Chapter 8: Snare

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Don't worry for me. I have fallen gently. While you are far from me and I am trying to forget you, the wheels of time are turning. Other eyes adore me and in time, I will make you a distant memory…if…

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"Kuchiki taicho," Rikichi said, flash stepping to rejoin Byakuya and Renji, "The area to the southwest is as reported last recon, the southeast is less active than at last count, but due south, there is an oddity."

"What kind of oddity?" Byakuya asked, turning to look in the indicated direction.

"The area gives off the same reading as last time, but as I took the third set of readings, there was a 'flutter' in the reiatsu level in the area. Abarai fukutaicho just gave us training to question that exact situation, because it often…"

"…signifies a snare," finished Byakuya, nodding, "I appreciate your attention to detail, Rikichi. Now, take our combined notes and return to the sixth division office. Write up a full report of our mission, leaving room for our report on the south sector. We will send a hell butterfly after investigating."

"But sir…regulations state that…"

"Don't worry about it, Rikichi," Renji said, smiling, "I will make sure that Kuchiki taicho performs in a non-combat role for the mission. I won't let him lift a shikai!"

"That's a very smug attitude you have," Byakuya commented as they watched the young shinigami flash step away, "You almost sound as though you could stop me if I…"

"I just didn't want the kid worrying. He doesn't want to see you hurt again. None of us who are protecting you do, Taicho."

"I thought I was hated and feared by just about everyone…until lately. You do realize that the change in how they view me began with you, Abarai, do you not?"

"What?" the redhead queried, sounding surprised.

"I am the one who wears the haori, but you are the one who has the most to do with how I am received. The ones we lead look up to you. You interact with them and see to their training needs. You keep them in order…so that I can focus on finding the best use of our combined strength and employ it. It wouldn't be possible for me to see to their day to day needs and still lead effectively…so what I am saying is that it isn't just me who leads our squad. It is you, as well. If either of us doesn't do what we are supposed to…both of us will fail. We really do depend on each other. And up to this point, you have provided everything our squad needs to make it excel. But there is something that I have not been doing that has held us all back somewhat."

"And what is that, Taicho?"

Byakuya flash stepped forward and scanned the area around them. Almost immediately, he sensed the fluctuation in power that had caught Rikichi's attention. He turned toward it, senses extended and Renji at his side.

"A taicho isn't just someone dedicated to strategy…using people as resources. The taicho's power isn't just for assailing enemies. You have worked hard to provide me with a capable and cohesive team of fighters, but how I use them makes a difference. I must employ them in the way we are strongest, but that means, of course, putting some at risk for the good of all. And if you are going to be the one who assigns risk and you want your group to remain cohesive, you have to concern yourself with the emotions of your fighters."

Renji glanced up at him as they continued walking.

"Being noble born, I was trained to ignore or put aside my own emotions…but when you lead, emotions are an important part of what happens, both on and off the battlefield. Off the battlefield, emotion either builds or breaks down the confidence, loyalty and protectiveness of each fighter…changing their value to the whole group. And on the battlefield, emotion can make them fight harder…or cave in to fear. A fighting group needs to respect the power and ability of its taicho, but also needs to trust that taicho to protect each person he leads. If that trust is not there, then confidence becomes shaky, loyalties are questioned and whole group protectiveness gives way to survival thinking."

"But, Taicho, we haven't had a problem with those things. The guys know they can trust in your strength…"

"Ichigo shattered my strength in a way it has never been shattered before. There was the potential for our group's confidence in me to protect them to be shattered as well. And your role in their perception of me became very important. You could have focused on spending all of your time holding them together and left me to recover or not as fate decreed. But you took the higher road. You not only held them together…you remained at my side, supporting me in my recovery. You showed affection and loyalty that not only affected me, but it affected them. It set a good example."

"I wasn't trying to…"

"No…you are a natural leader. You do these things without thought. Some things about leadership that I have learned, you haven't had to. You know already. And now that your powers are meeting up with that natural ability, it is time for you to change your role in the Gotei 13, Renji. I want you to take the next taicho's exam."

"Wha…huh? You want to run that by me again, Taicho? Because I know you can't have just said what I heard…"

"I said…it is time for you to advance."

"B-but, you just kicked my ass in battle and I barely put a scratch on you! I'm not strong enough to be…"

"Strength is only part of the whole…and while your strength hasn't matched mine yet…it is well on the way to doing so. And in any case, there are many other qualities that are equally important. In addition, while you go through the process of advancement, you and I will train together, so that when you reach the final steps and earn your haori, you will be ready to assume command."

