Chapter 11: Evacuation

Byakuya felt a small, warm weight pressed against his side, and opened his eyes and turned to find Akitora curled up beside him in a hospital bed in the fourth division, and Rukia sleeping in a chair beside the bed. A hell butterfly hovered beside the bed and floated closer to him as it registered that he had awakened.

Byakuya, said Renji's voice, I am really sorry that you have to wake up in that place without me there, but the situation with all of us getting pregnant has made the hollows think that with a bunch of the taichous and fukutaichous knocked up, it's a good time to attack. Soutaichou is rotating us around, and with you in the healing center, Zaraki taichou and I were the only ones he could send to push them back. I know that Kuchiki Manor is being evacuated today so that the healers and twelfth division can start their investigation, so when I get back, I will meet you at the living world estate. Again, I am so sorry I can't be there. I love you. Take good care of yourself until I get back and don't give the healers too much trouble.

"Huh..." Byakuya huffed softly, making Akitora stir in her sleep, "He tells me not to cause them trouble. This, from the one who faints instantly at the sign of a tiny needle..."

He turned his head slightly, and found that Rukia had come awake, and was looking at him with a somewhat scared expression.

"Why do you look at me that way?" he asked softly, "Do you think that I do not understand that whatever happened that made you with child is not your fault? My husband, much of my staff, and numerous friends are likewise affected. Why would you think that I would hold this against you?"

"Oh," said Rukia, looking tormented, "I don't. I don't think that you will blame me for this, but I admit that I have been afraid to be honest with you about something, Nii-sama."

"Well," Byakuya said, meeting her eyes calmly, "Why don't you tell me and unburden yourself."

Rukia sighed and looked down at her nervously clasping hands.

"Nii-sama, I know that everyone believes Inoue that I wasn't with anyone sexually that night, but the truth is, I have remembered now that I was."

Byakuya frowned.

"Then, you know who fathered your child?" he asked.

"Erm...no, Nii-sama," Rukia answered, biting at her lips.

"Oh, you know you were with a man, but you do not remember who?" Byakuya asked.

"N-no, Nii-sama," the young woman said haltingly.

She lowered her head penitently.

"The truth is, Nii-sama, that I wasn't with a man at all. Well, not that I remember."

"Ah...but you just said that..."

"I...was with a woman," Rukia admitted in a shaky voice, making Byakuya go silent and stare, "I was...with Inoue Orihime...s-sexually."

"You...and Inoue Orihime?" Byakuya repeated, quietly.

"I...hope Nii-sama is not terribly disappointed with me! Please, don't be angry!" she pleaded.

"Why is it that you think I would be angry?" Byakuya asked, still in a calm tone, "I am married to a man. I am now, and was married to a commoner. As you can see, I have a habit of following my heart when it comes to love. Why would I allow myself that, and deny you the same? I admit to some concern about you loving a human, whose lifeline is so much shorter than your own. But if it is what you feel is right, then I think you must follow your heart."

"R-really, Nii-sama?" Rukia said, looking shocked.

"Yes," affirmed the clan leader, "If you love Orihime, then it is right that you should be together. But...you do have a child on the way. You must also consider the connotations of that. You have no idea who the father could be?"

"No," insisted Rukia, "Nii-sama, that is the strangest thing. Inoue was not affected by whatever I was. She says that I was with her all night. And, erm...when we were sleeping, well...she is a light sleeper and we were...um..."

"Entangled?" Byakuya said matter-of-factly.

"Y-yes!" exclaimed the young woman, "So we have no idea how I could have gotten up and been with anyone else, then gone back to my room and ended up exactly as I had been. It's just not possible."

"Hmm, that is very odd," Byakuya agreed, shaking his head, "But do not worry. Father or no, you have family here to see you through."

Rukia gave him a look of deep gratitude and relief.

"Thank you, Nii-sama!" she sighed, finally relaxing somewhat.

Byakuya's head turned as Akitora stretched, and her eyes fluttered open.

"Daddy Bya?" she said sleepily.

"Akitora."

"Daddy, Bya! You are awake. Finally!"

"I am sorry that I frightened you," he apologized, "I wasn't feeling well. I likely neglected myself because things have been very stressful."

"Do you feel better now?" she asked, placing a hand on his forehead, making him smile, "I don't think you have a fever."

"I will be fine now, child," he said, returning her embrace, "Do not worry."

He paused as the door opened and Unohana taichou entered the room.

