A/N: Time for Renji's "morning after." I hope you all enjoy it and if I haven't said it already, thank you so much for the continued support I've been getting from you awesome readers, your reviews are great inspiration to keep going!

I could feel a strong, steady beat pounding in my head. Relentless was the only word that came to mind. I could hear soft rustling, but not the rustling of leaves that I expected; it was the sound of my curtains brushing against the wall with every breeze that entered the room. I could smell the fresh air as it brushed gently past the window and carried with it a faint scent of food; it must be around lunchtime. I could only assume I was home, in my own bed, but with no memory of getting there, I slowly opened my eyes to confirm. I could see the familiar ceiling above my bed, the burgundy curtains, the small wood dresser, Zabimaru's stand; yes, I was at home.

I remembered drinking, hearing stories in the bar, Ikkaku's anger at the passing on of the story of his bath time encounter with Yachiru, Rangiku's teasing, the comfortable camaraderie, and the endless laughter. I vaguely remembered leaving the bar and stumbling through the streets but everything else felt completely jumbled. I couldn't wrap my head around the events that flashed through my mind.

My memories clashed against one another making the still incessant pounding in my head worsen. Each event fought for the center of my minds stage. I most remembered the sakura tree, the one I thought I'd fallen asleep in. It felt important somehow, its hidden message taking the back seat to the throbbing that threatened to make my head explode. Deciding I wouldn't be able to decipher any message, hidden or not, in my condition, I made my way to the bathroom in search of the little brown bottle in the medicine cabinet.

I opened the small glass bottle with my arms fully outstretched, wholly expecting the rancid scent to assault my senses. I almost dropped the bottle when the horrid scent made its way to my head, increasing the pounding in my skull. I couldn't help but make a face of displeasure.

After a few moments, I adjusted to the scent and was able to compose myself long enough to gulp down the contents of the bottle. It took what turned out to be an immense amount of effort to stop myself from throwing it back up; if not for that knowledge that this volatile substance would quickly bring relief, I would have failed in my efforts to keep it down. I stumbled back to my bed when I was finally sure that I could hold down the liquid.

I was ready to just go back to sleep, to just let the medicine settle and to rest my body but again the sakura tree made its image dominant in my head, so dominant that I could almost smell its delicate scent. It was then that I vividly recalled falling from a cliff and being saved by Byakuya's waiting arms, the scent in my mind mirrored the one that I had smelled while in his arms. But a cliff? How did I end up on a cliff? And why was Byakuya even there?

It didn't take me long to come to the conclusion that I was dreaming, it wouldn't be the first time I'd have dreamt of him after all. Something about it was different than the dreams he'd been in in the past though; it felt so real, so undeniably real.

Once I began to remember the other scenes that flashed through my mind I was absolutely certain that it was all just a dream, there was just no way I could have pinned Byakuya against a wall like that and lived. No way there was a massive hollow attack on seireitei last night, no way I'd fallen from a cliff after drinking and was saved by Byakuya, no way I took him by surprise and pinned him with kidou, and there is no way he'd have let me touch him like that even if I did manage to.

I could feel a violent heat pool in my groin as I recalled Byakuya's similar reaction last night. Something was definitely off about my dream, the Byakuya in my dream was somehow different than the Byakuya I'd dreamed of before, he was more perfect, more pristine, more beautiful, more sexy, more real. I didn't think I could have imagined events like that even in my wildest dreams, I surpassed my own expectations.

My dreams of Byakuya were almost always similar in one very defining way, the focus was always him with me tearing into his world and forcing him to relinquish control. Of course, that was a ridiculous notion though, therefore fit for a dream. The dream last night was different in every way possible; I most remembered my reaction to him, my view of him, and my amazement with him. It was almost as if he willingly relinquished to me, something I never imagined would happen.

The thought was exhilarating; a man of his status and power willingly giving himself over to me, it was far too arousing to resist the urge to give into my physical desires. I couldn't stop myself from moaning quietly when I recalled the image of Byakuya being aroused, especially since that arousal had been caused by me. Even if it were only a dream, the image of his face slightly distorted in desire was nearly enough to bring me to release on its own.

