Helllooo, my lovely people!!!! Thanks for all of the people who added me to their faves list and story alerts! It means heaps to meeee!!!
Okay, so this chapter's mostly about Renji. Hope you like it!!
Disclaimer: It's not gonna happen, okay?!
The sixth division fuku- taicho walked as fast as he could without actually running to his destination. He was late for a meeting with his captain and he knew Byakuya disliked tardiness. Once he reached the outside of his taicho's office, he skidded to a stop and attempted to calm his breathing.
He reached up to knock on the door, but before he could do it, he heard the deep melancholy voice of his captain sound out. "Come in, Renji."
Renji slid the door open and stepped inside. He shot a glance at Byakuya before shutting the door. "Welcome back, Renji. How is the real world treating you?"
Renji was taken back. Byakuya didn't even mention his lateness and now he was asking about his stay in the real world? "U-uh, it was good….thanks."
"I'm glad. Now, I have a mission for you, lieutenant." He said, turning a degree more serious.
Renji too, picked up on his captain's vibe, turning serious also. He waited for his orders. Byakuya narrowed his eyes, the only indication of any emotion. "It has come to my attention that the boy, Kurosaki Ichigo has done something to upset Rukia. I've taken care of him, but I need you to look after her. She seemed….."
"Depressed? Down? Heartbroken? Yeah. She broke up with the half-breed just yesterday." Renji said taking a seat in front of his captain.
Byakuya nodded. "I need you to make sure Kurosaki doesn't do it again. It matters not how you take care of it, just do it. Even if it kills you, Renji."
Renji blinked, then smirked knowingly. "I would have done it even if you didn't ask me, taicho."
"That will be all." Byakuya said, looking down at his table.
"Okay, see-ya." Renji said, lazily getting to his feet and heading to the door. "I'll be leaving in a few days so you might not see me until the next time I get back."
"I'll call you back before then, so you can give me your report on the happenings in the real world." Byakuya said, his eyes never leaving his desk.
Renji nodded before closing the door.
Byakuya sighed almost inaudibly. He would have to believe in Renji to watch out for Rukia.
His eyes roamed the object on this table that held his gaze: a picture of Renji and Rukia. Renji had a big grin on his face looking down a Rukia, with one arm around her petite shoulder. She mirrored his smile, doing a peace sign to the camera, but looking up at Renji.
The photo was in a simple but delicate wooden frame.
The reason he had this particular picture and not one of just Rukia, was because she looked so happy in this picture; Renji had that effect on her….
He sighed again, putting the picture into his top drawer.
I'm counting on you Renji.
"Renji!" Hisagi called, walking towards his fellow fuku-taicho.
"Long time no see." Ikkaku smiled, walking beside Hisagi.
Yumichika smiled and waved too, walking behind Ikkaku.
Renji waved. "Yeah. Its good to be home."
"Okay boys we can go now—Renji! Welcome back. this calls for celebration." The curvy Rangiku smiled widely. "I heard about this place in District 65—"
"Let's go!" Ikkaku chuckled. He liked Rangiku's idea of going to a bar in the slums of Rukongai. Those fights were the best.
"Where's Iba-san?" Renji asked, looking around. This was the usual sake-drinking group except Iba was missing.
"He'll join us later. Let's roll!" Rangiku cooed.
Renji chuckled following after the tenth division fuku-taicho. His mind wondered back to Rukia….
"Yo, Renji, what's up?" Hisagi asked, walking beside him.
Kira gave him a look that said exactly what Hisagi asked. Renji shook his head. "Nothing. Why do ya ask?"
Kira cleared his throat. "You're thinking about her again, huh?"
Renji stammered. "W-What?!"
Hisagi nudged him with his elbow and chuckled. "Ahh, Renji." Was all he said.
The blonde and the raven haired vice-captains walked ahead of Renji. They had grown close, having one thing in common: the betrayed of their captains
Renji heaved a deep sigh and continued walking. A bar fight would help him get his mind off Rukia….
After a few (actually a lot of) very good sakes, the party really got started when some punks tried to force themselves on Rangiku. Ikkaku was the first to attack. Luckily for the rest of the sake drinking gang the punks had some reinforcements. There was enough to go around and everyone had their share of the fight.
The Shinigamis had a blast, while the poor people in that bar in District 65, had a severe blow to their egos (that were actually too high to begin with).
(Two days later)
"A satisfactory report, Renji." Byakua commented. "Quite a few hollow, but not out of the ordinary."
Renji nodded.
Byakuya put Renji's report to the side, looking up at his vice. "You may leave now. I'll expect your next report in three months, but if I need you before then, I'll call for you."
"Hai." Renji said, getting to his feet.
He headed for the door, opened it and was about to shut it behind him when Byakuya spoke up. "Pass my regards to Rukia. I trust you haven't forgotten your mission."
"No…I haven't."
Byakuya looked back down to his paperwork. "Good."
Renji shut the door, and headed for the senkai gate. He was late, so he shunpoed there. Waiting for him there was his sake-drinking gang.
"Come back soon, Renji. The parties are always funner with you here." Rangiku smiled doing a two finger salut.
"Yeah. Don't wait too long to come back." Yumichika smiled.
"See ya Renji." Ikkaku grinned.
Hisagi nodded, wordlessly saying goodbye
Iba patted Renji on the shoulder. "Bye, Renji. Nice having ya back, now get outta here."
"Hai." Renji smiled, waved at everyone, but was surprised to see someone else at his farewell. "U-Ukitake-taicho?"
