Work Text:
Since the ceremony (and an unknowingly because Kazui kept opening doors to hell), Ichigo couldn’t catch a break.
Bigger, stronger, uglier… He had to save the town from the hellish hollows.
It’s under those dire circumstances that Rukia found herself investigating Karakura town. The responsibility shouldn’t have fell on her shoulders as a captain, but her soldiers were overwhelmed and coming back injured more often than not.
It hurt seeing his face, but duties comes first.
She shouldn’t have underestimate the situation. Or overestimate her strength.
“Ino-, Kurosaki-san, take Kazui-kun away from here”
She wouldn’t have to play as a living shield to protect his family.
“ABARAI-SAN!”
Her body wouldn’t have been thrown against the wall.
It hurts. Her body…
She barely noticed Ichigo’s arrival. The enraged look in his eyes… He evaluates the scene in front of him in a second. Orihime with Kazui behind her to his left. A hollow marching towards them, a pleading look in her eyes, for him.
Rukia to his right, barely standing up. She’s hurt but reassures him that she’s okay with her eyes.
Relieved, he goes left to play the hero, until…
She doesn’t notice it behind her. She’ll be hurt if he doesn’t do something.
So his body react, like a reflex, a dance he practiced a thousand time before, he grabs her waist in his hand, and jump far away from the attack.
The beating of his heart his deafening. It hurts as if it was about to burst out of his chest. But Rukia small hand grabbing his shihakusho snap him back.
The horrified look on her face. Oh shit! What did he do??!
Eyes wide, he sees Orihime raising a shield, protecting her and the boy. Her face is white, oh and the look she gives him… He could have sworn he saw a tear even.
What did he do??