snow on the sahara

And once the heroine eventually starts going out with the hero that everyone likes, the other chicks don't like that. You've seen it before if you know shojo at all. So they call her out onto the roof and she says she won't break up with him, and starts to slap a bitch when she grabs at the necklace given to her by the hero.

"W-what? You're fighting back?"
"If you're up to it."

SO SHE KICKS THEIR ASSES AND WINS!

So yeah, everyone should go read Koukou Debut/High School Debut ASAP.

This is for ash_grey_sky, who wanted Renji fic recs. I wouldn't call this a professional or objective list--these are just Renji fics that I happened to like and include in my fic memories, so personal bias is very much here. Doubtless there are other great Renji fics out there.

Patch by branchfic (Byakuya, Renji.)
There was a suspicious lack of any one else getting promoted to the Fifth, that made Renji grit his teeth every time he noticed it. Now, on top of his urge to press forward and the pride that demanded he catch Kuchiki-taichou first, he had the urge to be contrary and tell them to all fuck off piled into the mix.

Renji's an obvious choice as one of the next captains, but what if he still thinks he has things to achieve first? I really did not dig the author's other stories in this fic series (which you don't need to read to read this one) but this has spot-on characterization between Byakuya and Renji. It's really nice to see some Captain/Vice-Captain fic that isn't about sex or romance.


Unchained Melody by buttercup0222 (Renji, Ichigo. Kindasorta RenRuki.)
“What the…?” Ichigo’s eyes hastily scanned the lawn below and finally settled on a most unexpected vision: Renji, staring determinedly at his bedroom window with hands stretched towards the sky, holding a boombox.

Renji goes a-courting and learns that his data on habits of the living world is just a touch out of date. I LOL'd.


Janken by empath_eia (Unrequited RenRuki, Renji+Kira+Hinamori friendship)
Unfortunately, Abarai Renji is very bad at giving up on people, and especially bad at giving up on Kuchiki Rukia. It's getting bad for his mental health that he can't let go, even when she's so obviously already gone.

He's always loved her and always will, but it's put up or shut up time for the stray dog. It's always nice to see academy trio friendship, and this hits my Renji angst kink.


It's Good to be Gangsta by idiosyn (Renji, Hisagi, Iba, Ikkaku.)
After that night, all the students and shinigami were blacklisted from the establishment and they had between them three concussions, eight broken bones, a week stuck at medical, two months confinement to quarters and one hell of a friendship.

A 20 Things fic about the thug boys. Crack, humor and love. I can see most of this stuff really happening.


Fever by katsudon (Renji, Rukia.)
And Renji, older than the others and convinced of his great knowledge of how the world of adults really works, cornered her once and kissed her. It ended in a wrestling match where she sat on his head and made him eat dirt.

An episode from their life as kids in Rukongai. Utterly believable and heartbreakingly poignant.


Distance by scathachdhu (RenRuki, Yoruichi. NC-17.)
“Idiot. A woman decides who’s good enough for her; she doesn’t let other people tell her.”

Yoruichi puts some goddamn sense into Renji's head and he says what he's been needing to say for ages. Tasty smut, but in a way it was almost an afterthought to me; what I like best about this fic are his conversation with Yoruichi and Rukia's highly understandable (and hilarious) reaction to his confession. Scathach is really good and cutting through to the heart of how characters feel for each other (even for pairings she doesn't ship, which is extra impressive.)


Pirate House by scathachdhu (11th division, Renji, others.)
"I've never seen such dignity in a wild creature," Rukia continued, wide-eyed. "He must surely be of the most selective bloodline."

"I found him ripping into another bird out in West 67," Kenpachi grunted. "And he shits like a fountain when he's excited."

All the usual suspects attend Yachiru's birthday party. Renji's not the focus, but his viewpoint sections are quite funny. The whole thing is damn hilarious, really. One of the funniest Bleach fics I've read.


