AN: Okay last prewritten chapter! This one leaves on a bit of a cliffhanger (at least it does in my opinion) and I'm a bit stalled on where this is going next. Sigh. But I'll be thinking on it and of course I welcome any ideas anyone may have that's still reading. Oh and it should be noted that this one may be a little shorter than the rest due to the previously mentioned stall.
I don't own Bleach.
I woke up with a scream, the last scene of my nightmare playing in my mind on some sort of sadistic loop, terror temporarily flooding my senses. Feeling a panic attack begin, I forced my eyes open making myself recognize that I was in my room back at Urahara's, and with effort cut off the scream. Pain burned in my shoulder, biting at my resolve against the panic, and I struggled to turn my shallow breathing deeper before I hyperventilated. Dimly I heard my door come crashing open and Karin stood in the doorway, her fear as she approached causing my panic to spike even more. A hand appeared on her shoulder, restraining her, and I was grateful to the boy that was standing there, keeping her from coming any closer. No trace of Tessai, Jinta or Ururu, who had learned long ago that their fear at my attacks only increased my panic. I struggled to calm myself, keeping a wary eye on both intruders, glad that at least the boy had the wits to just stare at me calmly.
"Shouldn't we get someone?" Karin's voice was timid for the first time since I had met her. The fear in her voice caused whatever control I'd gained since I'd woken up to slip, and to my dismay I was losing my battle against hyperventilation.
""Pfft, for this?" the boy dismissed, and I struggled to remember his name - ah Toshiro. "Besides, with the amount of reiatsu she's generating, Renji is probably already on his way." This time clear turquoise eyes assessed me as the mention of Renji helped calm my panic. Focusing on the nail above the door, I worked to calm my breathing, whittling the rest of the world down to just that nail, which had been put there for that reason. Thoughts drifted back unbidden to Renji and my anxiety cooled further, putting it almost under my control. To my surprise, soothing calm seemed to emanate from Toshiro, tentatively at first, like he wasn't sure, then growing stronger. It wasn't as familiar or intimate as Renji's, but it helped, and I put a firm lid on the panic attack, burying it back into the recesses of my mind.
"Interesting," Kisuke's voice broke the silence, and Toshiro's energy receded. We all turned in surprise at the shopkeeper's silent entrance, but sure enough he was standing behind Toshiro and Karin. "Didn't think she'd be so receptive to all energies. This could prove a bit ... tricky."
"What -was- that?" I asked. Contemplation on how much he should tell me reflected in Kisuke's eyes, before he sighed.
"You and Ichigo are unique, both of you have abundant, if uncontrolled, spiritual pressure," he began.
"Yes, that much is obvious. Get to the point, Urahara," Toshiro interrupted, impatient. And I realized that this must be new information for him too, causing me to wonder how he'd known to spread his energy like that.
"As far as I can tell, this makes the energy sort of a two way street," Kisuke continued. "So not only is the outgoing energy uncontrolled, incoming energy isn't deflected. With Ichigo, since he has learned some control-"
At this Toshiro blew out a disbelieving sigh, but silenced himself under the heat of three glares.
"Since Ichigo now has some control over his reiatsu, I wouldn't be surprised if only those closest to him could channel their energy over. But since this is all new for young Eri here, her energy seems to be able to combine with pretty much anyone else's," Kisuke looked pleased. "Although the cohesion does seem strongest with Renji," he teased, and I blushed furiously. Something prickled pleasantly along my skin, and I was enveloped in warmth seconds before Renji appeared at my windowsill. In moments I was pulled up and into a comforting embrace, and I felt his energy flex over mine as his eyes assessed me for wounds, frowning slightly at the blood staining my shoulder bandage. Involuntarily I curled into his warmth, happily sighing, when an embarrassed cough reminded me we weren't exactly alone.
"So uh, Kisuke was just um - " I stammered, pulling away from Renji. He grumbled but let me sit back on the bed, settling on the edge beside me. His energy didn't peel away though, just settled around my body like a comfortable shirt, and I found that I didn't mind a bit.
"I know, he 'splained it all before I left," Renji shrugged. Then he glanced up sharply, and turned an angry glare on Toshiro, who just gazed back calmly.
"You weren't here and she was upsetting Karin," the younger boy answered the unspoken question. They engaged in a staring match, Renji looking oddly possessive and Toshiro looking bored. Hmmm, time to see if this energy thing really was a two way street, and I concentrated pushing calming thoughts at Renji, who visibly relaxed.
"She's a fast learner," Kisuke sounded proud.
"Whatever," Toshiro dismissed the entire exchange. "The more pressing issue now is what happened that had her so riled up?"
My thoughts flashed back to the nightmare, briefly forgotten, and guilt coursed through me - I should have said something earlier! I started to say something, but Kisuke held up a hand in a silencing gesture.
"Best wait until we're all here," he commented. "C'mon we'll have tea in the kitchen. Rukia and Ichigo should be along soon," he ushered Karin and Toshiro out of the room. Renji grabbed my wrist as I stood up to leave, and suddenly his soft lips were moving over mine. I sighed as a wave of pleasure slipped over me, and he slipped a tongue in my mouth, caressing every inch as I rubbed my tongue against his. Warm hands trailed up and down my back, and my fingers found themselves wound in his red hair. Desire and need made me whimper, and I felt Renji shiver before pulling back and resting his forehead against mine. Burgundy eyes locked onto my own green ones and I blushed.
