GoodLuckMotherFuckers- Wow, I feel so honored by the reception of this fanfic so far. It means a lot! I hope you enjoy chapter 3!
All credit for editing goes to Not so Anonymous, who at first was a reviewer turn into kick ass beta-reader. All credit goes to her!
Review Corner
Beruhime219: Wow! I love your Renji x Orihime story, so when you reviewed I did little mental fan girl scream, I'm glad you enjoyed that part! Thanks for your review!
Not so Anoymous: -Hugs her best beta reader-
Brendabond: I'm glad you do! Thanks for the review!
K: Ahh! I didn't see those, thank you. Chapter 1, and 2 has been re-edit by my beta reader. Thanks for your review!
WestAnimeBrigade: I like your user-name, here is more! ^-^ Thanks for your review!
Red-Weasel-Chan-Hahaha, I know right! Being married Renji is pretty good! I'm glad you still do! ^^
Renji's mouth hung open comically, only to shut after a minute of awkward silence. "I-" Renji began to say, only to repeat his previous mouth motion several times at his captain; clearly still flabbergasted and still registering what his captain had told him, resembling more of a fish then a lieutenant of soul society.
"It is nothing to be ashamed of," Byakuya stated. For those who didn't know the quiet captain, it came across that he was just stating a fact, very apathetically. However, to the rare few that knew Byakuya enough; this was his strange way of trying to comfort his lieutenant.
"Captain," Renji wheezed as he stood up right from his desk, swirling little bit, and feeling very light-headed from the lack of breathing he seemed to be doing at the moment.
"People have been in this predicament before," Byakuya delivered. This only seemed to worsen the state Renji found himself in.
"I did not get Inoue pregnant, Captain," Renji finally pronounced with blush as red as his hair painted across his face, just slowly trying to wrap his head around everything.
Byakuya gave Renji a stern look in return, "Renji, if she was impregnated by an other man, then marrying her simply because she would be an unwed mother is—"
"Inoue Orihime is not pregnant! No baby!" hollered Renji cutting off his captain before he had the chance to go on—and he was to surely regret this outburst at his captain later- "Nothing like that is going on!" Renji seethed, repeating the sentence over and empathizing the word that more each time, not to mention flailing his arms around in all different directions shouting clearly resemble a banshee then a soul reaper.
"Then this changes matters then," Byakuya replied back sternly, quickly cutting Renji's outburst short.
The evening Karakura sky was painted with a touch of orange, and it's female oranged-haired resident was not in one of her cheery moods as she leisurely and unhurriedly strolled about the suburb. Orihime's eyebrows knitted into a frown as she bit into her thumb nail, lost in thought.
Though she had gotten a text message from Renji to meet with him around sunset in the park, her stomach had twisted itself into worried knots that hampered her pace. She wasn't sure how Renji even got her cellphone number, or where her apartment was when he visited her last night when she stopped to think about it! Maybe the evil blue men were behind it? Telling Renji all the details of her life!
Slowly coming to a stop to lean against a metal fence, a heavy sigh escape from Orihime's cherry lips. She felt she was going to split in half from all this. She couldn't help but think back to what Tatsuki had said to her earlier when she found out about her engagement.
Orihime let out a small surprised yelp as Tatsuki suddenly grabbing her arm dragging her down the hallway and throwing her into the nearest empty classroom, quickly locking the door behind them so any unwanted guests could not enter.
"Ok, explain," Tatsuki announced, crossing her arms around her chest giving Orihime a stern glance. This caused Orihime too mentally chuckle for a second– Tatsuki resembled a mother hen scolding her little chickens!
However Orihime was soon brought back to reality by a fake cough from Tatsuki, who had been waiting and waiting for Orihime to start and explain this madness. The tapping of the tomboy's foot clearly conveyed her impatience.
"I..." Orihime uttered quietly as she sat on the nearest desk in empty the classroom. She could only give Tatsuki a sour look when she realized she had no idea what to say to her.
Tatsuki, sensing this and her friend's discomfort, decided to help her friend out, "Who is he?" Tatsuki inquired. That one question, however, seemed to open a dam of other questions because Tatsuki demanded and shouted out a dozen more right after.
