Author's note: OH MY GOSH! Sorry for the looong wait! (: I've been really busy! (:
Now, it may seem like Byakuya is OOC in this chapter, but surely you guys remember his soft side when he saved Rukia? Yes? (:

Thanks to all you reviewers! (: Please continue to do so!

~Rainbow Fruit Loop

Blossoming Romance
~Chapter10~
H o l l o w A t t a c k & A C a f e

Byakuya watched (out of the corner of his eye, of course) as his Lieutenant tugged his dark brown t-shirt on.

Renji was wearing well-worn black jeans and a dark brown shirt. The shirt was just tight enough for Byakuya to be able to make out his Lieutenant's toned body.

But, of course, Byakuya hadn't actually noticed…

"Are ya ready, Captain Kuchiki?"

Renji's red hair was down; he seemed to be wearing it like that on a regular basis. It hung loose down his back, almost touching his waist. It always surprised Byakuya how long the scarlet curtain was; it always seemed much shorter whilst in was tied in its usual ponytail.

It is such beautiful hair.

"Er, Captain?"

Even now, as Renji spoke, Byakuya couldn't help but to notice how white his straight teeth were. Byakuya presumed that the contrast of the tanned skin on his handsome face made his teeth seem whiter.

Did I… really just think that about my Lieutenant?

What on Earth is wrong with me?

I must be ill.

"Oi, Captain?" Renji called.

Byakuya snapped out of his reverie. Renji was standing inches away from him, a concerned look on his face.

He must have caught me staring at him.

"…I couldn't help but notice the dark circles underneath your eyes." Byakuya lied. "Did you not sleep well?"

Renji looked sheepish. "Er, no. Sleepin' on the floor is pretty uncomfortable; my back hurts." He said. "But I'm fine."

At least the subject of me staring at him seems to have been avoided.

"Oh." Byakuya didn't really know what to say.

"C'mon, let's go." Renji grinned.

"Right."

Byakuya had decided that he should buy something for Renji's birthday, which was tomorrow.

It was uncharacteristic of him; he usually didn't care about something as trivial as birthdays. But… now the Renji was in the Real World, he was away from his friends.

Usually, the red haired Lieutenant would go out drinking with Rangiku, Ikkaku, Yumichika, Shūhei, Shunsui and Rukia. Renji would usually come to the office the next day with a terrible hangover.

But, because none of Renji's friends were in the Real World, Renji was going to have a bit of a dull birthday. So, Byakuya thought that getting him some sort of gift might make things marginally better.

The two men walked out of the hotel room, locked it, and walked down the hallway.

Both were silent.

"Which shops do ya wanna go in?" Renji finally asked, yawning.

"I would prefer it if we could go our separate ways for the morning." Byakuya said, looking down at the ground.

"Oh!' Renji seemed surprised.

Byakuya looked upwards, and noticed that the red head looked disappointed.

Why is he disappointed? Is he scared that he'll get lost?

"We can meet up… in a café later, if you would like." Byakuya said.

"Alright!" Renji replied chirpily.

"So, I'll see you later." Byakuya said, as they both exited the hotel. "Eleven thirty at the café we saw yesterday?"

"Yeah."

Byakuya was, for once, completely and utterly baffled.

He had no idea what to get his fiery Lieutenant. He wanted to get something… special.

If his Lieutenant had been of the opposite gender, then buying a gift would have been simple. All females loved perfume.

But Renji… He had never expressed his love for anything apart from alcohol, and drinking wasn't something to be encouraged.

Byakuya wandered down the streets, absentmindedly looking in shop windows.

To be honest, his mind was on something completely different.

Why do I feel… odd around my Lieutenant?

What has changed?

Why do I keep noticing strange things about him? Like his beautiful hair, or his white teeth…

He was confused about his feelings, and, although he wanted to, he couldn't deny it.

I… can't explain how this has happened, but…

I think I am attracted to Renji.

Byakuya sighed, and closed his eyes briefly.

Why must everything be so… unfair?

I have become attracted to my Lieutenant who is in love with someone else.

Byakuya scowled, and was thinking about going to wait for Renji at the café, when he noticed a necklace in the window of the shop he was passing.

Hm.

He went inside, and went to get a better look at it.

It was carved out of bone, and was similar in shape to Renji's tattoos. It hung on a thick black cord.

It was very expensive.

But it was perfect.

Renji glanced at the clock in the café, as he hurried inside. Eleven forty.

Damn it! I'm late.

Luckily, he managed to locate his Captain, who was sitting in the back of the café, in a booth.

He hurried over, and plonked himself down.

"Sorry, Captain!" he apologized.

"Must you be late for everything?" Byakuya asked him, his cold grey eyes narrowed slightly.

