Chapter 4: Silk and Steel

If Kuchiki Byakuya was possessed of strong will and power to match it, Abarai Renji was equally gifted with extreme stubbornness, a knack for fixing things, and an undeniable gift for dealing with creatures of high spirits. He put all of these to good use, trying to loosen his taichou's closely guarded tongue.

Byakuya's first act after refusing to discuss the details of his injury was to order his errant fukutaichou to fix the door he had broken down. His brown eyes nearly glowing red, Renji briefly abandoned the battle of wills to put himself to that task. As he worked at fixing the door, however, his mind was already planning round two of their battle.

As Renji went about fixing the door, Byakuya gingerly removed his haori and not wanting to endure the pain of getting up to hang it properly, he hung it instead over the chair he found within reach of the bed. Renji watched, fully aware that Byakuya was a stickler for details. This was completely out of character for him, so he must be enduring not a small amount of pain. Next, his taichou removed the ginpaku kazahana no uzuginu and it joined the haori on the chair. Now Renji was certain that he was hurting, because he was sure he had never seen his taichou do such a thing. The gloves were removed next. Then he reached for the kenseiken. Out of the corner of his eye, Renji saw him wince and stop moving for a moment, blinking and taking a slow breath. Then he forced his arms to move and despite the pain, managed not to drop the headpiece as he set it on the chair as well. Now wearing just a shihakushou, he sank down slowly onto the bed, relieved not to have to support his body weight any longer.

Renji carefully reset the door on the hinges and applied glue to hold in place a piece that had broken. He closed and bolted the door from the inside, then returned to his taichou and calmly announced that, because of the drying glue, the door should not be opened for several hours.

At the news, Kuchiki Byakuya's eyes narrowed. He had not missed the look of challenge in his fukutaichou's eyes.

Abarai Renji's first 'attack' was to slowly deprive his taichou of the rest of his clothing, which he managed by offering to use his healing skill to relieve whatever pain he was feeling. Aware that Renji possessed better than average healing skills and being badly in need of some form of relief, Kuchiki Byakuya calmly accepted the offer. No explanation asked, none given.

Renji took his time with the healing, treating Byakuya's aching body to a slow assault of gentle healing touches and flows of spirit energy. Even as he gradually relaxed and dozed under the ministrations of his fukutaichou, Kuchiki Byakuya remained on guard for anything that felt like manipulation. When the healing was done, Renji prepared a cup of herbal tea and after it was finished, sent his taichou off to sleep with that odd method he had used to help him fall asleep before. As alert as he was to manipulation, Byakuya missed the beginning of the true battle. He was far too comfortable and far too deeply asleep.

As his taichou slept, Renji slipped out of his clothes and into bed next to Byakuya. He nuzzled his way into his taichou's embrace and dozed for a time before treating himself to the pleasure of running his fingers through the silken black hair, placing light kisses on the perfect mouth and soft throat. His hands slowly explored the soft skin of his chest and abdomen, before moving on to touch him more intimately.

A dark eye opened and glared at him warningly. Renji's hand withdrew, but continued to move gently over his taichou's body, soothing him and coaxing him back to sleep. And while his taichou slept, Renji waited. He waited and smiled, knowing now that he had the upper hand.

Strangely, even as he slept peacefully in Abarai Renji's arms, Kuchiki Byakuya was convinced that he was still in perfect control. He was about to be proven wrong.

Some time later, he woke to the realization that although he remained perfectly comfortable, he was unable to move beyond breathing and speaking. That meant that he could not use his sword or kido (which required incantation and motion) to address his situation. He angrily ordered his subordinate to release him, at which time Renji calmly reminded him that it was still daytime and they could be heard if he shouted. Naked and restrained on his bed, Byakuya decided not to chance having anyone else burst into the room to find him in such a disgraceful state. Instead he glared dangerously up at his fukutaichou and described in great detail what he would inflict upon said fukutaichou if he was not released immediately.

