"Surprise!" Everyone exclaimed as Soutaichou walked in his office.

"What is this?" Soutaichou's eyes were wide in shock. And all the taichous and fukutaichous thought they could see a smile on his face for once.

"It's a surprise birthday party for you, Genryusai-sensei." Ukitake Taichou announced happily from behind Soutaichou.

"Oh?" Soutaichou mused.

"It was Kuchiki Taichou and Kuchiki Fukutaichou's idea. But we all pitched in to help." Unohana Taichou stepped up.

"I see, ariguato gozaimasu." Soutaichou smiled.

Byakuya slowly made his way towards the surprised head Taichou with a white box in his hand. Renji just stood next to Rukia with widened eyes. Taichou? My Taichou sets up a surprise party and gives presents to the Soutaichou? He thought as he relaxed a bit seeing Soutaichou take the box. Hmm… I guess he's full of surprises but I can't say that's not part of why I'm so attracted to him. He smiled at the thought then realized Rukia was tugging on his sleeve.

"W-what?" He whispered not taring his sight away from Byakuya and Soutaichou.

"You can stop staring at Nii-sama anytime now." She spoke with a grin.

"I wasn't staring." He snapped as he turned to face his short best friend.

"Yes you were. Come to think of it, Renji, are you in love with Nii-sama?"

"W-what?" His face flushed and his eyes were widening.

Rukia giggled at his expression and looked over to where Byakuya and Soutaichou were standing in the middle of the room with Soutaichou opening the white box that held a black pendent that had an orange flame engraved in the middle. She smiled and turned back to face Renji.

"Are you?" She asked again.

"Um… erm… well, I-I guess you could say I have feelings for him." He admitted as his cheeks flushed a deeper red.

"I see." Rukia smiled.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I was wondering since you always stare at him and talk about him a lot. And the way you talk about him is like you are really putting thought into it and you always smile when you talk about him." Her smile widened. "Except for when you are late for work." She snickered.

"Whatever." His blush was almost the same shade as his hair. He turned his gaze away from her for a moment. "Do you care? I mean… if I… uh… have feelings for him?" Renji asked turning back waiting for her reply.

"I don't mind. But you should tell Nii-sama."

"Tell me what?" Byakuya asked as he walked into their conversation.

"Erm… Nothing... I'll tell you later." Renji stammered.

Byakuya looked at Renji. He was a bit confused but didn't let it show. "Very well."

Rukia shrugged. "Nii-sama, did he like the pendent?"

"Hai, he did." Byakuya turned to face his adopted sister.

"Taichou, I didn't think you would be one to come up with all this." The red head interrupted. "Rukia maybe but not you... uh... no offense of course."

"There are many things you do not know about me Abarai."

The party went on all day and went well into the night. Matsumoto and some of the others were almost beyond their limit with sake. Renji on the other hand didn't want to embarrass himself or, much less, his Taichou so he didn't drink with the others. He was sipping on tea with the Fukutaichous and Taichous who decided not to drink the sake either.

"Renjiii!" An intoxicated Matsumoto called from across the office.

Renji looked over and saw that she was waving the large bottle sake in her hand. He just shook his head and continued to drink his tea. Hisagi walked over a couple minutes later to where Renji stood a few feet away from his raven haired Taichou and the head healer.

"Oi, Renji! Come have a drink with us." Hisagi yelled.

Renji crinkled his nose his friend's bad alcohol scented breath as he came closer. "Um… no thanks. I'll stick with tea." He answered as looked over to Byakuya through the corner of his eye.

"Why? Look at Soutaichou," Hisagi pointed over to the slightly tipsy old shinigami and forrowing his brow. "Rangiku got him to drink and he's happier than ever. Which if you ask me, is kinda scary."

"Still no, I'll stick with my tea. I don't want a shitty hangover in the morning."

"Whatever, have fun with your tea. You are just no fun when the Taichous are around." He waved off as he strolled back to the other side of the room.

Renji rolled his eyes and looked over to his Taichou who seemed to be enjoying himself. He was talking to Unohana Taichou about something that seemed somewhat interesting. I wonder what they are talking about… Renji thought as Rukia came up and tugged on his sleeve.

"What do you want Shorty?" he asked and looked a bit annoyed at her.

"Stop staring at Nii-sama baka!" Rukia whispered loudly.

"Hmph." He rolled his eyes again.

"If you like him so much why don't you go ask him out?"

"Nani? No, I can't do that!" Renji exclaimed but only loud enough for Rukia to hear.

"Why not?" She crossed her arms.

"Because, I'm pretty sure he would just say no."

