Chapter 38
They were ahead of us. The Arrancar and Aizen. They were always putting us into the defensive.
I lay against the roof tiles and sighed. My whole body ached from the intense fighting earlier today. We had been ambushed and only prevailed by some miracle. They were happening more and more frequently, wearing us down with each confrontation. I wasn't sure how many of these we could take.
My mother had even received a beating, and Kisuke too. We all escaped without sustaining any serious injuries, but the fact that any of the higher-ranking, experienced fighters were having to release their zanpakuto to win was concerning.
Shuffling below caught my attention. Someone was awake.
I sat up and peered over the edge of the roof. Two shadows and hushed whispered. Their presence was being masked somehow. Hanging off the side of the side of the gutter, I quietly lowered myself over the roof and down to the ground.
"Renji?" I exclaimed as soon as I caught sight of his bright red hair, "Rukia? What are you two doing?"
They turned to face me, surprised that I had appeared them without a sound. I glanced over the heavy cloaks they were wearing. Those must be shielding their spiritual pressure from detection. That only meant that they were going somewhere they would have to be hiding a lot.
"You're going to Hueco Mundo?"
They only glanced between one another, as if they were unsure whether to tell me or not. Eventually, Renji stepped towards me. Rukia quietly slipped inside the shop again to give us some privacy.
"We're going to get Orihime," He touched my cheek, "Ichigo is going. He needs our help."
"I understand," I smiled, "I can go and grab my things."
"You stay here. Help your parents—"
"Excuse me?" My brows scrunched together, "What are you talking about, Renji? You're going to need as much help as you can get…unless—does Byakuya know you two are going?"
"Yes, Shizuko. He does. He's the one that gave us permission," He stepped away just as I did, "But you can't go. You need to practice and get prepared for the battle—"
"Don't give me that," I snapped, "I'm not as experienced as you, but I'm damn well good enough. This isn't about my skill level."
He wouldn't glanced away like he normally would, yet another tell that he was lying through his teeth about something. I just didn't know what. He hadn't blinked since we started talking, like he was worried that I would figure him out if he broke eye contact for even a second.
"Tell me," I insisted.
"Byakuya doesn't want you to go," He murmured, "It was a pre-requisite."
I stared at him for a long time. I didn't feel like that was the whole truth, but it was part of it. It was the only truth I would get from him. Though I had a sneaking suspicion that this had something about going with Rukia too.
Again, I felt that pang of doubt. That question popping into my head—was I making the right decision? I wanted Renji but did he want me?
I shook my head. We were in the middle of a war—the last thing that mattered was whether my relationship was intact or meant to be. If he needed to go and I needed to stay, then so be it.
"Be safe then," I stepped up to him and kissed his cheek. He bowed his head towards mine, eyes half-shut as I touched his cheek gently, "Please."
He swallowed hesitantly, "I love you, Shizuko."
He turned away and went into the house before I could say anything. I stood stock-still on the front steps with an open mouth and wide eyes. My heart fluttered but constricted tightly all at once.
Please let nothing happen to him.
Still, as I hopped back onto the roof and returned to watching the moon, I couldn't help but wonder what he was hiding from me. Byakuya had faith in my abilities—he had been the one to take me to the World of the Living to find Ichigo and Rukia. We had sparred plenty of times in the past for him to know that I was strong enough to last in Hueco Mundo. No…there was something more to what he and Renji arranged.
I love you. They were words that shouldn't be taken lightly. No one should say them unless they mean them. As I felt Kisuke's spiritual pressure spark alive, and the feeling of a rip in the Reishi erupted through the air, I couldn't say that I felt the same.
Not if I wasn't the only one he was saying those three words to.
Next on CoS: Shizuko gets transferred; The battle with Aizen begins
