A/N: Uggghhh! I finally got around to writing this damn chapter! This may be the last one. Maybe. Hopefully. I've got too many stories going on right now -.- Well, that's all I have to say. There may be lemon, maybe not. Who knows.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach
Chapter 3— The Melting of Snow and Hearts
Byakuya was having a very hard time sleeping, for a few reasons. Not only was it beyond freezing, but he couldn't quite get comfortable in his lieutenants bed. Renji was also having a hard time, being sick and cold. He was also paranoid, because of the window that broke and let snow in. If it happened to one, couldn't it happen to all of them? There was a window right above his bed, and snow was pressed against it. Every few seconds, he would glance at it nervously. Byakuya failed to ignore it.
"Abarai, for the last time, the window is not going to break." Byakuya said sternly.
"I know, I know. It's just freaking me out, I can't even sleep." Renji said back, his voice sounding odd from being sick.
"Yes," Byakuya sighed, "I cannot sleep either. However, you being paranoid won't do us any good."
"I'm sorry, Captain. But, even if I wasn't paranoid, I still wouldn't be able to sleep. It's freezing in here." The red head continued shivering, gripping the blankets more. The candles were almost used up, and it was only a matter of time before they went out. Then they would be without any heat source.
'There is always one option...but I would rather not...in case of emergency, you are suppose to seek warmth from another person's body, and remain closely pressed together. The body temperature of each person is supposed to help keep you warm. But..the thought of doing that with Renji is...strange. The fact that we are in his bed doesn't help. But it's so cold...oh, what should I do? I wonder..is he aware of safety measures?' Byakuya wondered, suppressing the urge to shiver.
"Abarai, you are aware of what to do in emergencies, yes?" The noble asked, keeping his stoic mask.
"Emergencies? Yeah..I think so..we had to know them in the academy, but that was a while ago..I think I remember most of them." Renji said, and Byakuya almost let his mask slip. He should have guessed Renji would forget something so important.
"Then, tell me, what does one do to stay warm when there are no other options?"
"To stay warm? Hmm...they..ah..don't they, ya know, huddle together or somethin? Something about body heat?" Renji asked, struggling to remember.
'Why does Captain wanna know that? Unless...oh...he couldn't possibly be suggesting..we..do that? I can't even imagine..being that close with Captain Kuchiki. Hell, being this close to him is weird. But cuddling? Fuck...warmth does sound nice though...maybe it wouldn't be so bad..' Renji tried to picture himself holding Byakuya, and found himself blushing.
"Very good, Abarai. Now, what do you suggest we do? This is classified as an emergency, don't you think?" Byakuya asked, hoping he didn't sound like he actually wanted to do it.
"Well..yeah..it's an emergency..so we should..ya know..do that?" The lieutenant replied nervously, feeling his heart accelerate.
"Would you rather freeze to death?"
"Well...no. So then..do we just..ah.." Renji couldn't find words to say, and Byakuya almost sighed. The noble sat up, his back against the headboard, and Renji mimicked the action, finding it hard to breathe. He blamed it on being sick. Byakuya decided he would have to do everything, and inched closer to his flustered lieutenant, already feeling the warmth radiating off the man. There was a sudden cracking noise, and Renji jumped and wrapped his arms around the startled noble, pulling him closer. Byakuya's eyes widened at how warm Renji was, and felt goosebumps spread throughout his body.
"C-c-captain! The w-window!" Renji said, staring at the window that just cracked. Byakuya sighed and muttered a kido spell, effectively sealing the window.
"Now will you calm down?"
"Huh..wait, why didn't you do that in the first place?"
"It never occurred to me, and my mind was a bit numb from the cold weather."
"Oh.." Renji said, and then noticed how he was holding Byakuya close to his chest. His captain was so..warm. It made his body tingle.
'Wait..I'm holding Captain Kuchiki! Shit..he's so close..I can smell his freaking hair! Mmm..smells good..like sakura..wait, what am I doing?! I shouldn't be enjoying this! Oh god..he's gonna kill me!' Renji's mind was running rampant, and Byakuya could hear the red heads heart beat faster. Strangely enough, he didn't want to move away from the warmth. His body felt numb. Renji was so..comfortable.
"Abarai..you're very warm..do you feel alright?" Byakuya asked without thinking. His brain couldn't function properly right now.
"O-oh..I feel fine..I think.." Renji said. He did feel warm, but couldn't tell if it was a fever or something else. Having Byakuya so close was making him dizzy, and he was fighting the urge to hold the noble tighter.
'I never noticed how..small he is. I mean, I'm a good three inches taller, but holding him so close..just amplifies it. How can such a small thing be so full of brutal power?' Renji thought to himself, suddenly finding his Captain very adorable. Yes, being sick was definitely effecting his ability to think rationally. They stayed like that, listening to the wind howl outside, enjoying the heat. Byakuya found Renji's heart beat to be quite soothing, and his eyelids became heavy. Renji however couldn't fall asleep. The urge to squeeze Byakuya and hold him tighter was unbearable, and the smell of his Captain was intoxicating. He kept getting warmer, and started to think it really was his fever. Byakuya noticed how warm it was getting and looked up at his lieutenant.
"Renji, are you sure you're okay?" Byakuya asked, using his hand to feel Renji's forehead.
"Did you just..call me by my first name?" Renji asked, looking at Byakuya with hazy eyes. Byakuya raised an eyebrow.
"It would appear so." The noble said, having not even noticed. Renji was indeed burning up, and Byakuya wasn't sure what to do.
"Heh..it's hot in here, Captain."
"I'm afraid you have a fever. Perhaps the blanket is too heavy?" Byakuya said, more to himself than Renji.
