Chapter 2: Drops of Love
"Are you feeling better now?" Kuri shouted over the loud music, "We could dance some more if you want. My Tetsu-hana hasn't arrived yet."
"That's okay. I'm fine," Ichigo yelled back, putting his aching feet up on the table in front of the sofa they sat on, "I'm stuffed on sweets and I think my feet are about to fall off if I dance anymore."
"Eh, you're no fun," Kuri sighed, looking at his watch.
Ichigo noted the gesture and shook his head.
"I told you Byakuya wouldn't come," he said saucily, "Pay up now."
"Oh, ye of little faith," Kuri answered, scowling, "The night is young. Byakurai will come. I just wish when he did, we could slip him that love potion I lost somewhere. Damn, that was kind of expensive too..."
"Would you forget about that?" Ichigo said dismissively, "You're just mad at him for not letting you marry Tetsuya."
"He's a damned hypocrite after marrying a girl with no noble blood. Tetsu-hana is a beauty...a beauty!" Kuri said, his words slurring slightly, "Those elders who are putting the pressure on Byakurai to treat him that way are the same ones my Tetsu-hana protected and fought for during the quincy war. He would have been better off throwing those bastards to the quincies!"
"Calm down, okay? People are going to hear you," Ichigo said, looking over his shoulder.
"What do I care if they do? Byakurai is bending over backwards, jumping hoops..."
"That's jumping through hoops," Ichigo snickered, taking Kuri's drink away.
"Give it back, pendejo!" (Jackass/Asshole)
"I think you've had enough, cousin," Ichigo said, shaking his head.
"What's enough when the love of your life can't be married to you?" Kuri complained.
"Well, you told me that Byakuya didn't say you couldn't see each other or...you know. Just no babies, right?"
Kuri gave him a deeply offended look.
"Bastardo, you think I would dishonor that joven hermosa by taking him to bed like a whore and never marrying him? You insult me!"
"Hey, Kuri, take it easy," Ichigo soothed him, "I didn't mean it like that. I know you respect Tetsuya more than that, okay?"
"Tetsu-hana is inside my heart," Kuri fumed, laying a hand on his chest, "The next time I see him, I am taking him into the Rukongai and I'll marry him anyway!"
"Hold on, big fella," Ichigo said, grabbing his inebriated cousin's shirt in front, "Don't go off and do anything stupid that Byakuya will kill you for. I like you. I wanna keep you alive, you know."
"It's not being alive if I can't marry Tetsu-hana honorably," Kuri sighed, dropping back down onto the sofa.
"Well, not being married but being able to fall in love is better than being forced to marry someone you'll never love, isn't it?" Ichigo said unhappily.
Kuri paused and gave him an apologetic look.
"Sorry, Ichibun," he said penitently, "You are right. At least Tetsu-hana and I were given the chance to fall in love. But...maybe you will be too. You don't know what will happen."
"Yeah I do. I'm going to marry Eri and get her pregnant, and maybe we'll be friends. But I am never going to love her."
Kuri blinked and frowned, trying to think of something to say, then was suddenly distracted as he spotted Byakuya entering the room, alongside his pale and solemn looking cousin.
"Man, Tetsuya looks bad," Ichigo mused, "You'd better go and cheer him up. I'll distract Byakuya."
The two crossed the room and stopped in front of the two Kuchikis.
"Hi Byakuya. Hi Tetsuya," Ichigo greeted them, shouting over the music, "Thanks for coming."
"I won't be staying," Byakuya said, starting to hand Ichigo his gift, "but..."
"Hang on," Ichigo said, winking at Kuri, "I can't hear a thing. Come on."
Kuri stole Tetsuya from Byakuya's side, exchanging kisses with him as the two headed for the dance floor, while Ichigo led Byakuya down the hallway, to his bedroom. The two walked inside and Byakuya set his gift down on Ichigo's desk with the others that had been placed there.
"Good," Ichigo sighed, closing the door to shut out the noise, "We can hear each other now."
