A Twist of Fate

This chapter is dedicated to my wonderful awesome Master,
WannaBeNinja. Thank you SO much for doctoring that
pic of Zhai up for me! I LOVE IT!! (pic on FF profile)

She’s also an awesome Master and friend! –nodnod-
She forever gets props.

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RECAP:

“Is there anything that you left out of your initial report, Lieutenant? Something that might perhaps explain this anomaly?”

Snapping his jaw shut with an audible click, the muscles tensed as he thought back. ‘That strange chill…the pain that came with it. Was she tying our souls together? How the hell can she do that? How is that even remotely possible?!’

“Lieutenant Abarai?”

Straightening, Renji gave her a sharp nod. “There was something.”


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Chapter 3 - On My Honor


Retsu Unohana listened carefully as Renji relayed the encounter to her, noting every specific detail, and filing it away for safekeeping. It was unlike anything she’d ever seen before. There seemed to be a definite connection between the two, an intertwining of souls. While it was faint to see, even to her trained eyes, she could tell it was ingrained deeply within them both. It would be foolish to try and remove it, especially when it seemed to be all that was keeping the young girl alive.

She could see the flame haired shinigami was concerned, unsure of what exactly had occurred, and certainly confused with his strange ties to the sun darkened woman lying in the bed. Throughout the telling of their meeting, his amber eyes kept drifting back to the girl, concern clouding them.

That was what puzzled her most about the unusual bond the two shared. Obviously, it held some sway of the Lieutenant, as his actions were clearly those of a concerned friend or lover. Far from what one would expect of a Lieutenant, one who had just met the girl. She was barely conscious for most of their time together.

So why does he seem so drawn to her? Like a month to flame, almost. Every time he thinks to move away, he returns his gaze to her and moves closer. It was almost as though the bond was controlling him to an extent. Of course, that seemed preposterous on its own. Then again, the idea of two souls being threaded together in this manner seemed unbelievable and downright outlandish.

“Lieutenant Abarai” she said, pulling his attention away from her patient. “I’m going to have to ask you to stay here, with the patient, until further notice. I’ll make the proper arrangements, and speak to your Captain as well.”

For a moment, Renji’s jaw stood agape. It didn’t occurred him to leave her side, and he wouldn’t want to. In fact, her request somehow cheered him, as he was already harboring fears of what would happen if he did leave. Visibly, the tension left his shoulders, drawing them forward in a relieved slump.

Saying nothing, he nodded, reaching down to brush a strand of hair away from the mystery woman’s smooth face. He had to stop himself from tracing her features, running one finger down the broad nose she had, sliding it atop her full, wide lips. At a glance, she wasn’t a beautiful woman, but she was certainly quite attractive. Nothing to sniff at, in the least.

Looking down at the hand he held tightly in his, he noticed a strange tattoo marking the top of it. Opening his hand, he held hers up for inspection, observing a rather detailed portrait of what looked to be a dragon of sorts. More snake than dragon, but definitely reptilian. It was reared up, fins extending from its upper body like wings. Certainly an unusual depiction, but then, most would say the same of the many tribal markings that adorned his body.

‘Seems like a strange place for a tattoo, I wonder what significance it holds for her. Is this the only one?’ A quick glance over what he could see of her, located another tattoo on her left hand, much smaller than the one on her right. Squinting at it, he could make out a six pointed star, placed just above the web of her hand where the thumb and forefinger meet. ‘Hn. You just get more intriguing by the second…’

So intent on surveying her sleeping figure, Renji failed to notice Unohana quietly slip from the room. It surprised him to look up and discover he was alone in the room. The only sounds in the room were the steady beeps and clicks of machinery that was keeping her stabilized. In the silence, Renji’s thoughts drifted back to that moment, when that mysterious chill passed through his body.

Whatever it was, it was having an effect on him he couldn’t entirely comprehend. Normally, he would have disliked it, but it did not truly allow him to dislike it. It would irritate him for a moment before placating him with mindless thoughts of her. ‘I can understand the need to save her life, but this is really starting to freak me out…I shouldn’t feel this way! It’s only getting worse too…now I couldn’t even think of leaving her side. What is going on here??’

