Chapter 2: The Escape
(On the road and it's bumpy and hard to see the screen. Hope you enjoy the chapter! Love, Spunky)
"I sent a hell butterfly informing Koji and Torio to see to moving a few things to Shiba Manor for you," Byakuya said solemnly, trying not to notice Tetsuya's downcast expression, "You will be excused from active duty in our division as soon as a pregnancy is confirmed."
"Of course," Tetsuya acknowledged quietly, "I understand the need for that, but won't you at least allow me to have someone else...?"
"That will not be necessary," Byakuya intoned, the words making Tetsuya flinch under the heavy controls he had placed on himself for their parting, "When I am about the manor, Torio will be sufficient to guard me, and as third seat, Rikichi can act in your place on our Gotei missions, you needn't worry about me being guarded while on duty."
"As you wish," the blue-eyed noble answered, the words slightly clipped, "Then...I suppose this is our parting for now."
Byakuya gave his cousin a fleeting smile.
"Come now, watashi no itoko," he said more softly, "You are still my fukutaichou. You are only being taken off of active duty while carrying the Shiba heirs, and you know that you are always welcome in our home. That won't change simply because you have married and are living elsewhere."
"I understand that, and I do appreciate it, Byakuya-sama. Good evening, then."
Tetsuya's breath caught and several nearby nobles paused and stared curiously as Byakuya surprised his cousin with a warm embrace.
"Ichigo is a good person," the clan leader whispered in Tetsuya's ear, "You have but to open your heart to him and you will not be sorry that you did. Give him a chance, Tetsuya. If he comes to know you, he will love you. His actions before the Noble's General Council in choosing you assure me of that."
Tetsuya swallowed hard and nodded briefly in reply, then extricated himself from his cousin's arms and moved quietly to Ichigo's side.
"Are you okay?" Ichigo asked gently as the Shiba family took their leave of the others outside the Noble's General Council hall, "Byakuya didn't say anything that upset you, did he?"
"No," Tetsuya answered, glancing back at his departing cousin, "He only reminded me to honor our clans with my actions and wished us well in our marriage. He assured me you are an honorable person...not that he needed to. I am aware. And I am not unhappy with this arrangement."
"Neither am I," Ichigo said, smiling and taking Tetsuya's hand in his.
The two joined the group of elders and family members headed back to Shiba Manor.
"Tetsuya?" Ichigo queried quietly as the two walked, still holding hands, "Hey, I wanted to tell you, I'm sorry about what you and Byakuya overheard earlier, before the meeting."
"Oh, don't worry about that," Tetsuya assured him, "You and I were both honest in our feelings about this. You needn't apologize to me about being honest in front of me."
"Well, I was actually pretty loud and sterner than I meant to be. It's just my dad was pushing me to marry one of those girls I didn't know and he got on my nerves, so I yelled at him. We're kind of always like that. It doesn't really mean anything, so don't take it too seriously when it happens, okay?"
"I won't," Tetsuya answered, looking steadily at the ground ahead of him, "but I am still rather curious about something, Ichigo-sama."
"Hey," Ichigo said, smiling, "we're married now, so you should really not call me that. Just Ichigo is fine. You're a clan spouse, not a servant, Tetsuya."
"I am aware," the blue-eyed noble replied, "but it is customary after marriage for the clan wife to wait until his or her husband has invited one to abandon that formality before doing so."
"Sheesh," Ichigo chuckled, grinning, "I'm glad you told me that. I didn't know. I could've just let you go on doing that and annoying the hell outta me until I yelled at you or something."
"I suppose that, given your newness to nobility, I should attempt to share my knowledge of the customs with you so that you can choose what to attend to and what to politely ignore," Tetsuya answered, his lips revealing a small, but attractive smile.
"You seem to know a lot about me for someone who just met me today," Ichigo observed.
"I am...was Byakuya-sama's personal bodyguard and healer," Tetsuya explained, "There is no one who comes near the master of the Kuchiki family without me knowing about them. So, I have detailed knowledge about your activities up to this point, as well as your observed alliances and your reputation in various areas."
"Then, you probably already know about Kugo Ginjou," Ichigo suggested.
"I know that he used devious means to approach you, then he and Xcution plotted to restore your powers only so that man could steal them from you again."
"Is that all?"
"No," Tetsuya confessed, "but anything more that I learned is knowledge of a more personal kind, which I would never speak of without your leave."
"Okay, you have my permission," said Ichigo, "How much do you know?"
Tetsuya sighed and lowered his eyes, but caught his breath in surprise a moment later as Ichigo slipped a hand under his chin and raised Tetsuya's eyes to meet his.
"I know that...he approached you romantically," the blue-eyed noble admitted, "and that he did so only to deepen your connection with him so that you would be distracted from any hints they gave of what they were doing."
"You probably think I was pretty stupid, don't you?" Ichigo mused.
"No," Tetsuya countered softly, "I think you were in love. And it was the worst kind of betrayal for Kugo Ginjou to use something sacred like love to manipulate you."
"Right," Ichigo sighed, "Tetsuya, I think I was right in my first impression of you. You seem like a pretty respectable person."
