The Lieutenant and the Horn

“Hmph, I was hoping three lieutenants would be a good challenge but you were nothing, now it’s time for you to say goodbye.” He said raising his foot up slowly, intent on crushing her.

A small garganta opened in the sky as Ryoji burst out from it, his eyes scanning the area. He could see several menos grande and feel the spiritual pressure of the vasto lorde but Yammy’s was more difficult.
‘Come on Ryoji, every second counts…there!’ and with that he vanished using his sonido to get to Yammy’s location as soon as possible.

“Get ready for one hell of a headache little girl.” Yammy’s foot was raised up enough that he could bring it down with enough force to end Rangiku’s life, for some reason she couldn’t move, every muscle in her body screamed to move out of the way but she was too scared after watching her two friends be mercilessly beaten. As the monster foot came down her mind screamed out for help. Her eyes shut tight not wanting to see the end coming, but when it didn’t come she slowly opened them and looked up seeing the Espada from the living world in front of her, his sword blocking the foot that would’ve surely crushed her.

“Hey beautiful, I told you you’d see me again.” Ryoji said with a smile holding out his hand for her to take. Her eyes were wide with relief and disbelief as she reached out and took his hand allowing him to pull her up. The smile he gave her was a genuine one, one that said a lot to her as he pulled her close to him and vanished from underneath the crushing foot to a spot nearby.

“Ryoji?! What the hell are you doing? You’d betray us for this woman?” Yammy was furious at the fact that he was being betrayed, and for a shinigami woman no less. It was what he said in response that made Yammy even madder and Rangiku’s heart flutter.

“I would die for this woman.” Ryoji sheathed his zanpakuto knowing he wouldn’t need it to defeat the overgrown Espada. He looked back at Rangiku and with the same smile he greeted her with stepped in front of her his uncovered purple eye staring into her eyes.

“I’ll deal with him, you tend to your friends okay angel?” she only nodded, finally knowing who the necklace was from. He caressed her cheek before turning around and walking towards Yammy with a look of grim determination on his face.

“Hmmph, I can’t believe you’d betray us for a shinigami Ryoji.” Yammy was getting ready to sonido towards the blonde woman and attack her, knowing Ryoji was just bluffing, as he would never betray Aizen, he couldn’t be that stupid. Ryoji just stared at the large Espada, his one eye that showed unblinking causing Yammy to get nervous. ‘The moment the woman is in a spot I can reach her I’ll grab her and use her as a shield, then Ryoji will be unable to stop me.’ The seconds ticked by before Yammy saw the opening he needed.

‘NOW!’

Rangiku only heard the sounds of two sonidos coming towards her and before she knew it the large Espada was once again standing over her, only know he had her protector’s arm elbow deep in his chest. The look on his face spoke volumes as the shock of a fellow hollow other than Ulquiorra hitting him was incomprehensible to the dimwitted giant.

“W..wh…why Ryoji?” Yammy stuttered as the third Espada stood silent beneath him, his arm up to his elbow in Yammy’s chest. Ryoji actually wondered why he was doing this, why he was giving up on the Espada, on the perfect world for the hollows, on everything Aizen had promised, but then he looked over and saw Rangiku helping her friends get away and smiled. She was why, why he was throwing away everything, why he felt…human again even though he no longer was. She was worth everything to him and would gladly betray Las Noches again and again for her.

“It’s quite simple Yammy.” Yammy could feel the heat of a powerful cero building up inside of him and just before it went off he was given the answer to his question.

“I love her.”

The blast that destroyed Yammy was mostly muffled by his tremendous bulk but it was still large enough to be noticed by everyone. Ulquiorra was the first to notice Yammy’s spiritual pressure had completely vanished and it didn’t surprise him one bit. “Aizen will learn the hard way. It is that simple.” Ulquiorra turned his attention to the rest of the battle and noted the Vasto Lorde was giving the two captains a hard time. “Hmm, interesting, if it survives Lord Aizen may want to turn in into Yammy’s replacement.”

