A/N: Despite the begining, this really is RenRuki fanfiction, just give it some time. All word in italics are thoughts.

Chapter 1

The day had finally come. By noon tomorrow, she would hold a place among the seated officers as the third seat. Not just any seated officers, but the seated officers of the sixth squad, led by the legendary Kuchiki Byakuya. But he's not the reason chills race through her petite frame; it's his Fukutaichos she's after.

"EEEEIIII!" squealed Sakasana, kicking the thin sheet from over her. She turned onto her stomach atop the thin mattress she lay upon, and buried her face in her pillow.

"What's wrong with me?" she thought frantically to herself. "Ugh, I'll never get any sleep at this rate…"

The moon shone brightly through her window, illuminating her restless figure. Her long course black hair fell just below her shoulders, shrouding her deeply tanned skin and hazel eyes from the world around her. "I can't believe it's finally happening. Who would have thought that I would finally reach my goal of third seat?" She could feel herself about to give off another squeal of delight, but stopped herself.

"This is ridiculous! I'm acting like some giddy little school girl. I've got to calm down." She struggled to think calm thoughts. "I'm already on the sixth squad. I'm only moving up one seat. It won't be a huge ceremony. It'll just be me, Kuchiki Taicho and Abarai Fukutaicho. All I'll have to do is sign the papers and get my new identification card… no big deal." She could feel herself beginning to calm down. She turned onto her back, staring up at the low ceiling.

"… Abarai Fukutaicho…I'll be starting my personal training with him next week…How am I gonna get through that? I can barley look him in the eye, let alone fight him. I'll have to talk to Rukia-san after my initiation meeting tomorrow."

Unbeknownst to all, except Rukia and Orihime, Sakasana had long harbored feelings for the tattooed lieutenant. She hesitated to call it love, but it was certainly more than like. Something in the way he walked, talked, fought even evoked extreme respect and admiration in Sakasana, but she knew she wasn't the only one who thought so.

She saw the way the other women fawned and giggled over him; relentlessly flirting and throwing themselves at him.

Sakasana was different.

She never threw herself at him, rather she kept her distance, preferring to admire from afar. In fact, when she thought about it, she only really spoke to him once. Aside from the formal greetings in passing, the only time she really held a conversation was when she first joined the squad five years ago. "Well… I'll have to talk now…" she thought, "… I just hope I don't look like those other women… acting like they have no sense."

But Sakasana wasn't worried. Renji was oblivious and Rukia had assured her that he wasn't the type to run off with countless women. He didn't get the become the Lieutenant of Squad Six with an attitude like that. "That's what I respect most about him… he's so dedicated." Sakasana could feel her eyelids drooping on her thoughts. She muttered sleepily, "I hope I'm ready for this…"

The morning came much too soon for Sakasana's liking; but upon opening her sleep leaden eyes, she remembered what the day was to bring.

"MY PROMOTION!" she exclaimed, throwing the sheet off and scrambling up form the floor. Running to the bathroom, she checked the time. "AH! Seven-thirty! I'll never make it on time!" She quickly finished up her bathroom business and made a dash for her closet. She grabbed her uniform and quickly slipped on the bottoms. She shoved her arms through the sleeves of her shihakusho and wrapped it around her small torso. Every morning, she had trouble getting it to stay closed, so she took a safety pin and pinned the top closed, silently reminding herself to order a new one. Tucking the excess material into her bottoms, she then swiftly tied the white sash around her waist, securing it tightly.

"I can't keep walking around here looking like Matsumoto wannabe…" she grumbled to herself as she made her way back to the bathroom.

"Ow!" Sakasana was attempting to put her hair in a ponytail, one not unlike Renji's, when the rubber band snapped on her. She grimaced at the stinging sensation it left on her hand. Settling, she braided her hair in one large braid and pinned it up with a black clip that Orihime had given to her. Just as she finished, she felt a familiar reiatsu enter her room.

"Rukia-san, is that you?" called Sakasana

"Hai."

"What are you doing here?" asked Sakasana, emerging from the bathroom.

"Oh, I just thought I would stop by and wish you good luck…" replied Rukia.

"Oh, okay…. Thanks." Sakasana put on her regimen socks and sandals, and just as she was sliding her zampakuto, with it's dark red velvet hilt, into her sash, she noticed Rukia was still staring at her. In fact, she hadn't moved from her spot. Sakasana glanced up just in time to see Rukia flick her violet eyes away, but not before she saw the glint of mischief in them.

"What?"

"Nothing. You ready to go?" asked Rukia, heading towards the door.

Sakasana was not convinced. "Rukia-san, you're hiding something from me aren't you? What is it?"

Rukia responded with a furtive "You'll see" and slid open the door. That's when Sakasana saw.

