Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Daydreams Come True ❯ Stray Dog versus Deathberry ( Chapter 22 )

Tite Kubo owns Bleach. I just borrowed the characters.

 

 

Stray Dog versus Deathberry

 

Since the announcement of her execution and the subsequent move to the Senzaikyu Shi-Shinro, it had been almost impossible for Renji to speak with Rukia. Only those who were tending her were supposed to enter and that was not his function. This was the time for her to reflect on her crimes and impending death as he had reminded her when he had escorted her there. In some ways he was glad that no one would gossip with her; it was better she did not know the commotion that was taking place in the Seireitei. He'd reassured her about the boy, but hated performing this kindness as he wished she'd never gone to the human world, encountered him and fallen in love. He missed their recently restored friendship. While he had other friends he could talk to, Rukia and he had so much shared history. Aside from him she was the last of their little band to survive their harsh childhood and he did not want to lose that part of his life even though he would not wish to experience it again.

 

After their conversation about their past and Rukia's revelation that she loved Ichigo, Renji had again become very `active' but he was trying to be more discreet. He would arrange to meet the woman in her quarters so that the traffic passing through his bedroom door was not obvious, but in spite of his feeble precautions, rumours spread. It was true, not all the female Shinigami were susceptible to him and he'd been disappointed a few times. Isane had turned him down, as had a cute little unseated member of his own Division. The most recent failure had been Matsumoto Rangiku. Now that she had been so publicly repudiated by Captain Ichimaru, he'd attempted to entice Ran to his bed while she was eating some strawberries, but she had shown no interest. The berries had stained her lips a darker red and he wondered what it would be like to kiss her and taste the sweetness of her lips and the tang of the fruit within her mouth. In response she had laughed gently, offered him some fruit, but nothing else.

 

When he persisted and tried to kiss her, wishing to discover if her mouth was flavoured by the strawberries she was eating, she pushed him away, not very gently saying, “I don't want to be one of the throng who warm your bed, Renji.”

 

“Come on, Ran. What have you got to lose?” he asked. He had believed she would be ready and willing to enjoy some casual sex.

 

“Self respect,” she murmured, her eyes shadowed with pain. “If I can't have what I want, then I won't compromise.”

 

Indignation filled Renji. “Was that comment aimed at me? Does she guess that all these other women are just stop gaps because I can't have Rukia?” He hoped his thoughts did not show on his face.

 

“Are you talking about me?” he rapped out harshly. He could feel his face turning red as he asked.

 

“I'm talking about me,” Ran said smiling at him, obviously amused by his anger. “It's not all about you Renji. If you want to be my friend, fine. If you want to take if further, get lost.”

 

Irritated Renji moved closer, embracing her, but Ran stood there in the circle of his arms, her eyes narrowing as he encroached on her personal space. “I'll hurt you in the worst way if you try anything. I don't think you would enjoy being emasculated,” she advised, her hand on the hilt of her zanpaku-to. Her reiatsu flared for a moment and he could see that she was serious.

 

Feeling the truth in her threat Renji stepped back. “Friends? Yeah, friends, but if you ever want it to be anything more….”

 

“You're damned persistent. If I change my mind I'll inform whomever I've changed my mind about. You're not the first person to make me this type of offer, Renji. At least you didn't try to grasp my `fundamentals' as one idiot did. That man has a real way with words and a few broken fingers,' she laughed shortly, no humour evident in her voice. “I've got somewhere else I have to be.”

 

Renji watched with growing respect as Ran turned and gracefully walked away. He wished, not for the first time, that he could fall out of love with Rukia and he felt some empathy with the woman who had just rejected him. Her lover had discarded her and she did not wish to replace him with anyone. Rukia had replaced him with a juvenile and he substituted any willing woman, all the time longing for her. If the situation had been different, Ran and he may have found consolation together, but she seemed wary of him. Thinking about it, he didn't blame her.

