Renji's Mission

#01: Bleach (Byakuya & Rukia)
...xXx...

Everyone said he was brash and hot-headed. Though he didn't deny it, he was not stupid. Even though he could be a little oblivious at times, he was aware of what was happening around him. Several years had passed by since the fight with Aizen Sōsuke. Relatively, everything remained the same except for Ichigo, who was no longer with them. Even until now, Soul Society still couldn't find someone fit to replace him, but then again, the orange-haired boy could never be replaced in anyone's heart. Whether Ichigo could see them or not, he would always be his and everyone's friend and ally.

Although the changes were subtle, he noticed them nevertheless. Ever since the incident of Muramasa, he had learned that Senbonzakura, his Taichou's Zanpakutō, had a child's patience. If it was not Kyōraku Taichou and Ukitake Taichou who told him, he wouldn't believe it one bit since it was the exact opposite of Taichou. For years, he had followed the man, so he had known no one would be able to irk him even for a few seconds in a normal circumstance.

Unknown to Renji, someone named Yoruichi Shihouin was the only one who could do such a feat.

His mission at the moment was trying to test Taichou's emotions. It was a dangerous mission; he was aware of that fact, but he wanted to do it for someone he loved dearly.

The raven-haired girl before him was beautiful with her expressive grey-purple eyes. As the princess of the Kuchiki Family, she was admired by everyone for her courage, bravery and kindness.Her first moments of being a princess were hard as everyone envied her and expected much from her. Yet, as time passed by, everyone realised she was not someone that took things for granted. She had proven herself, time and again, that she was not like any other princess who liked to be pampered.

Their shared past was what he valued the most, and at the moment, he would like to take a step forward in their current relationship. Even though he had a hunch that he would be rejected, he wanted to hear it himself so that he could move on. After all, it was better to let it be said and done.

"Rukia," he called out to gain her attention.

She turned to him. "Renji, how did you find this place? It's beautiful."

Just for this occasion, he had led them to one of Soul Society hills visibly surrounded by Seireitei and Rukongais.

"I'm glad to hear that, but that is not the reason why I brought you here."

He saw her turn to face him properly. "So?"

"Look, I know you might not feel the same, but I just need to let it out, and I hope we can remain friends even after this."

Her expression told him that she knew what was coming. A smile from her eased his nervousness. "Of course, we will remain friends."

Taking a deep, silent breath, he looked into her eyes. "I love you, Rukia."

The soft breeze around him was his only answer.

When he saw her open her mouth, he had expected to hear 'I'm sorry' or something along the lines of that, so he was surprised when she said, "I love you, too, Renji."

Her eyes told him the true meaning of her words; she loved him as a friend. Well, to be honest, it was better than 'I'm sorry.' At least, with this answer, he could rest assured that he didn't ruin their friendship. Gazing away from her face, he breathed out, "Gee, this is not cool at all."

His voice must have sounded extremely sad since she stepped closer and held his arm. "I'm sure you can find her, Renji."

At this moment, it was not important whether he would find the person that was only for him. The important thing was he needed to confirm something from her. "So, who's the lucky guy?"

She gave him a surprised look. "Huh?"

He refrained from rolling his eyes. "You like someone, don't you?"

Her red face was enough to tell him everything, so he went on, "I think I deserve to know who the guy is."

"Stupid. I don't—"

"It's Kuchiki Taichou, isn't it?"

Again, her reddened face was enough to give him the answer to his question, and since she didn't deny it, he knew it was true. A year or two after the fight, when they had started having lunch together with Taichou, he had noticed the changes in Rukia. The glances she gave to her adoptive brother were more than admiration and the type of look she would give someone she looked up to. However, he had no idea since when her views of the man changed. Perhaps it had something to do with Taichou's saving Rukia's life several times.

At this very moment, he wished to say 'He's your brother' but held back as technically, Rukia and Taichou were not related by blood. If it was not for Hisana-sama, Rukia wouldn't be adopted bythe Kuchiki Family. Moreover, what right had he to judge her? Like himself, she did not choose whom she would fall in love with.

She looked away from him. "I'm trying to stop."

Seeing the tears that were gathering in her eyes, he pulled her into his arms.

"Even though I don't know how, I will try…" she cried quietly.

Holding her close, he tried his best to comfort her. Even though it hurt to know Kuchiki Taichou had stolen the heart of his love, he wished he could do something for her. He wished nothing but her happiness even if it was not he who would give her that.

Since that day, Rukia had stopped having lunch with them. Well, she didn't stop immediately. It was gradually with any reason she could find. Before he could start thinking she was uncomfortable because of him, she had assured him that he was not the reason why she did it. He then realised she was trying to move on by staying away from Taichou. What annoyed him most was that even after Rukia had not come to have lunch together with them, Taichou remained neutral as ever as if Rukia's absence had no effect on him.

