Chapter 7: Bonds of Kinship
"Renji!" Byakuya's deep, concerned voice hissed, cutting into the redhead's reverie, "Renji, wake up!"
"Renji, can you hear us?" Tetsuya's voice asked urgently.
"Wake up, stupid!" snapped Rukia, "What are you doing?"
"Eh?" the redhead managed, dizzily, "Wh-what happened? Where...?"
His eyes blinked open, and he found himself lying on his back, gazing up at the three, with the full contingent of the Noble's General Council in the background.
"Oh!" Renji groaned, grabbing his head, "Ow! What the hell?"
"You struck your head on the floor as you fell," said another youthful, male voice, which he quickly realized belonged to a somewhat familiar face.
"Wh-whoa, you're that kid from the healer family," he said, dazedly, "I thought you didn't want to marry me."
The young man smiled kindly.
"I am not trying to marry you, Lord Abarai," he chuckled, "I saw you fall and strike your head, and honor dictates I must help anyone in need. That is our family mission."
"Ah," the redhead said, his head still spinning wickedly, "That's nice. A family of noble healers."
"Is he going to be all right, Jun?" Byakuya asked quietly.
"Oh, he will be fine," the healer assured them, "He will need to try not to strike his head on anything, at least for the next several days, but he will be fine."
"I don't fucking feel fine!" Renji snapped, irascibly, "That...that man-cat wants to have sex with me! How would any of the rest of you fucking feel about that?"
"Abarai," Byakuya said reprovingly, "You are in the company of the entire Noble's General Council. And while their attention has been diverted for the moment to allow you to recover, I do wish you would make an attempt to use proper manners when speaking to someone here."
"Well, how proper is it that some guy wants to stick his dick up my ass and I don't even fucking know him?" Renji hissed, his eyes wide and his chest heaving, "You want to go out there and let him fuck you, go ahead!"
"I am not the heir to the Akazaki clan," Byakuya said sternly, "That is your designation."
"So, I'm just supposed to lie down, spread my legs and let him have at me? Really? Really, Byakuya?"
"How dare you call my brother by his first name!" Rukia reprimanded him.
"Hey! Are you getting that if that guy wants to and nobody else from one of the greater clans objects, he gets to marry me and knock me up? Do you get that, Rukia?" Renji cried, "I think that's a little more important right now than what I call your brother!"
"Understandably," Byakuya agreed, "I assure you, none of us has any trouble comprehending the seriousness of your circumstances."
"My circumstances?" Renji repeated, his breath quickening, "I can't do this! I can't!"
Byakuya said nothing, but Renji could see unusual sympathy in his eyes.
"I could pretend that I was okay with walking in here, standing tall, acting like I wasn't scared outta my wits, learning that I'm from a lost noble clan. I even get that I have a responsibility to get married and make babies so my clan doesn't die out, okay? But I draw the fucking line at letting some old, perverted freak lie down on top of me and...and do that to me!"
"I could speak to the gentlemen from the lesser clans," Byakuya offered, "I am sure that there is one among them who would offer himself so that..."
"So that I could do to him what that Shihoin bastard wants to do to me?" Renji objected, "No way. I can't do that. They're all just kids, anyway."
"They are all of legal age," Byakuya said, shaking his head.
"Yeah, barely," said the redhead, "And I could see that I scare the hell out of them."
"Erm..." Jun said softly, "Lord Abarai, I am sorry if I was surprised by what you said before. I didn't mean to sound unwilling to do what is needed."
"Stop right there," Renji said, laying a gentle hand on the young healer's, "You are way too young to be forced into marrying anybody...especially someone like me. Thank you for trying to help, but no. I can't do something like that with a nice kid like you."
Jun's eyes somehow managed to look grateful and sad at the same time.
"You are a kind person, Renji Abarai," Jun said, smiling, "I am sorry about this."
"But what are we to do?" Tetsuya queried, "If Renji will not choose from the lower noble houses, then he will be forced to accept the hand of the highest ranked suitor from the greater noble clans."
"And, right now, there's only one," said Rukia, frowning unhappily.
"And the only houses higher than the Shihoin house are the Kuchiki and Shiba houses," observed Byakuya, "The Shiba house had no qualifying suitors."
"What about you?" Renji asked desperately, "You were up there. Can you do it?"
"Renji," Byakuya began, doubt clouding his handsome features, "I don't..."
