Affected By Death

Chapter 23: Take Me Down

Renji actually looks as though he's about to cry, and Rukia has her eyebrow raised at him unable to believe she's broken him to this point when he hasn't even been her bodyguard for more than two days. His eye is all swelled up and puffy like he got hit by a steam roller in the face or something equally as bad.

"Please Rukia...please stop making this the job from hell! Every time Kenpachi realizes we've lost you two, he takes it out on me! Look at this!" Renji wails, pointing at his fucked up eye, and Rukia rolls her eyes.

"Just quit Renji. I can find something for you to do in my new company if you really can't find a job after leaving ni-sama. My company could use some guards." Rukia says sensibly, and Renji narrows his one good eye at Rukia.

"I took this job because I'm aware of the dangers you're in! I don't want to lose a second friend!" Renji busts out, and outside of their hotel room, Kenpachi chuckles.

"That's right Abarai, play on their silly emotions!" Kenpachi's chuckle is diabolical but quiet.

His phone vibrates, and he sees his daughter is trying to call him. He walks away from the Kurosaki hotel room, but keeps the entrance to the room within his sight.

"Hi Yachiru..."

Back in the room, Renji is getting insulted by the lack of progress he's making with his childhood friend, she is more stubborn than a mule, and nothing he is saying is getting through to her.

"I've listened to what you've had to say Renji, and now I want you to listen to me. I am on my honeymoon. Get that? It's supposed to be about me and my husband. I really don't appreciate, no...I really hate that ni-sama has crashed my honeymoon by sending you halfwits to come protect me! This could have at least waited until I got back! My project hasn't even been announced yet! Ni-sama has gone way too far. So...in order to enjoy our honeymoon, the way we're supposed to, we're going to disappear on your ass over and over again, so get used to it, or stay out of Kenpachi's reach when he realizes we're gone." Rukia says, with her arms crossed, and Renji can't believe he spent so much time convincing her, only to get nowhere.

"You know we're going to have to report this to your brother..." Renji says, using the threatening route, and Rukia loses her temper.

"Take a picture and send it along with your report! I no longer answer to ni-sama no matter what he might think!" Rukia snaps, and Renji doesn't know what to say.

Nothing is working.

"Just give it up." Ichigo says quietly, and Renji's gaze moves to the man his friend married, who appears to have taken pity on Renji, even if only a little.

"Even if we are attacked, the enemies in our case like to do suicide bombings! That's how Ichigo's mother was killed, Renji! What are you and that big oaf going to do if they drive a car full of explosives at us? How are you going to protect us?" Rukia demands to know, and Renji blinks twice.

"Rukia...you don't know? Really?" Renji asks, and Rukia looks stumped.

"Know what?" She asks, and Renji lets out a little chuckle.

"It seems you and your brother inherited minds that are so alike it's scary. Your brother has already developed a thin layer of armor that can save us in an explosion." Renji says, and then he lifts up his shirt, revealing an interesting looking body armor.