A/N: I know I took too long to update. I had this writer's block and I didn't want to give y'all a very short chapter. I hope this makes up for it. I'll try my best to update as soon as I can. I hope I still have the lovely readers, thanks in advance for reading and please enjoy. Feedback would be very much appreciated. Thanks everyone for the continuous support.


Chapter 7

Sweet Pretenses


Ichigo and Renji began their walk; both were silent as they searched for a place to tear each other apart. The orange-haired man bravely cast a quick glance towards Renji's direction. His jaw was clenched, his lips pursed, and his tanned arms crossed his chest. Somehow Ichigo was slightly intimidated, he didn't know how Renji knew about what was happening. It suddenly frightened Ichigo, he knew for sure his evil deeds had crossed the line. He only prayed for redemption he knew would be hard to get.

Renji stopped suddenly, satisfied with the isolation of their location. Ichigo stopped as well, eyeing Renji who was refusing to meet his eyes.

"Renji, I didn't mean for Rukia or you or anyone to think that I had cast her away like some piece of trash!," Ichigo started, trying desperately to make the frustrated man ahead of him see his point of view. But unfortunately, Renji was too obstinate to even listen to the first portion of his opponent's rebuttal.

"Well that's how you made her feel you dumbass!" He retorted immediately. "And how could you show her your ugly face again huh? You really got some nerve! You know how much her brothers and I want to beat the hell out of you?!"

Veins began to appear on the surface of Renji's tanned skin, proving accurate accountability that he was severely angry. That specific sight before Ichigo caused him to have second thoughts of coming to confront his mistake as thoughts of fleeing back underneath the rock of despair once again seduced him. Bringing him into his own utopia, where no one could harm him in any way. Coward.

"Could you begin explaining to me how you could do that to Rukia? Explain while I'm still not choking the life out of you, cause when Byakuya or Toshirou see you believe me they won't let you explain. I trusted you with her. She was like my baby sister! Damn you Ichigo! She was our baby sister! We swore to protect her!"

Ichigo was speechless. No amount of regret or explanation could justify the things he had done. Both of them knew that, Ichigo felt Renji was just buying time before he could beat him to a pulp.

"I…I don't know" He blurted out. It was then Renji's fist met Ichigo's face.

"That's bullshit and you know it!" Ichigo spit the blood from his mouth. He deserved the punch and he knew it. "That's not enough for the pain you've caused Rukia!" The orange-haired man was well aware of it. He knew Renji was just holding back because they were friends.

"It was just…Orihime" Ichigo said her name silently. This angered Renji even more as he kicked him in the stomach. Ichigo made an awful pained noise as he clutched his abdominal area.

"Oh your princess!" Renji said with much disgust. "Do you even remember or are you really that stupid?!" He asked, restraining himself from kicking him again. "Before you even met your precious Orihime, Rukia was our princess!"

"Those were childish antics, and you know it!" Ichigo retorted, his body refusing to get up. The red haired man rolled his eyes all knowingly.

"That some bullshit excuse Ichigo. What happened to you?" The man asked, he sighed in frustration when Ichigo cast his eyes downwards; finding the pavement more interesting.

"You won't get to see Rukia." Renji finally said, crossing his arms with a stern look on his face.

"What!?" The orange-haired man exclaimed despite the pain.

"You heard me carrot top, you won't get to see my cousin."

"I'm her husband. I have the right," He didn't mean to sound so forceful, knowing very well that Renji along with Byakuya and Toshirou were keeping Ichigo away from Rukia as far as possible for her own sake. But Ichigo could no longer stop himself, which raised his blood pressure to new heights.

"All your rights were relinquished when Toshirou got her," He said, the anger in his voice seeming to calm.

"Got her?! They stole her!"

"Oh yeah, well that's what you wanted right? Out of your way so you could be with Orihime!"

He suddenly became silent. His heart suddenly stopped pounding its normal rhythmic beat, Renji was right. He's rights were relinquished, ever since his infidelity. This was what he wanted, to get Rukia out of the way, but somehow he regretted it. "I came here for a reason you know."

"Shove your reasons. I don't need them." Renji said, refusing to hear any more of Ichigo's crap.

"I want to beg for her forgiveness." The orange-haired man continued.

Renji chuckled bitterly eyeing the disheveled form of Ichigo on the ground, "Too late for that now."

"It's never too late for redemption,"

Renji sighed, boy was he persistent. "With the state she's in you won't even get to her door, you're lucky you got to the receptionist alive. If it weren't for that doctor you'd be dead by now."

This made Ichigo look up. "What do you mean?"

"Byakuya have his people watching over her. Walking straight to Rukia now is suicide. Calm everything first, besides you have more things to do."

