"Do you, Rukia, take Renji to be your husband? In health and sickness? Yadda yadda yadda?" The old, balding priest asked. He picked his nose, shuffling from one bare foot to another on the sun baked dirt road.
The couple who stood before him didn't care. In fact, both girl and boy, for they were not yet out of their teens, were smiling from ear to ear. "Yes!" Exclaimed the girl, a short thing with a bob of splitting black hair and sapphire eyes. She giggled in excitement, clutching the bouquet of flowering weeds closer to her chest.
"The same, Renji?" The priest dryly asked the boy, a mangy redhead who was a head taller than both officiant and bride, and who looked like he would grow even taller.
"Hell to the yeah!" The boy exclaimed, earning himself a barked laugh from the girl, and an eye roll from the hung-over holy man. Renji, unable to contain his happiness, reached out to hold onto Rukia's wrists, stepping closer to the girl in front of the dilapidated shrine on the outskirts of the Howling Dog District, their hometown.
The priest reached up to pick his ear this time, "Then I guess you're husband and wife, now either 'Abarai' or whatever you're called. Kiss and pay up, why don't you? I gotta bed calling my name and a nap that's long overdue."
Giggling, the newlyweds stepped even closer to each other, Rukia wrapping her arms around his waist (still clutching at the weeds), while Renji cupped her jaw and awkwardly leaned down to kiss his wife for the first time. It was not their first kiss in general, however, and with practiced ease they both opened to the other, tongues merging and lips suckled and breaths exchanged. Renji was glad he thought to steal a pinch of salt earlier, rubbing grime from his teeth, and not surprised to taste mint on Rukia.
"Ahem." The little old man that presided over their little ceremony interrupted. The young couple broke apart, but were not chastised in the least. Neither looking away from their other half, Renji dug the threadbare purse from his waist and tossed it in the general direction of the priest. The old man had to reach the side to catch it, and he sighed at the extra effort. He frowned further at the meager amount within, but only because he had hoped there would be extra, not because the kids lied. He shrugged, remembering he really didn't need too much anyway, just alcohol and a roof over his head. Being a goody two shoes for eons tended to make a man want to be reincarnated already, and not too worried about current affairs any longer.
Giggling, the happy pair walked in the opposite direction of the old shrine, hearts in hands and hands intertwined. Their first stop as husband and wife was a cliff, and there their smiles faded somewhat. With a gentle bow, Rukia parted her bouquet into three, and laid them upon three, unimpressive but meaningful graves. Renji also bowed; "We'll do you proud, friends."
The Abarai's next destination was a rundown shack that stood in the middle of nowhere, a forest on one side and an unimpeded view of the Soul Society on the other. That would be their third destination as newlyweds. But now, it was inside the shack they went, shedding the best, poorest, clothing and laying upon a threadbare futon set up beforehand.
Again they kissed, but for the first time they explored the other's beautiful nakedness, blushing, giggling and fascinated. And when Rukia sank down on Renji, they were whole for the first time as lovers, and the last time as innocents. Holding each other as the rocked in bliss, neither realized how difficult it would be to remain not only husband and wife, but also free and happy. For the longest time to come, this night would remain the happiest they would know, and in the darkest of times, cling to it in hope that it could be, once more.
Author's Notes: And there you have it. Plus chapter one... I'm not sure where this story is going, or how often I will post chapters, but I wanted to put something "RenRuki" on fanfiction, because I was getting a little sad at the lack of proper RenRuki stories. (P.S., I adore all pairings, I just wish there was more of this particular one, that's all...) I do plan to include IchiHime as well, but not knowing how soon I will post, I haven't put them as main characters yet. Anyway, I hope the story is enjoyed!