Oneshot
Summary: A misunderstanding can be somewhat...gratifying. A follow up to 'Pickup lines'.
Characters: Renji, Ichigo, Byakuya. Gen, no pairings
"It's so annoying! I mean what does that Kuchiki have against me?"
Byakuya stopped outside the door the voice was coming from, he could have sworn it was the ryoka, Kurosaki.
"Eh, I know what you mean, death stares like that should be made illegal."
That was definitely Renji.
The reiatsu leaking out of the ryoka uncontrollably confirmed that the two voices were none other than Renji and Ichigo.
"Hn." Ichigo grunted "I just try to be comradely and what do I get? A kick in the shins!"
Well, it was true that after the ryoka had been pardoned, Kurosaki tried to make a tentative truce between the captains he defeated but kicking? Must be a human metaphor.
Believe it or not, Byakuya was feeling quite guilty. The ryoka had saved Soul Society, defeated quite a few captains, stopped the Soukyoku with his sword and helped uncover Aizen's plan.
"I thought the Kuchikis' were Nobles or something, behaviour like that is so...so..." Ichigo searched for the right word.
"Exasperating? Crude? Rude?" Renji supplied.
"Exactly!" Ichigo huffed.
Now Byakuya was shocked, was his behaviour really that bad to affect his clan?
"Anyway, don't let it trouble you. It's all in the attitude." Renji said comfortingly.
"I know, guess what I had to put up with this whole time?"
The conversation turned to something else but Byakuya mind was reeling. His face looked calm, his demeanor was as always but he was already thinking in his usual manner on how to fix this problem.
The next day he sent for Kurosaki.
Kurosaki poked his head through the door, still fearful from the last time he'd been called courtesy of Renji and a few pickup lines; he still shuddered at that memory.
Renji greeted him by looking up from what he was currently doing and giving him a questioning look.
"Hi, you...sent for me?" Ichigo gulped.
Byakuya acknowledged this with gesture for him to sit.
Ichigo sat down and waited for the worse, sneaking a glare at Renji who gave him a puzzled look again, it seemed that the redhead had no idea what was going on as well.
"I overheard your conversation with Abarai Renji yesterday." Byakuya's voice cutting the silent conversation short.
Conversation, conversation...what conversation?
Realization dawned on the Strawberry.
He stole a glance at Renji who looked confused, then shocked when understanding came over him also. It was then Ichigo realized that Byakuya was still talking.
"...please except my apologies on behalf of the Kuchiki clan." Byakuya said solemnly.
Ichigo gawked.
"Ex-excuse me? I'm sorry; I think I didn't hear you right."
The Captain of the Sixth saw his genuinely confused face and knew that the orange head wasn't making fun of him.
"I overheard your conversation yesterday and I agree that my actions reflected badly on the Kuchiki clan. Please except my apologies on behalf of the Kuchiki clan." Byakuya repeated.
"Um, s-sure Byakuya...Sama." Ichigo stuttered again, this was unexpected, not unwelcome per se, but unexpected.
"Thank you for your gracious acceptance. Now, please excuse me I have a captain's meeting to attend." Byakuya rose and walked out, his Haori swishing gracefully.
Ichigo and Renji gawked.
"You going to mention it was Kuchiki Rukia we were talking about?" Renji turned to the still frozen Ichigo.
Renji saw the slow upturning of a smirk on Kurosaki's face.
"Thought not."
Brain has died and is oozing out of ears...not mine, hopefully yours.
Cookies for those who review. And a Byakuya plushie.