"Not that there is much to say," Byakuya said solemnly, "I would offer you congratulations, but you made it quite clear the last time we spoke that you are not happy about the wedding, so perhaps I should just wish you well."
"Thanks," Ichigo said softly, warmth blossoming on his cheeks, "Eri and I are going to need those good wishes. Neither of us are happy about this. But like you said, I have to just deal with it for the good of my clan, right?"
"Ichigo," Byakuya said, his frown deepening, "I also wanted to apologize for my shortness with you. You deserve more sympathy, not having been raised in Soul Society or nobility and suddenly having all of this thrust upon you."
"Yeah, it seems like there are consequences for saving everyone. I could just ask Tetsuya about that, huh."
Ichigo's eyes softened and he paused, staring at the look of torment that flashed on Byakuya's fine features, then disappeared as quickly.
"S-sorry," he apologized, "It's the tequila Kuri gave me. Maybe we should have a little tea."
"If you wish."
Ichigo left the room for a moment, then returned a short time later with two cups of hot green tea. He handed one to Byakuya, who accepted it and took a sip.
"Thank you."
"Wait, it needs a little sweetener," Ichigo cautioned him, "It's on the desk, near the presents."
Byakuya turned aside for a moment, searching the desk and picking up a little red bottle. He took the lid off and placed two drops in each of their cups.
"Thanks," Ichigo said, sipping at his tea and watching as Byakuya did the same, It was nice of you to come by, Byakuya. I know you don't really like noisy, casual parties like this."
"It was only proper to come and wish you well," Byakuya said stoically, "and I do feel badly about chiding you before."
"It's okay. I do have to get used to being a noble and an heir. It's kind of weird, but I'm doing all right. It's just strange to think of..."
He paused for a moment as feeling of light-headedness came over him and squinted his eyes curiously as he noticed Byakuya acting the same.
"Are you all right, Ichigo?" Byakuya's garbled voice asked, "You've...had too much to drink?"
"I was about to ask if you were all right," Ichigo said, shaking his head, then swaying dangerously, "Oh man, I feel...really strange."
"I feel off as well," Byakuya confessed.
"I should get Toshi," Ichigo managed, starting past the likewise swaying noble.
He bumped into Byakuya as he tried to go by him, and the two collapsed awkwardly onto the bed. Ichigo waited for Byakuya to say something, then noticed him looking through much softer and more affectionate eyes.
"B-byakuya?" Ichigo mumbled.
Byakuya gazed back at him wordlessly, reaching out and tracing the curve of his cheek. He blinked and only made his eyes blur more.
What's happening? he wondered as Byakuya's face seemed to get closer and the sakura scent around him teased Ichigo mercilessly.
He groaned as very soft lips brushed teasingly against his, then nearly melted inside as those perfect lips pressed harder against him, kissing him into senselessness. Encouraged, Ichigo climbed on top of Byakuya, kissing him back enthusiastically as their hands fumbled clumsily with their clothing. In moments, they were freed and they pressed their naked bodies together and kissed harder. Byakuya flinched as something hot and inflamed touched his thigh. He hesitated for a moment, then shifted and parted them to allow Ichigo entry.
Ichigo would have been stunned and could never have taken such an offer, but his mind muddled and his body down to instinct, he shifted and positioned himself, earning a gasp of discomfort from the Kuchiki leader as Byakuya's body was clumsily breached. Ichigo blinked and looked at him through hazy eyes, aware he'd down something wrong, but unsure what. Byakuya took several panting breaths of recovery, then moved his hips and groaned heatedly. The sound traveled through Ichigo's ears and straight down to his hungry groin. He moved with Byakuya, pressing his ear close to those petal soft lips and drinking in Byakuya's sounds of mingled pain and rising pleasure. His head turned and he sank into that sweet, pouting mouth, devouring every inch as their bodies writhed wildly against each other's. Ichigo heard Byakuya make a deeper, more erotic sound, and he thrashed around, giving a howl of delight that sent Ichigo into heavy spasms of intense pleasure. He collapsed onto Byakuya's chest, licking the Kuchiki leader's flushed lips and lightly caressing his face and hair.
