Everyone knows the disclaimer by now, hehehe...

Anyway, I'm sorry for the lack of a chapter last week... I have no excuse, I didn't get it written on time and I am always pressed for time during the week. Anyway, I edited this to include a lemon to make up for it, though, and took out some uselessness. Enjoy.

"Byakuya!"

The young noble closed his eyes in annoyance and paused in his exit of the meeting room, one foot already over the threshold. So they've started speaking to me without the honorific, he noticed.

"Will all respect," One of them spat contemptuously. He didn't bother turning around to see which one it was. "You cannot just walk out of here after such an announcement."

Beside him, Koji shook his head. Let's just go, his eyes said, but Byakuya did not want to go without speaking up against the rudeness.

"You will find that I can. I am still the Head of this clan and thus, you answer to me. I call this meeting adjourned." He made his way through the door, ignoring the protests and jibes thrown at his back as he did so.

"Another rat from Rukongai?!"

"If that wasn't bad enough... His fukutaichou..."

"With a man!"

The door shut behind him and he lifted to hands to run his temples, letting out a heavy sigh. He noticed that he was shaking slightly, be it from nervousness, relief or anger, he wasn't sure.

"That went... well..." Koji said quietly. "You okay?"

Byakuya merely nodded, not trusting himself to speak just yet. He was so angry, at so many things. His clan, the rules, his life in general being unfair. He sounded to himself like a spoiled child, hoping for an easy way out, but never in his life had he wished so much that things could just be simple, easy. He and Renji were happy together; it made no sense that they couldn't be left to it.

"You wanna head back, get something to eat?" Koji put a hand on his shoulder. "You look a bit woozy."

Byakuya breathed again, opened his eyes and let his hands rest at his sides again. "Yes, let's go back. Also, thank you, Koji." He added suddenly, aware that no matter how many times he said it there was no way he would ever express his gratitude or repay his cousin.

"It's not a problem. I'm hardly gonna miss all the trouble and excitement!" For once, Byakuya wasn't grateful for the man's light-hearted jokes.

"There's gonna be trouble," A voice suddenly spoke from up the corridor. "I dunno about excitement."

They both looked up to see Renji waiting, one shoulder leaning against the wall, a sad smile on his face.

"You'll see," Koji remarked. "I'll go make sure lunch is ready, see you guys later." He left Byakuya's side and made his way towards the door, patting Renji on the shoulder as he did so. Once the door was closed behind him, Renji walked towards his Taichou and put a hand on each of his shoulders, pulling him to his chest in a tight hug. Byakuya melted into the touch, tension and anger leaving him in his lover's presence as he lay his head on Renji's shoulder.

"You wanna tell me 'bout it?" Renji mumbled.

"Yes, but not here." Byakuya suddenly stepped away and glanced behind him. "They are still in there."

"Guess we better get outta here before they come out, then." Renji stated, knowing his presence right outside the meeting room would not be welcomed. They followed Koji's footsteps in silence, stepping into the Autumn air and making their way briskly from the hall.

"How did you know?" Byakuya asked suddenly. He had purposefully not told Renji when he planned to make the announcement to the elders, preferring to keep him out of the cross-fire of the initial objections.

"A birdie told me." Renji replied, knowing fine rightly Byakuya would immediately guess Rukia. And guess right, at that.

"You shouldn't have come."

"Did no harm, did it?" Renji stopped walking and reached out to Byakuya's elbow, turning him to face him. "Byakuya, please don't leave me out of this. I know it's not the kinda fight I'm used to, but it's still my fight too."

Byakuya looked up at Renji's face, at the determination not quite hidden behind his eyes, which were usually wild but were now calm, soothing, and almost sad. He felt sudden regret at not involving Renji already. It hadn't occurred to him that while he may be protecting him from the clan, he might end up hurting him in the process.

"Renji," He said simply, the apology clear in his eyes.

"'S okay. Hey... Do we have to go back right away?" Renji said carefully, averting his gaze as Byakuya looked at him questioningly.

"I suppose we do not. Why?"

"...I just haven't seen a lot of you lately, thought we could do something, y'know?" He put forward nervously. Byakuya understood his nervousness Renji expected him to draw into himself, like he always did, especially in difficult situations. But he had already made up his mind a few moments ago that he would involve Renji more he wouldn't let him down.

"Did you have something in mind?"

****

The temperature in Renji's small bedroom, part of his quarters at the barracks, was sky high, a mix of expired air and perspiration lying heavy in the atmosphere.

