A/N: I have a difficult time with light, fluffy stories. I wanted to write something different, kinda out of my comfort zone... heh, I really wanted PWP... I think I'm seriously failing! I'll definitely go lighter in Ch.3.-- gomen!

Chapter 2

"…yeah, I'll be in the studio tomorrow…. " Shuhei overheard, as he walked by Abarai's bedroom on his way to the 'office' that they shared; it was followed by a self deprecating chuckle, "…well, glorified warehouse is more like it." The words were getting less distinct as he walked farther away from the open doorway, "I can meet you for lunch, though… you wanna stop by? Let me give you the address…"

Hmm… Rukia, maybe? Would that mean… Ichigo? A small smile appeared on the brunette's face; perhaps he could use some lunch too…

As the redhead hung up the phone with his childhood friend, he couldn't help but look over at his other phone... the business phone. Eight nights had rolled by since Renji had spoken with Byakuya. He had hoped the guy would have called back and become a regular client. That voice... like whiskey-over-velvet, so refined, so controlled... There was something about it that had gotten the redhead hooked from the first word. Great... he snorted, wasn't it supposed to be the opposite way around? Wasn't he supposed to hook the client to call him back? Renji looked at the clock in his nightstand, 10:23pm.... night number nine, no new client. All he could do was wait.

The doorbell buzzed, letting him know he had guests in his studio.

"I'm in back!" the redhead yelled; he was washing up in the large sink, up to his elbows in soap and clay residue. Renji anticipated it was Rukia, by the time on the clock on the wall, and assumed she'd just walk in anyway. He finished rinsing off; and began walking toward the front of the studio, wiping off his dripping arms with an old towel.

"Renji!" she exclaimed, finding her way to him, looking around animatedly at all his life's ambitions, "…this is wonderful!

"Hey, thanks!" he responded, pleasantly surprised at her excitement, "Lemme to show you around…"

Renji gave a nod to the shadow trailing her.... Ichigo. He hadn't really decided what to make of the guy... well, he had made the first move last time; he could do it again.

He led the way through his studio, basically an industrial space he rented in the business district of the city. All of his work was displayed here, whether finished or not. His more favored items got a piece of wall space or a place off to one side where he displayed his sculptures; most of them ceramic, a few others made of experimental materials he had tried, like wood or metal.

He explained his motivation for some pieces, otherwise, just showed him what he had. Towards the back of the studio again, in front of a giant cube of raw marble, Rukia paused.

"Oh, Renji..." she sighed, marveling at the beast that loomed halfway out of the rock, "this is really extraordinary!" Rukia could see that it was only partially done, the head of the creature was very large, the eyes and bones of the face fierce and proud. The chest and fore feet also appeared, large and muscular. The strength inherent in the creature was palpable, even in this primitive stage.

Renji looked up into the marble statue, his pride and joy. It had cost him eight months income, a lot of haggling, and a lot of nights of cereal for dinner to purchase this stone; but he could see the creature wanting to be released from its mortal confines. He could feel this creature inside him.

"It's a nue," he described, "a mythical creature in Japanese folklore. It may have various forms, but in this one, I'm creating the head and upper body of a baboon, the lower body and stripes of a tiger, and the tail of a snake."

"… Beautiful, Renji… Really.." the sincerity in Rukia's voice heartened him, "... all of it, you have an amazing skill and talent with paint and sculpture..."

Not having heard much praise before, he couldn't help but blush a little, "Thanks Rukia…" then he chuckled, rubbing a hand against the back of his neck, "…boy, you sure know how to make a guy feel awkward."

She shot him an indignant look, "I was just complimenting you! Tsk. See if I ever do it again…" she finished sulkily.

Renji nudged her in the shoulder, smirking at her. She smirked back.

Rukia looked around and noted that Ichigo was not within eyesight. Curiously, she back tracked around the studio, and found him staring at a cityscape hanging on the wall.

Painted entirely in shades of blue and white, it was eccentric in color and design... the skyscrapers were stark and cold, harsh... while the clouds were soft and dreamlike. The features were perpendicular to each other, like either the clouds were skimming by side wards, or the building was lying on its side.

Ichigo stood there, gazing into the painting... Renji was surprised to see an almost wistfulness attach itself to the young man's face. Now, he seemed so much younger than Renji had thought he was...

