Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Caged Flower ❯ Chapter 3

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Caged Flower - Chapter 3

Author: Theablackthorn

Rating: PG-13

Pairing: Byakuya/Renji

Warnings: BL

Note: Part of my 100 Themes Challenge.

Byakuya's feet took him across the roof's of Sereitei without any direction in mind. He could not return to the division or to the Kuchiki estate, servants and subordinates both filled halls and rooms leaving no space for true privacy. There was nowhere that Byakuya could retreat to when he felt like his heart had been stabbed clean through and the blade was still lodged inside. His fists clenched before going lax once more as an image of Renji turning away from him, that broad back facing him, thick hair like a skeins of crimson silk loose across the expanse, assaulted him again.

This affection he felt for Renji, this need to touch him, tangle long, pale finger's in that thick mane of his. But also to understand more about him - it was still so new. Byakuya had felt something similar for Hisana long ago, but for Renji it felt different - raw, untamed and enticing. It was a complete contrast in emotional vibrancy to his late wife. Byakuya did not know if it was because Renji was a man or if it was because they had fought side by side for so long. They knew each other in a completely different way from how he'd grown to know Hisana. In truth it mattered very little to him - the flame inside him that had wavered against Renji's anger had dwindled to nothing and his heart hurt.

Byakuya remained outwardly composed as he moved across the roof's of Sereitei, feet barely landing before he was off again. He didn't dare release the tightly pent up ball of emotion that was like lead weight in his gut.

A frown pinched Byakuya's brow as he thought about Renji's outburst again. The way Renji had presented his back to him was the clearest declaration the man had made, there had been no word's that could follow that, no confessions - it was enough to push home what his fukutaicho wanted. And, not for the first time, Byakuya had felt the weight of guilt that had drawn an apology from him, one that he'd meant from the bottom of his soul.

In that short space of time silently watching Renji, Byakuya could see what his pursuit had done to the normally unflinching man. Byakuya had never considered turning against what was expected of him, his duty to the Gotei 13 and the Kuchiki family. Hadn't thought to be honest with the man who had trained with him, had shared long nights of endless paperwork and had stood against him when he had been blinded by that self same duty. Renji had given him so much and he, in his own blinkered state, hadn't even considered giving anything back.

Byakuya was the head of the Kuchiki clan, one of the four founding clan's, was the head of Division Six and was, apparently, a complete idiot.

Byakuya sighed despondently, coming to a halt when his feet whispered across grass. He lifted his head to stare around and take in the shadowed bridge arching over the koi pond that had been the same since his childhood. His Father had liked to sit at the edge watching the flashes of white and gold in the sunlight. It seemed that his feet had returned him to the estate after all.

He furled his reiatsu tightly inside him like a coiled spring hoping that, for a time at least, he could remain unnoticed within the high wall's of the Kuchiki property. The koi pond was some distance from the main house which meant that the servant's and family members living on the property may remain unaware of his presence for a time at least. He needed space, the constant requests and demands of his duty to house,family and division a burden he had been born into and yet sometimes wished he could take ease from.

There was a pain that was digging around his heart, like the sharp thorn's of a rose twinning and puncturing his heart and scratching along the inside of his rib's with every breath. The pain inside his chest held the echoes of old grief and new and Byakuya needed to work through it alone as he always had.

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Renji cursed luridly as he tracked Byakuya across the rooftops of Sereitei, often finding himself crossing his own path back and forth. Renji had thought Byakuya would return to their Division or even the Kuchiki estate for some privacy, but it would seem the man had other ideas. He'd been running all over Sereitei, always arriving to late, only feeling the faint trace's of Byakuya's reiatsu that was left behind in his wake. Renji cursed heatedly as he stared around eyeing the tall white columns shadowing the large open area on the way up to the Sokyoku Hill. Images of a battle fought and concluded in blood and pain filled Renji's mind.

This was were he and Byakuya had truly come to blows for the first time. It had been a no holds barred all out battle to see who was stronger - who's will was made of iron. And, though renji had lost, he knew that he'd made some difference, had made his Taicho consider for a moment if nothing else.

His feeling's for his Taicho hadn't developed beyond admiration mixed with challenge then. But after that battle, when he'd lain broken and bleeding on the floor something inside of him had shifted - admiration, pain, blood, need and understanding - they had dawned in the thrust of sword, in the drip of blood and in the agony of defeat.

He had been fighting to save Rukia, to help Ichigo, but also to help himself.

Renji stared around at the pristine arena he and Byakuya had laid to waste and his mind picked up and ran through all the place's he'd visited on this journey across the length and breadth of Seretei. Images of the room Rukia had left him behind in at the Academy when Byakuya had brought her into the Kuchiki family. The day at the training ground's when he'd been chosen from amongst all the other member's of the Eleventh Division to join the Sixth as there new fukutaicho. Hundred's of moment's spread out across the city that were moment's he and Byakuya had shared in some way. And here - a truly defining moment when Byakuya had seemed to acknowledge his strength and purpose - had accepted his challenge.

