Nothing's Changed [Byakuya × Renji]

1 - Arrival

Renji Abarai, a spry six year old who was very excited about his first year at Karakura Summer Camp, the year previous his parents were a little too worried about him attending due to his energy levels; and the fact that he was almost constantly getting into trouble.

But this year they decided to give it a try. Renji's father looked into the rear view mirror as he manipulated the steering wheel, smiling while watching his son sing along to the radio, bobbing his head happily and kicking his legs enthusiastically.

The little six year old faced the window almost the entire drive, only turning away from the scenery to lean towards the middle of the back seat to ask his parents how far away camp was. The drive took about an hour and some minutes, which felt like an eternity to the small being who couldn't contain his elation about being able to meet new children around his age.

Byakuya Kuchiki an earnest and timid twelve year old, who had an adopted toddler of a sister, resting at age three, had been attending Karakura Summer Camp since he was six. His parents knew he struggled to put himself out there and make friends; they thought that this was the best way to do so outside of school.

Truth be told that Byakuya preferred to observe others participate in enjoyable activities, thus why he often stood off to the side like an overseer. This year, now that he was the ripe age of twelve, almost a teenager, he'd help with watching over the younger offspring.

He didn't mind it, he'd still end up participating in group activities; he's just be a sort of supervisor to make sure the elementary children follow instructions at all times. Like the young redhead he was soon to meet, it took an hour to arrive at the family's destination. Due to his sister's youth, Rukia wouldn't be able to attend for a few more years, and Byakuya was perfectly fine with that. He didn't want his little sister crying and disturbing the peace whenever she wanted something.

The preteen waved to his parents after stepping away from the sign in post, pulling a white and blue striped bag filled with essentials along. He scoped the area from where he stood, trying to see if there was anyone that he recognized. He saw a couple children but other than that there were a lot of new faces; seeing the lack of familiarity he frowned a little more and watched his feet as he walked into the heart of camp.

The sounds of children saying their goodbyes, playing with new and known friends, the cicadas buzzing about brought a sense of loneliness to the struggling introvert.

That same emotion was nowhere to be found in the spontaneous redhead that had already talked to a small percentage of the participants there. He continued to look for new friends, eyes landing on a sheepish twelve year old that clenched the strap of his bag tightly, eyes glued to the floor as he traveled.

He copied the same expression witnessed whenever the gray eyed child looked up to make sure he didn't bump into anyone, walking up to said loner; smiling once standing in front of him. "Hi!" But he got no response, other than a look of acknowledgement.

Renji grumbled a little whenever he didn't receive an answer, he tried once again, "what's your name?" The action that followed next was the older child walking away from him. This displeased the redhead greatly. So what did he do? He followed his superior to the boys cabin, both boys holding onto their bags as if afraid that if they let go someone would come up and snatch them.

The white and blue striped bag was set down on the farthest bottom bunk as the owner pulled a hair tie from his wrist and brought his hair up, putting it into a high pony that would soon turn into a man bun if it got too hot for the prepubescent child to handle.

His unwanted guest set his dirty and almost ripped up dark blue bag on the bottom bunk next to his, glancing back towards this stranger as he sat down; smiling widely at him, almost as if waiting for some sort of conversation.

"...following people isn't nice.." the older child pulled the light blue zipper of his bag towards the bottom of it, pulling a small black metalic water bottle from it. "Besides..you should be talking with a counselor," he turned towards the redhead who continued to stare at him with a stupid smile plastered on his face, legs kicking just like when he was in his parents' car.

"But that's booooooring," the small child groaned, then jumped off the bed and landed on his feet, closer to the taller and older acquaintance. "I'm Renji!" Lunging an arm forward to shake hands with the quiet one in front of him. This made the introvert smile faintly, but he didn't make physical contact, just flipped the lid of his from home bottle open and took a sip, then closed it before setting it on his bed. "I'm Byakuya."