I'm back, finally! Sorry for the huge delay, but between the schooltrip, tests - yes, we already have tests. Isn't this cruel? - and site problems, I couldn't update sooner. Please forgive me.

Here's the new chapter - the next one comes on sunday as usual.

Thank you for your patience.

XV: ALL OR NOTHING

One month, three weeks and four days ago…

Down on the tatami, the two girls bowed and stepped back, returning to their teams.

On the stands, six friends gaped silently. They couldn't believe their eyes.

Orihime cleared her throat. "Well, that was… unusual."

Ichigo snorted. "And that's still an understatement."

"Oh, come on, it wasn't so bad…" Rukia said as she faked cheerfulness – and elbowed Ichigo between his ribs.

Sado didn't say anything, but Ishida spoke up as he pushed his glasses up. "It was certainly an unpredictable match."

"Oh, yes, unpredictable for sure…"

"I held my breath for the whole time."

"It's been a long time since I saw something like that."

"Same with me."

Renji snorted, crossing his arms over his chest. "It was pitiful."

Five pair of eyes – including Sado's – turned to glare at him.

"What? I only said the truth." the red-head rolled his eyes. "Don't look at me like that, I know you're thinking exactly the same thing."

"That's not true!" Rukia protested, blushing – and indirectly confirming his words. "Tatsuki-chan was probably…"

"You don't need to find an excuse for her, Rukia," he said dryly as he turned toward the tatami, his brows knitted. "It doesn't change the fact that she was terrible."

He ignored the glares aimed at him, concentrating on the general direction of their school's team.

He didn't even glance at the following matches, being too lost in his own thoughts.

Then, suddenly, he got up and walked away.

"Where are you going?" Rukia shouted after him.

"Bathroom!" he replied without even turning around.

But that wasn't his real destination.

"Arisawa-senpai." said a green-belt girl as she timidly approached the disheartened student. "Your friend is waiting for you in the corridor."

Tatsuki raised an eyebrow, then stood up and walked toward the gym door.

"Don't forget you're up in fifteen minutes." another girl shouted.

Tatsuki nodded as she stepped into the hall – and almost immediately stopped dead in her tracks. She had expected to find Orihime – definitely not Abarai Renji.

"What are you doing here?"

"The question is," Abarai said, pushing himself away from the wall. "What are you doing?"

Tatsuki frowned. "What?"

"Oh, don't play dumb with me, Arisawa."

She glared, crossing her arms over her chest.

Renji felt a thousand words raising to his lips. He wanted to tell her that he knew that it wasn't her real strength, that she could do better than that. He wanted to hug her close and tell her that she couldn't stay forever stuck in that dark void of pain. That losing wouldn't bring Raito back.

But he couldn't.

None of that would work with her.

There was only a way to drive away her darkness – and he was the only one who could ignite that sparkle again.

'Because I'm the only one she despises to such extent…' Renji thought, smiling bitterly to himself.

So, the red-headed Shinigami took a deep breath – and started.

"I can't believe I lost to a weakling like you. Thankfully, no Captain is around, or I'd be demoted on the spot. You're such a pathetic excuse for a fighter."

Tatsuki's eyes widened – she hadn't expected that. Then, her surprised look turned into a glare. "Be careful, Abarai…"

He cut her off. "Come on, don't make me laugh! It's a wonder that you survived against that Ajucas – a mere low-class Hollow would have been enough to kill you." he sighed. "But, after all, you never fought them on your own. There was always somebody there to save you."

"Last time I checked, I saved your sorry hide from that Ajucas!"

"I'm glad I won't have to put my life into your hands again." he sneered. "You're out, Arisawa."

"What?"

"You are obviously unsuited for battle – too emotional." he shrugged. "You'd only get yourself killed."

Tatsuki's fists clenched by her sides and her gaze hardened.

"It's for the best, obviously. If you can't even win a lousy tournament like this, then you ha…" the rest of the sentence was cut short by a fist connecting with his jaw.

"Go to Hell, Abarai!" she shouted. "Who do you think you are? I won't allow you to leave me behind! I am more than capable of fighting my battles on my own!"

A tiny green belt peeked from behind the door. "Er… am I interrupting something?" she coughed. "Arisawa-senpai, you're up in a couple of minutes."

Tatsuki nodded and turned, walking back in without sparing a single glance at him.

Renji left as well, but, instead on joining the others, he stopped at the first row of the stands.

Tatsuki bowed, then stepped on the tatami. As she walked toward the area where she was supposed to fight, she turned around, her eyes scanning the stands until they found a bright stain of red – his hair.

Tatsuki looked straight at him. 'Watch me, Renji. Just watch me.'

She turned to bow at the arbiter, missing the smirk that curved his lips.

Her fire was back. The flame had been rekindled.

After all, what was an aching jaw compared to that?

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Again, I'm sorry for the delay