Renji smiled.

"That sounds…wonderful, taicho. And…if you say that I am ready to advance, I trust that I must be."

"So, let's take a step forward together," Byakuya said, looking down into a rocky, shaded valley before them, "You have come to a snare and you have to disarm it. You must send a weaker fighter to spring the trap or you must rely on your own strength. I am the weaker fighter."

Renji nodded, thinking.

"I think I should go, myself. I mean…if I know you are weaker…"

Byakuya smiled tolerantly.

"Yet…if you become trapped, you have to depend on a weaker fighter to free you."

"But if I send the weaker fighter…I could lose him," Renji mused.

"Do you see it now?"

"What? That it's him or me? Taicho…"

"No," Byakuya said patiently, "that sometimes the answer isn't black and white…that sometimes it is your personality and style of leadership that will decide the unclear things. Take this snare. Which of us should spring the trap?"

"Me, of course," Renji said quickly, but then stopped, "Right?"

"I told you…sometimes command decisions must be based on your personality, style of leadership…instincts. Make the decision, Renji. Who will spring the trap?"

"Wait…you aren't supposed to be using your powers…and the one who stays here will have to. Logic says that you should go and spring the trap and I should hope like hell I don't make a mistake."

"Very well," Byakuya said, moving forward.

Renji bit back the urge to tell Byakuya to be careful and moved on silent feet into position at the top of the valley. Byakuya advanced cautiously, picking his way delicately through the rocks and honing in on the threat. He sensed the hollows all around them, carefully concealed and waiting. He leaked enough spiritual pressure to taunt them and slowly approached the place he judged they would spring the attack.

Teased by the promise of his reiatsu, the hollows moved too soon, giving him sufficient time to raise a strong shield as the horde rose up around him. At the top of the valley, Renji realized there were too many for his shikai to vanquish.

"Ban kai, Hihio Zabimaru!"

The skeletal snake roared to life and soared down into the valley, devouring scores of hollows as it went. He directed it around the surrounded taicho. But as the normal hollows fell away, Renji sensed something more powerful coming to life. He gazed down in horror as long black limbs began to shoot out of the rocks near Byakuya, fastening themselves on the entrapped taicho's shielding and beginning to engulf it. Renji flash stepped down into the valley, sending Zabimaru ahead of him.

"Hikotsu taihou!" he shouted, sending a blast of red fire into the rocks from which the black limbs extended.

The dark limbs quaked and then shot out in Renji's direction. The redhead turned Zabimaru and sent him on the attack again. This time, the black limbs shattered. He sent Zabimaru in to finish off the creature, then swept across the small valley, making certain it was clear of threats before flash stepping to Byakuya's side and watching as his shielding faded. The noble nodded appreciatively.

"Nicely done, Abarai. Well read and executed…and I only had to use a basic shield. The snare is cleared. Let's go home."

"Hai, Taicho," Renji said, breathlessly.

The redhead was quiet as they returned to the base and pensive as they passed through the senkaimon and back into the Seireitei. Byakuya left him to his thoughts and said nothing until they had reached the sixth division and finished filing their reports. He sat at his desk, pretending to read a document, but watching Renji out of the corner of one eye. He caught the furtive glances in his direction and a smile crept onto his lips. It was as he suspected. Renji was watching him carefully.

He is...concerned for me?

He waited for the next guarded glance and met Renji's eyes, surprising the redhead and making him flinch and blush.

"Abarai, is something wrong?" he asked, sounding unaffected.

"N-no, Taicho. Just…do you want me to make some tea?"

"Hai, tea would be good…arigato."

He watched as Renji left the room, then turned back to his work, trying to concentrate despite the sweet, warm feeling that had invaded his heart.

"Here you go, Taicho," Renji said in that calm, warm voice that gave him such peace.

"Arigato," he said quietly, sipping at the tea, "Sit down, Renji. I want to talk to you."

"O-kay, the redhead said, giving him an anxious look, "Is something else wrong, Taicho?"

"No. I have told you everything. What I wanted to discuss is something else."

"All right," said Renji, looking only a little less nervous, "What is it?"

"I want to tell you that...I am grateful to you."

"What?" queried the redhead, looking confused, "For what? What did I do? I mean, Taicho, I just...I turned on you."

"That is in the past," Byakuya said solemnly, "You have stood by me ever since Aizen Sousuke's betrayal. You have paid attention to my needs and listened when I needed to talk. I just want you to know what that means to me. We did not begin as friends, nor even allies really, but I would like to change that now."

