CI: Been a while. Long while. Inspiration just hit me. And besides, I absolutely adore these two.

I did it, I did it, I did it! Renji repeated to himself as he sprinted down the hall to Rukia's training dojo. He had passed the second exam. One more test and he would be set on a path to join the thirteen court guard squads within the next year! They were so close, so much closer to living the life they had always wanted. He could get them a nice apartment in Central District, become notable seated officers, even lieutenants! And then they would get married, have kids –

Whoa! Getting ahead of myself. Renji shook his head. How could he imagine a life with Rukia past the Academy if he hadn't even asked her out yet? Sure, the advanced classes kept him busy, but he should at least make time for her. She, who meant everything to him…

"Eek!" a pair of girls shrieked in front of him. Renji stopped and turned on his foot just in time.

"Sorry about that!" he yelled back at them as his destination grew near. He would ask Rukia today. They'd go someplace nice, treat themselves to rice dumplings and taiyaki stuffed with red bean paste and custard. He'd ask to see her more often as more than friends. It would perfect. It had to be.

"Rukia!" he swung the door to the dojo open. "Guess what just happened? I passed the second exam, isn't that great! Now if I pass the next one I –"

He stopped talking. There were other people in the room. And they definitely were not students. Two soul reapers surrounded Rukia, an elderly gentleman with a moustache and a handsome man with long black hair. He wore three kenseikan in his hair, a sign of nobility. What…what were they doing here? And with Rukia no less?

But before he could ask Rukia what was happening, the gentleman turned in Renji's direction. "Well, it would seem we have been interrupted." The four men started walking away from Rukia and towards the door. "Take a few days to consider the situation. We look forward to a favorable answer."

Rukia's back was turned to him as the young noble sauntered towards him. Renji couldn't look him in the eye. His reiatsu was immense, suffocating Renji. All he could do was stand there, frozen, too shocked to move towards Rukia or run out the door. The man walked passed Renji as though he wasn't important. As though he didn't exist.

Renji didn't hear the door shut behind them, sweat brimming his forehead and eyes fixated on his feet. What was that? Who was that?

"Renji…" Rukia's voice broke his trance and he flashed a smile.

"Rukia, how's it going?" he asked, trying to break through the stiff atmosphere. "Those looked like some pretty important people. Sorry for interrupting." He stepped forward. "So, tell me. What's going on?"

Rukia looked sideways, her violet eyes filled with tension. Renji crooked an eyebrow and tried to shrug it off. "Oh, it's a secret? I get –"

"That was the Kuchiki family," Rukia interrupted him, voice slightly angry. "Renji, they want to adopt me as their daughter. They said they'll let me graduate right away and then…after that, they can make arrangements to put me into one of the thirteen court guard squads."

Renji stood still, eyes wide. Adoption? From a noble family? What were the odds that out of everyone, Rukia would be picked for a life of absolute bliss? He knew she had always stood out, shining with natural regality. This was her chance; to escape to a life they had both dreamed about since they were children. A job, a home, a family…

"Renji, I don't know what to do. What…what should I do? Renji?" Rukia casted her gaze on the floor, kicking the ground beneath her. He could tell she was confused. He could tell she was scared and lost.

What should she do?

"Rukia…" Renji whispered and curled his hands into fists. Here it was. He always knew this time would come. Rukia: his childhood companion, his best friend, his guiding light. Someone like her was bound for greater things than Rukongai, this academy, and him. His whole life with her had been a mistake: from the moment she had helped him escape with his friends all the way to their days at the Academy. A glorious, wonderful mistake, but a mistake nonetheless. How could he expect to live his life with her? To support her…to love her?

"What…what do you want to do?" he asked, hoping he could gauge her reaction. He wanted to be happy for her, to throw her up in the air and tell her this was the best thing that could happen. She, an orphan, would be adopted by one of the great noble houses and placed in the thirteen court guard squads! She, who he had protected, cared for, and fallen in love with, would be taken away from him. But this wasn't about his life or his happiness. It was about hers.

