Chapter 2: Healing Hands

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Thanks to Picklez80 (Here you go!), PrivateCaller (You're too sweet!), Kittykins (I know. I'm so mean!) GrimmIchisgrl (Aww!), Frost2351 (Muse is working overtime on this one!), Aizenfan6969 (lol, I thought you were tough, but I turned you to butter!), Charmander (So glad you like it!), Adalie Delacroix (This one's a nice long chapter!), Hisuiryuu (I like a mix of warmth and angst with the promise of happiness.), Avella Aria (Aww, thanks so much!), Kenni-bun bun (Yeah, I try to resist, but angst grabs me, for some reason...), Doggyband (Aww, I will make sure the sweetness is worth the salty tears!), Shima-Taicho (I think some Kuchiki elders will be pissed when his deception is discovered!), Jazzybella (I hope you enjoy this longer, less cliffy chapter!) and DefendtheUndefended (Okay, here's more!) Enjoy the chapter! Love, Spunky)

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(Ten years later...)

Wrapped tightly in his poor blanket, Kisho shivered and curled up in a ball, trying to build up a little bit of warmth, but finding it difficult to do with such a thin body. He sighed softly and reached over to grab several ragged shirts, two threadbare yukatas and several smaller things to add to the layers on top of him. To his relief, the effort paid off in creating a small pocket of comfort, and he snuggled in deeply, trying to go back to sleep.

Outside the little, rundown shack he shared with his father, rain poured down, muddying the streets and making the scores of street kids press together under the eves and stairways of several abandoned dwellings, in small caves or under thick growths of vegetation. A few sympathetic souls roamed the mostly abandoned streets, delivering hot soup and tea to the children, and offering healing to the sick and injured.

Kisho stirred again as a soft sound of discomfort reached him, and he brushed the wild black tipped ginger hairs out of his pretty grey eyes and peeked out from under his ragged coverings, into the hall and across to where his father laid in another poor bed. He saw his father shift uncomfortably, then he quivered and moaned in an unnatural, feverish fashion.

"Dad?" he called softly.

A little chill went through him as his inquiry went unanswered.

Kisho pushed aside the loose clothing, keeping the thin blanket wrapped around him and lifted himself off of the little mat that was his bed. He grabbed a second pair of tattered socks and placed them over the ones he wore, then hurried out of his room and into his father's, where he knelt beside the mat his father laid on.

"Dad?" he called more urgently, placing a hand on the man's shoulder.

He inhaled sharply as his father's head turned and he could see the flushed color of his face that was bathed in sweat.

"Dad, what's wrong?"

He slipped a hand into his father's and placed his other hand over the man's softly heaving chest, where he found his father's heartbeat to be too fast and oddly light. The man shivered and his lips moved, but he only managed a soft, discomfited groan. Kisho made a sound of distress and unwrapped the blanket from around himself. He laid it gently over his father and tucked the two blankets more firmly around him. Forgetting the chill in the air, he ran out into the hallway, then to the bathroom, where he found a clean washcloth and dampened it. He filled a little cup with water and carried the washcloth and water back to his father.

"K-kisho?" the man whispered unsteadily, blinking his burning eyes as he looked up at his son.

"It's okay," Kisho said reassuringly, "I know what to do."

The man in the bed watched silently as the boy soothed his face with the wet washcloth, then offered him a few mouthfuls of water from the cup.

"I will make you some hot tea and broth after I bring a healer. Old Michio-san is probably up already. I'll be right back, okay?"

Kisho started to let go of his father's hand, but it tightened on his and his father looked up at him in warning.

"Don't go unarmed."

"Of course," the boy said, nodding.

He ran back to his room and found a pair of rubber boots that he slipped into. Then, he wrapped a second yukata around his thin fame and found a little cloak in his closet to protect him somewhat from the rain. Hurrying into the kitchen, he sought the rack near the table that held a lovely, blue handled sword with a cross shaped guard and a smaller, lighter blade. After selecting the smaller sword, he left the little shack and ran along the muddy dirt road, looking left and right and carefully using his senses to avoid any unpleasant surprises. He sensed the old healer in amongst a group of dilapidated buildings and headed there, sliding to a stop as he came upon the healer, setting a bandage on the arm of a little black haired girl, who sniffed and blinked, staring down at her arm, then looking up at Kisho as he arrived.

"Kisho-chan!" she called out in greeting, managing a trembling smile.

