Chapter 11: Living Love

(My deepest thanks to everyone reading and especially to reviewers Katura Uchiha (Aww, thanks! I like the gentler pace and the time I can give to letting the romance bloom gradually...although Renji's nature is more fiery and impatient. And that will begin to show as things progress. I have a feeling that this one is going to be a looong story...but worth every moment it takes to read. I am having so much fun with this, it feels kind of sinful!), MissLilly2012 (Heehee! You think that was fun? Ooh, read on! Read on!), Shenigmatic (Oh, you know these two silly boys so well! Nothing is ever that simple, but if love is true, it's worth the effort of holding it together. And you are right, Sakiko's illness will affect the two as they try to offer her support and comfort. Ah, fluff and angst!), CallMeSenseiKuchiki (And now, the dance begins!), Skrut180 (Aww, :) Thanks so much!), Toshiruki forever (Yeah, Shiro-chan's not so icy as he looks. I have to do a story on him. Just have to find the right person to pair him with!), Renji-Bya-Lover (Wow, it never ceases to amaze me how well you dig in to plot and character. I think you will reall enjoy the interplay of Bya/Ren and Sakiko, tempered with the fluffy Tetsuya/Rikichi romance. Oh...and look for Tetsuya's impetuous attendant and feisty equine companion to treat Rikichi to some funny little escapades. And Orochi is just waiting to cause trouble. We'll have to see if Rikichi is up to handling that bad boy's antics.), Berty05 (Oh, thank you so much! You're very sweet!), WinterStorm03 (You've got it! More is delivered!), TomyAllen (So glad you are enjoying the slower pace and character development. And now, there is more to love. And I am off to write even more!), Chakragoddess (Okay! More kisses coming right up!), Kyuumihaira (Yup! And more kisses are on the way!) and Scarlotte O'Hara (Aww, thanks a million! I am so glad you are enjoying the romances and the introduction of Sakiko. She is a fun character to write. She may be dying, but she is far from helpless or despairing. She has a lot of strength. I like that in a person!) Enjoy the new chapter!)

"Gomen nasai," Rikichi said, blushing as the huge, beautifully carved door opened and an old woman looked out at him, "Um...I am...Would it be possible for me to see Tetsuya-san?"

The old woman's blue eyes became instantly curious, and she opened the door wider.

"I am...so sorry for not having an appointment, but Tetsuya-san never came back. I was worried."

"I see," the woman said kindly, "Are you Rikichi-san?"

"You know me?" the young man asked, looking surprised, "I only just recently promoted to..."

"Oh, it is not because of your place in Byakuya-sama's squad that I know you," she went on, motioning for him to enter the house, "Come in, Rikichi-san. Tetsuya-san is...unable to come, but his attendant will explain. Come."

"O-oh! Oh, but I am intruding," Rikichi said, his heart pounding, "I will just..."

"Nonsense," the woman said, shaking her head and smiling warmly, "You are not intruding. Come with me."

Rikichi stepped into the entry and froze, staring at the intricate woodwork, dark marble floors and lovely decorations, many of which were made from carved sakura branches. And on the walls leading away from the entry, large portraits of the Kuchiki clan leaders gazed proudly down at him, making him swallow hard and follow close to the old woman who led him along.

"I am Matsuko," the woman said in a friendly tone, "I am Byakuya-sama's head of housekeeping. I am pleased to meet you, Rikichi-san."

"Sumimasen, but...how exactly do you know of me, Matsuko-san?" Rikichi asked.

Matsuko smiled.

"I and several of Tetsuya-san's healers and his attendant all heard from Tetsuya-san, himself, how you rescued him from death by killing that quincy that was trying to kill his Arashi and him. We are all so grateful to you."

"Huh?" Rikichi mused, blinking, "But, I...?"

"Rikichi-san, our Tetsuya-san has had a very difficult life, and those of us who care for him all very much appreciate you protecting him that way."

She came to a stop as they reached a large, warmly decorated suite that Rikichi knew immediately must be Tetsuya's. A portrait of him, seated on Arashi, with Byakuya sitting behind him was proudly displayed on one dark wood-paneled wall and through the open closet door, he could see several yukatas and kimonos he had seen the young Kuchiki wear before.

Rikichi took a startled breath as a young man with black hair and friendly green eyes came suddenly out of the dressing area and encountered them at the door.