A sudden commotion in the hallway forced Renji to cast his concerns aside for now. Instinctively, he reached for his zanpaktou as the door began to slide open. The timid voice of Hanataro Yamada could be heard now, pleading with the intruder.

“Please Miss, this patient should not be disturbed, she’s in critical condition.”

Apparently, his words went unheeded, as a crimson haired woman strode into the room, skirts whisking angrily. The brief flash of annoyance mirrored on her face vanished as her unusual golden eyes fell on the woman lying in the bed. Concern filled them now, reflecting even in her normally blank expression.

“Zhai…” she whispered, rushing to the opposite side of the bed.

Bewildered, Renji looked to her, then to the others entering the room, searching for some explanation.

“I’m sorry, Abarai Fuku-taichou. She wouldn’t listen to me.” Hanataro offered as Rikichi stormed in behind him.

“Lady Togita, please, there is nothing you can do for her right now. Please, come with me.”

‘Ah, so this must be the nobility Rikichi mentioned. She does seem to be a bit of a handful…’

The look she cast both men in the doorway seemed to root them to the spot. It must have been frightful, because Renji didn’t think he’d ever seen Rikichi look so terrified before. The expression he held was nearly cause for him to laugh aloud, but he sensed that would not be very appropriate at the moment. Taking control of the situation, he spoke to his subordinate.

“It’s alright Rikichi. I’d like to speak with her, if I may.”

Although he was facing the other men, Renji could feel that ominous gaze shift to take him in. It seemed the need for Captain Kuchiki was not as feeble as he previous thought. Refusing to acknowledge her hard stare, he nodded to the younger men, waiting until they exited the room before turning to face her.

Like her friend, Lady Togita was a lovely woman, handsome, but not outstanding as far as looks go. If anything, her crimson hair and eyes that shifted between gold and rust somewhat reminded him of his own features. She wasted no time, speaking up immediately and with a tone that said she would brook no disrespect.

“You are the man who brought her here, yes?”

“I am.”

“What happened to her?”

Frowning, Renji played the scene back in his mind as he explained it to her. That deep burgundy sash of hers flowing behind her, catching his eye. The disgusting crunch of shattering bones he heard as she struck the tree at full force. That pained, stricken expression on her face he caught before her raven locks shielded her face from view. Everything. The visions were as clear in his mind as they were the movement he saw them playing out.

What he was unsure of, was to explain just how she was still alive. It was still baffling to him, and despite the truth to Unohana’s words, he wasn’t ready to believe it. What are the chances this woman would know anything of what occurred anyway? Slim to none.

After he finished explaining what had occurred, but leaving out that unusual interaction, Renji saw some of the anger melt away from the rigid woman. Her gaze drifted downward to the one she’d called Zhai. Renji could have sworn he saw her stiffen when she noticed how his fingers were intertwined with her friends. The moment passed before he could be certain he saw anything at all.

“The Light preserve us, Zhai.” She said, it sounded almost as if she were chiding the sleeping figure.

Turning to Renji, he could see her eyes soften. “You have my thanks, child.”

Though irritated by being called a child, Renji blushed at her compliment, thinking of how he felt running the entire way here.

“Please, don’t thank me. I could not leave her there…”

“Peace, child. A man who would not die to save a woman is no man at all. You have no need to explain yourself to me.”

Blinking, Renji started at her, mouth hanging open slightly from the words he had been on the verge of forming but cut off. Shocking him further, she reached across the bed to pat his hand lightly, the hand that held Zhai’s so tightly.

“I have need of some privacy with my Sister. Would you be so kind as to exit her room?”

It was a question, and yet, it was very clearly a statement. This woman wasn’t asking him to leave, she was politely telling him to go. Tightening his grip, Renji stood a bit straighter, lifting his chin slightly.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

The softness in her eyes vanished, leaving a blank slate that blanketed her face. Something about her countenance told him to tread lightly. It made him feel as though he absolutely needed to explain himself on this matter, and he did, as best he could.

