Hello everyone! It's me again! With a new chapter! I hope you like it, because I really love writing Renji... ^^

On a side note, I think there are only like three chapters left for this story... I'll do my best to write and I hope we'll be able to enjoy the letters till the very end :)

read, enjoy and review :)

Dear Rukia,

so much happened here in Karakura! I think that now I know how you felt when you were writing about Cifer – I can still feel all emotions from then too. (On a side note, sadly, I didn't have a chance to see Inoue, so we need to wait for her letter to know her response to Cifer's confession.)

But let me go back to what I was writing about. Firstly, Ikkaku. You know he wasn't in the best of situations, and he was beginning to get really worried about this Mizuho girl. "I don't know how to get rid of her," he told me once, but I couldn't offer much help.

One day, she actually came to Urahara Shoten, looking for Ikkaku. I was sweeping the floor outside when she appeared and thus heard every word of their conversation.

"How could you leave me like this during the festival?" were Mizuho's first words and I stopped in my tracks to look at the pair not so discreetly. Ikkaku also just stared at the girl blankly because really, we already forgot there was something like the festival.

Suddenly, a glint appeared in Ikkaku's eyes and he crossed his arms, trying to look smug.

"Well, maybe I had better things to do," he said and I already knew where this was going.

Mizuho seemed taken aback, as she glanced in confusion at her "boyfriend" and tried to find the right words.

"What… do you mean?" she uttered eventually.

"Heh," Ikkaku smirked, but wavered immediately when he noticed Mizuho was already on the verge of crying. "Ah, I meant…" he started, but didn't know what should follow. I facepalmed.

I seriously have no idea what this guy wants. If he breaks down and resigns right away, he'll never get rid of Mizuho, I thought and glared at him, but Ikkaku didn't notice. Instead, he only grew weaker with every teary glance Mizuho sent his way. He's too soft with this girl. Wasn't he supposed to hate her?

"I didn't mean it that way," his voice interrupted my thoughts. "I was just tired."

I almost broke the broom as Mizuho's eyes softened and she approached Ikkaku with concern.

"It's okay," she said and I could clearly see Ikkaku regretted every single word he said. He lightly pushed her away and changed to a different tactic.

"It's not," he said, not looking at Mizuho. "We both know I won't stay here forever. I'll have to go, sooner or later. We shouldn't get too close."

I snickered and Ikkaku noticed my presence. He wasn't delighted, but at least Mizuho stayed oblivious. I quickly motioned Ikkaku to go on.

"My home's really far from here and I may never come to Karakura again. We'd better break up, the later we do that the more we'll be hurt."

I briefly wondered when they became official. Last time I checked, Ikkaku was still a fake boyfriend.

"But I can go with you!"

Both me and Ikkaku looked at Mizuho surprised. I didn't even care that my broom fell with a thud and now Asano's sister noticed me too.

"I can't take you there," Ikkaku quickly replied, "it's complicated."

"I'll wait then," Mizuho said just as quickly, tilting her head slightly. "I can even wait forever, so let's just make the most of the time we have left."

Ikkaku widened his eyes and turned completely red in a split second, then opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, finally muttered he had to go somewhere and ran away.

I picked up my broom, ready to quietly leave, when I heard Mizuho sing something along the lines of "he's so cute". The broom slipped out of my hand again.

Ever since then she takes Ikkaku out every day and I can't even help because she doesn't accept excuses. Seems like Ikkaku is doomed to spend the rest of his days in Gensei with this girl. Especially now that she thinks he loves her.

When it comes to my life, however, there was an event that finally gave me hope for a better tomorrow, a door to a brighter future.

I planned to visit Sado and talk to Nel so as to find out how to help her and I was on my way when (I hope) accidentally I met Yuzu and Midoriko. I pretended not to see them, but they suddenly appeared beside me, one on the right and the other on the left.

"Hello!" they shouted at me in sync while I tried to ignore the happiness on their faces. The two girls were about to add something when suddenly, my servant, Ishida, appeared out of nowhere.

He looked at me in a weird way as he noticed Yuzu and Midoriko glued to my sides, but approached us nevertheless.

"Abarai," he started as soon as he stopped in front of me, "what are you doing? You're supposed to be with Nel now!"

For the time being, Ishida takes care of my schedule, you know.

I pointed at the two girls standing with me.

"I know, it's just-"

"You shouldn't keep her waiting. I thought you wanted to see her."

Yuzu and Midoriko immediately turned to me at the word "her". It was my chance, they didn't know who Nel was.

"Of course, I'm totally excited. I missed her a lot!" I said with a bright expression. Ishida narrowed his eyes, confused.

"Let's go then," he replied. "They called me to say she already asked about you."

I was about to go when, as I expected, the girls tugged on my shirt. I looked at them, trying hard to suppress a smile as I saw their angry faces.

"Who's Nel?" Midoriko asked.

"My girlfriend," I replied immediately and sent Ishida a look that commanded him to play along. It was amazing how he did everything I told him to.

As if on cue, Yuzu and Midoriko turned to him next.

Ishida unwillingly looked back at them.

"Well, yes. They, ah… they're planning to move in together. Quite far away from here actually."

Almost not a lie. For the first time in my life I thought quincy weren't that stupid.

I even felt like thanking Ishida the moment I saw the horrified expressions on the two faces beside me. I could only smile, half happily and half apologetically, at the two girls. They only stared at me with slightly opened mouths and confusion and betrayal in their eyes.

"I'd better go," I finished our meeting in a cool way and, not without a handsome smile, went away with Ishida.

Yuzu and Midoriko haven't bothered me ever since, and no one except for me and Ishida knows how we used Nel. Don't tell anyone either. I want to be finally happy.

Coming back to Nel, I talked to her later, however, to no avail. She doesn't know what keeps her here and honestly, she doesn't seem to care. She's just happy she's with Ichigo again. Well, maybe that's all she needs? We'll see.

As for you, I must admit that the idea of Jeagerjacquez and Kuchiki-taicho having dinner together terrifies me. Besides, I don't really get it, why would Kuchiki-taicho want to dine with him. According to your story, Jeagerjacquez is a thing of the past already, so why bother. But well, Kuchiki-taicho knows better, so… I just hope it won't go too bad.

Tell me some news about Inoue, remember!

Take care,

Renji