Title: Covenant
Series: Amaranthine (third in series; sequel to Nexus and Apotheosis)
Author: Akuni
Universe: Bleach
Genre: Drama/Romance
Rating: M for 'Much Smut' (NC-17)
Pairing: Renji/Ichigo (Note: I always write them reversible)
Spoilers: read through Soul Society, Arrancar, & Hueco Mundo Arcs
Warnings: By this point, everyone reading this story should know that this is futurefic, with all that that implies – character development, interpretations of events not yet seen in canon, etc. There's more talk of the war with Aizen, and mentions of character deaths during the war.
Word Count: you wouldn't believe me if I told you yet ;)
Summary: Three years after Ichigo began a rewarding life as a full-time shinigami captain, an unexpected challenge changes things for everyone, and Ichigo and Renji face their biggest trials yet.

More info and author's notes on chapter 1.


Chapter 28 – Catalyst

It was with mixed emotions that Renji returned to Soul Society. He hated that Soul Society had given up on Ichigo, that his own absence on bereavement leave encouraged the idea that Ichigo was dead, but being away and unfettered had given him much more opportunity to search.

Nevertheless, he still had responsibilities in Soul Society, and he couldn't ignore them any more than he could ignore his duty to his partner. Renji needed to help Ichigo find his way home, but he needed to keep his Division running as well – and he needed to show Soul Society that Ichigo wasn't dead. He wasn't sure why that was so important to him; he just knew it was, as surely as he knew he'd never stop looking for his missing partner.

With this in mind, Renji kept his temper firmly in check when he met with the other captains and the Commander-General the day after his return. Swallowing his pride, he bowed deeply and apologized for his outburst, and asked that he be allowed to resume his duties. The only thing he was sorry about was that he'd lost his temper and drawn more attention to himself than he'd already had due to his 'loss'. Whatever!

Fortunately his apology was accepted, and Renji was allowed to return to active status. Relieved, he reminded himself over and over throughout the meeting to stay calm and convince them that he wasn't going to snap again. He'd have to be careful for the next little while, but hopefully it wouldn't take too much 'normal' behaviour to get them to stop watching him so closely.

After leaving the meeting, Renji took a trip to the commissary. Ostensibly he was picking up something for lunch, but really he was looking for something portable to stuff in his pack and take with him on his next trip into Hueco Mundo – which he intended to be that evening.

On his way from the commissary to his office, he heard the bells only a moment before he was overtaken by the captain of the 11th Division and his pink-haired appendage.

"Yo, Abarai!"

"Hihi, Spiky-hair!" Yachiru waved cheerfully at him from her usual perch behind Zaraki's shoulder.

Renji stopped and smiled at the tiny lieutenant. "Hey, Yachiru." He glanced up at his former captain. "Zaraki-taichou. How're things at the 11th?"

"Cut the small talk, Abarai. I ain't here ta chat. When you gonna spar with me again, hey?" Zaraki hooked both thumbs in his sash and stared intently.

Renji regarded him with surprise. "Kinda busy lately, Zaraki-taichou. Got a lotta stuff t' catch up on, an'—"

"Save that crap for the meetings," Zaraki interrupted. "Don't take a genius to figure out what's wrong."

Shit. "Wrong? Nothing's wrong."

Zaraki's eye rolled. "You were lyin' yer ass off in there," he said. "You ain't sorry, yer just sorry ya got caught."

Shit shit! He couldn't afford any more official attention. Renji looked around quickly to make sure there was no one else nearby before he spoke again. "Look, Zaraki-taichou, whatever I think don't change the fact that I got a job t' do, an' I'm gonna do it."

Renji stepped up close to Zaraki and hardened his tone. "Yeah, I know Ichigo's still out there, an' yeah, I think it's fuckin' shameful the way he's been abandoned. But since I've been back I ain't done a single thing wrong, so they can't do a damn thing about what I think."

To Renji's surprise, Zaraki smiled his usual manic smile and nodded. "Figured it was somethin' like that, yeah. Fuckin' typical." He snorted. "So yer goin' out there again, right?"

Renji narrowed his gaze, searching the scarred face. "Why would I tell you that?"

Zaraki laughed loudly. "Yer bein' dumb again, Abarai. Thought ya woulda grown outta that by now, but I guess not."

Yachiru had been watching them curiously, but now she piped up. "Icchy can't die, because he needs to keep playing with Ken-chan! So you have to go get him."

"Oh." Renji had no idea what to make of that logic.

"Ya still didn't answer me – when ya comin' to fight me again?"

Renji almost laughed. He'd probably wanna spar on his deathbed. Probably be happy if that's how he got there, too. "I dunno. I am busy…" he trailed off meaningfully.

"Ya don't wanna be outta practice when Ichigo gets back, do ya?" Zaraki asked.

Renji's stomach flopped over. They really do believe he's out there. "I… no, that'd be… don't want that," he agreed.