Was Byakuya visiting all these place's on purpose? Or was it all just instinct? Renji could never accuse Byakuya of following his natural instinct's when they revolved around anything but duty. The man excelled at ignoring anything that linked him emotionally to another - and yet - he'd apologised to Renji today.

Kuchiki Byakuya had said he was sorry, and though Renji didn't know what Byakuya was sorry for, he could well believe that today - if no other - he was open to a little instinct.

Renji stared around once more before following the trace wisp's of reiatsu that were dissipating on the air. If he hadn't been so attuned to Byakuya he likely wouldn't have been able to follow it at all. Renji dug his toe's in as he leapt forward, channeling reiatsu through his body to push him further and faster than before. He had to find Byakuya - because this maybe the only chance he had to take him for his own.

Renji bared his teeth in a feral smile as he sped across rooftops as though he were flying and the hounds of hell were on his heel's.

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Renji was running full tilt when the tall wall's and solid oak door of the Kuchiki estate came into view. He smiled knowingly, the feel of Byakuya's reiatsu growing stronger with every step closer he took, “Found ya, Taicho.”

He pushed himself that bit harder, hair streaming behind him like a flag of crimson as he leaped onto the tiles at the top of the wall, spun left and started around the wall acting as an impromptu walkway. He could feel Byakuya now, his Taicho had wrapped his reiatsu so tightly inside himself few would realise the man was within the estate grounds and Renji could only think that the Byakuya was trying to hide. Renji frowned but kept up his pace, land, push off, land again. He could feel the air currents whipping across his face, pulling on his hair as he moved quickly onwards.

Renji didn't want to step into the estate grounds just yet, not until he'd found Byakuya. He knew that the servants would sense his less than stellar attempt at hiding his reiatsu - especially as he was using shunpo to traverse the the perimeter of the estate at a rather alarming speed. He didn't want to draw out the nosy occupant's of the Kuchiki estate if Byakuya wanted to have some time to himself. He kept flicking his gaze right, catching snippets of the estate's open gardens and the house beyond all bathed in moonlight. He didn't slow as familiar reiatsu drew closer and closer, when he caught the briefest glint of moonlight on silver Renji's lips curled up into a feral grin and then he was leaping free of the wall and down into the garden.

But Renji realised a little to late that he was going to fast and had jumped a little further than he'd intended to when his Taicho turned around to look at him and those grey eyes widened the smallest fraction as Renji hurtled towards him.In what felt like slow motion, Renji careened forward, the speed he'd utilised to chase after Byakuya now working against him as he tried to slow himself or even just turn himself to the side.

His attempts were ineffectual.

“Oh, fuck!” Renji cursed loudly in the breath between free fall and landing. He collided with Byakuya so hard he forced them both to the ground in a tangle of clothes and limbs, breath exiting his lungs on a gusty whoosh as Byakuya's body pressed up into his own.

Renji heard Byakuya suck in a quick breath, feeling the inhale and exhale all along his upper body were they were pressed together. He groaned softly as the hilt of Senbonzakura pressed into his side and he winced when Byakuya shifted under him. He lifted slightly but not fully off of the man, glad to have a captive audience even if it had been by accident. Though he knew Byakuya was pretty damned pissed off when the cold iron of his voice demanded, “Abarai, remove yourself from my person.”

Renji lifted up a little further, arm's moving to bracket Byakuya's shoulders as he took in narrowed eyes, a deep frown and the inky blackness of his hair splayed out across the grass. “Ahhh... sorry Taicho - but no.” Renji watched Byakuya with a mix of trepidation and excitement curling in his belly. Byakuya hadn't thrown him off, hadn't tried to kido him - yet. He hoped that was a good sign at least.

Renji chuckled nervously, “Ya see, I got this idea in my head.” He didn't say anything further just moved his left hand up to just beside Byakuya's head, lifting enough to be hovering directly over Byakuya's face. He searched dark grey eyes that stared back without blinking and then he took a chance.

Renji let his arm and Byakuya's body take his full weight, his pelvis cradled by Byakuya's. He moved quickly, dropping his head down just far enough to brush his lip's across Byakuya's, his eyes sliding closed at the delicate brush of warmth. He felt the stir of moist breath dampen his lips as he pulled back, eyes sliding open once again. Renji stared down at Byakuya's face searchingly, only pulling back far enough to balance his own weight and see as much of Byakuya's features as possible. He waited in silence, hoping, worrying muscles tight with barely controlled nerves. And he waited longer still and Byakuya said nothing.

Renji didn't know what to make of Byakuya's silence, was his Taicho bewildered? Angered by his behaviour? Genuinely gobsmacked? Renji didn't have a clue and Byakuya's continued silence was starting to irritate him. Renji had gone out on a limb on a hunch, because this man couldn't express how he felt. Byakuya had played a tricky game with him because he held his duty and honour above everything else.

