Good News From the Front

School passed by quickly for Rukia once lunch was out of the way. She still tingled with the thought of what had happened again in Ichigo's room between them, which should have transpired far more then just two times. Though she wasn't complaining, she hoped that it would happen tonight as well, provided Ichigo’s friends did not suddenly try to drag them out somewhere. Quietly she gathered her schoolbooks together and put them in her bag. Ichigo slung his own bag over his shoulder and strode over to her.

“Oi, ready to go home?” he asked softly.

“Yes,” Rukia agreed. Nodding Ichigo indicated the door with a toss of his head.

Before long, they walked along with Keigo and Mizuiro in tow, not to mention Ishida and Orihime along with Tatsuki and Chad. Everyone seemed to congregate behind Ichigo as if he were the pied piper. A hand dropped down next to hers and Rukia reached for it, feeling Ichigo’s fingers slipping into hers. She felt a blush come over her face and realized that Ishida and Orihime were also holding hands. Tatsuki slipped her arm through Keigo’s and he almost stammered with shock as he gave Mizuiro a goofy grin.

“Yeah, they’re dating,” Ichigo said quietly. “Tatsuki and Keigo.”

Rukia hiked up an eyebrow wondering, “And Kojima?”

“A senior,” said Ichigo with a laugh.

“It figures. That’s just like him isn’t it?” Rukia quipped back. Her laugher mingled nicely with his and everyone else in the group walking home together. Not since joining squad 13 did Rukia feel so comfortable and part of a group.

Something she never felt living with Byakuya.

A week ago, Rukia informed him and Renji she loved Ichigo. First, she ended up breaking the news to Renji, causing her oldest friend to demand just WHAT she saw in the human Shinigami daiko. Renji had blinked several times until she snapped her fingers in front of his face. Once he got over the initial shock, he had licked his lips and asked her if she was sure.

“I’ve never been surer, Renji. I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“Yeah, sorry too but I gotta go somewhere. I promised Ikkaku n’ Yumichika I’d meet ‘em for dirnks so if ya don’t mind I’ll get goin,” he’d said quickly.

“Renji don’t leave like this,” she had said.

“How the hell do ya expect me to leave dropping a bomb like that huh?” he asked, glaring at her with a look of hurt. “Sure he’s a nice kid and all but he’s all wrong for ya!”

“Renji, I know you care about me, but there’s someone ELSE who loves you and who you love just as much if not more than me!” Rukia insisted.

“And who the hell is THAT yer talking about?”

“You don’t know? You really ARE an idiot!” Rukia sighed in disgust. “Do I have to draw you a map?”

“Give me a fucking HINT!” Renji yelled back.

“I’m not the only Kuchiki you love, dumbass!” Rukia shouted. This left Renji stunned.

“What did ya just say?”

“I’m saying you may love me, but you’re more in love with Nii-sama then you were with me!” Rukia insisted, grabbing him by the front of his kimono.

“Are ya NUTS?” Renji asked.

“Oh come on Renji I know you’re bi!” Rukia sighed.

“That ain’t why I’m shocked t’ hear ya say that! It’s Byakuya fricking Kuchiki! What the hell makes ya think he’d ever in HELL go fer me?”

“Because he MAY feel the same way? Moreover, if I don’t let you go you’ll miss one chance to be truly happy. I love you, and I love Nii-sama, and both of you deserve to be happy. And so do I,” Rukia answered. She released Renji’s haori and stepped back.

“Scuse me, I gotta go. See ya later Rukia,” Renji quickly mumbled, flash stepping away before Rukia could protest further.

**

“Earth to Rukia, oi you there?” Ichigo asked, shaking her hand. In front of the Kurosaki clinic they both stood, hands clasped.

“Sorry Ichigo. I was just thinking…” Rukia apologized. He turned her around with both hands on her shoulders.

“You sure you’re okay?” Ichigo asked in concern. Immediately his arms wrapped around her, pulled her to his chest, and held her close to his body. His heart pounded quickly under her ear. A lump formed in Rukia’s throat. Here Kurosaki Ichigo hugged her in broad daylight, something he would not have done before.

“I’m fine,” she said.

“Bullshit,” Ichigo snorted, glaring down at her. “Don’t give me that. Tell me okay?”

