This chapter is a bit shorter than usual, but I couldn't find a way to make it longer... Sorry =(

Anyways, I don't own Bleach, I love reviews, and I can't write a funny story with a plot or a story with a plot that's funny. So this isn't funny... And I'm still not certain if it makes sense.

Does anybody actually read these? Really? Or is it just me?

... It's just me, isn't it?

Everything that everybody had thought they'd known as the truth about Byakuya Kuchiki had been brutally challenged, thrown about a bit, and then violently ripped down in the space of twenty-four hours. Now it wasn't only Renji and Kaili questioning the stoic captain's calm mask, but everybody in sixth division, and soon, everybody in the Seireitei. Those who had claimed to know everything there was to know about the man was left on the sidelines, staring in disbelief as the one thing that everybody had thought they had known for certain turned out to be a lie. A carefully built, carefully maintained lie that hurt nobody except for Byakuya Kuchiki himself.

And, Renji contemplated, staring at the glittering ceiling of stars above him, did it ever hurt him. As the cracks in the neatly built façade began to show, so did the pain that it brought to the captain. His captain. The man whom he was supposed to protect above all else. And it turned out that he hadn't even managed to protect him from the worst hurt in his existence. One that he himself inflicted, not because he wanted it, or because he needed it, but for his division and his clan. That was the ultimate sacrifice of a man who had never once considered doing something just for himself in his entire life.

That was the sacrifice of a man who cared more than anything about the people around him and would give anything to protect them. It was the sacrifice of the one whom Renji served, but could never equal.

Renji shut his eyes but didn't sleep. He was certain that he wouldn't be able to with the events of the past day buzzing around his skull, not giving him any chance to rest.

It had started like a perfectly ordinary Tuesday morning. When Renji walked into the office Byakuya was already there, working silently, and Kaili was running paperwork to the eleventh division. This was a futile effort since everybody knew it wasn't going to get done. Yumichika was the only person in the eleventh who ever did paperwork, and he only did it when he felt like it. Renji sat down at his desk with a sigh, and began to work slowly, hating every second of it. He was tempted to turn the paperwork on his desk into paper airplanes and throw them across the room at Byakuya, but had a feeling that such actions would have him locked up somewhere without food or water for the whole entire day, and restrained himself.

Kaili returned and got back to work. Renji left to supervise training. He returned sweaty and grinning. Kaili gave him a happy little wave. Byakuya completely ignored his presence. Nothing unusual happened, nothing to suggest the coming tragedy. But it was coming, and nobody realized it.

Byakuya had been sitting in the same position since three in the morning, working silently. His back ached, and his head ached, and he longed to get up and go for a walk to stretch his legs, but he knew all too well that that would mean that he was left sitting in this damnable chair in this despicable office long after nightfall, finishing the stacks of work in front of him. So he stayed, listening as Renji left for the training session, and then came back later. He envied his carefree vice captain, but didn't show it. He didn't even acknowledge the other man's presence, although he knew that this hurt him.

Surreptitiously, Byakuya stretched his legs out under his desk, not shifting his position any, just trying to get them to stop cramping. Behind him the clock in the office ticked away the seconds until disaster. But nobody knew how little time they had left until their lives were destroyed. Not even Byakuya, who knew almost everything about his division, knew how close it was to being devastated.

Kaili noticed Byakuya stretching his legs out under his desk, and although she didn't mention anything, she felt quite sorry for the man who she called Captain. He looked uncomfortable. She wondered how long he'd been there, in that exact same spot.

She stood, carrying another stack of paperwork to her captain to review, and feeling slightly guilty as she did so.

"Captain?" she asked gently, holding the stack out towards him. He nodded to her, and accepted it. Just then, in that moment, Kaili lost control of her life. She was aware of a loud noise, and sharp pain in her head, and then everything went black.

Again, sorry it's so short, and sorry about the cliff hanger... but I couldn't resist. I just couldn't.

Things actually happen next chapter. I know I've been saying that, but I actually mean it this time!

Reviews are welcome and appreciated. Please review =)