Chapter 2: Wedding Night

Byakuya stepped out of the shower and stood for a moment drying off, before wrapping the towel around his waist and moving out into the dressing area. He studied his choices and selected the light silk nightwear, colored dark red, then removed his towel and slipped into the embrace of the soft fabric, tying it at his waist. He spent several minutes, running a comb the long raven black strands of hair, then shook them lightly to loosen them. He looked into the mirror to be certain that nothing was out of place, then moved out of the dressing area and crossed the bedroom, pausing to open the large double doors that led into the garden.

Darkness had fallen and the night was bright with stars and a lovely blue tinted moon. The gardens were lit with the decorative lights put up for their wedding before the strange incident that had ruined their wedding night and left the dark haired taichou unconscious for a week.

Byakuya studied the moon, his mind going back over the events that had occurred that day. Although the wedding was very clear and detailed in his memory, everything that had occurred after the sounding of the alarms remained hazy. They had gone to the West Rukongai and had faced a sea of minor hollows. As they had fought the minor hollows, he had reached out with his senses and picked up a wave of stronger hollows, a wave of menos grande, then a strange, unfamiliar reiatsu.

He closed his eyes and breathed in deeply, enjoying the mingled scents of flowers and sakura. As body and mind relaxed, he remembered walking on a trail and coming face to face with someone. He remembered dark hair and eyes, angular features…odd clothing that was reminiscent of those in the pages that contained oldest myths in the Kuchiki family archive. Gradually, the memory returned to him.

"Why are you here?" Byakuya asked finally, "Are you with the hollows that attacked the town?"

The dark eyes looked deeply into his. A feeling of warning passed through Byakuya and although he remained calm on the surface, his body tensed inwardly in preparation for battle.

"I am not with the hollows," the other said quietly, "I was only using them to find you."

"You were looking for me?"

The other nodded.

"You opened a Spirit Link."

Byakuya's eyes narrowed.

"What has the Spirit Link to do with anything?"

"Obviously, your understanding of the Spirit Link is incomplete. But that will change. It will change when you learn who you are. I shall put you on the path," the man said, placing a hand on his weapon.

Senbonzakura was in his hand and releasing almost instantly, but even Kuchiki Byakuya's incredible speed was not fast enough. In a heartbeat, he stranger was inside his guard. Byakuya felt a shock of pain and looked down to meet the surreal sight of a blade buried deep in his body. The other was looking deeply into his shocked eyes. He placed his palm over the frozen shinigami's heart.

"Awaken," he said calmly, and he tore his weapon free.

Byakuya shivered and his hand rose to his midsection as he recalled waking in the healing center with no injury to the area…just the dragon marking where the stranger had placed his palm.

"Awaken…" he whispered, his hand rising to slip beneath the nightclothes. His fingertips brushed over the dragon marking and he felt a stirring in his reiatsu.

"But what was it he said about the Spirit Link? That I lack a complete understanding of it?"

But that made sense when Byakuya considered that the stranger was dressed in the livery of those in the old myths. Because the stories of the Spirit Link dated back to those times remembered only in stories…times before full and accurate records had been kept. The only reason they knew about those times at all was because at some point, an early Kuchiki relative had deemed the stories of value for some reason and had transcribed them into the first books stored in the archive.

Byakuya followed the garden trail back to the main walkway and moved down beyond his bedroom to the archive entrance. There was still a bit of time before Renji would return…plenty of time to slip down into the archive and have a quick look at the old texts.

He touched the panel on the archive door and waited as a deep click sounded and the door opened. He stepped inside and the door closed again behind him, sealing him away from the rest of the world and carrying him step by step, back in time. He past the first section, the place where he spent the bulk of his time recording current events into his diary. The shelf was lined with the diaries of every clan leader that had led before him.

The second section contained a huge collection of historical texts, gathered over the years to protect them the passage of time and from other threats. These included some family history and histories of other clans, as well as materials detailing events of the Rukongai and the living world.

The final section was filled with texts of the greatest value and significance, value that related to the connections to history, the notability of the ones who wrote them, rarity, or simply because they were among the oldest texts in all of Soul Society. They were there because there was no safer place anywhere for them. The Kuchiki family archive was protected by deep enchantments. They only allowed entrance of the clan leader, they protected the texts within from any threat, and they allowed the clan leaders to gain a first hand perspective on the history and myths contained in their pages.

