Chapter 30
I own nothing
Everyone was relieved to see the group back again, but they were surprised to see Ichigo's new Bankai. He explained what had happened while Orihime was healing Kisuke and Byakuya. When Ichigo went back to Shikai, they saw that it had evolved along with his Bankai. Zangetsu's appearance was changed, the blade a silver hilt with gray wrappings, and a short length of chain at its base. The blade itself had become slightly reshaped; curving inwards at the backside of the tip, similar to a trench knife, and Ichigo found that the cloth would still materialize to act as a makeshift sheath on his back.
They all stood talking for a few minutes, Kisuke asking questions about how Ichigo's Shikai and Bankai felt now, when they heard a groan coming from the next room. The room where Renji had been resting. Rukia was the first through the door, with everyone else following on her heels, and they entered to find Renji sitting up in bed with one hand holding the side of his head.
"RENJI!" Rukia yelled as she tackled him into a hug, eyes watering as she clenched him. Renji seemed confused as he hugged her with one arm and said "Rukia? What's going on, what…?" he trailed off as he looked around the room.
Heller sighed as he patted Renji on the shoulder, saying, "You gave us all a scare Renji. How do you feel?"
Renji gently pushed off Rukia and looked himself over. He touched the place where he had been wounded on the shoulder and said "I feel fine, but a little…weird."
Heller said "most likely from the sleep. You've been out for 4 days."
Renji looked shocked as he said "4 days!? But… then…" he couldn't seem to get the sentence out, but Heller sat down at the foot of the bed and told him what had happened since he had been injured, the others occasionally throwing in a few details he had forgotten, while Renji sat there absorbing it all. He looked shocked, surprised, and interested at times when Heller told him how they had been fighting the evolved, how they had fought off the goliath and how Ichigo's Bankai evolved, and lastly, how he had a hollow growing inside him.
Renji sat there for a second before shaking his head and saying "incredible. You're like another Ichigo, as scary as that thought is."
Ichigo narrowed his eyes slightly as he causally said "what do you mean Renji?"
Renji smirked as he said "I mean that with two of you, the amount of…hhmm how to put this…. Hard headiness will go through the roof."
Ichigo looked angry as he said "well it seems like we're not the only hard heads around here, pineapple head."
Renji looked livid as he opened his mouth to retort before Heller said "that's enough. You're both adults, act like it already."
They both shut up and Heller said "good. Now, Ichigo, I have something to talk to you about, and I think we should let Renji get up and dressed."
Renji looked down and saw he only had his pants on, his robes and sword in the closet of the room. Ichigo and everyone else except Rukia left the room, Rukia saying she would help Renji get dressed. And though she didn't say it, everyone saw the look in her eyes that said she was about to bring up a private subject.
Everyone left and Ichigo made a few signs with his hands and raised a barrier around the door.
"Sound barrier." He explained to everyone as they walked away. "Might as well respect what they say to each other and keep out of it."
With Rukia and Renji, general P.O.V
Renji threw the blankets off himself and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He tried to stand up quickly, but his muscles were weak after 4 days of rest, and he almost collapsed on the floor before Rukia caught him under the arm. She helped him stand and walked him over to the closet so he could grab his robes and Zabimaru. He slipped on his robes and sword around his waist and said "thanks, Rukia."
She nodded then thought about how best to approach the subject that was burning in her mind. Finally she decided the best way was to just ask.
As Renji was about to open the door, his hand on the knob, she blurted out "why'd you do it?"
Renji stopped and looked at her with a confused look in his eyes. She elaborated and said "why'd you take that attack for me?"
Renji hesitated for a second and said "you couldn't block that strike. I took it to stop it."
Rukia didn't buy it. She knew Renji enough to tell when he was lying, and he wouldn't look in her eyes when he said that. She remembered the look in his eyes before he had been hit. It was anger, rage, and something else, something she couldn't put a name on just yet.
She walked up to him and looked up at his face as she said, "and?"
"And that's it." Renji said, still not looking at her.
Rukia felt her irritation build up and she said tightly "that's not the whole story Renji. Why'd you take that strike when you knew you would get hurt and maybe even killed? Why?"
Renji's mind was racing, trying to find a way out of this. He had taken it for a different reason then he gave, but he was afraid to tell her, how would she reacted, how would she feel? The secret he had kept for so long…
He desperately tried to keep his voice steady as he said "what do you want me to tell you Rukia?"
"THE TRUTH!" She yelled, finally fed up. She had been close to losing her oldest friend, and he was acting like it didn't matter. "WHY DID YOU TAKE THAT HIT WHEN YOU ALMOST DIED RENJI!? WHY DID YOU PROTECT ME!?"
Renji's anger went up as he looked down into her eyes and shouted back "I CAN'T TELL YOU WHY RUKIA! IT JUST HAPPENED!"