"Ya like that one?" the redhead asked.

"Yeah," came a quiet, reserved voice, softer than the thuggish one he used the other night, "…this one's kinda cool. Can I buy it? How much?"

It was a fairly large piece-- the oil on canvas itself was a 6x4 foot item; Renji did not do small pieces of art. Everything was large, full scale; just like the man himself.

"If you wanna walk it outta here as is, I'll pull the canvas off the frame and roll it up for you for $800. If you want me to frame it for you and ship it somewhere, anywhere between $1600-$2000."

"Ahh... I probably won't have anywhere to hang it for a while," Ichigo thought out loud, scratching at the back of his head, "…so I'll just take the canvas." He reached into his back pocket to pull out his wallet, and counted out eight bills.

"Sure thing," Renji replied, as he hunted around for some pliers to pull the staples off the back. He fished around in a couple of drawers and came up with the pliers and some fabric and rope ties. He carefully pulled the cityscape off the frame, rolled it up, and tied it off. He roped it in a way that Ichigo could simply sling it on his back to carry around.

Finishing off the transaction, Ichigo turned to the redhead with his hand out for a handshake… and a peace offering. "Thanks, Renji... you got some nice stuff here… and, I, uh… didn't mean to be a jerk the other night."

Renji smiled back, shook the proffered hand... "No problem Ichigo. Thanks, really... Hey, let's go have that lunch, eh?" He laughed, "My roommate wanted to meet up with us."

"Are you enjoying it here in America, Mr. Kuchiki?" the smooth voice asked. "You've been here now... what? Four months?" the polished face and waxed eyebrows turned to face him directly, the offer blunt and obnoxious, "I can take you around... show you the sights? I can definitely make your stay here quite enjoyable." A shallow smile ended his proposition.

The Kuchiki spared him only a sidelong glance, preferring to swallow another mouthful of his gin and tonic instead.

It had been four months of business meetings, dinner meetings, required socializing amongst the various vendors and contract business he had accepted the bids for, or who were still jockeying for a position in his hotel. For the hundreds of millions of dollars he would be investing into this monument to the Kuchiki fortune and name. He understood the game, and he played it; it didn't mean he enjoyed it... at least not all the time.

The largest investors and clients took him to lavish restaurants, gave him tickets to extravagant night shows and operas, offered him weekend vacations (of which he never took)... some had brought selected female companionship for him after realizing he was alone here in America. After the first few months where he ignored the women entirely, the more bold and astute began to bring 'extra' associate members of their executive club... men.

Men like this one, sleek in his dark suit, tight after his many hours at the gym, pretty due to his facials and manicures...

Byakuya barely registered this guy at all.

"No thank you," he responded. "My sister has since joined me. She used to reside in this metropolis and knows the area quite well."

The waxy eyebrows wavered, but the smile remained plastered on. "Well, if you ever change your mind.... can I give you my card?" A well lotioned hand delved into a breast pocket.

"That would not be necessary," the heir replied, cutting the man off. He turned and walked away.

He was so tired of these executives, with their dark suits and pampered faces. Men who probably spent more time looking at themselves in a mirror, than working for an honest paycheck. This was tiring. Clients kissing his ass. This one wanting to do more than that. The Kuchiki was eager for this night to end.

Byakuya inadvertently thought of his phone call over a week ago... so far one of his most enjoyable conversations he had had with anyone in a while.... sure, that operator was also being paid to entertain him... but Byakuya hadn't minded in the least to listen to that voice. He liked to envision that the man on the other end was a bit like his voice… a little edgy, a little rough… unlike these drones he saw day in and day out.

He walked over to his hosts, the CEO of a state-of-the-art glass and mirror company who Byakuya had decided would furnish his hotel with beautiful etched and stained mirrors, colored and shaded glass blocks and fixtures, and as a treat for those indulgent enough to book a room in one of his lavish executive suites-- two way mirrors that would encompass entire walls....

"Sosuke..." he intoned quietly; both the CEO and his silver haired companion who were in quiet conversation together, turned at the greeting. "Thank you for the evening. I will take my leave."

