Chapter 3: Night Games
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(Thanks to the awesome Jess0409 (Gin has a whole different mindset that makes him an amazingly versatile character!), Willow (Yes, Gin will be surprised as Tetsuya touches his heart in a way he didn't know it could be reached.), Picklez80 (I do love all of the pairings in this one, so it's rolling along pretty well, writing wise.), Yukino76 (You are quite welcome!), RenjiRocks (You've got it! More Kurenji in this chapter, with some cute interactions with protective boss Bya too! Bonus!), Nyma (I really wish Gin had been reinstated. Yes, he did some pretty nasty things and he deserved punishment, but he did try to end Aizen and his attachment to Rangiku really showed a vulnerable side to him. He is witty, sneaky and so much fun. Tetsuya is in for an amazing romance!), Tomyallen (Yes, Kuri and Renji will be in trouble soon! And you're right about that Bya/Ichi chemistry. They balance each other very well. Gin may be in trouble when Tetsuya learns about his deception, but Tetsuya is not like other people, so his reaction may surprise everyone...especially Gin!), Adalie Delacroix (Ah, the story On Top was one that has been taken down because I am rewriting it for publishing as an original novel. I am currently reconfiguring the cast and filling out the story here and there. I was instructed to make sure that I removed all copies from the Internet before submitting, but I would like to perhaps repost after the original story is finished and released. I will try to do that as soon as I can. I think it's a great story, which is why it was chosen to be remade as an all original story. Fire in the Sky is going to get an update this week. Just a few more pages on that.), Tawan Lariviere (Oh yes, passion will be flaring all over between Kuri and Renji...and, well, you'll see! *snickers to self*), Tcas0518 (I totally sympathize about the waiting until the end sometimes, first to make sure everyone's okay and second, to make sure the story gets finished, because I hate starting a story that gets dropped. So, even though I have tons of stories, I plan to finish them all, and I love good endings, even if there are some tears (usually tears of joy). I am having a blast writing this story. It's kind of a quirky one, because the end of the war is kind of a darkish place, but the couples and the way they are connecting give a lighter feel to the story. I like that mixture a lot.), Shima-Taicho31 (Kuri will be getting lots of attention very soon. I keep getting a ton of requests for Angelito, Angel Perdido and Salvaje Amor as well as Missing Piece! Thank you, thank you, thank you for bringing Kuri to life and letting me borrow him. He is really fun to write!)
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Tetsuya woke again to the little creaking and rumbling sounds that the vendor's cart made as the horses pulled it along the dusty road. Kitsune sat, holding the reins and absently guiding the old horses slowly along the trail as his partially opened, ice blue eyes looked dreamily up into the stars. The little smirk on his lips widened into a smile and he turned his head to look at Tetsuya.
"You slept a long time," he commented in a soft, relaxed drawl, "Are you hungry yet, Tetsuya-san?"
Tetsuya sat up and started to stretch, then he winced and made a sound of discomfort as residual aches and pains seemed to strike him all over.
"Oh!" he gasped.
Kitsune pulled the cart into a little copse of trees, just off the trail and slid over the seat, dropping down into the sleeping area, just behind. He continued to smile as he swiftly set a pain block, watching the signs of pain and tension drain out of Tetsuya's slim body again.
"Is that better?" he asked, turning away to fish several cooking utensils out of a cabinet built into the back of the cart.
"It's much better," Tetsuya sighed, his head clouding slightly from the anesthetic kido.
The vendor handed him a flask of cool water, then picked up the cooking apparatus and climbed out of the cart. Tetsuya climbed slowly to his feet, resting for a moment, leaned against the seat of the cart, watching as Kitsune set down the cooking utensils and made a place for a little fire. While the fire grew, he moved back to the horses and released them from their harness, loosing them to drink from a nearby brook, then leaving them to graze near the campsite. He returned to the fire and set something cooking while Tetsuya climbed carefully out of the cart and limped over to join him.
