#now get ready for Rukia's missing i

[seireiteihellbutterfly]

These Lonely Nights

ft Jushiro Ukitake

A/N: Well I felt a little called out today when I saw how many people were asking if I write for Bleach anymore. I get it, I've been on a JJK kick lately, but I have not, and WILL NOT, forget my first anime crush. So here's a piece for my beloved Ukitake taicho. This may look a little self-indulgent and it is, ngl, but the reader is still quite featureless.

Warnings: 18+, sex, vaginal fingering, oral, mentions of illness and losing a loved one

Pairing: Jushiro Ukitake x thick!fem!reader

Word Count: 2786

Jushiro Ukitake is a man who understands duty. Duty as a captain to his subordinates. Duty as a mentor to his students. Duty as a friend to those in need. But for the past few weeks, he felt like he had been inadequate in his duties as a husband. It was an insecurity he always felt whenever a sickness spell came over him and all he could do was rest and stay in bed.

As his wife, you knew what it meant to marry him. And there was never any regret there. Jushiro was many wonderful things; kind, considerate, and gentle. And oh so handsome, with his long beautiful hair framing his oval face and perceptive eyes. His commitment and dedication to squad 13, his craftsmanship with a sword, and a sharp sense of wit to top it all off. And he was in love with you. Some nights when you are getting ready for bed, all you can do is stare at his sleeping face, the ridiculously long eyelashes resting on his cheeks, hardly daring to believe that he is yours. 

You knew marrying him meant having to care for him, that sometimes, it meant you would find yourself doing things on your own, and learning to not be needy when he had to rest. You knew it would mean sometimes you would wake up at night because his breathing sounded off and it frightened you that something would happen to him if you dared fall asleep. It meant that sometimes, all you could do was spend time at home instead of going out and pursuing other forms of entertainment. 

But it also meant having a tight-knit circle of people who accepted and embraced you. Sentaro, Kiyone, and Shunsui were frequent visitors. His lieutenant Rukia became your best friend. People were always coming and going, and it made it easier to cope during his bad days. It meant having him, all to yourself. 

The past couple of weeks had been rough though. Some members from Squad 4 had practically lived in your house during this time. One of the aides had slept on a futon on your bedroom floor, and the thought of sleeping together with someone else in the room had made you uncomfortable. So you slept in one of the guest rooms that the large Ukitake household had. You missed him at night, missed his warm body spooning you, his soft breath on your neck. But you knew he needed the aide from Squad 4 more than you at the moment, and you couldn’t begrudge him for this. 

Once squad 4 had confirmed Jushiro’s health, they had moved out a few days ago. Jushiro seemed to be in good standing, and you were relieved that you could finally share a bed again. But you missed other things. You wished for physical intimacy but given that he had just started to recover, you settled for snuggles, and long talks while lying down together, looking deeply into each others’ eyes. You didn’t want to rush him or make him uncomfortable. 

Jushiro notices the shift in you. You talk to him normally, are as open as ever with your affection, and not ignoring him in any way. But he knows something is bothering you. And it makes him guilty. He knows you have never, nor ever will, hold his illness against him but he does wish he could do more for you. With his strength coming back now, he knows he must open the conversation. 

It’s night. You have just finished having a bath and stepped back into the bedroom from the attached bathroom. Jushiro is already in bed, finishing his cup of tea. As you enter, the towel wrapped around your body, his gaze wanders, looking at the beautiful curves of your body, the generous hips and thighs, and the long cascade of ebony hair coming down your back. Thoughtlessly, you let the towel fall and begin to rub lotion on yourself. The way things had been the past couple of weeks, Jushiro was already asleep, or too weak to really admire you, so stripping down in front of him had just become part of the process. You couldn't let your disappointment show, that he didn’t seem to take an interest in your body. That was a selfish thing to think, given what he had gone through.  

You hadn’t really thought about it since this had become your norm. But he was looking at you now. The fact that you did all of this so mechanically, not even glancing back to see if he was watching you, made his heart ache, made him see how lonely you had been during the last spell. 

“Y/n”, he said softly.

You turn around, eyes immediately widening in concern. Your breasts swing slightly with the motion, the lotion bottle clutched in your hands. 

“Are you all right?” Not even thinking about your nakedness, you hasten towards him, one hand reaching out to check his pulse, the other going to his forehead. 

“I am fine. Please stop fussing over me.” His warm hand gripped your wrist. Your face relaxed after hearing his words but a look of confusion took over. 

“I should finish getting ready for bed. Do you need anything else? More tea?”

“All I want right now is you.”

Your heart skips a beat and all you can do is stare at him. “Ok. Just give me a minute to get into my pajamas.”

“You’re fine the way you are.” Jushiro smiled at you and his grip on your wrist tightened. His eyes beckoned you to join him. 

There was no way you could refuse him. You allowed yourself to be pulled under the sheets. His loosely tied kosode was open and laid your head against his bare chest, your naked body pressed against him. Longing stirred in your chest but you didn’t want to initiate anything for fear that it might be too soon and you would cause him to over-exert himself. You breathed in the scent of his skin, a kind of musky, floral scent that you had become familiar with. 

His hand stroked your back, sending tingles down your whole body. Damn, the hold he had over you. Here you are, using all the strength you had to not do anything, and it seemed like he was trying his hardest to break you.

“Jushiro,” you say, looking up at him. He had a soft smile on his face. “I think I should-“

“Talk about how you are?” He asked, cutting you off mid-sentence. You stare at him, at a loss of words.

“How I am?” You ask incredulously. “You just recovered from a really nasty spell. I’m fine. It’s you that went through hell these past few weeks.”

“Ah. But it wasn’t just me, was it? You went through hell too.”

A knot formed itself in your chest. Truth be told, yes, the past few weeks had been hell for you too. The feeling of being helpless, of losing this man who took too long for you to find, the worry of how long you had between this spell and the next.

“I know you hide your feelings from me.” Jushiro pressed a kiss on the top of your head. “I know how much you’ve gone through. I know that you bore most of it alone.”

To hear it said out loud, the validation of your experience, almost brought you to tears. Instead, you shook your head. “I married you knowing everything. I do not mind bearing it alone. I just need you to be all right.”

“And I need you to be all right too.”

Your eyes met and unconsciously, the gap between both of you started to get smaller. At the very last minute, you hesitate. “Jushiro, I don’t want to do something and set you back. You just started getting better.”

“Didn’t I tell you to not fuss over me? I am better. But I know I will be even better if my wife kisses me.”

So you obliged, and the sweet meeting of your lips caused the tears you had been fighting to rush through. You missed him so much. His hands ran through your hair and he pulled you closer, molding your body to his.

“If everyone is taking care of my needs, then who takes care of yours, darling?” He whispered the words against your lips before kissing you deeply again. You open your mouth to receive his tongue and every soft movement triggers the want you had been shoving down. 

You break apart, his thumb softly wiping away your tears. Your foreheads touch. “I am your husband. Let me show you how much I missed you.”

He twisted his body so that you were pinned under him. Gracefully, he shrugged out of his kosode, his hard chest pressing against the softness of your breasts.

“You are so beautiful, love.” He leaned up on his elbows and gazed lovingly down at your face. “Let’s give you some attention.”

He kissed you again, and the kiss was full of longing. You are not fighting it anymore. Your hands comb his hair, running down his back, your nails lightly scratching him as you do so. You could feel his hardness pressing against your thigh.

He broke the kiss to nibble at your neck, your ear, your collarbone, each small bite sending delicious shivers down your body. His beautiful, large hands were stroking your shoulders, your breasts, coming down to your stomach. He took his time, placing small fluttering kisses all over your neck, coming back to your lips, and leisurely coming down to the valley between your breasts where your heart was beating like butterfly wings caught in a strong breeze. 

You shiver at the feel of his mouth, his lips, his hands, feel his reiatsu climbing as desire claims him. His slowly moves from the valley up to the curve of your breast, then you feel wetness gently playing with your nipple and a moan escapes you. Your hands tangled in his hair; it had been so long and his movements were making you needy. He stayed there for a minute, letting his tongue do the work, listening to your sighs, and the way your body wriggled under his. Deftly, his long fingers hold your other nipple captive, softly squeezing and pulling, until you feel yourself melting under the sensation of it all. 

“Jushiro…” You manage to gasp, and you feel his mouth curve into a smile against your breast. He keeps this up for a little while longer before moving his mouth back to your lips. His other hand takes over your abandoned nipple as he moves his tongue over yours, swallowing your sensual cries. The intimacy of everything after the time apart was unbearably sweet. You can’t hold back your greed as you curl your fingers around his neck, as though he’d slip away in between your fingers if you didn’t. 

Your body twitches under his as he runs his hands down your sides, mouth coming down to the softness of your belly, gripping the luscious flesh of your plushy thighs, lips kissing every inch of your sensitized skin. His hands part your legs, squeezing possessively, and licked up your inner thigh, fingers stroking the softness on the other. 

He seemed to have gotten his full strength back, because the hands that gripped your round ass were firm, the muscles in his body on display, his skin no longer having that pale, sickly quality to it. This was Ukitake taicho, leader of squad 13, your husband, showing you in whose possession you belonged. Your breath strangles in your throat as he nudges your sex with his nose, inhaling, remembering the sweet smell of your arousal, before licking a wet line up from your core to your clit. 

“Jushiro…!” His name tumbles from your lips like a prayer, and he lays his tongue over the perked bud, lapping softly between your slickened folds. For you, its the relief of knowing you get to experience him like this again. A cathartic release after the stress and tension of watching him struggle to recover his health. 

You moan, gripping the sheets, rocking your hips against the rhythm of his tongue, sweat slickening your body as he pleasures you. A wanton sound leaves you and he gently closes his lips around your clit, sucking devotedly, his green eyes never leaving your face as you sob with delight. Your entrance is moist and fluttering, desperate for something to help ease the throbbing need of being empty. Ukitake’s long, beautiful, fingers insert themselves and your moan turns into a loud whine, feeling stretched out as they make scissoring motions inside you before probing that sweet little patch inside you. 

The combined stimulation had you cumming instantly. There was no warning, just the gradual buildup before it felt like you were pushed off an edge. You cry out in pleasure, his name slipping from your lips in reverence as waves of gratification flood your system. Ukitake places a tender, final kiss on your clit before coming back up and closing his mouth over yours. 

You taste yourself on his lips, hands impatiently pulling down his underwear to free his leaking cock, tip dripping with precum, standing at attention, waiting for your direction. Your thumb swipes over the tip, hear him groan loudly before you grip his length and pump him softly. It’s been a while and he bucks into your hand, teeth gritted at how sensitive he is. You keep this up, lips unwavering as both of you move and adjust your bodies, the familiarity of each other not requiring the kiss to break. Your legs part, your fingers gently resting on the underside of his cock, and tip him into your wetness. He loves this gesture, the small push of your fingers like an invitation, giving non verbal consent, and he slips in, buried to the hilt, his breath tickling your neck as he gives himself a minute.

The soft, wet, velvet of your sex hugs him securely and he moves, the intimate touch stealing the breath from both your lungs. There was no need to rush. His subordinates had made sure to finish his reports, and he intended on making good use of their hard labor. His hips rut into you lazily as your fingers trace his face, his lips, his jaw, pushing back the long white curtains of hair from his face as soft sounds of pleasure escape you. His eyes are hazy as he looks at you, love drunk and amazed at how responsive you are to him, bringing your foreheads together, your breath exchanging in the air, as your breasts bounce with each passionate thrust. 

“I missed you,” he whispers as he leans up and arches his body into a perfect CAT missionary position, your legs wrapping automatically around his waist to enable the motions as the base of his cock rubs against your clit while the rest of his length strokes in and out of your pussy. It was all slow and romantic, losing yourself in those intense green eyes that reminded you of forest leaves.

As you feel your pussy start to spasm regularly, your grip tightens on his back, and he continues the slow, constant rhythm, friction hitting your clit. He was close too, and it was taking all his effort to not bury himself into you and fuck you for his own selfish pleasure. Your whimpers turn into mewls as you finally hit a peak, second climax of the night pulsing through you, almost lazily and leisurely, pussy fluttering as you cum around him. 

The little spasms around his cock make him lose control, need taking over sensuality and he chases his climax, primal instiinct taking over as his fingers dig into you body, leaving bruises and he allows himself to succumb. He makes a guttaral noise as his climax grips him, abdomen tensing and cock twitching as he cums, spilling into you. 

The night is filled with heartfelt catching up and several more rounds of lovemaking. As you see the faint sliver of the sunrise peeking in through the window you sigh and snuggle against him. 

“Better try to get some sleep, before those subordinates of yours come barging in for duty.”

He chuckles, pulling your naked body against his. “Oh don’t fret. Just tell them I’m still not up to resuming my duties just yet. Let’s use tomorrow for ourselves.”

“Oh?” Your eyes sparkle as he smiles mischeivously. “Why taicho how…unruly of you.”

You squeal as he flips you onto your back, ready to show you again how much he had missed you. 

banners by @/ cafekitsune Icons by @/ violetsuzy

[sunflowersandcherryblossoms]

I've officially given up on the new Rukia/Aaroniero Banner...