Warm brown eyes regarded the hotelier carefully, "...so soon, Byakuya?" The eyes flicked over to the 'associate' left standing at the other end of the room... who fidgeted under the momentary glance. "...I was hoping you would lend us your company for a while longer. Has my associate offended you in some way?"

Byakuya regarded the CEO coolly. He hadn't known many executives that would have the overconfidence to bring over a male companion in the form of an 'associate' and play it off so nonchalantly...as if he did this with all his business partners... well, perhaps he did.

"No, Sosuke. I, however, have other business I need to attend to."

"At..." the brunette questioningly glanced down to his watch, "...9:45pm?"

The heir's eyes grew colder. He did not appreciate being questioned about his business... even if it were only for the sake of idle conversation. "Yes, the business day is just about to begin in the homeland. I'll need to touch bases with a few of my associates there. Good night, Sosuke." Byakuya tipped his head to the other man in parting, "Gin."

"Ahh... Good night, Kuchiki-san." the wiry man's light voice countered, he smiled and waved in regards.

"Thank you for dining with us tonight, Byakuya. It's always a pleasure." The other CEO replied warmly, "I'll have my secretary call your offices to finalize the contract."

With a final nod, Byakuya turned and walked towards the door, he pulled out his cell phone and called for his car to meet him out front.

There was a ringing in his head. No. His room. Pulling himself awake groggily, a large hand grabbed at the phone on his nightstand.

"Hullo?..."

Only the dull dial tone buzzed in his ear. "Huh?"

The ringing continued. Oh Shit! His work phone! He was awake instantly and scrambling for it, knowing that after the sixth ring it simply went back to the company directory. How long had the phone been ringing? He couldn't just let it go… what if it was…? The phone was sitting atop his dresser. Halfway across the room.

As soon as the redhead took his first step off the bed, his knees collapsed; legs still fast asleep. Fuck! Renji fell, crashing to the floor; arms quickly out in front to brace his fall. Determined to get to the phone, he pushed himself up quickly and rushed over to the dresser, banging his elbow against it; as he jostled the mouth piece around to press the answer button, before he knew what had to have been the sixth ring currently echoing in his room.

"H-Hello?" he puffed into the receiver, a little out of breath in his haste.

"Have I… caught you at a bad time?..."

It was the voice he had wanted to hear for the last ten days. Decadent. Like dark chocolate poured over ripe segments of sweet mandarin oranges. The teasing lilt sent it over the top.

"Byakuya…" he breathed, slightly mortified that it had come out sounding so relieved. Like he was some school girl waiting for her crush to call… Renji bantered huskily into the phone, "I'm glad you decided to call me back, I was getting a bit worried that you had forgotten all about me."

He heard an "mmm" in reply, followed by a swallow and an echo of a glass perhaps being placed on a hard surface, "I could never forget you, Renji."

Oh, he so loved hearing his name said like that. He smiled; predatory-like, "Then let me make sure you never do, Byakuya…"

Shuhei quickly darted his eyes down to the corner of the computer monitor as he sent his final draft of the newspaper layout to the editor-in-chief, noting the time, 11:15pm… Perfect, the man would have his stuff first thing tomorrow morning when he logged in.

He stretched; his arms over his head, arching his back over the office chair he had been sitting in for the past several hours, getting his work done. He decided to take a quick shower before calling it a night.

As he padded back toward his room, he crossed the redhead coming out of the kitchen. His roommate had his phone up to one ear; the 'sex voice' was in full swing. Abarai had a cup of ice water in his other hand, taking it toward the office, now that it was vacant.

Shuhei went to his room; grabbing a pair of clean boxers before heading off to the shower. Passing the office doorway again on the way back, he saw the redhead lounging in one of the soft leather armchairs they had in there. Walking toward the bathroom, he heard the basics of Renji's job continue.

"…What am I wearing?... Absolutely nothing… and you?... Mmmm… really? Well…. Let's see what I can do about that…."

Shuhei quickly finished up in the bathroom; a plume of steam leading the way out as he exited the small room. He picked up again, the faint rumblings of Abarai's voice...

"…oh that's so much better ..." Renji responded, voice rumbling, "Hey, I got something for you…" he grabbed the empty glass now only filled with ice, and swirled it around, making the ice ping against the sides of the tumbler. "I'm gonna take this ice cube… and I'm gonna pop it into my mouth… and roll it around with my tongue. Yeah, you're gonna like how this feels when I wrap my lips around you…"

Shuhei stopped in his tracks. Oh?

