A/N: Sorry about the long gap...starting college/life in general kinda got in the way and the story was buried for a while. Let's see how much further I get through the general plotline before giving up...haha.
Yay for more Renji-Rukia interactions. Also for those who might not know, unagi-don (donburi) is a box meal packed with cooked eel on rice with a special sauce drizzled over it. *mouth waters*
Also, 30 kilograms is about 66 pounds. Hehe.

Secret 10: Yuujou.

I should tell you that you were my first love. And it's all right...And we're seventeen again, together – "The Hat" by Ingrid Michaelson

He that is not jealous is not in love. – St. Augustine

Renji practically dragged me out the front doors of the school, having barely given me time to stop at my locker or slip on my outdoor shoes. I couldn't blame him, I could feel the excitement too, but really now!

He stopped abruptly, turned around and took a good look at the front of Aozora High School. "Hasn't changed at all."

Inhaling deeply, he linked arms with me and joined the trickle of departing students who weren't staying after. "Just like old times!" he sighed.

"Renji!" I blushed. "What are people going to think…?" I looked pointedly at our arms.

"Huh? Oh." Renji shrugged one shoulder. "Pfft, whatever. Screw them!" He grinned, looking around us.

Despite the over-closeness, I did feel comfortable like this, so I let it slide. We headed out onto the sidewalk and turned left. As we walked, I looked up at Renji. He really didn't look that different from before….except the tattoos. I wondered about that.

"So how's school been since I stopped, uh… gracing it with my presence?" Renji asked, looking down at me. "Are the teachers still old farts?"

I thought. "Yeah. Well…mostly," I conceded. "Actually, there's this new student teacher who's…very cool." I was careful not to sing any more praises or say he was my homeroom assistant teacher.

"Oh really? Who's that?"

"An art teacher."

Renji chuckled. "He better be good! You suck at art!"

I blushed and felt my face going into a pout. "That's not true. I'm improving. Besides, my drawings are much better than yours."

"…I'll give you that," Renji grimaced.

"Anyway…oh, do you know Ukitake-sensei?" I asked. "He's wonderful."

Renji thought. "Oh, yeah….I do remember that guy." He snorted. "He's old, but he's not an old fart."

"He's not that old!" I rolled my eyes. "You know his hair went prematurely white…"

"Well, whatever." He punched my arm. "You don't seem any older. You're still, what, four feet tall and 30 kilos?"

I grabbed his arm and twisted it around. "Watch it."

"Hey!" He twisted back and broke free. "That wasn't supposed to hurt that much…" he grumbled to himself.

I smirked. "Well. It looks like I've at least gotten stronger."

"I guess you have…"

"And you," I started, before looking up at him, "you've gotten…" I paused to think of something I could say. There was plenty—taller, brawnier, more confident…

"…a little cooler, I suppose," I finished, grinning.

"Huh." He shrugged. "I thought you were gonna say something else, but I guess that's a compliment coming from you."

Chuckling, I remembered all the times I used to tease him about being uncool—a running joke between us. Of course, I had never really thought that.

We were nearing the street I lived on. "Almost here?" Renji asked.

I was surprised at first that he remembered, but of course he would. Of course he'd remember the surroundings of the place I lived…even though he'd only had the privilege of actually going inside my house once.

"Mhmm…it seems we are," I said absently, wishing the walk was a little longer. I wanted to catch up with Renji some more.

Apparently he was thinking the same thing. "We should hang out during lunch break tomorrow," he suggested casually. "There's still a lot to talk about."

"Definitely," I agreed. "Where should we go?"

"Uhh…hm. We still have to stay inside the school, right?"

"Right."

"How about I just come over to your classroom?"

Without thinking, I answered, "Sure. That would be fine."

"Awesome. I'll see you tomorrow then." And Renji kept walking as I turned to my gate and entered the code.

It was only after we'd parted that I thought: Wait. Won't Kaien-sensei be in the classroom too? How will he see this?

And then: What did he think of today? Everyone must have see me and Renji reuniting. I hope he doesn't take things the wrong way. Kaien-sensei knows how I feel about him.

Yet I kept running these same thoughts through my head as I tried to do my homework and go to sleep. I would just talk to him tomorrow…that was when we'd probably have a rain check, right?

I found my answer the next morning when I came into the classroom early and found only Kaien-sensei there, sitting and sipping his usual instant coffee.

"Hey."

