Chapter 9: Runaway
Sakaki met with Renji when she returned from her trip to the Rukongai. She was in extremely low spirits. He was going to be disappointed when he found out that she was going to give up on Byakuya. She sighed downheartedly as she approached him.
"Hi shorty," Renji sighed, also seeming downhearted. He wasn't looking directly at her.
She felt comforted when he called her "shorty" he hadn't said that to her in a really long time. She missed it, even though it annoyed her.
"Hello Renji," she sighed back.
"You still look sad. I was sure that sending you to the Rukongai would make you happier," he pouted.
"Oh it did, but you don't look too chipper yourself," Sakaki laughed, trying to get the attention away from her for just a moment.
"Oh, well captain Kuchiki is being difficult," he muttered bitterly.
"Difficult?"
"He's extremely apprehensive on where to put you on your next mission and would not tell me why he was acting the way he was," Renji had to lie for his captain's sake. Byakuya had requested him not to tell Sakaki the truth just before he left.
Her face went totally blank after he said that. Why wouldn't he tell Renji? He must really be upset with her. She had to keep her chin up though. There was something she had to tell Renji now.
"That's all right," she smiled, weakly. "I've decided to give up on him anyway. Thanks for your help though."
His eyes widened. How could she say something like that after all she went through to make him smile? He grabbed her shoulders with his hands and turned her toward him. He peered straight into her eyes.
"Please, don't ever say that again. I promise you he will come to his senses. I'll work something out. Just don't give up on him," he exclaimed to her.
She sighed deeply and stared in the opposite direction. She wanted to believe him, but for some reason could not. Regardless of her doubts she couldn't say no to her best friend right now.
"A...All right. I wont give up just yet," she stuttered.
Renji sighed with relief. He let go of her shoulders, calmed.
"Thank you," he sighed, then turned and left.
Sakaki bit her lip. How was she going to keep on going like that? It was obvious that captain Kuchiki was sick of her.
She went back home. She was basically miserable. What could Renji possibly do anymore? He had reached his limit. There was no way it would work.
The day soon grew into night. Just as she was beginning to doze off a knocking came to her door. Groggily she came to answer it. Rukia was at the door. She appeared most elated.
"Hello Sakaki," she said, letting herself in.
"What are you doing here at such an hour?" She questioned, rubbing her eyes.
"I came to tell you something," Rukia announced picking up the stuffed bear that Sakaki had received a while back from Byakuya, when that hollow injured her. "Cute bear," she said dropping it. "Oops."
She gave Rukia a confused stare. What was she doing?
"Was that what you wanted to say?" she wondered, vacantly.
"You are such an idiot. Of course that's not what I was going to say to you," she hissed.
She was silent. Viciousness was all around Rukia.
"What I came here to tell you is that Nii-san wants you gone. He really hates you. I think he plans on getting rid of you permanently," She announced innocently.
Her eyes widened, "Is that true?"
"Of course it is. I think you should run away before he finds you and kills you," she informed.
Sakaki didn't fully believe her story. She now knew that she knew of her crush for Byakuya. She wanted her gone so she could have him to herself. Well, she could have him! She no longer cared. She was planning on running away anyway.
"Okay," she peeped solemnly. "I'll leave tonight."
"Oh good! I don't want to see you die," Rukia began to leave.
"Unless its by your hand," Sakaki murmured as she left.
Immediately she wrote a quick note to Renji and her captain. It was her final farewell. After that she ran away. She never even bothered to take a thing with her other than her zanpaku-to and the clothes on her back. She ran deep into the forest for as long as she could. As she did so she began to cry. She was desperately heartbroken over leaving the Sereitei. Now she was nothing but a lowly rogue soul reaper. She could never return.
Renji went to Sakaki's house to see how she was doing. He was surprised when she did not greet him. He looked around to see if he could find her. She was nowhere in sight. He began to worry. Where was she? His frantic search led him to her table where a small piece of paper was. He picked it up and read it. Instantly he was pissed. It said:
Renji, I'm sorry. I couldn't get myself to believe you and I couldn't say it to your face. I know you're disappointed, but I've run away so don't come looking for me…
Captain Kuchiki, I'm sorry for offending you. I was always such a burden to you, so now I will relieve you of me. I hope that makes you happier…and… even though you hate me, I want you to know…I love you.
Sincerely SakakiFuming, Renji stomped to Byakuya's home. He barged in without permission. He made his way to the captain and threw the now waded up piece of paper at him.
Byakuya just stared at him, insulted.
"Read it!" Renji barked.
He grabbed the paper and began to read. He frowned as he did and before he finished it deepened. He recrumpled it.
"Why did she run away?" he growled, annoyed.
"I told you she would do something drastic if you waited to long," Renji informed.
"Tsk," Byakuya said, standing up and heading to his room to get dressed. "She's so stupid."
(Well…. That was chapter 9. It seemed kind of short. Oh well. I will probably update the next chapter very soon. At least I hope so….)
