Chapter 2: Defending Honor and Legacy

(Thanks so much to awesome reviewers Mina Kye (Thanks so much! Here's more to dig into!), Irockyourworld123 (Quick update for you! Enjoy!), Liv2luv (You want feelz? Try this chapter on for size. And you will love the next too!), Tomyallen (Glad you're enjoying, and here's more to devour!), Princess Moon Shadow (Thanks!), KingHerod (Glad to have you along for the read! *hugs*), Firebirdever (No need to wait. Here's some more!), Misslilly2012 (LOL, Quietness is about to go out the window!), and Manga-Fanfic fan (Oh, you know me soooo well!).)

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No one knows the secrets of legacy that lie beneath my skin. And taking this path, no one may ever know. Passions that burned and love that prevailed. These things did not happen just to die with me now.

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Renji was well accustomed to his captain being quiet. In fact, silence was a constant in Byakuya.

I've never seen someone who could work for hours without saying a word, hold back and listen the way he does, or stand under that full moon and gaze up at it for hours. But even when his lips are silent, his eyes are always speaking. Sometimes they are contemplating, and sometimes they are stern, sometimes sad or serene or a hundred different things. Yeah, I am used to him being quiet, but this silence now? This is something that worries me.

"Captain, you've hardly touched your food," Renji said, breaking the silence, "I know darned well that it isn't that the food's not to your liking. And you know that if you want to get well, you have to eat to restore your energy."

"I am aware of that."

Renji looked into his eyes and felt another odd stab of concern.

Pain. Not physical, but deeper than that. What is this?

"But something is bothering you."

Byakuya opened his mouth to answer, but Renji anticipated what he would say and cut him off quickly.

"Don't bother to deny it," he went on, "You and I both know what I'm saying is true. You can tell me to mind my own business, but if there's something that you need, then that's why I'm here."

Byakuya's eyes closed.

"You cannot help me with this."

"Okay," Renji said evenly, "I can't help. But even if I can't, I can help you think it through. Aren't you always telling me that our banters about strategy are good because it makes our decisions the result of two experienced mind working together?"

Byakuya opened his eyes and raised an eyebrow.

"I have said that on a few occasions," he said quietly, "But this is not something you are experienced in. It involves the ways of my clan, and it involves a promise I made to my parents."

"Your parents?"

He's never said a word to me about his parents...well except for telling us about his promise to them to uphold and obey the law.

"You mean, when you told them that you would never break the law?" Renji queried, "I can see how you might feel bad about that, considering what you had to do to kill Kouga, but you really shouldn't blame yourself. You had to kill the guy to stop him. It was for the best that you did it. So...even though you had to break the law, you did it because there was no other way to protect everyone."

"That is true," the noble agreed, "But that is not the promise that I was referring to."

He looked out the window at the starry sky and sighed softly. Renji knew Byakuya's silences well, and knew it wasn't a time to get pushy. So he picked up the food tray and took it to the kitchen, where he washed the dishes and put things away, then returned to Byakuya's room with ice water and a bowl of fresh berries that he could eat at his leisure. He set them on the nightstand and sat down next to the noble again.

Byakuya sat still, his pale breast rising and falling steadily and his hands rested on the covers. His eyes were focused on the moon, and his body glowed with soft moonlight. His expression was tranquil enough, but his eyes still looked sad. Renji forced himself to sit and not say anything, even though he ached all over for Byakuya to tell him more. But he knew that, with this man, patience wasn't just a virtue. It was a necessity. So he let the questions burn hotly inside him and let his eyes follow the path Byakuya's had taken, looking out the window at the lovely night sky.

After a time, his patience was rewarded.

"The promise that I was referring to," the noble said, picking up the conversation where they had left it, "was one that I made while my father, Soujun Kuchiki was dying."

Renji had to bite his tongue to keep himself silent.

"My father was a powerful shinigami. He was well respected and earned the rank of vice captain. However, his body was more fragile, and partially because of this, he never achieved ban kai."

"That must have been frustrating for him," Renji said quietly.

Inexplicably, a very faint smile touched Byakuya's lips.

"Actually, he only really regretted it because it was an expectation of the clan that he would succeed my grandfather. And when he didn't reach that expectation, he worried that he was a disappointment to my grandfather. He wasn't at all, but he worried anyway. He was a quiet, person, one who loved nature, history and all manner of arts. He only joined the military because he was the heir and it was expected. But...not reaching captain level...it cast doubt on his place as heir."

Byakuya sipped at the water and loosed another soft sigh.