It was hard to take my time and savor these memories while I had them; I expected they would mostly fade away with time as dreams normally did. Sure, I'd recall it later but I'd never again be able to recall the images this vividly again, or the sound of his breathy, quiet moan, the way he called my name, the heat that emanated from his body even though many would expect nothing but cold from him.

I wasn't ready to let go yet, not of the memories, but I couldn't stop the hot release that spilled over my hand. Nor could I stop myself from calling out his name as I reached my climax. I wanted more, my body craved more. Once just wasn't enough. I began stroking myself again only a few short moments later.

This time my movements weren't as quick but carried more determination and strength. I replayed the entire scene in my head again starting from Byakuya catching me at the bottom of the cliff.

His scent washed over me as I remembered him holding me tightly in his arms, protecting me. I could almost feel his surprise when I remembered dashing from the dark alley to grab him and pin him to the wall, I wanted so badly to lift up his lithe form and ravish him on the spot but that wasn't how the dream went. The pristine skin of his chest was softer than I expected, I could only hope to one day see what it really felt like. When my thoughts moved toward the next part of the dream, I could feel my release nearing yet again. Just the idea of Byakuya being aroused from me touching his body was nearly more than I could handle.

I remembered bending down before him and feeling nothing but heat coming from his groin as his erection pressed into my chest. My movements sped up once more and my hot seed spilled over my hand yet again. I absently wondered if Byakuya ever pleasured himself as I wiped myself clean. The idea somehow sullied his image, I couldn't really imagine Byakuya actually doing that anywhere but in my fantasies.

I tried to imagine what he would think about while pleasuring himself, if he ever did. Certainly not me. He was way out of my league, there was just no way someone like him would go for someone like me. I wondered if I were letting my infatuation get out of hand, if I were letting myself be too consumed by something so unrealistic. This could be very unhealthy; especially since I was positive nothing could come of it. I really needed to take a step back.

Before I could truly come to any conclusion, I heard a light knock on my door. I panicked slightly for a moment, still dis-shelved from my recent actions. It must be someone from the division here to tell me to come to work, Taicho must have sent them. After letting me leave early yesterday I'm sure he expected me in today. I rushed to the door with my kimono folded down and hanging from my obi, fully expecting one of the guys from the office I didn't bother to pull it up to cover my bare chest.

I swung the door open and was greeted by a violent blush, wide eyes, dark hair, dark pink eyes, and a slender form complete with breasts; nope, I'd been wrong, severely wrong. Arimi turned her head away as a clumsily apologized and pulled my top up properly while explaining that I hadn't expected it to be her but actually though that Taicho was sending someone to tell me to get to work.

"Well actually Renji-sama, I am here on behalf of Kuchiki-sama," the young woman admitted.

"I knew it! I better hurry or I'm going to be in deep shit!"

"Uhm well… Actually Kuchiki-sama wanted to know that you are well so I came to check on you and bring you lunch." She stepped to the side revealing a fancy food cart waiting in the doorway.

"What?" My mind was officially blown. This has to be some kind of trick, some kind of sick trick. Taicho would never do anything like this without ulterior motives, not for me at least.

"Lunch, Renji-sama. That is all. You are to eat this food and then recover for the rest of the day; you are expected back in the office tomorrow morning, bright and early. Taicho's orders." I really liked Arimi, she was the only Kuchiki staff member that respected me but the small woman was commanding when she really wanted to be, and I wasn't about to find out what the consequences were for disobeying her.

"Hai…" I muttered in defeat.

I spent my lunch brooding over Taicho's actions; I have the most awesome and realistic dream of my life and then this… For a moment, I wondered if maybe some of my dream wasn't a dream at all… if maybe it really happened, in part, and he's punishing me for it. He's showing me what it may be like if he ever were to find affection with me, he's torturing me as my punishment…

But it's ridiculous, there's just no way that last night really happened… is there?