Author's note: Hey! Next chapter is up! Sorry for the long-ish wait. Thanks to all of you who review! (: Um, yeah. I've got another few questions for you, but I'll only ask one at the moment. Whose point of view would you like the confession/kiss/awkward moment scene to be? Renji's or Byakuya's (obviously. It's not gonna be Yamamoto's, is it?) Well, whatever. Please tell me in a review :P
Oh, and, yeah. Again, the section of italics is a flashback, and the bold words are Renji's thoughts.
Thanks!

~Rainbow Fruit Loop.

Blossoming Romance
~Chapter8~
A l m o s t A C o n f e s s i o n

It was four thirty in the morning, and Renji was lying on the ground, under his cave of pillows and blankets, his back arched in an unnatural position. He was looking up at the ceiling, thinking.

He was thinking about his meeting with Rangiku.

He had met with her for lunch on the day that Byakuya had had a Captains meeting.

Haha, and he thought that I was working for the entire day…

Renji sighed, and rolled over, ignoring the throbbing pain in his back.

~X~

Renji was pacing around the office. He had done some paperwork (but not a lot), and now he was bored.

Hm. I've just realized that I've never actually asked Matsumoto how she is after Captain Ichimaru leaving…

Maybe I should go and see her now…?

The Lieutenant grinned, and made his way over to the door.

He locked up the office, and headed off towards the Tenth Squad division.

He was humming an irritatingly catchy song in his head, the sun was shining, and, at the current moment, he wasn't doing paperwork.

Renji was happy.

He found himself outside the office.

Hm. I wonder if she's in there. Maybe she's already having a break?

Luckily, Tōshiro was not at the office; a sign that the Captains meeting was still in progress, and Byakuya wasn't going to be alone in the office, thinking of ways to punish Renji for not working (like he should be).

Renji stepped inside, and noticed the busty blonde sitting at her desk. She, too, was not doing paperwork.

Instead, she was braiding her hair.

Renji smirked.

"Hey, Matsumoto!" he greeted.

"Hey, Abarai!" Rangiku chirped, beaming.

"When can ya have a break?" Renji asked.

"It can be now! Do you want to take me out, Abarai?" Rangiku giggled.

"Shut up. Let's go."

Rangiku grinned and stood up.

"How much paperwork have ya done today?" Renji asked as the two Lieutenants walked out of the office.

"Probably as much as you." Rangiku said, raising one of her groomed eyebrows.

Renji chuckled. "Not much then."

Rangiku laughed, and noticed a large patch of grass underneath a sakura tree.

"Should we sit down?" she asked.

Renji nodded, and they both sat down.

"So, I presume you've got a reason for coming to see me." Rangiku noted.

"Uh, yeah. I was just thinking how wrapped up I am in my own drama, that I forgot to ask how ya are after…Captain Ichimaru leaving." Renji said hesitantly.

He didn't want to upset her.

Rangiku pouted, and looked downwards. "I'm… getting better. It's been a while since he left…I should be over it, ya know?"

She sounds as though she's trying to convince herself…

"Hmm." Renji made a noise of agreement. "But, you guys were really close, right?"

"We grew up together. He was the only person who I could rely on, back then. The only person I could trust. I-I… love him, Abarai. And he stabbed me in the back." Rangiku whispered.

Renji was startled to note that tears were beginning to form in the corners of her pale blue eyes.

Damnit! I didn't wanna make her cry…

"Oh, uh, I'm sorry, Matsumoto. I didn't wanna make ya cry." Renji said, awkwardly patting her on the back.

"I didn't wanna cry…" Rangiku smiled sadly.

The two sat in silence.

Rangiku lay down on the soft grass, and closed her eyes. Her golden hair was splayed out underneath her.

"Is it weird that I've completely forgiven him, Renji?" she asked suddenly.

Renji was surprised at the first name usage.

"Er, I don't think so." he said truthfully.

He thought about what he would do if it was his Captain who had run off to Hueco Mundo with Aizen.

I'd… forgive him.

"I understand." Renji continued.

"Do you?" Rangiku asked, sitting up.

"I think so. Ya can't stop loving someone 'cause they made a wrong decision, can ya?"

"No." Rangiku shook her head.

Again, silence followed.

Renji tried to think of something to change the subject, but his thoughts were interrupted by Rangiku.

"Before… You mentioned drama." She said, grinning lopsidedly.

"Oh, er, yeah." Renji nodded, cursing himself for mentioning the word.

Rangiku was a sucker for drama of any sort.

"So, what is it?"

"I, er, don't wanna say." Renji said, his cheeks turning pink.

"C'mon! I might cry again." Rangiku said, her face sad. "And it'll be all your fault."

That's like… blackmail.

"It's… embarrassing." Renji mumbled.

"Spill. I won't laugh." Rangiku said, bumping her shoulder against Renji's.

"Fine."

…

…

"Are you gonna tell me, or what?" Rangiku demanded, annoyed at her friend's silence.

"Gee, I'm tryin' to think of how I should put it. Gimme time." Renji narrowed his eyes at Rangiku.

