A/N: If I haven't told you yet, I made a trailer for this story on YouTube. The link is in my profile. I'm very proud of it, it being my first ever video, so your input is welcome. There is also a poll open for my sequel Learning to Laugh please cast your votes now ^^
Edited and Rewritten
I don't own Bleach
Opening her eyes, Renee looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings. It was dark and she could see that she stood next to a running river, a bridge could be seen in the distance. House lights shone brightly in the background, lighting up the sky behind her.
"Finally I'm going to get my revenge against you Renee Duvall. You'll pay for what I went though because of your special ability." A male voice said from behind her.
Turning she tried to get a look at the man before her, only to come face-to-muzzle with a pistol. Panic set in, and Renee tried to reach into the man's mind, only to come up against a barrier. It wasn't like with Renji, this was different. It was as if the man had created a steel wall around his thoughts. Effectively blocking her from entering and taking control.
Backing as far away as she could mange, Renee looked up at the man, only to see nothing but a blurry face. She couldn't tell if she knew him or if he was a complete stranger. "What do you want with me?" She asked, trying to keep him talking while she thought of a way out of this.
'Where the hell is Renji when I need him?' she thought, searching for the red head.
The man before her started talking, his voice was different, she couldn't make out exactly what he was saying. But she could plainly see the gun now pointed at her chest. A shout behind the man, had Renee taking her gaze off the deadly weapon.
Her first mistake.
Standing up on a ridge stood three people, the red head she knew, the others she didn't, and couldn't make out their faces, they too were blurred. Her second mistake came, when she ran past the crazy man with the gun, crying out at Renji and his friends. "Run Renji, get outta here!"
A loud bang sounded, and the worst pain imaginable consumed her entire body, dropping her to her knees. Looking down she saw the unmistakable color of blood. Her blood, covering her stomach, staining the green grass. Glancing up, she watched as Renji's expression changed from shock, to horror, to anger, all in a couple seconds.
Falling face down on the ground, she could feel the warmth of her blood pooling around her body, and as darkness consumed her mind, she heard Renji's voice crying her name.
Renee woke with a scream, and the door to her bedroom burst open, revealing a shirtless Renji. His hair was braided and hung over his right shoulder, Zabimaru unsheathed, and ready to attack. "What's wrong!" he yelled, looking around her room for the threat.
Shaking her head, she tried to erase the images of her dream from her mind. "It felt so real? Is it a glimpse of my future of just a crazy dream?" she asked herself, ignoring Renji as he looked at her like she was going mad.
"There isn't any danger in here, is there." He stated, lowering his sword.
Looking up into his eye's, she gasped when all she saw there was the look's of, shock, horror and anger on his face. Giving her head another shake, she answered him, "Not if you count my subconscious trying to kill me."
"What are you talking about?" He asked, confusion on his face.
Waving him off she climbed out of bed, only to notice that she still wore the same outfit from yesterday. All except her shoes and socks. "Ugh, why didn't you wake me when we got home?" she asked walking over to her dresser. Looking over at the clock, she saw that it was only 8:00 in the morning. "Might as well get up and get dressed for the day."
Shooing Renji out of her room, she undressed and got into the shower. While washing her hair, she couldn't help but think about that damned dream. Was it real or just that, a horrible nightmare. At times like these, she really hated that part of her powers. Only able to catch glimpses of the future and unable to tell weather it was real or not.
After a somewhat distracted shower, she quickly dressed in a pair of cut off jeans that came to just above her knees. A plain grey shirt completed her attire, and she walked out of her bedroom, hair brush combing through her damp strands. Looking down at Renji, she saw that he was already back to sleep, wearing the pair of black Slipknot pajama bottoms she'd bought. Lying on his stomach she could see the tribal tattoos that covered his back. Shaking her head, she tossed the hairbrush at him, it landed in the middle of his back. Moving back towards her bedroom, she laughed as Renji jumped out of bed, sword in hand, again. Stepping away from her door and walked into his line of sight. "Do you sleep with that thing?"
"What the hell is your problem?" He yelled, face red with anger.
Renee stood her ground, showing him she wasn't intimidated, "Whatcha gonna do Renji?"
Sighing, Renji put Zabimaru down on the bed and looked away from the female. "How are you feeling? Do you remember anything about last night?"
Tapping her chin she thought about it, "Well I remember David coming to pick us up for the mall. That hollow showing up and you running off to fight it, while I controlled your gigai thing. Getting to the mall, only to be bombard by hundreds of thoughts at once. Making your gigai try on a bunch of different clothes to see how they looked, because I didn't know what you liked. David leaving, sitting down trying to block out as many thoughts possible." She looked at him and smiled. "You showing up and playing my knight in black clothing."
Renji smiled at her comment, "Is that it?"
