Chapter 3

Flashback

Renji was a simple person. He was walking through life (and death) without any real need to know why the world worked the way it did or if there was really something like fate. Or what was Rukia doing in bushes outside of Kuchiki mansion. Wait, what?

Surely enough, in bushes 5 feets from where he was standing he saw Rukia's dark head. He would have left to give Rukia some privacy (after all he couldn't tell what was she doing there) but then Rukia have noticed him and without any warning hauled him in the bushes with her.

"Ru.."

"Shhh." Rukia becalmed him. "There."
Rukia pointed at something and Renji followed her line of vision, noticing Ichigo coming into view, feets away. Apparently Ichigo wanted to talk with captain Kuchiki, who was currently standing near his favourite pond with pedigree carps at the entrance of his house. As far as Renji could tell, the captain was in very bad mood.
"Ichigo? What the hell is he doin' here?" Renji straightened to approach young lieutenant but Rukia stopped him.

"Wait, Renji."

"What are ya doin'? Kuchiki-taichou will eat him for breakfast!"

"Just watch."

Renji obediently went silent and watched as Ichigo made his way to place where Byakuya was standing, as well as their short conversation.

"Now I'm sure of it, Renji!" Rukia bursted once Ichigo and Byakuya were out of range of hearing them (Byakuya went back to Kuchiki mansion and Ichigo flash stepped right before their eyes).

"Hm? Sure of what?" asked Renji absolutely clueless.

"I've been following him secretly for a week and I'm pretty sure that ... my brother is in love with Ichigo!"

"Wha...?"

"You saw them. You saw nii"sama's face after Ichigo left." Rukia said slowly as if explaining something to a little child. "And .."

"What is it?"

"Nii"sama put his hand on Ichigo's shoulder!"

"He did it after defeatin' captain Amagai, too." said Renji thinking deeply "And ... Wait a sec! Just 'cuz he's touching him doesn't mean that he's in love with him!" Renji yelled bewildered.

"Renji!" Rukia yelled at Renji making him look at her sharply "Have you ever seen nii-sama beeing friendly with anybody besides me?" asked Rukia with a large dose of pride.

"Well ... No." said Renji slowly.

"Oh Renji! If we'd be able to get this two together, they would make the most beautifull couple in Seireitei." said Rukia, her eyes two stars. Renji tried to deal with thought that his captain could have hots for Ichigo, when Rukia's words reached him.
"Wait! What do ya mean by "we"? "

Rukia turned to him.
"You wouldn't left everything on my head, would you?" she asked looking closely at Renji.

Renji blushed.
"I... I don't think I'm gonna be much of help. Hey! Stop pushin' me!" he protested when Rukia started hauling him in direction of Kuchiki mansion.

Captain Kuchiki and Ichigo... Who'd thought? Renji shrugged and concentrated on arranging plates. "It puts me in rather difficult position."

"What's going on, Renji?" asked Rukia while putting the flowers to the vase and seeing Renji's face "You look ... uncertain."

"Are ya surprised? One of them is my captain and the other friend. If somethin' goes wron'..." Renji frowned.

"I haven't thought about this." Rukia admitted.

In the end nothing came out of theirs scheme. Ichigo was busy, rumors about disturbs in Seiken appeared and everything has gone straight to hell.

End of flashback.

Bad feelings wouldn't leave him since Ichigo's depart. He squeezed in his hand Ichigo's lieutenant badge. He recalled the way his and Ichigo's hands met, when his lieutenant was giving him that token, the warmth of Ichigo's skin... And his words.

"You must let me go, captain."

The same and still different. Does he, Ukitake again made a mistake, letting Ichigo go, as he did back then with Kaien?

"Let me go."

Does his decision again would have result in another, close to him person's death? He should go with Ichigo. Damn his pride and all the duties. He should be with him. It was his resposibility to look after his subordinates! It was his responsibility to look after his... loved ones!

Jyushiro started coughing.

"Yare, yare. What are you doing here at the cold?" he heard Shunsui's deep voice somewhere from behind him. He looked back at his friend.

Shunsui has known this expression. Guilt, fear, anger, hurt. He and only he has seen it already. Many years ago. He sighed.
"Beating yourself up isn't going to help anybody. Ichigo-kun will be all right." he tried to console his friend.

"I hope you're right," said Jyuushiro quietly before coughing once more. "Because if..."

"Come now. Breath."

Ichigo was looking around curiously. The region that they were approaching had to be ... interesting, judging from what he heard about it ... aaaand from the amount of glittering in sun bones, that they were passing.
"Damn. We're screwed." he thought, seeing one, particulary big skeleton.
He refused to think what could kill such a giant creature.

"You might not believe it but this region was beautiful once," said Yoruichi, seeing Ichigo's face "But for a long time now is persistently open to Menos Grande's attacks and therefore got deserted, with exception of few settlements."

"Menos Grande?" thought Ichigo "Why Gotei 13 didn't do anything to get rid of them? Did they simply dismiss it?"

"We called it fucking "Playground". " Grimmjow smirked almost ... nostalgically.

"Unfortunately, since this place could become strategic point," Yoruichi continued "Gotei 13 couldn't simply pretend that it has ceased to exist. That's why they were so eager to send recognition squad here."

Yoruichi frowned.
"Central 46 were the ones that ordered to evacuate residents and even seal particulary dangerous part of the region. We may be forced to break those seals. It it possible only for Shinigami with large reiatsu."

Ichigo rubbed the back of his head.
"Maybe the Yari clan was after it from the begining?"

"To burgle there?" Grimmjow tossed his head back in disbelievieng "They're fucking suicides?"

Ichigo looked at Yoruichi.
"Is it possible that they first spread rumors about disturbs and then forced recognition squad to break the seals? And if so, what they are searching there?" he asked, surprising Yoruichi.

"That would mean that Byakuya's informations came orginally from them?" thought Grimmjow smugly "He won't be fucking happy. The better for me. Nothing would humour me more than chance to kick his conceited ass. Well, maybe except for kicking Ichigo's ass. But that will have to wait."

"I don't know. There is nothing valuable there. Seiken district IS, as I mentioned strategic point, but taking over whole terrain, including the sealed part, would be too much task for them, despite their influences." Yoruichi looked in the distance for a moment, not really seeing anything "I think we won't like what we'll find there."

"Yoruichi-san?" Yoruichi looked up, hearing Ichigo's voice "Let's go."

Uh-oh. Ichigo was wearing that determined expression again. We're heading for trouble.

End of chapter 3

Phew! It took less time than I thought it would.