"Kitten, I've been wanting to do that ever since that first morning," Renji whispered. "But I've been needing that ever since I saw that bastard with his hands on you."
"Renj-" I began to explain, needed to tell him who Asano was, but he interrupted.
"Shhh," he whispered. "Some other time." With that he let me go and walked to the door. "Oh and Kitten? There will be definitely more of this later," he winked. I scowled and followed him out to the kitchen.
By this time the kitchen was full, Kisuke, Toshiro, Karin, Ichigo, and Rukia all staring at me when I entered. We all sat down for tea, Renji pulling me into his lap against my half-hearted protests, laughing when I turned bright red.
"So you're Kitten?" Rukia giggled. My answering glare was destroyed when Renji tickled my left side, using the contact to flood me with warmth.
"Who was that guy?" Toshiro asked bluntly, bringing our attention back to the matter at hand.
"That -guy- was Asano," I said simply. The look on everyone's face and the soothing tendrils of energy coming off Renji made it obvious they were waiting for me to explain a bit further, but my own shame kept me silent. "He said he was here under orders to grab both Yuzu and Karin, 'declare war on the traitor'. The uh, whole thing was actually kind of staged so that you'd know who took them."
"If he was after both of them, why'd he only take Yuzu?" Renji rumbled behind me.
"I suspect he wasn't prepared for Eri," Kisuke replied, saving me the trouble. He met my eyes, and I knew he suspected what had happened, just as I knew the older man wouldn't say anything. "Obviously they have a bit of a history and she provided a very useful distraction." Kisuke actually knew what my history was with Asano, I'd filled him in with bits and pieces over tea after I'd woken from nightmares. He never said anything to judge the way I'd acted that day, and I was grateful.
"How do you know he won't hurt her?" Karin held my eyes. "C'mon Eri, I've heard you scream his name in pain."
"Because he would have done it already," I kept the lie simple and brutal. Tears filled Karin's eyes, and I felt a bit bad, but I knew if they knew the real reason he wouldn't hurt her - that he was waiting for a very specific audience - I'd never be allowed to join them on the rescue mission.
"Did he tell you where he was taking her?" Toshiro asked, even as he placed a calming hand over Karin's clasped fists. Rukia had long since wrapped her hands around Ichigo's waist, probably pumping him with the same good feelings Renji was currently pumping into me.
"Not at the time, no," I replied. Then I felt Renji's energy brush against mine, almost inquisitively as I thought about my dream, astonished as it turned into a protective anger. Crap, it was going to be hard to conceal my plans from him if they just showed through whatever bond we have, and then I met Kisuke's knowing eyes. Damn mysterious bastard had known I wouldn't be able to keep my feelings to myself, no wonder he'd not fussed when Renji had pulled me into that embrace.
"But you know where she is," Renji spoke up, and I sighed.
"He's waiting for me to take you to him," I whispered. I felt hostility rolling off Ichigo at my implied involvement and I cringed even as Renji growled in warning behind me. Worse though, I could feel a slight retreat of the warmth he had settled over me every time I was near. Was he withdrawing? He couldn't really believe I'd... But the warmth didn't come back, and he seemed to be holding me a bit apart from him. For some reason my heart ached at the thought that he could think for a second that I'd join up with that -thing-. At least the thought gave birth to a plan though, and I stood up suddenly, not wanting to be in this man's arms any longer or give him access to what I was feeling. Warm hands lingered on my wrists when I walked away, but I noticed Kisuke restraining Renji as I broke away and leaned against the wall by the doorway. Kisuke himself was giving me a funny look while everyone was looking at me with a little surprise. Suddenly I was angry at all of them, angry that they hadn't arrived in enough time, angry that they had swallowed what Kisuke had said so easily, and especially angry that I'd surrendered to the comfort Renji when I barely knew the guy. Honestly though, I was mostly angry with myself for being powerless to stop Asano and for making the choice I did.
"Eri?" Karin broke through my thoughts.
"I'm sorry, I didn't get a chance to answer your question before," I dropped my gaze to the floor. "You wanted to know why Asano took that poor little lamb, Yuzu?" I grinned cruelly. Liquid flooded my eyes but I ignored it, blocking everything but the shame of it all.
"Stop," Toshiro commanded, and I flinched but continued.
"I mean, why wouldn't you want to know? He had them both there, Karin and Yuzu, he could have easily taken both of them," I shrugged. "He only took her because he asked me to choose, and I easily chose her. Not even a thought for what he could do to such a defenseless thing."
"ERI!" Kisuke rebuked me. It didn't matter anymore though, because already the warmth that the occupants of the room had offered was leaving. I could once more feel hostility rolling off them, could feel that Ichigo was itching for a fight and Karin glaring at me. Time for the finale.
"And now he's waiting for me in Hueco Mundo, maybe you'll get her back, maybe you won't," I looked up at Renji before continuing, "But I do know that if he doesn't see me there, you can kiss that poor girl goodbye." I left the room in silence, running the minute I cleared the door.
