NiuNiu Note:
Actually, I don't know why I left Ishida out… I guess there're already enough characters in this fic. xD
Finished in 4 am so if there's mistakes just… let them be, ahahha!
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Urahara looked at the horrified looking group before him. He had just managed to shush all of them and guided them to the living quarters of the shop, while making sure Ururu and Jinta had their hands full of work.
He took a deep sigh before saying anything.
"So what's your business here, for all of the sudden?" he asked, like he didn't already know the answer he was about to get. Ichigo slammed the rolled newspaper on the wooden table.
"This shit!" he roared angrily, piercing Urahara with his gaze. "We just heard about the 'car accident' that hospitalized two young men and killed young girl, Inoue Orihime! You have such guts if you think we would swallow that bullshit… She can't be killed, she just can't!"
Urahara took a time to gather his words to a right order, not wanting this edgy situation explode.
"What makes you think that she would still be alive?" Urahara asked.
"I didn't sense her soul to disappear, neither did Rukia", Ichigo stated. Rukia next to him nodded with hardened features, accompanying Ichigo's words. Chad remained silent, listening.
"Ah, I see", the older man smiled gently, eyes hidden behind his hat's shadow.
The group waited for him to continue, but after receiving nothing Ichigo opened his mouth, fists trembling.
"We need to know the truth!"
Like considering what to say Urahara licked his lower lip unintentionally before slowly standing up and turning to face the light coloured wall.
"The truth is that Inoue-chan truly is in the spirit world. That's the case", he muttered, almost talking to himself.
"But… But I can't believe in the car accident! That's… that's not right, there's something fishy about it", Rukia spoke after seeing how dull Ichigo's eyes changed as soon as Urahara had mentioned Inoue being in the land of dead. Rukia also felt an odd sting in her heart when she though about Inoue being truly gone from this world. She had so many who missed her.
Again there was the gloomy silence that hanged heavily in the air. They all knew it must be something serious from the way the atmosphere got so easily thick. Finally Chad's throat clearing broke the silence.
"It has something to do with Abarai-san, doesn't it?"
He noticed how Urahara winced, not much thought, but enough for Chad's eyes. Ichigo and Rukia eyes both Chad with huge eyes until their attention turned to Urahara, who haven't say neither yes nor no to Chad's question.
"What Renji has to do with this?" Rukia asked rather darkly already picking up the hint of the real reason behind this mess. When Urahara said nothing Rukia turned her head to Chad who looked her back calmly.
"I know they were dating."
"What?!" Ichigo shrieked, not believing his ears. Rukia's expression was a bit dazed, too, despite the fact she had earlier noticed Renji being sensitive about Inoue.
"I heard about at school. It was the first day, you weren't there. Some girls chatted with Inoue about a tall, red-haired man she had been seen to walk hand in hand with. I immediately knew it was Abarai-san. Inoue doesn't get befriended with new persons that easily in few months, at least when they're men. She's too shy and innocent for that", Chad spoke calmly.
"..I don't get this…" Rukia said thinking and took a look at Urahara's back. "Renji wouldn't screw things up… He's smart, I know him, better than anyone of you. What is this all about? What Renji has to do with the news of Inoue's death?"
"I will tell you later", Urahara answered dryly, silently admitting Renji was part of it all, too. Ichigo, on the other hand, wasn't pleased to this answer.
"If you won't tell us right now, I'll go to Seireitei and squeeze the answers out from Renji himself", he dared boldly. It made Urahara turn around to face the young man with such intensive aura Ichigo nearly stepped backwards.
"You all should stay here for now. It's the best thing you can do", he said steadily yet so deep energy in his aura that the young ones knew it wasn't a polite comment, but it was a command that should not to be left without following.
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One, two… three… four, five… six.
Six.
Half of a year.
Had it really been that long already?
Six months?
… For them it wasn't more than a blink of an eye. Maybe a day or few.
But six months…!
It was---
"Abarai-san?"
He lifted his thoughtful gaze from the papers held before him up to the door.
"Matsumoto. Please, come in".
"I know I shouldn't be here, there's still so much things for me to do", she smirked playfully, being again in a runaway from her captain "but I thought you could have some use for this".
Walking nearer Renji she pulled a bottle of sake from behind her back, the smile widening. Renji gave her a half grimacing grin.
"What are you planning to do? Got me drunk, eh?"
