Chapter 3: Scion

Byakuya moaned softly in his sleep and turned in Renji's arms. The redhead shifted slightly, tightening his grip, loathe to relinquish his hold on his lover's slender body.

The noble opened one dark eye, studying Renji's peaceful expression for a moment, then closed it again and relaxed more deeply into the warm embrace. There was no need to get up early. His only commitment was a taichou's meeting later in the day.

He let his mind drift and was treated to a reminiscence of the night before, an intensely fulfilling, if somewhat delayed wedding night. He was loathe to compare it to his first, but the simple glaring truth was that this time there was none of the awkward timidity, none of the extreme need for gentleness and politeness. It wasn't just that he and Renji had been intimate prior to their wedding, but that their whole association was marked with an intensity, a binding of emotion and purpose that brought them to a level of comfort with each other that he and Hisana had not been able to achieve.

He regretted it…but even then, he had accepted that his love for Hisana had been more like that of a friend for a much beloved friend, not grounded in passion, but in loving protectiveness. Once he found her, he simply couldn't leave her in Inuzuri. And because she was female and a peasant, it would have sullied her reputation to be brought to the manor or placed nearby without there being some understandable…some socially acceptable reason. He hadn't wanted to give anyone the idea he was keeping her nearby for illicit sexual purposes. He couldn't stand the thought of anyone thinking that.

Marrying her was a way to preserve her dignity, although being subjected to his family had been its own punishment. But even so, the way they treated her had never worn down her spirits. Hisana was stronger in heart than most people he knew, a characteristic that had endeared her to him. They had become very close…but he regretted that it came at the cost of having to wed, when both understood that if things had been different, he would simply have been her very closest friend…and she would have been his. They would have shared an association more like that between Rukia and Renji. It was love…deep, honest and not at all sexual. It had been easy to wait until their wedding night to become intimate, because neither had truly desired it. Simply put, it wasn't that kind of love. Still, even now, he knew they had done the only thing they could at the time.

Perhaps that was why he had been so affected by Renji's love for Rukia, for his hatred of the man who took her away, for his dedication to trying to surpass that man, and for his refusal to back down from defending her, even if the cost was his own death. When Byakuya looked at the continued ease and closeness the two shared, it comforted him. It was as though something of what he and Hisana had shared was still alive and well.

"What are you thinking about?"

Byakuya opened his eyes and found himself looking into Renji's. He couldn't answer, but a moment later, it became clear that he didn't need to.

"I know that expression," Renji went on, "You're thinking about her, aren't you? How could you not, right?"

"Renji…"

He paused for a moment, studying the knowing brown eyes that looked back at him with no hint of insecurity, nothing that approached jealousy. He was taken aback by that. Renji saw his expression and smiled.

"You don't have to keep it to yourself. You and I both have a past, Byakuya. If we didn't have that history, if we hadn't taken each of those steps, we wouldn't be here."

Byakuya let the words settle over him and sink in. Slowly, he nodded in agreement.

"The reason I asked what you were thinking…is because that expression, the one I saw on your face reminded me of the way I feel when I think about my friendship with Rukia. I just wondered if it could be that you felt like that about Hisana."

He nodded again.

"She was my first real friend," he told Renji, "We had nothing and everything in common. So it differed from you and Rukia in that we came from two different worlds…but in truth, our values were values shared."

"How did you meet her?"

A slow smile played over his face as he remembered.

"Few know about this, but some time back, the Kuchiki Council of Elders gathered and decided that I was to be named clan leader. They chose me for my power, but even then, they had concerns about my turn of mind, my unwillingness to adhere to rules and council directives. Simply put, I didn't want them invading my life and taking my choices away. And still, they were determined that I should bend to their will. They chose a bride for me and they pressured Ginrei to convince me to go along with the marriage."

"Let me guess," Renji grinned, "You told them you were not interested."

"I did better than that. I disappeared. I had no intention of returning. I disguised my reiatsu and slipped away from the manor. I knew I had to go somewhere that they wouldn't expect to find me, so I went into the toughest part of the Rukongai, having no plan beyond making my own choices."

"Byakuya…sorry, but…that doesn't sound anything like you. No one looking at you would ever mistake you for a street rat…and you're all about duty and not breaking the rules…"

"And that makes perfect sense," Byakuya agreed, "I was nothing like the person you came to know, because by the time you and I met, I had been broken by her death. The council used the situation to gain control…to ensure my obedience and my commitment to the clan rules and codes. Losing Hisana changed everything about me."

