Fifteen minus... six left nine. Of the fifteen shinigami that had been sent to Hueco Mundo on this mission only nine would be returning. Four men and two women had lost their lives in the sullen land of sand and they weren't home free yet. The map was still beeping though and they were close, almost close enough to see it now. But almost wasn't quite good enough. Almost was still only almost and that meant they could still get attacked.

It started with the faintest rumbling of the ground beneath their feet. They were beyond desperately tired now. It was sheer will that kept their feet moving towards that seemingly out of reach location. Of course with all this sand and very little else, it was sometimes hard to believe that you were actually getting closer to your goal.

The gigantic centipede like hollow burst forth from the sand knocking the rag tag, weary shinigami flying this way and that. The map began ringing an alarm... Renji perked up hearing it. They were close enough to their way out that the machine was automatically contacting Uruhara to let him know to open the garganta back to Soul Society... There was hope... just a little tattered corner of it - but it was there nonetheless.

He sprang to his feet, wavering but he somehow managed to refrain from collapsing right back down again. Though he wanted to - oh how part of him wanted to. "Help's comin' just hold on a little longer." His voice called out. Rough and weary you could hear the soul deep exhaustion in it but it carried well enough he hoped. He managed to get Zabimaru to wake up into Shikai but he knew he just didn't have the energy for Bankai - he hoped they wouldn't need it.

It was going to be hard but he had to try. He felt the pull deep in his soul, he felt his body tremble with the exertion... but Renji was stubborn likely to a fault and perhaps that alone would be enough. It was going to have to be. Those left tried to gather way desperate energy they had left. They stood their ground, swords drawn - level but shaky in their grip... The battle started... dodging slow enough to narrowly miss being caught - some gaining more injuries... It was bad... What made it worse was that this was a Hollow that had they been fresh and not on their last reserves they'd have finished it quickly... But now? Now they were just trying to stay alive.

It lunged for Rikichi. Fangs caught the boy's leg causing him to cry out in pain. The 6th squad resident healer just wasn't fast enough. Renji moved... he could feel the energy shift. The garganta was opening and the Hollow was gearing up for a Cero blast. He dropped shikai... using the slight regain of energy to close the distance to Rikichi with shunpo. He picked the younger shinigami up and gave that sharp whistle letting everyone know the Garganta was coming... then, he broke out at a dead run for the slit opening up in the sky.

The hollow gave chase. He couldn't think about it. Just get to the other side, they'll be safe. Just keep running, keep everyone together and get Rikichi to Unohana. That was all he could think about. It felt like it was taking forever. The pathway was jagged and wild from their weakened energies and frantic states... but it was holding and that was all that really mattered - right? So long as they had the path they could get home.

But this was the method by which Hollows traveled as well and the thing was not giving up. "Just a little further." He called out hoping to bolster the nearly wiped out spirits of what was left of his squad. He prayed he wasn't lying. Finally they saw waning twilight and familiar white walls... Seireitei... Home. The light at the end of the tunnel. So close, so very close. The pendant thumped against his chest and he felt a shiver of energy go through his zanpakuto marks.

They broke through, but the Hollow was hot on their heels and getting ready to fire another Cero. "Scatter." Renji heard the words and hoped his ears weren't playing tricks on him. He was so tired and Rikichi, though small was growing heavier in his arms by the minute. "Captain, look out." Rikichi croaked out weakly... and Renji tried to dodge, but the Cero blast caught his left side. The last thing he remembered was a pink blur rushing past him before he hit the ground.

He woke later surrounded by oddly familiar comfort. He couldn't get his eyes to cooperate at first but the first attempt to move told him his midsection was bandaged as were his arms and one of his legs. There was a smell that teased the edges of memory... his mind desperately working through the fog and haze unconsciousness for an undetermined amount of time had caused. It took some time but finally his mind seemed to sort itself out... and the smell told him one thing - he was home.

His eyes blinked open and he looked around to make sure it wasn't just his desperate mind playing tricks on him. At this point, he wouldn't be surprised if it was. His room, his bed... familiar, warm, comfortable... All the things that marked this as home were present... save for perhaps the most important. A moment later, that too righted itself.

In walked the keeper of his heart corny as it might sound. His better half perhaps... his lover... his husband... He relaxed that much more. He tried to offer Byakuya a smile, but a throbbing in his head made him wince. "Captain Unohana says you are to take it easy. Your wounds have been mostly healed but you were so badly exhausted that she must wait for your reiatsu to replenish itself before she dares to attempt to do more than stabilize you." Byakuya explained.

Renji sighed. "So... how is it I'm here in our bed and not locked up in one of the ones at the 4th?" Renji asked. His voice was weak and raspy from lack of use. "How long have I been out?"

"Several days. I managed to coerce the good Captain to allow me to bring you home to rest somewhere more familiar. She has been here at regular intervals every day to check on you. Rikichi is fine, though he won't be up and walking around for a little while yet. Aside from being exhausted, the Hollow's attack managed to do some nerve damage. Again Unohana must wait for his reiatsu to return enough to facilitate the healing that needs to be done."

"The rest of the squad that made it back?"

"Being treated for exhaustion, dehydration, mild malnourishment and a multitude of injuries none of which were as severe as those you and Rikichi endured."

"Good.. good.." Renji said with a yawn. He felt so very tired.

"Will you be alright, Renji?" Byakuya inquired, his tone concerned.

"Lost six people... but yeah... I guess I'll be fine eventually." He says with a shrug that pulls his bandaged middle making him wince again.

"Urahara has been going over the information your team gathered. Due to the nature of our opponent it is hard to say how truly valuable it will all prove in the end, but even the scientist is optimistic. Their sacrifices need not be in vain, Renji."

"If Urahara is optimistic it must be something..." Renji said with a deeper yawn.

"You should rest."

"I know... but 'm just glad to be home. Glad to be back... Glad to see you again."

Byakuya smiled... "I am glad you have returned as well. You had me quite worried you know... it was distracting."

"Sorry 'bout that. Won't happen again." Renji joked tiredly. If only it didn't have to be a joke... but they both knew what the battlefield could be like.

Byakuya only nodded... Renji still looked so tired, so worn - had Unohana not assured him that Renji would make a full recovery, he might still be worried.

"I should leave you to rest."

"Don't go. Sit with me... just till I fall asleep?" Renji asks. "I missed you... kept thinkin' 'bout you, 'bout getting home. I think even Zabimaru missed you... we were so desperate to return that for a brief moment I could almost feel that energy - feel you and Senbonzakura... must have been my imagination... but it helped me keep going." Renji explained tiredly as Byakuya moved to sit beside him on the bed. His hand went to Renji's unbound crimson locks and gently sifted through them as much to calm himself and to reassure himself that Renji was here and okay as it was to comfort Renji.

"We felt you as well." Byakuya confessed.

"Some day we might have to let the scientist do some tests to figure out just how far this connection goes."

"It goes as far as it needs, what more do we need know than that?" Byakuya inquires, his tone somewhat possessive... It made Renji smiled.

"Just each other." Renji said softly as he faded out to sleep.