Gotei 13 are watching their date live from Soul Society? Well, let’s see what they have to say about it!

1) Rukia

“Tonight is Ichigo and Inoue’s first date, and we’re broadcasting it live in Soul Society!”

#omg omg #i totally called this #Ichigo better not mess this up!

2) Ukitake

“Good thing I brought enough popcorn, it’s a full house in Squad 12 tonight! Thank you @ mad-scientist-12!”

#young humans on a first date #this will be so much fun!

3) Kurotsuchi

“@ twin-fish-secrets: I didn’t even give you permission to use my lab as a viewing theatre, you insisted until I agreed to shut you up.”

#I might as well stay #wouldn’t want Kenpachi’s lieutenant to break anything here

4) Renji

“Ichigo’s outside Inoue’s house now, dressed up like a punk!”

#really embracing the delinquent life? #or trying to look cool? #black shirt with ripped sleeves #jeans with small tears #he kinda rocks the punk look #he’s also got a grocery bag for some reason

5) Renji

“Whoa! Inoue’s also got a punk look going on!”

#purple blouse #jean skirt #spiked choker and spiked boots #they both trying to look cool tonight?

6) Renji

“Pfft, the moment they saw each other, they started blushing.”

#dorks #seriously #human teenagers are so cute sometimes #so much for trying to look cool

7) Yumichika

“I have to admit, Inoue Orihime looks stunning tonight!”

#her matching aesthetic with Ichigo is quite lovely! #even if they look punk

8) Kenpachi

“They heading out for a fight or something?”

#Ichigo looks like he’s ready for a fight #is the girl gonna cheer him on or something like that?

9) Rukia

“OMG. Ichigo just held up the bag and said that he bought two bento boxes for dinner tonight!”

#seriously Ichigo? #you couldn’t take Inoue out to a nice restaurant or something like that? #but at least Inoue looks happy #what is their date anyways?

10) Rose

“Well, no wonder they’re dressed like punks. Their first date is a rock concert! Ichigo sure has good choices in dates!”

#they’re standing outside an arena in a line now #I guess Kurosaki wanted to get here on time and beat the line? #gotta give him props for thinking ahead

11) Hisagi

“First date is at a concert? That’s awesome!”

#but does Inoue like rock music? #and does this mean we’re getting a free concert to watch as well?

12) Rangiku

“Omg, they’re eating dinner in the line now! And Ichigo just fed Orihime-chan a roll of sushi!”

#so cute! #Ichigo was also blushing while doing that #i swear #those kids are so adorable!

13) Tatsuki

“So far, so good. Orihime-chan hasn’t started crying yet, and Ichigo is doing a pretty good job at making her smile.”

#he’s acting like a total doof right now #for all his attempt at being cool Ichigo is a total dork

14) Ishida

“I still can’t believe Kurosaki chose to have a bento dinner, instead of taking Inoue-san out to a restaurant!”

#I mean seriously

15) Chad

“@ the-last-quincy: It’s beautiful, actually. And besides, it’s the thought that counts.”

#This suits Ichigo anyways #and Inoue looks happy

16) Shinji

“Oh god, watching those two flirt... it’s both adorable and kind of embarrassing.”

#human teenagers #always so awkward with one another

17) Yoruichi

“Ichigo/Inoue flirting no.1: Inoue smiles at Ichigo, Ichigo blushes and says, ‘you have eyes’.”

#facepalm #seriously? #someone needs to take Flirting 101

18) Yoruichi

“Ichigo/Inoue flirting no.2: Inoue says, ‘you look pretty today. April Fool’s, you’re pretty everyday!’. Ichigo flusters again.”

#someone help these kids

19) Keigo

“Whoa, is Ichigo smiling?? I’ve never seen him actually smile like that!”

#he looks so... happy #such a goofy smile

20) Mizuiro

“I think Inoue’s brain just reset.”

#Ichigo smiling #a rare sight indeed

21) Byakuya

“Inoue Orihime’s face is redder than Renji’s hair. And that’s saying something.”

#reminds me of when I first took Hisana out to dinner #and I told her she looked pretty #it’s actually very... sweet

22) Kyoraku

“@ flower-noble: Young love, am I right?”

#Ichigo and Byakuya both are/were awkward teenagers

23) Rukia

“Looks like they’re finally going inside the arena now!”

#they got their tickets scanned #and a wristband around their wrists

24) Rukia

“They’re up at the front of the stage?? And there’s a whole lot of people in there!”

#just who is this band anyways? #are they really that popular?

25) Rose

“The house lights went off! It’s finally starting!”

#i miss concerts! #best part of the Living World!

26) Kensei

“Looks like the band’s taken the stage now. Their music sounds pretty heavy, and they look really Gothic, kinda.”

#Ichigo’s into this kind of music? #or Inoue?

27) Hisagi

“That band looks so cool.”

#gotta check them out next time

28) Renji

“Oh wow. Both Ichigo and Inoue are eyeing the band members and blushing!”

#gotta love it when both partners appreciate how good-looking someone looks

29) Byakuya

“This music is so barbaric; so much growling and screaming, and it’s so loud. How can either of them like it?”

#but Kurosaki Ichigo and Inoue Orihime seem to like it

30) Ikkaku

“Damn, this music makes me wanna have a fight!”

#sounds badass and awesome! #Ichigo and Inoue have good taste in music! #how does that guy growl like that?? #humans are amazing!

31) Rukia

“... I did not know this band liked doing fanservice.”

#but Ichigo and Inoue’s faces? #priceless #they’re both stunned and blushing so hard!

32) Rose

“Last song of the night already? Ah, how fast a concert goes.”

#how time flies when you’re at a concert!

33) Kira

“This song is a lot slower. Is it a love song?”

#also sounds really sad

34) Ukitake

“Inoue’s started crying now, and I can’t blame her. The song is pretty sad.”

#makes you think about life and love... #music: always manages to tug at the heartstrings

35) Rukia

“Omg, Ichigo’s teared up as well!”

#he’s trying to hide it #not doing a good job though

36) Rangiku

“Awww! He’s pulled Orihime-chan closer into a hug! Now he’s rubbing her back and letting her cry into him!”

#omg omg omg #he just kissed her forehead!! #my heart can’t take this anymore! #i’m gonna die of cuteness overload!

37) Hitsugaya

“@ beauty-cat-10: geez, stop being so dramatic, Matsumoto!”

#i guess this is kinda... sweet #human teenagers #so emotional and awkward

38) Soi Fon

“Crying over sad music? How weak. This sort of weakness would never be allowed into my squad.”

