Secrets

Title: Secrets
Chapter 1/?
Sequel to Melting Warmth
Pairing: ByakuyaXRenjixByakuya
Genre: Romance/Comfort and Lemon
Count: 3520
Spoilers: References to Turn Back the Pendulum Arc
Rating: PG 13
Warnings: None
Author: Trynia Merin

Summary: It is the Monday after Byakuya and Renji’s first night together. How does Byakuya handle a liason with his Vice Captain?

A/N: Takes place after the fanfic Melting Warmth.


Inside Squad six’s building, Renji Abarai strode confidently through the halls. He cheerfully waved to the unseated and seated officers he happened to pass by, with a grin. Every inch of his skin tingled with a sense of well being. Just shortly before he reached his office, Renji found himself whistling cheerfully, realizing it was the first time he had done that since finding out about Ichigo and Rukia.

“Hey there, Vice Captain Abarai!” Richiki called, chasing after a herd of hell butterflies.

“Mornin’ Richiki. I see ya got them flyin’ in formation at least…” Renji said with a wave.

“Yeah, imagine that,” Richiki laughed, carrying a gauze net in one hand. Renji dodged around him and let the kid rush further down the hall. Snickering he arrived at his office, and slid open the door. Perhaps it was the new sunglasses that people noticed or that infernal grin plastered on his face, but he sensed everyone shared his newfound joy.

Amazing how forty eight hours could transform someone. Whispered words and a weekend of utter mind-bending lovemaking perhaps. He blushed at the mental images of himself and his lover in that hot spring, and rolling over and over across the silk sheets. Tugging out his chair he sat down at his desk and yawed. Long arms reached up to stretch, and he caught sight of something sitting right in front of him.

“Well I’ll be damned. Someone sent me flowers?” Renji murmured, noticing a crystal vase. Inserted into it was a single white chrysanthemum, flanked by two lavender bellflowers. His heart pounded in his throat to realize just who may have left him such an item.
The knock at the door startled him and he called out, “Yeah, what you got?”

“Vice Captain Abarai?” said a female voice. The sixth seat dipped her head in, sliding the door open.

“Oh hullo there. Nice day isn’t it?” he asked, watching her set down a tray holding a small teapot and cup. She poured some for him, and then set down a set of manila envelopes and scrolls.

“Your hot tea, double sweet. Just like you usually like it. I almost forgot that you and third Seat Miyamoto both like it the same…”

“Thanks a lot. Ya didn’t have to go to that trouble… usually Richiki brings it…”

“Well consider it a thank you, for recent events,” she smiled, with a slight blush.

“Secret weekend getaway, huh?” Renji grinned.

“Oh stop!” she chuckled awkwardly.

“Quite well,” she blushed, referring to the relationship budding between herself and vice captain of squad seven.

“Romantic weekend getaway?” Renji asked.

“The best inn at district 2.”

“Nice,” Renji nodded, setting the envelope to the side.

“Just wanted to thank you for… well… introducing us.”

“No problem. If he ever does ya wrong lemmie know,” Renji said cheerfully, grinning knowingly at her blush.

“Anyhow… I’ve got the duty rosters for you to go over,” she said, then noticed him fingering the vase. “Oh those are lovely… secret admirer?”

“You could say that,” Renji said with a chuckle.

“I have to confess I put them there. They arrived first thing as I got in with a note saying
to deliver them right to here,” said she.

“Note? What note?” he asked, fingers scrabbling through the papers till she tugged something out from beneath her pile of papers.

“Right here,” she whispered, passing the cream colored envelope with his name written in fancy calligraphy.

“Ohhh… thanks,” Renji said. Next to it she set the stack of forms he’d peruse before the morning department meeting. Waving goodbye she exited his office then slid the door shut behind her. Renji picked up the envelope, turning it over to see the wax seal.

“Huh,” he mumbled, slipping his finger under the point of the envelope. Sliding his finger up he ripped it neatly along the top. When he removed the piece of parchment inside Renji blinked.

“Damn,” he whispered, glancing at the fancy calligraphic script curling and dancing across the parchment. “He must have spent a lot of time on this… when did he…”

Simply reading the contents caused Renji’s cheeks to burn. He swallowed hard, sipping his tea because his tongue was suddenly bone dry. It had been so hard to leave his lover’s home to return to his quarters, but he knew it was for the best. They had worn one another out, and it was for the sake of a good night’s sleep that they separated. Sleeping in that bed by himself was very difficult for Renji, yet he managed to curl up thinking of his lover’s enigmatic smile.

