Chapter 3: Meeting Renji's Family

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The school day dragged by, but it was over soon enough. Renji had asked if I wanted to go to his house to do our homework together, and I had agreed. We chatted casually while we walked to his house… and when we got there I realized that he lived behind Urahara's Candy Shop and Catering Company. Apparently, Mr. Urahara was his guardian. And Renji had two younger siblings… Jinta and Ururu. He called out their names so that I would know who they were as he led me to his room.

"Oooh! Renji brought a girlfriend home!" Jinta teased him, making funny faces.

I blushed. Girlfriend?

Then Mr. Urahara popped up outta nowhere, right into my face. "Oh, my. There really is a girl here. You sure are a pretty one." He grinned at me as he shook my hand.

"Um, my name is Junamai Ukitake… it's nice to meet you, Mr. Urahara." I managed not to stutter.

"Well, hello, Miss Ukitake." He pressed his lips to my hand before flipping a fan out and covering his face.

"Jeez, Kisuke… lay off, will ya?" Renji grabbed my wrist and pulled me away from him. "Why don't you go see if Tessai needs help in the shop?"

Mr. Urahara sighed dejectedly. "I suppose I should…" And then he sent a mischievous wink in our direction. "Behave, you two."

Renji grumbled under his breath, pulling me into his room while Jinta made kissing noises behind us. Ururu just giggled. And I would have found it funny if I hadn't been an object of the teasing. When Jinta stood in the doorway singing "Renji and Juna sitting in a tree…" Renji was sure to slam the door in his face. And then we sat together on his bed, pulling out our books.

"Sorry about that." He grumbled as he situated himself beside me.

I giggled. "It's no problem. Your family is really cute."

"Tch." He rolled his eyes. "So do you have any siblings?"

I shook my head. "Nope. I'm an only child."

"So where'd you move here from?" He questioned casually.

I had been dreading this question… and I was lucky that no one had asked me, yet. I looked down at my book. "I came here from France."

His eyes widened as he looked at me. "Really? You moved here all the way from France?"

I bit my lip. "Yeah…" I mumbled.

"That's so cool." He leaned forward, getting closer to me. "So why did you decide to move?"

I was really uncomfortable with the subject, but I tried not to let him notice. "I came to Japan to live with my uncle."

"Oh, so you're parents are still in France?"

I hid the pained frown that tried to make its way onto my face. I guessed that you could say that… and that they'd never be leaving… "Yeah." I went ahead and went with it, just because it was easier than explaining everything.

He nodded, finally picking up on my mood. "How about we start on our homework?"

I smiled at him. "Sure."

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We spent a few hours doing our homework before Mr. Urahara came into the room, bringing tea and various fruits. He tried to stay, but Renji kicked him back out. I thought it was adorable how they bantered back and forth. After he was gone, Renji brought over the tray of snacks and set them on the bedside table. He reached over me and grabbed a slice of red apple. I started eating some orange slices before I giggled up at him.

He raised a brow at me. "What?"

I grinned, pulling on his ponytail. "That apple is the same color as your hair."

He pulled a strand of my hair in response. "Yeah, well at least my hair doesn't look like cotton candy."

"You're just jealous 'cause cotton candy is sweet… like me." I stuck my tongue out at him.

A devilish smirk formed on his face. And then he started tickling me.

"Renji!" I squealed, trying to squirm away.

He laughed as he moved so that he could hold me down, still tickling me.

I was laughing so hard that there were tears in my eyes. I grabbed at his hands, trying to pry them away from my ribs, but he was much stronger than I was and I was weak from laughter. "Renji! Knock it off!" It was hard to speak through my laughs. I squirmed so much that we somehow ended up falling off of the bed. I landed on the floor with him on top of me. I looked up at him in a daze, trying to catch my breath.

"Whoa…" He breathed, looking around. "Are you alright?"

I giggled at the look on his face. "Yeah, I think so…"

And then I realized the position that we were in. His legs were tangled with mine and his body was pressed up against me, pinning me down… and his face… his face was so close to mine that I could feel his breath brushing over my skin. He seemed to notice our position as well, because he started blushing. But, instead of pulling away, he leaned even closer in…

"R-Renji?" I whispered his name, my heart quickening in my chest.

