Chapter 10: Blue Haze
(By request for Animebooklover14. Enjoy!)
Koji gazed at Tetsuya's reflection in the mirror and he smiled at the presence of the small bump on Tetsuya's slim abdomen, watching as Tetsuya smiled contentedly and rubbed the area lightly with his fingertips.
"You look happy again, Tetsuya-san," Koji commented, turning to look through the clothing he had selected from the closet, "It's good to see you smile. I was worried about you before."
"I am still not feeling terribly well," Tetsuya admitted, "but I suppose I am adjusting to the changes in my body."
He sighed softly, caressing the little baby bump affectionately.
"I was sure I would never feel this way again, that I would never again have a child. I wasn't sure that I could trust myself, that I could bear opening my heart that way. But this feels…like a blessing. I can already feel the baby's reiatsu as it begins to mature. I can feel that the child's mind isn't fully sentient, but that it is already aware of some things. Things like warmth and my presence. These things are comforting to both of us."
"That's so beautiful, Tetsuya-san," Koji said, holding up two lovely, formal kimonos, one sky blue with soft pink petals falling from shoulder to waist, and a second that was deep navy with an embroidered sakura tree on the back and the Kuchiki family crest on the left breast, "Which one, do you think? Or, do you want something else?"
"He'll have something else," Ichigo laughed, entering through the inner bedroom door and smiling at the little blush his arrival brought to Tetsuya's soft cheeks, "I think this is better for a nightclub opening, don't you?"
Koji sucked in a surprised breath at the sight of the skin tight jeans, pale, form fitting t-shirt and the black leather vest he held. Tetsuya stared numbly at the clothing and started to speak, only to be stopped in his tracks.
"Don't answer yet. Just…try it on, okay?"
"But, I never…I have n-never…"
"I know this isn't what you're used to wearing, but, come on! Tetsuya, you're not one of those old farts whose gonna be there. You're young, like me. You should dress like it."
"W-well, I suppose if it was in the living world, but…" Tetsuya managed breathlessly.
Ichigo rolled his eyes knowingly.
"Hey, lots of shinigamis dress like this to go out dancing. You're young. You're going dancing. And you're gonna wear this."
"M-maybe we should just give it a try," Koji suggested, shocking Tetsuya all over again, "You were saying that you were interested in maybe seeing someone again, so you should go in something that your peers might wear."
"What he said!" Ichigo laughed, "C'mon, Tetsuya. Just try them on."
"Ah, okay," Tetsuya answered uncertainly.
He glanced at Ichigo, biting at his lip gently, noting that his cousin's husband was still in the dressing area. Ichigo blinked in confusion.
"Something wrong?" he asked.
"Um, well," Tetsuya stammered, "It isn't really proper for you to see me without my clothes. I know it was necessary before, but…"
"Oh!" Ichigo said, flushing, "Sorry, Tetsuya. I keep forgetting that this isn't Karakura Town. You're pretty shy."
"Do you undress in front of your friends in Karakura Town?" Tetsuya asked.
Ichigo frowned.
"I did before I got together with Byakuya. But, I guess you're right. Sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable."
"I'm fine," Tetsuya assured him, "I only don't want to start a scandal."
"I hardly think that me seeing you naked is gonna start a scandal," Ichigo laughed, "but, I'll go. Call me in when you're ready?"
"Okay," Tetsuya agreed in a flustered tone.
He watched as Ichigo left, then turned his attention to Koji. His attendant removed his yukata and the two young men exchanged gentle smiles at the sight of his bared baby bump.
"It's so cute, Tetsuya-san!" Koji giggled.
He gave Tetsuya a more tentative look.
"C-can I touch it? Would that be wrong?" he asked softly.
"It isn't wrong," Tetsuya assured him, "Go ahead."
Tetsuya's breath caught for a moment as Koji bowed slightly and very carefully caressed the little rounded area.
"Oh!" Koji exclaimed softly, "Oh, Tetsuya-san! I can feel the baby's reiatsu too! Such good, strong, healthy reiatsu."
"Well, think of who his father's are," Tetsuya replied, his smile fading slightly.
"You're strong too," Koji insisted, giving his baby bump another soft caress before beginning to dress Tetsuya.