 

That conversation had happened yesterday and today Ran had greeted him normally for which he was grateful. He'd spent the previous night alone, thinking about Rukia, realising that no matter how many woman replaced her in his bed, none could match her. After the meeting, he might seek out Ran and begin a friendship with the woman who had experienced repudiation by her lover and bore the experience with dignity, except when she was drinking. When she was drinking, her dignity tended to disappear as did her reticence. Maybe he should try getting her drunk but then recalled her threat and winced.

 

Now all the Assistant Captains were standing, listening to news that was neither welcome nor plausible.

 

“How could that orange haired twerp have beaten Ikkaku? It's not possible. That kid was no real threat when I fought him, and now he's beaten the 3rd seat of 11th Division? What the hell is going on here? Is the same person, or is someone else here? 11th Division annihilated! It's not possible. This guy, what's his name? Iemura, that's right. Why has he got his fingers bound up like that and why is he sweating so badly? He's scared about something and keeps darting frightened glances at Ran. I know he's lying about Ikkaku. He's got to be lying because I can't believe what he's saying. It's not possible. It's his way of getting back at the rest of us because he's in 4th Division and he's stuck there,” raging quietly to himself as he listened to the information being conveyed, Renji was overcome with fury against the person Rukia loved. “Ikkaku is a great fighter, there's no way in hell that a stupid kid, who should be dead, could beat him. I can't believe it. It's not possible. The kid thinks he's come to save Rukia, but he's wrong. I'll be the one to save her. That's the only likely outcome.”

 

He didn't wait to hear the end of the report. It would only contain useless information about how they should scout the area, wear their insignia, check with each other and all that sort of crap. He wasn't interested. There was one place the boy would be heading and only one way to get there. It didn't take a genius to work that out, though everyone else seemed to have problems thinking it through. Why did they think the ryoka were here? Hadn't they noticed how soon after Rukia's arrest the ryoka had arrived? Nothing else had happened to invite the invasion. It was so obvious, at least to him.

 

His decision had been made; he knew what action to adopt and he had preparations to make. Quietly he left the meeting, so no one would notice his departure. Swiftly he went to his quarters and removed the band of material that covered his tattoos, replacing it with a visor. Stripping off the badge he had once treasured as a sign that he was close to achieving his goal of being worthy to marry Rukia, he left it for his Captain to find. It was no longer important to try to gain that man's regard. While he still wanted to best him in a battle, he did not need to continue his feeble attempts to get close to Captain Kuchiki. So far all his efforts had met with cold reprimands and sarcastic remarks:

 

“How can a person with your background hope to understand the subtleties of the nobles? Return to your task and cease engaging me in meaningless conversations.”

 

“An interesting comment from someone who has no understanding of the basic tenets of philosophy. You are incorrect in your assumptions. Kindly keep your ill informed opinions to yourself. I have serious matters to consider.”

 

“You never cease to remind my of your origins just by the way you breathe. Please, inhale elsewhere.”

 

The man was obsessed with his position and power. Sometimes Renji wondered if he kept a book on etiquette in his sleeve to refer to if ever he was confounded by a new situation, but rejected the thought. Captain Kuchiki would never admit to being slightly uncertain in front of an inferior and, according to the way he acted, everyone was less than him. When his captain found the badge he might understand, but then it might be beneath his notice, just as Renji felt beneath his notice. He was freaking sick of being tolerated.

 

There was no one else he needed to inform; it was his decision and he did not want anyone to try to coax him into changing his mind. Even if Rukia was not incarcerated, he couldn't talk to her about this. She was too close to the situation to be able to understand it the way he did. He had to kill the kid. Rukia would regain her powers, and one of the crimes of which she was charged would be cleared. Maybe it would be enough to win her freedom. If not, he'd save her anyway, no matter what it took, no matter how many people he had to kill, she would be saved.

 

He struck himself in the forehead feeling the visor reverberate under his clenched fist. “Stop going over the top. First destroy the boy then save Rukia. Don't imagine fighting the whole of the Seireitei. It would take too long. Kill the kid, then follow through.”