Swallowing down the agitation he felt, he began, "Taichou, Rukia said she won't be able to join us today."

If Renji squinted his eyes hard enough, he would have noticed how Byakuya's hold on his brush tightened. Unfortunately, he did not even try.

Renji was slightly frustrated when Taichou only gave him a small nod in reply. Since plan A had failed like usual, he moved to plan B. "Taichou, do you know who the nobleman Rukia likes is?"

He refrained himself from grinning when he saw Taichou stop writing entirely before looking up at him with questioning eyes. Even though he had pulled out some reaction from him, the man's face remained the same: emotionless.

"Rukia likes a nobleman?"

Happy that Taichou finally spoke, he elaborated with a small blush, "Actually, I confessed to Rukia a few weeks ago. I told her that I love her, but of course, Rukia told me she only loves me as a friend, and currently, she's in love with someone else. She didn't tell me anything aside from his being a nobleman."

Too busy with his own embarrassment and mental praying that Rukia would forgive him later, Renji missed Byakuya's shocked face that lasted for a full second.

Renji frowned when he looked up to see Taichou continuing to work on his reports. "Aren't you worried, Taichou?"

"Whoever Rukia loves has nothing to do with me."

Knowing Taichou had ended their short conversation, he withheld the urge to glare at the man. How Rukia could fall in love with the man was still a wonder to him. Resigned, he continued his own reports while thinking what he should tell Rukia about this. He was sure Rukia would be heartbroken.

...xXx...

Lately, she had been working late in her squad to ward off her feelings for her adoptive brother. It was more of a failure than a success as she kept missing him. She missed looking at his calm face whenever they had their meal while making light conversation. She had no idea when her feelings for her brother crossed the line separating admiration and love, but she did know it had been there since he saved her from Gin's Shinsō. Even after knowing Hisana-sama was actually her older sister, she couldn't stop the feeling, and for that, she felt disgusted with herself. Upon returning home, a servant had told her that her adoptive brother wished for her presence immediately. So, here she was, standing before his chamber. While making her way here, she had tried to think of what she might have done wrong but found nothing except for her absence during lunch.

He must have felt her reiatsu, because before she could knock, his voice came within the room, "Come in."

Gulping nervously, she slid the sliding paper door open and stepped into the room as quietly as possible. It didn't surprise her when she found him still working at his low writing table. After shutting the door, she looked at his back. They remained silent for several moments. Those several moments might have been minutes, but to her, they seemed like hours. When she felt the tension gradually permeate the room, she asked herself again, Did I do something wrong to upset him?

Byakuya refrained from looking at her immediately when she came into his chamber. The conflict within his heart was making him uncomfortable to say the least. What Abarai had told him this afternoon had raised some things in him: anger, envy and jealousy.

Anger because Rukia was in love with someone he did not know.

Envy because Abarai could express his feelings freely.

Jealousy because that man had stolen Rukia's heart.

Over fifty years ago, when he took her into the Kuchiki Family under Hisana's wish, he had tried his best to avoid her. It was not because of their resemblances but because of Rukia's natural beauty. The first time he laid his eyes on her, he admitted it to himself that Rukia was beautiful. Hisana and Rukia might look alike, but both of them were different in every aspect. If Hisana was the star, Rukia would be the sun. They had their own lights, but Rukia's was more powerful and brighter.

After saving her life from Gin's Shinsō, she had slowly crawled her way into his heart and even more so after the fight with Aizen. He had been happy when Rukia had lunch together with him in his squad. Even though he rarely responded to her chatting, he would listen to her stories nonetheless. The moment Rukia stopped having lunch with him had upset him more than he would admit it to himself.

Putting back his brush, he slowly turned to her. Her nervous face told him that she was afraid that she had committed an error. He kept his gaze on her. "I just wish to talk, Rukia."

Rukia let out the breath she had been holding after hearing his words. "What is it, Nii-sama?"

The last part sounded like a whisper as she felt so wrong for calling him such.

Unknown to her, Byakuya felt the same.

Wishing not to beat around the bush, he bluntly stated, "I wish to know who this nobleman is."

The only answer Rukia could provide was, "Huh?"

Shaking her head to dismiss the first answer, she said, "I'm sorry; I don't understand."

It was not like he wanted to meddle with Rukia's life. However, if the man she was in love with could make her happy, then so be it. As much as it hurt him, her happiness was his priority. While trying to calm his aching heart, he told her, "Renji told me you are in love with a nobleman."

With that one statement, Rukia did not need to ask more, and she didn't know whether she should be angry or happy or sad.

Angry because Renji had dared to tell him about her feelings, specific or not.

Happy because this might be her chance to tell him the truth.

Sad because he seemed to be ready to let her go.

