Chapter 4: Monster

Renji placed a hand on Bya's arm, stopping him just short of the entrance to the manor. The noble gazed at him curiously as the redhead tried to consider how best to explain what was needed.

"Look," he said, taking a slender hand in his, "You know that I like you exactly the way you are, right?" he asked.

Bya nodded.

"Of course…that's what you told me already. Why would I not believe you?"

"Well…because…I also have responsibility for bringing you to your senses…and part of doing that is making sure that you don't surprise people with your behavior. Your staff, here at Kuchiki Manor, expects you to act a certain way. I don't understand everything they expect…"

"Oh," said the noble, wide-eyed, "You want me to be stern with them? Is that right?"

"Well…I think that if you are this different so suddenly, they won't be prepared, so it's good for you to change more gradually so it won't be so noticeable."

Bya blinked.

"Hmmm."

"What?" Renji asked.

"Well…" said the clan leader, "I'm kind of confused."

"That goes without saying," smiled Renji, "but tell me, what confuses you?"

"You do," Bya said, studying him closely, "You say that the elders want you to bring me to my senses…but then…you just told me to show my changes more gradually, so that others would be more likely to accept them. How is that 'bringing me to my senses,' Renji?"

The redhead's eyes widened and he caught his breath in realization.

"Sounds to me more like you're trying to bring them to their senses, ne?" the Kuchiki heir said, smiling slyly, "Not that I mind, Renji, but you really should say what you mean, or you might be misunderstood."

Renji stared at him and shook his head slowly.

"Shit!" he said softly, "You may not be like I remember you, but you are still too damned smart…"

"Arigato," Bya said, releasing his hand, "So…stern."

"Yeah…don't smile at them. You always frown…no, not that angry…yeah, more like that. It will be hard for you not to smile once they start talking to you, so maybe I should do the talking and you can…I don't know…just act like you're weary and just want to rest."

"But I'm not tired, Renji…I'm actually quite hungry."

"Yeah, fine, I'll have them get something for you."

Bya nodded.

"Okay, stern…like this?"

"Just like that," Renji said, nodding, "and stand up straighter."

"I am straight!" complained the noble.

"No…you usually stand straighter…with your shoulders back more."

"I'm going to look like I have a metal pipe lodged in my ass, Renji!" Bya said, pouting.

"Exactly…hey, I'm sorry, but it's what they're used to…"

Bya frowned at him cutely.

"And you say my council and all of these people actually prefer me this way? That's so stupid! Who in kami's name would want someone to be such a…a…a priss!"

"Come on, Bya…oh yeah, and I have to call you 'Captain' in front of them."

"Okay, Renji," Bya said nodding, "but…Renji?"

"Yeah?"

"Just so you know…It's nice knowing you just want me to be myself. At least someone does…"

Renji stepped closer, wrapping his arms around the noble, kissing him several times.

"Bya…just 'cause I think it's only right you should know…I loved you before. I loved you then as much as I love you now."

Bya's eyes widened.

"B-but…I was so mean! And…and Renji, you…never said anything!"

Renji lowered his eyes. Bya stared for a moment, then his face fell.

"You didn't say anything because you were afraid I wouldn't like you back."

Renji kissed him again and held him tightly against a warm shoulder.

"It doesn't matter."

"I would have liked you back, you know. I know that…but…I don't think I would have been able to tell you. I was…really mean, Renji."

"No," Renji said, brushing the stray hairs away from his face, "You were really obligated."

"I'm still obligated," said Bya, kissing him again, "but I don't care about all of those other things as much as I care about you. I love you, Renji…and I don't care what anyone says or does. I am not giving you up…not ever!"

Renji sighed softly and held him close for a moment longer. Then, he gently disentangled himself and motioned towards the door.

"Ready?" he asked.

Bya nodded and the two moved forward. Bya stopped at the door and lifted a hand to knock. Renji caught his hand lightly and lowered it.

"Your house, Captain. Just…walk in."

"Oh yes," said Bya, rolling his eyes cutely, "I just…oh, never mind."

He took hold of the handle and opened the door. As they stepped into the entry, a solemn looking woman appeared.

