Black-and-Red Conflict
folder
Bleach › Yaoi - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult
Chapters:
32
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Category:
Bleach › Yaoi - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult
Chapters:
32
Views:
19,848
Reviews:
93
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Bleach, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Change
and here i am back with the next chapter! and this time i followed the advice and found myself a beta-reader ^^ great thanks goes to the brilliant
HumanInfiltrator: i very much hope it will get more interesting! i find myself under a lot of pressure... °-°
Aresy: thanks so much for your reassurance... i'm happy you think it was suitable how it came ^^
RavenLadies: thank you very much! yes, you are right about grammar and spelling, of course. but i have great help now and hope it will be better from now on. still, if you find something that we both have missed, please don't hesitate to tell me!!
but now, let's get to the point:
~~~Sixteen~~~
Change
At first it had been awkward. For a few days neither of them was quite sure how to behave around the other. Even though they had agreed on starting anew, it had never been defined from which point and of course it was impossible to simply forget everything that had occurred. Still, after a while it became easier.
The first teams were back from their missions by then, and it turned out all tasks had been completed at least satisfactorily. Even though something like that was generally expected from members of the 6th, Byakuya still had to admit that a great part of their success was this time due to Abarai-Fukutaichou's excellent set up of teams.
The captain sat in his office, some of the first reports in hand, going over them with a swift eye. Every single group had been well balanced when it came to strength and the abilities of each Shinigami's Zanpakutou and even though it did not feel nice to realize that Renji indeed knew the members of the squad better than their captain, he felt at the same time a strange kind of quiet pride at their success. This was unusual and a tiny frown pulled his brows together as he tried to analyze this feeling. This squad's Shinigami doing their job had never been a reason for joy or pride before. It had simply been a fact, a necessity that would be handled purely rationally, but now for the first time it meant more. He shook his head slightly at himself, but still did not push the emotion away completely, for it was strangely pleasant. He lifted his head as a soft knock sounded at the door, feeling his lieutenant's familiar Reiatsu and with it, a small rush of anxiety.
“Come in,” he called and the redhead entered the office, bowing shortly and then stepping up to the dark desk.
“Taichou,” he said, “the fifth team just returned. 't seems they did well, but...,” he hesitated as he handed another report to his captain, who leaned forward to take it, careful not to brush the other man's fingers. “One of them, Rikichi...”
Renji hesitated again and this time Byakuya cocked his head slightly.
Even though he hardly knew anything personal of the Shinigami in his division, he still had a fabulous memory which made him connect face and basic facts with a name immediately. Rikichi: rather short boy, dark hair, hadn't been long in the division, strange tattoos.
“What about him?” Byakuya inquired, his gaze now on the piece of paper.
“He got a few scratches, but's alright otherwise.”
Gray eyes were lifted again, and brows rose in question.
“So?”
Renji shifted.
“I think he's got a bit scared, so I...” He stopped again, eyes avoiding his captain's.
Kuchiki-Taichou wasn't one to accept weakness in his squad and Renji was quite sure he'd probably just said exactly the wrong thing and with that, practically signed Rikichi's transfer, but he was pulled from his worries by a rather sharp “Abarai, get on with it.” The words had come out more harshly than Byakuya had intended them to and he looked down as he noticed how his Fukutaichou had almost bitten the lip he had been chewing on. “If you will,” he added more quietly.
There was a deep breath and then, “I would like t' go out with him and have'im meet a hollow alone head on. Weak'un, of course, and I'll watch out. Training... kinda. I'll take my own time'n'all, 's just that...”
“Renji...,” Byakuya interrupted the other, lifting his partly gloved hand. He wasn't known for appreciating training of this kind in his division. The Shinigami had had enough of that at the academy, they needed to be able to face a hollow and destroy it. If not they needed to settle for the 4th. He could not spare his Fukutaichou as a nanny for a scared boy who could not deal with his tasks, but just as Byakuya was about to put that into words he looked up at Renji.
The redhead stood straight, facing his captain, his eyes shining with determination, passion. It suddenly was hard to refuse him this request.
