Chapter 6: Unexpected Blessings

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Here, in the darkest of my days, you bring gentle light, calm amidst chaos. You are the bright flower amongst the thorns that reminds me that some things are worth bleeding for.

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Tetsuya sent Arashi through the manor gates without slowing, then stopped him in the courtyard and swept down off the stallions back, scanning the gardens quickly, and finding Renji waiting at the patio table. The redhead smiled in greeting, but even that betrayed the intensity of his emotions.

"Thank kami you got here so fast," Renji said, as Tetsuya joined him at the table, and an attendant served them tea.

"Well, the message said that it was about Byakuya, and that it was urgent. I wondered if maybe you knew something about what is troubling him."

"What," said Renji, shaking his head, "You mean besides being wanted for treason and a whole other shitload of charges?"

"I meant that my cousin suffered what may have been either a very strong hallusination, or his mind may have been attacked."

"What?" exclaimed the redhead.

"So, I was wondering if you had seen any signs that anything was...off with him."

"Off," mused Renji, thinking back, "I mean, he was worried about things, kinda depressed after killing Kouga. He did have a nightmare, a really bad one, but he wouldn't talk about it. But no, there was nothing that seemed like he was attacked, or having hallucinations. But when did this happen? When was he attacked?"

"On the way to Central 46," answered Tetsuya, "But even more troubling is the fact that, whatever it was, it happened in broad daylight, in public, and while he was bound and being led to the Central 46 headquarters."

"Whoa," exclaimed the redhead, looking alarmed, "You mean, he just waltzed through the central senkaimon? With things like they are right now? Is he crazy? He knows he could have..."

"Yes," Tetsuya agreed quickly, "but he alluded to a concern that he had about Central 46 council members from other clans using the advantage of a private surrender to attack him. Which, when combined with the fact that something odd happened on the way to the prison, and that the bindings he wore disappeared so that we could not confirm if they had been tampered with to leave him vulnerable to attack..."

"Ah!" gasped Renji, "Slow down a sec. What exactly happened?"

"I am not sure," Tetsuya said, shaking his head, "When our group passed through the precipice world, we all felt an odd, chilly breeze and sensed an unsettling presence. Byakuya stopped a few steps later, saying that he had heard something. But there was no sign of what it could be, so we went on. Then, he started to look distracted and uncomfortable as we came into the Seireitei. I am not sure what was bothering him, but he did seem unsettled."

"That might have been because of all the attention and stress of turning himself in so publicly, but considering that you and the others had felt something strange..."

"That is what I feel too," agreed the blue-eyed noble, "And I was even more convinced that it was something else when we started to ascend the steps in front of Central 46 and Byakuya...froze."

"He froze?

"He stopped and went white. His eyes looked like he was seeing something terrifying, Renji. He said that his mind was being attacked, and then he collapsed!"

"Is he all right?" Renji asked, jumping up, "I have to go to him, now!"

"You can't," said the noble, placing a hand on his arm and coaxing him back into his chair, "I know you are his vice captain, but a man arrested on capital crimes is only allowed to see immediate family and legal counsel. Do not worry, Renji, I will see that he is protected, but why don't you tell me what brings you."

Renji smiled.

"I'm here about becoming a member of Captain's immediate family," he announced.

Tetsuya blinked and stared at him blankly.

"Gomen nasai, you what?" he asked, looking confused.

Renji looked around to make sure that they were alone, then he leaned closer to Tetsuya.

"Captain told me to tell you, and only you that...the heir has been seeded and we need a document of provisional marriage."

Tetsuya's brow furrowed cutely, and Renji had to bite his lips to keep from laughing as the young noble's expression shot quickly from confusion to utter shock. He took a breath, then shook his head and let it out again, his eyes widening and his jaw dropping as he struggled for words.

"H-he...you what?" he managed, looking as though he couldn't have heard corrected, "The...heir?"

"Eh-heh," chuckled Renji, grinning at his stunned friend, "Easy there, Tetsuya, just take a breath and have a sip of tea, there. And yeah, you heard me right. Captain and I were together last night...as in together-together. He told me about that ancestor of his that was genetically altered. And he told me about his fathers."

"He told you about that?" gasped Tetsuya, reeling, "But...that is...this whole thing is...it's so reckless! No one is supposed to even know. We were all sworn to secrecy. For him to..."

He paused and a guilty look swept over his youthful features.

"Oh kami," he said softly, "He was going to...he could have come to me, and he knows I would have..."

He paused and looked up at Renji, as though seeing him for the first time.

"I am...so very sorry, Renji," he said in a soft, contrite tone, "He never would have had to obligate you like that, but...I locked the family senkaimon. It was...for everyone's safety, but...oh gods, this is all my fault!"

He rested his face in one hand and let out a long, shuddering breath.

