TITLE: His Freedom

PART: Two of Three

AUTHOR: Simply Kim

WORD COUNT: 6,215

CHARACTERS: Kuchiki Byakuya, Abarai Renji, Unohana Retsu, Ukitake Jyoushirou, Shihouin Yoruichi, Urahara Kisuke and Kuchiki Rukia. Mentions of Kurosaki Ichigo, Shiba Kaien, Kuchiki Hisana, Hisagi Shuuhei Ayasekawa Yumichika and Ishida Ryuuken

PAIRING/S: Abarai Renji + Kuchiki Byakuya. Mentions of Kuchiki Byakuya x Kuchiki Hisana and Hisagi Shuuhei + Ayasekawa Yumichika

GENRE: Alternate Universe/Angst/Drama/(A bit of) Humour

DISCLAIMER/S: I'd love to have the creativity and talent Kubo Tite does. Unfortunately, I don't, so I don't own any of these characters or the series... just this story.

NOTE#1: This is a companion fic to "His Crime" and "His Choice", thus, set in the same universe. I just had this idea before – What if there comes a time when Renji would overpower his captain? Well, stranger things have happened, thus, the idea is toyed thoroughly in this lengthy fic.

NOTE#2:Blah or Blah is for emphasis. /Blah/is for conversations over the phone or flashbacks (if any). /Blah/ is for the conscience or whatever inner voice there is talking. Blah is for thoughts or random Japanese words. Some of these words are footnoted at the end of every page (I'm beginning to understand the need for footnotes in fiction. Thank you dear friend, you know who you are. XD).

NOTE#3: The Bounto Arc didn't happen. The past scenes here are heavily manga-based.

HIS FREEDOM

Pale hands moved gracefully in the air as they reached for the traditional lacquered ceramic teapot. If there was one thing that Kuchiki Byakuya considered holy, it was the art of preparing and serving tea. He had learned from a lot of people, colleagues and enemies even, different arts for different individuals – that was his teatime motto.

He could feel a pair of eyes following his movements, and it didn't take long for him to realise that his vice captain was following his movements, undoubtedly taking in even the tiniest detail. Finally, he was at the last leg of his ceremony and with quiet flourish, he placed one hand on the side of the handle-less cup and one against the rim of the lacquered saucer. He gave the steaming set a gentle push, enough to catch the other's attention and take it.

"Wow." He heard Abarai Renji swearing. "That was some mean ceremony! Where'd you learn to do that, taichou?"

He looked up at him and gave a small nod of acknowledgment. "My mother. If she were alive, she might have taught Rukia as well."

Even with the visible awe and apparent amusement, he could still see the unease in the other's movements.

"Ha! She wouldn't be caught dead doing formal stuff! That wench is a total thug!"

He couldn't blame him. After all, Byakuya was not one to ask for anyone's company – he preferred being by his lonesome, or at least with those who were particularly close to him such as the late Shiba Kaien and when they were still young, Shihouin Yoruichi. However, he was the only one left so there wasn't any other choice but to stand alone. Kaien was now reincarnated and living the life of an infant English prince and the cat woman was balancing her new position as the head of the Second Division and relationship with the equally reinstated Urahara Kisuke while dealing with the jealous fits of her not-so-secret-admirer-slash-vice-captain, Soi Fong.

And now that Rukia was also away, it was not healthy to be spending time alone in his room and staring as the soul society sky turned to different shades of grey. He had to mingle with people, especially those in his division. What else was there to do but start with his own vice-captain?

Besides, he had something important to talk to him about...

"Abarai-fukutaichou."

The vice-captain's movements stilled and his words died in his throat. He was stiffening, and Byakuya could feel it, but he went on.

"Do you want to be a captain?"

OxxxOxxxO

He could almost hear the wheels of his mind turning. And he had an inkling of what the other might be thinking, and for once in his life, he felt the stirrings of trepidation nudging his heart.

"Me? Captain?"