"Thank you."
"Now, you said you were curious about something?" Ichigo asked.
Tetsuya nodded.
"I wondered why you asked me in front of them."
Ichigo's smile widened slightly and he let out a huff of breath.
"Oh, that. Well, I just thought it wouldn't be right to pick you out of a lineup and claim you like some piece of property. Even though we didn't really choose to be married, I think we both needed some freedom to choose each other. Why? Are you regretting accepting my proposal?" Ichigo asked, smirking.
"No," Tetsuya replied, meeting his husband's eyes for a moment, then looking away, "I was...just taken by surprise, first at being chosen by anyone, second at being chosen by you, and then by being asked how I felt about it."
"Well, I may not have followed their stupid protocol for being set up for marriage, but I couldn't treat you like some thing that doesn't have feelings or his own will."
"You know your decision made me enemies of half the women pictured there who were hoping to be chosen by you," Tetsuya commented, "I think they despise me even more than for just being a half-blood now."
"Yeah, well, we'll just ignore them, okay?"
The group rounded a corner and came to a stop as they were greeted by a large group of reporters and photographers. Tetsuya stiffened, his wide blue eyes momentarily blinded by the flashing lights and his heart pounding madly as the nearest reporters began to call out questions.
"Shiba Isshin, do you have any comments about your medical excusal from marrying?" asked one.
"What are your thoughts about your son marrying a breeder male and a half blood?"
"Shiba Ichigo, do you have any comment on...?"
"No," Isshin said firmly, "We cannot comment now. We will make a formal statement about my son's marriage and have a viewing of the couple later."
"But can you respond to the news of an objection to the marriage by a member of the Kuchiki family?"
"Get a close-up of the half-blood!" one called out.
"Man, he's...!"
"Hey!" Ichigo called out, turning slightly to shield Tetsuya from the flashing lights and rapt eyes, "Just move aside and let us through. You heard what my father said. You're upsetting my husband. How would you feel if someone talked about you guys like that? Get out of here!"
"Ichigo..." Isshin said warningly.
"Sorry, Tetsuya," Ichigo said, ignoring his father and guiding his surprised husband past the reporters, "It's just..."
"You are a clan heir," Tetsuya said simply, "and I am not exactly a simple noble clan wife. It makes people interested. It's all right. I'll be fine. I was just startled at first."
"It's okay. We're almost there. Come on."
They paused as they reached the entrance to Shiba Manor and were greeted by Ichigo's and Tetsuya's attendants.
"Ichigo, this is Kuchiki Koji," Tetsuya said cordially, "Koji has been my attendant and close friend since my rescue. He was most responsible for acclimatizing me to, not just noble life, but to civilized life in general."
"Nice to meet you, Koji," Ichigo greeted the smiling attendant, "And this is Toshi. He's been helping me to settle into things here."
"And he has been helping me settle a few of your things into Shiba Manor," Koji informed Tetsuya, "He has been very accommodating."
"Thank you, Toshi," Tetsuya said, nodding briefly, "It's nice to meet you."
"It's an honor to meet you also, Shiba-sama," Toshi answered politely.
Tetsuya blinked in confusion, then caught his breath softly.
"P-please call me Tetsuya," he requested.
"Of course, Tetsuya-sama."
"Toshi," Ichigo chided the youth, "I told you to lay off the 'sama' thing. It bugs the hell outta me and it's making Tetsuya uncomfortable."
"But we're not in private, sir," Toshi objected, "I promise I won't use it when we are, but it's how we're supposed to refer to you when other people might hear."
"Oh, all right," Ichigo sighed, "Sorry, Toshi."
"It's all right, Ichigo-sama," Toshi said brightly, "Come, Koji-san and I will dress you for the consummation."
"Doesn't he mean undress us?" Ichigo said under his breath to Tetsuya, making the blue-eyed noble blush and yield a small smile.
The two young men followed their attendants into the main house and up the stairs that led to Ichigo's bedroom. The two parted outside the doors, Tetsuya following Koji into the bedroom and Ichigo moving with Toshi to enter the dressing area of another, nearby bedroom.
"Are you going to be all right?" Koji asked his fidgeting master as he removed Tetsuya's formal kimono and dressed him in a simple, but fetching sky blue yukata, "You have been getting paler by the moment. I know that you can't be looking forward to this."
"It is difficult," Tetsuya confessed, "It would be that way no matter whose hand I took today. The last person to touch me sexually was my Naoki. I've been so grateful for that, and I never wanted anyone else to take that away."
"You know that Ichigo-sama doesn't want to be the one to take that from you."
Tetsuya nodded and took a cleansing breath.
"Ichigo is the reason I feel like I can go through with this. We are really in the same place when it comes to this marriage, and instead of blaming me for his being forced to marry as some men might, he is treating me instead as a friend and ally. I feel like we are together in this. Besides," Tetsuya said more softly, swallowing hard to steel himself, "the truth is that we all know I'll never move past what happened as long as I am still holding on to Naoki. He was a kind, wonderful friend and lover, but he has been gone for a long time. Only I have kept myself locked in the past and refusing to move on. This is necessary, Koji. Naoki wouldn't have wanted me to go on suffering as long as I have. He would want me to be happy. With Ichigo-sama, even if he will only ever see me as his friend, we will be happy that way, and not so lonely."
