AN: Hello again, Thank you so much for following my story. Here is a new chapter. I am very sorry again for any misspelling and grammar errors.

Chapter 20

Byakuya sighed again. He had been thinking about the past month and contemplating the situation at hand. Life was finally getting to it´s normal state if you could call it that. Life was peaceful, no Hollow attacks, no trips to Real world, and no thefts and kidnappings. The relationship between himself and Renji was moving forward without any disturbances which was the whole core of his life outside work of course. Work life was going smoothly. He had the best subordinates in his division and the best lieutenant whom would do anything and everything he desired to command. Even those orders that had nothing to do with the work in Gotei were followed with precise protocol.

Byakuya stifled a small laugh, Renji was an expert on following orders and the red haired man was eagerly waiting a new day to rise so he could once again do what Byakuya demanded and wait for the reward. The sixth division´s second in command did the paperwork without any complaining and followed Byakuya´s every command like a puppy waiting to play. And Byakuya would rewarded his lover in every available opportunity. Of course no other member of the division would know about this. He had an image he needed to uphold. There was still the issue of impressive jealousy that Byakuya had to work with, but lately there had been no reason for it. And that made Byakuya extra happy. He knew that he had to control that emotion and give more flexibility to move to Renji. Byakuya still had the urges to lock Renji in the house, but he stifled those urges. He had to, unless he wanted the episode of Renji escaping happening again. It would kill him and his hungry libido.

Byakuya shook slightly his head. It was better that he did not even go to that course of thought. The mere thinking about his own libido, and what he could do in the darkness of the bedroom was only making him wish that he could just grab his fiery haired lieutenant and drag him back to the master bedroom of the mansion and do every little dirty thing that had crossed in his mind. Putting the thoughts on Renji´s words, it was to just simply fuck him silly. Byakuya tried control his train of thought. He was known as a cold and uptight Captain of the Gotei 13, and he shall be known as that. Kuchiki´s do not show their emotions in public. Yes really, sex was absolutely fantastic and interesting with Renji. The man was very responsive to everything Byakuya had tried and the red head had been more that willing to try them, especially after their relationship had finally gotten to its righteous course. And Byakuya had a vivid imagination.

Rukia had been working hard and she was spending every free time possible in the Real world with Orihime and Tatsuki, but when in Seireitei and off duty she stayed in the Kuchiki Hall. Byakuya had been able to become closer to his adopted sister and he was happy about it. Rukia had been a great help for him as he had wanted to learn about the past she shared with Renji.

Unfortunately everything was not alright at the Kuchiki Hall. Byakuya´s cousin Hidehiro was still on his strange moods and Takao´s hearing had still not returned. But, as Captain Unohana and the healer from the Kuchiki had explained, it seemed that the man´s hearing was never going to be the same. The man would be deaf for the rest of his life in this world and time. The positive thing was that the said man had gotten stronger from his attempt to end his life in starvation. He ate regular meals and had gained a healthy weight. Sometimes the man made long and slow walks around the gardens. He held conversation occasionally, but because the communication with others had been more complicated he kept to himself. It disturbed Renji of course because both men were previously absolutely too vocal and loud and Renji missed their conversations and jokes. It was also obvious that Renji missed the bossing around and spirit the small man had held.

There were regular arguments and fights between Takao and Hidehiro, but they were rarely heard or seen and the only indications about them occurring were the bruised marks on Takao´s face and body. Occasionally one could see Takao´s skin red and raw as Hidehiro kept scrubbing the man clean. This hurt Byakuya as he had always considered Hidehiro a gentle and a loving man. Even in the aspect of domination this was getting ridiculous. He should know, it was almost the same as he and Renji before. There was something very wrong with his cousin. Byakuya had reminded his cousin about the marriage wows that the man had made, but Hidehiro had only told him that it was exactly what he was doing. He was currently cleaning the past so the future would be bright and joyful.

Byakuya had decided to keep an eye on this, he had an eerie feeling that his cousin was not in his right mind anymore, but Byakuya could not still do anything, he needed more proof.

What was the matter that was almost giving the stoic man gray hairs on his beautiful raven head was the matter of that insolent human with orange hair and scowling face. The teen had visited the Soul society lately, more than once. What was interesting was that the teen had kept it´s distance from Renji and had acted around them both correct and polite. The human had visited Rukia in the Kuchiki Hall, but had not even tried to visit Renji privately. They had spoken, but again it had been very discreet and polite. It was a miracle. During the times when visiting his house Kurosaki had also visited Takao. This was uncommon as in Byakuya´s knowledge those men did not really even know each other. They had only met once in the wedding and that was it. Ichigo had joined Takao on one of his walks and presented the deaf man a book about sign language. The teen had said that it would help the man to find a way to communicate with others and understand what was being said. The book must have been for Hidehiro, as Takao still could speak, however as later Byakuya had found out Hidehiro had not even bothered to open the book and learn.

Ichigo had presented a formal apologize in a form of a letter and in speech to both Byakuya and Renji. He had informed that that his hollow was now in order and hoped to regain the friendship between Renji and himself. Byakuya reluctantly allowed this to occur, but reminded the teen that if there ever would be chance to Hichigo rise Byakuya would kill the teen without hesitation. Byakuya reminded that Renji was his. To Byakuya´s greatest surprise Ichigo had only nodded and told them that even he still liked Renji very much he had found someone else to love. Renji had been extremely happy and launched into a heating questioning of whom was Ichigo´s new love interest. The teen had not budget and kept his love interest a secret.

Byakuya sighed for the second time that hour and rose from his chair in his study. He passed the window and looked outside. He saw Takao and Ichigo walking in the garden. Ichigo was moving his hands rapidly while speaking and to Byakuya it looked like the signs on Takao´s book. And it looked like Takao understood what was being said. It warmed Byakuya. There was a chance for communication again. Maybe the teen was not useless after all. Byakuya walked outside to the garden and wathed the two men. It seemed that they were forming a friendship and as strange as it was Byakuya was happy that Takao would have someone to talk with. Hidehiro had buried himself again back to the library leaving Takao alone most of the time. Byakuya nodded to himself and walked towards Renji who was sitting on the veranda watching his friends.

The red head smiled when Byakuya came closer a waited for Byakuya to sit down behind him. He leaned for a kiss and went back to watch his friends waving their hands in the air.

"You know what Byakuya. I am kinda glad that you allowed Ichigo to visit here even Rukia is not around. Takao is getting happier and he is willing to learn that weird way to talk. He even tried to teach me how to sign my name. "

"I am not really happy to see that human, but as long as he keeps his hands of you I am allowing this friendship to continue. However I am rather disappointed. Hidehiro should be here too. It is him who needs to learn this way of communication as well. But yes, it is nice to see your friends smiling again. And perhaps you will show me later what you have learned."

Renji nodded again and leaned on Byakuya´s chest. They sat there for a long time and enjoyed the laughter that was finally filling the void.

Hidehiro stood behind one of the trees in the garden. His face was showing nothing. He had cried his tiers and all he had to do was to get Takao understand that after the man was purified they could leave all this behind and move on. He shook himself. Byakuya´s way had been right in the beginning and he had been wrong. Those men needed to be locked and kept quiet. They needed to be very far away from that human. That human boy was danger.

Mine.

AN2: Thank you for reading. Please be so kind and review after reading. I really appreciate your messages.!