It had been a nice evening walk through the woods beyond the city, with a handful of friends, before the Hollow charged them from behind a grove of firs. Rukia felt she really should have known it was too quiet.
“Rukia!” Renji grabbed her arm and started to dive in front of her, only to meet her elbow coming the other way towards his gut. He folded up in a whooping heap, and Rukia shook off his grip.
“Here!” she yelled, springing away from him to draw the Hollow aside. It howled and dashed for her, zigzagging, trying to come at her from an unguarded side. It took what it thought was an opening, with a gleeful cry, and she spitted it on a two-handed thrust.
It was over in seconds.
“Nice job, Rukia-san!” Kiyone cheered. Kiyone’s sister gave her a rueful look, eyes still a little wide, and Rukia spared a moment to wonder whether Isane-san would ever again be convinced to come out walking with them, after this.
“Yes,” agreed Kira, bending over the still-gasping Renji, “but did you have to be quite so hard on Abarai-kun?” He sounded both worried and amused.
“Yes, I did,” Rukia growled, stalking back to Renji’s side as he started to lever himself off the ground. She grabbed a handful of the front of his gi and yanked him up face to face with her. “Get it straight,” she snapped at him. “I am fully recovered. I have not had my spiritual energy drained. I am not in a false body that keeps draining it. I have not just come out of a prison that also keeps draining it.” Each not was punctuated by a brisk shake.
“Yeah, but,” Renji managed, grinning, and Rukia’s voice lowered ominously.
“If you ever do that again I’ll aim the elbow a little lower. Understand?”
Renji winced. “Got it, got it,” he agreed, raising his hands in a placating gesture.
Which meant that when Rukia opened her hand and dropped him, he thumped back to the ground again.
“Good.” She smirked at him, satisfied.
“Ow,” he grumbled as Kira helped him up, and added under his breath, “Remind me again why I’m in love with her? Gotta be crazy.”
Rukia had already turned away, which was good. That way, Renji couldn’t see her smiling.
End
*just grinning, absolutely grinning*
You know it’ll have to be said sooner or later.
Awww! YAY FOR BLEACHFIC. ♥ And protective!Renji with irritated!Rukia showing she can take care of herself just fine is wonderful. And the image of Rukia turning away to hide her smile is somehow so perfect.
I am definitely of the Rukia-is-not-a-wimp camp. Figured I could either fic it or rant it, and the fic would be cuter. *grins*
Besides, I still can’t tell whether the muses will give me a happy ending for the arc or not, so a little fluff to start with seemed like a good idea.
Glad you liked it!
*g* I like. It’s so them too.
Thank you! Growly Rukia is terribly fun to write.
OOH!! love it! XD! Rukia back to her tough cookie self! Oh yes! And Renji taking the blow… so hott!! Thank you!
My pleasure, and thank you!
*giggling* As protective as Renji is, you know Rukia’s going to whack him one for it sooner or later.
By the way! I love your style!! Do you think you can *blushes* write more RenRuki?!?!!! I really think there is a massive shortage of RenRuki fics, drabbles, ficclets considering how close they are getting in the anime (hopefully hints of it in the fillers as well XDXDXD!) and manga. Not that anyone would care but——> [I’m working on a hypothetical drabble where Renji impregnates Rukia HA HA XDXD!! Oh yes, Renji’s baby (the idea just SCREAMED at me)!! And how Rukia wants to pluck each hair out of Renji’s head for making her endure the pain!!]Tihi! Anyway, it’s just a thought, I probably won’t be able to pull it off! LOL…unless of course…hmm.. anyway GREAT job and I hope to read more from you!!;)
Thank you again! ^_^
RenRuki is certainly one of the Bleach pairings I’m most fond of. Having finished the Lull arc, though, I’m not sure I’ll write them another getting-together set of stories. They’ll probably show up in some more standalones the next time the Bleach muses grab me, of course.
If you haven’t seen the Lull arc, that’s my bunch of RenRuki to date. It’s *rummages* a couple months back. Here. July, August, and September were the months I posted Lull in.
I’m not sure when I’ll get back to Bleach, but I’m pretty sure it will happen. Again, thank you! It’s great to hear you enjoyed my writing.
Sugoi!!! The whole Lull Arc was FANTASTIC!!! I ADORED IT!!! aww… I wish it would continue though:( LOL! Her having Ban Kai and… a baby!! LOL!! That would be the icing! Rukia and Renji, a baby! Beautiful.. yes I am obssessed! Anyway, it was AMAZING!! I loved it!!