Orihime hurried up the back stairs to Renji's apartment the next day, the chill air nipping at her despite the bright sun overhead and her coat. Her steps were quiet on the staircase, not wanting to alert Mrs. Tanaka. Not that she didn't want to talk to the elderly woman, but she'd been caught once already that week on Renji's stair landing and found herself scrambling for an excuse to be there.

Not that she felt guilty, but Renji hadn't returned from Soul Society yet, and she didn't think loitering around the apartment door would hit the landlady as appropriate.

She paused at the turn of the stairs to the landing, waving at Ururu in the Urahara shop's backyard, broom in the girl's hand. Ururu returned the wave, and Orihime moved to the apartment door.

She was about to knock when a movement at the next apartment unit's small balcony caught her eye. The next landing over was draped with a tangle of dormant wisteria vines, most of the dried leaves already on the ground, the mass of twisting branches tightly woven among the lattice blocking most of her view.

But what she could see of the figure bent over at the side of the small washer/dryer units made her smile and move to the balcony rail for a better look. Renji was leaned over the ductwork of the dryer, red hair barely visible over the back of his black pullover as he stuck an arm up the air vent of the dryer, muttering lowly at the machine.

Orihime leaned on the rail, forearms resting on the support as she watched the angle of his neck where it met the pullover, the black tattoos barely visible from her distance, trailing down to the dark material.

She'd never seen them, not more than his shirt collar allowed, but she'd heard rumors of the marks. Not so much rumors, she thought again, just casual references from Rangiku and Rukia and a few off-color comments from Ichigo. It made her curious.

"Hi!" she called. When he turned to look at her, she waved, smiling.

He grinned and waved back, wiping his hands on his jeans. "Hey! When did you get here?"

"Just now." Her fingers tightened on the rail. "Are you back to stay?"

"For a while." He glanced at the dryer and then back to her. "I'll be right there. Go on in."

She nodded, watching him turn and kneel at the machine again. "Are you staying for the month-long testing?"

"Yup." He worked for a moment longer on the ductwork, finally pulling out a bundle of leaves and scrap material constituting a squirrel's nest from the opening.

He stood and looked at her as he started on the staircase down. "Go ahead on in, Orihime."

"I'll wait," she said, watching him descend the switchback of stairs. "Rukia said you might be back today."

Renji reached the bottom of the staircase and crossed to the stairs leading to his own apartment. "When did you see her?"

"Yesterday. I invited her and Kurosaki-kun and Sado-kun over to watch Tatsuki's tournament this afternoon." She watched him climb the stairs through the steps below, moving to the back rail. "I invited Ishida-kun, too, but he said no. His father had something for him to do."

He met her at the top of the stairs, nodding to the door. "You can go in, Orihime. It's not locked."

Her smile widened. "Can you come over this afternoon? We'll have snacks."

"Sounds like you've got a houseful already." He watched the slight breeze lift her hair that hung over the fur collar of the coat. "Chad, too?"

She nodded. "Please come over."

He stepped closer and kissed her lightly. "Come on. I'll get cleaned up and then take you out for lunch."

She followed him into the apartment, the warmth inside welcome after the brisk late morning walk through town. "I have to go back. Rukia and the rest will be there shortly."

He watched her slip off her shoes, but keep her coat. "So soon?" He waved her farther into the apartment as he disappeared into his bedroom. "No time for lunch?"

"Not really." She took a few steps into the main room, following his voice to where the room split off to the bathroom and bedroom. "You'll come over, Renji?"

"Sure." He reappeared from the doorless room in a clean t-shirt and pulled her closer, arms slipping inside her open coat to settle around her waist until she was locked against him. "How were your school exams?"

She nodded, arms encircling his neck with little reservation. "We haven't got our final marks yet, but I think I did okay."

"Good." He kissed her lightly, and then more thoroughly when her lips met his with unexpected enthusiasm, surprising her a little. She withdrew a few inches, cheeks coloring.

"A whole month," she said, a small smile replacing her blush, fingers toying with the few strands of red hair that had caught them, gaze drifting to the black marks at his neck. "You'll come over soon?"

He nodded, slowly releasing her and taking her hand, pulling her into the kitchen area. "You've got time for cocoa, right? I've got the real stuff this time."

She hugged her coat closer as he took a container of cocoa mix from the overhead cupboard. "I should head back now."

He nodded, setting the mix on the counter, and reaching for her hand to pull her closer, unwilling to break the mood with his next question.

She frowned at the somber look slipping over his face.

"Have you seen Grimmjow or those Arrancar girls lately?" he asked, hand tightening on hers.

