Renji said only one more thing to Sora: "I am here." He gave the boy's shoulder a comforting squeeze, then moved his arm away, though he stayed leaned fairly close to him.

He turned his attention back to Cliff. "Abarai Renji," he said. "We're not." He wore pretty much the same expression as he had during his brief meeting with Cliff two nights ago. His shortness wasn't due to hostility; he simply didn't have much to say, at lest not yet.

For a moment, he considered saying something like 'stay away from Rukia' but... that wasn't his business any more. And Rukia could take care of herself from that angle, at least.

He looked levelly at Cliff, waiting for the question he figured was coming.