"Oh? How do you know?" The short shinigami pried.

"Rukia, he's a noble and I'm... just some peasant dog from Rukongai." He said sadly.

"Hey! I'm also from Inuzuri like you! I was also a peasant before Nii-sama adopted me, but the Kuchiki family is more lenient towards our class than other noble clans." she stated defensively while uncrossing her arms and balling her fists at her sides.

"I know. But it's not the family I'm really worried about." He took a steady breath before continuing. "It's Taichou, I mean he used to hate me. We are just now getting to know each other better. And how would I know if he actually likes me the same way?" He sighed then looked over to Byakuya who was still talking with the healer.

Rukia looked over in the same direction. "Renji, you never know until you ask." She turned back to look at her best friend who was now staring at her brother again. "Baka!" She yelled then slapped him behind the head.

"Ow! Stop yelling and hitting me!" He complained.

"Then stop being stupid and just staring at him! Go talk to him!"

"Staring at who?" Byakuya asked while walking over to the two.

The crimson haired mans eyes widened, he turned to face his Taichou who awaited an answer. "No one! It's not important." Renji stammered.

Byakuya furrowed his brows for a moment and then he let his emotionless mask back on. Rukia crossed her arms and shook her head disappointingly at her best friend. The red head just stood there looking down into his tea as if it was the most interesting thing in the world.

He really never changes. I know he was staring at me. Byakuya smiled inwardly but not letting his mask falter. I wonder how I can I help his embarrassment fade... The noble thought.

"Very well, Renji, will you help me clean up Soutaichou's office when everyone leaves?" Byakuya asked.

"S-sure."

"Ariguato." He then faced the shorter Fukutaichou. "Rukia, I know you have a mission in the living world in the morning so you should go home soon and rest."

"Yes, Nii-sama." She replied as she was flash stepping away.

Renji and Byakuya were cleaning soon after everyone left. But the office was a huge mess. Food and drinks were scattered everywhere and mostly on the floor. Most of the streamers Rukia put up were half way down. And Renji found a spot where someone threw up after drinking too much. Some of the balloons were also half way deflated or had been popped and laid on the floor.

"Ugh! This is going to take forever Taichou!" Renji groaned.

"Cease your complaints and get started. It shouldn't take too long."

"Hai, hai, hai!"

Renji was cleaning up the vomit when Byakuya was cleaning off the table where the food was. An hour later the two were more half way done and decided to take a break.

Renji sighed and walked towards the wall near the exit.

"We're almost finished." Byakuya said as he watched his Fukutaichou lean against the wall with his arms crossed.

"Yeah I know. But I kinda pisses me off that this office got this bad. I mean, really? Did it have to get this bad?"

"Perhaps not. But it did, so it's our duty to pick it up since we were the hosts."

"I guess..." Renji sighed again.

"Come, we should finish quickly."

"Yes, sir." He replied as he walked towards the table to finish clearing it. The crimson haired shinigami suddenly slipped on some cake he missed from mopping the floor. "Ow!" He grunted.

"Abarai, are you alright?" The noble asked with a little unusual concern in his voice.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I guess I just missed some cake when I was mopping. I'll clean it up."

Byakuya nodded and held out his hand for Renji to latch on to. But when he took hold of his hand, Byakuya slipped on the splattered cake and fell on top of his Fukutaichou. They were on the floor with Byakuya laying on top of the red head. Renji swallowed hard and could feel his heart begin to race. He felt the heat rushing to his cheeks when Byakuya turned to face him.

"Gomen nasai." Byakuya apologized as he met Renji's flushed gaze.

"N-no, it's my fault." He said as looked into his Taichou's slate grey eyes.

Byakuya's cheeks turned bright red with embarrassment from the unusual contact. He started to turn his head away. But Renji's hand softly reached up to turn his head back to look at him once more.

"Do you know how beautiful you are Taichou?" Renji asked softly. Byakuya shook his head with embarrassment. "Well you are." Renji smiled and relaxed a bit. Byakuya stared into his Fukutaichou's red brown eyes meaningfully. Renji hooked his hand under the nobles chin and brought his lips near his to where they were almost touching and smiled again. They were still staring in each other's eyes when Byakuya closed the distance between their lips.

At first, their lips lightly touched with them still looking gazing into each other's half-lidded eyes. Then their eyes closed when passion swept over them. They pressed together more firmly not wanting to break the contact. Renji placed his hands on either side of Byakuya's face, pulling him in closer. Byakuya opened his mouth slightly and swept his tongue over the red heads bottom lip seeking entrance. Renji happily granted his Taichou's wish and opened his mouth.