"I don't think you're in any shape to be wandering around, especially at night," Kitsune commented, looking at Tetsuya out of the corner of a partially lidded eye, "You're good in a fight, but you got pretty beat up, and you still look like you don't remember a thing."
"I don't," Tetsuya confessed, "I started to think for a moment that the horses seemed familiar, but I'm not sure if that feeling is from before or if I have just adjusted to them being there."
"It's probably that they're familiar to you from before, but you're likely to be a little scrambled for a while. Just try to be patient with yourself and don't push it. Let things come back to you and don't stress yourself out, trying to force it."
"That's probably good advice," Tetsuya said, looking down into the roaring flames of the fire, "But being that I don't remember much of anything, I am really glad you are here to give me something familiar to start with. I do feel calmer and less afraid when you're nearby."
"Well, I haven't exactly left you for a moment while you've been recovering, so I don't know if that's true. You're pretty capable on your own, Tetsuya-san. That is why you survived the prison."
"Have I ever spoken to you about what it was like there?" Tetsuya asked, "Or who I might have known in that place?"
Kitsune tilted his head slightly, giving Tetsuya a measured look.
"Now, why would you want to be thinking about that place?" he asked, frowning a little, "There are only bad memories there, Tetsuya-san, much like that place where…"
"Where what?" Tetsuya asked, sitting up straighter and attending closely.
"W-well," Kitsune said, rubbing his chin, "I was going to say, where you almost died the other day, but that's another bad memory, and if there's one thing I do want to help you remember, it is that I don't like to dwell on bad things. Whatever is in our past should stay there. The past is over and what's happening right now is good…isn't it?"
Tetsuya closed his eyes for a moment, breathing in the slightly smoky air and feeling warm where the heat of the fire touched him and coolness where the darkness clung. He opened his eyes again and studied the quiet little campsite, the large bulk of the horses as they stood close by with their heads lowered to nibble at the long field grasses. He glanced at Kitsune, then looked up into the sky, feeling a sense of deep contentment at the vast array of constellations. He tensed as he realized.
"I like to look at the constellations!" he exclaimed softly, "S-someone taught them to me!"
He gave Kitsune a questioning look.
"You?"
"What else would a couple of trader-healers like us be doing out under the stars as we travel?"
He laughed softly at the blush that touched Tetsuya's lovely features as he read the underlying meaning of the words.
"You are so cute, Tetsuya-san!" Kitsune laughed, slipping an arm around him and hugging his surprised friend warmly, "I was sad at first that you couldn't remember, but you are so cute and innocent, it almost makes up for you not remembering me."
"It amuses you that I am confused and can't remember?" Tetsuya said in a hurt tone, "I don't think it's very funny, Kitsune-san. It makes me afraid."
The smile on his companion's face faded instantly and Kitsune pulled Tetsuya closer.
"Don't be offended, Tetsuya-san," he chided the younger man, "You will relearn quickly that I don't dwell on the bad things. Good and bad things will happen all of the time. We just…choose what to hang on to and what to let go of. If you don't remember what we were like before, it is kind of sad, but doesn't it also mean that we can get to know each other all over again?"
"W-well, yes," Tetsuya answered uncertainly.
"And most people will tell you that the best time in two lovers' lives is when they don't know each other and they're excited about getting to know each other."
"But you already know me!" Tetsuya objected, "It's kind of unfair. I don't know anything about you. I only know you are a trader and a healer and that you rescued me from being sold as a slave."
"I don't really know that much about you," Kitsune confessed, tilting his head, "Before you forgot everything, I didn't ask you about the prison, because you always looked sad and scared when it came up. You're pretty quiet and you let me do more of the talking."
"But you don't say much about yourself," Tetsuya noted, "You talk about what is happening, where we are, things like that."
"I live in the moment, Tetsuya-san," Kitsune said, regaining his smile, "The past is mostly a torment we don't want to remember and the future has to be built as we go. But, here and now is the only place where we can decide anything that will make a difference. Here…is where we should stay, ne?"
