Chapter 11: A New Beginning
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Whenever a storm is coming, the seagulls will gather together and move to a safe location. There on the ground, they will huddle together until the worst has gone by. We too, need to be able to do this when faced with times like these. We need to gather our loved ones close together somewhere safe and know that we are not alone in the howling wind and driving rain. And when the storm has passed and our bodies have been warmed and dried by the sun, we will rise onto the breezes and soar again across the blue skies…side by side.
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Renji opened his eyes and squinted to block out the bright shaft of sun that came in through the window and fell across the bed. He realized all at once that Byakuya no longer rested in his arms. He felt sad at the fact that although he knew that Byakuya was an early riser and that such a thing was probably of no concern…there was a thin blade of fear slicing through his heart. He had to wonder, as Byakuya had, if things would ever come to resemble what they had been before.
Still, he also realized that not all of the changes were bad…
I'm going to meet my daughter today…
He had, of course, seen her as they prepared to come to the safe house. But they hadn't had time to be formally introduced and once they arrived at the beach house, he and Byakuya had agreed to wait until morning. It was likely to be confusing for her…frightening perhaps. Only a few days before, she had what she thought was a normal life in the living world…with Aizen posing as the hard-working, loving father and Byakuya in the role of the tragically ill, beloved spouse and other parent. And there was still the damning fact that Byakuya was married to Aizen. To this little girl, Renji would seem an outsider…and would not necessarily be welcomed.
Renji sighed softly and rolled out of bed. He slipped into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt and headed out of the bedroom and down the stairs. Kisuke sat at the table, reading a newspaper and absently taking bites of cereal from a bowl in front of him. He glanced up at Renji as he entered the room and gave him a smile of greeting.
"Where is Byakuya?" Renji asked, speaking softly, so as not to break the calm of the morning.
Kisuke motioned in the direction of the beach.
"He took Akane down to look for seashells…and to give her the bad news about Aizen not really being her dad. He asked me to send you down after you woke up and had breakfast. Sit down, they need time to talk…and so do we."
Renji's eyebrow rose questioningly, but Kisuke motioned to the kitchen. Sighing, Renji went into the kitchen and returned with a bowl of cereal, juice and two slices of toast. He sat down across from Kisuke and started to eat.
"So what is it you want to talk about?" he asked, glancing up at Kisuke.
The shopkeeper sighed and rustled the paper softly in his hands.
"I think we need to talk about your taichou. Renji, you need to know, despite some small improvements, Byakuya is not well at all."
Renji nodded.
"I'm aware…but he just came back after five years of being that bastard's personal plaything. And he came back to the news that everything was a setup…that Aizen wanted him, used our own people to capture him and had his way with him for five years. In addition to that, you can add the way he used Akane to get him to go along with everything. He cornered Byakuya and manipulated the hell out of him. He's still trying to manipulate him. How would any of us be in the same situation?"
"Agreed…and like I said, he is improving. But there are some questions you need to ask yourself. First one that occurs to me is, why hasn't he unsealed his zanpakutou? Senbonzakura hasn't been connected with him for five years and you would think that his first instinct would be to re-forge that connection. That he hasn't suggests he may need a push."
"Come on, Kisuke, he came back and woke up confused and alone…with his powers sealed away. And before he even got his bearings, he was thrown into that psych ward. He couldn't connect with Senbonzakura before…not locked up like that and with his own powers sealed away. And then Aizen took him. When was he supposed to connect with his zanpakutou?"
"Renji…use your brain. He had his powers when he ran away from the healing center that first time, but all he used were flash steps. He had his powers returned in full when he reached me, but he hasn't connected with his zanpakutou or used a single kido spell since arriving at my shop…despite having Aizen nipping at our heels. That doesn't seem strange to you?"
"Of course it does," Renji admitted, "but who the hell knows where his mind is? Kisuke, Taichou has to do this his own way. We can be there to help, but there are some steps he's got to take on his own. We can't do it for him. But I get your meaning…and I will try to find a way to ask him about it. Thanks for the heads up."
Kisuke smiled and nodded.