#i say as i tear up a little bit #no i’m not crying! #i’m a captain #captains do not cry!

39) Kyoraku

“The concert is over, and now Ichigo is walking Inoue home under the starry sky.”

#romantic #reminds me of the days when Jushiro and I dated like this #Inoue is thanking Ichigo for the date

40) Renji

“Holy damn... Ichigo just kissed Inoue! HELL YEAH!!”

#so proud of him! #was a little clumsy #but nice work Ichigo!

41) Rukia

“Everyone is celebrating now. Ichigo kissed Inoue and it was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

#they look so happy! #ah i’m so proud of them! #all in all a successful first date!

42) Byakuya

“I suppose this was rather sweet to watch.”

#i’m leaving now #i’ve been in Squad 12 long enough

43) Yumichika

“So the princess and the hero have finally come together.”

#hmmm #Princess and Hero #nice ring to it

44) Yoruichi

“About damn time Ichigo kissed her! Finally, he’s done something right!”

#but those flirting skills... #they really need to improve

45) Orihime

“@ strawberryprotector15: Thank you for the date, Kuro- er, Ichigo! I loved it so much, and I can’t wait to do it again!”

#we’re on a first-name basis now!

224 notes · View notes

thegreenfaery · 4 years ago

Text

Fic Writer Review- tag game

I have been tagged!!! Thanks to the wonderful @recurring-polynya for even thinking of me.

1. How many fics on Ao3?

7. Well, 6 and one ridiculous poem because I am a ridiculous idiot who sets herself ridiculous challenges.

2. Total Ao3 word count?

Not nearly as high as it should be- 70,844.

3. How many fandoms have you written for and what are they?

Two, if you include the long-forgotten Jily fic on fanfiction.net. Otherwise it’s just Bleach.

4. Top Five by Kudos?

5 - Ring Out, Wild Bells (17)

4 - Unravel (25)

3 - Hogwarts: A Bleached History (28)

2 - Little Shadow (40)

1 - The Wedding Party (41)

5. Do you respond to comments, why/ why not?

I try to, but I am very easily distracted and often spend so much time thinking about how to respond that I forget that I haven’t actually done so.

6. What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

HAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA! “Ending”. What’s an ending?

Spoiler alert - In some of my darker moments, The Wedding Party has ended up with an alternative ending. Maybe once I’ve actually finished it, I’ll post it as such.

Act 1 of Unravel also ends on a pretty tragic retelling of canonical family loss. Act 2 is also pretty rough in places. There is also a part where a severe respiratory infection (Legionnaires) lands Hisana in intensive care fighting for her life . This was written pre-pandemic, and I have deliberately postponed continuing this story because no one needed to read this during the past eighteen months.

7. Do you write crossovers? If so, what is the craziest one you’ve written?

Loads of AUs in this brain, but no crossovers.

8. Have you ever received hate on a fic?

Not that I can recall.

9. Do you write smut?

Unfortunately for the rest of you, yes.

10. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I am aware of.

11. Ever had a fic translated?

No.

12. Ever co-written a fic before?

No.

13. All-time favourite ship?

Byahisa, but it’s nothing without Renruki.

14. What’s a WIP you want to finish, but don’t think you ever will?

I know it seems like I never finish anything, but I really am working on every fic I’ve started. Little Shadow & The Diplomat’s Daughter are both undergoing ‘refurbishment’ at the moment, however, and will both end up being part of the same tale.

15. What are your writing strengths?

Umm. You’ll have to ask the people that read my stuff.

I do put endless hours of research in, however, and I am very proud of that. I currently have 33 tabs permanently open in my browser for various stories. 17 of them are related to the state of Montana and indigenous populations across North America for Ring Out, Wild Bells. Unravel has 8 on family law in Japan.

The Wedding Party has numerous accurate, real world and pop culture references, including the stock market exchange rates, the Madonna Who’s That Girl tour. I have also spent the time giving each of the main characters birth dates that are as astrologically compatible as possible (according to the Chinese zodiac). Is this relevant? Only so far as my headcanon sees Hisana as very superstitious and she is going to work this out. There’s also the bit where Rukia is jealous because Hisana was born in the year of the rabbit.

16. What are your writing weaknesses?

I’m very easily distracted. Things spend weeks in edit. I have a comma addiction. I ramble. I have a habit of writing in a passive voice (apparently this is bad). I am now forcing myself to write full plot plans because otherwise tangents lead me off into the wilderness never to be found again.

17. What are your thoughts of writing dialogue in other languages?

Sometimes I can barely write in English!

I do try to use the given honorifics and nouns in a character’s native tongue where possible, but will also incorporate the meaning into the body of the text.

Sadly, I am a product of a system that does not give much emphasis to other languages, but I try my best to honour the other cultures in my stories.

18. First fandom you wrote for?

Harry Potter

19. Favourite fic you’ve ever written?

Probably The Wedding Party, although Unravel has a very special place in my heart. Hogwarts: A Bleached History is also good fun. Essentially anything where I get to drag Byakuya, and Rukia gets her own back and then some is my favourite. Let’s face it: he deserves it.

I am, however, in the process of writing a couple of completely original novels, Attrition and Priestess. Not to mention the collection poetic bedtime stories for children- they’re all very witchy and incredibly fun to write.

Tagging: Anyone who fancies joining in!

0 notes

clankuchiki · 8 years ago

Text

Some thoughts and other stuff about Bleach

These are strictly my opinion as a long term Bleach fan. You are free to disagree obviously, but do so in a respectful fashion. Thank you. I’m mostly typing all this to get it out of my head.

And yeah, I’m particularly defensive about the Kuchikis, but eh, it’s a Kuchiki blog so that’s to be expected.

Bleach should have stopped after the end of the battle against Aizen, and without the whole evolution thing. It was downright ridiculous and boring.

Ageing makes no sense sometimes ?? How does it work in the Soul Society ? Renji & Rukia’s kid looks the same as Ichigo’s and Orihime’s. But Byakuya & Soi Fon who were shown as teen, were young adults 50 years later. So do you age normally when you are young, and it starts to slow down when you reach your teens or close to adulthood ??

Considering above point, it would make sense that Yoruichi could be a childhood friend of Soujun (Byakuya’s dad and also my husband). It would be cutter to think Yoruichi is close to Byakuya for this reason rather than just because they both are from a high nobility family.

