Once again, my thanks go out to those who have already reviewed on this story. You people keep me gratefully inspired to do better.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, I fear, however Koji is my creation. Credit for his name goes to a friend of mine who prefers to remain unnamed herself, but she knows who she is and she has helped me greatly with this story.

Renji thanked the shopkeeper as he grabbed the handles of his carry bag filled with bottles of sake. They clinked together as he swung the bag to his side and exiting the shop with a positive spring in his step, swinging the arm holding the bag slightly.

He was in a very good mood, and for several reasons; First of all, he'd woken up once again in the Kuchiki mansion with Byakuya sleeping peacefully, tucked into his chest. Secondly, it turned out to be a wonderful day - no clouds, shining sun but with a nice breeze. Exactly the kind Renji enjoyed. Thirdly, he'd been given the day off, so no paperwork had even crossed his path that day. And fourth... Today was his birthday.

None of the orphaned children of Rukongai remembered their exact birthdays, but they did remember the general time of year. Renji knew his was in late summer, early Autumn time, so when he was very young he had given himself the birthday of August 31st. Even though it was Autumn, and some of the leaves were beginning to yellow, it still had that summer feel to it, and it made sense to him.

For once, on his birthday, he wasn't planning a loud and crazy night out with friends like Kira, Hisagi, Matsumoto... He'd told them all he wasn't feeling well today and they'd do it another time. He'd even told Rukia he had a strong headcold. Today, this time, all he wanted to do for his birthday was a quite night in with Byakuya, and since Rukia was at the Kuchiki mansion, he decided they'd have to do it at his place. He was looking forward to it greatly - some food, some sake, some talk, then some sleep. This time, they didn't need to indulge in any other activity. This time he just wanted to relax.

As he made his way there now, he felt the present Byakuya had given him that morning when he had woken up bouncing against his chest, suspended from the chain around his neck. Hidden behind his uniform, one silver sakura flower hung around his neck, close to his skin. He felt that was the best place for it, and it defintely gave him a warm feeling every time he was reminded of it when it moved under the fabric he wore.

It wasn't too long before he was only a few feet away from his rooms, his own private, small living area on the opposite side of the training grounds to the rest of the soldiers' barracks of the 6th Division. He slipped his key in and clicking the door open in one practiced, fluid motion and used the same hand to flick a lightswitch. As always, the first thing he glanced at as he stepped over the threshold was his clock. 6 o' clock. That meant one hour until Byakuya arrived.

His rooms were immaculately clean, in contrast to their usual state. He'd spent most of the day tidying up his organised mess, wanting the place to be comfortable for the occasion. For the next hour he would just take his time having the food and the sake ready to grab when they decided to.

His activity for the next half hour or so was relaxed but productive. He could hardly believe how tidy the place looked, and when he was finished setting the table with a few different plates of different food, and of course, the bottles of sake, he stood back to admire his work. Even just looking at the room laid out like that increased his anticipation for the evening.

The next fifteen minutes, he decided to spend with a warm shower, since he had the time to spare and felt like it. He was only just emerging, dressed, from his bedroom while shaking a towel through his damp, free hair, when he heard the knock on the door. What the hell? Byakuya was early...

He padded towards the door on bare feet and swung it open slowly, standing back to let Byakuya in. His Captain's eyes softened as he saw Renji and he leaned in, planting a quick affectionate kiss on Renji before walking past him into the quarters.

"I had tried to get away earlier, to make sure you didn't begin to set up on your own, but it appears I was not early enough," He stated, eyes on the table.

"Doesn't matter," Renji walked up behind him and wrapped his arms around the other man's waist. "You did give me the day off, y'know. I didn't feel like sitting around on my ass the whole time."

"Hmph, despite the purpose of a day off." Byakuya replied with amusement in his voice.

"Shut up and try some of the food."

************

Several hours later, Byakuya lay asleep in the futon beside Renji, one arm draped possesively over his chest, which rose and fell in the ryhthm of sleep. Byakuya frowned and tried to clear his mind, to lull himself back to sleep before he woke up fully. It was a few moments before he finally registered that he had woken up for a reason - something had disturbed him, but what? He couldn't remember very well... His brow furrowed as he attempted to call up the memory. There was a bang, and a voice? Yes, someome had been calling Renji...

He finally managed to groggily pull his eyes open and blinked a few times before sitting up slightly, his arm still over Renji's chest. Only when his eyes had adjusted to his surroundings did he notice his sister, Rukia Kuchiki, standing at the threshold of Renji's open door with wide eyes and one hand over her mouth. Byakuya's eyes widened in return, and suddenly his chest felt tight. They'd been discovered.

"Mmm, whazrong..." Renji grumbled, probably at the loss of Byakuya's body heat at his side when he had sat up. With the hand still on Renji's chest, Byakuya gave him a quick shake and pinched the skin there just for measure, to make sure he woke up.

"Ow...!" Renji pushed Byakuya's hand away and rubbed his eyes. "Whawazat for?"

"Renji," Byakuya said sternly, a tense edge to his voice and Renji recognized immediately as important. He blinked a few times, squinting at the older Shinigami over him, before following his gaze to the door where Rukia stood.

Rukia?! What was she doing here?!

"Rukia!" Renji sat up way to fast, his head was spinning, but he continued anyway. "What... Why're you..."

"I..." Rukia struggled to reply through her shock. She still had one hand over her mouth, even when she came to some of her senses and looked away from the pair, to the floor at her feet instead. "I'm sorry, I couldn't find Nii-sama so I came to ask you if you knew where... He had a letter, I'd been looking for hours..."

Rukia looked up again as she suddenly remember why she had been looking for Byakuya in the first place. "Umm, Nii-sama! You have a letter, from your cousin Koji. He is coming tomorrow for his visit..."

This time Byakuya's head snapped upwards, and he suddenly threw the blankets off himself and jumed from the futon. He was waiting his night kimono, he couldn't head home in that or else...

"Hey, wait! What's going on, where're you going?" Renji also stood and watched Byakuya rush across the room, throwing his hakama on over the kimono. He walked over to Renji while pulling his haori over his shoulders.

"I have to go back to the mansion, my cousin is coming, he only comes yearly. Please come to the mansion at lunch tomorrow and I will explain." He leaned in, hands still busy shrugging himself into the haori and caught Renji in a deep kiss. He broke off and straightened up his robes. "I'm sorry..." He mumbled, before turning and heading towards the door. "Come, Rukia." He ordered.

Renji watched as Byakuya headed off to prepare his home for his cousin's visit, as Rukia followed behind him, but looked at Renji, mouthing the words 'I am soooo sorry!'.

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