Chapter 6: Storm
"Do you feel that?" said Gin, sitting up and staring toward the cave entrance.
Toshiro sat up alongside him, blinking.
"A power surge of some kind near here."
Gin's eyes widened.
"It isn't just any power surge…it's him!" Gin exclaimed, climbing to his feet and hurriedly beginning to dress.
As he fastened the tie at his waist, he suddenly noticed that Toshiro hadn't moved, and that he was looking up at Gin with a serious expression. The look stopped Gin and made him walk back across the cave and kneel in front of the young taichou.
"So just like that, you're going back to him?" Toshiro asked in a very quiet voice.
Gin lowered his eyes.
"If you took my response as an indication that I want to return to him…don't. I have no wish to return to Aizen Sosuke. But you know my situation, Toshiro. Aizen Sosuke needs my power, now more than ever, because he will try to go back and retake Las Noches."
"And you will help him?" Toshiro asked softly, "After everything he's done to you? After being with me like that? Why? Why would you do that, Gin?"
Gin sighed and looked up at Toshiro, opening his eyes and allowing them to meet the other's. Toshiro caught his breath at the sadness he saw there.
"Aizen Sosuke will find me wherever I go. I have no choice but to return to him and help him. He has carefully bound my life to his and I am helpless to escape him."
"Then we should kill him, Gin," Toshiro said with conviction, "Aizen Sosuke deserves to die. You do see that, don't you?"
Gin nodded.
"He does deserve to die…but I cannot kill him yet. There is something that he holds over me…something I have never revealed to anyone…but I will tell you. I think you should know the truth, Toshiro. You should know why I cannot yet leave."
Toshiro's eyes narrowed.
"Tell me then," he said, his eyes glittering like ice chips in the darkness, "Tell me what Aizen Sosuke holds over you."
Gin kept his eyes opened and locked on Toshiro's.
"I will tell you…but you must not speak of it to anyone. Not even Rangiku."
Toshiro considered for a moment, then nodded. Gin took a breath.
"I have a daughter," he said softly.
Toshiro's eyes widened slightly.
"A daughter? With him?" he asked quickly.
Gin lowered his eyes.
"Not his…with Rangiku," he admitted, "You know she and I…"
"I know you were more than friends at times…but why would she never mention this?" Toshiro gasped softly.
"She doesn't remember," Gin said, blinking back a threatening tear, "Remember…he has great power…and he has been my lover for many years. He was furious when he found out she was with child. He abducted her and took her to Las Noches. He was able to use his laboratory to age the child in her womb and deliver her. I was there when she was born. He let me hold her for a few minutes, then he had her sent away. He says that once he is king, he will tell me where she is hidden and I will be reunited with her."
"But you know that he is going to kill you…right?"
Gin nodded.
"I have tried finding any hint of where she could be…but I have been unsuccessful so far. She would still be just a baby. This happened a very short time before he revealed himself and we left the Seireitei," he explained.
Gin sighed.
"So you see, I have to return to him. I have to figure out where he took her…and when I find her, I have to find a way to take her to Rangiku. I will never lead a safe life, but perhaps our daughter can. She should have the chance. She should know who she is."
Toshiro went silent for a moment, listening to the storm that still raged outside.
"You say Aizen is still alive," he said quietly, "and you must return to him. Does that mean you know where he is or where he will go?"
Gin nodded.
"He opened a garganta to the living world. If he was injured, he will seek healing there before trying to retake Las Noches. I have to help him, because I need to stay close to him until I find my daughter."
Toshiro nodded.
"I understand now."
He leaned forward and kissed Gin lightly on the mouth.
"I will go with you as far as the living world and stay nearby as you rejoin him. Then…I will do what I can to help you find your daughter. If we can do that…you can escape him and go to the living world. I can help to conceal you from him. You won't be alone, Gin. I promise. I will help you…and you know that Rangiku will, too."
Gin stared.
"Why? Why are you helping me, Toshiro? This will be dangerous…"
Toshiro's eyes met his.
"I am doing this for the same reason I offered my help all of those years ago, Ichimaru Gin," he said, leaning forward to kiss him again.
"You help me for her?" Gin asked softly.
Toshiro shook his head.
"I help you because I care for you."