“I’ll tell you after dinner okay?” Rukia promised before she glanced at her watch. “Isn’t it five pm…”

“Shit, the job,” Ichigo groaned. “Look, you’re still going to tell me okay?”

After Rukia said these words, Ichigo raced into the clinic. She knew he would be working as hard as his two sisters instead of sitting in the corner assuming the fetal position.

***

At seven, she found him sitting wearing that white lab coat behind the front desk. Sometimes Yuzu or Karin sat here, but he was filling out appointment cards or looking through the calendar books to accommodate people for future clinic appointments. He actually smiled up at her when she told him dinner was ready.

Nevertheless, it was not until after dinner that she finally confessed what she had thought about on the walk home. Once they finished Ichigo returned to the clinic, Rukia following behind him. Back in his father’s office, Ichigo sorted through patient paperwork while Rukia gave him a hand. She balanced a manila folder on her skirt-covered lap shuffling papers. Ichigo glanced up from the filing cabinet to see a reddish orange glow through the window. Rukia too noticed, realizing it was the same hue as the teenager’s hair. Getting up from the desk, Ichigo dragged his chair so it was closer to her.

He pressed a soft kiss to her cheek catching her attention again. “So, what were you spacing out about on the walk home?”

“I was thinking about what Renji and Nii-sama said before I came here,” she said.

“You mean Byakuya?” Ichigo asked, cocking an orange eyebrow.

“What other brother do I have, eh?” Rukia retaliated.

“I know that, but Renji’s just as bad as one. That red pineapple can kiss my ass. He shouldn’t say when and where you should go. Screw what he thinks,” said Ichigo, rattling the papers more noisily.

Despite the frown on his face Rukia thought it was annoying and sweet for him to be so protective of what she wanted, not what others thought was best for her. She leaned over and said, “Maybe that’s the case but he’s still my oldest friend.”

“If he’s your friend he’d give a shit about what you really wanted,” Ichigo mumbled.

“He was a pain in the ass about it, but only because well…” Rukia trailed off, tapping the ends of her papers on the table so they lined up. Turning them sideways, she evened the stack before setting it back into the folder. Ichigo passed her another taking the one she had sorted through already.

She rested it on her knees, both of them pressed together. Immediately straightening up Ichigo asked, “Why were you thinking about Byakuya huh? Is he mad at you for being here? I thought you two were okay…”

“He knows I’m here, and he knows WHY I’m here,” Rukia said, setting her file on the corner of the desk. She grabbed another Ichigo thrust into her hand.

Ichigo’s brown eyes widened as he got up from his chair. He returned to the desk, snatched up another folder of bills, and commented, “And he still let you come here? The guy can’t stand me!”

“He didn’t stop me from coming. Nii-sama knows I would find some way regardless. Besides Ukitake Taicho has a way of convincing him. Plus if my hunch is right, Nii-sama’s distracted by now…”

“Distracted by WHAT?” Ichigo asked, digging his pen into the paper of the form he checked over. The pen soon thudded against the nearest trash basket after Ichigo realized it was out of ink. He ducked out of view for a few minutes searching through the nearest drawer of stationary he yanked open.

“By romance I hope,” she said. Ichigo’s head popped up, his eyes wide with shock still.

“What the hell do you mean by that?” Ichigo asked dumbfounded.

“Romance. As in two people in love? You familiar with that?” Rukia said sarcastically.

He laughed, “Give me a break Rukia. It’s just that your brother strikes me as someone who doesn’t go for that sort of thing. I mean he’s still carrying a torch for your sister. He must have had a romantic bone in his body being in love with her, but are you telling me someone has the hots for him now?”

Her waist ached from twisting at such an awkward angle to hold the papers. She sighed, “That’s exactly what I’m saying, Ichigo.”

The teenager glanced down at the folder he sorted through. He crumpled up an outdated invoice, tossed it into the recycle bin, and asked, “Who? Anyone I know?”

“Would you believe Renji?” Rukia asked, tossing her head so the piece of hair fell between her eyes again.

Seeing she was serious, Ichigo’s brow creased in that scowl she secretly liked. People claimed she had a sour expression stamped on her face even though they knew she could not show emotion because she was a Kuchiki. Well perhaps she did not have to frown, but her emotions were always restrained unless she was around people who were ordinary. People like Renji and his friends, or her classmates in the living world.

