A/N: We own nothing. This was written for the Bleach anime anniversary.

The whole pack, has bent its considerable talent to providing this event collection. If you like what you see please review THAT chapter(s) instead of saving it for the end and reviewing en masse, so that the author of the piece gets feedback , or if you do review en masse, please specify the pieces you're referring to. We all have individual offerings as well, so if you really like an author please check out their other work. Or PM us and we can recommend pieces that suit your taste. We all love to discuss fics, writing and bleach in general and will be happy to reply. Note Wolfie's installment is a part of the kraken verse and can be found here [ s/13084514/1/Say-it-Again].

Much gratitude to the packmembers who worked on this: TheDrunkenWerewolf, SesshomaruFreak, Timewaster, GanymedeLullaby, SpunkyOne and SalazarMarvolo. I hope you all enjoy it as much as we enjoyed creating it.


Lust and Pride (by SesshomaruFreak)

a/n: Make sure to read our other works here and on our individual accounts :)

I own nothing. Seriously. Also very slight Pink Floyd: The Wall song reference.


Pride comes in many different forms. There's pride in oneself, or one's accomplishments or abilities. There's also pride you feel for others, like your family or friends. Then, there's the intangible pride, the kind that keeps someone from asking for or accepting help.

That last kind is him. Renji thought to himself as he surreptitiously watched his captain working.

He knew pride demanded that cold, emotionless mask the noble always wore, but Renji had been watching him so closely for so long, first to surpass him, then as a deep crush developed and blossomed.

Thus, Renji was the only one to notice when a crack in the ice appeared.

Chinks in the proud warrior's armor.

He knew the older man was pushing himself too hard, had borne witness to the subtle thinning of the stoic mask.

He saw things nobody else in the 3 worlds would see. Like how just a few strands of hair were out of place, or the way the slightest frown drew fine brows closer to each other. The weight loss and how the pale skin was losing its glow.

Once, Renji wouldn't have given a damn about this. But with how hard and deeply he'd fallen for his superior, the signs of strain disturbed him. He desperately wanted to help, but was unsure of how to without stepping all over the noble's pride.

He loved this man so much, and with that came an extraordinary sense of lust. He often thought of his gorgeous Taicho in dirty ways. Nasty ways. Like Byakuya bent over his massive desk or maybe up against the window after-hours when nobody would walk by. Maybe up against the wall or in his bed. But he would always show respect to his proud, precious moon.

Ignoring the heavy, lustful twinges in his belly, he stretched, addressing his captain. "Hey, Taicho? Can we take a little break? I been staring at these papers so long, the words are startin' to blur."

The ravenette lifted his head, and at a certain angle, Renji caught sight of the faintest of shadows under sharp, narrowed amethyst eyes. "A break?"

Renji nodded, forcing a smile through his worry. "Yessir. That's when you stop working for a bit."

The cool steel eyes narrowed further. "I am aware of what a 'break' is, Lieutenant Abarai." He watched closely as the older man glanced back down at the papers in front of him, seeing the suppressed sigh. Byakuya spoke again after a long pause.

"Very well. Perhaps a small respite would be beneficial."

Renji gave a genuine smile as he stood, abandoning the mundane work on his worn-out desk. "C'mon Taicho. I know where we can go. It's past noon - go ahead and bring your lunch," He said as he grabbed the bento he'd prepared this morning. As he straightened up, he saw that there was no lunch in Byakuya's hands. "Taicho? Didn't you bring a lunch?"

The noble shook his head. "I haven't been eating lunch lately. I simply keep working while you're gone."

Renji couldn't stop the frown that crossed his face. His proud, stoic captain was already showing signs of strain. Now he was skipping meals, too? "That ain't good for you, Taicho."

He saw a trace of hidden tiredness in the dark eyes that widened at him.

"Excuse me?"

Renji's frown deepened. "I said - That. Ain't. Good. For. You. C'mon, you can have some of mine." He walked out, half-surprised when Byakuya actually followed. He led the way to a small garden hidden behind the barracks, a place nobody else knew about. Sitting beneath a weeping willow tree, he motioned for his captain to join him. The ravenette hesitated a moment before kneeling at his side.

He slid his bento in front of his stoic companion. "Here, sir. You can eat first."

Pride seemed to war with hunger for a second before Byakuya murmured, "Thank you." and started eating politely.

Renji smiled to himself as he watched his superior eat, but after a few moments, noticed he wasn't relaxing. Even when the noble stopped eating and passed the bento back, he seemed tense to the point of being brittle.

Renji sighed as he began eating. "You need to relax, Taicho."

Storm-silver eyes turned to him, and he was surprised by the exhaustion they revealed. "Honestly, I don't think I know how anymore. Meditation no longer works to calm me, and neither does being in my garden at the manor. This is the most relaxed I've been in days, and I still feel taut as a wire."

Renji, shocked and honored by the sheer honesty of the answer, began thinking of ways to relax. "I know one way to relieve stress that always works."

The older man tilted his head curiously, and he smirked. "Sex. You need to get laid."

X~X~X~X~X

Byakuya felt stunned as his second-seat suggested sex as a way to relax. "I beg your pardon?"

The redhead nodded. "Yeah, surefire way to release all that tension. So-" He saw a flicker of pain in the auburn eyes as Renji asked, "What kinda woman you like? We'll find one for you."

Byakuya hesitated, then replied quietly, "When Hisana died, I swore I would never lie with another woman."