Ichigo became a downright pain in the ass somewhere in the middle of the Aizen Battle arc, and stayed that way up until the end. I KNOW he is the main character and he’s supposed to save the day as such, but I hated how he got all the powerzTM, it just felt ridiculous. Along with the evolution thingie too. You get shinigami powers, you get hollow powers, you get fullbring power blablabla. I also hated how it made the captains look like useless morons who can’t even do their jobs.

I’ll never forgive Kubo for what he did to Byakuya and Ukitake, I’m still not over this.

The fullbring arc was so boring, I have a hard time reading it again to remember stuff. I hated all the characters, apart from Riruka who actually made me laugh.

The quincy arc felt forced but I won’t speak much about this because I can’t even remember most of it, apart where it hurts.

The fact that “everyone” gets a bankai felt a bit weird. When we had Byakuya VS Ichigo, Byakuya spoke about it like it was a super big deal, like only a really small handful of people could achieve it. Well seems like they all decided to be in the same time span.

Byakuya and Hisana give me the feels, so pure. ;A;

What if Rukia was in fact, Hisana’s daughter instead of sister ?

Soujun is the cutest bleach dad, no opposition possible on this.

I’m still salty that Kubo introduced new characters in the second databook and have never done anything with them. I mean, Soujun, COME ONE ! (And Yamada too, he looks like an asshole and I want to know more about him)

The final end felt super weird too. I’m not a shipper so I couldn’t care less who ends up with who, but it just weird me out. We only had an handful of actual relationships throughout the manga and I felt fine with it.

Both the kids annoy me, I don’t know if it’s because I usually like to stay as far as possible from kids in life, or they are both portrayed annoyingly.

I want to know how Byakuya and Hisana met, like how ?? Tell me !!

I also wish we knew more about the Nobles roles in the Soul Society, they seem important enough, but we know next to nothing about them. I wish this could have been addressed in a databook or something. I mean, I understand it could have been super boring in the actual storyline.

The arrancars were cool, mostly Grimmjow and Ulqui. They made it worthwhile.

Gin, you were amazing, rip baby.

I couldn’t care less about the quincy, they hurt my baby, they gotta pay.

Ichigo should remember that if not for his hollow, he would have been killed by Byakuya during their fight. good times.

Him getting a bankai when he did made sense at the time, but it was just the same scenario on repeat on each arc after that.

Yeah I’m a salty fuck.

Even so, Bleach holds the record for me for the number of characters that I actually love. In each books/manga/movie/game/whatever, I always have one or more favourite characters, but Bleach is the only one where I love that many of them. I obviously love the Kuchikis, but also Yoruichi, Soi Fon, Matsumoto, Hisagi, Renji, Kira, Ukitake, Shunsui, Ulquiorra, Grimmjow.. That’s what kept me going with Bleach, the characters I loved.

I also LOVE the universe of Bleach, I mean, isn’t the Soul Society super rad ??? I love how it was constructed and balanced. I love how each division has its own motto and how they differ from each others. I would have loved to see more about the daily life in a division. How is it like ? How close can you get to your captain ? Like can you be pals with them if they’re pretty chill ? What do you do each day if you aren’t out there chasing hollows.

What are the powers of the four noble houses and who are the other two ??

What the hell happened with the shiba clan ? My noisy ass wants to know !

Who was Byakuya’s mom ? How did she meet Soujun ? Where they actually in love or was their union planned way before they could decide for themselves ? How did Soujun died ? We know it was in battle, but who did this ? I want names. Is Byakuya an only child ? (Rukia doesn’t really count here since I’m talking blood family)

What about Ginrei ? I feel like he’s close to Byakuya in terms of personality and he was a rowdy kid too. What about his wife ? How many kids did they have ? My weird headcanon is that they had 7 children, 6 daughters and Soujun was born the last and way after his sisters. He was kinda not planned and Ginrei had lost hope to ever had a son. And then, BAM, surprise. And then, due to his wife being a bit too old to bear children now, even though she could still have them, she died in childbirth. (Why do I even have that sob headcanon ???)

About Ginrei again .. We know Soujun wanted to join the 6th division because he was worried for his dad. But Ginrei was worried about his son’s health, which wasn’t great (that’s canon) so why the hell didn’t he stop him from joining the division. He made him a vice captain, why would he do that if he knew he wasn’t capable of fighting because of his health, and despite his talents, being a Kuchiki and all ? Because “he was going to be the next head of the kuchiki” seems a bit weak of an argument if you ask me.

Still about Ginrei, when did he became a captain ? What was his zanpakutou like ? what about his bankai ? who was the captain of the 6th division before him ? was it a member of the kuchiki clan as well ? Ginrei’s grand father maybe ?

How were the noble family founded ? Who decided who gets the higher place ?

How much shit did Byakuya get for marrying Hisana ? Did he think his parents might have opposed this relationship, or Soujun being kind hearted would have been okay with this ?

Summary of how I feel about Ichigo in one panel, courtesy of Rukia :

I think I’ve rambled enough right now. Excuse typos.

#bleach #thoughts

7 notes · View notes

peachhoneii · 8 years ago

Text

the work schedule: IRBB

If life was just a little bit easier. We all did our best, and I’m glad to have been a part of this. I had a wonderful partner in @stacinadia. This is my entry for IRBB 2017, and again, thanks for the fun times!

AO3

the work schedule

Autumn light dips onto Rukia. It’s warm, easy, just as the weather wants to be, and it’s perfectly timed for the hour. Goosebumps pick from her shoulders down to her forearms, and her gloved fingers curl around her suitcase. The train station is empty except for random strangers.

Their large, brimmed hats and wide, black sunglass, more like black holes say more about their foreign status. Their laughter combined is deep, guttural, and they wave as they pass by, waving excitedly for no explicit reason. Rukia waves in return without feeling the need, but knowing her manners couldn’t be forgotten.

Her wrist watch reads forty-five minutes past two. In fifteen minutes the train should arrive with her package, and from there the real work will begin. Her feelings aren’t set in stone for the matter, taking on this job. It makes her feel restless, annoyed, and relieved in one, round ball.

Anticipation is somewhere down there, she knows, but it’s buried underneath the drive to get the job done before anything can become an issue. Months have passed since her last job. It’s the least, she thinks, she can do.

Her arm aches, and she shifts the suitcase, staring down the railroad tracks as if the train will magically appear before her.

Time’s concrete nature is painfully misinterpreted. It moves forward, never backwards. It’s estimated, counted in harsh intervals, and arrives at a natural stand point. Rukia isn’t worried. She doesn’t have time to be worried, and she doesn’t have a reason to be worried. The train’s schedule has never been wrong, and for the years she has lived in this town, and outside of it, the train’s call has always been reassuring. Good sense tells her to sit at a bench, read a book, and check her text messages, but she and good sense were never fully compatible. She continues to stand, sharp eyes watching down the way.

