Chapter 10: Reunions Part 1: Stray Dog

"Morning, Kuchiki!" Rukia's white-haired captain smiled from over the report he was reading, "How was your assignment?"

"It went well, Taicho," Rukia replied, "There were some disturbances at the local taverns and several gang related incidents, but otherwise Rukongai's 41st district is relatively peaceful."

"I'm glad to hear it. And as for your other objective…?"

Rukia's face fell slightly. "I was unsuccessful."

"No matter," Ukitake said gently, setting down the report and looking at her pointedly, "Although I trust you were able to find other ways to be productive…"

Does…does he know about my shunpo training? Rukia wondered, Ukitake-taicho always seems to know everything…

"Now, as for your next assignment-"

Just then, the door opened revealing Kotsubaki Sentarō, who bowed deeply.

"I apologize Taicho! 6th Division's fukutaicho to see you sir!"

"Oh, do send him in."

"I was unaware nii-sama had chosen a new lieutenant…" Rukia murmured to herself.

"Hmm, then you'll be in for a nice surprise Kuchiki-san," Ukitake smiled in anticipation, looking at the door expectantly.

A red-haired, familiar figure appeared in the doorway, quickly bowing and saying in a clipped voice, "Good morning, Ukitake-taicho!"

"Hello, Abarai-fukutaicho…" Ukitake replied, a light smirk playing at his lips as he glanced at his subordinate, who was quite taken aback.

"R-Renji?" Rukia stammered, causing the tattooed man to stand up sharply, staring in surprise at Rukia's presence.

"Ru-…Kuchiki-san," Renji corrected himself, inclining his head stiffly.

"Renji…" Rukia frowned at her old friend's stiffness, "there's no need to be so formal."

"To be otherwise would be foolish," Renji said tersely, not looking at her.

A few moments of silence passed.

"Should I wait outside perhaps?" Ukitake inquired politely.

Coughing embarrassedly, Renji shook his head vehemently. "Ahem! No, of course not Ukitake-taicho! I, er, I have come to inform you of Kuchiki-taicho's request that the Karakura Town post be returned to your division."

Rukia perked up at that, turning a hopeful eye to her captain.

Ukitake paid her no mind, instead asking Renji, "Really? I was unaware 6th Division had taken over the assignment…"

"It has…changed hands…several times in the past few weeks…"

"In other words, you've all been using it to gamble," Ukitake smirked knowingly.

"I, uh, no of course n-" Renji stuttered, as the white-haired captain raised a hand to stop him.

"It's quite alright, Abarai-san. We did much the same in my day. Until Genryuusai-sensei caught us, of course…I take it Kuchiki-taicho discovered the misuse of authority and punished those responsible?"

"Hai," the cold captain's subordinate murmured, rubbing the welts hidden beneath his hakama unconsciously. Kuchiki-taicho was none too pleased…

"Well, I'm glad he passed the assignment back to my squad. In fact, I believe Kuchiki-san here would be perfect for the job."

"B-…of course, Taicho…" Renji replied, bowing and turning for the door, giving Rukia a glance out of the corner of his eye.

As soon as he left, Rukia turned and bowed low to her ailing captain. "Arigato, Ukitake-taicho! I don't know how to thank you properly for this chance. I-"

Ukitake waved away her thanks. "Just find what you've been looking for. I can see how motivated you've become, Kuchiki. I'd hate to see all that motivation go to waste."

Rukia was in the process of bowing once again, when a thought struck her. "Taicho…why would Byakuya-nii-sama agree to this? Did you-"

"Kuchiki-taicho and I have an understanding, yes…" Ukitake nodded. If one can call threatening him with an embarrassing photograph understanding…he thought to himself, For once I am glad for Byakuya-kun's excessive pride…and modern technology, for that matter…

"Now why don't you catch up to Abarai-san before he gets away?"

Rukia nodded, turning to go, but stopped short and turned back to her captain. "How did-"

"-I know what you wanted to do?" Ukitake interrupted her, smiling, "When you have lived as long as I have, one learns a few things about body language. Off you go now."

Shaking his head as his petite subordinate left, Jūshirō chuckled, "Oh, to be young and confused again…"

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Rukia hurried out into the courtyard just in time to see Renji's crimson ponytail disappear out the gate. Flash stepping after him; she gave her oldest friend quite a start when she suddenly appeared in front of him.

