Chapter 14: Dreams
(Not to get this confused with Angelito, this is Angel Perdido, where Tetsuya was injured and had amnesia, so different story. I almost messed up once while preparing it to publish. lol. Anyway, lots going on! Hope you enjoy the new chapter! Love to all, Spunky)
Kuri heard a muted sound of distress and opened his eyes. Tetsuya laid on the soft bed beside him, panting hard and making little pained exclamations as he rubbed his very rounded abdomen. He didn't remember Tetsuya being so far along in his gestation, but shook his head and sat up. Tetsuya smiled through tightened lips, still panting and sweating heavily.
"You are in labor, Tetsu-hana. I must bring Deripie to help you,"
He started to climb to his feet, but Tetsuya grabbed his arm and clenched tightly.
"No! Don't leave me!" Tetsuya cried, panting harder until his slender body shook visibly, "Kuri, stay with me! You won't be able to find your way back here!"
"I am with you, Tetsu-hana," he said soothingly, moving to Tetsuya's side, "I just need to bring Deripie to deliver the baby."
"Sh-she isn't here," Tetsuya said worriedly, "We're alone here tonight. Don't you remember?"
"Alone?" Kuri mused, frowning, "But why would we be alone and out here?"
He shook his head firmly.
"You need to go to a hospital, Tetsu-hana. You can't have our children out here."
"If we go back, we'll be captured!" Tetsuya objected, "Kuri, we're still wanted!"
He made a more intense sound of pain, staring as a soft glow rose up around his swollen belly.
"Tetsu-hana!" Kuri screamed, sitting up in bed and bringing his sleeping husband awake with him.
Tetsuya took hold of his wild-eyed and still senseless mate, holding him by the shoulders and calling his name frantically to wake him.
"Kuri-kuri!"
"Tetsu-hana!" Kuri called out again.
"I'm here. I'm right here," Tetsuya assured him as their bedroom door flew open and Koji ran into the room with Aderia on his heels, "Kuri, I'm right here."
"What happened, angelito?" Aderia asked, watching as Kuri held Tetsuya tightly against him, panting and shaking so hard he couldn't speak, "This was a nightmare?"
"Yes," Tetsuya answered, nuzzling his recovering husband's cheek with his and rubbing Kuri's sweat dampened back gently, "We were sound asleep and he screamed my name."
He met Kuri's teary eyes and kissed him soothingly.
"I am sorry," Kuri apologized, finally finding his voice, "It is just everything that has happened, it is catching up with me. I will be fine now."
"You don't look fine," Aderia said, crossing her arms.
Kuri leaned against Tetsuya's shoulder, burying his face in his spouse's sweetly scented hair and breathing deeply.
"It's all right, Deripie," he insisted, "I don't need anything but Tetsu-hana's embrace and kisses now."
"You don't know what you need, you fool!" Aderia scolded him, "I told you after Hideaki and the baby were lost, you should have had counseling."
"Eh, I didn't need anyone to tell me Hideaki was dead and not coming back."
"No, you needed to deal with your grief, hermano!" Aderia insisted, "That is what is eating away at you. All of your grief from the past is colliding with your fears for our angelito and the baby he carries. You must do something!"
"I am doing something," Kuri said, leaning back for a moment to gaze down into Tetsuya's wide, worried eyes, "I am turning to my clan wife for comfort."
"B-but, I don't know if I'm the one to help you," Tetsuya said uncertainly, "I am the reason you are so afraid right now."
"You are also the reason my heart lives again," Kuri whispered in his ear, "I admit I was lost when Hideaki died, and I did grieve for many years, crying every night. That wouldn't have changed, no matter how many counselors I spoke to. My heart was broken and just needed time to heal…time and you, Tetsu-hana."
"Me?" Tetsuya whispered back, smiling sadly, "But I haven't really done anything, Kuri-kuri-sama. All I have done was have the good fortune that you were there to save me when I would have died with Orochi's child in me and my heart in despair. Instead, you lifted me out of the darkness. You took the weight from my shoulders and you gave me back my happiness."
