I have an excuse! Hello everyone and welcome to a story I thought I lost 3 years ago. But lookie look what I found! I haven't written this story in some time and my writing style has vastly changed. So I hope those who read My Pet are still around to check out it's sequel and I hope new lovers of this ship enjoy it too.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything in relation to Bleach.
Chapter 1
Byakuya adjusted his shirt collar and smoothed down the last little eyebrow hairs straying out of place. It had been several years since he'd dressed up for anything this important. And this was the most important day of his life. He peeked behind the curtin and eyed the rows of people waiting for the big moment. Just as he slunk his head back and turned around, he bumped suddenly into Renji whose smile stretched for miles. Byakuya's cheeks went red.
"R-Renji, you should be on the other side!" He whispered sharply. Renji chuckled. If Byakuya thought Renji was handsome normally, suit and tie Renji was out of this world. His navy blue suit barely contained bulging muscles and his fiery red hair seemed to pop even more than usual above a black suit. His tattoos perfectly contrasted his formal attire. Just to top it off, his tie and pocket silk were light pink. It was perfect. Byakuya was surprised he hadn't attempted to roll the sleeves up. He was behaving.
"You look good," he hungrily groaned in Byakuya's ear. He leaned in to kiss the older man, pressing his lips on his neck, his hot breath rolling under the collar. Byakuya, grudgedly, pushed him away.
"Now is NOT the time," he hissed. Renji impishly pinched his butt. Byakuya felt his face flush even more, playfully shoving the impertinent young man.
"Go to your spot!" He choked. Renji smirked and put his hands difiantly in his pockets. Byakuya rested his knuckles on his hips, now getting frustrated. "Now."
Renji winked and turned away, dissapearing behind the curtain. Byakuya was all nerves. He spared no expense for this day. It absolutely had to be perfect. He plucked every particle of dust off his suit he could find.
He felt a knot is his stomach as music started to play, moments later. This was it. A small arm poked through his, wrapping them together. He looked down and smiled warmly at his little sister.
"Are you ready?" She asked. Byakuya raised an eyebrow.
"Are you?"
Rukia beamed at him. She was stunning. Her tiny frame actually took on a much more womanly form in the long white dress. It fit her like a perfect sparkly glove.
They walked out of the curtains and down the isle. As they walked, several people stood quietly, watching Rukia being given away by her brother.
Standing at the end, waiting for her was a very handsome, very nervous looking groom. When everyone was in place, Urahara smiled between the bride and groom.
He said a few words on marriage and love - what love meant. Then, finally, he looked to Rukia.
"Rukia Kuchiki, do you take this man as your husband, for better or worse as long as you both shall live?
"I do."
"And do you, Ichigo Kurasaki, take this woman to be your wife, for better or worse as long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
000
Renji threw himself onto the plush couch in Byakuya's living room, completely exhausted. The red head had been playing emotional support for both the groom as his best friend and bride as her longest friend. He had helped with all the running around and heavy lifting for weeks leading up to the main event and was finally able to rest. He stretched out his long legs, resting both arms over the back of the couch. Byakuya threw his keys into the ketbowk and took off his jacket, trying not to smile at the scene. Victoria, their little puppy, bounded up to him, her little tail wagging excitedly.
Byakuya scratches behind her ears before looking with pride at his lover. He'd been the most useful person involved with the wedding. He, himself had handled all the finances, but Renji had spent the most time of anyone planning with Rukia. He was happy to finally be done with it all, though the entire thing, he had to admit, had been a fun experience.
"Renji, you need to change."
"Yea, I did," Renji mumbled sleepily. Byakuya smiled. He she's his coat, folding it over an armchair.
"No, you still have your nice clothes on. Take them off before you ruin them."
"I did!" Renji half shouted and half mumbled. Byakuya sighed. He was being needlessly defiant. He removed his shoes and placed them in the foyer before walking over to place a hand to Renji's forehead.
"You're hot."
"Thanks, baby, you're hot too-"
"No Renji, you have a fever."
Renji cracked an eye open and sat up.
"I don't get sick. It's probably nothing," He declared a little too loudly before starting to remove his clothes.
"Not here, Renji, in the bedroom," Byakuya nagged. Sometime's he felt like Renji's parent instead of his boyfriend, as much as he hated that term.
"But I'm hot!" Renji whined. Byakuya groaned and made his way over to the stairs. The threat of being left behind would almost certainly get him moving. Renji smirked and ripped off every article of clothing, underwear included, he had on before Byakuya could stop him.