"I'm amazed these pants fit!" Tetsuya said, staring into the mirror, "It's only because they're a little loose at the belly."
"They look wonderful on you," Koji said sincerely, "Tetsuya-san is…is…sexy!"
"Koji!" gasped Tetsuya, flushing brightly.
"Well, you are," Koji snickered playfully, "Tetsuya-san, you are going to meet the man of your dreams tonight."
Tetsuya sighed, watching as Koji continued to dress him.
"I don't know," he confessed softly.
"Well, I do," Koji said firmly, "Mister Right is out there, and when he sees you dressed like this, he is going to be singing to you, begging you to dance and never letting you go."
"Don't tease me, Koji," Tetsuya said, his eyes clouding.
"I wasn't teasing," Koji said, setting the vest in place and stepping back, "You are beautiful, Tetsuya-san. Someone is going to see that and he is going to sweep you off your feet!"
"It's been a hundred years and no one has done so. Do you really think it's going to happen, just because of some clothes?" Tetsuya asked somberly.
"It's not the clothes," Koji said, more seriously, picking up a brush and running it through the wavy lengths of Tetsuya's satin black hair, "It's you. You are different today than you have ever been before. You have every chance of finding the man you are looking for."
Tetsuya gazed into Koji's friendly eyes, then let out a soft breath.
"You are right," he answered determinedly, "There is no reason why it would be impossible that someone I meet tonight would love me."
"I'm glad you agree," Koji said approvingly, "Now, we should call Ichigo-sama back in."
Tetsuya waited, looking quietly into the mirror as Koji stepped out and motioned for Ichigo to return.
But, is this really me?
"Hey, you look great!" Ichigo said happily, "Tetsuya, that outfit is perfect! I can't wait to see Byakuya's face when he sees you. He's gonna pass out!"
"Oh," Tetsuya mused, looking down at himself, "I don't really know how he will react. Ichigo-sama, he may not approve."
"Look, trust me, will you?" Ichigo said, taking his hands, "This is the right thing. I know it is. Byakuya may be a little disapproving, but when he sees how amazing you look, he's not going to get past how beautiful you are. Don't worry. If he reacts badly, I'll talk to him. Just, let's go and have fun."
The two young men took their leave of Koji and walked out to the courtyard, where Tetsuya's stallion awaited them. He looked around for Byakuya, then back at Ichigo.
"Ah, Byakuya got called away," Ichigo explained, "He said he'd meet us there."
"Oh," Tetsuya said uncertainly, "Are you…?"
"Come on," Ichigo chuckled, offering Tetsuya a hand, then mounting behind him.
Tetsuya's blush returned as Ichigo's arms curled around his waist.
"You hold on with your legs," Tetsuya informed him.
"Yeah, I'm not so good about that. I kinda forget and almost fall off sometimes. I think I'll hang on to you."
"V-very well," Tetsuya said, ignoring the amused look in his stallion's blue eye, "Let's go, Arashi."
The sun was setting as the two rode out the front gates of the manor and headed across to the west end of the town. Ichigo chatted easily with him, drawing Tetsuya out and giving him a warm, comfortable feeling inside that helped to relax him as they approached their destination.
"Now, Grimmjow is an Arrancar," Ichigo began.
"I know that," Tetsuya interjected.
"I wasn't done yet," Ichigo laughed, "I knew you knew about him being an Arrancar. I just meant to warn you that he doesn't have very good manners."
"I wasn't aware that hollows in general were particularly mannerly," Tetsuya mused, earning a soft snicker from Ichigo.
"You've got that right. Only a few are what I would call friendly. Grimmjow can be a jackass sometimes, but he's really pretty friendly."
"Isn't he the Arrancar who tore out the quincy, Askin Nak Le Var's, heart?" Tetsuya asked.
"Yeah," Ichigo said, looking impressed, "How'd you hear about that?"
"It is my job as head of house security to be well informed about such things," Tetsuya said, smirking, "I am well connected."
"You talked to Kisuke, didn't you?" Ichigo surmised.
Tetsuya nodded.
"We were relaxing together whilst Byakuya-sama was visiting you," he explained.
"Oh," Ichigo said, arching an eyebrow, "You and Kisuke plotting together, eh?"
"We weren't plotting," Tetsuya laughed, "He was telling me stories about what happened up there, while I was forced to stay here, defending the clan."
