A/N: Sorry for the wait, I've been busy with work, volunteering and my stupid summer class, but I also struggled on the chapter I kept changing things and adding things til I was satisfied. As requested I made this chapter longer than the rest I'll try to keep up the long chapter. Anyways, thanks for all the reviews and I'm taking in all your suggestions and trying to give everyone what they want. I wanted to remind everyone that Renji is adopted, if you reread ch.2 you'll see a glimpse of it. ENJOY! R&R PLZ!
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Chapter 4
"Renji put me down!" Renji was walking down the hallway with Orihime over his shoulder.
"No." Orihime squirmed and beat on Renji's back, trying to get out of Renji's arms. Unfortunately, it only made Renji tighten his hold.
"Renji let me go!"
Renji took a deep breath to calm down, "Orihime if I let you go, you're gonna go back there and then you're gonna get yourself in trouble. So I suggest you shut up and enjoy the damn ride, because I'm not letting you the fuck go!" Renji didn't want to yell at her, but she needed to listen to him.
Orihime stopped her protest and took in her surroundings. She instantly knew where Renji was going, their spot. While Renji was heading over to their spot, he couldn't help but think what the hell just went down. Orihime had finally snapped. Renji was shocked. He thought he was the one that was going to get into a fight, he never expected Orihime to. After years of Rukia's abuse, she finally snapped. Renji walked outside to the courtyard, behind the school to the forest. Into the forest, passing bushes and trees, Renji finally stopped when he got to a huge cherry blossom tree.
The tree was astounding. Its branch twisted together and curved around each other. The tree stood about a good 12 feet high. What made the tree even more amazing was everything around it. Flowers were surrounding the tree, like a navy around a country. The flowers were so vibrant and colorful. Looking at the tree, Renji thought back to when they found it.
It was freshmen year when Orihime and Renji found this tree. Orihime was running from Renji, because she had stolen his backpack, she just loved to mess with him. Renji chased her all the way to the courtyard. Orihime ran into the forest to hide from Renji. As she was running, Orihime came across a huge cherry blossom. Orihime dropped Renji's backpack as she stared at the huge tree.
"I got ya." Renji grabbed Orihime from behind.
Renji noticed he didn't have Orihime's attention, looking up he saw what did. Renji let go of Orihime and stood behind her. They stood their gazing at this amazing tree and the beauty around it. Orihime shook her head, shaking herself from her daze.
"This place is so peaceful looking," Orihime said. Renji nodded.
"It makes me feel safe, but I don't get why"
"Yeah me too, it's like this place gives me comfort, its beauty is comforting in a strange way."
Orihime turned to Renji, "let's make this our special place." Renji looked at Orihime. "We'll come here anytime we need to get away or when we have a problem. This will be our refuge"
Renji smiled at Orihime, loving the idea. "You always come up with the best ideas." From then on, Orihime and Renji kept to their word and always went there when something was wrong or when they didn't want to be around everyone else.
Renji glanced at Orihime, in his arms, and thought he made the right choice in bringing her here. Renji put Orihime down against the cherry blossom. Orihime drew her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. Renji sat down next to her and stretched his long legs out in front of him. Renji took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He slowly let out the breath he was holding.
"So, are you going to explain what happened back there?"
Orihime didn't say anything, she just put head on her knees. They sat there quietly. Renji looked over at Orihime. She was biting her bottom lip and her forehead was creased, she only looked like this when she was concentrating. Renji couldn't help but think how cute she looked. He loved it when she bit her lip and he thought it was so sexy. Renji squeezed his eyes shut trying to get rid of his dirty thoughts. Renji tried not to have these thoughts, but he couldn't help but think about the girl he loved.
Yeah he loved his childhood friend, but how could he not she was perfect. Renji couldn't stop it. Orihime is always on his mind. This was why Renji hated Ichigo. Ichigo had the one thing he wanted most and on top that he didn't even treat it right. Renji looked over at Orihime. He hated seeing her like this and he felt guilty for being happy Ichigo fucked up, but this was his chance now at finally showing her how he felt. Renji closed his eyes again and was imaging him and Orihime together. He could finally make her see him as more than a friend or brother.
While Renji was thinking about his feeling, Orihime was worrying about everyone else's. She kept thinking about how everybody knew and how everyone was going to be talking about her. Orihime hated it when people pitted and the sad looks and glances, she hated it all. Renji grabbed Orihime's hand, sensing her misery, and squeezed it. Orihime looked up at Renji, he still had his eyes closed, but his lips were in a thin grim line. Orihime knew Renji was upset from the look on his face and she hated the fact that she was the cause.
"I'm sor-"
"Don't, don't you dare. Don't you fucking dare try to apologize." Renji opened his eyes and gave Orihime a hard look. Renji hated it when she apologized over dumb shit. "You have no reason to apologize to me so don't. If anything you owe me an explanation"
Orihime sighed and rested her chin on her knees, "You know she gets under my skin Renji."
