Yes, you read it right: this is Pieces. You know that ShuuheiRenji fic I started last year about this time? Yeah that one. x) Sorry it's been so long since I last posted everyone, this story just got away from me for a while. But thanks to people writing me encouraging notes, writing me inspirational fics, or just plain encouraging me, I've got it back, and have only one chapter left after this, and I'm already half way done with it. Kubo Tite helped a little as well with his finally deciding to show Shuuhei's shikai. Lol. Anyway, hope you all enjoy this. Love you guys, and thank you for reading. xD

Chapter 21

Rukia stood frozen as she watched the scene play out before her, like a horrible movie she couldn't pause or turn off. She couldn't even look away. She was paralyzed in the few seconds that Renji attacked the hollow and was knocked aside, out of her line of vision. She watched as Ichigo and Kira were thrown across the courtyard and Kira was whisked away by Nova and the help of Jinta. She had never been a coward, but it would not be wrong to say that her fear had taken hold of her body; rooted her to the spot and rendered her useless. Watching the powerful Hisagi fall under the stress of having so much spiritual energy sapped from him made her skin crawl. What the hell was she supposed to do when the best fighters in all of Soul Society were being tossed aside like training dummies?

Nova then appeared by her side.

"Are you alright, Kuchiki-san?" He grabbed her arm, snapping her out of whatever trance she had been in. "Do you need medical attention?"

Rukia looked at him and fought against words that were thick on her tongue.

"I'm… I'm all right… I just need-"

"Damnit, Ichigo!" She heard Renji roar.

She turned in time to see Ichigo ignoring Renji's warning to get away and charging at the hollow. The kid never listened. Rukia could see the bloody outcome of this reckless move and screamed to the mod soul.

"Nova! Get him away!"

In the blink of an eye, the mod soul was there with his arms around Ichigo. The two blinked out, and the hollow twisted in his advance and lunged at Renji.

""Rukia!" Renji cried, as Zabimaru's blade came in contact with the hollow's hands. "Help Shuuhei!"

Rukia felt her feet move in response to Renji's command. Renji's voice had kick-started her body once again. Her soldier instincts took over and she flashed through the courtyard well out of range of the two battling by the fountain. Hisagi was on his knees, doubled over in the rush of cold water from the fountain's main pipe. He shook violently, and Rukia saw he was bleeding, but there were no visible wounds.

"Hisagi-san?" She fell to her knees beside the vice Captain. "Hisagi-san, where are you hurt?"

"Ah… my back… can't reach…" Hisagi hissed through his teeth.

Rukia ran a hand over his lower back and found the tip of a spirit arrow protruding from his skin. Her heart started to hammer in her chest and she turned to face him directly.

"Hisagi-san! You've been pierced with one of the Archer's spirit arrows! We have to get you to Inoue and Tessai!"

Hisagi grabbed her wrist and shook his head. He looked up at her through a haze of pain and choked on his words as blood ran from the side of his mouth.

"No. I will not leave Renji. There's not enough time anyway."

"But if you-"

"You have small fingers," he growled, "Pull it out."

There was something strange about the shinigami before her. His reiatsu had changed. Having a spirit arrow through him should have depleted his energy by now, but instead, his power surged around him in an angry haze. It crackled and snapped at her skin and hummed by her ears like a swarm of bees.

Rukia knew there was no stopping him. She nodded and tore the top of his uniform off, leaving his bloody torso bare. The tall man rested his hands on the ground under the flow of water and readied himself as she prodded the wound to get a grip on the bolt. He hissed as her fingernails tore at his flesh to find the tip of the hot metal. When her fingers finally found purchase, her spiritual energy immediately began to drain.

"I got it," she said as she braced herself. "Now steady."

His scream echoed through the courtyard as she wrenched the arrow free from his flesh. He threw his head back and wailed like some wild animal. For a moment, Rukia was positive as she threw the bolt aside, that he was going to turn around and tear her apart. But then his power leveled out, and his breathing returned to normal.

