Thank you all for the wonderful feedback I have been getting on this story. =) I love hearing from you and reviews are always welcome, and cookies *chocolate chip*

If you haven't please check out my other stories, and my brand spanking new one the enemy of my enemy is my lover...set after the winter war and is post apocalyptic.

I know you've suffered
But I don't want you to hide
It's cold and loveless
I won't let you be denied

Soothing
I'll make you feel pure
Trust me
You can be sure

You trick your lovers
That you're wicked and divine
You may be a sinner
But your innocence is mine

Please me
Show me how it's done
Tease me
You are the one

I want to reconcile the violence in your heart
I want to recognise your beauty's not just a mask
I want to exorcise the demons from your past
I want to satisfy the undisclosed desires in your heart

I can't believe I have it bad for a shinigami! This is inappropriate! He chided himself in his mind.

"Damn right it is Starrk!" Came the screeching voice of his other and in this instance better half. " Stop your fantasizing and either beat or fuck him already, make it quick too damnnit I'm getting tired."

"I don't want to" he sighed inwardly "I want to spare his life Lilnette, I have a plan."

"A plan?" She perked up, "Starrk you sly man I never thought you'd have it this bad" he swore he heard her laughing at him.

"Shut up Lilnette, you know you like him too."

She huffed "I admire him but unlike you I don't want in his pants!"

"Good, more for me" he said and she screeched loudly in disgust.

A squealing sound roused him from his daze as he saw the bone snake shooting towards him, quickly jumping aside he barely dodged it.

"Heh, I thought you were goin' to sleep on me espada!"

Starrk studied his fingernails "do forgive me shinigami, I find this tedious and this time of day is my favorite for napping" he looked up at the sun that was high in the sky. Yawning he lazily stretched his arms pinning the younger man with what he hoped was a slightly pathetic look.

"Renji, I am tired, will you consent to a small rest before we continue?" That had caught him off guard; Renji stared at him in disbelief before barking out a peal of laughter.

"Oh Starrk" he said chuckling "you are indeed priceless, even if you are the primera I am glad to be fighting you as it's proving to be very entertaining. The answer is no, I won't quit until one or both of us is dead." He hated saying that, but he knew what he had to do and dying wasn't on his agenda neither was killing this man.

"Then you leave me no choice, I apologize shinigami….Renji Abarai." He said the man's name softly but Renji had still heard it, he thought he even detected something akin to regret in the man's voice. No that couldn't be right, could it?

"Would you not regret it if you cut him down Renji?"

"Zabimaru?!" He asked in surprise, his zanpaktou usually didn't speak to him unless to ridicule or reprimand him.

"Are you so surprised? Your inner world is usually full of sunshine and green during a fight, instead it is cloudy and dark. Is he the cause of your unhappiness?"

"What? No there's no way!"

"Then tell me why it's miserable in here you dipshit?"

"Fine, I don't want him to die, I find him….intriguing."

"And by that do you mean you want to see him naked?"

Renji spluttered "no, not really. It's just…ahh…he's not like the rest, and he doesn't seem to want to kill me either."

"So, end this farce Renji!" His voice boomed in Renji's head. Yes, ending this would be best, there was no way he could win against the primera,not that he would admit it to anyone other than himself, which meant his only option was…death?

"You know better Renji, no one expects you to die; but…"

YES Renji had it, he knew what he needed to do to ensure the fight ended but he would need help, glancing around he saw Shunsui and Utitake looking up observing, those two would be perfect and would maybe go along with it.

"Starrk" he called to the espada who looked at him through half lidded lazy eyes and there was something else there he hadn't noticed before. "I am kind of tired, and I want to speak to my friends. How about that break you wanted?" He asked nervously and scratched the back of his neck. The espada looked at him with those gorgeous blue grey eyes and he found himself flushing slightly though he would never admit that to anyone.

"Thank you for your courtesy Renji, I would enjoy a brief rest while you speak to your friends, but one favor" he paused "make sure to tell the snow haired man please no more candy for Lilenette, she is becoming ahhh unbearable so to speak." He grinned wryly at Renji who nodded his assent before heading to speak to his friends.

Starrk studied the three men, the older two were looking at Renji with their mouths open which made him wonder what exactly they were talking about. He could sense that the two older men were vastly more powerful than Renji or even himself if such a thing was possible. He was grateful that he wasn't fighting those two, as laid back as they appeared he sensed something much deeper. He looked to the brunette, his brown hair waving in the wind with a small adornment at the base of his ponytail, his pink women's kimono standing out in stark contrast, eyes hardly visible underneath his broad rimmed straw hat a small lazy smile on his face. His partner seemed more serious, he had white hair and big brown eyes, he was strong yet Starrk felt that something was slowly killing him despite his power, this one was interesting he decided, in fact the pair was interesting. Yes he could tell they were a pair only an idiot couldn't, the way their bodies angled the way they looked at each other and how protective the brunette was over his counterpart. Something they said made the red head laugh and his throaty chuckle reached Starrks ears.

