A/N: Wow! I was really glad to see that some people wanted to see more. This is my first attempt at smut and I left out any comments on Ichiruki. They are mentioned individually, but that is just because of their worth to the other characters. Hope you like it!

Chapter 2 – The Best Laid Plans

Renji's POV

I pulled her out of the club into the cool night air and let her take a moment to compose herself. I had never seen her stand up to Ichigo like that. I had to say I was proud. I stepped up to her back and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Hey. Don't cave now. The damn bastard deserved it. He deserved to be put in his place."

She looked back at me with those impossibly large eyes filled with tears. "Why is it that no matter what it's always him causing me pain?"

I reached out a hand to cup her cheek and wipe away the tear that had fallen down her face, "Tha's the way it is when you love someone. Ya open your heart to someone and ya risk having it pulled out and shredded to pieces."

She stepped forward letting her silky hair trail down my still bare chest. I had never figured out what had become of my shirt. I wrapped her in my arms and heard her voice, soft and timid.

"Then why do people love?"

I sighed. I had asked myself the same question many times. "Cuz there's supposedly an up side ta it. Apparently if you can find someone ta love ya back, it's the most wonderful thing you can do. It's like going inta battle. You can't know the outcome an' sometimes you don't even go lookin' fer a fight. Sometimes it comes ta you and ya got no choice but to go with it. If ya lose its hurt and harsh, but if ya win it's invigorating and addictive. Ya just gotta learn from yer loss is all. Learn from what has hurt ya."

She looked up at me with those eyes that screamed at me to protect her, to lock her in my arms and never let her go. God, knows Kurosaki did a shitty job of it, but maybe for once I could best him at something. Her voice was delicate and her eyes never wavered from mine as she stared up at me from my embrace. "And what did you learn Renji? What has caused the hurt for you that you have learned from?"

I looked down at her everything in my body screaming in agonizing need for her. Her soft pink lips, her supple curves, her smooth skin, and her delicious warmth all beckoning me to kiss her, to press her into the wall of the alley we were in and show her how someone was supposed to treat her. But her question stayed me. We were both just two heartbroken souls looking to use one another to get over our heartbreak and even as my head had lowered to take her lips, I stopped and gazed at her seriously.

"What have I learned from the loss of Rukia?" My hand covered hers and pressed it into the black ink covering my chest, "I dunno yet." I said stepping away from her and putting some distance between us. Keep it together. She was heartbroken. And if I was honest with myself, the thing that really stayed me was the thought that I would just be used to soothe her heart from the wounds Kurosaki had caused.

We walked together for a while and rain began to fall. Neither of us said a word as we walked in silence, the patter of the drops a sort of cadence we marched to. And once we reached her apartment she turned to me a look lighting her eyes that I had never seen before.

Orihime's POV

"Why is it that no matter what it's always him causing me pain?" I asked. It just wasn't fair. No matter what, it was always me who was hurting. Renji reached up and swept the tear from my eye. I stared back at him as he answered me. I stared into dark black eyes as he told me the way he understood love. I had known that Rukia had hurt him, had seen it in his eyes and heard parts of it in the talks we had together, but when he answered me I realized just how deeply he must have felt for her. Only someone who had truly loved with their whole heart could know that awful side of love that was losing someone the way we had. In spite of myself, I felt myself asking him the question I had asked myself a million times, "Then why do people love?"

As he answered, I saw a small smile flicker across his face. Even after all this pain he still remembered what the joys of love could be. I was awed by it. Awed at his ability to move forward, he was so strong and courageous. And he encouraged me to be the same. He had faith in me that no one else ever had. He told me to learn from the heartbreak and move on. I looked up at him as I remembered the way he had invaded my fantasy in the night club as I danced, I was well aware that I was once again wrapped in his arms and I looked up at him realizing that the pain I was feeling had nothing to do with Ichigo anymore. I was hurt to know that now as we stood here in this alley, our charade was over.

That this perfect opportunity to make him notice how well we fit together was passing me by, just like all my opportunities with Ichigo. But something held me back- a need to confirm that I wasn't acting on a one-sided feeling or being used a simple salve for heartbreak. And even as his head lowered to capture my lips I couldn't keep the words from tumbling out.

"And what did you learn Renji? What has caused the hurt for you that you have learned from?" He seemed to snap out of his reverie at my question and his hand raised my hand to his heart with the black ink swirling across it. I could see the hurt in his eyes as he repeated my question. I lost my nerve. Now wasn't the time. If it was meant to be it would work out, but not now. It was too soon. I couldn't be sure he would understand that there were real feelings involved, that this wasn't just some way to stop the hurt.