"Rukia!" Renji roared from across the courtyard. "Rukia! Is he okay!?"

"Yes!" She answered. "I think so!"

Hisagi turned to try and see Renji. Rukia took his Zanpakuto from the ground and placed them in his trembling hands.

"What's happening? Is Renji all right? How long was I like that?"

Rukia didn't know how to answer him. Instead, she looked across the courtyard at the red head. He had one hand raised with Zabimaru pointed down at the hollow's throat, but the Zanpakuto's blade was being blocked by the hollow's steel-like hands. The shinigami's other hand was clawing at his neck. The hollow had him in a choke hold and held him almost a foot off the ground.

"RENJI!!" Hisagi roared in a voice that was not even close to human. Rukia was startled, but rose to her feet. Together, with her fellow vice Captain, they launched themselves at the hollow leader.

A wave of power lashed out at them, and Rukia felt her ribs crack from the force of it. She landed on her back, a few feet from Hisagi. The two shinigami pulled themselves up painfully, and watched in horror as the hollow ripped Zabimaru from Renji's fingers. The red head couldn't cry out as his airway was crushed. His hands fell limp at his sides, and the hollow leader dropped him at his feet.

"NO!" Hisagi screamed.

Rukia had never felt such rage laced into one single word. Hisagi's power pulsed out, cracking the cement and cobblestones beneath her. His cry tore through the air like a wild beast. The hollow turned to face them and Hisagi was on his feet, his dual double scythes held out and his body crouched in a stance that was too savage to be a learned technique in the academy.

The reiatsu swirling around her was causing Rukia's head to spin. The last thing she saw before darkness engulfed her was Hisagi, surrounded by a dark presence; a large silver and black beast with glowing red eyes and a terrifying killing intent.

X x X x X

Matsumoto was almost always aware of her Captain's reiatsu. She knew when he was sleeping, when he was enjoying a nice cup of coffee in his office, when he was training, and when he was meditating alone on the rooftops of their division. There were two different times when Hitsugaya Toshiro was easy and interesting to listen in on. One was whenever he was in close proximity to Kurosaki Ichigo. The small Captain's tightly reined emotions would slip from his grasp, and Matsumoto would glimpse the Toshiro that was hidden from everything and everyone in Serietei. The substitute shinigami rubbed off on Hitsugaya more than the young captain would ever admit out loud. The second was whenever Hitsugaya was angry. He had a surprisingly short temper and the power and energy used to control it, no doubt, could power Twelfth Division for several weeks. She would smile to herself as she pictured him clenching his jaw and giggled a little at the thought of one of those slender white eyebrows twitching uncontrollably. He was so cute when he was angry. It really was too bad he was so short and looked like he was... well, twelve.

There were times, of course, when Hitsugaya's energy was not easy and interesting to listen in on. One of them was when he was lonely. His emptiness and despair wrapped around her heart like razor wire and pulled until she felt she would tear apart. Another was when he felt out of place, which actually happened quite often. Despite how he came off to everyone else-- the stoic boy genius that ripped through Academy like it was grammar school, completely in control and supremely confident-- Matsumoto knew that sometimes, deep down, he was just a normal young man, longing for companionship but unsure how to get it.

But out of all the times, all the emotions than ran through the complicated head of the Division Ten Captain, the one that Matsumoto hated the most, was when the Hitsugaya was afraid.

When Hitsugaya was afraid, it was no trivial thing. Matsumoto had felt that horrid sting of reiatsu only a few times since meeting the small, white-haired man because there wasn't much that could shake him. When Hinamori-chan from Fifth division had been injured during Aizen's betrayal and consequently lost her grip on reality, Hitsugaya's energy had turned black as death. When his friend from the academy had returned from the Hollow World and attacked Soul Society, Hitsugaya's reiatsu had taken on the same sickening color before disappearing along with him. For the last few years, Matsumoto had harbored an unrealistic hope that she would never again have to feel the dark touch of Hitsugaya's fear.

