A/N: Okay…I had a question I was gonna ask the readers in general, but I forgot what it was…oops.
Disclaimer: Tite Kubo owns Bleach, "Mumford & Sons" owns Little Lion Man. How original.
makaykay: I'm sorry if I lead you to believe that she's remembering. She's not. Her dreams are random, she cannot remember Ichigo & co. at all. Sorry about the letdown…
himelove22: Yep, it's to the Academy for Hime, so she's destined to become a Shinigami at some point…Hopefully sooner rather than later, ha ha.
nypsy: Your review didn't leave much to reply to, but I will say this: Wow are you famous! Damn, every SINGLE Ichihime story I stumble across, the author from the second chapter will be like "Oh, Nypsy this" or "Nypsy that" and I'm like…Whoa! What? When does this person read all this fanfiction? Do you get around, or WHAT? Jeez. I'm impressed.
midnight03: I would gladly accept your offer except that you didn't use correct grammar/punctuation in it…I don't know, let me wait and see…
Chuain: Okay, cool. Glad we got that behind us.
Now, to the chapter!
Weep for yourself, my man, you'll never be what is in your heart. Weep, little lion man, you're not as brave as you were at the start. Rate yourself and rake yourself, take all the courage you have left…wasted on fixing all the problems that you made in your own head - but it was not your fault, but mine, and it was your heart on the line. I really fucked it up this time, didn't I, my dear? Didn't I, my…?
Ronin and Sadako make their way toward the Academy in a comfortable silence. Well, Ronin is comfortable. Sadako's heart is racing and her entire body is covered in a thin sheen of sweat. It's the most bizarre thing ever. A dream that she can't remember still has her in its clutches and it is terrifying.
She sneaks a glance at Ronin to see him watching her with a worried little frown on his face. She quickly looks away and surreptitiously wipes her hands on her Karakura High School T-shirt. When she looks back a moment later, he's fiddling with his long red braid, violet eyes narrowed a little and a crinkle between his eyebrows. A force she almost can't control wants to reach up and smooth out the crinkle with her thumb. She inhales sharply at her own nerve and feels her cheeks stain red, grasping her left wrist in her right hand and pulling it to her chest to restrain herself.
Soon, they approach the gates of the Academy. On the other side of the gates is a man, dressed in black robes – a legit Shinigami. He has blond, swept back hair and glasses. When he reaches the gate, he nips his sleeves at the elbows to draw them back, adjusts his white gloves, and unlocks the gate.
As he pushes the gate open, Ronin leaps to the side of the road. "Third seat Iemura!" he calls, his fingers meeting his forehead in a salute and his spine straightening, bringing him to his full height. Sadako jumps and then copies him, feeling out of place in her World of the Living clothes.
The man, third seat Iemura, nods to Ronin and then lets his gaze slide over to Sadako. She can't see his eyes, but she can see his eyebrows, and they slide right up into his hairline. His mouth opens.
"The ryoka…!" he breathes.
"Sir?" Ronin asks, keeping his fingers on his forehead.
Iemura's mouth shuts with an audible click. "Nothing," he snaps. He turns on his heel and strides away, muttering to himself.
Ronin turns to Sadako, his military salute dropping. "What was that all about?" he asks her, confused.
Sadako drops her salute as well, her large eyes (she still doesn't know what color they are) narrowing in attempt to see if she can remember… "No idea," she murmurs after a moment.
Well, at least now she isn't sweating anymore. "Let's go on in," Ronin says, and they do so.
"What's a ryoka?" Sadako asks after a moment, recalling Iemura's words.
"A soul that enters the Soul Society illegally. There was a massive break-in two years ago when a Shinigami by the name of Rukia Kuchiki was going to be arrested for…well, I forget what she was going to be arrested for, but anyway, five – no, three humans, a Quincy, and a Shiba, as well as a cat, broke in to save her. They did end up saving her, but there was a lot of other stuff that also happened and the whole thing kind of imploded. Basically, three of the captains turned traitor and escaped to Hueco Mundo, and a while later there was this whole fight – but basically, a ryoka is someone who enters the Soul Society illegally."
There are a bunch of terms in the speech that Sadako doesn't recognize – like Quincy, Shiba, Hueco Mundo – but she decided to ignore them. "What were there names?" she asked after a pause.
