AN: I actually started this story before Abandoned. When I wrote the part about Renji being on the streets, my brain branched off and started wondering what would happen if it were Rukia. Hence, I stopped this one and worked on that one. Too many rabbit holes to explore! Seriously, I have a ton of ideas and just not enough time to get everything down…

I promised OTWTA will be updated soon. I actually have the story opened in Word next to this one. I've started reading it from the beginning since it's been a while since I've touched it. I had to find my notes for Dreamscape as I think I lost myself when I re-read that one…

Sooo… Enjoy the rest of this detour for I am putting all thoughts aside and will be focusing on those other two chapter stories. And I have not forgotten that I have been given the honor of adopting a story as well. So – back in the saddle sort to speak – lets ride, shall we?

Vengeance

Pt 2

Toshiro sat on his blue leather couch as he waited for the phone call. He knew it was coming; it was a matter of time. He sighed and looked over at the kitchen. Rukia was in there preparing the evening meal.

His eyes went over her, noticing how her wounds were healing, how the bruises were fading. He also noticed how she was a little bit shorter, a little more hunched over. Dark circles were beneath her once vibrant eyes. Her step, once lithe and quick, was slower and more careful.

Toshiro frowned. She had recovered from her physical injuries enough to be released from the hospital over a week ago. Mentally, he wasn't sure if she would ever recover. Nightmares plagued her sleep. She hardly slept as it was and she barely ate.

Rukia turned and looked at him. "Five more minutes, is that ok?" She asked quietly.

"That's perfect, Rukia, thank you," he said with a reassuring smile. Rukia gave a small nod and went back to stirring the pot.

Before she ran from him to make a new life for herself, before she met Toshiro, Rukia was with Renji. Toshiro knew he was her friend, knew they became lovers, knew she left him. What he didn't know was that she left him in fear.

They grew up together as best friends and went to school together, fell in love. Then little by little, Renji became more controlling, more verbal and finally, more physical. They moved in together right after high school. He liked to stay out with friends every night and drink. That wasn't the kind of life Rukia envisioned for herself and spent many nights alone in their tiny apartment.

Every morning he would stumble home, they would argue, he would abuse her either physically or sexually whichever he was able to do. Rukia had enough, gathered what money she could and left him.

And once I'm out, she'll be mine again. Renji's laughter bounced around in Toshiro's head as he closed his eyes. Bastard. How dare he? How dare he?

The phone rang. He sighed as he picked up the receiver.

Rukia heard the phone and came out of the kitchen. She watched her husband as his face paled before becoming red with anger. It wasn't good news.

"I'm sorry, Captain." Rukia heard through the phone line as she got closer.

"…" Toshiro hung up and looked at his wife. "Suspended without pay for 60 days," he told her.

"We'll make do," she said as she gave him a small smile.

"There's more." He motioned for her to sit next to him. He took her hands in his as she sat down. "His lawyer was able to work a deal. They're letting him go. There is nothing I can do."

Rukia's eyes widened. "But they have evidence…They have my testimony…"

"I know, I know," he said as he pulled her into an embrace. He felt her small body tremble in his arms and cursed himself for the millionth time. "He has ties to some high profile cases. He has offered information in exchange for his release. The district decided to take the deal."

"No…" she whispered.

"I'm sorry." He kissed the top of her head.

Dinner was quiet. Rukia was lost in thought and Toshiro wasn't sure what to say. As usual, she didn't eat much and was back in the kitchen to wash the dishes.

The door bell rang. Toshiro watched as Rukia jumped. He narrowed his eyes at the door and opened it.

"I know it's late, but I wanted to stop by and see how things were." A tall woman with long red hair said. Inoue Orihime, their neighbor and friend stood there holding what seemed to look like dessert but smelled like yesterdays garbage. Toshiro opened the door to let her in.

Rukia came out of the kitchen and put on her fake smile. She was rarely up for company but could never say no to the overly nice woman.

They sat on the couch together and made small talk. Rukia was slowly easing into the conversation.

