Chapter 3

The first thought that entered Renji's mind when he awoke was: he hoped the hollow who had smashed in his head, had died slowly and painfully. The room was spinning even before he opened his eyes. He was sure if death had an aftertaste, that's what lingered on his tough.

But then he remembered he had not been fighting hollows the night before; he was back in Soul Society, and had been drinking- a lot.

The second thought that Renji had, pushed the first straight out of his head. As he stirred, he felt the warmth of a hard body half underneath him, and the weight of a hand resting on his chest.

He stilled, feeling the rise and fall of the chest against his shoulders; the soft breath blowing in his hair.

Who…?

He opened his eyes slowly, blinking against the soft rays of sunlight kissing the skin of his face. He took in the ceiling, the window, the Sixth Division roster hanging on the wall.

Home? When did I come home?More importantly, who was lying underneath him? He sat up slowly, and almost groaned as the room tilted. His vision swam, and he had to press the heels of his palms into his eye sockets for a few seconds.

When he felt he would not fall over, he lowered his hands, and turned his head slowly.

Shuuhei lay on his back behind him. His left arm was outstretched, and the skin of his shoulder was red where Renji's head had been resting. The sunlight played across his face, and touched the spikes of his dark hair making the tips seem almost purple.

Renji's shoulders relaxed a little. Should have known, he thought, Shuuhei would make sure I made it home alright.

Although, that didn't explain why he was still here…

Renji tried to tear his eyes from the sleeping shinigami. Shuuhei was very attractive all the time, but he was downright gorgeous when he slept. The hard lines in his forehead were smooth, and the tension in his jaw was gone.

Facing forward again, Renji scrubbed his face with his hands. This didn't make any sense. Shuuhei hadn't been drinking last night so why was he crashed in Renji's quarters? For that matter, why had Shuuhei been cuddling with him?

Not that I'm complaining… But I don't know if I can handle this right now…

Reaching his arms back, he pulled his fingers through his hair and separated the mass into three sections. Pulling it over his shoulder, he started a braid. The motion calmed him, and he began to think a little clearer.

Everything after arriving at the tavern was hazy. He could remember some conversation, and Yumichika flirting with Kira, but not much more. Maybe he was wrong and Shuuhei had started drinking. That would explain at least a little.

I hope he's not pissed when he wakes up…

As if on cue, he heard a deep sigh as Shuuhei started to stir. He tensed slightly, and then heard Shuuhei's lazy voice.

"Morning…"

X x X x X x XShuuhei woke when Renji sat up, but he kept his eyes closed. He wanted to see Renji's reaction to his being there, and hoped the red head was less likely to immediately beat the shit out of him if he was still sleeping.

He lay still as death, concentrating on deep even breaths as Renji turned to look at him. It took every drop of his resolve to appear peaceful while waiting for an attack. He felt Renji's eyes all over him, and he was about to give up and say- "Alright! Alright! You caught me! I'm awake!"- When he felt the other man turn back around.

Alright, faze one complete: Not Dead.

He opened his eyes, and immediately had to choke back a gasp.

Renji sat in a pool of sunlight. It danced across his skin, making the bronze glow and his accretion of tattoos seem almost glossy. His hair was a cascade of crimson. It reflected the light, making the strands shine like copper.

Shuuhei wanted desperately to reach up and tangle his hands in that hair. Bury his face in the wine colored locks and lose himself in Renji's scent.

That was why he almost lost it when Renji raised his arms and started playing with it. No, not playing… His movements were deliberate. His fingers worked three sections over his shoulder and started to form a thick braid.

Lying there, Shuuhei realized that watching Renji braid his hair in the soft morning light was the sexiest thing he had ever seen.

He also realized that he had become so aroused, it was getting painful. His erection strained under the folds of his hakama, thick and hot.

Shit.

He couldn't risk Renji turning back around and seeing him in this state; time to 'wake up'.

He first pulled a leg up to shield as much of his growing problem as he could. Then he stretched and sighed deeply, like he'd heard his partners do many times before in the early mornings.

He saw Renji tense and quickly tried to ease the situation.

"Morning…" he said, nonchalantly as he could.

Renji finished braiding and cleared his throat.

"M… morning…"

"How's your head?"

"I'm surprised it's still attached."