Her last thought had told her that it was truly only a one-sided feeling. It was foolish of her to hope otherwise. Trying to hide her sadness as best as she could, she replied, "I'm sure it will pass, Nii-sama. This nobleman does not know that I love him, and I don't think he will ever love me back…" In fact, he would probably feel disgusted with me.

Looking into her glassy eyes, he knew she was trying to hide her sadness. He felt like killing the man. "Who is he, Rukia?"

She lowered her head. "Please, if you may excuse me. I don't think it's worth your time to talk about this."

"I see that you really love this nobleman," he stated unhappily.

A tear slid down her face as she gazed him back. "I really do love him."

As he heard her confession, she had unintentionally delivered a big blow to his gut. Yet, seeing her tear was enough to make him forget about it, for now. Her tears were something that he did not wish to see, even more so when it was the useless man who caused it. "He does not deserve your tears, Rukia."

She wiped away her tears angrily and dared to glare at him. "I will decide whether he deserves these tears!"

If he was not a nobleman with self-control, he would have yelled at her. "Don't make me repeat myself."

When she remained silent, he sighed inaudibly. "Rukia, just tell me, and we can end this conversation."

It's now or never, she told herself. If he decided to disown her after this, she would accept it as it was much better than being in denial forever. Standing up without his permission, she bowed toward him. After that she left his chamber, but not without telling him, "His name is Byakuya Kuchiki."

To say he was shocked was an understatement. The man Rukia loved was himself? While staring at the spot where she was sitting before leaving, he didn't know what to think.

Unknown to Byakuya, someone named Ginrei Kuchiki was there, hearing their every word. He was not by any means to eavesdrop. Byakuya's reiatsu seemed to leak out without him noticing it, so he had come to make sure everything was alright. When he was near to his grandson's chamber, he finally noticed his adoptive granddaughter's reiatsu. That was when he heard Byakuya tries to make Rukia to tell him who the nobleman she was in love with.

The prospect of Rukia loving someone was not unusual to him as he knew Rukia was a bright woman. Everyone would be willing to sacrifice everything to have her, not just because of her current status as the princess of the Kuchiki Family but because of her good personality. Knowing Byakuya, he was sure that his only grandson would never be able to resist her inner charm. A couple decades after Hisana passed away, he wanted nothing but to see his grandson happy once again.

When he was sure Rukia had left the area, he stepped out from the shadows to see his confused grandson. "Byakuya."

...xXx...

Several days had come and gone without special events. Renji was unsure what to think about Taichou's changed demeanour. Well, he was still the same unemotional Taichou, but he knew something good, if he dared to say, had happened to him. He needed answers but didn't want to ask him as he was afraid of his wrath. Soon, he got the answer when Rukia stepped into their office during lunchtime without knocking. Honestly, if he was drinking at the moment, he would have choked on his drink as Rukia called Taichou just 'Byakuya.' As she passed by his seat, she didn't say a word to him. What shocked him the most was that small smile on Taichou's face! Even after years of working under him, not even once had he seen Taichou's true smile.

With her slightly pink cheeks, Rukia talked to Taichou, "It's lunch time, do you want to go somewhere else?"

Taichou's small smile never wavered as he put back his brush and stood up. His legs would have given out if he wasn't sitting as Taichou took Rukia's offered hand. Since he couldn't stand it anymore, he leapt up immediately. "Rukia!"

Both of them stopped, and Rukia finally looked at him. "Ah, Renji! Sorry, I didn't see you."

His eyebrows twitched in annoyance. Before he could say a word, Rukia turned to Byakuya. "The messenger is not here yet?"

"Not yet." Taichou's voice was surprisingly softer than usual.

Rukia shrugged and turned to Renji. "You will get the invitation in a moment, Renji. I'm sorry, we have to go now."

Someone, he needed someone to slap him so that he was assured this was not a dream. Taichou had let Rukia pull him away from their office. And an invitation? What invitation she was talking about? He was startled when Rukia suddenly returned and called his name.

After turning to her, she flashed him the happiest smile he had ever seen. "Thank you."

Dumbfounded, he didn't know what to make of this. True to her words, moments later a messenger came with an invitation for him. It was not just any invitation, it was a wedding invitation! He didn't count how many times he had read it just to make sure Taichou and Rukia's name were truly printed there. After shaking his head to clear his mind, he started to calm down. A smile spread across his face as he muttered, "I'm happy for you, Rukia."

In the end, his mission to test Taichou's emotions was considered a failure since it was not he who accomplished the task. He might be the one who started it, but it was Rukia who finished it. Whatever she did to Taichou, he could only smile and pray for their happiness as both of them deserved to be happy. And who knew if he might get a little break from the overload of paperwork from Taichou.

Unknown to Renji, he was indeed would get a long break from Byakuya for uniting him and Rukia.

The End

Thanks for reading.

1. Renji's Mission 2. Advice 3. Jealousy Next