A/N: This is a bit overdue. I had planned to get this out on Renji's birthday, but I got a little busy, sooooooooo Happy Belated Birthday Renji! Also, you'll notice that I am adding this as the second chapter of a story I had already written for Byakuya's birthday. As such, I changed the main title of the story and rewrote a few things in the first chapter that I was unhappy with. Derp. If you skipped the first chapter because you realized that you've already read it, I suggest you read it again, at least to notice the few changes I made. XD Don't forget to review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. tite Kubo does. I just toy with the characters a bit.
Byakuya Kuchiki sat up in bed, watching as the rays from the sun slowly inched their way across the floor. It felt odd, allowing himself to remain beneath his covers hours after the sun had risen. The chill of the dawn air had already passed, and he knew that noon was starting to creep up on him.
"Lord Kuchiki?" a female voice followed by a light knock at the door drew Byakuya's attention from the morning light.
"You may enter."
A slight servant walked inside, carrying a tray covered with various snacks and freshly brewed tea. "I'm sorry to bother you, sir, but I thought that you may want something for breakfast."
"Thank you, Fuu. You may place it on my end table and be dismissed."
The servant did as she was told, pausing before leaving to enquire whether or not the noble would be rising before lunch.
"I think," Byakuya replied, the slightest upward twitch beginning to tug at his lips, "That today will be what you may call a 'lazy day'. Do not expect me for a while."
"Of course, sir," Fuu smiled knowingly. "I'll notify the other staff not to disturb you."
The sixth division captain nodded, reaching for a cup of tea as he heard the door close softly. There was work to be done in the office to be sure, but Byakuya had already notified his third and fourth seats that they would have to take over for the day. He had more important things to take care of.
"Mmm. . ."
"Good morning, Renji," Byakuya addressed the groggy lump sprawled out beside him.
"Taichou?" Renji blinked sleepily, looking first at the window and then back at Byakuya, a look of confusion on his face. "Why're ya still here? What time is it?"
"Almost noon," the raven-haired shinigami answered, handing the redhead a cup of tea. "I decided that we should take the day off."
Renji accepted the tea, sitting up to take a small sip. "Why?"
"Have you forgotten what day it is?" Byakuya frowned, reaching below the end table and pulling out a long, deftly wrapped box and handing it to the shocked man in bed beside him.
"Wait, is today. . ." the fiery shinigami paused, thinking back to the last time he had checked the date.
"Happy birthday, Renji," the Kuchiki noble spoke gently, placing a small kiss on Renji's cheek, and causing him to blush in embarrassment. How could he have forgotten his own birthday?
The box felt a bit heavy in his hands, so the tattooed lieutenant quickly tore away the paper and glanced at what was inside. Byakuya chuckled softly when Renji's eyes widened and his mouth formed the shape of a small "oh".
"I had it made custom for you," the noble explained, reaching into the box and pulling out a beautifully carved wooden sword stand. Jagged symbols were carved deep into the wood resembling the ink that Zabimaru had placed all over the lieutenant's body. A deeper blush began to heat Renji's cheeks as he realized how accurate the markings were, indicating that Byakuya had every inch of his body memorized.
"I also saw fit to add a little piece of me," Byakuya continued, turning the stand over in his hands to point out a small clustered etching of sakura petals dancing in tiny swirls. Renji ran his fingertips across the image, noting how the marks were thinner and more precise than the rest of the piece. Did he do this with Senbonzakura?
"Do you like it?"
The tanned shinigami nodded, gingerly taking the beautiful stand and setting it aside before reaching into a bedside drawer. Byakuya raised an amused brow when Renji pulled out a familiar light green ribbon.
"Is that. . ." the pale captain's words were silenced with a sweet, lingering kiss as the larger man tied the ribbon around Byakuya's thin wrist.
"It's perfect," Renji murmured, taking the older man's hand and pushing his lips against those lovely fingers. "Just like you."
Byakuya opened his mouth to speak, but was instantly distracted by calloused, wandering hands and hungry lips invading the folds of his yukata.
As the lithe shinigami gave in to Renji's expert touches, sinking into the pillows and arching his back whenever those fingers ran across certain areas, something sparkled in the corner of his eye. On the other side of the room, finally catching the early afternoon light, sat a delicate looking pewter tree. The drops of quartz shone as if they were set mere days ago and its rough, wood carvings gleamed as if newly polished.
A smile crept onto Byakuya's lips for a moment before being replaced with a soft gasp as Renji found another one of those sensitive spots.
"Thank you, Byakuya, for givin' me the perfect birthday," Renji whispered, following his words with more sweet kisses.
Byakuya chose not to speak, and instead, pulled the redhead closer so that he may sink into every inch of tattooed skin, breathing in exotic scents of spice and cinnamon. Perfect, he thought as those sinful lips brushed against his own, Simply perfect.