Chapter 11: Unchained

(Happy Thanksgiving to those celebrating today! :) This one's for Starliex, who is being extremely patient while I work at refining the plot of In The Darkness Part 2. I should have more of that before too much longer. In the meantime, enjoy! Love to all, Spunky)

A swell of nausea brought Orochi out of a sound sleep and he opened his dark eyes and fixed them on his husband's calm sleeping face. He wriggled free carefully, trying not to wake Byakuya and was mildly surprised at succeeding.

He usually wakes much more easily.

Orochi waved off his watchful attendant and ran into the bathroom, where he expelled the sickness, then sat, still and silent, while his attendant gently washed his face and gave him cool water to rinse his mouth.

"Thank you, Shoma."

"Orochi-sama doesn't need to thank me," Shoma answered, helping his master to his feet, "I am glad to assist you."

Orochi sighed and started back into the bedroom, but paused a moment later and turned back to face his longtime servant. Shoma looked back at him questioningly.

"Sir?" he inquired softly.

"Shoma, I want you to tell me something honestly," Orochi requested, "I will give you my word that I will not be angry with you, no matter how you answer. Can you be completely honest with me?"

Shoma looked back at him with an anxious expression.

"S-sir, I will try."

Orochi nodded.

"You have been my attendant since we were both children. We grew up together. You were always in the background and I know you saw the things that happened to me to make me the person I am."

Shoma swallowed hard and nodded back.

"Do you think I am evil?"

Shoma laughed nervously.

"Orochi-sama, what kind of a question is that?" he asked, "Certainly, you have done some evil things, and most people would say that you are evil, but…"

"But you don't think I am?" Orochi persisted, "Because, in all honesty, I was convinced that Kurohebi filled me with wickedness."

Shoma's slender body shivered in reaction as his mind was haunted with the memory of the bonding of Orochi with the demon snake spirit. He closed his eyes against the echoing sound of his master's desperate screams and his face paled.

"It is Kurohebi that is wicked," Shoma answered finally, "Orochi-sama was poisoned."

He opened his eyes again, a little smile touching his lips at seeing Orochi's surprised expression.

"But…with Byakuya-sama's help, the poison is leaving you."

"You think so?" Orochi asked wearily, "Because I don't know if that's true."

Orochi gazed at his attendant curiously as Shoma extended a hand. Very slowly, he accepted and allowed the attendant to position him in front of the full length mirror in the dressing area.

"Look closely," Shoma suggested, "Look at your eyes."

Orochi frowned and stepped closer to the mirror, his eyes fixed on their own reflection and widening as he spotted the much lighter color around the edges.

"Orochi-sama's eyes were once blue," Shoma remembered, "I cry when I remember the day that Kurohebi made them turn black and frightening. But finally, he begins to leave you, and your eyes are turning blue again, little by little."

Orochi tried to say something flippant, but his words froze in his throat as Shoma's shaky hand wrapped around his forearm.

"Orochi-sama, I know that you are confused right now, and you are sad. But Byakuya-sama is helping you. You should keep on letting him do that. I want very much for you to be free of Kurohebi's poison. I want you to be happy again. I want you to be able to feel Byakuya-sama's love."

"Byakuya doesn't love me," Orochi said tonelessly.

He knew instantly that his own words were a lie. Byakuya's handsome face appeared in his mind and Orochi recalled the word he had used for the first time the day before.

"Nothing in my life will ever go back to being the way it was."

Orochi went suddenly silent as Byakuya's hands touched the sides of his face and his lips touched Orochi's gently.

"No, it will not," Byakuya answered, "But, you were not truly happy with the way things were, anata, so there is the chance that things will instead be better."

"Anata," Orochi repeated softly.

I almost missed it when he said it. It was an endearment, and it was the first time he ever used it when speaking to me. Could Shoma be right? Could it be more than Byakuya simply making the best of things? Could Byakuya truly be falling in love…with me?

Orochi heard a telling footstep and looked into the mirror as Byakuya entered the dressing area.

"Shoma, you will please excuse us," Byakuya said quietly.

"Of course, sir," Shoma answered, bowing and exiting the dressing area.

Orochi remained silent, his eyes fixed on the reflection of Byakuya's and watching as his husband returned his gaze.

"Are you all right?" Byakuya asked, after a moment.

"I am fine. I was nauseous."

Byakuya took up a position behind Orochi and slipped his arms around his husband to undo the tie at his waist. Orochi's eyes couldn't help but be drawn to the more pronounced bump on his abdomen. Wordlessly, Byakuya laid his hands on the swollen area, infusing it with is reiatsu. Almost instantly, the nagging feeling of illness began to leave Orochi's body. He watched in silence as the infusion slowly vanquished all of his discomfort, while leaving his uncovered nether region visibly aroused. He caught his breath in a little hiss as his eyes caught Byakuya's looking down at his exposed genitals, then he felt the hand that was still rested on his belly slide downward. Orochi started to speak but was immediately silenced as Byakuya's other hand captured his face and turned his head so that their lips crashed together warmly. Byakuya's mouth opened, and his tongue forced its way between Orochi's parted lips, plunging in and snaking its way along his. And while Byakuya kissed him, the hand between his thighs moved slowly, exploring everywhere before honing in on that place of greatest need and caressing him firmly.