Toshiro watched his wife and came to a decision. "I'm going to talk to Uryuu, I'll be back in a few hours," he said as he opened the door. Rukia stopped and turned to look at him. As their eyes met he resisted the urge to close the door and hold her. He felt like she could see right through him. He thought she would tell him not to go, or at least be careful. Instead she gave him a slow nod before returning her attention back to Inoue. Before he had a chance to change his mind, Toshiro jumped in his car and drove to the local bar.

He wasn't surprised to find his usual drink waiting for him when he got there.

"Figured I would be seeing you after what happened today." Ishida said as he turned towards his former captain and friend.

"…" Toshiro took a seat and grabbed his glass.

"I'm sorry. I worked my tail off on that scene and collected everything I possibly could. It was more than enough to nail him to the wall."

"I know."

"How did Rukia-san take it?"

"I think she's still in shock."

"Are you worried about what he said when you and Rangiku arrested him?"

"I've got guards around the house. The force at least provided her with that." He said as he rolled his eyes.

"hmm."

They both sat in silence for a while as a woman appeared on the small stage in front of the bar. She started singing.

"I need a favor," Toshiro said quietly. Ishida turned to him and studied him.

"Humph," Ishida said as he half smiled and took a drink. "I'm not surprised."

"This is Rukia we're talking about. She's my wife, my wife, damn it!" Toshiro said, irritated.

"I know. Just like it was Momo before her."

Toshiro's eyes turned dark as surprise and anger flowed through him. Momo was a name he had not heard in a long time. A name no one who knew Toshiro dared mention in his presence.

"Are you sure?" Ishida said.

"It'll be fine."

"There are risks."

"There's always risks."

"You want me to do the usual?"

"Yes."

Ishida looked at his long time friend. "Ok."

Toshiro finished his drink, tipped the bartender and left. He drove to the station and parked outside. He checked his watch. Five more minutes till shift change. He sat and waited.

Hinamori Momo.

His childhood friend.

His first crush.

She was raped and killed by a local gang member while coming home from one of her college classes. Toshiro was at the gym, preparing for the entrance test to join the force. He got the call and rushed over to the scene. It was the first time he met Ishida.

Several months went by and Toshiro had joined the force. Everyone knew what Momo meant to him. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they finally caught the man. He was a leader of one of the city's major gangs. He was brought in for questioning, but released on a technicality. The evidence Ishida collected was contaminated. Not usable in court.

Toshiro met up with him at a bar one night. Ishida had expressed his apologies over and over.

"Enough! That won't bring her back!" Toshiro said.

"I know that!" Ishida said. "But what else can I do?" He said hopelessly. He was surprised he wasn't kicked off the force for his mistake.

"I don't know, but I've had enough of your self-pity."

He stood, paid and left the bar. He was walking back to his apartment when he noticed several people in the alley nearby.

The gang leader was there.

Toshiro ducked behind some trash that was on the corner and hid unseen. Their meeting was over and one by one they left. The leader was left alone with a small burlap sack.

He heard him laugh as he kicked the sack. His eyes grew as he picked up the sack and saw a woman's head.

"Come here, my lovely." He said as he pulled her out of the sack. She was a small blond woman who was bound and gagged. The leader laid her back on the ground and fumbled with the belt on his pants. The look of fear was evident on the woman's face.

Toshiro was overcome with rage. He picked up a glass bottle that was lying next to him and made his move. He came up behind the leader and swung the bottle as hard as he could over the top of his head. He fell over with an "oof".

Quickly, Toshiro took one of the pieces of the broken glass and cut the ropes holding the woman.

"Oi, oi, oi! If you want one, I can get you one! There's a ton of bitches out there!" Toshiro turned and watched as the man sat up. The woman froze in fear.

"Some of them are even clean!" he said as he wiped the stream of blood out of his right eye. "Take the last bitch I had. She was a virgin!" he said as he laughed. "Prettiest brown eyes you had ever seen. Smart too, caught her coming home from one of those higher education classes." He said as he laughed some more. "She just wouldn't sit still, so I had to kill her. Like I'm going to do to you!"

Blood boiling, Toshiro let the rage take over. He lunged at the man, kicking him in the groin as his palm connected with his nose, pushing in and upwards. The bone broke easily.