"It was just so boring to sit alone in the office! Hisagi didn't want to drink with me, complaining that he had works to do, but hey, so have I! He's so boring", she whined like a teenager girl and sat on the edge of Renji's table, just next to him. She placed the cool bottle of the table's surface, nearly pushing Renji's paperwork aside.
"Come on, Renji. Just few quick sips."
He eyed the bottle for a while, before letting go of his pen and sighed.
"Alright. But not more than that."
"Yay! You're the best!" Matsumoto chirped happily. "I'm going to brag Hisagi just how much of fun he missed when he turned off my sake offering".
She opened the bottle, apologizing that she had forgot to bring any cups with her and gestured Renji to have the first swing.
"Sure it's nice to take a break from the paper work and take a little drink with a friend", she smiled almost cooing and took the bottle to drink herself, too. She heard Renji grunting something that sounded like yes, while he wiped his mouth with the back of his palm. She offered the bottle again to Renji, who lifted it up to his lips, closing his eyes.
"Renji-kun…"
Her slim fingers brushed his temple, touching softly Renji's hair. His eyes bolted open.
"You don't need to try so hard."
He didn't slap her hand away, but let it rest against his cheek. Her eyes were soft, yet sad, like mother's who's soothing her son. She leaned closer.
"I miss her too, you know".
Renji watched how Matsumoto's eyes got a moist glimmer in them, the tips of her brows knitting upwards. He placed the bottle down, turning his head away disconnecting Matsumoto's palm from his face.
"I have my duties", he said bluntly.
"Look at me you silly lieutenant", Matsumoto said forcing Renji to look her back. She kept his head between her palms.
"Your duties should never overcome your heart. Never. No matter what would happen."
He looked her sad face dazed, realizing Matsumoto knew what she was talking about. Gin. She had lost someone she loved, too, just like he had. She had lived by her heart, and partly she still was. Under that smirking face and booze loving nature she was fragmented.
"Your duties change through the years. Your live changes. What never changes is you heart. It's always yours".
"…I…. I'm sorry, Matsumoto…." Renji finally said, throat feeling to tight for words. He didn't know what else to say, so he silently closed the woman in his embrace. It was awkward but the least he could do. The least they could to for each other.
"No, no, I'm sorry, Abarai-san", she smiled with silent tears on her cheeks. "And here I was trying to make you feel better and look at me now…"
Renji squeezed Matsumoto closer, harder, fighting back the urge to sob.
"I can only imagine how you have felt these months", Matsumoto spoke softly, breaking the embrace, tears still remaining in the corners of her eyes. She gave Renji a weak smile. "You really don't need to try so hard".
Renji bowed his head down, avoiding Matsumoto's eyes. His shoulder slumbered lower when he sighed, with muttered tone.
"She's with me, all of the time. I know it".
And that broke Matsumoto, her arms embracing darkened Renji once more, crying out the tears he refused to shed.
It was true what they said – the drinking pals were always the best ones…
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Ichigo stood next the wooden, opened coffin, looking down at the pale girl he had once known. She looked so peaceful, like dreaming a calm dream, almost too lively to be dead. He had thought it truly was some kind of scheme, just a joke, but the body before him was too much Inoue-like to be fake.
So.. she really was dead… Gone… Living in a Spirit World now. For why, he never got any answer for that, neither did anyone else who missed Inoue. The school mates were talking about the car accident and the headmaster had arranged a memorial for Inoue, but the closest friends of her knew it wasn't a car accident. Or maybe it was, but it hadn't happened because her time on earth would have ended. There was something going on behind it and the only thing that connected Inoue to that tragic fate was Renji.
That was all Ichigo knew.
And it was all he needed to know.
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"Is that so?"
"Yes", Renji stated, a bit unsure how to continue. He took a deeper bow to Kuchiki, who stared him back with the unemotional face.
"I'd like to explain this all for them."
He remained bowed, keeping his eyes fixed on the tatami floor under his soles. He heard how the fabric of Byakuya's haori ruffled when he turned around, gazing outside.
"Guess for you being as stubborn as you are you'd do that even if I forbid you", he spoke casually, hand behind his back almost in an unusual way. Renji lifted his head up a bit to see his captain's back, but let it drop down to its previous position as soon as Byakuya looked over his shoulder.
"One day. Not more than that".
He leaned closer his knees in a deep bow.
"That's all I need", Renji thanked humbly, his heart suddenly tightening by the permission. Without saying more he made his leave from Byakuya, silently heading for his next destination. For a second he hesitated, but finally making his mind Renji took a grip of Zabimaru by his side.