Ichigo chuckled sarcastically, finally finding the strength to get back on his feet. "I need to talk to Rukia"

"You really are a dumbass! Your father was the one who called me to get you here. Byakuya won't touch me and I'm the only one who could drag you back to your house"

"My father sent you?!" Ichigo asked surprised. How was it possible? How could his father know? He was very discreet…unless Byakuya or Toshirou told him.

"How…How can…that be?" The orange-haired man stuttered, glazed brown eyes stared ahead at the man before him.

Renji nodded with a smile. "He's going to drive you to hell then back."

--

"Make sure these get the front page," The woman handed the man a disc, smiling as her conniving plan took place inside her head.

The news reporter nodded in understanding, a similar smile on his face. "The money?"

"Half now, half after its publication" Orihime handed the man a check she produced from her purse.

"How do you know so much anyway?" The reporter asked, scratching his stub in satisfaction as his eyes greedily looked at the check.

"Let's just say I know both families well,"

The man nodded again, slipping the check in his pocket. "What about the Kuchiki's? Surely they won't be happy about this."

"Just be silent, if they question you tell them someone sent you the disc anonymously."

--

"Baka!" Isshin's thunderous voice seemed to shook the whole mansion. Ichigo, along with Karin, Yuzu, and Renji shrank lower in their seats as they watched Ichigo's D-Day commence. Somehow, the twins wanted to leave the room, Ichigo was clearly beaten up by Renji. Their older brother's face was slightly swollen, a small amount of blood still trickling down the side of his lips. He also had a bruise to his right eye.

"Explain why Byakuya Kuchiki sent me this" He ordered the orange-haired man standing in front of his desk. The twins cringed inwardly, things were about to get worse and all of them knew it.

"Dad…" Ichigo started, unsure of how to explain. He was as surprise as they were. He didn't know a thing about it, divorce documents? If it was that easy he would've done it long ago. How can you be so selfish Rukia?!. He thought angrily.

Well you're one to talk. Ichigo immediately tuned out the sudden voice in his head, trying his best to come with an explanation to his father without him being stripped of his title.

"I really don't know" He answered honestly. Isshin's frown deepen, that was not exactly the explanation he was looking for. He stood up from his mahogany desk and walked in front of his son.

"Maybe this will help you remember." Karin and Yuzu looked away as Ichigo's limp body fell to the floor with an awful thud. "Where is she?"

"Mercy Clinic." Ichigo answered, refusing to meet his father's eyes.

"I wanted to call Byakuya about this nonsense but the thought of you held me back. I know you have something to do with this. Byakuya won't do this without a justifiable reason; now tell me what did you do?"

Ichigo didn't answer; he stood up from the floor his eyes downcast.

"I brought different women in our home." He finally answered.

Isshin huffed angrily, like the wolf in three little pigs' story. He wanted to beat his son's face in so badly. "If you don't fix this, you will not have any home to bring any women to."

--

Renji drove Ichigo's car smoothly as they headed back to the hospital. Ichigo was on his cell phone waiting patiently for the person on the other line to answer.

"I want to see her." He said, Renji looked at him, wondering who he was talking to.

"No." Was the answer of the hard voice on the other line.

"She's my wife."

"I am assuming you have talked to your father about this. Why do want to talk to her?"

"She's my wife damn it!"

"Yesterday she was a nuisance, and today she's your wife. Why the sudden change of heart Kurosaki? You're going to turn your back on Orihime just because I threatened your position on the company?"

"We both know your father won't agree"

"You are forgetting that he is still unaware of what you have done to his little princess. What a shame Ichigo, do you really believe my father would take your side after he finds out what you did to her?"

"I'm going to see Rukia whether you like it or not."

"That is not for you to decide. Do you think my cousin's presence would protect you? You won't even get to see Rukia's shadow."

And with that the phone call ended. Ichigo cursed silently, planning a way to get to Rukia.

"You need to help me Renji." The red headed man looked at him like someone shot an arrow through his head.

"You know you're one of my best friends—"

"I'm you're only friend" Ichigo insisted, Renji grunted something incoherent.

"I still am on Byakuya's side."

"Then why are we driving to the clinic?"

"I haven't seen her so I'm paying Rukia a visit" Renji said smugly.

"Please Renji, help me" The orange-haired man pleaded.

"Wow, this is a shock. The great Ichigo Kurosaki asking for my help."

It was then a knowing smile crossed Ichigo's lips, "I still have the mug shots" Ichigo said, he put his arms up in front of him, acting as if his wrists were handcuffed.

"I told you, the officer dropped the charges! It was all a misunderstanding…how many times do we have to go through this?!" Renji said, clearly frustrated.

"Until I believe it." It was something the two of them had sworn to secrecy, but Ichigo loved to hold the 'incident' over Renji's head from time to time, usually when Renji refuse helping Ichigo.

"I swear to Kami Renji, if you don't help me I will show those photos to your wife."

Renji sighed indignantly, "Fine! But you have to give the photos to me."

