Chapter 2: Divisions
Byakuya stood quietly among the other taichos, attending to Shunsui's words, but mentally wandering. He was all too aware of Ichigo's presence in the little group of non-taichos who had been called to the meeting.
I suppose he belongs here as much as anyone else, being that he is a half shinigami and a member of the Shiba house. But I wonder why he is here now? He is not a member of the military, and is not under consideration for a military post. They would give him a division if he wanted one, I am sure. But he is not one who would be able to force himself to obey the rules of the Gotei. He is worlds better at circumventing them.
"Kuchiki Rukia," Shunsui said, smiling.
Byakuya's eyes blinked and focused on his blushing sister as she stood and bowed respectfully.
"Kyoraku sotaicho," she acknowledged.
"I am happy to report that Ukitake taicho will soon be able to resume his duties. But he will still be on leave for the next six months and has requested that you will run the thirteenth until his return."
"Thank you. It will be my honor to do so, sir," Rukia said, bowing again.
Byakuya felt a strong inward flicker of pride and gave his sister a very slight nod of acknowledgement. Rukia blushed more brightly and knelt again at the end of the two rows of taichos.
"Abarai Renji," Shunsui said, making another flutter of approval move through the stoic Kuchiki leader.
Renji swallowed nervously and stood.
"Sir," he answered, bowing.
"You are to be congratulated," the captain commander went on, "Your promotion to taicho of the eighth division has been unanimously approved."
Byakuya forced his face to remain calm as Renji's breath caught and a little tremor went through his lanky body.
"Thank you," he said shakily, "Thank you all. I am…honored."
"Byakuya?" Shunsui prompted the noble.
Byakuya nodded, accepting a newly made haori from a first division attendant and moving to the front of the room. Renji walked to him slowly, receiving approving looks from the other gathered taichos as he headed forward. He stopped in front of Byakuya and the noble gave him the very slightest hint of a smile.
I had this made for him personally, Byakuya mused as he set the haori around Renji's tall, handsome form, It suits his taller body, his muscular frame. He looks like a leader now.
Byakuya blinked in surprise and sounds of affectionate amusement rose up around the room as Renji broke the stern rules of ceremony and wrapped his arm around Byakuya.
"Thank you so much, Taicho!" he managed in a whisper, "I wouldn't be here if not for you."
He was well aware he probably should have chided the redhead for his scandalous behavior, but something in his chest tightened and wouldn't allow him to pull away. He held Renji for a moment, then elicited sounds of surprise as he planted a chaste, ceremonial kiss on each of Renji's flushed cheeks before stepping back.
"Congratulations, Renji, this is well deserved," he said quietly.
"Congratulations, Renji," Shunsui said, shaking Renji's hand and motioning for him to join the other taichos.
He turned his attention to the last guest attending the taicho's meeting.
"Shiba Ichigo," Shunsui said, pausing as Ichigo stood and faced him.
He flinches a little when they call him that, Byakuya noted, I think he still feels more connected to the name, Kurosaki. It is his mother's surname, and a quincy noble family name. I can sympathize with his feelings.
"Sir," Ichigo said, bowing his head in greeting.
He doesn't usually submit to using titles, but this is a little different. I wonder why he is here.
"Ichigo," Shunsui went on, "I want to thank you for stepping in here to help out."
Help out?
"With all of the focus on cleanup and there still being a lot of officers on injury leave, we appreciate you offering to assist Byakuya until his new fukutaicho is posted."
My…? Byakuya thought, blinking in surprise.
"Sotaicho," he said quietly, drawing the eyes of the others in the room, "we had discussed my cousin, Tetsuya, being placed in that position."
"Yes," Kyoraku agreed, "but you did say that it would be a few weeks while the elders hammered out the details and made an agreement to support his placement in the military, right?"
"Yes, sir," Byakuya agreed, "but it is not necessary to annoy Ichigo with such a…"
"It's fine by me," Ichigo assured him, giving him a friendly smile, "I'm glad to help."
Byakuya looked back at him breathlessly for a moment.
"Arigato," he managed finally, "I appreciate your assistance."
Byakuya barely registered the rest of the meeting as his mind whirled with images of just how chaotic the next few weeks might be. He flinched in surprise as a male voice broke into his reverie, while he was exiting the first division.
"Hey Byakuya!"
Will he never learn to use my title?
"Ichigo?" he said, stopping and looking at the Shiba heir.
"I uh, thought that maybe you'd want me to come by and you could show me what you'll need me to do."
I don't need help running my own division. I have run this division without his help for some time now.
Still…
"Very well, come with me, then," Byakuya invited Ichigo, "Have you eaten? I was planning to stop for lunch. You may join me, if you like."
"Y-yeah, sure," Ichigo agreed, falling in with him.
It feels strange doing this with him. I would probably be taking Renji with me, but he will be deluged in work, adjusting to his new post. I would go someplace more casual, considering Ichigo's personality and youth, but I have been wanting to visit the new themed restaurant around the corner…
He led Ichigo towards the restaurant, feeling a touch of relief that Ichigo was content to do more of the talking. It felt strangely comfortable, being with him that way, as the two approached the restaurant and Byakuya stopped them.