"Ah, Koji-san!" said Matsuko, sounding pleased, "There you are. Tetsuya-san's friend, Rikichi-san has come to inquire about him. I thought it would be best if you spoke to him personally."

"Of course!" Koji said, his smile warming even more as he bowed in greeting, "Rikichi-san, welcome to Kuchiki Manor."

"Eh...um, thank you," Rikichi said, bowing in response, "It is nice to meet you, Koji-san."

"Well, now that you have met," said Matsuko, "I must return to my duties. It was good to meet you, Rikichi-san."

"Th-thanks!" Rikichi answered, bowing, "It was lovely meeting you, Matsuko-san."

The two young men watched as the old woman left the room, then Koji gestured briefly in the direction of the open garden doors.

"Come this way, Rikichi-san," he said, nodding, "We can talk in the gardens."

"Kuchiki gardens!" Rikichi exclaimed softly, "They are said to be the most beautiful gardens in Soul Society!"

"I think they are," Koji said appreciatively, "They have been tended by the same attendant family for over a thousand years, and are the most amazing I've seen. But come, you must be very worried about my cousin."

"You are Tetsuya-san's cousin? And...a servant?" Rikichi asked curiously.

"Yes," Koji confirmed, "You see, my subfamily is not in line for leadership, so the way that the strongest and most capable family members are recognized is through being selected to serve the subfamily that leads. My elder brother, Torio, serves as Byakuya-sama's attendant, and our younger brother, Akio, helps the horsemaster to care for Tetsuya-san's Arashi. Oh, and Arashi has been an absolute menace while Tetsuya-san has been away."

"Tetsuya-san is...away? Did he go somewhere? It must have been important for him to leave without saying goodbye."

"Well," Koji said, motioning towards a chair at the small patio table that they had reached, "He is not actually gone. You see, Tetsuya-san was chosen to serve the clan in a special way. But then, word has reached us that he explained this to you while you were caring for him after he was attacked."

Rikichi blushed.

"I know he wasn't supposed to say anything, Koji-san..."

"It's all right," Koji assured him, "You can speak what you will to me and to Matsuko. We have Tetsuya-san's trust and we will be discreet about what we see and hear. It is just that Tetsuya-san's duty to the clan is why he had to...leave the manor for a time."

"Oh," Rikichi breathed, sadness entering his eyes, "So...he has to go away while he is carrying the Kuchiki heir? I didn't know that. I was looking forward to seeing him during, you know. I thought that Tetsuya-san would look cute having a baby inside him like that."

"Hmmm, I happen to think the same," Koji said, measuring his words carefully, "But...Tetsuya-san did not go through with the conception."

"What?"

"I was not present at the meeting, but word came back after the conception gathering that Byakuya-sama had decided to call off the making of the heir."

"He did?" Rikichi asked, blinking in surprise, "B-but why? Tetsuya-san said that he wanted to make an heir so that he wouldn't have to get married again."

"That is what Byakuya-sama had planned. But for some reason, he couldn't go through with it. And when he said that, the council confronted him and scanned his reiatsu, they found that there had been a drain on his life force. They began to question him about it, because, as you know, it is considered a punishable sin to share life force with another. It is a dangerous thing that could harm the person if they give too much. Our clan is very strict about that rule, and if Byakuya-sama had been found guilty of doing that, he would have faced a harsh punishment. Tetsuya-san knew this, and he interrupted their questions, confessing that he was no longer suitable for the procedure. He admitted to having kissed and slept alongside Rikichi-san for two nights."

"Oh no!" Rikichi gasped, his eyes rounding, "Tetsuya-san got in trouble...because of m-me? Koji-san, please tell me. They didn't hurt Tetsuya-san, ne?"

Koji shook his head firmly.

"No...no, of course not, Rikichi-san," he assured the distressed youth, "He was sentenced to spend thirty days in our council prison...which would have distressed him, as imprisonment always has since his days in Itamigiri."

He paused, noticing that guilty tears had leaked onto Rikichi's face, and handing the young man a clean handkerchief.

"Don't cry, Rikichi-san," he said reassuringly, "Byakuya-sama placed Tetsuya-san in a comfortable sleep for the duration. He isn't in any distress at all. He is fine. And he doesn't care about the punishment. He is relieved that he doesn't have to go through with having the heir. He also protected Byakuya-sama by accepting punishment instead, which is what he wanted to do. Rikichi-san didn't do anything wrong. So, don't cry okay?"

