Chapter 10: The Warning

Renji sat down in the commissary and almost immediately, Ryota joined him.

"Hey, where did you come from?" he asked, smiling at the big hollow.

"I was training," he said quietly, "but I saw your friend in the arena fighting and I came to give you a warning to pass on to him. His scores and ranking are rising quickly. He is well on his way to qualifying for the Grudge Match."

"And…that's a problem for you?" Renji asked, furrowing his brow.

"It may be a problem for you, seeing as how you went to great lengths to keep your master from killing him."

"You're worried that Shira will kill him?" asked Renji.

Ryota nodded.

"She doesn't like anything that gets between her and what she wants. And she wants you in the Grudge Match."

"So…she wants me in the match…and you don't…interesting," Renji mused, "Are you saying all of this because you don't want the competition?"

"I'm saying this because I would like to see you and your friend survive."

He looked around.

"And there is one more thing," he added, "You need to tell Master Ryuu to watch his back. It's not just Masaru who will be…dealt with. Shira is very determined."

"Yeah, I get that from her prior behavior. But Ryota, there's something that I'm not understanding here. You have won the Grudge Match against her fighters for five years running. I get that she wants to win, but what she's doing is pretty damned extreme! She's killing shinigamis as though their lives are meaningless, although as a hollow, maybe that's what she thinks."

"Actually, her reasoning was a bit different," Ryota said, meeting Renji's eyes meaningfully.

Renji gazed into the big hollow's eyes and decided to take a chance.

"Ryota…the way you talk about Shira…the amount you know about her…how well you understand her thinking…You are the fighter she is in love with, right?" he asked carefully.

"Who told you that?" he asked, "Who told you that Shira was in love with a fighter?"

Renji shrugged.

"Overheard it while watching the fights."

"Bullshit," said Ryota, "Renji Abarai, I need to know who told you this."

"Like I said, it was just something I overheard. It's out there. Why does that bother you?" Renji asked, narrowing his eyes, "And seeing that you aren't likely to answer that, a better question would be…if you are lovers, then why is she trying so hard to come up with a fighter who can kill you? Why does she need so badly to win, even though it means losing you?"

"You are just full of questions, aren't you, Renji Abarai?" Ryota said, lowering his eyes.

He started to say more, but was stopped as his collar began to vibrate softly.

"My apologies, Renji," he said, standing, "We will have to conclude this conversation later. But mind what I said about Master Ryuu and his fighter. They tread on dangerous ground…as do you."

He turned and left, leaving Renji staring after him. A moment later, Masaru joined him at the table.

"I'm glad to see you," Renji said quietly, "I have something that you need to pass on to the captain. Tell Captain Kuchiki that Shira has become concerned with your progress in the fighting ring. It seems that you are drawing close to qualification for the Grudge Match. She is not happy at all about someone getting in her way and she is not above eliminating the competition…you, and our Captain."

"I won't let anyone reach the captain, Vice Captain Abarai," Masaru assured him, "and I will inform him of what you said about Master Shira."

"Good," Renji said, looking around, "I have to go…but I will need to see Captain Kuchiki tonight. Have him meet me in the training area. And be sure that you and Rikichi watch his back between now and then. I don't want anything or anyone reaching him.

"Hai," Masaru said, rising.

He watched as Renji left, then turned and started back toward Byakuya's quarters. As he passed out of the commissary, he failed to notice the dark form that followed, staying carefully back behind him. It followed him into the executive tower, watching as he boarded the lift, then taking the next one to the penthouse level. He exited and made his way to the door of Master Ryuu's suite and slipping the floor guard a handful of money, then watching as he disappeared into the stairwell.

XXXXXXXXXX

"Sweet kami, I'll be glad when we wrap this thing up and get out of here, so we can make love in a bed," Renji murmured as Byakuya kissed his way down the redhead's throat, "not to mention, we won't have to worry about my master ruining our fun!"

"I know this is uncomfortable…not to mention dangerous," Byakuya agreed, "but until such time as we learn what is driving Shira to kill…and to send her fighters up against Ryota every year, only to fail…"

"Well," said Renji, "If Ryota is her lover, and I judge from his reaction that he is, then we have that part of the equation…but that still doesn't explain why she keeps looking for such strong fighters to battle her lover…and loses every year."