Damn, he was so bad in giving up….!
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Ichigo's eyes felt like steel, cold and emotionless in his head. His lips were pressed into a tight line and not even the fragile support he was receiving from Rukia next to him was enough to ease his mind. He had known about Inoue's feeling and even though he felt kind of guilty not being able to answer her heart Ichigo would have wanted at least say he was sorry. Sorry for breaking her heart, sorry for not being the right one for her, sorry for ever meeting Rukia for Inoue's sake, but now it was all too late. He watched carefully as the dark coffin was slowly guided down to the grave, white lilies covering the head of it. He didn't recognize the men who held the robes of the coffin – maybe they were just graveyard's workers – and it stabbed his heart. Trying to sooth himself Ichigo thought that at least for now Inoue was maybe in a world where she belonged to. With her family, and maybe someday her brother could join them, too.
Shifting uncomfortably in his dark suit Ichigo peeked down to Rukia, who wept behind his black short veil, her arm entwined around his. Chad was there, too, as well as Tatsuki. It pained Ichigo's heart and soul to see Tatsuki so down. Her eyes were swollen from tears, face hard as stone, fingers curled into a fist when she followed the journey of the Inoue's body inside the dark wood. She looked like ready to storm away from the scene as soon as possible, to cry out the madness of this all. No one really didn't get any of this, and even thought Ichigo knew no one had said Tatsuki anything about the messing with Spirit World in this matter, Ichigo sensed Tatsuki knew something fishy was going on. She just wasn't able to pinpoint that out.
"I really need to see Renji…"
Rukia's small plea reached Ichigo's ears. Catching up his inner steadiness he looked down at her sadly glimmering eyes which were shot at his.
"I need to know what has happened. This is breaking my heart. Inoue-chan is dead and Renji has something to do with it", she hiccupped in a very unRukia like manner, lifting the tissue up to her eye corner. "I need to see Renji…"
Ichigo couldn't miss the worrying atmosphere from Rukia that came purely from the affection she felt towards the red haired man. It didn't flatter Ichigo, to be honest, but he understood her feelings. She had right for them. Just like he had all the rights for the feelings towards Inoue. He gave his companion an encouraging squeeze.
"We will dig up the truth behind this. I promise it. We need to do that, for Inoue's sake".
He sensed how Rukia shuttered a bit when he made no mention about Renji in the last sentence, but like Ichigo had expected Rukia never said anything about it. She just leaned against him, nodding silently.
"For Inoue's sake…."
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He didn't have any time for the gigai. He just ran across the night's darkened roof tops, searching for the energy of his best friend. He should meet her at first, before Ichigo managed to catch up with him. He was sure the youngster was more than furious for him. If the same thing would have happened to Ichigo and Rukia – Rukia being killed because of the human male – Renji would have skinned the man alive. And heck, he had almost done that, it had almost happened. He knew the boiling rage in the youngster and right now Renji wasn't interested in meeting it.
He soon snatched the energy ray from the air, focusing in it. It didn't take a long when Renji spotted Rukia, sitting on the bench near the graveyard, dressed in black and looking gloomy. As soon as Renji appeared she picked up his aura, turning to look up to sky like she would have seen a ghost.
"Renji!"
He landed on the ground like the lightning from the sky, scooping his friend into an embrace. This time, she didn't even want to fight back the few tears that escaped from her eyes. She hugged his board frame dearly.
"I just though I'd need to talk to you", she said with wobbling voice. "I know nothing, I have no idea what I should think about. All I know is that Inoue is dead and it has something to do with you", she kept babbling, apparently wanting to get to the point before Ichigo would storm in the scene. Renji pulled her away from him, nodding.
"I can't be here long, just for one day – in Seireitei's time and fuck, what is it here? Five minutes, a bit more? Ten? Captain will hang me if I don't return in time".
They looked each other in common understanding, Rukia being the one who nodded hastily for the answer.
"Let me hear it. What happened?"
"Fuck, it's hard to say", he began scratching his back of the head nervously. "I messed thing up, badly. I mean, you know the law according to humans in Seireitei. I broke it and Inoue and I were took to Seireitei, mostly against our wills. And she, that stupid human girl, had begged the judge to give the whole sentence for her. Can you imagine that!"
Rukia just smiled, nodding again. That was so Inoue-like…!
