- Happy birthday!
He had talked about it for months
- Hey! Thanks everyone
He had dreamt about it for months and months
- Come on, open it!
He had stopped to admired them for months and months, each time he passed by.
- Wow thank you!!!
And yet, he was disappointed
Byakuya promised he would come. But he didn't bother to specify the moment. He had imagined so many possible scenarios. Each one a happy one of course, in which his friends were there, even Rukia came back from the living world for him, and all evening long, Byakuya was softly smiling at him, sacrificing his pride for him. He would have opened the present he was waiting for, and would have immediately known who had bought that. He knew he had behaved like a spoiled child, but he wanted them so much! And he wanted him to be the one who would give him them: this man who stole his mind, reason and heart, that so cold and distant captain, that so soft and passionate lover.
But the noble Kuchiki did not appear. Renji waited in vain for a sign of him approaching. While night and litres of sake were running off, his mood slowly clouded. He was feeling almost betrayed, forgotten by that living god he venerated. The others had left, alone, two by two, in roaring groups disappearing in the empty streets of Seireitei. Almost unconsciously, mind blurry with alcohol, he found the way to his bed, and collapsed. And just before sleep took him, his body tensed one last time at the thought that he had let him down.
It had been a long time since he dreamt about his childhood. Well, a dream which did not involve one of his mates' death. That night, he saw the large wreathing river by which they had laughed so often. He heard the sound of other children playing, and could even feel the caress of the wind. He slightly moved in his sleep. The breeze seemed to follow his shifting, and became gentler. His consciousness slowly began to wake and, still one foot in the mists of dream, he felt a hand languorously skimming his hair. He turned around.
- Byakuya?
- Did I wake you up?
He moved forward to lay his head on his lover's shoulder, then stopped.
- You didn't come.
Even though he was expecting blame, he was for a moment taken aback by the blatant accusation.
- I am sorry Renji. But I am not late.
- What time?
- 2:07
- It's not the 31st anymore.
- I know. But the 1st can be celebrated too, right?
Renji sat up and looked at him in astonishment.
- Really?
- Yes. Don't you remember?
Seeing the more and more bewildered expression of his lover, he carried on:
- Do I have to remind you what happened a year ago?
Renji felt he was blushing, and looked away, embarrassed.
- It was already the 1st?
Byakuya smiled at his childish behaviour, and from the folds of his clothes, drew out a small box.
- I thought it would be more appropriate for me to come only for our anniversary.
Never did Renji feel so troubled and intrigued at the same time. He reached almost with apprehension for the case, and opened it with a so little like him delicacy. The thin metal curve reflected for one moment the full moon radiance, and he could not look away from it. After a long silence, he raised his head, but could not say a word.
- Oh, and you have the day off tomorrow.
Byakuya laughed quietly before adding:
- And so do I, of course.
