Eh not much to say here, there are a couple of F-bombs here.
Chapter 9: The Ultimate Price of Love
Everything hurt, her chest burned and felt as if it were on fire especially when she took a breath, her limbs felt like lead when she tried to move them, and her throat felt as if she had been in a dry hot sandy desert. All the pain she felt told her only one thing. She was still alive.
Slowly she opened her eyes to try and learn her whereabouts considering she already knew she was not at home or in a hospital back in the living world. She flinched slightly as she heard the sound of footsteps enter then leave the room as she continued to try to lift her head. "Where am I," she demanded, her voice a hoarse whisper.
Her rhetorical question was answered when the heard the sound of multiple footsteps and then the sound of a gate opening. "I'm in the holding cell" she thought to herself.
"You're awake," Renji whispered softly as he took a seat next to her cot in the cell. "You've been unconscious for almost two weeks now. We thought you've finally given up."
"Byakuya kept his word?" Shiori wearily asked trying to avoid talking about herself..
Renji sat by her cot holding her hand and nodded. "Yeah, in fact the old man actually offered me a captain's position, though I don't know if I will take it."
"Abari Renji, you've worked so hard and come so far. You've earned this. What division were they going to give you? She asked smiling despite the pain she felt from the fatal blow Byakuya landed on her after the battle ended..
"I really wish you would let Unohana Taicho or at least someone from the fourth take a better look at those injuries." Renji sighed seeing through the mask she put up as he brushed his fingers through her bangs. He suppressed the thoughts of when he first brought her here, it was as if her body was trying to reject any treatments given to stabilize her life.
"Don't change the subject." she sighed. "Besides you already know my answer because you've asked me the same thing over and over. My life now lies in Kuchiki Taicho's hands. He'll more than likely try again since..."
Renji gently squeezed her hand fighting the anger slowly building within. "Why in the hell would you make such a deal anyway? I would have found a way to save you. I could have talked to the captain general on your behalf."
"And earn the resentment of your captain for going over his head!" Shiori winced painfully as she sat up on the cot, her hair hung loose of it's usual braided ponytail contrasting against the stark white of the prison yukata she currently wore. "I told you already I made that deal out of love. I don't want you to destroy your career because of me."
Moving to sit next to her on the cot, Renji took her in a tight hug mindful of her injuries. "You seem to not understand that I love you and I'm willing move Heaven, Hell, and Earth just to have you close."
Shocked at Renji's confession, Shiori timidly wrapped her arms around his shoulders and rested her forehead against his. "I don't want to die, but I don't want you to suffer for my crimes."
"Let's run away together, we can go back to the living world and be together there."
"But then you'll become a fugitive for abandoning your position. I will not let you do that."
Renji just sat there holding her close wanting to make every moment he had with her last as long as it could unaware that their entire conversation had been heard.
"So have you decided what you are going to do? Kuchiki Taicho?" Ukitake asked the dour sixth division captain.
Byakuya glanced at the older captain and walked away back to his office where his sister and Ichigo awaited him. He raised an eyebrow taking in their appearances. Ichigo was dressed as usual when he was in Seireitei, in his shinigami robes, but he also bore a new captains robe baring the insignia of the fifth division and his sister bore the badge of a vice-captain.
"Nii-sama, you have to let her go." Rukia spoke up.
Bakuya growled completely annoyed with the fact that everyone involved has voiced their unwanted opinion to him about what should happen with the exception of the tenth division captain. "Enough!" the noble snapped. "I have already decided what is to happen to Mizuhana. However I am waiting on word from Yamamoto Taicho."
No sooner than it had escaped his lips, a hell butterfly fluttered in and landed on Byakuya relaying a message from the Captain-General.
"We are to report to Yamamoto Taicho's office immediately," he maintained his clipped tone as he rose from his desk and walked out of his office, all present there following him.
oOo
He had no idea how long he had been sitting there or when he shifted positions where he was he was leaning against the wall of the cell holding the woman he loved in his arms who had cried herself to sleep. Lazily Renji caressed the back of her neck in a soothing manner as he continued to weigh the numerous options which included just scooping up Shiori and running back to the living world. He knew there were millions of places he could take her considering he looked in the text books Rukia would often bring back with her.
His thoughts were interrupted with she sudden sound of the cell door sliding open and four guards entering. One guard roughly pulled Shiori from Renji's arms waking her in the process as they attached the restraints to the red collar around her neck and then shackled her hands in front of her.
"Hey you don't have to be so rough with her, she still is still injured!" Renji rose to his feet and snapped at the four guards.