Waiting doesn’t help pass the time, but thinking certainly does. The railroad tracks and the surrounding trees don’t fade as she starts to lose focus while maintaining perfect sight. She can still see them as clear as day. The train is coming as she strays in an adjacent direction. A screeching whistle pierces through the silence, the constant roll of a steaming engine charges down the way, and she can move away from it all. Her feet remain firmly planted on the pavement, and she counts the seconds, counting to where it all began.

*****

“You have to make sure you can keep up with me.”

“I know.”

“And you have to make sure you don’t get lost.”

“Rukia,” Hisana sighs at her side, “don’t forget I’m older than you, and I’ve lived in the city too.”

Her sister’s gentle reprimand does little to calm her, but she concedes and slows her pace. Underneath the soles of her shoes she can feel pebbles scratch against each other. Hisana walks patiently behind, a tender smile playing on her lips, and the sun’s rays fall gently on her. It has a way of pronouncing her fragile, plum beauty, and Rukia can’t feel upset at this slight delay. Her fingers twitch at the side, and with a great huff, she turns on her heels without moving forward.

“You know, we can afford to look at the stores before we meet Byakuya,” she offers. It’s an awkward offer, as if Rukia wants to join them on their excursion, but their time together as sisters has lessened since Rukia’s internship. By the way her sister looks at her, violet blue eyes wide with hope, Hisana wants nothing more for Rukia to become better acquainted with her love.

She can’t possibly decline, or throw a slight fuss over this, and she sighs, closing her eyes for three seconds before opening them again, voice firm and kind at once, “Isn’t that why we’re meeting him today? But before we meet Byakuya, I do want to get some shopping done.”

An unearthly glow flourishes on Hisana’s face, “Of course, I wouldn’t have changed that,” she nods her head and takes Rukia’s hand into hers. It’s softer, smaller despite being twelve years older, and she leads Rukia without a second thought, looking back only to give her a sly grin.

“I see you have plans.” Which have not been discussed with her it appears, and Hisana’s grin broadens, “Please, don’t be hasty on my account. I’d rather you don’t spend too much.”

“I wouldn’t think of it.”

Hisana doesn’t reveal the location of their next destination, and Rukia finds her sister’s grip stronger than the last time she could recall. It’s not made of iron, something weaker, but strong all the same. Down the sidewalk they past several shops, most of them clothing, some of them furniture, and a sinking sensation drops in the middle of her stomach. Interior decoration isn’t something Rukia is keen on, and she licks her lips anxiously, keeping pace with her sister’s enthusiasm as they round another right corner.

The city constantly changes. It’s much different from what it used to be when she was a child. Still massive, still endless, still bordered by smaller towns and villages, but so much more now that opportunities existed where they didn’t when she was too small, too weak, to make a difference in her life. Later afternoon light chases after them, and Hisana is breathless as her pace slows, coming to a thoughtful stop in front of a bookshop.

Rukia has seen her fair share of bookstores. It isn’t much. Among the tall, imposing buildings flanked to its left and right, the bookshop seems meager that could use numerous renovations. But it’s a part of its charm, she decides, and Hisana hooks her arm around hers. Her expression is endless, waiting for approval, and seeing Rukia’s skepticism buried underneath her light smile, smiles brightly and pulls her in without a second thought.

“Hisana, what are we doing?”

It smells of steamed rice and dusty pages. It smells like a bookshop should smell, or the preconceived of what a bookshop should smell. Rukia’s nose wrinkles in disgust, and she catches a sneeze ready to blow. Hisana doesn’t smell anything, and if she does, she’s too excited to care. Shelves are stacked side to side, filled with books of all kinds, and she can’t help but wonder how they’re organized. There aren’t any labels attached to the shelves, not on the top, not on the bottom, and this rattles Rukia’s orderly mind.

She tries to pull Hisana’s arm the other way, but feels her sister’s persistence has gotten the best of her.

“I found this lovely place a few weeks ago.” She breathes, “And I think you’re going to love it,” they’re walking towards the register when they see the man standing to the front, “Oh, now, now, please be nice, Rukia, he’s a very nice man, and a very good friend of mine! Mr. Kurosaki!”

At a distance he has the appearance of an old man, but the closer to approach the register, the younger he becomes. The man is facing the wall, digging through old boxes on the shelf, and at the sound of Hisana’s voice he turns around sharply, eyes searching before settling his eyes on the pair of dark-haried women. The grin on his face could kill diseases, and Rukia flinches, forcing herself to swallow her unwillingness.

“Hisana!” He’s taller than most men, matching the man Rukia would come to know as brother, and his ebony stained hair is streaked in silver strands, “And, is this your daughter? No, no, you must be Rukia!”

Rukia flashes a look at Hisana that she shrugs off with ease, and unhooking their arms, she pats Rukia’s shoulder comfortingly and patiently, “Mr. Kurosaki, this is my sister Rukia, and Rukia, this is my dear friend Mr. Kurosaki. He is the owner of this book shop.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you Miss Talent Agent,” his hand stretches out, and Rukia takes it firmly, letting the heaviness trap her in.

“I’m actually working at a publishing company right now.” She fights down the heat of her cheeks even though she can feel the man grinning at her embarrassment without him pulling his lips up, “It’s a short program to better my editing skills.”

Her internship affords her the little things, an apartment and a way to pay for her living finances. It’s better than what she had before, and the memories are bleak enough for her to push back instantly the moment the images of the past begin to stir. Staring at Mr. Kurosaki forces her to smile pleasurably, the same small smile she gives to the people at her office.

“What a stunning job to have.” He beams and returns his attention to Hisana, “Now, what can I help you with, Hisana?”

“Oh!” Snapping back to life, “I wanted to know if you had any new cook books? I’m meeting Byakuya today, and I want to show him some of my favorites. He’s insistent on cooking them for me.”

“Really?”

Hisana nods, “Really.” It’s strange, seeing her sister this way. The majority of her memories of Hisana are of her working tireless hours, eyes strained and buried under heavy eyelids, falling asleep on the sofa instead of their shared bed. When she says, really, she says it not with hope but with conviction, with certainty, and something light in her shines so proudly and happily, lovingly almost.

Her intestines begin to twist, and she carefully unwind their arms, “If it’s alright with you, I’m going to look around, don’t worry, I don’t want to disturb your conversation.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, it’s fine.”

