The Reason

Chapter 5

Orihime had gotten all her things and quickly set her quarters up to her liking. She had just sat down for a snack, whenever she felt a presence outside her door.

Looking underneath it, she could see a set of feet but nothing else. The feet would stand there for a few seconds and then start pacing, only to stop again a few seconds later.

The young girl was starting to get scared whenever the feet stopped one final time and something was laid down in front of her door. A sudden knocking sound, made her jump and then the sound of the feet running off, had her slowly walking towards the door.


When she opened it, a small bundle of flowers was laying there, no card or note in sight. She looked up to see Byakuya standing there, his eyebrow arched up in question.

"Sir?"

"I didn't see who left them. I only heard running. Are you fine?"

"Yes, sir. Forgive me. Good night."


As her door shut, Byakuya looked over in the shadows. "Not the smoothest move, Renji. But your secret is safe with me. Next time, don't miss your door.", he said with a smirk, walking off.


Renji leaned back and sighed. "I am in so much trouble. I have no idea what I am doing. She almost caught me. Knock and run. I am going to murder Ikkaku for that idea." , he thought with a smirk and then walked back to his own room, shutting the door. "I can't believe I missed the door. Next time I will leave it open."


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The next day, Orihime woke to hearing another knock. She quickly dressed and answered the door, shocked to see Byakuya standing there.

"Sir?"

"I forgot to give you the textbooks for the academy. How are you this morning?"

"Oh. Well rested. Thank you for asking."

Byakuya nodded. "I will be sending Renji for you later today. We need to have you start testing for the academy, to see what all that you know. Think of these as practice testing. I will send him after lunch. Any questions you have, ask him and I am sure that he will be more than happy to answer them."

"Oh, I don't want to take him away from his work. He spent so much time at my door when I was in the Forth Division. I am sure he is behind."

Byakuya chuckled at her. "No, not at all. Think of this as getting to know the squad. Who knows, in four years you might be able to request placement in this one."


Orihime nodded and nibbled her lip. "Sir, if I may ask?"

He nodded. "Go ahead."

"What happened to Rukia and Ichigo?"

Byakuya sighed. "I should have known you would ask that. Rest assured, Ichigo is not imprisoned. His powers were bound for a month and will be returned. Hopefully during this time, he will be able to get his priorities straight.

As for Rukia, she was stripped of our last name and made a servant in my home. She no longer has the powers of a soul reaper and will live out the rest of her days as a servant. Do not fret, she knew exactly what she was doing and thought I would get her off again. However, this time she went too far.

I think the best course of action for you is to study hard and prepare for the academy in a few weeks. I hope this is enough time for you to settle in and get accustomed to our way of life."


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After lunch, Renji knocked on her door. Orihime answered it and smiled at him. "Hello, Vice Captain."

"Renji, please. We are friends. You are not in a squad yet."

"Well then Renji. Are you here to test me?"

Renji nodded. "Yes. Have you started to read yet?"

Orihime held up the book. "Half done, already. I just couldn't put it down."

Renji chuckled. "You will do fine. Come on, we will go to the library so that you can concentrate without being disturbed."

The young girl blushed. "Thanks, Renji."

"Anytime. You ready?"

She nodded and the two walked off, not noticing they were being watched.


"Trying to play matchmaker, my love?", a woman questioned.

Byakuya smirked. "No need to play when the feelings are present. They just need some gentle shoves in the right direction. Is there any reason you are here?"

"Only to see you.", she whispered.

"Then by all means, let us go somewhere private. I missed you in the past few weeks."

The woman chuckled and followed him through flash step, ending up outside her home.

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Two hours later, Renji picked up the paper that Orihime had been working on. His eyes went wide as he checked the answers and then looked at her.

"Wow, Orihime. Your right on track to be in the specialist classes. Even I didn't do this good on the first try. You might give some a run for their money."


"Thanks, Renji. How many did I miss?"


He smiled. "Not a one. But keep studying until you take the entrance exams. I'm glad your going to stay here."


Orihime smiled back. "As if I would go anywhere else. Who knows, I might ask to be placed in your squad. So now what?"


Renji shrugged. "Don't know. The captain gave me the rest of the day off. How about we take a walk to the Eleventh Division to see Captain Zaraki and his squad. I bet their vice captain will be happy to see you."

She nodded. "Sure. I just hope she doesn't jump on me like before. She is strong for someone so little."


Renji smiled as they stepped out into the sunlight. "Yeah with Kenpachi as her dad, she picked it up naturally."

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Yachiru screamed out her nick name of "Big Booby" the moment she saw her, making Orihime laugh at knowing she was missed by the small girl. As the two sat visiting, Kenpachi looked at Renji.

"So, what's this I hear about you asking Ikkaku about flowers?"

Renji dropped his head with a blush. "I sorta gave some to Orihime last night."

"Sorta?"

"Yeah, I knocked on her door and ran."

Kenpachi's loud laugh caused everyone to look at him. He in turn glared, causing them to run off. "You..ran?"

"Yeah. I ain't good at this wooing stuff. I never thought I would feel like this for anyone after Rukia broke my heart but when I picked her up in butterfly form, I felt something lurch inside."


Kenpachi nodded. "I understand."

"You do?", Renji asked, surprised.

"Yeah. I felt something sorta the same for Yachiru the day I found her. When she touched my sword and laughed at the blood, I felt like my heart was exploding out of my chest. While I know you don't see Orihime as a daughter, the feeling is the same."

"Feeling?"

"Yeah. You can lie all you want but you love her Renji. The question is, what are you going to do about it?"


Renji sat and thought. "I don't know. She's too good for me."


He jumped as Kenpachi slapped the back of his head. "She ain't Rukia. She won't hurt you like that. I say keep wooing her and take it slow. After all, she is hurting over Ichigo."

Renji nodded and joined the gruff man in watching the two females.


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Yachiru looked over to Orihime. "So, you kissed him yet?"

Orihime sputtered. "Kissed who?"

The little girl looked innocent. "Renji. That's who. He's staring at you. I think he likes you."

Orihime laughed. "He protected me while I was in butterfly form. He is only doing this because his captain asked him too."

The little girl shook her head. "I don't think so. I think he is doing it coz he wants to. You should get him a gift. I know he likes head bands."

"A gift huh? Where can I get head bands?"

Yachiru smiled. "Ask Vice Captain Matsumoto, she will know."

"I will, thanks Yachiru."

The girl nodded. "Yeah so kiss him quick before he gets away."


Renji walked over and smiled. "You ready? We better get back to go to dinner."

"Yeah. Thanks Yachiru. Talk to you later."

"Bye, Big Booby."


As the two walked off, Yachiru jumped onto Kenpachi's shoulder. "How long you think, Father? Till they are together?"

Kenpachi smiled. "At least until she is out of the academy and into a squad. Renji won't have people saying that she is given special treatment. That's not his style. So you ready to eat, runt?"

"Yeah, let's go eat."

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That night, in two separate rooms, Orihime and Renji were thinking about what everyone had said. Orihime was scared to act because of Rukia and Renji was scared to act because of Ichigo. They had four years to work everything out, surely that is enough time to heal. The two laid down with the other on their minds and soon was sleeping.