The Ichigo Retrieval Team

Renji was sitting on the floor playing with Allete in his lap while Corbeau held Isshin. The little boy had just cried himself to sleep after wondering where his mama and daddy were. They were both angry with Ichigo. Idiot. He had been gone for three weeks with no word whatsoever. Isshin had effectively been made an orphan since his father ran off after his even more stupid girlfriend who had abandoned them. Orihime wasn't a child who had run away from home for Pete's sake. She was in her twenties and supposedly capable of making her own decisions. Ichigo with his desperate need to be a hero apparently thought he could save her from her own stupidity and went to bring her home. Where the hell is he? They were about to get an answer.

Renji grabbed his phone off the counter above him when it rang. He looked confused at first, then his face immediately looked angry.

"Where are you, dumbass?" he demanded, sitting Allete down on the floor and handing her a toy to keep her busy. He mouthed to his wife that it was Ichigo but she had already guessed.

Corbeau kissed Isshin on the forehead before getting up to go lay him down in the crib. Her husband was gone when she returned, but she could hear him yelling outside.

"You're where?...What did you do?...She won't come back with you, huh?...Yeah, I'll send somebody, dumbass…He's fine. My wife is taking good care of him because she's a good mother. You should have been a good father and stayed here with him…You're one phone call. Well, don't I feel special…It will be a few days but someone will be there to get you," Renji said, hanging up the phone. He loosed a string of curse words and name calling directed at Ichigo that made Corbeau blush. She had seen her husband upset and angry but never like this. He kicked and fussed and yelled some more before he came back into the RV. He was panting he was so furious.

"What is it?" she asked as he flopped down heavily into a chair.

"Ichigo is in jail in Orihime's home town. He went there and raised hell to get her to come back with him. Idiot, moron, dumbass – " His wife cut him off because he was gearing up to unleash uglier terms.

"Daddy!" Corbeau exclaimed, jerking her head toward their little girl happily playing on the floor.

Renji took a deep breath running his hands through his long red hair. He would probably rip it all out right now if he did that too many more times.

"I've got to find someone to go get his stupid ass. I'll be back later," he said, kissing her on the cheek before he walked out.

"Daddy!" Isshin wailed from the bedroom.

"Oh, baby, Daddy should be home soon," she murmured, getting up to retrieve the crying child.

"Are you kidding?" Corbeau demanded after she was informed the only two people who could possibly go were her and Sajin. She swallowed hard, pressing the heel of her hand against her forehead wishing she could stop her racing thoughts. They would be alone for several days together on the trip because it would be a cross country venture. Coming back would not be so bad because Ichigo would be with them. Getting there would be rife with possibilities to act on temptation; it would be like locking an alcoholic in a liquor store.

"I'm not particularly thrilled myself. But there's no one else that can go. Especially no one else that I can trust to get there with the money and bail him out," Renji said, reaching out to pull her into his arms.

"What about Retsu?" she inquired, dodging his grabbing hands. She wasn't in the mood to be touched.

"Sui Feng's baby is due any day. She has to be here for that," he explained.

"Has Sui Feng ever said who the father is?"

"No. Don't be surprised if the baby has orange hair."

"Renji!"

"Well, it would give a little more credence to Orihime's willingness to abandon his ass. Why would Sui Feng keep being so damn secretive about it? We will know eventually who the father is." He paused a moment before getting back to the issue at hand. "Look, I'm not particularly thrilled with the arrangement myself. I know how you and Dog Breath can be with each other," he stated with a bitter edge to his voice.

Corbeau felt even worse after he said that. She took a deep breath and dropped down onto the ground. The grass was cool and damp with dew since the sun had set hours ago. She shivered from the chilling breeze that blew across her as much as the thought of what lie ahead. Neither she nor her husband had any illusions about the attraction between her and the half wolf. It had been there since the day she met the half breed. They shared a strange connection that even they did not understand but their unusual physical mutation surely had something to do with it. Whatever the cause, it was there.