The younger man said, "Oh." Then his cinnamon eyes widened. "Ohhhh. Well, what kinda guy you like?.

He hesitated again, glancing away. "I have never actually been with a man." Hearing the bigger Soul Reaper shifting, his heart raced.

That voice came from behind him, low and soft. "That's fine, Taicho. Nothing to be ashamed of. Somebody...somebody's gonna be really lucky to be your first."

He shifted his gaze back, but his subordinate was already looking away, asking gently, "So, is there a type you find attractive? What would you look for?"

Byakuya watched the redhead, nervously licking his lips. "There are some...qualities I would need someone to have."

Renji seemed to force his smile - it was clear trying to get him hooked up with someone else was painful. "Oh yeah? Well, tell me and we'll find a match."

Byakuya felt heavy lustful twinges in his belly as he answered softly, "He'd have to be strong."

His companion nodded. "Of course. What else?"

He took a deep breath. "He'd have to care about my well-being and respect me as a person, not just because I'm noble. He would be kind, loyal, and have a good sense of humor."

Byakuya noticed the younger man was looking crushed, but trying to hide it, as he described his ideal mate. He murmured, "He'd also have to have red hair and tattoos."

Renji's head snapped up, wide auburn eyes meeting his. The tattooed redhead asked in a whisper, "You wouldn't happen to know any other red-haired men with tats, would you?"

Byakuya felt a rare smile curving his lips as he shook his head. The bigger Soul Reaper beamed at him, scooting closer. "This...this is awesome! You know I've liked you for a while, yeah? And I meet all your requirements, right?"

He nodded, and felt his cheeks warming. "Yes, Renji."

His companion reached out and took one of his hands, kissing the back of it. "I'll never let you down, Byakuya. Would...would it be ok to kiss you?"

He nodded shyly, and the Rukon Dog leaned in slowly, kissing his cheek before touching their lips together. A gentle hand brushed his hair back as they kissed slow and sweet. After a few moments, Renji pulled back an inch and breathed, "Taicho? You...uh...you still need to relax?"

Byakuya met the caring yet lustful gaze and nodded slowly, murmuring, "Renji, I've needed you to help me relax for a very long time."

He smiled at the joy that flared over the proud features, then the bigger Soul Reaper was kissing him again, guiding the haori off and urging him to lay back on the grass. He gasped, realizing they were still outside. "Renji, wait! Someone could see!"

The younger man paused. "Nobody knows about this place. But if you'd rather go somewhere else, that's fine, just as long as we're together."

Touched by the words, Byakuya kissed his subordinate again, feeling a hand curl around the back of his neck. If Renji said they were safe, he didn't want to stop and find another place. He quickly set up a kido barrier around the garden, then sank into the redhead again, losing himself in the sensations.

X~X~X~X~X

Renji was astounded that Byakuya seemed content to stay in the garden, barrier or no. But he accepted it, indulging in deep, passionate kisses as his hands began rifling through layers of clothing.

The noble moaned shamelessly into the kiss, driving Renji insane. He growled back when he felt slender hands, roughened by centuries of swordplay, slip into his uniform to reverently explore his chest.

Years of longing and suppressed lust made him feel somewhat impatient, but he sharply recalled Byakuya saying he'd never been with a man. 'Stay calm, let him set the pace.'

Sure enough, a few moments later, Byakuya seemed to hesitate, his hands at the edge of Renji's hakama. Wide dark eyes lifted to his, uncertain and vaguely apologetic. Renji asked softly, "What is it, baby?"

The older man hesitated. "I...I don't know what to do."

He nodded in understanding. "It's not hard. Start off touching me like you like to be touched. What makes you feel good?"

His superior nodded, looking much more confident. Renji gasped as the slender hands slid into his hakama and grasped him. "Oh, fuck yeah, baby."

Byakuya began stroking his body, making him groan in pleasure. "Ho - hold on, Taicho. Sorry, I didn't think of how much this would affect me. You keep touching me, I'll be done before we even get started."

The Kuchiki heir smirked and stroked him one more time, drawing a shudder from him. Once he was relinquished, he dove upon the noble. He practically purred as he buried his face in Byakuya's neck and set his hands to the task of undressing both of them.

Byakuya's hands untied his hair and pushed his shihakusho off. In a matter of minutes, they were both naked. Renji leaned over his captain, using his own body to shelter that pale perfection from the cool fall breeze.

Sunlight filtered through the golden leaves of the weeping willow, splattering the lovers with shadows and glowing light.

They were joined slowly after a thorough preparation. Their sighs and moans went unheard except by each other as their bodies writhed together.

Their energies danced together, red from Renji and white from Byakuya, surrounding them in a pink glow that could rival Senbonzakura.

On the soft grass of the garden, pride was set aside in favor of lust. They put everything into proving their love for each other, finally expressing their feelings.

After an earth-shattering climax, they switched positions and continued their love-fueled activities. Carnal need swept them away once again until they were shivering and panting. They laid down on a clean patch of grass and curled up around each other.

As they recovered, Renji spoke softly, stroking silky black hair. "We oughtta get back to work soon. Paperwork won't do itself."

To his delight, Byakuya laughed softly at his own words being used against him. "I think the work will be fine a bit longer."

The proud noble snuggled closer. "I might need you to help me relax again."

Pride comes in many different forms. But even the proudest person you know might just need someone to help. Someone to lust after. Someone to hold them.

Someone to love them for who they are.

That last kind was them.