Chapter 14: Reflections
(Six Months Later)
How do I do this? Renji wondered, looking over at the long empty space his taichou used to occupy, How do I pick up the pieces of what we were and go on? It's like he just dropped out of sight and there was never any closure. He just...left. There were still things we needed to say. I know the elders were on him to keep a low profile, but he could have let me come and talk to him. He could have sent a hell butterfly. I don't even know where the hell he is. When I tell people he's 'still on a medical leave,' I don't even know why. I don't know what he was sick with before and I don't know if that's what's keeping him from returning now. I went from seeing him every day, training with him every day to not seeing him at all and making excuses for him.
I had no idea that us breaking up meant that he'd just be gone like that...
Renji looked up at the clock and sighed, noting that it was still too long before the end of work hours. He looked over at Byakuya's desk, highly aware that if the noble was there, it would be time to make his tea, then time to go over what tasks were done and what still needed to be addressed. Instead, the office was still and quiet enough to hear a pin drop. And there was no one to talk to, no one to run the paperwork and schedules by. Zabimaru sat in the sword stand, seething at the lack of challenge and practice.
Taichou always insisted on us being in top form, but doing both our jobs for months on end is leaving me no time. I feel like I'm going to forget how to fight. I wish he'd come back.
Renji looked up through weary eyes as the door opened and Shuuhei and Kira walked in, then brightened at seeing his friends.
"Hey guys, what's up?" he asked cheerily, "Your bosses let you off early?"
The two smiled and exchanged glances.
"Yeah," Shuuhei said, smiling at the blush that was rising on Kira's face, "we're celebrating."
"Oh yeah? What?" the redhead inquired, setting aside his work and moving to sit on the edge of his desk.
"We're taking ourselves off the market," Shuuhei said proudly, slipping a hand into Kira's, "We finally decided to do it. We're getting married."
"Bullshit!" Renji laughed, "Really? That's great! When?"
"This weekend," Kira announced, his blush darkening, "We're just doing a little ceremony at our usual hangout, the Black Iris. Shuu and I were hoping you would come and be our best man."
Renji let out a soft, pleased breath.
"That's really great of you. I...I would, but..."
"Aw, no way," Shuuhei insisted, "You've been hiding yourself for months. It's time to come out and have some fun. We've got the place booked, so it's just our friends."
"Come on, Renji," Kira pleaded, "It just won't be right if you're not there."
"There's no reason for you to keep avoiding everyone," Shuuhei added, "That stuff about you and Kuchiki taichou hasn't been in the news at all."
"Yeah," Renji sighed, "They've been so busy playing up Taichou's new love interest, he and Tetsuya are on the news for one thing or another every night."
"Well, Tetsuya's pretty adorable, especially in the latest. Did you see those pictures of him? He looks like he's going to pop out the Kuchiki heir like any second, although they say it will be a few more months. I don't know," Shuuhei said with mock suspicion, "I wonder if he hasn't been carrying for longer than they say."
"Shuuhei..." Kira said, noting how Renji's smile had faded and hitting his fiancé on the arm.
"S-sorry. It's just that everyone's talking about it because they look so good together."
"Yeah, they do," Renji agreed.
Too bad it's all a lie...at least, I think it is.
"So, will you be our best man?" Shuuhei asked.
"Oh...I don't know," Renji answered, shifting uncomfortably, "I'm barely keeping up with everything here."
"Now who's full of bullshit?" Shuuhei laughed, "Don't try to sell that to us, Renj. Both of us have had our taichous leave and we weren't chained to our desks."
"Well, you weren't the fukutaichou of the most anal taichou in the Gotei 13," Renji said dryly.
He felt an instant jolt of guilt inside at the words.
"He's got a point there," Shuuhei snickered.
"Eh, don't get down on him," Renji sighed, deflating, "I shouldn't have said that. He's still on medical leave. He never even told me what was wrong. I hope he's okay."