But now, as she fought the huge hollow around the courtyard, Matsumoto Rangiku felt her hopes dashed to pieces as her captain's energy faltered and shifted into that despairing darkness. Cold dread filled her and she turned her gaze to the roof of the apartment complex. Whatever was happening up there was more than her captain could handle, and that was more than terrifying.

Dispatching one last hollow in her path, Matsumoto flash-stepped to the apartment building and used her momentum to launch herself to the roof. She landed, taking a steadying step, and tried to take in the chaos that was playing out in front of her.

Urahara was clashing blades-- no, clashing blade with bow?-- against a figure she first took as Ishida. But then she spotted the Quincy about fifty feet away, shaking violently, leaning against the railing, but still training on the archer as best he could. Chad was circling Urahara and his opponent, preparing to tackle the creature, but a blade or the sharp end of a bow kept coming within centimeters of his flesh. He stayed his distance, but continued to look for an opening.

Where was her captain?

Matsumoto!

There he was! She would know that furious and desperate call anywhere! She felt rather than heard her name called and she whirled around to find her small captain leaning against broken pieces of the building's outer roof wall. The railing above him was broken, a section missing and the remaining metal bars bent and twisted.

"Taichou!" Matsumoto called and flashed to Hitsugaya's side.

Hitsugaya's breathing was raspy, he coughed once and blood splattered across his white Captain's haori. He looked up, and when those clear, emerald eyes recognized her, they blinked into focus and the young captain growled.

"Help me to my feet, there's not much time."

X x X x X

Shuuhei's world ended as he watched Renji's body fall lifelessly to the ground. Blood pooled around his tattooed skin, and his beautiful red hair lay tangled in a mess of water, broken stone, and dirt. The dark-haired vice Captain stood helplessly as his life, his love, his reason to live was crushed before his eyes. He may have screamed, but he wasn't sure. He didn't care.

His blood pulsed through his veins, boiling. His reiatsu churned; humming and crackling out across his skin, out into the open air. The space around him became silent and still. Sound fled, movement ceased, leaving Shuuhei standing in his own personal pocket of space and time. If he stood here for a thousand years, nothing on the outside would change. The hollow would still be there, turning to look at him, ready to attack and kill. His team would still be fighting hollows, trying to find and defeat the archer.

And Renji would still be dead.

(Hisagi, control yourself…)

Shut the fuck up!!

(Hisagi, stop… look around you…)

Shuuhei closed his eyes; he felt his rage peaking inside of him. His precious calm and level head leaving him.

There's nothing to see…

(Wrong, my child… Open your eyes…)

Shuuhei opened his eyes slowly, surprised to find they were dry. He stood in front of a temple made of stone and wood. The three story pagoda towered over the shinigami, and the stone steps leading to the gate seemed to stretch on forever. Shuuhei glanced down and found himself standing on water. A lake reflecting the blue of the sky and the green of the trees was in front of the temple. Even in the wake of the chaos Shuuhei had just been a part of, he still couldn't help but wonder, because the two complimented each other so beautifully, which had been there first. Had the temple been built by the lake? Or was the lake manmade and had been built after?

Hearing a low growl, Shuuhei raised his head. Steadying his focus, he locked gazes with Kazeshini, the wolf-spirit Zanpakuto. The wind reaper himself manifested before Shuuhei at the temple gate, calmly regarding him as if waiting for something.

"What is this place?" Shuuhei asked. "How did I get here?"

The wolf sat on his haunches and smiled, as only a wolf could, his teeth flashing from beneath his furry muzzle.

"This place is you… and me… our two souls joined together to create a perfect plain of existence only attainable to us."

Shuuhei's eyes widened. "But," the shinigami said as he looked around. "I thought… how is it so peaceful? How can this possibly be something… I'm so confused."

