Chapter 2: Coming Clean
Tetsuya felt a tight knot of uncertainty in his belly as he led Renji towards the bathing chamber. His heart throbbed strangely in his chest, knowing that the tall, handsome redhead was more than a little interested in him.
I wonder why.
I spend most of my time being invisible. The only ones I really socialize with are Byakuya-sama, Rukia-chan and Arashi. Why would someone so powerful and accomplished as Renji-san take an interest in me? How did he even notice me?
"Hey, I really hope I didn't offend you," the redhead said as they moved along the wooden walkway and stepped down into a more private section of the gardens, where the bathing house stood.
"Oh," Tetsuya said, blushing slightly, "of course not. I am flattered, Renji-san. Who wouldn't be?"
Renji paused for a moment in the doorway of the bathing house, admiring the way the gardens just seemed to pour in through the large double doors and continue into the glass domed structure. Fragrant green grass made a lovely carpet and light colored paths that meandered about the huge, indulgently warm bathing pool which commanded the middle of the chamber. On either side, closest to the pool entry were shallow, bubbling bathing pools, while on the far side, several tall stone waterfalls provided areas for showering. The mist created by the falling water blended sweetly with the scent of the plentiful flowers to create a lovely, peaceful environment that Renji was sure Byakuya very much appreciated at the end of a long day of work.
He glanced over at his noble companion as they entered the chamber, noting Tetsuya's calm, but slightly tense bearing and the hint of discomfort in his dark sapphire eyes as they entered the chamber and reached the edge of the pool. There was a moment of perfect silence except for the sound of falling water and Tetsuya's eyes cautiously met Renji's.
"If you will remove your top, I will heal any injuries you sustained," Tetsuya offered.
Renji smiled charmingly.
"Sure, thanks," he answered, sliding off the top of his shihakusho and baring himself to the waist.
Tetsuya swallowed hard at the sudden reveal of Renji's lanky, tanned and very muscular upper body and the bold, handsome display of striking tattoos that decorated him, but stopped short of making a sound as the redhead's warm masculine scent struck him, making a small wave of dizziness pass through him.
What's wrong with me? I already knew that Renji-san had these markings. I have seen them from a distance, just not up close like this. It is strange how they seem to capture my eyes and make it hard for me to see correctly.
Still saying nothing, Tetsuya forced his slightly shaky body to calm, and he leaned forward, examining the redhead's golden tanned flesh and locating several new bruises and a few places where the skin had been broken. He took a breath and imagined it was the same as the many times Byakuya had finished a training session and they had healed each other before walking back to the manor and bathing together.
Except that we always have our attendants with us. Not that I don't trust Renji-san. He is a good person. He is completely loyal to Byakuya-sama and he watches out for him, just as I do.
"So, you and Taicho are close, I take it?" Renji queried conversationally, his smile widening as Tetsuya's paused just short of touching him, and gentle green healing reiatsu emerged and seeped into the redhead's minor wounds.
"Yes," Tetsuya answered quietly, "We met when we were teens and we have been in each other's company ever since."
"Taicho told me once that the family has a main branch and then some subfamilies, right?"
"Yes. I come from a subfamily that once was led by my grandfather on my father's side."
"So, you lead one of the subfamilies?" Renji asked, looking impressed.
"No," Tetsuya answered, hesitating, "I am the last surviving member of that subfamily and was taken into another."
"Oh."
Renji paused, sensing his shyer companion's discomfort and thought carefully before tactfully changing the subject.
"I notice you're pretty darned powerful," he commented, "You must be to act as Taicho's bodyguard. Do you train with him?"
"Every day before sunrise."
Renji laughed softly, observing as Tetsuya's hands moved slowly down one long arm, then the other, making the signs of their earlier conflict disappear gradually.
"You're a good healer," the redhead commented.
"It is important when dealing with family security to be able to respond quickly to emergencies and to be prepared to offer immediate first aid," Tetsuya explained, finishing the last of the healing.
"Yeah," Renji agreed, his smile fading, "I guess that would have been especially important when the quincies attacked. I heard though that of all the clans, the Kuchiki clan had the least casualties."
Tetsuya lowered his eyes for a moment and considered his words carefully.
