Byakuya Would Only Say 'You're Welcome' if the Author Agreed to End the Scene Before it Happened
"I think you will find you have made a very wise decision, Byakuya," Ukitake said with a smile.
Byakuya did not look up from his paperwork. "You sound as though you know this is to happen," he said. "It may be that nothing comes of it."
Ukitake beamed at the top of Byakuya's head. "Of course," he said, waving a hand dismissively, "of course, I may have been bothering you these past few weeks for nothing. But I don't think that will be the case. Your sister is not as afraid of you as she used to be."
That got Byakuya to look up. "Rukia has no reason to fear me."
"Exactly!" Ukitake grinned. "And really, I think Ichigo-kun will be-"
"Enough," Byakuya said sharply, returning his attention to his paperwork. "You have what you wanted, Captain Ukitake. If there is nothing else you need from me, then go."
Ukitake kept his laughter contained until he was out of Byakuya's office.
***
"There is no question that you are the best person for the job, Kuchiki. No one on the committee will argue against that."
Kuchiki halted her pacing and gave Ukitake a hard look. "My brother is on the committee."
Ukitake smiled at her. "Kuchiki, surely you realize by now that your brother has full confidence in your abilities. He simply worries for you."
For a moment she continued to meet his eyes. Then she shook her head and resumed her slow pacing. "Then why-" She stopped again, closing her eyes for a moment, then continued, "I appreciate your confidence, Captain, but… to make such a leap…"
"Do you believe you could do it?"
She raised her chin just slightly - a cold, delicate motion that was very like her brother. "Of course. I would not consider the position otherwise."
Ukitake nodded. "Do you want it, Kuchiki?"
She didn't look at him. "I do."
Ukitake watched her for a moment, brushing one hand over the finger grooves that had never quite been polished out of his desk. Gently, he said, "It is only your safety and happiness that concern your brother. If this is the path that will bring you those things…"
Kuchiki looked at him then, and smiled. "Yes," she said. "Thank you, Captain."
***
"Nii-sama." Rukia gently slid aside the door to her brother's office. "Do you have a moment?"
"Certainly."
It still surprised her sometimes to see her brother set aside his work just to talk to her. Today she found it both encouraging and intimidating. "Thank you, nii-sama." She took a deep breath. "I… members of the Captain's committee that was selected to choose Ichigo's vice-captain have mentioned to me that my name was among those submitted for consideration. I know that the responsibilities of such a position could place me in greater danger than I regularly face in my current position, and that… you worry for my safety even now, and so would not wish for me to receive this promotion. And it would be within your rights to tell the committee I am not suitable for the position."
He watched her impassively, hands folded gracefully on his desk.
Rukia forced herself to hold completely still, and continued, "But I believe I am capable of doing the job well - I believe I would do it better than any of the other candidates, because I understand Ichigo better than anyone the committee could possibly be considering. He listens to me… mostly. He might not listen to another vice-captain, and… his unique acquisition of power means that he will need a great deal of guidance when he assumes his duties. And… and I would worry, were he left on his own."
Her brother was still silent. Rukia looked down. Her heart was pounding and she wanted to flee, but she was so tired of being held back. She could not give up yet. She raised her eyes.
"What is it you want from me?" he said as soon as her eyes met his.
"Ah…" Rukia blinked. "I would like to ask that you allow the committee to consider me as they would anyone else, and if I am chosen, to allow me to accept the position of vice-captain of the 15th division."
"I see."
That was a dismissal. Rukia set her palms on her thighs and opened her mouth to say she understood he would need time to consider this, but before she could make a sound, her brother stood. She froze in surprise.
"You wish to serve under Kurosaki? As vice-captain?"
His face was unreadable and she wondered if he were going to rebuke her for this betrayal, but she said, "Yes, nii-sama," anyway.
He nodded. "Then I will recommend that the committee select you for the position."
"I-" she stopped, schooling her expression carefully until the shock faded. Then she allowed herself a small, hopeful smile. "You will?"
He said nothing, and it was hard to be sure, but she believed his face was a little less stern.
"Thank you!" She knew her smile was growing to undignified proportions, but there was no helping it. She bowed deeply. "Thank you, nii-sama. This is much more than I thought - thank you for trusting in my judgment and abilities. I will not disappoint you."
"See that you do not," he said, and sat back in his chair.
***
"Rukia-chan seems happy," Shunsui said, tipping back as he drained his saké dish until he fell, gently, into the grass. He did not, Ukitake noticed, spill a drop. He never did.
"Yes," Ukitake agreed, "she does. I admit I will miss having her in the offices, but I believe this arrangement will be best for everyone."
"Even Byakuya?"
"Especially Byakuya. Seeing his sister's happiness is the closest he allows himself to come to having any himself."
"I don't know, I think Kurosaki is getting the most out of the deal."