He stepped away from me and we started walking towards my apartment. Rain began to fall, but we continued on in silence and as I looked up at the sky an old thought flittered across my mind. 'If I were the rain that binds together the Earth and the sky, whom in all eternity will never mingle, would I be able to bind two hearts together?' I had once wondered this about Ichigo, but as I walked I realized even then I didn't realize what I truly meant. I had known that Ichigo and I were a lost cause, but I had hoped, even then, that something could bind me to that unattainable person who had by chance wandered into my life, to teach me about myself. The Earth and the Sky, two things that would never meet unless something brought them together, something like the rain. Rain had always made me think of sadness, but also of new beginnings, of fresh new starts. I glanced sideways towards Renji, his hair the same color as the sunrise that was making the sky bleed on the horizon. To bring together the Earth and the Sky… I couldn't bind two hearts. Not me, because hearts weren't things that anyone could change, but the rain, the sadness and hurt, could cause a new beginning, could change and bind two hearts as the rain did the Earth and the Sky.

We stepped up to my door step and I turned to Renji, all my resolve making me determined once more. I would not let this opportunity slip past me, I would not let this rain be in vain. I would let this rain bind us. I stared up at him as I opened the door into the darkness of my apartment and walked slowly backwards into the place.

Renji's POV

As we walked, I thought about her question, about what I had learned from my experience with Rukia. As much as I didn't want to admit it, I had known for quite some time that I had lost her. This pain that I was feeling was really just a jab at my heart for not learning the lesson sooner. The reason I was able to shake the brat's hand and tell him congratulations, the reason I was even able to stand seeing them together was because I had learned the lesson long ago. I had let her go. And I had resolved to never regret anything again. Because while most regrets where of things done too hastily, I had learned a different lesson- the lesson of waiting too long, the regret of NOT doing what I wanted and seeing the opportunity slip away.

We reached her doorstep and I looked down at her, everything about her calling to me still. And I realized that I didn't care if I was just a way to mend the damage Kurosaki had done, if that was what she needed from me, then I would give it to her, but I would never regret not doing something again.

She opened the door and walked backward into the apartment. I reached forward and took the door from her hand, letting it close behind us and seal the room in darkness. I heard a small intake of breath from her and then I had her turned around and pinned to the door under me and I had to close my eyes to compose myself as she let out a sound somewhere between a squeak of surprise and a moan of pleasure as I covered her with my body.

I gripped her hands in mine, twining our fingers together as I pressed her hands above her head, pressing myself to her from chest to hips. I could easily see her even though it was dark and I slowly lowered my head to her neck my breath heating the slightly damp flesh there. "I learned never ta regret somethin' I didn't do," I whispered into her ear. Her eyes held confusion as she looked up at me not quite understanding my meaning. I returned my attention to her neck and bit slightly at the junction of her shoulder, running my nose up the column of her throat as I felt her shiver in response.

"The biggest mistake you can make is to never take the risk." I told her. And with that I was done talking.

Orihime's POV

I was startled when he the door closed us into darkness and I felt him reach out for me. I couldn't stifle the squeak of surprise but it was easily turned into a moan as he pressed his body into me. The door was cold behind me seeming to intensify the heat of the body pressed to mine. He was so quick I hadn't even been able to react before my hands were tangled with his and pressed above my head. I could feel the slight sting of the impact from where he had crushed me to the wall and despite myself I couldn't help but be turned on by his aggressiveness.

He leaned into me and whispered in my ear. I didn't understand what he meant by that. How could you regret something you didn't do? He nipped at my collarbone and I shivered as his breath tickled the moisture still clinging to my skin from the rain. "The biggest mistake you can make is to never take the risk," he said. 'No, no, no,' my mind was saying. This wasn't right. He was supposed to actually want me not just being doing this to do it! His lips were making a trail across my neck, biting and sucking and he pressed a kiss just behind my ear and I let out a trembling moan. I managed to catch my breath and press my hands down on his chest. He didn't budge an inch but he leaned back to look at me.

"We can't do this," I said breathlessly, my voice still trembling.

He grinned at me and pressed his mouth to the ear that hadn't gotten any attention.

"Now? Or ever?" he whispered.

I blinked in surprise. Did that mean that he would want to do this again? Was he saying he could wait?

"I…I.. I don't," I tried to force out as he continued his assault on my neck.

He leaned away from me only to press me more roughly into the door behind me, causing it to rattle against the jarring motion. He leaned in dangerously close and stared at me.

"Stop it." He said and I couldn't keep the surprise from my face. "Stop carin' 'bout other people, and tha future, and everything else that ain't what you want. Tell me what you want right now. Without thinkin' 'bout the consequences and the outside factors."