"Idiot!" she barked at him, slapping him on the arm. "I just asked you for advice and the first thing that comes out of your mouth is what I want? I don't know what I should do! This came so suddenly, so unexpectedly...you're my best friend! My only friend if I really think about it. And all you can do is throw my question back at my face?"

"Sorry, okay!" he rubbed his arm. For such a tiny body, she could pack quite a hit. "I just don't know what to say! I mean, I should be happy for you. I want to be happy for you and tell you to go for it! But…" he stared at her, unable to say the rest. He noticed Rukia was near tears and her body shook. She rarely cried.

"Rukia, don't…don't cry!" He bent down and shrugged her shoulders. "C'mon, we'll think this through! Let's go out somewhere and talk about it. Weigh your options. I'll buy you anything you like! How about rice dumplings? You love those! Oh, what about an omelet with cucumbers? I mean, it has nothing on taiyaki, but still! What do you say?"

Rukia remained silent and avoided Renji's eyes. Why didn't she say anything? The choice was so easy – she should take the offer. Should become a noble and get a position in the squads. She, the star, should leave him, the stray dog she had casted her light upon all these years ago. It was time for the star to leave him for greater things, to better opportunities.

"Tell me…" Rukia's voice trailed as she placed both hands on his left arm. "What do you want me to do? I don't want to go on some stupid date with you unless I know where it will take me."

Renji's face flushed. "I-I didn't say it was a d-date," he managed to stutter out. "I j-just wanted you to evaluate the situation with y-your boy – I mean b-best friend!"

"Renji, I've never seen you this way," Rukia almost smiled. "But, you've never asked me to eat with you. And never outside of the academy and you've never offered to pay. What you just suggested sounds a lot like a date, right?"

He struggled out a feeble, "Yes…"

"Now," Rukia looked up at him, cheeks streaked with tears and eyes red. "Answer the question: what should I do? What do you want me to do?"

Renji swallowed hard. This was it. He knew whatever he said right now would change their relationship. If it was for the better or for the worse, only time would tell.

"You should…you should do it," Renji cringed as Rukia's eyes widened and a fresh stream of tears fell down her face. He turned his head to the side and ignored the urge to comfort her. She had to hear his whole answer through. "You…should take this opportunity and live a life of luxury. Be a noble, graduate early, and become a soul reaper. I should tell you 'you're in, Rukia!' Or, 'I'm so jealous!' for having such a wonderful opportunity suddenly fall into your lap. But…I can't. I can't pretend with you."

He knelt down in front of her, just an inch shorter than she was. "I don't want you to do it. I know I should step aside and let you take this. If you to decide to, I will gladly step out of the way. I will gladly let you desert me so you can live your dream and be the bright star I know you're capable of being. Just know…just know that no matter what you do, I will always be your best friend. I will always be there. To protect you, to care for you…" To love you. He tried to speak out the last words but could not. Even now, in this moment of crossroads, he still couldn't say what clung to his heart. He couldn't speak the words that would reveal how he truly felt if she were to ever leave him. His light would fade, his drive to succeed right along with it. Everything had always been for her.

"You don't want me to go?" Rukia stepped forward, their faces inches apart. "Do you want me to stay here, with you? Live out my life in poverty with an overconfident, zealous, foolish man and struggle to achieve our dreams?

"Yes – I mean, no!" Renji shook his head, "Of course, I don't want you to live in poverty! That's why we came here, to Sereitei! So we can live a comfortable life! B-but, not to say it would always just be you and me. We'll get married…to other people of course! Just best friends, you and –" Something warm pecked Renji on the lips and he promptly lost his train of thought. His mind hazed over as he heard Rukia's distinct giggle.

"There, that shut you up," she suppressed her laughter. "If you don't want me to go than I'm not going. Those nobles freaked me out."

"What…what did you say?" Renji tried to comprehend what he had just heard. But, he was also trying to comprehend why, in God's name, did she kiss him?