Kazeshini rose slowly and started down the steps. His fur rippled over his back, the silver and black shimmering, changing in the light. The beads around his neck and ankles clacked together. With every step, his nails tapped on the stone beneath his feet.

"It's not always this serene," the wolf spirit said quietly. "This is a temple of four winds. It can get downright vociferous from time to time. Devastating even."

Shuuhei watched the beast's large paws step out onto the lake. The wolf floated out across the water, barely making a ripple. He reached out his hand as Kazeshini reached him and scratched behind the wolf's ears.

"You live here?" Shuuhei asked.

Kazeshini nodded. "I do… but this is not the time to be enjoying ourselves. Your friends are in danger."

Shuuhei remembered watching Renji's body fall, remembered his heart stopping at the sight… But here in this place, he could remember and not shatter. He had never felt so calm in his life. This truly was his perfect plain of existence. He felt no anxiousness, no fear; no regret. Only calm, serenity… peace…

"I… we… have we made it?" Shuuhei asked quietly.

"To what?" Kazeshini asked. "Heaven? No. Nirvana? I don't think so. You're not dead, Hisagi."

Shuuhei looked up into the wolf's eyes. Here the wind reaper was solid, real. His eyes shone a deep blue, like sapphires under bright sunlight, or the ocean on a clear day.

"I meant," Shuuhei swallowed and said, "have we made it to bankai?"

The wolf tossed back his head, his silver mane flowing as a low chuckle passed through his teeth.

"Hisagi… Hisagi… you made it to bankai a long time ago… You've just never had the belief in yourself to be able to call it out."

Shuuhei made a face. "I don't believe that. Not for a second."

Kazeshini backed away slowly, turning again to return to the temple.

"Try it, Hisagi…"

Shuuhei stood still, blinking after his Zanpakuto, watching incredulously as the wolf climbed the stairs. There was no way… Was there?

Shuuhei stepped back into a basic stance and drew his sword slowly. He kept a two-handed grip on the katana's handle and closed his eyes. He reached for himself in the real world, the him that was boiling with rage, shaking with fear and anguish. He used the feelings, the strong emotional power to build a force in his core. His reiatsu responded instantly and Shuuhei felt himself synchronize with Kazeshini's spirit. He felt his teeth elongate, his hair lengthen, his muscles shift and grow under his skin…

(That's it, Hisagi…)

He had felt this before, when he had been fighting Ichigo. He was climbing the spiritual mountain once again. Every nerve in his body awoke, screamed in anticipation. He came closer and closer to the edge, to the precipice he had almost touched days before. He had it now, he just had to let go, call it out. It was right there.

(That's right, Hisagi… call it out… call me out…)

Shuuhei opened his eyes. He was once again standing in the courtyard in Kurakara Town. The hollow met Shuuhei's eyes as he turned away from Renji's broken body. The cold water ran around Shuuhei's feet, the screams from other hollow echoed through the night, battle cries from his companions could be heard from every direction. He steadied himself and focused on the mountain, the release.

Then Shuuhei called the wind.

It surged around him, though him, ripped at his face and hands, tore at his hair. What was left of his shinigami uniform pulled at his waist and legs. The area around the courtyard was swept up in the cyclone. Leaves, stone, and water alike, all lifted off the ground and were carried by the force of Shuuhei's power. The hollow stopped his advance, intrigued at what the dark-haired man before him might be doing.

Shuuhei smiled at the hollow, a feral, animalistic grin, his lips drawing back to display his razor-sharp teeth.

Shuuhei's voice lowered to a deep growl, a rasping, guttural sound that held no trace of compassion or humanity. "Hurting Renji was the last mistake you're ever going to make…" The shinigami lowered his stance almost to the ground, his double scythes raking through the rubble and slowly tearing through the stone walkway.

"Bankai…"

X x X x X

Hisagi's surge of reiatsu was all the distraction Hitsugaya needed. The small Captain flash-stepped across the rooftop, sword tied into his hand by Matsumoto. Even though his elbow was shattered, and his wrist held no strength whatsoever, Hitsugaya Toshiro never gave up. No matter the situation, no matter how frightened he was… these were his soldiers. This was his mission.

