"Brother..."

Rukia followed Captain Kuchiki down one of the paths of the Seretei, leading to Squad 13. Byakuya should've left her a while ago, as Squad 6 was round the other side, but for some reason he had been sticking very close to her lately. He was usually close anyway; what with him being her adopted brother and all, and besides, after the incident where he nearly let her execution commence - he had taken a turn for the better. He had realised that his late wife Hisana's wish that he look after Rukia was more important than that one which was to follow every rule of the Soul Society.

Nothing was going to threaten his pride again. And his pride was his sister-in-law. So he always made sure he was within protective distance of her, just incase any threat posed again.

But lately... he had been very close. As in, Rukia hadn't found herself even walking by herself at all lately. Every time she exited the barracks and went to fulfill some demands, or train, or visit the Rukon district (she had set up a programme with the Women's Soul Reaper Association about improving the lives there) she would swiftly find Byakuya waiting to walk with her, as if he knew her entire schedule before she even knew it herself.

It was odd.

"Brother?", she tried again.

Finally, he turned to look at her, his long black hair swishing in the wind slightly. He didn't say anything, but his grey eyes gave her permission to speak her mind.

"How come I've been up here so long? The Soul Society, I mean."

He didn't speak for a moment, and if Rukia wasn't so used to her brother's annoying habit of speaking so slowly and demurely, she probably would've repeated her question.

"What do you mean."

Dang. Looked like she would have to repeat it after all. It also always unnerved her whenever he asked a question, but spoke it like a statement. He was always so serious... but then again, he had lost his soulmate in the past. This was probably his way of grieving.

"Rukia, the question is: why were you in the World of the Living for so long... not why have you returned to where you currently live."

It took a second for her to realise what he was implying.

"Brother... we've spoken about this before...", she spoke softly, realising at this point, she was definitely treading on eggshells. Last time they had spoken about this, she had definitely not... won the argument. Needless to say, she hadn't even managed to make an argument, out of fear that Byakuya would scatter Senbonzakura at her or something. But... this had to be done.

She'd been away from a certain, loveable, Substitute-Soul Reaper for too long.

"I don't live here... in the Soul Society...", she broke off as she recognised the familiar murderous glance her brother was beginning to give her. "... permanently", she finished. Man, she was such a coward. How could she blame anyone but herself for her constant absence in the World of the Living, when she wasn't even brave enough to make a case about how she had to go back there?

"You do", Byakuya interrupted her train of thought. "You are a Soul Reaper. And your home is the Soul Society." The tone of his voice had got much harsher, and his eyebrows were slowly dropping lower over his eyes, the crease in the centre of them hardening.

"Ichigo's a Soul Reaper, but he doesn't...", Rukia broke off, realising she'd blown it now. What an idiot. Bringing Ichigo up in a debate with her brother was the worst possible thing she could do. It was no secret that Byakuya hated every single Reishei particle that made up Ichigo...

"A Substitute." Her brother replied, turning away from her, and continuing to walk. This was clearly his way of saying 'matter dismissed.' "His life has not yet ended in the World of the Living. It's his home. You however, are constantly a Soul. Spending so long in a Gigai during your little 'visits' isn't good for you. Your powers have deplenished."

Rukia was about to argue, but technically speaking, he was correct.

"Brother...", she tried again.

"Enough on this subject", his voice was quieter as he'd been walking away this entire time. Rukia had to run to him to catch up. "You have training to do. You're no use to the Soul Society if you spend your days pointlessly in the World of the Living."

Something boiled inside Rukia, and she balled her fists.

"I'm taking care of all the Hollow calls! Ichigo's Spiritual pressure draws many towards him! The Hollows find his scent very attractive!!"

And they weren't the only ones...

"He was given a badge to transform into Soul form for that very reason!! You are not needed down there! I will not be able to face yet another incident affecting the Kuchiki clan!"

Rukia stopped walking altogether.

...

"Have you ever been in love, brother?"

The fact that he'd stopped walking showed her the answer. And that she'd also gone too far.
But at this point, desperate times called for desperate measures.

"Soul Reapers shouldn't display emotion", was his (surprise, suprise) emotionless response.

"I know!! But there's nothing to stop us from falling in love! It's possible! Brother, I know how it feels to have lost a loved one, believe me!! But... I think this could help me heal from that. Please... I can't stay in the Soul Society forever... not until he does! It reminds me of Kaien... and so does he! And yet, when I'm with him, I don't think about Kaien at all! All I can think about is how I want to... to..."

"To?"

"To stay by his side forever."