finally the next installment. ENJOY!

Byakuya wondered if it had been rash of him to approach Renji in such a blunt manner. Then again, it had not really been an idea; it had been in the heat of the moment. Renji had not handled the situation very well and had retreated into himself. Dinner had ended dismally and Byakuya led Renji out of the restaurant and both of them walked in relative silence to the car. Byakuya wondered whether to say something to ease the tension but the look Renji had quelled any desire Byakuya had to speak.

The car ride in back to Renji's apartment felt longer and apprehensive. Occasionally Byakuya would glance in the rearview mirror to look at Renji who sat slumped in the backseat, staring out the window. He looked pale and withdrawn. The silence in the car was oppressive even for Byakuya who generally enjoyed silence. Tentatively Byakuya reached out and turned the radio on. The results were immediate, Renji's tense form relaxed against the back of the seat. Byakuya breathed a sigh of relief.

In the back Renji felt the stress leave him in waves as the music came on. He relaxed and unfurled himself. He thought back to what had happened. He went over various options to get out of the situation in his head but Byakuya clearly knew something and had been acting strange all night. So, Renji could either tell him the truth, pretend this never happened or tells Byakuya to butt out. That last one would not go over very well though and none of the other options felt appealing.

All too soon they arrived at Renji's apartment. Renji got out of the car slowly. He turned to Byakuya, who had also exited the car. They both looked awkwardly around at anything but the other person. Renji straightened and walked over to Byakuya. He looked up at the other man, who peered down at him curiously.

"Do you want to come in?"

The look on Byakuya's face was priceless and Renji wished he had a camera at that moment. Byakuya gaped at Renji in wonder. Renji had spoken. Byakuya was confused and made futile attempts at collecting his thoughts.

"Well?" Renji asked a bit impatient. Byakuya recovered his senses enough to acquiesce. Renji turned and began walking to his apartment, well aware that Byakuya was following. They entered the dark complex and Renji fumbled for the light switch. As soon as he hit it the room was flooded with light. He led Byakuya to the living room.

It still surprised Byakuya how clean and immaculate Renji's apartment was. The living room was spotless and whatever sparse furniture there was, was well arranged. Byakuya settled on to a plush looking futon. Renji pointed to his room and tugged at his shirt.

Byakuya raised an eyebrow at this. Renji flushed and gave an embarrassed glare. He quickly signed that he meant he was going to go change. He disappeared down the hall without waiting for Byakuya to say anything. Byakuya waited patiently for Renji to return. He was surprised the other man had decided to invite him in. Now he was curious as to what Renji had to say.

A few minutes later Renji came striding down the hall, his giant black dog following. Renji sat down in front of Byakuya on the floor. Between them was a coffee table laden with various music magazines. They sat in silence, neither one wanting to say anything that would cause any more problems. Byakuya once again assessed the young man in front of him. Renji appeared to well-mannered enough for a man who hung around Ichigo and he seemed to have a silent charisma which drew people to him. Byakuya was fascinated by Renji which was all the more reason for him to understand the young man's past.

"Renji," he began quietly, "I know now that you can actually talk but what caused you to pretend you could not?"

Renji didn't answer immediately, instead on hand gently began stroking Kozon. Long, delicate fingers ran through silky black fur and Byakuya found himself entranced.

"Why do you care so much?" Renji thoughtfully queried.

Byakuya gave Renji a startled look. He had never really thought about it but now as the question was forced upon him Byakuya thought it through carefully. It had been initially because of his desire to know about Hisana but now it was more than that. What it was he still didn't know. He decided to go with the basics and see how that went.

"My main concern is you. You are very important."

Renji was a little stunned by that admission but before he could respond Byakuya continued.

"You are the face and power of the band. It would not due to have you suddenly go out of commission. The band needs you there."

Renji felt his heart sink rapidly. So Byakuya only saw him through a business perspective, his worry was nothing more than a manager making sure their lead wasn't about to go crazy. Renji reproached himself, he was a fool to have thought Byakuya meant anything more with his concern. It hurt to know that.

So deep in musings, Renji missed what Bykauya said next until he heard a clearing of throats. Renji glanced up and saw Byakuya was looking at him expectantly.

"Ummmm…sorry, what was that?" he asked sheepishly.