"Er…" Renji began, picking at a loose thread on his shirt. He glanced at the 'Hot Drinks' menu.

"Never mind. Have you decided which beverage you desire?"

"Not yet." Renji said, picking up the drinks menu.

The two men sat in silence as Renji tried to pick what he wanted.

"Right." He said, grinning at his Captain.

"I will order," Byakuya said. "What are you having?"

"A vanilla and hazelnut latte, please." Renji said, impressed with his classy choice.

"I'll be back." Byakuya said.

Renji took the time to note what he was wearing.

Hm.

Luckily for Renji's brain, Byakuya wasn't wearing his incredibly tight black jeans. He was, instead, wearing grey jeans, which were slightly looser. He was also wearing a black jacket, and a white scarf, not unlike his usual silver-white Noble silk one.

Why does he always look so good?

Byakuya came back, with the two drinks in his hands. He handed Renji his.

"Thanks, Captain." Renji said.

The Lieutenant watched as his Captain blew on his beverage, and (after adding lots of sugar) took a sip of his own.

Byakuya watched in amusement as Renji practically spat out his scalding hot drink.

He raised his eyebrow.

"It's hot!" Renji complained.

"That is why your beverage was listed under 'Hot Drinks'." Byakuya said, shaking his head slightly.

Good one, Renji.

Go and make a fool of yourself.

Renji wiped his mouth, and coughed, trying to ignore his burning tongue.

I'm such a screw up.

"Ha, ha, yeah." Renji said.

The two sat in silence.

An awkward silence, Renji noted.

"Will you allow me to take today's guess now?" Byakuya asked him, blowing the steam off his own coffee.

"Uh, sure. I don't think you'll get it, though." Renji noted casually.

I hope you don't get it.

"Lieutenant Matsumoto?" Byakuya asked, as soon as Renji took a sip.

Again, Renji almost spat his coffee out.

Matsumoto?

He thinks… I'm in love with… HER?

After he had stopped choking, Renji grinned.

"No way. She's just a really good friend... She's having her own relationship drama anyway." Renji added after a seconds thought.

"Good." Byakuya said approvingly. Then he frowned. "Er, I didn't mean that it is good that she is having her own love problems, I just meant that it is good that you haven't fallen in love with her."

"Why?" Renji asked, curious.

Why would it matter to him?

"She seems to be a bit of an 'airhead'. I think you, Renji, can do better." Byakuya said.

Then his eyes widened slightly.

"Captain, did you just call me 'Renji'?" Renji asked incredulously, a smile on his face.

"…No." Byakuya said, his face straight.

The look in his eyes, however, told Renji to back down.

"Right. Sorry. I must be hearing things. But, er, the person I'm in love with isn't an 'airhead'." Renji said absentmindedly.

Why would he call me 'Renji'?

What did he mean by that?

He has always insisted on calling me 'Abarai'.

He told me, on my first day working with him, that calling me by my given name would be too personal… and that he only wanted to have a working relationship with me.

What's changed?

Renji sighed, deep in thought.

Maybe he was just being friendly?

But then why would he try to hide it?

…Renji, stop it. He's your Captain. Nothing has changed. Nothing at all.

Renji zoned in to see Byakuya looking slightly concerned. "Abarai?"

"…Uh huh?" Renji asked, raising his eyebrows intelligently.

"Nothing." Byakuya shook his head.

"Okay." Renji said, sipping his now-cool drink. "It's my turn to ask a question!"

"Alright." Byakuya leaned forward, a small smirk gracing his features.

Renji, too, leaned forward slightly.

"If you could do anything at all right now, ignoring all of the consequences, what would it be?"

It was only when the words had come out of Renji's mouth, did he realize how close they were.

He could feel Byakuya's warm breath on his face, and their noses were inches apart. Renji looked down at Byakuya's plump lips, and a chill ran down his spine.

Byakuya's steel-grey eyes were locked on his own amber-brown ones.

Renji's heart started beating twice its usual speed.

We're close enough to…

"Anything at all?" Byakuya murmured, pulling his head back slightly.

Renji sighed inwardly in disappointment, but grinned, nodding.

After a few minutes of thinking, Byakuya spoke up, and leaned forward, as if to whisper something in Renji's ear.

"In spite of all the unease my actions would cause, I would-"

He was interrupted by his Hollow sensor beeping.

"Crap! Is that a Hollow, Captain?" Renji asked.

"Yes. Near the river." Byakuya said.

"Let's get going!" Renji enthused, reaching for his gikongan dispenser.

Although, he had to admit, he really wanted to know what Byakuya would have said.

Byakuya shunpo-ed to the river, with Renji not far behind him.

Why must a Hollow appear now?

He looked around, not seeing anything.

Renji arrived behind him, panting slightly.

"Where is it?" he asked, in between breaths.

