Chapter 9: The Fallen Angel
Akemi sat silently at elder Hajime's side, his Kuchiki father's slender, pale hand curled into his and the beginnings of peacefulness touching his troubled face. Beneath the veil of sleep, Hajime's mind slowly circled, quietly recalling the younger days of his romance with the spirit king.
He rested comfortably on his lover's naked shoulder, looking upward into the widespread branches of the ancient sakura, the heat of the king's release still warming him inside and the taste of his lord's kisses still pleasuring his lips. He picked up the book of poetry that had fallen from his hand as the king had appeared behind him, and slipped his arms around the young man's slim waist, surprising him with a sudden flurry of kisses and a slow fall to the soft grass beneath the tree. Leaving his clothing undone and his plundered body shamelessly bared, he lifted the small book and opened to the page he had been reading before. At the gentle sound of his voice, the king smiled in half-sleep, and let himself be carried away on the lovely words Hajime whispered into his ear.
Weep Not For The Fallen Angel
Weep not for the fallen angel
For the one who saw destruction on the horizon and cast himself down
For where his body lands and breaks apart
The world will be touched with heaven's warmth
And his comrade's soft spoken blessings
XXX
Where each strand of hair floats down and comes to rest
A sea of new, young grass will rise
Sweet, fragrant flowers will freshen the tainted air
And groves of strong pine will reach for the stars he fell from
XXX
Where his wings erupted into white flame
The scattered feathers will bring virgin snow
Sprinkling down in peaceful patterns
And setting souls to sleep while life is renewed
XXX
Where his porcelain skin seethed and turned to ash
Whispers of kindness and love will flutter downward
And everything and everyone they touch
Will share in the gentle spread of peace over the land
XXX
From his shattered bones will mountains rise
And his eyes, though closed will be the quiet sentinels
His folded hands will hold that place in safety
And his heart, though stilled, will be remembered in all things brought to life
By his sacrifice…
XXX
"What was that?" whispered a soft male voice, breaking into the silence that had seemed to envelop him, "What were you saying? It was beautiful…and sad. Please open your eyes."
Images flashed in his awakening mind…standing on the ridge and looking down into the too quiet valley, seeing the beast that began to emerge as it struck at Chisaki, casting the sealing spell that sealed Renji's fate, the heavy explosion that repelled him, the devastation as the rift closed between Renji and them, watching as the twins left the valley, then looking into the young man's eyes that he knew must be more devastated than his own and feeling the ground give way beneath him.
"T-takeo…" he whispered, his eyelids fluttering.
Akemi smiled and squeezed his hand gently.
"Takeo is in the infirmary. He is going to be fine. Do you need anything? Shall I summon Akio?"
"N-no," Hajime breathed, blinking and staring as the room came into focus.
His eyes met Akemi's, following the outline of his face and taking in the strong resemblance to Renji. Akemi heard his soft, wounded inhale and saw the guilt that rose in his dark blue eyes.
"Akemi," Hajime whispered tremulously, "Segare…I am…"
The prince quickly touched his fingers to his father's lips, stopping the words. Hajime's eyes widened and blinked in surprise. Akemi gazed down at him with deep calm in his features.
"Do not apologize to me…ever," he said softly, "You have nothing to be sorry for."
He paused for a moment and brushed the stray hairs away from his father's eyes, then leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.
"But you must know what happened…how I…"
"Your quick action saved my son's children.
"But they also sent your only son into that awful place. And if he survived being sealed away, then there is still the demon to contend with. Akemi…"
"Please Father, don't. You have always acted without hesitation to protect others. You gave up your life once to protect my other father. And before you did, you made sure that I was safe, and that I would be loved…b-because you knew…"
He broke off and brushed away an errant tear, then sniffed softly and continued.
"You knew you were going to die…and still…you thought only of the ones you were leaving behind. You have…so much courage, so I will honor that by showing you how you also made me more courageous. I will not despair. I still believe that Renji is alive…and that he will come back to us. And I need you to believe that too. After all, you gave up your life, never expecting to return…and yet you are here. And not only that. Yours…was the hand that separated me from that hollow…and brought me home. If you are still here after all of that, then surely there is still hope for my son."