Byakuya frowned at him slightly. "I asked you if you were going to tell me what happened that night or if you changed your mind."

"Oh, yeah." There was another pregnant pause. Then Renji began to speak, his voice slow and unsure.

"It was a rainy day and for the first time in months my parents were together because my father was always on tour….

Renji was sitting at the piano, looking over the sheet music his mother had recently bought him. The music was not complicated but Renji was feeling lazy. His parents were in the kitchen drinking coffee and ready to go out. He would not be able to go out because an agent his father had talked with was going to show up. Renji frowned, he did not want to be stuck indoors all the time learning about music while all his friends got to go play soccer or go out to the movies.

It was all his father's idea anyways. Renji didn't not like music but it was taking over his life. He sighed and rested his head on the lid, no matter what he said his father never listened and his mother loved music so there really was no hope for a normal childhood. Renji was startled out of his thoughts by the doorbell ringing. He got up lethargically.

"I got the door," he called to his parents. There was a mumbled response from the vicinity of the kitchen but nothing more. Renji tugged open the door and saw a woman in a suit peering down at him.

"Hello," she said cheerfully, "are you Abarai Renji?"

Renji frowned at her, trying to see if he knew her from somewhere. "Yes, I'm Abarai Renji. Who are you?"

The woman gave him a small smile. "Can I can come in? I would like to speak to your parents."

Before Renji could reply, his father came to the door. They both seemed to know each other so Renji moved out of the way and went back to his piano. Moroki quickly called him back and they all settled in the sitting room. Renji's mother wandered in a moment later.

The woman smiled charmingly at Renji. She was a pretty lady although there were lines of stress on her face that should not have been there on a face so young. Taking out papers, she commenced to speak. "Thank you for inviting me here, Abarai-san," the woman said softly, "it is a pleasure to meet your family finally. Is this Renji-kun?" She turned toward Renji and offered another smile.

"Yes, this is my son Abarai Renji," Moroki replied genially. "It was nice of you to come on such short notice."

The woman merely smiled again. This time she addressed Renji directly. "Hello Renji-kun, my name is Hisana. I am a talent scout for the music agency I work for." She paused for a moment here as if to build up suspense. "And I thought your music and voice were beautiful! The agency would like to sign you on with us."

Renji gaped at her; he was utterly stunned. This was something rather unexpected, although his father always said he was good, he never truly believed it. Staring wide-eyed at the woman, Renji could not find the words to reply. His mother and father however, must have known because they did not appear surprised in the least.

"Well, what do you think Renji?" his father asked jovially.

"I-I-I-don't know what to say," Renji stammered. Hisana gave an amused chuckle.

"Well, I hope you'll say you accept," she said kindly. Renji looked toward his parents as if seeking permission. Both of them gave him encouraging nods.

Beaming, Renji turned back to Hisana and gave her a brilliant smile. "I accept!" he said confidently.

Harsh pounding suddenly sounded at the door and Renji's mother stood up to answer it while they remained in the living room. Hisana began to talk with Renji and his father about the requirements and the process of positioning Renji in the music industry. However, they were all startled by a sudden scream at the front door. It was Renji's mother. A look of panic crossed his father's face.

Everyone rushed to entry way and the sight that met them was terrifying. A man stood in the doorway a gun trained on the figure on the floor. Renji's mother was struggling to get up. The gun man looked up at them and fired.

"MOTHER!" Renji screamed as his father made his way forward. Hisana quickly grabbed him and pulled him away but not before Renji saw the gun man turn the gun towards his father and fire twice. Renji clawed at the hands holding him back. He would kill that bastard and rip him to shreds.

Hisana used all the force present in her small form to throw Renji back and they scrambled to find a safety area or a room. They made their way down the hall and Hisana shoved Renji roughly into the bathroom and locked them in. with shaky fingers, Hisana pulled out her phone and called the police. Keeping her voice low and hushed, she quickly explained their current predicament. As soon as she finished speaking she turned towards Renji.

The boy sat shaking silently. Hisana knew he had gone into shock and who wouldn't have? Hisana moved closer to him and placed a hand gently on his shoulder. He looked up at her through tear filled eyes. "Oh God, they're dead aren't they?" Renji asked hoarsely, the tears beginning to streak down his face. Hisana simply put her arms around him and they sat in the bathroom waiting for what would happen next.

