Supernova
By Willow Athena
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach…but Rien is definitely mine
Author's Note: A supernova: It is both creation and destruction in one. Life and death. Beauty and chaos. In the very moment of destruction, it gives birth to new life, ripples through time and journeys across space…But that's just my take on it.
The next two chapters are dedicated to ThunderClaws and Rihana86 for being my first two reviewers. ThunderClaw03: Thanks for putting this story on your favourites list even in its infancy. Rihanna86: Thanks for being my first reviewer, and for your interest and support, I really appreciate it. I will comment on your suggestions at the end of the chapter.
Special A/N: I'd like to apologise in advance for a chapter that may not be as interesting as the previous, but must be written to coherently carry the plot for forthcoming chapters. Don't worry, its short.
Supernova
Chapter 3 – To run, or not to run?
After Rukia and Byakuya left, Renji, Ichigo, and Ishida had dinner with Rien. Although she was polite and courteous, something had changed within her. She no longer looked or sounded carefree. This angered the normally calm Ishida.
"Why are they sending Rien to the 12th squad?" Ishida demanded to know. Why would Soul Society hold Rien captive without even questioning her? Something seemed very wrong about this. Justice was not being served, and it infuriated him.
"Byakuya reported to Captain-Commander in the morning, who reported the incident to Central 46, who sent the order down this afternoon." Renji explained the convoluted bureaucratic process to the others.
"But, why!?" Ishida screamed at the shinigami.
"They want to study her to see if she's a threat to soul society. But, if you ask me, I think Mayuri and Nemu just want to get their hands on a new research project!" Renji gossiped with a mouth full of food. Renji had seen the calculatedness in Kurotsuchi taichou's eyes as the captains had emerged from the secretive meeting. Only one captain had not attended, Ukitake taichou had been very ill, as usual. Renji had tried his best to eavesdrop on the meeting, but the other fukutaichou's had annoyed him with questions about 'the naked girl in Kuchiki taichou's haori', so he had not been able to get any information except what his taichou begrudgingly imparted – 'a need to know basis, and you don't need to know', was all he got.
"And when will they let her go?" Ichigo was now outraged as he remembered when Rukia had been locked up awaiting her execution.
"I don't know, and I'm not saying I agree with them either!" Renji shouted back at Ishida and Ichigo. Renji was not Soul Society, he was not the enemy, and he was tired of being treated like a cold-hearted, uncaring bastard. He let his mind wonder to the abuse he had suffered today due to Byakuya's mood, the criticisms, the paperwork, and the incessant questioning from the other vice-captains.
"We should break her out!" Ichigo proposed. He had no real plan, but this had never stopped him before. He knew if he really had to, he would find a way. There was no other option.
"Mhm" Ishida agreed. The shocked look on Renji's face was missed by them both. They obviously didn't care for his opinion as they displaced all of their Soul Society rage onto him.
"We could just leave now." Ichigo and Ishida were already hatching an escape plan. It was one thing for Ichigo to suggest this kamikaze plan, but for Ishida to agree with him was ludicrous. Renji could not fathom what had gotten into these two.
"Umm…I can't, I could get into big trouble if she goes missing under my watch!" Renji pleaded. Ichigo's careless disregard for any consequences was expected, but Ishida was usually smarter than that, usually restrained Ichigo's frequent irrationality and careless abandon for the rules – something had shifted in him.
"Why would you risk yourselves for me?" Rien's voice was lyrical and seductive, but no longer light. She didn't want this, any of it.
"You're an innocent person who is being convicted before being tried." Ishida boldly stated, his need for justice only partially fuelling the passion of his words.
"You have no one in Soul Society to fight for you, to stand up for you…let us stand with you." Ichigo's smile was warm and broad with sincerity.
"And, you are our friend, aren't you?" Ishida began to blush, as he noticed the vulnerable quality of his voice as he said the words.
"Thank you Ishida-kun, Ichigo-kun. But…I can't ask you to do that, even if you are my friends." Rien sounded a little lighter. She realised the quality of their characters and began to understand what friendship really meant, but she was unsure if she deserved their loyalty or their concern.