The two drifted off for several minutes, before waking to renewed lust. Still engaged from their first joining, the two locked deeply glazed eyes and thrust roughly against each other. They rolled over and Byakuya lifted himself away, holding onto Ichigo's naked shoulders as the younger man bucked and howled underneath him. Overwhelmed by the beauty of the raven-haired man dancing atop his body, Ichigo turned suddenly and threw Byakuya down onto his belly, entering him enthusiastically from behind and continuing their heavy undulations. Powerful twinges tickled his insides at the sight of Byakuya, naked and spread out on the bed, his silken hair fluttering with their movements. Pale, graceful fingers clawed at the bedding and Byakuya loosed an unholy scream as the two climaxed together. Ichigo fell down onto the paler man's back, kissing and biting the back of his neck affectionately.
They dropped off to sleep again, repeating their unplanned coitus five times before Byakuya fell out of the bed and seemed to realize that something seemed out of place. He staggered to his feet, blinking dizzily. Spotting his clothing, he wrangled his things back into place and stumbled out of the bedroom.
The music blared loudly around him, so loudly it made him groan and cover his ears. He caught a glimpse of Tetsuya and Kuri, smiling and slow dancing. A flicker of guilt touching his insides, sending him fleeing down the hallway and staggering home. He waved off his attendant as he entered his bedroom and started to fall down on the bed. To his surprise, he felt something hard in his pocket, and removed the offending item, frowning and wondering how a bottle of sweetener had ended up in his clothing.
I don't remember that being there...
He frowned, trying to remember where he had been and only muddling his mind even more.
I need sleep badly.
He let his clothes fall off and burrowed into the covers, then flinched at an uncomfortable ache in his bottom. He felt something leak onto his thigh and made a sound of disgust. Climbing out of bed, he moved on rubbery legs to the shower, where he washed away the offending moisture and soothed his body with warm, pleasantly scented oils. He finished his shower and returned to the bed, where he quickly dropped off and slept late into the next morning.
XXXXXXXXXX
Ichigo swallowed and found his throat was uncomfortably dry and his head ached badly.
"Ugh..." he grunted, forcing his eyes open, then squinting at the brightness coming in through the window, "Oh man..."
"Good morning, Ichigo-sama," his attendant greeted him.
"T-toshi?" Ichigo mumbled, "Is the party over? How long was I sleeping?"
"It's almost noon," Toshi chuckled, "The party ended around two this morning. Several of your friends wanted to say goodnight, but I came in and found you were asleep."
He handed the hung over Shiba heir a cup of tea and watched as Ichigo made a face and started to hand it back.
"No offense, but I just can't," Ichigo apologized, "I feel like throwing up. I guess I had more to drink than I should have."
"Then, you should drink that," Toshi insisted, "It's an herbal remedy. It really helps."
Ichigo grimaced and took a sip, then felt relief blossom quickly in his insides.
"So, how did your talk with Kuchiki taicho go?" Toshi asked conversationally.
"I guess not that well," Ichigo giggled, blushing, "I think I passed out before we talked about anything and he just left. Probably offended him. I'll have to go by Kuchiki Manor and apologize. I hope he's not real mad about it."
"I think he understands your melancholy, sir."
"Yeah, maybe," Ichigo sighed, climbing out of bed and moving into the dressing area.
He stood quietly as Toshi dressed him, feeling thankful for having a light schedule and no appearances before his wife-to-be or the clan elders. He managed a small meal, then spent several hours with the wedding planners, before escaping into the gardens, where he slowly walked the quiet trails, enjoying the peace and calm. Hearing voices ahead of him, he paused, trying to decide whether or not to interrupt the two who were ahead of him.
"I shouldn't have stayed last night," Tetsuya said anxiously, "Just because Byakuya-sama is purposely not making an issue of us still seeing each other, we don't want to be inciting gossip by being so obvious."
"I think everybody already knows we are seeing each other, Tetsu-hana, and they probably know why we haven't announced an engagement yet. It's obvious whether or not we mean for it to be. And I don't feel like losing you. You aren't going to walk away from me, just because Byakurai says so, are you?"
