"Perhaps..."

"Perhaps..." You're not sure what prompts you to answer, why you feel the need to, but you do and you don't necessarily regret your response, even if it does leave behind a cold, empty feeling once it's out.

It isn't uncommon, as of late, for you to slip up. As much as you have perfected your technique, even you have moments when your armor is so battered, where there are so many cracks in your mask and so very little time to fix them all, that you don't have the strength or will to, you still slip up. You are only a shinigami, after all, no matter how high above everyone else you try to place yourself.

It's unforgivable, revealing a weakness to your second-in-command, your right hand, a shield to your sword. If that breaks, what will be left? Crossing that line breaks everything you know--your routine, your rules, your mask--and will steal all from you that you hold dear. A moment of weakness... is it really worth it?

But as he stands there, surprise written on his face, something clicks. Why must everything change? Why must everything be against you because you were born a little differently? You are a Kuchiki--if you want it, you have all the power in Soul Society to obtain it. No one can stand in your way.

It's with that resolve, you cross the distance between you and stare up into the warm eyes always flickering with a fire of some kind. "Does it surprise you, Renji?"

The red head tenses a bit and slowly shakes his head. "Not really... I remember it, from that time..."

"That time." There have been few times Renji has seen you at your weakest and you don't need to ask what he's referring to. You brush past him, ignoring the brush of his fingers as he hesitates to grab your wrist. "Let's go inside Renji. It's grown cold."