"Rukia!" Renji exclaimed, his hand almost going for his sword, "How did you-"

"I have been practicing," Rukia said simply, before getting directly to the point, "What is bothering you Renji?"

"What are you talking about? Nothing's bothering me…" Renji muttered gruffly, brushing past her and continuing down the street.

Matching his pace, Rukia asked offhandedly, "So, when were you promoted?"

"The day you left," Renji replied, sighing resignedly, "I tried to tell you, but by the time I got to the senkaimon…you had already gone."

"Oh…" Rukia mumbled, unsure of what to say. A silence fell between them as Rukia waited for Renji's inevitable remarks. They may not have seen one another for a long time, but Rukia knew Renji wouldn't be able to stay silent.

Finally, her tall companion spoke, his low tone almost too soft to hear, "Why? Why are you doing these things?"

"What do you mean?"

"You almost died the last time you went to the living world! And now you're going back?!" Renji growled angrily, rounding on her with a desperate look in his eye, "And what about your assignment in Rukongai?! You know how dangerous those streets can be!"

"Why I'm taking these assignments has nothing to do with you! And I do NOT need your protection Renji!" Rukia shouted haughtily, turning back towards the 13th division's headquarters.

Stupid dog…Renji berated himself. "Rukia! Wait a second! I…I just-"

"You what?" Rukia prompted, frowning as she whirled around to face him, "You thought that since you're a fukutaicho now that you can protect me from everything? Ha! Open your eyes Renji! We are in the Gotei 13! I am more than capable of looking after myself!"

And with that, she flash stepped away, leaving Renji to stare at the spot she had been standing in.

"Baka…that doesn't stop me from worrying…" he muttered dejectedly.

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The doors of the senkaimon shut behind Rukia, disappearing without a trace. Breathing deeply, she took in the warm, early summer air with relish. Maybe it was merely her imagination, but to her, it had the odor of new opportunities.

Or perhaps it is merely that establishment over there…she thought, sniffing in the direction of a nearby pastry shop. I may need to purchase a gigai so I can investigate that place further…

Leaping onto the store's rooftop, Rukia scanned her surroundings, taking in the modern architecture. I wish I could remember where that boy with the orange hair lived…she thought, frustrated, All these new buildings look the same.

With a sudden change in the wind, Rukia became aware of what sounded like a large crowd of people. I wonder if it's some sort of festival…she mused.

A chill ran up her spine though, as a distinct and ominous roar rose above the crowd's eager voices.

A hollow already?!

Leaping across the rooftops as fast as she could, Rukia soon arrived at the gathering of humans. However, she was surprised to see a lack of distress among them.

A gathering of people this large would be too great for a hollow to resist…so why is it not attacking them? She thought frantically, And why can't I sense it?

Reaching out with her senses, Rukia noticed that an unusually high portion of the crowd possessed greater than average reiatsu. No wonder so many hollows appear here. With all these people's strong reiatsu, it must be like a beacon; luring them all here…

At that moment, the same howling screech echoed out over the crowd again. Whipping her head around at the sound, Rukia followed its path up to the roof.

Upon her arrival, she found the green, frog-like monster already engaged in battle with another shinigami.

Her fellow death god, whose head was covered in a green, slimy substance, was wielding an enormous zanpakutō nearly as tall as he was. Said sword was currently having its natural behavior, i.e. ripping through a hollow's flesh, prevented by the fiend's massive hands being wrapped around it.

With an angry cry, the mystery shinigami's reiatsu flared and his weapon sliced through the hollow's hands like butter; continuing on to bisect its head as well.

Stabbing his zanpakutō into the concrete beneath him, the shinigami groused to himself and picked at the muck ensconced in his hair.

"Well done!" Rukia called, taking a few steps closer.

As the man turned, she nearly stopped breathing.

Beneath the green sludge on his head was bright orange hair.

As their eyes met, a look of recognition passed between them and they both cried, "You!"

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A/N: I'm really sorry everyone for the long delay between chapters. I find that my enthusiasm for the show I'm writing about increases if I'm really into the show, and right now Bleach isn't where my head is. I was originally going to write Ichigo and Rukia's reunion as one big chapter with both of their points of view, but I felt so bad about not updating for so long, that I felt you guys deserved something and I realized that I could just as easily break the chapter in half. Let me know what you think!

Japanese Translations:

Hakama- standard shinigami uniform (a robe, essentially)

Senkaimon- world penetration gate