Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. End.

I posted this a while ago on my LJ, but since I have an account on FanFiction. net now, I just thought I'd post it here anyway...

The title doesn't have much to do with the story. Feel free to ignore it.


A Blinding Hope

"Another 14 days till your execution..."

Abarai Renji, vice captain of the 6th Division, led Kuchiki Rukia away. As they walked, he couldn't help but wonder how long it had been...how long it had been since her face showed any signs of life.

"Can you see it Rukia? From that window? The Dual Terminus, the device that will be used to execute you."

No reaction. None whatsoever. She didn't even flinch. Even after showing her something that would have made other prisoners insane, her expression remained stoic. She stared forward, her eyes fixed at no particular point on the wall. It was as if she saw a big picture, something no one else could see.

It pained Renji to see her like this. Where was the old Rukia? The one who wouldn't have hesitated to tease him again and again and again. Where was she?

They had been, after all, childhood friends and he cared, in his own way even though he seldom showed it. It wouldn't do to get teased by his fellow shinigamis; Rukia's teasings were enough. They had been enough 1. Suddenly, a thought came unbidden into his mind. Idly, he wondered if it would work...if it could bring life back into her eyes.

Should he tell her about the intruders? Specifically, Kurosaki Ichigo? Someone he suspected she had feelings for, be it companionship, friendship or maybe even love?

There wasn't much time left so he decided to go ahead with it, even though a part of him didn't want this to work. If it worked then this Kurosaki fellow meant something to her. It would mean that he meant enough to her for her to be "alive" once more. Jealousy could rear its ugly head at such awful times.

As the guards accompanying him turned to leave, he strode forward and placed a hand on her shoulder. After making sure the others wouldn't be able to hear their little conversation, he told her. He told her that there were five intruders, and then he paused to search for the right words. Taking a deep breath, he continued...

"There was one among them who carried a sword as tall as a man..."

Her eyes widened.

"A shinigami with orange hair."

With that, she turned to him, her eyes no longer void of emotion, but filled with life...and hope. Renji stared hard.

Abruptly, he turned and walked away. The doors locked behind him, and the sound of his footsteps faded away until silence reigned once more.


(1) I know nothing about the childhood of Renji and Rukia. I've only read a few sentences concerning their childhood relationship...