Chapter 4: Siren Song
Renji felt a hard shiver move through Byakuya and noticed suddenly how hot the noble's skin felt against his. He pressed a cool hand to Byakuya's face and felt another shiver move through him. The dark eyes that opened and met his looked glazed and fevered.
"Bya, you don't look so good," he said, gently stroking the noble's dark hair, "You want me to get Hanatarou back in here?"
His lips moved, but the words were unintelligible. Renji pulled free of him and prepared a cool, wet cloth and a cup of hot tea. He gently brushed the cloth over Byakuya's heated skin, sending more shivers through him. He brought the tea to his lips and the noble managed a few small sips.
"Sae…zuru…zet…Sae…zuru…Sae…" the noble whispered incoherently.
Renji furrowed his brow.
"What are you saying?" he asked softly, brushing his face with the cool cloth.
Byakuya accepted another small sip of the tea, then fell back onto the pillow, moaning and speaking in scattered, nonsensical bits of words. Renji shook his head and smiled sadly.
"Can't make out a word you're saying," he admitted, continuing to stroke the raven black hair lightly, "Bya, I think you've been spending too much time down in that archive!"
He slipped back into bed and held Byakuya against his shoulder, releasing his reiatsu and letting it surround him. He focused his thoughts and tried to pick out any coherent thoughts registering in the noble's mind, but the link seemed weaker than usual and the thoughts that did register were as garbled as his words. Renji gave up trying to understand the words and put himself to the task of curling his body around the noble's, keeping him warm and comfortable, and holding a steady field of healing energy around him. His efforts seemed to work after a fashion and the noble's fever broke. Renji sponged away the sweat from his skin and felt a sense of relief when the dark eyes opened and looked at him with markedly more lucidity. He opened his mouth to speak and then closed it again as he noticed for the first time, the eyes that stared back at him. The normally steel gray eyes now had a ring of dark blue around the rim of the black centers. And the eyes looked back only half aware of who they were looking at.
"That is definitely not normal," Renji commented, sponging the noble's face and offering him more tea.
Byakuya sipped at the tea and regarded Renji as though he barely remembered the redhead. He reached out and touched Renji's face, lingering over the tattoos, saying nothing, but continuing to look at him as though seeing him for the first time. Renji felt something like adrenaline shoot through him and realized that he was trembling. Deciding that he couldn't tolerate things any more, he left Byakuya dozing and stepped out into the garden where the Rikichi, Hotaru and their baby had joined Rukia, Takeo, Takeshi, Chisaki and Hajime for breakfast. Their bubbling conversation died as they registered the look on Renji's face.
"Where's Hanatarou?" he asked, looking around.
"He was called back to the fourth division," Takeo explained, "There was an attack on the detail in Karakura Town. There were quite a number of injured. I told Hanatarou that I would watch Hajime until Shoji arrived. What's wrong with Baykuya?"
"He…um, well, he seems to have something flulike…but I think that there may be something else going on."
Hajime wordlessly jumped up from his place at the table and ran to the bedroom. He was halfway to the bed when he skidded to a stop and stared wide eyed at the noble. Byakuya stared back at Hajime with the same half aware expression he had given Renji. Renji and Takeo stepped into the room behind him and moved to his side as Takeshi and Chisaki watched from the doorway.
"Hajime?" queried Renji, gazing at the boy's frozen form.
The boy's features suddenly filled with terror and he screamed and ran to Renji, crying hysterically. Renji knelt and held the terrified boy close, speaking softly to him and trying to get him to calm. Finally, he swept the boy into his arms and carried him outside the room. He held the sobbing child against him until the crying and shaking slowed and stopped. Takeshi and Chisaki looked on pale-faced and Takeo stared out the door from inside.
Renji loosened his arms and reached up to brush away the boy's tears. Hajime stared at him, then turned to look into the bedroom, whimpering.
"Hajime," said Renji gently, "What is it? Can you tell me what's wrong?"
Hajime trembled against Renji's shoulder and struggled to find his voice. When he did speak, the others listened and looked on in stunned silence.
"Daddy Bya…" the boy said, choking on his words, "there's something inside him!"
