Chapter 2: Feral Petals
Byakuya blinked and stared up at Renji, only half comprehending his words. The redhead slipped an arm around him and started to lift him, but the noble stubbornly struggled and managed to stand, though his face had gone even more pale than usual.
"You look like hell warmed over, Byakuya," said Renji, shaking his head, "I don't know what you've been up to, but I'll bet it wasn't helping set up the nursery at the manor!"
"An astute observation," the noble said gamely, "There was an attack on the west gate. I might have taken a few hits from a determined group of Arrancars…"
"Yeah?" said Renji, "I bumped into Rikichi on the way in. He said there was something wrong when you used your shikai. He said that a lot of the petals were soft, not blades…and he said the Arrancars noticed it too."
"The boy exaggerates. Even when all is well, you know that some few of the petals are occasionally real cherry blossoms."
"A few, yeah, but Rikichi seemed to think it was more, and that it happened before the Arrancars even hit you with anything. Add to that, the way you look right now and I'd say that something is wrong."
"What's wrong is that I'm dead on my feet and my idiot fukutaicho is standing here lecturing me like a child, rather than helping me to lie down and rest to regain my strength!" the noble snapped.
His reiatsu flared unexpectedly and a flurry of cherry blossoms fluttered down over them. Renji tried to contain a short laugh and Byakuya let out an annoyed breath.
"Okay," said Renji, "You have to admit that you don't usually go around spouting cherry blossoms everywhere. Come on, Taicho. I think you should go back and have Unohana taicho take another look at you."
"Unhand me, Abarai!" Byakuya shouted, pulling away from the redhead.
The cherry blossoms flared around him again. Renji shook his head.
"Hey," he said calmly, "Don't be stupid. You can't even stop spouting cherry blossoms while we argue."
"That doesn't mean…"
"It means that something is up and you should go see Unohana taicho. What the heck would you be telling me if Zabimaru started losing his teeth all over the place?"
Byakuya gave an annoyed sigh.
"Very well, if you insist," he said, conceding, "I will go in the morning. It is already late and Unohana taicho will not be there."
Renji narrowed his eyes.
"Promise?" he said.
"Abarai," Byakuya said in a warning voice, "I am not a child. I said I will go and I will…end of story. It's not as though I need to make a 'pinky promise' to convince you. In fact, I don't give a damn if I convince you! I tire of speaking to you. Go file your report and leave me be!"
He flash stepped to the door to his quarters and stepped inside, slamming the door behind him. Renji shook his head in confusion.
"And he says he's not a kid?" the redhead mused, "Hell, he acts more like a pregnant girl than Seijun on her worst day!"
As if summoned by the invocation of her name, Byakuya's wife opened the door to the sixth division office and stepped inside, looking around. She spotted Renji standing in the hallway and colored slightly. Renji smiled and walked back out into the office.
"Oh, Renji-san," she said, sounding slightly embarrassed, "I didn't know you were back or I would have known why Byakuya-sama didn't come home for our evening walk. I'm sorry if I interrupted you. I will go."
"You don't need to leave," Renji said, smiling at her, "His majesty just told me to file my paperwork and leave him alone. He practically bit my head off!"
Seijun frowned.
"With as much as he has been missing you?" she queried, "Renji-san, did the two of you quarrel? I mean, if you don't mind me sticking my nose in…"
Renji shrugged.
"I came in and he was collapsed on the floor in the hallway. I went to help him to his room and I did tell him to go to the healing center to get checked out…and he got pissed at me. He told me to shut up and file my report. He's in there if you want to talk to him…but if you do, I'd suggest going in armed."
"Oh," said Seijun, smiling back at him, "I don't think I need to worry. I'll be fine, Renji-san. And I am sure that he will calm and come out to talk to you. He's been somewhat volatile for the whole time you've been gone. I had thought he merely missed you, but if he's being the same way with you…"
"The same way as what?"
"Well," the noblewoman explained, "he's been very short tempered with his personal attendant…and over the last two days reassigned him to other duties. He said that he didn't prefer to be assisted while dressing. I didn't think too much about it. I thought maybe it was because he was sensitive because he had to have his clothes let out a little and it embarrassed him. Rikichi-san also said that he was having problems with his zanpakuto. He didn't have time to explain, because Byakuya-sama came upon us talking and sent Rikichi on an errand, but I got the feeling that he was having power fall offs. I'm having them due to my pregnancy…along with cravings and nausea and the like…and Byakuya-sama appears to be suffering these things right along with me. Unohana taicho said that it sometimes happens with sensitive individuals. Add to that, that this is Byakuya-sama's first child and you can understand why he might be more sensitive."
