"NOOO!"

Byakuya heard an echoed sound of anguish that sounded very familiar

"I wonder what's wrong with Renji now..." Byakuya mumbled as he flash stepped toward the sound of the wailing

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When Byakuya found Renji he was kneeling by their pet hamsters cage crying

Byakuya couldn't help but let confusion leak into his tone "what happened Abari?"

Renji looked up at Byakuya with eyes filled to the brim with tears; they made his eyes shine even brighter than usual and his cheeks had turned a light pink colour

'Mine' Byakuya thought subconsciously

Renji held up his hands and inside it concealed a black Syrian hamster curled into a ball "Teddy died Taicho!"

A little spark of sadness stung Byakuya's heart but he refused to show it in front of his subordinate "is that all? Really Abari you are a child"

Anger was rising in Renji's eyes making them turn into blazing cauldrons of passion "you don't care! Teddy was such a great hamster; you would handle him all the time he really liked you! ...but you really don't care" Renji's voice was cracked with emotion; so much that he out the dead hamster back into his cage and flash stepped out the door

Byakuya sighed for the umpteenth time and walk slowly over to the deceased mammal; he opened the cage and stroked Teddy's soft fur, his skin was cold and his bones stiff.

Byakuya looked around top make sure no one was looking, no one was so he picked Teddy up and cradled him to his chest and let a single tear slide down his own cold cheek

Suddenly he felt an arm wrap itself around his waist, he was surprised to see that it was indeed Renji but allowed it when he was the sadness welling up in Renji's 'to easy to read' eyes

Renji smiled sadly as two twin tears ran down his tan cheeks "you never know what you have until it's gone right?"

Byakuya was stunned at Renji's sensitive words 'you never know what you have until it's gone...' at that thought he leaned closer to Renji and his lips twitched slightly upward "truer words where never spoken"

Renji chuckled "how about true love never runs smoothly"

Byakuya closed his eyes "touché"

And there in Byakuya's hand laid a small Black hamster finally resting in peace

Xxx line xxx

This story is a tribute to my own hamster Teddy who just died, he was very special to me and I wish with all my heart that he rests in peace.

I hope that you liked this story :')