Chapter Four - Ai Aki Ni Shippai
Nikko knew Renji was following her, she just didn't know why. He had followed her all the way from Captain Kuchiki's office.
Maybe he was going to yell at her. She had kind of told Captain that he skipped out on paperwork with her and Koi to go drink sake with Shunsui. That was probably a mistake...
But she had been really angry. A Vice-Captain wasn't supposed to leave the 3rd and 4th seat to do all his paperwork.
Finally, Renji gave up on just walking after her and flashsteped to be right in front of her.
"Hey, there, Renji." She smiled at him. "What's up?"
"Don't 'hey, there, Renji' me." He snapped. "You totally ratted me out back there."
"Well..." She trailed off. "You did kind of leave us to do your dirty work. Again."
Renji growled.
He pushed her back into a dark, empty alley off the breeze-way. She was soon between him and a cold stone wall.
"What is it you want, Renji?" Nikko asked tauntingly.
"I want you to quit frustrating the hell out of me!" He nearly yelled.
"Sorry, it's part of the job description." She said flatly.
"Ugh." He turned around before rounding on her again, this time getting even closer. "Do you want to know why I skipped out on paperwork? Do you?"
"Sure." She shrugged.
"Because I didn't want to be around you!" He told her.
Her eyes looked hurt for a second, but quickly restrained into a hard wall of no emotion.
"And why is that?" She spat.
"Because, like I said, you're frustrating the hell out of me." He said through gritted teeth. "You're..."
He took a deep breath before looking back at her.
"I want you so much." He said roughly. "I hate it. Because I can't have you. And it would be bad for my reputation if I was with you. Not to mention Captain Kuchiki would kill me."
Nikko was taken aback. Her eyes even showed how shocked she was, her barrier crumbled at her feet.
"Wha...What?" She gawked. "You...want me?"
Renji nodded, his eyes on the ground and his mouth set.
"Well, why the hell couldn't you have me?" She asked.
He shook his head. "Because. You're a Soul of Half! And you're in my Division! Hell, I'm even a higher rank than you. It would be...just bad."
"So you think I'm lower than you?" Nikko raised an eyebrow before she laughed. "Please."
She bowed her head. "Lieutenant Abari, I warn you this is not an attack."
"What?" He said slowly.
"Destructive Art number 63:Sajo Sabaku." She whispered.
Suddenly, Renji was captive of glowing yellow chains. He couldn't move his arms as Nikko smiled.
"We are the same, sir." She gazed at him through her eyelashes. "Bakudo release."
The chains went away instantly and Renji pushed himself towards Nikko. He put an arm on each side of her head, palms against the wall. She was stuck between him and that cold wall again.
"Don't ever try that again." He ordered.
"Yes, sir." She smiled at him.
He lowered his head, not moving an inch.
"This is killing me." He muttered.
He looked up at her, his eyes softer than before. Nikko smiled, sweetly this time.
"No one has to know." She reached up and touched his cheek softly.
"Right." He said before leaning towards her.
She wrapped her arms around his neck as he let his arms fall down to circle her waist. Their lips were just a breath away from each others. So close...
And then the distance was closed.
Renji's lips were on Nikko's, his grip on her waist getting tighter at the sensation. Nikko trailed her hands across his chest and moaned when he pressed his body against hers. She opened her mouth and let his tongue meet hers.
They explored each others mouths, wrapped around each other.
When they broke apart, they were breathless. Renji leaned his forehead on Nikkos' and smiled at her.
"I think that just might be worth my reputation." He said, pecking her lips again.
"Sure, it is." Nikko giggled as she brought her hand up to rest on Renji's neck.
Renji laughed. "I still think Captain Kuchiki would kill me though."
"He can't afford to kill me." Nikko smiled. "I'm just too awesome."
Renji rolled his eyes. "Well, aren't we arrogant."
"And proud of it." She said before kissing his jaw.
