Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

Act 1

Renji was just so glad it had all turned out so well. Even if they had lost three of their captains, nobody had died and that was worth so much more. Especially Rukia … if she had died, he would have never forgiven himself. He did not know how he had managed to stay away from her for so long, but if she had died now – or, at all … he did not know what he would have done. He was the one who had brought her back here, always believing that Captain Kuchiki would prevent her execution.

And why should he not have? She was his sister, after all.

He looked out of the window, into the clear blue sky, and smiled silently. The sun was shining, touching everything, as if to tell them that it was not so bad. They had all survived and were able to look up at it now. All in all, he was thankful.

"Renji."

He tore his gaze from the window to look back at the black-haired man currently lying in the hospital bed before him.

He was staring right back, his dark grey eyes seeming to pierce right through his soul. Yes, that man had this ability, Renji believed that.

"What is it?" he asked, skipping titles and stuff. At this moment, they were not captain and lieutenant but two survivors of the same war. He would not dare to call it friendship – no, not really. He still wanted to surpass him someday.

But now he felt sympathy for the man who had finally come to defend Rukia after all. Even if it had been very, very late.

"If you ever were to deceive or sadden her …"

Kuchiki Byakuya's voice was calm and quiet as if he was talking about casual things here, but Renji immediately got the undercurrent.

"… I will kill you with my very hands."

The eyes meeting his were strong and unflinching, and the red-haired shinigami knew very well that he was serious in what he was saying. Not that this man was ever thoughtless or light-minded in any way.

"If I were to deceive or sadden her, I'd kill myself first," he calmly answered. And he was also serious about that.

Byakuya looked at him for another moment before nodding slightly and closing his eyes.

Renji smiled as he slowly stood up from his chair. It was fine like this. After all, Captain Kuchiki really seemed to care.

He would have expected nothing less from him.