"Yes," Tetsuya answered tentatively, "I suppose you are right."
"Good," Kitsune said approvingly, cupping Tetsuya's cheek in one cool palm, "Then, let's enjoy this moment as much as we can, okay?"
He pressed his lips gently to Tetsuya's, warming sweetly inside at the pretty flush it sent flashing over his skin.
You are so very sweet, Tetsuya-san, he sighed inwardly, I hope that we are together for a while.
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Kuri waited in his bedroom until he heard his sister's footsteps on the walkway, heading back from the guest rooms to her own, then he slipped out of bed, donning a warm robe and slippers and selecting seconds of both that he carried with him as he crept out onto the walkway. He glanced in the direction of his sister's room, smiling as he sensed her sleepy reiatsu, then he headed towards the room where Renji laid, recuperating. He found the redhead still awake and lying on the bed with his hands behind his head, his cinnamon colored eyes blinking dreamily.
"You looked bored, Ren-ren-nii," he chuckled, slipping into the room and walking to Renji's bedside.
"Just the guy to make it not boring anymore," Renji said cheerfully.
He sat up slowly, holding his side and wincing.
"I'm sure mì hermana scolded you, saying you were not to move from that bed until morning, eh?" Kuri teased him.
"Of course," the redhead admitted, "So, where are we going?"
"Here," Kuri laughed, tossing him the robe and slippers and waiting while he wrangled his tall, lanky body into them, swearing several times at the twinges of pain the effort caused, "It's cold outside."
"We're going stargazing?" Renji inquired, "I thought Taichou was staying over. We don't wanna have him see me disobeying orders."
"He went to bed early," Kuri said, shrugging.
"Taichou went to bed early? Without any moon gazing?" Renji mused, "I didn't think he was hurt very bad. Did he say anything was wrong?"
"No," Kuri said, smirking knowingly as he and Renji slipped out of the guest room and headed away from the main building.
"I wonder if I should check in on him," Renji said worriedly.
"You don't need to check on Byakurai," Kuri chuckled, "He is fine. I promise you."
Renji shook his head firmly.
"Look, believe me, I know this guy. He moon gazes every night. He even goes out walking in the bad weather. He likes the fresh air. If he didn't…"
Kuri leaned over to whisper into the redhead's ear and Renji froze on the walkway as his warm breath tickled a surprisingly sensitive earlobe.
"He is sharing a guest room with Ichibun."
Renji's breath caught and he couldn't speak for a moment. Then, he started to laugh, only to have Kuri clap a warm, rough hand over his mouth.
"Do you want Deripie and Mamà to catch us out here?" he chided the giggling redhead, "Be quiet!"
"S-sorry!" Renji snickered, "It's just that neither one of those two…"
"Will make the first move," Kuri finished with him.
The two paused and exchanged amused glances, then covered their mouths and laughed as they moved out along the paddock fence, heading for a small rise.
"I think you're drunk already," Renji accused Kuri playfully, "Did you start without me?"
"I might have had a little test taste," Kuri admitted, producing a bottle with about a third of the product inside missing.
"Then, I think I'll just have to catch up with you," Renji laughed, reaching to snatch the bottle away.
Kuri turned and Renji overextended an arm, then pitched over, starting to fall.
"Shit!" Kuri hissed, barely managing not to drop the bottle as he tucked it hastily into his sleeve, then caught the falling redhead in his arms.
"Nice catch," Renji giggled, oblivious to how his robe and yukata had fallen open to reveal the bold expanse of tattoos that decorated his muscular chest and soft belly.
"¡Dios mío!" Kuri exclaimed, holding Renji in his arms and staring down at the lovely display, "You have some new ones, eh?"
"Yeah," Renji said proudly, "Now that Ichibei-san helped me get that bastard Zabimaru's full release command and I raised my power level, he made a few alterations."
"Very impressive," Kuri said, nudging the redhead back onto his feet and releasing him.
