I am quite aware what its like to read massive blocks of text, so I'll try keep my chapters somewhat shorter than those of a generic novel.

I am definitely not as adept at Bleach lore and correct use as I am with other animes, so If I slip up something major, please let me know.

Welcome to chapter two

First Temptation of Abarai

Kenpachi turned around to follow Hitsugaya, who had already began to make his way towards the Senkaimon. Renji knew what defiance ment, but he was still confused as to how that was a plan, or how the Captain of the 11th was able to grasp it before him. Even though he hadn't found Rukia, he still started to follow Kenpachi. The Senkaimon was back into the seretei, but it was a much faster journey as Byakuya and Toshirou insisted on using shunpo to travel, much to his disdain, as his flash step abilities were no where near the level of a captain, nor did he have the raw speed of Kenpachi, who opted to just sprint the way, whilest leaping between structures.

Renji sighed as he was left behind by the captains, but the faster they could reach Ichigo, the more time they would have to prepare. He knew they would need all the time they could get, but the thought of the odds nearly brought him despair. 5 shinigamis verses the entirety of the seretei courtguard, and the realisation made him wish he had a more similar mindset to his 3 captain companions

Toshirou, whos calm and collected personality allowed him to think clearly, no matter what the situation, Byakuya, whos power and pride could never leave him in ruins, and Kenpachi, who wants nothing more than a fight.

"I guess that's the quality of a captain" He said to himself as he picked up speed, no longer caught in his realisation.

The only other members of the courtgaurd that had achieved bankai were himself and Ikkaku, and from that analysis, neither were suited to become a captain.

Renji had told me of his thoughts on that topic more than once, and I would always disagree with him, though I never told him why. It was his loyalty to his companions and friends that would have made him a perfect captain. He wouldn't have been the strongest captain, at least at the time, but there would have been no better captain in my eyes.

As the Senkaimon came into veiw, Renji realised why they hadn't bothered to go and get Rukia. She was standing beside the rest of the party, all facing his direction, obviously in waiting for him.

"Hurry up Renji!" Rukia called out, her tone showing her impatience rather her opinion of urgency.

Renji frowned as he came up to the rest of the group.

"Open the gate" Toshirou ordered, facing the group of shinigami in charge of the Senkaimon, though not looking at them.

The shinigami hesitated.

"Wasn't Captain Soifon supposed to being going as well?" One of them asked.

The captains present looked at eachother.

"Soifon won't be joining us today" Byakuya answered. "Her style isn't suited for apprehension."

The Shinigami from the 13th sqaud shrugged it off, for it was true, and it wasn't his play to ignore a captains orders.

As the Senkaimon opened;

"Hitsugaya," Renji began. "What's the gates destination?"

But instead of giving a reply, the 4 other shinigamis entered the soul gate. Renji caught only quickly this time, realising the destination was of importance to their mission.

"Close the gate immediatly after we are through" Renji ordered the shinigami in charge as he too enetered the gate.

Renji spent the extra energy to catch up to the group. The 5 then ran in silence, not because they were lost in thought, but the conflicting personalities were still making it hard for them to bond. Renji knew though that it would be vital.

"We're going first to Urahara?" He asked, posing the question to all of them.

"Yes, he's the only one who help us with our gigai and spiritual limiters" Replied Toshirou.

Renji for one had forgotten about both, since he had spent most of his recent battles in Los Nachos, where neither were a problem. He didn't bother asking how Urahara was able to help, as it was obvious none of them there knew. The limiter wouldn't be be a problem for Rukia, but the gigai issue was an important one, as both ones he knew of wouldn't work. The one created by the soul soceity allowed them to be traced, and the one created by Urahara drained spirital power.

"Reaching Urahara will be vital to our plan in many more ways than will first come to mind, Renji" Byakuya stated. "Though we are all strong, I doubt we have enough."

Not even Kenpachi spoke to denounce what the captain of the 6th said, and out of them all, he would have been the first to announce his power to the rest of the group. Renji didn't know what he meant by not having enough, but he figured it was exactly in the way he had said; more ways than those that immediatly come to mind. The first however, was the ability of Kuchiki Rukia.

Unlike the rest of them, including Ichigo, she was the only one to not have achieved bankai, which, just as Urahara had explained it to Ichigo, would increase her power ten fold.

Thinking of the humor in the situation;

"Hey, Rukia, get your ass into gear, you're lacking bankai" Renji said, uttering a laugh to himself.

Rukia and Toshirou failed to see the point of the joke. Kenpachi took it differently.

"So, you need bankai to powerful?" Kenpachi questioned Renji.

Renji knew immediatly what this would lead too, and braced himself. He knew arguing or reasoning would only delay the inevitable.

"Alright Kenpachi, draw your sword" He replied. "I know there's no way out of this"

Kenpachi's grin widened, as his chipped, battle~scarred unknown Zanpakuto was unsheathed, and he stood ready, or as much as he needed for the fight. Renji too drew his sword.

"Howl, Zabimaru!" He called, running his hand along the face of the blade.

The black blades protuded from the edge as it widened. As his hand left the tip of the blade, he widened his legs into his battle stance.

As expected, the others stopped running and stood to watch. But, not all were amused.

"Renji stop, you're wasting time!" Rukia called, again, in the same old, cold tone.

She motioned to get betwen the quaralling men, but Byakuyas arm came between them. Before she could question his actions, Toshirou had stepped forward.

"Hey!" He called, and aquiring the battle~ready men's attention. "The Senkaimon will calapse if you fight."

Renji and Kenpachi both stood and stared at eachother, neither truly willing to give up the pending fight. But quietly, both men knew of the fragility of the Senkaimon, and retracted their weapons. Simultaniously, they turned and continued walking through the Senkaimon.

"Don't go around thinking this is over" Renji said, his arms resting over his Zanpakuto on his shoulders.

"Cut it out Renji" Rukia said in response, as she left following Byakuya.

Both Kenpachi and Renji uttered a "Chh" in unison as an act of disregard to Rukia's comment.

Toshirou waited until they had all passed to finally turn and follow. The density of the shadow enveloping them was beginning to thin, showing evidense that they were nearing the exit of the Senkaimon; a relief to both Byakuya and him, who were wary of the futility of any fights between the party.

The silence between them returned as the shadows continued to thin more and more rapidly, until the exit appeared, and the image of Urahara's shop pearing through, and the light illuminating the surounding darkness.

I had never thought Renji would be that bent up on his own pride to challange Kenpachi, considering his goal was always to be defeat Byakuya. But, you know, it wasn't long into our training did I finally figure out why. Always being pushed into the background, always being more so useless when times got tough, Renji's jelousy was beginning to tempt him. In the long run I guess it worked for him, but it was scary at first to see what he would go through to prove himself. If you want to see the marks of his determination, just ask your uncle.