Ch.3

Two days after that encounter.

"Renji… Renji… Renji wake up!"

"Huh? What?"

"Ugh you're so lazy. Here your paperwork is all done."

"Done? How? When? Who?"

"That just leaves where, doesn't it?" Hotaru laughed.

"Shut up! What happened?"

"You fell asleep while I was telling you about the other day when I ran into Hisagi-san. I let you sleep you looked so cute plus you have been working a lot lately. I finished it for you and don't worry no one will know except you and me. We should go party tonight."

"What about Captain Kuchiki?"

"Renji, since when have I ever worried about Byakuya Kuchiki?"

"Never. That's the problem you never ever worry about him and your future together."

"As far as I'm concerned, Renji, there never was or ever will be a future for me and him together. Now if we could go our separate ways then I could see a future. One where I control what I do and not him. I … I don't love him, Renji." She looked up at Renji. "How am I supposed to be his wife when I don't love him? I want marry for love. I want someone who is similar to me… not the dead beat Byakuya is. I want someone who loves music as much or more than I do."

"Sounds like you have someone in mind."

"Do not. I've tried to be with someone who is exactly like me… it didn't work out so well." Hotaru looked down at the floor and sighed. How come she was the only person in the Soul society that still remembered the life they had when they were a part of the World of the Living? Why was it that she wanted to be with him and only him? Why couldn't she just forget already? She has been dead for over 10 years so why did she remember her life in the world of the living? She remembers her day in the academy after the soul society found out that she had awesome spiritual pressure. If she wanted she could kick Byakuya's butt until he actually begged for mercy which she is often tempted not to give him.

Renji looked at her as she mused about her troubles and her past. He knew it was hard on her… hard for her to forget the life she had, her past amongst the living. "Can I get you something… like… a grape popsicle?" she smiled and nodded. "Here you go," he said as he pulled a grape lollipop out of his uniform. " I know I said popsicle but it would have melted."

"This is just fine Renji." He could always make her smile. Maybe she should tell Byakuya about this, about not wanting to marry him. She had told him all of it before and she thought running would send the message loud and clear. Why had she come back? Why did she not say no and fight to stay where she felt the happiest? Would she ever stop doing the stupidest things?

Shuuhei was doing his paperwork when Renji Abarai from the 6th division came in and put a stack of papers on his desk.

"Hello Hisagi-san," Renji mimicked Hotaru.

"Not now Lieutenant Abarai."

"I think she likes you."

"Who?"

"Um… a little green eyed sweetie that loves music more than life itself."

"Green eyed? I thought they were gray."

"Depends on her mood. They are greenish-gray with a tad of blue depending on what she wears."

"You've seen her in something other than the uniform?"

"You have too if I remember correctly. You met her in a bar."

"I didn't know she was one of us."

"She's not. She never wanted this gig. She was forced just like she's being forced now. Man, she sure does have a lot to deal with lately. She wishes to go back to that bar but she knows they'll find her there and cause trouble."

"She was wearing a blue t-shirt and black pants. Wonder what a blue flower kimono would look like on her…" Shuuhei thought out loud.

"She'd look smoking," Renji said. "I knew it! You like her too!"

"Renji"

"This is great!"

"Renji!"

"Simply great! Now to…"

"RENJI ABARAI!"

"What?"

"You can't tell her. She's with Captain Kuchiki."

"You know about that?"

"About what?"

"About Captain Kuchiki and Hotaru being engaged."

"ENGAGED?"

"Yeah like to be married to each other in the future."

"No way."

"Way, but she hates the idea. That's why she ran away five years ago. She doesn't want anything to do with Captain Kuchiki. She hates his guts with a passion. She almost killed him once, but I finally stopped her."

"When was that?"

"Right after she found out that they were to be married. She got so mad that she pulled out her zanpakuto so fast and in his face before he could say her name. She scared the crap out of me that day and I'll always remember not to make her angry…ever."

"Did she go bankai?"

"Nope. She did it all with her shikai. That's some scary stuff right there, man."

"What happened?"

"It took a long time for me to get in the way enough to make her loosen up a little but she kept at him. I finally knocked her zanpakuto out her hands and got my hands around her. She kept fighting me though. Captain Kuchiki had fallen down, his zanpakuto still in his hand and a look so… so… so scared on his face. I asked if he was ok. He shook his head yes then he passed out. When she calmed down she started crying. She cried non-stop for three days and then she was gone. She had run away. We looked everywhere for her."

"What took so long in finding her?"

"Captain found her a few days before the whole Aizen thing started. I guess it was the day he brought Rukia back. It had been five years and he finally found her. He was torn between her and Rukia. He choose to let her be for the time being. He told me one day that he found her and that he couldn't bring himself to bring her back. He said that she looked so happy there, she looked so natural there, like that was the place she was always meant to be. He left her there and when I asked about her during the whole Aizen thing he said she would be safer there. She would be happy there…"

"Then why did he bring her back now?"

"I'm not supposed to know this and please don't shared it with anyone."

"Ok. I swear I won't tell anyone."

"Captain Kuchiki… he loves her. I know it's hard to believe but he does. He truly does love her. She doesn't see it… doesn't want to see it. After so long Byakuya is able to love again but she doesn't give him a chance."

"Maybe she should be told that he loves her," Shuuhei said even though his insides were screaming at him to be quiet.