"I'm sorry, Renji," he said again, miserably, "I really am! I was just trying to protect him, and to keep the family and staff here insulated from what was happening because of the rebellion of the zanpakutous."

"Hey," said the redhead, "Relax, will you? I don't have a problem with this. I mean, I'm a little freaked out about having a baby, but I love Byakuya. I mean, I didn't know that it was like that. It kinda took me by surprise. And he seemed surprised by how good we are together."

Tetsuya gave him a tentative smile.

"So...Byakuya, he...returns your affections?" he asked softly.

"Oh hell yeah," Renji laughed, "I think we burned the sheets off that bed."

"Renji!" Tetsuya gasped, blushing furiously, "You shouldn't say such things!"

"Well, you asked," chuckled the redhead.

"I meant," the noble said archly, "to ask if he has fallen in love with you."

"I know what you meant," Renji said, grinning, "And yeah, Byakuya told me that he loves me...right before he knocked me out and ran back to the Seireitei and turned himself in. A sure sign of true love, ne?"

"As strange as it seems, I think it is," said Tetsuya, "He was likely worried that there would be trouble, and you being in a delicate condition, he was being protective."

"Hey," the redhead complained, frowning, "I don't care if I'm carrying ten kids. There is nothing about me that's fucking delicate!"

Now it was Tetsuya's turn to laugh.

"It is merely a figure of speech, Renji. It just means that you are with child."

"That's better," Renji said, narrowing his eyes, "I'll bust the ass off the next person who calls me, or anything about me delicate!"

"I'll mind my step," Tetsuya said, shaking his head, "But we need to first confirm the pregnancy, and then you and I will need to go before the elders to request the provisional marriage document."

"Eh, Byakuya didn't say anything about me having to talk to those guys," Renji said nervously, "They aren't going to be too happy about me having sex with their clan leader, ne? You don't think..."

"Well, they won't be pleased," Tetsuya sighed, "but I think that if you just sit quietly and let me do the talking, we will get through this intact. They will probably demand to verify it personally, in this way."

He reached over and placed a hand on Renji's abdomen, letting a gentle swirl of reiatsu sink down into the redhead's body. After a moment, a soft blue light began to glow around the area. It flared brightly for several moments, then faded.

"So...that bunch of old guys is going to ask to put their hands on my belly and make it glow?" asked Renji, looking amused.

"That is how a male pregnancy is confirmed," said Tetsuya, pulling his hand away and straightening.

"Then...it worked? I'm pregnant?" asked Renji, his voice softening and his face lighting up, "You can tell that fast?"

Tetsuya nodded.

"Female pregnancy depends on the physical aspect of joining..."

"I know how that works," Renji laughed.

"Yes, well, in a male impregnation, the reiatsu and seed are delivered into the bearer's body and they combine with the reiatsu of the bearer to form a protective reiatsu chamber. It happens much more swiftly than female impregnation, which is slowed by the need for the egg to travel to, and implant itself in the womb. Male pregnancies may also be shorter in duration because the baby is in reiatsu form until after delivery, so the reiatsu matures at different rates, depending on how powerful the shinigamis who are involved in the seeding. The more powerful the shinigamis, the longer it takes to mature the child."

"So...what, are you saying this could be longer than a female pregnancy?" asked Renji, frowning, "Because I have to tell you..."

"Oh, I do not think it will be longer. But it may take about as long as a female. But there are things one can do to improve the rate of maturity. There is a bonding that Byakuya will probably suggest that can shorten the length of gestation. And it is actually better for the child. Aratani and I are using that kind of bonding to manage her symptoms and to help our baby develop more quickly."

"That's right...you and Aratani," Renji said, smiling, "Hell, maybe you two can give Byakuya and me some pointers...that is...when we get him out of Central 46 and back home."

"Well, we have a ways to go before that. However, we'll get a good start on it."

Tetsuya turned his head and gave a soft whistle, and a moment later, his stallion trotted into the gardens and slid to a stop near the table.

"Well, don't knock it over, baka!" Tetsuya reprimanded him as the stallion eyed Renji for a moment, then stretched out his neck and sniffed the redhead's belly.

"Whoa! Getting a little personal, there, ne fleabag?" Renji complained, swatting him away.

Arashi tossed his head and snorted, then nudged the redhead with his nose. Renji patted the horse on the neck and scratched him behind the ears, making Arashi loose a contented groan and lean towards him.

"All right," said Tetsuya, climbing on the stallion's back, "We need to get to the council hall and then get back to my cousin. I don't want to leave him for too long. I have the clan healer watching him, and Captain Unohana was there when I left, but I don't want those idiots at Central 46 trying to corner him alone. I don't trust them at all."

"Probably a good instinct," Renji agreed, mounting behind the noble and wrapping his arms around Tetsuya's waist, "Now, Fleabag, try not to throw me off."