Byakuya selected one of the books and sat down at a small reading table. He opened to the page he had marked with a touch of his reiatsu and began to read. As his eyes passed over the words, the enchantment of the archive wrapped around him and he was transported into the story of Teijo Kuchiki…the one in which he had found references to the Spirit Link.

We have achieved the Spirit Link! I wasn't sure I would be strong enough. Not one in a million of us have the ability to open it. But open and accepted by us both, it will give us the power we require…

His eyes scanned the pages carefully for the next reference.

…bonded as we are now, two lives, two minds, two hearts have truly become one…one in life, one in mission, and someday, one in death. For such is the power of the Spirit Link that both are bound at the core…and never could one live without the loss of the other…it resembles, in its way, the resonance of shinigami and zanpakutou, except in being forged by individual souls who find each other and are awakened with just cause…

Byakuya blinked and read the reference again.

"…and are awakened…" he whispered.

He realized suddenly that he was out of time. Renji might already be waiting. Sighing softly, he closed the book, resolving to return later…perhaps after Renji fell asleep. He returned the text to its place on the shelf and walked back to the archive entrance. The door opened before him and he felt the sharp return to reality that always struck him upon leaving the quiet environs of the archive. The door closed behind him with a sharp click.

Looking across the garden, he spotted Renji standing near the patio table, holding a glass of sake and gazing up at the night sky. He paused for a moment, taking in the sight. His fukutaichou's lean, muscular form was freed of the shihakushou and wrapped in silk nightclothes of a deep burgundy that set off the nicely browned skin and black lines of his body. His long red hair was loosed from the tie that usually held it back, and it fell over his shoulders and onto his back in crimson waves that always struck Byakuya as being quite hypnotic. The red strands moved softly in the evening breeze, framing the deep brown eyes that could darken with ferocity or melt the heart with their gentleness, features that could twist in fury or soften with affection, full lips and a lovely mouth that could shock the noble with its foul utterances or warm him with its tender offerings. Yes, Renji was a creature of extremes…a fact that Kuchiki Byakuya found more intoxicating than the finest sake.

Renji's eyes lowered and scanned the garden, coming to rest on him. The sensuous lips softened into a warm, affectionate smile. Byakuya felt his own lips curve slightly upward in response. He stepped onto the trail and followed it to where his life partner waited, slowing to a stop as he reached him.

"I was wondering where you'd disappeared to, Byakuya," Renji said quietly, his eyes betraying the hunger, the passion beneath them, "It figures you were in the archive, probably reading until your eyes were ready to fall out. I'm surprised you came up for air."

"Abarai," Byakuya said quietly, "we really need to sharpen your ability to read reiatsu. You are remarkably limited in your ability to sense it. I certainly wasn't hiding. I was quite easy to find, being that I was relaxed and in the safe environs of our home."

"Hmph," Renji huffed, stepping forward and slipping his arms around the noble, "It's not like I could follow you in there anyway. Monsters would probably pop out of the walls and devour me before I got four steps in."

Byakuya laughed softly.

"What a barbaric thought," he said, bringing his face close to Renji's, "I don't know about monsters, but you do look good enough for me to want to devour you."

His lips caught the redhead's and he nipped at them hungrily. Renji chuckled softly, parting his lips and deepening the kiss until the noble's smoldering eyes drifted closed and his body relaxed more deeply into his life partner's arms. Byakuya slipped his tongue between Renji's lips and gently caressed the one that curled lovingly around his, tasting of fine sake and something much sweeter. He pulled away, smiling.

"You haven't been at the cake already…" he murmured.

"Nah," Renji said, running his tongue over his lips, "just sake and a few chocolate dipped berries."

"Mmm…" Byakuya said, reclaiming the redhead's lips, "you were clumsy with the chocolate…let me get that for you."

He ran his tongue over the warm, sweet lips, then sank into the open mouth again, stroking the hot, eager tongue that met his and exploring every surface with slow, lingering touches. He felt a tremor move through the redhead's body and he pulled away, smirking.

"Perhaps we should save this for later…unless you want to skip dinner…" Byakuya whispered into Renji's ear.

Another tremor moved through Renji and he laughed softly.

"Well," he said, brushing a cheek against the noble's, "I guess I'm not that hungry…"

His stomach growled.

"You're a terrible liar, Abarai," Byakuya whispered, nipping an earlobe.

He turned and pulled out a chair, motioning for Renji to sit. Renji dropped into the chair and watched as Byakuya took the seat next to his. The server appeared suddenly and set their plates on the table. Byakuya smiled as Renji's stomach growled again.

