Inuzuri 'Hanging Dog'

Yoruichi's eyes widened slightly. "You have Kita? Why? Tessai told me that Kisuke hid her away so she would not be so easy to find if Aizen or one of his henchmen came looking for her."

"Loki came...She's safe now." Vale sighed. "You are welcome to come with us."

Yoruichi looked at the ones in the tunnel then back to Vale as her head shook. "No. I can't do that they need me here. So many of us have been lost in this war and a lot of the strongest were taken to Las Noches. I can't abandoned them. Even if it is just for a few hours."

She looked to Sojiro and smiled. "I am sure you want to go so you can see your mother?"

Sojiro nodded with a wide, bright smile as Yoruichi patted his shoulder then looked back to Vale. "They're all yours. Tell Kita I will see her soon I am sure Kisuke told her where we were going."

"Time Together": (continued)

It didn't take long for Rukia and Renji to arrive at Inuzuri. Hanging Dog District was as pleasant as she remembered, with dirty, dark alleys from which the occupants in ratty kimonos gave the visitors suspicious looks. In the open, people with angry expressions watched them, too. Rukia stood still for a moment, taking it all in, then walked on. Trying to look intimidating. But then, a bunch of kids ran past the two of them. Rukia dodged to the side as one tried to run into Renji.

She laughed, eyes softening again. "This brings back memories."

She checked for her money bag.

Rukia nodded. "That's a good idea. It's getting late in the day and I've only had breakfast." She looked up at her tall boyfriend. "I should have stolen some of your ramen before we left."

Renji plucked her in the forehead. "You should have asked." Before she could complain, he grabbed her hand again. "Come on, let's get you fed, and then we can eat by the river."

"Careful, Renji," Rukia smirked. "You're starting to sound romantic. Say much more and you'll hurt yourself."

Renji elbowed her. "Hey! I can be romantic!"

Rukia grinned, eyes twinkling in wicked mischief at the flush over his nose and cheeks. "Yes, you can. Just don't trip on a kid while looking at me."

Rukia joined Renji at the counter, wiping some dirt off it as she sat on one of the rickety stools. “Yeah, that’s good.” She looked around the place, recalling the first time she had been here, after she’d been invited into Renji’s gang and they insisted on celebrating. She’d tried to refuse, saying they should save their energy for the important things, but Renji and Fujimaru had each grabbed her arms and pulled her along with the rest taking up the rear. They walked into Naba’s place, making Rukia’s eyes bug out at their audacity as they called him out and begged for a bun each for the occasion of getting a new family member.

Rukia hadn’t known who to pay more attention to — the crazy kids she’d got herself mixed up with or the old man harrumphing from above them all, while he chewed on a green leaf.

“So you’re new,” he huffed. “You’re all skin and bones just like the rest of them.”

She’d stood on her tiptoes, trying to look intimidating. “I’m faster than them!”

“Ha!” the old man growled. “And bold too. Well, I suppose you’ll need it to keep this lot alive and out of trouble.” He turned to the ragged bunch behind her. “Alright, half a bun each. No more. I need to make a living here too. Now get out back before someone catches you. I’ll bring the buns out.”

Rukia watched the old man work in silence for a few minutes. “I’m glad you survived, sir,” she called out.

He waved over his shoulder. “I’m too mean to kick the bucket over something like world domination. It’s you young folks that pay the price for that. Us with some time here, we just continue to do what we always do. And don’t call me sir. I don’t do anything worth that kind of title.”

Rukia smiled. “Yes, ojii-san.”

He growled something under his breath again.

Rukia smiled. “Yes, let’s go!” She grabbed Renji’s sleeve with her free arm and took the lead, pulling him along behind her before she realized she was doing it.

“Hey, slow down!” Renji called out. “I’ve got more food here! We don’t want to drop it!”

She didn’t slow down but grinned behind her. “Then stay sharp, slowpoke!”

She picked up the pace unable to stop herself from smiling the entire time, still keeping ahold of Renji as she dodged people. She could have switched into shunpo but for some reason, she didn’t feel like it. But what she did feel was free.

It made absolutely no sense, but there it was. She chose to embrace the change. 

“Hey, hey, if I drop this all, it’s a crime, you know.”

She laughed. “You’re so out of practice.” She glanced over her shoulder, happy she'd brought him with her to have at her back. “You’d think becoming a handsome soul reaper would make you more nimble on your feet, baka~" 

Rukia made a face at that suggestion. Enough of her personal life was public knowledge given her adoption into the Kuchiki clan and by ascending to lieutenant of Division 13. She didn’t really want to discuss even more with a stranger, even a well meaning one. She lifted her carton of soup and took a sip. “Maybe. I’ll think about it.”

She came here to get around such a session. If she could heal herself, and could seek support from the people important to her, she shouldn’t need someone new to take too much of an invested interest in her well being.

She looked over to Renji. “It may be easier with your company but this is not like when I lost Lieutnant Shiba. I’m not dismissing my life. There’s just….” she twirled her dumpling around with her chopsticks, “a lot of pressure anywhere we turn, and to some, losing a duel on the battlefield would mean less than what I continuously lost in Las Noches. It’s hard to stop the whispers in my head.”