Chapter 2

Ever since the second assassination attempt Renji was following him around like a lost puppy, which irritated Ichigo to no end. He could take care of himself.

"Where're ya goin'?"

Ichigo hissed. Damn Renji, a mother hen.
"The regular."
Renji has known about Ichigo's daily attempts in making lives of souls living in Soul Society easier so why was he asking, anyway?
"YOU are NOT going." Ichigo emphasized, seeing that Renji was about to follow him again.

"If I'm not goin' ... then you're not goin' too!" Renji exploded, instantly losing patiance.

Ichigo blinked.

"You can't..."

"I can and I will. Holy shit Ichigo, are ya that stupid? I'll even tie ya up if I had to!"

A threat? Vein popped on Ichigo's forehead.
"Don't tell me what to do!"

"Hey! That's my line!"

Ichigo gritted his teeth.

"Look Ichigo. It'd be unwise for ya to leave now Seireitei." said Renji suspiciously calmly, earning himself Ichigo's surprised, disbelieving glance.

"I am always doing this."

"But now it's different. You're the target. Ya can't just disregard 2 assassination attempts on your life in the space of one week!"

"I've been through worse. It's no big deal." Ichigo said nonchalantly and Renji frowned.
"What is it, Renji? Byakuya made you responsible for protecting me?" Ichigo smirked but then he saw Renji's face. "He did?"

"Well, yeah... I mean, no! No, of course not! I dunno what are ya talkin' 'bout." said Renji not looking Ichigo in the eyes.

"He wouldn't get his revenge this way because I didn't believe him back then, when he said that he is seeing Rukia everywhere, would he?"

Renji sweatdropped. "Rukia in the bushes! Rukia in the bushes!" he thought, only partially aware that his face must have weird expression because it was scaring the hell out of Ichigo.

"Gah! Renji, mind your own buissness!" Ichigo's temper gave in again.

"I am."

Ichigo send him a glare.

"Look... If Rukia'd be here, she'd be doin' the same." said Renji.

Ichigo eyes softened. Renji too, has had hard time with Rukia's missing.
"Don't say this as if you'd believe that she's gone forever. We'll find her. We've been always good at playing things by ear."

Renji looked at him seriously for a long time before he smiled.
"Whateva' ya say, Strawberry."

Vein popped on Ichigo's forehead again.
"And don't call me that!"

Renji's smile widened as he reached with his hand to ruffle the other's hair.

"Ano, Renji ... Do you want to have drink with me?"

Flashback

Small crowd consisting of 6th division members surrounded Byakuya.
"Sir. Our sources say that there are disturbances in Seiken district! We are waiting for your orders!" reported Byakuya's 3rd seat.

"We'll send recognition squad immediately. Rukia, make sure all the captains are notified of the situation." Byakuya added, noticing in gathering his sister.

"Yes, nii-sama."

Byakuya swirled around to leave but instead he stopped in mid of move and blinked. What was Rukia doing here, at 6th division quarters and in this exact moment?
He looked to the place Rukia was standing just a moment ago and found it empty. Byakuya rubbed his temple. It was really starting to get tiresome.

End of flashback

"Have I told you about my new romance novel ideas, yet?"

Nanao's eyes narrowed but Shunsui didn't pay attention to his fukutaichou manacing face expression. "Why are you here, captain? " Nanao pushed up her glasses.

"It's much quieter here, than at ours quarters." said Shunsui good"naturedly looking around in search of appropriate place for a nap.

"Quieter?"

"Yoruichi-saaama! " Soi Fon's sudden yell interrupted them.

Nanao looked expectantly at her captain, who smiled at her widely in answer.

"My bad."

Soi Fon noticed them and flash stepped to the place they were standing.
"We have to raise the alarm! Lady Yoruichi is missing!"

"Yare, yare. What am I supposed to say to her?" said Kyoraku quietly to Nanao, while smiling lopsidedly at nervous Soi Fon. " Yoruichi is accompaning Ichigo-kun."

Nanao was not impressed. "Why are you asking me?"

Kyoraku smiled, slightly embarrassed when another: "Yoruuuuichi-sama!" went through air.
Suddenly Shunsui felt powerfull reiatsu raising somewhere behind him.

"That reiatsu..."

Nanao and Shunsui turned slowly their heads to look behind them.
"Cap... Captain Kuchiki!"

Byakuya concentrated on flash stepping, refusing to think that Ichigo could have gone already.
It didn't take long for him to arrive at 13th division's quarters. There! He recognized from far slender profile of Ichigo's taichou - Ukitake, looking thoughtful. "Where is Kurosaki?"

"Oh, Byakuya." said Jyuushiro looking at 6th division captain as if seeing him for the first time in his life "He's already left."

He's been late. Ichigo went after Rukia and recognition squad against Supreme commander's will. Byakuya send Ukitake"taichou irritated glance. He thought better of him.
"You allowed for this?"

White-haired captain nodded, surprised by amount of angry in Byakuya's voice.
"I gave him a free hand."

"Does he went alone?"

"No, he was joined by his friends Yoruichi Shihouin and Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez."

"The Arrancar." Byakuya stated simply. He should have known. There was no such force in Seireitei that could hold up young lieutenant from protecting this that he cared for.
Byakuya turned sharply on his heel and strode away in effort to hide his expression from Jyuushiro.
"You just won't listen to anyone, will you ... Kurosaki Ichigo?" Byakuya closed his eyes and small smile appeared on his face.

A drop of sweat ran down Renji's temple. His adversary was tough, insensitive. A hard nut to crack. Renji's muscles were failing him. He was stuck in the place. It's gonna be a massacre. Renji didn't think that he'll die this way. His hand stirred.

It's all started with Matsumoto who as Renji suspected, has spread the rumor (damn her!). And Renji was only carring out order given him by captain Kuchiki " he was supposed to keep an eye on Ichigo. Matsumoto, for some reason invented that watching over Ichigo, included watching him as he was sleeping. In the same room. In the same bed, to be exact.
But that's not all. By making use of all the confusion, that was created, Ichigo left Seireitei, heading for Seiken district. Alone.
Renji sighed. Captain Kuchiki would kill him if he ever heard the news. Captain Kuchiki WILL kill him.

So now Renji had to deal with the most difficult task in his live. He hesitantly lifted up his hand, preparing to...
"Open the damn door, already!" he heard impatient voice somewhere from his right.

That's it - two chapters, because I don't think I'll be updating anytime soon. Anyway, tell me what you think. Gently, of course.