 

Keeping out of view he moved stealthily toward his goal. Judging from the reports he'd listened to it was unlikely the kid had managed to get to the area he planned to fight him. He waited, out of sight, feeling the faintly recognised reiatsu move closer. It was the person who he'd met in the human world, the one he'd briefly glimpsed being trounced by Captain Ichimaru at the gate. Rukia's lover was here; his replacement.

 

The morning mist, or whatever the haze was, appeared conveniently. Good, he wanted to make an entrance. He'd seen his Captain do it so many times and realised how cowed some people could be when an overwhelming force appeared standing silent and resonating with power. That was how he wanted to look. He moved onto the lower steps so he would appear taller as well. Placing the visor over his eyes, he wondered for a moment if it made him look like a jerk, but decided it didn't matter. Anyone who saw him in the next few seconds would be dead in the following minutes. He waited patiently, planning the words he would say while watching the three people approach. He was glad the haze hid his expression of amazement when he saw that the kid was accompanied by one of the 4th Division serfs. His Captain might call him a peasant, but at least he wasn't as low as one of those pitiful creatures who peopled that division. It mattered little who the other person was. His focus was on the kid, Ichigo, and his need to kill him for the insult to 11th Division, the insult to his friend Ikkaku and the insult to all the Shinigami in the way he had ruthlessly taken Rukia's powers from her and then taken her away from Renji.

 

There was a further insult he had trouble acknowledging: that his Captain had taken over his fight with the kid in the human world and effortlessly defeated him. That stung. Not that he'd done it, but he'd done it in front of observers and made Renji look weak. If he defeated the kid now, it might help restore a part of his confidence.

 

The mist cleared and he was pleased to witness the surprise on Ichigo's face and the dread on the guy from 4th Division as he recognised who was standing in front of them. For a brief moment he felt what he expected his Captain felt, but would never acknowledge; a sense of pride in being who he was, of being recognised as a person to be feared and respected.

 

He exchanged a few words with the orange haired thief before he descended the steps, secretly pleased that the kid remembered his name after only one meeting. He must have made an impression, or at least he had with Zabimaru's help. It was all going according to plan and soon he would be victorious. Consideration of Rukia's reaction to the death of her lover swamped him for a moment, but at this point her feelings weren't as important as his desire for revenge. Once the kid was dead and he'd saved her it might be possible for her to come to her senses. After all, she had asked him to help her escape; even when she thought Ichigo was already dead.

 

The kid's zanpaku-to had changed and was now obscenely large as if he was trying to make a statement with the size of his blade. The thought made Renji grimace.

 

They traded a few insults before they fought. All the time Renji wondered how Ichigo had recovered. He had seen Captain Kuchiki destroy his ability to change into a Shinigami, he had seen the fatal blow, and yet here he was, a Shinigami again and his power had changed.

 

He let the kid charge at him, traded a few blows, checking how much his ability had improved along with his zanpaku-to. At first he was a little impressed. This was a different fighter to the one he had met in the human world. He had more confidence and even managed to force him back, but inwardly Renji was smiling. He was giving the guy a chance to prove himself before he suffered the inevitable defeat. Sure, his power had grown but he knew nothing about the Seireitei or Soul Society and especially he knew nothing about Renji.

 

Tired of toying with the boy he released Zabimaru and immediately the rhythm of the fight changed. It was obvious that Renji would soon be the victor after Zabimaru shoved Ichigo back. He admired the fact that he managed to stagger to his feet after the blow, but he could barely stand straight.

 

The fight continued and Renji began to appreciate the person he was fighting, while being irritated that he wouldn't stay down. Even though he was taking a beating, even though he must have realised there was no point in continuing the struggle, he did not give up. With time he might improve, become a good fighter, but he would not have the chance because Ichigo would be dead and it was hard to advance once that happened.

 

Every time the boy clashed blades with him he was forced back. They talked a little as they fought, the regulation posturing about who would triumph, but Renji was certain that the kid did not really believe he could win. The fact remained; he would kill Ichigo, save Rukia and then face whatever consequences there were. It didn't matter.

