Chapter 37: The White Emperor's Return
Kisuke leaned over Byakuya, pulling back the folds of his clothing and baring his slim, white abdomen, his fingertips touching the area just below his navel as Ichigo and Tetsuya watched with concerned eyes.
"Is he gonna be all right?" Ichigo asked worriedly, "I thought you said that he couldn't bring a bankai yet."
"He shouldn't have been able to, but that's ol' Byakuya for you," Kisuke chuckled, "No one tells you what to do, ne?"
Byakuya captured Ichigo's hand in his.
"I wasn't being reckless," he assured them, "Senbonzakura believed I had the strength, and when I entered my inner world, I felt the presence of everyone who had helped me when I was weakened. There is a kind of supportive power in those connections. Somehow, I think I drew on that, and that is what allowed me to use my bankai."
"Well," Kisuke said, shaking his head, "I did have to replace the protective ring I had put on your spirit core. You're kind of fried inside, but there isn't anything that won't heal, if you will just take it easy for a little while. You think you can do that?"
"That should not pose a problem, now that the bulk of my enemies have backed down."
Ichigo gave him a still worried look.
"So, what happens now?" he asked, "I mean, you did kill Isas and Orochi, and in front of a lot of your enemies. Don't you think they'll try to use that against you?"
"They can't," Tetsuya said with certainty, "because an admission of attacking him would give the Noble's General Council evidence that, not only did they try to kill a clan leader, but they were also a part of the hate group, The Pureblood Protectors. We have proof that many of them were involved in that group before, and this would add credibility to that, which we didn't have before, in there being eyewitnesses to their presence at today's battle."
"Tetsuya is right," Byakuya agreed, "They cannot accuse me without incriminating themselves. Isas and Orochi's deaths will be accepted as acts of self defense, considering all of the evidence that we can present, connecting them to my abduction and the assault that left me powerless and locked in that gigai."
"Well, that's good," Ichigo said tentatively, "But…does that mean it's over? We can go home now?"
"I do have to appear, first before the Kuchiki and Shiba elders, to explain my actions, and secondly, before the Noble's General Council to finally answer for the lie about my parentage."
"You think they're still going to try to give you hell about that?" Ichigo asked, frowning, "I don't know. It just seems like old news, after everything else that's happened. Why would they still be going on about that?"
"Byakuya-sama has proven his powers have fully returned," Tetsuya answered.
"Well, more like they've sort of returned," Kisuke said, smirking, "but, they don't need to know he needs more time to finish healing."
"In any case," Byakuya went on, "since they cannot raise a challenger who can match the power they sensed me using in the battle today, I very much doubt that there will be any serious challenge to my leadership."
"Yeah," Kisuke agreed, "The ones on the Noble's General Council are more like vultures. They wait for a big, easy opening and take an opportunity, rather than trying to make opportunities for themselves. They're pretty lazy, really. They won't issue a challenge unless they have a big advantage."
"Assholes…" Ichigo muttered, squeezing Byakuya's hand, "But I'm glad. I want to go back home."
"I do also," Byakuya agreed.
Ichigo's smile widened and warmed sweetly.
"I'm so glad you remember us now," he said bringing a gentle palm to Byakuya's lightly flushed face, "I felt for the longest time like I couldn't breathe because I didn't know if you would ever look at me with these eyes that love me so much."
"Ichigo…" Byakuya whispered, blushing more brightly.
"I didn't appreciate before just how lucky I am that you love me like you do," the Shiba heir went on, "It took almost losing you to realize what an idiot I was being."
"Ichigo, you don't have to apologize," Byakuya assured him, "You were just being honest with me."
"Yeah, and pretty cruel too."
"You've already said this…"
"And I'm gonna say it again, now that you will remember. I'm sorry for the hurt I caused you. I'll tell you every day for the rest of our lives…every morning when I wake up next to you, and every night when I lay down beside you. I love you, Kuchiki Byakuya. I'm never going to let you forget that!"
He glanced up at Kisuke.
"Are you all done with him?" he asked.
"Yeah, for now," Kisuke answered, exchanging knowing glances with Tetsuya, "You two can run along. I'll find you when I need to."
"Great."
Ichigo pulled Byakuya gently to his feet and met him for a long, passionate kiss.
"Let's go get our kids and take them to Kuchiki Manor. I want them to see the gardens, and we can walk them up to the lake together. We can sit under that sakura tree that's your favorite and you can start telling them about our families."
Byakuya closed his eyes and rested his head on Ichigo's shoulder, breathing in deeply.
"That sounds heavenly."
"Then, let's go," Ichigo said, grinning and nudging Byakuya towards the laboratory door.
The two left together and walked down the hallway, to their room, pausing as Tama stepped out of another room, ahead of them. Byakuya's dark eyes flashed instantly with warmth and recognition.
"Father," he greeted Tama, making the elder man smile and touch his face in greeting, "will you be coming to Kuchiki Manor with us? I would…very much like it if you would come to live with us. Now that the truth is out, there is no reason for us not to be together."
Tama nodded in acceptance.