I looked at him seriously. What I wanted right now? I raised my head forward and aggressively captured his lips with my own and he growled in approval. His hands released mine from their prison and I eagerly reached out to touch him. I ran my hands all over his body, tangling one into his hair that had been hanging loose since the contest at the club.

He didn't waste any time divesting me of my tank top and skirt. I barely felt the air brush across me as he wrapped me in his warm embrace. I let my hands trail down his chest, never letting go of his lips and the hungry kisses that we were sharing. I reached his belt and easily unclasped it as well as the buttons on the jeans. The weight of the belt pulling the jeans down his hips. I pulled away from him for a moment and my eyes flashed down as a blush covered my face. He seemed to think that meant that something was wrong and despite how aroused he was he braced his arm against the wall and took a deep breath. "We can stop if you want." He managed to say his eyes glued to mine. I placed my hand back on his chest and let it trail down, his eyes squeezing closed and the arms on either side of me trembling the lower I ran. I hesitantly brushed my fingers over his erection and he quickly snatched my wrist.

"Fuck, Orihime. You can't just do that." His eyes opened and the stare he was giving me should have set me on fire, but instead it sent heat pooling between my legs. He took a deep breath and his eyes seemed to roll back a bit as he let out a shuddering breath.

"Fuck," He cursed gain placing his head against the wall to my left. He waited a moment and then managed to speak some more, "I'm not gunna be able to stop myself if you keep that up. You smell fucking amazing and your touchin me but you ain't told me ya want this yet."

He turned his head to look at me and I pulled my hand from his to wrap both hands in his long red hair. It was now or never. I looked at him, "I want this. And not just now. I want it after too. I want it to last. I don't want to lose someone else." I whispered.

His eyes opened wider in surprise and then he was touching me.

His hands deftly had me bared completely before him in moments and I'm pretty sure there was a ripping of fabric as he leaned down and caught one nipple in his mouth, sucking and pulling it with his expert touch. His other hand trailed to my center and rubbed against my clit.

I let out a moan and he detached from my chest to whisper in my ear as his fingers slid into me, "Fuck, 're so wet." I gathered my arms around his neck and hooked one leg up around his waist as I pressed myself into him my head thrown back against the door in ecstasy.

"Please," I managed to gasp as his fingers pumped in and out of me.

He didn't respond to my request except to use his thumb to press harder at my clit. I moaned and thrust harder against his hand, knowing if I were in any way coherent I would be embarrassed at my display. But right now all I cared about was having him.

I tangled my fingers in his hair and pulled harshly, he laughed and I could feel it rumble through my body starting at my core and I whimpered at the vibrations.

"Ya want something?" He asked as he slowed his fingers.

I tried to press myself back onto him, but he wasn't having it. I managed to open my eyes for moment and I pulled forward to kiss him hard, nipping at his lips and as his arms went around my back I picked up my other leg, latching around his waist. I rubbed myself against him and it was his turn to moan as my juices slathered him. "I want you," I whispered my voice harsh.

And then the door was at my back again and I didn't even notice the pain of being forced into it as he pressed into me.

He altered our position at bit as he was supporting me completely and he pressed into me again as hiss coming from him as he slowly withdrew only to press back in at a torturously slow pace. I couldn't take it, I twined my hand in his hair and pulled, "Faster," I sighed.

He finally granted my request, he didn't treat me like glass, he treated me like a woman and he thrust into me hard and fast and the raw need behind it just turned me on even more. The apartment was still dark, the door thumping with each thrust and our moans of pleasure escalating in volume. I could feel that coil tightening in my stomach and my breathing became ragged. Words were spilling from my mouth but I couldn't even comprehend what they were as my body took over and I thrust in time with him nearing completion.

He groaned near my ear and then took a slow step back from the door, my head and shoulders still leaning on it for support but my waist still attached to his. He thrust into me harder and deeper at the new angle and I cried out as it sent me over the edge. I was starting to worry as the feelings were too intense I couldn't think or do anything but fuck him and even as my body was almost crying out that it was too much, I didn't want him to stop, wouldn't have been able to stop myself for anything in the world. I rolled my body against him and his eyes rolled back as his thrusts became erratic, the sporadic timing sending me into a frenzy as I felt myself clamp down on him once again, and with that I felt him go over the edge too. He gathered me to him and carried me through the apartment to my room where he lay me down and curled in next to me. Exhausted he pulled me to him brushing my hair over my shoulder as I lay on his chest.

"Get sum sleep," he mumbled, "I got plans for you for tomorrow." His voice held a husky promise and a fire lit in me. It was a promise. A promise that this was more than a one night stand. And that promise lit both a content warmth in me from the promise of something more than just the encounter we had shared, of a possible future to this, and a hunger for more of the same.