Most of her smile fell away, watching a thicker darkness hint his brown eyes. "Two days ago I saw Grimmjow. It completely surprised me, Renji. I didn't feel cold at all, and I didn't even have a good coat on. Just a big sweater. Not like the other times."

He nodded, his thumb rubbing over the back of her soft hand, her fingers curling over his. "We need to talk to Urahara about a few things."

She frowned, looking to each of his eyes at the solemn tone of his voice. "Did you see Grimmjow?"

He nodded. "Last night. He's not interested in fighting. Not yet. But he's getting stronger. You can sense it now, not like it was a few weeks ago where his spiritual pressure was down."

"He's absorbing it from the shinigami he's killed," she said slowly, lower lip caught in her teeth. "Then why can't I sense him anymore?"

He shook his head, pushing her hair over her shoulder with his hand, watching her troubled eyes cloud. "When you healed his arm," he said, not wanting to broach the subject, "did you do anything different than usual? Anything more?"

"More?" Now her eyes opened wide, her head shaking in adamant negation. "No, Renji. Just heal it. Well, restore it."

He nodded slowly. "You didn't -- hell, I don't know -- impart anything different or special on him?"

"No. No." Her neck stiffened beneath his hand there. "Why?"

She listened as he told her of his encounter with Grimmjow the previous night. He didn't like the way the light drain from her face as she realized the imprecations of her healing abilities on the Espada. She nodded slowly as he finished, numbness overcoming her senses.

But she was very aware of Renji pulling her into his arms, of the warm strong embrace that she'd missed over the last week, a powerful hold that evicted memories of her time before Aizen as she restored Grimmjow's arm.

She sighed, smiling at the familiar sent of aftershave he wore, her face nestled against his bent neck as her arms instinctively surrounded his waist. For a moment she stayed there, content until she felt guilty.

"We'll talk to Urahara and get some answers next week," he said, his voice a rumble against her chest. "He's out of town tomorrow, but we'll go Monday or Tuesday. Maybe there was some other alteration on Grimmjow, something by the Szayel scientist. He might have performed something on him after you restored the arm."

She nodded, feeling his hand slide beneath her hair, gentle on her neck, hoping he was right. She sighed again and leaned away. "I have to get back. Can you come over now?"

By the time Orihime and Renji got to her apartment Chad was already there waiting in the hall with an armful of groceries consisting mostly of bags of chips. He nodded when he saw them, appearing larger than usual in his bulky layers of sweater and pullover.

"Hey, Renji. You're in town?" the Mexican boy wondered as Orihime unlocked the apartment door.

"Yeah, for a while."

Chad looked to the next apartment where the pop music was to be heard. "Ichigo and Rukia-chan will be here soon. I saw them at the store getting soda and crackers."

"Oh, good," Orihime said as she pushed to door open. "I think we're set on everything else." She stepped to the side as Renji and Chad entered. "Make yourselves at home. I'll start the chili."

Both Renji and Chad looked at each other as she glanced at the kitchen.

She saw the exchange. "It's my aunt's recipe from the Internet," she explained, taking their pullovers as they shed them. "Not my own creation."

"Oh, I'm sure it'll be fine, even if it was your recipe, Orihime-chan," Chad said as she took their outer wear into her bedroom.

She returned almost immediately and took the bag from Chad. "Thanks for bringing the chips, Sado-kun. If you want to find the tournament on television, go ahead. I'll bring in sodas."

Chad headed for the small television set as Renji followed Orihime into the kitchenette. She lifted the lid of the large pot on the stove, a warm hearty smell blooming out that made Renji realize how hungry he was. He looked in the pot as she stirred it with a large spoon.

"That's chili?"

She nodded, stirring up the bits of ground meat from the bottom. "It was hot before I left for your place so it won't take long to heat through again." She looked up and him, guilt hinting her voice. "I guess I didn't really follow my aunt's recipe. I forgot the beans and used potatoes instead. More like stew. I don't think it'll be too spicy; I've got hot sauce for anyone who wants to add it." She glanced to Chad who was moving the antennae around for better reception. She looked back to the pot and stirred slowly. "I'm glad you're back, Renji."

"Me, too." He slipped his arm loosely around her waist, kissing her hair quickly. "How long do you have off for school?"

"The week. Can you come over for dinner tomorrow?"

He chuckled, hand tightening on her hip momentarily. "I've got another list from Tanaka-san."

"She sure keeps you busy."

"Earning my keep, Orihime."

She nodded, looking to him hopefully, smiling more when his fingers slipped beneath her knit shirt to her jeans waistband, resting on a belt loop. "Maybe?"