…

…

"I have a crush on somebody." Renji said.

Wait, that doesn't sound right. That sounds too girly.

"No, wait. I feel… attracted to somebody."

That's marginally better.

As expected, Rangiku squealed.

"Oh, Abarai, you're so cute!" she gushed.

"Please don't use my name and the word 'cute 'in the same sentence." Renji frowned.

"Is it Rukia?" Rangiku guessed, brushing her hair out of her eyes.

"What? No. We're only friends. Always have been, always will be."

"So, who is it then?" Rangiku asked, pressing her lips together to stop herself from laughing.

"…I don't want to say."

"Yes, you do." Rangiku nodded her head encouragingly.

"…Promise ya won't laugh?" Renji asked.

If I don't tell her, she won't let it go.

And, knowing her, she'll bring it up at an inappropriate time.

"Cross my heart, and hope to be attacked by thirty Espada." Rangiku said solemnly.

"Ya know they're the 'Espada' 'cause there's only ten of 'em." Renji pointed out.

"Whatever. Cross my heart, and hope to be attacked by the all of the Espada three times each." Rangiku rolled her eyes. "And stop changing the subject!"

Renji sighed. "Alright, alright. It's…,er, Captain Kuchiki."

Rangiku burst out laughing.

Liar.

"You said ya wouldn't laugh!" Renji said crossly.

"Yeah, but your face was so serious!" Rangiku said, clamping a hand over her mouth.

"That's why I didn't want to tell you." Renji said, frowning.

"Aw, no, honey, I'm not laughing at your crush," Rangiku said. "I think that's really sweet."

"Ya do?" Renji asked incredulously.

"Of course! But, er, why do you like him?" Rangiku asked.

"I honestly don't know. But… he's so elegant. So unruffled. And, you gotta admit, he's nice to look at." Renji said.

"Yeah, he is. If he would smile occasionally, and ditch those weird hair clip things, then he would be absolutely gorgeous." Rangiku said thoughtfully.

Well, he is anyways.

"But I'm assuming that Captain High-and-Mighty doesn't know about this crush?" she guessed.

It's not a 'crush', it's an attraction.

"…Don't call him that," Renji said quietly. "But, yeah. He doesn't know."

"Are you gonna change that?" Rangiku asked.

What? No way in hell.

"…No."

"What's the point in having a crush on him then?" Rangiku asked, honestly baffled.

Like I had any choice in the matter.

"I didn't choose to feel attracted to him." Renji said crossly. "And anyways, he'd probably kill me if he found out."

"Look, Renji," Rangiku said seriously. "Tell him. …Take a chance; risk it all, because I'll catch you every time you fall."

That's… probably one of the nicest things someone's ever said to me.

Renji nodded. "Thanks. But I can't."

Rangiku smiled, but rolled her eyes.

"Well, alright. But if there is ever a moment when you think that he'll feel the same, don't hesitate to act. 'Cause if you hesitate, you'll lose him."

Way to put me under pressure.

"…I won't."

~X~

'…Don't hesitate to act…'

'Risk it all…'

'If you hesitate, you'll lose him.'

Rangiku's words floated around Renji's head.

Should I tell him how I feel?

Renji sat up, causing his pillow-cave to collapse.

He looked over at the sleeping Noble.

Maybe I should tell him.

If I do tell him, what's the worst he can do?"

I mean, he won't really kill me, will he?

Renji sighed in frustration.

It was early in the morning, and, again, Renji hadn't had a good sleep.

Not because he was listening to his Captain sleeping this time, but because lying on the hard floor was very uncomfortable.

He hadn't told his Captain how uncomfortable it was – he didn't want the Noble to think that he was ungrateful. After all, Byakuya was paying for the hotel room, and he had tried to make Renji as comfortable as possible.

Renji had three pillows, two blankets, and a pile of scratchy, off-white carpet.

…Byakuya had one pillow, one duvet and a large, cozy bed, probably just big enough for two…

Renji focused on his current situation.

To tell him, or not to tell him…?

C'mon, just do it, Renji.

He got up off the floor, and crept over to the side of Byakuya's bed.

The sleeping Noble was lying on his side, and was curled up in a ball. His face wasn't completely expressionless – he looked contented.

Byakuya's eyelashes were long, thick, and dark, Renji noticed. His midnight black hair was strewn across the white pillow.

I wonder what he's dreaming about.

Renji bent over his Captain, his lips inches away from Byakuya's.

Obviously, he wasn't going to kiss his Captain – he just wanted to know what it felt like to be in such close proximity with the man (it felt great).

And then, the unthinkable happened.

Renji's hair tie slipped off (it had come loose from all of his tossing and turning), causing his red hair to come loose, and fall onto Byakuya's face.

And, when Byakuya's eyes snapped open, Renji's resolve to tell his Captain how he felt shattered.

Byakuya had been asleep; dreaming about giant fire birds, and lots of smoke, when he was awoken by something of silk-like texture hitting his face.

His eyes snapped open, and he was startled to see his Lieutenant bending over him, his eyes wide.

He blinked, wondering if it was a dream.

