Byakuya found himself on the roof of the apartment complex with his guitar strumming it lightly.  Kisuke had gone out to look for their still missing roommate while the songwriter had decided to stay behind and keep to his own. He had been doing that a lot lately…sitting at home in their now freezing apartment where he would either sit on the couch or more preferably on the metal table they had bought from a pawn shop. But he needed some air.

He sat on a chair they kept up on the roof; the evening breeze making his long black hair and pale green scarf flutter in the air as the wind gently blew past him. His eyes were closed while his hands busied themselves on the guitar, strumming and fingering. His dark black wool coat helping him fights off the chill of the winter with his mind totally consumed by the notes he was playing. His brow twitched downward once he hit a sour note making him play it again to see if he could fix it. He did it a few times before sighing and let his arms fold over the instrument in his lap.

He would need new strings soon; these ones were over a year old. His head came to rest on top of his hands as he looked out to the distance, thinking. He thought about his ex-wife, Hisana. Her gentleness in personality and calming words she always used with him. He could have used that now. But he knew he couldn’t contact the small fragile woman now. She was his cousin’s wife now…and Byakuya had no one to blame that on but himself for his foolish behavior in his youth.

When he was young he had his band and then the Kuchiki law firm. He was excellent at keeping them in balance with the rest of his life…until one day when he met her. That’s when she turned his world upside down and then a few years later he found an old high school friend, Kisuke.

The songwriter’s eyes misted with memory as he thought back. He could still see it so clearly.

Hisana sitting at a table in a local club where a band were playing on stage, they were enjoying themselves there. Just like they did any other time they played, until cool grey eyes found a beautiful bright violet pair of orbs in the crowd. Byakuya thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever set eyes upon. Her eyes were a lovely violet, her hair a soft raven just as his was. Her skin was pale like his and her smile was warm and friendly.

His features warmed considerably in her direction, a soft smile spreading across his face and his eyes losing a bit of their coldness. She also looked somewhat familiar to him too.

He continued to play, never taking his eyes off of her except only when he needed to put away his guitar and get off the stage for the next group to play.

“Excuse me,” He heard a soft female voice behind him. He turned his head after locking his case. “Yes?” He answered whilst standing.

She smiled warmly. “You play very well and your group…they are also wonderful performers.”

“Thank you,” The songwriter replied as he returned her smile. “Forgive me, but…you look familiar. Have you been here before?”

Hisana continued to smile warmly as she nodded. “Your grandfather and my father work together and…I come here often since I work here.”

Byakuya failed to not show that he was genuinely surprised by her response. His large grey eyes went wide as he started to back pedal. “Oh, my apologies for not—“

“It is not a problem Mr. Kuchiki. I don’t speak often nor do I make it known of my presence.” She cut him off but still kindly smiling and flushed a little.

“Please…call me Byakuya.”  

The songwriter sighed again as he was pulled from his memories by loud sirens pulling into a nearby corner. Why did I have to be so…so stupid then? He thought frowning and setting the instrument down. He stood and walked over to the ledge to peer over it into the distance. His mind went hazy again as he thought about the past when he and his ex-wife were married.

“Where were you Byakuya?” Hisana asked with an edge of concern in her voice.

Setting his guitar down near the door, Byakuya replied: “We were just working on another piece for a while. Do not worry, I am fine.”

The violet eyed woman frowned. “That is all you do besides work at the office. You work on your music…or you’re out drinking with your band.”

As Byakuya stood straight he sighed and looked at his beloved. “I said I was fine and you shouldn’t worry, so don’t.” He pulled off his jacket and loosened his tie and set them on a nearby chair.

Hisana just looked away out of the window of the manor and continued to frown. She knew he was only doing what he loved and the only thing that kept him sane anymore. The Kuchiki’s were very stubborn and cold people. Her husband couldn’t stand it either, that’s why he worked so hard to keep his family together by going into the family firm but also playing music that he wanted.

She was pulled from her thoughts as a small child tugged on her sleeve. She looked down to the small girl with the same raven colored hair and bright violet like her own.

“Sister?” The girl said wide-eyed.

Hisana smiled patiently and bent down to the girl’s height. “What is it Rukia?”

“Are you and brother-Byakuya alright?” She asked curiously.

Hisana nodded and smiled. “We’re fine.” She replied softly. “Now, do you want to help me in the kitchen or do you want to help Byakuya in the dining room?”

