It's been a while. A long while.

But I'm back, and I've missed all of you.

I deeply apologize.

Thank you for staying with me loves.

Kuchiki Sensei

Chapter 7

"Hello?" Byakuya repeated into the phone's receiver.

"Rumor has it that a student is staying at your house as of now, Byakuya san."

Slate grey eyes narrowed.

"Sousuke?"

"Hai, Byakuya san. "

Renji sat up quickly and gave Byakuya a questioning look.

"What are you doing on the school phone line?"

"That has an obvious answer, Kuchiki Sensei."

"Why are you at the school?"

Leaning in, Abarai put his ear to the other side of the phone so that he could listen to Aizen's side of the conversation.

"Because Byakuya san, I am now a teacher at this quaint educational facility."

"That is absurd. The school system does not work that way."

"You forget that I own much of this town. You forget that I have influence."

Renji pointed his gaze to Byakuya, mouthing 'How do you know him?'

Sure, everyone had heard of Aizen from the news, but how did Byakuya know Sousuke personally?

Byakuya just shook his head at Renji, holding up a finger to halt anymore questions.

"Of all things, why would you want to be a teacher? It's laughable."

"Ouch, that is not the reaction I was looking for. I thought that you would be happy to hear from me, seeing as I work with your family."

"There's a reason why I avoid them."

"Would that reason be me?"

Byakuya grimaced; he could practically see the smirk forming on Aizen's face.

"Do not flatter yourself."

"But Byakuya san, why not return? Join the modern nobility once again. The business misses you. You were a wonderful leader."

"If my family or anyone in the business wanted to recruit me back, why send one of the heads to do the work of a lesser henchman?"

"Don't goad me, little Byakuya. I do this of my own accord. No one is above me."

"You should watch your words; you never know who might be listening."

"You are quite aggressive today, Byakuya san. But I shall overlook it, and transition to the topic of your young 'friend', Renji Abarai."

The Kuchiki's brows furrowed while gray eyes stole a glance at the red haired teen, whose hands were clenched over his lap.

"What about Abarai?"

"I heard from Grimmjow that you and Renji kun are quite close."

"And?"

A small chuckle rang from Aizen's end, "You see Byakuya, you're a stray cannon. A black sheep. I've gotten bored. My life has lacked excitement as of late. So, you are my solution. Your family needs you contained, and since you will not willingly retract back to them like a good boy, you will face the consequences. Renji used to be under my circuit, and I have means of taking him away from you. I will force you back into the game, Byakuya san."

"Do not burden me with your threats, Aizen. Why do this now?"

"Hard of hearing today, aren't you? As I mentioned beforehand, I am bored. No other reason need exist."

"Psychopath."

"And with that lovely goodbye, I shall see you and Renji kun at school tomorrow, my fellow co-worker. Give Abarai my regards."

And with a soft click, the conversation was over.

Renji and Byakuya sat still for a few seconds; their lives had just reached a whole new level of complication. Not only were they a teacher and student in a budding, romantic relationship, to top it off Aizen was after their well being. Their relationship only gave him leverage, and not only that, but Renji was confused as to what his teacher's role was involving Aizen.

"Sensei, how do you know him?" Renji questioned while moving back from Byakuya a bit. "What did you used to do?"

The Kuchiki frowned, "Renji, though I would like to, now is not the time for me to divulge my past to you. The more you know the more can be used to hurt you. Also, we have somewhere to go. I am not leaving you unattended. "

"Then when will you tell me? And I am perfectly capable of takin' care of myself!" Renji huffed and crossed his arms over his broad chest.

"Abarai. Now is not the time. Please."

Renji's defensive stance faltered, Byakuya sounded stressed. Abarai sighed, 'I'm being selfish. I need to calm down.'

"I'm sorry, Sensei."

"No need to be sorry, Renji. But we must take our leave now."

Byakuya gracefully slid off the bed as Renji rolled his way to the floor.

"This way," Byakuya motioned for Abarai to follow him as they quickly exited the Kuchiki's bedroom and made their way down a long hallway. Renji eyed the nice carpet and spacious rooms they passed. Byakuya lived here alone? Was he rich or something?

