Warning: EXTREME OOC Renji&Yachiru ahead!
Chapter Ten
A reason.
It was the day after Aizen fell to Ichigo's blade. It was 2 A.M and the Shinigami finally decided it was time to rest after partying. The moon was full and bright but was masked by dark gray rain clouds, though it wasn't raining. At least, not yet.
The air was warm like summer and was a consistent breeze and seeped through the many pathways of Seireitei to calm its residences. The dragons had taken everyone straight back to Soul Society and Yamamoto told them they were welcome to stay and come and go as they wish thanks to their help. They were honored guests of the Soul Society and were to be treated as such.
Three dragons left soon after that announcement.
A lone figure sits on a rooftop of the sixth division, a few unseated officers lounged around outside, majority in drunken states and let the wind try to soothe their alcohol fevered faces. "You know, you could've asked Captain or me if you could stay in the barracks or anywhere else."
Aki glances up to see the redhead Lieutenant, his face shadowed in the night. "There's no need, I was going home in a few."
"Will you be back?"
"Probably not.. Not unless we're needed again. Which hopefully, another Aizen isn't laying around. So no, Abarai, this is goodbye."
Silence creeps between the two and Aki looks up to see his hair down. "I can braid your hair again, if you want." Renji shakes his head as the wind gusts, making the wind chimes around the division sing. "For someone usually so talkative, you've nothing to say, Abarai."
"Why do you keep calling me Abarai?"
"It's your name, isn't it?"
"Yeah but-"
"Sorry, Renji."
"For what?""Calling you Abarai all this time."
"Scales!" Both turn their heads to see a pink haired child running towards them. "Ken-Chan wants to know about the fight you agreed to?"
"Fight? Oh.. Well.."
"You are going to fight Ken-Chan, aren't you?"
"Are you?" Renji raises his eyebrow.
"Ken-Chan'll be very disappointed if you don't."
"Okay, okay. Let him know I'll be here when he's ready." Moments later, Yachiru is skipping off happily back towards the eleventh division.
"So you are staying?"
"Only because it would be cruel to leave without fighting Kenpachi after I practically promised."
"Why won't you at least visit?"Aki turns as red as the others hair. "A lot of reasons! Like, I don't want to be dissected by Mayuri and.. I have a council to run and, and.."
"I'm under the idea Mayuri can't harm you. I don't think you're in love with someone like him, are you?"
"No! Oh my Ra, no! Not him!"
"You still love that punk I killed?"
"No, not him."
"Then who? Ichigo?"
"Well, I do have a thing for abnormal appearance traits…" Aki pauses trying to find a reaction from Renji, "But no. Ichigo seems to be into Rukia.."
"Actually, I don't know what I'm saying, Renji.. I just can't keep coming here, okay? I'd just be in the way of every Shinigami here. There's no point for me to come unless I'm protecting lives."
"But you're going to stay another night to fight.."
"Oh, you just don't understand."
"You could actually tell me why."
"You could start by actually giving me a reason to come back."
Aki glowers up at Renji until her neck aches and she stands up. Unfortunately, she's still looking up at him, but at least her neck isn't as stressed. It's complete silence between them again and Aki finally gives up, "Look, just thanks for all your help.." Aki holds out her hand in a gesture of goodbye.
It's minutes and it doesn't seem like Renji is going to take her hand. Aki starts to move twist her body to walk away, her hand about to fall and that's when he takes it. She turns back, the wind blowing back her hair. Renji pulls her to him, moving his own hand around her wrist. "Renji-"
"You want a reason to come back?"
"I. Well.." Aki stutters placing her free hand against his chest, as if to move away but she doesn't.
"It's what you said, isn't it? That you wanted a reason?" Aki once again turns as red as his hair and thanked Ra that it was dark enough so that he wouldn't be able to tell.
"Yes.." Renji moves his hand from her wrist down her arm and up to her neck and closes the last few inches between them. This leaves Aki only to rest her hand under his elbow and move her hand up to brush her fingertips along his collarbone.
"What are you doing?" Aki asks blindly, the nervous butterfly feeling in her gut giving her a numb feeling.
Renji presses his lips to hers in a simple and quick kiss, "Giving you that reason you wanted."
Okay, okay. I knew I made them all OOC. But the ending now was the worst. I hadn't planned it to even end like this. But, I needed to feel better since Wolf-sama and I are fighting. Again. -.-
Not the point, I'm used to writing novel length stories and maybe I should just keep doing that. I needed a fan fiction break, since my novel is at a creative block.
Still not the point~
I used this to introduce Aki and I'm going to start another project with a bunch of random one shots that will include her. I might try a few that don't..
Oh well, thanks so much for reading! Reviews are much appreciated. I don't take flames well, but if you leave them, I won't complain. :]