Ukitake laughed. "Eventually, my friend," he said. "Eventually."
Byakuya did not look up from his paperwork. "You sound as though you know this is to happen," he said. "It may be that nothing comes of it."
Ukitake beamed at the top of Byakuya's head. "Of course," he said, waving a hand dismissively, "of course, I may have been bothering you these past few weeks for nothing. But I don't think that will be the case. Your sister is not as afraid of you as she used to be."
That got Byakuya to look up. "Rukia has no reason to fear me."
"Exactly!" Ukitake grinned. "And really, I think Ichigo-kun will be-"
"Enough," Byakuya said sharply, returning his attention to his paperwork. "You have what you wanted, Captain Ukitake. If there is nothing else you need from me, then go."
Ukitake kept his laughter contained until he was out of Byakuya's office.
***
"There is no question that you are the best person for the job, Kuchiki. No one on the committee will argue against that."
Kuchiki halted her pacing and gave Ukitake a hard look. "My brother is on the committee."
Ukitake smiled at her. "Kuchiki, surely you realize by now that your brother has full confidence in your abilities. He simply worries for you."
For a moment she continued to meet his eyes. Then she shook her head and resumed her slow pacing. "Then why-" She stopped again, closing her eyes for a moment, then continued, "I appreciate your confidence, Captain, but… to make such a leap…"
"Do you believe you could do it?"
She raised her chin just slightly - a cold, delicate motion that was very like her brother. "Of course. I would not consider the position otherwise."
Ukitake nodded. "Do you want it, Kuchiki?"
She didn't look at him. "I do."
Ukitake watched her for a moment, brushing one hand over the finger grooves that had never quite been polished out of his desk. Gently, he said, "It is only your safety and happiness that concern your brother. If this is the path that will bring you those things…"
Kuchiki looked at him then, and smiled. "Yes," she said. "Thank you, Captain."
***
"Nii-sama." Rukia gently slid aside the door to her brother's office. "Do you have a moment?"
"Certainly."
It still surprised her sometimes to see her brother set aside his work just to talk to her. Today she found it both encouraging and intimidating. "Thank you, nii-sama." She took a deep breath. "I… members of the Captain's committee that was selected to choose Ichigo's vice-captain have mentioned to me that my name was among those submitted for consideration. I know that the responsibilities of such a position could place me in greater danger than I regularly face in my current position, and that… you worry for my safety even now, and so would not wish for me to receive this promotion. And it would be within your rights to tell the committee I am not suitable for the position."
He watched her impassively, hands folded gracefully on his desk.
Rukia forced herself to hold completely still, and continued, "But I believe I am capable of doing the job well - I believe I would do it better than any of the other candidates, because I understand Ichigo better than anyone the committee could possibly be considering. He listens to me… mostly. He might not listen to another vice-captain, and… his unique acquisition of power means that he will need a great deal of guidance when he assumes his duties. And… and I would worry, were he left on his own."
Her brother was still silent. Rukia looked down. Her heart was pounding and she wanted to flee, but she was so tired of being held back. She could not give up yet. She raised her eyes.
"What is it you want from me?" he said as soon as her eyes met his.
"Ah…" Rukia blinked. "I would like to ask that you allow the committee to consider me as they would anyone else, and if I am chosen, to allow me to accept the position of vice-captain of the 15th division."
"I see."
That was a dismissal. Rukia set her palms on her thighs and opened her mouth to say she understood he would need time to consider this, but before she could make a sound, her brother stood. She froze in surprise.
"You wish to serve under Kurosaki? As vice-captain?"
His face was unreadable and she wondered if he were going to rebuke her for this betrayal, but she said, "Yes, nii-sama," anyway.
He nodded. "Then I will recommend that the committee select you for the position."
"I-" she stopped, schooling her expression carefully until the shock faded. Then she allowed herself a small, hopeful smile. "You will?"
He said nothing, and it was hard to be sure, but she believed his face was a little less stern.
"Thank you!" She knew her smile was growing to undignified proportions, but there was no helping it. She bowed deeply. "Thank you, nii-sama. This is much more than I thought - thank you for trusting in my judgment and abilities. I will not disappoint you."
"See that you do not," he said, and sat back in his chair.
***
"Rukia-chan seems happy," Shunsui said, tipping back as he drained his saké dish until he fell, gently, into the grass. He did not, Ukitake noticed, spill a drop. He never did.
"Yes," Ukitake agreed, "she does. I admit I will miss having her in the offices, but I believe this arrangement will be best for everyone."
"Even Byakuya?"
"Especially Byakuya. Seeing his sister's happiness is the closest he allows himself to come to having any himself."
"I don't know, I think Kurosaki is getting the most out of the deal."
Ukitake laughed. "Eventually, my friend," he said. "Eventually."