Spring is coming but not soon enough thus there are still very cold nights upon the people in all of the soul society. Howaito de is also arriving soon and all the lovers are in such a panic about what to get their love ones. Not Renji though, he has been planning his gift and love confession speech out so perfectly.
"This is the year." His eyes raises to the night sky. "I'm gonna' put it all on the line for you Kuchiki-taichou." He puffs warm air out like smoke.
"Not this again." The pink face beast with tattoos and a snake for a tail appears. Renji looks to see he has joined the conversation.
"Shut up okay!"
"This is a waste of time." Zabimaru complains while hovering over Renji's lazy head.
"Move you're in my view." Renji wants to see the stars. This is not the first time he is lying on the rooftop of the sixth's divisions office. Here is where he would do his day dreaming of his captain, especially when Byakuya was absent from the office at night.
Renji yearns for his captain. It would appear that all the captains of the thirteen court guard squads were mere ghosts but not Byakuya. He give the impression of a greek god. Instead of walking, he glides across the wood panel floors. Rather then talking, he commands his subordinates. Commands that are so sweet to Renji's ears. He would do his best to obey his superior but on nights like this, his inner slacker would get the best of him.
He wants to be like his captain so much, if not better. To surpass him would be such a honor but to take him as a lover would be so much greater. Renji's concentration on the stars grows weak at the thought of warming and pleasuring Byakuya on this cool breezy night. It is something he has thought of many times over in his head.
Everyday a new sexual fantasy would run through his mind as he would scribble his name and notes on his work papers. Focusing on everything else besides Byakuya became harder once he would enter a room. In addition to being seduced by his wholesome smell of cherry blossom. Renji could always feel that seductive presence even when Byakuya tries to conceal his spiritual pressure. Renji's mind was always in a turmoil of lust and duty.
"Are we gonna' see 'em tomorrow?" Zabimaru broke the silence between them.
"Yeah Unohana-taichou said he's awake. Damn I wish I was there to see 'em first." Renji continues on.
"After the way he treated us. He should be dead." Zabimaru referred to their previous fight.
"Enough. Don't talk like that. It was a misunderstanding." Renji defends him.
"Humph." Zabimaru fades away
"Just a misunderstanding..." He tries to convince himself.
The next morning Renji tighten his obi belt around his hakama and proceeded to division fours infirmary. Once he arrived at the patience's room, he slides the door open to reveal a sleeping Byakuya. He decides to take a seat; Renji tries to take his mind off the pain caused by the hard uncomfortable wooden chair but it was just too much. Awaiting for his captain to gain consciousness he carves away at a thick wood plank in his hands. He thought he should bring something along to pass the time.
Noon arrived when his patience were running thin and he begins to fidget in the chair. His ear splitting movements awakes Byakuya from his slumber. Renji leans forward in the chair that shared distance between the two men. Byakuya opens his eyes and sits up in the big comfy bed, neither of them say a word.
Both of them were secretly hoping the other will ask for forgiveness so they can move on from this pain in their heart caused by betrayal. They both were injured gravely in this push and pull battle of saving Rukia. Everyone thanked the heavens when it was all over. Turns out the only true betrayal was of Sousuke Aizen, Gin Ichimaru and kaname Tousen.
They both sit quietly, Byakuya gazing out the wide opening of a window. Renji subtly watching him from the distance. Byakuya starts to scratch the bandages around his neck. What should I say to him? Renji thinks. Rukia was important to him just as much as his captain. Had I killed the relationship due to the fight between Bankai's? He never wanted things to go that far. He just wanted Byakuya to step aside and let Renji do the job the older brother was suppose to be doing in the first place.
Renji looks closely at his carving before being interrupted. "Renji." Byakuya calls his name, not in the usual stern voice though he was using a more softer tone. "Why are you here?" He asks never turning his head in Renji's direction.
"I'm here...because I'm your fukutaichou." He replies forcing his eyes to the floor. How could he look him in the eye after what he had done?
"You probably wish I were dead." Byakuya brings the cold heartedness into his voice. Renji looks up at his captain in pain. How could he say such a thing? "I imagine thats what you're thinking now." Byakuya confesses. It hurt him to see Renji bear fangs against him in such a way. Was there no loyalty between them?
"No you're wrong!...If you were to die then what motivation would I have to get stronger?" Renji's voice was full of his true emotions. Now! He thought, now would be the time to tell his captain that he not only admires him but he was in love with him dearly. "...and in fact Kuchiki-tachiou..." This was it, he had worked up the courage in all of the last few seconds. "I..."
"Renji!" Ichigo pops his head in the open window. Renji jumps up and gets forehead to forehead with Ichigo. Man did he just kill the mood Renji's inner voice screams inside his head.
"What the hell?." Renji screams. "How dare you charge in here like that! I was just about ready to say something really cool and you totally ruined the moment."
"Sorry." Ichigo expresses remorse. "How was I suppose to know? Hey have you seen Rukia-kun around here lately?"
"What?" Renji stands back making sure there is distance between him and Ichigo. He wouldn't want his captain getting the wrong idea now. "You better not had lost Rukia-kun again!" Renji scolds.
"No, no, I just thought you might know where she is." Ichigo's eyes rolls to a side.
"What's going on Kurosaki-kun? So what did you find out?" Orihime pops up next to Ichigo struggling to hold onto the third story window seal.
"How did you get all the way up here? No way" Ichigo was impressed with Ms. Inoue's determination to keep up. Ichigo looks to the injured captain. "Sorry to barge in on you Byakuya-san, later Renji-kun."
"We'll be going now." Ichigo and Orihime disappears just as swiftly as they had come.
"I wonder what the hell those two are up too." Renji expresses before looking to his pondering captain. "What is it?" Renji questioned. "Is something wrong sir?' He stood there silently awaiting an answer.
"Just that, well I certainly hope that this Ichigo doesn't keep calling me by my first name...I find his lack of respect disturbing."
"Huh?" Renji lets out a chuckle. "Is that all?" he returns to his seat. Maybe some how things weren't broken between them.
"Hhm..." Byakuya clears his throat. "Wasn't there something you needed to say before we were interrupted by that boy?"
"Umm." Renji scratches the back of his neck in pure nervousness. He couldn't believe it, Ichigo lightened the mood but made him loose his nerve. "Never-mind." He said "Would you like some of Unohana-taichou's special herbal tea? Its great on war wounds you know. I drank some after my surgery and I'm almost as good as new." he boasts.
"Renji." Byakuya calls his name sweetly again. He motions for Renji to sit on the bed beside him. Once Renji was there he replies
"Yes Kuchiki-taichou" Byakuya places his hand over Renji's as he still carves at the plank.
"Just sit here for a little while longer." Byakuya orders.
Renji is amazed at how close he is to his captain, Is he dreaming?Not to mention his captain is stroking his hand. Something changed in Byakuya he thinks to himself. When did this new transformation start? He soon puts it behind him. It didn't matter to Renji he likes the new and improve captain because hopefully when Renji truly does confess this new personality would, could accept Renji's loving emotions.
A/N: I DO NOT OWN BLEACH ALL RIGHTS AND TITLES GOES TO TITE KUBO
**Howaito de is White day which is kinda like Valentines day in America its just celebrated on March 14th.
**This is not a rip off of StarrFirre's When The Monkey Catches The Moon. We both actually used episode 53 in the second season of Bleach. The above chapter maybe be similar but the idea paths ride different waves. I am always open to criticism and friendly opinions so leave a Review!