Tears of the Clueless

That's Enough Embarrassment For One Day... Right?

Renji jumped up as soon as Byakuya and I left the meeting room. His eyes focused on Byakuya's hand a moment before flicking back to me as that grin lit up his face.

"So? What happened?"

Byakuya answered before I could, his voice once again authoritative and stern.

"Alice Heitsu will be training under me for the next month and will stay in the squad six barracks for the time."

"Call me Ali, please..." I mumbled, avoiding his gaze.

Something about the way he said 'under me' sounded slightly possessive, and Renji's expression darkened for a moment before lighting up again as he pat my head. "Hey! That's great! So you're out of the academy?"

I blushed and nodded.

"So fast! That's amazing!"

I blushed harder and looked down at my feet.

"Lets go get your things, Miss Heitsu," Byakuya said, and he didn't sound very happy...

I wonder, why?

"Oh, taicho," Renji said, bowing, though it was a stiff movement. "Hitsugaya-taicho sent paper work over and said it needed done as soon as possible, but I can take Ali to get her things."

Byakuya's grip on my shoulder tightened considerably, as I sucked in a breath in pain, leaning slightly away- it was the same shoulder the hollow had bitten.

Renji's face darkened just as considerably and he looked ready to tear off Byakuya's hand, but just as quickly, the hand relaxed and slid from my shoulder. I held in a shiver as his fingertips lightly traced down the curve of my back before settling at his side.

Was that on purpose?

Surely not.

"Very well," he said coolly to Renji before looking at me as I stared curiously up at him. "We start training first thing in the morning."

"Y-Yes sir, Byakuya-taicho..." I said with a quick bow. He nodded, then hesitated before turning and striding gracefully away.

"Lets go get your things, Ali," Renji said, putting his arm around my shoulders and leading me away.

"Right," I whispered, blushing.

"Taicho didn't hurt you, did he?" He asked gently, moving his hand to rub my shoulder, where Byakuya's hand had been.

"No, I'm fine," I said quietly, watching my feet.

"Hm..." He watched me a moment, then grinned and pat my head. "So, straight out of the academy on day three. That hasn't happened before, as far as I know. How'd you pull it off?"

I shook my head. "Photographic memory."

"Wooh, that's handy," he said. "Ah, here we are."

I blinked and realized that we had, indeed, made it to my room. I opened the door and looked around. "Er... I don't really have anything to..." I trailed off, seeing two bags, one big, one small, sitting on my bed.

"Someone got you a present," Renji observed. We walked forward and I grabbed a note off my bed.

It read: Dear Ali,
I got you some clothes and your robes! Welcomes, by the way. Enjoy.
Love, your best-girl-friend.
_Rangiku~

P.S. The little bag has some undies for you.

I looked up just in time to see Renji curiously peak into the small back, immediately reeling back, his face as red as his hair.

I hurried to snatch up the small bag, shoving it into the larger one before picking it up, blushing slightly. "All packed..."

"Good," he coughed. "Lets go then."

I nodded and followed him out, shutting the door behind us.

Renji fell back to walk beside me, smiling. "So, how are you liking the Soul Society so far?"

"It's nice," I mumbled, looking up at him. "Much nicer than the world of the living, even when I was alive."

He grinned wider. "Cool, any idea who's squad you want to be on?"

I hummed thoughtfully. "Probably Jushiro's."

He looked... Disappointed?

"Why?" He asked. I looked at the floor.

"He's the one who found me," I said softly, smiling a bit. "Without him, I'd still be stuck in that alley..."

"I see," he said in understanding. "Well, if it makes you happy, I hope you make it. But ya gotta promise to visit, Kay?"

I nodded and he grinned.