“Yeah, I would actually,” Ichigo answered causing Rukia’s eyes to open wide now.

On her lap, the folder slid down, spilling papers all over the floor. Cursing she climbed down to scoop them up. Ichigo knelt on hands and knees snatching them up as well. Rukia whispered, “How…”

“C’mon Rukia it was damn obvious he’s nuts about your brother. He worships the ground the man freakin’ walks on and he’s always gushing over Kuchiki Taicho this... and Kuchiki Taicho that. “
Ichigo trailed off, noticing Rukia staring at the floor, hand reaching out to pick up a paper.

She glared at him, grumbling, “He does NOT gush!”

“Are you kidding me?” Ichigo retorted, shoving the folder in front of her. Rukia thrust the paper into it before he snapped it shut. “I know he has the hots for Byakuya because Renji snapped my head off when Orihime and I interrupted him that one time. He was pissed because I stopped him from saying something important.”

For a moment, Rukia considered this. Relief filled her, for Ichigo already suspected what she had for a while. No wonder he accepted things so quickly. Why she would want to stay. On the other hand, was it another simpler reason? Ichigo dipped one hand in front of her face after he stood up again, waiting. Rukia seized it and let him pull her to her feet.

“You’re not totally oblivious,” Rukia teased.

“So, are you going to tell me just WHAT happened between you two, huh?” Ichigo asked, lowering himself into the chair. Rukia wandered over, sitting on top of the desk opposite him. She swung her heels back and forth bumping them against the desk.

Immediately Ichigo reached up and then took her by the hips. She found herself plopped in his lap the next minute held in place by his hands latching just in front of her belly. The office chair they sat in creaked a bit, and Rukia drew in her breath feeling Ichigo’s lap under her thighs. “Ichigo…”

“Why were you thinking about Byakuya huh? Is he mad at you for being here?” Ichigo asked. Looking down Rukia rested her hands overtop Ichigo’s, which were clasped over her front. His chin descended to rest against her neck and shoulder.

Savoring the protective note in his voice she clarified, “Ichigo I owe you an explanation. He knows I’m here, and he knows WHY I’m here.”

Arms tightened possessively around her just like she hoped and feared they would. Sometimes Ichigo’s protectiveness reminded her too much of her brother and childhood best friend, but the way he expressed it was far different. He did not say ‘you’re mine’, he simply incorporated her into his life and world. Made space for her as if she belonged instead of demanding that she force herself into a role she felt uncomfortable in.

Ichigo’s brown eyes widened, breath hitching and hissing against her ear. He grumbled, “And he still let you come here, Rukia? I guess you must have said something pretty impressive to him, or else you’re not telling me everything.”

Looking down Rukia rested her hands overtop Ichigo’s, which were clasped over her front. His chin descended to rest against her neck and shoulder. She murmured, “He didn’t stop me from coming. Nii Sama knows I would find some way regardless.”

Haltingly she told him the story:
***
Miserable, Rukia had flash stepped back to the Kuchiki manor, dreading facing her older brother. Seeing the hurt in Renji’s eyes was bad enough, yet facing Byakuya was something she truly dreaded. Fortunately, Ukitake Taicho had given her the assignment she requested in the living world as part of Squad 10’s infiltration team. Something Renji had asked for but now she figured he would turn it down.

It the big idiot--namely Renji--listened to her, she hoped Nii-sama would also understand just why she was doing this. Carefully she pulled the letter out of her haori and strode to the library to leave it. Unfortunately, she sensed her brother’s considerable reiatsu nearby.

“Rukia, you are late. Is anything the matter?” Byakuya asked with a tinge of concern in her voice that reassured her. Ever since the execution, he had gradually warmed up to her in private though in public he kept his icy demeanor.

Sometimes they shared nighttime walks together, simply discussing the affairs of the day. Alternatively, they shared tea. Often times they ate breakfast in companionable instead of awkward silence. While she sought to reclaim her powers, Byakuya insisted on taking over her kidou lessons. Not to mention wanting her to recuperate at Kuchiki manor where he could insist that she had the best care.