"You don't have to ask." Ishida stated, shying away from Rien's piercing blue eyes…he felt like they could see into him, through him and past him. He could drown in them if he allowed himself a lingering glance.
"I can't go." Rien's heaviness returned as she moved towards the window and peered into the 6th division barracks. One solitary light was on and she knew it was his. She could not abandon him to his solitary pain, especially since she was the apparent cause…but it was something more than that, something she could not explain.
"I told you we'd get you out" Ichigo protested, unable to fathom why she would not leave. Ishida always relied on Ichigo's ability to convince people to follow his every cause, but he feared that even Ichigo would not be able to break through to her.
"If Byakuya wants me to go to this Research Bureau, I will." I owe him that much, Rien thought.
"But, Rien…" Ishida began his echoing protest, but Rien put up a hand to silence it.
"It's where I want to be. For all any of us know, I could be a danger to soul society." Rien's voice was commanding, and had no trace of doubt in it. She did not want to hurt anyone else, she felt she had done enough damage as it was.
"Then we'll go to the real world." Ishida desperately suggested.
"I wont put anyone in danger. I'll stay until he lets me leave." Byakuya hadn't banished or exiled her, he had kept her close to him, and that's where she would stay until he asked her to leave.
"Renji, how's Byakuya doing? He seemed…angry" Rien turned her innocent, compelling blue eyes on him, and he could not conceal the truth from her any longer.
"He's under a lot of pressure…" Renji tentatively began, not knowing if he should really be discussing his taichou's personal struggles with a prisoner, for all intensive purposes. But, she obviously meant no harm, and was worried about him, if he couldn't be near Rukia, he would also want to know how she was doing.
"The whole of Seireitei knows various versions of what happened last night. He's been in meetings with the Captain-Commander and the other captains, as well as members of the Kuchiki clan, all day long." Renji knew it had been a long excruciating day for Byakuya, but he still felt that it was no excuse for the way he had dismissed Rien that evening; he could not understand how Byakuya could so easily watch her misery.
Rien listlessly walked back. She sat down on the chair next to Renji, unknowingly unleashing the full force of her beauty on them all. The haori parting slightly as she folded her long golden legs.
"Guess it doesn't help that I'm secretly stuck in here, naked except for his haori." Rien sighed and plopped her head down on her hands. The swift movement flicked her hair across the desk, and it fell like silken threads onto Ishida's hand. His hand lay frozen under the veil, unsure of what to do.
"It's you!" Renji said accusingly.
"All day, Byakuya has smelt like strawberries – even though I walk seven pace behind him at all times, I can still smell it. It must be overwhelming for the other taichous." Renji smirked as he picked some threads of silk to smell. "I had never known taichou to scent himself before so, it had been bugging me all day."
"Byakuya has a smell." Rein noted as she got up and went back to her cell.
"Not usually when your walking seven paces behind him though." Renji retorted with a smile missed by everyone as they watched Rien hold onto the bars of the distant window and stare out at the solitary light in Byakuya's office.
Ishida silently slammed his fist down on the desk. "Damn Byakuya!" He began in a whispered hush, so Rien would not hear.
"Ishida?" Ichigo cried, but Rien did not turn to notice any of it.
"Even though he doesn't acknowledge her presence in the world, she still cares for him! She more than cares for him, she…Damn Byakuya – he's all she knows, he's the first thing she remembers, she would follow him anywhere he asked, even to hell." Ishida quietly ranted to them so Rien would not hear his words in her solitary reverie.
"I guess it can't be helped then – Renji will have to take her to Technological Research Bureau tomorrow." Ichigo now also looked pissed off.
There was nothing they could do, they certainly could not force her to leave with them. They would have to think of something else, some other suggestion that would not involve fleeing in the dark of night.
Author's Note
I hope it wasn't too slow for you, but it had to be done. The next chapter is so much better, and it's from Rien's point of view (POV) – I'm sure everyone will enjoy that one.
Author's Review Comments
Not sure where to put these, so I guess I'll put them here.
No, Rien is not Hisana or any reincarnation thereof. I have various reasons for this which will unfold as the story progresses. I think it would be a poor mystery if it turned out to be as simple as that, but I can understand how much sense it would make. Thank you for all your suggestions, please feel free to suggest any other improvements which may come to mind.