Kaede crouched behind the barrels marked flammable, her heart pounding against her ribcage. The lighter felt heavy in her hand, the weight of what she was about to do pressing down on her. She glanced back at Renji, who was hidden in the shadows across the courtyard. He gave her a small nod, his expression firm but encouraging.
She swallowed hard and focused on the task at hand. The barrels reeked of fuel, and she knew that one spark would be enough to set them off. Her fingers trembled as she flicked the lighter, the small flame casting flickering light on her face.
"Just breathe," she whispered to herself.
Kaede placed the lighter against the edge of a rag sticking out from one of the barrels. The flame caught quickly, and she darted back into the shadows, her steps as silent as she could manage. The faint crackle of fire began to grow, and the acrid smell of burning fuel filled the air.
Renji tensed, watching as the flames spread across the barrels. Kuroda and his men remained oblivious for a moment, too focused on their captive. Then, with a sudden roar, the barrels exploded. A massive fireball lit up the night sky, the shockwave rattling the walls of the warehouse.
Chaos erupted.
Kuroda's men shouted in confusion, scrambling to avoid the debris raining down around them. The fire spread quickly, casting long shadows that danced across the courtyard. Kuroda himself barely flinched, his cold eyes scanning the area with calculated precision.
"Find them!" he barked. "Now!"
Renji took the opportunity to move. He slipped out of the shadows and darted toward the woman, who was still bound to the chair. Her head snapped up at the sound of his footsteps, her eyes widening in recognition.
"Renji," she said, her voice strained but relieved. "Took you long enough."
"Let's save the sarcasm for later," Renji muttered, cutting through her bindings with a small knife he'd taken from Riku's stash. "Can you walk?"
"I'll manage," she said, wincing as she stood. Her movements were stiff, but her determination was clear.
Renji glanced back toward the fire. Kaede had already disappeared into the shadows, just as planned. He could only hope she was safe.
"Stay close," Renji said, guiding the woman toward the edge of the courtyard.
They moved quickly, sticking to the shadows. The fire provided cover, but it also illuminated the area, making it easier for Kuroda's men to spot them. Renji's grip tightened on the metal rod in his hand as they approached the exit.
"Stop!" a voice shouted behind them.
Renji turned to see two of Kuroda's men closing in, their weapons drawn. He stepped in front of the woman, raising the rod defensively.
"Go," he said through gritted teeth. "I'll handle this."
The woman hesitated, her eyes flicking between Renji and the approaching danger. "You're insane."
"Probably," Renji replied. "Now go."
She didn't argue further, slipping away toward the cover of the nearby warehouse. Renji took a deep breath, his focus narrowing on the two men. They were armed, but their movements were clumsy, their confidence shaken by the chaos around them.
"Come on," Renji muttered, shifting his weight onto the balls of his feet.
The first man lunged, his blade glinting in the firelight. Renji sidestepped the attack and swung the rod, the metal connecting with the man's forearm. He cried out, dropping his weapon as he stumbled backward.
The second man hesitated, his eyes darting toward his fallen companion. Renji didn't wait. He closed the distance and drove the end of the rod into the man's stomach, forcing him to double over. A quick strike to the back of the knee sent him collapsing to the ground.
Renji didn't stay to finish the fight. He turned and ran, his heart pounding as he made his way toward the warehouse. The woman was waiting for him near a side door, her expression grim.
"Impressive," she said, her tone dry. "But we're not out of this yet."
Renji smirked, though the adrenaline coursing through him left little room for humor. "Let's move."
They slipped through the door, the sound of shouting and gunfire echoing behind them. The warehouse was dark and cluttered, the air thick with dust. Renji led the way, his eyes scanning for any signs of danger.
"Where's Kaede?" the woman asked, her voice low.
"She's supposed to meet us at the rendezvous point," Renji replied. "If everything went according to plan, she should already be there."
"And if it didn't?"
Renji didn't answer. He couldn't afford to think about that.
As they exited the warehouse, the sounds of chaos began to fade. The fire was still burning in the distance, but they were far enough away to avoid immediate danger. Renji's shoulders relaxed slightly as they approached the rendezvous point—a small, abandoned storage shed near the edge of the industrial zone.
Kaede was waiting inside, her face lighting up as she saw them. "You're okay," she said, relief flooding her voice.
Renji nodded, his expression softening. "Thanks to you."
The woman stepped forward, her gaze fixed on Kaede. "You're the one who set the fire?"
Kaede nodded, her chin lifting slightly. "It worked, didn't it?"
The woman chuckled, shaking her head. "You've got guts, I'll give you that."
Renji placed a hand on Kaede's shoulder. "We need to move. Kuroda won't give up that easily."
The woman glanced back toward the burning warehouse, her expression hardening. "You're right. This isn't over."
As the three of them slipped into the shadows once more, Renji couldn't shake the feeling that the worst was yet to come.