"Go ahead, Renji," he urged the redhead, "eat before you drop from hunger."

"I don't know why your stomach's not making more of a fuss, Byakuya," Renji mused as he took a bite, "You're the one who was unconscious for a week."

"Hmm…"

"So, have you remembered anything more?" Renji asked.

"A bit," Byakuya answered, raising his eyes, "I don't know, however, if what I saw could be real, given that the man I saw ran me through with his zanpakutou and when I was found, I had no injuries."

"Nope," acknowledged Renji, "just that odd tattoo…that…and your reiatsu seemed sort of…different."

Byakuya's eyes rose to meet Renji's.

"My reiatsu was different?" he queried, "It's interesting…"

"Hmm, Taichou?"

"You don't need to call me that here," Byakuya corrected him.

"Sorry…force of habit. But what is interesting, Byakuya?" Renji asked.

"Renji, you aren't one who senses such things easily…and yet you picked that out…you noticed it. I just wonder why, of all times, you would do that then."

"I don't know," he said, taking another bite, "what I do know is that this is really good, Byakuya. Your staff is fantastic!"

"And it is pleasing to them to serve someone who so deeply enjoys their offerings. You know Renji, the staff is quite taken with you. You're quite the hero."

Renji tilted his head in askance.

"Why is that?" he asked, furrowing his brow.

"Well, you are friendly and casual with them, you appreciate their efforts, and you soothe the hard to please, tempestuous force of nature they refer to as 'Lord Kuchiki.'"

The redhead broke into a grin and finished the last of his meal.

"Really?" he smiled, taking a sip of saki, "You…tempestuous? Hard to please? Nah, I don't believe it!"

"Well, as I said before," Byakuya said, sipping at his sake, "you are a terrible liar, Renji."

The server reappeared and cleared away their dishes, then brought out an uncut section from their wedding cake, a knife, and two dessert plates.

"Aren't we supposed to freeze the top portion for our first anniversary?" Renji asked.

"This isn't the top portion. It is a section that was not needed at the reception, but it is untouched, and appropriate for our use."

Byakuya stood and brought Renji up with him. He motioned for Renji to take the knife, then curved a hand around his. They cut into the cake and Byakuya took a small piece in his fingers. He slipped it into Renji's mouth, smiling as the redhead gently accepted it, then licked the frosting from his fingertips. Renji took a small piece of cake and fed it to Byakuya.

"I thought you weren't partial to sweets," commented Renji as Byakuya licked away the frosting on the redhead's fingers.

"I am partial to you," Byakuya murmured, taking hold of Renji and pulling him into a long, slow, open-mouthed kiss.

"Hmm…" sighed Renji, "I think we've kept each other waiting for long enough, Byakuya. Dessert can wait."

He fastened his mouth on the noble's, thrusting an eager tongue inside and pulling him closer. Byakuya sighed contentedly, leaning into the kiss, then broke free to treat the tattooed throat with a brushing of kisses and long sensuous strokes of his tongue that traced the black lines down the length of his lover's neck and onto his broad, muscular shoulders. He pushed the silk fabric back, exposing the tanned skin beneath it.

"Not to disturb you while you're enjoying yourself," Renji whispered, "but shouldn't we continue this elsewhere?"

"You don't like the gardens?" Byakuya asked quietly.

"I love the gardens," Renji assured him, "I just thought we should go somewhere more private…that's all."

"The staff know not to disturb us. We can do as we will."

He pulled the tie at Renji's waist and pushed him back down into his chair.

"Ah," Renji chuckled, "I only meant that I thought that our first time as life partners…we should make love in our bed."

"Hmm," said the noble, looking down at him thoughtfully, "Very well, then, I won't make love to you yet."

He dropped to his knees in front of Renji, pausing to admire the powerful long legs, the slim, muscular abdomen and the already swollen erection that rested in red curls, awaiting his touch.

"What if Rukia comes through here?" Renji asked nervously.

"She's gone on assignment," Byakuya said, sliding a hand between the redhead's thighs and pushing his way in between them, "There's no one to disturb us…and no council spying…nothing to prevent us from enjoying each other…Renji…"

Renji's head dropped back and he sank down in the comfortable chair, gazing up at the stars and moaning with delight as Byakuya's mouth made its way up his inner thighs, kissing and tasting the tanned flesh. His hardened member twitched and a few drops of fluid leaked from the tip. The noble's fingertips caught it and rubbed it lazily around the area he was pleasuring. Renji groaned softly in protest as the noble's mouth released him and night air cooled his sensitive skin. He nearly jumped out of his chair when a hand replaced the mouth, teasing the flesh with gentle fingertips as Byakuya's tongue moved to pleasure him more intimately.