"Oh, Gia-chan, what happened to you?" he asked sympathetically, moving to Michio's side and handing the girl a little leaf of peppermint from his pocket.

The girl smiled and accepted the mint leaf, sticking it in her mouth and lightly nibbling as the old healer worked.

"I was being chased by Goro and Isi," she complained, "and I slipped in the mud and hit my arm on a rock. They laughed at me."

"Jerks," Kisho huffed, "You want me to go and pound them a little for you?"

Gia giggled.

"You don't have to," she assured him, "They're mean. I don't want them to hurt Kisho-chan. I'll just be more careful when I'm running in the mud next time."

"That would be wise," chuckled Michio.

He turned an aged blue eye on the slim, grey-eyed youth.

"What brings you, Kisho-kun?" he asked.

"It's papa," Kisho informed the healer, "He is sweaty and feverish. He seems weak and couldn't talk to me very much. His heartbeat is very fast and he was shivering."

"I'll come at once," the healer said, glancing at several other children who were waiting for his help.

Kisho's eyes followed his and he frowned.

Dad would want me to do something.

"Michio-san, if I help you with the rest of them, we can still finish quickly and go to my dad," he offered.

Michio gave a relieved sigh and patted the boy's face.

"Good boy, Kisho-kun, we'll make quick work of this, eh?"

Kisho approached a little boy with a bloody wound over his eye and carefully cleaned and disinfected it.

"It doesn't need any stitches," he told the boy, making the little lad smile up at him, "Hold still while I bandage it."

Beside him, Michio worked at healing three siblings afflicted with some kind of itchy rash, then an older boy with a broken toe.

"Kisho, the little bags in my pockets," Michio said, while he turned to help the last of the children.

Kisho searched the healer's pockets and found a little bag on each side that contained a number of tiny hot potatoes.

"I was using them to warm my fingers," the healer said, giving him a wink, "Pass them around, will you?"

Kisho walked through the group of children, passing out the little potatoes until everyone had one, then eating one, himself, as the healer finished his work. They left the children huddled under the eaves and walked back to the edge of town and into the little glen, where Kisho's home stood.

"I'll need you to make hot tea and broth for your father," Michio directed him, "I'll begin the healing."

"Yes, Michio-san!" Kisho said, running into the house and heading for the kitchen.

The old healer turned down the hallway and entered one of the bedrooms, where he found Kisho's father, collapsed, partway between the sleeping mat and the door. He rushed to the unconscious man's side, laying him carefully back on the mat, then washing his sweaty face and throat and examining him carefully. As he worked, the man stirred and moaned softly.

"Bya-san, can you tell me if you have pain in your throat?" asked the healer as his fingers felt the glands on the sick man's neck.

"N-no," Bya managed, "I j-just feel cold and ache all over."

"It is one of two viruses that are plaguing the districts," Michio informed him, "But fortunately for you, you have the less dangerous one. You will have to be careful not to become dehydrated, but you should feel better in a couple of days. Relax now, I will give you a pain block and a reiatsu infusion."

Bya relaxed and closed his eyes, welcoming the influx of calm, numbing power. He blinked drowsily and would have drifted off, but for his son's arrival with the soup and tea.

"Warm yourself up with that and then I want you to rest."

The old healer, reached up to scratch his short beard and glanced from Bya to Kisho and back again.

"I know things are difficult when you get sick," he said to Bya, "Maybe I can help. Your boy is helpful. He knows basic first aid, and I sense that he has respectable reiatsu. I am sure I can teach him how to heal people. If you like, I can take him with me on the circuit I make through the lower districts. We'll be gone for about two weeks. I don't make a lot of money for treating the poor like I do, but I will give your boy a share of whatever does come in. I will provide his board and meals on the journey. Would that work for you?"

"I don't want to leave papa when he's sick," Kisho said worriedly, "But we do need the money. Papa wants to build a little school here for the children. We could let some of them live here and help to watch over the bigger gardens where we'd grow more food. The only reason we can't grow enough now is because things get stolen."

"Well, maybe this will help you get your school started. And while you're gone, Bya-san can heal up and then find some more work."

"I think it's a good idea for you to do this," Bya said, taking his son's hand, "I don't have any powers, but it's clear enough you do. You need someone to help you grow your powers. I have taught you fighting skills, but Michio-san can teach you a trade that can help you earn a living. What do you think, son? Would you like to train as a healer?"