The Fukutaicho of Squad Six, Abarai Renji, was standing outside.

Before Rukia could even take one step outside the threshold, Sakasana grabbed her by the collar and yanked her back. Slamming the door shut, they left a very confused and slightly alarmed Fukutaicho outside.

Rukia landed on her behind with a thud.

"Oi! Why'd you do that?" she exclaimed, scowling up at Sakasana.

"WHY. IS. HE. HERE?" Sakasana hissed, her hazel eyes flashing with anger.

"Who?" asked Rukia with mock innocence.

"ABARAI FUKUTAICHO!" she exploded. "I don't believe this, I don't believe this! I'm already stressed as it is, and you bring him here?" she could feel a headache coming on.

Rukia could sense Sakasana starting to panic. She stood and put a hand on her shoulder, trying to calm her. "Relax. I walk with Renji to the sixth squad everyday on my way to my squad. I just decided to stop by here and get you… help to break the ice…"

"Oh." Sakasana felt her headache begin to fade, but it was soon replaced with butterflies in her stomach. "Wait", she began, turning to face Rukia, "Kuchiki Taicho's office is at least a 15 minute walk north from here, and the thirteenth squad baraks are south…"

"Yep."

"So," the realization dawning on her, "I'm gonna have to walk with Abarai-Fukutaicho alone?" her eyes widened with shock.

"Calm down, will ya? It's not that bad" said Rukia, getting exasperated with Sakasana's panicking. "He's not going to bite you! Besides, you better get used to interacting with him. You start private training next week!"

Her words hit home.

"She's right… I cant act like this anymore…"

Rukia grabbed Sakasana's wrist, pulling her towards the door. "Now lets' go. We can't keep him waiting out there all day."

Sakasana drew in a deep breathe , gathering what little confidence she had, as Rukia slid the door open.

Renji was sitting on the edge of the walkway, his head in his hands.

"Oi!" yelped Rukia.

"Took you guys long enough." Said Renji as he got to his feet.

Sakasana could feel her self confidence seeping out of her and blowing away with the breeze. At his full height of 6'2", Renji made Sakasana and Rukia look like midgets. His reiatsu was overwhelming, with it's strong and fiery presence. Sakasana felt insignificant.

"Renji, I'm sure you know Kousugi Sakasana…" began Rukia, gesturing toward Sakasana.

His face was blank.

"Oh my lord, he forgot…" thought Rukia, mentally palming her forehead. "… You're new San Saki…"

"Oh! Right!" Renji threw Rukia an appreciative glance; then turned to face Sakasana. " Good to finally meet you." He bowed respectfully.

Sakasana just stood there, gaping. "He's talking to me! He's talking to me! I've got to say something!" She remained silent.

Rukia cleared her throat loudly. "Sakasana….SAKASANA!" she elbowed her roughly in the ribs.

"Oh! Umm… uh, N-Nice to meet you t-too, Abarai Fukutaicho." She bowed and said, still looking at the ground, "I'm, uh, looking f-forward to working….umm…working with you…"

Rukia rolled her eyes.

"Well… we should get going. Kuchiki Taicho doesn't like to be kept waiting."

"Right, of course, Abarai Fukutaicho." Sakasana replied, lifting her head.

"Yeah, I gotta go too" said Rukia, backing away in the other direction. " I'll see you at the Shinigami Women's Association meeting tonight, neh, Sakasana?"

Time passed. Sakasana was silently lost in her thoughts.

"Uhhh… Kousugi?" said Renji, wondering why she wasn't responding to Rukia.

"OH, FORGET IT!" exploded Rukia. She had had enough. She shunpo-ed away.

"Rukia-san! I'm gonna get you for this! How could you just leave me here? What am I supposed to say to him? Sakasana was so busy fuming that she didn't notice Renji standing there staring at her.

She was turning dark red, or light purple, it was so hard to tell witch with her darker complexion, and she was mumbling indistinctly to herself. "Oh great, another crazy girl…" thought Renji defeatedly. He stepped in front of her and waved his large hand in front of her angry face. "Heellooo…. Initiation to get to…?"

"What?" she suddenly snapped back to attention. "Oh, yes, let's go!"

"It's already seven fifty, we'll never make it on time if we just walk, we'll have to use our shunpo. You're fast right?"

"Of course, Fukutiacho!" Sakasana was almost insulted. What kind of Shinigami, no San Saki, would she be if she wasn't? "Well now's my time to prove that I'm worthy of this position. No more butterflies, no more stuttering, no more crimson faces! " she silently declared.

Renji grabbed her wrist and all her determination melted. "Crap."

They arrived just as Kuchiki Byakuya unlocked his office doors.

And that's it. Review please.