"Rukia," he said quietly, "Would you mind taking Akitora back to the manor to gather her things for the move to the living world estate?"

"Not at all, Nii-sama," Rukia said, helping the girl down from the tall hospital bed, "We can do that, then she can come to the thirteenth division headquarters with me and help me out. I'm assisting while Ukitake taichou is here."

"He is still in the hospital?" Byakuya asked, frowning.

"Yes," said Unohana taichou, "But he should be released soon. It is just taking a while to make sure that he is stable."

Byakuya watched as Rukia left with Akitora, then looked up at the healer.

"So, do you know why I collapsed like that?" he asked, "Was my reiatsu too low?"

"Your reiatsu is fine. You and Abarai taichou must be doing a good job with the bonding, despite all that is going on."

"Ah..."

"But, Kuchiki taichou, you must take better care of yourself. I know that things are difficult with everything that is going on, but you must still eat properly and get more rest."

"I have been eating as much as I can manage," Byakuya said, shaking his head briefly, "But I do admit that I have not been sleeping well."

"Then, I suggest that after each bonding, Abarai taichou should infuse you with a sleep kido so that you will get more rest."

Byakuya let out a soft, resigned sigh.

"Not to shrug off your advice, but...I have not told Renji about the baby yet. Actually, I tried, but each time, he became distracted, and then he said..."

He paused, biting gently at his lip at the unpleasant memory.

"He said that it wasn't the right time for us to be having another child."

"I see," said the healer, "So, how is it that you have done the bonding?"

"I made him sleep deeply and we bonded while he was sleeping."

"Hmmm," said Unohana, "I think that you should reconsider telling him."

"I will tell him," Byakuya assured her, "I would have told him already, if not for being stopped...although...I wonder if he wants this child."

"Kuchiki taichou," the healer said reprovingly, "How can you say that? You know that Abarai taichou loves you. And he was the one in here only days ago, stating loudly that he was determined to make you pregnant."

"I know," Byakuya said solemnly, "But...that was before. Now, between his new post as a taichou and Hisagi Shuuhei and him preparing to have their children...Renji is...overwhelmed."

"I think that someone else is as well," Unohana said pointedly, "But whatever the case, you must eat and rest properly and try to do something to relieve the stress. I am placing you on leave so that..."

"You cannot do that," Byakuya objected, "All of the other affected taichous are still working. Renji will know that..."

"I am afraid that I have no choice in the matter," explained the healer, "The examination I did also revealed that the stress is placing pressure on your spirit centers. They weren't healed that long ago and they still require care. Between that and your pregnancy, you are in no condition to be in combat."

"Then, I will avoid combat. But I cannot abandon my work, at a time when so many are affected by what happened."

"I understand that," said the healer, "But, my first concern is to do what I can to protect your health. I will clear you for desk duty, but no physical training except taking leisurely walks to stretch your legs, and no overtime. You need to work reasonable hours."

"You and I both know how likely that is," Byakuya said, shaking his head.

"Kuchiki taichou," Unohana said solemnly, "I don't know how to impress upon you the importance of following my instructions. I want the best outcome for you. And I know that you want to have a healthy baby, and to be healthy yourself. Now, I am removing you from duty for five days."

"No."

"Kuchiki taichou..."

"Three days at most," he said, shaking his head, firmly, "Renji knows that we are evacuating the manor. It will not seem strange to him that I am not working."

Unohana shook her head firmly.

"I don't know how to get this through to you, Byakuya-san," she said, startling him by using his given name to address him, "You need to tell your husband about your condition. Do you not remember how you thought it was a mistake in the end to hold back about the problem with your spirit centers?"

"I have not forgotten," Byakuya assured her, "But...I have tried several times to tell Renji what is happening. Things just keep getting in the way. Circumstances have not allowed us to..."

"You know that is not true," the healer said in a way that made him stop and just gaze quietly back at her, "Yes, things have been chaotic. And I do believe that you tried to tell him. But...had you been determined to do so, knowing you as I do, I know that it would have been done by now. As much as circumstances have not worked in your favor, you have been quick to back away, haven't you? You have been avoiding telling him."

Unohana's eyes captured his, and Byakuya felt as though his mind had been laid bare before her.

