Silent Tears

I do not own Bleach.

Random fan: Well the first chapter could have been worse.
Me: I guess I will take that as a compliment
Random fan: Though I do have a problem.
Me: And that is?
Random fan: What the hell did you do to Renji? I mean he is supposed to be happy and passionate and such. I can't say anything about Byakuya because well he doesn't have a caring bone in his body.
Me: Renji will be fine later, at some point, maybe, who knows. *stares off dreamily* but Byakuya is just so hot and so awesome...who cares if he would cut me up into tiny pieces...and...
Random fan: *facepalm* you need serious help. Now shut up and type up more of the damn story.
Me: Yeah yeah I am working on it...

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Time: 8AM
Place: 6th division office

Early the next morning after Renji had already made it to the office, he found his normal stack of paperwork that needed to be completed by the end of the day. He had glanced at his desk to find that the papers he was to turn into Captain Commander Kuchiki were already gone. He sighed figuring Rukia had come in and took them over while Renji had been ordering his third seat to gather everyone for practice at one this afternoon. The person had just nodded and hurried to tell the others of when they had to go against their captain. He sat at his desk and started going through his paperwork. He would make sure he finished a good portion of it before the time of practice even if he had to work straight through lunch.

Place: 1st division office

Rukia walked over to the 1st division's office door and knocked on it three times waiting for an ok to come in. When she heard those words, she walked in to find Byakuya sitting at his desk reviewing the paperwork from other divisions and Hitsugaya writing out training schedules for the 1st division and going through some mission reports. Byakuya put down the paperwork after a moment looking at Rukia. His face still expressionless and his eyes betrayed no hint of emotion.

"I am assuming that is the paperwork I gave you to give to Captain Abarai.", he said looking at her with cold eyes. "I believe I also told you to tell him to deliver it to me first thing in the morning. It seems that whole division is full of incompetent shinigami who can't even listen to orders."

Rukia took a deep breath before speaking. She was used to her brother's attitude so it did not faze her as much as it would others. "I felt that it would be best for me to deliver the papers to you myself Commander Kuchiki.", she said to him just as calmly.

"You felt it necessary to ignore my orders to have Captain Abarai bring me the work himself?", Byakuya asked as he went back to his paperwork.

"Yes Commander." Rukia answered.

"And the reason for that?", he asked.

"Well my captain hasn't quite been himself for quite some time. Also I looked at the paperwork that you had told me to give to him. It was fairly basic and could have been given to me or even the 5th seat to complete, yet you ordered me to tell my captain to do it. So I figured under the cirumstances, it would be best for me to deliver it myself.", Rukia told him.

"Circumstances?", Byakuya asked her only glancing up at her once.

"Yes. I mean, he is captain of the 6th division and after what you put him through...", she trailed off with a glance at Hitsugaya that Byakuya caught easily.

"I have done nothing to him.", Byakuya said his tone still even. "As for how Captain Abarai feels about things, that is his own personal problem. As long as he does his work, then I do not care. If he even begins to slack off on his work than I will have him removed from captain of the sixth division. That is all there is to it.", Byakuya said to her.

Rukia looked at him trying not to shake with anger. How could her brother be like this? After all, that Renji has done for him. All the hours spent improving his fighting skills, achieving his bankai, improving his kido, hell even taking the time out to improve his writing skills, not to mention saving him in that final fight in the war against Aizen. How could he hate Renji so much after all of that? Taking a deep calming breath, she went over and handed the papers to him. He took them from her, glanced at them briefly and then threw them away. Rukia just stared in shock.

"I thought those were important papers that you needed.", Rukia asked.

"Why would I need such basic knowledge on a division I was once the captain of?", Byakuya asked her staring straight into her eyes.

"But you had Renji stay after hours until who knows when to complete all that for you by this morning.", Rukia said a bit of her anger shining through.

"And your point is? A captain's life is not easy. Renji should know this.", Byakuya said to her. "Now if you have nothing else to say to me, return to your division.", he said dismissing her with a wave of his hand.

