Sooo... here is chapter 9. It gave me quite a lot of trouble, I can tell you. At first I was planning to put the lemon in here but then I changed my mind, so it will be in the next (and last) chapter. Also, I think Byakuya might be a bit OOC, so sorry bout that. Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter 9 – Love and rule breaking

Renji stood in his bathroom, staring after his Captain. It had been a few strange days, and it had all started with one kiss. At that time, Renji would have done anything to see his captain show his emotions, but now it seemed he'd seen more than he ever imagined possible.

So Byakuya likedhim like that. That was something Renji would have never guessed, but now that he knew, it made him feel... happy. There was no other word for it. Renji had never really thought about his Captain in that way, but after everything that had happened lately, the prospect of having a relationship with the noble seemed very appealing.

Renji turned around and noticed that Byakuya had left his kenseikan on the sink in his hurry to get away from the embarrassing situation. Renji picked them up and smiled to himself.

"I'm gonna have to return these to him tomorrow"

-----

Byakuya arrived at the office earlier than usual. That was not because he was feeling particularly inspired to work, though. No, it was quite the opposite. He hadn't been able to get any sleep last night. At all. Every time he'd closed his eyes, memories of Renji had flooded his mind. In the end he'd given up on sleep and instead went to work, resulting in this very early arrival.

Byakuya sighed as he worked. He'd done it again. He'd fallen in love with the least fitting person in Soul Society and that person now knew about his feelings. Because even though Renji wasn't always the brightest person, it didn't take a genius to figure out the meaning of last night's events.

So what was he supposed to do now? He loved Renji, there was no point in denying that anymore. Byakuya wanted him so bad he thought he'd go insane. But once again, he was faced with the fact that if he wanted to be with the person he loved, he'd have to break a whole bunch of rules. And Byakuya really didn't like breaking rules. Also, there was the issue of whether Renji loved him in return...

"Well aren't we looking troubled?"

Byakuya jumped and looked up to find Renji standing in front of his desk.

"Renji... what are you doing here?"

"Um, if you haven't noticed, I work here"

Byakuya blushed slightly.

"I know that, but-"

"I'm unusually early? That's cuz I wanted to return these"

Renji held up the kenseikan and understanding spread across Byakuyas face.

"I see"

He reached out to take the objects from Renjis hand, but Renji suddenly disappeared and appeared right behind Byakuyas back.

"Why don't you let me help you put them in place, Captain?"

Renji threaded a hand through Byakuyas hair and the noble felt a shiver run down his spine. But he wasn't going to give in that easily.

"Renji, I'm perfectly capable of doing that myself"

"I know that, I just wanted to do you a favour, but if you'd rather I stop-"

"No!"

Byakuya hadn't meant to yell, but the idea of Renji not touching him was just too much. The feelings the redhead created was rather addictive.

"I-I mean..."

"It's okay Captain, I know exactly what you mean"

Renji kept threading his fingers through the black hair, then slowly moving one hand down Byakuyas neck and then down his chest, making the Captain shiver again.

"Oh, you like that don't you?"

"Of course I don't"

"Is that so?"

Renji moved around, stopping his ministrations for a second, only to sit down in Byakuyas lap, making the Captain gasp. Renji leaned forward, whispering: "Are you sure you don't like it?" in Byakuyas ear, before he started to kiss and lick on Byakuyas neck, hands moving in under his captains clothes, stroking softly, occasionally teasing a nipple.

Byakuya felt like he would go crazy with the feelings of pleasure spreading through his body. The last time he'd felt like this was when his wife was still alive, and it seemed that in the 50 years that had passed since then, he had forgotten just how nice it felt.

Any thoughts of breaking rules or the fact that they were still in the office had completely escaped his mind. All he wanted now was more of Renji and the wonderful feelings he was creating with his hands and mouth.

Renji noticed the change in his Captain as the other man relaxed and arms wrapped around Renjis waist, pulling him closer. Realising that the noble was going along with this, Renji stood up, pulling Byakuya with him towards the couch, removing their clothes as they went.

The two of them fell down on the couch, Byakuya on top. Renji was just about to pull the other down for a kiss when the noble suddenly hesitated, doubt and worry showing in the dark eyes. Renji looked up at him, feeling very confused.

"Captain, what's wrong?"

"Will I regret doing this?"

"Well, I certainly hope not. I mean, why would you?"

Why? Byakuya could think of a million reasons. But the most prominent was his constant fear of losing the people that mattered to him. And if something was to happen to Renji after they became lovers...

"Come on, Captain, ya won't regret anything, let's just continue, okay?"

The impatient tone in Renjis voice made Byakuya suddenly feel very hurt. Here he was, seriously worrying about their future, and all Renji thought about was sex. It was enough to make his voice shake when he spoke:

"So that's how it is"

"Huh?"

Byakuya sat up and turned away from Renji.

"You just want to ignore my feelings and go on. You don't care that I'm even willing to break the rules to be with you?"

Renji sat up to, staring at his Captain. Just a few minutes ago they'd been mad with lust, abandoning all rules, and now it sounded as if Byakuya was close to tears. What brought about this change? What was it that made his Captain hesitate?

"Captain, that's not how it is"

"Then would you care to explain just 'how it is'?"

Byakuya turned back to Renji, tears now running down his face. This whole thing had somehow turned from heated desire to despair. Renji tried to think of a way to fix the situation, but that was very hard considering he had no idea why Byakuya was acting like this.

"Look I didn't mean to hurt ya..."

"Oh, really?"

Byakuya turned away again, standing up and starting to get dressed, voice shaking slightly as he spoke.

"You know, I thought maybe you'd be worth it, breaking a few rules, but I guess I was wrong, I guess I don't mean anything to you, you're doing this just for sex, so-"

"Stop it"

Byakuya was cut off by that soft whisper in his ear as arms wrapped around his waist. Finally Renji understood why all of this was happening and it was all just a stupid mistake. One that he'd be damn sure to set straight.

"Just listen to me. I'm not doing this 'just for sex'. I'm doing this because I love you and I want to be with you. And I think that's something that is worth breaking the rules for"

Byakuya dropped the clothes he was holding and slowly turned around looking up at Renji questioningly.

"You... love me?"

"Yeah, I thought that was obvious"

For a few seconds Byakuya just stared at Renji like he couldn't believe his ears. Then he pressed his lips against Renjis so fiercely that the redhead actually fell backwards, landing on the couch. As they broke apart new tears were falling down Byakuyas face, but this time it wasn't tears of sadness, it was tears of anger.

"You idiot! Don't just assume that I can read your mind!"

Renji smiled and once more wrapped his arms around the other man, kissing him gently on the cheek.

"Sorry Captain, it won't happen again"

I hope it was okay, I think it turned out fairly good, despite how hard it was to write...

Anyway, the next chapter will be the last and it will contain the long awaited lemon, so look forward to it!