And then the door burst open and Jinta walked in. "Whoa-ho-ho!" He yelled out, eyes gaping as he looked at us. "I was gonna come see if Juna was bored with you, yet… but I guess not!" He grinned, resting his arms behind his head.

Ururu came running in behind him. "Jinta, Kisuke said that you're not supposed to-" But she stopped midsentence when she rounded the corner and saw Renji and me sprawled out on the floor together.

I thought I would pass out from embarrassment. Renji jumped up and threw a pillow at the two of them. "Get the hell out of here!" He yelled at them.

They both scurried away, laughing as they went. Ururu gave us a smile as she shut the door behind them. I sat up, trying to catch my breath and steady my heartbeat. Renji held out his hand and I took it gratefully, standing to my feet.

He scratched the back of his head. "I, uh… I'm sorry about my little brother. He can be pretty annoying."

I smiled at him. "It's fine. He's actually kinda cute…"

"Ha!" A laugh sounded from outside the door. "She thinks I'm cute!"

"Dammit, Jinta! Quit eavesdropping!" Renji shouted at the door.

"You're just jealous 'cause she's likes me more than your big ugly face!" Jinta's voice sounded again.

Renji stomped over to the door, opened it, grabbed Jinta by the collar, and then threw him down the hall. "Shut the hell up!" He yelled.

But Jinta was still laughing, even as he was sent flying away.

I stifled a laugh. While Renji was huffing in the hall, I decided to start packing up my things. He turned around to see me and tilted his head.

"What are you doing?" He asked, coming closer.

"It's getting late, and I should go home before dinner." I answered as I gathered my books.

"Well, I'll walk you home." He smiled.

As we walked home, Renji's hand kept brushing against mine. I wondered if he was doing it on purpose, but I quickly pushed the thought aside. Why would he want to hold my hand? And I kept thinking back to the way he had looked at me when we had toppled over onto the floor together… and how he had leaned in really close… it was like he was trying to kiss me… but that couldn't be possible… could it?

"Juna!" Uncle Shunsui's voice called out, and I panicked. "Juna, my sweet!"

I looked up to see him sitting on his porch, drinking sake, of course. "Hey, uncle!" I waved, grabbing Renji's arm and pulling him hurriedly down the sidewalk, past Uncle Shunsui's house and towards Uncle Juushiro's.

"That's your uncle?" Renji whispered, letting me lead him away.

"Sort of." I mumbled, quickly opening my front door and rushing inside.

"Oh, Juna! You're home!" Uncle Juushiro came to the door when he heard it opening. He was already smiling, but he smiled wider when he saw Renji. "And you have company…"

"Uncle Juushiro, this is Renji." I stepped aside so that I could introduce them. "Renji, this is my Uncle Juushiro."

They greeted each other properly, and then my uncle actually invited Renji to stay for dinner. Naturally, he agreed. Just as we were sitting down at the table, Uncle Shunsui swept into the room.

"So, Juna! You have been flirting with boys!" He teased me as he sat down, making himself a plate.

I started blushing, glaring at my obnoxious uncle. "Renji is my friend from school."

"Uh-huh…" Uncle Shunsui gave me a playful wink.

I glared at him.

Uncle Juushiro cleared his throat. "Renji, this is my best friend and business partner, Shunsui Kyoraku."

Renji tensed beside me. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Kyoraku."

"Yeah, same to you, kid." Uncle Shunsui grinned across the table at Renji, making him shift uncomfortably.

Uncle Juushiro was nice enough to change the subject, asking about how school was and such… Renji went on and on about how amazing my uncle's cooking was… because, of course, it was. And even after we were full from dinner, we somehow managed to make room for dessert, because my uncle was that skilled of a cook. My uncle was even awesome enough to pack Renji some leftovers to take home, since he had practically begged for them.

I walked Renji to the door, laughing at his antics. "It was fun hanging out with you, Renji."

He smiled down at me. "Yeah, we should do it more often."

I bit my lip, feeling my heart flutter in my chest. "I'll see you at school tomorrow…"

He gave me another grin as he walked away. "See ya then!"

I shut the door and turned around to see Uncle Shunsui.

"So, did ya get a good night kiss?" He grinned as he teased me.

I could feel the blush in my cheeks. "No! He's just a friend!"

