A/N You all thought I died, didn't you? :P Well, I don't blame you. I seriously don't know how long I've left this story (6 months? 7?), and I apologize profusely. I also apologize for the fact that this chapter is obnoxiously short. I was writing it a while ago, and I was all excited because I got to a stopping point, and then I looked back and said, "Oh, crap, it's so short," and I didn't post it because of that, and then Renji decided that he didn't want to stay in character anymore, so I stopped and rewrote it and decided to post anyway (so if he's OOC that's why). So yeah. There you go. Again, I apologize for my inability to post chapters. Sorry! Please enjoy anyway.

"Renji."

The forcefully spoken word made the redhead jerk awake, his head snapping up from its position on top of his desk. Renji glanced up in confusion at his captain, still disoriented from sleep.

"Wha- I mean, uh-" He stood frantically, trying to make it seem as if he hadn't been asleep. "Uh, Kuchiki-taicho, I was just, uh-" Renji gathered some of the papers he'd been drooling on, and began fussing with them. "I was just, uh, doing this paperwork, and I-" While trying to prove that he'd been working, Renji successfully scattered the papers onto the office floor.

Sighing and swearing under his breath, the flustered redhead bent down to pick them up. However, as soon as he lowered himself to the ground, a small hand with a fistful of papers was thrust into his face.

Renji stared at the toddler, dazedly taking the papers from him; the small boy giggled happily and ran back around Renji's desk to Byakuya's side. The lieutenant looked in bewilderment at his captain. Kuchiki Byakuya was not the type to let little kids roam around any office belonging to him (that was Ukitake-taicho's forte), but the noble seemed unperturbed by the boy's presence.

A shocking thought struck the redhead. Is that his kid?

Then, even more shocking. Someone had a kid with Kuchiki-taicho?

"Uh, taicho?" Renji asked tentatively. He was answered by an indifferent glare from his captain.

"Who he is has no effect on you, Renji," Byakuya said, his icily calm tone in place. "All that is of importance to you is that you watch him while I attend the captain's meeting today."

"Watch him?" Renji blurted. He had never really been in prolonged contact with such a young child before; the idea of being responsible for a kid, especially Byakuya's kid, was terrifying. "Kuchiki-taicho," he began hurriedly, "isn't there anyone-"

But the redhead was interrupted by the arrival of a jigokucho. The delicate black insect landed gracefully on Byakuya's outstretched fingers. There was a moment of silence as the Kuchiki took in the message, then the butterfly flew away.

"The time of the meeting has moved up," Byakuya said. "I must leave now." The captain turned to leave, pausing at the door. "Do not fail me, Renji," he warned. The noble then left the office (via shunpo), leaving his lieutenant alone with the child.

Yeah, I know. So short... But I am working on the next chapter right now, and I promise it will be out by June. :) Hope you liked it! Review plz!