The Pain of Losing the One You Love
Chapter 1
"Byakuya…" Renji whispered, barely audible to Byakuya's ears, "I'm about to die." After saying this, Renji dropped to his knees, clinging on Byakuya's clothes as if he would die if he let go. He was fighting back the tears that were about to fall. He couldn't show it to Byakuya, afraid of showing fear. He was afraid of leaving Byakuya. Byakuya who was already left by someone he loved once before.
Byakuya's face showed pure horrification along with many other emotions. This time he did not even try to catch himself for he knew that it would be futile. He didn't care anymore. Hearing that someone you love is dying is a hard thing to accept. For Byakuya, it's the second time.
After a while Byakuya finally regained control of himself. He slow dropped to his knees and embraced Renji. At this, Renji finally let his tears fall. He could feel Byakuya's warmth, his sincerity, and his love. Byakuya remained silent, thinking that it is better not to speak at the moment and just let his actions speak for him.
"Renji, I'm afraid that your reiatsu is not recovering as fast as I had hoped. In fact, it's more like you're losing the reiatsu you have left," said the gentle voice of Unohana-taicho.
"Taicho, how can that be?" Renji asked in quite a panicky voice," I feel fine though…" Renji trailed off, remembering moments where he felt like he was being crushed under the heavy weight of Kuchiki-taicho's reiatsu.
"It seems that your body can no longer hold your reiatsu. Think of it like a balloon filled with water, the balloon got pierced by a tiny little needle, and slowly the water will leak out. It seems that after your fight with Kuchiki-taicho, we were able to bring back your reiatsu but we were not able to heal the hole where your reiatsu leaks out from." Explained Unohana-taicho.
Renji was thinking to himself. Trying to comprehend what was just explained to him. 'So that was why every time Byakuya and I were together, I felt like he was trying to drown me or something. Wait… Does this mean… I'm dying?' Renji panicked at the thought of death. 'After confessing my love to Byakuya for all these years, after spending just a small amount of time knowing that he loves me too…. I'm just going to die?!?!'
"How much longer do I have left?" was the only question that Renji wanted to know.
Unohana-taicho thought to herself for a while before responding, "6 months."
"Phew, I thought it'd be shorter." Renji joked trying to lighten up the mood a bit.
Unohana-taicho just smiled gently and said "I wanted to tell you this now so that you could spend your remaining time with Byakuya."
Renji was surprised that the captain knew that there was something between him and Byakuya. "You know about…us?" he asked, quite surprised.
"Let's just say that I felt Byakuya was becoming a little too enthusiastic about going to work." Unohana-taicho replied with a small chuckle. But with a more serious note she said "Are you planning on telling him?"
"Yes."