“Renji Abarai,
Doubtless you have seen the flowers present on your desk this morning. Their significance will remind you of my extreme gratitude to a most enlightening and entertaining weekend. Words are difficult to find for the correct means of expressing the magnitude of emotions roiling within. I claimed that I had no use for them, yet I must admit I am mistaken. I trust you will not divulge this revelation to anyone.
It is difficult to be separated from your person. I am plagued with images of your touch and voice. Perhaps haunted is a more accurate word. Do not be concerned with entering work Monday Morning. I do not regret what transpired this past weekend. The memory of it is still fresh and will continue to burn its way through me in ways that I am reluctant to admit. Such emotions are difficult for one such as I to comprehend.
If I retain my usual demeanor, I trust as well that you will maintain yours. Please be patient, Renji if I continue to be aloof and distant. You know as well as I why we must play our roles outside the space we have made for one another. The nature of our liaison must stay secret for the time being. Still, it has no less significance. Your continued discretion is valuable and appreciated. We will attempt to find appropriate times to share affection, no doubt. I still crave the taste of your lips on mine. Or the sound of laughter that has long been denied in a house that has been too empty for years on end.
It is good that I still possess the emotions that once burdened me. Together I hope we can discover the best means to continue what was started hence. Even though I know you are in the office near mine, I long to see your face, yet know it must be in small steps.
I have waited for longer than I could have expected. A matter of hours of separation in a day can be inconvenient, but well worth it. This message will serve in secret as a reminder for what was kindled.
Yours now and for the foreseeable future,
Byakuya.”

Renji swallowed another gulp of tea. Carefully he slipped the paper into the envelope again. Glancing around he felt as if invisible eyes were watching what he would next do. He couldn’t leave this lying around so he had to find someplace else to keep it. So he slipped it into the front of his kimono, in a secret pocket sewn into the lining where he carried his money and a picture of Rukia.

“And I didn’t think to get HIM anything,” Renji scolded himself. Fighting the urge to find an excuse to see his Captain, Renji attended to the paperwork instead. He would see captain Kuchiki soon enough at the mid morning meeting for the squad’s seated officers.
***

Sure enough Byakuya found himself crossing and uncrossing his legs sitting behind his massive desk. If not for a lifetime of training his emotions and body he was certain he would be blushing or wearing the same foolish grin he was sure Renji Abarai was wearing. Of all the people in Squad six, he guessed that Richiki and only a few others knew or suspected who had sent the flowers.

He knew Richiki was worthy of implicit trust. After all the young man worshipped the ground Abarai walked upon. Passing his hand on a form, Byakuya saw his fingers drop by the lad’s name. Picking up the squad six stamp, he pressed it into the pad of red ink to his left. The form had sat there on his desk perused and researched yet incomplete. A quick press of the stamp on the upper corner left a distinctive mark, under which he penned his signature. He held up the document, nodding with satisfaction. Henceforth Richiki would be 20th seat in squad six, till the next time he would come up for promotion. It may seem a small step, but the lad deserved it.

“Even before the events of this past weekend,” Byakuya reminded himself when something nagged his sense of duty. Renji had pushed hard for the boy to be seated for the past six months.
Standing up, Byakuya then rolled the paper into a scroll form. He carefully wrapped the ribbon around it, and placed it in the appropriate basket with other items he would need for the meeting. Already he heard the knocking at his office door and said, “Enter.”

“Sir, third seat Miyamoto reporting for meeting…”

“Vice Captain Abarai reporting sir,” Renji said, saluting. Byakuya nodded, his heart skipping a beat to see Renji standing so erect and official there in his uniform.

“Fourth Seat is sick, and I the sixth seat am delivering his report on his behalf…” the sixth seat reported.

“Fifth seat here, Captain…”

“Good, then we shall begin,” Byakuya cleared his throat. He strode imperially into the conference table in his large office, taking his seat at the head of the table. The others drew out their chairs and sat down as well, placing their documents in front of them. At his right hand Renji cleared his throat, tugging his hakama into place as he dragged his chair in.

“First order of business to attend to. Promotions,” said Renji.

“I have reviewed the applications, and the following changes have been made,” said Byakuya, pulling out the scrolls.

“Unseated Shinigami Richiki is promoted to 20th seat effective today. Since the fourth seat is incapacitated and incapable of resuming his duties, I recommend that Sixth Seat be made acting fourth till his return,” said Byakuya.

“Thank you sir,” she said quickly, then apologized for her outburst.

“Second order of business, new recruits from the academy,” said Renji, pulling out his list.

“We have ten,” confirmed Byakuya.

“Three of them have what it takes to fill the 18th, 11th and 17th’ positions.”

“I have reviewed their criterion and moved to instate them, pending their passage of the entrance exams for Squad six,” said Byakuya, passing over the dossiers.

“The remaining will be placed accordingly, and one of them will occupy the vacant slot of Richiki,” said third Seat Miyamoto.

