Children of the Stars

Extra thanks today to my wonderful husband for proofing not one, not two, but three chapters for me on his weekend off. He's such a doll. And of course, thanks to my deviously evil master WannaBeNinja. I'm posting chapters as fast as I can now just to be honored with a review by her!

-the evil minion-


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

Chapter 5

She slipped beneath the surface again, diving under the falls themselves. ‘Ahh good thing I thought ahead. She’d have trapped me like a damn rat had I not changed my mind about hiding places.’ Using the dull roar of the falls to mask the noise, he dropped down onto a ledge, a narrow pathway that allowed you to enter the cave mostly dry. Or at least, much drier than you would be if you chose to enter through the water as she did. A fine mist swirled around him, causing his hakama and thick red hair to grow damp in a matter of moments.

He waited until he was certain she was inside the cave itself before proceeding further. Curiosity would have drawn her in, he knew. It had a mysterious quality about it that pulled at you. As it did for him so many years ago when he discovered it, much the same way she did.

Stealthily he slipped in, pausing at the entrance to allow his eyes to adjust to the dark. There was a flicker of light around the bend which lay about twenty yards ahead. ‘She found the supplies already? No…can’t be. Its pitch black in here. Even in daylight you really have to ‘know’ where they are in order to find them.’

Curiosity tugged at him, moving his feet closer to the light as it moved further away. ‘She must be exploring the cave now…not much to see though. It’s not that deep and there’s only one way in or out.’ He waited until the light faded before advancing again, turning the corner cautiously.

A creaking sound behind him caused his head to whirl around. Roots, hundreds of them were rapidly filling the cavern behind him, sealing it off. An alarm sounded in his mind, screaming. ‘Shit! She’s sealing the place off!’

Stealth forgotten, he braced himself, preparing to leap through the closing gap and to his freedom, when he felt something brush against his leg. Looking down in horror he saw several of the roots were now entwining his legs. His hand instinctively went to the zanpaktou at his side, preparing to chop them away. A soft hand closed over the top of it, pushing the sword back into the sheath and causing his blood to run cold. Another hand slid over his shoulder and around his neck, almost seductively.

He froze as he felt warm lips pressed to his ear and slick skin onto his back.

“You really are too easy” she whispered. “You’re either very brave, or very stupid. Following the enemy deep into the secluded woods, allowing yourself to be trapped…Really, I had expected more of a challenge.”

‘She knew?! All along she knew I was following her? Gods damn it, I fucking walked straight into this.' The muscles in his jaw twitched. 'How did she sneak up on me? I saw the light moving up ahead…’

“I bet you are wondering what that light was, aren’t you little shinigami” she said in a mocking tone.

A glowing ball was moving towards them now, floating just off the ground and casting a pale blue light along the walls. “A wisp…handy creatures they are.”

Doing his best to sound unflustered, he answered with a hint of cockiness in his voice “Yeah, Neko-chan. I was a little curious about that.”

Growling, she switched hands and rotated around to face him, keeping her grip on the tsuba and his hand firm.

With her free hand she grabbed the pony tail on the back of his head and jerked it roughly “My name is Tessah you fool” she said harshly.

He smiled at her “Yeah, well my name is Renji, not ‘little shinigami’, got that?”

Surprisingly, she smiled back, though that did not ease his nerves any. It was like a cat smiling at a mouse before devouring it whole.

“Very well, Renji. Thank you for making things so easy for me. Truly, I had expected it to take much longer for me to draw you away.”

He smirked, gazing into her eyes “You just couldn’t wait to get your hands on me, is that it?” Mimicking her, he used his left hand to grab a fistful of her hair and gave it a light tug.

She threw back her head and laughed heartily. “From the sound of your heartbeat, I would say it is you that could not wait for that.”

His face fell, stunned and embarrassed, it quickly heated. Lowering his eyes, he stared at her throat instead, as it was right at his natural eye level.

“That’s some hearing you’ve got” he mumbled.

She laughed again “You are delightful, truly.” Her fingers raked through his hair, nails running down his scalp and leaving a tingling sensation in their wake.

“I could have been bluffing, you know.”

Blushing harder, he squeezed his eyes shut and tried not to moan when she pressed herself against him. Her lips were almost brushing his ear again. “I figured…the ears…” he whispered, his voice shaking.

A vine appeared behind her, wrapping around his wrist and pulling it downward, freeing his hand from her hair. His eyes snapped open in surprise. Her hand still pressed down on his, blocking him from drawing his sword. She released his hair abruptly and took to tracing his jawline lazily.

“I wonder. How long will you stubbornly try to hold onto that sword of yours?” she asked, tapping his nose lightly.

Her question reminded him of the very thin line he walked, a razors edge. She was the enemy, and here he stood, not putting up much of a struggle, allowing her to restrain him.

“I can move your hand out of the way, you know” he said.

“Yet, you have not” she noted calmly. “Why is that, Renji?”

He was beginning to enjoy the sound of his name on her lips, the way she caressed it so. Her voice was soothing, harmonic and sultry all at once. He must have grinned because she cocked her head down at him curiously

“And you smile despite your peril.”

