So, this one kicks off my set o' drabbles. In case you don't know what this means and/or didn't read the description...A lot of people these days use "drabble" to refer to "fics under 1000 words." And so, everyone, I bring you...Drabble Time!

Title: Class
Rating: PG-ish? (for v. mild language)
Pairing and/or Charas: slight Renji/Byakuya...if you squint
Summary: Byakuya's musings on class.
Words: 588
Warnings: Uh...whiff of yaoi implications (barely there) and offensiveness to any fans of Rascal Flatts, I suppose?
Notes: Meant to accompany/start off my first real fic ever, "Renji and Byakuya and the Strawberry Shortcake." But seeing as that's not finished yet...EDIT 2/2/08: I've just posted that fic recently, & even though it's still incomplete, go read it; I swear it will be finished someday!
Finished: No idea when, I think in 2007 before summer?

Disclaimer: Don't own Bleach & never will.

If Kuchiki Byakuya was a bottle of Don Perignon…

Then Abarai Renji had about as much class as a bottle of Ripple.

If Kuchiki Byakuya was the lobster on the menu of an upscale restaurant…

Then Abarai Renji came straight off the Mickey D's Dollar Menu.

If Kuchiki Byakuya was as sophisticated as a Lamborghini…

Then Abarai Renji was about as sophisticated as a worn-down pickup truck begging for repairs.

If Kuchiki Byakuya was as refined as an "A-movie" bound to win an Academy Award…

Then Abarai Renji was, naturally, the "C-movie" that was lucky to make it into the local video store.

If Kuchiki Byakuya was like Mousse Pocky…

Then Abarai Renji was like Pepero, or worse, the American equivalent…

If Byakuya was a collection of Mozart's finest…

Then hell, Renji was Rascal Flatts' latest album.

If Byakuya was a costly silk kimono…

Renji was a freaking white T-shirt and pair of ripped jeans.

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But here they were right now, sitting together in silence in the proud Kuchiki Byakuya's upscale hospital room, Byakuya staring stoically out at what he could see of Seireitei from his bedside window, Renji just sitting there trying to keep himself busy with handiwork.

And Byakuya thought, for someone so "sophisticated"…he had certainly made a few too many unwise decisions.

He reflected on how he had picked the wrong promise to keep, all those years ago…How he had consciously done nothing to stop his own sister's execution, and later gotten into a death match with the young man who was trying to do the right thing…How he had, due to Renji's reckless actions, asked for the vice-captain to be thrown out of the 6th Division—a request which now seemed equally reckless…And of course, how he had essentially maimed said vice-captain and left him for dead.

Byakuya felt a silent wave of relief wash over him at the fact that none of these had the effects he once intended. Rukia was safe and sound, and back home in Soul Society to boot. He did end up picking the right promise when it really counted, after all. His vice-captain was still here at his side, alive.

(Though he had to wonder, probably not without any grudges…)

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Renji watching him as covertly as possible, trying to gauge his captain's current mood and attitude, and possibly even trying to read his thoughts. The red-haired man seemed a tad wary, as though he thought Byakuya might toss a death threat his way if he caught Renji so much as glancing at him.

And the 6th Squad Captain had to stifle a chuckle. Stifle, because the proud Kuchiki Byakuya did not laugh. Ever. It would distort the precious, precious image he had built up bit by bit.

But now he had to wonder. About image, one's self, rules, class, promises, everything he had held at the core of his being! For the first time in many, many years...the proud leader of the great Kuchiki clan was all but stable.

He cast a glance back at his adjutant, who had returned to his woodwork and was now grumbling over some minor screw-up he'd made, and trying to pretend like he hadn't been secretly watching his captain in the first place.

And Byakuya smiled.

Yes, smiled. Slightly, but it was a smile.

And while doing this strange thing called smiling, Kuchiki Byakuya thought, well…that these days he also had to wonder …

…in the end, what did class really matter anyway?

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A/N: Yeah, kinda retarded, I know...Oh, and don't mention the thing w/ using "the proud" several times, cuz that was on purpose. Poetic license, people ;P

If anyone has requests, I will be taking those! Also, R&R...pretty please?