The black haired man closed his mouth, then sighed. Abarai had proven that he knew the men well, hadn't he? He had shown good judgment, maybe Byakuya should give him free reign in this case.
“Ok.”
The lieutenant's eyes grew wide.
“R-really?” he stuttered before he could stop himself, then blushed. “I mean... uhm, thanks.”
He swallowed, grinned awkwardly and turned to leave the room but Byakuya called him back before he could open the door.
“The success of those missions is for a big part thanks to your judgment. I... am very satisfied.”
Byakuya had risen from his chair, facing the man at the door who was blushing even more. Then the noble nodded and even though his lips did not smile, Renji suddenly felt himself able to read a small change in the features of his captain that made those gray eyes seem much softer than usually. Unable to find words behind a sudden wave of pride, Renji bowed, then left the office.
Byakuya breathed deeply. This felt good, but it wasn't easy. He tried not to automatically fight his emotions, tried to realize the tingle that crept through him whenever Renji was near as something positive and not a danger he had to neutralize. No, it wasn't easy, but the more he tried the easier it became and the better it felt. It was hardly a week now since the evening at his mansion, but he thought he was getting better in letting Renji through to him. Before he had had to learn the hard way that he could not just use the passionate redhead on a whim and that he himself was no longer able to push away what had slowly been growing stronger. The way he had used Renji that one night had been an inevitable explosion of something that had been suppressed for way too long. Now the noble had to use more discipline than ever to control himself, but this time to not hold back, but to let out. And slowly but surely he was rewarded with reactions from Renji like the one just now. The look on the lieutenant's face hadn't been that of suspicion anymore, like it might still have been even just a few days before, it had been joy about being complimented by his captain like this. This time he had trusted in the other's words again, had not searched for a hidden trap anymore and Byakuya did count himself very lucky that this was possible so soon, even after all their problems.
The noble sighed and turned to look out of the window into the 6th division's courtyard just to see his Fukutaichou leave the building and step up to a Shinigami who had obviously been waiting for him. Rikichi, Byakuya realized and the slightest, almost invisible smile crossed his lips as he saw how Renji gave the boy a rather harsh slap on the back, then pulled him forward, probably toward the training fields. Who knew, maybe there actually was some hidden talent in the boy and Renji did right to spend some time on his training. After all the kid took after the redhead, at least when it came to the tattoos. Maybe he'd even reach the same level of strength some day. Though at that thought, Byakuya just shook his head. Abarai was exceptionally strong after all. It wouldn't be easy for just any other Shinigami to reach that level just through a bit of training.
The captain stopped in his thoughts then, a look of utter surprise on his face. Fortunately he was alone and nobody could see it. Why would he suddenly boast about Renji, even if it happened only in the noble's own mind? The redhead was his lieutenant and even though Byakuya slowly learned to admit that there was definitely more than that, it was ridiculous to think things like this. After all, even though the redhead was strong, there was still much left to be desired. He still didn't control his Bankai well enough and there were a few problem left in his Shikai as well. He was too cocky and rash in a fight and Byakuya didn't even want to think of his lieutenant's disastrous Kidou. But by now it was indeed hard for the redhead to improve in that random sparring he called training. Renji's weaknesses had to be assessed in detail for him to improve and Byakuya was quite sure that there were not many who could do so and were at the same time still strong enough to actually stand up to the redhead.
Gray eyes turned toward Senbonzakura on her sword stand.
Actually, there probably was only one person who was strong enough, intelligent enough and know Renji well about. And since the whole episode of Senbonzakura being taken by the redhead, it was about time the captain of the 6th squad himself called forth his Zanpakutou for more than just a kata. The blade still seemed dissonant, in a way, her rhythm upset from the unauthorized touch of a different Shinigami than her master.
Slowly the noble let his fingers glide over the hilt and scabbard, then lifted the sword. The reports were best looked over when really all teams were back, which would be in two days. Older paperwork had been cleared and Renji, as eager as he had been to get out, probably wouldn't return to the office anymore today. Why not attend to this matter right now?
