第23章: Red Gemini

"I'm sorry, Ukitake Taichō" Erza said her head tilted down wards, hair covering her eyes, fist clenched on top of her bare thighs trying her best to hold up her tears, heavy breathing is obvious "I wasn't there to protect my comrade, I am to blame" a small line of tear escaped the corner of her left eye and dropped on her hand. "It not your fault Erza and never will. He looked up to you and asked you to join this mission because he trusted you, your decision making, your fighting ability, leadership, courage and charm. He loved you like his wife and he choose to die for our sake so all we can do is be grateful. He can finally be with Miyako" the white haired man said patting Erza's head and slightly brushing it as she poured out her heart. "I know that I should live this life or else everyone's effort will be gone into waste but I can't help to be so sad" she said almost screaming as she cries which made the captain smile and grab her into a tight hug "for someone as powerful as you, you sure have a very good heart Erza" he whispered and rested his head on her shoulder as she cries out.

Unknowingly from a distance, a tall, light-skinned Shinigami with high cheekbones, grey eyes and long wavy brown hair that is tied in a long ponytail and has long bangs that frame the left side of his face. He also has a noticeable amount of body hair on his chest, feet, and arms. He wears a Sugegasa straw hat and a pink, flowered lady's kimono, which he drapes across his shoulders and over his captain's uniform and has thin facial hair around his mouth and on his cheeks watches them with a smirk. "ehem" he clears his throat "I didn't know you have such a young beautiful girl friend" he teased.

Erza pulled away, turned back and wiped her tears secretly, stood up and bowed. "This is Erza Belserion, she's new at division 13" Ukitake explained "Hajimemashite, yoroshiku onegaishimasu, uhm Taichō" she greeted without knowing his name. Then red rose petals started raining on him, as he strikes a pose to make himself look cool before speaking "my name is Shunsui Kyōraku, captain of the 8th division" he said with pride as he savors the showering of petals " but for you my queen, you can call me mine" he said giggling as he takes her hand and kisses it. Erza looked at him with a stoic expression, face twitching  in annoyance "you looked disappointed babe, you have such a pretty face, you should smile more" he said touching her chin tilting it to face him and leaned closer seeminly he's about to kiss her when a loud thud was heard and he fell on the ground, Erza gave him a powerful head bat and left while Ukitake tries to help Shunsui up sweat dropping and Nanao continues to shower him with petals and ended up throwing the whole thing on him and walks out too.

Shunsui watched Erza's back as she goes away smiling foolishly and blushing to his thoughts of her and him together spacing out. "She really is something else, don't you think?" The white haired captain said snapping him back to reality "yeah she is" he said smirking. Erza wanted to see Rukia and tell her the news since lieutenant Shiba was really close to her. She continues to walk head tilted down, not having any direction, pondering what ifs and how she could have saved him. She realized when she stopped walking that she found herself at the Kuchiki Manor.

As she continues to walk while her head bent down and lost in her thoughts she suddenly bumped into someone her head on his chest "uhm, hey Erza, better look at where you're going" Renji greeted as she looked up to face him with her face all gloomy but forced a smile. The guy with red hair had his face heated up when he see her smile, he knows she's still mourning at the lost of a comrade but still acting all strong and stern. "What brings you here" he asked looking away, index finger scratching his cheek. "Is Rukia back from her mission?" She asked gently. "No she hasn't, care for some tea?" He offered and she just nodded as she follows his lead.

Byakuya was at the table setting some tea "Kuchiki Taichō, guess who's here"   Renji greeted and he just hummed in response not looking at them and poured some tea in his cup and took a sip. "Make yourself at home Erza Chan" Renji told her and she responded with a "Thank you" Byakuya spit out his drink when he heard her name and her voice then he looked at her and stood up in panic and began to stutter "Erzie, I.. I'm glad you're here" Renji and Erza looked at him with confusion and sweat dropped. He was blushing thinking to himself "why does this woman make me fluster, she makes me so things I don't usually do" he was frozen and lost in his thoughts while Erza  and Renji took a sit across him and Renji prepared some tea for her.

