Author's Note- Hello! Chapter 4 is here! I'm hoping that as this story goes on, I'll get more reviews. I really look forward to hearing from my readers. Please let me know what you think. Also, I have now posted a companion story to this one. It's called Love from Hate? You don't have to read both to understand either story but I would greatly appreciate it if you read both! Thanks!

Warning: Mature content in this chappy! If you don't like, don't read. If you do like, please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. Only my own characters and my plot.

Chapter 4

Three months had gone by and Satomi was slowly returning to normal. She could finally go back to Squad 6 without running out in tears after seeing Byakuya. Every time the stoic man watched her run away, he felt his chest clench. He also felt this every time she only went to his squad to visit his lieutenant. He didn't want to admit it, but since that night, he had developed feelings for her. He wanted to talk to her, but she never even looked at him whenever she entered the office. He even had the disturbing thought of hoping she still loved him.

Satomi was starting to smile again. It wasn't all the time like it had been, but it was becoming more frequent. Shortly after everything happened, her captain caught up to her. She explained what had happened and then he had a few calm words with Byakuya about keeping his distance from Satomi. She and Renji also became much closer. And she always smiled when they were together.

"Hey, Renji, I've got a question," she said as they were eating lunch in her office one day.

"Hmm?" he asked as he took a bite. She blushed.

"Well, Captain Kyoraku is having a party tomorrow. Would you like to come with me?" she asked shyly. Renji beamed.

"Of course." Tomorrow would be the night that he would finally tell Satomi how he'd felt about her for a long time. He had wanted to tell her for a long time, but then the incident with Captain Kuchiki happen. So he'd waited another three months for Satomi to be somewhat normal again so he could tell her and hopefully there was a chance she wouldn't reject him. She smiled brighter than she had in three months.

"Thanks!"

It was the night of the party and Renji was nervous. He paced around his living room as Monkey and Snakey watched their master.

"Why are you so nervous?" Snakey asked. Monkey swatted him lightly on the head.

"Why do you think? He's going to tell Satomi how he feels about her. Anyone would be nervous when they're going to confess to the one they love," she explained. Little did she know, Tadahiro was feeling the same as Renji.

"Calm down, Tadahiro. Everything will be fine," Satomi said with a soft smile. He sighed.

"What if Monkey rejects me?" he asked. It was strange for Satomi to see her normally strong, unfazed by anything zanpakto be so vulnerable.

"Then maybe it wasn't meant to be. Although, I doubt that." She patted him on the shoulder. "Let's finish getting ready. Renji will be here soon."

There was a knock on the door of Satomi's apartment. She couldn't help but skip to the door. She opened it and smiled when she saw her redheaded friend. He smiled back.

"Are you ready to go?" he asked. He looked her over and couldn't help but notice how beautiful she looked. She wore a deep red kimono and her long teal hair flowed over her shoulders. Renji struggled to keep from blurting out his feelings right then and there.

"So ready," she laughed. "Let's go."

The party was going great. The music was upbeat, the sake was flowing, and everyone was having a great time. Shunsui was moving through the crowd when he came across Renji and Satomi. Satomi saw him and smiled.

"Now that's what I like to see. A smile that can brighten the room," the dark-haired man said. Satomi blushed.

"The party's great, Captain!" she said.

"You really have out done yourself this time, Sir," Renji added.

"Well, thank you both. I'm glad you're enjoying yourselves. And not that I want to interrupt that, but Satomi, may I borrow Renji for a moment?" Satomi looked up at her friend and he nodded.

"Of course, Captain." Satomi saw Momo in the crowd and headed over to talk to her.

"Is everything all right?" Renji asked the captain.

"Have you told her yet?" Shunsui asked in return. Renji sighed and shook his head. Since Satomi was like him and didn't have any family, he had gone to Captain Kyoraku to, in a way, get his approval to confess to her.

"Not yet, Sir. I'll admit, I'm really nervous," he said with a shaky laugh. The captain placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You're a good man, Abarai. And I trust you. So don't let fear stop you from taking that plunge. Now go find her and make her yours." Renji nodded and moved into the crowd, looking for Satomi. Kyoraku smiled and hoped that things would go well for Satomi this time.

It didn't take long for Renji to find her. She was talking to Momo and didn't see him approach. She jumped slightly as he took her hand.

"Renji, you scared me!" she exclaimed as she gripped his hand tightly. He smiled and leaned down next to her ear.

"I didn't mean to scare you. Could I talk to you alone?" he asked. She nodded and followed as he led her outside.