"I'm not sure." Byakuya said slowly, his eyebrows furrowing.

Just then, there was an abnormally high-pitched shriek.

The shriek of a Hollow.

Byakuya spun around, and saw the monster behind Renji.

The Hollow had three large legs, and a long body, covered in large spikes. It had one eye, and fangs. It also had a red 'vine' wrapped around its neck.

What an ugly Hollow.

"I'll get it, Captain!" Renji said, enthusiastically.

"If you insist." Byakuya said, nodding. He did like watching his Lieutenant in action.

Renji turned around, and sprung forward, his sword at the ready. He made to slash its hideous face open, when the Hollow disappeared.

"What? Captain, its reiatsu has disappeared!" Renji yelled.

Normal Hollows lack the ability to do things such as masking their reiatsu.

This must be one which Aizen has tampered with.

Byakuya reached for his Zanpakutō.

"Be careful, Renji. We don't know where it is." The Captain instructed.

Again… why must I persist with calling him by his given name?

It is far too intimate.

Renji was just about to shout something to Byakuya, when the Captain noticed a glimmer behind his Lieutenant.

"Renji, behind you." Byakuya said, shunpo-ing forward.

But it was too late.

The vine around the Hollows neck had become some sort of tentacle. It lunged forward (causing the Hollow to become visible) and wrapped itself around Renji's own neck.

Renji…

"Argh!" Renji let out a yelp, and thrashed his Zanpakutō wildly, as he choked for breath.

Byakuya watched, aghast, as his Lieutenant was raised a good seven meters in the air.

Why isn't my body moving…?

The Hollow thrashed Renji around, slamming him into various trees.

Renji managed to raise his Zanpakutō, and slam it into the red vine.

Nothing happened, except a loud 'clang' was emitted. It was like the sound of two swords hitting one another.

Move… Body, move…

Finally, Byakuya managed to leap forward, and slash through the Hollow's mask.

The monster disintegrated, causing Renji to fall seven meters to the ground.

Byakuya shunpo-ed forwards, and caught his unconscious Lieutenant in his arms.

Oh, Renji.

Renji awoke with a splitting headache, an agonizingly sore throat, and an incredibly soft pillow beneath his head.

He blinked, and noticed that Byakuya was sitting beside him, staring out of the window, absentmindedly stirring his tea.

He turned around when Renji spoke up.

"H-hey, Captain, I'm," he broke off to cough-

Ow.

-"really s-sorry. I failed." He looked downwards.

"You're sorry?" Byakuya asked, turning to face him. "I'm sorry that I… didn't do anything. My body… wouldn't move."

Renji grinned, and closed his eyes. "You're forgiven, of course."

Byakuya smiled softly, knowing that Renji couldn't see him. "Thank you." He whispered, as his Lieutenant fell back to sleep.

...

The next time that Renji awoke, the curtains were closed, it was dark, and he was by himself in the large bed. He sat up, rubbed his throat, and looked for Byakuya.

He noticed a dark shape on the floor, with his blankets.

Byakuya…

Renji realized how thirsty he was, and slowly got up to get a glass of water.

His movements disturbed Byakuya, who sat up.

"Ren-Abarai?" he asked.

"Sorry for waking you, Captain." Renji croaked hurriedly.

"It's fine. How are you feeling?"

"Alright. Er, Captain, why are you sleeping on the floor?" Renji asked.

"Because you should have the bed." Byakuya murmured simply.

Renji filled his glass up with water, and chugged it back, relieved by the comfort the ice-cold water brought his burning throat.

"But… it's yours." Renji finally said.

And I'm cold.

Renji blushed at his thought.

"I… don't care." Byakuya said.

"Oh…" Renji said, feeling his eyes close. Slowly, he made his way back to the bed, lay down, and shivered.

It was an exceptionally cold night.

"Do you need anything else?" Byakuya asked him, suddenly at his side.

Renji, who was now incredibly tired, and, therefore, probably delirious, said: "You."

"…Excuse me?" Byakuya asked, surprised at his Lieutenant's words.

"I'm cold, Captain. And I need you to keep me warm…"

If it had been any other scenario, Byakuya would have ignored the request, and would probably have punished his Vice Captain. But Renji wasn't thinking straight, and looked so… helpless.

"…Alright." Byakuya found himself saying.

Slowly, he got into the bed, and lay down, his head on the pillow next to Renji's. His body was mere inches away from Renji's.

He felt Renji turn on his side, and face him. He felt a thrill run down his spine when Renji's nose accidentally brushed against his shoulder.

"Thank you, Captain… I'm much warmer now." Renji murmured.

And as Renji's breathing slowed down, and Byakuya felt his own slow down, one though stayed in the Captain's mind.

I wouldn't give this moment up for the world.

And he finally knew why.