His small body pounded across the cement, he screamed a battle cry and raised his sword as he collided with the archer's thin frame. Hyorinmaru's blade sliced through the enemy's side, splattering blood over Hitsugaya's face and neck. The hollow cried out and lost his balance. Hitsugaya used his momentum and sent the creature over the side of the building, pushing with all his strength. He didn't mind the fact that he was going down with him, all that mattered, was that the abomination was stopped.

The Tenth Division Captain pulled his blade from the hollow and rotated his body upright. His arms may have been fucked up, but his legs weren't. He sent the archer crashing to the ground with one swift kick to the chest. The beast landed on the fence surrounding the apartment complex, impaling himself on the steel rods. He twitched for only a moment before falling still, blood running from his mouth, from the wound and down the spikes of the fence.

"Hitsugaya-san!"

A hand grasped his ankle and his body flipped upside down. It took the small Captain a few moments to realize what had happened and looked down, which was actually up, at the rooftop railing.

Urahara had him by the ankle, and Ishida was leaning over the railing trying to reach his other leg. The shopkeeper grinned down at him and waved with his free hand.

"That was quite impressive, Hitsugaya-kun."

Hitsugaya grumbled and rolled his eyes.

"Hitsugaya Taichou…"

Ishida shook his head. "That's it!? That's all it took?"

Urahara shrugged. "Your arrow knocked his reiatsu to the positive side. When you take the negative reiatsu, they're not really that strong… Well, this one wasn't at least."

"Then why didn't you just finish him off?"

"Hey," Urahara made a face, "We got to see Hitsugaya Taichou throw himself off a building. Who'd want to miss that?"

"Hey, assholes," Hitsugaya growled, "Pull me up."

Chad appeared at Urahara's side. "Are you alright, Hitsugaya-san?"

"I'm fine, Sado-kun," Hitsugaya murmured, "But I'd be even better if I wasn't hanging here, and Hisagi's reiatsu would stop trying to eat me alive."

Ishida finally gripped his leg and, with the not-so-much-help of Urahara, began to pull the small Captain up.

When shopkeeper started to chuckle, Hitsugaya knew something annoying was happening.

"What the fuck, Urahara-san?"

The shopkeeper grinned again.

"I can see up your hakama."

X x X x X

"I believe, that Shuuhei has achieved bankai…"

Orihime's head snapped around to gawk at Kira, her hands faltering over Ichigo's body.

"He what!?"

Kira fingered the newly-healed flesh of his chest and struggled to his feet. He swayed a little, but regained his balance and focus quickly.

"Hanatarou-kun, thank you," he said quietly. "May I go now?"

The young shinigami looked up at him with so much admiration and awe, his eyes practically sparkled. He nodded his head, and stepped back to motion to Nova. "Good luck, Kira-san."

Kira nodded and turned to Ichigo. The orange-haired man regarded him through such frustration it made the blonds' heart ache. He quickly kneeled beside the substitute and took the younger man's hand in his.

"I'll bring them back."

Ichigo clenched his jaw and squeezed Kira's hand hard. "You'd better."

Then Kira was up, Nova's arms around him, and they blinked out.

X x X x X

Shuuhei felt the handles of his Zanpakuto disintegrate and his torso weighed down slightly as his hands, wrists, and forearms were incased in leather. Large, black straps with buckles like belts wound around his arms. Blades protruded from the metal plates from the back of his hand, all the way to his elbow. The leather covered his shoulders, chest, and stomach. A hood of black leather rimmed in silver fur covered his head. Beads and woven leather hung from his neck, silver hoops hung from his ears.

(You've made it, Hisagi… You are now a wolf… A wind reaper…)

He breathed heavily, the new power- the new reiatsu, swirling through him. He felt the wind at his back, calling to his soul as he faced the hollow before him. Electricity coursed though him, a powerful bloodlust wrenched at his consciousness, and a pounding sexual elation heated his skin. He felt wild, insane with power.

