Chapter 11: Love Slave

"Byakuya!" Renji gasped, intensifying the healing power around his hands, "Bya!"

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Rikichi asked quickly.

"Yeah," Renji said gratefully, "I want you to add your healing power to mine. We have to get his reiatsu to stabilize and I have to stop the bleeding."

Rikichi nodded and knelt across from the redhead, placing his hands on the unconscious noble and focusing deeply.

"Thanks, Rikichi," Renji said, keeping his eyes focused on Byakuya's face, "That's better."

Renji, Rikichi and Masaru turned in surprise as a heavy knocking sounded on the door.

"Shit," hissed Renji, "Rikichi, help me get him into the bedroom. I can't be seen in here."

The two lifted Byakuya and carried him to the bedroom as the knocking sounded again. Masaru waited until they were in the bedroom, then opened the door. Ryota stood outside the door, looking unnerved.

"What is it?" Masaru asked quickly.

"It is Shira. She is coming this way. Renji needs to leave the room immediately!"

"But he's helping…"

"I know. She told me just now that she had set you and Master Ryuu up to be killed. I couldn't talk her out of it. She's too determined."

"Come inside," said Masaru, "We'll ask Renji what to do."

Ryota followed the big shinigami into the bedroom.

"Renji," he said urgently, "Shira is on her way here. You must leave. You are not allowed to be in the room of another master!"

"I'm not leaving him, damn it!" snapped Renji, "That assassin she sent nearly killed him. It's taking all I have just to keep him alive!"

"But she will force you to go!" insisted the hollow, "She will use the collar to…"

He broke off as the outer door of the suite was shattered and Shira's voice rose up.

"Check that room and finish off anyone you find!"

Rikichi and Masaru were on their feet with their weapons drawn in an instant. Ryota sat down next to the bed and added his healing power to Renji's. The redhead looked up at the hollow and gave him a look of gratitude.

The door to the bedroom suddenly flew open and two cloaked and hooded hollows burst in. Rikichi and Masaru attacked immediately, forcing the two out of the room as Renji and Ryota continued to pour healing energy into Byakuya. Renji looked up past the twisting, clashing forms of the fighters and saw Shira standing just outside the bedroom, watching Ryota and him with flaring eyes. He waited to feel the shock of the collar, but was surprised when nothing happened. Shira raised a hand and her fighters broke away from Rikichi and Masaru. The two shinigamis stood, panting softly and sweating, but with their weapons ready as Shira stepped forward.

"Red Warrior," she said sternly, "You are to leave him and come with me."

"No," Renji said firmly, "You almost killed him. I am not leaving him. You can hurt me all you want. You can kill me…but I'm not leaving him."

Shira moved closer, staring down at Byakuya.

"Who is this man to you?" she asked, then her eyes widened and she caught her breath softly, "Wait…I remember. He was a prisoner in Sousuke Aizen's fortress. I saw you with him there. Is he your lover then, Red Warrior?"

Her eyes touched Ryota for a moment, then looked away.

"This man is my captain…and he is my lover. And I won't let you hurt him," Renji said, glaring at her, "I don't give a damn what your reasons are. I will die before I let you touch him!"

Shira's eyes focused on him for a long moment, then strayed to Ryota, who still sat with his hands extended over the injured shinigami and his healing power flowing. He looked up at her again as he continued to heal Byakuya.

"Master Shira," he said softly, "I realize I am breaking the rules by even speaking to you. But I think that we must speak. The silence has gone on so long that it has become deadly."

Shira's hand shivered slightly as she brushed the hair away from her eyes and met Ryota's gaze quietly.

"Very well, then Ryota," she said softly, "We will talk."

Ryota nodded, then glanced down at Byakuya.

"We must put an end to this," Ryota insisted, "It has gone on for too long. Five years is far too long…and though you resist, you must be ready to make your sacrifice, just as I will make mine. He is my brother. It does not matter what made us kin. I will stand by him…and being his friend, you must as well."

"Whoa…" said Renji, blinking, "Does someone want to bring the rest of us up to speed on what is happening here? I mean, I think we've figured out a lot, but we have a ways to go, if you know what I mean…"

Ryota looked up at Shira, who nodded briefly, then looked away.

