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Rukia stayed with someone when she was young, but when she saw how hard it was for them to take care of her, she ran away. She hated the feeling of being indebted to them. She stayed with Renji and the others because they could take care of each other. Since the last thing she wanted was to be like the adults in Rukongai, Rukia only thought of 2 futures for herself – a thief or a shinigami. She didn’t even dare to consider the second until the rest died.
Rukia was supposed to end up in the same class as Renji, but was separated by Aizen to make Renji more susceptible to being manipulated, hopefully through becoming power hungry. However, it didn’t quite work because of Rukia. Aizen tried again by giving Byakuya the opportunity to find her, but it still didn’t work out.
Rukia didn’t do well in the academy (and a little in the 13th division) because she was always looking out for others and not paying attention to threats to herself. She was also shocked to find Seireitei not unlike Rukongai in the way that the nobles looked down on others. She might have gotten better with time, but she was adopted. In the clan, Rukia felt there was a good reason to look down on her. She also felt indebted to the clan for taking her in and arranging for her to graduate early when she didn't deserve to do so. Unfortunately, she couldn't leave the clan as easily as she left her first family in Rukongai.
It was both lucky and unlucky for Rukia that Kaien took her under his wing - on one hand she had a powerful friend, on the other it made the division treat her like the vice-captain's pet. Rukia didn't care - she had her own mini-family among the seated officers. In fact, Rukia wanted to be like Lady Shiba because Lady Shiba was a reminder that it was possible to be a den mother in Soul Society, just like Rukia was for Renji and co. In the meantime, she let herself enjoy the feeling of being fussed over.
It wasn't just the 13th that was fussing over Rukia. Both Kaien and Ukitake like to think that they were the driving force behind Byakuya tutoring Rukia in kidou. In fact Byakuya had assumed, based on Hisana, that Rukia would be good at kidou. Later on, when Rukia showed her atheletism Byakuya also arranged for gymnastic lessons. After all, Yoruichi showed that fists were just as effective. Let Kaien waste his time with sword lessons.
Rukia could have spent her life reasonably content this way. Eventually Byakuya might have let go of his fear and let her become a seated officer, or Renji could have gotten over his stupid mistake. Rukia was even content with her one-sided crush on Shiba Kaien - she loved him because he was the first person that she didn't need to take care of, and took care of her instead. Moreover, she cared for Lady Shiba too much to act on her feelings, which was a pity because Lady Shiba was rather open-minded about such things. But Rukia preferred having her "family" more.
Unfortunately, Aizen's mechanisms destroyed Kaien and Lady Shiba, and Rukia lost her division family. Ukitake tried to take their place, but he was too close to the authority that Rukia had never got used to trusting. Still, Rukia's mourning didn't change the fact that Kaien and Lady Shiba had taught her to be a better person, or that she had become a good shinigami in her own right.
It was this ability that Urahara recognised when he came to know of Rukia - mainly of the strength of her heart. However, the main reason why Urahara choose to hide the Hougyoku in Rukia was that Aizen had overlooked her. Aizen would have continued to overlook her, if Urahara hadn't decided to bring Ichigo into the picture. (I had some imagery here of Rukia being the "king" of the chessboard, and Ichigo being the "queen", in that Rukia is powerful but restrictied, and Ichigo being just as powerful but with more range of motion. But it's a bit of an overkill and besides, the Hougyoku is the king, not Rukia per se.)
Rukia jumping in front of the Hollow was her usual over-protectiveness that got her into trouble at the academy; giving half her powers to Ichigo was a calculated risk. Rukia knew he had both the motivation and bravery to kill the Hollow. In addition, she could recover half her powers relatively quickly, and might even be able to heal herself. Unfortunately, she didn't plan on Ichigo taking ALL (though Urahara did).
Once she discovered that Ichigo had taken her powers, she set out to teach him the responsibility that came with it. In doing so, she finally understood why Kaien liked teaching her so much, and allowed herself to entertain the idea of becoming an instructor at the academy. (Rukia thought it was Not Done for a Kuchiki to teach. She didn't know that many Kuchiki women had been instructors at the academy before. There are many things that Rukia doesn't know.)
Ichigo let her rediscover her abilities as a den mother; Rukia had a bit of fun mothering him in the first few days of being his mentor. But he also had a bit of pig-headedness that allowed him to jockey his way to being her equal - not in terms of knowledge but in terms of accepting her. She had not realised she had missed this. And with Ichigo, she did not have the same restrictions that marked her relationship with Kaien the vice-captain. In fact she could forget that there were any restrictions at all (like his being human). For the first time in a long while, Rukia was truly happy.
Rukia does, however, envy Ichigo for having the luxury of a family - people who have to care about him because they're related. She even likes Isshin's antics (though she would never tell Ichigo that). That was why she never found hiding in Ichigo's room/closet a chore - she could listen to the Kurosakis go about their daily activities. When she got a chance to stay with them officially, she was overjoyed.
