So... This one's a little longer, and I'll warn you: it is mostly Renji-centric, therefore my OC has quite a bit of screen-time. If you don't like OC stuff, just skip that and read the 2nd (Byakuya and Hisana), 3rd (Nanao and Kyoraku), 4th (HitsuKarin), 6th (GinRan: Kyahh, I can't get enough of these two), and 7th (wrap-up). You might miss some details, but you wont have to deal with annoying old OCs. XD

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or the characters; those belong to Kubo-san. However, my OC and the story belong to me, so don't steal them!

Reviews make me giddy, but only drop one if you want to. Flames and criticism help me grow as an author, and they help me light my candles when I run out of matches. Enjoy!


Thoughts Under a Moonlit Sky

"Develope a la seconde. Good, now fouette into arabesque..."

Renji tuned the instructor out, wondering for the millionth time why they had to take this stupid class. He looked over the odd collection of shinigami, all of whom had captain-level reishi. They were all doing this stupid exercise, too, and some even seemed to be enjoying it. His eyes flitted over to Keterin, who was doing just fine.

She glanced back at him and smirked at his obvious discomfort. She had been placed in the front row for centre exercises, along with Isane-san, Kuchiki-taicho, Kyoraku-taicho, and a completely mortified Nanao-san. They were the best in the "class," but Keterin had taken dance classes since she was four, and it showed in her work. Their conversation from earlier flitted through Renji's mind, and he sighed again.

"We have to dance?!"

"Of course, it's the centennial shinigami ball."

"Since when do we have a freaking ball?!"

"Since forever, baka."

"Tch."

She had smiled, then, and leaned against his shoulder. He maintained his irritated face, but softened towards her warmth. She smiled and closed her eyes.

Snapping back into the present day, Renji stumbled and tried to steady himself. Iba-san reached out quickly before he could topple over and grabbed his arm. Renji had been uncomfortable with the situation, but Iba-san and Ikkaku had practically died to hear they would have to dance. Hisagi had been just as uncomfortable as Renji, and Kira looked mortified. The five of them had tried to stand at the back, and they had been unceremoniously dumped in the third line, so their instructor could keep an eye on them, she said.

The instructor was medium height with dark hair and a sharp chin. She had a sharp voice, too.

"Abarai-san! Shift your weight forward!"

"I don't understand why we couldn't just spar for warm-up," Ikkaku muttered darkly under his breath. Renji snorted a quick laugh that was also somehow an agreement. They had ballet as a warm-up, then ballroom and traditional waltzing.

"Sissy dancing," Renji muttered, earning a death glare from Keterin. It was a well-known fact that Keterin was one of the most deadly and frightening women in Seireitei. She was part of a Crafts club that included herself, Unohana-taicho, and Yachiru-fukutaicho, though no one actually knew what they did for their club except exude an ominous air that successfully repelled all unseated (and seated) officers. Renji, however, had managed to hide the slight wince that was instinctual whenever he got that glare after the many months he had experienced it. It was still rather unsettling though.

"Now, we will begin partnering. If you have a pre-arranged partner, please join them; if not, I will select your partner." Renji slowly moved over to Keterin, who was stretching. She grinned, and he helped her up off the floor. They looked around at the other couples that had formed. Yachiru (why was she even here?) had immediately jumped on Ikkaku; Unohana-taicho had politely asked a slightly alarmed Ukitake-taicho to dance; Nanao-san had obviously resigned herself to the fact that she would be dancing with Kyoraku-taicho and was standing next to him; Kotetsu and Sentaro stood absolutely as far away from each other as they could while still making it obvious that they were partners; and of course, Rukia had gravitated towards Ichigo. The others awkwardly stood next to someone of the approximate same height and opposite gender, and the instructor began explaining simple ballroom steps.

Keterin, obviously rather bored, skillfully led Renji through the steps and helped him with things he missed. A few of the other couples were doing well, also. Keterin sighed, and continued.

After surviving ballroom with only minor injuries, Renji thought he was easily ready for waltzing.

Why is this so freaking hard?! Renji fumed.

"Just count to three! It's not that hard, Renji," Keterin muttered, obviously unimpressed. Finally as the practice day drew to a close, the teacher began to speak again.

"You all did very well, and I believe the majority of you," a sharp glare was sent back at the five men in the third row, "will do well in the upcoming dance."

"Wait! You make it sound like it's a test!" Ikkaku shouted frantically.

"Keep your voice down, Madarame-san. And no, it is not a test, though it is very important it runs smoothly, as it is supposed to predict the success of the upcoming century for Soul Society."

Several groans were heard, though if they were because of the silly superstition or the fact that dancing predicted Soul Society's success, no one could tell.

The teacher frowned. "Yes, yes. We all know it is an old wives' tale, but it is still an important tradition, and I will not have my students fail to keep the tradition at it's highest. That will be all for today. As you know, the dance is in four days, so keep your form up. Thank you and goodbye."