“Understood,” Byakuya nodded. “Now, the next order of business… the reports of Arrancar engagements…”

“Report is here as follows,” said the Fifth seat, passing around the set of mimeographed sheets.

Renji licked his lips constantly as the Fifth seat droned on with his report. Halfway through the recap he felt something brush his knee. It felt like someone’s fingers or a hell butterfly. At first he ignored it, yet then noticed that Byakuya’s hands were posed in his lap. When only his right hand lifted up from behind the table to rest on the pile of documents, he felt something again brush his knee, then slide further up his leg.

“What the hell?” Renji thought to himself, glaring down at his paper.

“Vice Captain Abarai, do you have anything to add?” Byakuya asked.

“Well um… Captain, I will be meeting with Vice Captain of squad 3 Kira and Vice Captain of squad nine HIsagi this afternoon for their reports on Arrancar activity. I’ll have a report for the Squad then,” Renji said, swallowing the lump in his throat. Up his leg long fingers slid, squeezing lightly.

“Are you all right, Vice Captain?” asked Miyamoto.

“I’m fine, just… got something in my throat,” Renji mumbled, pounding his chest with one hand. Byakuya said nothing, simply staring straight ahead with a neutral expression on his face.

Renji’s foot shifted under the table, and then bumped lightly into Byakuya’s knee. A low grunt sounded from the Captain’s throat, but he also raised his right hand and coughed lightly. Further up his thigh the hand kneaded, slipping up to his hip before backing away.

“Continue,” said Byakuya. “Have you anything to add, Third seat? Any questions?”

“None sir,” said Miyamoto. Renji felt the hand give another squeeze and then it slipped away.

“Then we shall conclude and adjourn,” Byakuya said. “You are dismissed.”
***
In a flurry of papers and creaking chairs the upper seated Shinigami all pushed out from the table. A low hush and whispers filled the silence, as Renji rose to get out of his chair. He followed the others to the door, leaving Byakuya sitting at the table. Before he could exit he heard a cough and his name, “Vice Captain, a minute. I require your input on a last minute matter.”

“Yes Captain?” asked Renji, sliding the door shut. A silver gloved hand reached past him, and then locked the door. Directly behind him someone’s body pressed, its reiatsu tingling him through his robes.

“Turn around, Abarai,” said Byakuya softly. Renji did so, his stomach twisting with anticipation while his body tingled with hunger.

He looked down into a pair of gleaming steel blue eyes. A serious frown covered Byakuya’s face, causing Renji to momentarily panic. Saying nothing Byakuya grabbed the front of Renji’s robe and dragged him forwards. He asked, “Sir… is something wrong…”

“Come here,” Byakuya ordered quietly, tugging Renji towards his desk.

“Sir?”

“Sit down, Abarai,” Byakuya whispered into his ear, and Renji lowered himself to sit in the leather high backed chair. To his surprise Byakuya slipped between him and the desk, rubbing his knees.

“S… something I can do for you, Kuchiki?” Renji asked, seeing the hungry look gleaming in his captain’s eyes.

“Indeed,” Byakuya said, with a low rumbling tone. Pressing his hand down on Renji’s forearm he swung one leg over and straddled Renji’s knees. Automatically Renji slipped his arms around Byakuya’s waist to steady him so the Captain could sit on his lap comfortably.

“I guess… you couldn’t wait…” Renji whispered, blinking up at him. He peered past Byakuya’s shoulder, worried about who may walk in.

Resting his hands on Renji’s shoulders Byakuya shifted his weight. He said nothing, simply raising his silver gloved hand to caress Renji’s cheek. Arm tightening on Byakuya’s waist Renji sighed deeply to feel those fingertips rubbing over his sideburn. Bending down Byakuya nipped at Renji’s ear, and then whispered, “This will not take long.”

“I can… um make time in my calendar,’ Renji whispered back, scolding himself for how lame that sounded.

“You shall,” Byakuya said with a mischievous half smile. Bending down he angled his head to the side and covered Renji’s dry lips in a kiss. Fingers slid into his hair, grabbing at his ponytail while Renji clutched Byakuya close to him.

He slid his mouth open at the coaxing tongue, sighing deeply with relief when Byakuya invaded his palate with that distinctive rich taste that was uniquely him. Releasing his waist with one hand Renji slid it up the back, rubbing Byakuya through the white haori. He fingered the ends of the silk scarf dangling over Byakuya’s shoulders, preceding up to caress the neck and lightly run his hands over the pieces of hair down his back.

