Title: Maybe, Just Maybe

Author: Moi Fah

Genre: Romance/Angst/Tragedy (alright, we get it, it's supposed to be sad!)/ Hurt/Comfort

Crossover: Sailor Moon and Bleach

Version: Anime and Manga (respectively)

Character/Pairings: Renji/Hotaru, mentions of Rukia, Ichigo, Byakuya, others...

Pairing requested by: Sailor Ra

Word Count: 1001

Feedback: If you feel so moved...

Rating: T (Warnings: what-if type drabble, poem format, character death)

Renji loved Rukia...Renji loved Hotaru.

But Rukia had been executed at Sokyouku Hill,

after Ichigo, the others, and himself had failed to save her.

To make matters worse, Aizen had gotten away with what he'd wanted as well.

It went without saying that, he, Renji, took her death harder than anyone else.

At least, he believed this. He'd known Rukia their whole lives practically,

and now these humans...no, he couldn't think like that. Blaming others wouldn't accomplish anything.

Then, she came along though.

Maybe it was because of her hair (it tossed in the wind the same as Rukia's).

Maybe it was because of her eyes (they shone the same as Rukia's).

Maybe it was because of her kindness and willingness to help him through his depression (her soul was as pure as Rukia's)

Maybe it was because of her immediate acceptance into the 13th division (the same division as Rukia)

Or maybe, just maybe, he was drawn to her because of the 2 foot difference in their height (the same as it had been with Rukia).

In many ways, they were the same...in mannerisms, in speech (mostly when Hotaru was angry though as she was bit more shy than Rukia), in almost everything.

Her kido skills were perfect, yet she did not hold a seat in the 13th division.

Byakuya had held Rukia back, afraid of something like that...did that mean that Hotaru was being held back by something?

Renji scoffed to himself, simultaneously waking himself from the daze of thought he'd found himself in.

Looking around the office, he noticed he was still alone.

Captain Kuchiki obviously still hadn't returned to work yet, and probably wouldn't for awhile.

Everyone pegged him as a fool, but he had known.

Rukia's sister had been Hisana, Captain Kuchiki's late wife, and the promise he had made to her about keeping Rukia safe, too. It had probably torn him up just as much as it had with Renji on the inside.

But like the calmer man had mentioned before...they would all learn to get through this.

Hotaru had also told him this, but in a more subtle, kinder and gentler way. She'd stayed with him...sometimes even through the entire night or afternoons when he found himself too drunk or impaired to find his way home.

She took care of him...the same way he'd taken care of and looked out for Rukia.

Lately, he'd been getting himself trashed each night just so he'd have some sort of excuse to see her. It was starting to become a bit pathetic and very unlike him, but the fact remained was that she didn't mind.

She told him occasionally that she didn't mind spending time with him, no matter what the reasons were.

However, back to the matters on hand; finishing all this damn paperwork Captain Kuchiki would never get around to doing. Taking the place as acting-captain in his leave, Renji could understand why Hisagi seemed so busy these days.

He wished today was one of her visiting days, but Hotaru was in the human world on konso duty.

Renji sighed.

Was this how he was going to go through life? Rambling thoughts and passing moments that would all in all fade away with time?

Two things, however, were sure-fire for him...Rukia was gone and he loved Hotaru.

Hotaru could never take Rukia's place... that's what his heart had told him in the beginning, but unsurprisingly she was sneaking her way in.

And maybe, just maybe, that was why life loved to be so cruel, especially to him.

An urgent summonings came for him from the 13th barracks. Scared for Hotaru's safety (and possibly a small part of him that believed Rukia was still alive and in trouble,), raced out of the office as quickly as possible, nearly squishing the hell-moth.

His fears came alive upon seeing her.

Hotaru was bandaged practically all over and seemed to be in a light sleep (most likely unconscious).

Third-seat sharer Kotetsu told him of the girl's condition. Attacked by a gillian-class menos named Pharaoh (which Soul Society had been after for quite sometime), Hotaru had no idea what had hit her until it was too late.

Any shinigami who did not hold the rank of lieutenant was sure to crumble under the gillian's brute force.

It also appeared that Hotaru would not make it through the night as she had lost too much blood.

Renji stayed with her that night, repaying the favor for the nights she'd stayed with him in his moments of weakness.

Silently, he prayed...to whom he didn't have a clue, but maybe someone would hear him and grant her a miracle.

"Don't worry, Renji-kun, I'm not going anywhere." she mumbled from her sleep-like state. Shifting around as if she wanted to get up, Hotaru finally grew very still. Renji grew very quiet, then. Waiting...

"Hotaru, you can't die on me too..." he whispered, forever thinking about the deceased Kuchiki-girl.

"I told I wasn't. I can't leave you by yourself yet..." she whispered, causing Renji to breath a sigh of relief. "I'll get better...tomorrow, I promise. Unohana-san said she'd see to me personally in the morning. I can hold out until then...as long as you stay with me Renji-kun. Talking to me and making me laugh..." she seemed to sigh, a cleverly disguised way of gasping for breath.

It was then, a miracle really seemed to happen.

Hotaru's small head rolled over to meet him; she opened her eyes and smiled at him, a streak of red spreading over her cheeks.

"I can do that Hotaru." he returned simply, laying his hand gently over her broken one.

And maybe, just maybe, the real reason he found himself drawn to her, was her ever growing originality from Rukia Kuchiki.

To let go of Rukia completely, he would no longer look at Hotaru in the same light as her.

Before I even wrote this, I knew this was how I wanted to write it. It's up a little early because I'm going to be gone the whole day and won't have chance to update at all. This pairing was requested by Sailor Ra and I hope she likes it, even though I know she won't be online for awhile. Ah well, angst-y lovers rejoice! But! It did have a happy ending...at least I tried to make it that way.

In other news: As you can see from my profile, I've deleted my old stories. Don't flip out, SE7EN, War, and Love or Lust are still there as are all of my one-shots but as for the others...I don't have time to write what nobody is reading. I was planning to post one more chapter of each to see how many people wanted to read them but then I was reminded of some things: I only got 1 review last chapter of Alchemical Boundaries, Kingdom Hearts has kind of gone out of the spotlight for right now (at least until Birth by Sleep comes out or 358/2 Days), and finally, because Sands of Oblivion was a good story...it's just too bad that I never wrote down any of the ideas I've had so, it's pretty much a lost cause.

And to everyone who keeps complaining about Rei not having a drabble: REQUEST ONE!! I can't stress that enough. This was mainly written as a way for me to write down some random ideas I've had for pairings and because SMMFFC had a really good challenge in the month of May, but I never realized how much good feedback I'd get, so I expanded it to taking requests. Luckily for you guys who keep pestering me, I've been working on an idea for Rei/Itachi (don't like, don't read), Taurus Angel has been kind enough to request a Rei/Suigetsu (don't like, don't read) for all of you, and Angel and Kagami have requested Rei/Sasuke (don't like, don't read). I can only write so fast you guys and I do have a lot of requests on my hands. Honestly though, don't complain about it, do something about it!

Just tell me what you'd like to see and I'll write it regardless if I like the pairing or not! However, I have stated that I will not be doing yaoi pairings...I can't write those. Yuri pairings, I think I'm comfortable with as I've had practice with HarukaMichiru. Please, no more reviews telling me about 'There's no Rei! You left her out on purpose!'. I have not.