CHAPTER THREE

"Abarai, while I understand that I have no right to interfere with your private life, I do however expect you to separate your personal life from your work. You would do the reputation of this squad good not to bring your conquests into your office." Renji was about to retort at the 'conquest' bit, but a look from Byakuya silenced him. Seeing as his lieutenant was not going to be interrupting his reprimand Byakuya continued his speech. "If my memory serves me well and I assure you it does, I do recall being the object of your affection. And while I do not return those feelings I would advise you not to publicly perform a dental check with your tongue on that barbarian's 5th seat, rather you should spend that time training and improving on your Kido, you are yet to surpass me after all."

Renji could only stare at his captain, blinking rapidly and trying to process the crap that had just come out from his captain's lips… his very pretty soft, pink lips… 'No time to be distracted Abarai' He mentally scolded himself.

"Taichō, what are you saying?"

"Abarai, you are aware of how much I dislike repeating myself."

Renji simply nodded and walked out of the office to his own, like a puppet being controlled by a puppeteer's strings.

-0-

As Renji had predicted, EVERYONE had heard about the little scene. of course, some had created their versions; most of which involved an underdressed Yumichika spread on his desk, the thought made Renji shudder. Considering his shitty luck, he wasn't surprised when ended up having a pile of documents that needed Kenpachi's signature, something about joint training sessions between the two squads. Renji knew he could just send a lower seated officer to deliver the documents, but if there was one thing he learnt at squad 11, it was that sending someone else to fix your problems was the 'pansy-ass' way (Kenpachi and Ikkaku's words of course) Besides he needed to talk to Ikkaku and hopefully the bald shinigami would listen to his explanation instead of killing him with Hōzukimaru.

As he walked to squad 11, Renji couldn't help but note the creepy and disgusted looks that were directed his way, some bastards even had the guts to shake their heads disapprovingly at him. And all Renji could think of was wringing Yumichika's neck, it was all the little bastard's fault! On arriving at the squad, Renji noted that there seemed to be fewer Officers around, and those who were there were definitely avoiding making any form of eye contact with him. On another note, the flamboyant bastard was nowhere to be found and considering the fact that his head was still intact he found himself wondering where Ikkaku was.

Sadly his good luck ended the moment the shinigami in question came out… heading towards him like a predator stalking his prey, his eyes filled with barely concealed anger, it most definitely did not help that Kenpachi was behind Ikkaku, also walking towards him looking VERY amused. Yachiru appeared from who knows where, perched on Ikkaku's head and whispered something to the bald man. Whatever it was made Ikkaku turn back, although his face showed he was far from pleased about it.

Renji's attention was so fixated on Ikkaku that he hadn't noticed that Kenpachi was now inches away from him, by the time he noticed it, the maniac had a smirk on his face that if Renji was to be honest with himself – was quite sexy. Of course, he quickly dismissed the idea of Kenpachi being sexy, which didn't do any good because the giant closed the distance between them in one step, making Renji extremely conscious of the height difference. The redhead opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by a rough and passionate kiss from Kenpachi.

"Not bad Red, I can see why the fruitcake likes ya."

And thus Renji stood there completely blown away; he most definitely hadn't expected THAT from Kenpachi of all people. If he was thinking correctly he might have noticed Yumichika who was behind Yachiru laughing his ass off, he also would have noticed the mischievous gleam in the bastard's eyes. Of course, the only thing he somehow noticed was the look of utter horror in Ichigo's eyes… all he could think of was why the hell Ichigo was there in the first place!

His brain started scrambling to register clues he had missed earlier such as the numerous slashes on Kenpachi and Ichigo, the sand in Ichigo's hair, the tattered Shihakushō on both Ichigo and Kenpachi… Shit! Ichigo was sparring with Kenpachi and had probably been Seireitei all along.

Next Chapter: Renji and Yumichika go clubbing and Ichigo is pretty much scared for life.