 

Then, finally he saw his opening. After his serial attacks Ichigo tried to attack and failed. It was then that Renji knew victory was only moments away. His vicious attack knocked the boy backwards and he moved in to take the killing blow only to have his evident superiority overwhelmed.

 

He had been sure the kid was dying; how could he recover from the wounds he had inflicted with Zabimaru? Yet with one stroke of Ichigo's blade all his dreams came crashing down, destroyed once again by the boy who had won Rukia's love.

 

“No!” he felt like howling. “No, I cannot allow him to win. I have to save Rukia. She has to be saved.”

 

Then came the greatest shame when he asked, no, he begged that the kid save Rukia, that the boy take over where he had failed. An assistant captain of 6th Division begging a ryoka. It was humiliating, but once again it was impressed on him that Rukia was important, more important than any futile pride that he clung to.

 

As he lay there, before succumbing to ignorance of his surroundings, he wondered if Ikkaku had felt like this after being defeated. Knowing he had fought to the best of his abilities but failing because he lacked the passion to win.

 

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It had been an unpleasant shock to be intercepted by Renji Abarai. Seeing him reminded Ichigo of all the events that had brought him to this moment when he faced this man again. Until now the journey through the Seireitei had been unpleasant, full of near escapes and too much fighting, but all somehow unreal. The only reality that mattered to him were the dreams he had of Rukia and he was uncertain about their reality. All else passed in a haze of half realised moments.

 

It had been impressive how the guy had appeared out of the mist. Impressive, but not important. The dramatic emergence made him wonder if Renji had planned it, but from what he'd seen, it was unlikely that this place had the technology to create smoke machines. Coincidence, but all the same it had impressed Ganju and the other guy, Hanatoro.

 

This time he felt more confident. He'd beaten that bald Shinigami, Ikkaku, even though it had seemed long odds. True, he was still not recovered from that fight, but that wasn't significant; his whole focus was on saving Rukia as quickly as possible. He couldn't permit anything to take his attention away from his overwhelming self imposed duty. Thinking back to the last time he had faced this particular foe he contemplated their fight. Toward the end he had begun to understand the tempo of the man's movements and there may have been a chance that he could have defeated him, until that Captain guy had stepped in, Rukia's brother. She had some nice acquaintances, not.

 

Renji spoke, raving on about how it was not feasible for Ichigo to win. Did he really think that his words would affect him, or was he trying to tell himself that he would be the victor?

 

As they fought he began to feel he had made a mistake. He should have rested before took part in this fight, but he hadn't known that Renji would turn up so soon, or at all. He knew that he'd have to battle Ikkaku's captain at some time but that didn't worry him too much. The man might prove to be weaker than Ikkaku's description or he could dodge him somehow, but Renji seemed to be out for his blood.

 

Each time they spoke to each other during the fight he tried to voice the confidence he did not feel. Renji was much stronger and his moves were complex, his speed and his recovery made Ichigo feel inferior. “I can't think like that or I'll never save Rukia. I've got to keep trying; I've got to defeat him. I have to save Rukia that's my only purpose now. To save her and keep her with me. There can be no other outcome”

 

Then in a brief pause Renji made the statement that hurt the most. “Rukia is going to die because of you.” The ground beneath his feet, already unstable, seemed to undulate at those words and Renji continued, “It's all your fault.”

 

There was a store of emotion behind the accusation that made Ichigo wonder about the history between Renji and Rukia, but now was not the time to think about it. The accusation was true; it was true and it cut at him more deeply than the zanpaku-to that Renji was wielding.

 

He confessed his knowledge and his guilt and then failed in his attack. It was over, he was going to die and Rukia would remain alone to face her death. Thinking about Rukia and death made him remember Urahara and then he finally saw the way forward.

 

“I've only got one chance, only one blow to end this. If I fail this time I may as well just lie down and let him stab me,” he thought as he began his strike. Unbelieving he watched as Zabimaru was broken and Renji was injured. His resolve to kill was strong, but even so he did not wish the guy to die.