I'm tired of wasting orbs and getting either nothing at all or dupes from characters that I don't really care about...

I'm just getting dupes everywhere now!

Sure, I'm not complaining about the dupes I got from Byakuya

I mean, getting a dupe from the Lost Agent Arc Byakuya and then, on the 90 million downloads pack, getting the 5th anniversary one is quite cool...

It's also a bit annoying that the new orders are mostly about the Co-op (understandable...) and the Brave Battles (Why?!?), but you know... It is what it is.

What I do have now is a fully maxxed out Quincy Archer Ichigo!

Yay!!!

He's really good and I have him on my All Technique team for the difficult quests, Alongside with the more recent TYBW Byakuya and Bambietta.

And tomorrow this boy is up for a resurrection!

Alongside with the mandatory Ichigo, a Soul Society Arc Inoue and a Hueco Mundo Arc Nnoitra, this boy was one of my very first characters, having acquired him on a battle ready choose a 6* pack.

I miss playing with him...

[milkberryroll]

pride, prejudice

"How about that upperclassman from the PT department? He liked you, right? He's a sports coach, now!" 

Yuzu close to shoved her phone screen to her twin's face, showing her black haired counterpart a photo of an acquaintance from university. Who apparently harbored feelings for Karin years ago. 

"No thanks. I turned him down before." Karin took a sip of her almost gone pear lemon soda.

also in ao3.

"Besides, I told you, didn't I? Not looking for a boyfriend. Not today, not tomorrow, not anytime soon. I'm way too busy for commitments. " She added, completely shutting her sister down. 

Yuzu pouted in disappointment — Karin really lacked romance in her bones. Maybe a good Pride and Prejudice movie night with Ruki-nee would help convert her, she thinks. 

"Oh, you're no fun, Karin-chan!" 

"I'm not interested." 

"But I'm telling you, once you see That Guy for you, you'll be eating your words!" 

"Yeah, yeah. Forget that, Ruki-nee's waiting for us at the department store, help me choose shoes for Ryouka, she says. And, Ichi-nii will be coming to get us, apparently."

Dismissing her twin with a text from their sister in law, she begins to stand up from their table. Yuzu proceeded to sip up the last of her iced chocolate, and stood up to follow her sister, ready to leave the cafe. 

"Speaking of, Ryouka-chan's going to school this coming semester, huh? Time flies so fast!" Yuzu wondered aloud, thinking about how her niece now is at that age for elementary school. 

"Yeah, it was like yesterday Ruki-nee was curs—" She bumped into a wall of toned muscle, losing her balance, expecting to meet carpet, only to be pulled to the same body she ran into by a firm arm around her waist. 

"Are you okay?" 

Karin looked up — and it was then rocks met ocean waters. Her eyes met with the owner of the voice, and saw turquoise looking back at her. 

An invitable encounter. 

"Ah, yeah. My bad, I wasn't looking where I was going." Karin tried her best to speak straight and not stumble on her words. 

"No, it's fine, I also wasn't paying attention." 

With a slight push, she pried herself off of the man she was now in an almost embrace with and bowed slightly in thanks, before stalking off to finally exit the cafe before any more eyes stare. She wasn't here to make a scene anyway, just to help her sister in law shop. 

Her sister was staring at her from outside the cafe with stars in her eyes, now with their brother, looking ready to tear a stranger's limbs apart.  

"Don't start." 

Meeting her siblings, she warned her twin, although she knows Yuzu will, regardless. Karin sighed in preparation for another tirade about romance and fate and destiny. 

She wanted to think it's not. 

 //

With a sigh, Toshiro slid to his seat, seeing his sister smile at him, readying himself for whatever she's about to spew out. 

"She's pretty!" Momo nonchalantly uttered. 

"Unfortunately for you, I'm not looking for a girlfriend. Besides, I'm here to bring you to your OB appointment, since Izuru had an emergency at work." Toshiro replied without missing a beat. 

"Oh, would it kill you to actually be fun, for once? This is why you have no love life, you're way too serious. You were cuter when we were younger." 

"Shut up." Toshiro called a waiter over to take their orders, after taking a backward glance at his chanced encounter. 

Oh, there's someone with her. The orange haired guy. 

The little peep did not go unnoticed by Momo's observant eyes. 

"Too bad, seems like a guy is with them. A boyfriend, perhaps?" 

He decided to ignore the little twinge of disappointment in his chest.

//

"My bad Karin! I swear I'll make it up to you next time!" Rukia's voice rang from her phone's loudspeaker. 

"I told you it's fine! It's my off today. Anything else I need to pick her up?" Karin picked up her wallet, preparing to fetch her niece up from her first day of school. 

"Nope, just your ID! Call me if anything comes up! And grab some food for the two of you on the way! I'll send you the money!" 

"No, it's fine, Ruki-nee. Alright, I'm going to get her now. Bye!" With that, Karin ended the call, turned her car ignition off, and alighted the car. 

Going into the school premises, she searched for staff she can talk to. 

"Oh! Hi, good afternoon! What's your business here?" 

A voice rang from behind her, and it was a teacher coming out of the faculty room.  Oddly, the voice sounded pleasantly surprised. 

Bowing to return the greeting, she introduced herself. 

"Hello. I'm here to pick up Kurosaki Ryouka, first grader." She handed her ID to the teacher. 

"Kurosaki Karin... What a pretty name. And sorry for not introducing myself, my name is Momo. I'm the first graders' art teacher, so I actually know Ryouka-chan." Momo grabbed Karin's ID, and proceeded to lead the way. 

"Oh, that's great! I'm not too late picking her up, am I?" 

"No, you're not! She's still with a few of the other kids playing, so she's doing well. I take it she's your daughter?" Momo inquired with Karin, as they walked the halls to finally arrive at the classroom. 

Karin burst out laughing, tears in her eyes, stopping as she tried to catch her breath. Momo, now some steps ahead of her, stopped to look back at her guest. 

"Oh, I'm sorry. No, she's not my daughter, she's my niece! I don't even have a boyfriend!" Karin said in between chuckles. 

"Oh! Apologies!" 

"No, no worries. It was just funny." Wiping tears from her eyes, she continued on walking to catch up with Momo, when she crashed into someone. 

"This makes it the second time, huh." 

A familiar voice. 

It was the guy she bumped into at the cafe. With his arms around her. He's saved her again. 

And for the second time, their eyes met. 

"We meet again. And sorry, for the second time. And, thank you."  She apologized to the white haired guy. 

"Oh! I'll introduce you two! Shiro-chan, that's Miss Karin, here to pick her niece up. And, Miss Karin, that's Toshiro, my brother!" Momo pipes up, sounding elated, and her voice breaks the two out of whatever dangerous territory they have entered to. 

He reluctantly let go, and suddenly she longed for his warmth on her.  

He offered his hand for her to shake, and she took it without question. 

He found her hand, soft and small, fitting with his own well. 

"Nice to meet you. But, I guess, it's more of nice meeting you again?" Toshiro greeted. 

"Yeah, it is. Small world, huh? You're my niece's teacher's brother. And to think, what occurred at the cafe happened the second time around." Karin snickered. 

"Here's to hoping the next time we meet, if ever, we're not smacking and crashing into each other." Toshiro answered in return, with a smile in his voice. 

"Yeah, I hope so too." 

Yuzu would probably laugh at her face and tell her "Told you so! Fate and destiny does exist!" if she knew about this, Karin mused. 

 //

Karin and Ryouka waved goodbye to Momo and Toshiro, with the sibling pair waiting and waving back until they were out of sight. 

"Wasn't that nice? Maybe you guys are really meant for each other." Momo teased her brother after a brief moment of silence. 

"Shut it." 

"Pease, you seemed happy seeing her again." Momo stalked off to proceed to the faculty room, and pick up her things to finally go home, with her brother trailing after her. 

"That's not it." 

Momo stopped just in front of the faculty door. 

"Oh, by the way. The orange haired man? That was her brother. And, she's single." She quipped. 

"You have a chance after all, Shiro-chan!" She hummed as she entered the room and closed the door behind her. 

He's not so against it now, if fate and destiny was always that pretty and amazing. 

[adorablehime]

🥧 bake autumn treats together (pumpkin pie, cookies…)

Orihime and Rukia-Chan had talked about baking some sweet treats together since Halloween was a few weeks away it seemed like a good time to prepare some treats to get ready for the spirit within the holiday that approached Halloween was one of the spookiest time of year was almost here they both decided to meet up at Orihime’s place which they both felt was the perfect place to bake together “hmmm maybe we can bake some cookies together ?.” Putting a thumb on her cheek as she’s think aloud slightly she’d hummed to herself taking one of her apron’s from the kitchen then opening the fridge as she got some eggs, butter, cookie mix, and milk filling up a measuring cup with a half cup of water everything was sat down on the kitchen table prepared and accounted for there were small and big bowls, some spoons, a mixer spoon seemed like there was everything that was needed ���if anything Rukia-Chan would help if something was missing Now all I need to do is await until she comes here how exciting !” I really cannot wait to bake Halloween cookies together smiling as she spoke aloud and awaited Rukia’s arrival 

[thatyamiguy-blog]

Busted little reaper (bleach)

Life just wasn't fair. it was a fact that had been pounded into Ichigo over and over again in his life and even though he had done more then a few things to right the scales, to be a champion of justice there was just no fighting it: every now and then life was just a shit sandwich and you were forced to take a bite. If he had ever doubted that fact before, after today it would be driven home permanently in his brain as Ichigo was about to go on a roller coaster ride of sorts, going from massive ups to massive downs.

The day was a shitty one for the most part, between having to go and waste his lunch hour killing a bunch of hollows and thus missing out on trying out a new burger place and then getting hit with both a pop quiz and getting a book assignment back and getting not even a fail, a note to do it again and to actually read the book this time. Add in Rukia and Orihime becoming closer and closer and always looking at him and giggling and Ichigo was more then ready to just go home and bury his face in his bed and sleep the rest of the damn day away, only to find a box in his room. "Your dad said it showed up sometime this afternoon and then warned me if I opened it before you could he'd duct tape me to the back of the toilet again.. Not that I needed that threat, I'm a nice guy who would of respected your privacy." Kon said, mashing away on a controller and playing some sort of dating sim game.. the closet the plush could get to getting laid. the controller required a certain amount of force and Kon's plush body made that hard to pull off hence the mashing. "you can lie your ass off all you want, I'm not setting up a date and letting you take over just so you can try and get some. Last time I almost got put on a list.." Ichigo said, coming over and starting to open the box and then getting a look inside and closing it quick, a HUGE grin on his face. "You need to get the fuck out of here, Now!" "Jesus who pissed in your co-" Kon started to say, then the plush found himself being picked up by the back of the head and being hurled out of the window, sailing away and clearing at least a block if not more, a cry of he'd remember this fading away as Ichigo closed the window and drew his blinds shut. Rushing back over to the box and a quick glance to make sure his door was closed, Ichigo started to pull the contents of his order from Yami Corp. out of the bulky box, having not expected said delivery for anther 2 weeks! "Things are finally looking up for a change!" Ichigo coo'ed, not realizing how badly he was tempting fate as he tugged out not only just a light blue onesie/diaper shirt that the bottom had LOAD's of room for puffy bottoms and hard big over sized snaps on the crotch AND a pair of light blue booties with a matching set of mittens.. he ALSO took out a huge package of Yami Corp. super crawlers. the package looked big enough to hold at least 20 of any other normal adult baby diaper and much more then that if just a legit adult diaper for incontinence, but instead the package held a mere 6 diapers but there were massive and promised that there was no way any little who wore them would be able to waddle more then a few steps without falling down. the price was insane for just six diapers but Ichigo knew he wasn't going to get THAT many chances to indulge this side of him and had gone with a 'go big or go home' mentality when it came to this, though this would be his first time in actual baby gear and diapers, not just making use of towels and safety pins. He had been bummed out when he had gone to order the clothes and they didn't have any black in stock, but given the choice between Cotton candy pink or baby blue, he'd figured he'd made the right call. there was other goodies in the box as well, a large Yami Corp. mute button brand pacifier, with a strap you could attach to make it a paci gag and the nipple was nice and big with some holes in it and a screw cap on the front of it, you could open it and put in tiny soaps so the big baby would be getting a constant mouth washing and had come with a sample bottle of 5 soaps. Ichigo thought about making use of them and the strap but for now he'd just nurse on the paci like a good baby of his own free will. Laying out one of the MASSIVE diapers and sliding his clothes off Ichigo paused for a moment, realizing that while he had ordered A LOT of things, including a sample bottle of some mad lax, he hadn't ordered baby powder. "..eh, I can tank getting smacked around by a hollow the size of a skyscraper.. I can handle a little diaper rash." he said, unwilling to take the time to put his clothes back on and go and get the baby powder out of the bathroom. Naked and shivering slightly from excitement Ichigo plopped down on the diaper and took 4 of the 10 mad lax pills dry (and ignoring the warning to only take two at a time) and then letting out a stream of baby babble from excitement he tapped the diaper on and just closed his eyes, hands on the front of it and and rocking back and forth for a few seconds in total bliss.. and unaware that this was all gonna come crashing down very soon.