Rukia just stared at her brother a moment more before leaving. She had known her brother to be cold and seemingly heartless but she thought all that had changed or at least started to after his fight with Ichigo. Poor Renji, she thought, I hate that my brother is treating you this way.

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Time: 1 PM
Place: 6th division training grounds

Renji had just finished up seventy-five percent of his paperwork and when outside to train his squad. His squad members all stood up and looked at him waiting for him to speak. The one who had almost been attacked by his bankai however was hiding behind a few other members. Renji looked over his squad once narrowing his eyes at the one who was hiding behind a few of the other shinigami.

"Listen up. Today's training will be a fun one.", he said not so much as even smiling. "Each one of you will be facing me individually. You task is to not get hurt by my zanpakuto in its shikai form. It will test your reflexes and ability to move in battle. If you get hurt you will have automatically failed and must sit and wait for the others to take their turn. Once everyone has had a turn and if your injuries are bad enough you may go to the 4th division to get healed. Is that clear?", he asked.

"Yes, sir.", they said in unison.

"Alright lets begin.", Renji said releasing his shikai as the first shinigami to try took their place.

An hour later most if not all of his division except for Rukia, who had only observed it all, and his third seat had to go to the 4th division. Renji had been almost ruthless in his training of them today. The members of the squad all had deep gashes in their shoulders, sides, legs, or backs. Renji shook his head thinking they were all absolutely pathetic for not being able to dodge his shikai.

What would Byakuya say if he saw how weak the squad was? He would have never stood for such a thing.

But you're not Byakuya, you are Renji.

He groaned slightly and then went back to his office to finish his paperwork. Off to the side of the training grounds in the shadows, a figure had watched it all masking his reiatsu completely. When Renji left and there was no one left in the area but Rukia, the figure stepped out of the shadows. Rukia turned sensing something and glared at the person who was behind her.

"Are you happy now Byakuya?", she yelled at him knowing no one else heard her.

"It is Commander Kuchiki. Do not forget your place Lieutenant.", he said to her calmly.

"I don't care! I can't help but think that Renji ending up this way is all your fault Commander Kuchiki! And don't even deny that it isn't in some way. Have you ever seen him train the division so hard that he sent most of them to the 4th?", she asked him. She was shaking in anger to the point her reiatsu was flaring and tears were streaming down her face.

Before Byakuya could say anything which would be on the lines of 'you are out of line Lieutenant Kuchiki, etc.', Renji appeared in the clearing. The two men glanced at one another and then Renji looked at Rukia. He placed a hand on her shoulder and she looked at him with sad eyes.

"You are embarrassing yourself in front of the Captain Commander, Lieutenant!", Renji said to her in a stern cold voice. "I can't have you ruining the 6th division's image. Not to mention you are a Kuchiki. Act like one. You should not be out here yelling and crying letting your reiatsu flare wildly. You are dismissed for the day and don't come back until you have learned to control your emotions.", he said dismissing her without showing a hint of emotion.

Rukia looked at him wide-eyed that he would speak to her as such and then bowed her head and left after mumbling apologies to them both. Renji looked at Byakuya. Cold expressionless brown eyes meeting the slight shock that rested in the steel gray ones of the Captain Commander for only a second. Renji bowed to Byakuya.

"I apologize for my Lieutenant's behavior. I will make sure she receives the appropriate punishment for her actions, unless you have some else in mind for her, Commander Kuchiki.", Renji said to him after rising from his bow.

"No I do not Captain Abarai. I feel as though your punishment for her shall be more than enough.", Byakuya said in the same monotone. His eyes no longer holding the slight shock they had held before.

"Very well commander. I shall return to finish my work for the day. If you have any other work for me to complete this evening send it over at your earliest conveniece.", Renji said to him his brown eyes still as cold as ice. He bowed once more and then left the training grounds going back to his office to do his work and finish up any Rukia may have needed to.

Byakuya stayed there a little longer after Renji had left before leaving himself. One thought surprisingly made its way into his mind. A thought he never thought he'd think about. Renji, what have I done to you?