This is the prologue to kitty-bitch which is a Ichi/Grimm this is pertaining to Renji and Starrk's involvement and answers a few questions that come up in kitty. You can read this before or after and both stories can be read independently of each other as well=)

as always i write to music and sometimes find songs that i feel go with a chapter, i do tend to post them=)

i love feedback and reviews so indulge me! MUAH

It was a long and dark December

From the rooftops I remember

There was snow, white snow

Clearly I remember

From the windows they were watching

While we froze down below

When the future's architectured

By a carnival of idiots on show

You'd better lie low

Priests clutched onto bibles

Hollowed out to fit their rifles

And a cross held aloft

Bury me in armour

When I'm dead and hit the ground

A love back home, it unfolds

And if you love me, won't you let me know?

I don't want to be a soldier

Who the captain of some sinking ship

Would stow, far below.

So if you love me, why d'you let me go?

I took my love down to violet hill

There we sat in snow

Said if you love me, won't you let me know?

If you love me, won't you let me know?

Coldplay-Violet Hill

Renji sat on the roof of his quarters, studying the moonlight dancing across the grass, his crimson hair becoming ruffled by the slight breeze. Sighing he turned his head to study the sleeping Seireitei, most of the lights were out in the houses, he could see some twinkling here and there, and a few local bars that were still open; no doubt where his friends were. Tomorrow he would be heading to the living world, he had wanted to go with Rukia, Ichigo, Chad and Uryu to assist in Orihime's rescue but his captain Byakuya had threatened him severely if he went. His mouth slowly turned upward, it hadn't taken him long to put two and two together at that time.

"Captain I would like to ask permission-"

"No Renji, I will not allow it" the dark haired noble had said crisply. Renji was stunned he hadn't expected to be denied, his captain had grown rather fond of the ryoka over the time period they had come to know the small group, though the proud noble would never admit it.

"But…why?" He had asked stupefied

"Because I too am going on a mission with Kenpachi, and only one of us needs to be there while the other can support the Gotei 13 in another realm." Renji didn't understand for a moment then slowly comprehension washed over him.

"Captain" he murmured "you are breaking the rules to go to-"

"Renji!" The noble reprimanded sharply, "I have a mission as do you. I expect you to be ready to go to the living world tomorrow."

He was relieved Byakuya and Kenpachi were going to Hueco Mundo to assist the group; he still wished he could be there but he knew his captain was right, if Aizen was coming to the living world they could not spare manpower. It made sense as that would be where the brunt of the battle would take place. Yamamoto had transferred Karakura town to a section of soul society and had it replaced with a fake town enclosed by 4 pillars that held it in place. The four people chosen to guard the pillars were his friends Ikkaku, Yumichika, Shuuhei and Izuru, all strong fighters in their own right. He ran his hand through his hair he was worried about his friends that would be guarding those pillars making sure they were not destroyed because if they were then the real town would come back and many innocent people would lose their lives. He let out a soft sigh, he simply hoped his friends didn't lose theirs. Leaning back onto the roof he gazed up at the stars wondering if this would be the last time he saw this sight, he was so engrossed in thought he didn't hear the soft footsteps of his friend as he landed beside him.

"Renji" he said softly not wanting to startle the man. Renji turned and smiled slightly

"Hey Shuu, couldn't sleep either?" The brunette shook his head, his shaggy hair rustling.

"No, it's a lot to take in; I'm surprised anyone can sleep. Ikkaku and Yumichika drank themselves to sleep, I ran into them earlier when I was walking and they reeked of sake. Yumichika declaring that this whole thing was unbeautiful" Shuuhei punctuated the statement with an eye roll.

Renji and Shuuhei had been friends for some time now. As a new student Renji had saved Shuuhei's life when what was supposed to be a practice drill with Hollows turned into the real deal. He, Momo and Izuru had stepped in between the Hollow and Shuuhei just in time to stop it from the killing blow. Their senpai had been shocked but impressed and all had gotten away with their lives. Out of the three students Shuuhei had the most in common with Renji and took him under his wing, training him in their down time and he had no doubt the intense training he endured with his raven haired friend had helped him achieve bankai in record time much to their surprise. He owed Shuuhei quite a bit and was just as nervous that he would be guarding one of the pillars and possibly having to fight his former captain Tousen, he knew that was not a fight his friend was looking forward to but more one that he had resigned himself to.

"Hey Shuu?"

Slate grey eyes turned to face him, "yea?"

"Be safe tomorrow ok, I want to make sure we have the chance to train more" he said with as much lightheartedness as he could muster. His friend shot him a sideways half smile before disappearing into the night echoing the same sentiment.