Kisho bit his lip gently, thinking fleetingly of his unspoken hopes to surprise his father by qualifying to join the shinigami academy, but he knew better to say the words aloud.

For some reason, he doesn't trust the shinigamis. He never shows his face when they come around. I asked him once and he said he didn't know why he reacted that way. He just felt danger from them. It's strange, because even though the shinigamis are sometimes rough people, they do have powers that allow them to kill the hollows that try to attack us.

"I think it would be great," Kisho said, smiling.

"It's settled then," Michio said, his smile warming, "Bya-san will be well enough in a day or two and we'll go. I will take good care of your boy and teach him some skills he can begin using right off. There is always a need for healers around here, and it does put food on the table."

"Arigato, Michio-san," Bya said softly, "I am very grateful, both for the healing and the offer to train my son. He can offer you protection. I have trained him already in hakudo."

"Good," the old healer sighed, "There are some rugged folk who roam the lower districts. Noa and I will feel safer having a protector along. It sounds like this is going to work out well for all of us."

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Tetsuya moved in strangely slow steps, entering the low Rukongai and walking slowly through the rain drenched, muddy streets. He passed blackened, dilapidated buildings and milling souls with sad, untrusting eyes. Any icy breeze blew past him, carrying an oddly familiar scent. Tetsuya moved more quickly in the direction it came from and heard an echoing laugh. He didn't see the boy's face as he passed, but he caught a glimpse of ginger hair and poor clothing. The boy ran past him, heading for a man dressed in equally ragged clothes. The man's chin lifted slightly as the boy approached him, and Tetsuya froze at the sight of his revealed face.

Tetsuya sat up suddenly in bed.

"Byakuya-sama!" he cried loudly.

Strong fingers curled around the leather collar at Tetsuya's slender throat and he was roughly yanked down again.

"Dreaming again, are you?" Orochi chided him, "Don't bother. He's never coming back."

He held the collar firmly and loosed hot breath onto his cousin's earlobe, making it blush and Tetsuya's head turn away in disgust.

"I'm your leader, Tetsuya. After ten years, you should know that. But I have no problem reminding you if you need a lesson."

"You don't need to remind me," Tetsuya said in a soft, defeated voice, "I know Byakuya-sama is gone. It was just a dream. I can't help what I dream."

"Well then," Orochi agreed, running his fingers lightly down the side of his cousin's lovely face, "if you're being tormented by useless dreams, I should keep you awake."

Tetsuya continued to look away and gave no answer. Orochi read the little hint of defiance and his lips curled cruelly.

"When you're awake," he went on smoothly, "you know the truth. You know he killed himself, and you know the reason why, don't you?"

Tetsuya's eyes rounded and he rose to his knees striking wildly at his cousin as Orochi laughed mockingly and shoved him down on his back.

"That's a lie!" Tetsuya screamed, flailing, "You know that's a lie!"

Orochi picked up a leather crop he kept beside the bed and stung Tetsuya's cheek with a quick strike. Tetsuya winced and made a sound of pain, but the anger in his eyes only flared more hotly.

"Shiba Ichigo drove our cousin mad and Byakuya slit his own throat and threw himself off a cliff."

"NO!" Tetsuya howled, struggling.

"That's what the evidence showed," Orochi said coldly, "Why don't you ask that half quincy dog, Ichigo, if you doubt me. He knows the truth. He told the council that he and Byakuya fought just before it happened. I don't know why you hang onto your admiration for that weak hearted fool. He's better off dead."

"You bastard!" Tetsuya shouted, reeling as Orochi answered by striking him across the face with the back of one hand, so forcefully that he crashed down onto the floor.

An attendant burst into the room and flash stepped in between Tetsuya and their furious leader.

"Get out of the way, Koji!" Orochi ordered him, raising the crop and bringing it down on the arm Koji used to shield his face, "He defied me."

"I'm not letting you beat Tetsuya-san!" Koji insisted, raising a protective barrier around Tetsuya's slumped form.

"K-koji," Tetsuya whispered worriedly.

"He's not even moving! You've knocked him out," Koji argued, "Just let me take him out and heal his injuries, Orochi-sama...please."

Orochi let out a disgusted breath and turned away.

"Get him out of here. Take him and lock him in the house jail. Don't heal him. I'll know if you do. He is to have nothing to eat or drink and no visitors."

