This is my first Bleach fic. I originally wanted to write this as an Ichi/Hime fic because they really are my first and favourite pair but the setting for the story seemed to fit Renji better, so I went with it. I hope you like it and if you don't, that's alright too! Let me know your thoughts :)

I would like to dedicate this story to my dear friend Sinoo, all credit truly belongs to her. It was her who inspired me to write in the first place and I'd really like to thank her for the inspiration :) This is for you Sina-chan!

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, Bleach Wiki or any of their affiliates…

It started out as an ordinary day within Seireitei. For Abarai Renji, it was nothing short of paper work, paper work, and more paper work... Being a captain was proving to be tiring, and not in a good way at that. He didn't mind the tiredness that came with training, no that kinda tiredness he appreciated. Dusting off Zabimaru and stretching it to the limits once a while was what he looked forward to the most. It took his mind off things which paper work could never do. However being a captain meant your duties mainly consisted of sitting in your office dealing with dreaded paper work, attending meetings summoned by the Captain Commander and occasionally attending the Men's Association meetings, which was way better than the first two.

When he had received his promotion, the fifth squad had received him well. He knew most off them and they knew that he would do well seeing as he was the Fukataicho of the 6th squad under the captaincy of the infamous Kuchiki Byakuya. His now Fukataicho, Momo Hinamori, was the happiest off all. They had been friends for ages and she welcomed the trust he brought with him. He was glad that she was better now, after all the pain she went through caused by the traitorous Aizen. He was gone now and she had moved on, well from his view point that is. He couldn't say the same for himself though...

It had been five years now... Five years that he had realised the dream of ever having Kuchiki Rukia as his own was officially over. Five years, one month and three days to be exact but who the fuck was counting. It was that faithful day when he decided after the long years that he had waited, he was going to finally tell her how he felt, but before he could utter a word, she had burst out that she and Kurosaki were in love, and how right it felt and so on. He couldn't remember the rest that was said after that for he had gone into shock. The woman that he had been pining for, for as long as he could remember, was in love with another man… And it just had to be Kurosaki Ichigo… He had nothing against the boy, who was now a man as he was so reminded by Rukia, but if he was honest with himself, he would confess that he envied the orange haired man, not only for stealing Rukia's affection, off which he thought belonged to him, but all the attention he received from everybody and no matter how bad things got in a battle, he was always coming out on top. However his life was mildly the opposite. He had his friends and a good social life in Soul Society, if you could call it that, but he never had the attention Ichigo received. What riled him up the most was the fact that no matter how hard he tried to be the best, he always ended being second best, even now with Rukia… He had always tried his hardest, but he would always fall short. How long had he trained and moved up the ranks to eventually become the Fukataicho of division 6, under Kuchiki Byakuya. And then when his chance came to surpass his idol, he couldn't succeed, he didn't have the resolve to beat Byakuya, even though he had reached his Bankai. Not only that, but a mere human boy who hadn't even known about Soul Society or Shinigami's for that matter, managed to wipe the floor with him and Ikkaku and then went on to beat the legendary Zaraki Kenpachi and the noble Kuchiki Byakuya. He had felt that envy, but he pushed it away for he knew the boy was genuine and he had come to save Rukia. He had become his ally, and went on to becoming friends no matter the strange arguments they had ever so often. They had an understanding between each other. But that envy surfaced again that night when Rukia confessed her feelings and all he wanted to do was crack his skull open, but he couldn't, he wouldn't, for the sake of Rukia. So he did what he did best, he swallowed his feelings and pretended as if he was extremely happy for his best friend, all while smiling with a heavy heart.

Although he might have felt distraught at the news, he would never forget the look that he had seen on the healers face when she found out. He thought he knew pain, but apparently he was wrong…

He had been at Urahara's Shop, cleaning up outside because Jinta wouldn't let up on that fucking freeloading shit and he needed to get his mind of things instead of lazing around inside. It had been only the previous night that the bomb had been dropped on him. He was sweeping around a few leaves when he heard light footsteps approach. He looked up to see Orihime smiling timidly up at him. She was dressed in her usual school uniform but with a beige cardigan over her school shirt. He noticed that her clothes really clung to her womanly curves, he didn't think a uniform could actually accentuate someone's figure. He wanted to chuckle at that thought when he was pulled out of his thoughts by her soft childlike voice.