"B-but...if I hadn't..."

"You make my master happy, Rikichi-san," Koji said bracingly, "You protected him. I assure you, none of us who love and respect Tetsuya-san blame you for anything. And you shouldn't blame yourself."

Rikichi bit at his lips and wiped his tears away, then sat staring down at the pretty design in the wooden table top, while Koji observed him quietly before going on.

"I know you will miss him while he is in the council holding unit," he commented, "But please don't be sad. You can come and talk to me anytime if you are lonely while you await his return. I like Rikichi-san. I think he is the perfect one to make Tetsuya-san happy."

"Really?" Rikichi whispered, looking up into Koji's kind eyes, "Because he said that I make him happy. And he said that he really likes me. No one has ever even really noticed I was alive before Tetsuya-san. Koji-san, I think I am already falling in love with him."

Rikichi made a soft sound of surprise as Tetsuya's impulsive cousin let out a happy laugh.

"That is wonderful news," he said in a pleased voice, "Then...I have to get you in to see him!"

"Wh-what?" Rikichi yelped as Koji came to his feet and brought the surprised young officer with him, "But, I thought that you said he was sleeping!"

"Oh, he is. But, you still want to see him, right? To make sure he is okay? I know a way to slip into the holding area. I can get you in to see him!"

"But, well, I don't know if I..."

"It's done, Rikichi-san!" Koji said excitedly, "I will be by the sixth division tonight and I will take you to see Tetsuya-san! It will be an adventure...like Romeo and Juliet, ne?"

"Oh, no, I don't think that..."

"Nonsense, we won't be caught," Koji laughed, "Leave it up to me. Rikichi-san, I must get back to my duties, but I will see you tonight!"

"But...!" Rikichi stammered as he was led back to the front door and seen out, "I..."

"It was really nice meeting you, Rikichi-san! Be ready by ten!"

XXXXXXXXXX

Byakuya reeled within the powerful embrace of Renji's arms, unable to make himself move and his mind spinning in heady circles as the redhead's blazing hot tongue thrust deep into his mouth, seeking his, and scorching it as it slid along the length, then curled provocatively, tasting him as Renji moaned and held him more tightly. The noble began with his hands braced against the redhead's strong shoulders, and trying to push away, but as their kissing deepened and Renji's mouth coaxed his open wider, a powerful jolt moved through his abdomen and loins, and he felt himself harden where he was pressed up against Renji's body. Heat flashed on his face, and his own body shuddered softly as he felt the heat and large size of Renji's inflamed member where it touched him through their clothes.

He thought he might be falling, then felt the ground touch his back too gently for him to have fallen. Instead, Renji's arms anchored him as the redhead lowered him onto his back and rested his body on top of the noble's, never releasing those soft, pouting lips, once he captured them. Byakuya tried to turn his head away, but Renji only followed, keeping their lips locked together and their bodies entangled as he kissed Byakuya harder. The noble felt Renji's hips moves slightly, creating a wonderful, dizzying friction that made him moan into the redhead's mouth. He lost himself for a moment in the oddly hypnotic sensation, then snapped back suddenly to awareness as his eyes cracked open and he read the intent in his fukutaichou's amorous brown eyes.

He tore himself away, shivering and panting, all too aware of the fact that he had become painfully aroused by the other man. He kept his head lowered, avoiding Renji's eyes as he tried to gather himself.

"Ah...damn," Renji panted softly, "S-sorry, Taichou. I don't know what came over me. I mean...I do. You're really beautiful, and it's been really good spending all of this time with you. And coming out here...seeing you so relaxed like this, out here with the trees and grass and flowers all around you. It just went to my head, I guess. But, I know it was wrong to just..."

"No," Byakuya said softly, "I didn't stop you because it was wrong."

He risked a glance at the redhead and found Renji gazing at him through wary eyes.

"I have...enjoyed the time we've spent together as well."

"Oh. Is it the elders, then? Will they be pissed if some Rukon rat starts playing with their leader or something?"

"No," the noble said, more sternly, "I choose who I want to be with. That wasn't why I stopped you either."

"Huh," the redhead mused, frowning and scratching nervously at the back of his neck, "Well...if you don't think it's wrong, and the elders aren't going to get pissed, then why did you stop me? Did I hurt you? Did I do something wrong?"