Initially, Rukia wasn't as sure what she thought about Ichigo's classmates. She liked the guys well enough, but they were more familar with the fake Rukia than who she really was. While she did bond with Chad through fighting the Hollow, she thought he had forgotten who she was with the memory modifier. Later on, Ichigo was too busy being an ass for her to talk much with Chad, though she did check in on his training with Renji.
She was leery of how the girls would hang out in a big group, even Tatsuki who pinged her as someone who would understand shinigami. Growing up with boys, Rukia wasn't as good at dealing with several girls at a time. She didn't realise how good a friend Orihime could be until Orihime joined the rest in coming to SS to save Rukia. Besides, before that it was dangerous to make friends - they could find out who Rukia truly was. (With Ichigo it was too late, and so he never received the same treatment. Sharing a secret can do wonders for friendship.)
Rukia was relieved when Renji and Byakuya came to take her away - she knew that punishment awaited her, and being captured was just the first step to getting the punishment over. It did hurt her that she wasn't able to protect Ichigo. (Although secretly, she thought it best if Ichigo lost his powers. At least he would not be reminded of her, or get into trouble with Hollows without her.) She did not expect her punishment to be execution; however it never occured to her that she should not be executed, since she felt she deserved to be punished. She did not understand why, and it was only through her long solitude that she dredged up the old reason of her murder of Kaien, which she had never been punished for.
Perhaps with time Rukia would have let go of that notino, but she was disturbed by Ichigo and his firneds coming to save her. Whatever she thought of her life, she did not think she was worth the possible deaths of 4 people. It was reinforced by her conversation with Ichigo on the bridge.
Then again, it's unlike Rukia to sit idly by. The joint realisation that Renji cared enough for her as a friend to risk his life for her and the offer by Gin to free her for the chance to change what was happening was one of the things that startled her out of her resignation. Hence the scream of rage when she was thwarted.
Unfortunately, seeing her borther not react to her excution made her resolve she had to do the same as he had - accept her fate. That was why she met the firebird so calmly.
Afterwards, the realisation that so many people were willing to risk themselves to keep her alive was sobering, and also why Rukia stayed in Soul Society. She had to become strong to be worthy of them. She was pleased to be selected to go to the real world.
But she was surprised that ichigo, the person who fought so hard for her to live, had paled to a shadow of himself. The speech was absolutely necessary; here was a chance for her to finally give back to Ichigo. Likewise with Orihime. She was very disappointed when Ichigo disappeared without telling anyone, and focused her attention on Orihime.
Rukia and Orihime deepened their friendship in the one month of training, and Orihime was the first person to introduce Rukia to the idea of sleepovers during this time.
Come to think of it, why hasn't anyone written an AU where Renji does get to Rukia first and succeed in saving her? He has a GODDARN SNAKE BANKAI.
Rukia was supposed to end up in the same class as Renji, but was separated by Aizen to make Renji more susceptible to being manipulated, hopefully through becoming power hungry. However, it didn’t quite work because of Rukia. Aizen tried again by giving Byakuya the opportunity to find her, but it still didn’t work out.
Rukia didn’t do well in the academy (and a little in the 13th division) because she was always looking out for others and not paying attention to threats to herself. She was also shocked to find Seireitei not unlike Rukongai in the way that the nobles looked down on others. She might have gotten better with time, but she was adopted. In the clan, Rukia felt there was a good reason to look down on her. She also felt indebted to the clan for taking her in and arranging for her to graduate early when she didn't deserve to do so. Unfortunately, she couldn't leave the clan as easily as she left her first family in Rukongai.
It was both lucky and unlucky for Rukia that Kaien took her under his wing - on one hand she had a powerful friend, on the other it made the division treat her like the vice-captain's pet. Rukia didn't care - she had her own mini-family among the seated officers. In fact, Rukia wanted to be like Lady Shiba because Lady Shiba was a reminder that it was possible to be a den mother in Soul Society, just like Rukia was for Renji and co. In the meantime, she let herself enjoy the feeling of being fussed over.
It wasn't just the 13th that was fussing over Rukia. Both Kaien and Ukitake like to think that they were the driving force behind Byakuya tutoring Rukia in kidou. In fact Byakuya had assumed, based on Hisana, that Rukia would be good at kidou. Later on, when Rukia showed her atheletism Byakuya also arranged for gymnastic lessons. After all, Yoruichi showed that fists were just as effective. Let Kaien waste his time with sword lessons.
Rukia could have spent her life reasonably content this way. Eventually Byakuya might have let go of his fear and let her become a seated officer, or Renji could have gotten over his stupid mistake. Rukia was even content with her one-sided crush on Shiba Kaien - she loved him because he was the first person that she didn't need to take care of, and took care of her instead. Moreover, she cared for Lady Shiba too much to act on her feelings, which was a pity because Lady Shiba was rather open-minded about such things. But Rukia preferred having her "family" more.
Unfortunately, Aizen's mechanisms destroyed Kaien and Lady Shiba, and Rukia lost her division family. Ukitake tried to take their place, but he was too close to the authority that Rukia had never got used to trusting. Still, Rukia's mourning didn't change the fact that Kaien and Lady Shiba had taught her to be a better person, or that she had become a good shinigami in her own right.