"You have been relieved that the chaos has kept this from coming out. You might think about why that is...and then you must do something about it. You cannot keep going on like this. For one thing, you know that your bonding is critical. Abarai taichou's current pregnancy is different in that it does not require the bonding, but your baby does require it. And conducting it secretly as your husband sleeps...without him knowing...Byakuya-san, it is risky. Take now, for example. He is out on the battlefield. We do not know how long he is going to be gone. What of your bonding now?"

Byakuya swallowed hard.

"Renji will be back soon," he said, hoping the words were true, "and I will tell him. It is just..."

He felt Unohana's gentle hand touch his and stopped.

"It is just that the situation that has arisen is breaking your heart, Byakuya-san. You love your husband, and the idea of him having a child with another man is difficult for you to bear. But the one you are most likely to turn to when you are in need is part of the problem, so you hold everything inside. This is why you feel the pressures you do. It is why your body is telling you that you have to change something."

Byakuya took a steadying breath and nodded briefly.

"I know," he whispered, "you are right. So...I will take three days off, and accept reduced duty. And when Renji arrives at the estate, I will tell him. But...if you see him before I do, then please do not say anything. I want to tell him, myself."

"Very well," said the healer, "I will not tell him. But you be sure that you do. I think that you will find that what Abarai taichou said before will be retracted swiftly once he knows. He was very eager to share this with you. And although things are chaotic now, I think that both of you will find things easier to bear with this bit of happiness to cheer you."

"Renji is having a child already...with him," Byakuya said, surprised at the lonely sound of the words.

"We do not know that, for certain," Unohana taichou reminded him, "Kuchiki taichou, we will not know the genetics of any of these babies until they are born. So do not let that distract you."

"But the only person who Renji remembers even speaking to that night after the party besides me was Hisagi fukutaichou. And I did not..."

"I know the methodical facts of the situation," Unohana said, stopping him, "But, I think that you cannot jump to conclusions. The whole manner and development of these 'full reiatsu babies' is vastly different and unique. I believe that all questions must be shelved until the babies are born and we can see which babies belong to whom. Until then..."

"I am perfectly willing to do that, but it is Renji who won't. He has convinced himself that Hisagi fukutaichou's baby is his, and he is falling all over himself to be there for that other man while I..."

Byakuya stopped himself forcibly, inhaling sharply in shock at his own words. Unohana taichou gazed at him sympathetically.

"Kuchiki taichou," she said sadly, "You are obviously of two minds."

Byakuya stared back at her wordlessly, sickness rising inside him.

"I...will not be jealous of that man," the noble insisted, his lips tightening stubbornly.

"You fight that jealously tooth and nail, I am sure," the healer said, touching his face and sending calming reiatsu into his tensed form, "But...even so, it tears at you."

Byakuya felt sudden, hot tears in his eyes and a jolt of shock went through him at his very uncharacteristic loss of control.

Neither noticed as Renji appeared outside the door, then caught his breath softly as he caught sight of Byakuya wiping away an unbidden tear. He took a step back, biting his lip and closing his eyes as the conversation within the room continued.

"What is wrong with me?" Byakuya asked, the sick feeling inside him growing stronger, "I am not like this...so...weak...crying...jealous. Unohana taichou..."

"You are with child."

Outside the door, Renji's eyes opened and widened.

Byakuya is...?

Byakuya closed his eyes against the tears and shook his head firmly.

"It does not matter. I will not be this way! I would rather..."

"Kuchiki taichou, you are fighting nature. It is only natural that one bearing a child will have strong feelings and losses of control. It is not a reflection on you."

"But it is!" Byakuya insisted, "I am nothing like this! It is intolerable! I cannot believe that Renji wanted me this way! It is disgraceful!"

"But it is not a complete surprise," the healer reminded him, "When Abarai taichou was pregnant, was he not similarly affected?"

"Yes, he was, but..."

"And yet, you loved him no less, ne? You told yourself, 'He is merely with child and will be himself again after,' did you not? You did not hold it against him or think him weak, did you?"

"N-no, no, of course not!" Byakuya said stridently, "But I am not Renji! He is volatile to begin with. Passionate. It makes sense that he would be like that. But, I am...!"

"The head of the Kuchiki household? A taichou? The coldly analytical, Kuchiki Byakuya?"

"I..."

"You are so hard on yourself," said Unohana, giving him a patient smile, "Quite cruel, really."

"Because this is not me. It is the farthest thing from me! And...I did not want this! Renji wanted me this way. And I have to wonder. Was it because he really wanted me to be this way, or was it that he wished that I could be this way, but could only make it happen by..."

