Characters: One-sided Renji/Rukia
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"I want to touch you," said Renji into her ear, smoothed her hair away from her face. It stuck to her forehead with the sweat. The heat seemed to sear the back of his hand. "I want you," he said again. It was alright, though. She couldn't have heard him if he screamed at her. She twisted and groaned in her sleep, and sometimes she called out for a girl named 'Hisana,' but otherwise she dreamed and dreamed and didn't wake up.
"Taki died," Renji told her. "Two days ago. I buried him with the others." He rubbed his knuckles slowly across her forehead. So hot it hurt. "It's just you and me now."
The room seemed very empty with just the two of them in it.
Just him, really. Rukia was – off somewhere. Farther than she could have gone if she'd walked out of Rukongai.
"Please get better," he said, and tightened his arms around her. Her head lolled against his chest. Renji leaned over and pressed his lips against her hair. "I love you," he said. The words slipped out against his will.
But it was alright. She couldn't have heard him if he'd screamed.