Written For: Stages of Love. Theme: Five Stages of a Relationship - Confession.
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A Bene Placito – Chapter II: Byakuya
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"No."
The word, so simple in its finality, caused Byakuya to tilt his head. He glanced back at Yamamoto, who rapped his staff on the ground. Zaraki smiled, though Byakuya could not fathom why. Zaraki smiled at the oddest things.
"Lieutenant Abarai," said Yamamoto, "you have been granted a great honor. On your Captain's recommendation, we assembled to oversee your captain's proficiency test. And you refuse to perform bankai for us? We know you have it—you used it in the battle against Aizen multiple times, and with some skill."
"I—I am honored, Commander-General. But I still refuse. My apologies." Renji prostrated himself before them. His red hair slid off his neck, revealing jagged tattoos.
"How can you refuse this? We are in desperate need of new Captains. Or have you forgotten how Captains Soifon and Komamura fell before Aizen's onslaught?"
"I am not worthy of this honor, sir. I can better serve the Gotei 13 as Division Six's Lieutenant."
Yamamoto grunted. "Then get out of my sight. And expect to work beneath Kuchiki Byakuya for a very long time."
"Yes, sir." As Renji stood and marched out of the room, Byakuya saw him smile.
Yamamoto glared at Zaraki. "That's the same answer Ikkaku gave us. What is it about you, Zaraki, that inspires such a lack of ambition in your subordinates?"
Zaraki's grin widened. "He's Kuchiki's subordinate now, Commander-General. Has been for some time. He couldn't perform bankai when he left my division."
Yamamoto turned baleful eyes on Byakuya. Byakuya lowered his gaze. "I expected him to perform well and accept a promotion. I would not have recommended him if I thought otherwise, Commander-General."
"And I would not have agreed if I did not think he would be suitable. Damn. That's two who have refused." Yamamoto sighed. "Leave. I must decide who else we can promote from the list of candidates."
"Yes, sir." Byakuya and Zaraki bowed in unison, then walked out of the building.
Byakuya was not surprised to find Renji outside, standing by the steps. Zaraki passed by Renji with a nod, still grinning. Renji stared after him, then glanced at Byakuya. As always, the moment Byakuya met his gaze, he glanced at the ground, then looked back up at Byakuya's face. Byakuya found the habit strange, but then, Renji was strange.
"Come with me, Lieutenant."
Renji fell into step beside him. His hair brightened the night, a stark contrast of color in the moonlit night. Byakuya led him through the quiet streets of Seireitei to his division lodgings. The building was small compared to the Kuchiki mansion, it had been more of a home to him since Hisana's death. The division lodgings contained no memories.
Byakuya stepped inside, but Renji lurked in the doorway. Byakuya lit a lamp and glanced at him. "You may come in."
Licking his lips, Renji entered the room. He slid the door shut and knelt in obeisance. His expression grew sober. Byakuya sat at his desk and started reorganizing his paperwork, since he no longer had to worry about finding a new lieutenant. When he glanced back at Renji, Renji still knelt in front of the door. The bow of his head drew attention to his spiky ponytail. Byakuya found it hard to tear his gaze from the scarlet locks.
"I see you are not as tame as I thought you were." Byakuya placed the appropriate paperwork back in Renji's box. "Why did you refuse to perform your bankai? I thought you wanted to defeat me one day."
Renji glanced up, his eyes fiery in the lamplight. "I can do that just as well under your command."
Byakuya set down the rest of the papers and stood. "That doesn't answer my question." He moved to stand over Renji.
Renji stared back down at the floor. The lamplight cast large shadows behind him.
"Answer me, Lieutenant."
Renji remained silent. Apparently Ichigo's impudence had infected Renji thoroughly. Allowing annoyance to get the better of him, Byakuya grabbed Renji by the front of his shihakushō and lifted him to his feet. Renji's eyes widened, and he struggled, his body thrashing against Byakuya's.
Byakuya released Renji the moment he felt Renji's erection brush his hips. He stared at Renji. He was no fool, and he had known about Renji's persistent attraction to him, but he had thought it a byproduct of Renji's ambition. Byakuya had never expected such a reaction, nor did he expect the heat that sparked through his body in response.
Renji turned his back on Byakuya and hung his head. "I'm sorry, Captain."
"For not answering me? Or for resisting me when I drew you to your feet?"
Renji turned his head to the side, giving Byakuya a clear view of his profile. The edges of his tattoos and widow's peak looked more pointed than usual. He had a sharp profile, too fierce to be considered beautiful. "I was talking to a friend of mine, and she thought I should stay in Division Six, with you."
"A friend?"
Renji turned his face away again. "Hinamori."
"Hinamori is catatonic. She cannot speak."
"Still. I think it's what she would have told me, if she could."
"Do you think…" Byakuya trailed off and spent a moment gathering his thoughts. "Do you think you have some sort of chance at wooing me?"
Renji shuddered, as if Byakuya had just passed Senbonzakura through his stomach. "I don't… I didn't… that's not… how long have you…?" He paused and took a deep breath, but did not turn around. "No, Captain. I don't."
"Then why stay? I've never offered you anything."
"You recommended me for captaincy. And you gave me this." From inside his kimono, Renji pulled out the ginpaku kazahana no uzuginu that Byakuya had given him after their battle—a battle that seemed as if it happened a century ago. "That's something."
"That's not enough."
"It's enough for me." Renji tossed his head back, shaking his hair as a lion would his mane.
"You don't ask for much, do you, Lieutenant?"
Renji shrugged. "I won't bother you, Captain, if that's what you're worried about. I don't know how you found out, but I don't expect anything from you. I never have."
The thought of Renji trailing after him like some lovesick mongrel made Byakuya feel something akin to pity—and perhaps even desire. He wondered if Renji realized how much power he gave Byakuya when admitting that he was willing to give up honor and prestige to follow a man who had given him nothing but a token and a recommendation.
Without thinking, Byakuya's fingers brushed against Renji's ponytail, then dropped down to trace the tattoos on the back of Renji's neck. Renji froze; Byakuya could not even hear him breathing.
"I am considerably more demanding than you are," Byakuya said. He wondered if his response to Renji was lust, reawakening after so many decades of slumber, or intoxication with the power that Renji gave him. Renji's pulse quickened beneath his fingertips, and Byakuya reasoned that it could not hurt to indulge Renji. His fingers reached the collar of Renji's kimono and paused.
"Captain?" Renji asked, his voice small.
"If you insist on remaining as my Lieutenant, then I will indulge you. On my terms."
Renji turned his head again. His eyes had grown so large that they nearly swallowed his face. His mouth parted, but he gave no answer. Perhaps he had been rendered speechless. Byakuya did not blame him. He had not made such an offer since before marrying Hisana.
"You may not like my terms. They will be harsh, and they will require your complete submission." Byakuya drew away, fingertips still warm from Renji's skin. "I think a few indulgences will cure you of your ridiculous attachment to me."
Renji's mouth worked, but he still made no sound. His tattooed eyebrows had risen so high that they hid beneath his headband.
"Tomorrow, at midnight, arrive here if you wish to accept my offer. And when Yamamoto asks again—and he will—you will retake the proficiency test and perform your bankai as ordered. Understand?"
Renji nodded once and swallowed, his gaze fixed on Byakuya's face.
"Now leave me."
Renji bowed and practically ran out. His face looked nearly as red as his hair. Byakuya sat down at his desk and realized that he had not entirely grown out of his old impulsiveness.
To be continued…
