Love me Dammit!
Chapter 1: First Push
It's so obvious even the most oblivious shinigami can see it. How Vicecaptain Abarai Renji and Shinigami Representative Kurosaki Ichigo dance around each other. Kuchiki Byakuya supposes he shouldn't care, nobody expects him too, but Renji is his second in command, and therefore should care when the man comes fuming into the office after his latest fight with the ryoka boy.
Byakuya is only slightly amused by the way the red-haired shinigami angrily signs away papers, how he stacks them with a pound as if taking out his anger with that, even how he mutters death threats under his breath. The noble, of course, notices this behavior almost every week and can't help but stare a little.
A regular shinigami would have chuckled a little and shaken his head, probably mentioning something about young love, but this is Kuchiki Byakuya, the man who was asked by the Shinigami Women's Association to help them out with their plan to bring Abarai Renji and Kurosaki Ichigo together as a couple. The noble can't say no to a request, especially one that'll stop his lieutenant from ripping important files to shreds in a fit of anger.
Even Zaraki-taicho had approached Byakuya with advice on how to deal with couples; after all he'd been the one to make Ikkaku and Yumichika into Soul Society's number one couple in a single day. Yet Byakuya is compelled to decline the offer, because Renji is not bald and Ichigo doesn't wear feathers in his eyes; that and death threats will probably have no effect on either.
"Abarai-kun, how about a rest?"
Renji stops from almost ripping an important document with a pen and looks at his Captain.
"Ermm…alright…"
Byakuya nods in satisfaction. Standing up, he walks to a more private room to take tea, there's also small view to a garden which Byakuya enjoys so he takes Renji there, indicating him to sit down with him while the tea warms up.
The noble resists a sigh. It's time to put his plan (more like the Shinigami Woman's Association plan of which Byakuya is part of) in action.
"So, Abarai-kun…"
Renji looks up at him, suspecting nothing.
"Yes?"
"Uh…how-how is work?"
Dammit! You're his boss stupid! You should know how his job is doing!
"It's…okay."
"Good, good."
The tea is finally done brewing. Byakuya serves two cups, handing one to Renji. Looking outside, he takes a small sip of his tea, sighing softly.
"Is there…something you want to talk to me?"
Clever are we, Abarai-fukutaicho?
"Not particularly. No."
Byakuya takes another sip. Renji drinks some as well.
"It such a nice season, spring. Don't you think?"
Renji only nods softly.
"Some call it the season of love and new beginnings. Is there some one you love, Abarai-kun?"
The red-haired shinigami manages not to spill the tea in the carpet. Wiping the drink from his chin, he looks away from his Captain, a small blush in his cheeks.
"Eh….erm…no...no! N-not at all! Why do you ask!?"
Byakuya chuckles a little, it's kinda cute to see him fret.
"Just asking." He takes another sip of his tea. "You know, sometimes we don't think there's a person special to us, when there actually is. We just don't think about it, because we don't want to loose that person maybe, or because we hide our feelings, even from ourselves."
The noble takes another look at Renji, who is taking a drink from the cup, at least he appears to be listening.
"Abarai-kun, is there some one special to you? Someone you like spending time with? Even if you don't notice you like it?"
Renji is hesitant, but nods slowly. Byakuya lets a small smile grace his lips.
"Is it someone you enjoy fighting with? Or go drinking with?"
Again, Renji nods softly, a blush appearing again on the bridge of his nose and cheeks. It's obvious to Byakuya who he's thinking about. Just as he is about so say something else, Renji interrupts him.
"I-eh…sometimes I wish we did more than just fight…and bicker."
Byakuya smiles a bit wider. At least know he's sure that Renji is interested in the ryoka boy, it should make things easier now.
"Well, maybe he enjoys fighting with you too. Or, maybe he's waiting for you to do something different."
The Captain turns to meet eyes with his Lieutenant. Soon, Renji drops his gaze, thinking about what his Captain has just said. Suddenly he stands and bows to Byakuya.
"Thank you for the tea, Taichou." And runs away.
He's probably off to find Ichigo, fight him and then who knows, but Byakuya sighs, satisfied since all it took to push Renji towards the boy was tea time.
Two days later, while walking down the street, Byakuya sees Renji and Ichigo walking on the opposite side. Talking. It seemed like Renji was telling Ichigo a joke or some funny story, because the younger boy was laughing softly while Renji smiled. Byakuya smiles too and feels he's done a good deed.
'And they make a good couple too, they look good together', Byakuya thinks happily before his thoughts turn sour. 'Damn, those Shinigami Women's Association meetings are getting to me…'
To be continued...