Byakuya's other hand trailed down the length of his exposed body, continuing to explore, then shifting to begin preparing him for their joining. An erotic moan escaped Orochi's flushed lips as Byakuya's suddenly freed them and his body nudged Orochi closer to the mirror. Strong hands grasped Orochi's wrists, guiding them upward as the air began to glow pink with Byakuya's power and long, gleaming sakura ropes formed and wrapped themselves around his limbs, binding his hands to the clothing hooks on the wall on either side of the mirror, then lashing his ankles and spreading his thighs scandalously. He moaned more wantonly as Byakuya pressed up against his back, one arm wrapping around his waist, while the other hand positioned him for entry.

"You asked Shoma if he thought you were evil," Byakuya's voice rumbled in his ear, bringing a rare blush onto his face and throat, "You shouldn't have been asking him. He doesn't know the answer to that question. Neither does Tetsuya or your father or brother, and neither do I. There is only one person who can know the full contents of your heart, anata. Look into his eyes now, and find your answers there!"

Orochi gasped, but forced his eyes to stay open and focused as Byakuya's body joined roughly with his trapped and bound one.

Is this love or does he mean to punish me? Am I his lover or am I the dark prince that everyone thought I was? I don't even know anymore!

Byakuya's strong hands gripped his hips tightly and Orochi strained against the sakura bonds, arching his back and writhing against his husband. His eyes remained fixed on their reflection and he couldn't help but suffer hard twinges inside at his own passionate expression, at the longing that made his heart ache fiercely.

Is he just taking what he wants from me or is Byakuya giving me my heart's desire?

He caught a glimpse of Byakuya's smoky, aroused glare and felt his insides melt. He writhed harder against his husband, meeting Byakuya's thrusts readily and every time wanting him to reach deeper, down inside, to find the heart that Kurohebi made as black as his eyes…yes, to find it and make it warm and full and alive again. And with every hard undulation, he saw the darkness in his eyes fade more, gradually giving way into a deep, midnight blue. His heart ached and stung until tears ran down his face, and he wanted to hide it, but when he tried to look away from the mirror, Byakuya only captured his face and turned it back. He was forced to watch as burgeoning pleasure made him stiffen and unholy sounds escaped his trembling lips.

"You are beautiful, Orochi."

The tenderness in the words undid him completely, making him howl and tear at his bonds until they shattered. They climaxed violently together and Byakuya sank slowly with him to the floor, holding him tightly as realization made Orochi's bare and sweat misted chest heave with hard, silent sobs.

Why is kindness so painful?

Why does love hurt?

"I don't know what is wrong with me," he confessed, stiffening his lips and trying to duck aside as Byakuya ran warm fingers through his hair and caressed his cheek. "You must think I'm insane."

"No," Byakuya chided him quietly, "You are not insane, Orochi. You are having our child…and I am falling more and more in love with the two of you every day."

"Will you stop…please?" Orochi said in a low, controlled voice, "You can't love someone who has done the things I have. Kurohebi's presence might make my behavior understandable, but it does not make it excusable. I beat and raped Tetsuya and others at the prison. I have lied and manipulated everyone around me. My own attendant couldn't tell you whether he loves me or if he only pities me because he knows exactly what Kurohebi did to me. I can't even tell you whether the blackness all came from that snake or if some was just waiting inside me to be freed by him."

He fixed his midnight eyes on Byakuya and shook his head firmly.

"You love this child because you have long wanted to be a father, Byakuya. You accept me because we are bonded and that can't be changed."

"That may have been true at first," Byakuya admitted, finding Orochi's hand and lacing their fingers together, "But you have changed since we were bonded. You have faced Kurohebi and begun to undo some of that darkness. That you have rejected him and fought him, even in your current condition is a testament to who you actually are. I don't think anyone really knows that right now…not even you."

Orochi absorbed his words, then loosed a heavy sigh and closed his eyes.

"I am not Tetsuya," he said woodenly, "I am weak right now, but I will never have gentleness like he does."

He paused to consider his words carefully.

"Byakuya, I begin to understand why I hated Tetsuya…why I hated him and treated him with such cruelty."

"And why is that?"

"It wasn't that he was a half-blood, or that he was beautiful to me. It wasn't that I liked crushing his innocence or his spirit. The truth is, when I looked at Tetsuya, I did not desire him. I did not love him. I did not even see him. I saw myself. That boy that was crushed between my father and the snake spirit that haunts us. My father hated the weakness that made me cry for my lost zanpakuto, that made me resist Kurohebi's incursion into my body. And while I was praying that my strong, loving father would save me, he was the one that held me down and urged me to accept everything because it would make me stronger. And though I knew it was wrong, that was what I inflicted on Tetsuya."

