Does anybody else have creepy back to school nightmares, or am I just weird? Last night I dreamt that I was late to school in four different ways, my music teacher from elementary school yelled at me about board games, I got a schedule in French (which I can't read, speak, or write to save my life), the school bus was abducted by pirates (and not the Johnny Depp kind either) I was beaten up by said pirates, and then by the school bully who's like... four foot four. Yeah... I'm just weird, aren't I?

Anyways, If I owned Bleach, there would be more general cuteness, and more chibis, because I like chibis =) I also don't own Big Bang Theory, Trickster's Choice, Trickster's Queen or Batman. Yeah... I think that's all of the disclaimers needed for this chapter...

So, enjoy =)

In the end, they did step on everybody that they didn't like- and Kaili made it her mission to step on everybody. Byakuya watched from the doorway, slightly amused, as she jumped from back to stomach to shoulder to face. When she was finished, she collapsed, exhausted, at his feet. Byakuya bent down and scooped her up. He had gotten better at this, and somehow holding her felt natural, instead of awkward. He wasn't sure when the change in thinking had occurred, but he was grateful for it. Kaili was the one thing in his life that seemed to hold meaning now. Somehow she managed to brighten his day with just a sunny smile and cheerful greeting.

Small arms snaked their way around his neck, and soft hair brushed his chin as she nestled against his shoulder.

"Bedtime," he told her, striding out the door and towards the barracks. Kaili still lived alone in her little apartment in the barracks- she insisted on it.

"Story?" she asked him sleepily. "Please?"

"Hmm," Byakuya replied softly, his basic non-committal answer. If she was still awake when he put her to bed, then yes. If she wasn't, well, he wasn't going to wake her up.

As expected, Kaili was asleep by the time that they reached her apartment. Byakuya gently settled her in bed, and tucked the covers around her. Then he stood back, watching her sleep with a sort of paternal pride. Unohana may have been right. He did feel a bit like a father.

Byakuya left, gently shutting and locking the door behind him. He strolled down the passageway, and out into the street, feeling no need to rush. After all, sleep would only evade him when he got home, and he would inevitably end up on these same streets again, walking under a ceiling of stars. There was no need to hurry. It only meant that he would be back out faster.

Sleep was proving difficult to find now. When he did manage to fall asleep, he was plagued with dreams that ranged from disturbing to horrifying. As he slept he watched people die in painful, cruel ways. When he slept, he heard tormented screams, and saw crimson fountains made of the blood of innocents. Sleep for some was a safe haven. Sleep for him was excruciating torture.

Byakuya turned a corner, and nearly ran into Renji, who was so drunk he was most likely mistaking up for down. He was definitely mistaking left for right, as he was headed in the total opposite direction of his apartment. After a brief argument with himself over leading Renji to his apartment, or letting him wander around lost as punishment for getting drunk at Kaili's party, Byakuya gently took Renji's arm, and pulled him in the right direction.

"So…" Renji slurred, stumbling a bit. "What's up?"

"That way," Byakuya replied, pointing helpfully.

"Oh. Thanks." Renji was silent for a moment, before continuing. "Can I tell ya a secret?"

"If you must."

"But ya can't, ya can't tell Captain Kuchiki."

Byakuya blinked. It really was wrong of him to listen, or to encourage him, but Renji wouldn't remember any of it in the morning anyways. Byakuya made a quick decision that had all of his clan elders screaming at them from their graves. "I won't."

"Promise?"

"I promise, I won't tell Captain Kuchiki." Byakuya agreed. "What's the secret?"

"Penny lied about going to college," Renji told him, in all confidentiality. Byakuya stared.

"Sorry… what?" he had a feeling that was from some kind of human world movie or something, but he had no clue which one.

"Heh… sorry, wrong secret."

"Alright, what's the secret than?"

"Ali's spymaster, but you can't tell Alanna."

"…?"

"Cuz she don't approve."

"I think that's the wrong secret too." Once again, the reference went over Byakuya's head.

"You're right. You're pretty smart pal!"

"Thank you." Byakuya was beginning to give up on ever hearing this 'secret'.

"So, anyways, anyways… What was I saying?"

"Secret."

"Right. Secret…"

"…"

"… I'm batman! Shhhhh!"

"Well then… good for you." He still didn't get it. Silence again. Yep, Byakuya was pretty sure that he wasn't going to hear this secret. He was beginning to doubt that there even was a secret.

"Hey!" Renji seemed to be starting all over again. "Can I tell ya' secret?"

"Sure."

