Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Redeem ❯ Redeem ( One-Shot )

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500-word vignette that'd been written for the April drabble contest and never submitted.

Desc: Byakuya and Rukia. Stunted forward motion and baby steps define them, but it is progress nonetheless. Takes place at the future "end" of the Hueco Mundo Arc.

Anime/Manga: Bleach Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama | Type: Vignette | Uploaded On: 05.13.2008 | Pages: 2 | Words: 1.1K | Visits: 729 | Status: Completed

Title: Redeem

Characters: Rukia, Byakuya

Rating: K

Warning: Spoilers for the Hueco Mundo Arc

Words: 500 exactly

Description: Stunted forward motion and baby steps define them, but it is progress, nonetheless.

The words were on the tip of her tongue, and she wanted to say them. Having followed him back in complete silence, watching the familiar insignia of his division all tattered and cut, they had been on the edge of her lips.

“Nii-sama... I--”

“Get cleaned up,” Byakuya inserted shortly, raking his gaze over her tattered robes, blood caked on the black fabric. “I will have something prepared for you.”

Rukia blinked. She knew better than to argue, but she still wanted to say something. Anything. Thank him maybe. But she also knew that this was Kuchiki Byakuya. Gratitude was probably above his pride as a noble.

So she merely nodded and gave a light bow, shuffling to do as he had said. Every movement was slow and cautious. She had been healed but could still feel the lingering pains of her wounds. Rukia knew she was filthy, could feel the sand and blood and Espada goop clinging.

She never would have expected Byakuya to save her.

It wasn't that she believed he would leave her to die; they had passed that hurdle. But Rukia never would have suspected her brother to enter Las Noches. To be honest, the small aid he had given her and Renji, though it was by pretend ignorance, was just as surprising.

Their relationship had been slowly growing since the betrayal, stuttering and creaking along like a machine that hadn't been oiled in centuries and was finally being put back into use. He was socially inept, and she was still cowering behind formality, afraid to speak wrongly and ruin everything.

She wanted so desperately for him to be her family, to see him as the brother he was supposed to be. And Rukia believed that he wanted the same. Otherwise, he wouldn't have bothered to help her.

Cloth whispered behind her, and she heard the faintest sound of a footstep.

“Rukia.”

Pausing, she turned. “Yes, nii-sama?”

He was only half-facing her. Emotions flickered across his eyes, always the most expressive part of him.

“You did well,” he began softly, as if carefully selecting his words. “Defeating the ninth Espada is no small accomplishment.”

And just the way he said it, Rukia wholly believed that he knew just whose face Aaroniero had taken. Why it had been so hard for her.

She felt tears burn the back of her eyes, but she swallowed them down. “Thank you.”

Byakuya wasn't yet finished. “Be sure to rest,” he added awkwardly. “Your injury was nearly fatal.”

“I... thank you. I will.”

He turned then, heading down the hallway with his scarf fluttering behind him.

It wasn't the most heartwarming of speeches, but Rukia understood perfectly. He had been worried about her. He was glad she was now safe at home. In those few words, he had expressed himself perfectly.

Smiling, Rukia headed off to the bath, her heart somehow lighter. The manor halls suddenly felt a lot less foreboding.

“Welcome home, Rukia,” they seemed to say. “Welcome home.”