"So the boss man, Kuchiki… well… eh… fuck, what I'm hesitating about it – he executed Inoue for the crimes. She's.. she's…"
He wasn't able to continue, no matter how much effort he had put up into it. It was different to say it out loud than think of it. Somehow it made the whole situation realer, harder, colder… more agonising. Ashamed Renji turned his head away, spitting mentally on himself for his weak nature.
"I just screw thing up. With Inoue, with you… With everything."
Rukia couldn't believe her ears. Her brother had killed Inoue just for her being in love with Renji. That …
"That can't be true! I… I mean, we're together with Ichigo and the law—"
"The law doesn't reach you two", Renji bolted his head up, almost hissing the words out from his lips. "You're noble Kuchiki, yes, but Ichigo, being a substitute Shinigami, is treated as one of us, when Inoue on the other hand is just a human for Seireitei."
Rukia stared at Renji dazed, the pale streetlight illuminating his features almost to the level of dead one. She didn't know what to say.
"But I still don't get that…It can't be that big crime to have a crush between a human and a death god to be killed for it…" she mumbled, trying to handle all the information in her head. Renji shifted his leg to another leg, reaching to mess with his hair again.
"..For fuck's sake, I need a smoke, I really need a sm---"
His sentence cut suddenly, eyes widening to a scared look, hand stopping the scratching. It all happened in a mere second. Renji managing to stiff his body for the upcoming impact, Rukia feeling a huge whirl of energized air passing by her, when Ichigo's furious fist slammed against Renji's face.
"All you need is a hell of a beating up you son of a bitch, freaking asshole of nature!!" the young boy roared like a lion, hovering over the fallen Renji, who tried to cover himself from the hard fists.
"I didn't came here to fight, you moron!" he managed to roar back, clutching on Ichigo's death god's outfit's fabric. That didn't stop Ichigo.
"But I did!"
Rukia watched almost helplessly the wrestling men, listening to how the curses and insults flied in the air, fists smacking on the flesh and bones with loud thuds and cracks. For a moment she was dazed, almost helpless, but then she stood up and ran towards the fighters.
"STOP THAT, BOTH OF YOU!" she commanded as loud as she was able to, knowing the regular tone of voice wouldn't reach their ears.
"What did you to do her, what did you to do Inoue?!" Ichigo's raging voice rang across the otherwise silent graveyard, but only the spirits were able to hear it, alongside with Rukia. Renji's jaw line tightened, blood running down the chin. He said nothing, which irritated Ichigo even more.
"What did you do?!"
"I SLEPT WITH HER!" the taller man raged back, noticing how the unseen flare flashed across the eyes of Ichigo. He was still dominating Renji in the fight and fuck, he would never give up.
"You fucking idiot, you brainless bastard!" Ichigo yelled, preventing Renji rising up from the ground with his knee. "You couldn't keep your fucking jeans on and now she's dead because of that, you fucking idiot! Give me one good reason why I shouldn't slay you in that exact place, Renji!"
"That's enough, Ichigo!!"
The sharp kick met the boy's face, his body flying away from Renji. Rukia stood before Renji, breathing heavily, eyes stony and moist.
"Don't you interfere with this, Rukia…" Ichigo murmured darkly getting up from his knelt position. His daring caused Renji's eyes sharpening, but Rukia didn't budge a bit. Her hands squeezed into fists.
"I won't stand aside watching when my friend gets his ass kicked", she shouted against Ichigo's stern face. The young male walked closer, stopping before Rukia. Renji was still on the ground, leaning against his elbows, looking the two standing figures before him. Rukia stood between Renji and Ichigo like a wall.
"Renji deserves it", Ichigo barked back, taking a fierce look at Renji. His hair was messed and spitting the blood away from his mouth he hissed.
"He's right. I deserve it."
"No, No. You don't". She sounded desperate, shifting so she could see both of the men.
"You don't get it at all. Neither one of you", Rukia continued, letting the tear ran down to her cheek. "If someone should be blamed it's me. I was the one who started this all. I came to this town, I met Ichigo. Renji came here searching for me. I got taken back to Seireitei and you guy came to save me and alongside with you came Inoue." She paused for a moment, looking down the sandy path. "Don't you get it? I'm the one starting this all. I'm the reason Inoue's gone. If you want to beat someone up, Ichigo, smack me. Just don't lay your hand on Renji anymore or I won't hold back." She turned her head to Ichigo, who had calmed down, looking paler than usual. "After all, we're always family. Renji's like a brother to me. I will do anything to defend my family and if that means crossing blades with you, Ichigo, I will do that with no hesitation".
