Chapter 11: Scales

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(Ah, finally able to relax for a week and just write, write write! Thanks going out to Anonymous Guest (It would be good if Orihime could help Tetsuya. I may have her come to help, but I would be concerned about everything striking Tetsuya too suddenly and causing more emotional damage. The mind is an intricate thing! :) And as for Orochi and the wicked Sasune? They will join forces, as Orochi is obsessed with Tetsuya and Sasune is obsessed with getting back at Kuri for escaping him. Tetsuya and Kuri will have a lot to contend with, but I think they will be more than a match for the evil prettyboys!), Another Guest (Ah yes, there will be consequences for being wicked, nasty pricks! But it will be a struggle, of course. And Bazz will be showing up soon to help Renji out. :) They're so cute and hot together!), Parnita (Yup, Kuri is the father, but Orochi may be prepared for that...), Hisuiryuu (Yes, he is a real dick, but he's going to have to dodge protective Kuri to get to Tetsuya, and that's going to be difficult, to say the least!), BleedingHeart (Here you go!), PrivateCaller (Orochi will be spitting nails soon!), Aizenfan6969 (Yay! Me too!), Beaker (Heehee! Bya and Kuri are bound to butt heads as they both protect Tetsuya in their own ways.), Winterheart2000 (*Kuri winks* "You leave that to me!"), Willow (Just a little bit of tension first...then ass kicking will commence!), Picklez80 (I'm surprised Orochi's still standing, myself. *points at smug looking muse*), Wildwind13 (That's a lot of snake hate! *smirks*), Anarane-Sensei (Yeah, they are cute together. They've become a little fetish of mine.), Kenni-bun bun (Yes, Kuri won't put up with anyone touching his Tetsu-hana. He'll be a great father too. Orochi...well, his comeuppance may come at the end of a sword...but whose could it be? So many are competing!), Shima-taicho31 (Yay, new chapter for you! Some Kuri/Tet snuggling and protective Kuri. Orochi'd better watch out!), Gemnika (Aw, thanks! You are very sweet. I appreciate you chiming in when you can.), Ctofi1 (Aww, thanks! I'm glad you liked it!) and Jess0409 (Oh, I have a feeling Renji will be seeing Bazz-very soon!)

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"Byakuya-san," Aderia said, touching the Kuchiki leader on the arm, "is there a place where I can take Tetsuya-san to safely rest? This situation has been very upsetting for him, and it is not good for the baby."

"Of course," Byakuya answered, nodding in the direction of Tetsuya's attendant, who stood, embracing his cousin and crying, "Koji, will you take our Tetsuya and his family to his room?"

"Y-yes, Byakuya-sama," Koji answered, wiping tears from his happy green eyes, "Sorry, sir, I'm just so relieved Tetsuya-san is back!"

Tetsuya smiled as Koji's hand touched the small baby bump that had formed on his abdomen.

"And a baby coming too!" Koji exclaimed, "Such a miracle!"

He smiled brightly at Tetsuya and Kuri and bowed.

"Will you please follow me?"

Kuri slid a supportive arm around Tetsuya and the two, along with Aderia, followed Tetsuya's attendant through the gardens and past Byakuya's bedroom and study. They slowed as they reached the room just beyond and then walked inside, where they paused to examine the simple but elegant furnishings and a number of pictures that displayed Tetsuya's special moments from his teen years until shortly before the war.

"This place does feel very familiar," Tetsuya said, stepping away from Kuri and picking up a picture of himself sitting astride a tall black Arabian stallion, "I have little bits of memories that are coming back now. It's strange. They are just little moving pictures in my head, sounds of people's voices. It's hard to know what is real and what might not be."

"You should really begin to remember now," Aderia assured him, "But go slowly. You remember how suddenly remembering some things caused you moments of pain? Stress...anxiety may worsen that, so try to relax and just accept what comes back to you."

"Will I eventually remember everything, Aderia-san?" Tetsuya asked.

"I believe you will," Aderia answered, touching his face gently, "Now, you should lie down and allow Koji to wait on you. It looks like he is very eager to welcome you home."

Tetsuya blinked in confusion.

"But I live at Shima Adobe now," he mused.

"Tetsu-hana," Kuri said, pulling him close, "Su familia es para siempre su familia, y el hogar donde creciste siempre es su hogar. This place does not become a strange place, just because you do not live here anymore. When you come here, you should feel the peace of happy memories. And you will, once you have remembered everything." (Your family is forever your family, and the home where you grew up is always your home.)