Tetsuya shivered inwardly at the suggestion.
"No. I am fine with following the rules and traditions of the family to a point, but I am not going to lose you, simply because the elders say I'm not worthy of you."
Kuri smiled and caressed Tetsuya's cheek affectionately.
"I think those old fools are not worthy of you, mi corazòn. You follow their rules and protect their lives and their families, and they have the audacity to spit in your face like this. And as much respect as I have for Byakurai, he will not stand up to them."
"Byakuya-sama would usually stand up for us against them," Tetsuya argued gently, "but he is facing a terribly divided council in the aftermath of the worst war our people have ever faced. And he isn't just having to make decisions that affect you and me. The elders are putting heavy pressure on him for an heir. Byakuya-sama confessed to me, he is going to have to choose someone to marry, but since Hisana-sama passed away, he's only ever even felt attracted to Ichigo. He might have chosen Ichigo, if he wasn't an heir, and already arranged in a marriage."
"You should just have let me tell him ages ago," Kuri sighed, "I think he and Byakurai would at least get to be happy if they had each other."
Tetsuya made a soft sound of amusement.
"I thought you were angry with my cousin," he mused, hugging the Shima leader tightly, "Weren't you the one parading about last night and threatening to give him a love potion?"
"It was a good idea," Kuri snickered.
"It was a terrible idea," Tetsuya laughed.
"I just wonder where that damned bottle went. I looked everywhere for it," Kuri complained.
"Well, I am glad you didn't find it. I wonder, though, if you mistook it for a flask of your own spirits and drank it by mistake. Kuri-kuri-sama was...very amorous last night," Tetsuya said, blushing.
"What can I say, Tetsu-hana?" Kuri said, seeking Tetsuya's soft lips, then kissing his way along the fine skin of his lover's pale throat, "You inspire me."
"I love you."
Kuri smiled and closed his eyes, burying his handsome face in Tetsuya's warm shoulder.
"We should just run away together and elope."
"No," Tetsuya said firmly, "When you and I are married, it will be with our families' blessings, and with all of them around us. You know that's the only right way."
"I know, but I am hung over and still angry, Tetsu-hana. I don't know what to do to stop being angry. It drives me mad that we can't be together honorably. I am almost to the point of forgetting honor and..."
"But you won't," Tetsuya insisted, "You know we would never be happy, being away from the people we love. And you are a respected taicho and leader."
"I don't know how respected I am if I can't choose my bride."
"You're highly respected. That's why the elders of our clans think you should be with someone of proper blood and power."
"Then, I don't care so much about being respected," Kuri grumbled.
"That's not true. You and your family are finally being recognized for their greatness. You won't do anything to interfere with that. You shouldn't. So, we will find ways to be together without getting married...for now," Tetsuya said firmly, "We won't be giving up, but I won't have you losing other things that matter to you as sacrifices for us being married."
"You're going to just live in sin with me, eh?"
"I am just giving you all of my love and hoping that things will shift in our favor. As soon as they do, I will happily marry you, Kuri."
"Good," Kuri answered, calming, "But let's go. I need some of Deripie's remedy. I have an awful headache."
"I also know something that is good for your headache," Tetsuya said seductively.
"Do you?" Kuri said coyly, leaning forward to kiss him again, "So, give it to me, love."
Tetsuya leaned back, avoiding his kiss and smirking at him, "When we get back to Shima adobe."
"You shouldn't tease me like that, Tetsu-hana," Kuri warned him, smirking back, "We might not make it back before I have to take you down and make love to you."
"That's okay," Tetsuya said as Arashi appeared out of the brush and the two mounted him, "I know some pretty secluded places on the way..."
Ichigo smiled despite his melancholy, watching the two ride away as he reconsidered their words.
So, Byakuya likes me that way?
Or he did, at least.
But that's Byakuya for you. He never tells you anything. He probably wouldn't ever admit it. He's pretty stubborn.
Ichigo thought for a moment longer, then walked back through the gardens and left the Shiba estate, headed for Kuchiki Manor.