"Well, there was the cat, who ended up being a woman who had fled the Soul Society a hundred years earlier – Shihôin Yoruichi, the Shiba, named Ganju, the Quincy named Ishida Uryû, and three humans – Yasutora Sado, Kurosaki Ichigo, and…oh, man, there was a girl, too…her name was…" His brows furrow in thought. "Oh, yeah! It was Inoue Orihime."
I wonder if I knew her in life. She sounds cool. But… "Kurosaki Ichigo?" Sadako asks, and bursts out laughing. "What a silly name!"
**!**
Ichigo and Renji pounded through the tunnel connecting the worlds. The former had his eyes glued ahead, his feet beating a solid rhythm, arms swinging at his sides, Zangetsu slapping his calves with every step. The latter also was watching ahead, but occasionally his gaze flicked over to his companion. His tattoos drew down over his eyes and his lips pressed together. Adjusting his grip on Zabimaru, he flicked his eyes forward again and they ran on.
Renji was worried about his friend. It was very out of character for him to for him to be acting like this. Ichigo had never before let something get him down for this long – it had been about a week since Orihime's death, and he was still depressed. Usually he just rolled with the punches – "Oh, Orihime's dead? Okay, whatever, we'll just go get her in the Soul Society" – but this time, that didn't seem to be the case. Renji himself was dead, but he had to remind himself of that a lot. He'd died as a young kid and couldn't remember his past life at all. He'd been dead for about a hundred years at this point. His kid body was decomposing somewhere, God knows where. And really, he couldn't care less. This was his life now. And anyway, he was dead and Ichigo was definitely alive, and they were running together now. So why couldn't Ichigo see that just because Orihime was dead it didn't necessarily mean that he'd never see her again?
Renji shook his head. Whatever. Ichigo would tell him what was up as soon as he felt like it, and not a moment before. There was no point in agonizing over it. He sighed deeply and renewed his pace as the exit to the tunnel came into view.
They leaped through the doors. Ichigo stumbled and nearly lost his balance, and Renji grabbed onto his friend and kept him upright.
"Arigato." Ichigo mumbled the word and then shook Renji's calloused hand off. "Let's find somewhere to sleep."
It crossed Renji's mind to suggest going to the squad six barracks where he lived and sleeping in a real bed but he decided to keep his mouth shut. Ichigo moved away from the doors which were for some reason still open behind them and off into the darkness beyond. Renji followed him reluctantly.
Behind them, the shadow slipped through the doors again and the doors closed behind it. The figure headed in the direction the men had gone, moving stealthily over the scraggly landscape.
Ahead of Renji, Ichigo had found a clearing and had begun to build a fire. He made a small teepee of wood and then sat back on his heels, wiping his forehead. He considered the pile in front of him, seeming to realize something.
"Damn. I forgot matches."
Renji snorted and pushed his way past Ichigo. "Pfft. Matches, who needs 'em?" He grinned and held out his hands.
"Hadô 31 – Shakkahô!"
Fifteen minutes later when they had cleaned up the small forest fire that Renji's unruly Kidô had caused, Ichigo stormed over to his friend. "What the hell were you thinking, you failure?" he yelled.
"I was thinking that you were an idiot and forgot matches and we needed someone to take matters into their own hands!" Renji yelled back, pressing his forehead against Ichigo's in attempt to get in his face. "If you had actually thought about this little expedition of yours maybe this wouldn't have happened!"
"I did! I just –"
"Shut up, will you? You two are giving me a headache!" someone shouted.
Heads still pressed together, Ichigo and Renji swiveled around to see who it was. Ichigo's mouth dropped open, and Renji's eyes scrunched together in confusion.
"Who the hell are you?" he asked.
Ichigo's mouth opened and closed a few times, before finally he swallowed and said, "You shouldn't have come here."
Tatsuki stepped forward. Her arms were crossed, and she was dressed in a black long sleeved shirt and black sweatpants. Her spiky hair was mussed, and she had soot on her face. She swung her weight onto her back leg and said, "Were you two trying to burn down the woods just now with that little spell?"
"…No," Ichigo stammered.
"Then what were you trying to do?"
"Start a small fire," Ichigo answered.
"…Hey, I know you," Renji said. "You're one of Ichigo's human friends…"
"Little slow on the uptake, are we, Renji?" Ichigo said scathingly.
Renji ground his teeth but didn't say anything.
"Anyway, Tatsuki, what are you doing here?" Ichigo said, returning to the pressing matter at hand. "You should not be here. You need to go home."