Punch after punch, Toshiro beat the man down until he couldn't raise his fist again. The man was reduced to a bloody pulp. The woman still sat there.

"She…she was…she was my best friend…" Toshiro said, panting from exhaustion. The unconscious man said nothing. "You…you piece of shit! You stole my best friend!" Panting and light headed, Toshiro sat down, back against the wall.

He missed when the man heap moved. He missed the glint of metal. His eyes shot open at the sound of the gun being cocked. Toshiro moved to kick the gun out of his hand but missed. The gun went off, instantly killing the blond woman.

Toshiro snatched the gun out of the man's hand and emptied the rounds into his body.

There was nothing left other than an audible "click", "click", "click"…

"Toshiro…"

"…Toshiro!..."

"Captain!" Matsumoto said as she tapped the window of his car. Toshiro jumped at the sound, shoving the memories from his past back into their depths.

He unlocked his door and watched as the woman got in.

"I'm sorry this is all happening. How is Rukia taking it?"

"Not well. Our neighbor is with her and the force has people watching the house."

"That's something, at least." She said as she leaned back against the seat and sighed. "What about you?"

"What about me?"

"How are you doing?"

"I'm not here to make small talk."

"I know why you're here. I'm here to talk you out of it."

"That's not going to happen."

"Captain…"

"Do you have what I need or not?"

Rangiku rolled her head so she was looking at him. He had a one track mind and that was dangerous. She had an idea of what he was planning and it wasn't inviting him out for a drink. She sighed again.

"There's no talking you out of it, is there?"

He stared intently at her. She handed him an envelope and left the car without another word.

The phone rang.

"I'll let you go, Rukia and see myself out, ok?" Inoue said as Rukia moved to answer the phone. She smiled at the red head and nodded.

"Hello?"

Silence.

"Hello?"

"Ruuuukiiiiiiaaaaaa"

Chills went down her spine.

"Who is this?"

"You know who this is, Ruuuukiiiiiiiiiiaaaaaaaaa," the voice whispered.

"R-Ren-ji."

"I love how my name rolls off your tongue, don't you?"

Rukia hung up and stepped away from the phone like it was a snake about to strike.

Instantly, it rang again.

"No! I'm not answering, I'm not! Leave me alone! Leave me alone!" She screamed into the empty house as the phone continued to ring. The answering machine picked up and she heard Toshiro's crisp voice:

"Leave it and we'll get back to you if we feel like it…"

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP

"…Come on now. Why did you hang up on me like that? You know you want to apologize to me for what you did to my face." He laughed. "Ok, ok. I want to see you. I know your husband isn't there. I also know you had two guards watching the house."

Rukia ran to the window and carefully peeked out, she saw nothing.

"I should stress the word, haaad," he said as he laughed again. "Want some company, Rukia-chan?"

Rukia picked up the phone. "You leave me alone, you bastard!"

"My, my! Such strong words. You never used to bad mouth me like that. Is that what married life is teaching you?"

"Stop it, Renji! Leave me alone!"

"No! I will never leave you alone, understand? You belong with me. We promised, remember?"

"I was 10!"

"I don't care! I can't live without you!"

"Leave me alone! That is your last warning!"

"Don't you hang up on – " Renji said with anger in his voice.

Rukia hung up and pulled the phone out of the wall. She ran to bedroom and pulled that one out as well just as it began to ring. Clutching the phone to her chest, she slid to the floor. She bit her tongue. She was not going to cry, she was not going to cry, she was not going to cry, she repeated to herself as the tears flowed from her eyes.

Toshiro pulled up to the address that was inside of the envelope. He was surprised to find no one standing outside of the apartment. As he turned off the engine his teal eyes wandered over the complex. The force owned the entire two story, eight apartment building. It was gated for added security. A guard was supposed to be at the entrance while another two would be position at each opposite corner of the building. No one was around.

He looked at the building; only one apartment had lights on as Abarai was the only tenant under the forces protection at the moment. Toshiro frowned as he noticed the apartment door was open.

He reached into the glove box and pulled out his gun. It wasn't his issued one as due to the investigation and his ultimate suspension from the force, it was taken from him. This gun, he had bought under the table several years ago when he joined the force. He checked to make sure it was loaded before heading towards the apartment.