Koji watched as Orochi whirled and stomped away, then he turned and knelt beside Tetsuya.

"You shouldn't have done that," Tetsuya said wearily, touching Koji's injured arm gently, "He hurt you."

"I'm okay," Koji assured him, helping Tetsuya onto shaky legs and wrapping a warm robe around him, "And if I hadn't stopped the two of you, he might have really hurt you, Tetsuya-san. You know how angry he gets when you argue with him about what happened to Byakuya-sama."

"And you know that story he told the elders was a flat out lie!" Tetsuya said heatedly, "He got the council to believe that if I investigated, I would be biased to protect Byakuya-sama. Then, he had his own people infiltrate the investigation group and concocted that lie they told the elders!"

"I know," Koji said soothingly, squeezing Tetsuya's hand gently, "I know you're right. But Tetsuya-san, there's nothing we can do about it. Orochi is leader now, and he only looks for any reason to hurt you. I promise I will keep helping you secretly to try to find out what really happened."

Tetsuya leaned heavily against Koji, keeping his face hidden as they passed other servants on the way to the house jail. They stopped just short of the entrance.

"I had another dream about him," Tetsuya said, looking at the ground, "I saw a boy with ginger hair, running to a poor man who had our cousin's face. They were in the Rukongai."

Koji nodded.

"But there are a lot lower districts. If you think he is there, I will go on my day off and look around. Do you want me to go and look for him, Tetsuya-san?"

Tetsuya studied his attendant's kind face for a moment, then sighed resignedly.

"You don't really believe he's alive, do you?" he asked sadly.

"I don't know," Koji answered honestly, "But if he was, he was connected strongly to you. And if he was alive, maybe he could be causing your dreams. So, if you want me to go and look, I will."

"Look for what?" asked a familiar voice.

Koji and Tetsuya stared at the ginger-haired man who approached them.

"Ichigo-sama!" Tetsuya exclaimed.

"What happened to your face, Tetsuya?" Ichigo said sternly, "Did that bastard, Orochi, do that?"

"I was defiant to him," Tetsuya explained, "We argued and he hit me."

Ichigo extended a hand and Tetsuya tried to duck away.

"He ordered Koji not to heal it!"

"Yeah? Well, I'm not that asshole's servant," Ichigo snapped, trapping Tetsuya between Koji and him and touching a hand to Tetsuya's face to make the angry red marking disappear.

"You aren't supposed to interfere with another clan's members," Tetsuya reminded him, "and didn't Orochi order the staff not to let you in?"

"I let myself in. I needed to see you."

"Me?" Tetsuya asked, blinking, "Why, Ichigo-sama? Did something happen to Rukia-chan?"

"Rukia? No. She's away with her division on a mission right now. And besides, Orochi's got no claim on her since his first stupid act was to have her thrown out of the clan. I'm protecting Rukia. This is about Byakuya."

Tetsuya looked back at Ichigo quietly and said nothing.

"Look, I know your council ruled that he committed suicide."

"I don't believe that, and you shouldn't either," Tetsuya said softly.

"Tetsuya, I need to go to where it happened. I saw something last night...in a dream I had. I feel like I should go there."

"I could take you there," Koji offered, "I have to get Tetsuya-san checked in with the jailors, but after, I can..."

"Bring him with us," Ichigo said, indicating Tetsuya, "And after, the two of you should come with me."

"We can't. You know we can't," Tetsuya argued, "Rukia-chan wasn't a blood relative, so you had some grounds to dispute her fate. Like it or not, Koji and I are blood relatives. Orochi is our leader. He has every right to discipline me. Besides, being in the jail is more pleasant than being in my cousin's bed. I'll be fine, Ichigo-sama. Go on with Koji. I can see myself inside."

Ichigo made a sound of frustration as Tetsuya left them and entered the house jail building.

"I don't get it."

"Tetsuya-san isn't just worried about himself," Koji explained, "A lot of the staff from before is still here, and Orochi makes sure they are treated worse than anyone else. Tetsuya-san watches out for them."

"Whatever," Ichigo sighed, "We should go before you get in trouble for me being here."

He followed the attendant back into the gardens, where the two clung to the brush as they made their way out the back gate and along the forest path.

"The council's investigators found footprints indicating that Byakuya-sama was staggering as he passed through here. He emerged up there, at the waterfall."

The two continued along the path, slowing as they reached the waterfall.