Renji placed his thumb on the hilt of Zabimaru, ready to pull out the sword and open the Senkai-mon. But Tatsuki shook her head vehemently. "I knew you would do this," she said. "I'll fight you. I heard everything you and Pineapple-head here said, and I'm helping you find Orihime. I don't care what you say, I'm staying."
"How'd you get here, anyway?" Renji asked.
"I followed you through that purple tunnel thingy," Tatsuki said. "Then I came out here and I got here just in time to see you try to blow yourself up."
"…Oh, yeah, that," Renji said, embarrassed. "Darn, I was hoping no one else saw that…"
"Dude, they saw that explosion all the way in Seireitei," Ichigo said.
**!**
Ukitake's head whipped around at the sonic boom. Shunsui's head also raised from his cup of sake.
"What in the world was that?" Ukitake gasped.
Shunsui shrugged. "I don't know. Want some more sake?"
**!**
"They did?" Renji gasped, shocked.
Ichigo nodded. "You bet. I bet even Byakuya saw that one."
**!**
Byakuya was staring out of the window, thinking those deep, noble-ish thoughts that only people like Byakuya could think, when he saw a huge red light in the distance. He peered at it to try and determine what it was, and then sat back with a heavy sigh. His inferior vice-captain was on the loose wreaking havoc in the Rukongai again. He'd have to speak with the lowly man in the morning. Gritting his teeth a few seconds later when the violent blast hit his ears, he made a vow to reprimand his subordinate and then went to bed.
**!**
"Crap! You really think so?" Renji fretted.
"Without a doubt." Ichigo smirked at the thought of the trouble his friend would be in. Renji chewed his lip and played with the hilt of Zabimaru. Tatsuki stood awkwardly for a moment, then sat down where she was. Renji and Ichigo sat down as well.
"So where are we, anyway?" Tatsuki asked.
"In the Soul Society," Renji said, instantly sobering up.
Tatsuki paused before continuing. "Okay. And that has something to do with the fact that you guys are both wearing those black robes. And have swords. And can do magic spells that make stuff blow up."
"I didn't mean to…" Renji whined.
"And yet, you did," Ichigo said.
**!**
A blast distracted Hitsugaya from his paperwork. The room was temporarily bathed in red light. He gritted his teeth and put the brush back to the paper, cursing the individual who had the nerve to disturb him.
**!**
"…Damn," Renji said.
"Anyway, what's going on? What is all this crap about captains and stuff? Who the hell is Byakuya and what is Seireitei?"
"It's…complicated," Renji said, and then began to tell her.
**!**
"RONIN!"
A white object comes flying through the air toward Ronin and hits him in the face. He gives a muffled oof and coughs as the pillow thuds to the floor.
A boy with blond hair and glasses laughs and dances around in glee. "Oh, man! Hey! Hey, Yuuki, hey! Did you see that? Hey, that was funny!"
"Seiji, shut up," says another boy, lying on a bed with a magazine covering his face. He lowers it and glares at his twin. "Hey! Seiji! Shut up!"
"Ha ha ha! But it was so FUNNY!" says the first boy, laughing some more. Then he sees Sadako and his laughing stops abruptly.
"Who is this?" he nearly purrs. Sadako flushes bright red with embarrassment. Ronin's arm goes around her shoulders, and even though it's simply a protective gesture and not romantic in any way, her face turns an even brighter shade of red.
"This is Sadako," Ronin says, "and if I see or hear about you doing anything to her, I'll slash you with Rubitori."
He perks up. "Rubitori? Did you finally make contact with your zanpaku-tô?"
The other boy tosses aside his magazine. Adjusting his glasses, he stands and makes his way toward them. "Let's talk later," he says. "I'm going down to Mai and Ui's room. Coming?"
"Yeah, sure," says Ronin, turning. His arm still gripped firmly around Sadako's shoulders, he dumps his bags and wheels them around to the hall again.
Sadako's blush is starting to cool now. She even leans a little bit into Ronin's side. He's really warm, and she can feel his chest expanding with every breath he takes and every one he lets out.
They follow the blond twins. Sadako thinks their names are probably Seiji and Yuuki, the two that Ronin had mentioned before. Both of them have their hair cut the same way – really long on top, but shaved on the backs of their heads, almost like a bowl cut but somehow more attractive. Their eyes are teal, dark; Seiji's framed by thick yellow and black striped lenses and Yuuki's by blue and black ones. This seems to be the only way to tell them apart, besides their obvious personality differences. Both are wearing the same uniform: white on top with long gray pants, with swirls over the right and left chest - Ronin is also wearing this, so it must be required.
