Nothing's Changed [Byakuya × Renji]

10 - Worries

"What do you mean by that?" The high schooler cocked an eyebrow upwards, tilting his head towards his shoulder, wanting to hear what his younger friend has to say. "I dunno, he just looked really out of it, I mean whenever he saw Rukia he was at least a little happy. But other than that he seemed really bothered."

The older teen shrugged and closed his eyes, "he's probably just busy with work and stuff, kids in his classes could be annoying him too ya know, besides. He's always looked like someone's botherin' him," Renji stated as if it were a universal fact. The strawberry blonde nodded and carefully layed himself down, resting both of his hands on his chest, "I'm just worried about him Renren,"

This surprised Renji, he opened his eyes then looked down to his friend, playing with bright orange hair, "what's got you so worried?" "I dunno," the thirteen year old sighed and leaned into the sixteen year old's touch, rolling onto his side, slipping a hand under his cheek. "Rukia's bothered by it too," he was about to say something else, but was silenced by a kiss being placed on his forehead, "yeah yeah, she's always worried about her brother. You should know this,"

Ichigo nodded, then snickered a little bit, "wanna hang out with Rukia?" He sat up, leaning forward just a little bit, staring up at brown eyes that returned his excitement, the taller of the two nodded and poked the spot he had kissed, then looked to Ichigo's ear, "how's it feeling Strawberry?" He poked the recently pierced ear which caused the thirteen year old to clench his jaw and smack his hand away, "that hurts you bastard!" He snapped and turned away from his friend, crossing his arms over his chest; pouting.

"Aw, c'mon, don't be like that Ichi," the tattooed teen snaked his arms around his friend's hips and rested his chin on his shoulder, puffing out his bottom lip. All he got in response was a 'hmph!' and the slightly shorter teen squirming, trying to get away from him, this caused Renji to laugh a little, pulling his smaller friend closer, kissing his shoulder.

Ichigo grumbled in defeat and looked back to the still rambunctious monkey of a human, smiling a little. They never addressed it aloud, but both understood that they flirted with each other, it wasn't anything serious; just little kisses and less harmful comments towards each other.

Whenever they were Rukia she would flirt back, tease the boys and give them kisses back, understanding that they all had some kind of feelings towards each other. But to the three it seemed pretty complicated, they didn't grasp why it felt a little awkward; why it was both a rush and a feeling of dread. Perhaps it was the age difference? Perhaps it was just their hormones acting up? Perhaps it was because of how close of friends they were?

None of them put much thought into it, they just understood that they very much enjoyed each other's company and loved teasing the others. But one thing always crept in the back of Renji's mind, when he was ten and told Byakuya he loved him.

At his very hormonal and angst filled age, he realized what those words could have meant, and how they could've been taken the wrong way. But when he was younger he truly did feel that he loved the eldest Kuchiki, always wanting to be with him, always wanting to talk to him, to have his attention. But after he uttered those words it seemed as if the raven had been slowly distancing himself from the younger boy.

It bothered him a lot, even now as he and Ichigo were on his scooter, riding to Rukia's house to hang out with her. He didn't understand how he could've been so stupid, wishing every night that he could take those words back, what has been done has been done. And he had to accept that. He had to accept that his words made Byakuya push him away.

At least that's what he thought happened. But he knew he had to stop thinking about it, he had to let it go. And he tried his hardest, but whenever he saw Rukia, who seemed so much like her older brother whenever she was upset with the boys; his heart ached a little bit. But he wasn't going to let his silly feelings stop him from hanging out with his best friends, best friends who he had unconciously allowed to take the spot the twenty-two year old who once claimed in his heart for so long.