"Hmmm," said Byakuya, running his hands down the redhead's bare back, "We need to know what she would gain from winning…and we know that it isn't the money or prestige. She would not allow her lover to be killed to gain those things."

He paused for a moment, returning to Renji's mouth for several penetrating kisses. Then, he paused, gazing at the redhead thoughtfully.

"Renji…" he said in a curious tone, "do you think there is any chance that Shira is purposely throwing the fights?"

"Wha…? Why? Why would she do that?" he asked, his eyes wide at the insinuation.

"I am not sure, but it bore discussion since I think it is a possibility."

"That's a lot of trouble to go through…all that effort to recruit and train strong fighters, just to lose each time. And it doesn't bode well for me, if that's the case," Renji mused, "I've pushed for information, but she is really intent on playing it close to the vest. And although Ryota has been helpful, he is careful not to say too much…"

"Hmmm," mused Byakuya, his eyes closing as Renji nuzzled beneath his chin, "that is an area where I could do a bit more research."

"What do you mean?" asked Renji.

"I mean that it suggests a connection between Shira and Ryota's master…who just happens to be one of the owners of these arenas. Curious too, is that although I have seen Ryota's master, I haven't seen the other brother. We know they share ownership, but knowing that makes me curious as to why the other brother is not about, especially when the brochure for this place indicated both brothers were often seen here placing bets."

Byakuya's eyes narrowed and his brow furrowed with thought. His mind tangled with the contradictions and unanswered questions as Renji's mouth enjoyed the soft contours of his chest and abdomen. He moaned softly as the redhead's mouth pleasured him and derailed his thinking.

"Renji," he panted, "how am I supposed to…"

His breath left him as the redhead pushed him down on his back, releasing his inflamed member and pushing his thighs wide.

"I thought I was master…" he hissed softly.

Renji chuckled.

"Yeah, you just keep thinking that!" he whispered, nipping at the noble's ear as he entered him.

"Ah…" moaned Byakuya, "then I should be wearing that cute little fighting outfit and collar and you should be ordering me around."

"That's an awfully sexy image, Captain…" Renji smiled, thrusting in deeply and reaching down to wrap his hand around Byakuya's length, "but I think your council of elders would have me hanged and you assassinated if they ever found out we did such a thing."

"Well, I don't plan on telling them…"

"You do know they still have us watched, right?" Renji queried, thrusting in deeper and earning a low, satisfied moan of approval.

"Mhmmm…"

"Are you listening to me at all, Bya?" Renji asked, grinning.

"Listening…" panted Byakuya, "not able to understand so much now…"

"Can't imagine why…" Renji said, gripping the slender body beneath his and thrusting harder and faster.

The dark haired captain's answer was lost in the heavy movement of their bodies against each other…in their deep, hungry moans of pleasure…and the disappearance of coherent thought as they climaxed together.

XXXXXXXXXX

Byakuya sat quietly in a chair by the window in his suite, gazing out at the moon and struggling silently with the bits of information they had found and the glaring questions. He sighed softly, knowing he should sleep, but unable to shake the feeling that something was not right. A hell butterfly flitted into the window and hovered in the air in front of him.

"Captain Kuchiki," said Rikichi's voice, "I have learned a few important things I think you should know. First, I overheard the fighter salesman telling a customer that Gavet Dal, one of the owners, has been missing for about five years…but oddly, there has been no public attention focused on it. His brother only says that he is traveling and has lost interest in the business. I was also able to sneak into the fighter records room and found out something interesting about the fighter, Ryota. Ryota is actually an illegitimate son of Hileagh Dal, Sai and Gavet Dal's father. His mother is listed as deceased, but it gave her name…Mika Shingrove. She was Karpa Shingrove's sister."

Byakuya caught his breath softly.

"He fathered a child with his wife's sister," Byakuya whispered, "so Sai and Gavet might not have gotten along well with Ryota…"

His eyes narrowed.

"Wait…Gavet Dal has been missing for five years…exactly the number of years that Shira has been placing fighters in the grudge match against Sai Dal's fighter, Ryota…her lover, and an illegitimate brother of Sai and Gavet. So perhaps it was Sai and Gavet who didn't get along…"

His thoughts were interrupted by a small noise behind him. He turned just in time to avoid a knife that slashed down at him. A hand wrapped around his wrist and before he could breath a kido spell, the cloaked assailant sealed his spirit energy away. Byakuya twisted his body violently, breaking free, and struck out at the assassin, who moved clear of his attack and slashed with the knife again. The noble blocked his move, but felt the sting as the knife grazed him, then a sharp pain registered in his abdomen and he looked down in shock. The assassin's other hand held a second knife that was buried to the hilt in his body. The assassin moved again and the knife slashed across his chest. Dizzying pain exploded in his chest, but he managed to kick his assailant away and reached for Senbonzakura.

