GoodLuckMotherFuckers: Not too long ago I turned 20! So I been on this site now for 7 years! Wow! Just wow! Thank you everyone for the amazing feedback regarding my user name, everyone been so helpful! It gave me allot to think over, everyone brought up good points in the matter. Just thank you so much! Here early updated then I promised!
Reviewer Corner:
.cake: What's the story behind your user-name? Seems like a cool story, anywhoo yes! Cliffhanger! I love to write them, thank you for the kind thoughts on my story.
MeggzieofHyrule: Aww! Thank you! That means the world to me!
Oh My Kira: YES FEAR THE MIGHTY CLIFFHANGER!
Miss quirky bookworm: Maybe Right on sister! I'm assuming your girl based on "Miss" however if I'm wrong… Right on brother!
WestAnimeBrigade: YESSSSS! But aww, thank you for your review, also thank you so much on matter about my user-name. It helps, and aww… I hate to put you in awkward situation like that
BleachBunny3: Okay
Red-Weasel-Chan: Could be worse, you could be named Cinderella! Footloose is pretty cool movie so I can see why your name that. But I agree about tension, and happy late Christmas too you!
Nypsy: Oh nypsy, nypsy, I love you, you're the best… Sorry for the late update, to answer your question. Yes Orihime still has karate training which will be brought up later on, I know what you mean I have outline for the series so if I have spare chapter I might add that. Abbreviation! That is a great loop hole idea! You should be a lawyer! LOL! I have hidden Renji "man parts!"….mwhahaha….
War90: War! What is it good for? Sorry couldn't help myself, thank you for the kind thoughts, enjoy the update!
Fire19: Oh shucks! Your making me turn red from head to toe your opening sentence makes me laugh each time! Thanks for your input though, it really helps and means the world!
KittyHakubi: Haha, That would be awful if you did have one though! Good idea though, about having back ups, I will do that right away. Knock on wood though! Thanks for your review and thoughts.
Tellie: Your user-name so very cute! But I agree! But wow though, I didn't knew that fanfiction rule, which makes me little more nervous. You brought up many good points and things to think over, I can't thank you enough.
Nayyy27: Thank you for the nice thoughts! I like that last line though, "Don't change it to much so it doesn't show who u really are." That was deep! And I full heartily agree!
: Yes, I'm still surprise by it, but wow! Thank you for your kind thoughts, I would like to update "Time to say Goodbye" but seem to have mind cramp regarding that fanfic. But thank you for understanding, and your input on the matter.
Jaggarte x: LOL, stuff them side, but yeah that's my major worry as well. But omg! I have that same problem with founding other authors I like as well! I'm amazed those words haven't been blacklisted! Thank you for your sweet review!
Stremi da la Saetta: Oh yeah, I forgot that minors read fanfics too…I see the other side point, thanks for bringing that fact to me. It helps, enjoy the story! Thanks for the awesome review!
"What's with the sour look princess?" one of the main boys asked as he step forward to the frowning Orihime. She slowly stood up as the boys moved in to form a circle around her.
"Please let me through," Orihime asked sternly, causing the gang to laugh lightly.
"Listen, toots," said the same boy, grabbing Orihime's arm in the process, "How about you and us have a little fun?" He showed a full grin, displaying his cigarette-yellow, stained teeth. Orihime quickly shook her head and was about to speak but was cut off by the gang's laughter.
"Let me go," Orihime whispered, her eyes red from crying, but she stared directly into the thug's eyes.
