WHAT ONLY HE WANTED...by gottabegenki
She had looked so small and sad standing there. That was one of the first things that crossed Kaien's mind when he had first met Rukia. Her aristocracy was what caused her quick promotion; at least those were what the rumors said. But Kaien wasn't the type to believe in such bullshit. You had to get to know a person first before the decided on what you thought of them. That was something he learned from his wife.
As someone from the slums everyone had stayed away from him. His wife had been the first to approach when he had first arrived to train as a Shinigami, that small smile playing on her lips, voice teasing even as she tilted her head and asked, "Is it true you used to eat other children survive?" And he had burst out laughing, drowning her giggles.
"Nah. I only ate dogs. Or rats. Whatever I could catch really. The other kids were too fast." She laughed again, a small gentle sound like bells, and Kaien knew he had this big stupid grin plastered on his face but he didn't care. She began to follow him around after that. All he had to do was look over his shoulder and she'd be there, that sweet smile on her lips. With her by his side getting used to the school became easier. Being himself became easier. Kaien couldn't imagine what he would have done alone. She was his most precious thing...
Rukia was in the same position he had been. He wanted to be some sort of support to her, as his wife had been to him. It was rough being alone. So Kaien reached down to ruffle her hair, a grin on his face as he announced, "You're welcome to Team 13!" In his mind he had adopted her as a younger sister. He had two siblings outside... he wondered if they were ok. But Rukia was right here, right now. And he couldn't ignore that.
The first time Kaien had seen Rukia smile he immediately wrapped an arm around her neck and pulled her towards him. "Hey? What's that strange expression on your face? Are you sick?" She had looked so embarrassed that he decided to give her a break. "Hey, I'm just kidding. You look almost cute when you smile you know?" Rukia squirmed away and wouldn't meet his eyes. But after that she began to do it more often, even if it was only a small upturn of lips. And Kaien decided he liked making her smile. He began to do it as often as he could. Life was really good to him, and he wanted to make sure everyone had a great time too.
Then everything shattered.
She was dead. His wife was dead. Half of him was dead. And all that was left was a burning rage to kill whoever was responsible. Ukitake and Rukia accompanied Kaien to his revenge, and some part inside of him was glad that he wasn't alone, that there was still someone by his side. But that feeling was eclipsed by hate when they arrived and he caught sight of the Hollow responsible.
Kaien began to fight wildly. The only thought in his mind was to kill. Kill the one responsible for taking her away from him. Lost in the rage he didn't have time to realize what had happened until it was too late. The hollow was inside of his body. Inside of his head. And he began to scream, even if only in his mind, when it began to attack Ukitake and Rukia. Not them too. Not everyone else he loved! Then a sword stabbed through his stomach and there was a sudden burst of pain. But the Hollow was gone and he was alone in his mind. And that was all that mattered.
Kaien felt his cheek rest on Rukia's shoulder, slumped over her small body even as her sword cut through his chest. He wanted to joke around that he was going to squash her, but it hurt to talk. He didn't have much energy, much life left in him. Kaien reached around to hold her close, this girl who he loved. Who was like a sister to him. Who he had selfishly hurt.
"...Kuchiki... you went along with my selfishness... and now you've had something horrible happen to you... I'm sorry... It must have been so hard for you... thank you. Because of you, I can leave my heart here and leave..."
In the beginning he had promised to make her smile. But in the end all he had made her do was cry.
She had looked so small and sad standing there. That was one of the first things that crossed Kaien's mind when he had first met Rukia. Her aristocracy was what caused her quick promotion; at least those were what the rumors said. But Kaien wasn't the type to believe in such bullshit. You had to get to know a person first before the decided on what you thought of them. That was something he learned from his wife.
As someone from the slums everyone had stayed away from him. His wife had been the first to approach when he had first arrived to train as a Shinigami, that small smile playing on her lips, voice teasing even as she tilted her head and asked, "Is it true you used to eat other children survive?" And he had burst out laughing, drowning her giggles.
"Nah. I only ate dogs. Or rats. Whatever I could catch really. The other kids were too fast." She laughed again, a small gentle sound like bells, and Kaien knew he had this big stupid grin plastered on his face but he didn't care. She began to follow him around after that. All he had to do was look over his shoulder and she'd be there, that sweet smile on her lips. With her by his side getting used to the school became easier. Being himself became easier. Kaien couldn't imagine what he would have done alone. She was his most precious thing...
Rukia was in the same position he had been. He wanted to be some sort of support to her, as his wife had been to him. It was rough being alone. So Kaien reached down to ruffle her hair, a grin on his face as he announced, "You're welcome to Team 13!" In his mind he had adopted her as a younger sister. He had two siblings outside... he wondered if they were ok. But Rukia was right here, right now. And he couldn't ignore that.
The first time Kaien had seen Rukia smile he immediately wrapped an arm around her neck and pulled her towards him. "Hey? What's that strange expression on your face? Are you sick?" She had looked so embarrassed that he decided to give her a break. "Hey, I'm just kidding. You look almost cute when you smile you know?" Rukia squirmed away and wouldn't meet his eyes. But after that she began to do it more often, even if it was only a small upturn of lips. And Kaien decided he liked making her smile. He began to do it as often as he could. Life was really good to him, and he wanted to make sure everyone had a great time too.
Then everything shattered.
She was dead. His wife was dead. Half of him was dead. And all that was left was a burning rage to kill whoever was responsible. Ukitake and Rukia accompanied Kaien to his revenge, and some part inside of him was glad that he wasn't alone, that there was still someone by his side. But that feeling was eclipsed by hate when they arrived and he caught sight of the Hollow responsible.
Kaien began to fight wildly. The only thought in his mind was to kill. Kill the one responsible for taking her away from him. Lost in the rage he didn't have time to realize what had happened until it was too late. The hollow was inside of his body. Inside of his head. And he began to scream, even if only in his mind, when it began to attack Ukitake and Rukia. Not them too. Not everyone else he loved! Then a sword stabbed through his stomach and there was a sudden burst of pain. But the Hollow was gone and he was alone in his mind. And that was all that mattered.
Kaien felt his cheek rest on Rukia's shoulder, slumped over her small body even as her sword cut through his chest. He wanted to joke around that he was going to squash her, but it hurt to talk. He didn't have much energy, much life left in him. Kaien reached around to hold her close, this girl who he loved. Who was like a sister to him. Who he had selfishly hurt.
"...Kuchiki... you went along with my selfishness... and now you've had something horrible happen to you... I'm sorry... It must have been so hard for you... thank you. Because of you, I can leave my heart here and leave..."
In the beginning he had promised to make her smile. But in the end all he had made her do was cry.