Nothing's Changed [Byakuya × Renji]

12 - Sleep Over

Ichigo and Renji had stayed for dinner, then Rukia started to pester her brother. "Hey hey hey! Why don't you guys spend the night? Please Brother? Please, just like old times?" He didn't see why she was asking him, other than the fact that their parents were having date night and weren't going to be home until the next day.

He sighed a little and rested a hand on her head, nodding in approval. "Alright, they can stay. But eveyone's sleeping in the living room," well, aside from him at least; he wanted to sleep in his room like he normally did when we he visited. "Yay! You guys go home and get clothes!" The very elated Kuchiki girl told her friends whilst hastily pushing them towards the front door, causing the two boys to laugh a little bit. "Alright, alright, we'll grab snacks too. You want anything Byakuya?" Ichigo peered around his shoulder, looking back to the twenty-two year old who was heading for his bedroom.

"No, but I appreciate the offer, try and keep quiet once you come back please." "You got it chief!" The strawberry blonde snickered a little bit as he slipped his shoes on, looking up to his ginger friend waiting outside the door with his arms crossed.

The boys' trip didn't take long, they ventured to their houses and grabbed clean clothes to sleep in and for the next day; then to the convenience store that Renji worked at. Grabbing some snacks and drinks before they headed back to Rukia's. Once back to their friend's house they took their turns slipping into pajamas.

For the sixteen year old it was a loose white t-shirt that had some ink stains on it, pajama bottoms that had green cuffing at the ankles, waist band and draw strings; cartoon monkey faced decorated the black fabric along with white and cream colored snakes.

Ichigo had changed into a black tank top and red athletic shorts, nothing special; he was just really lazy and didn't feel like actually looking for pajamas. Thus he grabbed what he had worn when helping his dad in the backyard earlier that day.

Rukia changed into a sleepwear set that Byakuya had gotten her for her birthday, the set was covered in Chappy's face, that character has been the thirteen year old's favorite cartoon character since she was old enough to remember anything. Because of Chappy, she became obsessed with rabbits, which earned great teasing from the other two.

After getting changed, and having a stack of movies at the ready; the three sat down in front of the couch, each covered with their own blanket supplied by the ever so kind Kuchiki closet that contained extras for when guests were over. The three were having a great time, making fun of the film that was on the tv, laughing at how the special effects were done when said movie came out. It wasn't the greatest, but they still enjoyed it.

Byakuya on the other hand sat in his bedroom, chatting with some old friends from school through text. Granted Gin and Aizen weren't the greatest people, but he still enjoyed the few words they exchanged every now and then. It was either them, or a girl that he had met in his senior year of highschool, Ringaku. He enjoyed her company, but her party animal attitude was too much for him. Unconciously the raven smiled softly whenever he heard the three in the midst of one of their serotonin fits; gently pressing his bottom lip in-between his teeth with his thumb.

Everything was great, he was back at home; laughter was coming from the living room. Just like whenever the three were little kids, they still were in his eyes but they were growing up now. Meaning he was too, making him sigh at how old he felt even though he was "in the prime of his life" the only son rubbed his face gently after placing his phone down, when a timid knock on his door made him jump slightly, he looked up to see something a little too familiar.

Renji standing at his door, eyes glued to the floor whilst hiding one of his hands in his pocket, hair out of its normal pony tail. "Yes Renji? What is it?" He folded his hands in his lap, watching as the sixteen year old approached him slowly, eventually standing in front of the adult; he held a hair tie out to him.

"Braid my hair." The redhead barked gently, this caused a very small, sad smile to tug at the raven's lips, he gladly took the small elastic band wrapped in a thin tunnel of fabric, "still refuse to do it on your own?" His question was only responded with a shake of the stubborn teen's head. Which was a half truthful action, whenever he was alone he would braid his own hair before bed, either that or just leave it undone.

He sat down in front of his personal hair dresser, back turned towards him. "Did you have a good day Renji?" "Why don't you call me Monkey anymore?" He mumbled, looking painfully up to the man behind him, as if he was actually offended that he wasn't the annoying little brat that earned the nickname Monkey. "Well, I assumed that since you called me by name.. that you wanted to be called by your name too," the two sat in silence while the grown up worked, taking a bit longer than usual since he had missed doing this for the sixteen year old.

"Would you like if I called you Monkey again?" Once finished Byakuya rested his hands on the other's shoulders, causing said male to look up to him, glancing away for a moment before nodding his head shyly. "Alright." Small smiles crept onto both of their faces, looking at each other as if they were equals; as if they never had a period of not acknowledging each other.

"Ichi and Rukia are asleep," the ginger lied, "could I sleep with you?" He whispered, as if he was afraid that if anyone heard him he'd be laughed at. This question perplexed the raven, who simply pushed some of his almost waist length hair behind his ear, taking a moment to think on his answer before nodding. "Yes, Monkey." Once again, they shared a soft grin as the sixteen year old crawled into Byakuya's bed; just as he had many, many times years ago.

The two got comfortable under the covers, but the elder had to be honest with himself. It felt weird having a minor in his bed, but he tried his best not to think of anything illegal; which he didn't try to in the first place. He understood that Renji was at that age, he was at one point himself, and thoughts would roam in his mind, hoping that nothing would occur between the two that would turn illegal, and ruin their hopefully patched up friendship.