Arashi gave an equine laugh and broke into a jolting trot.

"Hey!" yelled Renji, "Guy with a baby here!"

"You probably shouldn't say that so loud," Tetsuya advised him, "It is supposed to be a clan secret."

"Yeah, well it won't be if he bounces the kid outta me right here!" Renji objected.

"Enough," said the noble, touching the stallion with his heel, "We need to get to the council hall quickly, Arashi."

Renji held on to Tetsuya more tightly as the stallion stretched out into a fast, smooth gallop, and they quickly put the manor behind them.

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"Are you feeling better?" asked Captain Unohana, smiling at Byakuya as he nodded and took a sip of tea.

"But I will feel better when we have answers about what happened on the way here. I know that what I saw had to be some kind of illusion or hallucination, which is unsettling, because Kouga possessed illusionary powers, and he sent his reiatsu into my body during our battle. I wonder if it couldn't be what caused this."

"It is possible," said the fourth division captain, but I will need to run tests on the samples I took to make any real conclusion. It is still close enough to the time of the battle that there could be aftereffects, but I am not sure that something so profound and so far from the site of the battle could occur. Maybe it is because you carry his reiatsu in your body, and it is intended as a form of attack that it lingers and causes torment. But there are other possibilities as well. And I am equally concerned about the unidentified reiatsu. I need to analyze that to check for harmful properties. I am going to go and get started on all of that. Michio has promised that he will not leave your side until your cousin returns, and he will not allow you to be taken from the infirmary until all of the test results come back."

"Very well," said the noble, nodding, "Thank you, Captain Unohana."

"You are welcome, Captain Kuchiki. And try not to worry. I am sure that you will be out of this place and on your way home soon."

"I hope that is true."

Byakuya watched as the other captain left, then sighed and leaned back against his pillow, sipping at his tea. Michio moved closer, checking his vital signs, and for signs of fever.

"You seem to be coping well, Lord Byakuya," Michio said approvingly, "But, now that we are alone, I must be candid with you. I think that you have taken a rather reckless step."

"What was that?" Byakuya asked, frowning, "What do you mean?"

"I am your personal healer," Michio went on, "Did you think I would not know if the heir had been seeded?"

"Ah," said the noble, "I see. Well, you are aware of the charges against me. And you were also my father's healer, Michio. You know that, although he would never have pressured me, that my father was proud of me...and he looked forward to me leading our clan and carrying on his legacy...and my grandfathers'...and our fathers' before that. Is it reckless to want to see that his wishes were fulfilled? That, at least some part of that old romance carries on?"

"That part makes sense, of course," said the old healer, "I can understand you wanting to see to your father's legacy. You have always done well in honoring his memory. But...Lord Byakuya, even so, I wonder if it was wise, taxing your strength so, when you are about to undergo a trial, and kami forbid, you could be found guilty..."

"Michio, what are you going on about?" Byakuya asked, frowning, "It is not as though I am carrying the heir myself!"

"Ah..." the healer said, extending a palm over the clan leader's abdomen and sending a swirl of reiatsu into the area, "Actually...you are!"

"What?" Byakuya gasped, his eyes widening, "But..."

He thought back to his and Renji's spirited lovemaking, and how the redhead had overthrown him and taken him.

"But...I thought that once I took my partner sexually, our bodes would produce an enzyme that would prevent either of us from other pregnancies until the heir was born!" insisted Byakuya, "How can this have happened?"

Michio sighed and shook his head gently.

"It seems that your sexual partner was a bit too hasty. You see, it still takes several hours after the seeding for the reiatsu chamber to form, and it is that formation that triggers the protective enzyme in the bonded pair."

"Oh," said Byakuya, his eyes flaring, "Oh, I am going to kill him! I am going to wait until these babies are born and I am going to destroy him! How dare he!"

"Erm...Lord Byakuya," Michio said hesitantly, cringing at the hard edge on Byakuya's reiatsu, "There is something else."

"What?" Byakuya hissed, his reiatsu humming threateningly, "What is it?"

"Eh...well, I wonder if I am correct in my recalling that Renji Abarai is in possession of a zanpakutou that contains more than a single spirit?"

"Oh kami, do not tell me that I will have twins!" groaned the noble.

"Ahm..." said the healer, cringing as the clan leader's reiatsu flared again, "I cannot tell how many the reiatsu will yield...only that because you have mated with a wielder of a two spirit zanpakutou, that you will bear in multiples of two."

Byakuya's eyes darkened and his jaw clenched.

"When that man walks into this room, he is a dead man!"

"But you are not alone in your predicament," the healer assured him, "Abarai, too, will bear in multiples of two."

"Oh my kami!" Byakuya groaned, burying his face in his hands in an uncharacteristic display of exasperation, "We are not just bearing an heir, we are having a litter!"