"..I'll take you in.... swallow you down..."

Interesting. Definitely not a woman.

"Mmm… but before I do that, I want you to get nice and comfy in a big soft armchair… Now, I'm gonna kneel down in front of you… with my head in your lap so you can watch me…" his voice was getting lower, with a gravely edge to it. "Are you ready for me?... yeah?... First, I'm just gonna run the tip of my tongue… cold and wet now, from all this ice water... up the underside of your hot, heavy cock… you like that?"

Fuck. I do.

"Now I'm gonna roll my tongue right over the head… Mmm… you taste so good…" Renji's voice dropped to a seductive purr… "Are you watchin' me?... Yeah, keep your eyes on me…" He grabbed the glass to tip another ice cube into his mouth, slurping on it rather obscenely, "...and as I go down on you, as I fill my mouth with you… I can feel you gettin' harder... Mmm..." he hummed appreciatively, "I want you to run your hands thru my hair… yeah, tug on it… ohhh, I like that…"

Holy shit. Renji liked to have his hair pulled?!

Shuhei groaned inwardly, he knew it was impolite to be listening in on other people's conversations, but come on…. he was only human, right? This was the first time he'd heard Renji with a male client, oh, and it was fucking good.

Move. ...

Forcing himself to move forward, he did… knowing anytime now, the redhead might use his client's name, and Shuhei wanted to know none of that. What if his client was someone he knew… like his editor? How would he even be able to face the guy?

Fuck. Should've taken a cold shower...

"Nii-sama? Did you want to see me?" Rukia walked into her brother's office, basically a segregated wing of the penthouse apartments he currently resided in. She and Ichigo (separately, of course) took up residence in a pair of luxury suites one floor below.

Her brother stood at one wall of windows, overlooking the city below; enjoying the vast beauty of being 58 stories above ground level. He turned towards her as she walked in.

"Rukia," he greeted her in turn, a small smile graced his features. Gesturing that she should sit in the chair across from his desk, he walked over to sit at the black lacquered monstrosity that was his work desk. When he often had to look over architectural drawings and other such large business spreadsheets, it served its purpose very well.

"Have you been enjoying yourself here?"

"Oh, yes, I have…" she replied happily, "I've even met up with a childhood friend of mine-- "

"Wonderful." He cut her off before she could sidetrack his main reason for calling her in here, "What I would like, is for you to have a part in helping to develop this hotel."

Not one for small talk Byakuya got directly to the point, "As you used to live here, I am sure you have an idea of what this community appreciates, and in turn what this community has to offer. You and I share the same taste in art… we usually agree in what we both find aesthetically appealing. What I would like to assign you, Rukia, is to be in charge of purchasing and commissioning several landmark pieces for the different wings of the hotel."

She was stunned; and enthused! "Really?!..."

"Yes, I want you to be able to feel that this, the Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, will be as much a part of you as it is for me. You are a Kuchiki, after all. I was informed that several of the beautiful pieces back home at the Senbonzakura Hakuteiken were also picked by you. You have a wonderful eye indeed. You will not need my approval for anything you commission; I will leave it to your discretion."

"Thank you, Nii-sama! I will be honored to do this!" Rukia smiled, she had never heard such words of praise come from his lips before. It felt wonderful to know he had such confidence in her. Before she thought about it too long and lost her nerve, she got up and ran around his desk, to bestow a big hug around his neck.

She felt him momentarily stiffen beneath her hands before relaxing a little and patting her lightly on her shoulder. She smiled… she knew he was making an effort, and it warmed her heart. It must be difficult for him after all.

She pulled back, and enthusiastically began, "I already know of a perfect piece to highlight the main lobby! The artist is a friend…"

As she started to speak, the phone began to ring. A direct call to his private line, bypassing the secretary. Byakuya looked over at the caller ID, and had to interrupt. "Excuse me, Rukia, I am going to have to take this call."

"Sure, Nii-sama, I understand. There's going to be an artisan exhibition in a week and a half… I want us to go, okay?..." she implored as she walked out of the office, waving to him as she left.

Byakuya nodded absently in agreement as he turned to answer the phone.