"My grandfather hadn't the heart to take that away from him, and the elders of the clan understood. So, they made no move to replace him. Then...one day he was with his squad, fighting a group of powerful hollows, and he stepped in to protect the men who were with him when they began to be overwhelmed. He was successful in defending them, but he took several devastating blows. He was returned to the Seireitei and treated for his injuries, but succumbed to them the next morning. I was with him that last night. And it was then that he told me something that I didn't know."

He paused, as though wondering if he could say the words aloud. He glanced at Renji for a moment, then looked back out the window.

"I was not born of a woman."

It took a moment for the words to sink in.

"Wh-what?" Renji whispered.

Byakuya turned his dark eyes directly on the redhead.

"You are never to speak of this to anyone. I want your word."

"O-okay," stammered Renji, swallowing hard and biting his tongue again to keep himself from asking the questions that hammered at his stunned mind.

"I was born out of Soujun Kuchiki's own body."

The questions disappeared from Renji's mind and he couldn't think of a thing to say. So he only nodded briefly and waited, pale-faced, for Byakuya to continue.

"Far back in our history, one of the Kuchiki heirs fell in love with a man, and he knew that it would not be accepted by the clan. So, he went to a friend, a brilliant scientist of the time, who was able to alter the genetics of his body so that he could either father children with another male, or bear the child himself. The science of it was amazing, but when others learned of it, they decried it as an abomination of nature. The practice was outlawed. But my ancestor was allowed to retain his leadership, and impregnated his male lover, leading to the elders of the time giving them their blessing to be married. They did not realize that the ability remained. And so, when my father fell in love with another man...a distant cousin, he was unaware that the genetic alteration had been carried forward."

"That's...amazing, Captain!" Renji mused, "I've never even heard of that happening!"

"No," Byakuya agreed, "Because our clan does not wish for that science to be revived, it has been stricken from all records. Because of that, it was not suspected right away that my father was with child. And because the pregnancy was reiatsu based, he did not 'show' so much as a woman does. He told my grandfather, as soon as he realized what had happened. They went before the council, and my father was permitted to marry his lover. There was little made of it, because the ability he had was not one that the clan wanted made public. And, in any case, having a child meant that my father could have me named heir, and be freed from obligation...something that everyone felt was best for all involved. Unfortunately, my father's husband was killed in battle before I was born. And the weight of that impacted my father badly as he prepared to give birth. Worse than that was the fact that my birth details had to remain sealed so that the information about my father's ability remained a clan secret. My public record reads that Soujun is my father and that my mother was an unnamed clan concubine, who died in childbirth."

"Oh my god..." Renji breathed, "That's got to have been really awful for him."

"He was heartbroken, both that his husband was lost, and that his lover could not even be acknowledged as one of my birth parents. My grandfather told me that he was never the same after that. He had already been fragile, and his health grew progressively worse. It wasn't a complete surprise that he died in battle. Although powerful, he was weak of body."

The two went quiet for a time, sharing the bowl of fresh berries, taking sips of water and looking out at the moon.

"During that night I spent at my father's side in the hospital, he confided in me the truth about my parentage, and he warned me that I carried the same genetic anomaly. It didn't matter to me, as I married a woman, but because of Hisana's poor health, we were not able to have children before she died. But...I did promise my father that I would continue his legacy. And now that I have fallen under suspicion of treason, there is certainly no time to arrange for a concubine to lie with me to make a child. Female pregnancies depend on a number of physical factors not necessary for the impregnation of a male."

Renji felt a shiver of fear at the passing thought of being asked to bear a child.

But I am a peasant anyway. He probably has to do such a thing with another noble.

Renji wondered why the thought of it hurt him inside.

"I do have a male cousin who I know would be willing to carry the child for me, but I am of two minds about it. Tetsuya is newly married, and looking forward to the birth of his own child."

"Yeah," said Renji, smiling, "He just told me a few days ago about the baby on the way."

"Yes...so...I do not want to ask him. But Tetsuya is one of the few I would trust to keep the secret of the baby's parentage. I am torn about what to do."

"Well, you haven't been officially charged with treason," offered Renji.

"But you don't understand," objected the noble, "As soon as I am, I will not be allowed to father a child. Those accused of such crimes are not allowed to procreate. And if I am convicted and sentenced to death..."

"That's not gonna happen," Renji insisted, though his heart ached with worry, knowing how unpredictable the Central 46 council could be, "You didn't commit treason!"

"Technically, I did," the noble said, shaking his head, "And if I face these charges without seeing to the promise I made to my father, I could be stopped from following through on it. It is a matter of his honor and mine that I make sure it does not happen."

He bit at his lip, his eyes growing tormented.

"So I have no choice but to ask this of my cousin...even knowing how difficult it will be for him."

