I Just Might [Renji Abarai] for UniversePepperland

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Name: Aoi Inubatsu

Age: 17

Race: Human

Looks: Long straight light blue hair, dark blue eyes, slender, and pale

Personality: Mature, sarcastic, always got a poker face on

Other: Works at her father's sushi restaurant as a waitress

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"Will that be all for you?"

Aoi Inubatsu smiled kindly as she walked away from the table of hungry customers to give the order to her father, the head chef. "That boy is becoming a regular," TinTin Inubatsu noted, chopping up a fish.

"Hmm?"

"Your friend from school." Aoi whirled her head around, eyes scanning the shop. The bright red hair was hard to miss, and the teen sighed in annoyance. "Maybe I'll see if he wants to work here," the man laughed. "He's in here enough."

"That's a horrible joke," the daughter muttered, walking towards the table. Approaching the young man, his head turned, grinning. "Let me guess, the usual again?"

"Nothing gets by you, Aoi," he answered. "But no, I think I'll try the Chef's Special today."

"Whatever. What are you doing here, Abarai?"

"What, I can't grab a bite to eat?"

"Not when you come here every day. I think you've turned into a stalker. You practically know the menu by heart now."

"You're a riot, you know that, Aoi?"

"And you're an idiot and moocher, did you know that?"

Mild annoyance came to his eyes at hearing the title 'moocher', which had been given to him by those from Urahara's Shop. Aoi walked away smugly, but kept the expression of her face in check, approaching her father. "Chef's Special today, dad."

"Ooo, some variety," he joked, setting up other orders on the counter. "I'm on it, and tell Izumo to stop flirting with the female customers."

"It'll be my pleasure."

The teen approached her co-worker, who was chatting up a table, by clasping his shoulder. "Hey, Izumo, boss says to stop flirting and get your butt back to work."

"You're cruel, Aoi," Izumo complained in embarrassment. The girls at the table giggled in response as the two walked away. Izumo was three years older than Aoi, a college student who needed a part-time job on weekends and days off from classes. Though he was older did not mean his personality was. Sometimes, the guy could act like a child when embarrassed by Aoi or her father.

"Here's your order," the teen spoke, approaching Abarai again. "Enjoy."

"Care to join me?"

"Unlike you, I have work."

"Nonsense!" TinTin called from his spot. "Take a break! That's an order."

"I'm gonna kill him," she mumbled low under her breath so no one could hear.

"What? Afraid I'll give you cooties?" the redhead teased.

"I would be if we were still in Elementary School," Aoi answered back, making the man roll his eyes.

"You always have a comeback. Sarcastic as always..."

A smirk twitched on her lips. "I have to be around you guys. Someone has to keep everyone in line."

"You're something else..."

"Thanks... I think..."

Looking around, she realized the restaurant was getting busy. "I have to go. See you in class, Abarai."

"Later, Aoi."

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Aoi fixed her tie before fastening up the buttons to the black vest. A whole week had passed, and Renji did not disappoint by showing up nearly every day. He would always sit in her section, and would try and stir up a conversation. Even in classes the young man would try and catch her eye. The teen's poker face never fell, her emotions hard to read at times when Renji made a comment. Though, he never stopped trying to get some reaction.

"Idiot," she grumbled, closing the locker.

"Hope you're not talking about me," Izumo laughed, closing his as well.

"No, never," Aoi answered sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

"So mean!" the man cried, tearing as the girl pulled her hair up into a tight ponytail.

"Don't take it too much to heart, Izumo. After all, we're going to have a rush today."

An hour after opening the doors, the place was packed with customers. Aoi was constantly running around, taking orders and aiding the bus boys with clean up. "Good thing I planned for this possibly happening," TinTin spoke, working alongside his chef partner.

"What do you mean?" Aoi asked, filling up a tray.

"I called in another waiter to help us out. They should be here shortly."

There was a commotion out in the restaurant. A table holding five male customers was being rowdy, drawing a lot of attention. Aoi noticed this. "No more liquor for that table," TinTin ordered.

"I think they had already come in buzzed," Izumo noted. "Though they were quieter."

"That's because they are just waiting for the right time to make a scene," Aoi answered. "I'll take them."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. Besides, they're in my section, and yours is overcrowded. I'm not about to give you more work."

Aoi took her orders and served a table before approaching the loud one, pad of paper and pen in hand. "Hi there, my name is Aoi, and I will be your server today," she spoke over them with a pleasant smile. It gained their attention, voices lowering. "What can I start you off with?"

"Some sake would be nice," one answered with a grin.

"Sorry, but we're fresh out. If you would've come earlier then maybe there would've been some left."

"Is that so? What do you suggest then?"

"Water," she answered walking away.

"They're pigs if you ask me," Izumo muttered when Aoi came back.

"We won't throw them out unless they give us a reason to," TinTin said. "All they are doing is being loud."

"But if the customers start to complain and we can't control them then I'll kick them out personally," Aoi added, cracking her knuckles.

"Can't wait to see that!" Izumo laughed.

"Two large pitchers of water," the teen announced placing the items on the table. "Have you decided on what you want to order?"

"You have a lot of options here," a different one spoke up. "What would you suggest?"