The assassin loosed an angry howl and charged him. Byakuya began to pull Senbonzakura free of his sheath, but knew he wouldn't have time to remove it fully. Instead, he raised the sheathed blade and blocked the next two slashes as he and the assassin tumbled to the floor together. Dropping Senbonzakura, Byakuya captured his attacker's hands and held the knives away. He tried to see beneath the hood, but could only make out glowing, yellow eyes that stared down at him hatefully.

"Who sent you?" he asked, though already suspecting.

The assassin growled again and threw his weight downward, trying to force the knives into the noble's body. Byakuya held his hands away, but felt his body weakening from blood and reiatsu loss. He tried to twist free, but found himself trapped too securely beneath his attacker. He glared up into the yellow eyes and put all of his strength into holding him away.

"You will weaken," said the creature's rasping voice, "and you will die."

His arms shook softly and he felt his strength waning. He didn't remember ever meeting such a capable assassin…one that he didn't sense quickly enough…one so brutal and fast. Someone, he thought, must really want him dead. He gazed up into the deadly eyes and felt his arms start to give way.

All at once, he heard the thud of a sword sinking into a body and felt the assassin shudder. The tip of a zanpakutou thrust through him and the impaled assassin stared down at it in disbelief for a moment, then disappeared in a blast of black smoke.

"Captain Kuchiki!" called Rikichi.

"R-rikichi…" Byakuya managed.

He tried to rise, but the youth pushed him back down.

"Is he all right?" asked Masaru from somewhere behind Rikichi.

"He's been injured badly," the youth said, opening the noble's yukata and pushing it back to better see the injury.

He caught his breath softly, seeing the seriousness of the wounds.

"Masaru!" he said with urgency, "Is there any way to sneak Vice Captain Abarai into our room?"

Masaru nodded.

"Leave it to me…"

Byakuya gazed dazedly up at Rikichi. The youth leaned over him and focused deeply, green light flaring around his hands.

"I may not be very powerful yet, sir," he said quietly, "but I can keep you alive until Renji gets here."

"You are plenty powerful enough, Rikichi," Byakuya assured him, "but if you…will release the seal on my powers, I can at least…work with you."

Rikichi nodded and touched his wrist lightly, shattering the seal holding back his power.

"Arigato," Byakuya said weakly, "now my body will be more tolerant of your reiatsu. And that will…enable you to heal me more effectively."

"I'm just sorry he reached you in the first place. I promised Renji that I would protect you."

"You did," Byakuya assured the youth, "You came back in time to stop him from finishing me."

"He never should have gotten in here."

Byakuya shivered softly and closed his eyes.

"Stay with me, Captain," Rikichi urged him, "Renji will be here soon."

"Tell me…" Byakuya queried softly, "How did you know to enter so quietly, Rikichi?"

"Oh," said the boy, "When I got off the lift, I noticed there was no guard. A guy came out of the stairwell and attacked me, but Masaru showed up and took care of him, while I came to help you."

Byakuya nodded.

"You were on guard and perceptive, and you reacted quickly. You did well, Rikichi. Again…arigato."

"It was nothing, sir. Just doing my job," the boy said, smiling down at him.

"Now you are sounding like Renji."

The boy's smile widened and his eyes twinkled.

"Arigato, Captain!"

The door swung open behind him and Renji flash stepped into the room.

"Byakuya!" he said, dropping down next to the injured noble.

Rikichi moved aside and Renji leaned over Byakuya, power blazing around his hands.

"Just hang in there, okay?" he said, sending the healing energy into the gaping wounds.

Byakuya nodded and closed his eyes.

"I'm going to kill her," Renji said in a low voice, "She's not getting away with this!"

"Renji," said Byakuya weakly, "don't confront her. She'll use the collar to kill you. Just question her. Try to find out more…and…and…"

He trailed off, losing consciousness.

"Byakuya!" Renji gasped, "Bya!"