"Ah, he's probably just staying away so they can keep the press from hounding him."
"Yeah, well I agree I don't want the press hounding him, because when they do, those bastard elders stir up the pot with lies about me to keep him from taking any blame for anything."
"That hasn't happened for a while," Shuuhei pointed out, "You've just been hiding out so long, you've gotten used to it. Come on, Renji, you have to be our best man. It's going to be a lot of fun. Just say you'll stand up for us, please?"
Renji tried desperately to come up with an excuse, but found himself at a loss. He shook his head and let out a resigned breath.
"All right...all right, I'll do it."
"That's more like it!" Shuuhei said excitedly, "This is going to be an amazing wedding!"
Yeah, the redhead mused inwardly, Ikkaku and Yumi last month and these guys this month. All of my friends are getting married, and I'm...?
XXXXXXXXXX
"Tetsuya?" Byakuya said quietly, walking out onto the second floor balcony outside their bedroom and embracing his cousin from behind, "Are you feeling all right? You look pale and you didn't eat much at dinner."
His hands caressed Tetsuya's swollen belly gently.
"I am feeling somewhat anxious," Tetsuya admitted, "I was having pains again earlier."
"And now?"
"A twinge, now and again. I think it's all right. I am just nervous. I don't want it to be like before..."
"Tetsuya," Byakuya said bracingly, continuing to rub his cousin's belly, "it isn't going to be like what happened before. You were injured. The chamber was breached. You are fine. You are making good progress."
"I know," Tetsuya assured him, "At least, I know it in my head. It's just my heart that remembers being broken."
Byakuya held him firmly and planted a kiss on his cheek.
"That was a long time ago, watashi no itoko, and although it was heartbreaking, you came through it. You and your baby will be all right."
"Although, it looks as though I may deliver before expected," Tetsuya mused worriedly, "Byakuya-sama, your own gestation will take a bit longer. And when we go back..."
"We don't have to answer any questions about the children," Byakuya assured him, "The elders have been planting the seeds for our return for a long time now. Don't worry about any of that. Just focus on your baby."
"Of course you are right," Tetsuya chided himself, "I shouldn't be doing this."
Byakuya gave him an affectionate smile.
"Your fears are understandable," he said, looking down at his own growing baby bump, "I have a few myself."
"Oh, but the healer has said you are progressing very well," Tetsuya reassured him, "You don't have anything to fear."
"Perhaps not," Byakuya agreed, "However, I don't have the experience of doing this before. It makes me uncertain. I am glad that I have you with me. I do wish that Renji could have been a part of this, but he was far too threatened by anything that seemed like too much commitment."
"Byakuya-sama, I think you may be wrong about that," Tetsuya said cautiously, "As much as he did get intimidated by things, I wonder if knowing about the baby might have made him come around."
"I don't know," Byakuya admitted, "But it is pointless to wonder. I only meant to say that I am glad you are here with me."
"I'm glad you're with me too," Tetsuya said, smiling sadly, "Ichigo wanted to be, but his reiatsu is down to nearly nothing. We had to face what's happening to him."
"I know that was very difficult for both of you," Byakuya acknowledged, "And although I cannot fix the situation with Ichigo and his powers, I will be here for you."
"Yes," Tetsuya agreed, "And I am grateful."
"Come, Tetsuya, we should go and bathe before turning in for the night."
Tetsuya nodded and turned to walk back inside. But after a few steps, he went still, his face betraying pain and his hand dropping to his midsection.
"Tetsuya," Byakuya said worriedly.
He looked into the bedroom and spotted their attendants.
"Torio, fetch the healer. Koji, help me get Tetsuya into bed!" Byakuya said quickly.
Tetsuya panted uncomfortably and sweat broke out on his forehead as the pain intensified. Koji helped him back into bed and Byakuya sat on the bed at his side, holding on pale hand in his. Within moments, the clan healer raced through the door. Wordlessly, he began a swift examination, then paused and looked up at Byakuya with a concerned expression.