It vanished in a rush, his lips curling downward in a frown. He cleared his throat, looking down at the ground for a moment before staring back up at her.

“I don’t really feel threatened.”

She smiled again, dark lips pursing together slightly. “So, if I remove my hand, will you remove yours as well?”

“Are you going to try and bite my face off again?”

“Only if you give me reason to.”

“Are you going to let me outta these damn roots if I let go?”

Her smile changed to a wicked grin “Perhaps.”

“That’s not good enough.”

“Too bad, Renji” she whispered directly into his ear, nipping the lobe lightly after she said his name.

A soft moan escaped, his neck automatically inclining to allow her free rein. Her lips swept lightly against his neck, then pressed closer, nuzzling him. She inhaled deeply, taking in his scent. It provided the precise reaction she had wished for.

His hand fell away from the sword immediately, sliding between their bodies as it returned to his right side though it did not remain idle. It came to rest on her hip, kneading her lightly.

‘Ah, men are so easily to manipulate’ she thought, her memories trailing centuries back when she met her last lover. He had watched her from the shadows for days, for reasons he never divulged. She often wondered if he had been sent to assassinate her, though it seemed preposterous for him to betray his own kind. She had used a similar trick to lure him in, though he had put up more of a fight than this young one.

She pressed her hands against his chest now, nails tracing small circles over his muscular form. Her body was pressed tightly to his now, held closer now that his arm was no longer blocking the way. The bare skin on her leg shivering when pushed against his manhood. It had long since grown rigid, straining to break free of the bindings that held it tight. Her arms slid up and over his shoulders, allowing her breasts to rest against him, taunting. He closed his eyes and let out a low hiss.

‘I can practically see his little mind melting and I’ve hardly done a thing! Ha!’ At her command the roots around his legs and wrist pulled back into the earth, releasing him. He gasped in surprise. He didn’t expect her to actually release him, and he was starting to not want her to.

“Surprised?” She asked, her face hovering above his.

He nodded, his voice hoarse when he spoke “Yeah, actually I am a little.”

Something nagged in his mind, making him take a step back, pulling free of her arms. “What exactly do you want with me?” He asked.

‘Ah, so you do have a brain after all little shinigami. Or at least enough sense to know when to be wary of something offered so freely.’ She laughed, the sound lightly ringing in his ears like the chimes of little bells.

“Aside from the obvious, you mean?”

She took a step towards him and suddenly it wasn’t a goddess she reminded him of, but a succubus. There was a hungry look in her eyes, a wicked smile curving across her perfectly formed face. He took another step back. Winced when he hit a rock, scraping it down his bare foot.

“Yeah” he finally managed.

‘What the hell are you running away for? You know you want her, why deny yourself? Why should you give a shit what strings come attached? Ask questions later you idiot.’ His inner demon scolded him, or perhaps, it was just lust rearing its rather convincing head.

Common sense was so quiet he could barely hear it. ‘She tried to kill you earlier and now she’s lured you out here on your own. As much as you want to believe it, it aint because she wants to get into your hakama. She wants something alright, but it doesn’t bode well for you.’

His back struck solid wall, placing him squarely between what he certainly would deem now ‘a rock and a hard place.’ The pun would have made him laugh had he not been so wary.

Placing one palm on the stone on either side of his head, she leaned in, hovering just short of his lips.

“You, my tasty little shinigami, will help me free my sister.”

His eyes narrowed immediately “Wait just a damn--”

The moment his mouth opened, she closed the gap, tongue darting in to seek out his own. She heard his breath hitch, felt him struggle against it. Ignoring it, she continued kissing him, quite enjoying herself. As expected, his feeble attempt at freedom vanished quickly. He returned the gesture eagerly now, clutching her wrists lightly.

What she had not expected, was for him to turn the tables on her. That light grip on her wrists changed suddenly to a tight one. He jerked her arms down and twisted, pushing her off him with a smug smile.

“You play dirty, Neko-chan.”

Hissing, she tried to tug her arms free, infuriated with her failure. She underestimated this one. “How many times must I tell you my name before you get it into that thick skull of yours?!”

Laughing, he kicked her legs out from under her, knocking her to the ground and pinning her. “At least once more” he said in a cheery voice.

Narrowing her eyes, she tried to break free, rolling her body underneath him. “You do know you cannot hold me for long, right? Or has your memory failed you so quickly?”

The smile left his face and he grew serious. “Yeah, I know, though you did say you wouldn’t try to bite my face off this time. I just want some answers damnit.”

She stopped fighting against him, cocking her head to one side. ‘He wants answers? HE does? I am the one that needs answers!’

“I believe I am the one who will be doing the questioning here” she said in an authoritative voice, expecting to be obeyed.

He only smiled, shaking his head. “Not in that position you won’t. I’ve got you pinned, you answer me, ‘kay?” His voice was teasing, almost childlike. It had an irritatingly adorable quality to it.

Tessah snorted “You are just enjoying being atop me Renji.”

