Love Never Forgotten Part 2: The Red Fury
By Spunky0ne
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As Byakuya and Renji's son approaches his eighteenth birthday and official naming as the Kuchiki heir, a still powerless Renji learns that the boy has asked to be allowed to pursue life as a healer instead. Believing that his failure as a shinigami is the reason, Renji tries desperately to reconnect with his long lost power…yaoi, mpreg…Renji/Byakuya, Ichigo/Tetsuya, Rikichi/Kisho
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Chapter 1: Secret in the Gardens
Kuchiki Kisho peeked out of his bedroom and peered into the early morning darkness, squinting slightly as he studied the area intently. After a moment, his eyes came to rest on the familiar silhouette of one of the house guards. A grin broke out on his lips and he crept forward, making his way silently towards the guard. He stood watching for a moment, just behind the young man, admiring his lovely shape and glossy, smooth black hair, then he reached out to let his finger play with several colorful wooden beads that hung from the hairs behind one of the young man's ears. The guard jumped and yowled in dismay, starting to draw his weapon, but he paused and scowled as Kisho laughed and grabbed him in a tight hug.
"Kisho-sama, don't do that!" the guard gasped, looking around to see if they had been noticed.
"Shh," Kisho chided him, pulling the older youth into the bushes, "someone will hear you."
"Someone w-…!"
The guard's words were cut off as Kisho's mouth found his and engaged it in a long, plundering invasion.
"Mmmmmph, K-kisho-sama, s-stop!"
"I can't," Kisho giggled, "Your lips taste way too good. Kiss me back, okay, Rikichi-san?"
"I c-can't!" Rikichi yelped, trying to escape him, but only becoming more entangled in the young Kuchiki's arms, "Kisho, you're going to be their heir. I can't…we can't…"
"What are you talking about?" Kisho laughed, "My parents were male and still had me. They're special, which means…"
"I know!" Rikichi gasped, finally pulling free of Kisho, then pausing as the young heir frowned, "Um…Kisho?"
"Don't you like me, Rikichi-san?" Kisho asked, "When you were injured and I healed you, you called me an angel, didn't you?"
"W-well, I was delirious, b-but yes, you did look like an angel. It's just that you are about to be made their heir, and you know that I'm just a…"
Rikichi went silent as Kisho stepped closer to him and placed a hand over his mouth.
"Stop it!" he snapped softly, "You know I don't care that you are a commoner."
"Mmmmph!" Rikichi muttered, struggling and pulling free of him, "You might not, but there are others in your family who do."
"I don't care about that!" Kisho complained, "They're just a bunch of stuffy old men."
"Those stuffy old men are on the council which is supposed to recommend you as the recognized heir," Rikichi reminded him, "Kisho…"
Rikichi paused, reading the hurt on Kisho's pouting face. His own expression softened and he embraced the younger man gently, kissing him on the cheek, then on the lips.
"You know how I feel about you," he said quietly, "I love you, and I only want the best for you…Kisho-sama."
Kisho smiled and kissed him back.
"You are the best for me," Kisho insisted stubbornly, "and I'll tell you something. I don't want to tell my fathers, but…I don't really want to be heir anyway."
"You don't have a lot of choice about that," Rikichi said, not unkindly, "You are their firstborn."
"They have another kid," Kisho pointed out, crossing his arms, "Just because she's a girl doesn't mean that Akitora is less worthy."
"They don't think she's unworthy," Rikichi laughed, "I think they just worry because she's undisciplined."
"Tell me about it," Kisho sighed, rolling his eyes, "But Tora has power. I think she's already stronger than me and she's only ten years old. Probably, she's a better heir than me. I'm sure she thinks so."
"Tora doesn't look down on you," Rikichi assured him.
"She's always butting in and trying to protect me," Kisho argued, "She's a kid, and she needs to stop butting in. It makes me look weak!"
"You're not weak," Rikichi said firmly, "No one thinks that."