Byakuya nodded, his hands clasped on his lap. He had been considering this for a long time now. No matter what he said, he knew that the moment he was appointed vice-captain of the Sixth Division, Renji had never been at ease around him. He had credited it to the younger man's ambition and love for his adopted sister Rukia, but now that everything was settling down and his pursuance of her affections remained under the umbrella of close friendship – all that remained was ambition.

And he could attain the top position and get away from him at the same time. Such offer was something that one just didn't turn down...

"Well, I guess so..." The redhead rubbed the back of his neck and looked away. "I mean, who wouldn't?"

There was something like a silent protest in his tone. Byakuya didn't understand why he was being so apprehensive, or defensive as the case may be, of his answer. He nodded once again, acknowledging his subordinate's opinion of the matter. "I have been thinking that it's time for you to expand your horizons and lead your own group." He added, watching the other carefully, blinking twice as Renji turned back to him in surprise. The widening of those eyes was enough for Byakuya to deduce that the other was seriously wondering if he was being faked.

"Wait, taichou..." Renji started, rising abruptly. "What are you hinting at?"

It was his turn to be surprised. He watched as the other took a deep calming breath, his hands tightening into fists. His knuckles were turning sheet white. He looked like he was ready to burst. Suddenly, his demeanour changed. Taking another deep breath, his body sagged... now he was too relaxed. A small frown crossed Byakuya's brow as he silently took note of the small differences.

Renji gave him a lopsided grin. "Sorry." He said gruffly. His actions may look thoroughly apologetic for his outburst, but his eyes were a different story. "Didn't mean to lose my cool right there... ne, taichou, why'd you ask?"

It was the hardest question the Sixth Division captain had to answer.

In his solemn way, Byakuya just shook his head and took a sip of his now lukewarm tea.

OxxxOxxxO

A little while later, Byakuya found himself saying his goodbyes to his vice captain. He waited by the door, with his trusty attendant, until his guest was out of sight before turning around and making his way to his quarters.

He still didn't have the courage to say what it was he was thinking of, it seemed.

For the life of him, Kuchiki Byakuya just couldn't understand why he was being so cautious around his vice captain nowadays. Maybe it was the fact that he had been seeing glimpses of overwhelming power from the younger man, something he had never seen before. Or maybe it was the fact that he seemed to be wasting a great deal of time just shutting the image of the redhead out of his mind.

As he slid open the door to his room, he was overcome with a sudden wave of sadness. His house was much too quiet for his tastes. Before, when his parents were alive, he had been engaging conversations with them and they were giving him tidbits of their wisdom, passing knowledge to him the most entertaining way they knew how – he even found humour in the way his late father managed to coax his late mother into telling him the sordid tales of their adventures together as children.

Hisana came and for a short while they stayed blissfully together. She filled the house with her joy – as pretentious as it was... at least, there was something he looked forward to upon returning from work.

When Rukia came, he heard her laughter as she joked around with his attendant before dinner, and her cooing as she took care of her 'cute little Chappy'. It may be too girly for his tastes, but he couldn't deny the fact that it made the house more alive. When she went away before and after all the turmoil, he felt a sense of loneliness from the walls of the wooden structure.

It was a house.

It was not a home anymore.

He closed his eyes and stepped in, sliding the door shut in his wake before leaning back against it.

He took a deep breath.

It seemed he was alone...

As always.

OxxxOxxxO

Every step Renji took was heavy and grudging.

It wasn't as if he didn't want to go home... actually, he wanted to get out of all that formality and turn to his drinking buddies for his much-needed daily 'sloshing'. He felt like he just gained a thousand pounds for his sluggishness.

If he was rich and he was a captain, he would be able to order people to drag him around at a time like this.

Captain.

That single word gave him the chills. He had always wanted to be one – that was why he was trying to fit himself in his superior's smaller coats when he wasn't looking, just to know how it felt to wear one. However, when he heard the same superior ask him that coveted question, he couldn't help but feel like he was being discarded.

Dammit... what the hell was that about? He thought in annoyance. Byakuya must be plotting something, which was why he raised that issue.