"Come on!" the redhead pleaded frantically, "It's either that or I am going to be married to that sleazy guy over there and probably getting screwed by him as often as the bastard can catch me!"
"But, Renji, you know that it would mean that..."
"Yeah, I get it. I would have to marry you and let you have sex with me. I know. But to me? That sounds a hell of a lot better than being forced to get into bed with that guy!"
"I am so glad that the prospect of being taken by me is so much more palatable than the other option," Byakuya said, shaking his head, "but..."
"But what? I mean, I know you aren't in love with me and I'm not in love with you, okay? I'm clear on that. And I won't get all weepy and start begging. But, you are at least my friend. We know each other really well. We can just have sex to make the babies, then just keep on being friends, right? And I promise I won't be upset when we've had our babies and you want to separate. I don't mind. Just...please say you'll do this for me, Byakuya, please!"
"Ah," said another male voice that sent a cold, stabbing jolt through Renji, "How are you doing, Lord Abarai? Are you feeling better now?"
"Um..." Renji managed, going breathless as the man came closer.
The redhead saw the man's eyes studying where his clothes had been loosened and his tattoos were peeking out, and he pulled the edges of material back over them and cleared his throat.
"I'm fine," he said, shortly.
"Good," said the man, "I am glad to hear that. Now then, if you are recovered, then we should go about making this official."
"Eh...!" Renji said, jumping to his feet and backing away as the man advanced, "I, uh...well, you see, I..."
"Renji Abarai," Tan said in an even deeper, more sultry voice, "I think that you and I would be very good together."
Renji sucked in a sharp, painful breath as the man cornered him against the wall, and his fingers sought the tattoos on the redhead's tanned throat.
"You are a very handsome young man, and I find your markings exquisite," Tan said seductively, "We are both descended of cats, you of the tiger and me of the were-cat. We are passionate beings."
He smirked at the way Renji's eyes widened as he closed in for a kiss. Renji closed his eyes and turned his head away, raising his hands defensively, but stopping short of hitting the other man. He waited for the man's forceful lips to take his, and was surprised when they didn't.
He cautiously opened an eye, and found that someone had stepped in between the Shihoin lord and him.
"You will want to mind your manners," Byakuya said in a low, threatening tone, his reiatsu swelling around him, "You have not been given any right to touch this man!"
"Not yet," Tan agreed, his black eyes meeting Byakuya's in challenge, "But, as I am the highest ranked noble to attempt to claim him, he will be mine, soon enough. Unless you are planning to seek his hand as well. He is quite a prize, ne? You want him for yourself, do you, Byakuya?"
"I expect that you will treat him with proper respect, no matter whom he is paired with!" Byakuya answered, glaring at the man.
"Then...you are not interested? That means that..."
He paused as a bell sounded, calling the councilors back to their seats. Tan gave Renji a sly, lascivious wink.
"See you out there, Lord Abarai."
"Oh my kami!" Renji said, sucking in a scared breath and sliding down the wall, "I think I'm going to throw up!"
He reeled as Byakuya grabbed him and dragged him back onto his feet.
"Abarai, you are a noble lord now. Stop acting like a child!" he reprimanded the redhead.
"What?"
"Get out there and do what is expected of you. Go."
Renji gave him a crestfallen look.
"You want me to go and say it's okay for that guy to maul me? Is that what you're saying, friend?"
Byakuya looked back at him with unreadable eyes and remained silent.
"Thanks," the redhead said shakily, "Thanks a lot."
He straightened his kimono and walked silently past his three friends, out to his clan box and sat down, his head lowered. He didn't look up, even when the grand councilor stood and called the meeting back to order.
"Now then," said Yoshinori, "If you are recovered, Lord Abarai, we will continue."
"Yeah, I'm fine," Renji said, nearly choking on the words and crossing his arms.
"Lord Abarai, you are allowed to choose from the lower houses, if you wish, or if not, you may be chosen by a member of one of the greater noble clans."
"I'm not going to force anyone to marry me," Renji said stiffly.
"Then, it seems that your hand will be claimed by Lord Ishiki?"
Renji froze, unable to force out an answer, but was saved from speaking by a sweetly familiar voice.
"No, it will not," said Byakuya.
Yoshinori looked back at the Kuchiki clan leader in surprise.
"Lord Byakuya," he said, his eyes narrowing, "You wish to claim Renji Abarai's hand?"
"No," Byakuya answered, drawing all eyes onto him, "I wish to ask for Renji Abarai's hand in marriage."