Reniji was both understanding of the girls plight and frowning as he listened to what Rukia and Orihime were telling him, about how the two had slowly fallen for each other and how well, Ichigo wasn't much of a boyfriend, he always seemed wrapped up in his own thing and would put a wall up when asked about it. Rukia who had shared a room with him (Via his closet) had noticed it as well, and had head him saying weird and strange things in his sleep but even as a close friend she had to agree he wasn't a good boyfriend and well, the two just felt RIGHT when they were together. He was with them outside of a small café about 2 blocks or so from Ichigo's and had listened to them before giving his opinion. "Still, While I totally get it and you two ARE cute together, you really need to tell Ichigo about what's going on so he's not blindside by th-" Reniji started to say, only to get smacked in the back of the head by Kon and make him end up splashing his hot coffee on his shirt and jump up shouting and trying to tug it away before it scalded his chest while the girls rushed over to Kon. "Oh you poor thing! Are you ok?" Orihime asked, cradling Kon up and hugging him, making the Plush squeal with delight as his face was forced into her boobies. "What's going on, is Ichigo under attack?" Rukia asked, tugging his head back and giving him a look. "OH YEAH, MAKE SURE -HE'S- ALRIGHT!! I'LL JUST SUFFER OVER HERE IN SILANCE!!" Reniji growled. "You never do anything in silence.. Orihime, go heal the big baby while I find out what's going on." Rukia said, unaware of the irony of her words.

Blissfully unaware that he would be having visitors soon, Ichigo instead was finding out that getting diapers as big as he had and trying to get the onesie on by himself wasn't as easy as he had assumed it would be. In a battle that left him winded and sweating a little Ichigo flopped back, looking up at the ceiling after FINALLY getting the crotch snaps done up. "Jesus Christ.. I think I had a easier time killing Aizen then getting that on!!" he huffed, wondering about maybe trying to get someone to help him with it next time. A quick mental montage of trying to decide who to ask and all of it ending the same, with whoever he asked just pointing and laughing and Ichigo decided that he'd just get smaller diapers next time, as for the rest of this pack he'd go unsnapped. Spotting the booties and mittens across the room Ichigo realized just how bad he'd been squirming and rolling around trying to get the crotch snaps done up and gave a sheepish grin, then stood up and went to walk over to go and get them.. and made it all of 3 steps before falling down on his massive diapered bottom with a eep and a sweat drop. "Heh, oh yeah.. Man, talk about a product that lives up to it's hype.." Rolling onto his hands and knees and feeling his tummy start to rumble and gurgle, Ichigo crawled over as fast as he could to the mittens and booties and with a bit of effort (due to his MASSIVE diapered rear) managed to get the booties on and then the gloves, making a mental note to put the bootie on first next time. 'Heh.. This is both fun AND a learning experience!' Ichigo thought as he got back on all fours and wiggled his butt, then caught a look at himself in the mirror. Looking back at him was a big silly baby with a massive diaper butt and a red face and Ichigo couldn't help but break out into giggles and started to chat at his own reflection even as he tried to get his paci in his mouth only to find the mitten made his hands useless. "You, are just a total goo goo gaga big dumb baby and deserve to be trapped in diapers and remain a widdle virgin cuck! you don't need a girlfriend or even a boyfriend, you want a caretaker who'll keep you right where you belong!" he giggled, getting the paci set up so the nipple was pointing up and bent his head down taking it in his mouth. As he bent down the cramps hit a high note and Ichigo who had experimented with laxatives before and found most of them to be (Pardon the pun) utter shit, realized that Yami Corp mad lax was once again a product that lived up to it's hype. As a series of gross wet farts erupted out of his bottom, they were muffled by the thick diapers though they somehow didn't hide in the stink at Yami Corp. prided itself on it's anti stink guard tech, knowing that far more big dumb babies wanted to suffer their own stink then didn't want to. And since only the biggest and dumbest babies or a kind but teasing dom would offer these kinda diapers, they believed in giving the customer what they wanted. Sweat was pouring off of Ichigo's face as he started to unleash a massive mess in the seat of his diaper, quickly filling them up and sucking hard on the paci as he spread his legs more and pointed his butt up, his forehead on the floor as he took the single biggest dump of his life and halfway though started to wonder if he'd even have fucking bones left!! The diaper, despite having more then enough room one would of assumed to handle a mess, managed not to leak but at the cost of puffing out rapidly as Ichigo put it though a bigger stress test then it had gone under back at the factory and as he slowly finished up, the crotch of the onesie was staining, formally white diaper (now a ugly brown) was poking though the cracks. Wheezing and exhausted, Ichigo weakly pushed himself up, paci still in his mouth and debating crawling over into bed and he went to turn around.. and turned to see Orihime, Reniji holding Kon and Rukia watching him, all with a mixture of confusion and amusement on their faces. "..Soo.. you feel better now?" Orihime asked, sweat dropping. In response a final blort came out and the crotch of the onesie popped open, as the paci fell from Ichigo's mouth. "Sooo.. Is that a yes or a no?" Rukia asked, holding her nose and breaking into a huge grin.

The foursome had arrived not too long ago  and let themselves in via a spare key Rukia had 'forgotten' to give back and had made their way up to Ichigo's room, standing outside his door and hearing lots of fumbling about and a TON of crinkling coming from his room. "..what the hell is that?" Rukia asked, whispering and raising a eyebrow. "it sounds like.. but no way.." Reniji said, blushing a little and giving Kon a little hug. "Enough of this, let's bust him doing whatever it was that was sooo secret he had to chuck me like a football!" Kon growled softly. Opening the door and ready to yell surprise, they were instead all rendered speechless as Ichigo was talking to himself in the mirror, at such a angle he couldn't see them and hearing his little speech, the girls both broke into big smirks and Reniji blushed even worse, squirming a little. Before any of them could of even thought of saying anything though the big baby had destroyed the seat of his diapers, funking up the room and making the girls hold their noses and wave hands, Kon cover his nose and Reniji just took in deep breaths. "H-How much of.." Ichigo squeaked out, his paci falling out of his mouth and her got up on his knee and whined as the back of his diaper squished and smushed against his heels and legs. "We came in as you were talking to yourself." Rukia said, walking over to the window and opening the blinds and opening the window to Reniji's disappointment. "O-Oh..um.. W-would you believe me if I said this was.. A mind control thing?" Ichigo asked, bringing his mittened hands together and Reniji realized with delight he was trying and failing to poke his fingers together. "Heh, Nope. Not at all. Buttt I have to say, this kinda works out Ichigo!" Orihime said, going to walk closer to Ichigo and wrinkling her nose as the smell got even worse the closer she got and retreating back a few steps. "O-Oh? Are you.. a mommy dom?" Ichigo asked hopefully. "Not q-" Orihime started to say but Reniji cut her off. "Before you say anything, the little guy should have his stuffie." Reniji said and started to walk over even as Kon realized what he meant and tried to tug himself free/claw his way out. "DON'T YOU DARE GIVE ME THAT THAT SHIT SWELLED BIG BABY! HE SMELLS WORSE THEN THREE OF HIS DADS HOUR LONG SHITS!! RENIJI I SWEAR TO GOD I WILL END Y-" Kon cried out, only to be muffled as Ichigo took the stuffed lion from him and hugged him deep to his chest then got a evil little grin on his face. "Kon, are you the reason the girl and Reniji knew to come here?" He asked. "I PLEAD THE FIFTH!" "I'ma take that as a yes. Time for smelly justice!" Ichigo giggled and as the girls watched on with disgusted horror and Reniji grinned with delight, Ichigo raised himself up a bit and then got Kon under his butt and planted it back down even as the poor stuffie screamed in terror. "Jesus, I've watched Hollows slowly rip apart reapers and I think that's the most horrible thing I've ever seen.." Rukia muttered, staying close to the window. "It's not horrible, it's cute!' Reniji argued and got a look from the girls who then shook their heads and went back to the original plan. "ANYWAYS.." Rukia started. "Ichigo we actually came over here to tell you something.. Me and Orihime have started dating and well, she's here to dump you, much like you dumped your diaper." "W-What?" Ichigo whined, jaw dropping and sagging down more, putting even more of his mush tush on Kon's face. "But it's all good! you wanted to be just a virgin big dumb baby and this way me and Rukia can be together all happy, and you get to make poo poo pampers! Everyone wins!" Orihime said, a big bright smile on her face, then a muffle cry for help was heard under Ichigo's butt. "er..almost everyone." "sooo yeah. She's dumping you, we're gonna be dating and I think we'll leave you alone to process that and .. don't worry. we won't tell anyone about this as long as you don't like, try and get us involved. I'm sure being dumped and having just poopie diapers is like, totally a thing for you anyways." Rukia said, coming over and taking Orihime's hand and they started to leave. "W-wait um.. can you maybe do ONE last thing before you leave?" Ichigo whimpered, blushing and squirming, looking down at the floor. "..Depends on what you ask, I'm not changing that diaper." Rukia said and looked over at her girlfriend, who nodded her head in agreement. "Yeah, no diapie changes." "C-Could you both.. Flip me off and call me a loser before you leave? Pretty please?" Ichigo asked. Reniji was all grins hearing that and nodded to the girls who both broke out into laughter and they nodded as well. "Well sure, I mean.." Rukia started. "We were just trying to be nice.. but as a last request I think it's MORE then doable!" Orihime finished. The pair cleared their throat then in stereo flipped Ichigo off and said. "SO long crinkles, have fun being a smelly LOSER!" and then they kissed while still flipping him off before walking out of his room and for the most part, out of his life. The effect on Ichigo was predictable, as he jerked and spasmed, having a hands free orgasm in his smelly diaper and as it ended he looked over at Reniji, who still hadn't left. "So.. Now that your single and in need of a caretaker.. How do you feel about a daddy dom?" Reniji asked, figuring there was really nothing to lose. "Uh.. R-Really?" Ichigo asked, figuring it was all just a joke as what he'd just done started to come crashing down on him. "Really real. I love big dumb stinkers like you and somebodies gotta look after you now." Reniji said, leaning down and ruffling Ichigo's hair. "Heads up though, I expect to be paid in hugs and kisses, Your never gonna get laid." he added with a wink. "heh.. W-watch me argue." Ichigo coo'ed and leaned up for a kiss, giving Kon just enough room to cry out even as the stinker and the new daddy smooched. "OK, THIS IS SWEET AND ALL, NICE KODAK MOMENT, BUT SOMEBODY GET THIS SHITTY DIAPER OFF OF ME, I'M GONNA SMELL LIKE A DIAPER PAIL FOR A WEEK!!" he cried out. Reniji, knowing Ichigo would be the type to like squishing his mess around AND wanting to keep the stuffie from ruining the moment, pressed Ichigo back down making the big baby giggle even as Kon sobbed.

The end.

[oreo-massacre]

mild pet peeve that i need to get off my chest:

People thinking Ichika's name is a combination of Ichigo and Rukia's name - how?

Like, Ichika being named after Ichigo is true in many ways, but where does the Rukia part come from? It's an actual word, much like Ichigo, but instead of a pun (one protect in ichigo just sounds like "strawberry") its literally "strawberry flower" (because its the flower Orihime embroidered for Rukia's wedding).

And mind you, I get people not knowing anything about WDKALY, or not even simply googling what she's named after lmao. But is it the "ka" part that trips people up? Like, where does Rukia have a "ka" in her name? There's a "ru", theres a "ki" and theres an "a".

At this point, with this kind of shaky basis I'll go on and declare that Rukia called her "Ichika" in Kanonji's honour too (ICHI go + KA nonji). I mean shes a big fan and all that. 🤨🤨🤨 Also, even if say, in some super unlikely circumstance, Rukia'd sneak in her own name into her kid's (because its always rukia doing the naming in people's assumption, because ship lmao) like I almost guarantee you it'd be symbolic and less awkward than "strawberry flower", because Rukia has fuckall to do with flowers in the entire series anyway.

I'm no poet but just the Kurosaki naming convention alone "Isshin" (one heart) "Ichigo" (one - from isshin, protect - for Masaki/his family) Kazui (one - following Ichigo, brave - general theme of the karakura kids especially and of the series, hence he ties into the last speech of the last chapter)

Even the Ishida family where you have Soken (ancestor bowstring) ryuken (dragon bowstring) and uryuu (dragon rain). Like, you can see how packed with meaning they are.

Shiba clan having the kanji for birds in their names and the clan's connection with the "sky" (the "ku" in kukaku is literally sky, like her tattoo), Jidanbo and Jirobo following a suffix convention. Rukia's name doesn't even have any kanji to do that with, let alone the absolute stretch that is converting "kia" to "ka" willy-nilly. Kubo takes care picking out his names - virtually every character, foreign or not has a basis or a namesake - especially the japanese cast. Which is why this whole thing is so ignorant, especially in the goddamn cheating aus. And the absolute confidence of these fools too. Like its "haha, funny" once or twice if you indulge in it, but the stupid ass ignorance pisses me the fuck off.

Besides, if you do read/know about WDKALY Kubo pre-packaged the joke for you. The joke of "youd think Ichika was named after Ichigo? No, you fool, it's Orihime's favourite flower and Rukia is playing favourites," but deep down its also a reference to Ichigo so win-win.

