Author's Note: Welcome to chapter 3! I've recently hit a bit of a writer's block while hitting page 150ish of this story, but I am determined to pull through and finish this thing. Words of encouragement are greatly appreciated to help motivate me to finish this story. Anyways, this chapter is one of the last where we will see young B+R. Please enjoy! Don't forget to follow, fav, and review! It really helps.

Chapter 3 Trigger Warnings: Violence against a child

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Disclaimer: Bleach and its characters are the intellectual property of Kubo Tite. I do not own Bleach or its characters.


Byakuya could remember how horrifying it had been the first time he had handled the bones of his loved ones. He was only five years old at the time. He had been given a pair of large metal chopsticks that held some bone that had once been inside his mother's foot. Even then, he had stifled the urge to scream and run away while under the watchful eye of his grandpa. Now, at seventeen, he was holding a bone from Soujun's ribcage. He could vividly remember his father's gentle and reassuring look.

Now they were both gone. He wasn't even allowed to cry about it. He could feel his grandfather's warning gaze, should he embarrass the Kuchiki clan with any tears. He swallowed the lump in his throat, passing the piece of rib cage bone to his grandfather, who gently placed it in the urn.

Just a few more bones. He reminded himself. His hands shook as he picked through the cremated ashes of what had once been his gentle, handsome, caring father. Now he was just literal dust on the table before them.

Byakuya felt a gentle nudge to his side, not one of reassurance but another one of caution. He did his best to compose himself and stop his hands from shaking. He straightened his back and muffled the cry stuck in his throat. He, too, wished he could just become ash and be swept away.

The car ride home was incredibly quiet. Ginrei Kuchiki, his grandfather, had chosen not to address the young Kuchiki heir during the eternity of the bone picking ceremony. Now he addressed the young man in a firm tone.

"What good will those tears do you, Byakuya?"

Byakuya glanced up as mortified shock took over. His hands shook as they reached up to his tear-stained cheeks. He hadn't even realized he had been crying.

"Do tears bring back the dead? I was unaware." Ginrei's expression was unreadable.

Byakuya's entire frame started to shake. He bit down on his lip that had begun to quiver; he would be damned if he were to let his grandpa get the best of him.

"If it did," the young boy began, "I would cry enough to fill all the oceans."

Ginrei scoffed, "But it won't bring them back, will it?"

"Of course not." The younger Kuchiki was curt in his reply.

"Very well then, something we are in agreement on. No more tears."

The silence stretched again, and Byakuya tried to stifle his tears. He dug his fingernails into the palm of his hand to fight back his emotional turmoil.

"You have to start preparing." Ginrei folded his hands in his lap, gently clearing his throat, "I plan to let you become the head of the house as soon as you are of age. Unless you'd rather your aging grandfather take over all those duties?"

"No, sir." Byakuya managed.

"Very well then," Ginrei leaned forward, commanding Byakuya's attention. "It's about time you became a man then, isn't it?"

The dark-haired boy crumpled in on himself, managing a slight nod.

"Your father was kind and good. But he was too easy on you. Look at this, seventeen years old and still just acting like a child. This will not do."

Byakuya wanted to punch something, so he managed another nod instead.

"If you do not comply, I will be forced to take more…direct action." The dark silver eyes of the elder flashed with admonishment towards the younger.

Byakuya did not care to know what the warning implied. He straightened up and answered plainly, "Yes, sir. Understood."

"I know you are still visiting the Rukongai district and meeting with those street rat children. I overlooked it because of your father, but I'm afraid I can no longer be so lenient. You are being distracted from your duties as our future leader."

The young boy's throat burned, but he settled in his mind not to cry anymore as long as his grandpa was watching. "I understand."

Back at the manor, Byakuya began to pack a bag. He stopped when it came time to pack the white silk scarf his mother had left him. He held the smooth fabric to his face, remembering what he could of her sweet embrace. He then placed the sculpture he had purchased from Renji all those years ago into his bag. The little tin monkey made of shining aluminum was monetarily worthless, but its sentimental value could not be calculated.