"Good morning, sensei," I said automatically—then thought, Well, that wasn't awkward at all.

He chuckled, sounding a little surprised. "What's with all the formal stuff?"

"Hah…oops." I played it off. Something must have been distracting me. "So…I feel bad about missing our lesson yesterday." I set my things down near my desk.

"Yeah, but it's no big deal," Kaien-sensei smiled. "Today would be fine, right?"

He was so positive it made me feel even worse. "Of course!...Sorry," I apologized again.

Kaien-sensei gave a mock frown and whacked me lightly on the head. "Stop that."

"O-okay." He then kissed me in the same spot on my head where he'd whacked me. I sighed.

Our moment alone was cut short by the sound of someone approaching the door. Before the person could slide it open, Kaien-sensei and I had jumped far enough apart to avoid suspicion.

Of course, it had to be Ukitake-sensei who walked into the room. "Morning!" he nodded to Kaien-sensei. He turned to me, a little surprised—"Good morning, Kuchiki-san." I didn't have a record of being the earliest one in the class (…though thankfully I wasn't the latest. Except for that one morning.)

"Good morning," I replied, bowing my head a little, and went to move my things outside to my cubby in the hall.

At lunch break, Renji came up to meet me as expected. "Oiiiii, Rukia!" he called. "What'd you bring for lunch today? Enough for me to have some?"

I smiled but rolled my eyes. "Yes, yes, of course. Knew you'd be hungry." Sometimes Renji reminded me of a puppy at the table begging for scraps. That probably wasn't a great way to think of it, because after all, if I had a rich friend who brought top-notch food to school every day, I'd want some too. Especially if the alternative was from the cafeteria or nearby convenience store.

We sat down in the mostly-empty classroom—that is, Kaien-sensei was still there.

"So how has your day been going?" I asked casually, taking out my lacquered bento box and setting it on the desk.

"Eh, it's alright," Renji answered, leaning backwards in his chair.

"Stop that," I admonished him automatically. "You're going to fall and hurt yourself."

"Yeah…whatever," Renji rolled his eyes and rocked back to a normal position. I gave an inward sigh of relief and opened the box. Unagi-don—delicious and deceptively simple. "You worry too much. Anyways, one of my teachers gave me shit for not following directions for something we did in class, but I think maybe he should speak a little more clearly. I can never hear what the hell he's saying, let alone understand it."

I giggled quietly. "Which teacher is that?"

"Well, I don't wanna name any names…" Renji's eyes flicked over to Kaien-sensei in the corner.

"Right." I smiled knowingly. "So, I mean… other than that, how is everything?"

"…Boring. I'm telling you man, I'm not cut out for school. Can't wait to graduate and just…be free." Renji folded his arms behind his head and stretched. He glanced at my food. "Can I have some of that?"

"Of course." I handed him my chopsticks. "And I think I know what you mean. But for me, it's more the people than the environment that I'm not suited to. I could go to a school full of people like you and Sentarou-kun and Kiyone-chan and things would be perfectly fine."

"Yeah, how are you doing here? I never found out how you were adjusting to the jungle… I mean, high school." Renji gave a half-smile.

"Not all that well…"

Over the course of our conversation, I would periodically shift my gaze toward Kaien-sensei, but if he was watching us then he was doing a good job of not showing it. He was just eating a sandwich and using the computer. He did make eye contact with me just before the break ended though, making sure we were on for today. I nodded slightly.

As planned, I headed over to the art room when classes were over. I slid open the door a crack and saw Kaien-sensei pacing a little bit. Um, what?

I opened the door all the way and saw him give a little jump. He turned to look at me. "Oh, Kuchiki…you're here."

"What is going on, sensei?" I asked him point-blank. "Is something the matter? You're not really…yourself. I guess." I raised one eyebrow.

Kaien breathed in through his nose. "Sorry. It's just…I also wanted to ask you what's up. With that new kid, I mean."

My heart rate went up as I realized what he meant. "You're talking about Renji, right? Abarai Renji?"

"Yes, Abarai-kun." Kaien-sensei ran a hand through his spiked hair. "I don't mean to pry, but I really want to know…what is he to you?"

I couldn't answer.

A/N: Just to clarify, the first quote pertains to the Renji thing, and the second to Kaien-or maybe both guys, hmm...

Soo, maybe I'll have the next chapter up sooner, eheh. Stay tuned for ensuing confrontation~