He loosed a little unhappy sigh as Renji closed his yukata, tying it firmly in place, then secured his robe more firmly.
"Do you think you can walk now without falling, Ren-ren-nii?"
"Mayyyyyybe," Renji drawled, "But I think I need a little pick-me-up first."
"No way. Not until we get to the top of the hill."
"I hope you plan on carrying me down again, cause my back and head are killing me."
"I have just the thing for that."
"If you'll just hand that over…"
"Not yet," Kuri laughed, turning so the redhead couldn't reach the place where he had stashed the bottle.
They reached the top of the hill and skidded to a stop as they realized someone was already there.
"Oh!" Renji gasped breathlessly as Kuri yanked him into the brush, just as the person turned in their direction.
"Shh!" Kuri hissed.
"But that's Taichou!" Renji complained, "I thought you said that he was already asleep."
"I thought he was," Kuri said, shaking his head, "but then, he has been worried ever since word came from Kuchiki Manor from the returning household that the lovely Tetsu-hana is missing."
"Yeah," Renji said, his eyes clouding, "I heard about that. They found signs of a struggle in the gardens, but they couldn't figure out if he was killed or maybe taken as a prisoner."
"If he was taken prisoner, he wasn't found with the bodies of the ones that the soldats slaughtered after sensing their king's death."
"I'm glad he wasn't killed by them," Renji said somberly, "But I think I need to help Taichou go and look for him tomorrow."
"If Deripie will let you out of bed," Kuri teased him, taking a swig of the golden liquid he had brought along, then handing the bottle to Renji.
"I thought you said no drinking until we made it to the top of the hill," the redhead reminded him.
Kuri shrugged.
"Está ocupada."
"Fine by me," Renji laughed softly, taking a large swallow, then handing the bottle back to Kuri.
Kuri made a quick motion to silence him and pointed to where another person was making his way slowly up the hill.
"Oh my god," Renji snickered, "Romeo, romeo, wherefore art thou?"
The two watched as Ichigo made his way gingerly up the hill and Byakuya turned and frowned at him.
"You are supposed to be resting, Kurosaki Ichigo," Byakuya scolded him solemnly, "It is an insult to those to went to such effort to heal you. You should go back and lie down."
A slight petulant scowl touched the shinigami substitute's lips.
"I'm really fine," he insisted, "And I wanted to talk to you."
"Not to tell him about the terrible crush he has on Byakurai," Kuri whispered into Renji's ear, "but just to chat about inconsequential things…the weather, you know."
"What did you want to talk to me about?" Byakuya asked, turning to look at the moon again.
Ichigo moved closer, taking up a position at Byakuya's side and following his gaze upward.
"I heard about Tetsuya going missing," he went on, "I want to go with you to look for him in the morning."
"You are in no condition to be…"
"Hey," Ichigo said, making the noble blink in surprise and go silent, "I know you're really worried about him. And Tetsuya's my friend too. I want to help find him."
Byakuya sighed.
"And I suppose there is no way that you will accept no for an answer, is there?"
"Why are you being so stubborn about it?" Ichigo persisted, "Byakuya, I admit, I am a little achy, but it's not that bad. And I want to help. What's wrong with that?"
"I am going out on Ikazuchi…"
"Your spirit steed?"
"Yes," Byakuya confirmed, "Ikazuchi might be able to track Tetsuya from the gardens, or he might pick up Arashi's reiatsu."
"No one's seen Arashi either, right?"
"No, they haven't," Byakuya answered worriedly, "But if the battle was difficult, Tetsuya may have been forced to join Arashi's body with his. If he resorted to that, it could explain why we haven't picked up his reiatsu yet. His reiatsu would remain very low for as long as a month after using his greatest power."
"Well, low reiatsu or not, we'll find him," Ichigo promised.
"I do not want you re-injuring yourself," Byakuya argued.
"I won't," Ichigo assured him, "I could ride with you, right?"