"I want to make him laugh like that" he thought to himself.

It seemed that they had finished whatever business they had before Renji stood before him wielding only his sword, Starrk fixed him with a surprised look

"Are we not going to continue this seriously shinigami?"

He shook his head, beautiful crimson locks dancing around his sweat stained face "no, we've had our fun I want to end this, you and I, sword to sword. After all" he grinned "isn't being a good swordsman the basic technique?"

Starrk would have to concede the point "you are correct. Also" he scratched his chin "I fear my resurrection and your bankai are not lending themselves to showing our true skills against one another."

"Shall we end this in one swing primera espada, Starrk Coyote?"

"It would be best Renji Abarai vice-captain of the sixth." He responded, making sure to use the other's title to return the gesture of respect. He wasn't oblivious to the two captains watching them, and he sent Lilnette off to them. He said a silent prayer that they would cooperate with his scheme. Renji jumped back as did Starrk readying themselves for the final blow, the sun glinting off their swords, sweat dripping into their eyes as a cool breeze fluttered their robes against the clear blue cloudless sky. Starrk took a deep breath in and slowly exhaled steeling himself for what he had to do, looking to his opponent he could find no uncertaintly or hesitation in the man's stance. Rushing forward they both charged at one another, Starrk angling his sword low, Renji holding his high. When he was a hairsbreadth away from the red head Starrk saw him drop his zanpaktou and let it fall to the side, he tried to stop but it was too late as he stabbed the man through the abdomen, a wound he knew would not be fatal for he had held his sword low on purpose. His eyes went wide with shock at the shinigami's action

"Renji...Why?"

"I can't fight you Starrk, finish me off if you must" he grimaced "I can't explain other than some part of me knows not to kill you." Starrk looked into warm, smiling crimson eyes and bowed his head slightly.

"Renji, I can't kill such a beautiful spirit. It's not in my nature, please live." He eased the other man off his sword and watched as Renji's eyes registered understanding and his lips offered him a small smile. He fell then, down out of the sky and into the arms of the white haired captain who lowered him to the ground. Turning around he found himself faced with the brunette.

"My my, you didn't kill him espada?"Starrk decided that being honest with this man would be best, after all he needed his help.

"I apologize, I did not think it necessary and wanted to preserve his life."

The brunette didn't look shocked and instead smiled "yes, Renji is special, he has asked me to spare yours." Starrks eyes went wide, the shinigami had plead for his life?Why? Why would he care?

"Are you really that stupid Starrk? Do you not recognize affection when you see it? You spared his and he wants to spare yours. At the very least it is respect for a fellow warrior if not more..." Lilnette's voice shot through his mind like a electric blast.

He looked at the man, "perhaps then shinigami you would do me a favor."

"I would consider it."

"I have no desire to fight you as I had no desire to fight Renji. However after seeing Aizen cut down my comrade Harribel, I have no reason to follow him. I cannot follow a man with no respect for those under him." The captain scratched his chin, taking it as a signal to continue Starrk did so "I wish to be freed of him. Shinigami, I...I wish to be with Renji." He all but finished in a whisper.

The captains eyes looked up, shining happiness at him. "Ah, yes we thought as much from your fight, though Renji will never admit it. Espada there is something I can do for you both, while we talk let us meet swords as otherwise it will look suspicious."

From the ground Renji watched the sky, he had asked Shunsui not to kill the man and he knew the captain would hold good to his promise, especially since Renji had promised to buy him several bottles of sake once they returned. Utitake was tending to his wounds which were extensive but not serious, even the one in his gut that hurt like hell had missed any vital organs, a move which Utitake told him, had been done on purpose. Why would the espada want to preserve his life? Did he have the same weird feelings Renji did? No, there was no way. He peered back up to where the two brunette men were clashing swords only to see Shunsui slice the espada across the chest, blood spurted in the air as the man slowly fell from the sky his eyes on Aizen the entire time. Renji made a noise in the back of his throat and tried to get up but Utitake was strong and held him down and he watched in disbelief as Shunsui positioned himself behind a building to catch the espada and cradle him like a child. He paid no mind to Renji as he walked toward his partner with the primera espada in his arms, acting like this happened everyday.

"Utitake, Renji, we are going to Urahara's."