Shuuhei snickered. Good, faze two complete: Renji Still Talks To You…

Renji glanced over his shoulder, but not directly at Shuuhei.

"Do you…" he started, stopped, and then started again, "Do you know where my hair tie is?"

Shuuhei lifted his head. "Uh, yeah," Looking around he saw the band lying beside the futon where he had discarded it the night before. He sat up, and handed it to Renji. "Here…"

Renji accepted it with a soft 'thank you', and secured his hair.

Shuuhei scooted forward to sit beside his friend.

"Did you sleep okay?" he asked.

Renji nodded, but his brow started to furrow.

Shuuhei noticed, and a knot tightened in his stomach. He didn't want to ask, but he had to.

"What's wrong?"

Renji still didn't look at him. He just gazed intently at the sheets, and nervously stoked his braid.

"I was…" he swallowed, "I was just wondering why you were… still here."

Just tell him the truth.

"I helped you home last night, and you asked me to stay… so I stayed."

Renji's stare lifted to Shuuhei's chest.

"I asked you to?"

Shuuhei shrugged, "Yeah…"

The red head finally lifted his eyes to look at his friend. Shuuhei expected to see confusion, or maybe even annoyance. But to his surprise, the brown gaze held a calm delight. There was almost happiness reflected back at him.

Shuuhei felt a little giddy.

"You stayed just because I asked?" Renji was almost smiling.

Shuuhei looked away. He felt a slight heat on his cheeks, and couldn't look the beautiful man in the face anymore.

"It's no big deal," he shrugged again, "It's not like it's the first time we've slept together."

It was Renji's turn to snicker.

"That was in a cave with like eight other people."

Shuuhei grinned, "You still cuddled with me."

"Did not!"

"Oh yes you did!" Shuuhei laughed, and dodged the punch aimed for his shoulder.

"Oi…" Renji stopped laughing, and brought his hands to his temples, "Stop making me laugh. My head hurts."

Shuuhei got to his feet, and moved toward the other room.

"Where are you going?" Renji groaned after him.

"Hold on!" Shuuhei called from the kitchen.

X x X x X x X

Shuuhei returned a few seconds later with a glass of water. He sat down, and fished a small package out of his haori. He opened it, and pulled out a small pill. He handed the pill and the glass of water to Renji.

Renji frowned at the pill in his hand. "What is this?"

"I take them for anxiety." Shuuhei explained, "They really help with nausea too."

Renji popped the pill and downed the water without another word. Anything to make the throbbing stop.

Shuuhei began folding up the small package. Delicately, carefully, every crease was folded back exactly the way it was before, in the same order.

Renji watched the meticulous folding and chuckled.

"Don't make fun of me," Shuuhei frowned, "not this early in the morning."

"They have a word for what you do in the real world." Renji said thoughtfully, "Ishida was talking about it once. He kinda does it too."

"Really?" Shuuhei smiled, "what is it?"

"I don't remember exactly."

Shuuhei snorted. "Well if they have a word for it, then lots of people must do it. So it can't be that weird."

"Well, they have a word for people who talk to trees too. And that is weird."

"Shut up!" Shuuhei was laughing again, "I don't do anything weird like talk to trees. I just like to… fix stuff."

"And wash your hands all the time."

"Yeah, and wash my hands all the time."

"And count under your breath while you're walking."

"Okay, okay!"

"So you're weird."

Shuuhei sighed in resignation. Renji watched and grinned as pink spread from his friends cheeks and down his neck as he put the package back in his haori.

Conversation was so comfortable with Shuuhei; it always had been. He had missed it more than he realized.

He watched as Shuuhei lifted his gaze to look at the tattoos on his arms. Renji kept watching as his friend's attention moved up his braid… to the tattoos on his neck… his mouth… his forehead. There it stopped, and he got one of his intense expressions.

"Hisagi," Renji whispered.

"Huh?" Shuuhei said distracted.

"You're looking at me funny."

"Sorry." Shuuhei said, but didn't look away. He reached up, and pushed back a loose strand of red hair.

