Chapter 7: Explanations are Necessary

Being a creature of habit, even when suffering the aftereffects of being drugged, Byakuya woke in the early morning to find himself barely in his untied yukata and sprawled across Renji's chest. The redhead's wonderful, deeply masculine scent filled his senses, and before he quite knew what he was doing, he burrowed his face into the space between the redhead's throat and shoulder and, with closed eyes, rubbed his lips and cheek about, breathing in Renji's scent and sighing dizzily.

It took him several minutes to catch himself, but then...

What...happened?

The last thing I remember is...is leaving the manor to go to The Black Rose.

What happened?

How did I get here?

Did we...have sex?

At that point, several telling things happened all at once, stunning him into silence. He realized first that Renji's yukata was opened, and that the sleeping redhead's wrists had been kido locked together and tied to the rail at the head of the bed. And when he lifted himself slightly to look more closely, he felt an odd stickiness on his thighs and abdomen. And just as it registered what must have happened, Renji's lovely, red-brown eyes blinked open and sleepily found his.

Byakuya's jaw dropped, and he stared at Renji, at a complete loss for words. Renji gazed up at him with something that looked oddly like sympathy...which, under the circumstances, only made the stunned noble more mortified.

I...took advantage of him?

Why?

Why would I do that?

"R-renji..." he managed.

Then, his voice left him again.

"S-sorry, Taichou," the redhead said, blushing so beautifully, it almost made the noble give in to his desires and kiss the man, "Eh...you were really out of it last night."

Byakuya cleared his throat and sat up, trying his best to put on a calm expression, but a mirror near the bed told him beyond doubt that he was failing miserably.

"You...don't remember a thing, ne?" the redhead said softly. Byakuya shook his head silently, then gasped softly at the instant headache it caused. He covered his face with his hands for a moment and groaned uncomfortably.

"Wh-what happened?" he asked, keeping his eyes closed beneath his hands, "How did I get here...in your bed...like this?"

"It...ah...it wasn't your fault or anything," Renji assured him, "That guy, Hisoka, put something in your drink. We have someone figuring out just what. And I brought you here, because I didn't think you'd want anyone seeing you that way."

"I thank you for your discretion, of course...but...you said 'we?' Who did you mean?"

"Oh," Renji said, smiling at him as Byakuya uncovered his face, "I took Shuuhei to The Black Rose...with the passes that you gave me...you know, for teaching you those dance steps?"

"Ah," said the noble, swallowing hard as the dim memory returned, "Yes...right. I...I didn't know that you were dating Shuuhei."

He glanced down at Renji's exposed body, then at his kido restrained hands. Renji's smile became sweetly sheepish.

"Well, we aren't serious or anything, yet. But he was the first person I thought of when you gave me the passes. I thought it might be a good way to...you know...start moving things forward.

Oh...and I...I...ruined everything!

Strangely, he couldn't be altogether unhappy at the thought.

But...

"Taichou...would you mind...breaking the kido so I can get up?" the redhead asked, blushing again.

I had sex with Renji?

I...forced him?

"Taichou?" Renji repeated, snatching him out of his thoughts.

"Oh...yes, of course," he said, struggling to recover himself, "Though it seems you should have been able to free yourself. How many times have I told you...?"

"Okay, yeah," Renji chuckled, good naturedly, sitting up as the noble shattered the kido holding his wrists, "I know I should have been able to break it. Sorry."

"I am the one who should be sorry," Byakuya said, forcing calm into his voice, "I obviously forced myself on you last night. Renji...I am..."

"What?" said the redhead, blinking in surprise, "What are you talking about? We didn't..."

"But..." said the confused noble, "I was on top of you. And there is...is..."

He couldn't force himself to say the word.

"...w-wetness down there."

"Oh," Renji laughed, "Yeah, well, you did kido lock my hands to the headboard. And you kissed me. You're a really good kisser, Taichou. S-sorry, I just...couldn't help noticing. But you passed out before you got too serious. And well, I guess the wetness was just...one of us...or both of us, you know, having a really good dream. But really, nothing happened. Just some kissing...and maybe a little touching, you know."

"Ah..."

The room went silent for a moment as the two men tried to think of something to say. Finally, Renji broke the awkward silence.

"Well, I'm gonna go and take a shower. Or do you want to go first?"

"Hmmm?" Byakuya said, distractedly, "Oh...no, you go ahead."

He watched as the redhead walked into the bathroom and closed the door, then he quickly found the clothes that he had been wearing and put them back on, then fled the apartment, bursting out into the too bright environs and stumbling home. His stomach ached horridly by the time he arrived, and he was forced into a rather undignified display in front of a thankfully oblivious toilet. He sat back against the wall, panting softly and trying to remember something...anything.