"THAT'S CRAP AND YOU KNOW IT RENJI! TELL ME WHY!" she shouted back, feeling frustrated. What could possibly be so bad he couldn't tell her? What was he hiding?
Renji felt his world collapsing as he shouted "YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW!?"
"YES!"
"FINE!" Renji yelled. He walked to the bed and sat down on it, his head hanging as he sighed. So now it would come out. The one thing he had kept from her for decades. (A/n: for those who don't read or watch bleach, soul reapers can live for at least 2000 years.)
Rukia was looking at Renji confused. She had never seen him like this. He was acting like everything he knew was about to change (oh, if only she knew).
"Why?" she said as she sat next to him.
Renji took a deep breath and said the sentence he had vowed he would never say to her.
"Because I love you."
Rukia sat there for a few seconds, her face blank. Had she heard that right? Or was she just imagining things? But as Renji looked at her with his face looking like it might break into pieces, she knew she had heard right.
Renji loved her.
Rukia looked forward as she tried to process this. With just one sentence, he had changed everything she thought she knew about him. Still reeling she said calmly, "for how long?"
Renji saw she was trying to get this and said "ever since we were kids, I guess. I knew for sure the day you were adopted into captain Byakuya's clan." Here Renji looked forward as he cast his mind back. "To be honest, I planned to tell you later that day, but when I found out you were being adopted… I just knew I couldn't." he laughed a little bitterly as he went on.
"You were going into one of the noble houses. You would have a real family, good friends, but most of all, you could only marry a noble. What would confessing to you then do? It wouldn't matter, we might never talk again, and I might lose my oldest friend. I didn't tell you because I wanted to keep your friend ship. And I wanted you to be happy. That's the reason I took that sword strike for you." He finished, looking at Rukia. Her face was still blank, but inside her emotions were like a whirlwind. Renji had given up this much and dealt with it just so she could be happy? He really cared that much?
She swallowed, her throat feeling dry, as she said "you gave up so much, just for me?"
Renji was looking at her tenderly, but looked a little uncertain about this.
"Yes."
Rukia put her face in her hands as she tried to think this through. Now she knew why Renji had gotten hurt for her and so many other instances in their past, the way her would look at her, talk to her, and how he had looked sad after she had looked back after telling him she was being adopted. It all made sense now. And in true Ichigo fashion, she had overlooked all of it.
Renji was watching this and he felt like his chest was being squeezed. Rukia hadn't been ready for this, probably never would have been, and now it looked like he might have lost his oldest friend.
He stood and said "I'm sorry for dropping that on you." He walked to the door and said without turning around "if you want to end our friend ship, I understand."
The response he got was a fist to the back of the head, sending him face first into the door. He whirled around and shouted "WHAT THE HECK…!"
He was cut off as Rukia grabbed a handful of robs, yanked him down to her eye level, and kissed him.
Renji's eyes widened before closing. He and Rukia stayed like that for a moment, him being hunched over, before the separated and took a breath. Rukia looked him in the eye and said, in a clear voice, "I wouldn't want to end it for the world."
She let him stand back up and kept going, saying "I don't want to lose my oldest friend. But there is one thing you forgot Renji."
Renji felt like his heart had frozen. She was still looking at him, and then she smiled as she said, "If I was adopted into the noble houses, with no noble blood in me, then I wouldn't be unable to marry or love anyone besides a noble. I would be able to love you."
She touched his face gently with the palm of her right hand and finished by saying "and I do. I do love you Renji."
Renji felt like his heart was now about to stop from happiness. She knew how he felt, and wasn't repulsed by it. She loved him back. And he had forgotten that if she was adopted then she could love anyone.
He hugged her and spun her around the room, kissing her the whole time as she kissed back. They stayed in the room for a few more minutes before separating and Renji setting her down and saying "we better go check the others."
Rukia nodded, still smiling, when a thought hit her that made her blood drain from her face till she looked like she was made of chalk.
Renji noticed this and he worriedly said "Rukia, what's wrong?"
Rukia swallowed hard before looking at him with a face like she had seen a ghost, before she said "what about my brother?"
Renji didn't get it for a minute, then the sentence sank in and he paled as well while also looking like he might faint. Byakuya was fiercely protective of Rukia as the sister of his late wife, Hisana, as that her wish on her death bed had been for him to find and protect her sister after being forced to abandon her. He had protected her for a long time, except for when his loyalty for the rules before family, having to set an example for the other noble houses and soul reapers, allowed for her execution. But before then, he had been a little over protective. And he was Renji's superior and captain.
If he found out Renji was with Rukia, without his permission, he would not hesitate to flay him alive.
Renji looked away then chuckled as he said "I guess we'll have to hope for the best." He looked her in the eye and said while holding her face gently in his hand. "But even if he kills me, I'm still the happiest man in the world." he said, putting her worries down a little as she saw the love in his eyes. She nodded and said "let's go, then." Before giving him one last kiss and leaving the room, with him behind her.