"No...no, nothing like that," Byakuya managed, searching for the right way to answer, "It is just that...things began to move rather quickly. And while what happened was extremely pleasant, compelling, even intoxicating, I haven't ever..."

He paused, the full nature of what Renji had done causing him to lose the ability to voice his thoughts. Renji's eyes widened suddenly with comprehension, and his smile returned.

"Oh!" he chuckled, a blush rising on his face, "You haven't done it with a guy before? Is that it? Cause, it's not gonna hurt or anything. I can be careful...or you could top. I haven't been taken before, but I wouldn't mind doing that for y-"

He broke off as he moved in Byakuya's direction, only to be stayed by the noble's extended hands. Byakuya held him at a small distance, looking into his eyes.

"Do not misunderstand me," he said quietly, his dark eyes fixing Renji carefully in place, "I do want to explore this with you," he explained, "But...things will have to move slowly. You are going to have to be patient with me. Because, I have not just never done it with a guy before, I have never been with anyone sexually."

Renji stared at him in confusion.

"What?" he asked, blinking, "But, ah, Taichou, you were married, ne? And from what I've seen, you loved Hisana-san."

"I did," Byakuya confirmed, "But, as you know, Hisana was exceedingly fragile because of her struggles in Inuzuri. And despite loving her enough to defy my family and marry her, I could not bring myself to be with her sexually. I was terrified of hurting her...or that if she became pregnant, it would cause her health to deteriorate. Hisana was well aware of why I acted as I did, and we agreed to express our love to each other in gentler ways. We brought life to new sections of the gardens...traveled to places that were beautiful and full of life. We poured our affection into sharing each moment we had. I never once regretted that we were not together sexually. We did not need that to be happy together."

Renji went quiet for a moment, letting the words sink in.

"Wow, Taichou," he said finally, "You were really good to her. Sounds like you and Hisana were friends like me and Sakiko."

"Yes," the noble agreed, "She was my closest friend, and I was with her through everything."

He moved away from the redhead to stir the nearly forgotten soup, then poured it into two bowls and returned to where Renji sat, looking down at the pretty, white flowers he had found for Byakuya to lay on his wife's grave.

"You and I are friends now too, ne Taichou?" Renji asked suddenly, making Byakuya look up at him again.

"I would like to think so," the noble answered, blowing gently on a spoonful of the soup to cool it, "I am comfortable with you...when you are not attempting to ravish me."

"Heh," Renji chuckled, "Sorry about that. You just look so sexy when you start acting like everyone else, you know, cooking and cleaning...things like that."

"Abarai," Byakuya objected, a blush rising on his face and throat, "Would you stop that and eat? Your soup is going to get cold."

"Yeah, okay, but can you tell me something, Taichou? You like me, right? I mean, as more than a friend?"

Byakuya smirked and continued to eat.

"What did my kiss tell you?" he said, off-handedly.

"What?" Renji asked in a flustered tone, "You want me to interpret a kiss? I think I probably suck at that as much as I suck at sensing reiatsu!"

"Well then, if you expect to have a relationship with me, then you will learn to interpret my kisses," the noble said firmly.

"Huh?" huffed the redhead, "What is this? Training? I thought we were friends and falling in love! We're sitting here in this really beautiful place, sharing this amazingly good food you made yourself. We just kissed for the first time, and you expect me to figure out what you were thinking? Do you know how many kisses it's gonna take before I can tell you what each one means?"

Byakuya shrugged and continued eating.

"A large number, I suppose...considering how many practice swings a swordsman must undertake to increase his skill. So, perhaps, when we are done eating and have returned to the manor and seen to laying those flowers on Hisana's grave, you can..."

"Oh no!" Renji laughed, dropping his soup and knocking Byakuya's out of his hands as he tackled the noble and brought him down on his back again, "I hope you weren't hungry because, as long as it takes me to learn stuff I suck at, we are going to need to do a lot of kissing!"

Get off of me at once, baka!" Byakuya snapped furiously.

He tried to get up again, but found his mouth immediately occupied by one that tasted of a delectable blend of hot soup, touches of sweet fruit and Renji's own warm, savory flavor. And faced with that, Byakuya found his lips unable to object, his body unable to resist, and his heart too full to consider stopping.

Fool!

You are...

Impulsive

Impossible

Impatient

Insatiable

You are...

Renji...!