"If I skip out early today and get the pipes insulated in the basement, sure," he said with a nod, eyes resting on her lips. "I forgot to ask. How'd the dress showing go?"

A wider smile stretched across her face, eyes widening as her hand clutched his shirt. "We got second place in two categories! Complexity of style and general appeal."

"That's great. Hell, that's really great." He gave her smile a swift kiss as someone knocked on the hall door. "I know you put a lot work into it. I'll bet Ishida's happy."

"He wanted first in complexity of style, but I think he's okay with it." She wiped her hands on a dish towel. "I think that's Kurosaki-kun and Rukia."

"Finish your stew. I'll get the door."

"Thanks."

Renji went to the door, opening it as Ichigo was getting ready to knock again, Rukia beside him with her arms around a large bowl of animal crackers. She smiled when she saw Renji, but shoved past him to make a beeline for the kitchen. "Hey, Renji."

"Hello," he called as she walked out of her shoes and tossed him a wave. He looked to Ichigo. "Come on in. Orihime's in the kitchen."

Ichigo carried a few packs of soda, which had gotten slightly shaken on the way over. "Hey, you're here already?" He shook his head, eyeing Renji. "Hat-n-Clogs got you running tests?"

"Yeah, long one this time."

They moved further into the room and Ichigo called a greeting to Orihime, who returned a 'Hello' before turning her attention back to the stove and Rukia. He collapsed onto the couch at one end and watched Chad finish angling the antennae. "Tessai said Grimmjow's got new abilities."

Renji nodded, taking a seat at the opposite end of the couch as Rukia returned and grabbed the packs of soda Ichigo had left at the side of the couch. She went back into the kitchen with them. "Not good news, Ichigo. Can't hardly get the bastard to draw a sword to fight and now this?" He shook his head. "Spontaneous regeneration, and quick, too."

Ichigo glanced into the kitchen as a giggle broke out among the girls' hushed whispering. "I don't believe it's anything she's done. She'd never do something like that. Not knowingly."

Renji leaned his elbows on his knees and watched Orihime nod at the bowl of crackers Rukia showed her. "It might be Szayel's work. Tweaking something in the healing process. Or maybe it's just in the Arrancar spiritual make-up."

Ichigo nodded. "That's some scary shit, Renji."

Chad joined them with the chair from Orihime's desk and turned it backwards at one end of the couch. He straddled it and sat down, large arms crossed over the top of the back. "Why isn't Soul Society doing more?"

Renji shook his head, eyes on the television where a commercial for noodles was showing. "Twelfth Division has the town right now and Captain Kurotsuchi's more interested in research."

Ichigo made a growling sigh, moving his legs as Rukia stepped over them and sat beside him, handing him a glass of soda. "They need to stop jerking around and put an end to the Arrancars, too."

"Loly and Menoly are small potatoes compared to Grimmjow," Chad said as Orihime joined them with three glasses of soda and wedged herself between Rukia and Renji. She handed Renji a glass and extended one to Chad before taking a drink of her own. "But they should be swatted down, too."

Renji rested an arm across the back of the couch to give Orihime more room, fingers draped over her shoulder. "We'll find them." He glanced to Rukia on the other side of Orihime. "Is that one of the old model gigais?"

She nodded, slurping her soda. "My brother insisted."

"Good."

The movement hadn't escaped Ichigo and he looked from Renji's hand past Rukia and Orihime to the red-haired shinigami. He glanced down at Rukia but got no help as she was intent on her soda.

All eyes remained on the television set as the first round of matches began at the Tokyo Dome. Over the first hour it was a process of elimination, followed by another round of style exhibitions from each of the teams, and then another elimination round. Orihime and her guests spent the time watching and eating in several stages, with Chad dousing his chili stew with liberal amounts of hot sauce.

Orihime and Rukia settled on their knees before the couch when Orihime's tendencies to act out punch moves she thought the competitors should have used in their matches proved damaging to those around her, elbowing Renji once and Rukia twice. The bowl of iced animal crackers sat between the girls as the tournament went into its fourth round of matches and they decided to take the few moments to grab a refill of drinks for everyone. Ichigo's narrow glance went to the red-haired man across the couch.

Renji watched the girls go into the kitchen, Orihime's taller form stooped to one side to hear Rukia's low voice as she giggled over something. He looked back to the television, and then to Ichigo, who was watching with a strange scowling engrossment on his face.

Ichigo looked into the kitchen and slowly to Renji as Chad's attention stayed on the television commercial for cell phones. "I know what you're doing," he told Renji, one hand tightening into a fist unconsciously, releasing gradually.