Renji pushed himself against Byakuya until his Taichou was back-straight against the wall, and leaned in for a heated, rough, passionate kiss, and revelled in the feeling of Byakuya's needy tongue answering, both of them fighting for domination but neither quite winning.

They broke of and Byakuya gasped for air, and reached down to pull at Renji's obi, determined to get rid of the cumbersome hakama. He felt awkward and exposed when he was fully naked and Renji still closed, and sought to fix that immediately. Renji gasped as the thing came loose and Byakuya arched forward, pressing his cock against the inside of his fukutaichou's thigh, and vice-versa. He had never wanted anyone more that he wanted Renji right now it wasn't just lust, it was a need to be close to the other, to show him his feelings.

"Taichou," Renji breathed against the older shinigami's neck, both their bodies already covered in a thin sheet of sweat that Byakuya found so erotic looking on Renji. His hair was damp with it both of their hair was, and Renji's fell all around him, totally immersing him in his presence.

Byakuya reached up his hands, entangling his fingers in the wonderful red locks. Renji groaned as Byakuya massaged his scalp sensually, and the noise brought Byakuya's need higher. He pulled Renji's face forward for another biting kiss, bruising the lips, then began trailing his tongue down Renji's neck, to his collarbone, his nipples as he sucked on one and kneaded the other with his thumb, and further down his abdomen as he bent on his hunkers, his movements fast and passionate.

Once on his knees, he didn't even wait for Renji's permission before grabbing each thigh and rolling his tongue around the head of the younger's cock. Renji gasped voicelessly and his knees shook as Byakuya continued his ministrations, trailing saliva up and down the sensitive skin and then engulfing as much as he could in his mouth, hollowing his cheeks as he sucked hard.

"Ngah! Taichou!" Renji exclaimed breathlessly, shaking more with the sensation as Byakuya bobbed back and forth against him. When it got to the stage that Renji began bucking his hips in time with him, he pulled away and stood again. The very second, Renji reached out and kissed him hard, fast, then slower, lovingly.

"Byakuya," he whispered as he pulled away. "I want to ask you something..."

"Anything." Byakuya answered, rolling his hands through Renji's scalp again.

"This time... This time, let me take you... Please..."

Byakuya didn't answer immediately. He continued his revolving motions on the back of Renji's head as he wrapped the hair around his index finger. In all the time they had been together, Byakuya had been unable to bring himself to let Renji top. But today... Today he felt different. He wanted Renji to be a part of his life as much as possible, and whatever that took he would do it. Even if one day it came to saying such words aloud.

"Yes." He answered finally and watched as a glorious grin spread across Renji's flushed, sweaty face. "Now hurry, before I change my mind... I don't like waiting..." He whispered into Renji's shoulder.

"Of course," Renji answered hurriedly, and put a hand on either one of Byakuya's shoulders to push gently, lowering them both to the floor, Byakuya on his back staring up at Renji as he leaned his body over him, stretching forward to get something out of a cabinet somewhere above Byakuya's head.

Byakuya reached up and ran his hands over Renji's abdomen; traced the lines of the toned muscles lovingly, with patience he couldn't believe he possessed. He wanted to grab the other man's hips, swing him to the floor and ravenously take him there and then. But it was Renji, and he would not do that. He would savour this important moment.

Renji, having found the tube of oil he had been searching for, drew level over Byakuya and looked down at him to see a small but genuine smile lighting his features. He smiled back.

"Why're ya smiling?" He mumbled, panting.

Byakuya laid one of his hands on the side of Renji's face. "I love you, Renji." He whispered. He wasn't normally this outwardly affectionate, but right now he felt this needed to be said. Renji's smile however, changed. It didn't fall, it just became softer.

"I love you too."

Byakuya nodded, and tugged on Renji's hair, signalling him to continue. Renji took the hint, kissed Byakuya quickly, then, sitting back on his knees over Byakuya, clicked open the bottle of oil and proceeded to slick his fingers while Byakuya watched.

When Renji finally leaned over and lowered his arm, it was much more tender and trusting than Byakuya had thought it would be. Renji never broke eye contact with him, and pressed tentatively at his entrance seeking permission before he eventually penetrated.

It was the eye contact that did it most for Byakuya as Renji worked. He barely noticed when the second finger went in, as he had totally lost himself in his lovers eyes; he made a mental note to definitely let Renji do this more often, before the third finger went in and he began to concentrate again.