The door gave a shudder as fists pounded on it from the other side. Hisana and Renji looked on fearfully. "I know you're in there you mangy brat," the attacker shouted. "Come out and I might spare the young lady's life."

Renji stared half fearfully, half resigned at the door as if he was considering the option. Hisana grabbed his chin roughly and turned him towards her.

"You will do no such thing," she hissed, "You will stay here and not move a muscle."

Renji nodded apprehensively as the pounding at the door increased in tempo. Hisana backed them up until they reached the bathtub and she pulled them in and closed the curtain. The beating of the door did not lessen at all. It sounded as though the man was trying to break it down now. Renji clutched frantically at Hisana's hand as they both waited with bated breaths for what would happen next. There was a sudden halt of the insistent banging. Breathing a sigh of relief the two of them relaxed imperceptivity.

It was a long time before Renji ventured to speak. "Do you think he's gone?" he asked softly. Hisana made no move to respond and instead placed a hand lightly over Renji's shoulder, pushing him back further. The door burst open and the man stormed through furiously. He gave a manic smile.

"Finally," he cackled, "you should have just opened the door. Now you two are going to pay for making me waste my time."

The man made a grab for Renji but he managed to dodge it and shove the man. However, Renji stumbled and the man pulled him roughly forward. He fell, barely managing to avoid braining himself on the toilet. Hisana moved towards him but was stopped by blow to the side. She cried out as she stumbled against the wall. Renji attempted to get up but found the barrel of a gun pointed straight at him.

"Stupid brat," the man said casually, "you'll be joining your parents shortly." Renji glared defiantly at him. The man smirked and cocked the gun. Suddenly he grimaced in pain. Hisana stood behind him holding a metal garbage bin in her hand. She slammed it once more into the man, who struggled to remain upright. A frantic scuffle ensued, as Renji and Hisana attempted to escape the bathroom.

Before Renji could make it to the door, a hand furiously yanked back at his hair and a foot connected with his knee. He cried out in pain and gun was once again leveled at his head. He saw the man's manic gaze and he closed his eyes, waiting for the end. He heard a gunshot fired but after a moment, he realized he couldn't feel anything remotely painful. Opening his eyes, Renji choked on rising bile. Hisana lay in front of him, clutching her stomach, blood pooling on the front of her shirt.

The man towered angrily over them and leveled a kick at Hisana. "That was my last bullet you stupid cunt!" Renji managed to block Hisana from the kick and place a well aimed one of his own. The man went down like a log. 'Thank God for kendo trainin,' he thought, sighing. Hisana stared blearily up at him and gave him a small smile.

"Don't worry about me," she gasped, "just hurry and run. Go now!" Renji shook his head frantically. 'No,' he thought, 'I have to get her out of here too.' He attempted to pull her along with him but she batted his hand away.

"There's nothing you can do. Just go okay," Hisana murmured softly, closing her eyes. Her breathing had slowed rapidly and Renji began to panic.

Renji shook his head again and realized he was crying. He could feel the tears coursing down his cheeks. "I'm sorry," he babbled, "I'm so sorry. Please don't go. Please, oh god, Hisana-san! Hisana! Please stay awake! Just open your eyes!"

There was a loud groan from behind and Renji turned around so quickly he felt his neck pop. The man was stirring. Renji got up slowly and moved away from Hisana reluctantly. He hobbled down the hall to the door. As he entered the foyer he could see the still forms of his parents. His heart clenched painfully at the sight. He stepped over their bodies to the door when something heavy struck him from behind.

He lay still on the floor, pain lacing up and down his back. He turned to see what had been thrown at him; it was a barstool. Renji looked further down the hall and saw the man moving toward him. Renji couldn't move and he wondered idly if he had broken his spine or something. A hand reached out and grabbed his neck.

"We're going to have to do this the old fashion way, seeing as I have no bullets," he said coolly, tightening his grip around Renji's throat. Natural instinct for survival kicked in and Renji began to struggle wildly. The man never once loosened his grip around Renji's throat, instead the grip kept on getting tighter and tighter.