Renji read the look crossing the temporary shinigami's face. "You got a problem with something?"

Ichigo frowned deeper as Chad looked between them. Renji waited for Ichigo to wrap his mind around the obvious. He'd been wondering when the moment would eventually come, or if Ichigo would even notice.

Ichigo turned on the couch to face him better. "If you hurt her, Abarai, I swear I'll kill you."

Chad's eyes opened uncharacteristically wide at the statement.

"That goes both ways." Renji leaned back on the couch, shrugging. "I like her, strawberry. Get used to it."

Ichigo's confusion shifted as he sent another longer look into the kitchen, returning Rukia and Orihime's quick waves as they refilled a bowl of potato chips. He looked back to Renji. "Is that why you volunteered to bring her back from Las Noches when she disappeared?"

Renji cocked his arm over the back of the couch to see the girls in the kitchen better. "I barely knew her then, Ichigo. Think about it."

Ichigo did. "So this is all recent?"

The protective layer that Renji had for so long reserved for Rukia surfaced in another direction. "A while now. You better get used to it." He didn't say what he wanted to; if Ichigo was too clueless to figure out Orihime's attentions over the last year, then he wasn't about to bring them to light now. Not now. "You can save your threats for something else."

Chad's rapt attention was on Renji now, his usual lax demeanor more alert. "You're serious?"

Renji snapped an irritated look between the Mexican and strawberry. "What the hell is this? A tribunal? I like her. What of it?"

Chad's large shoulders heaved a shrug and he looked back to the television.

Ichigo nodded, scowl lessening a degree. "Okay."

"I don't need your okay," Renji told him.

"I know it." Ichigo rubbed the back of his head, making the hair stand up in spiky tufts. "Just a surprise, that's all." His attention strayed back to the kitchen for a long moment before his eyes locked on the next round of matches beginning on the television. "She seems happy. Even with Grimmjow hanging around... I didn't know it was ..." He shook his head, not wanting to finish the thought aloud. "I didn't know. It's good, I guess."

Renji decided not to remark on Ichigo's rambling internalization that had become commentary. He looked back to the kitchen as Orihime and Rukia balanced glasses of soda and snacks as they rejoined them in the main room. He saw her eyes flit to Ichigo, something less than lingering in them as she gave him a quick smile before offering Chad and himself their drinks.

He knew what it was. He still sometimes felt that ingrained print of emotions that sprung up on occasion, the ones that were etched somewhere in his brain's hardwiring when he looked at Rukia, and try as he might, a small inkling still remained out of sheer habit.

That was all it was. Habit.

It never grew into anything lately, he pacified himself as guilt raised its ugly head when Orihime sat down beside him and settled closer under his arm across the back of the couch. He'd managed to get through the withdrawal of sentiments that had once been compulsory. He watched her eyes as she looked at the television now showing the tournament and the end of Tatsuki's set as the referee raised the girl's hand overhead in victory, her smile obvious even when hampered by her helmet and mouth guard.

Orihime wasn't thinking of Ichigo, he told himself, and if she was, or if she did occasionally, it wasn't the same as it had been.

But he couldn't blame her much if she did. At her age a year was half a lifetime.

** ** **

Renji hadn't stayed for the completion of the tournament, leaving before it ended so he could make progress on Mrs. Tanaka's list of chores, but he took Orihime up on her invite for dinner Sunday afternoon.

The day had turned overcast and thick with heavy clouds that dumped rain on him as soon as he left the block Urahara's shop was on. It was a cold rain, but had no wind behind it. By the time he got to Orihime's apartment that smelled faintly of Obaachan's bread baking his pullover was wet, and not merely damp.

"Do you want a towel?" Orihime asked as she took the pullover from him and headed to the bathroom with it. "Is you shirt too wet? I have the one you lent me."

"No, nothing like that," he said, pulling at the black t-shirt he wore. "I'm dry enough."

She reappeared with a hand towel. "You sure? Your headband's soaked."

On second thought he took it towel. "Thanks." He stripped off the wet white cloth and dried his forehead and hair. "How'd Tatsuki finish yesterday?"

"Second overall in class and first in girls." She nodded quickly, smiling at her friend's accomplishment as she took the headband. "She comes home tomorrow, after all the ceremonies today and the farewell dinner."

"Good for her." He finished wiping his hair, seeing her eyes rest on his forehead. "Uh, I can put the headband back on if you want me to."

Her eyes moved over the black marks stretching back into his hair, stepping closer, reaching to touch one. "I've never seen them before. They're the same on both sides? All of them?"