Abarai Renji couldn't help but be a bit chilled at the description. Byakuya had a quick temper and was known to have a heavy hand when crossed, but Renji estimated that he could work around that as long as his efforts occurred before his powerful taichou broke the restraints and ended the battle. Because there was no question in either man's mind that he could, and would free himself. Renji's success or failure was dependent on convincing his taichou that he didn't want to be freed, and he had a very short time in which to accomplish the task.

He carefully avoided kissing his taichou on his angry mouth and so was treated to an array of heated threats as he worked his way slowly from head to toe, treating each area with the loving attention of his mouth and hands. As his touches broke through his taichou's seething anger, the body beneath him slowly began to relax. Renji wasn't asking any questions and given that the contact was pleasant and non-threatening, Byakuya quietly gave himself over to enjoyment of it, all of the while considering how to punish Abarai later for stepping over the set boundaries of their association.

Feeling the retreat of his taichou's anger, Renji began a gentle seduction, first using touches meant to relax him, then deepening into the type intended to end in frenzied lovemaking.

Now Byakuya was straining against the kido that held him, but straining for more and deeper contact. Renji rested his body on top of Byakuya's and calmly explained the facts of the situation to him.

"Now, I figure I have about sixty seconds from the time you seriously decide to fight me and the moment you free yourself. In that sixty seconds, I can indulge you in something ultimately pleasant for both of us, but it might be a little degrading for you. The other option is for you to tell me what happened, after which I will free you and you can choose to punish me in any way you like."

No one was more surprised than Abarai Renji when Kuchiki Byakuya managed escape in ten seconds and the fukutaichou suddenly found himself restrained and looking up into a pair of mocking dark eyes.

"You were saying something, Fukutaichou?" Byakuya asked serenely.

"Ah…no, not really. I just meant to ask if you were feeling better now that you've rested, Taichou," Renji said, swallowing hard.

Shit!

"I see," Byakuya said, his lips twitching ever so slightly in amusement, "Abarai fukutaichou, I think it is time we established a few ground rules for our…'association.' First, I am never to be restrained in any fashion…"

He leaned close and delivered the rest into Renji's ear.

"…unless I specifically request it."

The words and heated breath sent a tremor through Renji.

"Secondly, I and no one else will decide what degradations I will be willing to endure…and you will offer no argument or manipulation, verbal or physical."

He slid a soft palm down the length of his fukutaichou's torso, moving slowly into the tangle of curls at its base and wrapping his hand firmly around Renji's swiftly hardening member. His fukutaichou almost launched off of the bed a moment later when his taichou slowly lowered himself and began to return the kind of pleasure that Renji had given him. It became immediately obvious to Renji that Byakuya was both highly intelligent and keenly observant as his manipulations swiftly brought his stunned fukutaichou very quickly to the edges of oblivion. There he paused and glared down at Renji.

"Third, I will share what things I think you should know, but I will not be forced to bare my soul at your command. Neither will I force information from you, but I hope you will yield it as you deem it necessary and appropriate."

He lowered himself as before, bringing Renji once again, painfully close to release. The redhead groaned when he relinquished his hold to deliver the next condition.

"Fourth, because of a situation within my clan, I must ask that you do not make it known that we have become…intimate. We may be able to be more open about this later on, but the situation is volatile right now."

"Shit!" Renji exclaimed, "That's what happened to you, isn't it? Those fucking Elders beat the hell out of you, didn't they?"

Byakuya's mouth took hold of his, and treated him to a long, penetrating kiss that left him too breathless to speak.

"Shh," Byakuya admonished him gently, "I am not finished."

Renji shivered and groaned happily as the noble's body slowly joined with his.

"Fifth…until I decide I am ready to experience it, I will take and not be taken."

Renji suddenly realized that he had been released by whatever force had been restraining him so that he could move again. The resulting shock of pleasure tore a gasp from his throat. His eyes fixed on Renji's blissful expression, Byakuya continued his intimate assault until Renji arched his back, moaning and released. The sound and the beautiful expression on his face brought Byakuya to climax shortly after. He fell heavily onto Renji's chest and lay there panting and slowly recovering. It was some time before he could deliver the last of his conditions. This last was delivered with light breathy kisses on the shell of an ear.

"And you may call me Byakuya when we are alone like this."

