-Chapter 2-

-How They Meet/Flashback-

"Espada is a group of rebels. They fight against the Shogun and Shinigami. This group has yet again bombed one of the facility in Soul Society. Thanks to them, we have suffered greatly. The whole division had suffered heavy injuries. Their bombs are not to be underestimated despite the relatively small size. Not only that, the Espada had been spreading rumours about us in order to lower and tarnish our reputation. Although the people of Soul Society had came to accept that we have been working with the Vizards, some are still... upset and with those rumours going about, they would surely turn to the Espada and join them to fight us off. We have understood that the Espada is doing this terrorist act as these rebels are unhappy that we have surrendered to the Vizards without putting much of a fight. However, that is still not an acceptable act to do such things. We are to find these rebels and wipe out the group as fast as we could. I am going to put Kurosaki Ichigo in charge. Kuchiki, you are to assemble a group and set out for patrol. You all are dismissed," Kuchiki Byakuya spoke with calmness though his grey eyes reflected off annoyance and anger.

Kurosaki Ichigo, a commander, stood up upon his name. He bowed and thanked Kuchiki for the role. Kuchiki could only nod and walked out of the room. Ichigo sighed as he straightened himself out. He was now rubbing his aching temples. His eyelids were heavy and he was at the verge of sleeping away. He had stayed up for the last few nights ever since Espada had became active. He clenched his fists as he glared at the wall in front of him. The mere thought of the Espada had sent his blood boil.

"Gah, this is getting annoying! Renji! I am passing this role to you. I don't care what that stuck-up noble say. You assemble a group. Now," he spoke with much annoyance. Without getting a reply, he had stomped off. Before his foot had stepped out of the room, he had fallen to the ground (rather ungraciously) and was soon heard snoring away. He was facing face-down on the floor. His feet stretched out. His arms were by his sides. Drool was already dripping out from a corner of his mouth.

"...What?" Abarai Renji, vice-captain, stared at Ishida Uruyuu who seemed to be glaring at him. He had woken up from his little nap.

"You are supposed to assemble a group for patrol right now, Abarai," Ishida replied sternly and angrily. He hated Abarai for getting the place of the vice-commander and for hurting his friend. He clenched his fists as he continued on glaring at the yawning redhead. He was about to grab his arrows and shoot them on the forehead when Abarai simply stood up and mumbled out random names.

"Let's go," Renji spoke without much enthusiasm. He pulled out a cigarette and began to smoke. His eyes were zoning out as he led the sleepy group. He stared at the sleeping form of the commander and smiled at the marvellous and cute sight of said commander. However despite finding that the commander looked cute and irresistible, he stepped on the sleeping commander purposely. He even jumped once... twice on the sleeping commander before heading out, acting nothing had happened. A smirk adorned on his face as his ears caught on the groans of pain.

"Abarai, you shouldn't do that. Commander-san would screw your ass..." spoke Ishida monotonously (though back in his mind he was already chopping the vice-commander into pieces).

"What are you talking about? I didn't do anything. Oi, Yumichika... Did I do something?" Renji eyed Yumichika, silently giving out a cold stare at Yumichika.

Yumichika shuddered and replied quickly and much enthusiasm.

Ishida glared at Renji secretly.

"Ummm... What are we looking out for?" Renji asked coolly.

Ishida had gritted his teeth. "We are supposed to look out for the Espada, Vice-Commander." He was loosing his cool. He nearly exploded with rage when he heard Abarai responded with a simple and lazy 'oh'. His fingers were itching to shoot arrows at the clueless vice-commander.

Renji stomped onto his cigarette and pulled out another cigarette. He lighted it up and began to smoke on it. He could feel the glares coming from the four-eyed captain but paid no attention. The group remained quiet. No one bothered to spike up a conversation since majority of the men were still half-asleep or had nothing to talk about. Ishida was enjoying himself with the thoughts of...

"Twenty-fourth Abarai's corpse!" Ishida had yelled out with much excitement.

Renji's eye twitched as the cigarette fell from his mouth onto the ground. He turned his head to glare at the four-eyed captain who was whistling away. He was about to hurl curses towards him when he saw someone walking down the street, towards the group. His attention was then directed to the person who was wearing a straw hat that was covering his face and a simply plain yukata. He was holding onto some bags. Renji stared at the person without much caution. He walked past the person, not caring about the passer-by.