He nodded as her fingers traced one of the black jags to where it ended. "They better be."

Her eyes followed the marks down to his eyes, hand dropping to his neck along the tattoos there. "Don't they hurt?"

"Not anymore; just when you get them." He leaned down and kissed her, finding the scent of honeysuckle and something slightly fruity. Her arms latched around his neck tighter as he pulled her closer, lips soft on his for a moment before she grabbed his hand at her waist and pulled him into the kitchen. "Hungry?"

"Yup."

She brought him to the stove where a saucepan was simmering a thin white liquid. "It's crab in vanilla soup with cucumbers." She gave him a slight smile. "Not spicy. Rukia said you don't like spicy stuff."

"You two spilling everyone's secrets?" he asked, tugging at the back of her loose hair.

She shook her head, a mischievous glint to her eyes. "Just a few. She said yesterday that you didn't like super spicy foods." She turned off the burner heat and found bowls in the overhead cupboard, the hem of her gray skirt with the purple flowers lifting to the back of her knees where her thick peach socks had sagged a little at her calves. "Do you want coconut flakes on yours?"

Renji's eyes rose from her legs as she turned. "On the soup?"

She nodded. "It's good that way."

"Sure." He glanced to the wall she shared to the next apartment where the pop music was lower than usual. "Your neighbor get complaints?"

"No; he's gone for a few days, I think. He leaves the radio on low for company for his cockatiel."

They watched the early evening newscast over a dinner of the crab soup and sesame muffins, Orihime turning up the volume when a short segment came on about the martial arts tournaments at the Tokyo Dome over the weekend, mentioning Tatsuki's name. A brief glimpse of the dark-haired girl was flashed on the screen when she stood in line with her fellow winners, her face shining with excitement and exertion.

Orihime sighed, grinning back at her friend on the television. "She'll be so happy. She's trained so hard for weeks, Renji."

He nodded at the television. "What about your wins? Did your club get a ribbon or anything for the dress show?"

"We got a huge rosette ribbon to hang at the display case at school. Oh, I've got pictures." She picked up their empty dishes and bowls and stacked them carefully as she stood. "Ishida-kun dropped them off earlier today. I'll get them."

He pushed the kotatsu table that was still minus the fabric covering to one side where she usually kept it and stacked the cushions by it. "Who took the pictures?"

"Oh, they had a photographer from a Tokyo newspaper there covering the show and they sent copies to all the winning clubs."

He sat against the couch behind them as she lowered the volume on the television that had moved on to other news. She sat beside him, curling her legs to one side so her knees rested at his thigh, the photos in her hands as she leaned close enough for him to see them.

"We had a set-back as soon as we got there and we were almost disqualified during the initial judging because we had to repair the trim work," she said, holding one of the pictures closer. "The hem got caught in the door of Hitomi-kun's mother's van and it crushed a few strands of fringe."

Renji held the photo closer. In it Orihime was seated on her knees at one side of the curtained walls of a large showroom, hunkered over the hem of the purple and blue dress that another girl held, her hands carefully reworking the beaded fringe. "You had to mend it while you were there?"

She nodded, sighing. "Ishida-kun was livid. His face was almost purple." She handed him another photo. "This is all the dresses lined up."

She showed him the six photos in turn, explaining each and emphasizing their toughest competitors. He nodded, examining them and going back to the second where Orihime was standing beside their entry with the award rosette, smiling back at the camera. It was similar to another where she was standing on the opposite side of the dress, still smiling.

He held the photo to his side where the lamp at the couch end was brighter despite its muted setting. "Very pretty, Orihime," he said, grinning back at her smile in the photo. "Can I keep this for a while?"

She nodded, pink tinting her cheeks. "You can have it."

"Thanks." He set the photo behind him as she turned to do the same with the other pictures. For a moment they remained facing each other, neither moving as his hand found hers on the couch. He bent one knee and rested his other elbow on it, his hand pushing her hair over her shoulder. "Did you have your picture in the newspaper?"

She nodded. "Our whole club with the dress. It came out last week." Her free hand hooked under his arm where the lowest points of tattoo crossed his arm at the sleeve edge. "I put it in my scrapbook."

"Show me later?"

She nodded as he pulled her closer, her hand leaving his arm and wrapping around his back. He kissed her lips as they parted slightly in reception, her shyness gone from a month ago, eagerness replacing the tentativeness. She let herself fold against him as his hand slid from her neck to her lower back, encircling her waist to pull her snuggly against him.

She slipped her socked foot over his leg, her knee nudging a tender spot on him. He ended the kiss quickly as she jerked her leg back.

