(Untitled)

[rukongaiwhore]

[Ashido had not visited in a while, and Renji didn't know about the other's transfer to the Sixth division under Byakuya. Worried about his friend, who had done so much for him, the redhead was making his way towards the Seireitei border

Comments

/writes too much

[oneremaining]

[Being stripped of his duties by his new taichou, Ashido had expected to have more time on his hands than he knew what to do with. Instead, Byakuya had chosen to keep him busy. Menial tasks. The most basic of basics. Something in him resented it- he was not incompetent. He could do his job. Otherwise, he almost welcomed the distraction.

It wasn't the reason he'd been staying away from Renji, however. That had been a personal choice, and one that was for Renji's own good... or so he believed.

What free time he could find was spent on his usual patrols of the Nexus, and that was where he was heading now. Or rather, that was where he had been intending to head. If Renji had possessed any kind of notable reiatsu, Ashido would have made sure to avoid him. As it was - and as distracted as he was - he didn't even notice the other until it was clearly too late to avoid Renji seeing him.

Instead of a greeting, there's a moment of surprise and Ashido glancing around in vain for something to disappear behind. Kind of obvious that something's not right, huh?]

<3

[rukongaiwhore]

[Renji notices the other - and unfortunately at the worst possible time. He can see that Ashido saw him, yet now the guy looks like he's trying to find a place to hide...?

There was a dull pain somewhere that he couldn't quite place, and his dark-red eyes narrowed. Watching Ashido, he then awkwardly raised his hand in a half-hearted wave.

Didn't the other recognize him? Didn't he want to recognize him?]

Ashido...?

[oneremaining]

[There was no way he could simply pretend he hadn't seen Renji, and leaving now without speaking to him... No, that would do more harm than good.

Hesitating, he approaches the other, a deep-rooted guilt bubbling up under the surface.]

Renji. [Awkward silence. Not the comfortable awkward that they had grown used to. Not any more.] ...Why are you here?

[rukongaiwhore]

[He stares at the other, not sure what to say at all. Had Rukia been right, all along? That Ashido was just using him, and now that he was not living with him any more, he didn't want anything to do with Renji?

The awkward silence was nearly painful, and he grit his teeth slightly at the other's words.]

What do ya think? I wanted t'see ya!

[oneremaining]

[He can't quite look directly at Renji. Ashido, at the very least would agree, yes, Rukia had been right. Not about using the other... but the unreliability of Shinigami, and their treacherous natures- It was right, wasn't it?]

...You shouldn't be here.

[rukongaiwhore]

[Renji's face twists, as if Ashido had slapped him.]

Why not? I was worried about ya... ya ain't visitin' any more.

[Pauses, glaring at the other.]

Done with me?!

[oneremaining]

[There's a flicker in his expression.]

...What? ...Renji, that's not- [No.]

It's not... that simple.

[rukongaiwhore]

Then why the fuck are ya actin' like this?

[The hurt undertone is impossible to miss, even if the redhead looks pissed off.]

[oneremaining]

[Silence for a minute or two. Would Renji do something stupid if he knew? Would he be able to make him swear not to try anything, as he'd made Rangiku swear?]

...You need to stay away from me. It's not safe.

[rukongaiwhore]

[He most likely would do something stupid.]

Ain't safe? What the fuck is goin' on, Ashido?

[oneremaining]

...

You need to stay away from me.

[Why did it hurt so damn much to have to say that?]

[rukongaiwhore]

...why?

[Looks at him, anger the only way he could deal with the pain.]

Ya done with me? Had yer fun? Ya couldn't keep yer fuckin' pet, so now yer just gonna pretend I don't exist? I saw that look, Ashido. Ya didn't even wanna see me.

[oneremaining]

[There's no attempt to defend himself from the angry words. He only stands there, the accusations cutting deep, but the same blank mask hiding away conflicted feelings.

He did want to see Renji. How many times now had he stood outside the borders of the Neutral Zone, searching out the faint reiatsu which belonged to the other just to make certain that he was still alive? He wanted to see him, but he couldn't. Because if Aizen found the one he had sold his soul to protect, there was no telling what would happen.]

...I'm sorry.

[rukongaiwhore]

Sorry.

[Tightens his hands to fists.]

That ain't enough. Ain't even close.

I thought... and I...

[And what? He had just been fooling himself, thinking he had feelings for a shinigami. For a guy. For anyone.]

Heh. Rukia was right.

[oneremaining]

Renji... [What was he even supposed to say?]

I swore I wouldn't lose anyone else. That's why.

...I can't.

[rukongaiwhore]

That ain't the way t'protect anyone. Stabbin' 'em in the back.