Damn won't let me break into paraghrapsh as I need to...Hope it will show. If it doesn't, I'm really sorry...

X: BLACK HANDS

Author's note: (for those who have trouble remembering Bleach's names – like me… please tell me I'm not the only idiot…) Ajucas – second kind of Menos.

Three months ago

The entire world was immersed in pain.

The simple act of breathing sent thousands of needles piercing her whole body as frustration and anger wrecked her soul.

Little by little, she felt herself being pulled toward the calming embrace of darkness.

But she could still hear the sounds of the ongoing fight.

She gritted her teeth, willing the warm darkness away and forcing herself to concentrate on the cold, damp ground she was lying on.

The battle still continued just over the edge of her consciousness. Therefore, she had to cross that border.

No one would ever say that Arisawa Tatsuki had run away from a battle.

'Even if that's exactly what that big buffoon would tell me to do!'

The thoughts of him - 'that arrogant, stupid, obnoxious, insufferable…' and so on – was the last spur she needed to come back from that shady land.

The sounds were now clearer and louder – unfortunately, her wounds were more painful as well.

Tatsuki cracked her eyes open: Renji was still fighting that cursed Menos-thing.

Wait.

Let's rephrase it: Renji was defending himself from that cursed Menos-thing.

She had been told quite clearly that she stood no chance against them – those beings would have given a Captain a hard time.

But Tatsuki couldn't just run away and leave someone behind.

She took a deep breath and started pushing herself up, ignoring her muscles' vibrant protests.

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Keep your eyes on your opponent.

That was the first lesson in swordsmanship – and one that was never to be forgotten.

If you actually did, it would be your last mistake.

Renji hadn't forgotten it.

The red-haired Shinigami kept his eyes firmly focused on the Ajucas in front of him.

But he didn't need to look away. He could distinctively feel her presence, like a prickle on the back of his neck.

He couldn't give up. Not only his own, her life was at stake as well.

He couldn't fail her.

'If only I could hold him off long enough…' Renji thought as he barely avoided the Menos' blow.

But, before reinforcements could come, Zabimaru was suddenly hurled out of his grasp and sent flying toward the other end of the school yard.

He cursed inwardly as the Ajucas smirked and let out a sound that could have been a twisted laugh.

The Shinigami didn't avert his gaze from his opponent. Instead, Renji clenched his fits and, after drinking in the tingling sensation he still felt, charged at his enemy.

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Several feet away, Tatsuki watched, stunned

No one in their right mind would attack a Menos without a weapon. But Abarai Renji had just done that.

The short-haired girl's mind was racing, trying to find a way out of their current predicament.

She couldn't charge at the Ajucas like a certain red-haired idiot had – she needed to find a plan, possibly one that would work.

Her eyes hardened.

'The tables can still be turned at our vantage…'

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Renji knew it was useless. He knew he was going to die.

But he also knew that if he went down, she'd be the next.

'Just a few minutes more…' he thought as he kept on fighting desperately, hoping that it would be enough for her.

But he couldn't hope to keep the Ajucas off for long.

His back slammed against the wall and a strong hand gripped his throat. With a cruel grin, the Menos raised his sword and slowly but deeply cut his chest, drawing blood.

The red-head's eyes widened: his death wouldn't be quick, nor painless.

Oddly enough, the only thing he could think was, 'Great. Just great.'

But, as he lifted his sword to cut him again, the Ajucas yelped and dropped him while the blade of a Soul Cutter protruded from his chest.

The Menos turned around and swept the human girl away, sending her crashing a few feet away. He frowned, then took a step toward her.

It was the last thing he did, for Zabimaru was wrenched – quite roughly, too – away from his chest.

Tatsuki raised her head in time to see Renji's smug grin.

"Don't worry, honey…" Zabimaru's blade sang through the air. "… I'm taking over from here."

The Ajucas started crumpling, but disappeared before it could touch the ground, efficiently beheaded.

Tatsuki smiled inwardly, but on the outside she rolled her eyes. "That was about time!"

Renji gingerly helped her up, then, leaning on each other, the two reached the stairs and sat down on a step.

"How did you do it?"

Tatsuki tilted her head. "What?"

"How could you use Zabimaru? A Soul Cutter can be wielded only by its owner."

The girl shook her shoulders. "No idea."

Renji knitted his brows and studied her for a few seconds. Then, he spoke again. "Show me your hands."

By the stiffening of her shoulders, he realized he had caught her.

Unwillingly, she showed him her left hand. It was perfect, only a bit calloused.

"Now the other one…" his gaze left no room for arguments.

Tatsuki's right hand was another matter entirely: the palm was blackened and bloodied, her flesh looked as if it had been burned.

Renji hissed out a breath – it must hurt like hell.

He gently took her hand between his own larger ones. "How were you going to explain this to your parents?"

The girl shrugged. "I would have come up with something."

"If you say so… Do you think that the Kurosaki Clinic will be still open?"

"What!" Tatsuki cried out. "I don't need a doctor! I'll bandage it as soon as I get home and no one will notice." She tried to pull her hand away, but Renji would have none of it.

"Annoying human!" he muttered. "I guess I'll have to fix it myself, then…"

He took a deep breath and started concentrating his spiritual powers into his hands.

"Wha…"

"Shut up. Don't distract me." he replied without opening his eyes.

Demon Arts weren't exactly his strong point – back at the Academy, he had been his teacher's desperation. But this time, he was going to do it right.

He knew he was.

He felt the energy flowing to the small hand he held.

When the spell was over – and when he found the courage to open his eyes – there wasn't even a scratch left on her skin.

He allowed her to pull her hand back, albeit somewhat reluctantly.

"How do you feel? Can you move your fingers?" he said without looking at her.

She flexed them experimentally. "It's okay. It prickles a little, but it's already going away."

"Good." he nodded curtly. "If your hand hurts or feels numb, go and ask Rukia to have a look at it. She's very good at Demon Arts." He added, confessing between the lines that Rukia was better than him.

Tatsuki looked at her hand. "It won't be necessary."

Renji stole a glance at her, surprised by the firmness and the trust in her voice.

But her next words would surprise him even more.

"Thank you."

Renji was seriously temped to check her temperature.

"No."

Tatsuki turned to look at him quizzically.

"Thanks to you."

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