Ichigo looked at the unconscious boy laying on the hospital bed. He spun when the door opened and Uryu and his father Ryuken came in.
"I didn't know where to take him." Ichigo sighed, "My sisters would have too many questions if I brought a soul reaper home and we don't have the equipment to deal with this kind of wound."
They both noted he was holding a Tanto style sword in his hand.
"Renji says he's just out of the Academy." Ichigo babbled. "He says he's the weakest Soul Reaper he's ever met and that any mission here in the World of Living was constructed to kill him. Renji said that he's part of Squad 6 but he doesn't know the kids name. He's checking in to it."
"You did the right thing bringing him here, Kurosaki." Ryuken replied. "I will do what I can to heal his wounds without resorting to modern medicine. Please fetch the girl who heals your friend."
"I called Orihime she's on her way here." Ichigo sighed, looking at the boy. "you know I never stopped to ask but can Quincy's heal?"
"I can't." Uryu explained. "That is not one of my talents but Father can to an extent."
"Uryu, do not be mad that I am helping this soul reaper he appears to be only a child."
Uryu looked at the boy focusing on him through the white/blue glow of his father's power. He did look young. Too young to be in the World of Living. Someone had really meant to kill this boy.
"Excuse me." Orihime entered the room closing it behind her. "We have a problem."
She let out a little scream as the door slammed open and Byakuya Kuchiki came through with Rukia and Renji. Renji shut the door softly.
"Heal him, girl!" Byakuya ordered.
"Yes!" Orihime cried running to the boy. "Shuno! Ayame!"
She didn't need the Kotodama she just began healing adding her power to Ryuken's.
"What are you doing here?" Ichigo asked. He and Uryu were on guard.
"That child is my son and I will ask him the same question when he awakens." Byakuya replied, emotionless as ever but still managing to sound pissed at the same time.
"I told you, Captain, someone must have sent him here..."
"To get rid of him, yes, I heard you, Lt. Abari." Byakuya said. "Rukia out of you and Lt. Abari who is the better healer?"
"That's a hard question to answer." Rukia said frowning. "I did get best grades in my kido class but Renji wasn't in my kido class and he also got best grades."
"I was in advance placement so it would be." Renji said aragently. He quickly changed his attitude when Byakuya looked at him. "Why don't Rukia and I both help." He suggested "we wouldn't want Orihime or the Quincy to wear themselves out would we? I'm sorry, Captain." Renji bowed, "I've been rather upset since I saw Ginrei."
He and Rukia joined Orihime, who looked happy for the help, and Ryuken who was so focused on the boy he didn't seem to notice. With the four of them working the chest wound closed quickly and Ginrei coughed roughly drawing air into his lungs. His eyes fluttered open to reveal that they matched Byakuya's. In fact Ginrei was the spitting image of Byakuya in every way.
Ginrei spotted Byakuya.
"I killed the hollow just like you wanted me to,..."
"I did not want you to kill any Hollow." Byakuya replied. "Who told you that you should do this?"
"Lord Sojun." Ginrei's eyes slid closed again. "He said you wanted me to prove that I was worthy of being a Kuchiki."
Byakuya walked to his son's side and touched his cheek.
"Do not listen to your grandfather, Ginrei."
Ginrei moved into the touch brief as it was.
"Is he strong enough to be taken home?" Byakuya asked, Ryuken. "I thank you for your assistance I will make sure you are all compensated."
"You may take him home but he needs rest." Ryuken replied. "Lots of it. If he reopens that wound call for a top level healer immediately and keep him stable until they arrive. His Spirit Power is low as well he used to much fighting whatever Hollow he was sent after. Keep an eye on him."
"I will and thank you again."
"You told me you didn't recognize him." Ichigo said to Renji as he followed Byakuya, Renji and Rukia. Orihime and Uryu were following all of them.
"I was not sure if I was allowed to tell you who he was." Renji replied carrying Ginrei on his back. Byakuya had Ginrei's Zanpakuto. "By his looks alone you assumed he was a Kuchiki and you were right but I was not sure I was allowed to tell you his parentage so I merely went for help."
Byakuya fought a smile.
"Excuse me." Orihime said, "I was wondering if you could tell me how old the young Master is?"
