Chapter 18
"Oh, you're awake?" asked a blonde haired man with a green and white hat. He stood in the doorway, his eyes hidden in the shadow of his hat. Ikkaku squeezed in past him, wearing what seemed to be a school uniform. His eyes widened as they fell on Hara who sat perfectly still on the bed, her eyes adverted.
"Hara…" said Ikkaku. Hara looked at him, then at the stranger in the hat. He stepped towards her,
"Hello, Hara. My name is Kisuke Urahara; it's nice to meet you." Hara stared up at him in shock,
"As in ex Captain Urahara?!" she asked amazed. He nodded,
"Yes. I see you've heard of me…" Hara nodded,
"Big brother used to tell me about you…" her eyes suddenly went sad.
"Your brother? Oh, yes, I met him once or twice…" said Urahara. Ikkaku stared at him and then at Hara. "Hmm…well, I'll leave you two to talk…" Urahara went out the door, closing it behind him with a soft click. Hara looked down at the floor, not knowing what to say to her friend.
Ikkaku sat down across from her; there was a clatter of something hitting the floor. Hara looked up to see a wooden sword beside him, she smiled,
"I see they didn't separate you from your habits…" she said. He gave her a smile,
"I'd prefer my zanpakuto…but, they wouldn't let me carry it around." Hara laughed softly.
"Speaking of zanpakutos…I saw your bankai!" she said. Ikkaku stared at her,
"What?! When?!" Hara relaxed slightly,
"When you fought against Edorad, I saw you." His eyes widened,
"What were you doing there?" Hara stiffened slightly,
"Well…I sensed you…and I was curious." she replied. He frowned,
"Don't tell anyone. Only you, Yumichika, and Renji know about it. I'd like to keep it that way." Hara nodded,
"Don't worry, Icky, I won't tell." He flinched at the nickname,
"Gah! I hate when you call me that." Hara smiled,
"I know." she said. Her smiled slowly faded as she rested her chin back on her knees. Ikkaku stared at her, as if trying to read her thoughts. Hara looked up at Ikkaku,
"Is…everyone okay?" she asked. Hara had let her rage almost out, when she had fought them. Only her love for her nakama kept her in control. He nodded,
"Yeah." his voice was calm, even. "But…" Hara stared at him,
"But what?" He stood up,
"Dammit, you sure did a number on Renji! I mean, I've never seen him so upset!" Hara flinched as Ikkaku paced back and forth in front of her. He looked down at her, "First you just disappeared on us…and then we found out Zuro was killed! We all had no idea if you were even alive!" Hara hid her face; she didn't want Ikkaku to see the tears running down her cheeks. Ikkaku crouched down beside her, he put his hands on her shoulders, "Do you know how hard it was for us? For him? For me?" Hara looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears. "I always loved you like you were my little sister, and you just disappeared off the face of the earth…or it seemed to us." Ikkaku suddenly put his arms around her in a rough hug, "And now you come back, on the opposite side of the battle field, claiming the girl we loved is dead." He let her go, and stared at her,
"And you know what?" he said, sounding like his normal self. Hara stared at him, "You're a liar."
"W-wha-" began Hara, but Ikkaku stopped her,
"If Hara Ayumi, the sister of Zuro Ayumi had really died…would she be crying during this conversation?! Would she have come to us to say goodbye?!"
Suddenly Renji burst through the door with a loud sound, his hair disheveled, and his breathing fast. He was wearing his soul reaper uniform,
"Renji what-" began Ikkaku,
"We're under attack!" he cried going towards Hara, "The arrancar are here, for you!" Hara felt herself back up into the wall, it looked like either Grimmjow had finally gotten around to rescuing her, or Aizen wanted her back. As she thought about it, Renji suddenly picked her up and threw her over his shoulder.
"Aiee!" screamed Hara, "Let me go, Renji!" He didn't answer, only began to stomp towards the doorway. Ikkaku watched in mild fascination, Hara glared at him, "Ikkaku! Help me!" she yelled as she flailed. He shook his head,
"'S outta my hands." he said. Hara was carried down the stairs and down another flight. She flailed and kicked, but Renji held on. Finally she stopped,
"Renji. Put-me-down." she said in a commanding, deadly voice. He sighed, and bounced her on his shoulder,
"No." he said, "I refuse to lose you to them." Hara was finally set down. She found herself in a huge underground room that looked a bit grander than the one at Shinji's. Renji stood in front of the entrance, his arms crossed over his muscular chest. Hara stared at him, he didn't look her in the eyes and she didn't want to do the same to him either. She knew she had hurt him, and she felt sorry for it.
But if the arrancar had come for her, let it be Aizen or Grimmjow, they wouldn't stop till they got her back. Meaning they would kill who ever got in her way, She stared at Renji's impassive face, since she had seen him last, he had gotten tattoos on his eyebrows.
He would not let Grimmjow take her away, nor anyone else; that was very obvious. Hara felt touched, but frightened at the same time, because she knew Grimmjow would be the same. She didn't want either Renji or Grimmjow to be hurt, or…killed.
Hara had to do something. She suddenly took off at a flash step propelled run, trying to force her way past him, but he grabbed her shoulder and shoved her backwards.
"You're not going anywhere." he said, his voice cold and angry. Hara crossed her arms over her chest,
"I have to leave!" she shouted at him, "If I don't, they'll kill you!" Renji stormed towards her, pinning her to a rock with his arms.
"We're a lot stronger than you think." he said, "I'm not letting you disappear again." Hara sighed and looked at the ground,
"Renji, listen." she said slowly, "I'm sorry for all the pain and sorrow I've caused you…I never wanted things to turn out this way…" She looked into his eyes, "You're my nakama…I never wanted to hurt you…but things just didn't turn out like they should have." He sighed and released her, his hands falling limply by his side. Hara suddenly wrapped her arms around him; he stiffened in shock, and then practically fell on her. Hara dropped to her knees, and he did the same, his head resting on her shoulder.
"H-Hara…" he whispered. Hara fought the tears she felt rising up,
"Renji, I wish this hadn't happened this way, but it did." she leaned back and placed her hands on the sides of his face, making him look into her eyes, "I love you as my nakama…but nothing more. I'm sorry." he tried to pull away, but she didn't let him, "Listen to me, Renji! You can do so much better than me! You need to let me go!" she cried. "You can't save me…I know you think you are by keeping me here, but sooner or later the soul society will kill me! You have to let me go!" He stared at her,
"I can't-" he began, but she suddenly kissed him on the lips quickly.
"I'm sorry for the pain you have gone through over me…I'm sorry I've done this to you…" He was in shock from her kiss. Hara got to her feet slowly, "Goodbye Renji, my nakama…I wish for you to find someone who can share her love with you…" Renji blankly stared as Hara turned and began to run for the stairs. He didn't stop her.