"I am Sai and Gavet Dal's half-brother," Ryota said quietly, continuing to heal Byakuya as he spoke, "Our father, Hileagh Dal had a short affair with my mother…his wife's sister. Around the time that I was born, Karpa Shingrove found out about the affair and she killed my mother. I was hidden and my aunt never knew that I existed. I was raised in the Winterfang family and that is how I met Shira. We became lovers. Somehow, about nine years ago, Sai Dal found out who I am…and he sent hired guards to capture Shira and me. We were taken to his mansion and forced to make a child for him. He did not say why, but we found out later from Gavet that he was sterile, but wanted a blood related heir to inherit the business. He planned to kill his own brother, Shira and me after the child's birth. Gavet found out about what his brother was doing and he helped us to escape into the living world. Shira gave birth to our son and we remained in the living world in hiding. When our son was three years old, Sai Dal caught up with us. He took our son and threatened to kill him if we tried to take him back. Once again, Gavet tried to assist us, but this time, he simply disappeared too. We know our son is at Sai's mansion, but we dare not go near it or Sai might follow through on his threat. He may not because he values the boy…but neither of us is willing to risk our son's life."

"So how did you end up being owned by him?" asked Renji.

"After Gavet's disappearance, I confronted Sai Dal in his office, here at the Battle Pit. I became so infuriated at his words and his refusal to even let us see our son that I attacked him. His guards burst in and took me into custody…and I have been his fighter ever since. Year after year, he requires Shira to obtain and train fighters of high quality to try to defeat and kill me. He agreed that if she allows her fighter to kill me…and agrees to marry him and bear children for him, he will allow her to see our son and be his mother."

"But I thought you said that Sai Dal is sterile!" objected Renji.

"He is," Ryota said, nodding, "which leads us to believe that Sai trapped his brother and plans to use him to make more children…then will kill him and Shira as well."

"He would kill Shira too? Why?"

"Because she will be useless to him after she bears the children he wants…and he will want to keep her silent so that the children will not turn against him."

"So," said Renji, looking up at Shira, who kept her eyes turned away, "You've been throwing the fights to protect him…but then why even train any fighters, if you're only going to kill them yourself?"

Shira sighed softly and said nothing.

"Sai threatened to kill me himself if she does not provide a proper challenger each year. So she trains them and she enters them in the grudge match…but she has stopped them from winning every year. She cannot allow them to complete the kill."

"She sabotages them?" Renji said weakly, "You were planning to do this to me?"

Shira sighed deeply again.

"Each year…I think of my son…and I try to find the strength to do as my lover, and the father of my son wishes…and each year as the fight begins, my heart realizes that my lover could die…and I cannot choose between them. This is the cruel way that we are kept from our son!" Shira exclaimed, tears coming to her eyes, "And there seems to be nothing we can do. We have not been able to infiltrate his home…or to even catch glimpses of our boy."

"We can help you," Renji offered.

Shira's eyes rose and met his coldly.

"And why would a soul reaper help us to regain our son…especially a soul reaper who knows I have killed other soul reapers and who has been made my servant against his will?"

Renji touched Byakuya's blood speckled face gently.

"Because you and I both have something to gain from this. You want your lover to live…and I want the same for mine! You want your family back. This man and his sister are the only real family I have! Byakuya and I just want to take our comrades and go home. We will help you find your son…if you will let us go when this is over!"

"And how will you help us?" asked Shira in a low voice, "Sai has seen all of you…all of you…except him…"

Her extended finger pointed down at the unconscious man Renji held against him.

"Sai has tried to get a close look or picture, but he has eluded each attempt. He has concealed himself very carefully. And he is beautiful. Sai is a lover of great beauty…of unique treasures…and he is a lover of comely men. He only desires me for bearing children…"

"Wh-what?" Renji exclaimed, "You're not thinking of…"

"Your captain is in a unique position. If we can trick Sai into making him a love slave, then your captain may be able to free Gavet Dal and our son."

"I'm not giving my lover to that bastard!" insisted Renji, "And besides, Byakuya is hurt too badly. He will need a few days to heal."

Shira nodded.

"Remain here…I will make certain that you have no scheduled matches. I will say it is to prepare for the Grudge Match. Ryota…you must continue to prepare. If Byakuya is unsuccessful, then the grudge match will go on as scheduled. We dare not hold back until our son is free."

"So if Byakuya is not able to free them…and free them quickly enough…" Renji began.

"One of us will die in that ring…" finished Ryota.

Renji sighed and ran his fingers through Byakuya's hair.

"I have to talk to him about this. I can't sell my captain and lover into sexual slavery without his consent."

"I think he will agree to this, Red Warrior," murmured Shira, her eyes studying Byakuya intently, "I think that for a beautiful lover like you, he would agree. And after all…he did follow you here. There is not much he wouldn't do for you, Red Warrior…I think."

Renji stared up at her, warmed by her description of Byakuya's devotion to him, but chilled at the thought of Sai Dal getting near him.