"Whoa, this place?" Ichigo mused, "This is pretty fancy for lunch. Don't you have to have reservations like weeks ahead of time or something?"
Byakuya let out a little huff of amusement.
"Kuchiki taicho!" the restaurant's owner greeted him, "I am so glad you have come. And you have brought Ichigo-sama as well? You would like a booth with a view?"
"Yes," Byakuya affirmed, "thank you."
The man led them through the entry and into what looked like a lovely tropical forest, with dancers who were dressed like forest fairies, flitting about between the trees and some plunging into the misted lake, while music played and a vocalist sang.
"This is amazing!" Ichigo mused, "Is that a dance floor over there?"
"It is," Byakuya affirmed, following the owner to a booth that had a perfect view of everything going on below.
"Will this do, sirs?"
"Will it do?" Ichigo repeated, "I've never seen anything like it. Hey, Byakuya, do you want to dance?"
"Wh-what?" Byakuya asked, giving him a confused look.
"I asked if you want to dance. I think it would be fun," Ichigo said, smiling, "C'mon."
"Ah…" Byakuya began.
He broke off as Ichigo's hand took hold of his and he was forced to flash step along with the Shiba heir to the misty dance floor.
Oh, it is good that this place is not very busy and I do not see anyone we know.
He realized as they took up their positions that Ichigo's version of dancing was likely to be different than his own. And in fact, the younger man seemed determined not to keep to his own space as they began to move together. He took the lead, requiring Byakuya to follow him, and talked as much as he was dancing, but there was something infectious about his smile and the casual way he was acting. Byakuya wanted to say something of substance, but could barely keep up as Ichigo swept him over the dance floor, riling the heavy mist and enchanting him to the point of not knowing what he would say if he could speak.
What is he doing?
He was grateful that the song they were dancing to ended and a softer one began to play, and he prepared to let go of Ichigo, only to find himself being pulled closer and drawn into a much more intimate display.
Is he just enjoying himself or…could Ichigo be…interested in me? he wondered.
But Ichigo gave no sign as they moved together, with the younger man's scent teasing Byakuya mercilessly and his closeness leaving the noble in a little confused haze. He wondered what would happen when the music stopped and felt his heart quicken the nearer the moment came. He went breathless as the last notes played and their feet stopped moving. Their faces were oddly close together and he could feel Ichigo's warmth keenly.
"We should probably go and order something," Ichigo laughed, letting him go and staring up the stairs to their booth.
Is he doing this to me on purpose? Byakuya wondered, Does he have any idea?
"That was fun," Ichigo commented, sipping at the water that had been left on the table for them, "You're a good dancer."
"Thank you," Byakuya said, sipping at his own water, then pausing as the two ordered drinks and appetizers.
"So uh, what do you think of Bazz-B and Renji?" Ichigo asked, taking him off guard and leaving him searching for words.
"I am trying not to," he answered dryly.
"What? You don't approve?" Ichigo asked, frowning slightly.
"I did not say that," Byakuya clarified, "I suppose it is not my business who my…who Renji decides to…see."
"They look great together," Ichigo rambled on, digging in as the appetizers arrived and the waiter took their meal order, "Some people might think two redheads, too much, you know? But I think they compliment each other."
Not like the two of us, Byakuya thought, a flicker of surprise going through him at the loneliness in the thought, We are nothing alike at all. So…
His mind drifted back to the dream he had been having, to his injury, to Ichigo's approach, to his slow death in his lover's arms.
"That's a pretty serious expression," Ichigo said suddenly, "Are you…okay, Byakuya?"
Not remotely.
"I am fine," he lied serenely, "I think you approve of this place, ne?"
"Yeah, it's great," Ichigo agreed, "I was thinking of coming here with a date sometime."
And what am I? Day old sashimi? Does he have no idea what he just said? His manners are terrible.
It should, he decided, have been enough to convince him to stop daydreaming about Ichigo being anything besides Ichigo. But even as he found that Ichigo had plenty of faults, they just didn't register as important enough to deter his mind from romanticizing everything as their impromptu 'date' continued.
"That looks good," Ichigo said as the waiter placed their food in front of them, "You mind if I try a little?"
Byakuya hid the fact that the question took him aback a little and turned his plate to allow the exchange.
"You can try some of mine," the Shiba heir invited him.
Byakuya knew immediately that he wouldn't like the more sweetly flavored things on Ichigo's plate, but he tried a bite anyway and couldn't for the life of him figure out why it tasted good to him.
"Here, try this," Ichigo said, picking up a bite in his chopsticks and offering it to Byakuya.
He opened his mouth to refuse and found it instantly filled with more sweet-flavored meat. And more shocking than the flavor was that he didn't mind the sweetness at all. Even more shocking was the little flutter he got inside, knowing that Ichigo's lips had touched where his had.