He turned so that his body rested against Renji's side and his head rested gently on one tattooed shoulder.

"Any questions?"

Renji could barely surface to give him an answer.

"None that I can think of right now…Byakuya."

"Good," Byakuya whispered, "I'm pleased we understand each other. It will make things much easier. Now I can conserve my energy for fighting the Elders."

"Taichou, you know I would understand if you didn't want to…to do this. I know how vile those people can be," Renji said, quietly stroking Byakuya's hair.

"What…nobles?" Byakuya said in a voice that sounded both distant and sad, "Anyone can be vile, Renji. Just like anyone can be honorable. I don't know why they have to be that way. They had this same reaction when I married Hisana."

"They beat you like this?" Renji asked, his voice low and angry.

"No…they weren't that determined to stop me then. They were concerned that I wouldn't marry at all. Finally, they decided to accept her because half-blood heirs are better than none. But my association with you precludes heirs altogether."

"That assumes we have a future," Renji said softly, "Is that what you want? Something long term…serious?"

"You're asking if I'm just using you because I'm alone. Think Renji, I didn't go for fifty years without a sexual partner so that I could indulge in short-term gratification now. I've never been one to waste my time seeking something that wasn't intended to last. So if that is your goal, Renji, you need to say so now."

Abarai Renji was silent for a time, which he spent placing a series of light kisses on Byakuya's face and throat. Finally, he answered.

"Byakuya, it's strange. Up until the day of the execution, I wanted to surpass you, to beat you…but something changed when you saved Rukia and it changed even more when I heard about what happened with your wife. You aren't the person I hated for taking Rukia away…or even the taichou I served up until now. You kept yourself hidden beneath rules, regulations and that damned pride of yours. I used to think you thought yourself superior because you're a noble, but you weren't too superior to marry a peasant woman for love. I thought that because you seemed to support Rukia's execution, that you were heartless, but a heartless man would not have been willing to step in front of Rukia when Gin attacked her. And since I stayed with you in the Squad 4 Healing Center, you've been doing something else unexpected…you let me take care of you. I really thought you had way too much pride to allow that."

"And?"

"And when you kissed me that first time, you surprised the hell out of me. Everything since has been a surprise too. I've figured out that I didn't know you at all. And I love the person I'm getting to know now. I love who you really are, Taichou."

"I think I've had it too easy, Renji. You are who you always have been. I love the friend who protected Rukia growing up. I love the warrior who fought to save her…even though he could have died for it. I love the loyal fukutaichou who stands by me and cares for me. I love who you are too, Renji."

"So what happens now?" Renji asked softly, "If you keep seeing me, won't the Kuchiki Elders come after you again?"

"No," Byakuya said in a worried tone, "They'll come after you. That's why we have to be exceptionally careful, Renji. There is a spy on staff at the manor. And I have felt eyes watching at other times."

"You do know that it won't work forever. They're going to figure things out eventually. What will we do then?" Renji asked.

Byakuya sighed heavily.

"I don't know. I just know I don't want to be without you, Renji. I don't want to be alone like I was for so long."

"You won't be," Renji promised, holding him more tightly, "I'm not going anywhere. And if you're lousy Elders do anything to hurt us, they will pay. "

"Renji…" Byakuya whispered, his dark eyes intense.

"You and I will make them pay."

Byakuya gave a small sigh.

"You have no idea what they'll do to have their way," he said softly.

"Byakuya," Renji said smiling, "The only one who is going to have his way with you…is me."

"Yes…" Byakuya whispered, "as long as you follow the rules…and remember your place."

"My place?" Renji repeated, "My place…is with you."

"That's what I meant Abarai fukutaichou," Byakuya said with the slightest fleeting trace of a smile.

Renji had to admit that despite his taichou's ability to halt his efforts at coercion, he was, in fact, pleased with how things had worked out. He was now in a serious relationship with the beautiful, complex noble. And it was going to be quite an adventure. Kuchiki Byakuya was very high strung, proud, untamed, and brazenly defiant. And those were just the things Abarai Renji loved most about him.

He wrapped his body warmly around his taichou's and they drifted off to sleep together.