“Aside from being ordered not to by the Captain of the Medical Division, I have made a promise to myself, and to her. I will not leave her side until she is well enough to ask me to.” ‘Perhaps not even then.’ He added the last thought silently, leveling his gaze and maintaining eye contact with the unusual woman.

Her eyes flickered for but a moment, as though something slid into place. Taking another glance at the way he so lovingly clung to Zhai’s hand, a twitch tugged at her brow. Tilting her head to one side every so slightly, she took him in again, sizing him up.

“Just how poor was Zhai’s condition when you found her?”

The sudden shift threw him off balance, and he answered her honestly. “She wasn’t going to make it.”

Nodding, the red head gave him the tiniest of smiles. “As I suspected. Still, she made it, though I do wonder how.”

The confident look she gave him, combined with the musings she spoke aloud led Renji to believe she knew far more than she was letting on. She seemed ready to pry further, but her gaze tore from him suddenly, staring at the wall to her right, as if looking through it. There was no sound, nothing to have given her reason to look that direction in the least, and yet she did. It even seemed as though worry etched her brow for just a moment.

It was only for a few seconds, but long enough to make him wonder. What did she see? What did she hear that sent her gazing off that way with such concern?

“You look exhausted…Master Abarai?”

Shaking his head, Renji stared at her with a befuddled expression, confused by the sudden shift in topic, and the unusual manner of speaking. ‘Master Abarai? What is up with that? Who talks that way?’

The woman wasn’t truly interested in a response, as it were. Already she was pushing a chair towards him, indicating he should have a seat. Warily, he accepted, pulling it closer to the bed, closer to Zhai.

“There you are, much better, yes?”

When she spoke, she laid one hand gently on his shoulder. It was a bit too familiar for him, and he was moments from shrugging her hand away when a sudden wave of drowsiness washed over him.

He knew immediately that it was no ordinary need for sleep that suddenly compelled him to lay his head down beside her. Knowing did not make it any easier to fight; the need was far too great. ‘Knew there was somethin’…fishy…abo--’ Thoughts fleeing as he succumbed to lethargy, closing his eyes reluctantly and drifting off.

The moment his eyes slid shut, Nelisande was moving, eager to determine the condition of her Sister, and set to work mending her wounds. Only a few minutes before, she’d felt a rising level of concern in Kamavon. That was something, considering the man never balked or shied away from anything. Whatever they were trying to do, he did not like it one bit.

Zhai needed to be dealt with first, and he knew that. Nelis would not return to him until Zhai was well and safe. Until then, he would bear it in silence, the bond only echoing his concerns to her. Placing one hand on her wounded friend, Nelisande opened herself up to Saidar, sighing as its loving embrace surrounded her.

Wasting no more time, she quickly began to bind together threads of spirit, water and air. Rather than healing her friend immediately, she used the weave to delve into her body, and discern just what was wrong. Right away, she confirmed her suspicions of the rather over protective guardian who now lay sleeping peacefully. ‘A Warder bond. I knew it! That is how you managed to survive, Zhai. A drastic move, but you always were a touch too rash. You must have felt there was no other way…’

Beneath the surface of the bond, she quickly saw just why Zhai had bonded him. Had she not bound their souls, she undoubtedly would not have lived much longer. As it were, she was subsisting off the immense strength of his soul alone. Too many of her internal organs had been damaged, her ribs puncturing her lungs and liver viciously.

This left her with another dilemma on her hands. Healing draws on the strength of the person being healed, and initially, can cause quite a shock to their system. It is for that reason that healing is typically not used on small children, as their bodies cannot cope with the harsh jolt.

In Zhai’s current condition, even the Warder bond may not keep her alive. Oh, some work had already been done to repair her broken body, but it was not enough. ‘Pitiful healers, I’ll wager they believed her to be in recovery. Fah!’

Nelisande certainly found herself caught between two millstones. If she attempted to heal her, the shock might be too much. If she did not, her chances of survival were grim. It was certainly the crux of her dismay. There was but one chance, and if she took it, she was actually going to need the help of Zhai’s new Warder.

“Burn me if you do not make everything difficult, Zhai din Eiran.” She muttered halfheartedly under her breath.