After that she broke into a sobbing, burying her tiny face between her palms, weeping sadly. The two bleeding men took a look at each other, measuring the atmosphere for a moment, before Ichigo gave up with the inner furious flame.
"Sorry, Renji…" he muttered an apology, which no one of them believed, but pretended it being a real one. The red haired man nodded, getting slowly up.
"Fine by me".
He stood in his full form, facing Ichigo.
"Would you leave us alone for a while? I still have a moment before I need to go and I'd like to spend that with my sis."
Ichigo looked at first Renji, then still sobbing Rukia and returned his look back to Renji. His heart wrenched when he realised he couldn't afford Rukia the support she would need now. He was messed up, broken, not being able to sooth her, but so was Renji and yet he was more a man to stand by Rukia's side at the time like this. More a man than he would be. Maybe it was his human nature that gave in so easily in the edge of loosing someone.
"Just treat her well".
Then he left, deciding to stay put and wait Rukia near the graveyard's gate. Renji watched Ichigo's distancing back for a second, before he placed his palm over Rukia's shoulder.
"Is he treating you well?"
An odd yet warm smile played on Rukia's lips, the veil hiding her eyes. She wiped her moist cheeks.
"Yes. He's wonderful. A little hot headed, but that's not different from the other dear man I know". She smiled sadly for Renji. "And I know you treated Inoue right. This all must be just some kind of misunderstanding."
"A fucking misunderstanding indeed. The one that can not be returned back to the way it was", Renji pouted, being angry for himself. He had cried so much he wasn't able to do that anymore, but his heart was bleeding constantly.
"Renji… If this… the result of it all is something Inoue wished for, you should respect her wish. It was her last wish and in the end she did it because of you. You should live it true."
Rukia's words wrenched Renji's soul and she noticed it. Reaching to touch his frowning face with her small palm Rukia gathered all her strength into a encouraging smile.
"I can't return to Seireitei, not now. They all need me here. But I promise, I'll support you in this. I'll talk to my beloved older brother, if he truly was the once deciding the sentence. We both know he's not an idiot." She waited for Renji to reply, but like expected, he found no words to speak out. "I think it would do well for you to have something from Inoue. As a memorial, something to carry with you all of the time." Rukia reached down to her small purse that carried the tissues and pulled out a small object. She reached it for Renji, who accepted the tiny thing with a curious look.
"What is this?" he asked, looking at the cherry flower with a little jingle bell on a string.
"It's a mobile phone accessory. Something Inoue gave me in school once, but I think you should have it now."
For a mere moment Renji just stared the tiny flower, thinking just how much it reminded of Inoue. Cherry flower. So beautiful, so fragile and they only bloomed for few days, leaving the mother tree for their death while they still were blooming fully. Just like Inoue. His lower lip quivered lightly, eyes softening. He allowed Rukia to pull him lower to an embrace. He tried to thank her, wanted to thank her, but Renji knew that if he opened his mouth now only a strangled sob would emerge from his throat.
"….. I need to go now…" he said, sensing how his time was running fast low. "Please, tell everyone I'm horribly sorry for all this. I'll devote my life for cleaning this all up."
"We all know that, Renji-kun", she replied softly, messing his hair playfully to rise up the brighter mood. "Heck, I never was good in soothing anyone", she finally admitted almost sadly, half joking. "Just promise me next time we see it won't be this sad".
Renji hummed and nodded for the answer, closing the small flower tightly inside his palm.
"I'll promise to talk with Kuchiki-brother", Rukia added. She would have wanted to talk with Renji more, but she new he should be going already. Watching how Renji opened to gate with his Zabimaru she sighed, half relieved, half sadly. Oh, how much they both have grown up from their childhood and yet nothing had changed…
Renji gave the final glance and the smirk for Rukia over his shoulder. Then he turned his attention toward the direction were Ichigo stood.
"Hey, substitute boy!" he yelled, placing his palm next to his mouth to add more volume to his voice. "Promise me the next time I'll show up you fight like a man and not a like a sissy girl with such a pathetic bunches!"
He knew Ichigo got the joke, since he received a yell that sounded something like "yeahyeah, just fuck off already". Easily heated up and easily calmed. Just like him (even he hated to admit it). Waving a goodbye to Rukia Renji stepped back to his dimension, wondering would Zabimaru mind if he tied that little flower to the hilt of his sword….
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