"What is it? What is wrong?" Byakuya asked sternly.
"The spirit chamber is destabilizing," Michio explained, "This was a common problem back when there were more Breeder males. Unfortunately, because of the horrid massacre, the near destruction of those who carried the Breeder gene, it was never discovered how the chamber could best be stabilized."
"What?" Byakuya said, his hand tightening on his cousin's.
"There was some success reported when having the father infuse the bearer with his reiatsu. That was the only approach that seemed to help in stabilizing an unstable chamber."
"B-but Ichigo is losing his reiatsu!" Tetsuya panted, his blue eyes panicked, "I d-don't think he can h-help!"
"Byakuya-sama," Michio said worriedly, "I will be honest with you. Although I am the one in the family with the most knowledge of the Breeders, I do not know if I can bring Tetsuya and his child through this. It was difficult even when there were more healers who understood the workings of the chambers."
"You are all we have!" Byakuya insisted, "You must find a way to help him!"
"I told you that the only treatment I know is a direct infusion of the father's reiatsu," Michio repeated, "Without that, Tetsuya's child will not survive...and Tetsuya, himself, will be in grave danger."
Byakuya's face went deeply pale and his lips stiffened.
"If...you remove the chamber," he began.
"No!" Tetsuya cried, sitting up and grabbing his abdomen as the pain sharpened, "No, you can't take my baby!"
"Shh," Byakuya soothed him, wrapping his arms around his distraught cousin, "I didn't say he had to, I was just asking if it would save you."
"Byakuya-sama!" Tetsuya sobbed, "I can't go through that again! I know it was because of the damage to my body before and couldn't be helped. But this time, if there is a choice, I can't. I just can't!"
"Easy there, my boy," the old healer said reassuringly, "No one is going to take your child against your will. But...we do need some help."
"We need to get Tetsuya to Karakura Town," Byakuya said urgently.
"I do not know if he is strong enough to make the trip," the healer warned him, "And he has already said that it is not known if Kurosaki Ichigo can help.
"But if we do not go," Tetsuya reasoned, "at least my baby will die! We have to go. I will be okay. Please, Byakuya-sama, we have to at least try!"
Byakuya paused, his gaze intense as he struggled with the reality.
"Byakuya-sama, please!" Tetsuya pleaded.
The Kuchiki heir stiffened against the rush of panic that swept through him and forced his emotions down with an effort.
"If...this is what you feel is best," he said quietly, "then we will go to Karakura Town."
Michio turned to the two attendants.
"One of you should go to Urahara Kisuke," he suggested, "and the other should fetch Kurosaki Ichigo. You must go now. We will follow with Tetsuya."
"Hai!" the attendants cried, flash stepping away.
Byakuya squeezed Tetsuya's hand gently.
"It will be all right," he assured his cousin, "You and your baby will be all right."
"We will be," Tetsuya agreed, closing his eyes against the tight knot of fear in his belly.
The healer summoned several more attendants and the group worked quickly to move the distressed noble onto a stretcher. Byakuya opened a family senkaimon, and the group passed into the precipice world.
"How are you feeling?" Byakuya asked as they carried Tetsuya into the dark corridor.
"I am...in pain, but...but I can bear it!"
The attendants moved swiftly forward, heading as quickly as they dared in the direction of Urahara Kisuke's shop. The corridor echoed with the sound of their steps, solemn drips of water from the ceiling and their low, heated breaths as they rushed along. Byakuya breathed a sigh of relief as they reached the sought after exit and flash stepped into the shop, where Kisuke stood waiting alongside his partner, Tessai.
"Bring him in here," Kisuke directed them, "I've opened a little pocket dimension, because when I heard what the problem was, I thought we might have to circumvent the laws of Soul Society a bit."
"Can you help Tetsuya?" Byakuya asked desperately.