In those few months, she and Byakuya grew closer as a real brother and sister. Still there were times she dreaded facing him. He had expressed concern about her constant need to spend more time around Renji and Ichigo, two people he considered boorish and annoying.

“Nii-sama, are you busy? I have no wish to interrupt you,” Rukia said.

“It is not an imposition. You may join me and report on your day,” Byakuya said with a slight lilt that mingled request and command in the same statement.

He pointed towards the cushion next to him directly instead of having her kneel facing his back. Now she knelt directly next to him, feeling equal in station. Stomach churning she said, “Nii-sama, I have come to inform you that I’ve taken another assignment in the living world. If you object, please speak to Ukitake Taicho…”

“May I ask the reason for this assignment?” Byakuya said quietly. “If it is because Renji has already been posted to the same mission, you will be sorely disappointed. He requested to be taken off the mission.”

“My reasons for going have nothing to do with Renji,” Rukia sighed.

“I will not be angry if you are truthful with me, sister. However let me inform you that if you have designs on considering Renji as a possible suitor, he is not acceptable.”

“Nii-sama, I’ve no intentions of marrying Renji,” Rukia said quietly.

“That is a relief,” said Byakuya. “Because I would refuse. Although Abarai is strong, he is not sufficient to beat me in battle. I cannot allow any potential husband to pursue you if he cannot sufficiently protect you.”

Rukia sighed. Byakuya did add, “However if Abarai did attain the rank of Taicho I may reconsider refusing him as a suitable candidate.”

“Nii-sama, Renji’s not the one that I’m interested in. He’s in love with someone else,” Rukia said.

“Is it the Shinigami Daiko then?” Byakuya then asked, his voice deepening in disappointment.

“Yes Nii-sama,” Rukia answered.

“He is young, impetuous, and foolish. You cannot be serious,” Byakuya snorted.

“He bested you in battle, Nii-sama. If that’s your criteria for a suitor, then he is worthy,” Rukia answered.

“He is human, Rukia. Though he possesses considerable power, he is hardly from a noble family!” Byakuya insisted.

“He would fight to defend me with his life just as Renji would, or you would,” Rukia answered.

“You are determined to pursue this Kurosaki despite my objections?” Byakuya murmured his steel blue eyes hard and cold.

“You said that you wanted to know the truth. I have deep feelings for him,” she said. “The least you can do is grant me the opportunity to ask him if those feelings are returned. If they are not I will come back.”

“If they are, then what will you do? As long as you live in this house you are expected to abide by my rules,” Byakuya reminded her.

“Perhaps it’s time I lived elsewhere,” Rukia said stubbornly. “That’s the other reason why I want this assignment.”

“You are foolish Rukia. Do not make me take actions that would…”

“Nii-sama, would you rather I insist on testing again for a seat?” Rukia asked. “You should be glad I’m not! Moreover, as for protecting me, your instruction in the art of kidou is sufficient. If that should fail, then Kurosaki will.”

“Even if I forbid you to go?” Byakuya asked.

“Then perhaps you should inform Ukitake Taicho?” Rukia asked.

“Rukia why do you insist on being so stubborn,” Byakuya wondered giving a labored sigh. “Am I that unpleasant to you?”

“Nii-sama that’s not it at all! I love you as my brother. That will never change. It’s just that I need to do this. I will not dishonor the Kuchiki name. How can I prove myself if you do not trust me?” Rukia said softly.

“I trust you Rukia, it is Kurosaki I have difficulty trusting,” Byakuya admitted.

“He knows that you’d use Senbonzakura on him as target practice,” Rukia said.

“If you wish to leave so badly, then leave. Go on this mission. I will not stop you,” Byakuya murmured.

“Nii-sama, you aren’t alone you know,” Rukia suddenly blurted out.

“Shouldn’t you be leaving?” Byakuya asked, back turned to her.

“I still have one more thing to say, Nii-sama. Someone cares about you greatly. If I don’t leave then they’ll never have the chance to inform you how they feel regarding you,” Rukia said.

The deep voice wavered in a question. She was sure his eyes were wide in surprise. “Pardon?”

“Ask Abarai Renji. He’ll know who I’m referring to,” said Rukia. “Good day Nii-sama.”

“You are dismissed. Good day, Rukia,” Byakuya said abruptly.