The hollow charged at him, hands shooting out like spears, claws cutting through the air towards his throat. Shuuhei dodged, leaping backwards out of the way, and slashing out with his new claws. He felt the blades cut though the hollow, even as he felt Kazeshini's teeth sink into it's warm flesh.

The hollow whirled around and inspected the wound on its arm. The creature looked up at Shuuhei then as if really seeing the shinigami for the first time. He smiled and took a different stance.

"I see you are not like the others…" The hollow rasped. "Your power is much more… unconventional…"

I want his throat!

(We shall have it, Hisagi…)

Shuuhei lunged, a terrifying roar erupting from his lungs, aiming for the hollow's shoulders. He wanted the flesh of the monster's neck between his teeth.

The hollow leader moved just in time, knocking the shinigami away. The two clashed over and over, Shuuhei's blades ricocheting off the hollow's seemingly indestructible hands. They moved with such intense speed, a normal living person would not have been able to follow.

Mere seconds passed, but Shuuhei's reiatsu began to fade. In the back of his mind, he knew he had no chance of beating this foe, but the power and rage of his bankai made him not care. Pain was nothing to him. The drain on his spiritual energy was like a small cut, bleeding only the tiniest red pearls. He knew he would lose, but he would fight until his body was incapable; until the instant his heart stopped, when everything shut down. He would give his comrades the time they needed to be healed and come back to the courtyard. They would win. He no doubt would die, but he would give his friends this chance.

Sharp talons ripped flesh from his side. Blood spilled from the wound and ran down his leg. A gash in his neck, a stab of hot negative reiatsu-charged fingers punched through his shoulder. Blood… so much blood everywhere. It was nothing. There was no pain. No pain.

Shuuhei's claws finally found solid flesh. He dug as far as he could into the hollow's collar, grinding bone between his blades. His other hand gripped the creature's wrist as it tried to strike his face. In his frenzy, he forgot about the hollow's other arm, and it was his last mistake.

Hot flesh seared Shuuhei's skin as the leader punched his hand through the shinigami's chest. Shuuhei felt his ribs break, his lung collapse, more blood pooling at the top of his hakama. He couldn't breathe, could barely move. The hollow grinned down at him, his own blood running from a cut on his forehead into his terrifying black and gold eyes.

"Stupid shinigami," he laughed, "you have nothing left. Whatever made you think that you cou-"

The hollow gasped and arched his back violently. As Shuuhei watched, a Zanpakuto blade protruded from his chest just below the ribs. Blood splattered over Shuuhei's face as the hollow screamed in pain. Both he and the hollow leader fell to their knees, Shuuhei's claws still embedded in the monster's shoulder, and the pale hand of the hollow still through the vice Captain's chest.

Shuuhei looked up to see Kira, his hands on the hilt of his sword, tears streaming down his face. The blond shinigami locked eyes with Shuuhei and he whispered over the head of the hollow leader.

"Shuuhei… help me…"

Shuuhei blinked, unsure as to what his friend meant for a moment. But then Kazeshini's voice broke through his haze.

(Wabizuke, Hisagi… Take hold of Wabizuke…)

Clarity hit Shuuhei, and he placed the edge of Kira's Zanpakuto between his claws. He watched Kira nod and pushed up with all his might. The combination of their strengths, ripped the sword up through the hollow's chest, slicing through diaphragm, bones, and lungs. Kira's blade pulled free through the creature's neck and Shuuhei watched with satisfaction as the blood ran from the gaping wound. The hollow yanked his arm from Shuuhei's chest, slowly opening and closing his mouth, but there was no sound.

Shuuhei fell heavily onto his back, watching Kira raise his Zanpakuto to call it out.