Byakuya remained silent as his husband took a dragging breath and continued.

"Maybe it was that I hated myself for not being strong enough to resist. And every time I inflicted my wrath on Tetsuya and saw him cry, I tried to tell myself that there was nothing I could have done, that fighting wouldn't have saved me, and that no one would have come for me. But always, Tetsuya invoked your name and when the time came, you were there for him. It made me hate him even more as I watched you care for him and help him grow his power. Eika was just a shard in my heart that whole time as I secretly wished that you could have come for me too!"

"But you and I were both children when you were bonded with Kurohebi against your will. And sadly, there was no one there to protect you from what happened."

"I've been confused about my emotions when it comes to Tetsuya. I thought it was enjoyable to hurt him. Then, I thought I was in love. Now, I think it's just that looking at him makes me hurt for my own failures and oddly, I think I deserve that pain."

"No one deserves what was done to you, Orochi," Byakuya said firmly, "Your heart was broken and your own power stolen with the help of one who should have protected you. But while I was not there for you before, I can be here for you now."

"Because our bonding forces you," Orochi concluded.

He went silent and stared as Byakuya grabbed his face in both hands.

"It doesn't matter why anymore!" he snapped, "I will be there for you. You don't have to face Kurohebi's wickedness alone!"

"I barely feel him anymore," Orochi sighed wearily, "It's getting harder to feel anything."

"That is because you are overcoming him," Byakuya said sternly, "You are growing the strength it will take to destroy him. Orochi…"

Byakuya broke off as Orochi flinched and suddenly stiffened.

"What is it?" Byakuya asked, an edge of urgency in his voice.

"I don't know," Orochi admitted, placing a hand over his heart and gazing into his eyes in the mirror, "I felt something sort of breaking inside me. I don't know, but I feel like something important has happened. I…"

He broke off, gasping in shock as the very faint sound of a feminine whisper sounded in his mind.

Master?

Orochi's eyes burned and his heart stung at the sound.

"What is it, Orochi?" Byakuya demanded, "What is happening?"

"It is Eika," Orochi answered unsteadily, "She is still weak and broken, but…I feel her connection with me reopening!"

Byakuya gave him an encouraging smile.

"This is good, is it not?" he asked, "It means that…"

Orochi's expression grew haunted.

"Byakuya," Orochi said darkly, "Kurohebi has released her. Well, he has released what is left of her. It may be good for me, but it is bad also."

"Why?" asked Byakuya, "You do not want to be free of the snake spirit?"

"I do," answered Orochi, "but remember that Kurohebi depends on his master's blood and reiatsu to sustain his power. It is the contract that my ancestor made with him. And the only reason he would free Eika is because he has been bonded with another master!"

Orochi's face paled.

"Your father?" Byakuya inquired.

Orochi shook his head firmly.

"My father would not survive a second connection with him," he explained, "Remember, though, that my father took the sword from me. I think that he has performed the connection ritual with my brother…with Yuu!"

"It would not be surprising," Byakuya concluded, "He took everything else from you…"

"And when I refused to kill you and the child I am bearing to steal leadership for our subfamily, I infuriated him. My brother is older than I was when I was bonded with Kurohebi. Yuu knew from me that it is a dubious honor, and I know that he didn't want to ever be bonded like that. My father forced him also."

"Are you sure?"

"My brother and I had our differences, but I know he didn't want this. He was forced."

Byakuya's hand squeezed Orochi's gently.

"We will still destroy that snake spirit when you have had our child. We will find a way, I promise you. Nothing has changed, just because it is your brother who is threatened and not you."

"But something has," Orochi said more softly.

Byakuya gave him a questioning look.

"When Kurohebi is passed honorably from one master to the next, he is mollified by the gift of strong, youthful reiatsu. When he is passed from a dishonored master to a new one, he will require the new master to kill the former."

Byakuya's grey eyes widened.

"Kurohebi will…?"

"He will require Yuu to kill me. And Yuu will have to choose between this and horrid punishment. He will not kill my brother until a new child comes to replace him, but he will hurt Yuu."

"But he must know that if your brother makes an attempt on your life now, while you carry your leader's child, he will be given a death sentence. Kurohebi will die too."

Orochi nodded tentatively.

"He will wait until the child comes."

Byakuya helped Orochi to his feet and wrapped a warm yukata around him.

"Then, that is how long we have to make you able to destroy Kurohebi."

"How will we do that?" Orochi asked defeatedly, "I have no powers to train. Even if I wasn't limited by my gestation, Eika will take a long time to heal."

"Let me worry about that," Byakuya chided him, "Come, we will bathe and you will rest. And when you are rested, we will go and see Urahara Kisuke."