Byakuya looked taken aback for a moment and his dark eyes met Ichigo's more directly.
"You are extremely persistent," he noted.
"I really wanna help."
Byakuya nodded in resignation.
"Very well, but you need to rest now," he insisted, "I will walk back with you."
"You don't have to do that."
"I have to go back that way anyway," Byakuya said easily, "We are sharing a guest room."
"We are?" Ichigo asked, looking surprised.
"There aren't enough rooms or beds," Byakuya explained, "If it bothers you, I will…"
"No!" Ichigo said quickly.
Byakuya's eyes narrowed and his head tilted questioningly at his outburst.
"I uh…it's not problem," Ichigo said, collecting himself, "I don't mind sharing a bed if you don't."
"It's fine," Byakuya said off-handedly, "as long as you do not try to tackle me and kiss me again."
"I apologized for that!" Ichigo snapped, blushing brightly, "I was injured and really out of it."
"Which is why your head is still resting on your shoulders," Byakuya said dryly.
"was it really that bad of a thing anyway?" Ichigo complained, "Did I have bad breath or something?"
"No," Byakuya assured him, arching an eyebrow, "It is just that I usually do not kiss on the first date."
"And it wasn't even really a date," Ichigo chuckled, regaining a bit of humor.
He paused, noting how close they were standing to each other, and how Byakuya was watching him with a gentler, curious expression.
"So," Ichigo went on, "what if I take you out on a real date…after we look for Tetsuya?"
Byakuya's dark eyes evidenced a measure of surprise, but tentative approval.
"You want to go out with me?" Byakuya asked.
"Yeah," Ichigo said, grinning, "That's the only way I can kiss you again and not get beheaded, right?"
Within the nearby bushes, Renji covered his mouth to stop his laughter.
"That is cute," Kuri huffed appreciatively, "Should I take you out so I can kiss you too?"
Renji blinked in surprise, feeling the slight buzz from the alcohol and reeling slightly.
"Naw," he managed a little dizzily, "You can just kiss me."
Kuri grinned.
"I cannot pass up an invitation like that," he said, leaning forward and pressing his lips to the redhead's.
"Mmmmm," Renji moaned, forgetting for a moment to be quiet, then gasping and cringing as Byakuya's eyes touched on the bushes where the two were hidden.
"Abarai," Byakuya said sternly.
"Shit! Shit! Shit!" Renji whispered, covering his face for a moment, "Oh man, I am so dead!"
He crawled out of the bushes and stood, brushing the twigs out of his wild, unbound hair.
"Y-yeah, sorry, Taichou," he apologized, "I was just…"
"And you as well, Shima taichou," Byakuya sighed.
"What the hell?" Ichigo mused, staring as Kuri crawled out and joined the redhead in front of them, "You two…?"
"I'm…really sorry, Taichou," Renji apologized again.
"If you are done disobeying orders and lying out here drinking when you should be resting, I would appreciate it if you would return to your bed alone, and at least try to get some sleep."
"Yeah, sure Taichou," Renji stammered.
"I'll walk you back," Kuri offered.
Byakuya's gaze darkened warningly.
"I think you have done enough," he said shortly, "I will walk Renji back."
"But I wasn't done talking to you yet," Ichigo complained.
"I think he had just asked you out, Byakurai," Kuri said, smirking, "Don't worry about Ren-ren-nii. I promise I will get him back into bed safely so you can finish making plans."
"Fine, but you will give me the bottle," Byakuya said sternly.
Kuri handed him the mostly empty bottle of liquor.
"And your flask."
The Shima leader let out an agitated breath and handed him the flask.
"Thank you," Byakuya said politely.
He and Ichigo watched as Kuri wrapped an arm around Renji and led him back down the hill.
"Man, that guy is scary sometimes," Renji sighed, "Too bad he took all of the booze. I really need a drink now."
"It's fine," Kuri snickered, "I have an emergency flask hidden under my pants leg."