"Are you kidding me?" Kisho sighed skeptically, "Don't you get it? I made them mad when I asked them to let me join the fourth division, so I could train more with Tetsuya-san. They don't want a leader who hates fighting."
Kisho sighed more heavily and leaned into his boyfriend's shoulder, nuzzling under Rikichi's chin and making him giggle softly at the tickly feeling.
"Can't I abdicate or something?"
"Eh, like a king?" Rikichi mused, "I suppose, but…"
Kisho's levity faded completely as he spotted his red-haired father stepping out of the master bedroom and into the gardens.
"Oh man…"
Renji looked around, then scowled and stepped towards the place where the two young men were concealed.
"Kisho, Rikichi, come on out," he said, crossing his arms.
The two slunk out of the bushes and Rikichi bowed his head respectfully.
"Sorry, Renji-sama," he said contritely.
"It wasn't his fault," Kisho exclaimed, stepping in front of Rikichi protectively, "I sneaked up on him and dragged him in there."
"Now, you know Rikichi's supposed to be working," Renji said sternly, "and you are supposed to be in training."
"That's not why you're scolding us," Kisho said sullenly, "and I think it's kinda hypocritical of you to bug me about having a Rukongai born mate…"
"Eh, Kisho-sama!" Rikichi objected, blushing furiously.
"Er…boyfriend," Kisho corrected himself, "But anyway, you're from the Rukongai and you don't have any powers. You don't train every day and…"
"Don't you start with me!" Renji snapped angrily, "You know why the council doesn't have a problem with Byakuya marrying me. I may not be anything now, but I was powerful, and both you and Tora have gained significant power from Byakuya and me."
"But no one picks on Tora!" Kisho lamented.
"Tora's not gonna be the heir. You are," Renji said sternly.
"Yeah, I know," Kisho huffed disgustedly, "And you know just how much I want to be."
"Kisho…" Renji said more softly, his cinnamon eyes taking on a troubled look.
"Dad," Kisho persisted, "when you were Aki, and we didn't know I was some heir to a noble clan, you never told me that I should train for fighting every day. You never forced me to do that. You told me that being a healer was a good thing, and that I didn't need to be powerful or rich to be successful. Did all of that change because we came to live with a noble leader? Are we suddenly different just because we know I'm part noble?"
"Kisho."
The youth froze at the sound of Byakuya's firm voice and Rikichi shivered involuntarily.
"Kuchiki taicho," Rikichi said, bowing his head respectfully.
"You may be at ease," Byakuya answered calmly, "The guard is about to change. Please check in with the one replacing you, then return here. I want to speak with you as well."
"Yes, Kuchiki taicho," Rikichi answered, his voice shaking slightly.
"Dad," Kisho began.
"Please wait," Byakuya said, holding up a hand, "I want to speak to Rikichi as well as you."
"Dad, please, don't tell him not to see me," Kisho pleaded, "Rikichi and I are in love with each other!"
"Kisho, I need you to wait," Byakuya insisted, "I will answer your concern, but I will do so with both of you present."
He paused and frowned.
"And you will come out of the bushes now, Akitora," he added sternly.
"Oh my god…" Kisho groaned as a flash step sounded and he was suddenly tackled and flattened on the ground, "Seriously? Why?"
"Hiya!" Tora laughed, sitting up and smiling down at her flustered big brother.
"What were you doing?" Kisho scolded her, "Were you spying on Rikichi and me again?"
He thought for a moment and his scowl deepened.
"Did you rat us out, you little…!"
"No way!" Tora giggled, "I was just watching you and Riki kiss a little. It's so cute!"
"Shut up!" Kisho snapped, "Get out of here! This has nothing to do with you, you little brat!"
"Akitora will stay," Byakuya said sternly.
"Why?" Kisho complained, "This isn't even about her. She's not the heir. I am."
"I understand that," Byakuya said quietly, "But even if she is not the heir, she is still a ranking member of the main household, and what affects one of us, affects all of us."