Gin found his smile suddenly returning.
"Now," said Toshiro, reaching for his clothes, "We need to catch up with him. You say you can find him?"
Gin nodded and watched as Toshiro dressed and wrapped the cloak tightly around himself.
"Then open the garganta to the living world. We will find him and help him regain Las Noches…so you can find your daughter."
Toshiro followed a suddenly happier Gin out of the cave and into the fury of the sandstorm.
_ _ _
"Uh, I hate to disrupt this little family moment," Renji said, looking around, "but in case you didn't notice, your little bundle of joy blasted the hell out of the reiatsu seal on this room. That means that very soon, the Seireitei will sense your fireworks and they'll be sending a detail to check things out. Aizen Sosuke can't be here when they get here or all of us will get the Sokyoku!"
Aizen nodded.
"He's right, Byakuya," he said, leaning forward to kiss the noble and the baby that rested in his arms.
"I'll go with you," Byakuya said, starting to rise.
"No," Aizen said firmly, "You aren't well enough yet and you can't be seen with me. I will stay close by."
"But we haven't even named him yet…"
Aizen paused for a moment.
"Why…did you have something in mind? A family name?"
Byakuya shook his head.
"Not a family name…but an appropriate one."
"And that is?" Aizen asked, looking down at the boy again.
"Arashi," Byakuya said softly, "Storm."
Aizen smiled warmly.
"Arashi…I like that. As you said, it's quite appropriate. After all, if not for that sandstorm, he might not be here."
"Byakuya…someone is coming," warned Renji.
He turned to Aizen.
"I'll take him to a safe house. We have several around here. You can find me later when things settle down and I'll take you to him."
Aizen nodded.
"Wait," he said softly, "We have to make sure they don't know the boy is mine."
He leaned over Arashi, holding his katana close and whispering to it. A golden light flashed around Arashi, then faded.
"What did you do?" asked Renji.
"Now everyone will believe he is yours, Renji. Even medical tests won't reveal the truth. Only Kyoka Suigetsu can break the illusion. Trust me, it's better this way. You said you protect Byakuya, well you'll have to keep doing that now. This boy's life depends on it."
"I despise you," said Renji, his eyes blazing, "If not for him…"
"I know, Renji," Aizen replied, stepping away, "Byakuya, don't worry. I will find you again. Thank you…for finding me."
Byakuya nodded silently as Aizen turned and flash stepped away.
Renji stepped closer to Byakuya and dropped to his knees, his eyes on the tiny infant. Byakuya did not look up.
"Renji," he said quietly, "I am sorry…for everything. He shouldn't have done this."
"Why not?" Renji asked, reaching out to stroke the baby's hair, "It kind of makes sense. I mean, we do live together. I suppose we could let people believe he's mine. It even gives us an explanation we can use when the security detail arrives. We can explain away our being here and the power surges."
"But he had no right to do something like that without even…"
"Hey, I said I was okay with it," Renji said, sounding a little irritated.
"I don't know how you can be," Byakuya said, looking up at Renji, "It's not enough that you have to cover for me, now you have to look at his child every day. Renji…I don't know if you should subject yourself to that."
He went silent for a moment, thinking.
"I've depended on you shamelessly and I've spent nearly a year trying to forget Aizen Sosuke. And the feelings just won't leave me. Now they are even less likely to, because this reminder of our love will be here beside me day after day. It isn't right to pretend anymore or make any pretense. Aizen Sosuke and I are connected by this child. I can no longer delude myself into thinking that what is between us will pass…and you know that changes things. Renji…I love you. I love you enough to know that the time has come to stop leaning so hard on you…to stop using you. I keep asking myself what the right thing is. I don't want to hurt you…your love and loyalty are precious to me."
Renji silently stroked Arashi's porcelain cheek and stared into the dark cobalt eyes.
"Byakuya, you know I can't leave now. Even if I wanted to…what kind of bastard would I have to be to knock you up and dump you like that?"
Byakuya smiled and shook his head.
"Renji…"
"Just shut up. We have a good cover story. I'll play my part. But Byakuya…there is something that we should change."
He knelt, facing Byakuya and looking into the guarded, dark gray eyes.