Renji let his eyes shut as he relaxed his head onto his hands, as his mind whirled about the events the next day would bring he found himself being lulled to sleep by the sounds of night. With only a few hours before sunrise the man surrendered himself and fell into blackness.

Renji awoke with a start, his body sore and stiff from being on the roof all night he looked to see what had so roughly and rudely awakened him. He was blinded by the sun and saw a shiny head with a giant grin on the owner's face. Damn Ikkaku was quite literally poking him with a stick.

"Move baldy, the sunshine's reflection on your head is blinding me" he grumbled. He heard Yumichika giggle; those two were inseparable ever since they had been a street fighting duo in the Rukongai. Yumichika had never been involved in the fights but he had supported Ikkaku as he made a living for them, Renji had his sneaking suspicions that the two were involved as more than friends but kept those to himself; if they were everyone would know when they were ready to tell. Groaning and rolling over to escape the glare from Ikkaku's shiny head he pushed himself up to a sitting position.

"What do you two want anyways? We don't leave till later?" He grunted looking up at his two friends.

"Yea yea" Ikkaku waved his hand dismissively "I wanted to warm up, you in?"

Yumichika smiled "what the barbarian means is he wants to work off some steam before going into the real battle, just lightly nothing too hard." Renji grinned this sounded right up his alley.

Ikkaku was a fierce opponent; the man had bankai but because he wanted to serve and die under Kenpachi Renji had sworn to keep it secret. However that damn stick of his was enough to be scared of, and the way Ikkaku grinned manically during his fight was a bit unnerving to say the least. Renji swung his sword as Ikkaku swung his spear and to the passerby it looked as though the two had engaged in some sort of beautifully violent dance. Yumichika sighed, obviously finding the beauty in the scene as Ikkaku leapt into the air his head shining in the sun, lithe body poised to strike with a downward blow of his spear hozukimaru, glinting deadly in the sun, Renji beautifully fluid in his movement with zabimaru moved as though the sword were a part of his own arm blocking Ikkaku's assault. The two continued this until sweat drenched them both and smiling the sat under a tree Ikkaku uncorking a bottle of sake to share with his friend. Gulping greedily from the bottle he turned to face his red headed friend.

"Ya ready for tomorrow?"

Renji shook his head "I'm not sure man, this is going to be rough we may not come back."

"I got no intent to die" he grinned wider "I'm going to give em' hell ya know. They got me guarding one of the pillars!" Renji thought he saw the man preening slightly.

"Yea, you, Yumi, Shuu and Izuru. That's important shit right there" he paused to take a swig of sake "I gotta get into the fight, I hope I get someone who will put up a decent fight" he grinned wolfishly at his friend. Ikkaku laughed smacking his back.

"Hell yea I hope so too, I feel for Shuuhei and Izuru though having to face the captains they admired so much" Ikkaku's tone suddenly grew serious. "The mental strain for that, well they are strong but that's got to be a mindfuck." Renji nodded in agreement, still the men had persevered, they all had after losing three captains. He had never liked Gin much the other two he had respected. Determined to change the subject he looked at Ikkaku with an evil glint in his eye.

"So, you tell Yumi you love him yet? You know just in case we don't-"

"GROW HOZUKIMARU!" Well Renji thought to himself as he got to his feet smiling, readying his stance, I guess he hasn't told him. Yumichika hadn't heard, but he knew something the red headed brute had said had Ikkaku riled up as he sprang up and screamed his shikai and looked to see Renji smirking mischievously. Declaring the sight of foul play unbeautiful the slender man walked off with a slight sway to his hips to let the two barbarians fight it out.

Smirking and drenched in sweat Renji found his way back to quarters, it was only mid-morning and he hoped to catch a nap maybe before they were assembled to head into the world of the living. His session with Ikkaku had been just what he needed and now he may actually be able to rest, his nerves greatly calmed by the workout. His flame colored mane was sticking to him like a second skin, his face flushed with color and his eyes sparkled a little bit more. He shed his clothes quickly for they stunk of sweat laced with sake and grime; he turned the shower on to as hot as he could possibly get it. Stepping into the steaming hot water he felt his muscles unwind as he watched the water flow down the drain, he braced a hand on the wall and leaned into the stream of water letting it soak his crimson hair. He was still nervous; in fact he was downright terrified if he was honest with himself. He had recognized the potential for many deaths, and knew he would lose some friends tomorrow. No, he wasn't scared for himself death he could accept he was fearing for those he loved his friends who were going to be fighting and dying alongside him, that damn orange headed kid who with his captain and best friend Rukia was storming into Hueco Mundo to save Orihime this very instant. He pounded his fist into the wall, never had he felt so helpless, and he leaned against the wall wishing he had the answers to all his questions.