Chapter 21: Surrendering
Byakuya rested quietly in Renji's arms as Urufuhane carried them into the Seireitei and slowed, circling.
"Should we turn toward home?" Takeshi asked, looking back at them.
"Yeah…" Renji began.
"No," Byakuya interjected calmly, "we must go to the First Division."
"Hold up a minute, Takeshi," Renji said quickly.
Urufuhane continued to circle.
"Byakuya, you should go home and rest before…"
"They're going to come and arrest me anyway, Renji. The only other option I have is to surrender to you and let you take me to the head captain."
"Bya…you just got away from Aizen. You have battle injuries."
"My injuries are not serious, Renji," Byakuya said softly, "I am fine."
Renji looked at him incredulously.
"Byakuya…don't sit there and tell me you are fine! Sosuke Aizen convinced you that you were having his child. He trashed your reputation and made you a fugitive. It's true that I don't know all of what he did to you while you were there, but your mind screamed for me…and eventually it shut down. Zabimaru said that your zanpakuto was frantic because he couldn't make you hear him. You are not 'fine,' Byakuya. You are anything but fine!"
Byakuya sat up and slowly removed his katana from his hip. He turned and held it out to Renji.
"I am surrendering to you," he said quietly, "I am a fugitive and I must either surrender to you or another captain. It is the law, Renji. Would you rather I…"
"No…" Renji said, taking Senbonzakura and slipping it into his belt next to Zabimaru, "I understand that you have to surrender. But we're going to do this my way."
He turned to Takeshi.
"Take us to the Fourth Division."
Byakuya held his eyes for a moment longer, then nodded in acceptance and sank back into Renji's embrace. The riders on the back of the winged wolf were silent as it descended and came to rest in the courtyard of the Fourth Division. As they came to a stop, Renji placed a hand against Byakuya's forehead and before he could object, quickly induced sleep.
"Believe me," he said softly, "it's better this way. I'll take care of everything. If we have to do this, I want to make it easier for you.
Healers emerged from the building ahead of them and lifted Byakuya down. Renji followed, turning back for a moment.
"You kids go home and stay there until you hear from me. I'm going to stay with Byakuya as much as I can."
"Renji," said Yoruichi, "I would suggest taking Hajime with you. He seems to have a soothing effect on Byakuya. And his powers might be needed."
Renji nodded.
"Come on, kid," he said, smiling up at Hajime, "You're going to help me with Byakuya."
The boy pulled free of Chisaki and leapt off of the winged wolf's back, falling briefly, then landing in Renji's arms, laughing. Renji kissed the boy on the forehead and started to turn away. Then he stopped and turned back.
"Ichigo," he said, smiling up at his longtime friend, "I want to thank you and Orihime for coming to help me get him out of there. I owe you."
Ichigo laughed softly.
"Get out of here, baka! Go take care of Byakuya. Just…come and see us when you can."
Renji nodded, then turned and flash stepped toward the healing center. Behind him, Urufuhane rose into the air and turned for home.
XXXXXXXXXX
"How does he look?" Renji asked as Captain Unohana studied Byakuya's sleeping form.
Unohana smiled encouragingly and patted Hajime on the head as the boy rested his head on Byakuya's shoulder.
"Stay there, Hajime," she told the boy, "you are helping him stay asleep."
She turned to Renji.
"Physically, Byakuya is in surprisingly good condition. But then, Sosuke wanted him to believe he was with child. He needed to take care of him. Also, the presence of his zanpakuto shard meant that he had to monitor Byakuya very closely to stave off rejection and deterioration of Byakuya's reiatsu."
"He also told me that Aizen was using the shard to control his body. Byakuya was not able to put up any kind of resistance, so Aizen would have had little reason to hurt him physically."
Unohana sighed softly.
"That explains it," she said softly.
"Explains what?" Renji asked, furrowing his brow.
"It explains the signs of consensual intimacy. I was concerned about how that would be reflected when he faces trial, but being under the influence of the zanpakuto shard, he would not have been able to resist."
Renji closed his eyes and let out a sharp breath.