All that he could remember from being at The Black Rose was a feeling like he was falling, then being held tightly in Renji's arms. He remembered small flashes of things...kissing Renji and hearing him say something he couldn't understand...then more kissing...and Renji kissing him back.

"Oh god, I know I shouldn't," Renji's voice sighed in his head, "But fuck, you're such a good kisser! Please don't kill me for this!"

So, at least, whatever had happened was consensual.

But he was tied to the headboard! If it was consensual, then why would I do that?

He tried to think back and only made his head and stomach ache more furiously. He wanted to shrink into that corner in the bathroom and die of humiliation, but he sensed his attendant outside the bathroom, and his reiatsu was harassed. His angst only increased when Tetsuya's reiatsu registered a moment later and his cousin tapped lightly on the door.

"Byakuya-sama?" he called softly, "Are you all right, Cousin?"

"Fine," the noble managed in a near growl.

He dragged himself to his feet and walked out into the bedroom, ignoring Torio's nervous sputtering and avoiding Tetsuya's curious eyes.

"We were concerned when you didn't return as expected from The Black Rose. We contacted the Yamashita clan and they rather brusquely informed us that you left the club with your fukutaichou."

"Yes," said Byakuya, sliding into his bed and turning away from the two, "Torio, I would like some tea."

"Yes, Kuchiki-sama!" the youth said enthusiastically, setting Byakuya's head throbbing again, "I will make some right away!"

He ran out of the room, leaving Byakuya alone with his cousin. Tetsuya moved forward and adjusted the blankets slightly, then sat down beside the bed.

"I imagine you have questions," Byakuya sighed.

Tetsuya smiled.

"I only need to make certain that my cousin is safe and comfortable, Byakuya-sama. You know that."

"Yes," the noble said, nodding briefly, "And I am both now. You needn't stand guard, Tetsuya."

"Do I need to seek out Yamashita Hisoka and have a few words with him?" his cousin asked pointedly, "because it doesn't sound like he played the part of a gentleman last night."

Suddenly, a memory fired itself across Byakuya's mind.

"Renji?" he mumbled dazedly.

"Hold on to Shuuhei for a sec," the redhead said, turning back as Hisoka ran down the stairs.

"Here, let me take him," the rival clan leader said, "We were going to our room anyw..."

He broke off as Renji's fist connected with his jaw.

"Do we all look stupid to you?" Renji snarled furiously, "You think we're gonna all just stand by and watch you drug him and carry him off like that!"

He grabbed Hisoka by the front of the shirt, blocking the other man's hands, then the attempt at a kido blast that followed.

"You!" Renji yelled at a stunned waiter, "Grab his wine glass and hold onto it. I want evidence of what this creep tried to do!"

The redhead doubled over as Hisoka struck him hard in the stomach. He staggered back, but blocked the next strike, then turned the other man's inertia against him and threw him into a table, which broke apart and crashed to the ground with Hisoka. Renji turned back to a silent and dazed Byakuya, and a sympathetic looking Shuuhei.

"What are you smiling at?" Tetsuya asked, frowning and tilting his head slightly.

"You needn't worry about Yamashita Hisoka," Byakuya said, yawning, "Renji was kind enough to express our displeasure to him."

"Ah, and then, he took care of you personally," concluded Tetsuya, "Your fukutaichou, unlike Hisoka, is a man of good character...honorable."

"Yes," agreed the clan leader, "Now, Cousin, if you do not mind, I am going to rest a bit."

"Of course, Byakuya-sama," Tetsuya said respectfully, "Would you like a clan healer to come?"

"No," Byakuya said, shaking his head and then immediately regretting it, "I will be fine, Tetsuya, arigato."

He watched quietly as Tetsuya left the room, and Torio returned with his tea.

"Do you need anything else, sir?" the youth asked.

Byakuya blinked as a memory flashed in his mind.

"Just follow now."

He forced his body to relax.

"Now, look into your partner's eyes," Renji instructed him.

"Why?" asked the noble.

"It helps you keep your balance," laughed the redhead.

I think it makes me feel giddy...

"Now, just follow...go right along with me."

"N-no, that will be all. I wish to rest now. You are dismissed until lunchtime."

Byakuya watched Torio leave, then summoned a hell butterfly.

"Abarai, I will not be in today. I will need you to bring anything needing my approval to the manor. Arigato."

He sent the hell butterfly winging away, then laid down and tried to fall asleep. But when he closed his eyes, he saw Renji's face and smelled the lovely, exotic scent of him. He felt again, the beauty of waking up sprawled across that strong, tattooed body, being held in Renji's strong arms. He felt a hot flush rise on his cheeks, remembering.