"The whole premise for us moving in together, having a relationship, was based on the idea that you wanted to end things with Aizen Sosuke. You were trying to forget him…but that is no longer true. That being the way it is…it would be wrong for me to…be with you."
Byakuya's eyes took on a sad, tired look. Renji rested a warm hand on his.
"I'll stay at the manor. I'll keep up appearances, then later…in a few months…a year, we can quietly and amicably separate."
Byakuya took Renji's hand and brought it to his lips.
"Abarai Renji…how can you do this so easily? Even with the way I feel for Aizen Sosuke, it is painful to think of you leaving. You have loved and protected me when you could have taken everything from me. And now…you back away easily. I don't understand…"
Renji leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.
"I didn't say it would be easy, Taichou. I was only telling you what I will do. But I don't want you worrying about me. I've been taking care of myself for a very long time…and just because you and I aren't together doesn't mean that other things have to change. You are still my Taichou. I can relearn how to be content with that."
Byakuya shifted and brought his head to rest on Renji's shoulder.
"Abarai Renji," he said softly, "I owe you a great debt. I am sorry for the pain I've caused you. Believe me when I tell you that it wasn't intentional. I never had any expectation that Aizen Sosuke would re-enter my life…or that we would be connected in this way."
"Taichou, this isn't your fault. You tried to get him out of your heart, but it appears that you weren't meant to do that. I have loved living with you…and I will continue to love and protect you…and if the day comes when you and Aizen Sosuke part ways, for whatever reason, Taichou, I would return to you."
Byakuya looked up at Renji and placed a hand on the side of his face.
"I hope, for your sake that you find someone truly deserving of your love, Abarai Renji. I have never been that person. I took advantage of you during a time of great weakness and I can't undo that. I am grateful you do not hate me for my weakness. I will try not to hate myself too much for it."
Renji lifted the hand from his face and gently kissed the pale palm.
"Don't hate yourself, Taichou. It is wrenching loving someone who you can't really have."
He leaned closer.
"I have a truly deep understanding of that. It appears to be something we have in common. Perhaps you and I can start our own support group…"
Strangely, despite his melancholy, Byakuya found himself smiling.
"Arashi and I are lucky to have you, Abarai Renji. For what time we are together, I know we'll be content. And even when you leave us…I hope you shall remain a part of our lives."
Renji chuckled softly.
"Count on it, Taichou. Believe me, you and this little one will have a very hard time getting rid of me."
Their conversation ended abruptly as the door flew open and Zaraki Taichou stepped into the room.
"I hear someone's been playing with matches around here! I came to see. So…where's the fire?"
He gazed at the surprised look on Orihime's face, then moved on to Renji, Byakuya and the infant that rested in Kuchiki Taichou's arms. A wide grin broke out across his face.
"Kinda wondered where you went, Kuchiki," he chuckled, ringing the bells in his hair, "Who's the rugrat?"
Yachiru jumped down from his shoulder and bounded across the room, her eyes wide.
"Byakushi! You had a baby? You and Ren-kun had a baby?"
Byakuya looked up at Yachiru tolerantly.
"This is Arashi," he said softly.
"So that's what caused the fireworks display, huh?" muttered Zaraki, "Damn, and I was looking to have some fun."
He scratched his head absently.
"I guess you aren't going to be much fun for a while. You taking the five weeks leave time?"
Byakuya glanced upward.
"Renji and I will both be taking leave to be with our son," he said quietly, "We were quite surprised at his arrival and we'll need time to adjust."
"Huh…" muttered Zaraki, "Well, I guess my work is finished, "See you when you get back, Kuchiki. And when you're off leave, lets get together to spar a little. You'll need to get back in shape after giving birth."
Byakuya blinked slowly and looked up through narrowed eyes. Zaraki laughed and looked down at Yachiru.
"You coming?" he asked.
"No, Kenny," she replied, not looking up, "I want to stay and get to know Arashi! Byakushi…do you have candy?"
Byakuya sighed.
"Check with Orihime. She is sure to have plenty of sweets."
Orihime smiled.
"I sure do! Come on, I'll show you!"
They followed Zaraki out of the room. Renji turned to Byakuya, smiling.
"Well, it looks like he was right about the illusion. They didn't even question it," Renji said, his voice filled with relief.
"Renji," Byakuya said softly, "Arigato."