It was early evening and most of Seretei was quiet. A few shinigami lingered, those on guard duty and those who worked diligently through the evening until their work was done. Among these was Hisagi Shuuhei, acting captain of the 9th Division. It was rare that Hisagi ever left his office before his work was done and although this should have been an evening like any other, there was something very different this night. He felt the pressure of a very strong reiatsu long before the Captain of the 6th Division even arrived at his door. To Kuchiki Byakuya, Hisagi looked... different but he made no comment of it and proceeded with his reason for the visit.

"Hisagi Fukutaicho, it has been decided that I shall take on a dozen of your newest recruits."

Hisagi, looking a little flushed, blinked blankly for a moment before he said, "Forgive me, Kuchiki Taicho but I feel I am doing an adequate job under the circumstances."

"Indeed. You have far surpassed everyone's expectations, Hisagi Fukutaicho. However, there are several special missions headed your way and they will take up a significant amount of your time."

"Oh," Hisagi said or rather, sighed. "In that case, I shall send you my top 12 recruits."

"It would be more beneficial if you were to send me your bottom 12," Kuchiki said evenly.

"My bottom 12?"

"I assure you they will no longer lag behind when I return them to you."

Hisagi smiled, "Of course. I wouldn't expect any less, Taicho. Thank you."

"Here are the necessary forms, please return them at your soonest convenience."

Kuchiki Taicho placed the forms on Hisagi's desk and glanced almost indistinctly at the younger man's face. An enlightened flicker flashed in his eyes. Then he turned to leave but suddenly paused before he reached the door.

"Taicho?" Shuuhei said.

"If you insist on behaving so… recklessly, I suggest you work on better hiding your reiatsu, Abarai Fukutaicho."

A surprised squeak was heard from beneath Hisagi's desk. This was immediately followed by Hisagi's eyes drifting shut, a gentle sigh and slight shudder. Again, from beneath the desk came a slight choking sound then a loud swallow. For the first time in a long time, the noble's lips curled at the edges in genuine mirth. Fortunately the other occupants of the office were too self involved to notice and Kuchiki's stoic facade was back in a heartbeat. By the time Hisagi opened his eyes, the captain was gone and the sliding of the shoji screen was the only thing to announce his departure.

From beneath the table, Shuuhei heard Renji groan and felt the redhead's forehead rest on his knee. He pushed himself back from the desk, re-adjusted his clothes and waited quietly for a few minutes before it became clear that Renji had no intention emerging from beneath his desk.

"Renji, are you coming out?" Hisagi asked gently.

"No," came Renji's small voice, "I'm going to stay here."

"People will begin to wonder why I've taken such a shining to paperwork if you do that," Shuuhei smirked.

Renji's only response was a forlorn groan where Shuuhei could just imagine him burying his face in his hands.

"Come out of there."

"No!"

"You can't stay down there forever."

"Why not?"

"How am I supposed to get any work done with your pretty mouth so close to me?"

Renji didn't answer so Shuuhei dropped to his knees so he could look at him. Renji knees were pulled up against his chest, his arms crossed over them and his face hidden within. Shuuhei couldn't help but snicker at the sight. As soon as he did Renji's head snapped up.

"Are you laughing at me?"

"No," even as he said it Shuuhei's snickers transformed into an all out laugh.

"Knock it off before I kick your ass!" Renji growled.

"Ooh, strong words from a man hiding under a desk."

Renji crawled out and Shuuhei helped him to his feet. Renji's face was still burning bright red and Shuuhei just couldn't seem to keep that smile off of his face. Renji fixed him with a glare and Shuuhei really did try not to grin anymore but only managed to grimace from the effort.

"What the hell is wrong with you," Renji demanded. "You got caught too!"

"But I wasn't behaving so... recklessly," Shuuhei mimicked the superior tone of Kuchiki Byakuya.

Renji gaped at him.

"Not my fault you can't keep your hands off of me," Shuuhei continued, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I didn't see you telling me to stop!"

"I'm not your Taicho, why should I tell you what to do?"

"You sure can pick your moments can't you?" Renji scowled. "You could have waited until he left."

"What can I say. He's very nice to look at and that squeak felt really nice."

"I did NOT squeak."

Shuuhei burst into another fit of laughter and did his best to imitate said squeak.

"I hate you," Renji glared. "Don't you even care I'm going to get gutted tomorrow."

"Fuck, Renji. Dramatic much?"

"Dramatic!? Do you know who we're talking about?"

"You're overreacting. If he wanted to kill you he would have done it already."

"No he wouldn't, cause he's a twisted fucker! He wants me to live the rest of my short life in terror. Then tomorrow he'll act like everything is normal and he'll give me lots of paperwork and he won't say a word about it and I'll be so fricken nervous I'll screw it all up and he'll give me one of those calm, condescending, patient looks and tell me to do it again. Then eventually when nothing happens, I'll settle down and think maybe it'll all pass, maybe I'll be safe and as soon as I think that he'll pull out Senbonzaku and slice me to ribbons!"

Shuuhei stared at his lover with a bewildered expression and a raised brow. "Okay, you have way too much time on your hands."

"Shuuhei!"

"Fine, fine. He's going to slice you up tomorrow. Unless..."

"Oh, no," Renji knew that tone as one of Shuuhei's plans. "I know I shouldn't ask but what's your plan?"

"We could always invite him..."

"Have you lost your mind? This is Kuchiki Byakuya we're talking about!"

"He must get pretty lonely in that big mansion. Don't give me that look, as if you've never though of it before."

"That's not the point!" Renji spluttered. "Even if he did agree, he would kill us both after so we never told anyone! It's suicide!"

"Maybe," Shuuhei grinned evilly, "but if he's as much of a tightass as you say he is, won't it be worth it?"