Chapter 5 A Walk Home

Renji got off the table and dressed himself. He walked slowly trying to go easy on the groin muscle Tashi whacked. He picked up his hair tie and heard a tiny knock on the door frame. He looked up and saw a very sheepish Tashi. "Hi" she said, in a tiny mousy voice. "I want to apologize—"

"Quit apologizing!" he snapped. "I won't accept."

"I want to say I'm sorry for using such a dirty tactic!" she said, desparately.

He pulled up his long hair and tied it back with a band. He looked at her then away again. He picked up a piece of cloth and lined it up on his forehead. He said "When you have no other choice, you do what you have to."

"Yeah, but I'm sure I could have done something else" said Tashi, trying to make an excuse to apologize.

"Not at the time. It was actually clever." He turned around after tying his bandana and walked towards her. He walked slowly and she felt guilty. She didn't ask how it was clever and Renji assumed it was because she felt bad over her victory and didn't want to see the good that came out of it. He continued "You saw you couldn't over power me so you used my own strength against me."

"Oh…I should have hit your leg or something" she said trying to deflect the achievement.

Renji chuckled and said "You are a piece of work. You take down a Vice-Captain and don't want to take credit?" He looked at her and saw she couldn't even look back at him. 'What kind of fucked up system were you raised in anyway?' He tried to lighten the mood a bit. "And not just any Vice-Captain. Me! Renji Abarai!" He saw her smile a bit and thought maybe he was getting through to her. "I'm sure your father would be proud" he said more seriously.

"Perhaps, but my mother…" Tashi shook her head. "My mother would be horrified. Will be horrified when she hears."

"Huh? Why?" asked Renji, unfamiliar with the years of training of complicated etiquette that was embodied in the young woman who walked at his side.

"Because she believes I should find someone to marry to take care of my father's lands for me. Proper young ladies should never weild a weapon nor be more powerful than their husbands."

"You've got strong reiatsu, that'll be tough. And your old man?"

She shot him an angry look and said "Don't call my father that! He's a hero and a good man. He wants me to be strong and to learn to fight and be like him. But my mother said no suitable man would want a girl who would fight like that."

Renji saw the conflict that tore at this young woman and didn't see the purpose. He said "Why not just do what you want? What do you care what your parents want?"

Tashi and Renji walked out into the cool night air and she was shocked at what he said. He held the door for her and she walked out in front of him. "How could you say something like that? They took care of me for years when I couldn't take care of myself! They gave me the most basic needs to survive and more! I owe them EVERYTHING! Food, shelter, fine clothing, education, the list goes on!"

Renji thought back and could barely remember his parents. All he could remember was being afraid of his father. He couldn't recall their faces. He ran away from the horrors of home very young. He realized again that he couldn't understand the way she was raised, but saw why she felt that way. "I see. Sorry."

As they walked Renji felt better and was able to walk at a normal pace. Tashi was glad she didn't hurt him too bad. They soon were walking through the streets of Soul Society and Tashi said "Oh, that's my house!"

"You have a house?"

"Yes, I rent it along with two other students."

Renji remembered the house and the number. Tashi bowed and said "Thank you Vice-Captain Abarai, for walking me home."

"Sure" he said casually.

Tashi smiled at his comfortable style and she entered her house feeling relieved.

------------------------------------------------------------------