A very short one which I couldn't resist. And well, I just rewatched my bleach episodes, maybe that was where the inspirations came from. The usual disclaimers still stand and reviews anyone?

-

REPORT.

A quiet angst was building up within Kuchiki Byakuya. Being the neat noble he always was, he hated anything to be out of order but the way Soul Society worked was contrary to his habits. He reshuffled some of his men so as to accommodate some newcomers from the 11th squad and barely five minutes after he had done so, an unseated officer brought in a piece of paperwork saying that the move was delayed. In short, his plan was messed up. And he did not like it a single bit. If that wasn't enough, there was another stack of paperwork he had to redo due to personael changes between 3rd squad and 6th squad.

There was a knock. There was no usual fear or trembling that accompanied the knock. Yes, even seated officers trembled when they knock and the unseated ones wouldn't even knock on the door the Captain's office properly because they were trembling too much. But to tell the truth, the arrogant side of Byakuya liked it.

But this knock, instead of fearful, resonated reluctance and only one person in the world knocked that way.

"Captain, may I enter?" And the door slidded open.

"Please report your name the next time you enter, Abarai Vice Captain,"

The last line was said halfheartedly but Byakuya reckoned that his vice captain , would not be able to sense it. Indeed, six division vice captain Abarai Renji was the exception. Instead of being fearful and shivering while secretly excited to meet the Soul Society celebrity, Renji had showed every sign that he did not enjoy it. The way Renji knocked felt like all Renji wanted to do was to just push open the door and barge in instead of knocking and waiting for a permission to go in. Renji hated permissions and Byakuya was particular about permissions. Renji had even shortened the usual eqittue that was required before entering. He was, like Byakuya said, supposed to report his name, rank and his business with the Captain after he knock and wait for the Captain's permission before entering. But all that Byakuya see written on Renji's face was, I would have preferred to just walk in like that. I think I have done you enough courtesy but knocking and annocing my entrance

Aye, Byakuya thought, always setting his own rules.

Byakuya though, was secretly glad that Renji had reported to hisoffice. There was a quality about Renji's voice that always made Byakuaya refreshed. True that Renji had to sound formal and lower his volume when he spoke to his Captain but it was more than obvious that Renji was unwilling to do so and he never did attempt to hide it. The contempt that always flowed out of Renji's lips had amused Byakuya.

Renji was the only one who sounded human around him. He was the only one who gave him respect because he was forced to and was not afraid to show it. Who in the right mind who challenge his captain outright and said that he had surpassed his captain? Only Renji.



While Byakuya was doing his musings, Renji was making his usual round reports and Byakuya listened to the details he wondered at the same time, how Renji was blatant about his dislike of routine work. The noble discerned that some part of Renji must have fell asleep as Renji droned on the personnel movement and training routines which was, under Byakuya's reign, flawless and effective. Byakuya had a hard time trying not to smile at Renji's boredom.

Byakuya realized that Renji's eyes had started to drift to other parts of the almost empty captain's office hoping to find something to sustain himself in the long drawn daily update. He is probably the only person who looks elsewhere besides downwards when talking to the head of the Kuchiki House and most importantly, he was not afraid to show it. Perhaps Byakuya should put a painting or poem on the walls on of these days so that Renji had something to look at when he got bored giving the daily reports.

Now the hands are fidgeting. He had been clenching and unclenching his fists for a while now and he had tapped his feet on the ground several times as well. Byakuya could have just told Renji to stop his reports. Given Renji, if there was anything out of order, he would have informed his captain as the first item of the briefing. The rest was just, customary and administratively pointless because by the time Renji reported back for the morning briefing, Byakuya would have already finished the paperwork regarding them. But Byakuya never told Renji that because the former liked the latter's visits. He was like a breath of fresh air from all the paperwork and the lines that guarded his life. And perhaps, being from Rukongai himself, Renji did remind Byakuya of Hisana herself as well. There was something about people from the end districts, there was always an air of defiance about them. They didn't get what was all the woo has about being a noble because they had never saw one during their childhood and were never thought to fear them. They believed, rather, that nobles were rich snobs that deprived them of their daily meals and basic pleasures. And there stemmed the hatred. And they always say opposites attract right? In the midst of all the people who were fearful and respectful of him, the one who didn't would stand out. And Renji was the one.

"Is that all?" Captain Kuchiki said in his usual regal manner without letting whatever thoughts that had been going through his mind filter through.

"Yes, Captain,"

"Good. Your paperwork for today is on the desk. I need them by evening,"

"Yes Sir," Renji replied and Byakuya couldn't help but noticing how Renji walked to his desk grudgingly with a resigned look on his face.

Actually Renji didn't have to do his paperwork. A third or fourth seat could have done it for him but Byakuya could not resist the temptation to see that dejected face on Renji every day when it was time for paperwork. Byakuya returned to the paperwork he himself had to redo. Then he stole a peek at Renji who eyes was very close to shutting off.

Byakuya smiled.

Suddenly the 3rd squad wasn't so irritating anymore.