A/N: Hey everyone! So this is my first real fanfic in a looooong time, and I really adore this couple. I guess my inspiration came from midnight conversations with PheonixSong4232 and going to Anime Central and seeing so many Bleach people (I myself cosplayed as Rukia). Needless to say, I would really appreciate reviews/comments/criticism/no flamers/anything else you want to say. Thanks so much, and I hope you enjoy!

All his life things had gone wrong. The fire, his parents, his current living situation. All his life he had been on the brink of self-destruction. When she came into his life, he began to hope again. But fate was unkind to the boy from the slums. The one good thing that ever happened to him, the one ray of light in his sea of despair, was now being taken away.

No.

He struggled to find his strength. Battling the unwavering elements, he somehow regained his composure. I won't lose her.

His wild eyes scanned the area beyond the front gates, searching for any sign that she might still be there, that he might still have a chance. The rain was so heavy everything was hazy, nothing clear. In the distance, he spotted the outline of an expensive sedan. He blindly stumbled forward, eventually sprinting through the slick earth to find her.

As he neared the car he could see the uniformed sentries surrounding the passenger's side. He couldn't care less what they were doing or who they were talking to. He had to find her before she left his life forever. Straining his eyes, he could barely make out the outline of a small figure in the back seat. He ran harder as hope that he might succeed overtook his senses. He screamed her name, praying she would hear.

The figure inside the car started, and the door pushed open. Her delicate frame rose out of the car and her violet eyes locked with his. Just as quickly as he had seen his joy reflected in them, they disappeared. The uniformed men had heard his cry and forced her back into the car. A furious and uncontrollable rage filled him as he heard her muffled cries of his name. He had almost reached the door when he was unceremoniously knocked to the ground. His vision swimming from the blow to his head, a face came in and out of focus, floating just above his. The man he was faced with was handsome, refined, almost regal in aura, yet there was a hard edge to his looks, as though despite his good fortune, he had had a hard life. The boy lay, helpless in the rain, his spirit broken, as the man stood and calmly walked away from the scene. He climbed into the back of the car, the engine revved, and just like that, she was gone.

The rain pounded unforgivingly on the boy's head as he lay sprawled on the pavement. Tears streamed down his face, lost with the rain, as the hurt of failure and fury raged through him.

"RUKIA!"

Renji woke up screaming.

Once he realized that he was awake, he shut up, threw the covers off of him and sat up, his feet resting against the cold wood floor. Cradling his head in his hands, Renji waited until his heart rate slowed before looking at the clock. 5:25am. He groaned as he realized it would still be another hour and a half before he needed to get ready for school. Knowing he'd never get back to sleep after that, he decided to work out to take the edge off his panic.

He hadn't had that dream in years. Not since he left the orphanage and made his way out into the real world. He'd gotten an apartment, a job, was still in high school, which was saying a lot considering his background. He had made some real friends, he was finally becoming happy. He hadn't even so much as thought about that day since then. Why was it suddenly reoccurring?

At 7:45 he left his single apartment and started the short walk to Karakura High school.

Seriously, why now? Why after so long? It only comes back when things aren't going well. Things are fine! They're... unless something might... No. That's completely ridicu...

His thoughts were cut short when all of a sudden he was tackled to the ground by the shortest, thinnest girl he'd ever met. He lay on his back, the irony of this similarity to his dream not lost on him, when a cheerful voice emanated from somewhere above him.

"Renji! Ready for school?" He blinked and his eyes focused on his friends Momo Hinamori and Kira Izuru. They had been his first friends after his escape. They accepted his background and refused to treat him any differently because of it, relieving Renji of any awkward explanations of his past to other people. Momo's expression of delight quickly changed to one of concern once she saw Renji's face.

"Is everything alright?" She slowly helped him up off the ground.

Renji paused before answering. He had never told either of his best friends about his dream, and didn't exactly feel up to explaining it all now, especially since they were probably going to be late. He decided to shrug it off until later. "Yeah, everything is fine," he lied, faking a smile. "Let's go." He headed off in the direction of the school without looking back at them, knowing they hadn't bought his story but hoping they would let the situation drop.

Renji tried his best to forget his dream for his first two periods, Math and P.E. He subconsciously took out his anger and confusion in gym, causing one of the most epic battles of skill and precision between him and Kira in Karakura High Badminton history. Every whack to the birdie drove it to the end of the court, sending Kira into a sporadic frenzy trying to keep up with Renji's wild flurry of serves. It got so intense that every other student stopped to watch. Madarame Ikkaku, one of Renji's classmates, started taking bets halfway through the match on who would win, landing him some serious detention time once the gym teacher, Kyoraku Shunsui, caught wind of the situation.

"Ok, break it up, break it up, everyone! Ikkaku, as much as I love a good gamble myself, I'm not sure gym class is the appropriate place for it. Why don't you try afterschool? I hear the crowds in the back parking lot would be more than happy to entertain your hobby. In the meantime, head over to the principle's office."

