You Show The Lights That Stop Me Turn to Stone

[snowwhitesoul]

Characters: Kuchiki Rukia, Kurosaki Ichigo, Shiro, Kuchiki Byakuya, Kuchiki Hisana, and maybe more
When: Jan. 16th
Where: Gentleman Jims, aka Headquarters of Abax Blanket Fortress Construction, Inc, aka the Bleach Blanket Fort.
What: Belated Birthday shenanigans. 
Open or Closed: Open
Rating: PG-13

Between recovering from near death via poison, two very

Comments

[holeheart]

[the boys had given Rukia her space. Shiro was sleeping on the floor outside of the cubicles, barely visible since he was completely cocooned in extra blankets and various clothes. He breathes lightly and doesn't shift at all.

And, unfortunately, he's lying right in the way of Rukia's path]

[savior_n_black]

[ Ichigo, too, is sprawled on his back with an arm thrown haphazardly across Shiro in his sleep. They'd both been there since it was declared Rukia needed uninterrupted rest to help her recover, and Lensher-san had been returned ( albeit not looking so hot himself ) back to his friends.
Sorry, Rukia, it's time to play leap-the-berries, or nudge one awake. ]

[snowwhitesoul]

[Whoah! Grabbing the door frame, Rukia prevents herself from stepping on Shiro and Ichigo; rocking back on her heels just as she was about to put her foot on the squishy space between Ichigo's ribs and hip. Blinking in the light that she hadn't seen in a few days, she smiles down at them, a worm of guilt settling into her gut at the sight. Here they were, sleeping on the cold floor because of her. Which is why she ducks back into the sleeping cubicle and takes one of the heavy comforters - black and white with dragons - and lays it over the both of them, taking care to cover the exposed arm Ichigo had thrown over Shiro's body.

Then, using the door frame to tip toe over them as stealthily as possible, she pads over to the pantry to see what was, if anything, available. Did anyone go grocery shopping these past few days...?]

[holeheart]

[Cold floor? Hardly. Shiro had made sure they had a nest. The clothes that they weren't interested in had been co-opted into a mattress of sorts. It was still a little chilly, since they didn't have a heater, but you'd be amazed how much you could do with massive piles of fabric.

The Hollow opens one eye, lazy and unfocused, when Rukia throws the comforter over them. He's not awake at all, though; it's more of a reflex than anything. The eye closes again and he curls up, subconsciously burrowing into the new warmth that smelled so good....

There WAS food! Not as much as when Rukia helped them search, but the boys had learned what places were best for scrounging. There was even a cake in there.... somewhere. Shiro had found it in a fancy little bakery and hidden it well. Something a little special for her late birthday. It's hidden on a high shelf in the breakroom, far from the midget's reach]

[blossomdream]

[ Rukia needs her rest and for her to rest, she needs to have her air, be free from smothering relatives or two very... caring and worried boys. Admittedly, she didn't stray too far from their living space. It's difficult, being on this side of someone who is sick and not being able to do anything for them. It nags at her, this memory of ignoring pain and illness to do what must be done, but she can't bring herself to leave the store long enough to do those necessary things. She wants to be here, to watch over her...

She can't do it forever, she knows. She can worry all she likes, but it will not change anything. There are things to do. She'll just peek in on the others and see... Rukia's been resting so long, she might be ready to get up. And if that happens, well. Nee-sama will just have to convince her not to.

Though the decision appears to be out of her hands as she makes her rounds. ]

Rukia? [ That better not be you moving around, young lady. ]

[snowwhitesoul]

[Rukia, hands pulling out a package of pop tarts from their box, freezes in surprise. Who was up at this hour and how did she not sense their reiatsu before this? A second of focus is all it takes to feel the quiet, pale, calm energy of Hisana on the other side of the door. Oh, that's right, she liked to wake early and walk about, make tea, and do a little picking up and straightening up before the rest of their strange household rose.

Her meal in hand, she pokes her head out of the pantry, looking at Hisana, blinking and for some reason feeling just a bit guilty.]

...Yes?