None to gently, the front two guards yanked the leads on the collar forcing Shiori to walk behind them wincing as she limped. She winced again as they exited sixth division headquarters as the high sun blinded her slightly. She stopped for a moment and looked up at the sky only to be forcefully yanked again into motion. "Keep moving bitch or I'll do Kuchiki Taicho the favor of killing you." one of the guards behind her snapped using the sheathed tip of his zanpakuto to push her on.
Shiori cried out in pain as the sword came in direct contact with a wound on her leg that had not completely healed ans was extremely tender causing her to collapse.
"Get up you bitch!" the guard snapped kicking her in the ribs.
"ENOUGH!" Renji snapped punching the guard knocking him out. "Get the fuck away from her!" he knelt by her side and removed the collar and shackles then picked her up in his arms and started to run.
"Where do you think you are going?" Having known Renji for practically her whole life, Rukia had a suspicion that he would try to do something foolish and detoured from her brother and the others heading to the captain general's office. "You can't run and hide forever."
"The world is huge with billions of souls to hide among, I can mask my reiatsu as well as Shiori."
"But is this what she wants? To live on the run?"
Renji looked down at the brown skinned woman whimpering in pain. "No...she wouldn't like it. In fact she would probably hate me for it."
"For making her run?"
"No...for choosing her over my career." Renji sighed softly lowering his head, his lips absently brushed the top of her head. "She made a deal with your brother. If he did not take disciplinary actions against me, she would willingly surrender her life. I already missed out on my chance with you, Rukia. Shiori is my last chance at love and I refuse to let her go."
Rukia blinked understanding Renji's current feelings because she held the same for Ichigo. "I do understand your feelings, but don't run yet. See what Yamamoto Taicho says."
Renji sighed and turned heading for the Captain General's office with Shiori in his arms.
The old man tapped his walking stick on the floor to gain the attention of those gathered there to hear his decision. "It had come to my attention that several fugitive shinigami had escaped, supposedly plotted an siege on Soul Society, were captured and executed. I must say that while I am pleased that action was taken, I am displeased with the way this situation was handled." His gaze scanned all those present before falling back on Renji and Shiori.
Gingerly Shiori took a bowing position before the commander keeping her eyes to the ground and awaited his decision.
"Mizuhana Shiori, while you were acquitted of earlier charges, you still broke vital laws of Soul Society and the Goeti thirteen and for this the following disciplinary actions will be taken. For abandoning your division during dire times of emergency and gross insubordination you will be exiled to the living world for a term of one hundred and fifty years."
Byakuya bowed in respect to the captain general accepting the decision he levied and left considering his business with them complete.
"Yamamoto Taicho, about that captain's position... I've made my decision," Renji spoke up just as everyone else left Yamamoto's office. "Considering that Kurosaki is now a captain here, I request to be assigned to the living realm as shinigami representative."
Surprised by his actions, Yamamoto looked directly at Renji. "Are you sure this is what you want, Abari-san?" the old man questioned.
"Yamamoto Taicho, please I implore you don't let Renji take such a low position!" Shiori pleaded
"Yes this is what I want," Renji looked directly at Yamamoto with a serious expression.
Realizing what He was up to, the old man sighed and turned to look out the large window. "Granted, however you will be required to report in weekly."
"Thank you Taicho!" Renji bowed then picked up Shiori in his arms and left Soul Society.
oOooOooOo
A few weeks later:
"Shiori," Renji sighed softly as he walked up behind her on the terrace of their apartment and wrapped his arms around her waist. "What's on your mind?"
"Nothing really." she sighed softly watching twilight colors take over the sky.
"Are you sure because you've been really quiet since we came back," He brushed his lips lightly against the side of her neck.
Shiori sighed softly leaning back against Renji relaxing against him. "Are you sure you want to stay here with me?"
Renji lightly nipped her ear causing the dark skinned woman to gasp in surprise. "For the millionth time, YES! I know you feel guilty about what happened, but I made the choice for myself."
"But..." Shiori started to protest but was quickly silenced when Renji turned her to face him and kissed her deeply on the lips. When they parted, he hugged her close to his body.
A relatively peaceful silence settled over them, the only sounds present being the gentle wind through nearby trees and the radio inside.
"Shio-chan, I want you to be my wife so say you will marry me, and yes I am sure about it" Renji spoke up breaking the silence.
Surprised by the statement, Shiori looked directly up at the crimson haired shinigami shocked. She opened her mouth to speak but couldn't think of what to say so instead she nodded a yes and hugged him closely.
End...almost
A brief Note down here cause I didn't want to clutter the top too much. Anyway Byakuya isn't necessarily a big meanie, but he is bound to try to stick to following the rules since he broke them several times before and didn't want to do it again.