The captain left his office and the building, directing his steps towards the division's training grounds where he supposed his Fukutaichou had been heading with his charge. The shallow bursts of Reiatsu he felt as he drew nearer proved him right, but the dark-haired man kept to the shadows of a small group of trees as he watched the two figures sparring on the ample clear space.
Even though Renji had mentioned that Rikichi might have sustained minor injuries, he obviously did not deem them bad enough to spare the boy. They sparred with wooden swords and Renji approached hit by hit, tackling his smaller opponent where his defenses were the weakest, shouting out directions about how to close these holes.
Byakuya watched for a long time, wondering why Renji went through this trouble. Rikichi was obviously exhausted and even though there might have been a chance for him to get better, right now he simply was way too tired to do much at all apart from trying to evade. Still, Renji pushed on, not letting the boy go until Rikichi seemed about to fall over.
“Alright, kiddo,” Byakuya could hear the voice of his Fukutaichou, “You suck but ya might just get better. Wouldn'a thought ya could keep up like this after just comin' back.” Another slap on the boy's back made him almost topple over, but a strong hand caught hold of his arm, a gesture that added a silent praise which did not need to be uttered to be understood. Rikichi blushed, smiled, bowed to thank Renji and promised to work harder. Then he took both of their swords and left the field on the other side.
Byakuya finally stepped forward and walked up to Renji, who had his back to him. The redhead heard him approach and turned, then looked surprised.
“Taichou! What...?”
“You did not confront him with a hollow just yet?”
The slight sarcasm seemed so impossible coming from Byakuya's mouth that Renji could not deal with it and took the question seriously.
“No of course not! Needs to learn some tricks first, then he can slash'em up.”
The redhead looked at his captain clearly confused, then felt he needed to explain himself further and continued, “He wants ta fight. Wants ta show he can, but he doesn't know how much energy he really has 'n how ta work with it, kinda.”
Byakuya nodded. It still did not explain why his lieutenant went through all the trouble, but he just let it go for now and turned to face the other straight on.
“Where is your Zanpakutou, Abarai-Fukutaichou?”
“Zabimaru? Over there.” He pointed at another group of trees that stood so close together that some of their trunks had merged to one. He still had no idea what the hell his captain was doing here and why he asked something like that. An uncomfortable suspicion that he had fought to push out of his mind for the last week was worming its way back into his head and his eyes widened even more as he saw how a slender hand was placed on Senbonzakura's hilt, drawing it out of it's scabbard just far enough to expose a little part of the blade.
“Your training for today is not over,” and as the noble said this, he realized that what he was doing now with Renji wasn't so much different from how Renji had helped Rikichi just now. The captain knew his Fukutaichou, knew how strong he was and how much stronger he could get. Just that before he hadn't cared enough to actually want to change anything about those facts. But by now much had changed and Renji mattered more than ever before. The lieutenant himself though, still hadn't moved and only stood gaping.
“I will not repeat myself,” Byakuya said and drew his sword completely.
Pulled out of his disbelief by the reflection of light on the slender blade, Renji finally reacted and flash stepped to retrieve his own sword and then stood a few meters away from Byakuya, facing his captain. But still the redhead only held Zabimaru at his side, his uncertainty growing as he looked at the man before him. What was all this about now? Training? The last time they'd been 'training' it had ended with both of them insulting each other. Renji wasn't sure he wanted to repeat that. Still, this felt different. Byakuya had not been calling it a challenge and the atmosphere around him was not the arrogant self-assertion he had shown when he had just wanted to put his lieutenant in his place. His stance was almost friendly, as far as that could ever apply to Kuchiki Byakuya with his sword drawn. What was happening, why now, why like this?
“Why?” Renji finally voiced all his concerns together.
“You need to train. There are several weak points in your fighting that need to be corrected. You...” Byakuya recalled something he had heard just shortly before, “don't know how much energy you really have.”