The door was open. Toshiro carefully kicked it open the rest of the way.

He smelled it before he saw it. That coppery smell.

Blood.

The walls were sprayed with it; the carpet was squishy wet with it. It covered the furniture, the TV, the couch. No body.

"Abarai!" He yelled into the empty apartment.

No answer.

Toshiro carefully moved from the living room to the small kitchen area. Thankfully, there wasn't as much blood here. He saw a few large bloody handprints on the refrigerator. He brought the gun up and moved slowly through the hallway. He followed the blood trail to the bath and bedroom.

"Abarai!" He called out again outside the bedroom door.

Again, no answer.

Toshiro kicked open the door and almost gagged at the scene before him. The bed was covered with dead and decapitated bodies of his fellow officers. After checking to make sure the bathroom was clear, he pulled out his cell and called Matsumoto.

"Captain! Are you ok?"

"Send backup, and a coroner."

"Is he dead?"

"No. Abarai escaped. He killed the complex detail." He heard the phone drop on the other end.

"Sorry about that," she said after a few minutes. "I'm on it."

He hung up and put his phone back in his pocket. A wave of nausea went through him as he realized Abarai was in fact, not contained.

"Rukia…" he whispered as he ran back out to his car.

He dug his cell out again as he drove well over the speed limit. He dialed the number he knew so well… It rang and rang. He waited for the answering machine, but it never picked up.

Maybe she left with Inoue.

Maybe she unplugged the phone and went to bed.

Maybe Abarai was already there.

He narrowed his eyes, tossed the phone into the passenger seat and floored the gas. He had to get there. He had to know.

Rukia opened her eyes when the door bell rang. Her heart pounding, she stood up and put the phone on the bed. She quietly and cautiously made her way to the front room.

""Mrs. Hitsugaya? It's Leo, I'm one of the guards out here."

Rukia let out the breath she was holding. He probably wanted to use the bathroom or something, she thought as she released the last bolt on the door.

She was thrown onto the floor by the force of the door swinging open.

"You're so damn gullible!" Renji said as he broke the door on it hinges. "So trusting. So stupid!" He yelled at her.

She opened her eyes confirming her nightmare. "Renji!"

"Come on, I don't have all night. I need to get out of here and I'm taking you with me," he said as he held his hand out to her.

She looked at him like he lost his mind. He stood there, hair loose and in his face, covered in blood. Rukia backed up.

"Rukia, I really don't have time for this. You want to be pissed at me, be pissed at me, but I'm not leaving you." He said as he made his way into the house.

"No!" Rukia said as she turned over and started to scramble towards the kitchen. She was half way to standing when she felt his foot on her back, bringing her back down to the floor. Rukia grabbed at the floor lamp and managed to knock it over enough to make it land on Renji. Not enough to hurt him, but enough to make him move.

Once out from under his foot, Rukia lunged towards the kitchen. She hooked onto one of the lower cabinet doors and reached for whatever she could find.

Renji followed her leaned down to pick her up when she turned over and swung a pot at his head. It made a dull sound as metal connected with his skull. She dropped the pot as Renji fell.

Getting to her feet, she fumbled to find a knife or anything else she could defend herself with while he was out. She opened the silverware drawer and reached for the knife. Before she could close her fingers around one, she was yanked backwards.

Renji spun her around and slapped her in the face. He reached out and caught her before her head hit the counter. He lifted her up and threw her over his shoulder.

"Goddamn troublesome bitch," he muttered under his breath. He stumbled out of the kitchen and found himself staring into the barrel of a gun.

"Let her go," Toshiro said. His voice low and deadly.

Renji took a step back. "Che, you're not going to fire as long as I have her in my arms, now are you?"

Toshiro said nothing. He lowered his weapon and pulled the trigger. The bullet struck Renji in the lower leg. Crying out, he instantly fell to the ground, dropping Rukia in the process.

"FUCK! What the HELL?" Renji yelled.

Toshiro walked over to Renji and pointed the gun at him again. This time, Renji turned, brought his good leg up and hit Toshiro's hand. The gun went skidding across the floor and out of sight. Renji reached out and grabbed the other man's hand before he could make a move to retrieve the gun.