"You want to...?"

"I would like what has formed between us to continue. I enjoy sharing tea with you and listening to you talk about whatever is on your mind. You usually seem nervous around me and stop talking because you think you are annoying me. You do not annoy me. In fact, in recent times, even before we came to understanding, you comforted me."

"I did?" asked the redhead, looking confused.

"You did. The way you were with me when Rukia's sentence was handed down and I...lost my senses that night. You safeguarded my honor, even knowing that I stood against my sister, whom you love like a sister, yourself."

"Well," said Renji, coloring, "It was the right thing to do. Whatever was wrong between us, I hated that seeing you hurt like that."

"Well again, I am grateful."

"No problem, Taicho," Renji said, smiling, "You had a lot going on then...what with Rukia and whoever that guy was who broke your heart."

Byakuya frowned.

"Who?"

"I don't know," Renji said, shaking his head, "but you were acting funny right before Aizen Sousuke betrayed us…and after he left, you were acting as though something hurt…not just your physical injuries, but something inside. I don't know who did it, but someone broke your heart, Taicho. I could feel it."

Byakuya sighed and closed his eyes.

"It was that obvious?" he asked softly.

Renji shook his head.

"Other people didn't notice, but I work with you all of the time, so I couldn't help but see the difference."

"You are very observant, Renji," Byakuya said softly, "I don't want to discuss that person, but I will admit that it is as you say."

Renji nodded.

"So…you are getting over someone."

"I have no choice but to move forward."

He met Renji's eyes questioningly.

"That is what you were concerned about…is it not? That I might still be…conflicted?"

Renji smiled.

"You are still conflicted, Taicho. Any person just falling out of love would be. But you can talk to me anytime. I'll listen and I won't judge. After everything, I owe you that."

Byakuya sighed.

"Thank you. There is nothing to do, really. The person is gone and not coming back. I just wish now that I had been more cautious. Then I wouldn't be in this situation."

Renji slipped a warm, rough hand into his.

"What situation is that?" he asked, looking down at their entwined fingers.

"I can't be with this person anymore. I was never really 'with' him in the first place…but our paths kept crossing and he was persistent. And I finally gave in to loving him. Then he disappeared. I know where he is…but if he had loved me, then he would have told me he was leaving. He wouldn't have disappeared the way he did. He isn't coming back for me…and I won't go after someone who doesn't want me. I think my energy is better spent finding love that is mutual."

Renji smiled.

"I think you will, Taicho. But first, you need to give yourself time to get over this guy. And...if you'll trust me, I can help you with that."

"Oh?" Byakuya asked, his heart catching softly in his chest.

"Yeah," said the redhead, "I'm not hitting on you here, so don't take this the wrong way. Come with me."

Curious, Byakuya stood and followed Renji out of the office, into the hallway, then into his quarters. Renji stopped the noble by the bed and looked at him questioningly.

"May I?" he asked, reaching for the tie at Byakuya's waist.

"I thought that you said..."

"I'm not hitting on you," Renji assured him, "This isn't the time for that. Just think of me...like one of those servants at your manor. I'll dress you for bed and then tonight, I'll lie down close to you, just so you don't feel alone."

"Oh, that is not..." the noble started to object.

But he stopped as those gentle hands freed him from his clothing and dressed him in a comfortable yukata. He laid down in the bed and turned off the light as Renji slid in next to him. He hesitated for a moment, then turned into Renji's warm, supportive arms.

"Renji," said Byakuya, tilting his head to look into the other man's warm, red-brown eyes, "You are...not interested in me at all?"

Renji chuckled softly, a soothing purr that rumbled through his strong chest.

"I didn't say that I wasn't interested in you, Taicho," he said, kissing the noble on the cheek, "I just said that I wouldn't hit on you."

"Oh!" Byakuya said, blushing, "Renji, that's..."

"Don't worry about it," laughed the redhead, "Just don't think about that now. You're still getting over someone."

Renji smirked, making the flustered noble's blush deepen.

"But when you're over him, just promise me you'll go out with me, okay?"

"Renji..."

"It's okay if you're not interested," Renji chuckled, "Just had to make sure you didn't overlook me."

"I would not do that," said Byakuya, yielding a small smile, "I think I would be open to dating...when I have resolved things."

"Okay," said the redhead, settling and pulling the noble close, "Let's get some sleep, Taicho. We need to get you over this guy good and quick!"