Monkey and Snakey sat against the wall and watched over Renji and Satomi as they enjoyed themselves. As soon as Renji started leading Satomi away, Monkey knew the time had come. Monkey smiled and turned her eyes back to the crowd. Her smile quickly disappeared as she saw Tadahiro surrounded by female soul reapers. Her frown deepened as she saw Rangiku practically crushing his arm between her boobs. One of the women said something and he laughed and scratched the back of his neck. He replied and they all pouted as he walked away and waved goodbye. He made his way over to Monkey and took her hand, pulling her up off the floor.

"Getting tired of you harem?" she asked as she looked everywhere but at him. His brow wrinkled in confusion.

"What?" Her gaze flashed to the group of women two were staring at them. He caught on. "Them? I'd never have feelings for women like that. Too shallow for my taste."

"Oh." He leaned in and she shivered as his hot breath ghosted over her ear.

"Why don't you let Snakey off the chain for a while and come with me?" he whispered. She looked to the small boy and back to Tadahiro.

"Fine," she answered. "Snakey, I'm going to let you off the chain for a while. Don't do anything stupid."

"Okay!" he answered with a grin. Monkey unhooked the chain and watched as Snakey took off. After she wrapped the excess chain around her waist, Tadahiro took her hand and led her down a hallway.

"Captain Kyoraku keeps these rooms open when he has parties in case people get too drunk or they just want to relax for a while," he explained as they ducked into one of the rooms. He closed the door and immediately felt the tension in Monkey's riatsu rise.

"What are you doing?" she asked warily. He took her hands and looked her straight in the eyes.

"You may think that I'm a flirt or that I just want to sleep with you, but that's not it." His hands tightened around hers. "I know that we're only zanpakto and we have to stay with our masters no matter what, but that doesn't affect my feelings for you. I want to be with you. I want you to say that I'm yours and I want to say that you're mine." She was silent for a few moments after his confession.

"No more harem?" she asked. Tadahiro chuckled as he pulled her into his arms.

"You and only you." He tilted her chin up and her eyes widened as he kissed her. Her eyes then slid shut as her arms slid around his neck. Eventually, they had to pull away and they started at each other as they caught their breath. Suddenly, Monkey's lips were on his throat. He let out a groan as his hands slid down to her hips. She moved to nibble at his ear and that was all he could take. He scooped her up and unceremoniously dropped her on the futon that was in the room. He was instantly above her, lips on her throat and hands roaming her body. She arched up into him as his lips moved to the exposed flesh of her breast.

"You better not touch anyone else like this afterwards," she said breathily. He looked at her and gave her a wolfish grin.

"Why would I ever want to" He captured her lips again, but gave her a confused look as he pulled away. "How is this going to work?" he asked as he ran a hand up her side. She laughed and pushed him off of her.

"Contrary to popular belief," she said as she stood, "these are only clothes." Tadahiro stared at her back as he watched the fur slide off her shoulders. It pooled around her feet and his eyes traveled over her body when she turned around. She smirked at him.

"You can stop drooling already," she laughed. She laid back on the futon and pulled him back over her. "Now touch me, damn it," she said with a sexy smile. When a beautiful woman told him to touch her, Tadahiro was not the kind of man who needed to be told twice. His hands were everywhere at once. On her breasts, moving across her stomach, sliding down her thighs. His tail glided up her body and wound around her wrists, pulling them above her head. His lips moved down her throat and chest until he got to a pert pink nipple. Monkey moaned as his mouth closed over it and his fingers tweaked the other. Her body arched as he switched his mouth to the other nipple. When he felt he had given her breasts enough attention, he trailed kisses down her stomach. When he dipped his tongue into her navel, she let out a soft sigh that he found cute. The lower his lips traveled, the more she squirmed.

"Well, you seem to be enjoying yourself," he said with a deep chuckle.

"Just do it already!" she cried. He smirked and moved back up her body so he could kiss her. He slowly slid a finger into her and she moaned. It wasn't long before he added a second. "Stop teasing, damn it! I need you…" she whimpered. This turned him on even more. He took off his yukata and tossed it to the floor. The fundoshi was soon to follow. As soon as she saw his body, she started to struggle against the hold his tail had on her.

"What's the matter, Monkey?" Tadahiro smirked. He nibbled on her earlobe and she let out a lusty whine.

"I want to touch you!" she cried out. He grinned against her ear and released her wrists. Her hands were instantly in his hair, pulling his lips back to her. Being the naturally bold woman that she was, she forced his mouth open and dove her tongue inside. Her tongue wrapped around Tadahiro's in a sensual way. He reacted instantly. Their tongues danced and twisted until Monkey pulled away. "I really can't take it anymore, Hiro," she said, a smile on her face as she trailed her fingers lower and lower on his body. He grinned and lined himself up with her entrance. He slid in slowly and groaned as he felt her envelope his member. When he was buried to the hilt, he stilled so she could adjust. Moments later, she wrapped her legs around his waist and arched up off the futon, taking him even deeper.