It was this ability that Urahara recognised when he came to know of Rukia - mainly of the strength of her heart. However, the main reason why Urahara choose to hide the Hougyoku in Rukia was that Aizen had overlooked her. Aizen would have continued to overlook her, if Urahara hadn't decided to bring Ichigo into the picture. (I had some imagery here of Rukia being the "king" of the chessboard, and Ichigo being the "queen", in that Rukia is powerful but restrictied, and Ichigo being just as powerful but with more range of motion. But it's a bit of an overkill and besides, the Hougyoku is the king, not Rukia per se.)
Rukia jumping in front of the Hollow was her usual over-protectiveness that got her into trouble at the academy; giving half her powers to Ichigo was a calculated risk. Rukia knew he had both the motivation and bravery to kill the Hollow. In addition, she could recover half her powers relatively quickly, and might even be able to heal herself. Unfortunately, she didn't plan on Ichigo taking ALL (though Urahara did).
Once she discovered that Ichigo had taken her powers, she set out to teach him the responsibility that came with it. In doing so, she finally understood why Kaien liked teaching her so much, and allowed herself to entertain the idea of becoming an instructor at the academy. (Rukia thought it was Not Done for a Kuchiki to teach. She didn't know that many Kuchiki women had been instructors at the academy before. There are many things that Rukia doesn't know.)
Ichigo let her rediscover her abilities as a den mother; Rukia had a bit of fun mothering him in the first few days of being his mentor. But he also had a bit of pig-headedness that allowed him to jockey his way to being her equal - not in terms of knowledge but in terms of accepting her. She had not realised she had missed this. And with Ichigo, she did not have the same restrictions that marked her relationship with Kaien the vice-captain. In fact she could forget that there were any restrictions at all (like his being human). For the first time in a long while, Rukia was truly happy.
Rukia does, however, envy Ichigo for having the luxury of a family - people who have to care about him because they're related. She even likes Isshin's antics (though she would never tell Ichigo that). That was why she never found hiding in Ichigo's room/closet a chore - she could listen to the Kurosakis go about their daily activities. When she got a chance to stay with them officially, she was overjoyed.
Initially, Rukia wasn't as sure what she thought about Ichigo's classmates. She liked the guys well enough, but they were more familar with the fake Rukia than who she really was. While she did bond with Chad through fighting the Hollow, she thought he had forgotten who she was with the memory modifier. Later on, Ichigo was too busy being an ass for her to talk much with Chad, though she did check in on his training with Renji.
She was leery of how the girls would hang out in a big group, even Tatsuki who pinged her as someone who would understand shinigami. Growing up with boys, Rukia wasn't as good at dealing with several girls at a time. She didn't realise how good a friend Orihime could be until Orihime joined the rest in coming to SS to save Rukia. Besides, before that it was dangerous to make friends - they could find out who Rukia truly was. (With Ichigo it was too late, and so he never received the same treatment. Sharing a secret can do wonders for friendship.)
Rukia was relieved when Renji and Byakuya came to take her away - she knew that punishment awaited her, and being captured was just the first step to getting the punishment over. It did hurt her that she wasn't able to protect Ichigo. (Although secretly, she thought it best if Ichigo lost his powers. At least he would not be reminded of her, or get into trouble with Hollows without her.) She did not expect her punishment to be execution; however it never occured to her that she should not be executed, since she felt she deserved to be punished. She did not understand why, and it was only through her long solitude that she dredged up the old reason of her murder of Kaien, which she had never been punished for.
Perhaps with time Rukia would have let go of that notino, but she was disturbed by Ichigo and his firneds coming to save her. Whatever she thought of her life, she did not think she was worth the possible deaths of 4 people. It was reinforced by her conversation with Ichigo on the bridge.
Then again, it's unlike Rukia to sit idly by. The joint realisation that Renji cared enough for her as a friend to risk his life for her and the offer by Gin to free her for the chance to change what was happening was one of the things that startled her out of her resignation. Hence the scream of rage when she was thwarted.
Unfortunately, seeing her borther not react to her excution made her resolve she had to do the same as he had - accept her fate. That was why she met the firebird so calmly.
Afterwards, the realisation that so many people were willing to risk themselves to keep her alive was sobering, and also why Rukia stayed in Soul Society. She had to become strong to be worthy of them. She was pleased to be selected to go to the real world.
But she was surprised that ichigo, the person who fought so hard for her to live, had paled to a shadow of himself. The speech was absolutely necessary; here was a chance for her to finally give back to Ichigo. Likewise with Orihime. She was very disappointed when Ichigo disappeared without telling anyone, and focused her attention on Orihime.
Rukia and Orihime deepened their friendship in the one month of training, and Orihime was the first person to introduce Rukia to the idea of sleepovers during this time.
Come to think of it, why hasn't anyone written an AU where Renji does get to Rukia first and succeed in saving her? He has a GODDARN SNAKE BANKAI.
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