"Naahh, it's my clothes, Cap'n." Renji said, and Byakuya's eyes widened when he started undressing until he was in only boxers. Not everyone wore them, but Renji picked it up from visiting the world of the living. Apparently he preferred the baggy kind, and Byakuya felt his face heat up.
"Heh..Captains blushing..ya look cute like that, Captain." Renji smiled lazily, and Byakuya scowled.
"It appears the fever is effecting your brain. You don't know what you're saying."
"Oh, but I do, Cap'n. I've always kinda thought you were cute. Never said anything though, cause you would probably kick my ass."
"Abarai, I'm tempted to break that kido and let the snow in, so you can start thinking rationally." Byakuya said threateningly. Renji's eyes widened.
"You wouldn't. Then you would freeze with me."
"Hmm..that is true. Well then, I have a better idea." The noble said, and rolled out of bed. He walked to his room and opened the door carefully. Sure enough, a large pile of snow remained there, and he shivered when the air hit him. He took a handful, and headed back into Renji's room.
"Wait wait wait, Captain! Don't you dare!" Renji yelled and tried to scramble away, but Byakuya quickly threw the snowball at him and nearly grinned when he screamed.
"Captain! Why did you do that!?" Renji yelled, trying to swat the cold substance away. Byakuya returned to bed, and scooped up a small amount of snow. He slowly rubbed it on Renji's forehead, and watched as he cringed and then sighed contently.
"I am merely helping you, Abarai. We can't have you talking nonsense, ne?" Byakuya said, and almost smiled again when Renji grinned widely.
"Heh..sorry Captain. Guess I went crazy for a moment. B-but now it's r-really cold." Renji started shivering again and pulled the blanket closer. Byakuya moved closer, and before the blanket covered his lieutenant, he noticed how the snow had melted, leaving water dripping down his chest and stomach.
'I never noticed how..muscular he is. The sight is very..enticing. Tempting, really. Wait..what am I thinking? Oh..my mind is so..fuzzy.' Byakuya thought dazedly, feeling the temperature rise.
"There is no satisfying you, is there?" Byakuya asked, feeling his eyes wander over Renji's features. His sharp eyes, angular jaw bone, and those exotic tattoos that Byakuya has always found interesting.
"Sorry, Captain." Renji sighed, shivering under the blanket. Before he could even think, his arms wrapped around the lieutenant, pulling him closer. Renji was sitting lower, so his head rested on the nobles shoulder.
"C-captain?" A stunned Renji squeaked out, trying to ignore how amazing he felt right now.
"I am just returning the favor, Renji. Try not to get another fever, will you?" Byakuya half teased, once again not noticing the informal use of his name. Renji shivered, only this time it was because he liked how the Kuchiki said his name.
"I'll try." Renji squeaked out weakly.
'Try not to focus on how amazing he smells, or how close you are. Don't stare at his chest, which is kind of showing with that lovely yukata. Just stay perfectly still and don't look anywhere. Ah..his smell..it's not like I can stop breathing! Shit..my mind is all fuzzy..dammit captain! His skin is so..white. It looks smooth..and tasty. Mm..I wanna lick it..wait, what?! Dammit! Oh shit..am I seriously turned on right now?! Fuck!' Renji brought his legs up, hoping Byakuya didn't notice. He glances up and feels relieved when he sees the noble isn't looking. He then regrets looking up, and ends up staring at Byakuya's neck, licking his lips slowly. His hand wanders down and touches something hard, making him bite his lip.
'Wait, I can't do that with Captain right there! I need to control myself! Dammit, it's fucking impossible! He's too damn tempting! Gaaah! Control, Renji, control. If you tried anything with him, he'd kill you. Why the hell do I even want to? Am I attracted to him? I mean, you'd have to be blind to not see how hot he is. And he is nice sometimes, like how he's taking care of me, which I still don't get. Hmm...'
"Say Captain, you never did tell me why you're being so nice all of a sudden, not that you're never nice, I'm just curious." Renji asked, voicing his thoughts.
"Hm, I suppose it is because I took care of Hisana when she was ill, and seeing people sick, particularly someone close to me, makes me want to help them. Plus, it is my fault you're sick in the first place. The least I can do is help, after everything you have done for me." Byakuya's words made Renji smile and blush.
"What do you mean, captain? What have I done for you, and since when do you consider me close?"
"You are my lieutenant, ne? It is only natural that I consider you someone close to me. And what haven't you done for me? After nearly killing you, you still come see me in the fourth division. Even after hating me for so long, you still remain loyal. When I betrayed everyone and worked with Muramasa, you still stayed by my side. Taking care of you is the very least I can do, Renji." Byakuya explained, and didn't notice Renji move closer to him.
"Aw Captain, that's sweet." Renji grinned, feeling something like butterflies in his stomach.
"Do I need to get more snow, Abarai?" Byakuya asked, a deadly tone behind the usual stoic one.
"No! No more snow!" Renji said, huddling closer to his Captain for safety, though it wasn't the best place to go. Byakuya felt himself smile, and then blush. Renji was very close to him, and was nearly naked. He felt warmth spread throughout his body, and then pooled in his lower stomach.
'This can't be happening. Am I..aroused? Because of Renji? What in the three worlds is going on? He's too close..but I can't bring myself to push him away. The warmth is a necessity, and I don't want to be cold anymore. But he cannot find out about this. No, not ever.' Byakuya's flustered mind tried to wrap itself around this situation, while his second brain, being much lower, wanted one thing. That one thing happened to be his lieutenant. Little did he know Renji was having the same problem.
A/N: I was gonna add more to this, but couldn't think of anything. I'm thinking the next chapter will definitely be the last, and may be a lemon. But who knows. Man, this story is full of OOC ness. Oh well. It's nice to read fluffy ByaRen fics sometimes. And they're fun to write. Well anyways, review, yeah?