"Ahh, Abarai-san. you look shocked to see me here." He smiled. "I just wanted to see you off is all."
Renji scratched his head. "No offense Ukitake-taicho, but, I don't think that's the only reason for you being here."
The captain chuckled lightly. "I'm sorry, you're right. I want you to pass my regards to Rukia. She seemed….different the last time I saw her. Make sure she's alright, please?"
"Yes, sir."
"Don't let me keep you, Abarai-san." Ukitake smiled.
Renji turned, heading into the senkai gate, right behind, a hell butterfly.
(Flashback)
"Bring her in here, Ichigo." Rukia said hurriedly.
Ichigo, carrying a battered, beaten girl in his arms, laid her down on a futon in the centre of the room. He looked at her unconscious form and he internally cursed himself.
Rukia, knowing him well, hugged him gently. "It's not your fault, Ichigo."
He hugged her back. "Yes, Rukia….yes it is. I could have protected her. I should have protected her. Now, look at her; unconscious and beaten. Danm those stupid hollow."
Urahara appeared in the doorway. He cleared his throat. "Inoue is here to heal her."
The couple nodded and released each other from their embrace. Inoue came in and summoned her Shin Shin Rikka, a concentrated look adorning her features as the orange glow lit up the room.
Ichigo looked down at the girl. She looked really familiar. He then looked back at Urahara. "What's that?" Ichigo asked, indicating to the small object in Urahara's hands.
Urahara tossed it over to Ichigo. "I found it around the area she was attacked. It's got her ID in it."
Ichigo opened the small, pink purse to find same money and her student ID card. "She goes to our school and is in our grade. No wonder she looked familiar. She's in Koji Sensei's class, which is why I hardly know her."
Rukia tugged at the card in Ichigo's hands until he let her have it. She sighed, disgusted. " I noticed she had a high reiatsu level, but I didn't think she would get attacked by hollow. And I didn't know she could see them until I saw her dodging its attacks. She may have even seen us in Shingami form. This is all my fault. I should've done more research."
"Neither of you is to blame. She will be okay, that's what matters." Urahara said with unusual seriousness.
Inoue breathed a sigh of relief as her Shin Shin Rikka returned to her hair pins. "She's gonna be fine. She'll wake up any time now—oh! Here she comes now."
The girl opened her grey eyes slowly. She blinked twice, taking in her surroundings. Ichigo knelton one knee beside her. "Hi. I'm Kurosaki Ichigo."
She looked at him, confused, wiping the chin-length brown hair out of her eyed. "I'm Matsunaga Megumi."
(End of Flashback)
***
Rukia shut her eyes as she sat on a bench in the Karakura park. Behind her children played in the sand pits, swung on the swings and slid down the slides.
She heard a familiar click, clacking getting closer and closer to her. Urahara hummed a little tune in time to the click, clack of his footwear. "Ahhh, Rukia-san. there you are. I've been looking for you."
Rukia moved over a little, making some room for him. "Really? What for?"
"To see how the apartment is going for you. Do you remember the communication device that was set up in Orihime-san's room? We set up a…tidier looking one in one of the rooms. You can contact Soul Society with it."
"Yeah, it's in the second guest room. Jeez, Urahara, you didn't have to get me such a big place. I would have been fine in a shack to be honest." She smiled, thinking back to the Rukongai days.
Urahara chuckled. "Wouldn't we all……Well, you are a noble, Rukia-san."
"Not a real one." She muttered, not realising she had said it out loud.
Urahara smiled a knowing smile, snapping his fan open in front of his face. He decided to change the subject. "Abarai-san gets back today."
Her face lit up a fraction. "Yeah. I'll come visit later."
"Well, I'll see you then, Rukia-san." Urahara called getting op from the bench. "I have to go get some-food ready for Abarai-san."
"He eats too much, Urahara. But bye, anyway." She murmured.
He chuckled. "Goodbye Rukia-san."
Rukia sat in the park for a long time after Urahara left; after all the kids went home. Just as the sun was about to hide away for the night, a man slowly approached her.
His movements were rushed, but then slowed as he neared her. "Hey, you." He grunted.
She turned to him slowly, and then smiled widely when she saw who it was. "Renji!"
"Scoot over," he said, then sat down when she did. "How've you been?"
"Forget me, how was everything in Soul Society?" Rukia smiled, awaiting his reply.
"Same old, same old." He muttered rolling his eyes. "Another bar fight except in district 65. And Ukitake taicho says hi, as well as the captain."
Rukia smiled at that. Her captain and her nii-sama? That bit of news would make her week.
They both looked out to the sun. It was halfway concealed behind the hills. Renji sighed. "How were things here?"
She knew what he meant the moment he asked the question. "I'm fine, Renji. You don't have to worry about me. I'm not going to be a burden—"
"No one said anything about being a burden, Rukia. I do it because I care." Renji said, calmly.
Rukia's head snapped back to Renji's face. "Thanks." She muttered.
"Yeah."
Renji looked down at Rukia, just after the sun had completely disappeared. "C'mon. I'll walk you home." he said, standing up.
She got to her feet and nodded.
There it izz, guys. PLEASE DO NOT KICK MY ASS for putting a new character into the mix. I had no idea I was going to do that. I just have some big (well not really) plans for Megumi. Can you guess what those plans are?? heheheh
I won't ask for reviews because hardly anyone does it anyway ) ;
So until next time…
~Sewa-san~