He broke off as a blazing flash step sounded, and he found himself being gathered into strong, blood streaked and tattooed arms. The dizzying reality of Renji wrapped around him and the redhead's hot lips sought his, freezing him in place and leaving him instantly speechless. Renji kissed him repeatedly, almost to the point of denying him the courtesy of breathing, then pulled back, licking his lips and sighing.

"Shut up, will you?" he chuckled softly, "How could you say something like that?

"Renji!" Byakuya said in a frustrated tone, lowering his eyes and turning his head away, "I am...sorry. I did not mean..."

"The hell you didn't!" Renji exclaimed, smirking.

"Wh-what?" Byakuya stammered, confusion muddling his handsome features, "Renji?"

The redhead continued to hold him tightly, capturing his face with one hand and shaking his head with mock disapproval.

"Byakuya," he said, affection plain in every word, "Do you honestly think that I don't know that getting pregnant was probably about the last thing you would really wanna do? Really? I knew you didn't want to carry a kid...no surprise there."

"But I...?"

"You said that you would," Renji affirmed, "But I knew you were just doing that for me. That you would do that...have a baby, because you knew it was important to me...makes it worth everything."

Byakuya's lips tightened rebelliously.

"For you, perhaps," he said, grudgingly, "If you only wanted to see me humiliated...changed into someone I am not. But perhaps that.."

"Hey, knock it off," Renji said, frowning, "I didn't do this to weaken you, to control you, or to change you into someone you're not. I just...I went through it, you know? And while I was pregnant, I would lie there sometimes and look at you while you were sleeping. And I'd think to myself, 'Gods, he'd be cute...adorable...fucking beautiful carrying our baby!' That's what made me ask you...not the rest of that shit you dreamed up."

"It was more like a nightmare," admitted the noble, "This is..."

"Yeah, I know," said the redhead, hugging him tightly and kissing him again, "You told me already."

"But Renji, you said that now wasn't the time," Byakuya objected, "When I tried to tell you."

"Shit," Renji mused, laughing at his own cluelessness, "I completely misunderstood. But don't misunderstand me, Kuchiki Byakuya. I love you. And I am thrilled that you are having my baby. And if it's all right with your 'keeper' here, I'm gonna take you to the living world estate and spoil the fucking hell outta you now."

"Until your other 'bearer' calls?" Byakuya asked, lifting a fine eyebrow.

He caught himself a moment to late and colored slightly.

"I...am sorry. That was..."

"That was my jealous lover, telling me that he doesn't want to share me with anyone!" Renji said affectionately.

"But that is so petty. I shouldn't have said that."

"Well," said Renji, "I might have a problem if you said it in front of Shuu and hurt the guy's feelings, especially while he's all messed up already. But hey, when we're alone at home, you can be as jealous as you want, and I won't hold it against you."

Byakuya felt his lips curving upward before he could stop them.

"That's better," said the redhead, "Now, Unohana taichou, can I take my lovely husband home and make love to him right now, or will that just be likely to have him swooning again?"

"Abarai!"

"Well, that's how you got yourself brought here, ne? I heard you scared the tar outta Tora."

"Kuchiki taichou is free to go...and romantic exertions are permissible. But...I insist that he should take five days off..."

"Three," Byakuya said firmly.

"Sorry," Renji said, shaking his head, "The lady said five, so it's five, lover."

"You do not order me!" snapped the noble, "And besides, me taking more time off, means you going out and getting beaten up even more than you are already. Neither one of us should be out fighting."

"Well, neither should the rest of the fabulous babymakers club, ne?"

"Renji..."

"It's settled. We're going to the living world estate and I am taking you to bed, right now. Then, you are taking five days off and..."

He glances meaningfully at the healer.

"You must eat and rest properly and see to your bonding," she recommended.

"We will," said Renji, scooping up the sputtering and resistant noble.

"Renji, put me down at once!" he ordered his smirking mate.

"No way," he laughed, "I'm not letting you out of my grasp for a second. You're too much of a handful for everybody else. You require someone with an iron will and a lotta patience, you know?"

"Oh, will Tetsuya be caring for me, then?" Byakuya said, sarcastically.

"Bite your tongue, mister...and hang on. I'm not coming back for you if you fall off somewhere!"

"Abarai!"

He went quiet again as Renji's arms held him tightly and the redhead flash stepped away, quickly leaving the healing center behind them.