"Good." Zaraki nodded. "Come see me when ya get unbusy."

"I'll think about it," Renji said. He smiled again at Yachiru's enthusiastic farewell, and continued the trek to his office.

He made it all the way to the 5th Division headquarters before he was approached again. This time, Kira was waiting for him just outside the main building. "Abarai-kun. Can I have a word?"

Renji looked him over carefully. Kira's expression was as sombre and serious as always, but something in his eyes was different. "Yeah, sure, what's up?"

Kira shook his head. "In private, please? It's kind of personal."

What the…? "All right." Renji led them into his office and motioned for Kira to take a seat. To his surprise Kira closed the door behind him and glanced around the office.

Whatever he's got t' say is either real personal, or real trouble. "What's goin' on, Kira?"

Kira looked around again and spoke in a hushed voice. "You should know, they've re-activated the alarms on the gate. If it's opened without permission, the Research and Development Institute will know instantly, and the captains will be notified within minutes."

Renji swore under his breath. "Was only a matter a' time, I guess." He frowned. "But that means I'll need t' find another way."

Kira lowered his voice even more. "No you won't. We've got someone on the inside. The alarms can be disabled when you're ready to go."

Renji stared at Kira incredulously. "How'n the hell did ya manage that? Who's 'we'?"

A faint smile spread across Kira's features, and he once again resembled the man Renji had known in the Academy. "The entire 3rd Division is loyal to Ichigo. He's given them – us – his best. That kind of leadership can't be repaid by sitting idly by when your captain needs you."

His entire Division believes. The thought was stunning – and heartening. But…

"I don't wanna put anyone at risk, Kira. If they get caught…" Renji shook his head. "It's my risk t' take, not theirs."

"With all due respect, he's our captain – we've got a right to help," Kira said firmly. "No one's going to get caught. We just need to know exactly when you're going to leave. Our man at the Institute will set it up so that the alarms will be disabled when you leave and then reset until you're coming back."

Renji thought carefully. "Knowin' when I'm leavin' is easy, but how can ya know when I'm comin' back?"

"You'll have to stick to a schedule. I'm told we'll be able to keep the alarms down for about ten minutes at a time before risking detection." Kira's shoulders slumped, and he looked a bit uncertain. "I know it's a small window, but it's the best we can do – any more and the risk of getting caught is just too great. We'd lose our connection and then you'd be stuck without—"

Renji cut him off. "No, wait, Kira it's good. It's great, in fact." He began to pace around the room, already mentally rearranging his plans for his next trip. "How much notice do ya need before your guy can do the job?"

"If he's on duty, about a half hour. You'll need to plan your trips around his schedule, I'm afraid."

Renji nodded. "I can do that. Just get me the information, an' we'll work somethin' out first thing tomorr—"

He broke off when someone knocked sharply at the office door. Exchanging a wary look with Kira, Renji strode over and opened the door himself.

Kuchiki Byakuya stood in the doorway. "Ah, there you are. I've been looking for you, Abarai-san."

"You an' everyone else today, it seems." Renji smiled slightly to disguise his sudden anxiety. Did he hear any a' that? How long was he out there? We had an agreement – he wouldn't turn me in, right?

Byakuya nodded politely to Kira before addressing Renji again. "There's something I need to discuss with you, if you have some time this afternoon."

Renji kept his expression steady even though his tension level was rising. "I'm kinda busy right now, but—"

"No, that's ok, I've taken enough of your time. I'll leave you to your meeting. Abarai-kun, Kuchiki-taichou. Please excuse me." Kira bowed politely and slipped past the 6th Division captain on his way out of the office.

"That won't be necessary," Byakuya began, but Kira just bowed again and vanished down the corridor.

Renji sighed. "Please come in." He held the door open, but Byakuya didn't move.

"I would prefer if we could discuss the matter over tea."

"Tea?" Renji repeated. "Ya wanna have tea?"

Byakuya nodded.

"Proper tea, at your place? Right now?"

"In an hour will suffice, if you have work to attend to," Byakuya said graciously.

Well I ain't goin' t' Hueco Mundo tonight, so I might's well. "Sure, an hour'll be fine, thanks Kuchiki-san."

As soon as the noble left, Renji slumped into his chair and had to resist the urge to bang his head on his desk to clear it. It's been a very strange day.

I wonder if I should lock the door before anyone else shows up…

§

Precisely one hour later, Renji presented himself at the Kuchiki mansion. He'd gone to the trouble of cleaning up beforehand – he didn't know if he had the patience to endure another round with the Kuchiki bath servants.

After the tea was poured, they sat quietly in Byakuya's study, occasionally sipping from sleek black cups as they stared out at the garden. Renji didn't know what the Kuchiki wanted to talk about, but years of reading his former captain's body language told him it was something that would be divulged in its own time.

When the noble finally spoke, his voice was steady, but lacked its usual coolness.