"We had some amount of warning that a formidable enemy was preparing to attack," he answered, looking back up at the redhead, "though we did not know at the time that they were quincies. But although our house forces had been trained to stage an evacuation, Byakuya-sama and our head councilor could not convince the other members of the Noble's General Council to prepare a site separate from their estates. The estates had never before been breached, so they simply gathered their families within the main house grounds and assembled their forces around it. We removed our elderly, women and children to an area protected by a hidden barrier, so that the enemy would be less likely to find them. Some of the other clan leaders believed that showed a lack of confidence in our ability to defend ourselves and it evidenced a lack of pride. They didn't realize until it was too late that the enemy was simply too strong. The losses to those families were great. Some of the lower noble families were wiped out altogether."
"That's awful," Renji commented, looking down at the rippling water, "But it's comforting that the survivors have come back and rebuilt things. Kuchiki Manor looks as beautiful as it ever did."
"Yes," Tetsuya agreed, "though it took a while to reconstruct it. But Byakuya-sama wanted very much to pick up and move forward. He had a monument placed in the gardens to honor our fallen and to help us remember that as nobles, we are meant to be models of strict adherence to our laws and the protection of our society."
The conversation dropped off briefly as Tetsuya completed Renji's healing, then the two undressed. Tetsuya kept his eyes lowered respectfully, only capturing out of the corner of a blue eye the enchanting spectacle as Renji let his hakama fall away and removed the last of his clothing. Blushing, the noble slipped out of his uniform and moved hastily into the waist deep, soothingly warm water, wading out to the waterfalls and taking refuge beneath one.
Renji couldn't help but grin to himself at his lovely companion's obvious shyness as Tetsuya undressed, revealing attractive expanses of pretty, pale skin comparable to his elder cousin's. But closer inspection as he followed Tetsuya out to the waterfalls revealed very light markings on his shoulders, back, round bottom and legs, and an odd tattooed set of markings on the back of his right shoulder. Not wanting to be rude, he tried not to stare as they continued across the pool, but he stole glances and tried to make out the writing.
Tetsuya...number 217, Itamigiri, he mused inwardly, Itamigiri?
What is that?
He ached to ask about the markings, but expected that it would be an uncomfortable topic.
Obviously, he was abused, and the marking is like the ones we use in our prisons. I've just never heard of that prison before. I know Taicho said that the nobles have their own prisons. I wonder if that's one of them.
He carefully avoided saying anything, but noted that Tetsuya was quick to turn so that his back was not visible and the falling water obscured the marking on his shoulder. He tilted his head back and closed his eyes, letting the hot water run through the wavy lengths of dark, raven colored hair and slide down the length of his flushed body. Renji turned his attention to his bathing, locating soap on an almost hidden soap dish in the rock beside him and rubbing it vigorously onto his arms, chest and belly. He smiled at the pleasant scent, enjoying the way it seemed to instantly affect his leathery skin, making it softer and more pliant. The shampoo too smelled of sakura and left his long, thick red hair feeling softer than usual. He reached around to wash his back and noticed suddenly that as Tetsuya moved to do the same, his hand stopped and he flinched and caught his breath softly.
"You all right?" the redhead asked instantly, moving closer and reaching out to touch the place where he sensed the noble's discomfort, "You get hurt beating up on me?"
"It's fine," Tetsuya said, trying to turn away, but stayed as Renji's hand wrapped around his arm, "R-renji-san...?"
"Just hold still, okay?" Renji said, giving him a friendly smile as he quickly infused the area with healing reiatsu, "It'd be rude of me not to heal the damage I caused when I broke in."
He finished the healing, and before Tetsuya could step away, grabbed the soap and lathered it onto his companion's slender back and shoulders.
"You don't have to..."
"I know," Renji chuckled, "but you're probably a little sore for doing that. Don't worry. I won't overstep any boundaries. I'm just trying to make up for my bad behavior earlier."
"In that case, I should probably assist you, as I likely made you sore as well," Tetsuya said, blushing as he caught himself.
"Thanks," Renji said, grinning and handing his flustered friend the soap.
Tetsuya felt his heart quiver strangely in his chest as he accepted the soap and rubbed it onto the redhead's strong back. He couldn't seem to take his eyes off of the almost hypnotic dance of tattoos as he slowly washed the area, and his fingers couldn't seem to help lightly tracing them. Renji said nothing, but smiled to himself as the shy noble slowly bathed his back, then stepped away, blushing cutely.
"Thanks," the redhead said again, taking a step back.
He sucked in a surprised breath as his foot came down on his own bar of soap that had slipped out of its place and fallen into the water.