“If you get lost, one of my coworkers will be in the stacks.” Mr. Kurosaki’s grin is mischievous, that of a man twenty years younger than the one she’s looking at, “And if he gives you any trouble, call me, I’ll set him right.”

“Sure.”

Walking down the aisles feels like a maze. In a cramped bookshop like this it amazes Rukia at what it accomplishes, and she finds herself scanning the spines of the books. She presses two fingers on their surfaces, finding them clean and roughly smooth. Her nails scratch, and the sound feels comforting against her ears. The further she goes, the deeper she steps through the less she hears on the other side, but she can still see her sister’s head in the corner of her eye. The owner speaks animatedly with waving hands and a nodding head. Hisana’s easier to appreciate, however, and the slim curve of her lips makes Rukia’s chest light. She seems happy, and that’s more than she could have asked for.

As she maneuvers down the aisles, passing book after book, she doesn’t think of how cluttered it is. She pretends the dust doesn’t irritate her nostrils, and most importantly, she attempt to organized the flimsy order the books appear to be in. From the spines she’s noticed fiction mixed with non-fiction. Horror clashed with romance, and self-help books were put near historical fiction. It’s a mess, Rukia sees, but it isn’t her place to criticize. Her sister likes the man, and it doesn’t do to upset a friend.

At the end of the aisle another shelf of books are aligned with the wall. She touches the spines again and pulls back to inspect her fingers, and she sees no dust has attached itself on her skin. In fact, staring up and down the back shelves, none of the spines are covered in dust. Haunted under the brightest light the shelves are meticulously dusted, leaving a polished gleam on their surface, and Rukia’s mouth scrunches in thought. She supposes this makes sense, as Mr. Kurosaki mentioned a worker, but with the bookshop’s size she anticipates she would have seen them much sooner.

Lost in her thoughts she doesn’t sense the incoming presence coming behind her until she feels a shadow hovering on top of her, and her head snaps around, eyes sharp, body frigid in defense.

“Hey.”

*****

“Hey!” Rukia snaps her fingers in his face, “You’re late! You do know you have a deadline to meet, right?”

He scowls at her but doesn’t say anything. He’s in the middle chewing the last half of his bagel, and his hands are full with luggage. They’re walking down the hall at a brisk space with Rukia leading, and she calms herself quickly, sucking in a steady breath as she counts downwards. The train departs behind them, rushing the next group of people to their destination. Outside the station her car awaits, and she bites down on her irritation, more relieved than angry. He follows behind her silently, letting her blow off steam, but the way his eyes bear down her back, tracing its outline underneath her autumn blouse and jacket sets her on edge.

“Do you have the manuscripts?” She presses on her car remote, and sees the blinking in the distance, “I’ve sent the others to the publishers, and they’re not expecting more after this since you’re going to be on hiatus.”

He keeps pace easily. It takes him no more than two strides to match hers. He’s quiet beside her, more from tiredness than annoyance. Trains aren’t his preferred form of transportation, and unlocking the door, they slip in the car as she lists the various tasks they have for the rest of the day. The engine roars to life as she puts it into drive, and they take an easy way out, moving towards the empty side of town. They pass old shops and playgrounds, very different from what they’re used to, and Rukia wonders if this is the right thing to do.

He doesn’t appear upset. His luggage is loaded in the back seat, some in the trunk, and the ride is oddly pleasant despite the circumstances leading to this change of pace. Rukia obeys the safety laws, tapping her fingers casually on the steering wheel, and when she looks to her side he’s there sitting, staring out the window, a ghost of a smile tugging on his lips.

“Sorry.”

“What are you apologizing for?”

“Making you worry,” he rolls his head to the side to get a better look at her, “because I know how you worry.”

She can’t help herself. She scoffs, “What do you think you’re talking about?”

“Did you think the train crashed or something?”

“Of course not!”

“Would’ve made it more interesting had it, but,” he stretches in his seat, “napping was easier."

Hearing this elevates some of her fears, some of her worries, not that the train crashing and burning was a concern.

“Good to hear it, and now, you can finish the last of this arc.” The drive goes surprisingly quickly, and in less than thirty minutes she driving up the driveway to the vacation house she managed to snag two years ago, “In silence, in peace, in…comfort?”

The vacation home is one purchased at an incredibly reasonable price. Rukia predicts it’s owner motivation overrode her own when dealing with the finances, and they wanted to be rid of the house moreso than she wanted to purchase it. She doesn’t discuss it then as she unbuckles her seat, pressing the button underneath the steering wheel that activated the back trunk. He follows after her quietly, weak but lively, and she watches him out of the corner of her eye. He moves smoothly with ease and comfort. The muscles don’t tense, don’t tighten underneath tanned skin, and she sucks in a breath, counting her steps, making sure each one has intention.

They carry individual duffel bags into house. It's different from this morning she sees. Not that it is ever loud, but the quietness has a fullness Rukia doesn't remember it having earlier. The table stands it did when she left. The salt and pepper holder innocently lies off side at the edge of the corner, a sign of an early breakfast. The air is honeysuckle scented, and she goes to the living room, dropping a pair of duffel bags on the floor. From where she stands she can see the sofa and the soft indention from where she slept the previous night. The television screen is pitch black, the remote still lingering on the edge of the glass table. It’s an empty home. Quiet, undisturbed, the living space's availability is obvious, and now, the chance to fill those vacant spaces, to fill the emptiness that has settled between them has arrived.

He might have wanted to go to the bedroom. He might have wanted to check the back yard. He sits at the kitchen table and stares, letting his shoulders roll tiredly, "It's nice," the lines around her eyes don't recoil, but he feels the cringe the squiggly lines, "I mean it. It's nice. I like it."

"I want you to like it." This doesn't sound right. There's more to it, she realizes, but the words she needs to convey her meaning are lost to her, "You need breathing space, and there's nothing wrong with the country. We can always move back when we're ready."

When he looks at her there is no tiredness, no anger, no sadness. A silent resignation treads dangerously on his lips. He wants to tell her the truth, or tells her why this move was necessary. They know they would have not changed their decisions if they could. There is no reason to smile, not now. The world has not given him a physical reason to smile, but staring at her, staring her flippant yet intrusive stare, hopeful and caring, makes the corners of his lips quirk. Her smile is far more subdued, less noticeable than his, and is hidden underneath the tumbling arch of her eyebrows. It is one of the more distinctive features her face holds, and he pulls his chin up at her.

“Wanna go check out the house?”