"Welcome home, Lord Kuchiki," she said, bowing.

Bya held the stern face for all of a moment, then stepped forward, smiling and staring.

"Noa," he said, touching the scarf she wore, "that is lovely! You made that, didn't you?"

The women looked confused, surprised and flushed, all in turns. She stared at Bya for a long moment before clearing her throat.

"Ah…yes, Lord Kuchiki, I made it with the help of my daughter."

"Marisa," Bya said, continuing to smile, "she has learned much I think. You are very talented."

"A-arigato…Lord Kuchiki…I ah…will inform the staff of your arrival. Do you have any particular wishes for dinner?"

"Hmmm," Bya said, his eyes bright, "Something very spicy with lots of noodles. Renji loves noodles…oh, but make his not spicy…and be sure he has a double portion of dessert. Renji is fond of sweets. And is Rukia here?"

"R-rukia…oh…Rukia left a message that she was called to a mission in the living world. She send her apologies."

"Oh," said Bya, his eyes turning sad, "and I was so looking forward to seeing her."

"Ah," said Renji, tugging on Bya's arm where the housekeeper couldn't see, "me too. But we'll see her soon. Come now, Captain, you said you were weary…remember?"

"Oh!" said Bya, catching himself, "Yes…I'm awfully tired. Let me know when dinner is ready. Come Renji, let's go to our room."

"Your… "

"Ah…my room."

Renji half dragged him down the hallway.

"What was all of that?" he asked, exasperated, "I thought you were going to be stern!"

"But…she had on a new scarf…and did you see it? It was beautifully made, Renji. It wouldn't have been polite not to notice!"

"Yes…but didn't you see her face? You just scared the shit out of her!"

"W-wait!" said Bya, stopping short, "I scared her? By being polite? Renji…I was a monster before…wasn't I? I was just…beastly!"

"No…" Renji sighed, slipping an arm around him, "You were noble."

"Hmpf," huffed Bya, continuing down the hall, "Same damned thing if you ask me!"

"Bya…don't swear."

"Why not?"

"Because when you do that, you kinda sound like me. And it's not proper."

"Renji?" Bya sighed, stepping into his room, "Do I ever get to be myself without having to apologize for it?"

"Yeah," Renji laughed softly, "when we're alone."

The redhead caught his breath sharply as the door slammed shut and he was dragged across the room and thrown down onto the bed. Bya's body landed roughly on top of his and the noble's mouth found his and promptly invaded it.

"Wh-wha…" Renji managed between kisses.

"We're finally alone!" Bya said, kissing him again, "We can have sex now, Renji."

Slender hands attacked the knot at his waist as the noble's hungry mouth bit down on his throat. Warm, eager hips thrust into his and Renji felt the heat in the noble's loins. He stared up into Bya's beautifully riled features and felt a jolt of guilt. He caught the lovely face in his hands and gazed at him regretfully.

"R-renji, what's wrong?" Bya asked, his eyes beginning to darken, "Y-you do…want to have sex with me…don't you? You said that…"

"I know," Renji said, kissing him gently, "I love you…and believe me…I am really…incredibly…painfully…tempted. But I am here to help you recover from the hollow attack. And think about it, if you eventually go back to being the way you were…how will you feel if I disrespected that person I knew by taking advantage while he was weak."

Tears rose in Bya's eyes.

"So that's what you think of me?" he whispered, his voice trembling, "You think I'm weak? I know I don't have my powers…and my zanpakutou left me…but, Renji…you made me feel like I was strong anyway…until just now."

Renji froze, staring.

"Bya…that's not what I meant…"

"I could understand the rest of them thinking that," Bya went on, choking on the words, "but I thought that you were different. Renji…you saw me, even when I was trapped inside that mean person that I used to be. You knew I was there! And you are the only one who seemed to like me the way I am now. I…I loved you for that. B-but I didn't know you only treated me like that because you thought I was weak and couldn't take care of myself!"

"Bya, that's not…"

"Leave me alone!" the noble hissed, turning away.