Instinctively Renji bucked his hips, when Byakuya shifted and sat down so their groins were flush with one another through their hakama. Without untying his headband Byakuya stroked the tips of his spiky topknot, using his other hand to slip between them and plunge under his robe. Fingers danced over his bare chest, causing Renji to gasp through the deep kiss. Byakuya’s lips hungrily nipped and caressed his mouth in half circles that were hypnotic, lulling Renji into a state of well being he craved all night and morning.

Releasing Renji’s mouth, Byakuya glanced down at him. His own eyes were half closed, lips slightly bruised and flushed pink from the kiss. Renji licked his lips, blinking up at his captain with a rather goofy smile on his face. Byakuya at first frowned, before he allowed a small smile to turn up the corners of his lips. His left hand seized Renji’s neck, rubbing and kneading the back muscles, while his other hand tugged the halves of Renji’s robe open. Renji struggled to keep his hands off Byakuya’s head, rather rubbing through the back of the haori and grabbing Byakuya’s hips. He rocked up, feeling the resulting shift of the Captain, and a low grunt through those perfect lips.

“Ya missed me that much?” Renji asked, kissing Byakuya's cheek then his chin.

“What an idiotic question,” Byakuya answered, rolling his eyes. His hands pulled something out of Renji’s robe and saw him glance down.

“I got your card,” Renji said.

“I see. It pleases me that you have placed it in a discreet location. Also that you continue to wear your sunglasses,” Byakuya murmured, his eyes half closed. Renji tipped his head back, admiring the view of his Captain sitting proudly in his lap. The kenseikan gleamed brightly, containing the triple locks of hair painstakingly arranged over the left half of Byakuya’s face, while the sides were smoothed down just so. Not a part seemed out of place, causing Renji’s heart to pound faster when those steel blue eyes softened a bit looking down at him.

“I’m glad ya don’t regret what happened,” Renji whispered, leaning up to kiss Byakuya’s lips lightly.

“Idiot, would those flowers have materialized if that were so?”

“No, guess not. Damn it drives me nuts not having ya here like this. I missed ya last night.” Renji pouted.

“It is pleasant to be missed, Abarai. I had considerable difficulty sleeping.”

'“Maybe we can do something about that tonight?” Renji said with a sexy wink.

“I would enjoy that, Renji,” Byakuya whispered, kissing Renji’s brow lightly, before brushing his alabaster nose against the other man’s.

“You want anything else?” Renji queried with a look of mischief.

“It would be… difficult… to undertake what I have in mind, here,” Byakuya admitted.

“Damn,” Renji grmumbled. “Guess we’ll have to wait. But how about another kiss for the rest of the day?”

“It will be difficult. I am not a patient man of late,” Byakuya reluctantly admitted. Renji pulled his hand from Byakuya’s waist, fingering the regal chin of the noble. Then he tipped it lightly to the side, swiping his tongue over Byakuya’s lips. He tightly crushed Byakuya’s chest to his, thrusting his tongue forwards. Lips parted willingly, Byakuya’s tongue dancing and caressing his firmly. The noble rubbed and kneaded his chest with one hand while massaging Renji’s neck with his other. Occasionally he would play with Renji’s hair, stroking and petting his sideburns. He inwardly chuckled to hear a low rumbling hum through their kiss, knowing it was Byakuya and not just him.

After a few long minutes of luxuriously deep and powerful kisses, Byakuya pulled away. He pushed away from Renji, who let him go. Standing up he bent down to kiss Byakuya’s forehead, then his temple in that place before the kenseikan.

“Later?” he whispered.

“Later. After your meeting with the others,” Byakuya promised, gracing Renji's lips with a last kiss. “You are to dine with me in quarters.”

“I’ll be looking forward to that. Six Pm?”

“Six PM,” Byakuya rumbled, releasing Renji. The Vice captain shifted his weight, then felt Byakuya grasping his hand. Raising it to his lips he kissed the back of the Captain’s glove.

“I’ll miss ya, sir,” he whispered, giving a charming smile.

“And I as well, Renji,” Byakuya admitted, his eyes lowered with a slight flush to his cheeks. “You are dismissed…”

“See ya later sir,” Renji laughed, squeezing his hand and letting go. Byakuya stood just inside the door, watching his vice captain stride out, after a salute. Renji slid the door closed, and Byakuya returned to his desk to sit down. Rubbing his face with his hands he let out a long sigh.

“Difficult, but not impossible,” Byakuya reflected. He stared down at his desk to see a picture of his sister, next to a sour faced Substitute Shinigami. Picking up the white china frame with small flowers in the corner he peered at her smiling face.

“Still a foolish decision, but no less so than my own, sister,” Byakuya reflected. His fingers on his other hand lingered on her face first, touching those of Ichigo Kurosaki next.

“You still must learn to call me by my proper title, Ryoka,” he chided Ichigo’s image.
***