"Hello Abarai-kun", she said softly while looking at her hands clasped in front of her.

He noticed that she was feeling shy for some reason and realised that she must have caught him gazing at her. 'Argh, you can be such a baka sometimes Abarai!' he reprimanded himself. He looked up at her and grinned.

"Uh, hi Orihime, what brings you to the shop?" he asked.

"Oh, well I was taking a walk, just to get some fresh air and I thought I'd drop by seeing as I was in the area, just to tell everyone hi because I haven't seen everyone in a while and I thought that it would be rude for me to just walk on by without saying hello, especially seeing as I was so close by, and-"

"Woah! Hold up there Orihime! I get it, you just wanted to visit." He said with a slight grin at the animated way she spoke. He had stopped her from her ramblings because he knew that she could go on and on.

"Heh heh, sorry Abarai- Kun, sometimes my mouth just fly's off without telling me, I think it's those blue men that have something to do with it…" She said while scrunching her forehead and thinking to her self.

He couldn't help but chuckle at her, she really was a sweet girl. She looked up and smiled at him and he noticed for the first time that she had a really breath taking smile. It radiated warmth and you could actually feel it surround you when her gaze was on you. "Come on, lets go inside" he smiled at her and motioned for her to follow him as he stood the broom up against the wall. He walked in and proceeded to sit at the low lying table where Urahara was presently at.

Urahara went on to greet Orihime and ask her about her daily life. He listened on quietly and noticed Tessai bringing in some tea mentioning that he had heard Orihime's voice. Renji snorted, realizing he got none of that treatment around here. He looked towards the tea, when he heard the door opening and the sound of giggling floated in towards them.

"Oi, Inoue? What are you doing here?" Kurosaki asked Orihime.

Orihime turned, due to her back facing the doorway and Renji noticed her eyes widening, shock clear on her face.

"K-K-Kurosaki-kun, K-Kuchiki-san… I-I-I…"

And then he noticed Orihime's eyes glance down and her eyes widened even more, if that was even possible and then she gasped. Renji looked towards whatever it was that gave her such an expression and then he saw Ichigo's hand was wrapped around Rukia's securely. His chest tightened and he inwardly groaned. He turned to look back towards the tea but realised that the girl next to him was slowly having trouble breathing.

"Orihime? Are you okay?" he asked her quietly.

She didn't move, just kept staring at their hands. He could see the shimmering of her eyes and he knew they would spill any moment, in all the emotions that had been going on through his head from the time Rukia confessed, he had completely forgot about the young gifted healer who practically worshiped the human Shinigami. He never once thought about how this would affect her, the girl who had run off to help this man she loved,save a girl she hardly knew. She was taken by Aizen on the whim that she would be protecting her friends only to have Ichigo save her which probably strengthened the feelings she had for him. He felt extremely sad for the kind hearted girl, a girl that would sacrifice her own feelings for the sake of others, in some cases even her enemies. He was pulled out of his thoughts by a sharp voice.

"Oi, Inoue? Are you ok? What's wrong?" Ichigo asked as he took a step towards her.

This made her snap out of her reverie and look up at him. "N-N-Nothing Kurosaki-kun, nothing at all." She exclaimed, moving her hands rapidly in front of her. She started to stand up shakily, then bowing to everybody hurriedly, mumbling something about making dinner and her favourite TV shows, and then proceeded to dash past the two at the door and out into the street.

Ichigo looked at Rukia and said." What was that about? Maybe I should go check up on her"

Before he could say anything, Renji interrupted him with a snort. "Look at your hands Dumbass"

Ichigo and Rukia proceeded to look at their hands and then realization set in. "Ichigo! You didn't tell Inoue did you…?" Rukia asked with eyes wide.

Ichigo dragged his hands over his face eliciting a small groan, "I wanted to today, but I just didn't get the chance…"

"You Baka! Go after her now!" Rukia screamed and shoved him not too gently towards the door and then scrambled out her self. Renji knew this was none of his business but he couldn't help but sigh at the memory of the look of hurt on Orihime's face, it mirrored what he felt in his heart and he cold only imagine how she felt with a heart as big as hers. He leaped up and followed them outside. He probably was the only one who could comprehend what the girl was feeling right now so maybe he should even the odds instead of having two against one.