"I'm sorry," she said, cheeks flushing at what amounted to a knee to the groin.

"Come here," he said, sitting back, his hand pulling behind her knee until she leaned up and sat over him, this time with just as much blush as the first time.

She settled her knee at his side, smiling amid the blush at the new position that brought her hips to his, easing down astride him. "I didn't mean to do that."

"I know." His arm went back around her waist, feeling the slight arch of her spine as her hands rested at his chest, eyes traveling his face as she leaned closer.

One hand slid up his chest, fingertips light on the tattoo at his neck, following it to where it disappeared around his neck. Her eyes flicked to his, appearing more smoky gray than hazel in the muted lighting. "Renji, when I get to Soul Society," she said in a concerned tone, "I mean, when I die, will I remember you there?"

He wanted to say yes, of course she would, but he shook his head. "Probably not." He pulled her closer and kissed the pout at her lips. "Why are you thinking about death?"

She let her lips remain against his in answer. "Because I'm not worried about it much." She kissed the corner of his mouth as his head dipped to follow hers. "Not like I used to be before everything happened when we kind of invaded Soul Society."

His hand slid beneath her hair, anchoring her close, eyes focusing on her distracted expression. "You stormed Soul Society," he corrected, her breath fragrant from the coconut. "You know what's on the other side now, Orihime. Death isn't as big a mystery anymore."

She nodded, her hair gently bobbing against his forehead as the sound of the rain outside increased. "I guess. But I don't want to not know you there. I don't want to forget."

He let one hand slide along her leg to the scrunched up sock, fingers on her calf until she clenched the leg to him. "I'll make you remember."

She smiled. "How?"

"I'll figure out a way."

She nodded as his hand slipped off her sock, hard fingers closing around her ankle as she buried her feet beneath his knees. "I hope so."

He brushed her hair from her face, and then carefully unclipped one of the hairpins at the side of her head. Her hand went to his.

"I'm not going to hurt them, Orihime," he said, pulling the hair ornament free.

She watched him set it behind him on the couch. "I know you won't." Her eyes went to his hand going to her other temple, removing the flower pin there. "I've been neglecting them."

"They can wait a little longer for your attention." He set the second pin behind him and gathered a handful of auburn hair, letting it fall softly through his fingers.

"I think your hair is longer than mine," she said with a short giggle, reaching behind his head to the black hair tie holding his hair. "Can I?"

"Yup."

She pulled the hair tie out, her weight shifting forward, looking down at him with surprise, then her gaze went to her skirt against his jeans zipper. She set the hair tie beside her hair pins, eyes fastened on his as his hair fell.

Her hands lowered, one remaining at his chest, the other hesitantly dropping to his leg beside her thigh where she felt him move in response to her touch. Her eyes shot to his as a blush colored her cheeks, her hand drawing across the hardness developing against her leg.

For a moment he was still, watching her eyes lower to his jeans as she touched him, feeling the soles of her feet press against his legs as her hand pushed harder over him.

He cleared his throat, not really wanting to stop her, but finding it necessary to say something. "You keep doing that and I'll have to go out and stand in the rain, Orihime."

Her fingers didn't halt. "I don't want you to stand in the rain, Renji." She looked back to him, the pink still on her cheeks, then glanced to his hand slipping beneath her skirt, his other hand pressing at her back, bringing her face to his.

This time the kiss was more intense, his lips soft but more forceful as her arm rounded his shoulder, fingers clutching, pulling him closer, feeling the muscles tense.

The years of wielding Zabimaru had resulted in a tightly muscled physique, and Orihime was aware of this as she felt his back tighten beneath her arm around his shoulders, making her breath catch when he anchored her closer yet under another kiss that sent her pulse racing. His hand worked up the back of her leg, her silken skin warm as she pushed against him, his fingers slipping beneath the side of her panties, feeling her hip move closer in encouraging reply. Her hand found the clasp at his jeans fly opening, fingers hooked over the edge of the material.

He cupped his hand under the back of her head, making her look at him, feeling her heartbeat in her breast against his chest, her arm locked around his neck. He was still trying to think of exactly how to say what he thought he should say when a peal of thunder echoed through the apartment.

She looked to the window behind him, her breath halting for a moment as she looked back to him, moving so she was more centered over his erection. "Can you stay tonight, Renji?"

His hand gripped her hip harder at the words as she leaned her forehead to him, breath exhaling warm on his lips, hair falling against his cheek. He nodded, but said, "You sure that's what you want?" He ventured to inquire what he thought he knew to be true. "There's only one first time, Orihime."