With that, she bowed once and left the room.

"Aww, I thought we would get to have some fun," Kyoraku-taicho complained.

"Yeah, it's been awhile since it was this dull," Ukitake-taicho added.

"What do you mean, since it was this dull?" Ikkaku asked.

"Well, normally there's a theme, and they ask everybody to dress up or something like that. And even if they don't do that, they generally teach Latin or salsa, too," Kyoraku-taicho said. By this point almost everybody had left, excepting Kyoraku-taicho, Ukitake-taicho, Kuchiki-taicho, Nanao-san, Unohana-taicho, Isane, Ikkaku, Kira, Hisagi, Iba, and Keterin, who was stretching again. Renji had stayed to wait for her.

"Latin?" Hisagi asked. "Isn't that the language all the Western languages are based on?"

Ikkaku snorted. "Isn't it a dead language that no one speaks anymore? That we wouldn't want to learn?"

"No, no. Latin is also a style of dance," Keterin stood up and re-entered the conversation. "It's kind of like salsa and tango, only sassier."

"Oh? You dance Latin?" Kyoraku raised an eyebrow.

"Of course. I tried to dabble in all sorts of dance," she replied smoothly.

"Well now you have to give us a show, Keterin-kun," Ukitake smiled.

"But I don't have a partner, and I sincerely doubt Renji here knows how to salsa," she said, smiling wryly over her shoulder at the pineapple in question. He made a face, and she grinned devilishly.

"I'm sure Kuchiki-taicho wouldn't mind, would you, Kuchiki-san?" Unohana asked.

"Yeah, it's been a long time since we saw you dance, Kuchiki," Kyoraku said.

Byakuya sighed tiredly and slowly moved out to the center of the floor. He paused and looked over his shoulder. "Shall we?" he asked.

Keterin smiled and stood up, walking over to him. Ukitake started the music magically procured from who knows where, and the two started to dance. Renji watched them in disbelief, wondering where on earth his captain learned such a dance. After a while, Kyoraku-taicho elbowed Nanao-san, and she sighed but moved out to the dance floor with them. The two were an excellent pair, and the two pairs spun around the dance floor until the music ended. Breathing heavily, they walked back to the others.

"That is how these things used to go," Ukitake's eyes crinkled.

"I see you still have the same spirit for it, Byakuya-san," Kyoraku said.

"Hmm... Well, I will see the rest of you at the dance," Byakuya walked out, and Renji realized that this was one of the few non-Rukia-related times he had seen his captain show any true emotion. Not that he couldn't understand, it did look kind of fun.

Wait, did I just think that?! Renji blushed slightly, then shook his head to clear it. It would be fun with her... He smiled slightly. I'm going to learn that dance.

Later, after they packed up and left, Renji wandered aimlessly around Seireitei. It was night by now, and the moon hung bright in the sky. A shunpo or two and he stood up on one of the slanted burnt sienna roofs that decorated the horizon of Seireitei. As he stared out over the moonlit maze of buildings, he noticed a figure walking there. The figure stopped and stared at the moon, and it was only then that Renji recognized his captain. Suddenly, Renji remembered his question from before. Renji shunpo-ed over and only realized he was interrupting when he stood in front of his captain awkwardly.

"Renji."

"Uh, taicho."

"What is it, Renji."

"Well, I was just standing on that roof over there, and I saw you, and I remembered that earlier today—"

"Renji. Do you have something to say, or did you just come to bore me with idle chatter." Byakuya looked calm and rigid as ever, and Renji nervously shuffled his feet on the tiles below.

"Oh, well I was just wondering... Who taught you how to dance?" There, he had finally spit it out.

The head of the Kuchiki clan looked momentarily surprised at this seemingly random question, but then, something deeper stirred in his eyes and was quickly snuffed out by the usual Kuchiki mask. Renji noticed and said nothing, wondering if perhaps the moon brought everybody's hearts closer to the surface.

"All of the noble families put high regard in knowledge of the arts and sciences. I was taught as a boy by my father."

Renji blinked, pulled back from his thoughts of hearts and moons to the present.

"O-of course. That makes sense."

Kuchiki-taicho nodded once and started to turn.

"Ano, taicho..."

The regal captain paused and sighed.

"Is there something else you want to ask me, Renji?"

"Who else do you think might know how to dance like that here in Seireitei?"

Byakuya looked back at him with a slight frown, wondering what on earth was going through his mind at this moment.

"Most likely Unohana-taicho and Ukitake-taicho, as well as the people you saw today. Probably also Shihouin Yoruichi, when she visits. Oh, and probably Kurotsuchi Nemu. Is there anything else?"

"No, thank you taicho." Nemu can dance? That's a little frightening.