Bleach the Bottle by harukami (Renji and Karakura students)
"What the fuck are you - no. Back the fuck off. I'm warning you. You want to make this a fight? I'll kick your ass so hard you - MMPH."

A game of spin the bottle. This premise could be really stupid, and probably would be on ffnet, but this is utterly in character and bitingly funny.


With Benefits by scathachdhu (Renji/Matsumoto, roundabout Matsumoto/Hisagi and Renji/Rukia)
It was comfortable, and didn't challenge either one of them. And for the time being, it was just what each needed.

The title is a total lie, I just made that up because I can't stand to put "Untitled." A nice mellow look at how people can be good for each other even if it's not a love to last the ages.


A Hundred Indecisions by sintari (Unrequited RenRuki, IchiRuki)
She laughs so rarely. She'll smile, yeah, this little curl at the corners of her mouth, like she's afraid to let you see that she has an opinion on something, but it's damn hard to make her laugh. Renji knows because he tries. He tries all the time.

adhjgdfsl;f OH RENJI ;_; Renji attends Rukia's wedding. I'm a masochist, so you know I loved this thing hardcore.


A Song That No One Sings by sintari (RenRuki, in a way)
Because he's her man, he can make it thunder.

I say again: adhjgdfsl;f OH RENJI ;_;


Homework, Houseguests & Happiness by tokyofish (Renji, Yuzu, Kurosaki family)
Karin had a theory that Rukia was really the secret daughter of the head of a yakuza family, but Yuzu had never had had cause to think of it as anything more than idle speculation . . . until now.

Renji and Yuzu, dude. It is pretty much just as adorable as it sounds.

And that's a wrap.

1) "The Hunt for Tact in its Natural Habitat" by hecatehatesthat
He took a bite of his sandwich. "Well, what's the problem with the gigai that you had to rush off to see Sandal-Hat this morning?"
"It's…bleeding."
Rukia becomes a woman. Period humor is usually so obvious it's done badly, but this one's quite amusing.

2) "In the Name of the Moon" by hecatehatesthat
Rukia has a plan.
How did she get on that windowsill, anyway? (Current arc spoilers)

3) "Fly" by theyellowvespa
In the backyard, the fireflies wink on-off, on-off, and Ichigo clutches the jar and its lid, waiting like a cat ready to pounce.
Ichigo, Masaki and quality time.

4) "What a Kiss Means" by tenebris
Rukia does not understand why her female classmates get so worked up over the "first kiss."
Another not actually romantic fic. That seems to be a pattern with Ichigo/Rukia fics I like.

5) "Moth to the Flame" by zelel
Here lays a boy, dying. And there stands a girl, breaking.
ANGST.

6) "Sister Complex" by tenebris
His face stilled, gentled. "Perhaps," he said, not looking at her, "I've got my own sister complex."
A little character study, a little conversation

7) "Establishing a Bond" (or somethign, I don't think this really has a title) by gemchansan
To Rukia’s horror, Isshin pulled out three very thick wedding magazines.
Isshin gets...overenthusiastic.

8) "Tempest" by tenebris
There was a word for this sort of existence: eunuch. Or was it monk? Whatever;
he was content to be one. Let Keigo and Mizuiro make fools of themselves in his place. Then Rukia...Rukia'd had to go, be herself, and FUCK IT UP.
Follow-up to "What a Kiss Means." I really adore the freakedout!suddenlyawareofboobies!Ichigo in his, he's just fabulous.

9) "A Secret Between Them" by tenebris
They still argued in public. They still worked together as shinigami. Now they just happened to go off and...and...and be emotional at each other.
Third part after "Tempest" and the like. Longer and my favorite of the three. I'd love to see more in this universe, because she's set up such an interesting dynamic here.

10) "The Problem with Post-Its" by kaeru_chan
The next morning, Ichigo awoke to found himself plastered with exactly seventy-two colored notes with various notes scrawled on them.
Rukia learns about Post-It notes.

Random rec--James Blunt's Back to Bedlam CD is of the much awesome and you should all watch it.

( Cut for Bleach spoilers )