But Renji brushed the whole thing off, as though it was nothing. Did he do that to save me the embarrassment, or did it really mean nothing to him?

He remembered then, what Renji had said about Shuuhei, and taking him to The Black Rose to begin moving things forward.

So Renji is interested in him...not me.

The thought made him so sad that he couldn't fall asleep. He took sips of his tea, until it was gone, then stared up at the ceiling, wondering if he would ever again feel the warmth of Renji's beautiful, strong body pressed up against his, those hot, hungry lips seeking his as they had...until he had lost consciousness.

What would have happened, had I remained conscious?

He thought about it as he exited his bed and slipped out into the fragrant gardens. He only meant to walk the garden pathway, but felt so unhappy inside that he passed through the back gate, out onto the forest trail, and followed it up to the pretty waterfall and lake. He sat down beneath a sakura tree, looking out over the lake and reliving again, what it was like to wake up nearly naked and wrapped in Renji's arms. Before he quite knew what was happening, he drifted off and found himself there again.

"Are you comfortable there, Taichou?" Renji asked, his hand snaking down the noble's bare, white back and curling around his bottom.

Byakuya breathed in the intoxicating mix of their blended scents and sighed.

"Perfectly, Renji," he whispered, smiling.

The smile stayed with him as Renji's hot, delicious mouth captured his, and that strong, beautiful body held his down. Byakuya's fingers traced the bold lines along his throat and shoulders, then slid down his back, leaving light pink trails on his skin. He caught his breath in surprise as Renji's hands found his and lifted them above his head.

"Time for a little payback," the redhead said, smirking and invoking a kido rope that tied the noble's wrists together and then bound them to the sakura tree he laid beneath.

"I know you could probably break it in a second, but I'm kinda hoping that you won't..."

Byakuya pulled lightly on the kido ropes, enjoying the tension and friction against his wrists, an area usually covered by his fingerless gloves. There was something marvelously sensuous about being touched there. Renji's mouth attacked his, the redhead's fiery tongue thrusting into his mouth and seeking to touch him everywhere inside. His hands clenched within their bonds as Renji's mouth left his and burned a scorching trail down his body. He shivered inside as the redhead's strong hands parted his thighs, and that wonderful mouth moved on to pleasure him down lower, sucking at his navel, then following the trail of fine hairs down to the part of him that leaked and throbbed anxiously, waiting and longing for the redhead's touch.

"Renji!" he gasped.

The sound of a twig breaking, brought Byakuya out of his reverie, and he found himself sitting up beneath the sakura tree, his skin flushed with arousal, and his eyes locking on the very person whom he had been daydreaming about.

"S-sorry Taichou," the redhead said, shifting uncomfortably, "I didn't mean to wake you, but...I had these...papers for you to sign."

"Ah...yes," said Byakuya, "Bring them here."

He realized then what had made Renji blush, and adjusted his yukata, where it had crawled up his thigh, revealing more than a little of the creamy, white flesh it was supposed to be covering.

"I apologize for making you come all of this way, just for this," Byakuya said, quickly signing the documents, "Would you like to stay for dinner? I imagine that it is the least I can do to repay you for protecting my honor last night."

"Oh, I'd love to, Taichou, but I have a date."

"A...date?" Byakuya repeated, trying not to sound disappointed, "With...?"

"Ah, Shuuhei," Renji said, a deeper flush rising on his skin, "Evidently, he was pretty impressed with the whole 'swooping in, kicking the bad guy's ass and saving my taichou,' thing last night. We're having dinner at the noodle shop...nothing fancy. But I get the feeling he might be ready for us to get more serious."

"I-is that so?" the noble said, his heart sinking as he handed the papers back to the redhead.

He looked out over the lake and meadow, glad for the setting sun that gave his eyes a reason to burn and water.

"Thank you for looking after things today, Renji," he said softly, "Enjoy your evening."

"Sure thing, Taichou," the redhead said, turning away.

It took everything in him not to move as Renji walked away from him.

I imagine I must keep up some illusion of having pride left to consider.

And besides, he is happy. As much as I want him to love me, he is happy with Shuuhei. That man is his peer...comes from the Rukongai also, and has been Renji's friend for some time. It is better that I just admit that I was dreaming. I will treasure those kisses we exchanged last night, Renji.

I love you.

I love you enough to see that you deserve to be happy...even if you find that happiness with someone else.

And not me...

(**AN...Don't worry, readers! Despite this development, something will happen next chapter that will turn everything around! :) Thanks so much for reading! Love Spunky)