Mina's Orange Rose

"Baka!" Rukia shouted as she moved to my side and pointed forward. "Where are you aiming? He's over there!"

I growled and began to swing my zanpakuto. "Don't you think I know that?"

"Roar, Zabimaru!" Renji yelled then took out the only remaining hollow before I could move. "What is wrong with you, Kurosaki? Ya shouldn't be distracted like that."

I crossed his arms over my chest after sheathing my sword. "I wasn't distracted." I denied, looking away from the other two.

"Tch.." Rukia grumbled lowly. "You're very distracted. What is on your mind?" She asked as she moved toward her gigai and returned to it.

I sighed as I too returned to my body along with Renji returning to his own gigai. "I was thinking about what Kira-san said about Aizen."

"What's that?" Renji asked curiously while stretching his artificial body.

"That Aizen isn't what he seems." I answer.

The redhead blinked in confusion. "How's that? The guy up and betrayed us like we were trash. He seems exactly what we all think-a traitor."

I frowned deeply and started to walk down the street with the others following me. This is all confusing. Aizen had a saddened look in his eyes when I saw him on that mountain and with what Kira-san said… There has to be something we're missing about that guy. Is he really after the destruction of Soul Society or is he after something else?

"Yo, Ichigo, stop thinkin' about Aizen and let's go get somethin' to eat. I'm starving!" Renji spoke as he came up next to me.

My face dropped to a scowl when I was suddenly pulled from my thoughts. "You mean for me to pay for your food too?"

A flush came to Renji's face as he gave a guilty grin. "Hai, we have no money in this world so you'll have to pay."

My eyes rolled. "You know how to cook don't you? Why can't you make something at Urahara's? You're staying with him."

"I would but Tessai-san doesn't like for guests to cook…"

"Yet, they call you a freeloader when you could make some meals." Rukia spoke quietly. "Nii-sama has been commenting that your cooking has improved even though you cooked a lot when we were growing up."

I could see a darker blush rise on Renji's face after Rukia commented which made me smirk. "You've been cooking for Byakuya?"

"A bit," Renji confirmed, looking away since he was embarrassed. "Nothin' fancy just simple stuff I learned in the Rukongai." I could tell he was trying to pass it off as nothing but Rukia wasn't going to let him by the smirk on her own face.

"Don't be so modest, Renji. It takes a lot to please Nii-sama."

"Yeah, but you guys have fancy meals everyday made by chefs and servants. I don't, I have to cook my own food." Renji replied, turning his head towards Rukia.

"Yeah, but you've stayed in the manor for a few days. You were both served by our staff and you have cooked for us a few times too." Rukia countered. "I don't think you can complain too much."

"I wasn't complainin'." Renji grumbled towards the raven with his blush still evident. "I was just sayin' that I don't usually get served like that. I make do with what I have."

The conversation made me smirk wider. "Renji, you're blushing." I said teasingly.

"Am not!" He snapped.

"Ah, but you are, Renji. You've been doing that a lot around Nii-sama too." Rukia laughed and pointed towards Renji's reddening cheeks which only worsened his flush.

"The both of you need to shut up!" He snapped again and stomped ahead towards a nearby café which made both Rukia and I laugh at him.

After Rukia sobered a bit with the smirk still on her face she turned to look at me. "He and Nii-sama have been spending a lot of time together." Her smirk turns into a soft happy smile. "I am actually happy for the both of them."

I raise one of my brows. "What do ya mean?" I asked dumbly.

"Baka," She spoke while rolling her eyes. "They're in love…they just don't know it yet."

"And you know this how?" I ask, still not quite understanding.

She slaps the back of my head.

"Ow!"

"Those two are like my real brothers, dumbass. I can see it all over their faces and how they talk. And, I am not the only one that has noticed. Even the servants have noticed." She stated firmly

I rub my head where I was hit while looking towards the café where Renji stood at the door waiting for us. "So…you think they'll get together?"

"Yes!" Rukia exclaimed, exasperated. "Couldn't you tell just by how Renji was acting?"

I think about it a bit as we reach where the redhead stood. Now that she mentioned it he does spend a lot of time with Byakuya. He has actually cancelled a lot of our training sessions just to be with that snobby noble.

I roll my eyes as I notice the flush on Renji's cheeks hasn't fully faded. "Dude," I say seriously while opening the door for Rukia. "Ask the guy out if you like him so much."

Rukia stopped mid-step while Renji just blinked at me. "H-huh?" The redhead looked dumbfounded and flushed again.

"Ichigo!" Rukia fumed as she turned to face me. "Shut. Up."

"I'm just saying that if he likes Byakuya he should ask him out on a date." I say, acting nonchalant.

Renji gaped at me and pushed Rukia inside before she decided to punch me in the gut. "B-but what if—"

"Aren't you pretty sure he likes you too?" I question him as I close the door on Rukia causing her to weakly punch the glass.

"W-well, no… He's a noble and I'm just some street kid from the Rukon." He looked towards Rukia who glared at us through the glass door with tears in her eyes from what we assumed her hand was throbbing. "Besides, his family would not approve of us."

I gaze at him as if he's the world's biggest dumbass. "Renji," I point to Rukia with the thumb of my free hand. "She is living proof that they will get over it."

"She's different though!" The redhead insisted. "She's Taichou's deceased wife's sister. And besides that I'm a guy!"

I rolled my eyes at him again. "Look, it can't hurt to ask him out on one date then see where it goes."

Renji frowned deeply. "I guess but what if he says no?"

"Well what if he says yes?" I asked, turning the question on him.

He rolled his eyes. "I'm serious, Ichigo. What if he says no?" He said weakly. "I can't handle that kind of rejection well..."

I sigh while opening the door so both of us could enter. "All you can do is try."

He still frowned even as we made our way to one of the booths in the back. I could tell he was seriously contemplating his options. He had a fifty-fifty chance of what Byakuya would say. I honestly hoped Rukia was right about them and I hadn't just given Renji advice to set him up to be burned.