Ikkaku started to protest but when he caught sight of Shunsui's raised eyebrow he shut up. He smiled kindly as Ikkaku sullenly exited the gym. "Boys will be boys," he muttered to himself. "Speaking of which! Renji Abarai!"

Renji internally cringed at the sound of his name but was determined to keep the extreme badminton battle raging. He could tell that Kira was becoming increasingly worn out, but as much as he respected his friend, he couldn't control himself enough to stop the onslaught. As his mind processed what he had seen, his body drove the birdie farther and farther away from him. Shunsui waited to interrupt the game until Renji forced the birdie into a nose dive far out of Kira's reach, ceasing the rallies, at least momentarily.

"All right Renji, I think it's time you take a break." The crowd that surrounded him groaned with disappointment, knowing that the show was over. As it dispersed, Shunsui approached Renji and asked in a low tone, "Is everything all right? I know you enjoy gym, but even that was a little more... um, effort than you usually give." He glanced concernedly toward Kira, who lay sprawled on the gym floor, catching his breath. "Anything you want to talk about?"

A moment passed when Renji briefly mulled over the possibility of spilling his guts to his teacher. There was no doubting that the guy was trustworthy, and he was probably one of Renji's favorite teachers at Karakura. But he knew that if he hadn't even told his best friends about the dream, there was no point in telling a teacher. Teachers complicated things.

"No, sir. Nothing."

The rest of his morning classes passed uneventfully, and he was starving by the time lunch rolled around. He shared it with Momo, so he genuinely tried to look happier for her sake. She was just too good a person to worry over what were more than likely insignificant dreams. She tended to concern herself with other people's issues, not caring that it made her physically sick in the process, so he smiled and laughed at the appropriate times to convince her that he was fine.

"So I hear there's a new girl coming today, and they say she's in our class. I really hope she's nice." Momo took a nervous bite out of her sandwich.

"Why wouldn't she be?" Renji wasn't used to Momo appraising people's personalities before she got to know them.

"Well... I hear she's from a private school up north. You know, that one where all the rich families in Tokyo send their kids? I forget the name of it. Anyway, the kids that go there are supposed to have a pretty bad reputation."

This came as a bit of a surprise to Renji. "You're not one to pay much attention to reputations, Momo. Why worry about it?"

Momo bit her lip. "I just... I just don't know if I can handle another rich snob at this school." It took him a second to fully register her words. There weren't that many kids from rich families at Karakura High, but as he thought about what exactly she said, it hit him.

There was a group of students who called themselves the Ouritsu, the Royals. They were only middle class at best, but insisted on being treated like divine monarchs, like God himself had given them the right to reign terror over those below them. Even within themselves, they had a social hierarchy of sorts, and sometimes the seniors would give the underclassmen nearly impossible tasks to show their worth. Momo had been given hell for the last two years because she refused to give up her seat in the library to one of the members her freshman year, and if it weren't for Renji and Kira, Momo probably would have asked to be transferred to another school a long time ago. The addition of an actual rich kid could fuel their egos and be detrimental to Momo's mental health.

Renji tried his pessimistic sarcasm approach to make her feel better. "What's to worry about? If she's nice, she's nice. If she's not, she's not. Chances are, if she's a bitch, she'll hang out with the rest of the Ouritsu and make our lives just as miserable as they already make them. Things won't change too much, Momo. Don't think about it." He had hoped to make Momo see the futility of worrying, but it only seemed to make her fret more.

He sighed heavily, then leaned toward her and took her hand. "Look, I'm sure she's gonna be great. You can make sure to show her around once she gets here. If you get to her first, maybe your infectious personality will rub off on her and she'll ignore the Ouritsu," Renji offered. This seemed to have the desired effect because Momo instantly began devising an interception plan, making sure she got to whoever this girl was first.

He and Momo split up after lunch briefly to make a run to their lockers. Renji often just avoided the entire area of the school where his locker was situated, as it was usually infiltrated with Ouritsu members, but he had inconveniently forgotten his book for English and had to quickly glance over it during his next class to prepare for the reading quiz. Ukitake-sensei was nothing if not consistent in his expectations for his students. He sighed as he entered the combination. Spending time with Momo was beginning to make him realize that brooding all day long was going to get him no where. Sure, he was incredibly confused about the meaning of his reoccurring dream, but he shouldn't let it distract him all day. Obviously nothing hideous had happened up until that point, maybe nothing would happen the rest of the day. Grabbing his beat up copy of Heart of Darkness, probably the most pointless text on the face of the planet, he vowed to go back to his usual self. Besides, all the emo was starting to take its toll on his energy levels. He slammed the locker shut with a new-found resolve to be more upbeat.

And of course, as soon as he promised it to himself, his plan fell to shit.

