"I respect anyone who has to fight and howl for his decency."-Deborah Kerr

Chapter 3: The Scars of Strained Relation

Thud-thud-thud-thud.

He could feel his raging heart beating faster and faster, yet he wouldn't stop. No matter what the consequences, cardiovascular arrest didn't sound nearly as life threatening as the wrath of Byakuya Kuchiki. No, nothing sounded as deadly as a reprimanding by him. The thought of rose-colored blades slicing through the wind brought Renji to ask himself the same question that restlessly weighted his thoughts nearly every second of every day; how had he been able to avoid demotion from his position as Squad Six lieutenant for this long? Renji didn't doubt the fact that his job as vice-captain was compromised, especially after the days earlier events. Being a lieutenant was hard to do, but staying a lieutenant was an entirely different situation all together, Renji was sure. And being a captain, well that seemed harder than anything, though somehow his Taichou possessed an easy and flowing air about him that made it appear effortless. The way Captain Kuchiki's expression never seemed to alter, even when a fresh stack of paperwork sat incomplete at his desk, that same, numb demeanor never did falter. But for Renji, just the sight of blank forms and files would give him the instinctive to groan and take a sharp turn in the opposite direction. It was no secret, the two men contrasted in almost every way. So with all their differences taken into account, how could they even remain to work as a team? How was it possible that Renji still had his job, even after the numerous personality clashes that had occurred between them? Such questions devoured Renji's conception until his thoughts became hazy and obscure. Unfortunately, a distraction would be the last thing that Renji would need.

He slowed in momentum as he paced through the ancient archway of the old battle grounds. The bare and loneliness of the landscape was curious, almost disturbing to Renji as he absorbed the bleak quiet. During regular hours, the grounds would be overflowing with squad six swordsmen, determined to please the captain. But not now, not as dusk began to drape itself across the sky.

The glowing moon that illuminated the Seireitei sat on the highest peak of darkness, a throne of stars beneath it. Hadn't Byakuya ordered Renji to be present at moon rise? The captain was no where in sight, which meant...Renji had arrived at the designated meeting point before his always punctual captain? The realization registered slowly in his head, and when it fully dawned upon him that he had just achieved the impossible, a wave of shock and slight content rushed through him. But the celebration was short lived.

Now, it was clear that Byakuya Kuchiki was a man hardly ever late for anything. No matter what the event. And for Renji, a man who was late for nearly everything, to arrive at the grounds before him, well, that seemed a tad suspicious. Which meant something was amiss. Renji adjusted his shades so that they rested on the slight curve of his tattooed forehead, hoping to hide the uneasiness accumulating inside of him. They gave him a look of charisma and authority, two things that the former Rukongai peasant had struggled to obtain.

When he sensed a spike in spiritual pressure, Renji unsheathed Zabimaru cautiously. He stood by, his sword prepared for anything to appear in front of him at any given moment. And something did. In an instant, sparks flew and Senbonzakura was pushed forcefully against Renji's blade. Charcoal bangs blew free in the evening breeze and a small glint of something, something indecipherable hid within the shine and sparkle of eyes that glowed like heavy rain clouds.

"Your reflexes are as sharp as your blade, Abarai. Now, before we depart to the world of the living, let us see if you've improved since our last battle."

The captain was condescending as he purred the words Renji had been so eager to hear for weeks now. The two officers had trained together every now and again, as it was required for a captain and his lieutenant to become of one mind and body when working as a team on the field of combat. It was somewhat of a bonding exercise, though the two never did seem to be able to cover much ground in the distance between them. But this was no training session; this was an all out duel. Renji was exhilarated with the opportunity to finally see just how far apart the strength of their spirits were now. Byakuya was aware of his lieutenant's desperation towards engaging in combat with him, and he felt that this was the perfect time to satisfy that need...Maybe even tease at that rash and frenzied need.

Byakuya unwrapped the smallest of smiles, drawing back his sword for a second blow. Renji accepted the challenge, thrilled, with a wide, spreading grin.

"Sure then. You got it."

The two Zanpakutos clashed, scraping against each others vulnerable metal. The blades cut and chipped into one another so that tiny silver flakes rained down from the two and onto the dusty ground. Byakuya was leaned forward, slowly overcoming Renji. The pale hands strangled the handle of Senbonzakura and gave a domineering thrust towards his subordinate. It was a strong and blood-thirsty hit, yet merciful. The force of the blow sent Renji sliding backwards, his woven sandals unsettling the dirt and dust beneath them. The debris created a cloud of grey between the swordsmen, and Renji used the opportunity to make his inevitable move against his high-ranking challenger. He growled the words he knew all too well, the phrase permanently engraved onto his consciousness.

"Howl, Zabimaru."

The ordinary looking Japanese sword bloomed into its true state; a ferocious, savage looking weapon, separated into multiple joints and segments. Miniature spears extended from each metal section, like hellish thorns sprouting from the stem of a rose. Renji recoiled his Zanpakuto, handling it like the expert he knew he was. He launched it forward, as if manipulating a whip, and the transmogrifying weapon stretched across the space that separated Renji from his target. Byakuya was still, remaining inanimate until the lunging blade was in his range.

"Careless, as usual. You haven't changed a bit, Renji. You still leave yourself defenseless and never make up for it."

At the last second, the noble skillfully dodged to the side, carrying his sword behind his back as he darted towards Renji. Byakuya was expecting his lieutenant to choke, caught defenseless and vulnerable to wrath of Senbonzakura, but he was wrong. In fact, he didn't see Renji at all.

"Tch. Now, what were you saying?"

Renji now stood behind his captain, his monstrous blade thrown over his shoulders. He spoke dangerously.

"I know flashstep too, you know. And if you didn't, well, now you do"

Byakuya didn't turn to face his opponent just yet. His dark laskes brushed his cheeks as he chuckled softly to himself.

"Hm. Don't get too cocky now."

Without warning, Byakuya turned and sliced horizontally. And Renji didn't miss a beat either. He, being the brash and daring fighter that he was, sprung upwards so that his body was suspended above Byakuya's sword. He pulled his knees up high, the bottom of his kosode falling victim to a cold slice by an even colder sword. Then, he disappeared into the air. Renji materialized a few feet away, his sword up and ready to defend. Byakuya dealt Renji an aggressive slash, metal and metal making contact once again. That was first strike.

"Why do you feel the need to fight me so desperately? You are only doing yourself a disfavor..."

"Because. I swore that I'd surpass you. In strength, in spirit. Whatever it takes."

Byakuya's lips twitched upwards in response. He looked for an opening in Renji's defense.

"Ah. You'll surely slit your throat before you achieve such foolishness. And to whom did you make this swear?"

Zabimaru took another violent hit from the force of Byakuya Kuchiki's strength. That was strike two. Renji concentrated, trying hard to think back to that day so long ago. And then he remembered.

"No one. I just swore it. So that you'd stop thinking of me as a worthless tramp. To tell you the truth, I don't care if I really am just a tramp down to my bones, and the stains of worthlessness are truly dyed into my being. I refuse to let you have the satisfaction of reminding me of it.

Byakuya moved sharply, passing behind Renji so fast that by the time the scarlett-maned Shinigami realized what had just occurred, Byakuya's blade was already pointed only inches from the smooth, tanned neck.

"How naive, you are. Believing you to be worthless and believing you to be foolish are two very dissimilar things."

Strike three.

And the worst part was, Renji couldn't even tell the difference between the two.

~I~I~I~I~I~

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