Story: Perfect Imperfection, Special Chapter 1 – The Reactions - Renji
Setting:The team has split up, and Ichigo and Renji are currently taking a break from their duty, wherever they are in Karakura town.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach...
An awkward silence had settled in the room. Ichigo felt rather uncomfortable, and continued shuffling nervously, before finally deciding to speak up.
"Renji, about Rukia-"
"Don't say it." Renji cut him off.
Another moment of silence.
"Yer really somethin' else, Ichigo." the red head commented, tilting his head slightly to look him in the eyes. "Ya did somethin' in only a couple years, which was somethin' I couldn't do in forever. I can tell that Rukia cares 'bout ya, and if she trusts ya, so do I. Ya had better take care of her, ya hear me?"
"W-wait," Ichigo replied, baffled. "You're not mad?"
"'The hell would I be?" he scoffed, shrugging. "Holdin' a grudge over a stolen crush is childish, if ya ask me, 'specially when ya were out chanced from the beginnin'. Even if she doesn't return my feelings the way I'd like, I'm gonna support her in whatever she does choose, 'cause I know the type of person Rukia is. As long as she's content, that's all that matters."
Ichigo looked away giving a small smile. "You really do care about her, don't you...?"
"More than my life." Renji answered sincerely. "I'd give my entire soul, just to know she would be happy."
"Sometimes, though, it doesn't hurt to be sad." Ichigo pointed out. "After all, to achieve perfection, a little imperfection helps once in and a while. Right?"
Renji looked up, taken by surprise. He'd heard that saying before, but from where? Oh, right, Captain Ukitake. Of course. He smirked. "Yeah."
~ Flashback ~
"Ah, Abarai-kun, how have you been?" Ukitake beamed, as he turned from looking out the window. "I haven't seen you for a while."
"Yeah, thing's have been...busy lately." Renji scratched his head, handing him a Manuela envelope. He sighed, setting down against the wall in exhaustion.
"Oh?" Ukitake inquired, raising an eyebrow. "We can talk if you want,"
"I've hardly had any time to myself, and to top it off, Matsumoto-fukutaichou has been driving me crazy lately." the red head told him, searching for the correct words. "That woman just doesn't know when to give up. I swear, it's like she has a list of people to irritate, and she doesn't stop bugging ya, until ya have gone completely insane."
"I know what you mean." Ukitake gave a chuckle in response. "It may not look like it, but I think her actions may have good intentions behind them. Soul Society is still recovering from Aizen-taichou's betrayal. I think this is her way of reassuring everyone that we CAN get through this. Is that all that been bugging you? Judging by the look on your face, I want to say it's something else."
"It's Rukia..." Renji finally admitted, gazing down. "Ever since Ichigo and the others left, she's been distancing herself, 'specially when it was raining the other day. She's always hated the rain...'cause it reminds her of 'him'. I'm really worried about her, Ukitake-taichou..."
"I am too..." nodded Ukitake in understanding. "Kuchiki-san just needs some time to recover, just as we all do. Besides, it doesn't hurt to be sad every once in a while, otherwise, we wouldn't know the meaning of happiness."
Renji looked up at Ukitake, confused. "After all, to achieve perfection, a little imperfection helps, ne? By living in an impure world, and facing obstacles, it allows you to see and appreciate the good things in life. It gives you hope to improve them. Try to look at it this way; if there wasn't any rain, how could we appreciate the Sun, if it always showed? Darkness is what is what gives light it's name isn't it?"
~ End of Flashback ~
"Yeah," Renji repeated, with more enthusiasm than before, as he nodded, looking back up at Ichigo, with a smirk. "'cause imperfection is what gives 'perfection' it's name, right?"
"Yeah," Ichigo smirked back. Renji got up, walking towards the door. Before leaving, he glanced over his shoulder.
"Don't forget, ya still had better protect her, Ichigo." Renji warned. "One screw up on yer part, and I can guarantee both me and Kuchiki-taichou will have a say so in the matter."
At that moment, realization hit.
'Crap! I still haven't told Byakuya!' Ichigo stared at him for a moment, before replying. "I will."
~ End of Special Chapter 1 ~
A/N: What do you think? May be slightly OOC, but review anyway. Next up, Byakuya. That'll declare the end of the story. O_O