“That too.”

“Ha!" she barked "Well, at least you are honest. Fine then, you may ask but you must answer my questions as well. Do we have an accord?”

His face scrunched together in thought for a moment, though it seemed to be only to mock her. “Sounds fair” he said after a moment, releasing her arms but not pulling himself off her chest.

Sighing, she gave him a small push. “I cannot breathe very easily with you atop my lungs.”

Rolling his eyes, he slid back, coming to rest above her hips. She gave him a devious smile and what sounded like a purr. “Mmmm” she hummed “You must really like straddling my body, Renji” she said with a smirk.

For emphasis, she ran her hands along his legs, moving from his knees upwards. He stopped her as she reached his inner thigh, shaking his head. Her bottom lip stuck out slightly in a mock pout. ‘This one was perhaps smarter than I originally thought. Nevertheless, his will power shall fade eventually. He is a man after all.’

Plucking her hands away from his legs, he held them together in the middle of her chest, locking them together with one hand. His other hand now free, he used it to point at her face.

“What the hell makes you think I’m going to help you free your sister? Do you have any idea what your little show did earlier? Captain Kuchiki wants to have her executed now!”

The smile left her face, replaced by a look of horror, then rage. “How dare he?! Serrelle has done nothing to deserve such a sentence! Neither of us should have been imprisoned in the first place!”

“You’re ryoka, you entered the Seireitei without permission. That’s enough to imprison you. Had you two calmly explained yourselves to the Commander-General, you might have been granted leniency.”

Tessah blanched at that. Their pride and arrogance had gotten the better of them, attacking when they could have been watching and listening. They should have arranged an escape after the old man left and the both of them would have fled together. ‘Could have…should have…would have. No taking it back now’ she muttered to herself.

He saw the defeated look on her face and knew his words had finally sunken in. ‘Damn woman, that rash move of yours is what might get your sister killed.’ Her golden eyes had lowered, looking off to the side and avoiding contact with his face.

“We do not even know how we came to this accursed land. Our day was meant to begin in the town of Astranaar, the rune stone was supposed to take us there, not here! Instead it flung us into this world. Day became night and the stone…it broke in half.”

Staring down at her, he felt his body soften in response to her plight. She really wasn’t a bad person, just very lost. They chose an unfortunate place to become lost.

“What were you doing, sneaking around outside of our barracks?”

“Scouting, of course. An unfamiliar land, unfamiliar people” she said in a matter-of-fact tone. “I wanted to see if it was safe for us to reveal ourselves. For all I knew we had stumbled upon an orc encampment.” Those golden eyes shot up to him accusingly “And then you two oafs had to start poking at me with your swords! I do not know how you sensed me in the first place!”

Renji met her stare unblinking, letting the moments tick by in silence. He did not know what to say, he felt guilty for helping instigate the whole thing. It must have been written on his face, plain for her to see.

“You will help me, won’t you?” She made it sound more of a statement than a question, causing his brow to rise slightly.

“Like I said before, what makes you think I will?”

“You have not said you would not” she fired back, pushing her body up as much as she could under his weight.

Leaning down and pushing her back he shoved his face into hers “Well I can’t, sorry to disappoint you, Neko-chan.”

He had expected that to set her off as it had so many times already but instead she dropped back and turned her head away. “You will” she whispered.

“Do you think if you say it enough that it will miraculously happen?! I can’t Tessah, my hands are tied.”

Her head slowly turned back to face him, curiosity in her eyes. “You actually said my name” she noted quietly.

A light blush crept up his cheeks. “Yeah…so?”

She smiled up at him and the blush grew. “Is it that you cannot, or will not, Renji?”

“I cannot. The last time I tried to help someone, my own Captain threw me in jail. I won’t do you any good from a cell, trust me. This time they will remember to use a seki-seki stone cell to keep me from breaking out.”

Her smile brightened visibly “Ah! So you want to help!” she declared triumphantly. ‘I knew it! Your guilt eats away at you. You will help me! I will make sure of it.’

Renji groaned, slapping his hand to his forehead and dragging it back across his hair. “Doesn’t make any difference if I can’t do anything.”

With a light tug, she pulled her wrists free of his grasp, he apparently forgot about holding her tightly. Pushing herself up, he slid back, catching himself on her bent knees.

“But you can! Be my eyes and ears, try to sway your Captain’s heart, something!”

He looked startled for a moment, then burst into laughter, puzzling her. “Sway Captain Kuchiki’s heart?! Ha! You’ve got to have a heart for it to be swayed. That man only cares about rules.”

Grabbing his face, she held her body aloft by her grip on him alone. “Then speak to your Commander. They must see that we only arrived in this world by accident. We only want to go home!”

The laughter ceased and his serious look returned. He placed one hand over hers and nodded. “I can do that.”


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

a/n: eto...nani? oh...I'm supposed to say something...right? right. Ano...oh yeah, did you like it? Did it make you squirm? Mmm Renji, the things you get yourself into. Too bad one of those things can't be my room.../sigh. Review for me, plz k thx bai