She nodded, fingers tugging at the jean waistband, her other hand climbing the nape of his neck. "But not in here."

The rain was louder in her bedroom, competing with the low music from the apartment neighboring hers, the only light a filmy moonlight that peeked among the clouds and rain through the turned window blinds and sheer curtains.

Orihime had halted at the bed, a full size model that was about the same in dimensions as a folded out futon, facing Renji, her expectant heartbeat still fast when she put nervous hands to the button at the side of her waistband. She unfastened it and unzipped the short zipper, letting the skirt fall to the floor.

Renji's hands came to her hips, sliding over the roundness of them as her hands fumbled at his shirt, lifting the hem until he took his hands from her waist and pulled off his t-shirt.

"Oh, my . . . You really do have a lot of tattoos, Renji," she said with a slight gasp, the black marks visible against the cut of his body even in the scant light. She put a hand to his chest, following the pattern of tattoos crossing his left pectoral, halting at the small flower that was misaligned above one. "This one's different."

His hand covered hers, his other hand back at her nearly bare hip as her fingers traced the camellia design on his chest. "That's not one of mine. It's a spiritual power limiter. All captains and lieutenants wear them in the Living World."

"I remember hearing something about that," she said, hand wandering down his chest to angle at the marks slanting along his abdomen. "I didn't realize you had so many."

"You still want to do this?" he asked as his arms drew her closer, hands beneath her pink shirt, feeling her spine flex as she nodded and let herself press to him.

"I'm sure."

He lowered his face to her neck, kissing the soft skin beneath her chin, lips moving to her throat as she leaned heavily against him, her hands sliding up his back. Her eyes closed at his touch, smiling faintly at his lips traveling to where her shirt collar stopped him.

He glanced at the bed, still taken aback at her suggestion to stay. She followed his gaze and stepped back to unhook her bra and work it loose. She blushed anew and turned her back on him, arms extending overhead as she discarded her shirt and bra with a flick to the side and folded back the bedclothes and crawled into the bed. She turned to face him and sat on her knees, nearly disappearing beneath the blanket as she waited, fingers pulling the material over her chest.

Renji unbuttoned his jeans, watching her timid smile as she pulled the blanket a little higher. "You're not going to hide, are you?"

She shook her head, freeing one hand to reach over to the night stand by the bed and turn down a small framed photo. She patted the mattress beside her, watching his pants fall. "Ooh, boxers?"

He left them on. "Surprised?"

"Not really."

He sat on the bed and slid beneath the blanket beside her, taking the thick rose colored material from her hands. "Are you cold?"

"No. Just nervous. A little."

He figured it was more than just a little. He eased the blanket down, the sparse moonlight shining pale on her full bare breasts, her hands clutched in her lap. The affects of her arousal were still with him and he pulled her closer, feeling a tremulous tension in her body as he let her rest against his chest, her legs to one side, making her hip meet at his elbow.

He put one hand to her cheek and kissed her lips for a long moment, her anxiety slipping as she relaxed in his arms, her body slowly yielding to his as her hands followed his chest to his neck, fingers working into his hair, curling against his scalp.

He lowered her into the pillow, one arm beneath her back, the other hand caressing slowly across her throat to her mouth, fingers drawing across her lips until she raised her head to kiss him, her arms coming tighter around his waist.

He rested on one elbow, his knee nudging between her legs, her skin smooth against his as she allowed him closer, one heel crossing over the back of his ankle when a soft sigh escaped her through the kiss as he forced her head into the pillow.

"Let's get these off," he said as his hand moved from her throat to her panties. It took a moment to strip her underclothing off, followed by his own, and then her last remaining, sagging sock. He maneuvered to lie fully between her legs, feeling her movements still stilted, her hands on his back uncertain.

He pushed her hair back from her face, the auburn tresses dark against the pale rose pillow, her eyes intent on his.

"I know it hurts at first," she said softly, her foot following his leg. "Can we get that part over quickly?"

He nodded, kissing her slowly. "We'll do that."

For a few moments she returned his kisses, her nervousness hindering until he kissed her throat, making a steady warm trail with his lips to between her breasts, his large hand covering one, a gentle kneading that brought an unexpected moan from her. She let her hands glide up his back, feeling him hard against her inner thigh as his hand moved from her breast to move smoothly along her concave stomach, roaming the soft skin that brought a shiver from her.

"You smell good, Orihime," he murmured, her fingernails traipsing across his shoulders.