"So…before…you said you left and went to Inuzuri. What happened? How did the two of you find each other?" Renji asked curiously.

"I found a small abandoned shack, concealed at the edge of town and I decided to stay there. Of course, I first had to make it as comfortable as possible, so I went into town to buy what I would need for that. I knew I was being carefully watched. Anyone who is able to purchase items legally in Inuzuri is watched and observed to gauge the level of vulnerability. And because I was avoiding attention, I made no move to warn them off with a show of my power. I didn't dare. It would have brought the Elders down on me in seconds. The cost of that was that they believed me to be vulnerable, and a large group of them managed to corner me in an isolated part of town."

"And let me guess…you couldn't just blast them to bits because the Elders would have sensed that," Renji surmised.

"Yes."

"So…what happened?"

"I convinced them that I was not as vulnerable as I looked."

Renji blinked.

"Without releasing Senbonzakura? Without kido? Just…straight fighting?"

Byakuya nodded.

"Unfortunately, their numbers were great enough that I took damage. And after the last had fallen, I knew to disappear before more gathered. I found a nearby building and collapsed in the darkest, most remote corner I could find. And when I regained consciousness, I was in the home of the town doctor. He knew me on sight, but he made no contact with the Elders. He just treated my wounds and was ready to send me on my way. But as I was preparing to leave, I asked him how he found me. He told me that he hadn't…a girl had. He didn't know how to find her, but he gave me her name…Hisana."

"You fell for a girl you didn't even see?" Renji said, laughing.

"No, baka, it took a little more than that…I returned to the shack and made it comfortable and I spent the next several days trying to decide what to do next. I left the shack and walked down to the river. As I stood, looking back at the Seireitei, at Sokyoku Hill in the distance, someone spoke to me."

"Hisana?"

Byakuya nodded.

"She was up in a tree, watching. She said that I shouldn't let my guard down like that or I might end up dead next time. We ended up sitting in the tree talking all night. She didn't ask about my family or why I was there. We only talked about things in the present, about what we were going to do next. I don't know what made me say the words, but I asked her to stay with me…and she agreed. We spent several weeks living side by side, sleeping next to each other. She was my constant companion…but that was where it began and ended with us. We had no desire for anything more."

"Um," Renji said uncertainly, "then how did you end up married?"

"Necessity," Byakuya said softly, "As time went by, she could see that I wasn't happy…that there were things about my life that I missed. She was wise enough to know too, that running from things wasn't the answer, but she let me come to the realization myself. And when I finally told her that I was thinking of returning, she told me that it was the right thing to do. But she…said that she was worried for me."

He stopped and shook his head to clear it.

"I was going back to a life of safety and prosperity…and she was worried about me. I worried for her, too. I knew how hard life was for her, and I didn't want to leave her there. I also didn't want to return to the Seireitei, just to be faced with the situation I had left. So…before I went back, we married. And when I returned home, she came with me."

Renji's eyes widened.

"I'll bet that went over well!" he said, shaking his head.

"There was nothing the Elders could do. The marriage was legal. They had no choice but to go along with it. They held a larger, official wedding and they claimed to accept what we had done, but they never made things easy for her. One night I asked her why she came back with me…why she set herself up for so much grief. She told me that…"

He stopped looked out into the gardens.

"She told me that…her best friend needed her…and that she needed him…and that we were in this together. She said she had no regrets…something she repeated constantly even as she was dying."

"Shit," Renji breathed, "sounds like you two were as close as me and Rukia."

Byakuya turned to look at him.

"We were. So when she asked me to find her sister, I agreed without hesitation…and I promised to protect her as I had protected Hisana. Unfortunately, we had no idea of the toll her death would take on me…how the Elders would use it to overcome my willfulness, to bring me under their control, to twist my mind into knots and turn me into the person you so rightfully despised."

"Hey…that…was before," Renji said, pulling him closer.

Byakuya nodded.

"And thankfully, it is something that we have been able to leave behind us."

They rested quietly for a time, looking out into the gardens and enjoying the cool of the early morning. Renji let his chin rest on top of the noble's head, breathing in the blended scents of morning breezes, of sakura and their lovemaking. He sighed softly in contentment.