"But you can't tell C'ptain Kuchiki."

"I won't."

"Promise?"

"Yes. I promise."

"Promise what?"

"I won't tell Captain Kuchiki the secret."

"Thanks. You're exce- ex- exc- great."

"Wonderful."

"I love him."

"… What!" Byakuya exclaimed, beyond startled.

"I love C'ptain Kuch- Ku-"

"Kuchiki?"

"Yeah. Him."

"Really?" Byakuya asked, trying hard to keep his voice neutral.

"Yeah… He's cool ya'know? And gor-gorge- go- pretty."

"Pretty."

"Yeah. An' he smells good."

"Ah."

"Uh-huh."

"…"

"… So. Can I tell you a secret?"

"… You just did."

"Oh…" Renji looked at him contemplatively, or at least as contemplatively as somebody completely drunk could look. "I really do love him," he muttered. And then he passed out.

Pure instinct led Byakuya to catch him, and then once he had, he wasn't quite certain what to do. Deciding that he certainly couldn't just leave him lying in the street, Byakuya lifted Renji up and tossed him over his shoulder. Then, he set out for Renji's apartment again with strict purpose, thinking.

Renji woke up with a massive headache, and a feeling that something of incredible magnitude had happened the night before. The only trouble was, he couldn't remember it.

"I really have to stop drinking," he groaned, rolling over to look at the clock. Seeing the time, he jumped out of bed, and then doubled over, clutching his head. He was three hours late for work!

When he got there, Kaili was gone somewhere, and Byakuya was calmly working at his desk. He didn't even glance up when Renji walked in, but that was normal. Byakuya was pretty used to Renji's hangovers by now.

"Um, Captain?" Renji asked, shifting awkwardly.

"Yes Abarai?"

"Erm, if you don't mind… could you maybe tell me what happened last night?"

"There was a party."

"… I knew that."

"You got drunk."

"Figured that."

"Ikkaku and Yumichika did… something. I'm not quite sure what it was yet. Rangiku and some friends strip danced on a table. The table broke. The ones who could walk moved to a different table. That one broke too."

"…!"

"You tried heading home, but you were going in the complete opposite direction. You also didn't know what 'up' was." Renji groaned, and buried his head in his hands. There was a tinge of amusement in Byakuya's voice, as though he were enjoying himself immensely. "Then, you told me a secret. Well, several secrets."

"Oh dear lord…" Renji moaned, and dropped into his chair. He had a feeling he knew where this was going, but he hoped that he was wrong. "What were the secrets?"

"Penny lied about going to college, Aly's spymaster, but you can't tell Alanna and apparently you're…" yes, Byakuya was definitely enjoying this. "Somebody called Batman," he finished. "Not quite sure what any of that meant really, but you seemed to think it was very important." Renji let his head thud onto his desk, and squeezed his eyes shut.

"I'm never drinking ever again," he groaned.

"I'm sure that will make Kaili very happy," Byakuya replied. "By the way, she's never ever talking to you ever again. Her words."

Renji sighed, and lifted his head. "You don't happen to have any apple juice, do you?"

"Sorry." Byakuya didn't sound too sorry.

"Figures," Renji grumbled. "Listen, I'll work through lunch break to get this finished, kay?"

"Yes, you will."

Renji bit back another groan, and went in search of a little girl who, at the moment, was very angry with him. That, and apple juice. Just in case she decided to kill him.

Renji paused at the door, hearing a soft, indecipherable noise from within. He peered through a crack in the door, and found Byakuya killing himself laughing.

"Bastard," Renji muttered, walking away. But a small smile played with his lips. He'd made Byakuya Kuchiki laugh. That had to be a point for him.

Well... Hope that was a good chapter, and not filler crap. I promise, something big's going to happen within the next four chapters. Hopefully.

If you didn't get the references, the first one was from Big Bang Theory which is an awesome TV show, the second was from Tricksters Choice/Tricksters Queen by Tamora Pierce, who is an amazing auther, and if you want to read some good books, read hers, and the last one was from... well I'll give you three guesses and the first two don't count. It's from Batman, duh. I mean, I haven't even watched that much Batman and I got that one.

Anyways, Reviews are welcome, thankee to all reviewers, anybody who wants to take up my request on drawing for the story, please do- but send me the links to any pictures if you post them- I'm open for commissions, and if your bored and/or lonely, PM me. That basically covers everything.

Love from (yeah, I'm giving you love. Aren't I a nice person today? You should review, just to be nice back. Call it your good deed of the day)

-Stormy