Evening! :)
I passed the exam so to reward myself I decided to sit down and write another chapter for Equality (listening to Calvar la Espada from Bleach OST 3) :) It's not long, but I promise the next one will be much better... at least I hope so because I see a lemon coming! :)
Also, I'm very well aware Byakuya's eyes are grey, but black just suits him better so I'm gonna stick with that so bear with me, please :)
Enjoy!
Reaching fangs
"Good morning, Abarai-taichou!" a perfectly formal greeting phrase sounded for about a thousandth time.
It still felt as awkward as the first time Renji had heard it this morning and a lot more annoying. He gave a simple nod, because if he tried to properly respond to everyone, it would take hours to get to the 6th Division office and he would probably loose it, ending up shouting at some poor unseated Shinigami for looking at him the wrong way.
Shuffling, hurried at first before it fell in step with him made him turn around to find Kira Izuru, keeping a little distance from his new captain as common courtesy dictates, smiling genuinely at the red-head's startled expression. "Good mo..."
"Say it and I'll shove my fist down your throat, Kira!" Renji hissed, resuming his long, swift strides.
"Hai, Abarai-taichou." a mischevious grin formed on the blond vice-captain's pale face. Royal-blue eyes gleamed with suppressed laughter.
He always loved making fun of Renji and now that the crimson-haired Shinigami became his new captain, Kira felt like things were finally starting to look for the better. He was aware of the 3rd Division's reluctancy to accept him though, because most of them got used to Kira's leadership and with the memory of Ichimaru Gin still hovering over them like a thick, dark cloud, giving birth to mistrust and suspicision to any outsider, Abarai Renji probably had a long and difficult time ahead of him if he ever wanted to win their trust and respect. But he will endure. Kira believed it with all of his heart. Renji was not Ichimaru. He will not betray them.
Renji shook his head, chuckle betraying his no-longer-sour mood and halted, before entering the 6th Division headquarters, palm resting on Izuru's chest.
"Wait here, I'll be right back." and before the puzzled-looking vice-captain could say a word, he dissapeared within the river of black and white as the Shinigami stepped aside only to let him through, before moving on with their business as he vanished behind a corner with a swish of white haori.
Rikichi could usually be found running around the whole of the 6th Division offices, but even an unseated officer like himself had to have his own place to rest during the rare moments of peace. Renji smiled to himself, all traces of his previous irritation now gone as he watched familiar faces staring, smiling and bowing the moment they saw him. Wave of longing overpowered him for a moment when he realized this was no longer where he belongs.
The sight, the smell, the people... everything he grew attached to; the familiarity they treated him with even as he strode through the crowd wearing the 3rd Division captain's haori made his heart ache. Because becoming a captain meant not only leaving the 6th Division, but also giving up the little things that made his life as a vice-captain worth while. The unforgetable moments of yelling at new recruits during training sessions. Watching as they strived to dodge Zabimaru's extending blade only to end up piled up over each other. Praising them at the end of the day as they traipsed back to their rooms, soaked with sweat, exhausted and cursing. Humming under his breath, sword propped over his shoulder, on his way to join his friends for a drinking contest usually leading to waking up the next morning trapped between Matsumoto's voluptous bossom and Kira, hanging all over him, snoring loudly. Now all this would be exchanged for meddling even deeper into the mud of Seireitei's politics with only the prospect of siting from dawn to dusk inside the 3rd Division captain's office, waiting for something to happen and dangling on a tight leash, unable to act immediately when it does.
True enough, captains had priviliges others could only dream about. However they had to pay a heavy price for being what they were and Renji still wasn't sure if he would be able to carry out those kinds of orders going against his better judgement or the justice of his heart. Will he be able to sacrifice what he cherished because somebody orders him to? A memory of himself standing against Kuchiki Byakuya in desperate attempt to beat some sense into the noble before the sister he loved so much falls prey to the same law he vowed to uphold, flashed before his eyes. Suddenly Renji felt worlds apart from the people he passed on his way to Rikichi's office as well as those he used to spend so much time with, and he would give anything to be able to once again look at Kuchiki Byakuya's back. To fall in step with him or watch the priceless, silvery-white scarf dangling from his shoulder and the graceful, fluent movement of that slender body. To take in deep of that sweet scent of sakura blossoms always surrounding the noble wherever he went.