His chest heaving softly with excitement, Renji angled his head slightly to take in the intoxicating sight of the pale hands pushing his thighs farther apart, the proud, strong face, overtaken with bliss…dark eyes peering out from beneath long midnight strands of silken hair and half closed with desire, cheeks lightly brushed with color, the pink tongue sliding up his flesh…the pretty mouth wrapping around him, then moving slowly up and down. He found himself panting.

"B-Bya…w-wait…"

The noble's mouth suddenly released him. The next thing he knew, Byakuya was sliding onto his lap and wrapping his legs around the redhead, rubbing their hardened arousals together. His hands took hold of Renji's shoulders and he leaned close, whispering hotly in the redhead's ear.

"What was that you called me?"

"S-sorry, Byakuya," Renji panted, "I ran out of breath."

The noble's laughter felt like a cat purring against his chest.

"I'll overlook it…as long as you only shorten my name that way when we are making love and you are too breathless to say the whole thing."

He slipped off of Renji's lap and took his hand, pulling him to his feet.

"Perhaps we should move this to our bedroom…"

Renji held onto one hand and followed Byakuya back through the gardens to their bedroom. As they reached the entrance, Renji was swept off his feet and carried in a wickedly fast flash step, over the threshold, into the room. A moment later, he was thrown down onto the bed and a warm weight settled on top of him. He found himself breathless again as Byakuya descended on his mouth and face and throat, attacking them with an onslaught of kisses as his hands parted the redhead's thighs and the noble's hardened arousal was brought to his entrance. Byakuya tried to enter him slowly, but the impatient redhead gripped the pale hips and pulled them forward as his hips bucked upward. He winced and gasped softly at the sudden shock of pain, but then Byakuya's heated body was wrapped around his and moving against him.

Renji's head fell back and his eyes drifted nearly closed. He couldn't close them all the way or he would miss the beautiful sight of the noble's face, made over into a mask of pure pleasure as he thrust heavily into the redhead's powerful body. After a blazing exchange of hot kisses and powerful thrusts, a shudder passed through the noble's body and the pale lips parted in a gasp of delight. He thrust in deeply, emptying himself into Renji, then dropped down onto the redhead's chest, panting and moaning with pleasure.

He caught his breath slowly, letting a hand slip down to stroke Renji's still-hardened member. Renji thrust into the hand that pleasured him and met Byakuya's mouth for a slow exchange of deep, sensuous kisses. After a time, he pulled away, rolling onto his back.

A look of surprise entered the noble's dark eyes as Renji pulled back to look down on his life partner with hungry, passionate eyes. He loved looking at Byakuya like this…his lean, powerful body spread out on the bed, dark hair spilling out around his head, eyes sparking with desire, his lips curved into a smile…his hands gripping the redhead's shoulders, his thighs parted. Renji couldn't think of anything more sensuous and beautiful than that. He stared for a long moment before moving forward and claiming the hot, achingly beautiful body beneath his.

He laced their fingers together and brought their hands down on either side of the noble's head, biting down on the pale throat and sucking deeply as he brought their bodies together again. He had already been close before, but he held himself back as long as he could, enjoying the delicious friction of their entwined forms, the noble's soft, passionate moans, and his own deeper vocalizations. Finally, he could hold back no longer and a tremor passed through him. He thrust deeply into his life partner and locked eyes with him as the pleasure took over and he released into Byakuya's heated core. He wanted to sink into the dark, beautiful oblivion in those eyes and to never surface…to bury himself in that sleek body until he simply became one with it. He remained inside the noble for as long as possible, kissing the hungry mouth until their lips were swollen and pink from the heavy contact.

They laid together afterward, looking through the open doors out at the stars, resting and enjoying the view until they were recovered enough to move again. It was nearly dawn when they finally fell back into the bed, bodies still damp from bathing and too weary to even consider any activity beyond sleep. Even so, as Renji began to lose awareness, he heard the noble's voice break the silence one last time.

"Renji…aishiteru yo…"

He wasn't sure at first whether or not Byakuya heard his breathless reply, but the warm hand that found his told him that he had.