The redhead's mouth stood open once more. His confusion hadn't ceased the least, even though another part of him first wanted to object quite vehemently about his fighting style having any weak points. Before he could say anymore though, the slender sword in the even more slender hands was turned downward and over the pale lips of the captain passed the words,
“Scatter, Senbonzakura”
~~~
HumanInfiltrator: i very much hope it will get more interesting! i find myself under a lot of pressure... °-°
Aresy: thanks so much for your reassurance... i'm happy you think it was suitable how it came ^^
RavenLadies: thank you very much! yes, you are right about grammar and spelling, of course. but i have great help now and hope it will be better from now on. still, if you find something that we both have missed, please don't hesitate to tell me!!
but now, let's get to the point:
Change
At first it had been awkward. For a few days neither of them was quite sure how to behave around the other. Even though they had agreed on starting anew, it had never been defined from which point and of course it was impossible to simply forget everything that had occurred. Still, after a while it became easier.
The first teams were back from their missions by then, and it turned out all tasks had been completed at least satisfactorily. Even though something like that was generally expected from members of the 6th, Byakuya still had to admit that a great part of their success was this time due to Abarai-Fukutaichou's excellent set up of teams.
The captain sat in his office, some of the first reports in hand, going over them with a swift eye. Every single group had been well balanced when it came to strength and the abilities of each Shinigami's Zanpakutou and even though it did not feel nice to realize that Renji indeed knew the members of the squad better than their captain, he felt at the same time a strange kind of quiet pride at their success. This was unusual and a tiny frown pulled his brows together as he tried to analyze this feeling. This squad's Shinigami doing their job had never been a reason for joy or pride before. It had simply been a fact, a necessity that would be handled purely rationally, but now for the first time it meant more. He shook his head slightly at himself, but still did not push the emotion away completely, for it was strangely pleasant. He lifted his head as a soft knock sounded at the door, feeling his lieutenant's familiar Reiatsu and with it, a small rush of anxiety.
“Come in,” he called and the redhead entered the office, bowing shortly and then stepping up to the dark desk.
“Taichou,” he said, “the fifth team just returned. 't seems they did well, but...,” he hesitated as he handed another report to his captain, who leaned forward to take it, careful not to brush the other man's fingers. “One of them, Rikichi...”
Renji hesitated again and this time Byakuya cocked his head slightly.
Even though he hardly knew anything personal of the Shinigami in his division, he still had a fabulous memory which made him connect face and basic facts with a name immediately. Rikichi: rather short boy, dark hair, hadn't been long in the division, strange tattoos.
“What about him?” Byakuya inquired, his gaze now on the piece of paper.
“He got a few scratches, but's alright otherwise.”
Gray eyes were lifted again, and brows rose in question.
“So?”
Renji shifted.
“I think he's got a bit scared, so I...” He stopped again, eyes avoiding his captain's.
Kuchiki-Taichou wasn't one to accept weakness in his squad and Renji was quite sure he'd probably just said exactly the wrong thing and with that, practically signed Rikichi's transfer, but he was pulled from his worries by a rather sharp “Abarai, get on with it.” The words had come out more harshly than Byakuya had intended them to and he looked down as he noticed how his Fukutaichou had almost bitten the lip he had been chewing on. “If you will,” he added more quietly.
There was a deep breath and then, “I would like t' go out with him and have'im meet a hollow alone head on. Weak'un, of course, and I'll watch out. Training... kinda. I'll take my own time'n'all, 's just that...”
“Renji...,” Byakuya interrupted the other, lifting his partly gloved hand. He wasn't known for appreciating training of this kind in his division. The Shinigami had had enough of that at the academy, they needed to be able to face a hollow and destroy it. If not they needed to settle for the 4th. He could not spare his Fukutaichou as a nanny for a scared boy who could not deal with his tasks, but just as Byakuya was about to put that into words he looked up at Renji.
The redhead stood straight, facing his captain, his eyes shining with determination, passion. It suddenly was hard to refuse him this request.
The black haired man closed his mouth, then sighed. Abarai had proven that he knew the men well, hadn't he? He had shown good judgment, maybe Byakuya should give him free reign in this case.
