Rukia Worries

Once more thirteen shadows gather around, each one standing tall and proud as the central figure begins to speak, “It seems our forces are growing weaker by the day…”

“Yes So-Taicho,” A figure, easily twice the size of the rest speaks, “it seems that our initial estimate of this new Arrancar was correct.”

“Keh, all he does is seduce and seduce,” a second voice speaks up, the deep and grumbling tone of a man with bells on his hair echoing throughout the hall as a single eye glares out into the darkness, “a coward with nothing but tricks and no power.”

“Be that as it may Kenpachi, he still has control of several powerful and important souls,” a short, white haired man replies, “he even has the services of several Zanpakuto spirits that are no longer bound to their sword forms.”

“As well as my most important experimental subject,” a man with pasty white skin and iridescent golden teeth speaks up.

“And my sister,” another man with several white ornaments in his hair interjects; his eyes unfocused as he looks down into the ground and out to nothingness.

“And my lieutenant,” a tall man with flowing pitch black hair utters, the brilliant pink kimono slung over his shoulders shivering slightly at the thought of losing his most important secretary.

“Silence,” the original voice speaks, his deep resonating baritone echoing throughout the room and cutting all communication between those present to an absolute halt, “In any case it appears that we have taken this Arrancar too lightly. To prevent any further losses to our main forces we must go to Hueco Mundo and eliminate the threat of this Arrancar and Aizen once and for all…”

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“Rukia, if I may ask a question,” you suddenly speak up, a sweat drop dripping from your brow as Rukia turns from her childish drawings so as to face you directly.

“Yes, what is it John? I was in the middle of my report,” Rukia says quickly and with great impatience, her arms crossed over her chest as she taps her foot in agitation.

“Er…well you see…about your report,” you begin, hoping to find some way to point out Rukia’s lack of artistic talent as softly as you can but as usual, fate decides to screw you over and instead it is Grim who voices her opinion.

“Your drawing suck,” Grim says with a firm nod of her head, her arms crossed over her chest as she gives Rukia a smirk, “How the hell do yah expect us to learn anything when you scribble like a five year old.”

In the blink of an eye Grim is nearly launched out of her chair by the **** of a drawing tablet knocking her square in the forehead, Rukia’s outstretched hand showing she was the one that threw the square object. With a quick snap Grim is back up in her seat with an angry red welt on her forehead, her intense blue eyes glaring with the fiery heat of hell itself as she prepares to stand up and beat some sense into the black haired Shinigami.

Instead she is stopped by a gentle hand on your shoulder, her eyes turning to you before she settles back into her seat and grumbles something about having it made up to her. Instead it is you that rises as you speak, “Rukia-chan, while it is a little difficult to decipher what you mean by your drawings it seems like you’re intentionally leaving something out.”

The moment those words cross your lips it has an instantaneous reaction on Rukia, her head turning to the side as she withdraws slightly into herself, “It’s…nothing really John.”

It takes a bit of convincing on Rukia’s part but you eventually drop the subject, instead devoting your time to convincing Rukia to write down her report as opposed to drawing it. After narrowly succeeding in getting Rukia to write the report, and even more harrowing efforts to stop her from scribbling in the margins, you have the report and a very Rukia nervous for her first Espada meeting.

“Nel, Grim, you go on ahead,” you nod to your two fraccion, the look in your eyes giving no room for argument which sends them on their way with a burst of Sonido. On the other hand you stay behind, report in one hand and Rukia in the other as you look down at the nervous rabbit, “Rukia…is something wrong?”

“N-No-“ Rukia begins but you shake your head, your body leaning down as you give her a soft kiss on the top of her black haired head.

“No lies Rukia-chan, tell me the truth,” you softly murmur, something that pulls a gasp followed by a whimper from the short Shinigami. With that the tale of Rukia’s previous adventures comes to life with the most significant part being the fact that Aizen was prepared to sacrifice her for the construction of his Hogyoku and to further his plans for his own personal future. Needless to say you feel yourself get just a bit hot under the collar at the notion, something that causes you to take a deep breath in relaxation before you envelop Rukia in a gentle and loving hug, “I’m sorry Rukia-chan…I promise nothing like that will ever happen to you again.”

“D…do you really promise,” Rukia whispers, her hands unconsciously clenching in your clothing as she holds you tight, “I…I don’t know if I can…f-face him…”

“I promise Rukia-chan, with all of my heart and soul,” you whisper back, your hands gently drawing soothing circles along Rukia’s spine as you speak, “and I will be there with you…he will never do anything to you as long as I live and breathe…er, you know what I mean.”

After a soft chuckle and another embrace the two of you vanish in a burst of static, only reappearing once you are present in the council chambers with all but Baraggon accounted for. As you wait for the former God-King you can’t help but catch how Aizen has taken notice Rukia, the smaller Shinigami nearly cowering next to you as the number of eyes on her person begins to pile up more and more.

Mercifully Baraggon shows up quickly and Aizen begins the meeting, his eyes never turning away from Rukia as he speaks, “Welcome, I suspect our Sexta Espada John has a reason for bringing another live Shinigami into our midst?”

Rukia flinches but you calm her with a slight squeeze of her leg, “Yes Bossman, I have another Shinigami that is in love with me. As per our agreement she has prepared a report of her divisions strengths, weaknesses, members, and Zanpakuto’s. “

With a smooth slide the report gracefully travels to Aizen across the polished surface of the table, her mouth turning up in an odd half-smirk as he softly chuckles, “I do hope it is not made up of Kuchiki-san’s childish drawings.”

This comment causes you to have to apply more pressure to Rukia’s leg to stop her from jumping up and smacking Aizen, something that would be a decidedly BAD thing to do all things considered. After several moments of leafing through Rukia’s report Aizen chuckles slightly before setting it down, his eyes turning to you as that eerie unmoving grin of his returns, “As always you have exceeded my expectations John. I will allow you to keep this Shinigami but the terms of our agreement are still in place. Should she become a traitor, you will share the same fate as her.”

With that thinly veiled threat the meeting moves on as normal, a more visibly relaxed but decidedly on edge Rukia sitting beside you throughout it all. As time passes the meeting itself draws nearer and nearer to its end, all the way up to Aizen announcing, “and that should conclude the important business for the day, would anyone like to share anything else?”

Surprisingly enough it is the normally silent pale face and black haired Ulquirra who speaks up, all eyes turning to her as Aizen gives her a nod of acceptance, “I would like permission to begin training the Sexta Espada in releasing his Resurreccion. As John has been gathering more and more of the Shinigami’s allies to our side it would only be sensible that they take the opportunity to attack soon and while John’s Reiatsu, Sonido, and basic sword skills are excellent he still has yet to access his Resurreccion.”

“Hm, a very valid point Ulquirra,” Aizen says as he gently rubs his chin, “John, do you have any objections?”

Glancing at Ulquirra you can see the desire she has floating in her eyes, that and an undercurrent of what seems to be anger that makes you almost shiver with fear, “None at all Bossman.”

With that the meeting is called and you prepare to Sonido home with Rukia until you feel a massive hand land upon your shoulder, the gargantuan palm of Baraggon laying itself upon your body as the aged Arrancar speaks, “Boy, I have something that might interest you...”