Renji glared and grumbled as he walked down the sidewalk. His bones ached and his eyelids were heavy, and each passing second only ticked him off more… But then again, it was no better than waiting in the apartment with a now-drunken, gleeful Matsumoto, which drove him even more insane. The sooner he found Orihime, the sooner he could get some rest and calm that metallic feeling he was having in the pit of his stomach. Why he felt that way towards her of all people was something he did not want to analyze anytime soon. Just the fact alone that he was worried about someone still a stranger to him disturbed him a little bit; it is better to save your own neck and not worry about others. The best way to live is the life of a stray dog. He learned his lesson with Rukia. But here he was, searching the streets for any sign of his missing wife. Renji silently cursed to himself, half-lidded eyes staring dully at the sky. It was late… It was late an hour ago, and now it was too late. Too late for his wife to be out god knows where. Renji let out a long sigh as he ran fingers through his hair. 'If I were a teenage human girl, where would I be?' Renji muttered sarcastically to himself. 'I would be at home, instead of running off to god knows where and worrying my husband.' Feeling a pair of eyes staring at him, Renji quickly spun around, growling at the young pair who seemed to gasp at the intimated look on Renji's face. "Whatcha looking at? You never see someone walk on the sidewalk before?" Renji suddenly snapped at the couple. Smirking to himself as he watched the young couple run away, he thought, 'That's one way to relive some stress; now if only I could break someone's face in half I'll be all right…"
Renji let out a small growl under his breath as he continued with his search, not knowing the town that well other than the school and park. Renji figured his best chance to find Orihime was in the park. Renji choked when blazing red lights went on and off, signaling him to come closer. A shaky breath escaped his lips as his vision grew clearer. There were stretchers and white-coated men escorting some beaten boyish-looking thugs who were being questioned at same time.
"Stupid little thing Bitch! When I get my hands on her…" sneered the thug, spitting out blood while yelling out at the police offer writing down the assault.
Red eyebrows formed into a knot. "What girl?" Renji growled at the two.
The officer looked up from his notepad. "Please, sir; step behind—" He was cut off as Renji suddenly appeared, grabbing the half-beaten boy on the stretcher.
"What girl?" Renji shouted, clenching his fist. "Or I will wreck your face so badly your mother won't even recognize you." Renji screamed at the thug frozen in terror.
"Some girl, orange hair, ran that way." He slurred from his busted lip and pointed in the opposite direction with a crooked finger.
Renji quickly lunged out of his gigai form and sprinted away fast enough to avoid the shouting officer and not be seen. "I knew something like this was going to happen…" Renji thought angrily, sprinting off in the direction the thug told him. "Maybe that Ishida was right…first Rukia, then Orihime, I can never do anything right by anyone".
It took nearly three hours to search the park entirely, and with still no luck finding his missing wife, Renji leaned against the tree, out of breath, sweat coming down his brow. "Where the hell is she? Why can't I sense her?" Renji seethed, digging his nails into the tree.
*Ring ring*
Renji's dry lips clenched, hearing his badge go off.
By the fifth time, he decided to pick it up out of annoyance. "What?" Renji snapped into the phone. He received a pause on the line, then "What have you been doing all night?" the voice asked on the other end, almost mocking Renji.
Renji growled under his breath, "Listen, I have no time for this. Orihime has been—" Renji was immediately cut off. "Orihime is fine, Renji. She came back two minutes ago. She is sleeping right now," Matsumoto said in a motherly tone. After a minute of no talking, Matsumoto began to speak again. "Renji?" Matsumoto flinched away from the phone, hearing her friend scream at the other end and a loud crack, which Matsumoto could only assume was something breaking, it sounded like a tree too her.
"I'm on my way," Renji yelled into the phone. "Make sure she stays there, this time!"
Matsumoto only sighed as she looked down at the sleeping redhead at the table, light drool coming down her face. Grinning softly, Matsumoto put a blanket around the redhead and stepped outside to wait for the fuming soul reaper. By the time Renji came back and achieved his gigai form, it was already sunrise and early morning, the start of day with everyone waking up. Matsumoto waited in front of the door and grinned at the tired soul reaper who gave a half-hearted glare back. "Morning, Renji-chan!" Matsumoto greeted.
Renji snarled, "Where is she? Is she okay?"
Matsumoto gave a soft nod, letting Renji enter the apartment. "She had a tough night."
Orihime moaned softly at the sound of hissing entered her ears. "Go away, spacemen."
"Hey, wake up." Renji nudged and lifted Orihime's sleeping head upward on the table to face him.
"No, I don't want to go on an adventure," Orihime moaned, still asleep.
"I tried the nice way," Renji declared before reaching out and pinching Orihime's cheeks. Orihime instantly sprung open her eyes to stare directly into Renji's.