Yes, he felt like he was being thrown away. After all, he had not been the best vice-captain in the world and he hadn't been exactly loyal in his early years... but before, even if he was on a race to overthrow him and take Rukia's freedom back, Kuchiki Byakuya never once made an order to have him transferred to other divisions – not even to have him demoted.

So... why this? Why now? Why when everything seemed to be going great, and the balance of their power doing wonders for their division? Why when everything seemed to be more comfortable than ever? Why when they almost actually bridged the deep gaping trench between them?

Renji may be slow on the uptake sometimes, and maybe he was not one to mull over things forever just to make good beneficial decisions, but this was something he considered ridiculous.

It was totally, utterly ridiculous.

It was too...

"Oi, Renji-kun!"

Snapped out of his reverie, he looked up to see who it was that disturbed him. Upon recognition, he stopped and grinned, raising a hand in acknowledgment.

It was Izuru Kira.

"Yo." He greeted as the blonde reached him.

"Ah, I'm glad I caught you." Kira smiled, his exceptionally large eyes looking up at him kindly. "I thought I was seeing things the minute that bright red hair of yours came to view."

"Heh." Renji's grin widened, and his eyes shone fondly as he met the other's gaze head on. They were friends for the longest time, and even after everything that happened with the blonde's former captain, he was glad the other's smile – as lonely as it often was back then – was not erased completely. "Why are you looking' for me anyway? Boob-girl got you again?"

Renji was secretly glad that the darkness covering Kira before and already been washed away completely. Now he was chuckling, and his eyes were not more than twin lines on his flushed face. "Matsumoto-taichou will kill you when she learns you call her that."

"And you would be watching with glee as she dices me up, wouldn't you?" He snorted. "Geh, that title doesn't suit that lazy bum... I wonder why she was even considered to become captain..."

"Maybe 'Boob-girl' drunk Yamamoto-san under the table."

It was Renji's turn to laugh. "Don't say things like that, idiot, doesn't suit you."

Kira joined his mirth as they started walking towards the red light district of Seireitei. They swapped stories for a while before the real issue was breached.

"He what?"

Kira immediately shushed him, looking around in panic just in case someone managed to get around their barriers and heard. Once it was all clear, he relaxed his stance and scratched his head, smiling sheepishly.

"Well, Yumichika-san learned that Hisagi-senpai was our former instructor, and well, I think she's interested in –"

"You just called that fruitcake a 'she'."

"Oh, sorry, my bad..." Kira flushed in mortification. "Well, as I was saying, he's interested in knowing stuff about him. I am the perfect target, and I was trying to find and warn you too because he accosted Momo-chan once in the middle of her shift the other day just to ask her about senpai, well, we were all under senpai during our practicum days, weren't we?"

"I bet she warned him to stay away from her or somethin'." Renji scratched his chin irritably. "Too late."

Kira's eyes widened to impossible proportions, and his mouth hung open in shock. "NOOO..."

"Yes." The redhead grinned wryly. "I told him off too, so he doesn't pester me around anymore."

"That means I'm the only one who's doomed to dodge Ayasekawa-san!"

"Looks like it." Renji snickered. "You sure are lucky, aren't you?"

Kira moaned woefully, burying his face in his hands as if the action would make him vanish completely. "I wish I didn't take Hisagi-senpai's offer to be his vice-captain..."

"Look on the bright side, if everything goes well, you don't have to make an extra lunchtime bento anymore."

OxxxOxxxO

Byakuya was sitting by the window.

It had been such a long time since he had last appreciated the beauty of the night sky. He had been too busy with work this past year – work and trying to keep himself alive, that is.

More than the sun, the power of lady moon... He thought wistfully. He was one of the rare individuals who mastered the art of shunpo, and yet, the only place he wanted to reach was beyond him. It was one of the things he and Hisana had dreamt of, and they spent countless nights talking about that wish.

But unlike Hisana, who, if given the chance, could touch the ghostly galleon watching them from the sky, she was free to.

He was not.

I will always be alongside duty. As long as time permits, I would be equipped with the need to further my clan and myself... a privilege that is rightfully mine. He closed his eyes, letting the pain rattling inside trample over him, and rested the side of his head on the windowpane. I'm the only one who has the power to commit to this kind of life and not be affected the slightest...

Now, If only he could believe that, everything would be as it was.

But I don't.

OxxxOxxxO

Renji took another long swig of sake and watched as Iba made a fool of himself, mooning Ikkaku who was by now too engrossed in staring at Matsumoto's breasts. If he was in the mood, he would've done the same, since the nipples were now almost showing above her ridiculously low neckline.

He wished he was in the mood.

It didn't take long, after he sat down on the tavern's stained tatami, before his conversation with his captain permeated his mind once again. He had been bearing the brunt of his thoughts as the implications the offer gave sank in. he shook his head and took another gulp straight from the bottle. He wanted someone to spill his worries onto, and instinctively, he turned to the one who accompanied him to where the other drinking fiends were...

And there he was.

Renji frowned, and then sighed. It seemed it wasn't over yet. Kira was trying to beat Yachiru in Go Fish. He shook his head and slumped on the table in agony. He couldn't even talk to his senpai. Hisagi Shuuhei was busy, trying his very best to out-drink the new Fifth Division captain.

Fuck it, I wish I had breasts so they would take notice of me too! He swore. He wanted to clear his head. He still didn't understand why he was being so stupidly disoriented over it. Well, wasn't it exactly what he wanted? To be on equal terms with his snotty captain?

His mind swam as the effects of the liquor he consumed assaulted him, heightening his displeasure over being rattled by such a simple question. "Didn't even tell me why... 'Furthering yourself', my foot." He snorted bitterly. "Fucker, acting all cool..."

He closed his eyes and the image of Kuchiki Byakuya offering him tea came to mind.

"Pretty..."

And Renji proceeded to snore.

OxxxOxxxO

Morning found Byakuya still sitting by the window, sunlight caressing his cheeks gently as he covered his mouth in expectation of a huge yawn. Slowly, he rubbed sleep off his eyes and blinked repeatedly until his surroundings stopped being bleary.

When the room ceased being hazy, he finally stood up and composed himself. He fell asleep by the window again, it seemed. With placid movements, he shuffled towards the sliding door that hid his private bath adjoining the room.

And as always, he left a trail of clothes as he moved, shedding each layer as he went. The moment he slid the door open, he was naked, the soft contours of his body blending with the white tiled walls and the soft light from an overhead fixture that automatically turned on the moment his hands touched the door's slot handle.

He shut the door and locked it.

It was one of the luxuries he recently indulged in, a gift from Urahara Kisuke upon learning that he needed therapy after nearly losing much of his muscle movement at the wake of Aizen Sousuke's evil plot. The hot water from what the reinstated Twelfth Division captain called 'faucet' was balanced with cold water from its twin with just a turn of knobs.

Soon, delicate porcelain was nearly filled to the brim and the air was thick with vapour. Pouring a small amount of fragrant bath oil, Byakuya felt like he was in a calm magical place, and soon enough, the lure of warm water on skin beckoned and he slid into the tub without disturbing the transparent surface.

When he finally settled in, he took it as an opportunity to think everything over.

His decision to offer Renji a chance to become captain was something he had mulled over since Izuru Kira transferred to the Ninth Division and left the Third Division offices wide open. Not only would it benefit him, but also the Gotei 13. That was what he thought.

He also knew that there was something in Renji that aspired to become a better person than he thought he was. And judging from the amount of damage Byakuya's body had during the Great War, he was not the one Renji should look up to. He knew from the glint in his subordinate's eyes that he knew this as well.

Rukia was free.

He had proven his worth to all the three worlds.

And he came close to Kurosaki Ichigo's strength.

There was nothing hindering Abarai Renji from attaining his goals.

Not me. Byakuya's eyes surveyed the scars that somehow still showed even after all this time and all Unohana Retsu's efforts to heal quickly. They were scars that showed his weakness... his weaknesses.

/You are not weak, Kuchiki Byakuya. /

He smiled softly, closing his eyes as a soft androgynous voice swallowed his train of thought.

/Then, as enduring as your blossoms, I will strive to gain strength, my friend. /

OxxxOxxxO

"Fuck."

He swore as Yachiru's overly happy voice resounded in his head painfully. Morning found Abarai Renji facedown on the tavern table he last saw before he fell asleep, his nose squished numb against rough cherry wood and virtually drowning in his own puddle of drool.

"Aah, Ren-chan, you are so grouchy!"

"And you're so annoying."

"Take that!" The pink ball of energy whacked him on the head with a wooden box of playing cards. "You meanie! I will tell Bya-kun on you!" Then, off she scampered, pestering a gurgling Matsumoto instead.

"Ow!" The redhead howled, clutching his head in his hands as the offended area stung. The kid was tiny but she packed a mean blow. "Then tell on me, you evil midget, see if I care!" He shot back as he tried to stand.

He managed to do just that and stood as still as he could.

When the world stopped spinning and the blotches he initially saw around him formed into tangible things, everything suddenly made sense.

But that didn't mean the hammering in his head stopped completely.

He winced.

"Ugh. Hangover." Came the exasperating thought, as an equally exasperating number of sake bottles lay dead by his feet. Six in all.

Six big ones.

Then, something in his hazed brain clicked... and he couldn't help let out along suffering groan.

Shit, it's mission day.

OxxxOxxxO

The Sixth Division members were at a loss over what they should do. Upon first glance, everything seemed to be okay. Their captain was sombre and authoritative as ever, and their vice-captain was as loud and obnoxious as ever. Yes, everything was fine, until they were sent out to the human world, assigned to keep surveillance of the rebellion's powerless remnants.

The purification rites turned into an unexpected verbal battle.

"Dammit, why do we have to limit ourselves to this area, taichou?" Renji grated out angrily as his target hollow scampered off beyond the borders of their given area of responsibility.

Byakuya levelled him with an acid glare, which doesn't seem to have any effect. "Because we are assigned here only. If we cross our borders, Matsumoto-taichou would undoubtedly write a report about it and we would be under probation."

"Probation?" Renji yelled in frustration. "Just this once, taichou!"

"This would be the third time, and I am the one who would be pleading for the whole division, not you."

"Taichou, our targets are just moving out and leaving us behind! Mine just did! If we want to do our job well, we need more space!"

"Then don't let them get away." Byakuya said bitingly, obviously more incensed. "Stop wasting my time with your nonsense, Abarai-fukutaichou, listen and obey. I'm your captain."

"I know! But that doesn't mean you're right! Matsumoto wouldn't mind the extra help!"

"The rules must always be adhered to. It will save us the trouble."

"Agh! You're so stubborn, taichou, that's why no one wants to be around you!" With that, he furiously stormed off, finding a poor hollow for him to vent his negative energies on, leaving Byakuya standing still, staring at his vice-captain's back.

A wave of silence washed over the other members of the division as they waited for whatever it was that would happen next. Apprehension, and even fear erupted in most of them. After all, no one ever took that tone with Kuchiki Byakuya and got away with it.

However, to their surprise – and relief, all their captain did was to turn to them and order them to carry on, disappearing as he took off to the other direction.

They all wondered if it was the peace that they had worked for and around for so long would be broken now that lines had been crossed.

OxxxOxxxO

It was late in the evening – an hour past the time when he should have been off from his shift. If not for the fact that he was looking forward to a day of rest tomorrow, he would be pissed.

With his usual disregard for protocol – or his captain's orders, Abarai Renji decided to force his way into Fifth Division territory, earning him a dispute with a surprisingly responsible Matsumoto and the pacifist Hinamori over who had the rights to kill the hollow that escaped Renji moments before. The result, unfortunately, was the hollow luckily escaping from the three of them.

Byakuya stood in front of Yamamoto Genryuusai and Matsumoto Rangiku, weary in the aftermath of his explanation regarding his subordinate's impertinence.

As confidential as this meeting was in order to avoid inter-division squabbles and rifts between individuals, fact remained that he was still there to be reprimanded.

"I know he's always like that, but it seems you have no control over your own vice-captain, Kuchiki Byakuya." Yamamoto declared. "I have told you before, you should impose a sanction on him just to let him know that he shouldn't disregard rules in order to provide himself with the pleasure of obtaining something."

"I'm sorry Yamamoto-sama." Byakuya apologised formally bowing down in a show of respect, then, turning to the woman beside him, he bowed just as low. "I'm sorry too, Matsumoto-taichou."

The vivacious blonde was overcome with embarrassment, and she patted him on the shoulder almost affectionately. "No need, Kuchiki-taichou!" She exclaimed, smiling uncertainly. It was not often that the illustrious head of the Sixth Division bowed down to someone who had such lowly origins.

"I was at fault." He said as he straightened up. "I should have restrained him from doing as he wished."

"No! Actually, it's Renji-kun who should be apologising..."

"It was my fault." He insisted. "I should have been more responsible while my team is out on a mission. Each of their mistakes is mine as well. Abarai-fukutaichou erred and I didn't do anything until it was too late."

Matsumoto didn't know what to say, so all she could do was just to bow as well – in acceptance. "Okay then, Kuchiki-taichou..."

"Thank you very much for your acceptance. Please extend my apologies to Hinamori-fukutaichou as well."

"I'll do that."

"Ah, you are as polite as ever, little Byakuya." Yamamoto cleared his throat, his eyes dancing with concealed mirth. "But even so, I have to give some sort of penalty for your division. This is the third time after all."

He cringed inwardly at the nickname, and then at the implication of the elder's words. He steeled himself, expecting the worst.

"As the captain of the Sixth Division, and since you are bent on carrying the load by your lonesome, you are on probation."

It was Matsumoto who protested. "But Yamamoto-taichou..."

The old man raised a hand for her to keep her silence, and she complied, shooting Byakuya a panicky look.

"You would be placed under the surveillance of Ukitake Jyoushirou for a month." Yamamoto continued. "In that span of time, you must find a solution to your division's discipline problem and put it to work. Do you understand, Kuchiki-taichou?"

Byakuya took a deep breath and resigned himself to his fate.

"I understand."

OxxxOxxxO

Renji had been wondering where his captain was the entire duration of the after-mission afternoon. The mission was completed – with small botches here and there because of his captain's inability to compromise – successfully. The Fifth Division fifth chair killed the hollow he had been chasing, so all was well...

Except for the fact that he learned from Hinamori that Matsumoto was summoned too. Somehow, the old man got whiff of their squabbles. It was the only thing he could deduce. Maybe it was the stupid fifth chair who tattled.

He frowned. If that happened, then, he would be in big trouble. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead and he gulped. As if on cue, the one he had been waiting for came through the door. There was no emotion on his face as usual, but his clipped strides told an entirely different story. He watched as Byakuya disappeared into his part of the office and took a deep calming breath. He wanted to apologise, but it would be stupid to do something like that when your superior was not in a good mood.

His brow furrowed. But if he didn't apologise, he would be stewing like this every single day that he was working – everything would be more awkward than when they first started out as a team. He sighed. There was no choice.

Mustering up all his courage, he stood up and made his way to his captain's office, making sure that his zanpakutou was strapped securely into his waist, ready to be drawn just in case he would ever need it.

He knocked on the wooden doorpost, announcing his presence even if it was futile to do so – after all, his signature reiatsu was enough for his captain to know whom it was disturbing his peace. His eyes, hawk-like, watched carefully as Byakuya stiffened upon his presence. He knew that it was rage still coursing through the young Kuchiki's veins, but Renji knew it was anger well-spent after that meeting with Yamamoto Genryuusai... if the mission was what they talked about, which probably was.

"Abarai-fukutaichou."

Renji cringed. He hated hearing his captain call him that.

"Taichou." He responded as politely as he could.

Slowly, Byakuya looked up from his tabletop and met the redhead's gaze levelly. His eyes betrayed much of what he was feeling inside, Renji could see. However, deciphering them would be a tough challenge since his captain was naturally hard to read.

"Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni, Matsumoto-taichou and I had a meeting this afternoon." He said. "I suppose you know that already?"

Renji nodded.

"We talked about what happened during the mission."

He waited for the next words, but there was none. Perplexed, he raised both brows and a look of concern crossed his features. "Ne, taichou... Are you in trouble? Is the division in trouble? Am I in trouble?"

For a few moments, Byakuya just gazed at him. Something unfamiliar flashed across his eyes again, the redhead thought. Finally, the young Kuchiki heir shook his head, and in his usual monotone, answered Renji's barrage of questions.

"No trouble at all, Renji."

OxxxOxxxO

Maybe it was the desperation in Abarai Renji's voice that made him reconsider. Or maybe it was the look of panic he was wearing that contributed more to Byakuya's decision not to send him into an even crueller guilt trip.

Or maybe...

Byakuya shook his head inwardly and raised a brow, motioning his subordinate to continue with whatever it was he seemed to be in need of blurting out. When he continued staring at him dumbstruck, he let out his breath and went on to ask him what the matter was.

"Ah, well, I just want to apologise for what happened this afternoon..."

"I see."

"I'll try not to override your orders, taichou..."

"You said the exact same thing the last couple of times, Renji."

"It's different this time, I promise!"

He said that before too. He thought bemusedly. But it's that character that makes him different from other vice-captains. Of all of them, he's the only one headstrong enough to decide he wants to see his captain facedown on the mud where he thinks nobles belong and actually try doing it.

He has the courage to do what he wants.

And it's something I would never have.

OxxxOxxxO

The a couple of days later, after his customary early morning bath, Byakuya headed off to the Thirteenth Division headquarters and sought out his probation officer. He was clueless regarding the structures and where he should start looking, however, the coughing on the east side of the site gave it away.

He frowned. Ukitake Jyoushirou was having coughing fits again. Somehow, he felt like the world's biggest ass stomping in here without warning. He knew the older Shinigami knew he was acting as a temporary one-man surveillance board, but Byakuya didn't send anyone to tell him he was coming this early.

Nevertheless, duty called, and even if he was reluctant, he started to where the noise was. They both have to settle their terms so they could both rest easy for the remainder of the day.

OxxxOxxxO

"Ukitake-taichou."

Byakuya bowed respectfully in greeting as the 'gruesome-twosome', as his vice-captain called them, ushered him pink-cheeked to where their captain was resting. After a brief explanation about Ukitake catching the flu again, they pleaded him to take measures not to aggravate their precious leader.

His eyes softened. He had heard about this kind of fanatical devotion when it came to captains and their subordinates, but he had never truly encountered such. He thought it would be nice to have someone cater to him like that, but concluded that it was useless when it came to his division anyway. His men were either in awe of him, or they detested him for being such a strict leader.

He was pulled out of his reverie when a joyful greeting ended a barrage of coughing. "Ah, Byakuya!" came the light tones of the Thirteenth Division captain. "You're early! You want some candy?"

Byakuya bristled for being treated like a kid, but decided to have one anyway. Ukitake was known to shell out sweet things ever since he could remember. They were a hundred or so years apart, so he knew how it was to be the sole recipient of that bag of candy. With an abnormally huge smile, the blond reached inside his magic sack and produced what seemed to be the young Kuchiki's favourite and placed it in his outstretched hand.

A butterball.

His gaze sharpened. It must hurt for him, even a little bit, to buy that candy – and it was a huge leap for him, he thought. Butterballs were Byakuya's and the late Kaien's favourite.

"It's a good thing I managed to buy the best butterballs in the local candy store." Ukitake laughed. "When I was told by Jii-sama that I would be working with you, well, I thought it was fate!"

For a hundred years, from when he was young, and this man was still a fifth chair, Byakuya thought he didn't change much. A small smile tugged the corners of his mouth. To the other captain's surprise, Byakuya moved forward and sat down next to him on his futon.

"It probably is." He said softly, unwrapping the candy as meticulously as ever.

And he ate it.

OxxxOxxxO

That afternoon, after enduring a lengthy vice-captain's meeting, Renji stomped moodily into the office. So far, he had been having a bad day. There was something in Hinamori's eyes that made him feel quite edgy, especially when she asked how his captain was doing.

Byakuya said there was nothing wrong, when he asked if there was trouble of some sort, so why was it that he felt he was not telling him everything? He hated being left in the dark.

And then, this morning, when he was looking for his captain, he saw him strolling across the sakura-lined estate that comprised the Thirteenth Division headquarters, pushing a quite animated Ukitake Jyoushirou in a wheelchair. They were not known to seek each other's company since Ukitake liked being around his best buddy Kyouraku Shunsui, and Byakuya preferred being alone.

He felt like he was missing something.

He frowned. He was about to bang the door shut when a familiar monotone resounded from the other side of the room.

"Renji."

He flinched, shutting the door as quietly as he could instead. Speak of the devil. He thought, sauntering over as casually as he could to his captain's office. He blinked. He couldn't see him through the stack of papers on his table.

"Uh, taichou?"

"Sit down."

He did as he was told and waited for his captain's next words. Surprisingly enough, Byakuya stood up and left his seat to join him, sitting across as primly as only he could do. A sudden attack of nervousness started in the pit of his stomach.

"Renji, have you mastered your bankai?"

"Uh, yeah." He replied, trying to think of where this conversation was going.

"Have you mastered your kido?"

"Uh, yeah, I guess... Why are we talking about this, taichou?"

A short moment of silence descended, and Renji stared, perplexed, as his captain's fingers played with the black cloth covering his knee.

"Renji, have you considered?"

Suddenly, he felt empty. Was this guy really trying to get rid of him? He looked down and stared at his hands that somehow found their way on his lap as well. "I'm still thinking about it." He answered safely.

"The Third Division offices wouldn't be open for long." Byakuya noted. "Ichimaru still doesn't want to be captain even with Yamamoto Genryuusai's insistence, and Hisagi-taichou and Izuru-fukutaichou are pressured to handle the division... the wear is showing."

Ire floated inside Renji. Why are you making me choose? He thought snarkily. He sighed. "Taichou, I mean, I understand your worries, but... could you stop pressuring me? There are other people who could fill the spot –"

"But none are more qualified than you."

"You just can't decide such thing on your own." Yes, the irritation was rising, making its way to his words. Just a little more push and he would snap.

"That's why I'm asking you."

"I know you're asking me, Kuchiki-taichou, but I wasn't even thinking about it much when you off and raised it up!"

"But you were still thinking about it... just not much as you said."

"Doesn't everyone want to dream of becoming one once in a while?"

Byakuya blinked at him infuriatingly. "Then why don't you accept?"

"I want to be stronger, dammit – and I don't need position for that!"

"But you wanted to oust me before."

"Because of Rukia!"

"Is it?"

There it was, the trigger. Renji growled. "It is! What are you implying, taichou, that I want to prove something other than my devotion to my friend!" He finally snapped. "Maybe you're right; maybe I'm out to prove something to myself – something more! Maybe I'm out trying to prove that I'm a better man than you! You're always thinking of yourself! Back then you were too engrossed in your own welfare that you were actually willing to sacrifice your adopted sister because you value your promise to people who are already dead!"

As the redhead's rasping breath filled the room, Byakuya sat, as silent as ever, a thoughtful look on his face... a pained look in his dark eyes. After a few moments, he closed them and nodded before standing up and returning to his seat, shielded by the stacks of documents on his desk.

It was only then that Renji realised the gravity of his words.

"Kuchiki-taichou... I..."

OxxxOxxxO

As if nothing happened. Kuchiki Byakuya thought, letting himself be swamped by work. It was the only way he could get his mind to counter the pain of roiling emotions in the depth of his being.

He would have refuted everything.

But he couldn't.

As if nothing happened.

TSUZUKU

A/N: Second part up – lengthy, but necessary. ; Hope you like this one! Feedbacks are greatly appreciated!