All Over Some Food

A Renji x Inu!Reader

You had not had a good run since entering the Soul Society; all memory of your past was gone or mixed up in strange things that never made sense. Were you a dog or a human? The other souls certainly couldn’t tell… one minute they treated you as a human and fed you or were nice until they saw your big thick curled brown tail wagging behind in delight or your half-folded ears perked up past your long ____ hair. People didn’t like you and sadly you’d come to hate them too….

It had been made worse lately, you’d begun to develop spiritual pressure and the people had sensed it. They were jealous that someone so different could have such a gift and even the soul reapers that had sensed it had been a little put off too. You knew that there was a wolf captain amongst the ranks of the Sereitei and yet being obviously half-and-half meant that you were treated as less then the captain. Why couldn’t you be accepted by anyone? Why did know one like you?

How could you even try to consider being within their order and helping other souls when no one gave you respect? Why should you even bother trying to survive on and not just jump in a Hollow’s mouth? Your mind was often wracked with such angry thoughts, but one morning brought a surprise with it that would change a great many things in your life….

The situation started the same, an argument over money and food – you had earned yourself a bit of money through helping people out with chores, namely taking messages to doors etc and you were trying to buy food. It seemed the same issue again and again, the traders would either double up the prices of everything or they would refuse to sell to you under the pretext that you were either diseased or cursed. It wasn’t nice or friendly or really worth your while with some of them, but today the one’s you could usually buy from without hassle were being incredibly ridiculous and rude. In fact, your conversation and argument had occurred just in time for some soul reapers to be visiting and a certain red-haired lieutenant came marching over.

“Just what’s going on here? You’re arguing so loud you’re scaring the customers away from every single stall and stopping me from getting on with work!” Renji Abarai, an incredibly tough individual was suddenly at your side glaring at the merchant. The shop keeper immediately tightened his lips, fearful of the fiery temper the red-head was known to have around rowdy shop keepers. It was well known that Renji had been an orphan in the Hanging Dog area and many of the traders and merchants were loathe to have him present when they were selling because he always stuck up for the customer, but when he turned to look at you, something strange happened.

Usually the soul reapers would look at your cute face and try to say something before they noticed your swishing tail or your plush rounded ears. But when Renji turned to look at you to question your position and you turned to look at him with a warning scowl, neither of you could turn away. His eyes locked upon yours, he did not seem to bother taking in your body shape or your other features, too pulled in to your gaze to look away. It was frightening and exciting all in once, you could not turn away from the powerful man that was looking at you through the body of a less mature individual, whose eyes were strong enough to melt you to the spot. Something in them seemed to burn with a desire that was not dangerous so much as uncertain and new.

“He’s refusing to sell me the food I need to survive. There’s no reason for it, I’ve got the correct amount of money and I’m not disagreeing with anything but the fact that he refuses because I’m not ‘human’ in his standards.” You growled your canine side showing in your unusually pointed edges to your teeth. Renji’s face seemed to go blank for a moment, he made and noise of confusion before dropping his proud pose and then checking you up and down. To your surprise you could not help but allow a blush to form at his gaze, no matter how embarrassing it was. He then turned to the shop owner and asked the question, the shopkeeper just pointed at your tail and Renji stared at it, blushing as he noted your pert little backside.

“How about an alternative? If you won’t sell to her then sell to me and I’ll sell them onto you again, miss, for half the price he’s charging.” The shop-keeper gave a grunt of dissatisfaction at Lieutenant Abarai’s suggestion but he would not disagree. He knew better then to bother any member of Lord Kuchiki’s squad because of the consequences it could bring down upon him. But though Renji looked to you with a warm and friendly smile as if trying to seem like the hero in the situation, your rebellious spirit and hard-earned pride bit down on your mind and you growled again.

“I won’t accept charity. If he won’t sell to me I’ll go somewhere else.” Your nearly barked it at him, your ears straining back and your form straight. With that said you turned on your heel and walked off casually, but you did not go looking for any other shops. Instead you headed out into the woods, feeling defeated and rejected all at once and blaming it all upon yourself. You found a quiet place near a creek to settle down for the rest of the day, considering fishing as your best alternative to paying for food; you prepared for another boring day and breathed a sigh.

“I was not suggesting it out of pity. I know the shop keepers try to sell to anyone different or new in the area at a ridiculous price and I wanted to hammer his pride down a little. I’m sorry if I offended you.” Hearing the voice mad you start and sit up to stare at Renji standing alone with a bag of food in his hand and a curious expression. He seemed to be staring out into space, avoiding the questions you might have or the suggestion that he was embarrassed or upset by how you had reacted. But then he settled down beside you and gave a grunt. “Well, whilst the squad and learning the ropes I’ve got time to relax and I intend to use it to eat. You want to join me? It’ll be free because I like a bit of company.”  

You gave a gentle smile, something unusual for you that caused a slight blush and Renji immediately sat down beside you. The pair of you ate in silence, although you were starving today you ate casually and even picked at your food as if to make the soul reaper think this was an uncommon occurrence. It felt shameful to be weak especially when he was being so kind and so different. You reminded yourself that he was said to have experienced it all before and that he was probably looking out for you because he’d been there at the time, but there was a second sensation you were unfamiliar and unkind to. It was that slight imagining that maybe he liked you and that’s why he had done this. You’d been locked staring into his eyes after all and he’d not even noticed your attributes until the shop keeper had complained….

“How come you’ve not reported to the academy? You’ve got significant spiritual pressure and you’d be a great candidate. I know it may seem like everyone would pick on you or be rude, but you’d be welcomed thanks to Captain Komamura and I think he’d love to see someone around who’s a little more unique. I think soul reapers today are a dime a dozen and boring – you’re not boring.” Renji grunted after wolfing down a bag of rice balls, of which you’d barely eaten your single piece.

Once again his words startled you and you were unsure if you could really deal with that kind of pressure or that idea of being part of something. No one in life had ever really cared to help you out or talk to you much before and it was odd to have this amount of company already. You were unsure if you wanted to tell him to go away now or just to agree and see what life would present to you. But you were certainly not prepared for the action your body took….

No sooner had Renji wiped the rice from his face and turned to you for an answer, you’d practically lunged forward to give him a tender kiss to the lips. His face turned as red as his hair and though there was no fear on his face, there was confusion. Immediately you said sorry, explained it was just because of his kindness, lowered your ears and turned aside before being startled once more. His tender fingers caressed your cheek, slid under your chin and turned you slowly back towards him as he bent to you. Without resistance you allowed him to lead you into another kiss, a hotter and softer one that made your body burn and his eyes close with the intensity. One the moment of sweet satisfaction was over, for though it seemed an hour-long embrace it was barely a minute, he looked to you with his mature and stern eyes and breathed a sigh before straightening himself.

“I’d vouch for you… if I knew your name.” He seemed almost embarrassed to ask and you felt embarrassed for having kissed him so anonymously. But with a gentle sigh you smiled at him and a cheeky glinted flickered within your eyes.

“I am ____ and I’ll think about it.”