"That must have been an awful job," Ichigo said, his expression clouding, "Thousands of shinigamis were killed."
"It was difficult," Tetsuya admitted, "We managed to keep losses of women and children very low, but the bulk of the fighters who stood with me protecting the safety barrier were cut down in horrific battles."
Ichigo shook his head and sighed unhappily.
"There's so much hatred between the quincies and the shinigamis," he commented sadly.
"There is," Tetsuya agreed, "But with the death of their king, we have been able to begin to mend things. I think all of us know that we do not want another blood war. We just have to see if we are wise enough to avoid one."
The two young men halted their conversation as they arrived at the front of the Blue Haze dance club. Ichigo slid down off of Arashi's back and helped Tetsuya down, then took his hand and led him past a line of people waiting and to the guard at the door.
"Hey Yammy," Ichigo greeted the big hollow, "We're on the guest list."
"Of course you are," Yammy acknowledged, glancing at Tetsuya.
"This is Tetsuya," Ichigo said, indicating his comely companion, "Tetsuya, this is Yammy."
"P-pleased to meet you," Tetsuya said breathlessly, accepting the hollows extended hand.
"Go on in," Yammy said, stepping aside, "Have fun."
Ichigo led a wide-eyed Tetsuya past and into the darkened and misted club.
"I thought that Byakuya-sama and Zaraki taichou killed him," Tetsuya pondered.
Ichigo shrugged.
"He's a tough guy. And the powerful hollows still surviving know that it's better to get along."
"I suppose," Tetsuya agreed, looking back over his shoulder at the towering hollow.
"Well, look what the cat dragged in," Grimmjow sneered jokingly, stepping forward to greet the two.
Ichigo paused to admire the hollow's leather pants, skin tight black shirt and neon blue vest and matching blue hair. Grimmjow caught sight of Tetsuya and gave him a toothy smile.
"Helllllo," he drawled, moving closer and laying a hand on Tetsuya's shoulder, "Who is this little beauty? I thought you were getting married to that shinigami taichou."
"I am," Ichigo laughed, "This is Tetsuya, Byakuya's cousin. I'm escorting him because he's bearing the Kuchiki heir."
"Huh?" Grimmjow mused, blinking, "A guy carrying?"
He looked more closely at Tetsuya's blushing face and Tetsuya's eyes darted away.
"Hmm," Grimmjow went on, his lips curling into a roguish smile, "You're welcome to have my baby, after you're done with theirs."
"Grimmjow!" Ichigo snapped, "Behave. Tetsuya's a nice person, so be a gentleman."
"I woulda offered to marry him too!" Grimmjow laughed, "Hey, cutie, sorry for flustering you. How about a dance?"
"Ah," Tetsuya said uncertainly, his breath catching as Grimmjow slipped and arm around him and swept him onto the dance floor, "I…um…"
His breath was taken away again immediately as Grimmjow led him into a flurry of graceful steps and sweeping turns. The music pounded all around and soft lights flickered, lighting the blue mist that floated all around the dance floor. Tetsuya's sapphire eyes locked on the charming hollow's ice blue ones, reading the aggressive energy of the powerful Arrancar. Grimmjow pulled him closer, letting a hand slide down his side, to rest on his hip, with fingers trailing slightly onto his bottom.
"Move your hips more," Grimmjow purred warmly in his ear, renewing Tetsuya's blush, "A sexy thing like you should let go a little more."
"I am not allowed to…"
"Shh," the hollow hissed, the sound echoing strangely in Tetsuya's ears, "c'mon, swing those hips, beautiful. You came here to dance, right?"
The blue-haired hollow made a deep, throaty sound of approval as Tetsuya moved with him, easily following and turning heads as other dancers began to notice them. Caught up in the dance, Tetsuya didn't notice the moment Byakuya entered the club, flanked by a number of elders, including Orochi. Orochi's predatory eyes burned at the sight of the two, but he held back saying anything, only watching as Byakuya's eyes registered his casually dressed cousin, dancing provocatively with the blue-haired Arrancar, then beginning to smolder with anger and disapproval.
"Hey, Byakuya," Ichigo greeted him, "That was fast. Tetsuya and I just…"
He paused, reading the deadly expression on his lover's face and moving quickly to intervene. Ichigo took Byakuya's arm and turned him into an alcove.