 

As Renji fell to his knees, he begged that Ichigo save Rukia with a desperation that could not be gainsaid. Instead of fighting each other they should have been fighting together, but there was something else that was present behind the plea. Why did the man want to defeat his captain, why did he keep insisting that she had to be saved? He had tried to kill Ichigo and now he wanted him to save Rukia? Not wishing to think of it too deeply he agreed and watched as his beaten foe flopped to the ground.

 

He stood swaying a few minutes before he too succumbed to the effects of his wounds and gravity.

 

------------------------------------

 

He hurt all over. Breathing seemed to cause his ribs to ache but he had to breathe. The person lying beside him shifted, causing him to try to stifle the groan that emerged from his throat.

 

“Ichigo, Ichigo. You came back,” he heard and then an explosion of pain rocked him as eager hands touched him. “You're bleeding, bleeding really badly. Ichigo, what is going on? What happened? Talk to me! Are you dying?”

 

He cracked open one eye to behold Rukia leaning over him, her eyes welling with tears. The dim light of the cell cast her face into shadows and her hands were on his chest, the contact causing pain to grind through his bones.

 

“My reiatsu is repressed by this place and I can't heal you. Don't die Ichigo; I couldn't bear it, not again. I thought you were dead and then you returned to me. If I lost you again I'll accept my execution with thanks.” She removed her hands and left his sight. Soon he could feel some gentle movement as she washed his gashes and cuts.

 

“This is weird. As I wash you I can see some of your injuries being healed. How can that be happening? I've never understood how your soul can divide so that part of you is here and the other somewhere else. Who was with you?” her voice was loving but the demand to answer was clear.

 

“Ganju. Hanatoro,” was all he could gasp. Breathing was a little easier but it still hurt.

 

“Hanatoro! He's with 4th Division and a talented healer. He's probably working on you now. Thank the goddess that you had some sense and befriended him,” Rukia said continuing to wash his wounds.

 

Ichigo grunted, not wishing to reveal how Hanatoro came to be in his party. It would irritate Rukia and her ministrations hurt enough without anger being added to her emotional mix.

 

“Who were you fighting? It must have been someone pretty strong. Did you win or lose?”

 

Briefly he wondered why she was questioning him while she could see he was in pain. “Won,” he answered.

 

“You're being monosyllabic, aren't you?” Rukia said beginning to sound offended.

 

“Pain,” he gasped as her fingers dug into a particularly deep wound. The pain was almost enough to make him pass out.

 

Rukia's hands were suddenly removed and he saw her stricken face above him. “Ichigo. Oh, I'm sorry. I was so pleased to see you and I've been so lonely that I wanted to talk. All I thought about was myself,” a tear splashed onto his cheek.

 

Gathering his strength he reached up and touched her face, capturing the next tear that threatened to drop. “Stop.”

 

Her eyes gleamed with unshed tears but she wiped them away and tried to smile at him. The attempt made her look even sadder than when she was crying. Her eyes widened slightly as an idea captured her imagination. “I may not have much power for kido, but I can pass on some strength. It means I have to hold you, but it might help. Will you allow me to hold you Ichigo?”

 

He tried to think what she meant. Holding him might give him strength but he was already starting to feel the pain recede a little. All the same he longed for contact with his love while they were together. Nodding slightly, he agreed.

 

He felt Rukia nestle beside him, treating him gently as she lightly placed her arms around him. Her body brought warmth to him and he had not realised he was cold. Her mouth moved to his brow and she kissed him, a swift light kiss reminiscent of the delicate touch of a moth's wing. Letting his lids drop over his eyes he felt some strength return to his body through her ministrations.

 

“Who did this to you, Ichigo? Which of the Shinigami hurt you like this?” The quiet question required an answer and this time he decided to respond.

 

`Renji.”

 

The woman embracing him stilled at the sound of the name. “Renji? Renji Abarai?”