"Hey, Sensei, are you rich?"

Byakuya chuckled without mirth, "Not of my own doing."

Renji cringed, this stuff was probably from Byakuya's family. But if they wanted Byakuya back so bad, then why'd they give him all this stuff?

Almost as if reading Abarai's mind, the Kuchiki added "Before I got out of the business, my grandfather insisted that I have my earnings from when I worked for the family. He said it would be dishonorable to leave me with nothing, and that I would bring further shame upon the family if I was left homeless."

"Damn Kuchiki Sensei, that shit's tough."

"It is tough shit indeed," Byakuya responded as his shoulders stiffened. Talking about his family obviously put the teacher on edge.

Finally, after passing through a corridor of windows and skylights, they reached the garage, which was just as pristine as the rest of the house. The garage and all its belongings were all white with the exception of a black Mercedes parked in the middle.

Byakuya opened up the passenger door for Renji as he said with a straight face "After you, madam."

Renji rolled his eyes, grinning a bit.

"So you do have a sense of humor."

"Always," the teacher supplied.

Abarai was liking this guy more and more.

"Sensei, you drive like an old man."

"I see no problem with my safe driving etiquette."

"It's not safe. It's slow."

"Teenagers these days, they drive too fast."

Renji winked at Byakuya, "We ride fast too."

The Kuchiki narrowed his eyes at the insinuation.

"Do not distract me."

Renji smiled and reclined his seat until he was practically lying down.

"Abarai, what are you doing. Get up."

The red head smirked mischievously as he stretched his arms above his head, exposing his tattooed midriff.

"Oh Byakuyaaa"

"What."

"Your car is so comfortable, mmm"

"Stop dragging out your syllables."

Renji deepened his voice, "Oh sorry, am I distracting you?"

"Do you want to get into a collision?"

"In the bedroom, yeah."

Byakuya turned to glare at his pupil as Renji waggled his eyebrows. This teenager was a handful. 'But I guess that's part of why he's so intriguing.' The Kuchiki faintly smiled to himself as he faced the road.

They continued on their way for thirty minutes, during which Renji fell asleep and Byakuya was somewhat glad for the silence. Today had been a slap to the face, and the teacher needed to analyze the current situation.

"She better be home," Byakuya grumbled to himself.

Renji woke to Byakuya's voice, "Abarai, get up. We are here."

"Wha? Where are we?" The still drowsy student adjusted the seat to an upright position as the Kuchiki got out of the car.

Byakuya locked the vehicle after Renji stumbled out, and proceeded to lead the way to the front door of the mansion they had parked in front of.

"Holy fuck, can I live here? Can whoever lives here adopt me?" Renji's mouth gaped at the enormity of the house.

"BYA-BO!" a female voice exclaimed as soon as the Kuchiki rang the doorbell.

"Yoruichi Shihoin." Byakuya greeted calmly.

A beautiful, bronze woman with purple hair promptly launched herself onto the front of an aggravated Byakuya.

"You never call Bya-bo, I've missed you!"

After detaching herself from Byakuya, she looked over his shoulder and saw an uncomfortable Renji, eyeing her uncertainly. Just how close were Byakuya and this Yoruichi lady?

"Oh. My. Bya-bo, is this yours? He's so CUTE." She opened her mouth and smiled, looking absolutely overjoyed as she pranced over to Renji.

"What's your name hot stuff?" she asked.

"Renji Abarai," he responded, blushing from all the attention. She was eyeing him like a specimen.

"How fascinating, I see that you're going for the wild looking ones Byakuya!"

Byakuya spluttered, "Yoruichi!"

Shihoin began to stretch Renji's face as he floundered around, looking to Byakuya for help.

"But he looks so young, how scandalous. Naughty Bya-bo! Naughty, naughty!"

The Kuchiki began to take on the complexion of a tomato.

"I have come to you concerning serious business, Yoruichi."