"Tetsu-hana!" Kuri exclaimed softly, his eyes filling again with tears and his hands curving around Tetsuya's lovely face.
"But now that I know who I was…and I know who I am," Tetsuya promised, "I will give something back for all you have done for me. I will give you my heart filled with love for you, this body and the child it holds to comfort you, and when our child is born, I will be prepared to raise my sword to protect you too."
"You don't have to do that, mi corazòn," Kuri said lovingly, "I would never want you to be harmed…"
"I feel the same for you," Tetsuya insisted, "I should be no less willing to fight for you the way you are fighting for me. You must let me grow strong again, Kuri-kuri-sama, if we are to protect each other!"
Aderia smiled warmly at Tetsuya.
I think he has a point, hermano," she agreed, "You have more enemies than you know what to do with. You will both need your strength to fight them."
"Eh, fine…" Kuri sighed, shaking his head and scowling, "but there will be no talk of you fighting anyone until after our baby is born, all right?"
Tetsuya smiled and nodded in agreement.
Kuri looked at the clock and groaned before flopping back down on the bed and dragging Tetsuya down with him.
"It's early," he huffed, "Back to bed now."
Aderia laughed and started to exit the room, only to pause and stare as a hell butterfly arrived.
Hey Kuri, Ichigo's voice intoned, Byakuya and I are having some big concerns about what those sneaky cousins of his are up to. Byakuya doesn't think it's safe enough for you and Tetsuya at Shima adobe, so we were hoping that you would meet us early this morning in Karakura Town at Kisuke's place. You know Kisuke won't let anything happen to you guys.
"Ugh," Kuri grunted, snuggling against Tetsuya and swiping at the persistent hell butterfly with his hand, "Later, Ichibun!"
Sorry, I know that you usually sleep in, but Byakuya seemed to think it was important to make our moves when we're less likely to be seen or followed. You know those assholes will do about anything to cause trouble for us all…especially you and Byakuya! So, get your ass outta bed and come meet us.
"Fuck that!" Kuri snorted.
Oh, Ichigo added, laughing softly, and bring a wedding gift. Me and Byakuya are going to get married before the war officially ends and we have to have a fancy wedding in the Seireitei!
"That's not fair!" Kuri complained, dragging himself into a seated position as Tetsuya sat up next to him, "I wanted more loving, Tetsu-hana!"
Tetsuya smiled and climbed out of bed, only to be dragged back down again and have him mouth warmly invaded.
"I didn't say you could leave yet, my love!" Kuri chided him playfully.
"Get up!" Aderia snapped only half-jokingly, "You know if Byakuya thinks there will be trouble, there usually will be."
"I am getting up!" Kuri fired back, throwing a pillow at his sister, "Get out of here. I don't want you looking at my naked ass!"
"Like I haven't seen yours, angelito's and everyone else's!" Aderia huffed, making Tetsuya blush brightly as she ducked another pillow and escaped the bedroom.
As soon as she was gone, Kuri dove onto Tetsuya and held him down, kissing him hungrily.
"Kuri-kuri-sama!" Tetsuya objected, "Kuri-kuri-sama, we h-have to go!"
The bedroom door opened again and Koji entered, not noticing at first, the feisty conquest that had begun on the bed. He froze as he took in the sight of the naked Shima leader, holding Tetsuya down and positioning himself for entry.
"Oh, sumimasen! I was just here to dress Tetsuya-sama for the journey!" he apologized hastily, flushing and running back out of the room.
"It's all right," Kuri snickered, "This won't take long. I promise."
XXXXXXXXXX
Renji peeked out of his bedroom into the dimly lit gardens, then ducked back inside, rubbing his belly nervously. Bazz-B laid, fully dressed, across the bed, blinking sleepily.
"I don't think I've seen you up this early in the morning before, Red," he noted, "You're usually sacked out until about noon or until your dick wakes you up cause you're hungry for sex."
"Shut up!" Renji snapped, blushing and grinning helplessly.