"His body might not have resisted, but his mind was screaming. I heard. It got so bad that eventually he just shut down. He couldn't even hear the sound of his own zanpakuto speaking to him," he said softly, "I didn't know what was happening at the time, because he wasn't able to tell me."
Unohana looked up at him with troubled eyes.
"Renji, you know that these questions will be brought out in Byakuya's trial. We will need you and Senbonzakura to explain what you witnessed. It is the only way to get past the fact that there was what appeared to be consensual intimacy."
"Well, that bastard is a master of illusion. Don't you think the members of Central 46 will think about that when they try Byakuya?" Renji asked.
"I think they will," she answered solemnly, "but even so, it will be difficult to iron out what was real and what was not. I have evidence that should refute Aizen's claim that Byakuya went to Las Noches willingly and was his lover during his last captivity. We have extensive documentation of the injuries from the beatings as well as complete records of what he experienced during his recovery. With you and Senbonzakura to provide evidence of what happened during this abduction, we should be able to clear him. But Renji, all of this rests upon two very important complicating factors."
"What do you mean?" he asked, looking down at Byakuya and Hajime.
"Having been surrounded by the illusions Aizen created in his mind, I wonder if Byakuya will be able to tolerate the stress of undergoing a trial. I was able to conduct several tests of his sleeping mind and they reveal the troubling fact that Byakuya was brought to the verge of a mental breakdown. That, and the physical issues associated with the presence of the shard in his body tell me that he may not be able to withstand the rigors of a trial."
"You mean…" Renji began, "but…I talked to him. He's coherent now."
"He is coherent," Unohana agreed, "but his mind has been besieged with warring thoughts, experiences and emotions. This brings us to my second concern. During the trial, he will have to relive what happened to him."
"I know they'll make him talk about it, but…"
"It isn't going to be just talking about it, Renji," she said warningly, "There are the video recordings from Las Noches. And we don't just have the ones Sosuke Aizen provided. He made a mistake when he presented them. We were able to trace the visual relay he used. We broke into his files and retrieved extensive video footage."
Renji paled.
"You have footage of…"
"Of Aizen using Kyoka Suigetsu to take his memories…and of the means they used to bring him to submission. Renji, these things should clear his name, but they will be wrenching for him to see. And for him to know that so many people will view them…that is a heavy burden for anyone to bear. You must also consider that he is of a proud clan. He will feel added pressure because none of this reflects well on them. They have opted not to interfere with Central 46's desire to try him. To claim the right to try him within the Noble Court would further tarnish their public image…considering the seriousness of the charges."
"Well, would they rather he be branded a traitor? How will that affect their fucking public image?" Renji said furiously, "Captain, I don't give a damn about anything else, but I need you to tell me how to get him through this. How do I hold him together?"
Captain Unohana reached out and touched Renji's face gently.
"Your love for him is very profound, Renji. He needs to be connected with that. I also think Hajime's powers will aid in providing the comfort he needs. But I must question whether or not to even subject Byakuya to trial. If he is not mentally fit to stand trial, we cannot clear his name…but if we force him through a trial and his mind is not sound, we could unhinge him completely."
"And the law requires that if he faces trial, he must be present to hear the evidence against him and to aid in his own defence," Renji finished.
Captain Unohana nodded.
"I will wake him and conduct a few more tests, then you and I must decide whether to declare him fit for trial…or to institutionalize him until he is recovered enough for trial."
"You're not putting him in an institution!" Renji exclaimed, "Byakuya hates being in any kind of hospital or confinement…you know that!"
"I understand…but the laws in this case demand that he must either stand trial or be confined to a mental institution," Unohana said softly, "We must be very careful in our choices."
"There is no choice," Renji said, gazing at Byakuya and Hajime, "He will die if you put him in one of those nuthouses. He's going to stand trial. And I'll just have to hold him together long enough to get him through it."
