"You idiot. If you called my name, of course I would answer."
"Even if I was really far away?" When his eyes met hers, she knew that he understood.
"Even if you are really far away."
Chapter 14
They stood there, two figures in the park lit faintly by the rising sun. There was nothing said between them, they just treasured the moement of being together.
Finally, Rukia took a deep breath. "My entire life, I have never made a decision on my own. I've always depended on you, on my brother, on how Soul Society governed that I should act. But for the first time I've found out what I, Kuchiki Rukia, want."
"What?"
"I want takoyaki."
Whatever answer Renji expected to hear, it was not this. He gave her a strange look, "If you want some I think there's a place down the street.."
Rukia shook her head and laughed, "That's not what I meant to say. What I mean is that I want to have friends, I want to go on dates, I want to be with the man I love and get married, and raise our children together, and grow old together. I want- I want to be human."
There was a passion in her voice that pierced his heart. If he had any doubts before, they were completely gone now.
"Even though I hate you sometimes, you know I'd die for you."
"I know." With a smile Rukia brought her hand up to his face, tenderly tracing his tattoos with her finger. "But someday I hope that you find something that's worth dying for, and live for it."
"Then go, you idiot." He said gruffly as he patted her head, "But if you regret it, I'll kill you."
"I'm not even going to bother trying to remember your ugly face, so you better visit me often," she threatened. They both smirked, completely understanding the other's true meaning behind their words.
"Like I would let that orange punk live in peace. When I become captain, I'm gonna make his life hell every day." Renji gave her a push. "Now go, before i change my mind."
He turned away from her so that she wouldn't see the smirk disappear from his face.
"Renji," she whispered as she put her hand in his one last time, "Thank you."
He nodded and in that moment, she was gone. But this time when he let her hand go, there was no pain, there was no bitterness. All that remained was hope.
A/N: Wow. I've been away for a long time. Thanks for all the comments, it really inspired me to come back and finish this story. This is a short one to get back in the swing of things. I know its slightly cheesy and OOC, but hey, I like happy endings :) Next update will be the Last Chapter!