"I hope you're picking that up," he grumbled. Renji had a bad habit of stripping randomly and leaving his clothes all through the house like the most annoying treasure hunt.
"Later," Renji smirked, suddenly thrusting his arms under Byakuya, hoisting him into the air and against his hot chest.
"RENJI!" Byakuya yelped in surprise. Renji laughed as he stomped quickly up the stairs. Every day, the older man was reminded just how much of an ox Renji really was. When he reached the bedroom, he kicked the door open.
"This is exactly how I want our wedding to end!" He yelled happily. Byakuya's face went a deep red. Marriage? Them? Absurd.
"D-dont say things like that so openly!" He chastised. Renji tossed his lover to the bed, standing in all his naked glory before him.
"You shouldn't do so much with a fever, you should lie down," Byakuya tried. At this rate, he was worried for his own safety. His younger partner was clearly overly excited. Their energies were severely mismatched and keeping up with the boisterous redhead had been an ongoing battle.
Renji thrust a pointed finger at Byakuya. "I told you, I'm not sick!" He argued before falling backwards and crashing to the ground. His body lay limp, his eyes rolled to the back of his head and there he stayed, snoring loudly.
Byakuya stood and shook his head. "I told you. How can you snore like that after fainting? Crazy thing."
He knelt down to try and lift Renji onto the bed. He tucked his hands under his shoulders and grunted as he pulled with all his might to lift him. His body was unbearably hot. He wasn't sure he wanted to pay next to a sick person but sleeping on the floor wouldn't be good for him.
"Jesus Renji, how can you be so heavy?" He huffed. He tried once more. Just as he thought he might get Renji into a sitting position, a warm feeling in his lower back raked through him. It suddenly throbbed in pain. His hand shot to his back, pressing.
"Shit" he cursed. "I'm too fucking old for this, you bastard," he ground through his teeth. He gave up, dropping the top half of the young man back to the ground, trying to smooth the muscles in his back. He walked into the bathroom, turning on the shower. He'd hoped the hot water would help to make his now painfully aching back better. He stood in the water, letting the warmth soothe down his skin. Renji had zero trouble not only lifting his entire frame, but running, practically galloping up the steps without breaking a sweat or so much as breathing heavy. He'd never been that physically fit in his life and didn't know many people who were. Life was incredibly unfair.
Byakuya winced, touching his lower back. When he left the shower, he dried his long black hair and wrapped the towel around his midsection. He went to wash his face when he really looked at himself in the mirror. His eyes were beginning to show signs of his age. Small wrinkles were starting to form on previously impeccable flesh. His skin was not as tight as he could have sworn it was just the day before. He looked paler and he thought he might have gained weight. As he continued to inspect his face for every flaw he could see, a flash of silver caught his eye. He quickly grabbed it and pulled, plucking a very long, very thick grey hair.
He felt a pit in his stomach as he sighed. He angrily tossed the hair into the trashcan and exited the bathroom.
As he stepped out, he noticed the young man laying shamelessly on the ground, happily snoring away despite having fallen unconcious from a fever and overexertion. Byakuya narrowed his eyes and threw his towel on top of him before putting on sleeping clothes and sliding into bed.
Victoria padded her little self into the room, yawning and laying next to Renji. Byakuya had been abandoned. He tossed angrily to his side, wincing again in pain before slowly closing his eyes to sleep.
The aching, throbbing sensation didn't go away. He pulled the covers over himself and tried to get comfortable. Renji's sleeping sounds were too far away. He was used to them being significantly closer. He was horrified at the idea of going to sleep on the floor with him. That would not help his back. Plus...it was the damn floor.
Like something demonic clawing it's way onto the bed, Renji's hand came up over the covers. He pulled himself onto the bed, burrowing below the duvet and gripping Byakuya's torso, making him flinch.
"You left me..." He breathed. Byakuya shivered. His skin was on fire.
"I couldn't lift your ungodly massive dead weight," he groaned. Renji squirmed behind him, pulling him closer.
"I missed you. I was down there for hours and you never came! I cried out to you!"
Byakuya rolled his eyes.
"You were down there for twenty minutes max. And you were asleep before your head dented the floor. Go to sleep."
Renji, uncharacteristically, obeyed. His arms went lax around Byakuya's waist and his breathing came in low, slow purrs. Byakuya hated to admit it, but it was a thousand times more comfortable than when he was on the floor.
He rubbed his thumb over his lover's large hand.
"Goodnight, Renji."