Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. Just my imagination.

Comfort in Your Company

She mourns for him again, he thought in disgust.

Since the day the three captains rebelled, he has been secretly watching Rangiku. He feared that she might do something rash in the current state she's in.

When there were people around, she seemed to be back to her usual jovial self. But he knew better. There were moments when he caught her having a faraway look on her face, signifying that her mind was drifting to thoughts of the traitor.

He sighed, leaning his arm against the tree from where he was standing, watching her.

I ought to leave, he said to himself. I gain nothing from watching her wallow in her misery over that man,

Sighing once again, he shook his head. He has been sighing a lot these days.

He sighed.

And laughed at himself, at his stupidity. If the other Shinigami could see him now they'd think he has gone mad. Or maybe possessed.

He shot one last lingering glance at the lonely woman staring at the moon. He hoped fervently that tomorrow she would be herself once more. With no misery hidden in the depths of her eyes.

Rangiku took her eyes for a moment from the sky aglitter with millions of stars. And blinked. She thought she saw a figure move away from the tree standing a few feet from her house.

She squinted. There was no one standing there or even moving away.

I must be going crazy. I'm starting to see things that aren't even there. If only –

"Oi, Rangiku!" a shout interrupted her train of thoughts.

Abarai Renji.

She sighed. Whether it was in relief or annoyance for the interruption, she herself couldn't even decide.

"What brings you here, Abarai-san?" she asked the moment Renji stepped onto her porch.

A frown creased Renji's forehead upon hearing her words. "Hey, you're being cold. Am I not welcome here?"

She sighed.

"You've been sighing a lot."

"I know. You don't have to tell me."

She sighed. Again.

They looked at each other. And for no apparent reason burst out laughing.

"That was refreshing. I can't remember really laughing in the past few days."

"If I may say so, you look a lot better," complimented Renji.

"Why? I look bad before I laughed?" she asked, feigning a wounded look.

He hastened to put to rights his mistake, "Ha?! Uhm. No. No. of course, you looked good before that!"

"Are you making passes at me, Renji?" Rangiku coyly asked, fluttering her lashes in a coquettish manner. She edged closer to him and tiptoed so that she was looking directly in his eyes, her body pressed against his.

Renji's face grew hot.

"Eh?!" he exclaimed. "What?! Uh… Uhm… No, no, of course not." He shook his head fervently, hands raised.

"You don't find me attractive? Aw… I'm hurt."

He gulped. This is not what he had in mind when he decided to come here.

"Hahaha!" Rangiku burst out laughing. "I was just kidding. You should have seen the expression on your face. You looked ridiculous."

"Oi! Don't do that again. That was scary," Renji complained with a frown.

"Abarai Renji, lieutenant of the sixth squad under Kuchiki Byakuya-taichou, afraid of that kind of situation? Hmmm… interesting piece of information," she teased.

Ugh. The smile playing on her lips and the mischievous twinkle in her eyes said it all. He fell for a damn trap.

Rangkiku smiled. She felt like it's been eons since she felt this lighthearted and at ease. When Gin left – no – I'm not going to think of him, she berated herself with a frown.

Noticing for the first time the two ceramic bottles on her porch table, she asked, "What are those for?" the writing on them read, "Sake."

Rangiku looked at Renji in question.

"Ah… I just thought you may be running out of them already."

Without a word she turned around and entered her house, feeling Renji's stare burning her back. She went straight to the cupboard where she kept her bottles of sake.

There was still one left. She reached out her left hand to shake it. Sure enough it was empty.

I guess I should thank him for bringing me two measly bottles of sake.

Standing up she brushed the dirt from her kimono and started walking out back.

"Thank you for your consideration," she said tartly.

He gave her a droll look.

"Ah, Renji!" she started suddenly. "Did you notice anybody walking from the road to my house on your way here?"

"No, I didn't. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, nevermind."

"Rangiku, if you ever need a drinking buddy, I'm just around."

Without a by-your-leave Renji moved from the railing, walked off the porch and into the engulfing night.

"Renji!" She called out, one arm stretched out as if to pull him back.

He paused for a moment, waiting for her to speak.

A few seconds passed yet he did not hear her utter a single sound.

He started home.

Rangiku put her arm down and straightened herself. He can be very mysterious when he chooses to.

Minna! So sorry for updating so late! I'm also accepting suggestions and comments. :) Please review. :)