"Ahh! Tatsuki-chan! Calm down, please!" A wide eyed Orihime shouted. "You're going to hurt yourself," Orihime gave a Tatsuki a soft pout in an attempt to calm her very stressed friend.
"Alright, alright! Do I know him?" Tatsuki asked slowly, breathing in to try to calm herself.
"No, he's a friend of Rukia's," Orihime responded carefully.
Tatsuki gave a grim expression causing Orihime to look downward, "So this does involve Ichigo and Rukia then."
"Tatsuki," Orihime spoke, but stopped and continued to study the floor tiles as she battled with herself in an internal conflict. What could she say to Tatsuki? She couldn't breathe a word on what really happened that month, going to the Soul Society to rescue Rukia. Tatsuki was also a childhood friend of Ichigo, and formed she was friends with Rukia too. Even though Tatsuki knew of her unrequited love with Ichigo, she did not want to mess with the pair's friendship. That would be beyond selfish and pitiful of her to take away a friend from the couple.
Orihime's thoughts continued on. What if Tatsuki didn't approve of the reason behind the marriage? That she there was no way she could simply say no?
She couldn't help but remember Renji's proposal and reasoning. His reasoning was so beautiful; she couldn't say no and crush him more then he already was. They were both in the same situation after all.
"I met him at Rukia's brother's beach house," Orihime declared, jerking her head up and smiling brightly. 'Think about robots and little strawberries doing a ballet,' Orihime told herself so she could smile genuinely. In a way it was sort of true, she did meet Renji and Rukia's brother when they went to rescue the soul reaper.
"So that's where you guys have been? Vacationing?" Tatsuki repeated, taken aback. "But you falling out of love with Ichigo seems—"
"A lot happened during the month," Orihime quickly interrupted. "I..." Orihime closed her eyes and imagined Ichigo's face, projecting her love for Ichigo into her next sentence. "I fell in love with him, while I fell out of love with Ichigo." Orihime said, lying straight through her teeth.
Tatsuki seemed to be surprised by Orihime's suddenly supposed revelation, but strangely convinced. "But getting married!" Tatsuki belled. "You're still in high school!"
Orihime could say nothing to that, and Tatsuki out let out a tired sigh. "Your going to be the death of me, Hime-chan."
"I want to meet him", Tatsuki stated, leaving no room for argument as she had already turned to leave the room. "At least he's not some tattoo and piercing nut-job forcing you into marriage," Tatsuki murmured as she started for the door.
Orihime let out a soft giggle rubbing the back of her head, sweat dropping at the comment. She couldn't help but imaging Renji's tattooed face and body, "Well your half right, Tatsuki-chan" Orihime whispered, slowly following her friend. 'I'm sorry for lying to you, Tatsuki-chan.' Orihime tearfully thought.
Orihime mentally frowned as she felt even more dread fill her.
She had been a terrible friend to everyone. She had lied to Tatsuki about so much, only to cause her more worry. To Ichigo, because she still loved him even though he was now officially with Rukia. And to Rukia, for still being so jealous of what kind of person she is, wishing to have the same qualities, and to be with Ichigo instead. Even to Renji in her own way.
Orihime eyes squinted. "What if he texted me to break the engagement? Or he didn't really mean it at all!" Orihime cast a distant and dazed look at the now dark sky.
"Oi, girl," a husky voice sunddenly spoke from behind as a hand grasp her shoulder. "I thought I told you—"
Orihime shouted in surprise from intruding voice, catching the stranger off guard. Fearing it to belong to a rapist or a zombie alien come to eat her brains, Orihime quickly spun around only to have her hands swing in the air and smack against something.
Or more precise, a nose that belonged to Abarai Renji.
"Dammit..." Renji groaned holding both of his hands to his now bloody nose.
"Oh my gosh! Renji-kun! I'm so sorry! Ahh! Blood is coming out!" Orihime panicked, circling around the groaning soul reaper.
"No shit Sherlock," Renji mentally grumbled.
"Does this count as spouse abuse?" A frazzled Orihime wondered.
GoodLuckMotherFuckers- Little spoiler for next chapter! Renji meets Uryu Ishida, while Orihime meets Rangiku Matsumoto! What on earth could happen?