"I wouldn't have had a problem with you having really been in love with her, you know," Renji said quietly.

There was a long pause.

"I know that, Renji," Byakuya said finally, "and it is a relief to know that the truth is no longer mine alone."

Renji lifted his head and looked down into the dark eyes.

"You should tell Rukia," he said, leaning forward to kiss the half closed eyelids, "She wants to know more about her sister, but you know she's still scared to death of asking you personal questions like that."

"Nor do I feel comfortable answering them."

He looked up into the loving brown eyes.

"But…if you wish to share this with her, then you have my consent. Just…let it be between you and her."

Renji laughed softly.

"Okay…sure. And Byakuya?"

"Hmm?"

"Arigato…for telling me. It takes trust to share something like that."

The dark eyes blinked slowly.

"I trust you."

XXXXXXXXXX

Renji followed Byakuya out the front entry gate and paused as the noble turned back to face him.

"The taichou's meeting won't take long. I'll be back within the hour."

Renji nodded.

"I'll just make sure everything is as it should be at the office, then I'll meet you back here."

Byakuya nodded, then flash stepped away. He slowed as he grew closer to the Squad One Headquarters, not ready yet to shake off the memory of his wedding night, wanting to go back and wrap himself in Renji's arms and forget about everything else. But duty was duty…

"Hello Byakuya!" Ukitake said from somewhere behind him.

Byakuya waited as the Squad Thirteen taichou caught up and fell into step with him.

"I'd heard you got out of the healing center. I was glad to hear everything was okay. Rukia was quite relieved as well. I nearly didn't send her on to Karakura Town. I knew she didn't want to leave with you being unconscious…"

"Arigato, for your concern, but all is well now," Byakuya assured the other taichou.

Ukitake nodded briefly and the two continued walking and exchanging pleasantries. They were joined moments later by Shunsui. Ukitake smiled warmly as he joined them.

"You're up early today," he commented, "You are usually late for these things."

"Yes…well, I had proper incentive to wake early…" Shunsui commented.

Byakuya tried to ignore the comment, but it sent him back to thinking of waking up next to Renji and he felt a slight warmth touch his cheeks.

"Come now, Shunsui," said Ukitake reprovingly, "You will offend Byakuya."

"My apologies," Shunsui said, touching his hat, "I meant no offense, of course."

"None taken," Byakuya replied, blithely.

They climbed the steps of the First Division Headquarters and moved into the meeting chambers, waiting as the other taichous arrived. Finally, all had assembled except for

Hitsugaya taichou and Soutaichou. The taichous settled into their places as Soutaichou appeared.

"Looks like the youngster is late again," commented Shunsui.

Byakuya nodded silently.

As Soutaichou opened his mouth to speak, the doors opened and Hitsugaya taichou stepped into the room. He opened his mouth to speak an apology, but was stopped as Hyorinmaru suddenly released and Hitsugaya's ice dragon rose up over the taichous. It turned and lowered its head, sweeping toward Byakuya. It hovered in the air before him, staring. Byakuya stared back wordlessly as the other taichous looked on, their eyes wide with curiosity.

So, it is you…

Byakuya froze at the sound of the other zanpakutou in his mind. Senbonzakura stirred uncomfortably, but sent no thought in his direction. Byakuya felt a stinging sensation in the place where the dragon tattoo resided.

"What is the meaning of this?" Soutaichou asked sternly, "Hitsugaya taichou…recall your zanpakutou…You know this is not allowed!"

Hitsugaya furrowed his brow. Byakuya could not hear his thoughts, but he heard the reply.

You don't understand…He's the scion…

The ice dragon slowly faded.

"Very well…let us begin," Soutaichou said, brushing off the incident.

But Byakuya could no longer concentrate. He felt the brush of Hyorinmaru on his mind…and he felt the eyes of the other taichous stealing glances at him. As soon as the meeting ended, Byakuya flash stepped away, leaving the others staring after him. He abandoned all thoughts of meeting Renji, of their plans to spend the day together. He drew down his reiatsu and flash stepped to the back entrance of the manor, out to the waterfall and beyond, into the meadow. He found a quiet place beneath an oak tree and sat for the rest of the afternoon, Hyorinmaru's words ringing in his mind.

You don't understand…He's the scion…