"Yeah…wow," said Renji, looking a bit guilty, "I hadn't realized he was having so many issues. But he's been kinda distant with me…even before he sent me to the Rukongai. In fact, it almost seemed like he wanted me out of the way. Add to that the fact that we haven't been intimate for nearly a month…"
He blushed.
"Sorry, it feels weird talking to his wife about that, but…"
"Renji-san," Seijun said, taking his hand, "I knew from the beginning that my husband's heart rested with you, and I am with Risa. I bear no jealousy towards you."
"Well, I didn't want to say anything…but…"
The redhead stopped, his face flushing.
"But what?" the noblewoman asked, squeezing his hand.
"But, the way he's acting…Seijun, I thought that maybe Byakuya was falling for you. I mean, you are able to give him a child…and I can't…"
Seijun's eyes grew exceedingly gentle.
"Renji-san," she said softly, "Byakuya-sama loves you, not me. It doesn't matter to him that you cannot give him a child. That has never been an issue. He is under a great deal of stress having to mitigate things between the clan and the Gotei 13, worrying about Aizen Sousuke's constant scheming, the baby we're having…I am certain he doesn't mean to…"
"Byakuya and I have always had issues with communication. He can't always say what's on his mind and I know that. I know he's worried about something, but he doesn't want to talk and I can't force him to. Seijun-san, if I push him too far, I'm worried that he'll leave me…and I don't think I could handle that. I love him too much to lose him. That's why I have to just back off and give him some space. Pushing him will only drive him away," Renji said, his voice growing soft and tormented.
Seijun slipped her arms around the redhead and hugged him tightly. She kissed him gently on the cheek.
"Renji-san, you will not drive Byakuya-sama away by loving him as you do. Be patient with yourself, and with him. Things will likely ease once the baby comes and he is able to breathe again. It is likely just stress."
Both turned at the soft sound of Byakuya clearing his throat as he stepped quietly into the room.
"Byakuya-sama," said Seijun, blushing slightly, "I am sorry to have disturbed you. I was worried when you did not meet Risa and me as expected. Renji-san said you were not feeling well."
"I am all right," he assured her, "It is likely, as you said, just stress. And you did not disturb me."
"W-well…" she said, turning, "Risa is waiting for me. I shall see you tomorrow."
"Very well. Good night, Seijun," Byakuya said, bowing his head slightly.
"Good night, Byakuya-sama."
The noblewoman slipped out the door, leaving Byakuya and Renji alone in the office. Byakuya regarded Renji with downcast eyes. Renji stood quietly, waiting for the noble to break the silence.
"So, is that the truth of it?" asked Byakuya quietly, "Do you think that I am falling in love with Seijun?"
Renji couldn't think of anything to say, but his expression answered the question more capably than words could have. Byakuya's eyes softened and he took on a somber look.
"Renji, Seijun was right. I would not ever hold it against you that we cannot have a child together. I am sorry that my behavior led you to believe that, even for a moment."
His eyes grew sad and contemplative.
"Renji…anata, we spent so much time…finding each other. Do you really believe that I would give you up so easily?"
Renji shook his head slowly, lowering his eyes and mouthing the word, "No." Byakuya moved closer and wrapped his arms around the redhead.
"I've missed you," he whispered, "and I'm sorry that I hurt you. I understand that you were concerned for me. It was wrong of me to act as I did."
"Why did you?" Renji asked softly, "You really haven't been yourself lately, Byakuya. And I'm not the only one who's noticed…"
"No," said the noble calmly, "you are not."
Renji met his eyes cautiously.
"So…you'll see Unohana taicho?"
Byakuya nodded.
"I will go first thing in the morning. You can come with me and ask all of the questions you want. And after we find out that it is only stress, then you and I can come back here and make love all day long. It is supposed to rain all day tomorrow…and I love lying naked in bed with you and watching the rain fall."
Renji couldn't help but smile at the thought.
"I'd really like that…the part about lying in bed naked and watching the rain, I mean.," he said, kissing the noble warmly on the lips.