The house isn’t a gift. The realtor was an acquaintance of her brother’s, but she had sought the house herself, found it herself. The connection was mere coincidence. They had completed the necessary paperwork. She was meticulous, painfully at some points. He was intimidating. Together, they were ferocious, and the realtor, along with the bank, had been grateful and terrified. The deal closed swiftly and easily, and they walked carefully down the halls, sucking in the whistling silence.

“The bedroom is on the other side of the house,” the bathroom is wider than their shared memory, and she smiles in gratitude, the stiff coolness about the room. It isn’t all white and porcelain mixed with beige and tan, and the ceiling is a rusted red shade she doesn’t find immediately unsettling. Ichigo comes behind her, hands stuffed in his pockets, and he smacks his lips appreciatively. There isn’t much to say about décor when it comes to him. He disappears when it comes to clothes shopping, but is always present for pillow shopping.

The rest of the inspection follows up quickly. It isn’t extraordinary. It isn’t dull. It’s what they expect. A homely domesticity they have yet to grow accustom to. They don’t want to admit the quietness is unnerving. They city can be loud, but it is never overwhelming. It’s the people, they think to themselves. The expectations, and they go down another hall closer to their bedroom. The library smells of iris and jaded leaves, left too long in the sun. It’s a sour and strangely sweet aroma, and they smile at each other, hopeful, as they go in. The door lingers like a forgotten friend, waiting patiently for them to take their fill, and although the room is still bare. Although the room has nothing to fill the empty walls and imaginary shelves, they know this room to be true. It holds more than their future, and seated on the floor, they survey the walls and ceiling, the window with its unpainted borders.

He sat first. His gaze locked on the window, across the roaming hills beyond their home, “Have you called Byakuya?”

“I did before I left for the station.” She sits beside him, close enough to touch him without touching him, “He wanted to make sure the journey went well. Renji called. He sounded worried, but you know him. He didn’t want to sound worried.”

There are other friends waiting for them back at their former home. All have accepted their decision, no questions asked, and they’re grateful in their quiet way. They suspected a bombardment of inquiries, of asking why they chose to leave despite all the good things happening to them. They feared the holes people would try to dig into their lives, not windows, not mirrors so that they may reflect onto them. Their friends proved trustworthy, handing them gifts and sad faces along with their goodbyes, and there were assurances, promises to write and call when they could, when they were ready to accept them.

“I like this room.”

“I knew you would,” she grins, “The moving van will arrive tomorrow. A not so bad schedule.”

He stares down at her, “You planned all of this, didn’t you?”

“Well, yeah, someone had to.” This is wrong to say. It’s truthful, but still wrong. Unfair, and she places a hand on his arm, “You weren’t up for it, and I didn’t want you to worry. You still want to finish this.”

She doesn’t want him to say yes, and she doesn’t want him to say no. It’s a tedious thing to be. In the middle of want and need, not knowing which has more power, or which one is more important. She’s sympathetic, and her soft hand on his arm tells him that. She can wait. She will wait, and there’s time. But there’s guilt, and the pain filling him makes it worse. Because she shouldn’t have to wait. Her life shouldn’t be put on hold, and looking at her, seeing the age starting to draw around her eyes and lips, a similar age to his, saddens him.

“Don’t do that.”

“What?”

“Don’t do that.”

*****

Their fifth date makes it official. It feels more official, and he doesn’t know why it’s taken him five dates to realize this. She’s annoying. She’s loud. She doesn’t hold back, and she can be just as mean and surly as he is. She can also be pleasant, quiet, subdued, and filled with more compassion and kindness he ever thought humanly possible. His mother’s compassion is one he cannot compare to another, and he won’t try to compare them, so very different and surreal.

“I’m not doing anything,” she’s lying on her back, face upwards, and she’s covering her nose, now bloodied and bruise, “and you’re not a doctor, so you can’t tell me anything.”

“You’re picking with it.” He states flatly, and she is picking with it. Her pinky finger squeezes through to touch her overtly sensitive nostrils, and the blood seeps freely like a damaged river, on and on through her fingers, “What did I say, stop it.”

He calls his mother. Masaki is a doctor, and a good doctor at that, doing the best she can for her patients. He doesn’t want to call her at this hour, being it’s ten at night, but he knows his mother isn’t sleeping. His mother rarely sleeps at appropriate hours, and when he hears her straggling voice on the other end, meaning her mouth is stuffed with popcorn, he chuckles.

“Did you get into a fight?”

“What!?” He scoffs and puts a hand underneath Rukia’s head, “No, I didn’t get into a fight. Why’d you think I got into a fight?”

He can’t see what she’s doing on the other side of the line, but he senses she’s shrugging, “I dunno. Something tells me you got into a fight, but someone got into a fight. That’s why you’re calling at ten-thirty.”

“Fine.” With as much gentleness he can muster, he pulls Rukia into his arm, and he drags, carries her to a nearby bench. Keeping the phone from the sound of her voice, he smirks at the various obscenities that fly out of her mouth. Another positive in his mind, but he isn’t going to tell her that.

“What’s that sound?” Something roars in the background. His father’s snores are horrendous, “Wow, I haven’t heard that word since I was in college, or since your father stubbed his toy against the kitchen table.”

“It’s Rukia.”

“Rukia?”

“Yeah, she got in a fight with-,”

“I’m on my way. Give me the directions.” Suddenly, the carelessness in his voice dissipates, and she’s all business, no questions about it. It’s the unwavering sharpness to her voice. The potential severity if her demands are not met, and Ichigo provides them readily, following her instructions as he gives directions.

“That asshole,” she murmurs with her eyes closed.

“I know.”

“And she was so scared, and no one was doing anything.” She doesn’t have to explain. He had come two minutes to late just to find her on top of the man, pounding him in the face. He never thought someone so tiny could be so devastating, and she got clocked on the nose—well, it was natural to be angry to see an innocent person get hurt, someone undeserving of pain. He didn’t have to do more than necessary.

“Good thing you did step in.” He tsks anyways, “Make sure you come at him slow, or distract him long enough for a hidden attack.”

She groans, the veins at her temples visibly throbbing, “I know. My brother would be ashamed at how I rushed into it, but I got so angry at that man. The nerve of him! To treat a woman like that! Absolutely revolting, and no one was going to do anything. They wanted to pretend it wasn’t even happening.”

His mother arrives shortly in her car, and she doesn’t scream, doesn’t yell. Rukia sends him a glare, and he shrugs helplessly, not knowing many other doctors in the area. He knows she doesn’t want to go to the hospital, so after a brief examination, Masaki surmises that it’s time for them to go home---with her.