"Ah, I see," said the grand councilor, turning to look at the white-faced Akazaki heir, "Lord Abarai, Lord Kuchiki wishes you to grant him your hand in marriage. As he has asked, you are free to accept or refuse."
"I accept!" Renji exclaimed, jumping to his feet, "I accept!"
He caught sight of the disapproving look that Byakuya gave him and straightened, more respectably, clearing his throat.
"Ahem, I mean, yes, thank you. I will gladly accept Lord Kuchiki's hand in marriage."
Byakuya's frown softened and he gave the redhead a very slight nod of approval.
"Very well, then," said Yoshinori, "As the two of you have..."
"A moment, please," said Tan's silken voice.
The grand councilor sighed in annoyance.
"Lord Ishiki, you know that the Kuchiki clan is..."
"Yes, they are higher ranked than the Shihoin clan," Tan agreed, "however, there is a provision stating that because Byakuya Kuchiki did not claim, but requested Lord Abarai's hand in marriage, the request can be challenged by any greater noble clan member and a duel may be scheduled to compete for the hand of the one in question."
"Yes, yes," said Yoshinori, impatiently, "But we have never..."
"I wish to challenge Byakuya Kuchiki to compete for the hand of the Akazaki clan leader," Tan said, meeting Byakuya's eyes with his own narrowed ones.
"Whoa, hold on! Wait. Don't I get a say?" asked Renji, "Byakuya...erm, Lord Kuchiki is of a higher ranking and I said I accept, right? So..."
"I am guaranteed a right to challenge his request for your hand," said Tan.
"Well, he misspoke," Renji insisted, his voice rising, "Right, Lord Kuchiki? You meant to claim me, ne?"
"I did not," Byakuya answered, his calm, deep voice echoing in Renji's roiling mind, "I asked for your hand in marriage, Renji Abarai. And if this fool wishes to challenge me, then I will welcome the opportunity to show him what a mistake it is to place himself in my path!"
"What?" cried the distressed redhead, "Byakuya, what are you doing? Just claim me, okay? You don't have to duel anyone to the death for me, and..."
"Don't be ridiculous, Renji," Byakuya said dismissively, "The duel is not a duel to the death, but a gentleman's competition. We could certainly be injured, but we will not die."
"So, you're going to risk me being married to that..."
Renji stopped himself forcibly.
"T-to Lord Ishiki, when all you have to do is...?"
"Lord Abarai," the Kuchiki leader said calmly, letting his dark eyes flit, for a moment, to meet Tan's, "this man insulted your honor. As such, and being a suitor for your hand, honor dictates that I must defend you. Please give me your blessing to do so."
"What?" Renji mused, blinking, "You could have me already, but you'd rather risk..."
"Are you saying that you do not believe I will win?" Byakuya asked sedately, stopping Renji in his tracks again.
"Well, of course not. You'll trash the bastard...erm...councilor Ishiki," Renji answered, making Yoshinori blink in surprise, then frown at the lack of decorum, "But you don't have to fight him for me, don't you get it?"
Byakuya's eyes froze the redhead in place.
"Renji Abarai, do you not understand? That man insulted you. You are my intended and you are my friend, and I will not allow that. Now, I would ask for your blessing to see this man regrets his disrespectful behavior towards you."
Renji stared back at the Kuchiki leader, caught between feeling touched by Byakuya's protectiveness and being scared shitless that he might still end up married to the lecherous Tan Ishiki. But what he saw in his former captain's eyes calmed him somewhat. He forced down his misgivings and nodded in acceptance.
"Well, if you really feel you need to...though, I would have been fine with you just claiming me."
Byakuya shook his head slightly and took Renji's breath away with his next words.
"No one should simply claim your future, Renji...no one."
Oddly, despite the feeling of doom hanging over him, Renji found himself able to manage a smile.
"Thank you, Lord Kuchiki. Thank you for being willing to defend my honor."
"So then," said the grand councilor, recovering control of the meeting, "We shall adjourn to the dueling grounds and decide this in a gentleman's duel."
"Although, if you ask me, Tan Ishiki is no gentleman," Renji muttered, flinching and blushing brightly as he realized that the microphone in his clan box had picked up the comment.
He had never seen Byakuya Kuchiki roll his eyes in disbelief before.
"S-sorry," Renji said sheepishly.
But even as he apologized, Renji was sure that no one in the room would have disagreed with him...not even Tan, himself.