Renji's grin disappeared at the contact, but he didn't pull away. He just stared at Shuuhei's face as the slighter shinigami pulled back pieces of seditious hair, and tucked them back with the rest. He loved it when people played with his hair. Shuuhei's fingers were gentle; every movement was precise, but delicate. Renji sighed softly as his eyes started to close. He wanted to lean into Shuuhei's touch, to feel that caress on his face, his neck… But he held himself steady, knowing that Shuuhei wouldn't appreciate that at all. He was just fixing his hair.

Because that's what Shuuhei did. He fixed stuff.

"I missed you Renji…"

Renji's eyes snapped open. He wasn't sure which had startled him more- the fact Shuuhei had actually called him by his given name, or that he had said it in the sexiest voice Renji had ever heard: Deep and throaty, almost a growl. But still soft, just like his touch.

Renji's traitorous mind thought for an instant if that's what he sounded like when he…

STOP!

Shuuhei seemed to have realized what he had said a moment later. He froze, and pulled his hand away quickly.

"Sorry," he said with wide eyes, "I can't help it."

Can't help being sexy as fuck? Yeah, I know!

"It's okay…" Renji coughed, and to ease the tension he added, "Weirdo."

"Shut up…" his smile had returned, "Lush."

Before Renji could hit him, Shuuhei was on his feet straightening his hakama and running his hands through his hair.

"What do you have to do today?" He asked.

Renji shrugged, "Kuchiki Taichou will have something no doubt." He was dreading the encounter with his Captain that afternoon. Kuchiki Byakuya had been called into a meeting the day before so Renji hadn't seen him yet. He was sure his Taichou had mountains of paperwork waiting for him.

Shuuhei located his tabi, and moved toward the door.

"Well, if you have time tonight," Shuuhei said, "come find me and I'll buy you dinner."

Renji was surprised to see the other man flush suddenly, and must have been staring at him for a while because Shuuhei started to shift his feet uncomfortably.

"Or… you don't have to…"

Renji shook his head. "No! No, sounds good! I'll come find you! I'm going to have to go out anyway, I don't have anything here."

Shuuhei smiled again, and opened the door.

"Alright, I'll see you later."

Renji watched as Shuuhei closed the door behind him.

"Later."

He fell back on the bed and closed his eyes.

What the hell just happened?

X x X x X x X

"Abarai-san!" Someone called, "Oi, Abarai-san! Welcome back!"

Renji smiled and waved, but cringed on the inside. People had been bombarding him with greetings, good-lucks, and pats on the back all morning. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate them; it was just a little overwhelming for him at the moment. Especially, now that he was heading toward his Captain's office. Thank the gods Shuuhei had given him that pill. Not only had it helped with the nausea, but it had also relaxed his muscles, quelling his anxiety ever so slightly.

He passed a few more enthusiastic rookies, and a small group of female shinigami who tittered and giggled as he politely bowed and scurried away.

Now he stood before the Sixth Division offices, clenching his fists, and trying to slow his heartbeat.

No good standing here. He already knows you're here…

He pushed open the door, and stuck his head in.

"Kuchiki Taichou?" He breathed.

Inside, he saw Kuchiki Byakuya sitting at his desk drinking tea. He was facing away, looking out the window.

"Come in Abarai." His Captain's voice was deep and airy. It would be seductive if it wasn't so terrifying.

The moment Renji slipped inside the office and closed the door, he felt the familiar reiatsu pressing on him. But it didn't seem as stifling as it once was.

Hang around Ichigo enough and everyone else's reiatsu seems wussy…

"I regret that I was not here for your return Abarai. I was called away on trivial matters. If I had a choice I would have seen you yesterday."

Renji shifted uncomfortably, "No, I understand Taichou, you had important things to do. It doesn't matter."

Byakuya turned to face him. He was still perfect as ever; not a blemish on his porcelain skin, not a hair out of place. He set down his tea cup and perfectly manicured fingers laced together and rested under his nose.

"It does matter Abarai. My Fukutaichou returning after two years of field work is a significant occurrence. I sincerely apologize."

Renji was stunned- his Captain was apologizing to him? There must be a catch… Or this was a test... Maybe it was the pill...

Byakuya regarded him for a few moments; a few moments which stretched an eternity for Renji. He felt he was standing there naked and dirty, and his Captain was deciding the best way to clean him off.

Finally Byakuya spoke.