She was now in possession of Renji's hair tie as she began to braid the now loose crimson strands. Abarai just spluttered and waved his hands around, but she kept slapping them down when he tried to stop her.

"Yoruichi, it's about my family and the business."

The impish woman halted in her actions, quirking her head to the side and stepping away from the flustered red head.

"Well then, why didn't you just say so? Come inside you two."

She smiled and walked off as the two males looked at one another until following her.

As they continued to the front door, Byakuya asked

"Are you alright, Renji?"

"Hai," Abarai responded as he undid the incomplete braid and began to put his hair back up.

"Could you leave it down?"

Renji halted his hands, mouth curving up a little,

"As you wish."

"Aw, you guys are so cute, but you are so slow."

"Enough with your teasing, demon cat!"

"Oh hush. You know you love me."

Abarai snickered at Byakuya's reaction, earning a sideways look from his teacher.

Renji threw his hands up. "Come one! You gotta admit that was good!"

Byakuya simply rolled his eyes as they stepped into the household. They made their way to one of the many living rooms and settled down; Renji and Byakuya side by side on a couch facing Yoruichi in a recliner chair.

"So Bya-bo, I heard that Aizen gave you a call today."

"Then why didn't you say so in the first place?"

"I wanted you to ask," she responded whilst grinning. "Anyway, back to the point. You came to me because you want to know what's going on in the households."

"Yes."

"You brought Renji because you fear for his safety."

"Yes. Now if you would tell me what you have heard, then that would help a great deal."

Yoruichi hunkered down in the big chair, stretching out her feet to sit atop a mahogany coffee table.

"It all started when your cousin, Yasuo, was incarcerated. He was heading your old position. Now that the idiot's been thrown in jail, the family needs someone with experience to take his spot. They figure they can hit two birds with one stone by getting you back. Primarily, they need someone to take Yasuo's spot. Secondly, you're a loose end that they never got to tie up."

"What was Yasuo imprisoned for?"

"Murder."

Renji turned wide eyes to the Kuchiki. How could any of Byakuya's relatives be murderers? He couldn't even imagine his Sensei being related to someone like that. And if he used to run that position, what kind of stuff had Byakuya done?

Byakuya caught Renji's wide eyed gaze,

"No, Renji. I have never directly murdered anyone before."

Renji frowned, "Directly?"

"I never ordered the murder of anyone either. But my family could have used me in ways that I was not aware of."

"Sensei…" the red head looked somberly upon Byakuya; what kind of life did he use to live? 'Then again, I wasn't exactly a wonderful guy when I was in that gang with Grimmjow,' Renji surmised.

"Byakuya is a good person, Renji. That's why he got out of the business."

"I know that he's a good person. I guess I'm just curious."

Byakuya nodded, "In time Renji. Now, Yoruichi, how exactly do they plan on getting me back?"

"Even I'm not entirely sure what that bastard Aizen is going to do. Here's what I'd recommend; go to school tomorrow, and I'll have some of my people keeping an eye out for Sousuke and his cronies. They'll watch your back and keep eyes and ears out for information."

"That sounds good. Thank you Yoruichi."

"Anything for you Bya-bo," she said affectionately. "I could have some of my sector drive you guys home."

"We'll be fine."

Shihoin nodded as she sprung out of her seat, clapping her hands.

"Alright then! You'll be hearing from me soon."

After leading them back to their car, Yoruichi glomped Byakuya and Renji before sending them off.

Renji waved to the lively woman as they drove back towards Byakuya's house.

"This might sound weird, but I felt safe with her," Renji admitted sheepishly.

The Kuchiki smiled, "She does have that effect."

"Ya know Sensei, as long as I've known you I've never seen you smile as much as you have today. I like it." The student smiled sincerely at the surprised teacher.

"Thank you, Renji. And you may call me Byakuya, if you want."

"Alright, Byakuya."

Even though the day had brought a sense of dread, both looked forward to what tomorrow would bring. They had each other, and that was reason enough.

I hope that you're enjoying it so far.

I am so thankful for your support.

Have a great day! [:

~Marlode~