"What in kami's name is my cousin doing, dressed like that and draped all over that hollow!" Byakuya demanded.
"Take it easy," Ichigo soothed him, "I gave Tetsuya the clothing. It's perfectly acceptable for guys our age in a dance club."
"Tetsuya is not just anyone," Byakuya said heatedly, "He is a close family member, Ichigo. And he is a mixed blood who has worked very hard to gain a respectful place in the family. He knows better than this!"
"Better than what?" Ichigo challenged him, his golden brown eyes flashing, "Better than letting down and enjoying himself a little? Better than acting his age? Byakuya, maybe he'd have an easier time finding someone special if you'd stop getting in the way."
"It is not getting in the way to express concern over Tetsuya stepping out of bounds and getting himself into trouble with the elders!"
"Well then, I'd say that he was just taking after you. Isn't that right?" Ichigo said pointedly, "Byakuya, Tetsuya is a beautiful young guy and he's going to get attention. You've said that it's impossible for us to have a romantic relationship with him. You need to step back and let go."
Byakuya's lips stiffened and his eyes grew disdainful.
"Letting go does not mean to let him forget all sense of propriety!" he snapped, surging out of the corner and catching his surprised cousin by the arm as Grimmjow led him by.
Tetsuya froze, staring breathlessly as his enraged cousin glared at Grimmjow, who smirked knowingly and offered the furious noble a hand.
"Welcome to you and your family, Kuchiki taichou," the hollow greeted him, "I was just making acquaintance with your lovely cousin."
He nodded at the white-faced Tetsuya.
"Thank you for the dance, Tetsuya. Enjoy your visit."
Byakuya bristled at the casual use of his cousin's name, but remained silent as he led Tetsuya to the alcove where Ichigo waited and guided his pale cousin to a chair. Ichigo shot Byakuya a look of warning and received a stubborn glare in reply.
"Would you mind telling me what you were thinking?" Byakuya asked Tetsuya sternly, "Dressing like that and dancing that way with that hollow?"
Tetsuya looked back at him like a deer caught in bright, oncoming headlights, frozen and unable to speak.
"It wasn't his fault," Ichigo said, keeping his voice forcefully calm, "I gave him the outfit. I thought that it would help him blend in with people his age, and would make him comfortable for dancing. And Grimmjow is kinda like that with everyone."
"Tetsuya can speak for himself," Byakuya said shortly.
"Not with you browbeating him like that," Ichigo argued, "Come on, Byakuya. Give him a break."
"I am sorry, Byakuya-sama," Tetsuya said contritely, finding his voice, "I knew it wasn't right. I just…wanted for a moment to not feel like an outsider. I just wanted to fit in."
Byakuya gazed at him sternly for a moment, then let out a flustered sigh. Ichigo slipped a hand into his and squeezed it gently.
"I am sorry, Tetsuya," Byakuya apologized more quietly, "I suppose your behavior was understandable. I was only thinking of how it would be viewed by the elders and did not realize I was holding you back from socializing normally. But I would suggest that you confine yourself to less erotic dances and, for kami's sake, try to be selective with your partners! I thought a few of them would faint when they saw you with that hollow."
"Grimmjow's the owner of the club," Ichigo argued more gently, "He was being mostly very respectful."
"Mostly," Byakuya repeated with an edge of sarcasm.
"What say we get some drinks?" Ichigo chuckled, regaining his good nature as the tension between the three men eased.
He looked up as a waiter stopped at their table.
"Your best sake," Ichigo said, smiling, "and something bubbly and non-alcoholic for Tetsuya."
Ichigo turned his attention back to Byakuya and Tetsuya as Orochi watched through enraged eyes from across the room. His dark eyes ran around the environs and found a box set up near the front of the room. He moved closer and read the front.
Hotspot Karaoke! Enter the name of a guest and a song that person knows and we'll make'em sing it. The best rendition will receive a free party at the club!
Orochi glanced back at Tetsuya, where he sat quietly at Byakuya's side, watching the dancers on the floor. His lips curved into a cunning smile and he picked up a piece of paper. He wrote down Tetsuya's name, then wrote down the name of the song. "Why?"