Frankly, if you dig symbolically with the assumption that its a reference to two people, and assume the strawberry kanji is for Ichigo and the flower "ka" kanji is for someone related to flowers, well......there are a couple of flower named or related people, and on first glance, Orihime, the real origin of Ichikas name has just as little to do with flowers as Rukia, but literally all the shun shun rikka, and rikka ( lit. six flowers) as a word itself, are named after flowers, a wholeass six of them, so essentially, Rukia named her kid after her goddamn otp whether you follow Kubos naming sybolism or not, and you dont even have to skew Orihime's name for that. Cool. 😃

[ichiruki]

Don't know if you got same question as this ... But I want to ask can you explain why relationship between Rukia and Ichigo is romantic not friendly and show moments which actually shows how they have romantic feelings for eachother?

** you can ignore it if you want ... But I'm new here and in the fandom too so I had questions 😶 **

That’s the beauty of Ichigo and Rukia’s relationship! They love each other in many ways and since very early on. I think the Fullbring arc really cemented that they also love each other romantically because after having time apart we see just how much (and how fondly) they think of the other... and how nobody else comes close.

Chapter 424 is Ichigo telling us what’s been going on since the battle with Aizen and every panel is full with the calm life he’s living except when talking about not having powers. To me it suggests he has a lot of feelings about that fact and, given the size, he tries not to think about it too much.

But when we get to the panel about Rukia there’s so much empty space it takes up half the page. It’s presenting itself as the heaviest thing on his mind after the battle; not being able to see her. 

Also, (this is just a theory) seeing this in color makes it look like the panels are connected up to this point... like if he thinks too long about what happened he’ll eventually think about her. “Now I don’t have any soul reaper powers” changes the subject to Karin. “It’s been 17 months since the battle” changes the subject to school. “Ever since then Rukia hasn’t come to KK once” the scene ends and transitions to one about missing her. It’s like Rukia is always in the back of his mind and after all this time it’s easier to avoid it.

Of course he misses her, but having an excuse for her ready proves how much she’s been on his mind, and outright denying it is so like him. I wouldn’t say this specifically is rooted in “romance” but with other moments we can see just how much he wants to see her again and it really goes beyond what he feels for anyone else.

Take for example when he only mentioned that Rukia hadn’t come to visit him despite having other friends from the SS, especially Renji. In the next chapter he dreamed of them and Byakuya but it’s Rukia that stands out.

She’s singled out from the guys and her panel is bigger, but what really separates her from them is the fact that it’s cropped sooo close to her face. There isn’t even a sliver of her shoulders, Ichigo is really concentrating here. Renji and Byakuya’s presence is enough but not when it comes to Rukia, he seems desperate to see her again.

Being a protector is literally in Ichigo’s name so losing the power to do so was hard on him, anyone could see that. Orihime was glad at first but ultimately had to ask Rukia to figure out a way to get his power back and Chad could barely look at him since he lost it. Chad goes on a little bit more about how wanting to fight/protect those around him makes Ichigo who he is, and while that’s definitely correct what comes next suggests that there’s something more important. 

Love is subjective. Riruka drew her ability out through her love/adoration of cute material things and the happiness it brings her. Orihime persevered because of the love she feels for her best friend Tatsuki who always protected her. Chad manifested his ability because of the pride his family (his grandfather, who he loves) instilled in him. Fullbring can be activated with love that is familial, platonic, or even with a hobby/inanimate things.

Saving his sisters from the same monster that killed his mother wasn’t enough to activate his fullbring. Helping Orihime, Chad, and Uryu, his friends, also wasn’t enough. Being strong enough to hold back the equivalent of 100 thousand blades in the form of a ginormous, fiery bird wasn’t enough either. Apparently it doesn’t even slightly trigger it.

Remember when I said Ichigo was avoiding Rukia? She was present in each event he thinks about. Of course she isn’t the most important person in each scenario, but even in the moment he saves her life he doesn’t picture her face like the rest of them. Him doing that cements the fact that he’s trying to hold back thinking about her... until he can’t anymore.

The power comes all at once when he finally thinks of her. Just her. 

At the end of the SS arc we figure out that what Ichigo wanted most when he saved Rukia was to see her smile again, and because of the power he gained for her sake he was able to do that; because of power he was able to save so many other people, too. The thing is, he remembers her in the moment he lost his powers; not one of the times he saves her or she saves him or the result of any of that. He began training for fullbring to protect the people important to him but it isn’t being activated by those bonds and instead by the pure desire to see her smiling again. 

Putting everything together tells us that he loves her romantically; if his fullbring isn’t being activated by his platonic or familial bonds or the pride in having the power to protect them there is only one type of love that separates her from the rest. 

We can keep going... with a liiiittle bit on Rukia, too.

Seeing her for the first time in 17+ months literally stopped the rain and put light back in his eyes after he lost his power AGAIN with the people he’s closest to  turned against him. He was bawling his eyes out, more powerless than he’s ever been, and unsettled about his dad and Urahara’s sudden appearance, but she immediately put him at ease without any effort at all.

He believes in her right away just like she does in him. Like she always does.

When Rukia gets the chance to fully think about how special and strong Ichigo is, both in strength and heart, we see her in complete awe. 

If she was simply proud and or amazed by him she could have replicated the smile she had at sokyoku hill when she felt his power “flowing into her.” The expressions on her face here (off the top of my head) are completely new and softer than ever. It looks like her own heart skipped a beat —

— It skipped just like time does when they’re seperated. 

The arc opened with Ichigo wondering if he can keep up with the speed of the world without her and just about ended with this poem, “When the two that share destiny part and reunite, beyond the frame of time, the ceased clock will awake and start to tick once again.” Ichigo and Rukia are incomplete when they’re apart and are at their happiest when together. 

When remembering her happiest moments during her fight with As Nodt, Rukia thought of Ichigo the most. When fighting Yhwach and remembering his most despairing moments, the night Ichigo lost Rukia to Renji and Byakuya comes second after losing his mom. The emphasis on their bond is consistent throughout the story and even until the last chapter.

If Ichigo and Rukia’s relationship was supposed to be strictly platonic the amount of content we were given would have to be cut in half. Cut down on the anime fillers/openings/endings, the movies, the musicals, the color spreads...  the poems about the other person, the speeches about how one feels about the other, the emphasis on their shared trauma and the fact that they saved and helped each other overcome their misery, the overwhelming feeling of wanting to see the other person happy, Ichigo’s parents replicating his and Rukia’s first meeting, “The Love and Destiny Ichigo Inherited,” the partings, the reunions... Y’know, put all the ships on an even playing field, but that’s not what happened. 

Ichigo and Rukia have the kind of relationship that was said to be “more than friends” since the second arc. 200 chapters later when they spend over a year without seeing or even speaking to each other we can see how they spent that time thinking of the other and more than anyone else. Time goes on but their bond will never break, and they don’t deserve anything less. 

[banzaitaka]

Hello, I hope all is well in your life. Prince Rukia, is it possible to have the part with Zonghli about the kid who steals the bag and gets adopted? I really liked what you did! If you don't want to, that's okay!

---

Lucky for you, the day tumblr was being a bitch I had to wait about 2 hours to get picked up, phone on the brink of dying

So I spent some of that time to write everything down I remembered of Zhongli's part

Otherwise I might've still been too annoyed about loosing it in the first place and would've declined this request kdjfskj

SO HERE IT IS

Genshin_Impact_Masterlist

I hope this is what you wanted & you enjoy reading!

TW: abandoned reader, mentions of blood (no major wounds)

Zhongli x gn! reader

Thief no more

(Y/HC) hair, messy and wild. Simple clothing, dirty and torn. Stomach empty, begging to be filled as soon as possible. Their life on the streets wasn’t easy, but they survived by taking things that weren’t theirs. They didn’t like to steal, they couldn’t even be proud of themself when they managed to get away with stealing twice as much they usually got.

Which should be considered an accomplishment, seeing they barely managed to get their little hands on anything at all.

Now that they thought about it, it actually had been quite some time since anyone spotted them. Or someone did, but just ignored them. Who would want to help such an useless little thing anyway? Their parents definitely didn’t, having abandoned their child for not learning as fast as the neighbor kid.

The (Y/EC) eyed clutched their kryo vision in their scratched hand, the kryo archon seemed to be the only one seeing and understanding them.

The rumbling of their stomach made them grit their teeth to prevent themself to bend over from the pain. They were so incredibly hungry…

Just for a moment, it seemed for them, they felt dizzy and their vision got blurry. So as they looked straight ahead and waited for their eyes to focus again, they were surprised to suddenly see a bag laying on a bench. The person that seemed like the owner was just walking a few steps away from said bench to talk to someone.

It seemed like the perfect opportunity for the child.

—

Their little legs carried them for what seemed like forever, but kept begging the (Y/HC)-haired to stop as they ached with every step, every turn. They were sure someone noticed them, the dizziness prevented them from concentrating and they weren’t ready to face the owner of the stolen item if they were caught.

As soon as the child found a place to hide in an alley with a dead end, they let themself fall to the ground. Only the gods knew how the child managed to live like this.

They didn’t even wait to catch their breath, immediately emptying the bag in hopes of finding something edible…

…but there was nothing.

Their shaky breath echoed through the alley, soon followed with wild sobs as they completely gave up on life in that very moment.

They wrapped their twitching arms around themself and pulled their bloody knees to their chest. They didn’t even realise they hurt themself when they fell to the ground, but they didn’t care.

No one wanted them anyways.

"Uhm...mister Zhongli? Your bag seems to be...missing...?"

"Oh. How unfortunate.", was all Zhongli said as he turned around to see that his bag was indeed missing.

He turned back around with a hand on his chin, "The items in that bag were rather important. I have to find it quickly."

The brown-haired looked around, soon seeing a child running away, clutching something to their chest.

Zhongli couldn't say for sure they snatched his bag, but it was worth investigating for sure.

With a quick head-bow to the person he was conversing with, he began to go after the suspicous child. Swiftly dodging people scattered around Liyue harbor.

Only when a crowd of tourists blocked his way he halted, keeping his eyes on the child as they turned a corner. Finally, Zhongli had a chance to take a glimpse at the object they were holding onto so tightly. If only for a moment.

Recognizing the color though, the brown-haired grew more sure of his suspicion, quickly trying to snake his way through the people without bumping into anyone.

Suitable to his suspicion, the amber-eyed also had a theory ready as well as a plan.

He slowed down his step once he turned the corner, not seeing the child anywhere. His gaze shifted to an alley way just a few meters away from him. Stepping into said alley, Zhongli quickly made out the items of his bag scattered across the dirty ground, but more importantly, a crying child with bloody knees cowering in the dark.

Carefully, the man approached the thief, kneeling infront of them, "You must be starving.", he said in a hushed voice.

The (Y/HC)-haired flinched upon hearing a voice so near so suddenly, not daring to look up at first. But after a few seconds they couldn't help but to do so, raising their head from behind their arms and locking eyes with the man they robbed.

"I'm sorry...", was all they let out in their scratchy voice.

Zhongli shook his head, "No no. You simply tried to survive. Come, I won't let you tend to yourself like this any longer."

---

A small smile forced itself on their face, holding onto Zhongli's shoulders as he carried them on his back.

They went to get something to eat and were now on the way to Bubu Pharmacy to get their knees tended to.

"Mister Zhongli?", they called out, "Why do you not have a wallet on you?", they asked, recalling the events of a few minutes ago at Wanmin Restaurant.

Zhongli chuckled, "I forgot it at home."

"Huuuh..."

Discarding the topic, Zhongli slightly looked over his shoulder for a moment, "I noticed you are in possession of a kryo vision. I can show you how to use it, if you'd like."

"Really?", they asked, not doing well in hiding their excitement. "Why yes. If we don't find someone to take care of you, you'll stay with me anyways. Might as well, right?", it was hard not to hear the smile in the brown-haired's words, widening the child's own smile further.

"Thank you so much...", they whispered out as their grip on the man's shoulders tightened.

"Haha, you're very much welcome, my child."

[chiapetirl]

Bitter iced coffee lingered on her tongue as she made her way down the street.

It’s the first day. Why am I so nervous? She took the straw between her teeth, biting down. Relax, it’s just high school. 

“Wah! Hey!”

 Snapping out of her trance-like state, Rukia turned to see who was shouting this early in the morning.

“THIEF! STOP THAT MAN!” A middle-aged man stood on the other side of the street, pointing after another man tearing down the sidewalk with a briefcase in hand. “STOP HIM! THAT BAG’S GOT MY WORK LAPTOP IN IT!”

Really, at this time of day? Rukia’s eyes narrowed, shifting her book bag. Have criminals gotten this bold? Good grief. Nimbly, she crossed the street, a car barely missing her as she chased after the man. The half-empty cup of coffee slipped from her hand, spilling on the sidewalk. Looks like I’m going to be a bit late. “Hey, stop!”

The man looked back once, his face half covered by a hoodie. He didn’t slow down, zigzagging between pedestrians, knocking a few over. Rukia made her way through the path of destruction, determined. 