"Just go get our prodigal son and bring him home. His boy needs him," Renji said, standing next to her. He reached out to touch her, running his fingers through her silky black hair. He took a deep breath before glancing skyward with a prayer for strength to mean what he was about to say. "Be careful, baby. Whatever happens, I'll always love you."

"Nothing will happen," Corbeau stated with resolve. She leaned her head against his thigh as he continued to stroke her head.

"Baby, come inside. I want to show you how much I love you."

Corbeau kissed the babies with tears in her eyes. There were so many reasons she did not want to go. Two of the biggest reasons were held securely in the arms of her husband. She wondered how all of them, especially Allete, would react when Ichigo returned and Isshin was not with them all time any more. He had become like their own child. She kissed the children again then gave a long kiss to her handsome husband holding the children.

"I love you, Renji," she said, staring deeply into his brown eyes. She had her arms around all three of them and did not want to let go.

"I love you too, baby. Don't worry. Everything will be fine. Toshiro and Rangiku will help me with these two. Everything will be fine," he repeated, kissing the top of her head.

Corbeau felt like vomiting as a pit formed in her stomach. She had not been away from him since the day they met. Tears formed in her eyes as she looked at the three of them standing there. Ichigo would be indebted to them for the rest of his life for this.

"Baby, go," he whispered when she kept her arms tightly around them.

"I love you," she whispered, kissing him one last time.

"Mama!" Allete cried when she turned to walk away.

'How did that bitch leave her child?' Corbeau wondered as another plea for her came from her daughter. A second little voice joined in calling her mama and crying for her. Her heart officially broke in that moment. A tear slid from her eye as she got into Sajin's truck.

"Angel –"

"Just drive. Hurry."

Sajin stole a glance at the sleeping woman. He was irritated with her husband for making her come. He could have handled this by himself. However, considering his appearance things might get a bit dicey so apparently she was here to run interference and be the negotiator. He was the escort and the protector. That was a job he could do and do it well. He always had for her.

"Sajin?" she called. "Where are we?"

"Still a long way from our destination," he answered. "Are you all right?"

"No," she answered honestly. Her chest ached she missed her family so much.

"Angel, are you afraid of me?" he inquired suddenly for some unknown reason.

"Sometimes. The thing I fear the most is what you make me feel," she replied truthfully. She wasn't pulling any punches today. If he did not want a completely honest answer, he better not ask the question.

"I understand. I feel the same way. I don't want anything to happen to jeopardize our relationships."

"That makes two of us."

It was a very uncomfortable and silent ride for the next several hours. Around sunset they stopped at a secluded campground for the night.

"Ever been camping, Angel?," Sajin asked as he set up the tent.

"No. This will be something new for me. I love autumn sunsets. They're so beautiful," Corbeau said, staring at the black silhouette of the landscape against the blood red sky. She pulled her jacket more tightly around her as a sudden chill made her shiver.

Sajin was staring at something beautiful, but it wasn't the sky. He shook his head and returned his attention to setting up the tent. Gazing at her and allowing certain thoughts to form in his head was an experiment in futility and stupidity. Not only did it not help avoid temptation, it made it worse.

"Are you tired?" Sajin asked after their simple dinner of sandwiches.

"No. Not really. Too much on my mind," she said, staring up at the stars. She was purposely finding other things to look at to avoid his eyes.

"Want to go for a walk? I can see in the dark. I'll lead you," he said, taking her hand in his.

Corbeau took a deep breath concentrating on slowing her heart rate back down. She nodded and smiled at him. Why not? She wouldn't be getting much sleep anyway and she'd rather not get into that tent with him until they were both so tired all they could do was sleep. There was a nice little path that had been made around the camp by the lake and through the woods. They settled into a comfortable silence as they walked, each lost in their own thoughts.

When they entered the woods it suddenly got very dark as the trees closed in around them. Corbeau could hear things skittering and moving across the forest floor. She wasn't afraid because she knew she was protected. An owl hooted in a tree near her, surprising her. She jumped into Sajin, burying her face in his shirt.