"What is it?" asked Shira, "Do you doubt your captain/lover's abilities?"

"Not at all," Renji said resolutely, "but like you, I don't know if I could stand back and let something bad happen to him."

"If you do not help us…you will remain my fighter…but I will not guarantee that I will not sabotage you. I have weakened before. You can hope that your captain will somehow be able to free you, but if I expose him to Sai Dal…he may end up a prisoner…or dead…anyway…and you will still not escape me. Talk to your captain/lover then…and let us know what you decide."

Shira turned away and walked out of the suite with her guards, leaving them looking warily after her. Ryota let the healing power around his hands fade, then stood.

"I must go before I am missed. Stay with him…he may need additional healing during the night…but I think he will recover fully now. Give thought to Shira's offer. I realize that you are worried about him, but there are several lives at stake here. We all have something to lose, Renji."

Renji swallowed hard and nodded.

Ryota smiled bracingly.

"Renji…despite everything, I am glad to know you. And just so that you know, I do believe that you and your captain can defeat Sai Dal and his plans."

XXXXXXXXXX

Byakuya groaned softly and tried to sit up. As he did, strong hands took hold of him and pushed him back down.

"Don't try to get up," Renji's voice told him, "You were cut up pretty bad. Just…rest. You want some tea?"

Byakuya sighed in relief at the question.

"Renji…you…"

He opened his eyes and stopped at the sight of the collar still around his throat. Byakuya blinked and stared questioningly. Renji managed a soft, affectionate chuckle.

"Well, you did say you wanted us to be able to share a bed again…"

"I did," the noble said, pushing himself up slightly and wincing at the pain, "but this isn't quite what I had in mind. I was thinking more of you getting out of that collar and us going home."

Renji smiled sadly.

"Sorry, Captain, we still have some work to do here."

"Renji…I found out that…"

"I know what's going on. Shira was here…and so was Ryota. He got her to call off her goons and then he explained that Sai Dal took their son…a three-year-old boy…and he's had the kid away from his family for five years. Gavet Dal tried to help them and he disappeared too. Shira's been forced to put up fighters every year…because Sai Dal threatened their son. She threw the fights because she couldn't kill her own lover…not even to save their son…and Sai Dal is a bastard who likes to see this shit happen again…and again."

"And now they want us to help them?"

"Good call, Captain," Renji said, looking impressed, "How'd you guess?"

"You're still wearing a collar. If they were planning to just let us go, you wouldn't be."

"Well…you're right. They want our help. But I don't know…"

Byakuya's brow furrowed.

"We can't let a child be kept from his family, Renji, even though that child is a hollow. Some things just cannot be allowed. Children are a sacred thing," Byakuya said, gazing at Renji meaningfully, "I hope that someday we know what it is to be married and to have our own children. And I know that if we faced a similar situation, we would stop at nothing to save our child."

Renji swallowed hard at the emotion rising up inside him at the thought of making children with Byakuya. The feeling had already been strong, but to hear his lover talk of them being bound together in such a way…to be married…to have children. Renji blinked back sudden tears and nodded.

"So," said Byakuya, "We are decided?"

Renji nodded again and wiped his eyes. Byakuya gave him a fleeting smile and kissed him.

"What is it? Why are you so…emotive?" the noble asked.

"I just…I get like this when you start talking about our future that way."

"We've planned for some time to have a life together," Byakuya said quietly, "I think that we should take steps forward soon. I have wanted to for some time…but I was waiting for a sign that this is what my lover wants too. These things can't be rushed, Renji."

Renji laughed.

"I don't feel rushed," he answered, kissing Byakuya again, "I feel honored…and loved…and really blessed. Thank you."

"Oh…Renji, I'm the one who should be thanking you."

They exchanged several long, slow kisses and Byakuya curled warmly into the redhead's arms.

"So," he said finally, "How are we to help these hollows to find their son?"

"Well, said Renji, meeting the noble's dark eyes warily, "That's kinda tricky."

"How so?"

"Sai Dal knows us…all of us…except you. He hasn't seen your face."

"So Shira wants me to go after their child?"

Renji nodded.

"She says there's a way to get you into his household. It just involves…a little trickery."

"Hmmm," said Byakuya, "Why don't I like the sound of that?"

"Because you're too damned smart," Renji chuckled, "There's a way they say is sure to get you in. Then you just have to get the kid out before the end of the Grudge Match."

"So the fight goes on unless I find the boy. I like this less and less, I think. But tell me, how do I get into the household?"

"Oh that," said Renji, looking nervous, "You just have to become Sai Dal's love slave…"