Author: -Erizawa Hoshie

Title: -Never did run smooth.

Genre: -Romance/Angsty

Summary: -The basic plot. Byakuya and Renji, and their problems with how they feel for each other. Could those two please just work it out?!

Rating: -M(ish)

Pairings: -Renji x Byakuya, some other pairs later on.

Main Characters: - Arbarai Renji, Kuchiki Byakuya

Disclaimer: - Maybe I do own Bleach, how would you know if I didn't?!?! OK, so I don't, sue me…… Wait, please don't.

Notes IV the notes strike back: - I felt the need to repost all of the above for the simple reason that this has been over a year now since I updated my baby; my eldest and most neglected. The truth why I haven't uploaded in so long is a subtle blend of writer's block, my computer borking regularly and sheer laze (woop laze FTW!)

But anyway, here it is, the (not so) eagerly awaited chapter 4 of NDRS, I promise smut next chapter… honest.

Renji's kiss was gentle and intense. His strong hand still entwined in his Byakuya's locks, holding the captain's face close to his. Byakuya knew this had to be a dream, it was all too perfect; the sun was just dipping below the crimson horizon, the breeze gently blew the blossom in a cascade around the two shinigami, and Renji was there. Renji, the man he'd thought of for so long now, longed to be with him like this, just kissing under a tree.

If Renji was kissing him like this it had to mean he felt the same. Byakuya was surprised, not that his vice captain was gay, he'd often suspected there was more to the red haired shinigami that met the eye, but that he felt this way about him.

This was perfect, this was heaven, this was… wrong. Kuchiki Byakuya was a man of honour; it was unethical to have this sort of relationship with a subordinate. He began to pull away, placing a cool, slightly clammy hand on Renji's chest.

"No, Renji," he said in the coldest voice he could muster. "I don't know what you might think of me, but I have absolutely no feelings for you in that respect. Rest assured no good will come of you perusing this course of action."

And with that he rose fluidly to his feet and strode off away, leaving his embarrassed and dumbfounded vice captain to stare after him in disbelief.

Renji was stunned, how had he got this so spectacularly wrong?! He had been so sure his captain would feel the same way. How had he been so stupid? Of course Kuchiki Byakuya wasn't gay! He'd been married! He was the heir to the goddamn Kuchiki estate! How could he possibly be gay? And now he knew. Renji had tried so hard to keep his sexuality from his work life. He knew Shuuhei and Izuru would keep zipped about all their past exploits and he'd never do anything dumb like fuck around with someone from the office. Hell! He'd even feigned a crush on his best friend to keep the heat off.

Richiki had asked; he'd practically begged Renji to, but the older man always maintained that he was straight so his Taicho wouldn't avoid him. Of course that was all over now. Sure Kuchiki Taicho would never tell anyone, Renji knew it was absurd to think he could be a gossip, but he had been the one man Renji never wanted to find out, until he was absolutely sure he felt the same.

Everyone might as well know now, there was no point in keeping it a secret now nothing would ever happen with the one man he desired…

o x o x o

Byakuya didn't stop until he was securely locked in his own room, deep inside the Kuchiki estate. He sunk into his desk chair and placed his head in his hands. What had he done? How had he ever let that kiss happen? What would Renji think of him now? Part of the Kuchiki's heart wanted to be relieved. After all, now he knew Renji felt the same, he wasn't alone, he should feel loved, he should feel happy!

But no. Byakuya knew there was no way it could work. Renji was his subordinate, he had a duty to him and his squad not to put himself in a compromising situation, by becoming too emotionally attached to his vice captain, it risked the entire detached way in which he ran his squad.

He would have to supply Renji with the necessary transfer forms in the morning. There could be no way that Renji would wish to stay at 6th. Maybe Ukitake Taicho would accept him into 13th, he could do with a new vice captain, or perhaps Renji would be happier back at 11th?

The thought of losing Renji made Byakuya feel quite unwell. He swiftly changed out of his uniform and lay down. The more and more he thought about it, the more Byakuya thought he was about to cry. It was a feeling he didn't relish and refused to give in to it. He hadn't cried since Hisana's death, it didn't feel right.

Rukia once told him that it wasn't healthy to go so long without letting go of your emotions. Sometimes Byakuya was inclined to agree with her, right now he wanted nothing more than to curl up in the foetal position and cry like a little girl. But he didn't even now, he knew no good would come of that. Instead he decided to attempt sleep, not caring what nightmares it brought.

o x o x o

Renji stormed back to his apartment. His plan for the evening was to get very drunk and possibly kill himself. He scowled at several squad members and kicked open the door to the apartment block that many of the officers shared.

"Renji kun?" a meek voice called to him down the corridor.

It was Richiki.

If Renji was surprised to see him, he didn't show anything. It had been ages since the younger shinigami had spoken to him, or even stayed in the same room. It had been awkward between them for months since Richiki's drunken little confession.

"Renji kun, this is hard for me… you're too perfect for words… I wish you'd look at me the way you look Rukia san… I wish you'd want me the way you want Rukia san…"

If Renji hadn't rejected him that night who knows where he would be now. Would have simply learnt to love Richiki, or would his passionate love for the captain have killed them both in the end? Renji would never know. He glared at his admirer.

"What?!"

Richiki shuffled his feet and blinked at him, a little taken aback by his idol's sharpness.

"Ummm… Is something wrong, Renji kun? Is there anything I can do?" he inquired timidly, it was true that Richiki still loved him, but there was something about the fire haired Vice captain that scared him somewhat.

Renji growled, he could think of no logical way to relate the torment he was in to this brat; how he had been rejected and how he wanted nothing but to break something. The carnal frustration that had been brewing within Renji's most animal depths needed a release, any release. He wanted so desperately to hurt Byakuya; to make the cold nobleman realise the pain he'd caused. Renji's eyes were drawn to the young shinigami before him.

'So young and so fragile', he thought, grinning maliciously, subconsciously licking his lips. "He's perfect."