Hajime seemed to breathe in the words, drawing on them to steel himself against the emotions that still roiled inside him. He sat up slowly, then slid his legs over the edge of the bed.
"Wait! What are you doing?" Akemi objected, "You are still healing! Lie down!"
Hajime gave his son a gentle smile and rested a hand on his shoulder as he pulled himself to his feet.
"I will be all right now," he said, strength resonating in his eyes, "But…I have to do what I can to assist Byakuya. It is my duty to care for Renji's family until his return."
His hand curved affectionately around his son's face.
"Thank you, Akemi, for reminding me that our fate is not cast in stone…but with our force of will and our strength, can sometimes be remade."
Akemi heard the hiss of a beautifully swift flash step, and then found himself alone in the room. He released a soft sigh and closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again in surprise as a hand came to rest on his shoulder and he found himself facing the lovely elfin spirit of his father's zanpakutou.
"Zetsumei Kakyoku!" he exclaimed softly.
The elf spirit nodded and bowed his head respectfully.
"You have my gratitude," the zanpakutou spirit said quietly, "My master is deeply conflicted right now. He blames himself even now for Renji's fate."
"He shouldn't," said Akemi sadly, "We all know what the consequences would have been, had he not taken action. But how can we make him understand?"
"You did reach him, Akemi," the spirit assured him, "And while his heart still aches and his hands tremble with guilt, Hajime is very strong. He will devote himself to giving Renji Abarai every chance to return home."
"But what can he do?" asked the prince, "He hasn't a royal blade. He is incredibly strong, but…"
The spirit smiled at him encouragingly.
"Do not worry. I sense something in the offing between my master and the king. I think that it bodes well for your son. Do not worry for Hajime. He has always found his way, even through the most difficult of times. And he will pass through this as well."
Akemi nodded gratefully.
"Thank you," he said, bowing his head and closing his eyes as the elfin spirit faded away.
XXXXXXXXXX
Byakuya picked up Kisho, flinching inwardly as the baby began to cry. Not so much in the way he had before, the noble noted, but a softer, more soulful sound.
"What is it?" he asked in a low, comforting tone, "You have been fed and changed, and you weren't crying until I picked you up. And I already know that if I put you down, then you will only cry louder…"
"Would you like me to hold him while you hold Chiasa?" asked Hajime the elder from the doorway.
Byakuya sighed as Hajime approached him, then yielded the fussy infant to his gently smiling ancestor. To his surprise and relief, Kisho's cries faded and the baby stared up into Hajime's lovely face and reached out to touch him. Hajime kissed the baby's fingertips.
"There now," he said quietly, "He just needed a moment to settle."
"Arigato," Byakuya said, picking up a cooing Chiasa, "I am beside myself with him. I know all babies cry and some are more colicky than others, but this child…"
"I understand," said Hajime, nodding, "but you have other things you must focus on. Let me see to him so that you can talk to the other children. They have been called to the lounging room. His majesty is there and Akemi will be there momentarily."
"Again, arigato, Hajime."
They left the nursery and walked down the hallway, turned and crossed over to the next hallway, then entered the lounging room. Takeo sat quietly on the floor near the elder twins, who were holding Akane and Akiko on their laps. Hajime spotted Byakuya and scampered over to join him as he sat down, holding Chiasa in his lap. The king nodded in welcome as Hajime sat down next to him, placing a now sleeping Kisho in his lap.
"It is good to see you are feeling well enough to be up and about," the king said, leaning over to offer his fiancée a gentle kiss, "I wonder, though, if you shouldn't have rested longer."
"I will be fine," the noble assured the monarch, "And it was important for me to be here. As much as my actions were necessary, I owe our grandson. I have to assist Byakuya in any way that I can."
The king slipped an arm around Hajime and the noble let his head rest against the king's shoulder as Byakuya gathered close to the children.
"Are you okay, Dad?" asked young Hajime, "You look like you're hurting."
"I am fine," he assured the boy, "but I do have to make sure that all of you understand what has happened and that any questions you have are answered. Takeo, Takeshi, Chisaki and Hajime, you already understand the situation, but your sisters will need time to absorb what it really means. I will try to explain, but I do not expect they that they will really understand."
