Chapter Ten:

The Retrieval Mission

It had been about three weeks since the incident with Saita's memories and things were almost back to normal, almost. Saita still argued with Renji, but the arguments had become a lot less hostile and when they occasionally fought with their Zanpakuto's it was more for fun than anything.

Though they tried to act as normal as possible around everyone, some people saw through their "I-still-hate-you" act and started asking nosey questions; namely Rangiku Matsumoto. She had been asking way too many questions and Momo Hinamori had been giving Saita weird smiles lately and in was getting on her nerves, but trying to be the "better" person, Saita kept brushing it off.

On another note Saita got back at Ikkaku, for making Kenpachi chase her that morning and just for good measure she ruined Yumichika's hair two days after she got even with Ikkaku, so they would leave her alone for awhile. She needed to think about what happened between her and Renji in peace.

"So what's got your hackles up, huh Mutt?" Saita asked when she saw the tall redhead stomping down the street with his arms crossed. Something was obviously bothering the redhead and Saita was slightly curious as to what had riled him up to this state.

"What? Nothing's wrong! Didn't I tell you to stop calling me Mutt?" Renji huffed, even though they got along a little better Saita hadn't stopped calling him by her "pet" names, much to his annoyance.

"Yes, something is too wrong." Saita stated before carelessly jumping off the rooftop, which she was previously napping on, before Renji made his presence know, and walking over to the frowning enigma himself, "Otherwise, you wouldn't be stomping around like an angry and spoiled child."

"What? I am not acting like a spoiled child!" Renji growled with a huff, when all Saita did was smirk and point at him, when he huffed again and un-crossed his arms before crossing them again and sticking his nose in the air.

'Just like a spoiled and angry child.' Saita smirked before snickering at the tall redhead and smacking him in the gut semi-lightly before she walked off in the opposite direction. Leaving a warning behind in her wake, "Whatever, you say Mutt. I'll be around if you need anything, but don't wake me up if I'm asleep. Or you'll have a nice long scar across that pretty-boy face of yours, alright?"

'She's baiting me.' Renji growled to himself while rubbing his stomach where Saita had hit him, even if she hadn't used hardly any of her strength it still stung, but just a little.

Just as Saita was going to turn down another street, Renji growled out loud, before taking off in her direction and calling out to the blonde irritant, "Wait up."

Immediately Saita stopped walking and turned her head back to look at Renji who was now walking towards her and even from a distance Renji could see a small smirk on the blond girls face. Though it had more of a kindness to it then mocking but still, Renji didn't like it when she smirked, even if it was a little one. Because it always meant that she had something up her sleeve or she thought that she had won.

"So, you decided to come then?" Saita teased when he stood beside her, before they simultaneously started walking down the street. To answer Saita's previous question, Renji just grunted and pulled his new glasses up and propped them on his head, before crossing his arms, again, only this time he did it only to have something to do. Renji didn't even know where they were going and he knew that Saita didn't even have a destination in mind either, but he didn't mind. They were going to talk so it was better that they were alone and away from nosy people.

"So you going to tell me, or do I have to drag it out of you?" Saita asked after a couple of minutes of silence, from both her and Renji.

"It's about, Rukia. She's been gone for far too long and the council wants to send Kuchiki-Taicho and I to retrieve her tonight." Renji said stiffly, apparently he wasn't in a good mood, but he did want to talk to someone otherwise he wouldn't have followed Saita.

"Well, I thought that you two fell out of touch, so what's the big problem? She's got to come back sooner or later, so why bother worrying?" Saita asked with a cocked eyebrow and even though her posture was lax, she had immediately stiffened on the inside at the mere mention of Rukia Kuchiki's name.

Saita had never been very fond of the young Kuchiki, partially because of her "big-brother" and partially because of how she was adopted into the Noble family, then left her past behind and started acting like she was never a street rat. It had really pissed Saita off when the small dark haired shinigami girl had done that. Yes, the Kuchiki family tried to hide the fact that Rukia wasn't blood related to them in any way, but Saita was no fool and it was wise not to take her as one either. She simply knew better. She even knew about Byakuya's departed wife, Hisana who was Rukia's blood sister. Perhaps that was why Byakuya and her had never got along, because she had called him out on it long ago and ever since their hatred had grown and never ceased.

"We did, so don't read into it! I just don't want to go to the living world; I'm a busy man and have other things that need seeing to." Renji retaliated stiffly and defensively, obviously it really was getting to him.

'So, you still love her, don't you Renji? Just as I thought… Hell, it shouldn't be a surprise. It's not like you haven't loved her since you were a kid. So why would you stop now… and you certainly wouldn't do it on my account.' Saita mused to herself with a sarcastic, angry and sad mood.

"Don't worry. I don't read into anything you say, it'd just be a waist of my time." Saita smirked cockily, effectively hiding her true feelings. Saita wasn't a master at hiding her feelings, but when the need arose she could do a damn good job of it.

"Why you!" Renji growled angrily as he lashed out to hit the smirking blonde. But she was faster and knew he was going to try and hit her so she blew a raspberry at him before running down the road with that stupid cocky smirk never leaving her face.

'Just you wait till I catch up to you. You little cocky shit!' Renji growled mentally, before running after the blonde, though he couldn't stop the smirk from coming to his lips. He would never admit it aloud but, he kind of liked playing these games with Saita, she made them interesting and fun.

'You're awfully playful today, Saita.' Seijakusenshi commented in a whispering, but strong voice.

'Yeah, so what of it?' Saita asked in a slightly defensive tone; she knew very well when Seijakusenshi was implying something and she didn't like it.

'Nothing, that isn't the obvious…' That same quiet but strong voice commented, but his voice now held a mirthful tone to it as well.

'Okay, cut through the bullshit already, Seijakusenshi and tell me what you mean.' Saita nearly growled, she was in a good mood, but sometimes Seijakusenshi could ruin it so easily.

'Are you blind, Saita? The answer is as obvious as the scowl on your face.' Seijakusenshi sighed irritated at the obliviousness of his wielder, but he continued on, 'You are falling and hard at that. Too bad you choose someone who is already in love with someone else. But, I guess it couldn't be helped. I always knew that you would fall in love with that redheaded pineapple, with that… Renji Abarai.'

Immediately Saita stopped dead in her tracks when Seijakusenshi finished speaking. She couldn't believe the nerve of him, assuming that she was falling in love with that Mutt! That was as preposterous as saying Saita was best friends with Byakuya Kuchiki!

'Seijakusenshi, you have completely lost your Kami-damned mind! Sputtering such bullshit! I am not, and I repeat not in love with Renji Abarai!' Saita yelled completely infuriated. If she were able to, she would have attacked Seijakusenshi and killed him with her bare hands.

'It's not bullshit! I am part of you Saita, so I know what you are feeling every second of the day and night! So, face it. You are in love with Renji Abarai… and the sooner you accept it, the better things will end.' After Seijakusenshi finished his rant he became deathly silent, like always. He didn't have to say anymore, he knew that his words had struck Saita right in the chest like a punch, so she would be mulling over his words for awhile.