“Ok.”
The lieutenant's eyes grew wide.
“R-really?” he stuttered before he could stop himself, then blushed. “I mean... uhm, thanks.”
He swallowed, grinned awkwardly and turned to leave the room but Byakuya called him back before he could open the door.
“The success of those missions is for a big part thanks to your judgment. I... am very satisfied.”
Byakuya had risen from his chair, facing the man at the door who was blushing even more. Then the noble nodded and even though his lips did not smile, Renji suddenly felt himself able to read a small change in the features of his captain that made those gray eyes seem much softer than usually. Unable to find words behind a sudden wave of pride, Renji bowed, then left the office.
Byakuya breathed deeply. This felt good, but it wasn't easy. He tried not to automatically fight his emotions, tried to realize the tingle that crept through him whenever Renji was near as something positive and not a danger he had to neutralize. No, it wasn't easy, but the more he tried the easier it became and the better it felt. It was hardly a week now since the evening at his mansion, but he thought he was getting better in letting Renji through to him. Before he had had to learn the hard way that he could not just use the passionate redhead on a whim and that he himself was no longer able to push away what had slowly been growing stronger. The way he had used Renji that one night had been an inevitable explosion of something that had been suppressed for way too long. Now the noble had to use more discipline than ever to control himself, but this time to not hold back, but to let out. And slowly but surely he was rewarded with reactions from Renji like the one just now. The look on the lieutenant's face hadn't been that of suspicion anymore, like it might still have been even just a few days before, it had been joy about being complimented by his captain like this. This time he had trusted in the other's words again, had not searched for a hidden trap anymore and Byakuya did count himself very lucky that this was possible so soon, even after all their problems.
The noble sighed and turned to look out of the window into the 6th division's courtyard just to see his Fukutaichou leave the building and step up to a Shinigami who had obviously been waiting for him. Rikichi, Byakuya realized and the slightest, almost invisible smile crossed his lips as he saw how Renji gave the boy a rather harsh slap on the back, then pulled him forward, probably toward the training fields. Who knew, maybe there actually was some hidden talent in the boy and Renji did right to spend some time on his training. After all the kid took after the redhead, at least when it came to the tattoos. Maybe he'd even reach the same level of strength some day. Though at that thought, Byakuya just shook his head. Abarai was exceptionally strong after all. It wouldn't be easy for just any other Shinigami to reach that level just through a bit of training.
The captain stopped in his thoughts then, a look of utter surprise on his face. Fortunately he was alone and nobody could see it. Why would he suddenly boast about Renji, even if it happened only in the noble's own mind? The redhead was his lieutenant and even though Byakuya slowly learned to admit that there was definitely more than that, it was ridiculous to think things like this. After all, even though the redhead was strong, there was still much left to be desired. He still didn't control his Bankai well enough and there were a few problem left in his Shikai as well. He was too cocky and rash in a fight and Byakuya didn't even want to think of his lieutenant's disastrous Kidou. But by now it was indeed hard for the redhead to improve in that random sparring he called training. Renji's weaknesses had to be assessed in detail for him to improve and Byakuya was quite sure that there were not many who could do so and were at the same time still strong enough to actually stand up to the redhead.
Gray eyes turned toward Senbonzakura on her sword stand.
Actually, there probably was only one person who was strong enough, intelligent enough and know Renji well about. And since the whole episode of Senbonzakura being taken by the redhead, it was about time the captain of the 6th squad himself called forth his Zanpakutou for more than just a kata. The blade still seemed dissonant, in a way, her rhythm upset from the unauthorized touch of a different Shinigami than her master.
Slowly the noble let his fingers glide over the hilt and scabbard, then lifted the sword. The reports were best looked over when really all teams were back, which would be in two days. Older paperwork had been cleared and Renji, as eager as he had been to get out, probably wouldn't return to the office anymore today. Why not attend to this matter right now?