"You're welcome. And Renji…if you decide you need to push him along a bit…just say the word. I have a few ideas about what could help him. Just remember, the clock is ticking. Aizen is searching for him and won't give this up until he has Byakuya back. He didn't go to all of that trouble just to marry the guy. He wants control of the clan…that much is clear…but the how and the why are still up in the air. So we may not have time to let him heal at his own speed. If Aizen shows up and he's still not connected with Senbonzakura, we will all be at an ugly disadvantage. Hell, I don't even like our chances with him at full strength, and that's saying something, you know?"
"Yeah," Renji said, shaking his head in frustration, "I know."
The redhead sighed and stirred his cereal disinterestedly.
"There's something else I think you should know about Byakuya's condition…something he knows, but I don't know if he's told you yet."
"What's that?" Renji said, looking up.
"When Aizen took him this last time, he triggered Byakuya's reproductive system. He's still trying to force Byakuya to give him a Kuchiki heir."
Renji swallowed hard, forcing down the fury that rose up at the thought of Aizen touching Byakuya in any way…but especially that way…
"Was he successful?" he asked in a low voice.
"No. His reiatsu and semen were there, but the spirit chamber hadn't fully formed and Tessai was able to cleanse Aizen's genetic material from Byakuya's body before conception would have taken place."
"Well, that's a relief. To get pregnant with that bastard's kid is the last thing he needs right now. He's been through enough."
"Well," said Kisuke, raising his eyes, "he isn't out of the woods yet."
"What do you mean?" Renji asked, his reiatsu flaring.
"When Tessai cleansed Byakuya's body, he wasn't able to destroy the spirit chamber, because Byakuya still hasn't fully recovered from the removal of the last one. It would have been too dangerous to attempt to remove it."
"So what does that mean for Byakuya?"
Kisuke's eyes took on a worried look.
"It means that regardless of what anyone wants or needs here, your taichou will soon be with child. The only question is…Whose kid will it be? If Aizen gets his hands on Byakuya, you know he'll try again. And another disturbing fact is…that he has access to my shop and lab now."
"And what does that have to do with Byakuya getting pregnant?" Renji asked, narrowing his eyes.
"I received a hell butterfly from Soutaichou, saying they have evidence that Aizen was seeking a way to shorten the gestation period…and my guess is that he wanted to do this so as to birth his heir sooner."
"Damn! He is really determined to do this. I wonder why…"
"Well, whatever the reasons, Byakuya is on the verge of becoming pregnant again…and if Aizen gains access to him during the formation of the spirit chamber, the kid could end up being his."
"Not while I'm still alive and breathing!" Renji snapped.
"He's gotten to Byakuya every time we tried to stop him. He used our own people to capture him in the first place. Chances are good that he'll find a way to get to Byakuya…and soon."
"So what can we do?" Renji asked, resting his chin on one hand.
"Well…left alone, when the spirit chamber opens…if no other genetic material is present, Byakuya's body will send just his own reiatsu into the chamber…and the kid will be his. If there are other reiatsu present, he can choose to send them in as well."
"But if that's true, even if Aizen does take him again, Byakuya could simply lie and just send his own reiatsu in…right?"
"Theoretically, yeah, he could. But…you don't think Aizen Sousuke will have thought of that? That's a very dangerous assumption…don't you think?"
Renji's eyes narrowed.
"How long will it be until the chamber opens?" he asked quietly.
"I haven't got a clue. But when it happens, Byakuya will have not more than a day to either send the reiatsu in…or try to force the chamber to break down. If he tries to force a breakdown…the chamber could shatter…and you don't want to know what that would do to him. The least painful thing would be it could kill him. I don't want to consider the other possibilities, Renji."
"So in other words, we're going to have to hope Byakuya gets pregnant before Aizen finds us?"
"Well…it would probably be the best thing…still…if he does, it will give Aizen reason to drop a world of torment on Byakuya…not that he hasn't already, but I'm concerned in that case, he might simply kill Byakuya and go back to Hueco Mundo to sulk."
"Shit…" Renji muttered, "I fucking hate that guy."
Kisuke chuckled half-heartedly.
"Join the club," he said softly.