It was difficult to get any air now and Renji was becoming light-headed and struggling had become more of just flailing about. From the corner of his eye he saw the door cave in and nearly a dozen men came pouring in with guns out. Then everything just stopped and all he remembered after that was laying on the ground with the medics watching them take away Hisana before succumbing to the darkness.

Renji finished his tale and stared down into his lap, he was furiously blinking back tears that threatened to fall. His hands twisted agitatedly in his lap. He couldn't believe he had done that. He had never told anyone his atrocious tale. He hadn't really thought about what happened for years. After the nightmares had stopped plaguing him he found it was better to forget and move on. The news reports following the murders hadn't helped at all either. There had been some outrageous claims that the man had been his mother's illicit lover and many other slanderous tales. Renji had found it necessary to block all of that out.

During the whole retelling Byakuya had not said a single word. He appeared to be lost in thought. He glanced at the forlorn figure that was Renji and felt a wave of guilt wash over him. He should not have brought up the past but it was too late now. He struggled to come up with words of sympathy and comfort but none came to mind. No words would ever alleviate the pain Renji felt and words would only cause more pain. The story he had just heard was horrifying.

"So she saved you?" Byakuya murmured softly after awhile.

"Who? Hisana?"

"Yes," replied Byakuya.

"Yeah, she did save me. I owe her my life and I couldn't even make it to her funeral," he said desolately. He had been trapped in the hospital recovering and they would not let him leave. "Why are you so interested in her? Is it because of Rukia? They do look a lot alike."

"The reason for that is because they are sisters, although Rukia never met Hisana because she was adopted. Rukia is my sister-in-law. Hisana was my wife."

"What?" Renji exploded. Byakuya stared at him bewilderedly but Renji ignored that. "Is that why you wanted to know about my past? Why you brought this all up and why you've been dogging my footsteps these past weeks? Just so you can get some twisted sense of closure! Is that all it is? Do you know how guilty I've always felt about her death? My parents died that day but an innocent woman died to save me? Do you KNOW how much that hurts? Or do you just like making people suffer?" there was a breath pause as Renji regained his breath. "Do you like seeing me suffer?" The last part was almost inaudible but Byakuya had always had a keen sense of hearing.

For the first time in a very long time, Byakuya was at lost for words. He was more than surprised at Renji's outburst. He attempted to say something but Renji cut him off sharply.

"It's fine, I don't care. Please, just leave," he said tiredly, getting up from his seat. "It's not your fault. I've just been deluding myself into believing in something that could never happen."

Byakuya took a step forward to which Renji responded by moving back.

"Please," he murmured softly, "just leave. I-I just need some time to think and recover. For some reason, I guess I just thought that you-well-never mind. It's not a big deal." Renji gave a tired smile, "I've never told anyone else except the cops, what I told you."

Byakuya was at lost at what to say. Things had gone downhill rather rapidly and he couldn't stop it. Renji slowly made it into the hall. "I'll show you out," he said quietly. Byakuya followed without comment. At the door he turned around and made an attempt to say something but something in Renji's expression prevented him for voicing his opinion.

"Good night, Kuchiki-san," Renji said quietly, shutting the door.

Byakuya stood outside for a moment debating on his next course of action. It was clear Renji was not happy with him. Tomorrow was going to be painful. Squaring his shoulders, he prepared himself for a tense morning.

oh and ummmm....here's the "Bio" of one of the characters

Abarai Renji

Age: 20

Height: 6'3

Weight: 160 lbs (it is all muscle folks and you know it)

Occupation: currently a college student/singer, used to work at Urahara's nightclub

Hobbie/interests: singing, dancing, kendo

Pet peeves: getting his hair cut and listening to old people sing

Favorite animal: dogs (Kozon)

Favorite food: anything Italian (????) likes to make his own food

Family: only child, parents: Moroki and Mieka (deceased)

Orientation: says he's bisexual but has never dated a girl…

General: lead singer of the band Gods of Seireitei, enjoys going to hot springs with his friends, best friends are Hisagi and sometimes Ichigo, grew up with Rukia, speaks English, Japanese and is learning Italian

well, i hope this chapter was okay. i realized i hadn't updated in ages so i cranked this out in 2 and a half days

if my characters are ooc, i can't help it...it's just the way the story is

so thank you my dedicated readers eventhough i'm a terrible updater