The last thing she wanted to do was expose her for what she was, but Zhai’s life was at stake. It seemed she had already inadvertently revealed their powers to an extent. ‘At least to this boy.’ she grumbled to herself.

Moving back to the sleeping man, she began to unwind the threads of Saidar that had forced him into a state of deep sleep. It was one of the more useful tricks learned upon entering the Green Ajah. Each Ajah had its own tricks of the power, revealing them only to one another, and never to those of a different Ajah.

As the last vestiges of sleep began to fade, Renji’s eyes flickered open. Groggily, he surveyed the area around, head resting on the bed beside the woman he’d saved. Memories returned and snapped into place, causing him to leap straight up from his chair, nearly striking Nelisande in the process.

“Peace! Do not flail your arms about child, you nearly struck me!”

“You!” he said, pointing one finger at her and placing his right hand on the hilt of his sword. “What the hell did you just do to me?!”

“Hold your tongue boy, hear me out. And for the love of Light, keep your voice down. Do you wish to aid her or not?”

Glaring, Renji ground his teeth in frustration. He was positively furious for having been rendered completely helpless so easily. While he’d been wary of her, he’d never expected to be knocked out, and certainly not in that manner. And yet, now she was offering a way to help Zhai, the enigmatic woman he was so bound to. Obviously, she needed his help, or she would have left him sleeping and unaware.

“What do you want?” He asked, the harshness in his tone every bit implying his vehemence.

“She is on the precipice between life and death child. I need to heal her, but I will need your strength to keep her alive.”

“What are you talking about, Captain Unohana said she would make it!”

“Foolish boy. She either lied to you, or did not understand the severity of Zhai’s condition. The only reason she is alive right now is because of you.”

The words weighed heavily upon him, for he knew precisely what she meant by that. It wasn’t that he’d carried her this far, to medical attention. It was the bond between them, whatever magic she had cast that bound their two souls as one. Zhai was drawing strength from him, vainly fighting against death. The anger drained from him, being replaced by the strong desire to protect.

“I’ll do whatever it takes, just please, save her.”

Nodding, Nelisande took hold of his hands, placing them lightly atop the sleeping woman’s chest. Taking one hand, she laid it atop his own, and then placed the other against the bit of exposed flesh on Zhai’s upper torso.

“I am going to channel through you, into her, drawing your strength. You must relax completely, and allow your energy to be pulled into the flow. Give her everything you’ve got, heart, mind, body and soul. She will need it to survive the shock.”

Nelisande did not bother to tell him that this was a dangerous method. Only once had she seen it performed successfully, and that was by one of the Yellow Ajah. They specialized in healing. Nelisande was no where near that powerful a healer, but her skills were nothing to thumb your nose at. Either way, if this attempt failed, more likely than not, the boy would die with Zhai.

Even being bound to her for less than a day, nay, less than 4 hours, he would be subject to all the pains of a Warder. The loss of an Aes Sedai was detrimental to any Gaidin, no matter how long they had been with their Aes Sedai. Unless he possessed an exceptionally strong spirit, he would lose all will to live with her passing.

“I’m ready” he said softly, gazing down at Zhai. ‘Be strong for me, Zhai. I’ve got so much I want to say to you, to ask you. Hang in there, okay?’

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

After departing the hospital room earlier, Captain Unohana had retreated to her personal office within the 4th Division. She had much to think on, and as it seemed, much to learn. Assuming, the girl lived long enough to teach her anything. She did not even want to think of what may occur should the girl pass away with her soul still tightly bound to Abarai’s. Would she pull him down into the throes of death with her? Or would the strange hold that inexorably bound them simply break apart?

Such fears she’d kept to herself, primarily because she was concerned that Abarai’s mood would affect the young girl’s. In all truth, the girl was not far from death, despite drawing life from the normally exuberant Lieutenant. Retsu did all she could for the moment, using kido to help remove some of the ribs from vital organs, but the wounds still persisted.

It was going to take treatments several times a day to bring that child back from the edge. Retsu was curious to know what would have caused such a blast to send her hurtling at a high enough velocity to bring about such grave wounds.

