Renji looked over his shoulder from where he stood tucking Nel into a bed Byakuya had in the archive to over to the noble. To say Renji was a little concerned about all of this was an obvious understatement. He could tell that Byakuya was worried too, not only for his cousin or sister but also about their current situation. Not only were they holding a wanted arrancar in the archive – even though, they were allowed in Seireitei, but there was also the council outside.  And, Renji didn’t even want to think about what they were there for besides talking about Mana and Rukia’s disappearance, not to mention Aizen’s escape. All and all, it was a pretty shitty start of the day.

Renji glanced back at the now sleeping arrancar then left her to rest from the day’s previous events. He walked over to the table where his taichou sat reading one his books and sat across from him. “…Hey, Byakuya?”

“Hmm?” The noble hummed, not looking up while turning the page. He needed to know if there was an easier way to get into Hueco Mundo without being sensed, which he knew there was a slim chance of possibility. But finding out a way would be easier to rescue his cousin and sister without alarming the enemy the moment they arrived. He flipped the page again still not looking up to his fukutaichou.

The redhead’s brows furrowed and his mouth fell into a deep frown, not exactly liking the way the conversation was starting. It was like they were at work! Completely quiet, no personal feelings, and straight-forward work. “Are you gonna tell me more about Mana-san and Aizen?” He asked, hopefully.

“No,” was all Byakuya replied.

Grunting, and plucking the book gently from his lover’s hands, he looked at the other, seriously. He wasn’t all surprised by the way Byakuya frowned and gave him a dark glare. “Why the hell not?” Renji asked, not at all intimidated.

“It’s not my place to say.” Byakuya replied simply, reaching for his book.

“Ugh…” He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand and placed the book on his lap. “Can’t you just tell me a cliff-notes version?”

Byakuya closed his eyes, momentarily forgetting the book. “Renji, I believe Yoruichi and I have already done that. You know all you need to know for now. You can ask Mana after we get her and Rukia back home.”

Renji rolled his eyes and folded his arms over his chest. He supposed he could wait till then but he was curious and wanted to know now. His eyes trailed down at the book in his lap and picked it up again. “So…exactly what was it that you were looking up?”

Byakuya took the chance to take his book back before answering. “Anyway to get into Heuco Mundo without being immediately sensed by Aizen or Kurotsuchi once we arrive.”

“Any luck?” Yoruichi asked from entering the archive. She smirked at how the noble rolled his eyes and opened the book.

“No,” He answered. “How did you get in here?”

She tsked at him with mock disappointment. “Ah, you forgot that I can get into your office for the emergency key without being seen so easily.”

“Senpai,” He said, sounding annoyed. “That is for emergencies. You could have just knocked.”

“And, would you have let me in?” She asked, smirking.

The noble discreetly rolled his eyes behind the book, making Renji smirk. “Yes,”

The cat woman huffed lightly but still smirked as she sat down at the table. “You are a poor liar.”

He didn’t give a reply, just opting out to read more of the dull book in his hands and effectively ignoring the other two chuckling nearby.

“So,” Renji murmured, sobering and looking at the cat woman. “How’d it go with Soutaichou?”

Yoruichi’s smirk fell into a frown. “He didn’t expect nor like what I had to tell him.”

“Meaning..?” The redhead pried.

“She means he did not believe her every word because he is being ignorant of the facts that we now have and still believes that killing Nel would solve everything.” Byakuya answered.

Yoruichi nodded in agreement. “Hai, he said we should just bring Nel in and this whole charade would be over. Which we know it won’t because Aizen is gone to Hueco Mundo and Kurotsuchi has betrayed us as well.”

“So, what do we do now?” Renji asked.

Byakuya closed the book with a loud thud. “We remain here with Nel until we are ready to go get Mana and Rukia.”

“I can take her to Ichigo’s if you’d like.” Yoruichi suggested. “I’m sure he wouldn’t mind watching her.”

The noble shook his head and stood, going to a nearby shelf. “No, she will remain here. I am sure Kurosaki would not mind keeping an eye on her but I would like to have her here so when we are ready, we can take her with us to Hueco Mundo.”

“Are you sure that’s best, Taichou? I mean, sure she’s safe here… but Soutaichou could order another warrant and have the entire second division outside waiting for us for when we leave. Wouldn’t it be better to keep her hidden, and him guessing about where she is to buy us some time?” Renji asked, turning his head over his shoulder to look at the noble.

Byakuya let his arm drop down to his side, frowning. He hadn’t thought of that. For all he knew they could be out there right this second, waiting for them to go with Nel. He turned to where she rested peacefully. He supposed he had no choice but to have her leave at least until they were to go to her home world.

He was surprised a bit by the arms that suddenly circled around his waist. “Let Yoruichi take her.” Renji said as the raven-haired taichou turned his head to look at him. “I know you’re worried about her too but we need the time in order to get things straightened out with all of this. Not only to save Rukia and Mana-san, but also Aizen’s escape. Not to mention…us.”

Byakuya blushed lightly at the last part but sighed. “I suppose you are correct. It would be easier to move about if Kurosaki and Urahara watched over her in the living world.” He looked to the sleeping child. “It would also be easier when I have to talk to the council.”

The violet woman shook her head and chuckled. “Do you really think those old goats are going to listen to your reasoning for all of this?” She asked, quietly. She scooped up the child, careful to not wake her.

“Perhaps they will; perhaps not.” Byakuya frowned. “I won’t know until I do talk to them.”

 “Yeah, besides,” said Renji, keeping his arms loosely curled around his lover. “Even if they do start some shit we’ll just have to show’em that we aren’t going to be taken down so easily.”

A soft laugh came from Yoruichi. “Good luck with that. You are going to need it.”

“Heh?” The redhead murmured, a bit confused as Yoruichi left. His head turned to Byakuya. “What’s she mean by that? They aren’t going to be that hard to please, are they?”

A small smirk pulled on the noble’s face. “Ah, how little you know of the Elder’s, Renji.”

“Huh?” Renji frowned. “Now, what is that supposed to mean?”

Byakuya gently pulled away from him to go over to the bookshelf and pluck a book from it, still smirking. “You will see, Renji…you will see.”