[blossomdream]

[ Hisana frowns in response. Rukia is awake and seems to be all right, at least well enough to be in the pantry for food, but that is hardly the point that is to be made here. ]

You should be resting. [ She's careful to be quiet, but a sleeping household won't keep her from being stern. ]

[snowwhitesoul]

[For a second, her expression smoothes out to something blank and unreadable. Inside, a snarl of anger - they still came and went with spurts of confusion whenever the subject of Hisana came to the fore - at the...audacity? The presumption? Of a person she really didn't know trying to instruct her on her behavior.

Instead, she ducks back inside quickly to grab an individually sized bottle of milk.]

I'm fine.

[blossomdream]

[ She should have expected that response. Byakuya says it too, even when she knows differently. But Hisana is not so easily deterred when it comes to those things. Even if she's well enough to be walking around, it doesn't mean she should. Her body still might have some recovering to do. ]

Rukia, you may feel fine now, but if you push yourself, you may not be later.

[ Let he be worried and helpful, stubborn sister. ] If there's something you need, I can bring it to you.

[ofnoblemind]

[When Byakuya wakes up and his groggy eyes fall on the mattress where Hisana sleeps, he instantly notices that she isn't there. And, instead of immediately sitting up and scanning the room for her, instead of becoming frightened that he can't see her, Byakuya simply lets out a sigh, letting his eyes fall closed.

Maybe she had disappeared. Maybe her presence with them had all been a strange dream after all.

...Except, no, he can't give up like that! A few moments later, he sits up and reaches out with his reiatsu, identifying the others in the shop. There. Surrounded by powerful people her presence is harder to pick out, but he knows her well enough that he can figure out it's her quickly. He sighs again, but this time in relief

[snowwhitesoul]

I know my limits.

[She's polite, but firm. Now that she' conscious and lucid, she wont be taking any sort of mollycoddling at all. She spent several days chained to a kind but still somewhat surly man, by fuzzy handcuffs no less, and she was eager to have her autonomy again.

And oop, there's Nii-sama, probably looking for his morning tea. Her breakfast in hand, she comes out the pantry and gives Hisana and her brother a waist-deep bow.]

Good morning, Nii-sama.

[blossomdream]

[ Hisana bites her lip. She's not trying to argue and she doesn't want it to turn into one. It isn't good for Rukia, in any case, and Byakuya-sama is awake now. She'll simply have to approach it differently, convince Rukia to rest some other way. A final lingering look at Rukia before she turns and bows to Byakuya in morning greeting. ]

Good morning, Byakuya-sama. Shall I make tea for you?

[ofnoblemind]

[Byakuya watches them and nods in turn to each of their bows, his glance lingering on Hisana. He speaks to her quietly; even though his words are for Hisana, they can still be overheard. They are colored by the ever-present emotional detachment he employs so well.]

Please. Be sure to make some for yourself.

[Turning back to Rukia, he speaks at a normal volume.]

You are stronger today, but do not push yourself too quickly.

[He figures if anyone can get away with a little mother-henning, it's him.]

[snowwhitesoul]

[Damnit. The one person she cant outright reject the mother henning of! Bowing again to her brother, Rukia accepts the advice as graciously as she can. Well played, big brother, well played.

But she's still going to decide what her limits are. Because you didn't tell her that she must stay in bed.]

Of course, Nii-sama. May I get you breakfast as well?

[blossomdream]

[ Well, isn't that a blow. Maybe if she worded it differently? It still doesn't sit well with Hisana. She says nothing though, keeping her lips sealed. Now really isn't the time. ]

Yes. [ She smiles at Rukia. ]

Would you like some as well?

[ofnoblemind]

[Byakuya can feel something off and it's mostly coming from Hisana. Unfortunately, having no clear idea what it is doesn't help him come to any conclusion on how to fix it.

Maybe it's just because both of the women in his life are stubborn. Rukia is tired of being cooped up and Hisana can't help but worry, just as she had done over him more times than he could remember. So when two tired and opposing forces meet, it only makes sense that there would be friction.

...Right?]

As long as it is nothing too strenuous to prepare, Rukia.