They fell silent, wrapping their arms around each other and exchanging a gentle flurry of kisses, then deepening their kissing and pressing their bodies closer. Renji reached over and turned out the lights, then the two turned towards the taicho's quarters. They were so intent on their exchange of kisses that they did not see the glinting eyes that watched from outside the window.
They walked into the bedroom, side-by-side, still kissing and shut the door behind them, then stood in the darkness by the bed and slowly deprived each other of their clothes. They remained beside the bed, kissing more deeply, tasting each other's mouths and lips and letting their hands gently explore each other's bodies.
"Ohhh, damn, I've really missed you," Renji moaned softly as the noble's tongue delicately traced the black markings that ran down his throat.
He slid his hands down the soft skin of his lover's long, straight back and curled them around his firm bottom, pulling him in closer. Suddenly, Renji felt something soft touch his skin and opened his eyes. In the darkness, he could just pick out the flutter of sakura petals falling all around them. As Byakuya rubbed against him, he eyed the falling petals and felt another small stab of concern.
"Mmmmm, B-bya…" he said as Byakuya gently plundered his lips again, "Are…are you…doing that…on…ahh…on purpose?"
Byakuya breathed deeply and opened his eyes. He blinked in surprise.
"I'll, uh…ahh, take that as…a 'no,' I guess," the redhead managed between kisses.
"It's harmless enough," Byakuya said softly, "It actually feels quite calming, ne?"
Renji found himself unable to answer as the noble brought him down onto the bed, sending a dizzying swirl of sakura petals into the air around them. He had to admit that it was both pretty and very soothing. And, he reminded himself, Byakuya had promised to visit Unohana taicho in the morning. Besides, he argued with himself, the petals were a pretty harmless side effect of whatever was up with his lover. He forced his concerns down and sank deeply into his lover's hungry mouth. Byakuya's hands explored him slowly, making him sigh into those warm, firm lips that kissed his. The redhead felt a surge of intense arousal that swept over him and, looking down into Byakuya's contented smile, he suddenly found himself too aroused to resist.
He dived onto the long, white throat, biting harder than he meant to, raking his fingers over the sinfully soft skin and leaving small, red trails. He brought their bodies together a little too quickly, prompting a soft sound of pain from his surprised lover and making him mutter a soft apology. Words gave way to powerful movements and deep, wet kisses. Renji's body raged against the sweet, white form beneath him, feeling another twinge of guilt as Byakuya made another sound of pain. He tried to rein in the intense, aggressive feeling of arousal and found that it swelled like a monster inside him. And intelligent thought slowly gave way to the primal need for completion.
White fingers dug painfully into his skin and the noble's back arched, his mouth opening into heated cries of pleasure. The sound seemed to go straight to the redhead's loins, making him move with more urgency. He felt something sting against his skin and the noble's reiatsu flared hotly around them. The sakura petals swirled around them as they fell beneath the intensity of release. They held onto each other's sweat-slicked bodies and rode out the sweet waves of bliss together. The sakura petals danced madly around them, and Renji realized suddenly that they were the source of the stinging he had felt. Quite a few of the innocuous looking things had become petal blades.
Byakuya lay beneath him, dazed and senseless as the petal blades rose into a cloud around the two and the redhead realized suddenly, that they were both bleeding…bleeding lightly, and about to be shredded by the burgeoning mass of sharp edged petals that spun around them and started to collapse inward.
"Bya!" he shouted in warning and he instantly shielded the two of them. Byakuya's eyes suddenly cleared and widened as he fought to bring the errant petals back under his control. The blades exploded against their shielding and most were destroyed on impact, but some still passed through the shielding and stung against their skin as Byakuya's eyes met Renji's apologetically.
"Gomen nasai," he panted against Renji's wet shoulder, "I don't know what happened."
Renji looked down into the noble's tired eyes and shook his head.
"I don't know either," he hissed softly, catching his breath, "As much as I like a little bit of dangerous lovemaking…that was…too dangerous!"
"But it was…intense, ne?"
"Are you kidding me?" Renji laughed, "It was fucking amazing!"
"You're not…hurt?" Byakuya asked, still somewhat breathless.
"Naw, just a few little love bites," he assured the noble, "I'll be fine."
Byakuya nodded.
"Good," he said softly, "Then, I'll ask you to escort me to the fourth division, preferably before I kill the both of us."
"Oh, now you want to go there!" Renji groaned.
"I think we should shower first," Byakuya suggested.
"All right…just…try not to shred me, okay?"
"I will try."