She swallowed a sudden catch in her throat, feeling the muscles at his back tauten more as his hand caressed himself softly against her, bringing a sudden heightened response that made her forget what she was going to say. Every sense was on alert, following his hands, his lips on her flesh.

Her arms pulled at his back as she let her knees drop to either side of him, his hand working its way down to position himself against the hot, moist area within her, feeling the tip bring a quiver from her that made her arms draw him near as the sensitive skin of both of them beckoned. He kissed one of her ample breasts around the nipple, feeling her hand slip from his back to his hair, embedding among her fingers as she pulled his face to her.

"You've got the smoothest skin, Orihime," he said, lips trailing across her stomach where the scent of honeysuckle changed to something peachy.

She giggled a little as he kissed his way back to her neglected breast, a hot flush beginning across her skin. "That feels so nice, Renji."

Her other hand left his back, joining his hand along the hard length that was verging entry, her fingers stroking him slowly with increasing pressure before sliding to his scrotum, massaging gently, then moving to his lean hip.

His arm changed positions beneath her, crossing at her back so his fingers clasped over her opposite shoulder. Her legs had bent more as she followed his movements, his hard length rubbing inner sensations that made her hips lift to his.

"Ready?" he asked, voice husky as she nodded, her breath quickening as her legs wrapped around his back.

Her arms were tight around his back and shoulder, eyes closing at his kiss at her ear. He pushed into her in a sudden movement that made her gasp and hold him closer, her head buried at his collarbone, a tremble traveling through her entire body. He brushed her hair from her face, which was still buried against him, hearing her breath slowly return with a deep gulp of air.

The shooting pain inside her faded after a moment, all the while Renji's hand stroking her hair, his voice a soft murmur in her ear. She relaxed, easing her face from his chest, looking to him with a shaky exhale.

"All right?" he whispered as she licked her lips, nodding.

"We can do more now?" she said, taking a deeper breath.

"You bet," he said with a grin.

He kissed her mouth, pulling out slowly from her halfway as she held her breath, before pushing in again. After a few slower strokes she learned to move with him, a rhythm that gained in speed as she clung more to him, arms full around him as new sensations coursed her body. Her eyes half opened over his back, and then widened, bringing her face to his.

"You have tattoos on your back?"

He looked down at her amid the cascade of hair that was a mixture of his own and hers across her throat, nodding. "You didn't ... know that?"

"I think I knew ... you had some," she said in between thrusts of him into her. "I think ... I think I knew..." her voice tailed off, her breathing quickening as her hips raised to his. "I don't remember what I was saying, Renji."

He pushed harder as her arms pulled at his back, her eyes closing, fingernails digging into his skin among the tattoos. A quiver deep inside welled, at first making her movements slow until it took over her entire body, her arms and legs closing fiercely around him as the wave of bliss tightened around him within her.

She felt every muscle in his back tighten harder, a layer of sweat suddenly surfacing as he thrust deeper and faster in her, his name on her lips in soft pants at his neck until a throaty moan erupted from her as she felt every muscle in her seemingly contracted at once.

He finished hard in her smoothness, her body wet against his in heady intoxication. With a final pulse he was spent, lying on her in exhaustion as her hands slowly played along his back, a low giggle escaping her.

He propped on his elbows on either side of her, grinning at the smile on her lips as she took a deep breath against him, kissing her lower lip. "That better not be a laugh."

She giggled again, smile widening as he swept her hair from her damp face. "That felt good, Renji. Better than anything. Anything ever." She looked to each of his eyes, hands trailing the skin at his back as she sighed through her still racing heartbeat. "Better than sweet bean paste. Even a liter of it. And I really like sweet bean paste."

"So do I." He kissed her throat and pulled out of her, leaving a hot path where he'd been. "It did feel good. Damn good, Orihime."

He lay down next to her, then raised and pulled the tangle of sheet and blankets at their feet, settling the sheet higher over them. She pushed it to her waist, her breath still coming fast, breasts rising and falling, her body warm as he lay down beside her.

"It's too hot to cover up."

He chuckled, kissing the top of her head. "You'll get chilled soon."

She lay in the crook of his arm, her senses still magnified as her breathing finally slowed a little. She turned to look at him, finding him watching her. Her face turned into his chest as she moved onto her side, one hand resting on his abdomen as she looked to the window that rattled under wind and rain. "I want to get better at it."

"Nothing wrong with how it went tonight, Orihime." His fingers trailed her shoulder as her hand moved higher on his chest.

She nodded with a smile, hair moving against his chest, the smell of honeysuckle and musk still in the air.

Renji pulled the sheet over them, this time getting no objection from her as her satisfied sigh brushed across his chest.

Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed.