Notes: - I only just realised that I hadn't updated this fic. Felt incredibly guilty. Despite the fact that this is not a good story, I thought it needed at least a bit of TLC to see if it would go anywhere…….
Renji departed from his room earlier than usual. It was something about the air that day that roused him to make for the office so early. He pulled back his hair and forced down some breakfast before heading, hot foot to the 6th squad office.
Renji ambled into the building waving lazily to the people he met. He passed some unranked girls who gossiped idly in the stairwell. They didn't notice his presence before he over heard some of their chatter.
"Doesn't Kuchiki Taicho look ill? I swear he's not been sleeping"
"I know what you mean, I've never seen him so pale and drawn. It's quite worrying"
"I blame Abarai Fukutaicho, he doesn't seem to notice."
"That's what I was thinking, he's so cheerful all the time, like he doesn't care. I think his attitude is affecting the Captain's focus."
"That's not what I heard………… Oh, Abarai Fukutaicho!"
All three girls left to their feet at once, glancing awkwardly at each other. Renji smiled as though he had heard nothing.
"Sumimasen, ladies," he said pushing past them and heading up to the office a fixed grin on his face. 'Was what they were saying true? Did the captain look ill and he hadn't realised it? Did he really distract the captain? What is if was for the same reasons the captain distracted him?'
Renji's questions would have to wait, for now…….
Byakuya groaned and pulled himself out of bed. He hadn't slept at all, the nightmares becoming more and more vivid the sleepier he got. He made an effort to hide the fact that he had gotten no sleep, but to little avail.
So he instead set out early, skipping breakfast and taking the long route to the office. He sighed and inhaled the fresh scent of the morning.
'Why was this affecting him so much! He had never been this confused about his feelings for anyone before. But now, he couldn't eat, or sleep, or focus on his work. His whole way of doing things had come crashing down about his ears and was close to turning him into a quivering nervous wreak.'
He rounded the corner and made his way into the 6th squad office, narrowly avoiding some giggling girls on the stairwell, who seemed to be discussing him. He sighed again and entered the office, settling himself into his chair, waiting for Renji to arrive.
The young Lieutenant surprised him by arriving earlier than usual.
"Ohayo, Kuchiki Taicho," he said, more confidently then he felt. Renji quickly found himself a seat before his legs gave out on him. The captain gave little more than a nod in greeting, before returning to the mornings paperwork.
Renji waited for an opportune moment when the captain was suitably absorbed in his work before choosing to study him closer.
The girls were right, Kuchiki Taicho did look ill. Renji wasn't sure if it was the fact that he looked half starved or because of the evil black circles under his perfect hyacinth eyes. Renji took a chance.
"Ummmm, Kuchiki Taicho……" he started, unsure of what to say?
The older man looked up from his work. Renji saw the exhaustion in his usually placid face.
"Kuchiki Taicho? Are you… feeling alright?"
Byakuya blinked, unsure of how to answer the question. He wasn't sure how to start telling Renji that 'No, he wasn't alright, because night after night he was awoken by nightmares so terrible that it meant sleep never an option. That he could think of no-one but Renji, consequently meaning that sustenance had ceased to interest him. That he would give half his fortune to be able to tell Renji how he felt, or even to pluck up the courage to admit it to himself.'
Byakuya chose his words carefully.
"Yes Renji, I am fine," a slight blush glowed at the base of his neck, mercifully hidden by his scarf. He knew he could never tell Renji how he felt, that would be wrong and against what he felt their relationship should be.
Renji paused, trying to decide the best way of continuing the subject.
"S'just, you don't seem alright…… some of the others have started talkin' about it. And, with all due respect Kuchiki Taicho, you look dreadful."
Byakuya started at the forwardness of Renji's words. He blinked unable to formulate a response. He wasn't aware he looked that bad, he thought he was hiding it quite well.
Renji faltered, thinking he'd gone too far. He looked down.
"Gomen, Kuchiki Taicho. I meant no disrespect."
Byakuya swallowed and decided he needed some air. He rose from his seat and made his way to the door.
"Excuse me, Renji," he said quietly, trying to keep the strain from his voice.
Even more notes: - So there we are. The second chapter. Not good by any means, but hey, it's very very late at night. So read, review, sleep and try to give some advice as to how I may improve myself. Domo.