Renji did his best not to stare at Byakuya; it wasn't polite to notice when another man was showing something so personal, after all. But he did watch the man out of the corner of his eye, trying to decide what to make of it.

Then it all made sense. Rukia had told Renji about Byakuya's wife.

It made him feel distinctly odd, though, to hear his captain speak of something so... human.

Renji said, "I understand." Though really, Rukia deserved more of that concern than him, he thought. If something happened to her, he'd no doubt be long dead beforehand.