“HEY! THE HELL ARE YOU DOING, MAN?!”

 Making off with a stolen bike, the thief pedaled as fast as he could, knocking into tables and signs until he cut into traffic.

Crap! She stopped, extending her hand. I have to use it, I guess! The air crystalized, growing colder in a split second. The concrete beneath her feet turned into a glossy sheen of ice, following the direction of her exposed palm. It cut beneath moving cars before it reached the bike’s tires. Losing traction, the bike tipped over, its rider hitting the asphalt, the bumper of a car dangerously close to his skull.

“Excuse me!” Rukia pushed through the onlookers, the Chappy bunny keychain on her bag bouncing as she ran. “Sorry, pardon me!” The traffic jam would draw attention. Please, brother, she begged. Please don’t watch the news this morning. 

Already on his feet, the thief slipped on the ice before stumbling forward, determined to get away. It was enough of a closed gap for Rukia to catch up, grabbing him by the collar and pulling him backwards. The stolen bag fell from his hands, skittering out towards the crowd. His hood had fallen back, revealing a scruffy young man. His eyes were bloodshot. Drugs. 

“You think you can get away with robbery in plain daylight? With all these people around?” Rukia asked, hands at the ready. “Are you really that desperate for cash?”

“Hey, would you look at that! Isn’t that Rukia Kuchiki?”

“Kuchiki? As in the Kuchiki Hero Agency?”

“Holy crap, her older brother’s Senbonzakura! So cool!”

“Look at the uniform! She’s probably on her way to U.A.!”

Well, if the news doesn’t get a hold of this, it’s definitely going on Twitter later. She grimaced. People were already making a fuss, taking pictures. “Don’t try running now. You won’t get far, so just sit back until the police get here.”

The thief’s expression went from manic to enraged. Steam rose from the asphalt beneath his hands. Shit! “EVERYONE! MOVE BACK! HE’S GOING TO-!”

Asphalt and concrete blew up, flying through the air and ripping through buildings. Screams followed the explosion, the sound of broken glass falling onto the street muffled as Rukia’s back hit the wall.

Read more of It's Not Perfect, But It'll Do here.

[rukia-kuchiki-divided]

~Where Have I Been?~

~So it’s been quite a while since I’ve posted on here. It’s been quite chaotic in life for me lately and while I know I don’t necessarily owe an explanation but I want to give one - if only to get some of my own thoughts out there. I’ll put it under a read more so you can scroll on if you’d like.... 

TL:DR I’m back and slowly getting back into roleplaying and writing again!

Work had become the absolute bane of my existence. I had so many events to go to and sales goals to meet - and I’m stubborn so I refused to see that all my time is taken up by work with zero time for hobbies or family or friends... in other words, miserable. 

After a while, I finally have an epiphany. I find out I’m pregnant which is great news but not sustainable with my work load. It starts to dawn on me that I need a change out of sales which takes time but I finally managed to land a role in a different company that isn’t sales oriented, is mostly work from home, with a ton of work life balance! 

Hence, I’m slowly relearning my hobbies and coming back to them! 

I never lost my love for Rukia during this time - sometimes I just need a jumpstart lol But I’m back and ready to slowly start writing again so I hope you all missed me (those of you still here) and want to interact! 

I will admit that the pregnancy itself is causing it’s own issues... lots of sciatic nerve pain, bad carpal tunnel, etc. Conveniently my due date is in October so guess who will be watching Bleach during maternity leave?! XD

Anyways, thank you to my mutuals and friends that have hung around this long and I hope you all enjoy my writing now that I’m back! 

So send in memes, drabbles, rp ideas, whatever. It might take me a minute to get through them but Rukia def needs interaction! Also I’m making a concerted effort to be active on discord so if you want my discord to rp, let me know -  This is something I only do with mutuals that I’m familiar with just for my own comfort. 

[akaluan]

Kisuke's wings are an aberration in that they don't seem to exist.  Yet he can absolutely still fly and it confuses the hell out of people.  What is actually happening is his wings are made of energy that isn't normally visible to humans/shinigami but hollows can see it.  Ichigo also ends up being able to see them. And is therefore very confused when people tell him Kisuke has no wings.

-- prompt from Discord user Yuurei

---

There’s something bothering Rukia.

Ichigo casts her a sidelong look as they leave the Urahara Shoten, wondering what about the place — or the residents — has gotten under her skin. This isn’t the first time she’s returned from the Urahara Shoten with a crease between her brows and her delicate, ice-pale wings tucked tight against her back, but he still has no idea what she’s reacting to.

Sure, Hat’n’Clogs is an oddball and the definition of shady, but the man doesn’t seem to be lying to them about anything: avoiding the entire truth, yes, but Ichigo hardly expects honesty out of a man like that.

(Urahara seems the sort to have a past, and Ichigo’s seen what that does to a person.)

(So long as the man doesn’t betray them, Ichigo doesn’t care.)

Rukia catches his glance and huffs, crossing her arms over her chest and muttering, “I’ll tell you when we get home.”

“Alright,” Ichigo agrees easily, not in any rush to force Rukia to speak of whatever’s been bothering her; it hasn’t affected their work so far, so he’s content with not knowing.

(Even if it’s driving him to distraction trying to figure out what’s wrong.)

Still, it doesn’t take long for them to get home and head up to his room, where Rukia immediately hurls herself down on his bed and props her chin on her crossed arms. Her delicate wings flutter and then still, and she grimaces a bit as she slants a glance at him and says, “I don’t know how you can just… just not react to Urahara-san.”

Ichigo blinks in surprise, then tugs the chair out from under his desk and straddles it, crossing his arms over the back and resting his chin atop them. “Not sure what you mean,” he tells her honestly. “I react to Hat’n’Clogs being… *Hat’n’Clogs* every time we go there. It’s hard not to, you know?”

Rukia scowls at him. “I mean his lack of wings!”

“His— what?” Ichigo pauses to digest Rukia’s words, wondering what the hell is up that she can’t see Urahara’s frankly gigantic wings. The man doesn’t even attempt to hide them, with the way he constantly rustles and flares and gestures with them as he talks; in fact, Urahara’s wings are a better judge of his mood and honesty than anything *else* about him, which is…

Well, now that Ichigo thinks about it, it’s a bit weird, isn’t it?

In Ichigo’s experience, the shadier a person, the better control they tend to have over their wings. Urahara though is like… like Yuzu, almost, without any real filter between his mind and his wing motions. Between that and the way Urahara’s wings ripple with color as he talks, Ichigo’s been feeling pretty confident on his read of the man lately.

“Do you— doesn’t everyone have wings?” Rukia asks as she sits up a bit. “All the humans I’ve seen so far do!”

Ichigo stares at her for a moment, then slowly asks, “You really don’t see any wings on his back?”

“No!” Rukia exclaims, then narrows her eyes at him and asks, “Wait, you see wings on him?”

“Yeah, I just… thought his whole ‘I’m a shady shopkeeper, look at me’ routine was bothering you,” Ichigo admits a touch wryly. “The disconnect between the words he’s speaking and what his wings are saying can be jarring until you get used to reading him.”

Rukia gapes at him in shock, then tumbles off his bed and darts over to latch onto his arm, practically yanking him out of his chair as she marches towards the door. “Come on,” she demands as she pulls him out of his room. “We’re going back to the shoten and figuring out what’s going on right now.”

“I don’t think—” Ichigo cuts himself off with a sigh and lengthens his stride to catch back up to her, knowing he’s not going to be able to talk her out of anything when she’s in a mood like this. He gives Yuzu a sheepish smile and a wave as they cross the main room and go right back outside.

(He just hopes Urahara doesn’t take offense at anything that’s about to happen.)

(It’s hard to tell with the man sometimes, even with the tells that his wings give off.)

Rukia pulls him to a stop the instant they come within sight of the shoten, and Ichigo immediately sees why: Urahara is outside talking with Jinta, his back to them and his wings partially flared for balance. He seems in a relatively good mood, Ichigo judges as he takes in the crimson feathers laced with gold. There’s no sign of any of the colors Ichigo’s learned to be wary of, though there’s no telling how long that will last.

“Do you really see wings on him?” Rukia hisses at Ichigo.

“Yeah. You don’t?” Ichigo gives Hat’n’Clogs a thoughtful look, trying to figure out if Urahara’s wings are some sort of… who knows. Illusion, maybe?

(But why an illusion that only Ichigo can see?)

(Or maybe that only Ichigo can see through?)

(… no, that makes even less sense.)

“No!” Rukia grumbles as she leans closer, her eyes narrowed and her attention honed down to a laser focus that Ichigo… actually sort of feels sorry about.

If there really is something weird going on with the man’s wings, Ichigo kind of regrets bringing attention to it; he knows what it’s like to be singled out for something he can’t — won’t — change about himself, and he honestly wouldn’t wish that sort of attention on anyone.

Hat’n’Clogs notices them quickly, his wings closing tight against his back as he rises to his feet and turns to greet them. “Maa, the two of you are back sooner than I expected. Do you need anything else?”

Ichigo eyes the way Urahara’s wings are twitching and the spots of blue-violet that are creeping in across the crimson, then clamps a hand on Rukia’s shoulder and says, “Nah, we were just out for a walk,” despite the offended hiss that Rukia aims at him.

Acid green blooms across Urahara’s wings, though the man’s expression doesn’t betray whatever emotion he’s feeling; a variant on surprise, Ichigo suspects, though he’s not quite sure what exactly acid green might indicate.

(He’s already discarded any preconceptions he has about what colors mean what emotions.)

(Urahara just doesn’t fit into any neat box no matter how Ichigo considers him.)

(Which is perfectly fine, he didn’t really expect the man to, but it still means he’s feeling his way through the dark.)

(Well, he’ll learn.)

“Ah, well, if you do end up needing anything…” Hat’n’Clogs says leadingly, his gaze lingering on Rukia for a moment before sliding back to Ichigo; it’s clear he’s expecting them to say something about his wings — is expecting them to comment on his wings — and that just makes Ichigo all the more intent on not.

“We’ll keep it in mind,” Ichigo declares before Rukia can speak up, then pinches her shoulder just in case.

“Ichigo!” Rukia yelps with a scowl, swatting at his arm.

Ichigo snorts and jerks his head in the direction of home. “Come on, dinner’s about ready,” he says mildly. “You wouldn’t want to make Yuzu sad by missing it, would you?”

Rukia’s scowl deepens and she wavers for a moment, casting a confused look at Hat’n’Clogs, before she gives in with a sigh and pushes past him. “Fine,” she mutters. “But we’re talking about this later.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Ichigo says with a shrug, already expecting a long, rambling lecture from her about… whatever it is he’s stumbled across this time. Not that he particularly minds; it’s interesting to try and piece together what Soul Society is like from the hints she accidentally drops during each one. So far, he’s picked up on a rather telling divide between the noble houses and the average Shinigami, along with some disturbing hints on how loosely regulated the Divisions are, and a whole host of other tiny details that he’s pretty sure Rukia has no idea she’s giving away.

He’s pretty sure this will reveal a whole new array of details about how Shinigami feel about an individual’s wings, which will give him some idea on how they’ll expect him to act if he ever meets other Shinigami.

Still… it’s strange that she can’t see Urahara’s wings; maybe he’ll ask his friends, see what they say about it.

(The mystery kind of suits the man, if Ichigo’s being honest.)

(Who knew there were invisible wings out in the world?)

(Weird.)

[sunflowersandcherryblossoms]

Be ready for disagreement...

The Shinigami absolutely belonged in the finale of this Arc!

As with 100% of plot holes and missing lore, we have no information on why the Shinigami didn't visit Ichigo in their gigai.

At best with have fanon meta about a direct order from Central 46, forbidding them to contact Ichigo in order to flush out Ginjo (who wouldn't have approached him if during those 17 months he'd seen people like the Kuchiki Siblings, Renji et all dropping by for a visit.

As for the theme of the Lost Agent Arc, it is Bonds.

And we see that the humans have really weak bonds. Mostly from miscommunication, yes, but also because they weren't exactly close friends at the beginning of the series. They're people that had to come together for a common objective.

In this point of the story, one of the people I hate the most for keeping secrets from Ichigo is his supposed buddy, Chad...

Dude had been training with the Fullbringers and didn't remember to mention that? So much for friendship.

I expect nothing from Isshin, therefore I'm not surprised that the dude didn't come forward with the truth about his origins throughout that time.

Urahara also cut contact with Ichigo and yet everyone (almost everyone) praises him for coming up with the Reishi sword.

(There was still a law in place about transferring powers to a human. And I don't think Mayuri cared the least about Ichigo. And I don't like the dude...)

When Tsukishima unleashes Book Of The End, we see exactly how frail those bonds are.

Even his sister's, who undoubtedly loved him, but siblings are siblings... And there was a layer of mistrust towards him, again because of all the secret he himself kept... And they weren't like against, against him. They just wanted him to "stop being rude to cousin Tsukishima" (And let's be honest... Ichigo has a past of being a little shit. A punk. A rude person...)

Chad, — his supposed best friend — stands against him in battle to protect Tsukishima.

Inoue — the girl who thinks what she feels is love — heals his enemy and can't put Ichigo first.