What is wrong with me?
A powerful flashback of his dream, of Ichigo holding and kissing him blazed through his mind, making his heart pound oddly.
"You sure you're okay? You look kinda flushed."
"It is warm in here," Byakuya answered.
"It's not warm," Ichigo laughed.
"Well, we were dancing. I am warm from that," Byakuya said dismissively.
He turned his attention to his food and felt a shaft of relief touch his insides when Ichigo did the same. They were more quiet as they worked their way through the perfectly made meal and the waiter delivered the check. Byakuya started to pick it up, then froze as Ichigo took it instead.
"Hey, let me. It's kinda new being able to afford a place like this," Ichigo laughed.
"As you wish," Byakuya answered, taking a final sip of tea as the two prepared to leave.
As the two left the restaurant, they spotted Rukia and Renji on the other side of the street. Ichigo looked back at Byakuya with a flustered expression.
"Hey, can I just come by tomorrow instead?" he asked, "I'll come early. I just want to help Renji celebrate his promotion."
"It is fine," Byakuya said quietly, shaking his head dismissively as the three greeted each other.
As he rounded the corner, he couldn't help catching a bit of their conversation.
"Was that Nii-sama coming out of Shirotora with you?" Rukia asked.
"Yeah, we were just having lunch together. I'm helping out over at the sixth, remember?"
"Helping out?" Renji chuckled, "Did you even set foot in there yet?"
"No, I just had lunch with him and we danced a little."
"You danced with Nii-sama?" Rukia asked, giving him a surprised look.
"Well, they do have dancing there, although he kinda needs to loosen up. The food was great. We should go there together sometime."
"I guess you can afford it now, huh?" Rukia said, grinning, "You liking being a rich noble now?"
"Eh, I don't care so much about the money, and it sucks that they're going to have me marry some girl I don't know if I don't find one soon that I want to marry."
"That goes with the territory, I guess," Renji mused, "But hey, they haven't bugged Taicho…erm…Kuchiki…"
"You can call him Byakuya now, Abarai taicho!" Rukia laughed, "You're a taicho too."
"I guess they're desperate if they made him a taicho!" Ichigo snickered, "I thought you had to have a stick up your ass to be a taicho."
"That's to be a noble lord," Renji said, swatting at Ichigo playfully, "which you're gonna be someday. So, when do you get fitted for yours?"
Byakuya bit his lip gently and quickened his step, leaving the three behind as he walked back to the sixth division headquarters. It felt inordinately empty, walking in to find Renji's desk cleared off and his possessions already moved. Byakuya sat down at his desk and turned his attention to reports that had piled up already.
I might actually have been grateful for Ichigo's help with some of this.
He sighed softly and quickly prioritized his work, then addressed each task in order of importance. But as he worked, his mind wandered back to when he had been dancing with Ichigo.
Despite the fact that he is a casual dancer and I was trained in ballroom dance, so he naturally thought me to be a little stiff, it was enjoyable dancing in those surroundings, with the mist and the trees, the little sounds of water falling nearby and the lovely music.
Byakuya's mind replayed their dancing, reflecting more deeply on their slow dancing and tormenting him with the memory of how close together they had been as the music ended.
I am embarrassed to admit that if he had kissed me right then, I would have been easily snared. I think I am attracted to him.
He felt a little ache as Renji and Ichigo's words returned to him.
"I guess they're desperate if they made him a taicho!" Ichigo snickered, "I thought you had to have a stick up your ass to be a taicho."
"That's to be a noble lord," Renji said, swatting at Ichigo playfully, "which you're gonna be someday. So, when do you get fitted for yours?"
He knew well that it wasn't serious conversation, just verbal play, and nothing to be hurt over. But it gave him an empty feeling as he spent the long afternoon, attending to boring paperwork and assigning another seated officer to lead the unit's training. And he missed even more the training he had done with Renji to prepare him for his advancement.
I am proud of Renji. I am glad that he has received his very much deserved promotion. And it will not be so empty in here for long. Tetsuya is fine company. I will be busy training him for his post and will have little time for nostalgia.
Byakuya managed to finish the last of his work slightly early, and he started back along the still busy streets, looking calmly ahead. When he reached home, he ate alone in the gardens, all too aware that Rukia and Tetsuya had been invited out with the fukutaichos to celebrate Renji's advancement.
They should be out celebrating together. They are friends.
He left after eating less than half of his meal and walked slowly through the gardens, breathing in the sweet scents of the flowers. But his mind was teased again with an image of being stopped at the end of that slow dance and up close to Ichigo's smiling face.
Why didn't he kiss me?
It must be as they said, that I have a 'stick up my ass.' He does not think of me as a possible romantic interest, but he was making an effort to treat me like a friend. That is very like Ichigo
So, why do I feel this way?
He walked back to his suite and let Torio dress him for bed, then laid down and let his mind wander. And this time, when the music stopped, Ichigo smilingly leaned towards him and pressed a light, gentle kiss to Byakuya's also warmly smiling lips.
If only…