"Captain Kuchiki?" Koi said for the fiftieth time that day.
"Yes, Koi?" He asked, still not looking up from his desk.
She'd give anything for him just to look at her again, like he had on the first day, when she'd helped rescue Renji. But he hadn't since then, and it had been weeks...
"I was wondering if you could maybe..." She trailed off.
"If I could maybe do what?" He urged.
"Oh, um, never mind." She bowed her head and turned to walk away.
"Actually, Koi." Byakuya called after her. "Could you possibly go to the 13th Division and ask Captain Ukitake if I could speak with Rukia Kuchiki."
"Of course, sir." She smiled before bowing and skipping towards the door.
"And Koi?" He said.
"Oh, yes, sir?" She quickly whirled around to smile at Byuakuya.
"Please stop skipping around me." He said flatly. "It gets annoying."
The smile fell off her face completely. She looked hurt and insulted.
"Oh...I'm...sorry." She frowned. "I will, sir."
"That'll be all, Koishi-san." He said.
Koi turned and nearly stomped out the door.
Byakuya smiled as she left.
She had been nearly stalking him (no, scratch that, she had been stalking him) for at least three weeks here. He really didn't mind, but her skipping really was getting annoying.
Renji, Nikko and Koi were all in the Captain/Vice-Captain's office waiting for Byakuya the next day.
Koi didn't notice how Renji and Nikko were standing so close, their hands almost touching and apparently neither did they. They were used to being close.
"Koi, if you don't stop, Captain Kuchiki is going to notice you're following him." Nikko laughed.
"I am not following him!" She cried.
"Yes, you are." Renji smirked.
"You're, like, his own personal stalker." Nikko giggled.
"I'm not a stalker!" Koi sneered.
"Admit it, you know he's hot." Nikko grinned.
"Hey!" Renji frowned. "He's our Captain. Captains are not 'hot.'"
"Ha!" Nikko scoffed. "Have you even seen Captain Ukitake? He might be old, and have white hair, but that face could turn any man gay."
"Obviously not." Was all Renji said.
"Well, yeah..." Koi's voice said quietly before her face looked a little annoyed and her voice grew louder. "Captain Kuchiki would be really hot if he didn't have that stick up his ass!"
The room was silent as Renji and Nikko looked shocked. Nobody moved except Koi who was nearly shaking in anger.
Suddenly, the door opened and who else would appear but Captain Kuchiki himself.
Koi's head whipped around to look wide-eyed at him. She had stopped shaking and was now frozen, blood rushing to her face.
Nikko was trying to restrain her laughter and Renji looked just as mortified as Koi.
"Captain..." Koi choked.
They thought he might lash out, get angry and arrogant and start yelling. But...he didn't.
He just grinned without a word and walked over to his desk.
Koi was still choking, her eyes wide as she gazed at the Captain. She had expected immediate punishment for her actions but he was just sitting there! Sitting at his desk like nothing ever happened! What game is he playing? She thought sharply.
"Renji?" Byakuya's voice cut through the tension in the air.
"Ye-Yes, sir?" Renji asked.
"I need you to take these ladies out to training grounds." He said. "They haven't had any need to release their Zanpaktou's yet. Let them do that. I want a full report. As Captain, I need to know exactly how much power my subordinates posses. And, as you see, I am busy at the moment."
"Yes, sir." Renji bowed.
"And Koi and Nikko." Byakuya looked at the both of them. "Don't hold back. Have either of you achieved Bankai yet?"
"I have, sir." Nikko stated.
"Well, then Renji will need to see that as well." Byakuya turned his eyes to Koi, and was she mistaken to see the tiniest bit of humor there? "Koi-san. Have you not yet achieved it?"
"No, sir." She bowed her head shamefully. "You could say my Zanpaktou is...very stubborn."
"Ah, I see." Byakuya nodded. "Well, then. Get to work."
The three of them bowed before exiting.