"No," Renee blushed and walked away to the fridge, grabbed a Mountain Dew, and continued. "I remember lying in the back seat of Fez's truck, my head in your lap, telling you how having you around seemed to help me focus on blocking out the thoughts of the people around. Then falling asleep."
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Renji leaning against the wall, nodding. "Well, Fez brought us back here, and I carried you in and put you to bed, only removing your shoes and socks." He scuffed, "That friend of yours really doesn't trust me."
"Yeah, Fez is like that. Ya'll didn't get into it, did you?"
"Nah, wasn't worth my time. I told him to leave, that I'd take care of you." Renji pushed off the wall and walked back into the living room. "He wouldn't leave till I promised to make you call him the second you woke. So you might want to give him a call before he starts blowing up your phone."
Grabbing the house phone, Renee dialed Fez's number. He answered on the first ring. "Renee, how are you feeling? Did that red headed basterd take care of you like he said?"
"Calm down Fez, I've already told you, Renji, is harmless. So yes he took good care of me." she replied looking in the pantry for something to eat. "Hold on Fez," covering the phone, she yelled into the living room at her guest. "What do you want to eat for breakfast Renji?"
"Don't matter," He called back.
"Fine," Placing the phone back to her ear she said, "Sorry bout that, we just woke up and I'm trying to figure out what to eat."
"YOU SLEPT WITH HIM!"
Renee could see her friend's face turning a deep shade of red and the vain in his forehead throbbing. She smiled evily, an decided to mess with his head a bit. "Oh yeah Juan. After you left last night, I woke up and we got a shower together, the hot water wasn't the only thing that steamed up my bathroom, let me tell you. Then, we went straight from the shower to my bed, dripping water the who-"
"WHAT THE FUCK RENEE DUVALL? I CAN'T BELIE-"
She couldn't hold it in any longer and started laughing hysterically. "Wow Fez, you're just as bad as Ryan when it comes to sarcasm. No, we did not sleep together, he slept in the living room, while I slept in my bed. When I got up this morning, I woke him up too." she sighed, "Always jumping to conclusions Juan. You really need to get a handle on that."
"Fine, my bad."
"You're forgiven. Now was there anything important you wanted or did you just want to check up on me like you're my father?"
"No, I was worried about you."
"Well thank you for caring, but I'm starved and need something filling. Bye Fez."
"Yeah whatever, bye." He hung up before she could.
Moving away from the pantry, box of Captain Crunch in hand, she went to grab two clean bowls for her guest and herself. The sound of a phone ringing made her look over to the small table where she'd placed the house phone. It was silent. Hearing Renji's voice talking in the living room had her leaving the cereal behind.
Renji was sitting up on the pull out bed, his hair now pulled up into his high ponytail. A serious look on his face. "Yes, I understand." He hung up the little cell phone and looked over at her.
"Is something wrong?" She asked.
"I have to leave, I'm needed somewhere else." He said looking away from her.
Renee's heart did a nosedive. "But I thought those hollow were becoming a problem here? I can't fight them, we know that already. My mind isn't strong enough to hold them back." She was becoming angry. "What about the innocent souls here, that are in danger? I thought you were here to help."
Renji stood and looked around for his uniform. "Look, I'm not the one in control. I don't make the decisions." He found his uniform under the bed, grabbing it he went to change in the bathroom. Only to find that the door wouldn't open, he sighed. "Let me get to the bathroom, Renee."
"So you just show up out of the blue one night, save me from a hollow that could've killed me, show me that there is someone out there that I can't read, bringing with me some kinda peace, and then because you get a call from gods only know who, you leave without really explaining anything. What kind of shit is that?"
"I've already told you, it isn't up to me. If I'm told I have to leave then I have to leave. They're sending someone else to take care of the hollows so you won't have to worry." He glared back at her. "Now please let me into the bathroom." The door suddenly opened up, forcing him to catch himself if he didn't want his face to meet the carpet. "Thank you."
"Whatever, just get dressed and leave." She said, walking to the front door. Stepping out she slammed the door behind her.
Renji secured his zanpakuto to his left hip and walked to the door. Opening it he saw Renee sitting on the top step, staring out at the woods. "You know, I knew that it was only temporary, you being here, and if I could read you, then I wouldn't be as upset as I am about this. But I can't read you, the first person to come along that I can't read, and you're leaving." She shrugged, and stood. "Guess I'll get over it." Stopping next to him, she handed him his sunglasses, "If you're ever in town again look me up."
He watched as she opened the door and walked inside, closing it softly behind her. Stunned he stood there for a moment before reaching for the knob, only to stop when the Senkaimon appeared behind him, its doors sliding open. It was time for him to leave.
"See ya, Renee."
Hope you enjoyd, added a bit to this chapter. Remember to R&R ^^