"Abarai-san, I wished to speak to you of something very private. It is… not easy, for me, but I think you and I share a common affliction." Byakuya turned his cup around in his hands, his eyes following the patterns of the rising steam.

Renji stared down at his own cup, shifting uncomfortably. Whatever this was, it probably wasn't going to be good. He swallowed a mouthful of tea, hoping the hot liquid would burn away the tightness in his chest.

"I know what it is to lose a spouse," Byakuya said. "Losing someone you love like that isn't quite like losing anyone else."

The black cup made another circuit around the pale hands. Renji moved silently to refill it.

"They kept telling me that I should try to move on." Byakuya's face was unreadable. "It is… unthinkable, for me. It may be that you can." The sad smile that graced the elegant features no longer seemed as out of place as it once did. "But I somehow doubt it."

"No, I don't think…" Renji shook his head. "No disrespect intended, Kuchiki-san, but I think I'd know if he… wasn't comin' back. I can still feel him, so I ain't givin' up."

Byakuya nodded. "I don't expect you would." A small frown creased his forehead. "You're that certain?"

"I am." Renji looked the noble square in the face. "I'd know" he said simply.

Byakuya sipped his tea thoughtfully for a minute. When he spoke again, his voice was light.

"Renji."

"Yes, Taichou?" Renji blinked in surprise as the old response fell automatically from his lips. It had been years since the 6th Division captain had addressed him by his first name, not since Renji had left the 6th to become captain of the 5th. To his astonishment, another small smile spread over the normally stoic features, and Kuchiki Byakuya actually laughed.

Renji chuckled ruefully. "Sorry, just when ya said that… old habits again, ya know?" He didn't quite have the courage to ask, but he gave his former captain a curious look.

"I think it's time we moved on from our previous relationship, seeing as we are peers, now," Byakuya said evenly.

"Uh, what do ya mean, Kuchiki-san?" Renji's overworked brain couldn't possibly be processing that right. Kuchiki Byakuya was either calling him an equal or propositioning him. Since the first seemed unlikely, and the second was downright impossible, Renji was about to embrace the third option – he was clearly losing his mind – when the noble replied.

"My name is Byakuya. I don't believe such strict formality is required between colleagues, do you, Renji?"

Renji was floored. That couldn't possibly be humour in Kuchiki Byakuya's voice, could it? He fumbled for a response. "Uh, yeah, right. Definitely agree."

"More tea, Renji?" Byakuya inquired, arching one thin black eyebrow at him expectantly.

"Yeah sure, thanks Ku… Byakuya."

§

"You will be staying for dinner, of course," Byakuya said as they put down their empty cups some time later.

Renji blinked. "I wasn't plannin' on it. I only just got back, an' I need t' sort some stuff out."

Byakuya shook his head. "Unacceptable. You're not to fall back into your old habits, Renji. Given the circumstances, I think you should collect your things from your office and stay here in one of the guest suites. Temporarily, of course."

Stay here every day?! No way! Renji set his jaw. "I'm sorry, Ku—dammit, Byakuya, but that ain't gonna happen."

"Don't be stupid, Renji!" Rukia appeared in the doorway, arms folded across her chest. "You're staying here and that's all there is to it."

"Rukia, stay outta this!" Renji scowled.

"Your office is no place to live. Since you refuse to return to your own quarters, I offer the hospitality of the Kuchiki household," Byakuya said formally.

Damn them! Refusing the formal invitation would be beyond insulting. They had him pinned. Judging by the smug look on Rukia's face, she'd known this was coming and had deliberately neglected to warn him in time to come up with a reasonable excuse.

Renji bit back a sigh. "I accept your gracious invitation," he said wryly. "However I'm sure my noble hosts will understand that I'll have other obligations that'll keep me away once in a while." Getting that out in as formal a manner as he knew how was a chore, but he'd realized years ago that the way to win against a noble was to use their own rules against them.

Rukia's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You're trying to wriggle out!"

"In that case, I'm sure you'll manage to take a break to join us for evening meals at least," Byakuya informed him.

Renji knew he was being manoeuvred into a corner, but he refused to back down entirely. "I'll stay three nights a week," he offered.

"And you'll take dinner with Rukia and I on every one of those nights," Byakuya countered calmly. "And you will be on time, and properly washed and attired."

Renji considered it. "Deal." He grinned at Rukia's startled expression, but he couldn't really blame her. After all, it wasn't every day you saw the head of the Kuchiki family bargaining like street merchant.

§

Omake

-Chapter 28-

Akuni: While I was writing this chapter, I hit the 100,000th word. Now don't go copying and pasting just yet – I don't always write chronologically, so it won't match up when you try to do a word count. So I'll just tell you that the 100,000th word that I wrote for this story was "love". :)

Ichigo: That's pretty suspicious, don't you think?

Renji: You planned it that way, didn't ya?

Akuni: Oh gee, do ya think?

Music

'Disappear' – Hoobastank