Renji found himself facing quite a sight: a blue-haired giant slamming one Ichigo Kurosaki into the lockers across the hallway from where he stood. Ichigo and Renji had been okay friends since they started high school together. They basically had all the same classes freshman year and he had frequently hung out with him, Momo and Kira. Then Ichigo had been offered a place in the Ouritsu. Everyone assumed that he would accept (you don't reject them, even if you don't want to be in the group), but he refused. The Ouritsu were outraged, and had hounded him ever since, still trying to persuade him to join. After that, Ichigo and Renji grew apart, and he now hung out with other Ouritsu candidates who had turned the chance down: Chad Yasutora, Orihime Inoue, and Uryu Ishida. Sometimes Renji would help Ichigo out with the group, since it was obvious that they'd never wanted him to join in the first place. They never passed up an opportunity to pick a fight with Renji.

The perpetrator of the moment was the current leader of the Ouritsu, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, a junior with a nasty temper and a positively evil sense of humor. He'd taken over leadership at the beginning of the school year, and the daily terrors of last year seemed like rainbows and lollipops in comparison.

"You think you're too good for us, is that it?" Grimmjow growled as he slammed Ichigo against the locker for emphasis.

"Fuck off, Grimmjow. How many times have I told you? I'm not interested. Get that through your think skull before I get pissed enough to teach you a lesson!" It was clear that the strawberry wasn't going down without a fight, and figuring that this conversation was only going to go south, Renji decided to distract the blue fury from his friend before things got out of hand.

"Oy! Lay off him, Grimmjow." At the sound of his name, Grimmjow's head swiveled around to face the red-head, fury burning in his ice blue eyes. At the sight of the newcomer, he smiled with malice and let go of the front of Ichigo's shirt.

"Well, well. Looks like the dog decided to show up. This conversation isn't over, Kurosaki. We'll get you yet." Ichigo caught Renji's eye and gave him a look with a hint of a warning: Watch yourself, Renji. The red head just stared back, pleading with his friend to get away from the situation as he had been given an out. Ichigo complied, albeit reluctantly, and nodded his thanks before slipping past Grimmjow and down the hallway.

Grimmjow's attention was fully turned to Renji now. Renji quite frankly expected the worst: a beating, possibly eye gouging, whatever cruel torture Grimmjow was feeling up to today. What he received was nothing of the sort. A laugh.

"You've got balls, Renji, I'll give you that." He couldn't believe his ears. He might actually get off the hook for once. No beating, no detention, no nothing.

"Seeing as I'm in a particularly good mood today, I'll let this little disturbance pass. But just remember this: make sure you steer clear of the new girl."

What is it with this girl? She's quite the popular topic.

"What's it matter to you whether I do or don't?" Renji countered.

"Come on now, pineapple-head, don't be stupid. We all know she's important and rich as fuck, which means she's destined to become an Ouritsu. We don't want her to be dirtied by being your friend."

Renji's previously lifted spirits plummeted again, the vein in his temple pulsing dangerously. He did not have time for this, and, remembering previous events of the day, his bad mood returned.

"Glad to see that I'm considered a threat to the group's well-being. Usually you pretend I don't exist. I'm honored." Grimmjow's face fell a little, not expecting his insult to be turned around on him.

Renji smiled in triumph. "Now, fuck off, asshole." He strode right past the blue annoyance. He remembered the internal vow he had made for Momo's benefit, trying desperately to appear calm before he met up with her for class. His anger subsided as he drew closer to the Chemistry classroom. As soon as Momo's brown eyes met up with his, he sighed, feeling grateful that she didn't have to worry this time about a black eye or a visible bruise, the usual injuries he sported after an encounter with the Ouritsu. Her smile brought his good mood back. "Hey," he said as they met in the hallway. "You ready?"

He and Momo got to English and took their regular seats next to Kira, the three going over the major plot points in the section of the book they were to have read for the day. As more students trickled in before the bell rang, the noise level exponentially increased, everyone buzzing about the big event that was to take place during class.

"Honestly, I don't see what the big deal is about some hot-shot rich girl transferring into our class." Renji leaned back in his seat, his arms behind his head, supporting its weight. Kira was the first one to answer.

"It's not often that new students arrive at Karakura High period. But according to Orihime, this girl is practically royalty. Her family owns like, sixty percent of some huge global corporation. She's no ordinary spoiled brat from the north. Her family is internationally important." Kira looked impressed by the scope of her family's value.

Renji sighed. "Well if she's so fucking famous, why haven't I heard of her?"

"Renji, you don't even know her name! You can't say you haven't heard of her if you don't know her name! Today is important!" Momo chimed in cheerily as Ukitake-sensei had entered the classroom, followed closely by Orihime. She hurried to her seat. Class had started, and consequently the moment everyone had waited for all day was about to occur. An eery hush fell over the room.

"Good afternoon, everyone. Today's scheduled reading quiz will have to be postponed until the end of class as we have a rather important person joining our school!" Ukitake positively beamed.

Renji shut his eyes in frustration. There's that word again, important. Whoever created the idea of importance needs to be shot, drawn and quartered.

"Please class, help me in welcoming our new student, Miss Rukia Kuchiki."

Renji's eyes flew open.

No. Fucking. Way.