 

Didn't she hear him the first time? Why was she repeating his name? “Yes.” The tension he was feeling showed in his tone.

 

A tremor ran through Rukia's body. “Is he, did you, was he,” the words jumbled together as they emerged from her mouth. Catching herself she tried again. “Did you kill him?”

 

“No.” Why was she concerned? Renji was worried about saving Rukia, Rukia was concerned that he had killed Renji. Ichigo was quite good at arithmetic and it became clear to him that there was more here then he had originally expected. “You and Renji,” the vehemence of the accusation needed no other words.

 

There was a loss of warmth as Rukia sat up and slid away from him. “A long time ago, for one night, we loved each other. It was over 40 years ago, Ichigo, and it was only one night. I loved him afterward but it came to nothing. Then I had my crush on Kaien. After that, zero. I lost Renji as a friend and a lover. Only recently I thought we had become friends again, but then he had to fight you. I don't know which one of you I'm more furious with. Last time you fought Renji you almost died. When I spoke to Renji I told him about you and I don't want to remember it all. I'll kill that idiot when I see him.”

 

Ichigo tried not to, but found he was laughing. “Don't make me laugh.”

 

Instantly contrite Rukia asked, “Are you still enemies?”

 

That was a strange question. He had fought Renji only recently and they had to be enemies to fight, but she was right. “No. He asked me to save you. Raved on about being a dog and something about the moon. I think the pain twisted his mind and he didn't know what he was saying. Or he might have been spending too much time reading poetry.” The wounds worried him less as the minutes passed and then he focused on something Rukia had admitted. “You and Renji. I was correct. 40 years ago? Do you mean that you hadn't had sex for 40 years? No wonder you're desperate for me.”

 

“Shut up, jerk. You're injured in case you don't remember and I can cause you extreme pain if you say anything I don't like,” a sour note appeared in Rukia's voice at his words.

 

There was only one answer he could give. “I love you.”

 

The silence that fell on the room was peaceful and without the tension he had expected but he heard a small sob from Rukia. Turning his head he saw she had her hand pressed to her mouth as the tears in her eyes glistened.

 

“Come here. I want you near,” he commanded, not wishing to witness her sorrow again.

 

With a muffled snuffle, Rukia returned to his side holding him tenderly as she kissed any part that seemed free of injury. “I won't ask for sex because that would not work. We'll sleep together even though I know that when I wake you'll be gone. You'll have to teach me how to do the soul divide so that I can come and visit you.”

 

The warmth began to spread through his body as she settled, embracing him.

 

“I love you, Ichigo. Try not to get hurt again. I can't believe Renji asked you to help. It must mean he respects you which is pretty amazing. Hanatoro is doing a wonderful job on healing you.”

 

He listened to her comments idly as the light seemed to darken. He slept.

 

Author's Note:

 

It had to be done as a split chapter and of course how could there be smut with Ichigo injured like that? It would have been a little too kinky for this story and there's already enough twisted things.

 

No, I'm not putting Renji with Matsumoto. Or am I? It's a cute idea but it's been done before, many times. The two dumped lovers finding consolation with each leading to a stronger and long lasting romance. (Cue romantic music like Nobody Takes Me Seriously Anyway or Weapon of Choice. What? They're not romantic? That probably explains my love life. XD). Fine. I may try for something a little different.

 

Thank you to Bastion and Deadbeserker for your reviews. Finally the story is moving forward again. One day I may even finish it.

 

To anyone interested Daydreams will finish once I have reached the end of the Soul Society Arc. The Hueco Mundo storyline does not appeal to me as much and I'm already tired of Grimmjow.

 

Okay next featured character. Not Zaraki. How about Hanatoro? Or finally, that Keigo chapter I never completed? No, it has to be Yumichika because he's jealous that Ikkaku has already had a chapter. I'm drawn to the idea of the viewpoint from Renji's visor. (No, I'm not serious.) Tatsufusa Enjoji? What a good idea.

 

Please review. Sometime soon there may be smut, or not.

 

MS