Chapter 3

The next morning dawned bright. I knew because I awoke before Renji. I'd had another nightmare. It was the same one I'd been having for weeks.

I'm running down a long and crudely lit hallway. Behind me are Arrancars chasing me to a dead end. I can see the faces of my brothers as they tell me to run faster. But I never can. The Arrancars trap me in a small semi circle as their leader, Aizen, prepares to wing his sword down on my neck and kill me.

In the next moment I felt Renji kiss the top of my head. "Good morning beautiful."

I rolled over to look at him. During the night, after I had fallen asleep, Renji had taken his shirt off, showing the defined muscles and tattoos that I had learned to admire over the years. I reached out to trace them when he caught my hand. He started to kiss each finger, slowly working his way up my wrist and onto my forearm. When he reached the crook of my elbow, he pulled me on top of him.

"Even though we can't sleep together, doesn't mean I can't kiss you as much as I want when you are here," he said pulling my head down to his.

This kiss had passion but was slower than the three we had enjoyed together last night. His lips tasted of sake as if he had had some last night (which he probably had when I was sleeping.) His tongue explored my mouth slowly, lingering on my lips. He nibbled on them before deepening the kiss and entangling his hands in my hair. He smelled like spring when the cherry blossoms first start to bloom. Eventually he pulled away. He stared me in the eye while I studied the angle his jaw gave his face. It made his face have a small triangular look to it. It was unique.

"Do you know how beautiful you are," Renji asked while removing a hand from my hair and stroking my cheek.

I shook my head. Renji pulled me down so that my chin rested on his shoulder, while his arms encircled me.

"You are more beautiful than the sunrise each morning. You smell like the sweetest fruit. Your lips taste like nothing I have ever tasted before. Your hair shines like the darkest night and when the sun hits it, it shines like gold. Your eyes remind me of the sky at noon. And your smile, oh, your smile. All I have to do each day is think of your smile and I can make it through. In all essence you are too beautiful for your own good," Renji said into my ear.

Tears started to roll down my cheeks and fall onto the futon beneath us. My body shook as I tried to stop crying.

"There is no need to cry, my love, for all I said is true," he whispered holding me tighter.

There was a rumbling beneath me. It took me a moment to realize that it was Renji's stomach. I started to laugh. Soon Renji joined in with me.

"How about I go get breakfast ready while you go get freshened up," he asked standing up with me in his arms and then setting me on my feet. "Then I'll escort you back to the palace, okay?"

"Sure Renji. Just promise me you'll stay safe when you go back to the World of the Living. I don't think I can stand to lose another person I love," I replied glancing down to the floor.

"I won't die out there Arina. I'm a lieutenant, remember?"

"I know. But still…"

"No buts," he replied tersely using a finger to lift my chin up. "I will come back I promise. I'm strong. Strong enough that those Arrancars won't want to mess with me."1

I smiled Renji was as brave and brash as ever.

"Now go freshen up and change or that maid of yours will have my head," he said pushing me toward the door.

"Yes sir lieutenant," I replied jokingly heading out the door and across the hall to the guest bedroom.

Two hours later, Renji and I headed out the door to return to the palace. I led the way with Renji following a few respectful feet behind, Zabimaru at his side.

Renji had been told by his captain, Bakuya Kuchiki, than when escorting a royal family member to stand behind them to keep an eye out for danger. Renji had done this ever since. It took me a while to get used to it since, before my third brother died, HE was the one that would visit me at the palace.

We got stopped a few times on the way by nobles out for an early morning stroll. Other than that, the journey home was quite peaceful.

When we reached the palace, Renji joined my side as two guards fell into step behind us.

"I'll stay in the Soul Society for two more days before I have to go back. After that, it'll be about two weeks before I return. I'll be back before you know it," Renji whispered to me as we ascended the stairs to the palace entrance.

"I know Renji. Don't worry about me. I can handle myself. I wield three Zanpakutō remember?" (I promise I'll explain later!)

"True but just because you have three swords, doesn't mean you can protect yourself," he said quickly as we entered my fathers reception hall.

Renji knelt, showing my father respect, while I continued on towards my father. He was a tall man with dark hair and the softest brown eyes. I gave him a hug and had a small conversation with him before waving goodbye to Renji.

My brothers funeral would be the next day at noon. Afterwards I would be named the direct heir to the throne.

I returned to my chambers to take a shower and to prepare for my Zanpakutō training.

(Sorry! I'm not going to tell you about her swords yet. It comes later. I Promise!)

When I was returning to my room after training, my father caught me in the garden.

"Arina, my child. How was your training," he said joining me.

"Quite well, thank you. How was your night," I asked tentatively.

"It was peaceful. And yours?"

"The same."

We continued on in silence for a while, until my father spoke again.

"I've been considering pushing the wedding to two weeks after your sixteenth birthday. I asked Abarai-san what he thought of the idea. He told me that it is up to me when the wedding is. What do you think Arina," he stated matter of factly.

I was a little shocked. My father had talked to Renji about the date of the wedding. I was even more shocked that my father was considering moving the wedding up two years. My sixteenth birthday was in two and a half months.

"With your brothers dead, I figured it would be best to have you as safe as possible. Not only would you be safe but you could also stop training with your Zanpakutō."

By now we were at my room, and I decided not to question my father further. I bade him good bye and stayed in my room for the rest of the day.

1 This is before Renji achieves Bankai.