"You need a haircut…"

Renji let out the breath he was holding; of course it was something like that. Byakuya always had some kind of advice for him on how to be less of a ruffian, something to remind the tattooed shinigami that he was still a stray dog from Rukongai's 78th district.

This was really why he hadn't been happy about seeing his Captain.

"I kinda like it Taichou…" Renji challenged.

But to his surprise, Byakuya just shrugged. "Alright," he sighed, "whatever you like Abarai."

WOA! What that hell?! Is Taichou sick?!

"Excuse me Taichou?" Renji was gawking; this had to be a test.

"I'm not going to be telling you what to do forever Abarai," Byakuya sighed again, "Do what you want with your hair. I must admit I have always found it… alluring. The color anyway…"

Renji had only been this shocked one other time, and that was when a fifteen year old human kid had come blazing into Soul Society and beaten the shit out of him.

"I'm… not following Taichou… Are you testing me or something?" He knew the best way talk to Byakuya, was to be straightforward with him.

His Captain looked at him with intense eyes. "You'll be able to do whatever you want with your appearance when you make Captain, Abarai."

Renji blinked several times and swallowed thickly. Did he just say 'when' I become Captain?

Renji wondered vaguely if he had drunk himself retarded the night before.

This is so surreal...

"I don't know how likely that is Taichou…" he looked at the floor, "I think I may have screwed up a few too many times."

Byakuya still regarded him with that piercing gaze. "You don't think you'll make it?"

Renji, still looking at the floor, shook his head slowly.

Lowering his hands, Byakuya sat forward slightly.

"Is that what's bothering you?"

Renji looked back up into the dark eyes, suddenly defensive. "Who said anything's bothering me? I'm fine… just a little on edge about the board. I don't really give a shit about making Captain or not."

Byakuya relaxed back in the chair, one eyebrow lifted.

"Just as I thought…" He said in almost a whisper.

Renji was getting mad. He took a few steps toward the desk and griped the edge, fingernails digging into the polished wood.

"What did you think? What the hell is this?"

Byakuya folded his hands, and placed them under his nose again.

"I was just confirming by sight, what I had suspected in your voice."

Now Renji was mad and frustrated.

I need to be careful; this pill is making my head fuzzy...

He managed a quick, "Huh?"

Byakuya sighed for a third time, and Renji bit back the "You're gonna make yourself pass out" that burned on his tough.

"Over the last few months, when you would call in for reports, I noticed something in your voice. A slight… change in timber if you would. But I couldn't be sure until I saw you face to face."

Renji stood and crossed his arms, "You're kinda creeping me out Taichou."

"I apologize."

"Please don't apologize, that creeps me out too."

Byakuya just sat and looked at him. It seemed the more uncomfortable Renji got, the more relaxed his Captain became. It wasn't fair; Renji didn't want to play this game anymore.

"I really don't want to talk about this Taichou. Can you just give me whatever paperwork or assignments you're going to give me?"

Byakuya smiled beneath his hands. "I have no assignments for you Abarai. I want you to relax these next few days. Maybe take some time to try and clear up whatever is bothering you."

Renji backed away from the desk as if he'd been struck. He could take his Captain's snide remarks, his distaste, and his constant suggestions of improvement…

But he could not take his pity.

Seething, the red head straightened. "Okay then, I'll just be going. Thank you for your time. I'll report to you tomorrow."

He turned stiffly toward the exit, desperate to get out of the office. Desperate to find some far away corner and scream his head off until his lungs exploded.

Byakuya's voice stopped him as he opened the door.

"Abarai…"

Renji clenched his jaw. "What," he said through his teeth.

"Whatever happened in the real world that's dragging you down like this… you need to find a way to fix it. It's over now… This is where you belong."

The words stung; they tore at Renji's heart. Every nerve, every muscle, every fiber of the tall shinigami's being wanted to turn around and scream at Byakuya. Scream how he had no idea what he was going through, no fucking idea how much he didn't want to belong here anymore. How much he just wanted to go back to the real world and be with Ichigo. It didn't matter that the stupid asshole didn't love him. Renji just wanted to be with him.

But with outstanding resolve, that surprised even himself, he turned his head and nodded.

"Thank you Kuchiki Taichou. I'll try."

With that he left, and mentally padded himself on the back for not slamming the door.

To be continued…