Kisho thought about the words for a moment, then winced and met Byakuya's dark, steel colored eyes apologetically.
"I'm in trouble with the council?" he asked.
Byakuya loosed a soft sigh, waiting as Rikichi returned and stood beside Kisho.
"Thank you for joining us, Rikichi," the Kuchiki leader said solemnly, "Please, be at ease."
"Ah, y-yes sir," Rikichi stammered nervously.
"Kisho," Byakuya addressed his son, "I received a message from the council yesterday, notifying me that several members have expressed concern about your ascendance."
"Yeah," Kisho said in a small voice, "there's a big surprise. I already know a lot of them look down on me, because I want to be a…"
He stopped and deflated as Byakuya raised a hand to stay his argument.
"Another faction of the council disagreed, saying that the clan could benefit from having a leader known for his empathy and ability to employ skillful statescraft. In essence, the council is split on the issue."
"Um…okay," the youth answered uncertainly, "so, what does that mean?"
"The council also acknowledged that your sister has made tremendous progress in her training, connecting with her zanpakuto and displaying admirable control of her reiatsu."
"So, they want her to be heir instead?" Kisho guessed, "I mean, I understand…"
"I did not say that," Byakuya interrupted, "I called you together to inform you that the council is divided on the issue of ascendance, and so, they have formally requested leave to delay your naming as the official heir."
"What?" Kisho mused, a smile and a frown doing battle to take over his expression, "I mean…I understand. I'm kinda glad, but…"
Renji scowled.
"You know that this is really a way of warning you that you need to take your status as heir seriously," the redhead said sternly, "I get that you wanna be a healer, but you have powers other than that, and you can't just pretend that you don't!"
"I'm not trying to pretend I don't have powers!" Kisho shouted, "Dad, I just…don't feel good about beating people…or anyone, even, to death. Can you understand that?"
"We do understand," Byakuya assured him, "And I want you to understand that neither Renji nor I enjoy taking lives any more than you do. It is just that, those of us given the strength to protect lives by fighting must be ready for conflict. Kisho, even if you can be a healer and there are enough fighters to replace you normally, there will be situations in which you will need to protect someone."
"And how do you think you would feel if there was someone you loved," Renji added, "and they needed you and you couldn't do a goddamned thing to help?"
Byakuya's eyes widened slightly at his husband's words.
"Renji…"
"No!" Renji snapped, "Don't stop me. Kisho isn't a child anymore, and he needs to hear the truth, as hard as it is."
Renji's brow furrowed and his canines bared as he continued in the same, harsh, angry tone.
"When I was younger, like you, I lived down in the Rukongai, and I only had a little power."
"Dad, I know," Kisho said penitently, "I didn't mean…"
"I had no family, but I had friends, and we all trained together, not because we liked to fight, but because we knew already that we don't get to choose the things that happen. Each of us knew that we needed to practice, because at any time, any day, we could be attacked…by hollows, by criminals, or even by people who just disliked us and looked down on us. We trained hard and we hoped like hell that we would never have to use that power…but we did have to use it."
"Dad…" Kisho whispered, bowing his head and closing his eyes.
"We used everything we fucking had…"
"Renji," Byakuya said warningly.
"And all but Rukia and me still died!"
"Dad, I'm sorry."
"I know you're sorry," Renji scolded him, "but sorry isn't going to help you when one of your family or one of your friends is dying and they need you. And in those moments, you don't want to be cursing yourself for being so stupid as to not have trained properly while you had the chance!"
"Okay. I'll train. I promise," Kisho said fervently.
Renji acted as though he hadn't heard, glaring down into his son's eyes furiously.
"I don't have any powers now," he went on, "and I probably never will, but I will also never neglect training in everything I do have…hakudo, street fighting, basic reiatsu control, because if your father, your sister, you or one of our friends ever needs me, I will throw myself out there and be there for them with no regrets. And if I die, it won't be because I was stupid and neglected my training."
