Disclaimer: I don't own any Bleach, they're strictly owned by Tite Kubo!

DeAmonQuEen: This is totally not based on the real story of Bleach, but still, please enjoy.

"The Stanger"

Chapter4

They searched where the voice came from but they couldn't find who it belong to

"I always thought parties were supposed to be fun. But if this is your definition of fun then you seriously need help," the voice said.

"Who are you? Show yourself!"

"Is that how a prince should ask? Yer pretty shameful, ain't ya."

"I said show yourself!" Byakuya said in fury.

"I'm right here."

From behind the prince, a man with bright red hair stood. The prince was surprised as he turned to face the man. Another person was surprised too.

"You?" Kuchiki Rukia exclaimed.

"Yo."

"Rukia, do you know this man?" Byakuya asked his sister.

Rukia felt scared that her brother asked her, but she still answered. "He's the suspicious man I met earlier," she answered.

Upon hearing this Byakuya, ordered the guards to seize the redhead, but then the voice of the emperor reigned throughout the area.

"Stop this madness at once!" the emperor's voice ordered.

"Grandfather? Where are you?"

"Where do you think?"

Then to everyone's surprise the emperor appeared among the crowd. "Byakuya are you going to arrest the man who saved my life?" he asked as he approached the group.

"Saved?" the people repeated as they all stared at the red haired stranger.

"Yes, saved. That man right there saved my life from getting killed by these assassins. And now you are going to arrest him?"

Byakuya was taken aback, he didn't expected this to happen. But he still trust his grandfather's words, and so he ordered the redhead to be released. When the emperor finally approached the group, Byakuya immediately questioned him. But then, as he was about to answer, an arrow hit the emperor's heart.

"Grandfather!"

"Your highness!"

Everyone hurriedly came to the emperor's aid. Byakuya was about to do the same, but then he decided to look for where the arrow came from. He looked at the roof, and then he saw the perpetrator. The young prince immediately gave chase, and though it is not known to all, the prince was capable of moving like a ninja, it was all thanks to the princess of the 2nd kingdom, Shihouen Yuroichi. Meanwhile, the assassin tried escaping, he was still surprise that the prince could keep up, but he didn't let this get in his way. Byakuya was almost caught with him, but then he outsmarted the young prince and was able to lose him.

There are many things Byakuya hated in this world; one of them was getting outsmarted by someone. He hated the fact he had just let the man who killed his grandfather, the emperor go.

He went back to the garden, where everyone gathered, with a heavy heart. He never would have expected anything like this to happen in an event like this. Byakuya kept his face from showing any sign of hurt from the loss of his grandfather, he thought that it would be better that way to show that he was not weak.

When he arrived there, he saw Rukia, who ran towards him, with tears in her eyes. Byakuya felt a sting in his heart.

"Nii-sama! Nii-sama!" she called out, "Ginrei-ouji sama, he's, he's"

"I know Rukia, I saw it. He's gone," he said trying to sound as calm as he could.

"No he isn't! He's perfectly safe!" the petite woman said with tears running down her eyes.

Byakuya's eyes widen in surprise. He hurriedly came to where his grandfather laid after he was shot. And found that he was, as his sister said, alive and well. "Byakuya," Ginrei said with a smile on his face.

"How?" was the only word that came out from the prince's lips.

"Ya should thank me for it."

Byakuya turned and found the red haired man walking with a very tired look in his face. In one hand, he dragged an unconscious man.

"Here," he said as he threw the man in front of Byakuya.

At first the prince didn't know what the unconscious man meant, but when he got a good look at the sleeping figure he immediately recognized that it was the assassin that had escaped from him.

"I am really grateful of your assistance in the capture of this man, Abarai-san, and for saving my life."

"Yeah, yeah. Ya owe me dinner Ginrei," he said freely.

The emperor just smiled and said; "Of course." And then he ordered everyone to restart the festivities and to throw the assassins temporarily in the dungeons.

In just a few minutes, the banquet had regained its earlier mood. Music once again roared the kingdom, and the feast began. Everyone had already forgotten the earlier events, and focused on the party and on the mysterious stranger who is seated comfortable beside the emperor.

Not a single person knows who he was or where he came from. His clothes were different and his way of speaking was very improper, he was someone who caught the attention of the whole crowd, including the prince, who for a while now, has been giving small glances at him.

"This man, he was able to save grandfather twice, and even captured that runaway assassin. Aside from that he calls the emperor by his first name. Who is this man? And what is his relationship with the emperor?" he asked himself.

Rukia was watching her brother and decided to speak to him about the redhead who she had met earlier. "Nii-sama," she called silently, just enough to catch her brother's attention.

"What is it Rukia?" he asked without giving eye contact.

"Renji," she whispered, "He said earlier, when I met him, that that is his name. Abarai Renji."

"Abarai Renji…" he said slowly as he stared at the red haired man.

DeAmonQuEen: Yehey! I finally was able to put these two in one very long and boring chapter. But please don't get discourage yet… I promise to put more ByaRen scenes, so continue reading!

P.S. Reviews are appreciated!

Disclaimer: I don't own any Bleach, they're strictly owned by Tite Kubo!

DeAmonQuEen: This is totally not based on the real story of Bleach, but still, please enjoy.