5 Years Prior

"Orihime...Wait." His voice sounded as he saw the strawberry-haired woman make her way to the portal.

"Renji?"

He could hear the surprise in her voice. She couldn't possibly know what he wanted to say, and he knew that, making his words even harder to find, let alone speak.

"Well...Um...Orihime, I-I have to tell you something. It's pretty important to me so...uh…"

"Renji, we are friends, no? You can tell me anything. I don't want to force it out of you, so it's not necessary for you speak to me, but if it's important, you should.

"Orihime" Renji was stunned. In no realm, or person for that matter, had he ever found a person so understanding of those who were barely even friends. It only made him love her more. He wanted to run to her, hug her, and confess his most inner desires and feelings. His love. His hopes. And, most importantly, his hopes for the future.

But he knew, right then and there, that he wouldn't. He did not deserve her. He could not allow her to live her life with a blithering idiot, whose stupidity was only surpassed by his rash behavior. Not to mention the gap in age and life span. No, it couldn't work. It wouldn't work.

"I-I'm sorry. It's not that important. I-"

"Orihime! Let's go." The resounding voice of another ginger filled the space, causing Renji to look up at the figure and Orihime to jump. His eyes seemed to glow blue with a mix of rage and jealousy, digging holes right into Renji's head.

"Uh-Y-Y-Yes Ichigo, of course. I'll go right away." Her fear was clearly present, and she quickly gave Renji one last look before scurrying off to join her friends on the other side. However, Ichigo remained, quickly walking towards the frightened Soul Reaper.

He grabbed the collar of the red-haired man, and threw him up against a wall. The force shook Renji, and perhaps the entire Soul Society, and left him fearing for the worst.

"Renji...You and me are friends right? Well, I'm gonna give ya some friendly advice." His grip on the collar grew tighter. "Don't EVER talk to Orihime again. SHE IS MY QUEEN! In fact, don't ever look at her again. Unless you'd like me to kill you."

And with that, Ichigo released the stunned soul reaper, and walked away. Renji could only stand there and watch, fearing the smallest movement may get him killed. But soon the figure was gone, vanishing along with the portal entrance.

And so Renji fell, silently weeping as the rain began to fall around him