She opened the door and saw the sound barrier, noting to thank Ichigo for that. Renji noticed and noted the same thing.
A few hours later
Everyone had been brought up to speed on what had had transpired after they left the room. Ichigo and Heller were both smiling genuinely as they looked at the two. Frankly, there were smiles all around at the news, Orihime being the most happy and hugging the two of them. The only two who weren't smiling was Kenpachi (shocking, no?), and Byakuya. Kenpachi was uncaring, while Byakuya was frowning slightly while looking at the two of them, not at all happy. At least not on the outside. On the inside, he was happy as well that Rukia had found someone, but the problem arose that that someone was his subordinate and that he had loved her for a very long time. He knew Renji was a good man, but he still didn't like that Renji had done this behind his back. Rukia and Renji noticed this and decided that the time might be right to talk to him about it.
"Byakuya, can we talk to you? Alone?" she said while looking at the others. Everyone got the hint and left the living room.
"And Ichigo, can you put up a sound barrier please?" Renji added. He didn't want the other listening in. and if Ichigo heard the begging he might have to do, then he would never hear the end of it.
Ichigo groaned on the inside. He had been hoping for some dirt to use on Renji. But on the outside, he nodded and said "no problem. When you guys are done, come meet us in the training area."
Ichigo left the room and the three left felt the sound barrier rising. Renji and Rukia were visibly nervous while Byakuya was sitting on the couch calmly. He was looking between the two of them while they squirmed. Renji finally got down to it and said in a quivering tone, from nerves, hope, and fear, "captain Byakuya, if it is acceptable, I would like the permission to date Rukia."
Byakuya looked at him in a calculating way. He had already decided that Renji was a good man and would be good for Rukia, but first he wanted to see if Renji would be able to convince him on his own two feet.
"Give me one reason why I should allow you to?" he said calmly.
Renji took a deep breath and kissed his dignity good bye.
" I actually have many reasons sir. I've been in love with Rukia for many years and have never thought about other woman as being equal to her." He swallowed, his throat feeling dry. "I'm sure I've shown my dedication to keep my promises and I'm unbending when it comes to my resolve. I fought against you to save Rukia when she was convicted." here he hesitated, unsure if he should have brought that up.
Rukia took up the thread of conversation. "brother, I know you may not approve, but the truth is I'm happy with Renji. He's a good and loyal friend, as he's shown many times, and a loyal lieutenant. I would be happy if you would give your approval."
Renji looked at Byakuya before sinking to his knees and touching his head to the floor, the traditional bow in japan. He said "please captain, will you give me permission to date Rukia? I swear I will be loyal, loving, and provide and take care of Rukia, no matter what may come. I swear on my own life and the graves of my ancestors."
Byakuya still had his mask on, but inside he was proud. His lieutenant was willing to sink low in order to have his permission to date Rukia. He was truly in love and his promise had surprised him. He was willing to make the most binding of promises to appeal to him.
Byakuya stood and said "I've made up my mind."
Renji looked up in hope with Rukia having her hand on his shoulder and also looking hopeful. Byakuya looked at them both one last time before the ghost of a smile appeared on his face and said "yes, Renji, you may date Rukia. I give you my permission, and my blessings that you two will be happy."
Rukia and Renji's face went radiant with joy as Renji stood up and shook Byakuya's hand and said in a very happy voice "thank you captain."
Rukia ran and hugged her brother tightly as she also said "thank you brother. Thank you so much."
He smiled a little again as he hugged her back with one arm and said "you are very welcome."
He gently pushed her off and walked over to put a hand on Renji's shoulder as he walked past to the door, leaning to whisper "I do have one thing to warn you about though."
Renji felt something akin to dread build in him.
"If you ever make her cry, then I will not hesitate to track you down and flay you alive."
Renji turned pale as he nodded and said in a terrified voice "yes sir."
Byakuya smirked as he walked past and said "we should go to the training area, the others will be waiting."
A half hour later
Everyone except father had gone to the training area and congratulated Rukia and Renji. Kenpachi was absent from this, saying something how love made idiots weaker and less fun, but he was largely ignored. Heller had taken them aside and given them 'the talk', feeling a bit weird that he was doing this to two people probably 10 times his own age, but he could tell neither of them had dated and was giving them the guide lines. Orihime and Ichigo had given both of them hugs while Orihime had been simply ecstatic for her friends, Ichigo was happy for them and that he now had something to tease them about.
After everyone was done with the congrats, Rukia looked around and said "so what are we doing here?"
The mood turned a little dark as everyone's face turned serious.
Heller cleared his throat before he said "me and Ichigo decided this would be the best time for me to get my inner hollow under control."