As Aoi rattled off a list of some of their top sushi dishes, they listened in thought. After finally ordering, one spoke up, "Can we make a special request?"

"And what might that be?"

"If we could eat that sushi off your pretty little body."

Aoi's eye twitched in annoyance, eyes going dark in warning. However, her smile never disappeared, only the new emotion in her eyes was more menacing. "Say that again and I'll personally stuff our live lobsters down your pants." Some paled.

After threatening them, Aoi walked away, glaring at her notepad. "What happened?" TinTin asked.

"Nothing," she answered, pinning up the order. "But after tonight, if I ever see their faces again, I'll kick them out without hesitation."

"Haven't seen you get that angry in a while," Izumo noted, coming up beside her as they retreated to get a drink of water. "Care to talk?"

A noise came from the back room, most likely the help her father had called in. "Those animals wanted me to serve them body sushi, and I was the desired body."

The college student coughed up the water in surprise, the liquid spewing everywhere. "What?" he exclaimed. "I'll kill them-!"

"Not even worth it. But they're not welcomed here after tonight."

"Damn right they're not!"

Aoi chuckled, swallowing her drink. "Funny. I've never seen you so angry before."

"Hey, we might not be family, but I still see you as my younger sister, and I'm not going to take pigs insulting you like that."

"Nice to know, thanks, Izumo. If I end up beating them up, please restrain me so I don't kill them."

"I think I can do that," he answered as they entered the restaurant again.

Approaching the table, a third time that night with the food, the men seemed to have calmed down as Aoi set down their plates. "Enjoy," she spoke before walking away.

However, the teen didn't get far as a hand wrapped around her wrist, pulling her back onto one of their laps. "You forgot something," he pointed out.

"Let me go-"

"This stuff isn't what we ordered. We wanted body sushi." The hands ripped open the black vest, startling Aoi greatly. Her poker face had completely vanished, mind going blank. A woman screamed from the next table, snapping the teen out of it and she began to fight back.

"Get off!" the girl roared, pulling the hands away. However, two others gripped her shoulders, trying to pull Aoi backward.

Izumo dashed through the restaurant, customers at the nearby tables moving out of the way as Aoi threw them to the ground, the table and food flying everywhere. TinTin jumped over the counter, barreling down on the commotion. "You're not a good waitress if you don't satisfy your customers!" one of the men said aloud, ripping the sleeve to her white dress shirt. Aoi's foot contacted with his jaw.

"Shove off!" the waitress protested.

The attackers were thrown backwards through the air onto other tables, being pulled away from Aoi with force. "Attacking a woman, that's low," a voice spoke up in front of the teen. She looked up; eyes wide. "You're all thugs."

"Renji...?" Aoi questioned, seeing the shocking red hair. He looked down with a strained smile.

Sirens could be heard down the street, and TinTin stepped up. "You five, are no longer welcomed here," he spoke through his teeth, clearly enraged by the fact they had attacked his daughter.

"Feh, whatever, old man."

"We're out of here," they answered.

However, Izumo and four other male customers rushed forward, tackling them to the ground. "I won't move if I were you," Izumo growled.

The restaurant closed for the night after the assailants were led to jail on a number of charges. TinTin sighed heavily, looking at the mess. "Izumo, Kino, Jin, and Po, we're going to clean up. Aoi, I want you to go home."

"But-"

"No butts. You're done for the night. Abarai, I would appreciate it if you would accompany her."

"I can do that sir."

After Aoi changed into her street clothing and threw out the ruined uniform, she met Renji out back, who was still dressed in his uniform. "Not changing?"

"I came here like this."

They began walking down the lit streets. "You're the hired help Dad asked for?"

"Yup, and a good thing he did."

"I just can't believe he asked you."

"What, just because I'm a regular doesn't mean I don't know how to serve tables."

"Right," she answered rolling her eyes. "Still... thanks for stepping in."

"Those bastards. I can't believe they thought they could get away with something like that in a public place."

"They were drunk out of their mind... Though, that's not an excuse..."

"Feh, like I said they were thugs. People like that piss me off!"

"Che, didn't know you cared," Aoi stated.

"Of course I do! Not only did they touch you, but they also broke your poker face!"

"Wow, really? My poker face? I thought you'd be madder about them touching me."

"Oh, I still am, believe me. I was holding back at the restaurant, though I really wanted to beat them into the ground."

"My hero," the teen grumbled sarcastically.

"But I didn't like the emotion that was forced out of you. There was nothing appealing about watching that."

"Oh? Then what type of emotion should I be 'showing'?"

Renji placed a hand on her head in a friendly manner, causing her to jump. "Well, something like that is funny." He then draped the arm over her shoulders. "And that's a nice one too," the young man noted, seeing a blush appear. His lips then lightly kissed a cheek, enflaming the teen's face. "But I think that one is my favorite."

"Why are you so concerned about me showing emotion?" Aoi asked, looking over at him.

"Why?" Renji asked, looking into her eyes. "Because I am falling for you, Aoi Inubatsu, and I want to be the one that can see through your poker face."

Shock was clear, surprised by his bold statement. However, a smile came to Aoi's lips before turning away in mild embarrassment. Lightly biting the outside of her lip, the teen answered. "I am too."

In response, Renji kissed her forehead tenderly.

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net