When he got outside, he noticed Ichigo running off down the street screaming out for Inoue and Rukia following behind. He could make out Orihime's figure a slight distance in front of Ichigo. He noticed she stopped and turned around as Ichigo caught up with her. Rukia had stopped a small distance away from them and he could see Ichigo talking to the girl as she looked up at him. He made his way towards them and heard everything.

"Inoue, I-I need to tell you something…" Ichigo whispered lowering his head. Renji noticed he couldn't bring himself to look at her in the eyes. Before he could say anything, he was interrupted.

"Are y-you a-and Kuchiki-san a couple…?" The healer asked gently.

"Hai Inoue…" Ichigo silently replied.

Orihime gasped and then turned slowly to look at Rukia. They gazed at each other for a moment until Rukia whispered solemnly while gazing at the floor. "I'm sorry Inoue…It just happened…"

Orihime just stood there, tears streaming down her cheeks, her mouth slightly agape. And then it looked as if she snapped out of it and said, "I-I-I'm happy for you Kuchiki-san and Kurosaki-kun. I hope you are happy together." And she smiled so softly at the both of them. When she looked at Renji, he instantly saw the pain and hurt in her eyes that she tried to hide behind the façade that she was happy for them.

"Inoue… Are you sure…" Ichigo asked

And then Renji noticed that the façade cracked as she looked into Kurosaki's eyes. She took a deep breath and burst out into tears, covering her face. "I can't do this! I just can't!" And she turned abruptly and bolted down the street towards the main road, tears blurring her eyes.

Ichigo ran off after her, "Inoue! Inoue! Wait! Stop running!" Rukia followed screaming his name and Renji followed, for some reason he felt like the girl shouldn't be alone. They chased after her down the pavement but she was making a mad dash away from Ichigo. She looked as if she was running blindly, and then she ran across the road like she was being chased by the devil itself. No one saw the car approaching her with a speed, least of all herself, she was probably hindered by her tears. Everyone was highly emotional, not giving their surroundings a thought. We all stopped as if the scene played in slow motion. Renji shoved down the feeling to hurl when he heard the sickening sound of bones breaking as he watched Orihime's body fly through the air and fall on the ground with a heavy thud. They were all paralyzed as they stared. This couldn't be happening… the next thing he heard was Ichigo's pained roar.

"INOUE!" Ichigo ran towards her and so did he and Rukia. Ichigo didn't want to touch her or move her, he knew of the consequences as the son of a doctor. He laid two fingers along her neck and started shaking his head violently, "No… No... No… It's too late" Ichigo sat back and stared at Orihime's battered body. Rukia gasped and shoved him out of the way, dropping to her knees, quickly using kidou. They waited, and waited, and waited. Nothing happened, until they heard the clinking sound of a chain. They all looked up, and there she was, the beautiful soul of Orihime Inoue, smiling sadly at them, her eyes looked different though, they were a lighter shade of grey than usual, and she was looking straight ahead, not at them as she spoke.

"It's okay, it's time for me to leave now… Kurosaki-kun… Would you? Please…" the healer said gently.

Renji knew what she wanted, it was too late for her, if Kidou hadn't worked all this time, then it was the end of Orihime's human existence… He watched as Ichigo walked towards her, tears rolling down his face. "I'm sorry… Inoue…"

"No, please don't apologise, I'm okay, please be happy Kurosaki-kun, and you too Kuchiki-san…" She looked towards the petite Shinigami, who couldn't control her tears, but not directly at her. She then had a sad smile on her face, and still looking into the distance, without looking at him, said, "it was nice knowing you Abarai-Kun".

Renji nodded with a sad smile of his own, it was just like Orihime to put everyone's feelings before her own. "Hai…" As he continued to look at her, he couldn't understand why she wasn't looking at them when she clearly looked like she was in peace. She literally radiated calmness.

She turned towards the direction of Ichigo, still not looking at him directly, and said, "I'm ready" And then she closed her eyes, eyes that seemed to trouble Renji's mind ever since she left her material body.

Ichigo used his badge to dislodge his body, which Rukia caught, and then he pulled Zangetsu off his back and turned the handle toward her until a soft blue glow illuminated it. "Take care Inoue" He whispered as he touched her forehead with it. They all watched as she began to disintegrate into the night air, whilst keeping her smile on her mouth, and then she was gone…