No. I don't mean dream. I mean nightmare… don't I?

Byakuya blinked again.

Their lips were inches away.

What… what is going on?

Why is my Lieutenant in my personal bubble?

Byakuya's own eyes widened slightly, as he realized how fast his heart was beating.

Neither of the Shinigami moved.

Byakuya could feel Renji's breath tickling his neck.

His face is still close to mine…

"Ren…ji." Byakuya managed to get out.

"Captain, I can explain." Renji said, snapping back into reality, not noticing the first name usage. He stepped backwards, and almost tripped over thin air.

"I'd appreciate that." Byakuya said coolly, swallowing.

"Er, you had a really violent coughing fit – it woke me up, actually, - and then you suddenly stopped. I was kinda worried, I mean, it sounded like you were choking. So I came up here to see if you were still alive. Which, er, you are." Renji said.

Byakuya sat up, pulled the duvet around himself tighter, and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.

Because the room was dark, Byakuya didn't notice how hard it now was to tell where Renji's face started, and his hair line ended.

Is that… the truth?

Byakuya eyed Renji suspiciously. However, from Byakuya's perspective at least, Renji appeared to be telling the truth.

I was dreaming about smoke…

Renji bit his lip, and grinned sheepishly. "Well, since you're alive, I'll go and lie down again."

He stumbled over towards the floor, and lay down.

Byakuya, too, lay back down, feeling awkward.

Why is it… that I feel… disappointed?

Disappointed that his lips weren't close to me because he was… going to kiss me?

That is foolish.

Byakuya lay in the dark for five minutes, thinking, before he felt himself drifting off to sleep.

However, his peacefulness was disturbed by Renji.

"Hey, Cap'n?" he mumbled.

Byakuya sighed, and rolled over onto his back. "Yes, Abarai?"

"Do you have any life ambitions?"

"Life ambitions…?" Byakuya repeated.

"Yeah. Like… well, you know." Renji trailed off.

I haven't really thought about it.

"It is not something in which I have given much thought." Byakuya stated. "However, I do know that I… do not want to fall in love again." He said after a moments thought.

"Not fall in love?" Renji asked incredulously (and disappointedly, but Byakuya didn't pick up on this).

"Indeed." Byakuya said, tiredly. All he wanted was to drift into a peaceful sleep.

"Why not?"

Maybe it was a mistake to humour him…

"If you become emotionally attached to people, there is a very high possibility that you will end up being hurt." Byakuya said.

"But then, if ya don't get attached to people, ya end up alone." Renji stated.

His words hit Byakuya like a ton of bricks.

Alone…

Is that what I'll be?

Alone for eternity?

"But you won't have to suffer a broken heart."

"I think that suffering a broken heart is a small price to pay for falling in love."

Byakuya was silent.

Is that… true?

That suffering a broken heart is a mere price to pay for falling in love?

"But then I guess you know more about a broken heart than I do." Renji said, sighing.

"Mmm." Byakuya made a soft noise of vague agreement, surprising himself by not feeling miserable about Hisana.

I've shut myself off from forming attachments to people to avoid having my heart broken again.

…Is it possible that I was wrong?

"Do you have any life ambitions, Abarai?" Byakuya asked, closing his eyes.

He heard Renji roll over on the floor, and then mutter 'crap' as he banged into something.

"…Yeah. I want to become strong enough to beat you, Captain," Byakuya could hear laughter in his voice, "to keep life-long friendships, and… yeah."

"I see falling in love is not on your list of ambitions either." Byakuya commented, without thinking.

"Nah, it's not on my list. It's can't be an ambition if you've already done it, right?" Renji said softly.

Byakuya was silent.

He was surprised to realize that he felt a bit… disappointed.

He's… already fallen in love?

"…You've already fallen in love? Fool. You're too young to understand what love is." Byakuya said harshly.

"I'm too young? I don't think so, Captain. I think about this person all the time, and I love being in their company. They make me feel happy… and complete. I think… I would do anything for them. And, if that's not the start of love, then I don't know what is." Renji sounded as though he was thinking intently, and as though he was speaking to himself more than he was speaking to his Captain.

Byakuya was silent as he thought about what Renji had said.

"Who is it?" he found himself asking.

"Who's what?" Renji asked, sleepily.

As attentive as usual…

"The person you're in love with, obviously."

Byakuya realized that he shouldn't sound so interested. Prying was not in the nature of a Noble.

Renji chuckled sadly. "It doesn't matter. It'll never happen."

Although Byakuya was very engrossed in the subject now, he forced himself to keep his mouth shut.

I wonder why not.

Is it, perhaps, Rukia?

And he thinks it'll never happen because he believes I won't allow it?

Byakuya's heart felt heavy at the thought of Renji being in love with his younger sister.

He tried to convince himself that he only felt… odd because he was worried about her, but he knew that it was deeper than that.

He just didn't know why.

"I'm going to try and get back to sleep." Renji said suddenly.

"O-oh." Byakuya was interrupted from his thoughts. "Goodnight, Abarai."

"Goodnight, Cap'n."

…Sleep well, Renji.

And then there was silence.