AN: Well, I think it's high time I continued this story. I hope you'll enjoy it and please make sure to review. Without people to read this, I find my writing very pointless.

Maybe OOC...dunno...

Sorry for the errors.

Unloved

Chapter 14: Takara

The interior of Ukitake's house was the same as the other captains', the style of feudal Japan. It had several large rooms, and in one of them, at the moment, were two former lovers. Ukitake had left them in private, retreating to his own chambers. He still didn't feel well.

The room was all in the color of caramel, due to the light of two or three candles that nearly burnt out. It was three in the morning, no stars in the sky, no other celestial bodies either. The soft breeze was making the branches of the trees in Ukitake's garden move like soothing arms. It was peaceful.

They were drinking tea, in such an unusual hour. Renji took another sip of his drink, facing Byakuya. The noble's face was calm as always, but Renji couldn't help but notice a fragment of worry that Byakuya left lingering around him. He couldn't help as well a small smile, thinking of Ukitake's house as their neutral territory.

"I think I told you several times this evening to go back and leave this to me." Byakuya said through gritted teeth.

"No, Captain. This concerns me, as well, and I want to fight them because they harmed Rukia!"

"This is only between me and my family."

Renji rolled his eyes. Like always. Byakuya would always think that he could handle things on his own.

"This is exactly why we broke up in a first place." Renji left his cup aside, standing up. There was something burning his eyes, but were those the tears or something else, he couldn't tell. He didn't want to think about it. "Leaving me out of things, always. That's how you respect me and acknowledge me."

Byakuya winced at this. Hadn't he acknowledged him as his lieutenant, as his hard working subordinate, after their first fight? Hadn't he acknowledged him as his lover when he had showed he feared for his life? Wasn't it enough? He wanted to protect Renji. Was that such a bad thing?

"I thought I heard you right that night, Captain. Didn't you say that Rukia and I were the only family you acknowledged?" well, not with the same words, but Renji took it out of the context. Why Byakuya always had to be so stubborn? "If you want to protect me, then better leave me by your side." Renji was right. Hadn't the redhead shown him million times his strenght, his excellent swordsmanship, bravery? Wasn't he worthy of being his lieutenant? Hell, with bankai, he could even be captain. Yet it was normal, as well, Byakuya's worry for his beloved, although unnecessary.

Byakuya waited for Renji to turn towards him and look at him. But the redhead just stood there, looking at the garden, which seemed to be swallowed by darkness. The noble cleared his throat.

"Yes, I said that. And I still think the same way." This time, Renji looked at him. Byakuya was looking somewhere else, struggling with his pride.

"Then let me engage in the battle." he requested, his voice calm, barely audible. He lowered his eyes. "WIll you?" The dark haired man bit his lips from the inside, as if deeply in thought. It was obvious that this caused a major discomfort for him.

"Alright, Renji." he said in the end, standing up. "If that is what you desire so much. But do not expect me to defend you, or save you." Renji nodded.

"Of course, Kuchiki Byakuya." he said ironically, nodding. "I'd better go now." he made a few steps, but could hear something like 'tsk' coming from behind. He turned around, only to see Byakuya standing in the middle of the room, looking somewhere aside...hesitating to say something. The redhead smirked. But he didn't want to help the dark haired man. He didn't want to encourage him to say what he wanted to say. He left him be, get over that barrier named pride.

"Ukitake left two futons. He wants us to be his guests this night." Byakuya managed to speak. His entire skin was burning, his internal organs, as well, but his body was cold to the touch. He thought he was blushing in embarrassement, but, actually, he was very pale. He stood there, feeling as if he was standing under the waterfall of shame, and the said unwanted feeling was pouring down his head, his neck, face, shoulders...He was standing there, implicitly begging Renji to be as close to him as possible.

The redhead could understand that Byakuya was concerned for him, but it offended him that the noble was treating him like a child. He approached his former lover, hoping that he would get some warmth, a part of Byakuya's promise. "Sharing your problems with others and letting them help doesn't make you weak, you know." he stated, placing his hand on the noble's shoulder.

Byakuya looked at him, looking for some kind of approval. He moved closer, tilting his head upward to capture the lieutenant's lips in a short kiss. His kiss carried a message of love, of longing, of his desire to be together again. At the moment, Byakuya felt so helpless and lost.

Renji kissed back. He was afraid that, even if the things went well, something would be in their way again. Byakuya's stubborness, something else...He wasn't sure if he could go through all of that again. Byakuya hated changes, after all. The redhead licked Byakuya's nose, then with the whole surface of his tongue he crossed the entire right eye of the noble, he licked over the eyebrow, up until his pale forehead. There was something petty in the thing he had just done, something like initiation into the clan of kittens. His gestures were very affectionate.

Byakuya opened his left eye, the right one sticky from saliva. It felt cold against his skin. He did the same thing to Renji, slowly licking the sides of his neck, then he ran the tip of his tongue across the Adam's apple, all the way to his chin. Renji's eyes were closed. He didn't move, absorbing the products of Byakuya's love ministrations with such an ecstasy. His breathing was still calm. The room was dark now.

The noble proceeded, now with the entire surface of his refined, wet tongue. He licked one of Renji's cheeks, then paused so that they could share a short kiss, then he moved and licked another cheek, then his eyes, his entire nose, his eyebrows. He repeated his ministrations, more eagerly now.

Byakuya allowed himself to smile, taking into the account that it was dark enough, thus safe enough for him to smile. He smiled widely, wrapping his arms around his former lieutenant, untying his long hair. He loved it. Never in his life had he been this playful with his partner. Renji pulled him closer, deepening their loving kiss.

After a while, they split. Renji smiled at his former leader, removing the kenseikan. "What is, exactly, our position now, Captain?" he turned serous all of a sudden, heavy burden on his shoulders again. At this, Byakuya nuzzled his neck. He was so intoxicated and felt so sleepy, lulled by the sounds of Renji's even breathing. He looked at the redhead. Hs knees were weak again.

"If you want us to be lovers again, I am willing to try." he said formally. Knowing that Byakuya had given his best by saying so, he inclined his head in acknowledgement.

"Ok. Let's try again." he said. "But I warn you, I'm nobody's fool."

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He woke up so suddenly, fearing that Byakuya had left him. But the noble was there, his back facing Renji. The redhed admired his bare back, broad shoulders, ink black hair spread over them, falling over his face. Renji propped himself up on the elbow, supporting his head with his strong hand, watching his beloved sleep. He shouldn't have given in so easily, he thought, but he wasn't a girl either. Men were strict, they made their decisions and they would stick to them. So he was with Byakuya again. Only the elders were in their way. Which led him to the thought of Rukia.

"Takara(1)..." Renji whispered. "That's the name Rukia chose if it's the baby girl." Byakuya shifted in his sleep. He always slept so soundly.

Renji ran his fingers through the dark hair, removing it from Byakuya's neck and ear. He ran his fingers over his pale shoulder, and then planted a kiss on it. Byakuya sighed contently in his sleep.

"I've never seen you sleeping so well." Renji whispered to himself. "You look almost like a human." he buried his face in Byakuya's hair, hugging him loosely. This was one of the rare moments when they slept like this. "But the battle will be the tough one. Those elders are true bastards."

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TBC...?

(1)-Takara (jap.)- treasure