"I'll do my best," Kisuke promised, "First, we need..."
He broke off as the shinigami substitute burst through the door and slid to a halt.
"Where is he?" Ichigo cried.
Kisuke turned and faced Ichigo, extending a hand and offering him a small purple soul candy.
"What's that?" Ichigo asked, "A soul candy?"
"Your reiatsu is needed so that you can stabilize the spirit chamber in Tetsuya's body."
"But I've barely got any reiatsu!" the shinigami substitute objected.
"Sure, right now," Kisuke agreed, "But...you take that and swallow it and the mod soul within it will copy and replenish your reiatsu so that you can feed it into Tetsuya's body."
"That is...!" Byakuya began.
"Extremely dangerous and illegal," Kisuke confirmed, "But, from what I gather, it is the only thing that can bring Tetsuya and the baby through."
He looked back at Ichigo.
"You won't be sensed in this room. We'll just use this mod soul to stabilize Tetsuya, and nothing more."
"I understand," Ichigo said, moving forward and approaching the bed, where Tetsuya laid, sweating and panting heavily.
"Hey, I hear you and our baby need a little help," he said, smiling.
"Ichigo!" Tetsuya gasped, reaching out and grasping him tightly.
"H-hold on! Let me take this thing," Ichigo laughed, popping the soul candy into his mouth.
As the pill went down his throat, his reiatsu pulsed and grew into a large swell around his body.
"Put your hands on his belly," Kisuke directed him, "Don't rush it. Let the reiatsu seep in gradually. He's going to be in some pain, but don't panic. And...this baby's coming early."
"H-how early?" Tetsuya asked dazedly.
"Now," Kisuke said, opening Tetsuya's yukata.
"But it's too soon!" Tetsuya objected, "It is supposed to be...!"
"You have to understand," Kisuke explained, "The spirit chamber is destabilizing, and that causes it to begin to break down. Although it can be stabilized, it isn't going to be able to nurture the baby anymore. So, the only way to protect the baby is to mature the reiatsu at an accelerated rate and deliver it early."
"And you can do this?" Byakuya asked.
"I believe I can."
"You believe you can?" the Kuchiki heir repeated sternly.
"Byakuya, you know the history of the Breeder males. There were a few in the Shihoin clan and I worked with them. This is something I developed more recently, but it's the only thing that I think can save both Tetsuya and the baby. If you have a better idea, I'm all ears."
"I don't," Byakuya confessed, "I just...Urahara Kisuke, you must make sure that whatever happens, Tetsuya is safe!"
"I'm gonna do my best," the shopkeeper said in a determined tone, moving down to Tetsuya's abdomen, "Ichigo, start that infusion now."
Ichigo leaned forward and shared a long, bracing kiss with Tetsuya.
"You're both going to be fine," he told his anxious mate.
Tetsuya managed a shaky smile.
"I will."
Ichigo looked at Kisuke and nodded.
"What now?"
Place your hands here and here, and let the reiatsu leak out, like a slow bleed. It will flow into Tetsuya's body and be drawn into the spirit chamber. While you're doing that, I will be maturing the reiatsu."
He glanced at Tetsuya's pale face and calmer expression.
"Hang in there, okay? We've got this."
Tetsuya sucked in a trembling breath and nodded.
Ichigo focused heavily on Tetsuya's bared belly, carefully letting his restored reiatsu leak into the area. Kisuke's eyes glared intently at a spot beneath the noble's navel, where he curled his reiatsu around the chamber and slowly fused his power with it. Sweat broke out on his forehead as he worked, and he watched Tetsuya's face with wary eyes.
"You tell me if there's a lot of pain or if you think you'll pass out, okay?"
"Hai!" Tetsuya panted.
"Tessai, what do the readings say?" Kisuke asked.
"The chamber is still unstable, but the infusion is beginning to have an effect."
"All right. Keep it going. How're the baby's vitals?"