That went over well as both Rukia and Renji turned a little pale and looked shocked at him. Ichigo had told them both about how hard it had been to subdue his own hollow, and how the vizards had fought his body while he fought his hollow. It had taken all of them in hour intervals for him to succeed, and even then he put them through the shredder. How the heck would they fight down Heller's body while he fought the hollow in him?
Heller saw this and said "now the plan is this: Ichigo puts me under, and then seals my body using a combination of kido and barriers while I fight the hollow for as long as he can. If, and when, my body breaks free, then one person at a time will fight my body for a hour intervals. If, by the end of the cycle, I haven't beaten down the hollow, then…" here he trailed off, not wanting to say the last thing.
Ichigo looked at his friend in slight pity before looking at the ground and saying "…then he wants us to kill him."
The others, having already been told this, said nothing while Rukia and Renji looked at him in shock. Kill him? Their friend and close to their strongest ally?
Ichigo saw this and said "I'll be the one to kill him if he doesn't succeed. Per Heller's request."
Rukia and Renji looked at them both in shock. Heller wanted Ichigo to end his life if he couldn't beat down his hollow? Not only that, it sounded like Ichigo would do it.
Rukia said "but what about the Hykogen? Couldn't you use that to make it so Heller has control over his hollow?"
Here Kisuke spoke up, saying "no, that's impossible. Even when I used the Hykogen 110 years ago to stabilize the hollowfication they were forced to undergo by azien, they still had to defeat the hollow to gain control of it."
Ichigo nodded and said "not only that, but we have no idea how Heller's body might react if we tried to exposed his body to the Hykogen's power, let alone predict what effect it might have on the hollow." He shook his head and said "believe me guys, we've spent hours trying to get around this, but we can't think of any other way."
Heller stepped forward and said "I'm sorry guys. But we need to get this done. At most, we have a day before Blackwatch makes some sort of move. We may not get another chance for several months. We have no choice."
Rukia and Renji hung their heads. They didn't want to admit it, but Heller had a point. If they didn't do this now, then they wouldn't have a chance for soul king knows how long. And Heller might be put in danger if he didn't get control. But they didn't want their friend to risk his life, for fear of losing him. They had grown close, like with Ichigo. Heller was strong, dependable, and would shift heaven, earth, and hell to do what was right.
Heller went over, put a hand on their shoulders and said "I'm flattered you guys care about me, I am, but I need to do this."
Renji sighed and said "I understand." He looked in Heller's eyes as he put a hand on Heller's own shouder and said "but if you die, I'll track you down in soul society and see to it that your brought into the soul reaper academy."
Heller smiled and said "thanks Renji."
Rukia just gave Heller a hug, not able to talk. Heller ruffled her hair, ruining it and making her slightly mad before Heller walked over to Ichigo and stood before him, saying "let's do this."
Ichigo nodded as he said "remember what I told you. The hollow will be an opposite of you in personality, and very strong. In order to win, you can't let it consume you, consume you, you need to consume it."
Heller nodded as Ichigo raised his left palm and held it before Heller's face, saying "good luck Heller."
Ichigos hand began to glow with a rainbow outline, drawing in Heller before Ichigo said "Bakudō #83 Tanma Otoshi," Causing Heller's vision to turn black like a TV that had been turned off, as he was sent to his inner world.
Real world, general P.O.V
Heller's body went limp, causing Ichigo to catch it and lower it to the ground, and then he walked away from it, the others following him. When they were a safe distance away, Ichigo turned and started sealing Heller's body.
"Bakudō #61. Rikujōkōrō (Six Rods Prison of Light), Bakudō #63. Sajō Sabaku (Locking Bondage Stripes), and Bakudō # 79. Kuyō Shibari (Nine Sunlight Traps)."
The six rods of light all slammed into Heller's arms, legs, neck, and middle body while the locking bondage strips bound the body to the ground, and the 8 black holes appeared around the body, the 9th one directly above Heller's back.
Ichigo wasn't done as he began making several hand symbols.
"Bakudō #91 Kin."
Next, several thick black straps appeared and made an x over the body, and then over 2 dozen rectangular steel rods stabbed into the bands, ground, and body, pinning it completely without hurting him.
Ichigo finished, not at all tired despite the enormous amount of spirit energy he had to pour out to perform these spells all at once.
Everyone was impressed as they saw this, Kisuke and Byakuya especially, though Byakuya hid it, not wanting the boy to get an even bigger ego.
Ichigo sat down and said "now we wait. Wait and hope Heller can win against his hollow."
Bum,bum,bbbbbuuuuummm. Ominous music plays as the chapter ends. Sorry if you don't like it, but look at it this way. Now the next chapter can focus on the fight. And I need some feedback on how I set up Rukia and Renji, I'm still no good with romance scenes. Favorite and review this story, and take a look at Dante price, multiverse jumper.