Renji tried to wrap his hand around Toshiro's throat, but he ended up getting Toshiro's knee in his groin instead.

The two struggled and hit each other as they wrestled on the floor. Renji would get the upper hand and Toshiro would counter, then he would gain the upper hand and Renji would counter. Renji reached out and grabbed the pot Rukia used on him earlier and brought it down on Toshiro's head.

Grinning, he wrapped his hand around his throat.

"I told you before, Rukia is mine and I am taking her. There is nothing you can do about it."

Toshiro's vision was fading as he struggled to get out of Renji's grasp. He was at his limit with the lack of oxygen. His last thoughts turned to Rukia and how he failed in protecting her. He was just about to pass out when the object of his thoughts appeared.

"Let him go or I will kill you, Renji!" Rukia said. Renji turned around and saw Rukia was standing just outside of his reach. She had the gun and it was pointed right at him. Renji smiled.

"You're not going to kill me," he said.

"Get your hands off of him!" She yelled. Renji brought both hands up in a mock surrender. Toshiro took in huge gulps of air as he struggled to sit up.

"Step away from him," Rukia said as she motioned for him to move with the gun.

He ignored the pain in his bleeding leg and shifted his position. "Think of everything we've been through, Rukia. We were best friends in grade school," he said as he smiled. He slowly stood up and took a step towards her.

"Don't move!" Rukia said. There was no way she wanted him coming close to her.

"Rukia…" he said as he took another step.

"Renji, I'm warning you!"

"You love me, you won't shoot me."

"I stopped loving you a long, long time ago, Renji."

Renji made a move towards the kitchen drawer that was still open. He grabbed a knife, turned and tried to stab Toshiro.

Rukia fired the gun.

Renji jerked as the bullet hit his shoulder. He paused before he started to move again.

Rukia fired again, and again. She emptied the clip into the man before her. She was still firing at him long after he died and it wasn't until Toshiro moved that she realized what she had done. Her eyes grew as she dropped the gun.

"Rukia…" Toshiro said as he stood up and went to her. She turned to him, her face showing shock. Toshiro took her into his arms and stroked her hair. "Shhh, it's ok now. He's never going to hurt you again."

"I…I…he…"

"You had no choice," he said as he held her tighter. "I know it's going to be hard for a while, killing someone is – "

"No!" she said as she shook her head violently. She clutched at her husband. She couldn't seem to get close enough to him. "He…he was going to…to…He was going to k-kill you!" she said. "I couldn't let that happen. I couldn't…I couldn't let him hurt y-you!" Rukia held on.

She wasn't concerned with killing Renji. All that mattered was that her husband was safe.

Ishida knocked on the open door. The couple broke apart although they still held onto each other; neither willing to completely let the other go.

Ishida looked at the scene. "Hard to call self defense when he was shot in the back," he said.

"He was going to kill Toshiro!" Rukia blurted out. "I had to!"

Ishida was surprised. "You killed him?"

Toshiro narrowed his eyes at his friend. Ishida looked from him to Rukia and back. He knew what his friend wanted and needed. He nodded.

"I'll take care of it. You take care of each other."

"Thanks, Ishida." Toshiro said. He led his wife outside and to the car.

Several months later…

Toshiro woke up to a smell of pancakes. He opened his eyes and found Rukia standing next to the bed with a tray of food. Two plates piled high with pancakes and bacon and a pitcher of juice and two glasses were on the tray.

"Celebrating?" He asked as he took the tray from her and set it on the nightstand. She smiled and slipped into the bed next to him. She gave him the morning paper.

Police Captain and Wife Cleared of all Charges was the papers headline. Toshiro smiled at his wife.

"It's over," he said. She smiled and nodded.

The district did their best to try to convict Toshiro and Rukia of murder. Abarai was, after all, their ace in their pocket for other high profile cases. Now he was gone. The higher ups wanted blood but thanks to Ishida, they couldn't get anything on them.

The court ruled self defense, much to the district's fury, and cleared both of them of all charges.

"I love you," she whispered as she looked at him. Teal met violet.

Toshiro reached for her… Everything was going to be fine.

~fin~