"Whoa!" he cried as he lost his balance and splashed down into the water.
Tetsuya bit his lips gently, fighting a smile as the sopping redhead emerged from the water and shook out the long strands of dark red hair.
"Great," Renji laughed, "Just one more thing to help you remember me, ne?"
"You needn't worry about me forgetting you," Tetsuya commented, "It has been a memorable evening, Renji-san."
"Right," the redhead chuckled, following Tetsuya to the edge of the pool and turning away as they dried off on thick white towels placed on racks at the side of the pool, then dressed.
"You look much warmer, Renji-san," Tetsuya commented, "But if you are hungry, the staff left food. You are welcome to join me for dinner."
"Oh, I don't want to impose," Renji said, shaking the last drops of water out of his hair.
"You've already done that," Tetsuya reminded him, smirking, "But it is no trouble. They left far more than I can manage."
"Sure, Okay, thanks," Renji said, following him back out of the bathing chamber and onto the wooden walkway.
Tetsuya remained silent as he led Renji into the main wing and guided him into a small but cozy and handsomely decorated dining room.
"We use the larger dining area for entertaining more guests," Tetsuya explained, "but when the weather outside is too cold for eating in the gazebo, we eat here instead. Usually, it is just Byakuya-sama, Rukia-chan and me."
"It looks really cozy," Renji said approvingly, sliding into a thickly padded chair and relaxing as Tetsuya brought out the meal.
The warm, savory scents of the food struck the redhead's senses, making his stomach growl as he filled his plate. He tried to eat slowly, but couldn't help quickly devouring every last bite of what he had taken, then a second helping. Tetsuya ate more sparingly, his blue eyes enjoying the sight of the enthusiastic redhead as he sated himself. Tetsuya left again to bring out warm cherry pie, topped with a scoop of ice cream that left Renji nearly dozing in his chair and Tetsuya blinking sleepily. The redhead could barely drag himself to his feet and his eyelids drooped as Tetsuya cleared away their dishes, then returned to join him.
"Thank you for dinner, Tetsuya-san," Renji said amiably, "Sorry I barged in like that, but I have to say, it's been a really good Christmas Eve. I hope I didn't disrupt your evening too much. I'll get out of your hair now."
"It was no trouble, Renji-san," Tetsuya assured him, rising and guiding him through the house and out to the manor's front gates, "You are pleasant company, if a little spontaneous. But I don't mind that."
"Great," Renji chuckled, "Well, sweet dreams, Tetsuya-san. I hope we see each other around, because I think you're pretty good company too."
He turned away and started to leave, then stopped as Tetsuya's voice reached him again.
"Renji-san?"
The redhead turned back and smiled at the noble.
"There is a gathering here tomorrow night for my sister's coming of age. I am unaccompanied as of yet. Would you like to come as my escort?"
"You're asking me out?" Renji said, grinning, "I must have made an impression!"
Tetsuya didn't answer, but only gazed back at him quietly, waiting for an answer.
"Yeah, that sounds like fun," the redhead answered, "I assume it's formal?"
Tetsuya nodded.
"Okay, it's a date," Renji confirmed, reaching out and capturing Tetsuya's hand.
The noble blushed furiously, first as the redhead's head bowed and his rough lips touched the back of his hand, then as he realized Byakuya and Rukia were standing a short distance away, watching silently.
"Goodnight, Renji-san," he managed breathlessly, pulling his hand free and moving forward to greet his arriving cousins, "Good evening, Byakuya-sama. I hope the festivities were enjoyable."
"They were," Byakuya answered, his eye drifting from his blushing cousin to the smiling redhead, "Renji, good evening."
"Hey Taicho, Rukia. Merry Christmas."
"Byakuya-sama," Tetsuya continued, "I have asked Renji-san to escort me to Kohana's coming of age tomorrow."
"Ah, that is going to be an enjoyable occasion. I look forward to seeing you there, Abarai."
"Yeah, it'll be fun," Renji said, nodding, "Well, goodnight."
The three nobles watched quietly as Renji flash stepped away, then Byakuya turned a warm, dark eye on Tetsuya.
"I do hope Abarai wasn't too much trouble. He isn't terribly subtle."
"No," Tetsuya agreed, still blushing, "But he is very kind and he was a perfect gentleman."
"He had better be," the clan leader said, arching a fine eyebrow, "If he ever is not, he will have more than Arashi's bad temper to contend with."