"Come and let me help you change, Tetsuya-san," Koji said, leading Tetsuya and Kuri into the dressing area.

"But I can change myself," Tetsuya said, looking confused.

"I told you to let Koji-san spoil you, angelito," Aderia chided him.

"Deripie is right," Kuri said, squeezing Tetsuya's hand, "It feels good to be spoiled sometimes."

Tetsuya nodded and stood still as Koji removed the black mourning clothes he wore, then slipped a soft, comfortable yukata around him and tied it at the waist. He closed his eyes, breathing in slowly as he remembered a bit more.

"This...is my favorite," he whispered.

"It is," Koji said approvingly, "It's the one you wear most often."

"That is lovely," Kuri said, kissing Tetsuya on the cheek.

"Would you like to have a yukata to relax in as well, Shima-sama?" Koji asked.

"If you have another very soft one like this, then yes," Kuri answered.

Aderia followed Koji out of the room, leaving Kuri and Tetsuya alone in the dressing area. Tetsuya turned into his husband's arms and the two shared several long, passionate kisses.

"Are you feeling all right, now?" Kuri asked, stroking his cheek, "You are still very pale. It was a big shock to learn your true identity."

"I really feel fine," Tetsuya assured him, "Though, it will be good to lie down and rest."

"You go on, then. I will wait here for..."

He broke off and smiled as Koji returned with a soft, handsome black yukata. He removed the Shima leader's clothing and wrapped the yukata around him, tying it in place as Aderia arrived with Torio, who carried a tea tray and snacks.

"Byakurai wasn't kidding when he told them to spoil you," Kuri chuckled, climbing into the bed as Tetsuya slid in on the other side and snuggled close to him.

Koji set the tray in Tetsuya's lap and the two sipped at their tea and sampled the different foods on the tray. They looked up as Byakuya and Ichigo arrived alongside the aged clan healer as well as the head elder of the family. Tetsuya stopped eating as they entered the room and pressed up close to Kuri's side, giving them a wary look. Kuri's eyes darkened warningly, but he said nothing, only tightening his arm around Tetsuya.

"Tetsuya, Shima taichou," Byakuya addressed the two in the bed, "Michio has just taken the samples of Orochi's blood and reiatsu. He will now need to take samples from you to compare. This will confirm the identity of the father of your child."

"We already know that I am the father," Kuri said, scowling.

"Then, you have nothing to be concerned about in giving the samples," Byakuya concluded, "Shima taichou, I am encouraged by your protectiveness of my cousin, but you must be cautious. Our clan is one of the more forward thinking ones when it comes to these things, but we do still adhere to specific rules when it comes to paternity and lines of succession. I would not ask you and Tetsuya to submit to the testing at all, if the decision was mine, but it is not."

"I understand," Kuri said, still holding Tetsuya against him as the old healer took hold of the younger man's pale arm and drew the sample, then moved around the bed and took the sample from Kuri, "but you must understand that I won't allow that monster near Tetsu-hana, no matter what your rules say. You weren't there when I found him at the river, beaten nearly to death and half-drowned. To put a healthy man in that position is disgraceful enough, but to do this to the one carrying your child is unforgivable!"

"I happen to agree. But since we are required to prove all of these things you are telling me, our council has asked your sister to provide us with Tetsuya's medical records from the time that you found him to today."

"That is no problem," Kuri said easily, "Aderia has kept records of everything, because although I favor slaughtering the poor excuse for a man who did all of that damage to Tetsu-hana, Deripie keeps a somewhat cooler head and very good records. You will only find that everything we've told you is God's own truth and not the slightest bit exaggerated."

"I will go to my laboratory and compare the samples at once," Michio offered, "I know everyone is anxious for answers."

"Thank you," Byakuya said solemnly.

He met Tetsuya's worried eyes.

"Tetsuya, I want you to get as much rest as you can. As soon as the results are confirmed and sent to the council, they will call all of us to attend to discuss the results, as well as to confirm your marriage."

"You look as though you think something unpleasant will happen there," Kuri noted, "Do you still doubt the baby is mine?"

"Not at all," Byakuya assured him, "but you must have noticed the smug look on Orochi's face."

"He's definitely got something up his sleeve," Ichigo agreed.

"It doesn't matter," Kuri said stubbornly, his eyes glinting, "Whether we settle this diplomatically or with swords, Tetsu-hana is my clan wife, and I will never let that demon have him...not ever!"

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Orochi scowled and rubbed his arm where the healer's needle had jabbed it.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked his taller cousin, "It could go wrong and Tetsuya could die."