Remember:

Tsukishima didn't ERASE Ichigo. He included himself in the memories. That's what he does.

In the "flashbacks" we see Ichigo too... It's just that Tsukishima is also there.

Which means all the actions he took were still in those two's memories. And yet they chose Tsukishima...

Now the Shinigami...

Of course they're not the Heroes of the series!

But they're also not the villains. They're in the grey area...

No one who followed the previous arcs with their full span of attention would believe for one second any of those people would so much harm one hair in Ichigo's head...

Either people want it or not, the one who represents the change in the Soul Society and their relationship to Ichigo, is Byakuya.

The one who had the most drastic change of heart. The one who threw the fight so he could keep his honour while allowing Ichigo to save Rukia.

The one who, after bringing Rukia and Renji back to Soul Society, ended up sending them to Hueco Mundo to fight alongside Ichigo.

The one who actually appeared to help Ichigo against Yammy, — with Kenpachi in tow!— and the one who pushed Ichigo to go to Karakura to protect his hometown and fight Aizen.

Now, in this Arc, he's the one who's tasked with fighting Ichigo's tormentor.

He fights Tsukishima in Ichigo's name!

He gets cut, and yet, Shinigami that he is, Head of the Kuchiki Clan that he is, Stoic that he shows to others he is, still goes against the fake memories of the mentor figure and takes him down.

For Ichigo. Because of Ichigo. In his stead.

And comes TYBW, the Karakura Team still can't communicate and still don't trust each other!

Uryu goes on a rogue mission that could have gone awfully wrong.

Inoue and Chad are left in Hueco Mundo, because Ichigo is worried first and foremost about the Shinigami.

Ichigo arrives there and the first actions he undertakes his getting Akon to safety, fly over Rukia and Renji to check if they're alive (doesn't stop apparently, but I digress...) and goes straight to Byakuya from whom he receives this banner of protecting the Soul Society. A tearful plea he goes above and beyond to fulfil.

There's also this weird moment of Chad and Inoue believing Ichigo would run away from the fight... Which... Excuse me?!?

Why would they say that?

Chad? The one who had been protected by Ichigo all that time ago?

Inoue? Who went along with Ulquiorra (that was the weirdest kidnapping ever, btw...), causing all of those people to go and try to save her? Ichigo at the head of the rescue team?

So no...

The Karakura Team aren't best friends and they learned nothing throughout the series.

And the Shinigami, — at least some of them — deserve better than being considered as the bad guys, since they have always fought for Ichigo since the Soul Society Arc.

You're such a fucking idiot, Uryu...

Yeah, you should have fucking told him from the get go! You're supposed to be a part of the Karakura Team! You know the supposed "real friends" group?

Oh, right... Sorry...

You're actually just acquaintances with a shared goal.

[swingsdown]

domestic ichiruki maybe?

A year after they marry, Rukia discovers K-pop.

Ichigo had wanted to settle in Soul Society right away, but she had glanced up at him with wide eyes and asked if he’d already seen everything that the land of the living had to offer. He’d taken one look at her face, remembering how she’d grown up trapped by the lines of the Rukongai, remembering how that night they’d met had been her very first mission in the human world, and quickly agreed to stay a while longer. 

He now regards that decision with immense regret.

They’d traveled all over Japan, and even though Ichigo had grumbled as Rukia dragged him through every roadside strawberry stand and tiny town, he’d liked (loved) watching her face as she’d discovered every new wonder. Then one day, in a little soba shop in Nikko, Rukia had looked at the small television playing a music show in the corner, and asked who are they?

“Ichigo, get out of the way! I don’t want to miss the start of the broadcast.” Ichigo stares balefully at Rukia from his newfound place on the floor. He’d been lounging on the couch, trying to catch the last of the late fall breeze through the open window, when Rukia had skidded into the living room, fully decked out in purple, ready to fight him for his spot in front of their TV.

“Nae pi ttam nunmul…”

Ichigo does not resent these seven Korean men that he’s never met, he just…

Okay, so maybe they dance well and sing well and make Rukia smile. Maybe he feels a little left out; maybe he hadn’t thought that living in the human world for another year or so meant that her attention would be divided this way.

(Maybe he’s a little glad that said Korean men won’t be under his or Rukia’s jurisdiction in Soul Society.)

“Ichigo, their comeback this time is so good! Ichigo?”

Rukia peers down at him from over the edge of the couch, “What are you doing on the floor? Get up, let’s learn the dance together.”

The men on the television descend to the floor and then pop back up in an acrobatic maneuver that makes his joints ache.

Ichigo heaves a sigh and gets up, narrowly avoiding Rukia’s light stick as she enthusiastically (and gracefully, the fuck) follows the steps. 

He dances. 

(That look of wonder makes it all worth it.)

[recurring-polynya]

For Stuff For Renji's Birthday Prompts: 1) time travel turn back the clock nonsense, bc I'm an enabler and Karakura teens plus shithead Renruki teens has *Byakuya voice* strong comedic potential OR 2) Hisana lives but due to wacky circumstances, nobody notices Rukia's existence at the Academy... until they've graduated and Renruki have joined Squad 11. Dealer's choice! (Honestly whichever you pick, I might try writing the one you don't. I am not a writer these 2 just live in my head rent free)

Why would you make me choose between these, whyyyyyyyyyy?

To be honest, I almost did them both, but this was the second one I did, and I figured that I should probably do some other people’s prompts, and then I ran out of time. I might do you some time travel shenanigans later. (This should in no way stop you from writing these, I would flip my chips if you wrote something, let alone something based on my horrible ideas)

In any case, I couldn’t resist the second options and I have spun it out into a delightful bit of Byakuya-torture. Please enjoy!!!

Special thanks to @kaicko for helping me come up with the clerical error, because you all know me, I can’t just say “a clerical error.” 😂

Read on ao3 or ff.net

💀   💀   💀  

“How is the tea?” Aizen Sousuke asked smoothly.

The tea was excellent, but Byakuya wasn’t in the mood for Aizen’s needy attempts to ingratiate himself. “Adequate,” he replied dryly. “You said you had something to discuss with me.”

“Ah, diligent as always, Byakuya,” Aizen sighed, “always eager to get back to work. I’ll get to the point: I happened to speak with your wife recently at a fundraising event. She’s very interested in the people of the deep Rukon, and said she travels to South Rukongai frequently.”

Byakuya narrowed his eyes. “What is your point?”

“Well, I thought it was a bit of a strange occupation for a woman of your wife’s noble standing, but then Gin reminded me that she was actually from there herself, that there had been a bit of a to-do when you two married. I don’t tend to follow gossip myself--”

“I repeat, what is your point?” Byakuya gritted your teeth.

Aizen made a pissy little throat clearing noise and fiddled with a folder on his desk. “The fact is, Byakuya, your wife reminds me a great deal of a young woman who served in my squad a few years ago, whom I recalled also hailing from the Rukon. I wondered if there might be a.... connection.”

Byakuya’s shoulders stiffened. Impossible. He had put watches on all immigrants to the Seireitei. He would have reviewed anyone who came from the South 78th.

“Inuzuri Rukia,” Aizen read from his file, and Byakuya’s blood ran cold. “Shin’ou class of 2066. Unseated. Petite, like your wife. Dark hair. Very striking eyes. Unfortunately, an unremarkable shinigami. Potential for a good kidou user, but didn’t take direction well. More interested in sword combat, although she had little aptitude for it. Ah, here it is. Hometown: District 48, South Rukongai.”

“That doesn’t make sense,” Byakuya said flatly. “Inuzuri is the 78th district of South Rukongai. Why would she carry a surname from a different district?”

Aizen made an exaggerated frown. “Very strange! A clerical error perhaps? Hold on a moment.” He stuck his head out of his office door and said something to the shinigami on reception duty. “Fortunately, there’s an easy way to clear this up. It’ll just be a minute.”

Byakuya gripped his teacup, unsure of how to feel. A clerical error. Class of 2066… she would have enrolled in 2060, in the middle of Hisana’s worst turn, when she had been bedridden for nearly four years. Their attention would have lapsed. It made sense.

“She does not sound like your usual recruit,” Byakuya accused. Aizen was constantly finding ways to skim the highest performers from the Academy, all the gifted children.

Aizen looked sheepish. “Ah, well, you see, there was a young man of some talent that I was eager to recruit who was… attached to her. I thought she might have some potential if properly guided, but it never panned out.”

Aizen’s good deed was suddenly beginning to make sense. The girl had transferred out and taken Aizen’s prize with her. He wanted Byakuya to go fetch her away in hopes that the talented one would come home. Byakuya actually felt much better now that he’d identified Aizen’s ulterior motive, and further, that it had more to do with his own petty recruiting schemes than Byakuya’s family (specifically, Byakuya’s wife).

There was a knock at the office door, and upon being bid entry, a young woman walked in. Although indeed petite and dark-haired, she looked nothing like Hisana, and Byakuya remarked as much.

“Oh, no, this is my Seventh Seat!” Aizen chuckled. “Miss Hinamori, you were friends with Inuzuri Rukia, isn’t that correct?”

The young woman’s eyes had gone wide when she recognized Byakuya. “Er, yes, sir,” she said, her eyes darting between the two captains. “We shared a room while she served here.”

“Do you happen to remember what district she was from?” Aizen asked in an overly friendly manner.

“Oh, sure, it was South 78,” Hinamori replied. “Inuzuri, of course.”

“I’m afraid I don’t know all the outermost ones,” Aizen said in his goofy voice again. “Her paperwork says 48.”

Hinamori’s brow furrowed for a moment and then her face brightened. “She and Abarai had very heavy accents when they first came to the Academy, and used a lot of deep Rukongai language quirks. I don’t remember all of it, but they both used to use ‘shichi’ instead of ‘nana’ for seven, especially when referring to their district. They weren’t very fond of their home district. I wonder if the registrar misheard.”

“Well, there you go!” Aizen said, slapping his hands on his desk. “A very logical explanation!”

Hinamori beamed.

Byakuya found Aizen’s need to be liked by his subordinates very unprofessional and off-putting, but he tried to push it aside. He was trying not to be too eager, but this was probably the best lead he’d had on Hisana’s sister in all the years they had been searching. “Where is she now?” he grumbled.

Aizen turned his doe eyes on his fawning subordinate once more. “I don’t suppose you still keep in touch? She couldn’t have lasted very long there, they must have transferred again?”

Hinamori made a face like she didn’t want to say the answer. “I’m afraid that Kira and I had a bit of a falling out with Abarai and Inuzuri when they left. I haven’t talked to them in a few years, although we still have some mutual friends. As far as I know, though, they’re both still at Squad Eleven. I heard they were doing fairly well there, actually.”

The room seemed to retreat around Byakuya. All he could hear was the blood pounding in his ears and the reverberations of the most horrible words he could possibly think of: Squad Eleven.

---

Byakuya knew it was poor etiquette to visit another captain’s squad when the man was out, but he absolutely could not stomach the idea of discussing the matter of his wife’s sister with the Kenpachi, so he waited until Zaraki and his miniature lieutenant were sent out to go trample half of East Rukongai before visiting.

He also knew that he probably should have said something to Hisana, but he couldn’t bring himself to get his wife’s hopes up, only to dash them, should this turn out to be nothing, like so many leads before it. So, the secret sat in his stomach, heavy and acidic, jostling with the guilt of his breach of etiquette.

“Is there someone here,” he gingerly asked one of the gentlemen on gate duty, “who takes care of administrative matters for the squad?”

The man swiveled his head, which appeared to grow directly from his torso with no need for an intervening neck, to his fellow guardsman. “What?”

The other fellow had been busy trying to remove wax from his ear with a pinky. “WHAT?” he shouted back.

“Paperwork!” Byakuya said a little louder. “Is there an office of some sort? A person who knows what’s going on?”

He supposed he could have asked for the girl, Inuzuri, directly, but he didn’t feel… ready.

“I think he wants Ayasegawa,” the neckless guard hazarded.

“WHAT?”

“I’ll be right back.”

Eventually, the burly gentleman returned. With him was a strangely elegant person with a silky curtain of hair cut severely to chin length and piercing violet eyes. “It really is you,” the lovely man said with a level of disdain that Byakuya almost had to admire. Before he had a chance to get offended, the man dipped into a respectful bow. “Welcome to the Eleventh, Captain Kuchiki. Fifth Seat Ayasegawa at your service. What in Soul Society can I possibly do for you?”

“Apologies for visiting while your captain is abroad,” Byakuya replied, not meaning a word of it.

“Oh, he’ll be very sorry to have missed you,” Ayasegawa frowned. “But I’m sure you could make it up to him later.”

Byakuya’s eye twitched. “Perhaps. I have come to enquire about a young woman whom I am told transferred to your squad three years ago.”

“Does she have a name? That might make it a little easier.”

“Inuzuri Rukia.”

Both of Ayasegawa’s eyebrows shot up, and his mouth curved into a feline grin. “Ninth Seat Inuzuri, of course!”

Byakuya blinked. “Ninth Seat? Captain Aizen told me she was middling at best.”