"I understand why you feel that way," Koji said kindly, "But please forgive me if I hold out hope that you and Ichigo-sama will fall in love someday."
"There is no need for me to forgive you for that, as remote a possibility as it is. As always, you hope for what you think will be best for me. I am lucky that Byakuya-sama chose you to attend me, Koji. You have no idea how often I feel thankful for that."
"You are welcome," Koji said, smiling and finishing his work by running a brush through the long, wavy strands of his cousin's hair, "And you are ready to meet him now."
Tetsuya felt a soft clutch in his belly, but took another steadying breath and left the dressing room. He walked to Ichigo's bed and knelt in the middle, his back to the open door as Koji left, his hands in his lap and his eyes cast downward. The sound of Ichigo's approaching footsteps quickened his heart even more and he closed his eyes as he felt the bed move.
For a long, breathless moment, Tetsuya waited to feel the first touch of his new husband's hand. When it finally arrived, it was placed gently on top of his, and Ichigo's cheek brushed against a soft flutter of pretty, raven strands.
"Hey, are you all right? Your heart's beating really fast. Are you afraid?" Ichigo asked, his breath tickling Tetsuya's blushing throat.
"A bit," Tetsuya confessed, "but it will be fine. Is it all right with you?"
"No, not really," Ichigo chuckled, turning Tetsuya to face him, "I'm pretty nervous too."
Tetsuya's sapphire eyes opened and met Ichigo's friendly golden brown ones tentatively. For a long time, neither young man moved, then Ichigo smiled and let out a shaky breath.
"This is weird," he whispered, "I mean, I know what's supposed to happen, but I've got no idea how to..."
He was swiftly silenced as Tetsuya leaned forward and stole his breath away with a warm kiss of greeting. Their lips met a second time, more firmly, then their mouths opened slightly and met again. Ichigo's tongue dipped in between Tetsuya's parted lips, probing slowly as Tetsuya's hands captured his and guided them to the tie at his waist. Ichigo's fingers curled into the soft fabric and tightened for a moment as Tetsuya eased himself down onto his back Then, the Shiba heir's fingers quivered softly and released.
"Tetsuya," he said solemnly, looking down into his husband's curious eyes, "sorry. I just don't think I'm ready for this yet."
"But we are required to..."
"Yeah, I know," Ichigo interrupted, "but don't you think it's wrong to be pushed into that?"
"Well, yes, I do. But we did accept the arranged marriage, so..."
"So, they should just lay off a little and let us get to know each other a little before expecting us to...do this."
Tetsuya's dark eyes blinked several times and focused on Ichigo's again.
"I understand, and even agree, Ichigo, but you know that a breaking kido was placed on me to ensure that the consummation was seen to. Otherwise, the marriage is not binding. As much as I want to go along with you in delaying things..."
Ichigo stopped him with a telling smile, then stunned him by touching a palm to his nether region and sending a jolt through it that startled the blue-eyed noble, but stopped short of harming him. Tetsuya looked down at the area, blinking in surprise.
"You...?"
"Look, I'm not saying that we won't make love sometime," Ichigo explained, "We will, when we decide we're ready. But tonight, why can't we just get to know each other better? Let's get out of here...go to dinner, see a movie, go dancing...something to just, I don't know...break the ice. We can be back before morning. Maybe I'll even be okay with making love after we've spent a little time together first. I just can't do it like this. What do you think?"
"What do I think?" Tetsuya repeated, the look of confusion on his face making Ichigo's friendly smile widen in amusement.
Ichigo captured Tetsuya's slender hand and pulled him to his feet beside the bed.
"Come on, let's get out of here, okay?" he suggested, leading his flustered mate to the open window.
"L-leave? Just like that?" Tetsuya mused uncertainly, "But..."
"Come on," Ichigo urged him, wrapping an arm around his waist and sweeping him into a flash step out the window and down into the dark, quiet gardens.
The two went silent, ducking as two house guards walked by.
"Are you sure about this?" Tetsuya whispered, "We're not even dressed, Ichigo!"
"Let's go and have some fun!"
"Ichigo!" Tetsuya gasped, flash stepping as he was dragged out of the bushes.
"Shh, they'll hear you."
"But...!"
Tetusya's objection was lost in a haze of flash steps that led the two into a copse of trees, where they stood, looking around to make sure they were alone, before Ichigo paused and opened a family senkaimon.
"Where are we going?" Tetsuya asked, following Ichigo into the precipice world and watching the door close behind them.
"Karakura Town," Ichigo answered, "by way of Kisuke's place. We can get some clothes there, then we'll decide what we want to do."
"Well, if you're sure that's what you want," Tetsuya conceded.
He couldn't help but feel both warmed inside and completely charmed as the Shiba heir reclaimed his hand and laughed as his flash step carried them away again.
He is very different than Naoki...so impulsive and strong willed. But I think I like him this way.
Maybe, given time, I could love him.
I wonder if Ichigo can someday love me.