"Yeah, but you never beat the shit out of her." Orihime look at Renji and saw the grin on his face.
Orihime chuckled, "I did, didn't I?" She smiled broadly.
"And you said teaching you how to fight was a waste of time."
"Well at the time it was."
"Uh huh, I'll take that as a thank you. So you gonna finish."
Orihime took a deep breath, "She said Ichigo was only with me because of my fake boobs and he screamed he loved while they were at it. She said he needed a real woman not someone weak. I know she was saying that to get a rise out of me, but I couldn't help it Renji, she she just makes me so mad. And to say that the day after it happened, when I'm still hurting, does she not have a heart. I've never done anything to her and she has tortured me vigorously, for no reason. I- I just snapped. Everything she did to me flashed before me and I just snapped." Orihime dropped her head on to her knees.
Renji clenched his hands into fits. That bitch had some nerve. Renji grabbed Orihime by her shoulder and pulled her into his side.
"You know you're not the only person who's snapped before and after everything you've been through, I'm surprised you didn't sooner. Orihime, she got what she deserved, so don't beat yourself up about it or you'll end up looking like her." Orihime couldn't help but to laugh.
"And is she still saying your boobs are fake, I mean I know they're big and everything, but come on that was what sophomore year?"
Freshmen year, all Orihime wore was oversized sweaters to hide her "assets". Unfortunately, sophomore year the new principal decided he wanted the students to wear uniforms, so Orihime couldn't wear her sweaters. So, at the beginning of sophomore year, everyone noticed Orihime's "little" problem. Rukia, being the bitch she was, had spread a rumor that Orihime had gotten a boob job over the summer. It took almost the whole year to get people to stop believing it. Renji had to beat a handful of guys, because they wouldn't leave Orihime alone. There were still a few people that still believed it, but Orihime didn't care anymore. She knew the truth and that's all that mattered to her.
"Renji!" Orihime smacked his arm. She couldn't believe he just said that. Then it registered that Renji has checked her out. Orihime blushed as she realized this. Renji looked at Orihime. She was so cute when she blushed. Renji loved complimenting her, especially if it got her to blush.
Not wanting to make a big deal about it, Renji shrugged it off, "Anyways, she's just mad because she has the body of a five year old, while you look like a super model. Plus, she's the weak one. You didn't get your ass kicked, so I don't see how you're weak."
Orihime couldn't help but blush even more when Renji complimented her again. Orihime smiled. Renji was the only one that didn't think she was weak and helpless. He let her do her own thing, but he was always there when she needed him and that's what she loved most about him.
The bell rang signaling the end of lunch. Renji and Orihime looked at each other. Orihime's eyes were filled with worry and eagerness. She was eager to find a way to not go to class. Renji knew Orihime didn't want to go back to class. Renji stood up and pulled Orihime up with him.
"Come on" Renji pulled Orihime to the school exit.
"Where are we going?"
"Anywhere we want." Orihime laughed, Renji was always doing something spontaneous and it gave her a rush every time.
Renji and Orihime ran out of the school. Renji took her to the one place he knew Orihime could forget all her troubles, the arcade. When Orihime saw that they had stopped at the arcade, she became ecstatic.
"THE ARCADE!" Orihime jumped up and down with excitement. Renji chuckled at Orihime's crazy antics.
"Come on Renji." Orihime was running into the arcade. Renji followed shaking his head.
Orihime got stuck on a few games, saying she wouldn't move on until she beat it. Renji noticed it had gotten dark and suggested they leave. Renji and Orihime walked out the arcade. Orihime was holding the fox Renji had won her. She had said it reminded her of Renji and Renji was not passing up the opportunity to have Orihime think about him all the time, so he spent everything he had on trying to get that fox.
Orihime and Renji were headed over to Renji's house. Renji's mom was making steak and mash potatoes, with macaroni & cheese, one of Orihime's favorites. On the walk there Orihime couldn't stop talking about the arcade and all the games she played. Finally arriving at Renji's, they went into the house.
"I'm home!" Renji shut the door and stood next to Orihime and took off his shoes, placing them next to Orihime's. Walking passed the stairs, they entered the living room. Renji saw a flash of red headed towards him and next thing he knew he was on the ground.
"You dead meat mom's gonna kill you. Your school called she knows you ditched. When she kills you can I get your room and your ipod, oh and your Mindless Self Indulgence poster?" As if right on schedule Renji's mom stormed into the living room.
"RENJI!"
A/N: Found out who adopted Renji next chapter, if you read closely I think you can figure it out, you can leave your guesses in a review. I struggled on this chapter so any feedback would be much appreciated. THANKS for reading.