"Move," she moaned. Between he noises and how good she felt around him, he was already about to burst. He pulled out almost all the way and then quickly thrust back in. They moaned simultaneously. Tadahiro dropped his head onto her shoulder as he set a quick pace. Her hands were never still. They would be in his hair, then on his shoulders, then on his chest. When she started getting close, her hands closed like vices on his shoulders. "Ahhh…So Close…" she told him.

"Me…too…" he grunted. She cried out and her walls tightened around him, sending him over the edge as well. Her legs locked around his waist as they climaxed together. As they finally caught their breath and came down off their high, Tadahiro removed himself from Monkey and laid down next to her. He covered them with the blanket and she laid her head on his chest.

"I never expected you to be that good," Monkey teased as she trailed her fingers over his abs.

"It's a good thing I know you're joking or else that would be a serious blow to my ego," he said with a laugh, his arm wrapping around her shoulders. She placed a soft kiss on his chest and they quickly fell asleep.

Renji and Satomi were on their way outside when they ran into Byakuya. Renji immediately pulled Satomi closer to him. Byakuya's eyes narrowed as he saw this.

"Hello, Captain Kuchiki," they greeted. As they bowed, Byakuya saw that their hands were still linked.

"Renji, I need to speak with you about a new mission in the World of the Living." Renji looked at his captain defiantly.

"It's going to have to wait," he replied. Byakuya glared at him.

"You would disobey your captain?"

"I have something very important to tell Satomi and it can't wait any longer. Goodbye, Captain," Renji told him as he started to lead Satomi away.

"Satomi," Byakuya said. The young woman stiffened and stopped dead in her tracks, pulling Renji to a stop with her.

"What?" she asked without looking at him.

"Do you really believe that whatever he has to tell you is more important than a mission for the good of the Soul Society?" She turned to him with sadness and anger in her eyes.

"If Renji says it's important and he would put off a mission for it, then yes, it is more important. Let's go, Renji." She started to walk away, Renji following with a triumphant grin.

Byakuya watched them walk away, and though he seem calm on the outside, he was anything but calm on the inside. He was furious that he had let someone beneath him steal Satomi's affection. Senbonzakura appeared next to him and knelt down as he bowed.

"Lord Byakuya, I do not wish to anger you further, but you were the one who did this to yourself. She loved you and you used her for your own satisfaction. She wanted to be with you, but when you were finished, you tossed her aside. I will always be loyal to you, my lord, but this time you are wrong. You cannot expect her to still wish to be with you after what you have done," Senbonzakura explained. Byakuya responded by walking away. The samurai sighed and followed his master.

Renji and Satomi walked around the corner of the building and Renji checked to make sure they were alone. When he saw that they were, he let out a relieved sigh.

"So what's up, Renji? What do you need to tell me?" Satomi asked.

"Um…well, I've been wanting to tell you this for a long time, but with everything that happened, I knew it was best to wait. I have feelings for you, Satomi." Her eyes widened. "Actually, it's become more than that." He took a deep breath to steady himself. "I love you," he admitted. She looked down at the ground and Renji couldn't see her eyes. "Satomi, please look at me," he said, a slight pleading edge to his voice. She looked up and her face was red, tears sliding down her cheeks.

"I don't think it's love yet, but I have feelings for you, too, Renji. Although I'm not worthy of your feelings, I really want to be with you," she replied, wiping her face with the sleeve of her kimono.

"What do you mean 'not worthy'?" he asked. She stared up at him.

"I had sex with Captain Kuchiki without a second thought just because of a crush. I let him use my body without thinking. I'm dirty," she said as she cried harder. He gently gripped her arms.

"I know it was more than a crush. I could see it in your eyes. You're not dirty. He's the one at fault." With that, he pulled her to him and kissed her deeply. He could taste the salt on her lips from the tears. He pulled away and she kept staring at him. "He's and asshole. And you are one of the purest people I know."

"Thank you, Renji," she said as she smiled through her tears.

"How about we go out somewhere tomorrow after work?" he asked.

"That sounds nice," she replied.

"Now I have to see the captain. I'll come back when I'm finished." He kissed her again and left.

"You want me to leave tonight?" Renji asked angrily, glaring at his captain. Byakuya's cold gray eyes looked back into his own.

"That is what I said, is it not?" the Kuchiki replied. Renji let out and exasperated sigh.

"Fine." He walked up to his captain and leaned in close to the older man. "Stay away from Satomi. You don't need to cause her anymore pain. You've done enough." With that, he turned and walked away. Byakuya scoffed and headed to his manor.