"That's a possibility," Sasune admitted, "but you and I both saw how sure that Shima bastard was about him being the father."

"And if he is, then Tetsuya's whole story is a lie to cover up the truth of what those scheming low bloods did! I just want to be sure that if it is what really happened, the blame gets placed on Shima Kurushimi in the end."

Sasune smiled coldly.

"Oh, I'm sure that given the right little shove, that brainless drunk will fall easily into the trap we're setting," he assured Orochi.

"I hope you are sure."

"I am. The risk to Tetsuya's life will certainly discourage them from believing you did anything wrong in your actions."

"It had just better not end up in his actual death."

Sasune rolled his narrowed eyes.

"Just what do you see in that little half-blood whore anyway?" he sneered.

"What did you ever see in Shima Kurushimi?" Orochi countered.

Sasune shrugged.

"Some people like the soft, quiet ones like Tetsuya, while men like me favor a more exotic looking beast to slowly tame. The end result is the same, once they know who their master is, ne?"

"True," Orochi agreed.

"Trust me, this will work," Sasune said firmly, "I doubt that any of them, not even our own leader will see this coming."

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Ichigo followed Byakuya into his study and watched as he slid the doors shut, leaving them alone in the room. They met for several kisses, and Ichigo smiled sadly at the tension he felt in Byakuya's slim body.

So much goes on in his head all of the time, Ichigo mused, and there are only these little hints of all of that. He's a complicated person...but I love even that about him.

"Are you going to be okay?" Ichigo asked, "I can tell you're really worried."

Byakuya sighed and nodded.

"I do not like walking into the council meeting unprepared to deal with whatever those two have planned."

"So, you think they're working together?"

"Judging by their body language, I would say it is a certainty," Byakuya affirmed.

"But what could they do?" Ichigo mused, "If the baby's not Orochi's, then he's got no claim on Tetsuya, end of story, right?"

Byakuya gave him a troubled look.

"If that was the end of the story, then they why bother with testing? The fact that they are suggests more than that they are so interested in making sure. They want the results for another reason, one we will only learn when we meet with the council."

"I'll have to stand close to Kuri," Ichigo said, shaking his head, "As soon as they try anything, he's probably going to go into protective mode."

"I do not think he has left protective mode since he learned Tetsuya's identity," Byakuya said dryly, "I agree, it would be a good idea for you to stay close to him to keep him from doing something regrettable."

"I will," Ichigo promised.

A sudden tapping on the door made the two turn sharply.

"Byakuya-sama," Torio's voice said from outside the door, "Akio has just told me that Renji-san is ill again."

"That is to be expected," Byakuya answered cryptically, "We talked about this."

"Yes, but his reiatsu is destabilizing, and the method you suggested isn't working."

"Ah," Byakuya sighed, "I was worried about that. Very well, I am coming."

He gave Ichigo another kiss and started towards the door.

"You want me to come too?" Ichigo asked, "You look sorta worried."

"I am," Byakuya confessed, "I have seen to it that Renji has had stabilizing infusions on a schedule around the clock, but they aren't working. He needs the child's quincy father to help him stabilize."

"What about me trying?" Ichigo offered, "I'm part quincy. Maybe my reiatsu would work better."

"Perhaps," Byakuya agreed, "We will give that a try. But if it doesn't work..."

"It will work," Ichigo said bracingly, "We'll help Renji. Don't worry."

"But even if we do, there is still the matter of keeping his condition quiet."

"Well, being here is a good thing, then."

"It should be. Still, with all of the tension around here from Tetsuya's return and now this, I worry that something will get past me."

Ichigo smiled encouragingly.

"It'll be fine. C'mon, let's go and check on Renji."

The two proceeded down the inner hallway and past Tetsuya's closed door, then around a corner to an open door, where the sound of retching was leaking out.

"He does sound pretty bad," Ichigo said sympathetically as they entered.

Renji stumbled out of the bathroom with Akio helping him, and he staggered back to the bed before noticing the two who had joined them.

"Oh, hi Taichou," the redhead said, clutching his belly, "S-sorry to be such a bother."

"You are not a bother, Abarai," Byakuya assured him, "I have brought Ichigo to give you an infusion that may work better. I think his quincy blood might do a better job of balancing your child's reiatsu and yours."

"Well, I'll give anything a try," Renji answered weakly, "This really sucks."

"Let me see what I can do," Ichigo said, moving to his bedside.

He started to lay his hands on Renji's baby bump, when the redhead's hand touched his warningly.

"Hey, just...don't fucking blow me up, okay?"

