"Byakuya…" said a deep male voice.

Renji? Byakuya thought as he silently lay on a bed that was not his own. He was vaguely aware that he was in the fourth division and that he was unable to move or speak. He thought of how he got there, and then he remembered a dark haired Quincy male who had stolen his Bankai.

"Do you plan on waking up for me sometime soon?" The redhead asked and grasped a slender pale hand and brought it to his lips and kissed each soft finger tip.

How is it I can hear you?

I cannot move…

"You've been asleep for a week already…" Renji whispered again, lacing their fingers together.

A week…?

Renji sighed as he sat on the edge of the bed, gazing at his sleeping lover with sad red-brown eyes. "I miss you."

I miss you too…

"Renji," A feminine voice called from the door. "How is he?"

R-Rukia…?

"He's still sleeping…" The redhead replied sadly, not turning away and moved one of his calloused hands to brush some of the raven hair away from the noble's sleeping face.

Rukia eyes were down casted even as she sat down on the chair next to the bed. "Are you just going to sit here and wait for him to wake?"

Byakuya continued to lay on the bed silently, unable to move his body or speak. He wanted so much to move. At least open his eyes to see his lover and his sister.

The redhead shifted his eyes to smaller fukutaichou. "What else am I supposed to do? I'm not allowed to leave the healing center yet because of my own injuries and the squad is pretty much flattened and many of our officers are here too." He said giving Byakuya's hand a gentle squeeze. "Rikichi is helping me out though with things…poor kid, he watched most of his friends die before he was able to get away."

"Well, at least he was able to live." Rukia said solemnly.

What do you mean?

Renji furrowed his brows. "What's up with you? You seem down in the dumps…I know that it's to be expected with what all that is going on but what's wrong?"

Her violet eyes flickered upward to connect with Renji's. "I haven't heard much of anything from the clan…"

The clan? Ah…Mana…you worry for her…

As if reading the noble's mind Renji asked what he was aching to know. "Nothing from Mana-san yet?" He asked in concerned tone.

Rukia hesitated for a moment then shook her head. "No,"

Byakuya felt a pang of sadness and worry grow deep inside of him as he listened to their conversation progress.

"Shit…" Renji muttered. "I'm sure she's okay Rukia." He whispered and looking to his best friend's troubled expression.

"You don't know that." Rukia replied dryly and turned her head away to hide the tears that were building up in her eyes.

Renji shook his head. "No, but I choose to believe it." He said with certainty, making Rukia turn back to him with slightly widened eyes. "It's like Byakuya always said; ne? It's an insult to a warrior if you worry about them too much…or something along those lines."

Baka… Byakuya thought; amused. Although…I am glad you were paying some attention to what I have taught you.

"I believe Nii-sama said it in a way that we shouldn't worry at all, Renji."

Renji shrugged slightly. "Maybe," He allowed softly. "but it's human nature to worry a little." He said turning back to his watching his sleeping lover.

Rukia gave him a small smile of gratitude as she stood and walked closer to the redhead and kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks. But that still doesn't help Mana-san."

"Well have you heard anything from the clan?" Renji asked curiously.

Rukia nodded. "I heard that the manor was undamaged besides the guest wing and the gardens are pretty much destroyed. But those can be repaired and replaced." Rukia said sadly and headed for the door of which she can through minutes prior. "Also each noble house has lost many people and most of our council is gone." She added, stopping just shy from the door frame. "So there will be much chaos there. I hope it's resolved before Nii-sama wakes up though…" She trailed off looking away with a furrowed brow and blinking back tears. She knew it wasn't a for sure thing if her brother would ever wake up again…but if he did he would frown upon what was done to his home and his family.

Renji let go of Byakuya's hand gently and slipped off the bed and walked over to the petite Shinigami. He wrapped his arms around her and let her head rest on his chest. "It's going to be okay, Rukia…we'll figure something out and help as much as we can once we are allowed to leave here."

Gods…I wish I could move…or at least speak…something! He hated that he couldn't be any comfort to his sister right now.

Rukia nodded wordlessly and burrowed her face in the redhead's chest more. Her shoulders shook as she released her tears, pain, and sadness silently. Renji stood silently, letting her relieve herself of the pent up emotions inside until she was able to recompose and excused herself back to her room.

Renji sighed, watching her retreat down the hall until she was no longer visible from his sight. He turned back into the room his comatose lover inhabited. He frowned deeply and closed the door then walked over to the bedside again. He dropped gracelessly into the chair Rukia sat and pillowed his head on the edge of his lover's sakura scented hair and pillow and intertwined his fingers with Byakuya's again.

"You know," Renji whispered tiredly which made Byakuya wonder how long Renji was there and how long he had been without sleep. "They attacked right when I was about to kiss you…that would have made us official if I was able to do that before they came." A single tear fell from one red-brown eye as Renji closed them and slowly drifted asleep at his lover's side.

((Ello~. I hope you enjoyed this. I know it's kinda like "what the hell is going on? I don't get it at all!". But I promise as the story progresses you will understand more and more. I think this story will be agonizingly slow-pace wise anyway. I'm starting on the next chapter as soon as I post this. Forgive me for the 'out there' start. I was hoping to have it more subtle but that was the first thing that came to mind and I work with whatever my muse gives me. I know I'm not really one to actually go out there and ask for reviews but if you could just slip a few words of what you thought. That would be deeply appreciated. –Love, Mina))