Renji had been holding back his feelings for the red head, he knew how Byakuya feels towards her and he becomes a totally different person whenever he's around her but Renji's heart flutter whenever he sees her smile, or hears her voice. There is something about her that keeps him drawn to her, maybe it's her eyes or just her personality. He kept silent while stealing glances towards the female trying not to be caught by Byakuya who is staring at her smiling foolishly "Why are you two awfully quiet while staring at me?" The girl asked snapping the two out of their thoughts. Renji's face became the same color as his hair and sat straight up looking away while Byakuya touched her hand. "I missed you Erzie, he said in a sweet calming tone" Erza looked at him quizzically and sighed "it's been a while Taichō, how are you?" Byakuya blushed and went to her and wrapped his arms around her "eh?!?" Erza spat "please let me stay like this for a while" he said as he rested his head on her shoulder. Deep down Renji's heart is hurting and being ripped apart and he's getting sick of the scene and walked out.

After a while, Renji saw the red head at the lake in the manor feeding the koi fishes as she sits quietly pondering on how she could have saved her comrade Shiba. Renji went towards her silently and touched her shoulder which made her jump "Erza?" He greeted, she faced him "you startled me, I was about to kill you" she said jokingly. "What are you doing here all alone?" He asked in concern "Nothing really, I just saw the fishes and they are beautiful, and I'm not good around people so I always prefer to be alone" she explained "you don't have to be alone, I will always keep you company" he boasted scratching his cheeks. "Thank you, Renji but you don't have to" she said facing him with a smile. Renji's heart raced fast he liked how she calls his name, it's so addicting, and her smile is like a drug that drives him crazy. He took her hand and held it onto his chest. "Erza, when you're feeling lonely you can always come to me, if you feel like crying you can always come to me, If you're angry, come to me and if you're happy you can also come to me. I will never let you be alone and carry your burdens alone" he said with a shaky voice Erza just looked at her in surprise trying to understand what he just said. "Thank you" she answered and buried her face into his chest took her hand away from his and wrapped her arms around him. She heard his heart beat becoming wild.

She titled her head to look at his red face "are you okay? It seems that your heart beat is dangerously fast and your face is red" she reached out to touch his forehead and cupped his face "you don't have fever but you look like you have" she said pouting. "Damn it she is so cute and why does she have to act like this, she drives me crazy" he thought to himself. Erza leaned forward to examine his face. Renji panicked "her face is too close" the two red heads stared at each other for a moment "I knew it something's odd, let's go to your room and get you to bed so you can rest and feel better" Erza said breaking the staring contest. Renji suddenly had blood dripping out from his nose. In his head he was saying to himself "just the two of us alone, my room... Bed...." Erza saw this and immediately wiped the blood on his nose with the sleeve of her shihakusho.

Byakuya pulled her hands away from the red haired make and glared at him while maintaining a stoic expression "What do you think you're doing to my Erza?" He said sternly out of instinct Renji did the same and pulled her towards him, "I don't remember her being yours Taichō" he glared in return. The nobility remained silent and pulled Erza in his arms touched her chin and leaned closer to her face but before she could react Renji had already pulled her to his chest securing her waist. Byakuya unsheathed his zanpakutō "scatter Senbonzakura" he said as Renji did the same by saying "howl, zabimaru" and their reiatsu covering them. Erza pulled away and stood in the middle of them and sighed. She also unsheathed her katana " Dance, yōtō Benizakura, Bakuhatsu" she looked at the two with her famous death glare signalling them to stop and when the two realized that they're in trouble they sheathed their zanpakutō. Byakuya blushed in embarrassment while Renji laughed out loud.

Erza did the same, giggled and knocked them on the head. "You must be punished by hitting a noble on the head" Byakuya teased. "Hey Erza wanna go to a mission together?" Renji offered. "I'll go with you" Byakuya tries to prevent the two having a time together."sure Renji, that sounds like fun. And Kuchiki Taichō, you're not allowed to go with us, you need to stay and do captain duties here" she said grabbing the red headed guy away.