Title: What Friends Are For
Characters: Kira, Renji x Byakuya
Word Count: 449
Rating: G
Summary: Kira stumbles upon a secret Renji has been keeping.
XXXXX
He knew he shouldn't have begun laughing at his old friend, but just couldn't help it. Never in a million years would Kira have thought Renji to be the kind of guy to be sentimental enough keep something like a keepsake box. The blond pays for it by a good whack to his head as the taller man snatches the box back. "What the hell are you laughing at? It's just a savings box," Renji snaps.
"A savings box?" Kira asks a bit bewildered, "What are you saving for that can be bought with white hair curlers and sakura petals?"
Renji freezes in place and looks at his old school friend in horror. "Y-you opened it?"
Kira was finding it difficult to keep a straight face while looking at the redhead, but understanding that making him angry again would probably lead to much more than a smack on the head, he manages to keep himself looking calm. "It's alright, Renji," the blond says soothingly, "I won't tell anyone."
"But you saw…" A blush creeps across Renji's face at the thought of the little nick-knacks he had been collecting in the small wooden box.
"I think it's rather cute."
"I'm not cute!" Renji snaps, his blush growing deeper. "And it's not girly either."
"I never said it was girly," Kira replies, "But it is cute, and you don't need to be shy about it."
"I'm not shy either."
"Then how come you've never confessed your feelings to either Kuchiki? Or why you're now blushing so red your face matches the color of your hair?"
The blond half expects for the tattooed man to lash out again and is surprised when he doesn't. Instead Renji sighs then plops down unceremoniously in front of the other man. "You said you wouldn't tell anyone."
"Of course not, Renji. You and your crush will remain an absolute secret."
"So if a certain Third Division captain ever starts teasing Captain Kuchiki or myself about this I know who to kill, right?"
"Captain Ichimaru would never- I'll never speak of it again."
Renji fidgets for a little bit, then nervously says, "I guess that's good enough. But Kira, now that you know an' all, could you maybe, um, help give me some advice?"
He knew he shouldn't have laughed, but he can't help it. The mere thought of 'tough guy' Renji blushing like a school girl, asking for love advice would make him crack up. So the fact that was actually happening had Kira in stitches with laughter. Unfortunately the redhead didn't share in his sense of humor and ended up leaving the blond with a broken nose as he kicks Kira out of his room.