Rukia thought about it for a moment before she looked confused. “Can’t I do both?”

Byakuya walked over to them and smiled softly. “If you wish it we can all cook and then set the table.” He suggested, kneeling beside his wife.

“Okay,” Rukia smiled and scampered off the kitchen.

Blinking a few times before he came out of his thoughts again by a gust of wind blowing past him, he thought it was a good time to head back in. He was getting a bit too cold and at least the apartment had some heat in it. He sighed and shoved one of his hands in his pocket and grasped his guitar as he walked by the chair again. He walked to where the door was, grasped the handle and pulled it open, letting it close behind him as he walked down the stairs.

“Y-you’re leaving me?” Byakuya asked breathlessly. His eyes were wide and his hand frozen with his pen against the paper.

Violet orbs looked into shocked ones sadly. “I am sorry Byakuya but I cannot sit here any longer and watch you do nothing but work and drink. Rukia doesn’t need it either…your cousin and I have been talking a lot and we wish to be together.”

The songwriter closed his eyes against the words and the ache in his chest. “If you wish that then…it is only right you listen to your heart.”

“I am so sorry Byakuya…I will allow you to visit Rukia when you wish to but—“

“Please…” He said, cutting her off. “Just do as you wish.” He stood and walked in the house.

Byakuya sighed once he was in his still freezing apartment. It was still warmer than the outside though so it was better. Perhaps Aizen would turn the power back on tomorrow.

He set his guitar on the metal table then went to go sit until he heard a knock. His brow furrowed as he walked to the door and opened it and expecting to find his roommates but instead found the large muscular tanned and tattooed man from the apartment below. He was smiling and leaning against the doorframe.

“Hi,” The red-haired man greeted.

Byakuya’s head tilted to the side with a slightly confused gaze and a small nod. “Evening,”

The redhead’s lips lifted his smile into a wry smirk as he presented a battery powered heater in his calloused hands. “I thought we could share some heat.”

The songwriter’s eyes blinked slowly as he shifted his eyes to the medium sized box-like portable heating device. “Thank you, but it isn’t nec…” He trailed of seeing a soft shiver pass through the other man. “You’re shivering…” He commented.

The redhead shifted his leather coat a bit with one hand so it would hug around him more tightly. “Ah, It’s fine,” He assured the raven-head. “they just turned off my heat…same as you.”

Byakuya bit his lips softly, contemplating whether or not to let the young tattooed man in. He hadn’t talked to anyone else inside or outside the building since a little over a year ago. He hadn’t really been going out much and it wasn’t a necessity to talk to anyone since he kept to himself.

His dark eyes scanned the redhead. He had long crimson hair that was pulled back into a half ponytail letting the other half tumble down his shoulders and half way down his back. The dark black thick tattoos on his tanned skin of his forehead peeked out from beneath his bandana, as did the ones on his neck and chest from underneath his red shirt and black leather coat. He was tall, muscular, very handsome, and looked so young. He looked only to be in his early twenties.

Still biting his lips softly, Byakuya moved aside and let the other man in.

“Thanks,” The redhead said, smiling. “My name is Renji, by the way, Renji Abarai.” He walked over near the couch and bent down to set the heater on the dark wooden floor a few feet away and turned it on.

Byakuya closed the door and turned around only to have his eyes immediately set upon the jean clad ass that in his direct view as Renji set the proper temperature for the small apartment. He tilted his head slightly and stared at it for a moment, appreciating that it was nice looking…not that he would admit that out loud. Renji stood straight and turned around to face the other man, smirking. “Like what you see?” He asked.

The raven-head couldn’t keep the faint tint of color off his cheeks. He cleared his throat softly unsure of what to say to the smirking redhead as he turned his head away.

What am I doing? Byakuya thought. I’ve only just met the man five minutes ago and I’m not even a homosexual…or even bisexual…

Renji’s smirk grew as he placed his cold hands in his pockets. “You alright?” He asked the songwriter a bit teasingly. “You seem a bit embarrassed…” He trailed off seeing the pinkish hue on the other’s face and his smirk fell into an apologetic smile. “Hey I’m sorry; I’m just not used to people staring at me like that…”

It was true Renji really wasn’t used to it. He worked at a nearby bar as the bartender. He never had guys or even girls look at him like that. Not that it was a bad thing, really. He actually missed being close to someone. His best friend wasn’t allowed to see him much anymore because of her sister said that he was a bad influence.

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.