"Seriously," Bazz went on, staring out into the garden isn't going to make that hard on go away. Get over here and we'll fool around for a while. Your attendant will sense we're fucking and he won't barge in."
"Okay," Renji said, giving him an offended look, "you need to stop being such a foul mouthed prick around here."
"When am I ever not a foul mouthed prick?" Bazz-B snickered, "And what about you? You're as foul mouthed as me usually. It's just lately, since I knocked you up, you've been all nicey-nice."
"I'm not being nicey-nice!" Renji snapped, "I'm being polite to the guy who is protecting both our asses! Kuchiki taichou's going out on a limb to protect both of us, dumbass! Show a little respect, okay?"
"Man, you're cute when you get pissed," Bazz-B said appreciatively, climbing off of the bed and shoving his red haired boyfriend back against the wall.
He slid down Renji's body, opening his yukata and kissing his way down the tattooed man's torso, then rubbing his face against Renji's pronounced baby bump.
"Man that's growing fast now!"
"Well," Renji said, blushing furiously, "You've got me so full of your reiatsu…"
"And cum," Bazz added, earning an indignant scowl from his piqued boyfriend.
"I told you to fucking be polite!" Renji yelled, smacking the quincy on the side of the head.
"Hey! Don't touch the Mohawk!" Bazz said fiercely, putting a hand up to smooth the disrupted hairs.
"Or what?" Renji teased, "You're gonna hit a pregnant guy?"
Bazz-B gave him a sly smirk and brought him down onto the bed.
"Hey!" Renji yelped, struggling, "Dammit, we've gotta be ready to go, baka!"
"Sure thing. As soon as they tell us," Bazz said, flipping the redhead onto his stomach and positioning himself behind.
Renji groaned, but couldn't think of anything but how good it felt as his body was invaded enthusiastically from behind.
"Oh god, Bazzzzzzzzz!" Renji moaned, lifting his hips higher to greet each hard, fast thrust, "H-hurry, okay? D-don't wanna…f-freak out my attendant. He'll be here to tell us to go any second probably."
"Probably," Bazz snickered, quickening the motion of his undulating hips, "Oh, holy hell, Red! God, oh god, I love your ass! No man, I love all of you!"
"S-sweet!" Renji panted, "B-but don't get me in trouble with Taichou or I'll k-kick your…ahhhh-ahhhhh!"
"What was that?" Bazz asked, smirking as he unleashed his molten release, sending Renji into melting shudders of absolute bliss.
The two collapsed together, kissing and teasing each other's flushed lips and still erect nipples.
"Do we really have to go with those guys?" Bazz-B sighed, "I could just kidnap you. That'd be okay, cause they couldn't blame you for me kidnapping you and tying you up to make a hundred or so babies…you know…."
"I told you," Renji said, sobering, "I've worked hard to get where I am. I started out with nothing in the low Rukongai and now I could be promoted to a taichou position. I don't wanna screw that up."
"Don't worry, Red," Bazz-B chuckled, "I'm not gonna get you thrown outta the military. I'll do what your taichou says. He's been right about things up to now."
"He's been good to us," Renji agreed.
"Yeah, cause he can't stand to see his little Red crying, ne?"
"Shut up!" Renji laughed, swatting at Bazz-B again, "I haven't cried in like, what…?"
"Eh, like ten minutes?" Bazz-B teased.
"Jerk!"
XXXXXXXXXX
Ichigo stepped into the bedroom and found Torio in the dressing area of the master suite, dressing the noble as Byakuya stood, quietly gazing at his reflection in the full length mirror. He smiled at the reflection and slipped in behind the Kuchiki leader, wrapping his arms around him and kissing him on the side of the neck.
"You ready to go?" he asked.
"Almost," Byakuya sighed, "Were you able to contact Shima taichou and arrange for them to join us?"
"They'll be there," Ichigo affirmed, "although Kuri seemed less than happy about getting dragged out of bed too early."