Renji looked back at the noble through sad, sympathetic eyes.

"Well, Captain, you know that I would help you if I could. But being that I am not noble..."

"Well," said Byakuya, lowering his eyes, "Even though the elders would accept you, as you are a powerful shinigami who has achieved ban kai, I would never ask that of you. But...I will ask you to go to Kuchiki Manor and summon Tetsuya. I will need to speak to him about this. Time is limited. Despite my feelings about it, it seems there is no choice."

Renji's mind spun at high speed, a flood of thoughts and emotions crashing together and leaving him a mess inside. His heart ached to offer himself right that second, but then his mind considered exactly what that meant.

Having a kid? Me? I don't know if I could do that. I don't know if I could. But, who am I kidding? I am falling in love with him. I know I am. But...giving birth? And he'd refuse anyway. He just said that he would never ask it of me.

"Okay," he said finally, "If that's what you want, then I'll go and bring your cousin. But let me make you some tea first. And I want to make sure that there's someone we trust watching the house here while I'm gone. Plus, I want to be sure that you don't just decide to get reckless and turn yourself in before you're well enough to stand trial."

Byakuya shook his head.

"I will not go back until I have made certain that I keep this promise to my father. You have my word I will not leave. And Renji, I am more than capable of defending myself. Do not insult me by suggesting that I need a babysitter."

The redhead couldn't help but laugh.

"Well...okay, but I will need to use your personal senkaimon to go directly to the manor. I don't want to be seen around."

"A hell butterfly will probably reach you to tell you to arrest me, but you will not be sensed as long as you go directly to the manor, then return directly here."

"Okay. I'll just...get that tea, and then I'll go."

Renji left the room, his head still spinning from what the noble had confided in him. His hands shook softly as he made the tea, and he couldn't help but keep hearing Byakuya's confession repeating in his mind.

It's just so strange that he's going to do this. He's going to make a baby with a guy. And not just any guy, but Tetsuya. I wonder how he's going to feel about having to have sex with Byakuya and carry his child. Tetsuya is head over heels in love with that girl, Aratani, and she's pregnant. This is going to really upset things...

"Kami, what a mess," Renji muttered, shaking his head in frustration as he finished making the tea.

He walked slowly back to the bedroom, and found the bed empty. He set the tray down on the nightstand and listened to the soothing sound of the shower, while his eyes studied the night sky outside the window. Byakuya emerged from the bathroom a short time later, looking somewhat refreshed and more comfortable. But Renji could still feel the hard edge of tension in his weakened reiatsu. He walked back to the bed and sat down, sipping at the tea and giving Renji a nod of acknowledgement.

"So, if you'll open your family senkaimon, I'll go and bring Tetsuya."

Byakuya nodded again and picked up his sword. He held it out and willed the doorway to open, but blinked in surprise as the door refused to open and a clan butterfly drifted in through a crack in the door.

Lord Byakuya, said Tetsuya's voice, It is not safe for you to return to the manor at present. Central 46 has stationed officers within our residence and in addition to this, there have been several incidences of clan members being harassed by angry citizens. It is best if you remain where you are, and report directly to Central 46 when you are recovered enough to answer their charges.

Renji watched as the reality of Tetsuya's words fell over the noble. His eyes became unreadable for a moment, then darkened in resignation. He looked down at his sword, then slipped it into its sheath and offered it to Renji. Renji frowned in confusion.

"What is this?" he asked, "What are you doing?"

"There is nothing more that I can do," Byakuya said softly, "I must hope that I am able to defend myself against the charges. My promise to my father must hinge on that, I am afraid. Renji, it is time for us to go. I want you to place me under arrest and take me to Central 46 now."

"Aww, come on," Renji objected, "You aren't well enough..."

"Now, Renji."

He handed his sword to the redhead and stood quietly, waiting. Renji stood, looking down at Senbonzakura, and thinking about Byakuya's own legacy that hung in the balance, about the father he loved and wanted so much to honor.

I didn't know my parents. And I don't know if I ever had any brothers or sisters, so I know how I'd feel if I did have a father and I made him a promise like that. To let all of that hang on a group of old men. Sometimes the decisions that they make seem so wrong! I want to believe that he'll be cleared, but this...

"Renji."

Byakuya stepped past him and opened the bedroom door. His eyes widened in surprise as Renji's hand reached out and pushed it closed again. Stern, gray eyes locked on stubborn red-brown.

"What are you doing, Renji?" Byakuya asked in a low, challenging voice.

Both men were stunned at the next words that fell out of the redhead's mouth.

"I'm going to make sure that you keep your promise to your father."

It was the first time he had ever seen Byakuya Kuchiki completely speechless.