"Okay," said Renji calmly, turning to face Takeshi, "Takeshi, could you sit with Byakuya for a while? Just keep his face and neck cool and keep giving him tea."
He turned to Takeo.
"Takeo, take Hajime and Chisaki down to the fifth division. Shoji should be back real soon. You can meet him there and walk back after."
"Do you need any help?" Rukia asked from the walkway behind him.
Renji looked up at her with a grateful expression.
"Could you get the babies their breakfast?" he asked.
"I'll give you a hand," said Hotaru, handing her own baby to Rikichi.
The two women flash stepped away. Takeshi walked into the bedroom and sat down next to Byakuya, leaning forward to gently sponge his face and neck. Takeo approached Renji and Hajime, and lifted the boy into his arms. Chisaki followed as they made their way toward the front of the manor.
"What are you going to do?" asked Rikichi, holding his daughter against his shoulder.
"I'm going to speak to Captain Unohana," he explained, "I just wanted to get Hajime out of here. This really freaked him out. I don't think I've ever seen him that scared. He looked terrified. And I understand why. Byakuya's not acting like himself…Something's really wrong and I'm going to find out what it is!"
"Dad," said Takeshi softly, "Are you feeling any better?"
Byakuya blinked slowly, several times, and he looked at Takeshi questioningly.
"Takeshi?" he queried, as though not quite certain, "Where is Renji?"
Takeshi smiled encouragingly.
"He went to talk to Captain Unohana. He wanted to get the results of the tests they did before."
Byakuya nodded and tried sitting up. Takeshi pushed him back gently.
"Renji said not to let you out of bed. It's better if you rest some more."
He offered Byakuya the cup of tea and Byakuya sipped at it. Takeshi could see that he was shivering again and adjusted the blankets. He touched his father's face and shook his head.
"You're feverish again," Takeshi said, sponging his face lightly with the wet cloth.
"I'll be fine, Takeshi," Byakuya assured the teen.
Takeshi nodded.
"I know that," he said, smiling, "but Renji wanted me to take care of you while he is gone, so that's what I'm going to do."
Now Byakuya smiled and squeezed Takeshi's hand. Then he closed his eyes and seemed to drift off to sleep again. Takeshi remained at his side, checking every so often for fever and sponging his face to cool him. After a time, he heard footsteps on the walkway and soft voices. He looked up and smiled as Chisaki and Shoji stepped into the room.
"Where are Takeo and Hajime?" he asked Chisaki.
"They went to walk to the lake. Hajime is still pretty upset about Dad."
Takeshi nodded in acknowledgement.
"Shoji," he said softly in greeting, "good to see you back. How was Karakura Town? I heard you guys had some excitement."
Shoji nodded.
"Big hollow attack," he said, looking over at Byakuya, "lots of menos, you know. So how is your dad?"
"He's in and out, but he seems better than he was. I just wonder what's taking Renji so long. He went to talk to Captain Unohana and I thought they would be back by now."
"So, Takeshi said that they want me to stay here for awhile?" Shoji asked.
"Yes," Chisaki said, nodding, "Hajime has been sleepwalking and he kept hearing singing…and someone calling him. It's been really odd. We are all kind of on edge because we know that something is going on…and we know something is going to happen, but right now there isn't really anything we can do. Our dads wanted you to come and stay close to Hajime…to kind of watch over him."
"Because of the weird stuff happening?" Shoji said questioningly.
Chisaki nodded.
"That and…" she said, leaning close to him, "only the immediate family knows, but they said that you should be told since you'll be protecting Hajime…Shoji, Hajime has replaced Prince Kazuhiko as the Crown Prince."
Shoji's eyes went wide.
"You're kidding!" he said softly.
"Not even close to it," Takeshi said quietly, "The prince was unhappy because of what his mother and sister did to Hajime Kuchiki and then how the queen tried to massacre our family and kill the king. He felt that the only right thing for him to do was to prevent the relations of the queen from inheriting the throne. Instead, he wanted the throne to go to Hajime Kuchiki's descendants. They were going to name Renji Crown Prince, but he refused, so that made our Hajime next in line. It's being kept secret, but our dads said it was all right to tell you. He had to inform the council, but no one else in the Seireitei outside of our immediate family is supposed to know. They're worried that someone might try to hurt him."