“I’m in your Mom’s car.”

“Yes, you are.”

“I’m in your Mom’s car with a bloody nose.”

“Yes, you are.” He glares at her, “What’s up with that face?”

The lower half of her face, nose included, is covered with paper towels, and she’s sitting below him on the other side of the back seat, glaring at him, as if he’s done some terrible thing. Masaki’s driving while she hums to a late night radio tune, and Ichigo doesn’t understand why she’s staring at him as if he’s done something wrong. He knows he hasn’t done something wrong. What he’s done is the most practical thing of him to do, only second to him beating the guy the second he noticed something was wrong.

“There are rules to this kind of thing!” She hisses lowly, hoping Masaki can’t hear them, “We haven’t reached six months, not even close, and I’m bleeding through my nose in your mother’s car!”

So that’s what she’s upset with. It’s never crossed him mind that protocols were a thing for her, but it isn’t like she’s tried to hide that side of herself.

He’s thoughtful for a moment, and leans back into his seat, crossing his arms defensively, “My parents normally don’t get to meet my dates,” there’s a slight tinge across his nose, “don’t get a lot of them to stay.”

The anger that rises in her chest simmers into faint annoyance, and it turns to dust. She sits in the back with her hand covering her nose, and the pain still throb but isn’t acute. It’s dark outside. She can’t see the faint blush across his cheeks, but with the way he speaks, the silence developing in the car, she knows. It’s worse for him knowing that she knows. Knowing that his mother knows despite her loud humming and soft tapping on the steering wheel.

Maybe there’s a flush to her cheeks. Maybe there’s something there. She reprimands herself. There shouldn’t be. After all, it’s the fifth date, and there isn’t anything special about the fifth date. The fifth date means the possibility of a sixth, the potential of a seventh. Nothing’s concrete, and she doesn’t like to be left hanging.

Then he grabs her hand. It’s a simple gesture. His fingers lace into hers, and she looks at him with a soft gasp playing on her lips. It’s muffled under the paper towels and dried blood, and he isn’t looking at her. His face remains on the window and the passing buildings, and suddenly, something rises in Rukia, something bright and warm. Something uncontrollable and sustained through his touch.

He doesn’t know why he takes her hand with his mother in the front seat. He doesn’t know why, and he doesn’t think he’ll ever know. It feels right in the moment. He should hold her hand, and so he did. He’s more surprised when her fingers grasp his, folding instinctively without her looking in his direction, or that’s what he tells himself in the back seat. It feels that it’d be worse if she had turned to him, had batted her dark eyelashes, had beckoned him to look at her.

The fluttering in his chest lessens, and coolness takes it place. The drive takes longer than it should, he thinks, and his mother’s humming never decreases in volume, never softens.

*****

“Is Dad taking his medicine?” He nods, turning the stove on a low fire, “Yes, Mom, I made it safely, and yes, Rukia’s doing fine. Yeah, yeah, as soon as we can we’ll right a letter, or Skype, or whatever.”

“Now, you take care of yourself, Ichigo.” Masaki chides gently, “I don’t want the two of you overworking yourselves.”

“Yes, I know, Mom.”

“And make sure you talk to each other.” She nods approvingly, “Communication is the key to-,” a crash behind her makes her pause, and he hears the stomping of annoyed feet, “Isshin, are you okay, what did I tell you about trying to lift heavy shelves?”

The noodles bubble impatiently in the pot, and he stirs them, not waiting to hear what his dad has to say, “Look, it’s getting late, and you two really should be getting to bed,” they’re nearing that age anyways.

Masaki smacks her lips, and he feels the offended pout, “We are doing just fine the way we are, and I will call you later, young man,” but softly, even more tender than the tone she would use when he was a boy, “Ichigo, you take your time. Take all the time you need. You’ve done enough, and we only want what’s best for you.”

It’s something about mothers. It’s something about the unconditional acceptance, reassurance. Even when things aren’t going as planned their reassurances can make you believe it eventually will. He’s never admitted this doubt---that he might fail in this, that he might not get better, and hearing his mother’s voice on the other line makes the trapped feelings inside swell. Hearing her, summer in the midst of a harsh winter, and he tells her he loves. He says it two to three times, and each time his smile softens, deepens on top of the scowl he’s renowned for.

“Take care of yourself, Ichigo,” Masaki murmurs, and the phone ends with a curt click.

Night time comes easier than the afternoon. Afternoon waits and waits to past until evening arrives, and from there, everything descends into place. The house is still empty. There’s much to do to fill it up, and the hills outside stare into their home through the closed curtains. He can see the stars through the curtains, and if he chooses to peak he point their alignments. But he doesn’t intend to go to bed. He’s night owl habits are inherited from his parents, he knows this well, and there’s more of a reason for him to stay awake.

With his noodles he goes into the living room to be where the kitchen table has been moved. His laptop sits on top of it, plugged in, and various papers lie about near it. He eats his noodles sloppily and hungrily while staring at the laptop with its luminescent glow. He has the story planned from beginning to finish. He always had, and now, the finish line is in view. He doesn’t know what has caused this crippling pause---because Ichigo refuses to think of it as anything else but, and it’s so vivid that it pains his heart to think of the end. Also, it’s relieving, and he feels a little bit of shame in it.

At least, there isn’t the pressure. With his bosses leering over his shoulders, moreso than fans would like to think, he could never do anything without alerting them to some crime, and although this will continue despite the distance, it’s not as concrete. A burden has lifted off his shoulders, and as he swallows his noodles, slurping down the heat and meat, he feels less caged. He finishes his meal and sits at his laptop, stares at his notes, and he cracks his fingers, and begins to work.

“I didn’t get shit done.”

Rukia laughs, curled up beside him on the air mattress, “Did you expect to get anything done?”

“Not really.”

“But did you get any work done?” She cocks her eyes at him expectedly, “Any done at all? Because I find it hard to believe that you sat at your laptop for forty-five minutes and did absolutely nothing.”

“I didn’t. I tried a few panels, a few notes, and I deleted them all. I didn’t like how it sounded. None of it.”

Her blinks, “Better than ten months ago.”

He concedes that it is better than it was ten months ago. He wraps an arm around her and pulls her close. The mattress beneath them squeezes in protest. It tells them by morning it will have flattened under their combined weight, and the cold, hard floor will be unpleasant to sleep on. But they don’t care in the now. He pulls her close and looks her in the eye, and they’re just so tired. He doesn’t want to go to sleep, and she can’t find it in her to go to sleep right now, not this exact second.