"If you want me to be there, then I want to be there also," he answered, letting his hand fall back to his side, "There are some lovely landscapes there that I have always wanted to paint. And…I am sure that there will be certain milestones in your life and my grandchildren's lives that we will want to commemorate."
"Yes," Byakuya agreed, "and there is no one I would rather entrust with such a thing as that. I am grateful."
"I am just glad to be a part of your life," Tama confessed, his eyes dampening, "I thought about you every day since the day I knew that you existed. Even though I wasn't there for so many years, and so many times when you needed me."
"I always knew where to find you," Byakuya said bracingly, "I never doubted that if you could have been with me, you would have. I knew."
"But, it's good to finally be able to say it to you," Tama said, embracing him.
His arms fell away and he glanced in the direction of the babies' room.
"You should go and be with your children now. I will come to the manor as soon as I have my things in order."
"I will see you there," Byakuya promised.
He slipped a hand into Ichigo's, his heart quickening as they headed for the nursery. They entered to find Torio and Toshi, holding the babies and two more attendants carrying all of their packed belongings. Ichigo smiled widely.
"You guys are ready to go home, huh?" he chuckled, "Thanks for preparing them. We'll take it from here."
Toshi handed Torao to Ichigo, while Torio kissed Suki's forehead and laid the baby girl in Byakuya's waiting arms.
"Thank you for taking care of them," Byakuya said, making Torio's lips smile, "and…thank you for protecting them so that I could focus on the necessary battle. I very much value your presence in our lives, Torio."
"Thank you, Byakuya-sama," Torio said, bowing, "I am proud to be of assistance to you."
The attendants followed them out of the room, and down to the senkaimon in the underground training room, where they found a large group of friends and family waiting for them.
"We'll see you guys soon," Kisuke said as they passed.
"Thanks for everything, Kisuke," Ichigo answered.
Byakuya nodded in agreement.
"We are indebted to you," he added, "You are always welcome in our home."
"What about me?" Yoruichi asked, smirking and patting Byakuya's cheek affectionately.
Byakuya gave her a look of calm amusement.
"I think it does not matter whether or not I extend an invitation. You will come anyway," he commented dryly, "But you are also welcome, Senpai."
Ichigo and Byakuya moved forward, pausing as they encountered Renji and Tetsuya.
"You mind if we walk back with you, Taichou?" Renji asked.
Byakuya gave Tetsuya an appraising look.
"Are you sure that you shouldn't remain here, watashi no itoko?" he asked his cousin, "Your body was under stress from both pregnancy and being infected with Orochi's poison. Should you not rest a bit longer before coming home?"
"Urahara-san has assured me that I am well enough to go back now," Tetsuya assured him, "Renji and I want to go home and work on our wedding plans."
"Very well," Byakuya said, nodding, "Come then."
Ichigo spotted Hinata standing beside Satoshi, his arm curled around his smiling boyfriend.
"Uh-oh," Ichigo chuckled, "You uh…do know that Byakuya and I are okay now? We don't really need any more counseling."
"Oh, I know that," Hinata laughed, "We just came to say goodbye. We have our own wedding plans to see to."
"You are going to be married?" Byakuya asked, looking amused.
"You two, really?" Ichigo added, shaking his head.
"Well," said Hinata, "it's the only honorable thing to do, since I did sort of impregnate this lovely little kitten. I'm not the kind to run away from responsibilities."
"I think it's wonderful you're going to be parents," Tetsuya congratulated the two.
Ichigo smirked and whispered into Byakuya's ear.
"Poor kids…"
"Thank you, Tetsuya." Hinata said, shooting Ichigo a derisive look, "Well boys, it's been a pleasure. And if you ever find yourselves needing a little refresher…"
"I think we'll be fine," Ichigo said, nudging Byakuya towards the senkaimon.
"Suit yourselves," Hinata said saucily.
Byakuya and Ichigo entered the senkaimon, carrying their babies and followed by Tetsuya, Renji and the two attendants. They passed quickly through the dark, quiet corridor and emerged just outside the gates of Kuchiki Manor.
Byakuya studied the gates with contented eyes, almost smiling as the interior guards recognized them and opened the way. The courtyard opened up in front of them, lined with flowerbeds, and in front of them on the stone paths, the house staff was lined up and ready to greet them.
"Welcome home, Byakuya-sama," the old housekeeper said, bowing.
"Arigatou, Matsuko," Byakuya answered warmly.
"The babies' room is ready," Matsuko informed him, "and once they are settled, Torio-san and Toshi-san can bathe you and dress you for dinner."
Nursery attendants moved forward to collect the babies, then Torio and Toshi led the four men to the lavish bathing chamber. They paused at the edge, breathing in the warm, steamy air as their attendants undressed them, then wading out through the waist deep water and standing beneath large stone waterfalls that rained heated water down onto them, relaxing body and mind, and leaving the four in a calm, contented state.
"I think this is the part of Kuchiki Manor I missed most," Ichigo sighed, his golden brown eyes blinking lazily, "Well, except for you."