A thick wave of reiatsu washed over him, briging Renji back from his silent contemplation and his eyes rose up to meet wintry obsidian gaze, thin line of lips and long, raven hair embroided with silver kenseikan. He narrowly managed to avoid a collision and remain standing.
"Abarai Renji." Byakuya's voice was measured as always, the noble's heavy-lidded eyes scrutinized Renji from head to foot. "I assume congratulations are in order."
It took a while for the red-head to catch up and –more out of habit than anything else- he diverted his gaze from those cold, piercing eyes, mumbling "Thanks." under his breath.
They haven't seen each other since Byakuya announced his recommending Renji for captaincy. Even then it was only a brief moment before he turned on his heels and left in a swish and flick of white haori, leaving Renji to gape after him for long minutes, unable to process what had just been said and feeling... hurt and betrayed for a reason he could not understand.
"What are you doing here?" the simple question said in that voice severed the 3rd Division captain's train of thoughts for the second time now. He found himself staring at his feet.
"Actually, I came to see Rikichi." Renji got his act together, brown eyes meeting black, suddenly defiant.
He was no longer the weakling unable to look directly into those fathomless depths. Scared to death just treading in the man's shadow, trembling under the sheer force of his immense reiatsu. No, he was the 3rd Division captain now. They were equals.
"He's not here." Byakuya retorted dryly. "And I suggest you pay such close attention to your own subordinates, Abarai-taichou. 'Tis not fit for a man of your status to indulge in idle chatter while there are things to be taken care of elswere." he swept past Renji with grace becoming of the head of the Kuchiki family, paying no heed to the changes in the levels of Renji's reiatsu.
The red-head's fists clenched, heart thumping wildly in his ears. He didn't understand the rapid change in Byakuya's behaviour towards him, but he had no intention of letting it go just like that. If there is something he had done wrong, he will remedy it even if it was the last thing he'll ever do. No more howling at the moon, lacking the courage to jump and grab it.
"I came to see Rikichi," he heard himself speak, although it felt like somebody else was forming the words on his tongue. "Because he asked me to look for his lost cat."
Byakuya paused in mid-step.
"Stumbled across it yesterday in that abandoned trainin' hall. So I wanted to let 'im know." Renji continued mercilessly, folowing carefully every little change in Kuchiki's composure. His reiatsu fluctuated slightly as the captain apparently understood the meaning behind those seemingly innocent words, eyes widened for only a fraction of a second.
"There is no need to concern yourself with such matters." cool, measured voice did not give away any of the emotions Renji could sense with every fibre of his soul. "Now if that is all, Abarai-taichou, there are other matters I must attend to. I suggest you do the same." and he was gone.
Satisfied with this small victory, wolfish grin spread over Abarai's tanned features. Suspecting what he would see, he peeked around the corner into the emptiness of Rikichi's office only to glimpse a small box near the window and hear a soft mewing coming from it, before turning around as well and heading outside to where Kira was waiting for him, propped up against a tree. He looked thoughtful and a little gloomy watching spots of sunlight moving across his hands as a light breeze caressed the green leaves, changing the angle of sun rays struggling through the spreading tree-top.
"So, have you found what you were looking for, Abarai-kun?" the 3rd Division vice-captain asked curiously as they left to face the challanges of the first day in new line of work.
"Kinda." the grin broadened and it stayed there for the whole day, until late afternoon hours when they both finally finished up and sat down with the rest of the 3rd Division to get acquainted and familiarize Renji with the way things worked around here.
Kira could not hide his suprise with the ease Abarai fit into the now complete picture of their new Division. Perhaps, he told himself, it will not be so hard for him. He quipped and laughed with all of them, spreading warmth and inspiring familiarity and confidence with skill of someone growing up amongst people banding together in order to survive in harsh and unforgiving conditions. The true son of Rukongai. And if what Kira saw was any indication of the way the 3rd Division was going to evolve, he could not have been more happier that it is Abarai Renji who's going to lead them through the difficult times ahead.