Renji returned to Squad 8 to find Satomi where he'd left her. She smiled when she saw him.

"So?" she asked. Renji sighed.

"I have to leave tonight Rukia, Rangiku, Ikkaku, Yumichika, Captain Hitsugaya, and I are being sent to the World of the Living because of a recent battle between Ichigo and some very advanced hollows that the Research and Development Department are calling Arrancars," he explained.

"Oh." Her smile faded for a moment, but it was back in an instant. "Do your best!" she encouraged. His big, warm hand cupped her cheek.

"Don't do that." Her brow furrowed in confusion.

"Don't do what?" she asked. His thumb gently stroked her cheek.

"You don't have to hide your true feelings with me. If you're sad, cry. If you're mad, yell. If you're happy, then act as insanely happy as you want," he explained. She was silent for a moment before jumping into this arms, burying her face against his chest.

"I don't want you to go even though I know you have to," she said quietly. He wrapped his arms around her and smiled gently.

"That's better," he chuckled. He tilted her face up and their lips met gently. Renji traced his tongue along her bottom lip and she granted him permission. Their kiss was slow and passionate. It made Satomi's knees weak. Other than Renji's arms and her tight grip on his shihaksho, there was nothing to keep her standing as all her strength drained out of her. It amazed her that a kiss could feel that way. Unlike when Byakuya had kissed her, this made her feel loved and cared for. Renji make her feel like she would never be tossed aside again and that made her happier than she'd ever been. They separated and Renji grinned down at her.

"Damn, that was good."

"Well, aren't you classy?" she teased. They both laughed and Renji slowly took his arms from around her, taking her hand instead.

"I need to go find Zabimaru. You coming?" She nodded and he started to walk. But Satomi stayed put. He turned back and cocked an eyebrow at the frown on her face. "What's the matter?" She let go of his hand and stared at the ground.

"Um, could be not tell anyone about us yet?" she asked quietly. "I just can't handle everyone asking questions." He smiled at her.

"We can tell people whenever you're ready," he said. She smiled back and they walked off in search of their zanpakto.

Tadahiro and Monkey were curled together, sleeping quietly, when the door slid open. They bolted upright, prepared for any kind of danger. They looked at the doorway and a deep blush covered both of their faces. Renji, Satomi, and Snakey stood staring back at them. Satomi tried to stifle a happy giggle while Renji's eyes went wide and he quickly covered Snakey's eyes.

"We have to leave for the World of the Living soon," Renji explained, looking at Monkey. She nodded and the other three left. Monkey flipped the blanket off of herself angrily and got up to get dressed.

"Damn it!" She growled. She had just pulled on her clothes when she felt a hard, muscled chest against her back and their lips met for a deep kiss. His lips then moved across her jaw and down her neck. She moaned and pulled away. "If you keep that up, I'm going to want to go again."

"I already want to go again," he said as he pulled her back into his arms. She felt his low laugh rumble in his chest. He moved away so he could get dressed as well.

Satomi, Renji, Snakey, Monkey, and Tadahiro walked back to where the party was taking place. The group of women from earlier caught sight of Tadahiro and started to rush to him. Monkey saw this and, before the women reached them, she hooked an arm around his neck, pulling him down into a passionate kiss. The group skidded to a halt in front of them. Monkey pressed her body tightly against his, causing Tadahiro to stifle a moan.

"That's right, girls. He's all mine," she told them with a cocky grin. The women stomped off in a huff.

"Damn, if I knew it was that easy to get rid of them, I would've gotten with you sooner," Tadahiro said, placing another kiss on Monkey's lips. She laughed and bumped her hip against his affectionately.

"All right, you guys. We need to go," Renji said. They laughed and followed him outside.

The senkaimon was open and Renji knew he really had to go. He was furious with his captain but he knew he had no choice. He stood in front of Satomi as she smiled at him.

"Be safe and come home soon, okay?" she told him. His cheeks turned pink as he smiled back.

"Of course," he replied. Tadahiro and Monkey were having similar conversation.

"We're gonna take care of these Arrancar things and then I'm going to come back and we're going to get a room to ourselves. I'm not letting you leave that room for at least two days," she said in his ear. He shivered as a pleasurable chill ran down his spine at all the things running through his mind.

"Will you guys hurry up? We need to go!" Rukia said. Renji and Monkey shot a quick glare at her. Renji and Satomi hugged and pulled apart kind of awkwardly. Satomi really wanted him to kiss her again but she knew he wouldn't because she didn't want people to know yet. He brushed some hair out of her eyes and she knew that's all she was going to get.

"I'll see you soon," he told her. With that, he turned, Monkey and Snakey vanished, and Renji and Rukia disappeared into the senkaimon.