Avery smiled and told him she was happy for him. She said that she would love for him to let her be his "Best Man" even though she was a girl. He told her that he wouldn't let anyone else stand by his side as he asked and hopefully married Rukia.

She knew that if Rukia said yes, her own heart would shatter, but as long as Renji was happy, she would continue to pretend to be also. Avery also knew that if Rukia refused, she would beat the other girl to a pulp for hurting Renji. Either way, it would break her heart.

If her heart were going to be broken, she would rather Renji not go through the same thing. She stood by his side as he got down on one knee and proposed to Rukia. Startled, Rukia looked at Avery. Avery glared and nodded at the girl to accept, even as a single tear escaped her eye. Rukia sighed and did just the thing Avery vowed to punch her for.

Rukia knew Avery would punch her, but she had to do what was right.

"No, I'm sorry Renji, but I love Ichigo." Rukia saw the fist coming and closed her eyes, waiting for the pain that never came. Opening her eyes, she looked at Avery. After a second, she realized why she stopped.

A sob escaped Renji's throat. Avery immediately retreated and held onto Renji as sobs escaped his body.

"That isn't the only reason I must refuse. Renji, there is a different girl that loves you more than I ever could, and don't you ever let her down. 'Cause if you do, I'll make Nii-sama hurt you." Rukia raced away before she tried to comfort Renji anymore. That would only cause more problems.

Renji looked at Avery; fear and worry for him clouded her eyes. He had finally stopped acting like such a baby. The front of her shirt was soaked, but she didn't even notice. All she did was reach into a pocket and pull out a tissue. She wiped his eyes and gave him a tiny smile. She told him not to worry, and that she would always be here to wipe his tears.

Her tank top revealed that he had been gripping her bicep hard enough to bruise her, but she never noticed. All she noticed was his red eyes and told him that a cone of ice cream would help him. Standing up, she reached out to him.

He realized that those feelings that he had around her weren't of friendship. The strength he saw in her was not manliness, but it was her own strength. The love, passion, anger, pain, and sorrow he saw in her weren't weaknesses but her real strength.

This image of her would always be in his mind. She showed all of those emotions and more by just standing there holding out a hand. Her smile was of happiness, sorrow, and anger. The strength it took to stay by his side through all the pain he caused her by loving Rukia was show by how she held out a soft but strong hand to him. But most of all was her love for him that he saw. By every action she did, she showed him her heart, and he almost broke it. He wouldn't have even known he'd broken it had it not been for Rukia.

Theme-

Truly loving someone is wanting them to be happy in life, even if it doesn't involve you.