"I'm not going to blow anyone up!" Ichigo objected.

"Do be cautious with your control," Byakuya suggested.

"Oh man, not you too," Ichigo complained.

"Well, you have blown a few things up, haven't you?" Renji pointed out.

"Says the expert on exploding kido," Ichigo said dryly, "Hold still and shut up, okay? I need to concentrate."

"I don't know about this," Renji said, closing his eyes tightly.

"Hey, stop it. I'm not that bad at this," Ichigo scolded him.

"Yeah, right," Renji said sarcastically, "and I'm a goddamned master of kido. We don't do kido well, you or me. We're more the blast'em to bits type."

"Well, I know I can do this," Ichigo said, scowling, "so hold still and let me work. You move around so much and I will mess up."

"Oh man," Renji said, shuddering.

He shut his eyes tighter, flinching in reaction as Ichigo's reiatsu warmed and began to flow into him.

"It will be all right, Renji," Byakuya said, laying a hand on his fukutaichou's shoulder to steady him.

Renji felt a sudden shift in the reiatsu around them and heard Byakuya and Ichigo make sounds of surprise. He opened his eyes and spotted a lone white figure emerging from a swell of black that had opened up in the corner of the room.

"Stop there," Byakuya warned the white clad man, calling Senbonzakura to his hand and placing himself between the other man and Renji, "Don't come any closer."

"I didn't come to cause trouble," Bazz-B said as his form came fully into view and the dark doorway closed behind him.

"Bazz!" Renji exclaimed, "Thank kami you're here! Taichou, don't hurt him."

"I will not as long as he agrees not to harm anyone in this household," Byakuya answered warily.

"I'm not gonna hurt anyone who doesn't attack me," Bazz-B agreed, "I needed to see Red. And by the looks of things, what I came to see him about is true."

He moved forward and glared proudly down at the little bump on Renji's bare belly.

"So, we have a little quincy-gami on the way?" he joked, smirking.

"I'm glad you find this so funny," Renji complained, "But I feel fucking horrible. Oh, not to mention that if anyone finds out about this, Central 46 will probably force me to abort the kid."

"I'm not gonna let that happen," Bazz-B growled, focusing his green eyes on Renji's, "If anyone tries anything, you and I will just leave. I'll take you into the shadows right now."

"Bazz," Renji said worriedly, watching as the quincy knelt beside him and began the stabilizing infusion, "I can't just leave like that. This is where I live. My life is here. I can't just run off like that. I'd never be able to come back."

"Would you rather they took our kid?" Bazz-B asked sternly.

"No, of course not!" Renji exclaimed, "I just...I don't want to leave everyone and everything I know, that's all. Now, Taichou has said he will help us. He'll let you stay here as long as we don't make a show of ourselves."

"And what's gonna happen when the kid is born and he's a quincy-gami" Bazz-B argued.

"Central 46 cannot harm the child after he or she is born," Byakuya answered, "Children are protected as soon as they leave the mother's body. Renji, on the other hand, may be arrested as soon as this comes out. I will attempt to intervene and I should be able to have him incarcerated under my supervision here at Kuchiki Manor, but I don't want to be forced into that position before the child arrives."

"Then, we'll be quiet about it," Bazz-B agreed, "Just be warned, I'm not going to let anyone hurt my babymama."

"Don't you call me that!" Renji snapped.

"Hey, don't get your panties in a bunch, Red," Bazz-B snickered, "You are the mom of our baby, aren't you?"

"Well, yeah, but I'm still a guy!" Renji complained, "I have a dick, see?"

"Whoa! I think we'd better leave, Byakuya," Ichigo said, blushing.

"We will give them some private time," Byakuya agreed.

As the two left, Renji grabbed Bazz-B and hugged him tightly.

"Hey, I thought you were pissed at me," Bazz-B laughed, rubbing his belly and continuing the infusion, "What? Is this a mood swing?"

"I am still pissed at you," Renji sighed, "but I'm more glad you're here. Taichou's been really good to me, but it's hard not to freak out, thinking that if Central 46..."

"Shh, don't worry about it," Bazz-B said, kissing him, "No one's gonna hurt you or me. We'll be fine...and in a few months we're gonna have a little quincy-gami baby."

"Yeah, right. And where are we gonna live if both sides hate us for this," Renji asked worriedly.

Bazz-B shrugged.

"Who th'fuck cares, as long as we're together, right?"

Renji took a deeper breath and let it out slowly.

"Right," he sighed, leaning against Bazz-B, "What's important is that we're together."