"I'm not going to let them adopt me, you idiot!" Rukia slapped him across the head, snapping him out of his daze.

"What do you mean you're not going?" Renji growled and took her by the shoulders. "You have to go. Do you know what kind of enemies you can make if you don't accept it? Not only is it an insult, but the chances of you ever getting in a squad are slim to none. This Kuchiki family would personally find ways to make your life hell! Why would you do that?"

"Because it doesn't matter as long as I have you," Rukia stated so matter-of-factly that Renji's breath caught. "I don't need to have everything handed to me on a silver platter like the snobs all over this place. I don't need up-to-date fashion or gourmet food. As long as you are in my life, as long as we have each other, I could care less about anything else. I don't care if I'm ridiculed or scorned for my actions because without you Renji, my life would be empty. I could take it all: the nobility, the graduation, the position. And it would mean nothing to me. Because you wouldn't be there with me. Because I want to achieve our dreams together and show all these punks that our hard work wasn't in vain! I want a life with you, Renji."

Renji was stuck to the floor, hands still placed on Rukia's shoulders. She wanted…she wanted a life with him. He couldn't decide what to do: push her away, tell her to take the opportunity, and walk out of her life? Or give in to what they both wanted: a life with each other, no matter the consequences? They would both suffer and struggle for their decision. But, would it really be alright, as long as they were together?

"This is the part where you agree with me," Rukia crossed her arms and tapped her foot on the hardwood floor.

"I'm sorry, Rukia," he turned his face away from her impatient figure. "It's just…I'm not sure I deserve this. I want to make sure you know what you're getting into. I want to have you in my life so badly but if it means putting you through pain and hardship day in and day out…I wouldn't want you to go through that."

"Renji," Rukia stepped out of his shoulder lock and abruptly slapped him in the face. "I know what I'm getting into! I know the consequences. And of course you deserve this. I didn't just confess I love you to have you turn your back on my decision now."

"You…You love me?" That did it. His cheek stung and his heart raced. If she loved him…if she loved him…

"Of course," Rukia smiled. "Why else would I stay with such a buffoon like you?"

A rush of adrenaline swept over Renji. Taking advantage of the sudden impulse, he picked up Rukia, stood up, and kissed her full on the mouth. This was happiness. This is what it meant to be alive.

"I love you," he said in-between their kisses. "I love you so much." He couldn't believe this was happening. Finally, he had what he always wanted in his arms.

When they broke off the kiss, Renji still cradled Rukia in his arms, clutching onto the folds of her clothes. "It will be difficult, you know. They'll be expecting a yes."

"Of course," Rukia smirked. "Who wouldn't refuse such an offer?"

He returned the smile. "Only the most stubborn, hard-working woman I know. And I wouldn't want her any other way."

Rukia laughed and kissed him again. "Well then, where are we going for dinner?"

"Dinner?" Renji blinked.

Rukia glared. "Don't tell me you already forgot! You promised dinner when I was crying, moron! And I expect at least a date if I'm stuck with you for the rest of my life."

"Geez, don't make it sound like it was my idea and I forced you into it," Renji scoffed as he pulled her closer to his body and bolted out of the room. He knew exactly where they were going to dinner. This night had been planned years ago.

"Hey, where are we going?" Rukia wrapped her arms tight around his neck. "Everyone's going to see us!"

"Let them," Renji rushed down the hall, ignoring all the looks they received, eyes glazed over with excited focus. "I'm about to show you a night you'll never forget."

CI: As you can tell, if I do decided to continue this, it will be an AU fic really answering the question: how would the Soul Society be different if Rukia had stayed with Renji? Well, honestly, it would be waaay different. The chances of Rukia being an angst-ridden loner with Renji around are slim to none. And being part of both Urahara's or Aizen's elaborate schemes? Even more unlikely. Anyway, tell me what you think. I already have the second chapter in the works but would like some encouragement to finish it. Thank you for reading!