"Raise your head, Wabizuke…"

Closing his eyes as Kira hooked his blade under the hollow leader's chin, Shuuhei heard a wet crack, and a sickening thud. It was over.

The Ninth Division vice Captain lay sprawled on the stone, his blood pooling around him. He knew he was lost, but he opened his eyes again and tried to keep his vision from swimming out of focus. Kira appeared at his side and pulled Shuuhei into his arms.

"Renji…" was all Shuuhei could manage to say at first. "Renji… p… please, Kira… make sure Renji's alive."

He heard Kira sobbing above him. He felt his friend gently wipe the blood from his face, his soft words breathed across his cheek.

"H… he's okay, Shuuhei… I can feel him. He'll be all right, Orihime-chan and the others are coming. Oh gods, Shuuhei, please… please don't die…"

Shuuhei smiled softly and searched for the other's hand. Kira caught it and held it tightly.

"Kira… will you be alright?"

Kira's sobs became almost violent. His body shook hard as he cradled Shuuhei's limp form against him.

"Yes… yes I will, Shuuhei… I promise."

Shuuhei closed his eyes and sighed softly. "I really did love you, Kira…"

Kira whimpered and started to rock back and forth gently.

"I know, Shuu, I know you did…"

Shuuhei felt Kazeshini's presence wrap around him like a comforting blanket and he relaxed his body into the wolf.

"But… Kira… I love Renji now… I've always loved Renji…"

Kira kissed his forehead and gripped his hand harder. "I know that too, Shuu…"

"Tell him… please tell him for me…"

Kira gripped Shuuhei's shoulder roughly and screamed. "Tell him yourself!"

(Sleep now, Hisagi…)

Blackness overtook Shuuhei, consciousness left him, and Kazeshini carried him away.

X x X x X

Renji woke with a start. He was still in the courtyard, cold water surrounding him, but the fighting had ceased. The presence of the negative reiatsu was gone. He looked around frantically, and came face to face with Ichigo. The substitute was sitting at his side, head down, staring at the mixture of blood and water by his feet.

"I-Ichigo?" Renji croaked, his voice a bit hoarse. "Ichigo, what happened?"

Ichigo looked up at him, but said nothing. He slowly turned his head to where Kira stood over Tessai and Hanatarou. The healers were bent over someone, but neither of them were using their powers.

Wait, did that mean… Fuck! Who was it!? Renji pulled himself to his feet but Ichigo grabbed his arm tightly.

"No, Renji," the younger man said, "You don't want to see."

"Like hell I don't!!"

The red head pulled free and staggered to where the others stood. His heart stopped at the sight before him and his hands pulled at his hair.

"Oh… Kami…" he whispered.

Kira turned to him, eyes red rimmed and skin pale as death. He touched Renji's arm lightly and moved away, signaling to Tessai and Hanatarou to back off.

Renji knelt beside Shuuhei's broken body. He had never seen destruction like this. Shuuhei had huge chunks torn out of his side, gashes several inches deep over his entire body. All that was left of his chest was a bloody mess of broken bone and torn skin. There was no way to heal this. He had been gone when the healers got there.

Renji slipped his hand underneath Shuuhei's neck and pulled the other man into his lap. He wrapped his other arm around his lover's shoulders and held him tightly against his chest. Tears leaked out the corners of his eyes, but he held his comrade and spoke softly.

"I should have told you…" he choked the words out, his throat tight with emotion. "I should have told you how much I love you, Shuuhei…"

Footsteps behind him made Renji still, but he didn't lift his head from Shuuhei's skin.

"Abarai…" Urahara's voice said calmly behind him.

"Not yet," Renji growled, "I… I just want to hold him for a moment…"

Urahara sighed. "We don't have a moment, Abarai. You need to move now!"

Renji looked up and hissed furiously at the man above him.

"What the fuck is so important that I have to move right now?"

Urahara bent to bring his face close to Renji's. He fingered the brim of his hat and grinned merrily.

"Shuuhei's isn't quite dead yet. That's what."

TBC