"Erratic, but within a reasonable range," Tessai reported, "They are coming under control."
"All right. I'm beginning the maturation."
Ichigo locked eyes with Tetsuya and smiled reassuringly as he provided the needed reiatsu.
"I love you," he whispered.
Tetsuya felt as though they had suddenly been cut off from the rest of the world.
"I love you too."
"It's gonna be okay. You and our baby will be okay. And you know what? Someday? We're gonna be together. Just think about that."
Tetsuya's smile wavered.
"I think about that every day," he confessed, tears leaking onto his face, "That is what makes me able to wake to another day without you. I keep thinking that...every day I wake without you is one day closer to when we'll be together again!"
"Yeah," Ichigo sighed, his golden brown eyes enchanting Tetsuya and calming his panting breaths, "And when we're together again, we'll wake up every morning in each other's arms. We'll get out of bed and go hug our son or daughter. We'll go to the beach...or the mountains. We'll visit everyplace we've ever dreamed of going. And we'll be a family...you, me and our kids."
"Kids?" Tetsuya repeated, his smile brightening, "You want more than one?"
"You're having more than one," Kisuke said suddenly, "There are two unique reiatsus in here."
"That's right," Ichigo laughed, "There are twins in my family!"
"And now, there will be more of them," Kisuke said, grinning, "Keep that infusion going, Ichigo."
He continued his work, but spoke as he continued.
"The fact you're having twins may be the reason that the chamber destabilized. But now that you're getting the reiatsu you need and the babies' reiatsu is maturing, the stress on your body is less."
"I feel better," Tetsuya reported, "stronger."
"You're doing great!" Ichigo said, kissing him again.
"Okay, baby number one is about to make an entrance," Kisuke warned them.
Byakuya, Ichigo and Tetsuya stared raptly as Kisuke's hands dove into the haze of golden light around Tetsuya's belly and part of that light rose up and settled gently into his hands. He set the glowing cluster in Tetsuya's waiting arms and returned to the noble's midsection.
"Keep that infusion going!" he reminded Ichigo, whose eyes were staring in wonder as the golden reiatsu of his first child flickered and began to resolve into a tiny little body. The new parents' eyes rounded as they made out a shock of bright ginger hair, blue eyes, and Tetsuya's more delicate build.
"You have a baby daughter," Kisuke announced.
Tetsuya's eyes brimmed with tears, but his smile was ecstatic.
"She's perfect!"
"And readings indicate she is in good health," Tessai reported.
"You ready for another?" Kisuke warned them, lifting a second golden cluster away from Tetsuya's abdomen and setting it in Ichigo's arms.
Ichigo's expression softened as he watched the baby's lanky body begin to form. The baby's hair this time was raven colored and feathery, and the eyes a dark, golden brown.
"You have a son."
Ichigo stared into his son's eyes breathlessly, unable to think of a thing to say, but running over with pride.
"Would you like me to give the traditional blessing over them, Tetsuya?" Byakuya offered.
Tetsuya couldn't speak, but nodded wordlessly.
"I will need their names."
Ichigo and Tetsuya exchanged glances.
"Kiyoshi," Ichigo said, leaning forward to kiss his son on the nose.
"And Mikomi," Tetsuya supplied, finally finding his voice.
"Kiyoshi and Mikomi," Byakuya greeted them, "Welcome to the Kurosaki and Kuchiki families."
The room went quiet as Byakuya breathed the words of blessing over the two newborns, then Tessai and Kisuke whisked them away for medical testing.
"Ichigo," Kisuke said before leaving, "You can remain in that gigai for about a day, then you have to say your goodbyes. S-sorry."
"It's fine," Ichigo said, gazing into Tetsuya's damp eyes, "We knew it was only for a short time, but we're going to make the most of it."
He captured Tetsuya's hands and squeezed them gently.
"Byakuya," he said, glancing at the Kuchiki heir, "Will you marry us?"