Another discovery that surprised her, nearly as much as the strange bond of souls, was the fact that the girl was not a konpaku. From what she could gather…the girl was human. This, of course, brought up a slew of questions that could not be answered just yet. How did she come here? How can she see the shinigami, assuming she can? She must have been able to see Renji, but was it because she was on the verge of dying? How was she able to meld their souls together?

That was certainly one of the more pressing questions. That, and what effects would it have upon the unsuspecting Lieutenant. Obviously it drove him to be quite protective of her. Perhaps his body sensed the connection and realized their fates would be shared. There were far too many questions and not a single answer available to her. It was troublesome indeed.

Though she knew Lieutenant Abarai had already sent one request to his Captain, Retsu felt it was necessary to send another. From what she’d gathered, the first request did not go over so well. A request from her, however, would not be so harshly declined. That brought the faintest of smiles to her face. She’d watched the Kuchiki heir grow up, and had even assisted Ukitake in training the boy. 

His aristocratic temper tantrums would have no effect on her. Of course, he knew better than to show blatant disrespect to her. Yes, it seemed a request for his presence here would be an order…

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Byakuya winced inwardly when he saw yet another hell butterfly flitting his way. It was the second one this morning that had come to disturb the peace and tranquility he so coveted. The first surely could have waited until the following day, would that be the case for the second?

Holding one elegant finger out, he waited patiently for the delicate creature to land and pass on its message. Unfortunately for him, it was not a request from his subordinate, but a request from Captain Unohana herself. She was not very forthcoming, merely asking him to make his way to the 4th Division and visit her as soon as he was available. The communication was sent as ‘urgent’, meaning he could not set it aside until the following day.

Offering one last glance at the peaceful gravesite of his honorable mother and father, Byakuya Kuchiki gracefully strode back towards the massive estate.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

While the strange connection before had held a chill when Zhai touched him, it was nothing compared to the freeze that now gripped him. It felt as though icicles were shooting through his veins, coursing through and eventually flowing into the woman below his hands.

Renji unconsciously sucked in a breath at the bone chilling cold, noting prickles rising on his skin as well as hers. The strange noblewoman seemed unperturbed, her forehead wrinkled with deep concentration. He wasn’t sure what she was doing, but he could feel Zhai’s heartbeat skipping beneath his hands, once going so long between beats he was afraid they’d lost her.

Instinctively, he released more of his reiatsu, desperately trying to funnel his strength into her, willing her past the trauma. Sparing another glance at Lady Togita, he could see sweat beginning to bead her furrowed brow. He realized then, that he too was starting to sweat. It was difficult to remain relaxed, to allow the energy to flow through on its own. Not when so much was at stake.

After what felt like an eternity, he felt Zhai’s heartbeat begin to stabilize, though it still ran high. He was no expert, but something told him that she had made it through the darkest part. All that remained was to finish mending her broken body.

He nearly jumped when the woman’s eyes snapped opened suddenly, lungs dragging in as deep a breath as she could manage.

“Blood and bloody ashes!” she burst out, exhaling that first breath in a blur of words.

Pulling her hands away, Nelisande smiled down at her, lovingly resting a cool hand against her forehead. Zhai’s dark eyes seemed to brighten upon seeing her friend, and her body relaxed.

“Oh Nel, Nel…” she choked out, sitting up and flinging her arms around the other woman.

“Shhh, don’t exert yourself Zhai. You’re going to be weak for a while, you know that.”

The dark woman’s shoulders shook with emotion, her voice cracking. “I’m so sorry; it is my fault we are in this mess! Tianorin was right; they should have never raised me to the Shawl!”

Cradling her friends head in her hands, Nelisande held her almost as one would a babe, rocking her back and forth and offering words of comfort.

“Do not say such things. You have overcome many obstacles to earn both the ring and the Shawl. Peace favors you my Sister, you are alive.”

“I thought surely the waters had come to take me…thank you, Sister.”

Drawing back, Nelisande wiped away the tears from her friends face the sleeve of her dress.

“There now, all better. Perhaps you should thank this child, for it was he who truly guided you through the storm.”