Finally, the hairclips his father had left him. He had found them annoying and unstylish, but now he cradled them in his hands like precious jewels. Byakuya walked over to his vanity mirror, ignoring the purple bags of sleep-deprived exhaustion under his eyes. He used one of the clips to hold back some of his hair. He straightened up as he examined himself in the mirror. His dad would've been proud. He looked like a Kuchiki now.

Byakuya found himself admiring the cold, steely gaze he saw in the mirror's reflection. The torment and desolation seemed to evaporate from his body. No feelings were left inside. No more tears to cry. He resolved then not to cry over loss again if he could manage it.

Is this what grandfather wanted? Is this enough to call myself a 'Kuchiki'?

He was then startled by a light tapping at his window. He quickly went over to unlatch the hinge.

"Renji?" Byakuya called out in quiet shock, "You aren't supposed to be here. I had assumed we would just meet at our spot."

"Yeah, I know." Renji grinned sheepishly, "I was so damned worried about you. I couldn't wait."

"Well, hurry up and get inside." The smaller male quickly dragged his friend through the windowsill before anyone could catch a glimpse.

"Whoa," Renji's eyes twinkled as he examined the clips in the other's black hair. "These hair thingys look nice, for once. I like where you put 'em. Could I touch it?"

"Renji," Byakuya sighed, "You don't need to ask."

Renji held up his tanned and calloused hands, "With these dirty things? I feel it's probably a misdemeanor for my grubby hands to be on anything that expensive."

Suddenly those dirty hands were being grabbed and held by the much more slender, smooth ones.

"Hush." Byakuya spoke softly, "What does any of that matter? These hands helped you to survive. For that, I treasure them."

Renji's mouth was agape. A pinkish blush started on his cheeks and spread to his nose. He chose not to rebuke the compliment this time. Instead, he reached one of his hands up to the other boy's hair, touching the fine silver hair clip. Soon his fingers wandered, moving to relish in the soft, delicate texture of the surrounding dark hair. He didn't know if Byakuya would allow it, but he began to stroke the hair, impressed at how it slid through his fingertips like silk. Byakuya was perfect in every way. He always had been.

"Are you okay?" Renji finally broke the silence, not moving his hands from the other's hair.

"Okay, is a relative term." Byakuya's shoulders moved upwards in a half-hearted shrug. "I guess you could say I'm fine."

Renji's skilled fingers had moved towards the noble's scalp, gently moving small circles there. "Bullshit."

"Probably." Byakuya's eyelids fluttered closed as he enjoyed the massage. His mother used to scratch his scalp like this when he was a child.

When Renji finally pulled away, Byakuya found himself reaching out to keep him closer. Renji blinked with shock, and Byakuya quickly dropped his hands to his sides.

"Um," He tried to hide his fumble with his words, "I packed my bag."

"Nice." Renji chimed in, "Did you put all the fancy expensive shit in there too? I would love to see how much we can pawn some of it for."

"I did no such thing. That's a crime."

"Oh yeah, crimes," The redhead coughed, "I've never done any of those."

Byakuya rolled his eyes, chuckling softly.

"Hey, I made you laugh." Renji reached over for the rich boy's bag, looking inside before zipping it up. "Mission accomplished"

"Mission accomplished?" Byakuya mused, arching a brow.

Renji slung the heavy bag over his shoulder with ease. He turned towards his friend with a warm smile, "Of course. I've only ever wanted to make you smile."

Byakuya couldn't find the words to say. His cheeks turned the shade of cherry blossom petals. He quickly hid his embarrassment by turning away.

"Let me make sure I didn't forget anything." He used this excuse to walk away from the situation.

"If they catch us," Renji pondered while shifting his weight on his feet, "We are so fucked."

Byakuya finished pretending to look around the room, "I am aware."

"I'm sneaky, but your family is powerful. I hope we can even make it out of this damn manor."

The dark-haired boy's lips twisted downward, "I won't let them hurt you, but you ought to let me go first."