"Be still. I wish you could see what I see," he whispered, holding on to her.

Corbeau held on to him, closing her eyes to listen as he whispered in her ear what he saw. The owl that had frightened her was tracking his dinner. There was a mouse that they had scared up crawling through the leaves. As soon as it poked its little twitchy nose above the fallen leaves, then its head, the owl was on it and retrieved the tasty morsel to eat. After allowing the owl to catch his meal, they continued on their way.

"Sajin, have you ever killed anything?" she boldly asked.

"Don't hold back, Angel. Ask me anything," he teased, squeezing her hand gently.

"You're always wearing pants. What do you look like from the waist down?" she queried.

"Corbeau!"

"You said ask anything!"

They had a good laugh about that which both of them needed to lighten up from their heavy thoughts. Without a word, they crawled into the tent and went to sleep.

Sajin awoke to the bright sunlight streaming through the half open flap of the tent. He heard a soft sighing sound and looked down to find Corbeau in his arms and cuddled against his furry chest. At some time during the night she had gotten cold and moved into his arms not that he minded. It was difficult having her so close. He could not push her away especially when she shivered slightly after he moved his arm and the blanket from around her. Instead of getting up like he needed to and should have, he curled around her and pulled her close to him. His big body completely engulfed her and enveloped her in a warm, fuzzy cocoon.

Corbeau felt so safe and secure. Her hand reached out to stroke the softness that seemed to be all around her. She sighed with contentment when the warmth and softness seemed to close in around her. One word formed in her mind and left her lips in a whisper, "Sajin."

The wolfman was startled to hear his name on her lips spoken in such a sensual manner. He looked down at her, nudging her with his cold canine nose to rouse her up.

Corbeau jumped when something cold and wet touched her cheek. She swatted at it wanting it to go away. Sleep held her tightly just like this fabulous blanket that almost felt like a living breathing creature. It was breathing in her ear almost like a dog panting. Her whole body tightened when something warm and wet slid across her neck. She moaned reaching for the soft furry creature breathing next to her keeping her warm. Sajin. Her eyes snapped open and she was immediately wide awake. She had forgotten who she had slept next to last night until she was immediately aware that she was held firmly in his arms and snuggled against his body. Her eyes drifted closed and she groaned as his tongue licked across her cheek.

"Good morning, Angel," he murmured in her ear. He could get accustomed to waking up to her every morning. Guilt flooded him when he remembered he already had someone to wake up to every morning. "Wake up. We need to get going."

"I'm awake," she said, nuzzling her face against his chest.

"Move."

"You first."

Both of them stayed still and wrapped in each other's arms.

"Sajin, how do you kiss Retsu?" Corbeau inquired a little too directly. What was wrong with her? Why did she keep asking such stupid questions?

"Lean your head back and I'll show you," he whispered in her ear, licking her cheek.

"I'll be waiting in the truck," she announced, unhinging herself from him and crawling out of the tent.

Corbeau stood outside taking several bracing breaths of the cool morning air. She smiled when she heard him chuckling to himself inside the tent. Jerk. He had done that on purpose. Her mind wanted to wander back there, but she refused to allow it. She squealed when her pillow came flying out of the tent and hit her in the head.

"Sorry!" he yelled not even trying to stifle his laughter.

"No you're not," she accused, poking her head back into the tent.

"You're right. I'm not," he admitted, his golden eyes glowing with amusement. He grunted when she pushed him down flat on his belly from his hands and knees. He rolled over and pulled her down on top of him.

Corbeau giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck. It suddenly quit being funny when she felt something hard below his waist pressed against her while she lay on top of him.

"We need to go," she announced, trying to get up but he held her on top of him.

"Is there anything else you would like to know?" he asked.

'Yes, and it's rising to the occasion as we speak' she thought to herself. She bit her lip and tried to push herself up again. "Sajin, we have to go now. Before we start something we shouldn't."

"Let's go."