Renji was sprinting down the hallways of the Soul Reaper Academy. He'd dodged teachers and his peers and even ran into a couple corners of the walls until he reached the empty classroom he was running to. He flung open the doors and sprung inside.
"Rukia! Guess what just happened? I passed the second exam! Isn't that great! Now if I pass the next one, I…!" Renji said excitedly…but stopped in his tracks as he took in the sight before him.
A group of nobles were gathered in the room, all facing Rukia. Rukia was petite enough already, but she seemed even tinnier compared to the nobleman in the room. She even looked somewhat afraid of the noblemen.
"Well…" the eldest nobleman spoke in a deep voice.
"…It would seem our deliberations have been interrupted. Take a few days and consider the situation. We're looking forward to hearing a favorable answer." He said to Rukia as he and the other nobles left the room. Renji felt the heavy spiritual pressure of the youngest nobleman as he glided past him.
This amazing spiritual pressure! It's so strong…I can't even look into his eyes!
They all left the room and the spiritual pressure died down, but Renji was still shocked by what he just felt and encountered. Rukia had to speak to get him out of his trance.
"Renji!" She spoke. Renji was thrust out of his trance and noticed a scared looking Rukia in the middle of the room; not the strong, independent girl Renji was used to seeing. Renji finally decided to just try to act as normally as he could.
"Oh, uh, Rukia! How are you doing? You had some pretty important looking visitors there, huh! Sorry to interrupt. So, tell me, what was that all about anyway?" Renji quickly asked. Rukia then lowered her head a bit and looked away for a moment. Renji then started to get annoyed with her unusual hesitation.
"Oh, so it's a secret, huh!" Renji said. But before he could continue, Rukia snapped at him.
"That was the Kuchiki family Renji! They want to adopt me as their daughter!" Rukia sharply told Renji. She paused for a moment to try to think of how to explain to Renji. She finally found the right words.
"They said that they're going to let me graduate right away, and then; after that they can make arrangements to put me straight into one of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads." Rukia told him. Renji's eyes widened in shock of the situation and literally couldn't breathe.
Did this really just happen! Is she really going to become a Kuchiki!
"Renji…I-I don't know what to do." Rukia quietly said as she glanced at the floor, lost in her own thoughts. She was thrust back to reality as Renji thrust his hands on her shoulders, making her gasp in shock.
"Rukia, what do you mean! Of course you know what to do! You say yes Rukia! This is fantastic! Don't you see? You're in! The Kuchiki's are a powerful noble family, and now you're going to become one of them! You're going to live the rest of your life in luxury Rukia, wearing fine clothes…HEY! I wonder what nobles eat! Man, I'm jealous! And not only that, oh wow…you're going to get to graduate immediately! This is wonderful news Rukia!" Renji strongly spoke at Rukia as he laughed and roughly patted her shoulders. Rukia just stared at him in awe until he finished. She then looked at the ground and thought about his words.
"You…really think so?" Rukia softly asked.
"I'm practically speechless! Renji bellowed as he continued laughing. Rukia thought for a moment, and then made her final decision.
She grabbed one of Renji's wrists and lifted it off of her shoulder. Renji instantly stopped laughing, wondering what she was doing. She then reached up her other hand and grabbed another part of her arm. She squeezed it before making speaking again.
"You…really think that I would be happy in a life with the Kuchiki's? Do you…do you really care about me that much?" Rukia gently spoke, still keeping her head to the ground. Renji just stood there completely speechless. Rukia then moved her hands from Renji's arms to his hands and clenched it. She then began her way out the classroom door, pulling Renji along with her.
"Come on!" Rukia snapped at him.
"W-what?" Renji asked.
"Just follow me before they leave!" Rukia said as she pulled Renji with her. Still holding hands, they both sprinted through the academy hallways, making their way to the front gates. They both made their way outside and saw the group of nobles just about to leave the academy grounds.
"Wait! Please, wait a moment!" Rukia shouted at the tiny group. They all turned around and faced Rukia. She and Renji paused in front of them and caught their breaths. Rukia then stood up straight with a look of content on her face.
"Kuchiki, I've made my decision about your offer for my adoption." Rukia strongly stated. The eldest nobleman then stepped forward and smiled.
"Oh, really? I trust your answer will be in our favor then." He said as he smiled at her. Even some students passing by paused to see what was going on. Rukia paused for a moment to gather the words in her head. Once she found them, she spoke.
"My answer is no." Rukia stated. Everybody was silent and in shock. All of the nobleman's eyes widened, especially the young nobleman with the enormous spiritual pressure. Renji himself felt his own eyes widen and his breathing stop. He stood up straight and turned toward Rukia.
"Rukia, what the hell, have you gone completely insane!" Renji whispered harshly, but Rukia was unfazed.
"…Don't get me wrong sir, I am truly grateful of your generous offer, and I will always remember it. But…" Rukia said. She then moved over to Renji's side and grabbed his arm again. She then hugged it close to her.
"…I already have a family, and it's with him!" Rukia said as she clenched Renji's arm.
"Renji and I have been together for a very long time now. We've grown together, laughed together…even suffered and cried together. If I join the Kuchiki's and leave my past and become a noble, I'll lose Renji. I'm not willing to risk that. I don't want our connection to disappear because of different titles. I'm sorry, but I my place it's with Renji…not yours." Rukia stated as she stared intensely at each of the nobles. They all gawked open their mouths and widened their eyes as Rukia finished. She'd just passed up the opportunity of a life that people would die for. After the shock of Rukia's decision, the eldest elder cleared his throat and spoke again.
"Well, I'm sorry to hear that Rukia. But please remember that if there is anything that you ever need, please feel free to contact us." He said as he kindly smiled. Rukia smiled back and nodded her head.
"I will sir. Thank you!" Rukia said as she let go of Renji's arm and bowed. The elderly nobleman bowed back and led the others out of the Academy gates. The youngest nobleman continued to blankly stare at Rukia. It wasn't until the elderly nobleman called his name that he was thrust out of his trance.
"Byakuya! It's time for us to return to the Seretei." He exclaimed impatiently at the younger nobleman. He finally turned around and slowly walked away. It wasn't until they left the academy grounds that Rukia and Renji noticed everybody staring at them. A few students had actually dropped their books when Rukia turned down the Kuchiki's offer. She and Renji then both blushed and started walking. They weren't even sure where they were going, they were just…running.
They both ended up in a patch of the woods that was used for combat training. The combat classes weren't in session today so the forest was empty except for the two of them. Rukia then sat on the ground to catch he r breath while Renji leaned up against a tree. He finally looked down at Rukia, who was now sitting in a crunched up position, holding her legs.
"Rukia…you were kidding when you turned down the Kuchikis', right?" Renji asked hesitantly and with a nervous smile on his face. Rukia just sat there for a while, letting the quiet sink into her. She then spread her lags out and leaned back.
"Renji…have I ever, once, lied about anything." Rukia said. Renji went speechless once again until Rukia turned around and kindly glanced at him.
"Everything I said was true. And I meant every…single…word of it." Rukia softly said as she gently glanced into Renji's dark brown eyes with her own deep blue. Renji took in Rukia words for a moment before closing his own eyes. He then walked toward Rukia and kneeled down next to Rukia. She closed her eyes as she felt a giant hand encase her head and let it pull her to a warm shoulder.
"…Thank you Rukia. I don't know what I'd do without you." Renji gently spoke in her ear. Rukia then chuckled a bit as she nuzzled her cheek against Renji's.
"Hmm…you don't have to thank me for anything." Rukia said. For who knows how long, they both just sat their together, lost in their own little world of comfort and understanding.