"You won't have to do this alone, Renji," Captain Unohana said, smiling gently, "I spoke to Rikichi today. Byakuya has the support of every member of the Sixth Division. And his sister Hotaru informed me that she represents him to the Kuchiki Council of Elders. You can be certain that she will stand up for him. You should also know that, although the head captain cannot express it publicly right now, his thoughts are with the two of you. You can be certain that if he is able to help you in any way, he will."
Renji stared at her in surprise.
"Renji, you do know why his division is so loyal to him now, don't you?" Unohana asked.
Renji shook his head.
"After his injury trying to protect Rukia from Gin, while you and Byakuya struggled to escape Hueco Mundo together, he had time to think about things. He told me that it was during that time that he realized that he had been going about his leadership in the wrong way. Because of you, he realized that he needed to see to the protection and development of every member of his division. You and Byakuya made changes in the way the division was run…and Byakuya and Rikichi continued this after you became a captain. You are the reason Byakuya has so much support. You have a great deal of influence over him…and his affection for you is unbreakable. If anyone can see Byakuya through this trial, Renji Abarai, you can."
Renji stared at Byakuya and Hajime, hoping with all of his heart that it would be enough.
XXXXXXXXXX
Byakuya sat calmly on the edge of the bed with Hajime on his lap and Renji at his side as the door opened and Captain Soi Fon entered the room. He looked up at her expectantly.
"Captain Kuchiki," she said, her voice unexpectedly soft, "I am here to place you under arrest and to transfer you to the Repentance Center."
"Renji," Byakuya said quietly, "will you please take Hajime?"
He kissed the boy on top of the head and handed him to Renji. Hajime looked back at Byakuya and tried to pull free of Renji.
"Daddy Bya?" he queried, "I want Daddy Bya."
"It is time for you to go home, Hajime," Byakuya told him in a gentle tone, "I will see you later."
He turned to Renji.
"Please take him out of the room. I don't want him to be upset when they seal my spirit energy away."
Renji turned to Soi Fon.
"Is that really necessary?" he asked softly, "He surrendered willingly. That should count for something. Besides, once he reaches the Repentance Center, the rock will block out his powers anyway."
Soi Fon nodded.
"I think it would be good for others to witness his willingness to cooperate."
She nodded to Byakuya.
"If you are ready, Captain?"
Byakuya nodded and stood. He stepped out of the room and the stealth force detail formed around him. Renji followed, still holding Hajime. The stealth force led Byakuya across the lobby and out the front doors of the healing center. As he reached the front steps, Byakuya caught his breath sharply and stared in surprise.
At the bottom of the steps, Rikichi stood at attention. Along the sides of the walkway stood every member of the Sixth Division, their heads held high and their eyes on their captain. Byakuya met their eyes in gratitude, feeling for the first time in a very long time, like the captain he had once been…before his abduction during the Hueco Mundo battle, before Aizen's treachery had stolen him away from himself.
He noticed suddenly that two women were walking up the steps toward him. As they reached him, Rukia and Hotaru placed themselves on either side of him. Renji walked a few steps behind with Hajime holding his hand and walking along as well. They made their way down the steps, surrounded by the security detail and as they passed the Sixth Division, the lines of soul reapers fell in around them. As they turned out onto the busy street, Byakuya felt his breath catch as his division closed in around them, sheltering him from the eyes of the others who lined the streets watching for him to pass.
No one spoke. He was surrounded by the sound of their feet passing over the ground, the call of birds, and the soft hiss of the breeze that moved through his hair and touched his face. Even those who watched from the sides of the road watched in silence.
Finally, they reached the entrance to the Repentance Center. The Sixth Division stepped back in perfect lines and waited as the security detail moved forward. Rukia and Hotaru kissed Byakuya and stepped away. Renji held Hajime up so he could kiss Byakuya as well. Then Byakuya turned and embraced Renji.
"Renji," he said softly, "don't worry. We will find a way through this."
Renji stared at him in surprise.
"Byakuya…why are you saying things like that to me? I should be comforting you…"
Byakuya shook his head.
"No, Renji, we should comfort each other."
He leaned forward and kissed Renji gently on the lips, then turned and followed the security detail into the Repentence Center.