"I can see why they're worried," Shoji acknowledged, "So much bad stuff has happened. You know, my mom and dad are still so sad over losing my brothers and sister. I think about them all of the time too. It's really lonely at home. But my mom is glad I got an assignment here. And she's always really happy when you guys stop by. And the best news of all? She just found out that she is going to have a baby!"
"Shoji, That's wonderful!" exclaimed Takeshi, "I'm so happy for you and your folks!"
"Thanks," Shoji said gratefully, "I can't wait to find out if I'm going to have a little brother or a sister! Either one is fine…I'm just excited about finding out!"
Takeshi turned back to Byakuya and adjusted the blankets.
"Renji should be back soon," he commented, "When he gets here, we should take Hajime and go swimming. That should help keep his mind off everything."
Chisaki nodded.
"Good idea."
"But I don't have a swimsuit," said Shoji.
"Ah, Chisaki can help you find a pair of my shorts you can wear."
"Come on," Chisaki said, taking his arm and starting out the door.
Takeshi leaned over Byakuya, frowning as he realized that the fever seemed worse again. He sighed and brushed the cool cloth over his face, talking to him in a low, soothing voice. It seemed odd to him that their roles here were reversed. He remembered Byakuya tending him many times when he was sick while growing up. He sighed, gazing down worriedly at his father, thinking about how many times he had depended on Byakuya and Renji's strength to get him through things. And although he hated Byakuya being ill, he did feel good about finally being able to return the favor.
"Oh good! You're back," Takeshi said, smiling in relief as Renji entered the room.
His smile faded slightly as he spotted Captain Unohana following Renji into the room.
"Oh, not to worry," she said reassuringly, "I am only here to conduct a more thorough examination."
"Why don't you go join the others down at the lake?" Renji suggested, "I promise I'll come down and let you know what's happening as soon as there is news."
Takeshi looked back at Byakuya doubtfully, but nodded and left the room. Renji closed the garden doors and returned to Byakuya's side. Captain Unohana pulled back the blankets, smiling as Byakuya's eyes opened and he gazed up at her dazedly. She leaned forward and studied his eyes carefully.
"You were right about the change in coloring," she commented, "Byakuya…how are you feeling?"
He didn't answer, but kept staring up into her eyes. Renji sighed in frustration.
"All we get is a few understandable words and a lot of incoherence. And you said that there was something odd in the test results?"
Unohana nodded, smiling down at Byakuya and offering him a sip of tea.
"Yes, there was something odd. That's why I thought he needed the closer examination," she explained, leaning forward again, "Byakuya, I will need to loosen your clothing for the examination."
Byakuya gave no response, but did not object when she opened his top and studied his abdomen carefully.
"The tests that we took detected a second reiatsu in Byakuya's body," she explained, extending her hands over him and calling forth her power.
Byakuya flinched, but then sighed and seemed to lose awareness again.
"Being that he had your twin girls, I need to verify that he is not carrying any additional children. That would be one reason for the oddity."
"Wha…you mean he could be pregnant again?"
She moved her hands over the noble's abdomen.
"He isn't," she concluded, "so I also need to be certain that there are no foreign bodies that have been placed within him."
She furrowed her brow thoughtfully.
"I don't sense that any item has been placed in his body. This feels different. The reiatsu I sense here has bonded with his. It is one that is close to his, but there are several differences."
"So what does this mean? What's happening to him?" Renji asked anxiously.
Unohana frowned and increased her power. Byakuya shifted uncomfortably and moaned softly.
"This reiatsu is clinging tightly to his," she explained, "It is too weak to survive on its own, but it is strong enough that it is interfering with Byakuya's personality and responses. I think that the best thing to do would be to move him to the healing center to take a more complete scan of his body."
"So…whatever this is, I mean, is it something you can…"
Captain Unohana looked him full in the eyes.
"Renji, to be completely honest, I do not know. I have never encountered anything like this before."