"This is what was in my dream," Ichigo said, frowning, "It was weird...dark and cold. He was running from someone and I saw something fall and land on the ground...something..."

"But it's been ten years," Koji remarked, watching as Ichigo studied the ground carefully, "The area was searched."

"Was it?" Ichigo asked, turning a skeptical eye on the attendant.

Ichigo found a partially buried rock and started to dig around it.

"In the dream I had, whatever it was fell down and something disturbed a rock and some dirt fell on top of it."

Koji bent, and his hands joined Ichigo's in searching the damp earth. After several minutes of digging, Ichigo made a sound of triumph and lifted a metal chain that held a filthy metal charm on the end. Koji squinted at it curiously.

"A pregnancy charm?" he mused, "Was this from...?"

"Oh my god..." Ichigo whispered, making Koji freeze and stare at the charm in his hand.

"It would have frozen as it was as soon as it was removed from around his neck," the attendant said numbly.

"And that means that Byakuya was pregnant," Ichigo concluded, "So, either Byakuya freaked out and cut his throat and threw himself off this cliff, which I don't believe for a second, or someone from your clan found out that night...and murdered him!"

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(two days later)

Bya followed Kisho and Michio to the front steps of the shack, where he kissed his son on the cheek and hugged him tightly.

"Come back safely, Kisho."

"I will," Kisho promised, hugging him back, "You keep getting better, Dad."

"I am fine now," Bya assured him, "Go on."

He watched as Michio and Kisho descended the steps, then took the path leading out of the district. After he was sure they were gone, Bya left the house and walked into town, keeping his eyes lowered and speaking to no one. He passed through to a slightly less rundown area and sought a plain but well kept building painted a rich red color and bearing a sign that spelled out Ondori in fine, fancy lettering. He walked to the front door and rang the bell, waiting as footsteps sounded and the door opened in front of him. Bya looked up quietly at the striking man who answered.

The man was tall and slender with an almost feminine look to him. His hair was mingled red, brown and gold, and his fine, silk kimono was scented like flowers. His lively jade colored eyes widened at the sight of the poorly dressed man.

"Why Bya!" he greeted the poor man, "I'd heard you were ill."

"I am fine now," Bya assured him, stepping inside as the man closed the door.

"Fine in body," the man repeated, "but being under the weather means that you fell behind on your bills, ne?"

"Yes. Ondori, I think I will need to work for a day or two so that I can keep us fed and clothed...just until the food in our gardens is ready to harvest."

"That's no problem at all," Ondori said, reaching out and caressing Bya's cheek gently, "A day or two, you say? Is your son out of town?"

"He went with Michio-san to train as a healer. They will be gone for two weeks," Bya answered.

"I see," Ondori said, considering, "And I was also thinking about what you confessed to me when you were here before Bya...how you wanted to save enough to open a little school with a larger garden that you and the children of the town could use to earn money and educate the children for their survival."

"Oh, I am only wanting to..." Bya began.

"Wait," Ondori urged him, "just listen for a moment. I have never lied to you, have I?"

"No," Bya agreed, "You have always been honest with me."

"Then, trust me. Work for me for the two weeks that Kisho is gone. I will have to keep you very busy, which won't be hard to do. You are quite attractive. At the end of the two weeks, you should have enough to open your new school. It would change things for the better, ne?"

Bya frowned.

"But it would certainly mean that you couldn't expect I would come back and work for you. Why would you do that?"

"Oh, that's easy," Ondori said, leaning forward and kissing his cheek, "I like you. I know it hurts you to have to come to me and offer yourself to men for money. So, I'll help you get your school and move on."

"And what are you getting in return?" Bya asked.

"Besides the money you'll make for me? I want you to stay with me for the two weeks," Ondori answered, smiling, "I'm between boyfriends right now and you can keep me company. What do you say, Bya-chan?"

"Is that your way of offering me a warm bed and food, in addition to everything else?" Bya chided him.

"You see right through me," Ondori laughed, embracing him, then kissing him more seductively on the mouth, "Come along now. We will have a client in about a half hour. He asked for two."

(AN** I mean for Ondori's name to be, of course, suggestive. My horrible translator gave that as the Japanese word for rooster, which we also call a cock...and Ondori runs a brothel for men. I apologize if the translation isn't right and if there's a better word, let me know. I just thought it would be funny for a sort of outlandish, extroverted brothel owner, who also has protective feelings for Bya.)