"Eek!" Orihime shouted out, jumping away from the pinch and Renji's face. "Renji! Oh my goodness, you scared me! I forgot who you were!"
Renji twitched silently. 'Should I be offended?' "Here," Renji muttered, throwing the plate back on the table and causing Orihime to stare.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Breakfast!" Renji shouted back.
Orihime stared a minute at the burnt eggs but was suddenly shocked by Renji's yell, "Eat!"
"Yes! Right away!" Orihime spluttered, shoving the eggs down her throat.
Renji sighed in exhaustion and sat back down at the table. "Not so fast you're gonna choke," he muttered, resting his tired head.
Orihime paused her eating to give a smile at Renji, causing him to avoid her eyes. "This feels like déjà vu", Renji thought thinking about last night fight. Renji lazily watched Orihime eat her morning meal, feeling tired for the first time after hours of not knowing what happened to her. He was just so damm tired…
"Thank you so much, Renji! It was very yummyful! I never knew you could have eggs plain and have them be so good. How did you get that blackish color?" Orihime asked, causing Renji to stare dumbly at how much verbiage she got out and how kind it was. If anyone else asked that question, it would be sarcastic to put down his cooking skills, but she was genuinely curious.
Renji quickly shook his head. "Forgot about that… Listen, last night I—"
Orihime quickly cut him off, "Don't worry about it, Renji. I'm sorry. It won't happen again." She picked up the soiled dish and headed to the sink.
Renji frowned. "What? Listen, I'm about to say 'sorry' to you," Renji started, running after Orihime into the kitchen and causing Orihime to stare as if he had two heads.
"But I…" Orihime began.
"Listen, I acted like a jerk last night and…" Renji cursed and tried again. "I'm not good at this: I was wrong."
Orihime silently washed the dish, not answering Renji's apology or look. "Renji, though, you were right," Orihime suddenly said.
Renji's eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "What are you talking about?" Renji asked, laced with exhaustion that didn't go unnoticed by Orihime.
"What you said last night was true… You wouldn't want to marry me if you didn't think it was the right thing to do," Orihime whispered.
Renji opened his mouth but closed it when realizing he didn't know what to say.
"You were just saying how you felt," Orihime whispered softly, gazing at Renji.
Renji sighed but Orihime began to speak again: "When I was little, I used to think of my wedding day all the time…wearing pretty wedding dresses like one in a fairy tale, having my brother give me away…it was always such a happy day in my head." Orihime turned away, staring into the soapy sink. "I would cook bean pasta rice rolls, and wasabi cake for the ceremony, and the groom and I would live happily ever after. But when my brother died, I stopped having that dream; it didn't feel right. I felt so broken, Renji, so alone afterward, and I felt that I was too damaged for anyone to want… But in my heart I always held hope that one day it would get better and something would take the pain away." Orihime bit her lip as tears started to overthrow her once more. "I didn't think I was good enough for anyone to care for—that I'd only hurt them in the end," Orihime whispered to herself but was heard by Renji.
Renji felt a punch in his gut, knowing all too well that feeling, experiencing same emotions while growing up in slums. Renji could only looked down at his feet not knowing what to say.
"But when I was with Ichigo, that feeling went away, and for first time I could see myself walking down the aisle again and see the groom's face. It wasn't like before when I used to imagine it. Even without my brother, I felt happy when I was with him, that I could move on and still be happy. Ichigo always made me happy, and he made me believe I could do anything. I was so hopeful for the future. I care for Rukia, and I can see why Ichigo fell for her the way he did. But I'm spoiled and selfish for wanting his love." Orihime hands nervously brought up to her face, "I never wanted to be marry like this" Orihime admitted to shock tattoo soul reaper. "All I want now is to be happy for them, Renji, but I can't move on and let it go. I want to let go and be strong like Rukia is…but I…" Orihime made a tearful gasp. She was quickly silenced by Renji, who suddenly grabbed her in an strong embrace causing Orihime to gasp out in shock.
"I'm going to make you stronger Orihime" Renji pronounced, "I promise"
GoodLuckMotherFuckers: Next chapter will explained how Orihime escape those mean nasty thugs, and do Renji and Orihime have a date? Till next time!