The captain left his office and the building, directing his steps towards the division's training grounds where he supposed his Fukutaichou had been heading with his charge. The shallow bursts of Reiatsu he felt as he drew nearer proved him right, but the dark-haired man kept to the shadows of a small group of trees as he watched the two figures sparring on the ample clear space.
Even though Renji had mentioned that Rikichi might have sustained minor injuries, he obviously did not deem them bad enough to spare the boy. They sparred with wooden swords and Renji approached hit by hit, tackling his smaller opponent where his defenses were the weakest, shouting out directions about how to close these holes.
Byakuya watched for a long time, wondering why Renji went through this trouble. Rikichi was obviously exhausted and even though there might have been a chance for him to get better, right now he simply was way too tired to do much at all apart from trying to evade. Still, Renji pushed on, not letting the boy go until Rikichi seemed about to fall over.
“Alright, kiddo,” Byakuya could hear the voice of his Fukutaichou, “You suck but ya might just get better. Wouldn'a thought ya could keep up like this after just comin' back.” Another slap on the boy's back made him almost topple over, but a strong hand caught hold of his arm, a gesture that added a silent praise which did not need to be uttered to be understood. Rikichi blushed, smiled, bowed to thank Renji and promised to work harder. Then he took both of their swords and left the field on the other side.
Byakuya finally stepped forward and walked up to Renji, who had his back to him. The redhead heard him approach and turned, then looked surprised.
“Taichou! What...?”
“You did not confront him with a hollow just yet?”
The slight sarcasm seemed so impossible coming from Byakuya's mouth that Renji could not deal with it and took the question seriously.
“No of course not! Needs to learn some tricks first, then he can slash'em up.”
The redhead looked at his captain clearly confused, then felt he needed to explain himself further and continued, “He wants ta fight. Wants ta show he can, but he doesn't know how much energy he really has 'n how ta work with it, kinda.”
Byakuya nodded. It still did not explain why his lieutenant went through all the trouble, but he just let it go for now and turned to face the other straight on.
“Where is your Zanpakutou, Abarai-Fukutaichou?”
“Zabimaru? Over there.” He pointed at another group of trees that stood so close together that some of their trunks had merged to one. He still had no idea what the hell his captain was doing here and why he asked something like that. An uncomfortable suspicion that he had fought to push out of his mind for the last week was worming its way back into his head and his eyes widened even more as he saw how a slender hand was placed on Senbonzakura's hilt, drawing it out of it's scabbard just far enough to expose a little part of the blade.
“Your training for today is not over,” and as the noble said this, he realized that what he was doing now with Renji wasn't so much different from how Renji had helped Rikichi just now. The captain knew his Fukutaichou, knew how strong he was and how much stronger he could get. Just that before he hadn't cared enough to actually want to change anything about those facts. But by now much had changed and Renji mattered more than ever before. The lieutenant himself though, still hadn't moved and only stood gaping.
“I will not repeat myself,” Byakuya said and drew his sword completely.
Pulled out of his disbelief by the reflection of light on the slender blade, Renji finally reacted and flash stepped to retrieve his own sword and then stood a few meters away from Byakuya, facing his captain. But still the redhead only held Zabimaru at his side, his uncertainty growing as he looked at the man before him. What was all this about now? Training? The last time they'd been 'training' it had ended with both of them insulting each other. Renji wasn't sure he wanted to repeat that. Still, this felt different. Byakuya had not been calling it a challenge and the atmosphere around him was not the arrogant self-assertion he had shown when he had just wanted to put his lieutenant in his place. His stance was almost friendly, as far as that could ever apply to Kuchiki Byakuya with his sword drawn. What was happening, why now, why like this?
“Why?” Renji finally voiced all his concerns together.
“You need to train. There are several weak points in your fighting that need to be corrected. You...” Byakuya recalled something he had heard just shortly before, “don't know how much energy you really have.”
The redhead's mouth stood open once more. His confusion hadn't ceased the least, even though another part of him first wanted to object quite vehemently about his fighting style having any weak points. Before he could say anymore though, the slender sword in the even more slender hands was turned downward and over the pale lips of the captain passed the words,
“Scatter, Senbonzakura”