His breathing was speeding up, and so was Renji's. Quickly, with slightly shaking hands, Renji reached for the bottle of oil again and Byakuya let out a small, needy sound as Renji coated his cock thoroughly. Renji grinned at the noise and leaned over him again.

"Are you ready?" He breathed.

Byakuya nodded and twisted his arms around Renji's neck, pulling their chests close together. His sudden want for the contact increased as Renji pushed in, slowly past the ring of muscle, until after a few moments he had almost completely disappeared inside his Taichou. They both paused for a moment, breathing heavily into each others neck. Byakuya could tell that Renji was just about holding himself back, so as soon as he felt ready, he moved his hips upwards against Renji.

"Ahh," Renji moaned at the movement and, craving more, slowly pulled himself almost the whole way out, before pushing in slowly again.

"Nnn, Renji," Byakuya almost gasped. "Don't be... afraid... Move..."

That was all Renji needed at this stage. His pace increased as he repeatedly thrust into the nobleman, skin slapping against skin, the two of them moaning almost in unison each time Renji thrust right in, hitting that spot deep inside Byakuya causing him to give out a pitiful, high pitched gasp. He was far too engrossed in the moment to care right then, however.

Renji's movements became more like that of an animal, as he did when he was getting close. They kissed, exchanged touches, rubbing against erect nipples and nibbling soft, flushed skin here and there. Byakuya arched himself into Renji, who in turn moaned louder again and wrapped an arm around his Taichou's back, gasping raggedly.

"Ah, Taichou-" He mumbled suddenly, before finally letting out a long, drawn out and throaty hiss as he reached his climax, spilling himself to his horror, into Byakuya. He rested his head on Byakuya's shoulder, shuddering, as he tried to bring himself back from the white pleasure moving through every part of him.

After a few minutes, he lifted himself again and frowned as Byakuya moaned at the contact. Looking down, he realised that in the heat of passion, he had more or less forgotten about the older shinigami, who was currently spread before him with his eyes closed and head thrown back slightly. A large grin spread across his face as an idea came to him, and he pulled out, sliding himself down Byakuya's body until he was eye level with his throbbing cock.

Byakuya's eyes shot open and he sat up to watch as Renji took first the head, then slowly began to take the rest, bobbing slightly until eventually he got to what he was aiming for he was deep throating the other man, groaning against his swollen sex. Byakuya gasped repeatedly each time Renji moved, each time the pleasure built up inside him more and more, until eventually-

"Renji!" He called out breathlessly as he reached his own release, sighing and gasping audibly as he realized Renji was swallowing the whole lot while still holding his cock tight in the crevasse of his mouth. It was the most erotic thing he had ever seen, and he tried his best to keep his eyes open and his head up, to watch as he rode out the last of his climax.

When Renji was finished, and finally released him, he landed with a thud against the floor and closed his eyes, still breathing hard. He felt Renji move up to lie beside him, and turned into the touch as Renji wrapped an arm around his chest and a leg around one of his own.

He opened his eyes, and found himself staring straight into Renji's. They were unlike he had seen them before today, so full of satisfaction, trust... and love...

"We're a bit late for lunch," Renji mumbled as he leaned in a planted a soft, affectionate kiss on the corner of Byakuya's mouth. Byakuya let his eyes drift closed. It was moments like these that made it all worth it, he thought to himself.

****

Snow was falling in the streets of Seireitei. Byakuya ignored it as it settled on his shoulders, in his hair and dampened his feet. He used shunpo again to speed his progress, and soon was standing right in front of the entrance for the fourth division.

He charged in immediately. Squad members said something to him; he didn't hear. A few of them reached out there arms, telling him he had to speak to Unohana-Taichou before he progressed further. He ignored this.

He charged through another set of doors, and this time he found Rukia, face tear-stained, held in the arms of Koji, who looked at him seriously and then to a bed being wheeled up the corridor towards them.

Byakuya also charged past Rukia and Koji.

"Kuchiki-Taichou...." Unohana began as she noticed him approaching. Seeing his expression, she leaned to the side a little to allow him a view of the patient. "We must be quick," She warned.

Byakuya stepped forward and his breath caught in his throat. Renji's glorious hair was spread out all around him, acting as some horrific and ineffective cover on the red that already stained the pillow, the sheets, Renji's body... A large, open wound in his chest was visible through his kimono. His right arm seemed broken. There was no sign of Zabimaru.

"...Who has done this to you...?" He whispered, tears in his eyes for the first time in fifty years.

Please?

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