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"This one looks pretty," Akane said, holding up a lovely orange and white seashell, "but your sand dollar is pretty too, Daddy Bya."
"I like it too," Byakuya said, holding up the sand dollar to examine it.
He turned his head to study the girl as she continued sifting through the shells she had gathered.
"Akane…I need to tell you something…and it is something that is very important."
The girl looked up at him, wide eyed, and Byakuya knew that he had seen Renji wear that same expression before. He took a breath and continued.
"Akane, I know that Daddy Sousuke told you that I was sick and in the hospital…and that was why I couldn't come to live with you sooner."
"We're going to live together now, though, right?" the girl said, smiling.
"Yes…we are. But, Daddy Sousuke is not going to live with us."
"Oh," said the girl, "is he too busy with working still?"
Byakuya closed his eyes and sighed.
"No…the truth is…the truth is that Aizen Sousuke is not really your father. I have told you before that mostly it is women who have children and that I was made differently, so that in certain situations, I can have children. Well…the situation came where I was able to have you, but Aizen Sousuke isn't your other parent. He is actually a very dangerous man…who captured me and held me prisoner."
"What do you mean?" the girl said, looking scared.
"Akane…I know this will be hard for you to understand, but, I wasn't in the hospital all of this time. Sousuke has been keeping me as his prisoner and only letting me see you when I did things he wanted me to do. He told you the story about us being a family so that you wouldn't worry…so that you would live more normally and be happy. But he is not your father…and he is not a good man. He is angry that I escaped him and ran away with you. He is trying to find us. If he does, he will hurt us…so if you see him, you must tell me right away. Will you do that?"
Tears welled up in the girl's eyes.
"Yes Daddy Bya."
Byakuya pulled the girl into his arms and held her gently as she sniffled and rubbed her eyes.
"Does this mean that I won't see Mika anymore?" she asked softly, "and I won't go to preschool?"
"Mika worked for Sousuke, so it isn't safe for you to be with her. And you are not truly from the living world…I know that you know this, Akane. You are a shinigami…and when it is safe, you will come to live with me in the Soul Society. It is your true home. I know it is not the one you are used to…and it will be a great change for you…but I assure you…it is necessary…"
"Did he hurt you, Daddy?" the girl asked suddenly.
Byakuya froze, staring at her.
"Why would you ask that?"
Akane bit her lower lip and looked up at him.
"Well…I know you said you just weren't well…but your eyes always looked afraid and sad when you would come. And one time, I walked into the room to see you…and he…I saw him grab you hard and talk like he was really mad. Then he said you had gotten sicker again and you had to go back to the hospital…and I saw you crying once."
Byakuya closed his eyes against the words.
"I am sorry you had to see those things. I tried to keep that from you, because I didn't want him to hurt you while I was trying to find a way for us to escape him."
"You were scared, weren't you?"
Byakuya nodded.
"I was afraid he would hurt you…so I did what he wanted until the day we escaped. But we are away from him and I won't let him hurt either of us anymore. Just…be sure that if you see him…tell me immediately."
Byakuya looked toward the beach house and saw the door open. Renji stepped out onto the sand and began to walk toward them. Byakuya watched as he drew closer, then looked down at his daughter.
"Akane," he said softly, "there is something more, something good that I have to tell you. You do have another father, someone who I love very much…and when it is safe again, we will be living together as a family. I would like very much for you to meet him."
The girl stared up at him, blinking.
"He is a good and kind person…and of all of the people he could have chosen to love…he chose me. Before I was captured by Sousuke, I had planned to live with him. But then I was taken prisoner, and for five years, I couldn't be with him."
"I bet you missed him a lot…like I missed you."
"Yes…I missed him terribly. And I was very lonely without him. But every time I looked at you, I saw things that reminded me of him. So I was comforted by that…and I always hoped that someday we would get free and you would meet him. That is him," Byakuya said, gesturing toward Renji.
Akane's eyes widened at the sight of the tall, red haired man that was approaching. She ducked behind Byakuya, clinging to his sleeve and peering around him shyly.
"Akane," Byakuya said softly as Renji reached them, "This is your other father. This is Abarai Renji."