Bya pulled free of the redhead and stood. Tears broke free of his eyes and ran down a face that expressed deep hurt, but still somehow managed to look proud. His lips parted, as though he wanted to say something more, but then it closed again and Bya disappeared out the garden doors.

"Bya! Captain…wait!" yelled Renji, flash stepping after.

Bya crossed the garden so fast that it sent the petals from the sakura trees flurrying in his wake. He burst out the back gate and onto the forest trail. He left the trail and darted into the trees, soft, broken sobs bursting from him as he ran. He heard Renji trying to follow and moved faster, his lithe form flashing between the trees at a reckless pace.

"Shit," muttered Renji, "He has no fucking powers, but managed to hang on to that brutally fast flash step! Huh, just my luck."

Bya angled up a long hill, then shot down the other side, crossed the trail and headed for the edge of a cliff near a large waterfall.

"Bya, stop!" yelled Renji.

The noble pushed his flash step even harder. He had nearly reached the edge of the cliff, when he realized that a dark shape had risen out of the bushes ahead of him and was moving to intercept him. Bya broke off, but continued to slide forward. The creature rose up, producing a wickedly sharp, jagged sword. As the noble reached him, he swung the sword down. Renji gasped and shot forward as Bya's flash step engaged and the noble launched himself, not away, but directly at the creature.

"Bya!" Renji screamed.

XXXXXXXXXX

Byakuya woke from the odd dream he'd been having, with Renji's voice still ringing in his ears. He shook his head to clear it and peered out of the reiatsu cage. Seeing no hollows outside the cave and sensing none around, he opened the cage and slipped out, still carefully concealing his reiatsu. He realized suddenly that he was not alone in the cave. The green hollow had returned and had likely been asleep until he emerged. Now trapped and unable to escape, it cowered in the corner as Byakuya moved forward and drew his blade.

The creature squealed and curled into a ball and Byakuya found it difficult to believe that a hollow with such cowardice and such abysmally low spiritual pressure could have attacked him. He wondered briefly if it was a gender based disparity…or if some were born powerful and some were not. In any case, the hollow he faced was no kind of threat to him and it would be a waste of effort to kill it…not to mention, he would be risking discovery using his powers like that. Instead, he sheathed his blade and left the cave. He climbed to the top of a ridge and carefully reached out with his senses. He found the direction of the nearest base and started in that direction, managing his speed carefully, so that he would have a reserve of energy if he was attacked. As he traveled forward, he recalled the battle with the other green hollow…the one having such strong spiritual pressure…that had attacked him with a spirit scythe that apparently transported him deep into Hueco Mundo. He wondered at that. Certainly, it took him out of the battle and inconvenienced him, but it didn't eliminate him. He wondered if the technique was only used when the creature felt it was no match for its enemy…that instead of engaging…it used this to escape hopeless battle. He wondered at the fact that the two creatures looked exactly the same, but one was highly dangerous and one was not.

He continued walking and pondering until he sensed a change in the reiatsu around him and flash stepped into a cluster of rocks. He peered out from behind them as the reiatsu grew. After several minutes, a small group of cloaked figures appeared. They stood close together, talking softly.

"I saw him go this way. He has to be close."

Byakuya peered through the darkness, trying to decide if they were shingami or hollow.

"Well, what have we here?" said a gruff voice.

Byakuya rose up and blocked the man's hand as it attempted to smash a rock down onto his head. Immediately, the other men stiffened, then seeing Byakuya draw his weapon, flash stepped forward, drawing their own swords.

"Desert Dwellers!" Byakuya spat, "You are only going to die. Leave now and I may spare your lives."

"Get him!"

Five swords flared and released, all sending their attacks at him at once. Byakuya stood firm as the attacks descended on him, using his reiatsu alone to stop them all. Power exploded around him as their attacks shattered and threw sand in all directions. The Desert Dwellers stood staring as the man they had attacked reappeared, unhurt and flash stepped towards them. Without another word, he cut them down, leaving their bloodied corpses lying in the sand. He turned away, hastening his step as he realized that he had been sensed. There was no time, he realized, to raise a reiatsu cage. There was only time to run…