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.

It's been two weeks since I updated, not sure if that is long or not, but sorry to keep anyone in suspense. I had exams etc., I'm sure you guys know all about how that is. This chapter is still dedicated to my first two wonderful reviewers – Thanks again guys.

Rien's Point of View (POV)

Chapter 4 – Things that go bump in the night

Everyone had left. I pretended to sleep on the cold, hard cot, but the thin blanket was not enough protection from the cold breeze bellowing through the barred window of the cell. Though the breeze made me shiver, I welcomed the scent it brought me, and tried to control the shaking of my body so that Renji, asleep in the chair outside the cell, would not awaken. I knew Renji had endured a lot of Byakuya's wrath today, but he was kind enough not to blame me or complain about it, even though it was my fault.

I had been savouring Byakuya's scent on the haori all day, but it was not until he coldly slammed the cell door shut, that I realised what a muted, imperfect sponge it had been for the real thing. I should have expected it, since the other haori he wore today was about his fifth layer of clothing.

His smell was complex, just as his taste had been, and I struggled to recover the full intensity of that memory. The first thing I could remember was the burn of his smouldering lips on mine, the warmth of his hands on my naked body…

No! I should not dwell on it. I turned in my bed to face the wall. I was so cold. My mind quickly wondered back to the memory…

I felt his heart let me in, his lips turn responsive beneath mine. I couldn't describe his taste, I had no previous memories to compare it to – but it was sweet and tender and full of promise.

No! It made my heart ache. I clutched at my chest to try and control it, but I could not – I began to cry. I quickly controlled them into sobs so I wouldn't awaken Renji.

I was sure he had kissed me, but his reaction yesterday and tonight cast a shadow of doubt in my already clouded mind. Did I steal the kiss from him, like a thief in the night. If that was the case, I wouldn't have forgiven me either – I would stoically endure all his punishment, until he decided I had paid enough for my unforgivable crime.

Renji looked burdened and ashamed as he led me through the 12th squad's barracks and then the Research Bureau within it. Is was a sickening desolate place, who's façade itself screamed 'danger – get out!', but there was no escape for me, I had been exiled here by his wrath, and here I would remain until he decided differently.

I was secretly being transferred under the cover of dark, at 5am in the morning. I laughed at the thought – it startled Renji a little. Peering into my eyes, he now looked unsure of what to do. The 12th squad captain and vice-captain were now just five feet away from us. "Don't worry fukutaichou Renji-kun, I will be ok. Just promise me that you and the others will visit if you can." I sparkled at him.

"You know it's really unfair when you do that." Renji accused as I feigned innocence. I knew Renji felt guilty about doing his duty, his inability to help me, but it was not his fault, it was my choice to remain, and he should not suffer because of it.

Renji walked with everyone until I was inside the glass cell in the middle of a vacant room full of weird looking devices scattered about. It was an empty glass cell with a solitary hard looking cot at one end of the small space. This captain looked ghastly, like a monster from a waking dream from which I could not escape, I wondered if the other captains were this hideous, and also possessed this murderous intent. As Renji turned to leave, the other captain called him back with an evil calculated smile on his white, ghostly face. "Would you like to do both your taichou and your friend here a favour?" I could sense something bad was about to happen. I tried to prepare myself. Renji did not immediately turn at this captain's comment – he could sense it too.

Renji turned, his hands clenched into fists.

The 12th squad's captain stalked towards me as though I were helpless, defenceless prey. I stood planted to the spot and feigned disinterest at his movements – if it works for Byakuya, then why not; it calmed Renji to not see how terrified I was.

My body jerked slightly as he easily snapped Ishida's belt in two.

I saw Renji avert his eyes.

Suddenly appearing behind me, the captain pulled the haori, from the nape of its neck, and divested me of it. I saw Renji's clenched fists turn white with rage.

Renji was in danger!

"Am I finally going to get some clothes of my own?" I giggled to the odd-looking captain. The captain looked displeased at my insane reaction, obviously never expecting this level of lunacy. It had worked – I felt Renji's rage ebb from boiling point.

The captain silently nodded to his vice-captain. He then threw Byakuya's haori at Renji. " Tell Kuchiki taichou that he is welcome to visit us any time, and credit him with the find of such an amazing specimen," he maniacally laughed. Renji was nowhere near as good at concealing his emotions as his captain seemed to be.

The vice-captain came back with an outfit which looked exactly like the one she wore. It looked simple enough to put on if I used her as a guide.

"Abarai fukutaichou, please extend my apologies to…um…your taichou for keeping one of his haori for so long." I smiled at Renji who would still not look at me even though I was half dressed by now. He seemed shocked, probably because I had not called him Renji, but I did not want him to get into any trouble with this, or any other captain because he was friendly with a ryoka.

"Thank you, Nemu." I sparkled at the girl. Although my 5ft4 frame was slightly taller than hers, and considerably more busty, these clothes were at least mine now. "No one has ever given me a present before," I added. She looked startled and unsure, as though no one had ever thanked her before. I tried to pull the robes as low down as they would go, but my long legs made the outfit look short, and they opened slightly at the bust due to our difference in curvature.

"You know my name." Though it was a statement, she sounded unsure. Although I had heard Ishida and the others talked about them, I should probably not have been so familiar with her.

" I take my leave of you, Kurotsuchi taichou." Renji said with distain as he tightly clutched Byakuya's haori in his right hand.

I almost reached out to him – not to go, not to leave me alone with these people. But I knew he had to leave, and I knew I had to stay – no matter what was in store for me.

Author's Note

Now that the story is set up, it will progress so much more smoothly. The next chapter is quite long, and is from Rien's POV as well, but it has loads of story in it, so please bear with me, and I hope you like it.