"Ginrei is only 15 of our years old." Byakuya replied. "Not much younger than yourselves. He was training at the Academy when you all came to 'Visit'. So he was not involved in any of that. Not that I would have allowed him to be anyways."
Ginrei heard everything. He buried his head in Renji's shoulder. He was so embarrassed.
"Is he really as weak as Renji said?" Ichigo wondered.
Renji felt Ginrei tense and could just imagine the tears welling up in the boys eyes. He cursed all of them for the sake of the boy on his back.
"Weaker." Rukia said, quietly "But it's not his fault."
"No it is mine." Byakuya replied.
"I didn't say that, brother." Rukia said, quickly. "I did not mean to imply...I would never dare to say..."
"That is why I said it for you." Byakuya drawled. "Kurosaki, you and my son have a lot in common."
"We do?" Ichigo wondered.
"You both have the blood of a Soul Reaper and Quincy inside you." Byakuya explained.
"I was not aware you and my father even knew each other." Uryu said, he walked up beside Ginrei and reached to touch him only to withdraw his hand at the last second. "Let alone were lovers."
He said it so casually but he noted that Ichigo, Orihime, Renji and Rukia all blushed. He was sure Ginrei would be blushing to if he was awake.
"It was a long time ago." Byakuya replied.
"From what I understood of the conversation back there someone is out to kill him because he is both?" Ichigo asked.
"Not because he is both." Rukia answered. "Because he's so weak. He trains and trains but he never gets any stronger and the Kuchiki's feel he is not fit to be our next Lord but it is his birthright..."
"Would he be safer training here?" Ichigo wondered. "In this world?"
Byakuya had his sword against Ichigo's neck in a flash no one had seen him move.
"Father!" Ginrei cried, "Please don't!"
Byakuya lowered his sword at his son's request.
"No one will take my son from me, boy."
"my father has every right." Uryu cut in. "He is not safe in the Soul Society and you know it. Ichigo has a point he should train here."
"Renji open the gate!" Byakuya said, glaring at the three teenagers.
Ginrei wanted to cry as he lay in his bed in Kuchiki manor. Why did his father keep doing this to him? He knew his father hated him but he hated this. He looked up as his door opened. He was shocked to see Renji entering. He put his fingers to his lips and packed a bag quickly. He then grabbed Ginrei's Zanpakuto and put Ginrei on his back. After getting out of the manor without being noticed they were moving through the Seireitei.
"Where are we going, Lt. Abari?" He wondered.
"Somewhere safe. I left Captain Kuchiki a note he'll know where you are." Renji kept looking around. "You can train in this place without fear of anyone finding you."
"I do not want to hide, Lt. Abari." Ginrei sighed and buried his head in Renji's shoulder. "I just want to train and get stronger. Can't you just take me to the barracks? "
"I could." Renji said, "But there is a hot spring in this place and it will heal all your wounds so you do not need the constant rest."
When they arrived Ginrei undressed taking off his short shihakusho, shorts, and everything then he got into the hot springs. He almost moaned as he relaxed. He was almost completely relaxed when the water shifted he turned his head and shot straight up his face burning.
"What are you doing?" He cried, looking away.
"Joining you." Renji replied. "You're not shy are you?"
Ginrei moved to the other side of the hot spring.
"Of course not." Renji grabbed him and tried to struggle. "Let go!"
"Calm down you are too weak to wash yourself..." As soon as the words were out of Renji's mouth he wished he had never said them. He sighed and rested his chin on Ginrei's head. "I didn't mean that the way it sounded. "
"yes. you did." Ginrei said, tears threatening to fall from his eyes. "I wish I was never born."
"Don't say that." Renji sighed and began washing the teen in his lap. "You can get stronger."
"But I never do."
Renji had no response to that so he let Ginrei cry silently as he washed him and pretended that he didn't notice.
Byakuya watched the two and heard everything that they said, a sharp pain shot through his heart when he heard his only son wish he was never born. Did the boy really wish that? Byakuya was doing everything he could to help his son. He had the best tutors and yet he never learned or got stronger maybe he should check into the tutors. He sat and watched his son cry himself to sleep.
"Lt. Abari, take Ginrei to the barracks I need to return to the manor."