He laughed as he ruffled my hair. "Yeah, whatever…"

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After I showered, brushed my hair, and changed for bed… I chanced walking out onto my balcony. I glanced across to the neighboring house, but the balcony that faced mine was empty, and there weren't any lights on… I had gotten myself so worked up, that I was almost disappointed when I didn't see the strange figure… but I could swear that I still felt like someone was watching me… though, I figured it was all in my head. Then I heard my phone going off in my room… With a sigh, I walked back into my room, closing the balcony doors behind me.

I grabbed my phone before lying down on my bed. I checked my notifications to see a text from Renji.

FROM RENJI: Jinta is asking about you. I think he has a crush.

I giggled as I text him back.

TO RENJI: Tell him I said hello! And give him a kiss for me ;)

He replied back nearly immediately.

FROM RENJI: Ew. If you wanna kiss him you'll have to do it yourself.

A few seconds later, before I could reply, he sent another message.

FROM RENJI: And I wouldn't recommend it.

I laughed.

TO RENJI: But he's so cute! He's got all of that fluffy red hair… and he's just adorable!

FROM RENJI: Well I've got red hair. Don't you think that I'm adorable?

My stomach flipped. What was I supposed to say to that? I wondered what I thought about Renji… I didn't think that he was adorable… but I definitely thought that he was attractive… should I tell him that?

TO RENJI: Well… I think that you're more than adorable…

Butterflies were fluttering in my stomach as I sent the text message. And they started swarming as my phone beeped to let me know that he had replied.

FROM RENJI: Oh? Well I think that you're more than adorable, too :)

I bit my lip, feeling my heart speed up. Jeez… if only I knew exactly what he meant… This is what I get for being vague!

TO RENJI: It's the pink hair, isn't it?

FROM RENJI: Hmm… that's one of many reasons ;)

Okay… now my heart was beating on overdrive. I could feel it racing in my chest. I was dying to know what else he liked about me…

TO RENJI: Maybe I have other reasons, too… and… maybe I'll tell you one, if you tell me one of yours…

His reply was nearly instant.

FROM RENJI: Deal.

I was way more nervous than I probably should have been.

TO RENJI: It was my idea, so you have to go first :P

FROM RENJI: Fine.

And then my phone started ringing. I nearly threw the damn thing as I jumped up, seeing Renji's name flashing across the screen. I took a deep breath, mustering my courage, and pressed the answer button.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Pink."

I let out a giggle, but it sounded nervous. "Hey, Red."

He chuckled. "So… one of the reasons that I think you're, well, more than adorable is… the way you blush… at like, everything."

I was chewing on my lip like crazy. He liked the way that I blushed? Really? And now it was my turn to give him a reason. "I, umm… I really like the way you smirk when you're up to something."

He snorted indignantly. "Up to something? What are you talking about? I'm a saint!"

I laughed. The idea of Renji as a saint was just preposterous. "As if! You tickled me for no reason!"

"Well that was fun. And it made you laugh! And you got all squirmy… and it was freaking cute!"

My stomach was flipping as I remembered it… and now he was saying that it was cute! OMG! "So you tortured me because you thought it was cute?"

"Don't pretend that you didn't like it." His voice had gotten lower, and there was an almost sultry sound to it now.

I wanted to scream into my pillow. Was he serious right now? OMG! OMG! Then I realized something… I could hear the smirk in his voice. "You're smirking right now, aren't you?"

He was silent for a moment, and then he chuckled again. "Yeah, and I bet that you're blushing… aren't you?"

I looked across my room at the mirror and gasped. There was a dusting of pink across my cheeks.

"Ha! I knew it!" Renji laughed when he heard my gasp, not even having to wait for an actual answer.

I pouted, even though he couldn't see me. "You're such a punk, sometimes…"

He stopped laughing immediately. "Aw, I am not. I told you… I think it's cute when you blush. In fact, I wish I could see it right now…"

"Well you'll just have to wait until tomorrow. Since I'm sure that you'll be teasing me then, too."

"Aw, come on, Juna… I'm not teasing you…." He was practically whining.

I couldn't help but laugh. Could he really think that I was cute? "I'll see you at school tomorrow, Renji."

He huffed. "Alright."

"Goodnight! And have sweet dreams." I smiled as I spoke, way too giddy for this time of night… and wow, it had gotten really late.

"Yeah. Goodnight, Juna." There was a smile in his voice, as well.