--

Rukia sat on the hospital bed, her thoughts looming over a certain orange-haired man. So many things ran through her head, each a vision of pain and suffering. Since the beginning, she had the choice to back out from all of it. There was no pressure put on her, in fact her brothers told—no, actually pleaded—her to stop the insanity. Her father only wanted her happiness, whatever she wanted was what was to be done. She had hoped her decisions weren't rash, the moment they had told her about the engagement she was secretly celebrating, finally…something that could bring them together. She had high hopes that Ichigo would sooner or later forget about Orihime, Rukia sighed. Oh how naïve she was.

She raised her head up to the door when she heard it open. The lone dark figure sat on the couch opposite from her bed. She had glasses on and a thin black ledger in her hands.

"Nanao, right?" She asked. The woman nodded a bit, a forced smile on her lips. Rukia recognized her, she was one of Byakuya's army of zombies—as how Toshirou and her would put it. She sat down and opened her book.

"Where is Kaien?" She asked suddenly, Nanao looked up.

"He is in the cafeteria, mulling over what chocolate to buy for you" She answered, going back to her reading. Rukia nodded, at least Kaien calmed down.

The door creaked open, Rukia looked up and so did the woman with her.

"You are not allowed in here" She immediately said, in a second she was immediately by the door; holding it so that Rukia could not see the person on the other side. "Leave!" She said sternly.

Nanao was still holding her ground and Rukia could barely see the person on the other side.

"No!" She said, though Rukia didn't hear any question being asked.

"Nanao," Rukia spoke softly, the stern woman cast her a side glance waiting for her to continue. "I wish to see whoever is there"

"Byakuya-sama forbids it; he said you are not to see anyone, especially this traitor." She answered, turning her attention back to the person on the door.

"Ruuu-chaaan!"

Rukia suddenly perked up, she knew that sing-song voice. The only person who has the annoying voice.

"Renji…" She said excitedly. Rukia saw Nanao's back stiffen, the woman won't back down without a fight.

"Please let him in" The amethyst eyed woman pleaded. She stood up from her bed, the IV line in tow. Nanao relaxed a bit, turned to Rukia and bowed her head in respect. She was out of the room the next second.

"Rukia!" Renji then came busting inside her room, enveloping her in a tight hug.

"Renji…" She said softly, grateful that she saw another familiar face. The surprises today kept on coming and she was not sure if she wanted anymore. Everything was just too good to be true.

The red-haired man assisted her to the couch where they both sat down.

"You don't look to good," Renji commented, taking her small hands into his. "What do you say, let's get out of this dingy room of yours and into the open? There's a garden for the patients in the back, wanna go check it out?"

"I'm not so sure if I'm—…"

"Aww…Don't be a prick Rukia" Renji said with a smile. He stood up unfolded the wheelchair in the room's supplies and helped Rukia to sit in it.

"Fine, fine, but I need to get back soon. Kaien might—"

"Kaien is here? Well I'll be damned" Renji said, cutting her off immediately. "Yes, ma'am I'll bring you back soon"

Renji wheeled her out of her room, discreetly eyeing the men Byakuya had tactfully placed to guard her. They had their piercing glares boring holes into the back of his head but he could really care less. He had weighed his options carefully, of course he would be leaving Byakuya's good graces but sooner or later he figured that the eldest Kuchiki would forgive him, after all what are cousins for?

A minute or two has passed and Rukia was still silent. Sure she had missed Renji tremendously though she didn't know how to start a conversation with him without involving the matters concerning her hospitalization and Ichigo's apparent absence in the scene. She wondered if how much Renji knew, how did he take it? Had he talked to Ichigo about it?

She inhaled deeply, "You know huh?" She said timidly.

"Yep." Was his casual answer. "Though, I don't know what made Byakuya put you here."

Rukia nodded in understanding. Should she tell him? Would he worry as much as the others did? If she told him she felt better would he believe her?

"I'm just having…heart problems" She chuckled at the irony. The man didn't answer, letting her know to continue and elaborate.

"The doctor said I have this heart ailment where my heart became too large, she said it was because of what I did to myself"

Silence. Rukia fumbled with her nails, she was playing with it, slightly annoyed by Renji's lack of input in the conversation.

"She said I was anemic, malnourished and I have this infection. The minor problems were cured but the heart thing is still…well…and there's the problem with—"

They suddenly stopped, and Rukia noticed they were already outside the hospital, under the comforts of a shade. It was a rather sunny afternoon, a few patients were also outside.

"I'm feeling a bit better now"

She turned to look at Renji, to see how he had reacted. Rukia only saw a blur of orange, and within seconds she was enveloped in a hug…a hug so foreign she never felt the arms that were enveloping her now.

"I'm so sorry."

It was then she realized the arms belonged to Ichigo Kurosaki.