Rented Bleach

He sighed and walked closer to the other man. "Are you going to tell me your name?" He asked quietly.

Byakuya turned his head back to Renji and nodded as he swallowed thickly. "Byakuya Kuchiki."

Kuchiki? Renji thought. Huh…this guy seems different from the others I know while I was hanging out with her.

"Nice to meet you," Renji said and smiled warmly in greeting.

Byakuya nodded as he looked into the warm red-brown eyes. “My apologies about…before.” He said softly, his cheeks becoming a darker crimson and turned his face away again.

Renji pulled his hand out from his pocket and waved it in the air, lazily brushing it off. He smiled when Byakuya turned to look at him again. “It’s fine, don’t worry about it.” He said, returning his hand to the warm confines of his pocket.

The redhead looked around the large apartment again as he turned around once more. The apartment itself was large, had a few different rooms for bedrooms, a bathroom, and small area for a kitchen, and of course the main room. It wasn’t really all that different from his place except for the décor. “You have a nice place.” He commented.

“Thank you,” Byakuya replied, watching the other man.

 Renji’s eyes grew warmer once he set his eyes upon the guitar over yonder. He tilted his head to the side and stepped closer, bending down, to the black instrument. “You play?” He asked looking back to the raven-head. 

Byakuya nodded hesitantly. “Yes,”

“Oh, cool,” Renji replied appreciatively and turned to gaze at the guitar intently. “May I?” He asked quietly before he dared to grasp the neck of the guitar gently.

Nodding again, Byakuya walked over to where the stood and straightened and held the instrument.

Renji set the guitar gently in position and plucked the strings one by one for a few minutes. He closed his eyes to the sounds and furrowed his brows and made a few adjustments to tune it. As he did, memories flooded his mind about his youth and his smirk fell and his lips tightened then fell into a frown.

“Will you play a song for me Renji?” His raven haired best friend asked.

Renji nodded. “Sure,” He pulled his guitar out and tuned quickly and strummed lightly. The girl smiled and her violet eyes closed as she listened.

“My bro—“ She frowned and opened her eyes, making Renji furrow his brows questioningly but continued to play. “I mean, my sister’s ex-husband used to play for me from time to time when I was young. It was beautiful…you remind me of then…” She said softly, looking down.

Renji blinked away the unusual memory and continued to pluck the strings. “I haven’t played in a while, but…” He trailed off as he began to play a tune he had heard once.

Byakuya stood silently for a moment listening to the redhead play and then a few seconds later start to sing.

Oh, nowhere left to go
Are we getting closer? Closer?
No, all we know is "No"
Nights are getting colder, colder

The raven-head tilted his head slightly, studying the man’s features in front of him more closely. He seemed more relaxed than a moment ago. His eyes were closed and his voice was soft but strong and he played well. The songwriter could tell that the redhead knew what he was doing.

Byakuya also recognized the song instantly since he had too, heard it. He couldn’t help but smile faintly and after a few moments Byakuya had started to softly join the redhead, singing along.

Everywhere we go we're looking for the sun
Nowhere to grow old, we're always on the run
They say we'll rot in Hell, but I don't think we will
They've branded us enough, "Outlaws of Love".

Hearing the other start to sing with him, made Renji blink in surprise but smile and continue. He stared at the dark haired man’s face, their eyes locking as they sang in perfect harmony.

Scars make us who we are
Hearts and homes are broken, broken
Far, we could go so far
With our minds wide open, open

Byakuya seemed calmer and had a more serene expression; his eyes closed a moment later. Renji’s smile grew also closed his eyes. Somehow they seemed, or more like their souls, to connect between the music and blended their voices; each pouring in the emotion into it.

Everywhere we go we're looking for the sun
Nowhere to grow old, we're always on the run
They say we'll rot in Hell, but I don't think we will
They've branded us enough, "Outlaws of Love".

Byakuya opened his eyes again which instantly connected with Renji’s upon his own eyes opening.

Renji slowed his hand on the guitar a bit as the song was beginning to end.

Outlaws of Love
Outlaws of Love
Outlaws of Love

Byakuya took a step closer to the larger man as they sang the last line as if singing it to each other slowly.
Outlaws of Love

Cool grey and dark red-brown locked and they seemed to get lost in them. They stared for a time, not saying anything, and smiling softly.

Byakuya seemed to come out of the haze first but couldn’t tare his gaze from the exceedingly warm depthless eyes. They were just hypnotizing to him.

Renji sent the guitar on the couch and took a few steps toward the songwriter, still gazing intently in the beautiful cool grey eyes. He raised his hand to a pale cheek, gently caressing it with his thumb. “So beautiful…” He whispered, finally breaking the long silence. His thumb traced the faintly smiling pink lips. He leaned his head forward, wanting to taste them.

Byakuya blinked slowly as Renji brought his face closer to his own. He knew he should have really pushed the other away but he felt drawn to the exotic redhead. His eyes closed and once their lips barely touched the door opened. Byakuya pulled away suddenly and looked to the door.

A shocked Urahara blinked in surprise staring at the two. “Did I interrupt something?” He asked biting his lips—trying not to laugh.

 Renji rolled his eyes and muttered an apology before walking out to the door and into the hallway.

“Renji, wait!” Byakuya called. “What about your heater?”

“I’ll get it later,” Renji yelled back and walked down the stairs to his own apartment and shut the door behind him.

Damn… He thought, leaning against the wood.

~*~

Byakuya glared at the amused blonde. “I thought you were going to see if you could find Ikkaku.”

Urahara snickered which he received another death glare as a result. Lifting his hand to his mouth to cover it and muffle his laughter, the cameraman nodded. “I-I did and I c-couldn’t f-find him.”

Byakuya frowned and rolled his eyes whilst walking away. “Shut up Kisuke, or I’ll be forced to drop you from our balcony.” He said icily.

Not really caring that he was threatened, the blonde proceeded to laugh. “W-what the hell was that?” He asked finally stifling his snickers then cleared his throat.

“The man from the apartment below was kind enough to bring his heater here to warm our home.” The songwriter replied, gracefully dropping onto the couch after moving the guitar.

“That didn’t seem to be all that he warmed up.” Kisuke retorted.

“I believe I told you to shut up!” The raven-head hissed and crossed his arms. Ass…

“Hey, I was only kidding.” Kisuke said, frowning.

Glaring once more, Byakuya turned his head to stare at the blonde. “I don’t care whether you were being humorous or not! Shut up!”

“Alright, sheesh!”