"Die."

Renji widened his eyes as he spun around. The passer-by had threw away his straw hat, revealing...

"Grimmjow Jagerjaques! He's a member of Espada!" shrieked Ishida as he shot his arrows towards Grimmjow.

Renji blinked dumbly as he witnessed the other men of the group joining in the fight. He witnessed how weak they were. One by one, he witnessed, being kicked or punched and dropped to the ground, already defeated.

Ishida muttered a few curses as he did a back-flip. Just when he was about to shoot, he felt a kick at his side which had sent him flying off. He spurted out blood and attempted to get up when a foot crushed his back, holding him in place.

Renji had yet to make a move.

"Pathetic! Dogs of the Shogun! Pathetic, you all are!" Grimmjow's voice cut through the silence.

Renji stared at Grimmjow.

"Another one?" Grimmjow spoke mockingly. "You're so pretty. Since you're pretty, I'm giving you a chance to 'kill' me." As he said the word 'kill', he had his finger out as in beckoning him, daring him to make the first move. His lips had been curled into a smirk filled with cockiness.

Renji continued on staring.

"What?! Are you underestimating me?!" Grimmjow barked. His smirk had fallen.

Renji continued on staring.

"What the fuck are you staring at for... huh?!" Grimmjow barked before running towards the redhead with his fist hurled to the back.

"You're hot," Renji stated simply.

Grimmjow's fist hurled onwards. When he heard the sentence, his fist suddenly dropped and his body followed suit. He was taken by surprise. 'Could this be... the great Commander, Kurosaki Ichigo?! He is a legend in surprising his opponents off! What a great tactic! But I won't lose to this jerk!' he thought. He stood up only to fall again.

Renji had pressed his foot onto Grimmjow's back, holding him in place. A smirk, similar to Grimmjow's, plastered on his face.

"Pathetic! Pathetic rebel you are!" Renji's voice was filled with cockiness.

Grimmjow's eyes widened. He had been owned by his own words. He was being humiliated by his own words. He gritted his teeth. With much strength, he grabbed Renji's ankle and pulled Renji down.

Renji fell down onto the ground with a loud thud. He glared at Grimmjow who was giving off the most cocky smirk ever. The blue eyes reflected off victory under the moonlight. A blush crept up his face after realising how hot Grimmjow looked under the moonlight. He gulped down the sudden lump in his throat. He was speechless as he took in the sight of a smirking Espada. He knew that Grimmjow was staring back at him from those cloudy blue eyes. His eyes travelled everywhere. His mind began to fill with dirty thoughts. "Sexy..." he muttered out.

Grimmjow's eyes widened as he stumbled backwards. He was off-guard once more!

Renji had stood up and walked towards Grimmjow. He noticed how unfocused those blue eyes were so he took a risk. He brushed his lips on a cheek. His face was already crimson. He pressed his lips onto the cheek. He heard a gasp coming from the other. He pulled away, averting his gaze away from Grimmjow. He looked at the ground, playing around with his thumbs. He had bitten his lower lip as he had taken an interest of the ground.

"You... you! How dare you! How dare you humiliate me and mock me with a... k-k-k-k-k... I will be back and screw your ass!" Grimmjow barked angrily.

Renji's blush had taken to a new level.

Grimmjow had left the scene so he missed out Renji's reaction. His face was red with embarrassment as he hopped off from roof to roof. The feeling of Renji's lips on his cheek burnt in his mind. "Kurosaki Ichigo... I hate you." He mumbled. How sad. He did not even know who was the man that dared to humiliate him with a kiss.

Renji touched his lips. He kissed him! His lips stretched into a smile. He was still smiling like an idiot when Ichigo and his group came to the scene.

"Oi, Renji! What are ya smiling for?! Get your ass here and carry Ishida back to the headquarters!" Ichigo screamed as he grabbed an innocent-looking arrow. He tossed it towards the smiling redhead.

Renji did not even notice or heard Ichigo. He was too lost in the sensation and memory of the kiss. He did not even notice that the arrow that Ichigo had thrown had pierced him in the... asshole literally.