With newfound gusto, Byakuya took his satchel from Renji's shoulders and slung himself out of the window. Renji watched in surprise as Byakuya nimbly flew across the garden, first tossing his load over the fence before using long limbs to climb up himself. Once Byakuya was over to the other side, he signaled his friend to follow suit.

Renji crept down from the windowsill, checking his surroundings before dashing across the garden. That's when he heard the guard dogs.

"Fuck! You have hounds?" Renji quickened his pace as he ran for the gate.

Byakuya grasped onto the other side of the fence, calling out to Renji, "Come on, faster, faster!"

Renji threw himself up onto the fence only to be dragged down by the dog latched onto his pant leg. He cried out in pain, groaning as he tried to tear his leg away and make his escape.

"Renji!" Byakuya called out hopelessly from the other side.

"I got it, I got it." Renji clenched his jaw and dislodged his leg from the dog's grasp with one swift solid kick, sending the pooch falling backward. Renji used this chance to reach the top, dropping down from the fence in a heap of sweat and blood.

"Oh God," Byakuya ran to Renji's side, examining the damage done to the back of the other's leg, "We… We do not have guard dogs. I don't know where that dog came from."

"Seems your gramps is upping the security around here to keep people like me out." He chuckled despite himself.

"Can you even run? The guards will catch us soon." The fear in Byakuya's voice was once again palpable.

"That's a negative, captain." Renji moved his leg up towards his chest with a wince. "You know, Byakuya, you should just make a run for it. You will be in so much trouble if you're seen with me."

"How dare you." Stormy grey eyes swirled, revealing a fire somewhere deep within, "I will never leave your side."

The redhead sat still, shocked. Tears pricked the corners of his eyes. Nobody had ever said something like that to him before. Before he could argue, Byakuya was tossing the other's arm over his shoulder, using all his strength to pull his friend up.

Renji limped along, grinding his teeth together to put up with the pain. They would never make it at this pace. He could hear the guard's call from the entrance of the manor. Judging by his previous experiences with being caught, they had about a minute.

"Hey, listen," Renji stopped hobbling, turning towards his friend, "We won't make it. Please just run."

"Did you hear me, Abarai?!" Byakuya's eyes were ablaze, a shining, furious silver light, "I am not leaving!"

Renji choked on the feelings that welled up from his chest and into his throat, into his heart. "Byakuya…" He cried out the other's name quietly, "Why?"

"When are you going to get it through that thick fucking skull?" The enraged noble yelled, "You are my best friend. My only companion in the whole world."

Knowing that their time was almost out, the tanned redhead sank. He could still see Byakuya's beautiful, incandescent eyes through the tears that began to cloud his vision.

"I love you." Renji's voice cut through the agony and the sobs, ringing clearly through the chaos.

Then he pulled Byakuya in, finishing what they had started the week prior. That kiss. That sweet kiss.

Byakuya's stiff body melted into Renji's as their lips collided. He felt fireworks erupt in his chest; tiny sparks of joy warmed him to the core. He had never felt so alive.

Hands found their way to one another's hair, tangling there as they deepened this gravely important and final kiss. The future was unstable and full of doubt. But at this moment, they could feel only the inklings of love on each other's lips. They both wished they could bottle this moment and keep it trapped forever. But quickly, reality dawned on them as they heard the shout of one of the guards.

"Over there!"

The kiss ended abruptly; crimson eyes met silver as they pulled away from their embrace. There was no time for words as Byakuya grabbed hold of Renji once more in an attempt to escape. Their efforts were futile.

They caught Renji first, quickly grabbing onto the back of his shirt as they ripped him away from the young noble.

"Let him go!" Byakuya roared out, flinging himself at the guard, "I am a Kuchiki. You obey me. I said let him go!" Byakuya pushed and screamed and punched at the impenetrable guard without prevailing.

"Kuchiki Byakuya, stop this at once." The man who he least wanted to see called out to him.

Byakuya turned sharply away from the guard, spitting through his teeth towards his grandpa, "Release my friend at once!"