"Well, if he wants to protect Tetsuya and their baby, he will need to get to Karakura Town as requested," Byakuya said shortly.
"Hey, you know he's not going to take any chances with Tetsuya's safety. He's just being Kuri and giving his objections. He'll do what needs to be done."
"I am aware," Byakuya said in a more controlled tone, "It is just that I have already lost Tetsuya once, and I don't want to go through that again. Orochi and Sasune are up to something and it needs to be stopped."
"Unfortunately, they come from powerful subfamilies."
"Strong, pureblood lines," Byakuya agreed, "And in the wake of the war, those strong bloodlines are critical to maintaining our place at the top of the great clans."
Byakuya nodded to Torio to excuse him, then moved to the garden doors, where he stood looking out at the blossoms drifting down from the nearby sakura trees.
"My grandfather worked hard to make important changes in the way the clans operate. The elders of the clans are very attached to tradition and rituals. They are slow to see the need for, and to allow change. The humane treatment and proper inclusion of mixed blood family members has been a bone of contention for many years. Tetsuya has broken through by distinguishing himself as a powerful protector of the clan. I would hate to see that fall apart because of Orochi and Sasune's machinations."
"Hey," Ichigo said bracingly, taking Byakuya's somber face in his hands, "we aren't going to let that happen. That's why we're getting everyone out of the Seireitei and going to Kisuke for ideas. Remember, he grew up in Yoruichi's family. He knows how these things work, and no one does strategy like he does. This is going to get worked out, Byakuya, trust me."
Byakuya gave him a tentative nod.
"I do trust you," he said quietly, "It is my own family I do not trust. I know them too well. I remember when Sasune was preparing to marry Shima taichou. I had reservations about the match from the beginning, but the elders insisted that as Kurushimi's father was a king's hogosha and transcendent powered, it was important to capture that power and bring it into our family as well. It was also meant to build more social connection between our clans, the elders thought, to gently instruct the Shima clan in a more conscientious adherence to the rules and traditions."
"Not that Kuri gives a damn about any of that."
"He was still on the young side for marriage, and he was a bit naïve about Sasune's true nature. He is lucky, very lucky that he came to his senses and married Hideaki instead."
"Yeah," Ichigo agreed, "It's just too bad that things ended the way they did for those two."
"Yes, and I want to avoid Kurushimi and Tetsuya's union from ending in the same kind of disaster."
"You mean with them both being executed?" Ichigo inquired.
Byakuya's brow furrowed.
"I don't think that Orochi wants Tetsuya to die," he surmised, "But Sasune is more cavalier in his attitudes, so he is pushing Orochi. Sasune wants Kurushimi to pay, and he doesn't mind sacrificing Tetsuya if necessary."
"Well, Kuri's not going to take that shit," Ichigo said firmly, "You know that."
"I do. I just hope he makes his moved carefully."
"I'm sure he will," Ichigo said, looking at the clock on the dresser, "Hey, Byakuya, it's getting kinda late. We should get going."
"You are right," Byakuya said, falling in with him, "Do you have the decoys that Urahara Kisuke gave you?"
"Yeah, they're right here."
Byakuya nodded, then led Ichigo through the chamber's inner doors, and down the hallway to the bedroom he had given to Renji. The two heard animated rustling as they approached, and then Renji opened the door and the two appeared, looking somewhat rumpled and flushed. Byakuya gave Renji a look of disapproval and motioned for the two to continue down the hallway, to Byakuya's study. The clan leader opened a private senkaimon.
"Now," he instructed Ichigo. Ichigo released the copies of them that Kisuke had sent, and the group watched them flash step away. Byakuya and the others slipped into the precipice world, and kept carefully to the shadows as they made their way towards Karakura Town. They arrived in the living world without incident, dropping down into Urahara's underground training room. As they touched down, Byakuya went still and curious, looking around at the lovely decorations, the wedding canopy and the array of friends who had already gathered.
"Ichigo?" Byakuya mused.
"Surprise," Ichigo said, curling an arm around him, "We're getting married!"