Well then, here is chapter 5, I hope you enjoy it. And it's the longest chapter so far, yay!
Chapter 5 – Dinner and Doubts
It was quite obvious that when the work was split up between the two of them it got finished a great deal quicker. After about an hour of working both Renjis and Byakuyas desks were completely blank. Renji put down his pen and sighed, stretching his arms over his head. Byakuya looked up as he too finished his last paper.
"Well, that was quicker than I expected" The noble said.
"Yeah, but that's just cuz you helped out Captain"
"Hm, probably"
They were silent for a while, before Renjis stomach growled loudly. Byakuya looked up and Renji grinned stupidly.
"Oh, I'm sorry Renji, I should have let you get something to eat"
"Nah that's fine" Did he just apologize to me? Is he sick or something?
"Then how about I take you out for dinner?"
"Huh?!" Is he for real? Is this really Captain Kuchiki?
"N-no, it's fine, I'll just go home and eat"
Byakuya eyed him for a second before replying.
"All right then"
"Thanks for the offer though" Renji grinned.
And so they left the office, each heading in their own direction.
Renji felt strangely happy. All the way home he had a sort of fluttery feeling in the pit of his stomach that made him feel very good. His captain had treated him strangely nice. He had of course punished him for being late, but it didn't have anything to do with the kiss, and for some reason, that made Renji feel relieved. And to make things even better, Byakuya had helped him out with his work and even offered to take him out for dinner. It was truly strange, but still very nice.
Thus, Renji arrived at his front door in a very good mood, something that changed immediately when he realised he couldn't find his keys. Desperately searching through his pockets he realised he must have forgotten them in the haste this morning and now he couldn't get into his apartment. As he stood there, tying to figure out what to do, his stomach growled loudly again and Byakuyas dinner offer suddenly seemed very appealing.
After a quick search for his Captains reiatsu, Renji found that he hadn't reached the Kuckiki-mansion yet and that was all Renji needed to follow him, using shunpo. Had the Captain reached his home, Renji probably wouldn't have had the guts to go there, but now it was different. Besides, it wasn't as if Byakuya could turn him down. After all, he was the one who had offered to take Renji out, not the other way around. Spotting his Captains back, Renji sped up, calling out to him.
"Captain!"
Byakuya turned around and saw his Vice-Captain running towards him.
"Renji. What's the matter?"
Renji came to a halt in front of his Captain, slightly out of breath from the run.
"Er... well, it turns out I... heh heh... left my keys at home this morning and sorta can't get into my apartment... so, um... about that dinner..."
Byakuya watched as Renji tried to explain his problem. He was avoiding Byakuyas gaze, one hand at the back of his head, a slight blush tainting his cheeks as he grinned goofily. A tiny smile spread on Byakuyas face at his Vice-Captains distressed state. Renji was really unbelievable sometimes. But that was what Byakuya liked about him. He was as far from perfect as you could get.
Regaining his composure, Byakuya decided to help Renji out (not that he wasn't planning to from the start).
"I'll take you out for dinner Renji"
"Re-really?"
"Of course, it's not like I'd let you starve"
Renji bit back a retort about if that wasn't exactly what Byakuya had been doing earlier today, and instead smiled happily at him.
"Right, well thanks a lot Captain!"
"Don't mention it Renji"
And with that they walked off to find a good restaurant.
-----
They had an excellent dinner at an excellent restaurant in which Ranji felt very out of place. Despite having been a shinigami for quite some time, and a Vice-Captain at that, he still felt like he didn't fit in at these fancy places. Not that he was gonna complain though. His Captain was paying and the food was the best Renji had ever tasted. However the problem still remained of where Renji was would spend the night. Byakuya seemed to have realised that too, because when Renji had finished his food he asked:
"So where are you planning to stay tonight?"
"Oh" Renji had been afraid of that question. He really had no idea where he would stay.
"I guess, er... I, um... well I guess I could... ask a friend or something..."
Byakuya raised a delicate eyebrow.
"I take it you have not thought about it"
"No, I haven't"
Actually, Renji had thought about it, but hadn't really come up with a good solution to the problem. Of course he could always ask Ikkaku or someone else to spare some room for him, but a part of Renji, for some reason, really didn't want to leave his Captain.
Byakuyas voice brought Renji back from his thoughts.
"Well, if you have not planned anything you could always come with me to the mansion"
"Huh?! What did you just say?"
"Renji, you know I don't like to repeat myself"
"I'm sorry, it's just... staying in the Kuckiki-mansion? Are you serious?"
"Of course I am"
"Well I... I don't know..."
"And why is that?"
"I... I'm not sure I'd fit in at a place like that..."
"But you've been there before, visiting Rukia have you not?"
"Well yeah... but that was different, and staying the night... I dunno..."
"I will not force you to stay, it is merely an offer since you didn't have anything planned"
"Right"
Byakuya watched his doubtful Vice-Captain. He understood why Renji hesitated. Byakuya rememberd when Hisana had found out about his noble status and how worried she'd been about moving in with him. However, right now he was just asking Renji to stay for a night, so it wasn't that bad. Was it?
Renji himself was having a wild discussion in his head about whether to accept the offer or not.
Of course you should stay with him!
But what will his fancy family think?
They won't mind, he's just doing his Vice-captain a favour!
Yeah but what if I make a fool out of myself?
You won't! Besides, that doesn't matter! You wanted to stay with him right? You should be happy!
I know, but he's just so perfect... and I'm not...
What does that have to do with anything?! You'll be staying there for one night! What could possibly happen?
I dunno...
Look, he's doing you a favour! Your stiff, stoic Captain is losing up a little! Shouldn't you encourage him in doing so?
That was a very good point. After the tension in the afternoon his Captain had loosened up a lot. And Renji found that he liked it. It was nice to see that his Captain had a quite normal side to him. With that thinking, Renji made up his mind. Maybe it would be worth the tension he'd be putting himself through to see more new sides to the other man.
Renji looked up with a definite look on his face and Byakuya knew what he was going to say before Renji even opened his mouth.
"All right then Captain, I'll accept your offer"
"Very well" Byakuya said with a hint of a smile on his face. "Shall we get going then?"
What will happen in the Kuckiki-mansion? You'll find out in the next chapter!
Also, I'm planning on writing a Christmas-fic to post throughout December, so I'd be very happy if you have any ideas.
This is the basic story (which can be modified): Rukia convinces Byakuya to hold the annual gotei-13 Christmas party in the Kuckiki-mansion, and Byakuya is less than thrilled. There will be lots of sake and mistletoes...
Have any ideas? Please tell me in a review! It can be anything from a favourite pairing to a word, I'll try to squeeze it in to the story somehow.
Well that's about it, see you next chapter!