“I’ve got work in the morning.” She pokes his nose with her thumb and smirks, “And you’ve got to meet with the movers, tell them where to put everything.”

He groans and takes her in his arms completely. He rolls to the side, despite her muffled protests, and he still remembers that night, that night when everything changed. Her nose cracked, broke under the weight of the man’s fists, and she blessed him with a black eye. She smiled at him then. She smiled and groaned, covering her face in embarrassment at how his mother came to pick them up. They were adults, she whispered at the house. They didn’t need to be driven home like a pair of loose tongued teens.

He ran his fingers through her hair. She cupped his face into her hands, and when he ends up on top, squeezing and groaning into her neck, the world collapses around them. There’s heavy petting, soft kisses, deep groans, and bucking, so much bucking. It spins, spins, spins, and he thinks of work. He thinks of how much his work has taken from this, and he’s terrified for a moment in between that he might have forgotten what this has felt like. She pulls him back in quickly, takes him in, and doesn’t let go.

It’s the middle of summer, and the air is thick inside. But coolness always accompany warmth, and he doesn’t want to let it go.

****

“I don’t want children.”

She’s met his mother and father before the six month mark. It doesn’t help that her sister and his father are friends. He’s met her sister and brother-in-law, and he knows he’ll like Hisana far more than he’ll ever like Byakuya.

He rolls on his side and stares, “You don’t.”

“I don’t.” She nods, “My sister has always wanted children, but she can’t have any. I can have them, and I don’t want to. I’m good with children, and I think they’re great,” she buries herself under the bed sheets, suddenly confused on what she should say to make him understand, “they’re not for me.”

Ichigo doesn’t understand. Being raised as the eldest, having two younger sisters and parents who always seemed so sure of what they wanted in their relationship. They wanted to get married, so they got married. They wanted children, so they had children. They wanted careers, so they resumed their education when they could, and they finished.

Seven years have past, and while he has always suspected he’s never heard it until now.

In bed, she weighs his reaction silently. Her right thumb taps the arm closest to her, “Do you want kids, I mean, do you want the whole thing,” everything feels wrong about this, asking him if he wants a family so far in the game, “I don’t want to-,”

“If I wanted kids that badly I would’ve told you by now.” Children are nice. Children can be a handful, and while he can see himself being a father, maybe of one or two, he can easily see himself without them too, still happily, “Kids isn’t something I can’t live without.”

“Oh.”

“What? Disappointed?”

“No, not at all.” And she isn’t. She feels light, and she wants to laugh in his face, then slap him, for making her worry. Right now, she rejoices in the fact that she’s as light as a feather, “I’m glad we’ve had this talk, Ichigo. If it makes your parents happy, they’ve still got Yuzu and Karin.”

His parents are happy either way. They’re not looking forward to being parents, surprisingly enough. He knows his sisters may or may not bless them with the pitter patter of tiny feet. He can’t see it from either sister, despite what their appearances may tell. That’s not worries Ichigo, and that isn’t what Rukia is worried about either.

It’s been seven years. Seven years have passed, and they changed drastically from what they are. She has a meeting. He has more stories to tell. More, more, and much more keeps calling to them, and there isn’t anything they can do about it. They lie in bed together, but soon, they’ll be apart for several more weeks, caught in their schedules.

“We should do something.”

“I don’t have time. “You never have time.”

“Neither do you.”

Five dates turned to six months. Six months went to seven years, and from there a decade was lived between him and her. He produced constantly, and she worked constantly. Something gave, as it usually does, and the pieces were too many for them to pick up. They decided to leave. A plan was necessary, and they crafted one patiently, putting each slot into its proper place until the moment was right.

It is a wise decision. It is a smart decision to know what is wanted, and what is not. It is safe to know what is needed, and what is not.

Ichigo remembers the conversation as clear as day. He remembers thinking what he could not say. Yes, he can live without children, and live happily at that. Living without Rukia? It is not an option he bares to consider.

*****

Ichigo doesn’t remember a time when he could not breathe, and that is what makes his breakdown so extraordinarily. His breakdown doesn’t suddenly happen, not that it ever does. He crashes down on him all at once, but it is years in the making.

He feels the rain pouring. He feels himself drowning, swept away in the flood. Her hand reaches for him, keeping him afloat, but he refuses to sink her ship. He cannot let himself on her ship until he can ride through the storm.

He knows she’ll refuse to let him ride alone.

“I’m happy, Rukia.”

Noodles again. He promises one of these days they will get off their asses to buy real food, or at least search for a delivery place nearby. The noodles are beef flavor this time, and the texture is a bit rubbery. Their laziness keeps them from complaining, and they’re snuggled on the floor, staring at his laptop. His work is missing. Her work is missing.

“Do you think he’s gonna live?” She asks between bites, and she slurps a long noodle, “I think he’s gonna die. He’s really stupid to go into the mansion.”

“Wouldn’t have a movie if he didn’t go into the mansion.” He turns his nose up at the effects, “But yeah, he’s gonna die.”

She rests in the crook of his neck, breathing softly against him. He can count her heartbeats like the beating wings of a humming bird. His heartbeat is the same, if he doesn’t know, and she doesn’t feel the need to tell him. His hand falls on the top of her head, smoothing down her dark strands, and the scent of her shampoo lingers on the palm of his hand.

“I’m happy, Rukia,” he murmurs against her ear.

She doesn’t move her head from the screen, “You are?”

“Yeah, I am.” He inhales, “I know it doesn’t look it, but I am happy. I am happy with you. You make me happy, and I’m happy to share this life with you. But-,”

“You don’t have to explain,” she doesn’t mean to be rude. She doesn’t mean to cut him short, “I get it, in a round about way, I do. I’m happy to share this life with you, and I know there’s something else going on. Something I tried to ignore, and…I’m sorry for that. I shouldn’t have done that to you.”

Violet hits amber, and he’s falling all over again. He smiles, “You idiot,” and pulls her closer, “don’t you dare apologize.”

There are tears in her eyes, and she rests her head against his chest, sniffling. Someone screams, gurgles, and blood gushes out their mouth as the machete is snatched from their gut, leaving the gaping wound behind.

“Shit, he died.”

“Yeah, he did.”

He rocks side to side in careful motions, “I’ll try again tomorrow, to work, I mean.”

“And if you don’t, that’s okay too.” She says, “It’s a work in progress.”

#bleach #bleachff #ichiruki big bang #irbb #ichiruki

26 notes · View notes