"Friend?" Ginrei raised a slender silver brow, "Do you usually kiss your friends?"

The infuriated young noble snapped, throwing himself at his grandpa in a fit of rage, "It's none of your fucking business what I do! Stay away from me! Stay away from him!"

The older man endured Byakuya's hits for a moment until Ginrei disabled the younger Kuchiki by the neck.

Renji managed to howl out while being restrained, "Don't you fucking hurt him, you bastard!"

"Incredulous. Demeaning. Humiliating." Ginrei's string of insults continued on while he had his grandson held by the throat, "That's the mark you have left on this family. Are you happy now?"

The finger's around Byakuya's neck slowly began to release, "Haven't you done enough already to desecrate the memory of your parents?"

As Byakuya was released, he gasped out for air, clutching the marred skin of his neck with both of his slender hands.

"Now this!" Ginrei threw up his hands in disbelief, "Kissing filthy slum boys on the manor grounds. Sullying the very soil on which this family stands. Disgraceful."

The young Kuchiki crumpled to the ground, cradling his sore neck as he gently cried out, "I want my dad."

"As do I! I have no clue as to how to deal with you. Somehow, he could get through this daft head of yours."

A moment passed, and the only sound was Byakuya's gentle cry of pain.

"Now, as for you." Ginrei gestured to the redhead, who was still restrained, "You will be taken straight to juvenile hall to be arrested."

"Grandfather!" Byakuya protested again.

"Silence, Byakuya. This boy is an intruder. A lowlife thief. Surely he has already been there for his many crimes."

Byakuya glanced back at his friend with reddened eyes full of agony. He gritted his teeth before getting onto his knees, bowing before his grandpa. He pushed his forehead to the sidewalk below as he begged.

"Grandfather, I beg of you to spare him," Byakuya spoke as clearly and formally as he could manage with his face pressed to the ground.

Ginrei glanced down at the begging boy with amusement in his dark grey eyes. His gaze shifted between the Rukongai redhead and the noble boy at his feet. He pondered the plea for a moment.

"Very well, Byakuya." Ginrei's words sliced through the silent tension, "But are you willing to take his place?"

Renji clearly began to struggle again, shaking his head furiously, "Byakuya, no! Let me go! Just give it up!"

Byakuya pushed his head into the concrete below, deepening his bow as the gravel dug into his knees. "I'll do anything."

Ginrei chuckled at the ludicrous display, "I won't send my own grandson to jail. Can you imagine how that would look? However," The elder warned with folded arms, "You will be sent away to a boarding school. Far away from here, you may learn to never sully our family name again."

Byakuya held back the tears that threatened to stain the concrete below. He would do whatever it took to keep Renji safe. He pushed his forehead down again, embedding small bits of dirt and gravel within his pristine skin, "Understood."

Ginrei seemed satisfied with this display of obedience. He may very well be on his way to taming the unruly boy.

"Oh," He turned back once more towards Renji and the guards, "Take the trash back to the dump where it belongs, would you?" With that, the elder was off, back towards the inner confines of the manor.

Byakuya quickly pushed himself up from the ground, blood on his forehead and knees as he finally let his tears flow freely, "Renji…"

His orphaned friend was already being dragged away; no care was given to the injured leg he dragged behind him. Renji, too, had been crying. But he pushed through the tears to manage a grin.

"Stay outta trouble, would ya?" Renji choked out through his cries, "Thank you for being my friend."

"Don't say that." Byakuya's fist struck the ground below in frustration and torment, "Our friendship doesn't end today, tomorrow, or any day after that."

Renji's aching smile persisted and grew as he was almost out of sight, "I am glad to hear that. I hope when you see a summer night's sky, you always think of all the fun we had."

Byakuya yelled out as Renji was pulled out of sight, "I will find you again someday!"

He wasn't sure if his voice had made it to his friend, and it was too late now to say anything more. Byakuya merely caved into the feelings that wracked his heart. He folded and fell to the ground below, where he stayed for a long time.