These Hands Are Shaking Cold
More than anything, it's seeing her languish and allow her fate to take her that makes Renji's heart hurt, that makes him sick with the knowledge that he could have stopped this all if only he were stronger. It's seeing the hopelessness in her eyes as she tells him that Byakua would probably kill him herself—and it's probably true.
It's seeing her pale hand shake as she loses her will to live.
"Rukia."
She looks up, dark eyes shadowed. "Yes?" she says.
He reaches out and takes her hand, holding it gently, lightly between his own calloused palms, warming it until he can feel her shaking cease.
It is then that Renji knows that he could be by her side the rest of his life, whether she rejects him or no. Whether she prefers that boy with the freak hair or not. It doesn't matter, because Renji is her friend—even if that is all he'll ever be, he'd rather be that than nothing to her.
"You once told me you wanted to see me raise my hand, whether the aristocrats frowned on me or not?"
She nods.
For a brief instant, Renji clasps her hand tighter. "I want to see you keep fighting, like you always have," he tells her softly, then leaves.
Keep strong, Rukia Kuchiki.
A/N—Poor Renji. This guy is my second favorite character in Bleach, definitely.
I don't own anything form Bleach or the song that this was inspired by, which was "Mave Along" by All-American Rejects.