Scrubbing away the remainder of her tears, Zhai tried to compose herself before turning to the man beside her. Her dark eyes wanted so badly to dart away from that piercing gaze of his, but she could not do him such a dishonor.

“You have my thanks, and my eternal appreciation.”

Fighting the urge to take her into his arms, Renji offered her a tremulous smile and a small bow.

“It was an honor. Would you do me the pleasure of introducing yourself? I feel like I know you quite well, but I really don’t know you at all.”

Extending a weak hand to him, Zhai returned the smile. A faint blush crept up her cheeks as she looked at him. Her vision had been so blurred when he found her. All she had really been able to make out was the fiery red hair of his. Looking at him now, she was pleased to see that he was quite a gorgeous man. Certainly very striking in looks. To further flatter his appearance, she could make out a series of tattoos that marked his forehead, his neck, and apparently down to his chest, though she could not see that far. As far as her kind were concerned, tattoos were a beautiful decoration of one’s body.

“I am Zhai din Eiran of the Somarin Atha’an Miere.”

“Zhai…” he repeated faintly, clasping her hand with both of his. The smile he born grew a bit more as he took her in. He’d already heard her first name before, but it just sounded so much better coming off her lips. It almost sounded as though she were saying ‘shy’, but substituting the ‘s’ for a ‘j’. A lovely name, and quite unique at that.

“Will you tell me yours? I must know the name of the one who saved my life.”

Blushing, Renji dropped his gaze, looking down at her hand. Idly, his fingers traced the sea serpent tattoo she bore. If she noticed, she did not seem to mind.

“My name is Renji, Renji Abarai. I’m a Lieutenant of the Gotei 13 here, Squad 6 to be precise.”

A pleased smile alit in her curiously shaded eyes; Nelisande gave each of them a light squeeze.

“While I hate to ruin the moment, I really must check on Kamavon. He’s been quite…concerned.”

“He’s alright?” Zhai asked, her voice thick with anxiety.

“He will be alright. He sustained minor injuries, but nothing that I cannot handle. If only I could get those pesky men to leave the room…”

“And Tia?”

Nelisande froze in mid pivot, her breath catching. A knot formed in her throat at mention of their dearly departed friend. Zhai would not take her passing well. Nelis was still struggling with it. Should she ever get a private moment to herself, she would certainly let out some of the pent up sorrow she had been holding back.

“Nelis…where is Tia? Is she alright?”

It felt like all of the moisture dried from Nelisande’s throat at once, leaving her parched and cracking her voice.

“Tianorin…the Light shine on her, and the Creator shelter her soul. Tianorin awaits the last embrace of the Mother.”

A powerful wave of sorrow gripped the petite woman so fiercely, Renji could feel it as though it were his own. ‘Oh now that is new. I can feel what she feels? Does that mean…can she feel what I do?’

She whispered a response, so faint, he nearly had to strain to hear what she said.

“The Light illuminate her soul, and the waters take her peacefully.”

Strangely enough, the noblewoman, who was not standing as close, seemed to have heard just fine. Giving her friend one last squeeze, she slowly made her way out of the room with promises to return shortly.


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A/N: I’m sure I’ve said it in like every chapter of every story, but I am so thankful and so grateful to have my Master, WannaBeNinja proofing my chapters, and assisting me with them. She even went so far as to alter the coloring of that beautiful Atha’an Miere picture for me. (I LOVE IT!)

angil is awesome as well. She’s such a sweetie, she posted a bunch of vids for me on YouTube, just because I was fussing that the songs weren’t available. Is that sweet or what?

Those two are just the best damn friends I could ask for –nods- Thanks girls! –huggles-

Well, I hope this chapter flowed a bit better, I still need to go over and fine tune the last two. I want them to flow properly Damnit! Let me know what you think, as always, it’s greatly appreciated. WannaBe and I sat there for like 20 min trying to come up with a damn title for this chapter. I'll gladly accept any suggestions for a new one. I'm too tired to think of anything else. :) Normally I don't have this problem, but what can ya do?


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Sweet Yuya Shiina