Akane climbed off of Chisaki's lap and scampered over to Byakuya, looking on curiously as Chiasa sucked happily on her fingers. The red haired toddler giggled and stuck her fingers in her mouth. Young Hajime rolled his eyes.
"Here we go again," he muttered, "And Daddy Ren just got her to stop that, too!"
Akane's head lifted and she quickly yanked her fingers out of her mouth as she looked around questingly.
"Daddy Red?" she queried, blinking.
Akiko tilted her head.
"Do a job?" she said, her eyes wide.
"Yes," said Byakuya, drawing the toddlers' eyes to him, "Daddy Ren went to do an important job. And while he was doing that job…something happened."
He thought carefully for a moment, avoiding the eyes of the other children.
"Akane, Akiko," he went on, "Do you remember when Akiko lost her shoes in the long grass at home?"
Akane clapped her hands.
"Found 'em!" she yelled.
"Yes," Byakuya agreed, "We did find them. We had to search through the long grass, and it took a long time, and we were very tired when we finally found them."
"Found 'em!" the twins laughed.
Byakuya nodded.
"But do you remember when we lost the purple ball at the lake?" he asked.
"Lost it," Akiko said, shrugging, "We looked and looked."
"Yes," agreed Byakuya, "We tried very hard, but we did not find the purple ball. It was lost. We have told you that Daddy Ren was doing an important job. And while he was doing that job, he became lost."
"Found 'em?" said Akane, looking around.
"We are hoping that we will find Daddy Ren, but…"
He paused for a moment, trying to find the right words. Akiko climbed off Takeshi's lap and lifted up a pillow that was lying on the floor.
"Not here!" she announced.
Akane ran over to help lift another pillow.
"Not here!" they said together.
The two girls continued to search the room as Byakuya looked on helplessly, his words failing him. He let out a soft defeated breath and looked down into Chiasa's contented face, still uncertain.
"Dad," said Takeo, watching as his sisters continued to run about, looking behind furniture and curtains and yelling, 'Not here!' "I think it's okay to let them look. I think they'll understand with time."
Byakuya nodded briefly.
"I agree, and we can certainly answer their questions as they come. But there are still things we have to say. Takeo, before I left the Seireitei, I was called back to the first division for a private meeting with the head captain."
"Yeah?" Takeo said, looking unnerved, "And?"
"And…although he certainly understands that Renji could emerge at any time from the rift, he says that…"
Byakuya broke off and took a steadying breath.
"He…says that you must assume control of the squad…and…as soon as possible, you are to take the captain's exam. He said that he would wait…but that it is not reasonable to expect that the demon will break through again any time soon. After all, none of the ones imprisoned in those cells has broken out before…and with the outlay of power it took to open the cell, the demon would likely have been…severely weakened."
He closed his eyes and tightened his jaw against the tears that stung at his eyes. He started to say more, but elder Hajime's voice stopped him.
"I will accompany you back to Kuchiki Manor and complete Takeo's training for the captain's exam," he said, looking at Takeo, "if…that is acceptable."
"But," Byakuya said, looking up at him, "You have just returned from a long stay at Kuchiki Manor. And the two of you were supposed to be married…"
Hajime glanced at the king, then met Byakuya's eyes again.
"His majesty and I can be married at any time. But right now, our focus must be on taking care of all of you as you adjust. I also want to be near the valley."
"But you do not wield a royal sword," objected Byakuya.
The king looked at Hajime's bowed head and smiled lovingly.
"Hajime will see to Takeo's promotion, and then he will return to the spirit dimension and I will see to it that he is armed properly to do battle against the demon."
Hajime's head lifted and his eyes met the king's with perfect trust.
"I tell you now," said the king, "Should the rift open again, my Hajime will be the hand that slays the demon."
(AN**Sorry Renji and the zanpakutous didn't get into this chapter. I wanted to post tonight as I'm working for the next couple of days and won't have much writing time. I promise to catch up with Renji and his bunch next chapter…and that I will get working on that ASAP.)