Renji growled low and harsh, voice rasping when he finally spoke, “Ya, gonna say something or just lay there?”

“Abarai, remove yourself from me.” There was no change in Byakuya's tone, no reaction to the kiss he'd taken just the same cool indifference as always. And fuck if that didn't rile Renji up with a potent cocktail of pissed off and humiliated.

“Fine!” Renji declared, pushing up with both arm's, his muscles bunching tightly as he rose rather jerkily to his feet, his body chilling at the loss of their briefly shared warmth. Renji glared at Byakuya darkly, arm's coming up to fold across his chest. He didn't offer to aid the man to his feet as would be expected considering he'd been the one to knock Byakuya to the floor in the first place.

Renji watched, with a growing ball of fiery temper scorching his insides, Byakuya rose gracefully, brushed lightly at his attire to rid it of the small amount of dust that had settled on the dark fabric. He resettled his haori and ran his fingertips over the silk of his scarf before glancing up at Renji, then away and out across the garden, turning away from him without a word.

“Where do ya think yer going? Ain't ya got anything ta say to me at all?” Renji shouted, his anger bubbling up and out of his mouth in a torrent, leaving the cavity in his chest cold and empty.

Byakuya looked back over his shoulder at him, thin brow delicately arched before turning away and starting to walk towards the house that could barely be seen between the long branches of a weeping willow.

“Oi!” Renji uncrossed his arm's, reaching out for Byakuya as he stepped forward to follow the man. His fingers found cloth and he gripped tightly, hauling Byakuya around to face him once more, “What the fu-”

Renji's words were cut off by the soft press of lip's and he stared wide eyed as Byakuya kissed him. When his Taicho pulled back, grey eyes heavy-lidded and darkened to a thunderhead, Renji murmured softly, “So, I got to ya then?”

“Be quiet Renji.”

Renji's lips curled into a smile that bared his teeth as he slid his finger's down to curl around Byakuya's cloth covered wrist, “Hai, Byakuya.” Renji heard the faintest huff of breath from the other man as he turned away once again and it could almost have been a snort if it had come from anyone else. The soft sound just made Renji's smile widen further as he rubbed his thumb over Byakuya's bared palm.

Renji watched in amusement as Byakuya paused, half turned, eyes flitting down to his own wrist, studying Renji's finger's critically before turning fully towards the house and starting to walk. He didn't contest Renji's hold, at all. The soft lilt of Byakuya's voice carried back to him, “Behave, Renji.”

Renji took two quick step's to put him flush with Byakuya's back and though he felt the other man stiffen slightly at the proximity he didn't move back again. He let his lip's ghost over the shell of Byakuya's ear instead as he murmured, “Fer now, Byakuya.” It was a promise, one Renji made for them both.

Renji's finger's curled a little more firmly around Byakuya's delicate wrist and the faint blush that was only visible due to the moon's pale luminescence brought that grin out again. Renji came to a small realisation. The day Byakuya had been in the sixth Division's garden he had cradled a pale pink sakura blossom in the cage of his hand. If Renji were a philosophical man, then he would compare his Taicho to the small flower and the duty and honor he wrapped himself in the steel bars of his own cage. But Renji wasn't and he didn't dwell on the thought for long for the simple fact that Byakuya was the kind of man that tolerated cages - but if pressed would break free in a flurry of deadly petal's directed by nimble hand's.

And wasn't that exactly what they were doing right now as they stepped out from the shadow's of the tall willow tree's, moving from the moon's pale glow to the warm, welcoming lights of Byakuya's home?

Renji thought so and he hoped Byakuya did too.

It was the first step towards opening the cage and Renji was certain there would be many more steps forward from here. Byakuya turned to him at the edge of the porch,stepping into his body easily. Renji hadn't expected Byakuya to make such a bold move more than once in any given day, he was well known for his reserve. When a pale hand lifted and long, slender finger's ran through the thick strands of his hair that had fallen across his shoulder and then pulled away Renji was pleasantly surprised and momentarily shocked enough to loosen his hold on Byakuya's wrist. The noble took the opportunity to slip from his grasp and step from his warasaji and up onto the porch.

Renji watched as Byakuya looked back just once, murmuring quietly, “Goodnight, Renji.”

Renji responded automatically, “Goodnight, Byakuya.”

And then the man was gone, disappearing through an open doorway and leaving Renji in the garden alone once more. Renji blinked slowly before chuckling softly, “Che, idiot.” He wasn't sure if he meant himself or Byakuya at that point. Renji had a burgeoning premonition that he was going to have a rather long and frustrating road ahead. But he considered the way Byakuya had felt, had looked and reacted to him - all his behaviour up to this point and the possible future, and Renji thought he might not mind fighting for it all.

It wasn't like he hadn't had enough practice after all.