Byakuya abandoned his own waterfall shower and joined Ichigo, wrapping his arms around his husband's shoulders and feeding him hot, wet kisses, while Ichigo caressed his shoulders and back with slick, foamy, sweet smelling soap. They bathed each other slowly, enjoying the slide of their hands along their husbands' every curve and plane, then letting the hot water wash everything away. Ichigo felt a hungry nip on his earlobe and read the look of carnal desire in Byakuya's dark eyes. Smirking, he took his husband's hand and led him out of the shower and to the edge of the bathing pool. They waited as Torio and Toshi's practiced hands swiftly dried them and dressed them in soft, silk yukatas, then they slipped out of the bathing chamber, leaving Renji and Tetsuya beneath one of the waterfalls, exchanging increasingly intense kisses. They made their way down the wooden walkway, to the master suite, kissing all of the way, then collapsed onto the bed, kissing more furiously. Byakuya took the upper position, spreading his thighs and rubbing wantonly against Ichigo's flushed nether region. He moved to allow the younger man to enter him, then blinked in surprise as Ichigo rolled him onto his back, stealing the upper position.
"What are you doing?" Byakuya asked, reaching up to touch his face with curious fingers, "Don't you want to make love to me? It's the first time in a long time you could with me actually remembering everything."
"Well," Ichigo said, parting his thighs and teasing Byakuya's blushing member with his own, "maybe I want to turn things around. I mean, you had Suki and Torao…"
Byakuya frowned curiously.
"You would really have a child, Ichigo?" he mused.
"Well, you did."
"Yes, but…it was required of me, because your clan has a higher status," Byakuya reminded him.
"And I say I don't care about that at all," Ichigo insisted, "I watched you carrying our kids, and you looked…beautiful…happy…serene."
"Well, I also felt nauseous and faint. I had…difficult side effects and lost my powers."
"But Kisuke knows a way around that."
"Wouldn't you rather wait until I am well enough to have more children, Ichigo?" Byakuya inquired.
"I can have one now, and you can have one then," Ichigo suggested, grinning widely and slowly taking Byakuya's length inside him.
He gazed lovingly down into Byakuya's eyes, moving his hips and coaxing his husband into moving with him.
"I love you so much," he whispered, "I want to show you how much. I want you to know how I felt when you made me a father. I want to give that same gift to you."
"You don't have to prove anything to me!" Byakuya objected, his eyes going hazy as Ichigo dove beneath his chin, attacking the soft white flesh of his throat as he panted harder and their hips moved in sharper, more wanting thrusts.
They climaxed together, feeding hungrily on each others' mouths as pleasure flooded their sweaty, shaking forms. They let their bodies calm slowly, taking slower breaths and exchanging more tender kisses.
"Are you hungry?" Byakuya asked after a time, running his fingers through the spiky strands of his husband's bright ginger hair.
"Do we have to get up and eat?" Ichigo complained, "I just wanna stay right here with you, maybe forever. How's that?"
"We are the masters of the house," Byakuya said, giving him an amused look, "but we have duties that will require us to occasionally leave the bedroom."
"What about the rest of the time?" Ichigo joked.
"The rest of the time, we can do as you will," Byakuya answered blithely.
"Whatever I want, huh?" Ichigo chuckled, "How about more of this?"
He engaged Byakuya's smiling mouth in an affectionate battle, nipping at his lips and tongue as his hands explored his husband's sweat dampened flesh. Affections gave way to a more powerful lust, and the two joined for another steamy barrage of hard, fast undulations. They finished together and tumbled into a deep, restful sleep with their bodies curled warmly around each other. Torio approached the door sometime later, pausing outside and smiling at the riled reiatsu he sensed within the room.
"I don't think they want anything for dinner," chuckled Toshi, catching Torio around the waist and coaxing him back into the bedroom they shared, "I think they'll sleep until morning."
"Oh, I don't know…"
Toshi grinned.
"Trust me. If they move again, I will wake you up. Now, come back to bed. We have our own celebrating to do."
Outside in the darkened gardens, Renji hugged Tetsuya against him and gazed down into his boyfriend's moon touched eyes.
"You sure you recognize me now?" he asked teasingly, "Wouldn't want to get an icicle through the heart or anything while we're making love."
"I am fine!" Tetsuya laughed, kissing and nipping at the redhead's tanned throat, "The poison was eradicated and Orochi is gone."
He paused, swallowing hard. Renji gave him an understanding smile.
"You're relieved, aren't you?"
"Well," Tetsuya said, frowning, "I wouldn't have wanted Byakuya-sama to taint himself with revenge. I am glad that if he had to take anyone's life, even Orochi's, that it was to protect lives."
"Well, I'm just glad the bastard's gone. He hurt you and Taichou. You don't need to feel anything but happy that he's gone."
Tetsuya closed his eyes and gave a shuddering sigh, leaning against Renji and nuzzling under his chin.
"I am happy with the peace that comes with his and Isas's passing," he confessed, opening his eyes and looking in the direction of Byakuya and Ichigo's room, "We can all embrace our lives with new hope, and bring our children into a safer world."
"I'm glad I'm sharing that world with you," Renji sighed, his mouth devouring Tetsuya's as he nudged his lovely boyfriend towards their bedroom, "I love you."
"I love you too, always," Tetsuya promised, "Forever, Renji."