Ayasegawa's face suddenly went stiff. “She was not well-served at the Fifth, but she has bloomed here most beautifully. Inuzuri is my personal protege, you know.” He stared at Byakuya under hooded eyes. “What is your interest in her? Captain?”

Byakuya took a deep breath through his nose. “My wife is also from Inuzuri. She is trying to locate someone she knew there. It is possible this Rukia is that someone.”

Ayasegawa frowned. “Well, I can introduce you, if you like. I should warn you, though, Rukia doesn’t have a lot of lost love for her hometown.”

“My understanding is that there isn’t much to love about it.”

“Mmm,” Ayasegawa agreed. “Well, come along, let’s go find her.” He concentrated for a moment, clearly trying to find her reiatsu. She must be a woman of some power, after all. “Ugh! She and Abarai are at it again! Every day!”

Byakuya swallowed stiffly.

“Well come on! She’s out at the training fields, clobbering our Tenth Seat, yet again.”

Oh. That kind of “going at it.”

Ayasegawa was shaking his head. “The two of them are literally an unstoppable force and an immovable object.”

“Abarai was also at the Fifth?,” Byakuya probed cautiously. “I was told they were close.”

“Of course they’re close!” Ayasegawa scoffed. “They’re partners!” He thought for a moment. “Abarai is from the 78th as well, you know. If Rukia turns out to not be your girl, perhaps one or the other of them knew the person you’re looking for. Abarai is one of those people who just… knows everyone. He’s the personable half of the pair.”

“‘Partners’?” Byakuya echoed. “What… kind of partners?”

Ayasegawa stared back at him like he was insane. “Partners.”

This path of inquiry clearly wasn’t going to get him anywhere, but wasn’t particularly relevant, either. “I did not think kidou-type zanpakutou were permitted in the Eleventh,” Byakuya sniffed. “Aizen’s records indicated Inuzuri wields an ice-and-snow type.”

Ayasegawa gave a little shrug. “Zanpakutou classifications are arbitrary. Obviously, if she had a bunch of showy blizzard attacks like Matsumoto’s little prodigy friend, it would be a no-go. Rukia can take the blade of her sword down to sub-zero temperatures. She has a weapon-shattering attack and she doesn’t feel pain when she’s fighting. It’s fundamentally no different than a zanpakutou so massive that only the wielder can lift it, or a whip sword that’s controlled with one’s reiatsu.”

This sounded like a quibble to Byakuya, but it’s not like he had come to the Eleventh looking for sound logic.

“She’s incredibly fast, probably the fastest person in the Eleventh, although no one’s really sure what Yachiru’s top speed is,” Ayasegawa continued on. He glanced at Byakuya slyly. “I hear you are very fast.”

“You have heard correctly.”

“That’s why Abarai can’t beat her. If he could land one really hard hit on her, she’d go down, but he’s not fast enough and she’s just too agile. He’s my partner’s protege, you see, so I have to take their little scraps very personally.”

How did this man talk so much?

“What did you say your wife’s relationship was to her again?”

“I did not.”

“Ah, right. Oops, look out!” Ayasegawa abruptly dove to one side as a giant mass of shihakushou and pink hair and what might be a sword came crashing through the split rail fence surrounding the training field.

Byakuya was not in the habit of ducking, so he merely plunged the force of his reiatsu down into the earth like a piton. It was almost, but not entirely sufficient. Byakuya gritted his teeth as he was driven back, dirt piling up behind his heels as he skidded backwards.

When they finally came to a halt, Byakuya looked down at the meaty youth lying at his feet. This must be the infamous Abarai, although he certainly didn’t look like one of Aizen’s usual simpering overachievers. The first thing Byakuya observed was the eye makeup. Most shinigami applied at least a little eyeliner, on grounds of tradition, but few bothered to blacken the entire eye socket, as in the skeletal facepaint of old. The second thing Byakuya noticed were the tattoos painted across his forehead and neck. They were black and spikey and horrible. The third thing was the hair, which was bright pink and spikey, and utterly at odds with the makeup and tattoos. The fourth thing was the big, sheepish grin, which honestly just tied the whole hideous tableau together.

Byakuya glared down at the lout, and in a moment of pettiness, flared his reiatsu to a level that should have sent blood spurting out of his ears.

“I’m afraid that’s not going to do much to someone who has a weekly sparring slot with the Kenpachi,” Ayasegawa commented dryly.

“Sorry ‘bout that!” the lummox cheerfully apologized as he sat up and brushed himself off. He had an Inuzuri accent so thick you could spread it on toast, an accent that Hisana tended to slip into only when she was extremely bent out of shape. Abarai snapped the sword hilt in his hand, and the tangled pile of steel on the ground neatly retracted into something that looked a little more like a weapon, if a weapon were designed by a creative and overly violent child.

“That’s a captain, you buffoon!” another voice rang out, and every muscle in Byakuya’s body locked. “Show your respects!”

The voice clearly affected Abarai as well, because he leapt to his feet, spun, and slammed into a bow. “My apologies, Captain…” his eyes glanced up and abruptly widened, “Kuchiki.”

“Greetings, Captain Kuchiki! Welcome to the Eleventh Division! I apologize very profusely for throwing Tenth Seat Abarai at you!” A second young person had come to join Abarai in his bow, and they both rose in unison, Abarai looking suddenly pale and nervous, his companion looking calm and confident.

So this was Inuzuri Rukia. She had Hisana’s voice. She had Hisana’s stature, and standing next to Abarai made her look positively childlike. She wore the same dreadful eyeblack, but the eyes that shone out of it were a variation on Hisana’s, harder and three shades more purple. The rest of the face was Hisana’s. Her hair was dark, shaved on the sides, arranged into porcupine spikes on top, although one lock hung down stubbornly between her eyes. Her ears glittered with silver piercings. At least she was free of awful tatt-- wait, no. Byakuya had missed them at first, because they were white. Abarai’s tattoos were spiky and sharp, but Inuzuri’s were graceful swirls, like ribbons wrapping lazily down her forearms. Even her reiatsu was like Hisana’s-- but instead of a cool, refreshing wintergreen, Inuzuri’s was the bone-deep cold of winter, a cold so harsh it burnt in the lungs.

There was no doubt.

This atrocious delinquent was his long-lost sister-in-law.

“Can we help you with something, sir?” Inuzuri prompted. “Abarai here’s a big fan of yours.”

“Shut up, Rukia,” Abarai managed through gritted molars.

“Inuzuri Rukia, you died as an infant thirty-six years ago and were sent to the 78th District of South Rukongai, is that correct?” Byakuya said stiffly.

Inuzuri and Abarai both bristled, a pair of mongrels raising their haunches. “That seems about right,” Inuzuri replied slowly. “My early years are a little hazy.”

“My wife, Hisana also died thirty-six years ago and was sent to Inuzuri with her infant sister,” Byakuya went on. “They were separated. My wife has been looking for her sister ever since. You… resemble her greatly.” Byakuya let the implication hang in the air. He couldn’t bring himself to say it.

There was silence for a moment. Then there was the distinct noise of a laugh that, having been held in, had escaped through someone’s nose. “Sorry! Pardon me!” Ayasegawa wheezed, clapping one hand over his mouth and looking away. “Bit of. Dust. In my throat.”

“I told you! I told you, you looked like that picture of her in the Bulletin!” Abarai was hissing.

“I thought you were lying because you thought she was pretty!” Inuzuri hissed back.

“I thought she was pretty because she looks just like you!”

“Now is really not the time, Abarai!” She cleared her throat and tried to stand up a bit taller, a futile effort. “So, uh, so what? What does that mean, if I am her sister? Does that… does that make me noble?”

A higher pitched wheezing came out of Ayasegawa. The level of impudence was extraordinary.

“I would like you to come to my home to meet her, first,” Byakuya put off making any promises. “We can discuss what comes next. As a family.”

“I’m at work right now,” Inuzuri excused.

“Inuzuri, I need to know how this pans out, you can have the afternoon off,” Ayasegawa informed her.

Inuzuri’s confidence seemed to be draining out of her. She took a tiny step closer to Abarai and groped for his hand. “I’m bringing Renji,” she declared.

“Is he compulsory?” Byakuya asked. Inuzuri was absurd looking too, but at least she was small.

“He’s my family,” Inuzuri insisted.

Byakuya’s brows furrowed. This could prove problematic. “In any sort of legally binding sense?”

“We’re engaged!” Inuzuri announced.

“We are?” Abarai goggled.

“I told you I’d marry you if you could ever manage to beat me in a fight! What else would you call that?” Rukia hissed at him in a voice that was still, unfortunately, perfectly audible.

“I’ve been trying every day, and honestly, Rukia, it’s not looking good for me!”

“Can you just go with it for once, instead of arguing with me every time?”

“If you want to leave and never tell anyone you found her,” Ayasegawa put in, “I am very bribable.”

Byakuya was sorely tempted.

---

End note: To further explain the number mix-up, as I understand it “seven” in Japanese can either be said as “nana” or “shichi”. People usually say “nana” for two reasons-- 1) to avoid confusion with 4 (”shi”, although you can also say “yon”) and because “shi” is a homophone for death. Given how shitty the districts in the 70s are, I rather liked the idea that they residents use the “shichi” pronunciation as a bit of gallows humor. (And if you don’t have a rude nickname for the town you grew up in, well, congrats for not growing up somewhere shitty)

I don’t actually speak Japanese, tho, so forgive me if this is all nonsense. 😁

[rukia-writes]

Gold Event: Zoro

Zoro x (fem) reader

Warnings: Spoilers! For those who haven’t watched the movie. Rough sex, mention of a daddy kink, alcohol, 18+ sex, no minors

80 seconds

Total shock.

Sanji was in utter disbelief.

Never mind that the Gran Tesoro was getting ready to explode in any second, the sight of Zoro carrying the gorgeous stage dancer in his arms was sending him over the edge.

Never mind that the Gran Tesoro was getting ready to explode in any second, the sight of Zoro carrying the gorgeous stage dancer in his arms was sending him over the edge.

Never mind that the Gran Tesoro was getting ready to explode in any second, the sight of Zoro carrying the gorgeous stage dancer in his arms was sending him over the edge.

“Zoro, I can carry myself-you’re going the wrong way. Keep straight.”

Zoro grimaced at being told he was running the wrong way by the woman in his arms and for the sake of time opted to keep straight, smirking he simply responded with,

“See? This is why I have to carry you.”

Smiling (Name) simply let the muscular man carry her while thinking to herself he could run much faster than herself until a familiar blonde made his way over to the couple with a over the top pissed off face.

“Where do you get off carrying the beautiful lady?!”

“Eh? Don’t start with that shit ero-cook!”

The two began to argue amongst one another surprising (Name) for the most part as Zoro mentioned briefly before that the two were crewmates a day ago. The had met in the casino while she and group of dancers performed on stage catching Zoro’s attention, getting her to have a few drinks with him and from there on out the two hit it off.

Now after fighting Dice here (Name) was in his strong arms while Zoro was wearing the black leather suit showing off all those muscles that he worked hard on for so long, (Name) did manage to sneak a few glances at his chest since he had a little opening exposed.

That was when Sanji stopped running entirely as though he was frozen which happened so abruptly Zoro stopped running and scolded him as they didn’t have time for him to stop running. Sanji then made a face that seethed with rage confusing Zoro until Sanji spoke up,

“Where did you go for an hour when we first got here?”

Now it was Zoro and (Name)’s turn to be frozen as they believed Sanji had caught on to a rather naughty secret the two shared. Zoro didn’t even answer Sanji as he continued running only making Sanji anger rise further.

While running Zoro kindly flash backed to that night while giving (Name) a look of “You remember” and (Name) returned the look of “I remember.”

It was the first night the two met while inside a VIP private room that was right above the casino.

(Name)’s shoes and leggings were on the floor with Zoro’s white coat close by his sunglasses were on the table but his his cock was deep inside a certain stage dancer cunt. While sitting on the large red sofa that of course had gold trimmings was Zoro had his sweet dancer in the reverse cowgirl position with her riding his cock to her pace while he was content with playing with her breasts, massaging them in a circular motion while thrusting his cock upwards when he wanted her to move up and down on his cock more. Zoro also kissed her neck from behind something he found to be a weakness of hers, that and how great his thick cock felt inside her.

The same could be said for Zoro as he would moan and swear aloud when he felt how tight and amazing she felt while either bouncing or grind her hips back and forth pleasing his cock. Soon enough, Zoro’s hands that was massaging her breasts started to play with her nipples making her moan his name much to Zoro’s delight and when he was finished playing with her nipples he went back to massaging her breasts.

Just as (Name) was feeling her orgasm Zoro effortlessly lifted her up making her whimper his name aloud as she missed the feeling of his cock being inside her, muttering a “I’m not going to miss your pretty face orgasm.” While turning her around to face him and then proceeded to slide his cock back into (Name)’s needy and wet cunt making her say his name aloud not caring who heard. Pulling the corset down Zoro looked at (Name)’s breasts before rubbing them again and instead of letting (Name) take control he took over and began in a rough pace and fast pace that made her bounce up and down on his cock while her breasts were in rhythm with his pace.