Rukia and Renji had lost count of how many menos grande they had slaughtered but for every one they slew it seemed like four more took its place. Renji decided to unleash his bankai to help and Rukia had released her zanpakuto but they were surrounded by menos. The situation looked grim as both shinigami stood back to back against each other with Renji’s Zabimaru surrounding them as a sort of barrier.

“Rukia” Renji’s voice cut through the calm of the battle like a knife and brought her attention to him. His face was one of determination and before Rukia could say anything he continued.

“Rukia, there’s something I want to tell you.” Renji knew this was as good a time as any to tell her, as they might not survive this. Rukia smiled, she knew what Renji wanted to say.

“Renji-“ But he cut her off quickly.

“Just let me speak, Rukia Kuchiki I…I love you and if we survive this I want you to marry me!”

Now Rukia had been expecting the love confession, but the second part threw her off completely. She had always had feelings for Renji and she wondered if they could have a future together. She looked up at him and smiled but it seemed to be more like a grin.

“You really have horrible timing you know!” She yelled as the first ceros blast came towards them. They both jumped to avoid it and each took down a menos. Renji asked again.

“So will you?”

Rukia smiled knowing she would love to but wanted things to be on her terms.

“I’d have to say, no.” Renji was stunned to say the least.

“Why not? Is it something wrong with me?” He at least wanted to know why as he watched zabimaru cut down more menos like trees.

“No, I just rather do things my way.” She sliced through a menos and they both ended up back to back again.

“Renji…marry me.” Rukia’s voice was commanding yet soft and Renji could feel the love in her softness.

“What?” Renji was confused, first she says no then this?

“I’ll say it again, marry me.” Rukia’s voice never changed.

Renji’s smiled from ear to ear. “It’d be my pleasure.”

“And Renji-kun?” Renji perked up at the addition to his name.

“Yes Rukia-Chan?” He said with a smile not expecting the next words coming from her mouth.

“Don’t even think about cheating on me, or else got it?” Renji’s smile never left his face as he knew he this was the girl he wanted for the rest of his life.

“I wouldn’t dare my hime, so I guess you’ll want a real wedding, cake and flowers and all?” Both continued to tear into menos after menos, their moves in sync with each other like two dance partners.

As her blade slashed a menos in two she heard his answer and was happy beyond all belief.
“Damn right I do!” She jumped back from a ceros blast and was at Renji’s back once more.

“I want to be your bride Renji, I always have since we were kids.” Renji and Rukia’s eyes locked on each other, the many menos surrounding them forgotten as Renji’s arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her close allowing him to bend down and kiss her with all of his being. Time came to a stop around them as they kissed knowing that if they survived this, they would be happy together. The menos one by one began to charge their ceros beams, each mouth opening up to charge. As the sounds of charging ceros reached their ears Rukia and Renji pulled away from each other and readied their blades, neither noticing the cherry blossom petals that began to float in everywhere around them.

“Scatter, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, Senkei.” A haunting voice said from behind Rukia and Renji. Both turned stunned to see Byakuya Kuchiki, Rukia’s older brother and Renji’s Captain standing behind them, with the normal apathetic look on his face. As they stared the menos began to unleash their ceros blasts which were blocked by pink glowing swords. The first form of Byakuya’s bankai.

“Renji, I wish to discuss recent turn of events with you after this whole thing is over, understood?” Renji knew instantly what he was talking about and with his free hand took Rukia’s hand in his.

“Of course Captain.” Rukia smiled at the physical contact and then looked at her brother as if to say ‘be nice.’
Byakuya had never seen his sister so happy and knew Renji would give her the world if she asked but he still had rights as an older brother to give him hell which he would gladly do.

“Good, time to end this then, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, Gokei.” All at once the swords spun each with a point facing outward and shot out decimating the menos and all throughout the seireitei the wails of menos could be heard.