Sadako sighs contentedly. This looks like it's going to be fun.
Seiji puts on a sudden burst of speed and sprints down a flight of stairs in front of them, disappearing from their sight. Yuuki sighs and runs a hand through his hair, following his excitable twin.
Ronin and Sadako descend the stairs after them. "Sorry if this is overwhelming," Ronin says.
"It's fine," Sadako giggles. "I think this is going to be fun!"
Ronin gives a low chuckle, deep in his chest. His torso vibrates, and Sadako laughs again at the tickly feeling. She looks up at him, and he smiles back down, his arm warm on her shoulders.
"See? I told you, Ui! Hey, I told you!"
One of the twins – if she had to guess, she'd say Seiji – yells excitedly down the hall. A girl with long dark blue hair is standing next to him, her finger pushing on her lip. Wide eyes consider Sadako and Ronin walking together, and her head tilts to the side. Her feet are placed awkwardly, toes turned inward on the floor; her other hand rests on her thigh, clad in red pants instead of grey.
"I think you're right, Seiji," she says seriously. "Maybe they are –"
"SSH!" Seiji waves frantically. "Hey, don't say it!" he chokes out. "Ronin'll kill me!"
"What? Are you guys spreading rumors about me already?" Ronin says, sounding mock-hurt. "I just got back. Jeez, Kaori is better than you two."
The girl's hands go to her hips. "Man, Ronin, you are so mean," she says, frowning.
"I'm just playing, Ui," Ronin says patiently. Her eyes go wide, and she smiles hugely.
"Oh! Well, then, Ronin, you are a real tease!" she exclaims. Sadako laughs, the anxious knot in her chest smoothly dissolving.
Seiji, however, is not happy. He runs down the hall and into a room, tears running down his face. "MAI! HEY, MAI! RONIN WENT AWAY TO VISIT HIS FAMILY AND HE CAME BACK WITH A GIRLFRIEND! AND NOW HE'S ALL DIFFERENT! HEY, MAI, HEY! GO KNOCK SOME SENSE INTO HIM!"
Seiji falls backwards out of the room suddenly, a pale fist springing out of the room after him. He wails and grabs his nose. A tall girl steps out after him, her fist still out in front of her almost like an afterthought. She spares a glance for Sadako, then returns to Seiji. "Be quiet, fool!" she hisses. Booting the boy aside, she saunters up to Sadako and Ronin.
She has pale, silvery hair, braided in coils around her head. Her eyes are a vivid green. They narrow at Sadako in inspection, and she sizes up the smaller girl. Sadako gulps and looks up at the looming face of Mai.
Mai walks in circles around them. "Hm. Orange hair, grey eyes, long bangs – needs a headband, hairclips, something – World of the Living clothes, weird shoes, a rack rivaled only by the Tenth Lieutenant – you're pretty cute, you know." She smiles at Sadako, who feels like she's just passed some sort of test. She lets out a breath of relief and smiles back at Mai.
"So she's your girlfriend, Ronin?" Mai says, staring hard at him. "Man, you move fast. You were gone for a week? Jeez. Well, girl, don't be fooled. He may seem big and cool, but in reality, he's smaller than a – "
"You can stop there, Mai," Yuuki's voice calls from the room. "I don't want to know."
Sadako is bright red. She looks up to see Ronin's face darker than his hair.
"Mai…" he chokes out. "Mai…h-how –"
"Ha! he's not denying it!" Mai cackles. She rushes to Seiji and crouches over him. "Hey, Seiji! Did you hear that? Ronin didn't even deny that he's smaller than a –"
"I said, you can STOP!" Yuuki yells from the room, and a magazine comes flying out, hitting Mai on the head with expert precision. Her eyes flame, and she stands and stomps into the room, where loud thumping noises and cries of pain can soon be heard.
Ronin looks back down at Sadako. His cheeks are still red, but now he can manage a smile. "Well, Sadako," he says, "welcome to the Academy."
Hey, I'm going to stop there. Next chapter will probably be more interesting, so yeah. Don't give up on me.
Anyway, for those of you who were wondering about their connection with Renji, please check out The Death of Renji Abarai, by me. No one else has read it yet, so you can be the first ~!
Review?