Tilting her head back (Name) felt nothing but Zoro’s cock and how it hit her g-spot over and over with scary precision. (Name) would try to speak but Zoro’s rough and fast pace prevented her from doing so, the only words (Name) could get out was “So good.” And “more” and if Zoro knew better he thought he heard (Name) call him daddy but he wasn’t certain as he was busy watching his sexy stage dancer bounce up and down on his cock biting his lip with a smirk as he did so.

(Name) didn’t think she was going to be fucked so well but here she was with her toes curled and her mind numb as Zoro did nothing but use her body for his pleasure, like the monster he could be. Before long both reached their orgasm in a euphoric high as (Name) felt Zoro’s cock twitch excitedly and pulsate few times as his cum filled every inch of her cunt as she moaned at the feel while her body shivered slightly at the best orgasm she ever received.

Zoro on the other hand simply smirked and asked if she was ready for another round, since only 30 minutes had passed.

Thinking back to that night (Name) shifted slightly in Zoro’s arms, noticing Zoro looked at her with a smirk.

“You remember huh?”

“How could I forget?”

Zoro heard the sly in her voice making him smirk in response as he muttered under his breath “You won’t forget tonight either.” (Name) didn’t catch what he said but he but she had an idea and welcomed in making some more memories.

✨Rukia-Writes✨

[woodrokiro]

Bar Service (fic)

Fandom: Bleach

Characters/Pairing: IchiRuki

Summary: Bartenders--especially bartenders around the corner from her apartment--are strictly off limits. Restaurant AU. Written for @ichirukimonth . TW warning for mentioned child abuse. 

She doesn’t think much of the restaurant a few blocks away from her new apartment.

She always passes it to and from her work commute, of course. Maybe from time to time she glanced over, musing how it looks cute enough--a great place to take a date or some friends....

Before Rukia remembers: 1. She doesn’t have the time or capacity to date, and 2. She has no friends here yet… And probably won’t for a while, considering her lifelong difficulty making them in the first place. 

It’s fine by her, honestly. She likes throwing everything she has into her job, loves doing her best to earn a smile or laugh from her patients. That’s enough social interaction for her, and at the end of the day she can go home, pour a glass of wine, switch the television on to some silly drama and order takeout without mourning the “loss” of a Friday night.

So for the first few months that she’s living in Karakura: no. She doesn’t even think about stepping foot in Amore e Morte. 

Until she gets a particularly bad case at work. 

The fact that it was a foster child case alone makes her heart hurt--but of course, there’s always more with these sort of situations. 

A little girl named Hina, aged eight but looking so much smaller waiting there in her office. The social worker sitting with her--a woman named Rangiku, who Rukia knows a little and actually quite likes--squeezes Hina’s tiny hand before pulling Rukia to the side, quietly explaining the situation. 

Physical abuse from her former home where she had been for a year. Her teacher kept noticing bruises in odd places and finally called CPS, who did nothing for two months before the behavior escalated and Hina ended up in the ER.

Her new foster mom is a real nice lady, says she hasn’t been acting out or anything but… Rangiku shrugs, flashing a reassuring smile when the little girl looks their way. You know. 

She knows. 

So Rukia does what she does best: she goes to the little girl, introduces herself by her first name, and focuses on her work until she can sob angrily in her car at lunch break. 

And when her workday is done, when her emotions are fried and she’d really like a drink or three anywhere but her lonely apartment--she sees the restaurant’s sign, glowing warmly in the dusk light. 

Amore e Morte. Love and death. A weird name for a restaurant, she thinks, and wonders if the owners either don’t know Italian and thought the name was cool or are just uppity snobs. 

If you’d stop being so cynical you might go out and actually enjoy life. She can practically hear Renji’s voice scoffing in her ear now.

She parks her car at home before walking back over to the restaurant.

--

The outside of the restaurant is nice enough, but the inside is… Well. Lovely.

Brick walls painted white make the entire place look minimalist yet cozy. A couple of trendy paintings hanging sparsely through the restaurant makes the environment chic, but not overbearing. A few hanging lanterns bring just enough light to let everyone see where they’re going, but otherwise candles are utilized at each of the tables for a romantic touch.

Rukia sees by the sheer number of couples there that it is indeed a good place to bring a date.

And by the looks of one dish smelling deliciously of chicken and bell peppers that passes her by in a waiter’s hand, the food isn’t too bad either. Rukia’s mouth waters. 

“A table for one, miss?” 

Rukia startles from her musings, feeling rather silly as the bright and cheery hostess smiles patiently back. 

“Oh! No, I don’t think that’s necessary. I wouldn’t want to take up one of your tables. Do you have bar seating?”

“Of course! Right this way.” 

The hostess leads her into an adjacent room that sits tucked away from the main dining room. There’s still a couple of tables in this room, and two of the eight bar stools are occupied but it’s so much quieter here, the noise of the dining room a mere buzz. She breathes a small sigh of relief as she takes the stool at the far end. She wanted to be out and about, just… Not that out and about.

“Our bartender Kurosaki-kun will be taking care of you. I believe he’s just in the back talking to Chef, he should be right back.”

Rukia thanks her, taking a glance at the menu. 

She quickly finds out Chef Yasutora Sado’s menu inspiration is Mexican-Japanese fusion cuisine, which is… Interesting, considering the restaurant’s name is Italian. In any case, she’s fascinated. Rukia by no account considers herself a foodie, but the thought of blending traditional Japanese dishes with Mexican spices and turning them into something like sukiyaki tacos makes her stomach growl. 

“Can I get you something other than water to drink?”

Her gaze flickers from the menu to the well-toned arm extended out toward her, pouring a glass of water. Her eyes move up the arm to the man it’s attached to. 

A handsome guy, she’ll admit: if it wasn’t for the obviously bleached orange hair, the sword tattoo on his forearm peeking out from under his rolled sleeve, and the fact that he looked like he wanted to be literally anywhere else.

If she had to pick him out from a crowd, there’s no doubt she’d know him as a bartender. What a walking cliche. 

“Yes, I’ll take--” She didn’t even take a glance at the drink menu. She looks down quickly. “Sorry. Can I get a matcha mojito?” 

He nods, his hands suddenly flying through liquors and shakers and mixes to make her drink. “You ready for food, too?” 

“Any recommendations?” 

“Everything.”

She snorts. She’d be irritated by the subpar service if it wasn’t for his small smirk at her response. 

“Seriously, everything’s good here. If you get something you don’t like, drinks are on me.”

“Risky.” Rukia lifted an eyebrow. “You place that bet with every customer?”

“Every single one.” 

She highly doubts that, but she appreciates the trust in his workplace nonetheless. She orders a couple of small plates, and he tends to his other drink orders while she sips her own. 

The food, when it comes out, is… Infuriatingly good. Infuriating because she would have loved to have scored a couple free drinks off the arrogant punk bartender, but she’ll have to swallow her pride because the sukiyaki taco is absolute divinity. She sips her second drink, already accepting that she’s gonna have to admit to him she’ll be paying full price for everything she ordered.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like she’ll have a chance to gloat. From what she hears next door, dinner service has picked up and with that: drink orders. He’s doing as well as he can--hands expertly flying through the liquors, garnishing the cocktails with an expert flourish before passing them on to a server--but she can tell he’s feeling the stress, particularly when he reads his second to last ticket in the rush.

“Fuck,” she hears as he rolls his eyes, stalking over to the wine cabinet. A server comes by, concerned. 

“You need anything, Ichigo?”

He waves a hand, not turning to look at his coworker. “No, no I’m fine. Just annoying when I don't open a bottle before rush, that’s all.”

The server scuttles off to tend to her tables while Rukia watches him bang a (very expensive looking) wine bottle on the counter, clumsily ripping into the foil with an opener. At one point he cuts his thumb, and he half-hazardly wraps a paper napkin around it while he tries helplessly to pull the cork up. The wine opener doesn’t grip the bottle steadily a couple of times, she waits on baited breath to see if he’ll break the bottle. After a few dangerous-looking test runs, he manages to hoist the cork up, cursing out a “fucking finally” at the sound of the cork popping.

The whole thing must have taken ten minutes.

Maybe it’s the matcha mojitos finally hitting her, but she can’t help it. She laughs. 

He shoots her a wild look and she covers her chuckles with the back of her hand. 

“Sorry, sorry! I’m not--it’s not funny. I just… That was the most atrocious opening of a wine bottle I’ve ever seen.”

Ichigo stares for a moment before scoffing, turning back to his (finally opened) bottle and pours the wine into a glass. “Yeah, well… I don’t do wine service here, lady.”

“Excuse me? That’s ridiculous. You’re a bartender.”

“Exactly. Bartender. I do cocktails, not fancy wine stuff.”

“Let me guess, you consider yourself a mixologist.”

“Don’t ever call me that. Ever.” He’s shaking his head as he moves on to his next order, but oddly enough Rukia feels like she knows he’s suddenly having a good time. “Like I said, I don’t do wine etiquette and all that. That’s for the servers.”

“I’m just… It’s hard to believe you’ve made it this far in a nicer restaurant’s bar without knowing how to open wine.”

“Not that far. I’ve been here for like, six months.” He shrugs at her inquisitive stare. “Old buddies with the chef. I bar backed in college where he was a line cook, so… And if he ever got sick of me, my sister is his sous chef. Then again, she’s more likely to fire me than he is, the brat.”

“Especially with you not knowing how to open a fine vintage.”

“Get over it. When it’s not busy I get one of the servers to help me.” He looks down, having seemingly forgotten about his paper toweled thumb. “Shit. Hang on, I gotta get a bandaid from the back--”

“I have some, if you want.” Rukia starts digging through her purse. “If there’s not some restaurant code for the kind of bandage you’re supposed to use, of course.”

“If it looks neater than a shoddy paper towel job, ‘should be fine. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Here.” 

He stares at her outstretched hand. She stares back, getting more irritated as she waits. 

“What?”

“... It’s a Chappy bandaid.”

“So?”

“So why are you a grown ass woman carrying around Chappy bandaids?” 

“They’re for my patients, for kids.” She’s telling the truth, technically. To say she also quite enjoys Chappy as a character does not need to be mentioned. “Do you want it or not? Swallow your manly pride or go looking for an ugly beige bandage while your tickets pile up again. Tick tock.”

“Fine! All right, already.” He takes the bandaid and starts unpeeling the paper adhesive. “You a pediatrician or something?” 

“Child psychologist.” Suddenly Rukia remembers Hina’s sweet face and feels terrible for not thinking about her once this entire dinner. 

“Jesus.” Ichigo’s shaking his head, pressing Chappy to his cut.

“What is that supposed to mean?” 

Maybe it’s the alcohol, maybe it’s the guilt, maybe it’s the fact that it’s such a weird response to her revealing her profession, but Rukia can’t help it. She narrows her eyes and crosses her arms.

If he’s uncomfortable with her sudden hostility, he doesn’t show it. He shrugs. “It’s just… I can imagine it’s a hard job. Sometimes, anyway.” 

Oh. 

“Oh,” she exhales. “I’m sorry, I--yes. It can be, yes.I just… That sort of response I’ve only ever gotten from people that don’t believe in the importance of mental health. ‘Shrink talk’ and what have you.”

“Nah, I believe it.” He’s finished his job of covering his wound and moved on to his next drink order. 

She’s abashedly stirring the ice in her glass when she barely hears him say: “I had to go to a children’s therapist once, as a kid. Helped me a lot.”

She raises her head to look at him. He hasn’t changed his facial expression, nor is there any change to his body language as he continues to do his job--but as a psychologist, Rukia can’t help but wonder whether she’s the first person he’s ever told this to. 

“Me too. When I was a child, I… A therapist had helped me, too.” She raises her glass and clears her throat. “To recognizing childhood trauma, I suppose.”

He lets out a short laugh at the sudden dark joke, a sound so quick and so… So nice she can’t stop the fleeting thought that it’s a sound she’d like to hear more of. She shoves it away. 

Bartenders are absolutely off limits. 

He raises the glass that he’s mixing a cocktail in. “Yeah. Cheers.”

--

Later when she finally picks up the check, she pauses.

“Excuse me.” She waves Ichigo down, maybe just a tad tipsy. “You got the check wrong.”

He frowns, taking the bill from her and scanning it. “What are you…”

“You forgot to put a drink on there. My third one.”

It clicks and he rolls his eyes. “Oh my god.”

“What? I’m being honest.”

“It’s on me.” He slides the receipt back to her. 

“But I didn’t dislike any of the dishes!”

“Take some advice, will you Doc? If the restaurant staff didn’t put something on your bill and you still got it, chances are: we wanted to give it to you.” They lock eyes for an intense moment before he clears his throat, looks down to wipe his (suspiciously clean) bar. “‘To childhood trauma,’ and all that. Now stop yapping so loud about it. You want everyone in the restaurant to hear about me giving out free stuff?”

She shuts her mouth at that, but one small detail about what he said is bothering her.

“It’s not ‘Doc,’ so you know. I have a name. It’s Rukia. Rukia Kuchiki.”

“Okay. Whatever, Rukia.” He turns around and waves his hand. “And I’m Ichigo. Just pay your damn bill and come back soon or whatever.”

And with that: she guesses she has a new spot.