"Renji!" Byakuya snapped.
The redhead flinched and blinked, seeming to finally realize he'd stepped over a line. He took a steadying breath and sagged slightly.
"Sorry," he apologized to Byakuya, "I just…it was just a slap in the face…"
"I know," Byakuya said sympathetically, "and there is truth in your argument."
Byakuya took Kisho's hand in his and regarded their firstborn through solemn, sad eyes.
"Kisho, I know that being a part of this family is a burden in some ways. It is not what you expected. You were not raised in the way that most heirs are. But, you are the heir, even if not yet endorsed by the council…and you will make an effort to excel in every way that you can…all of your abilities, not just those that you favor."
"Okay," Kisho said softly, "I'm really sorry, Dad. I'll try. I promise."
Byakuya nodded, then glanced at Rikichi, who was looking slightly uncomfortable, as though not quite knowing why he was there.
"Officer Rikichi," Byakuya said sternly.
"S-sir?" Rikichi answered, swallowing hard and forcing his back to straighten.
"I have an important assignment for you," Byakuya explained, "one that will be challenging, but one that I think will help our Kisho to amend his thinking and behavior."
"Ah…okay, sir. What do you want me to do?"
Byakuya's lips betrayed just the hint of a smile.
"I am assigning you the task of being the heir's assistant and personal trainer."
"Th-the…?" Rikichi stammered, "But sir! I'm just a house guard…not a…!"
"You are an officer of the Gotei thirteen and you have become a trusted member of the main household's guard. You have excellent control of your zanpakuto, you have ample healing power and you are proficient in kido. I want you to fully devote yourself to the training and care of the heir. From morning until night, you will do everything you can to prepare Kisho to fulfill his duties as heir. You will attend him at all times, and to all functions."
"All…?" Rikichi repeated dazedly.
"It is my expectation that the next time the council meets," Byakuya went on, "that the elders will note the change in the attitude and responsibility of the heir. You are relieved of all of your other duties. Do you have any questions?"
"Ah…um, n-no, Kuhciki taicho," Rikichi stammered, "I will…I'll do as you say! I will not let you or Kisho down!"
"Good," Byakuya said approvingly, "Now, I believe that the two of you should be preparing to go down to the meadow for training together."
"Yes sir!" Rikichi affirmed.
Kisho bit his lip to avoid a smile as he felt Renji glaring in his direction. He took Rikichi's hand and the two flash stepped away. Byakuya turned his attention to their daughter and met her eyes warningly.
"Young lady, there is to be no more snooping," he said firmly, "You are to attend to your studies and you also will see to all of your responsibilities…including your etiquette training."
"Ugh!" Tora said, grimacing, "It's no fair! Kisho doesn't have to train in etiquette!"
"That's because he has a few manners," Renji said saucily, "unlike someone else I know. He doesn't skulk around, spying on people."
"I was practicing my stealth skills!" Tora argued, her cinnamon eyes flashing.
"Your stealth is adequate," Byakuya chided her, "It is your interpersonal skills that are lacking. You will train these things until you also are no longer causing the elders such upset."
"Fine!" the girl sighed, flash stepping away.
Renji let out a long breath as they were left alone, his eyes reflecting weariness and regret.
"Sorry."
Byakuya's formerly stern eyes softened and he moved closer and put an arm around his distressed mate.
"I just wish that I could…be that person I was," the redhead said softly, leaning his head on Byakuya's shoulder, "I tried, but I just can't."
Byakuya let out a long breath and stroked his husband's thick red hair lovingly.
"Yes, you can," he said with certainty.
"It's been ten years…"
"I know…and I still believe in you, after ten years," Byakuya assured him, "I will believe in you after a hundred years and five hundred. I will never stop believing in you…so…you will never stop trying."
Renji's jaw tightened and he felt his eyes burn.
"Come," Byakuya said, wrapping an arm around him, "we need to train too."
"Yeah," Renji said softly, "okay."