Chapter 10: Prince's Passions
Byakuya woke the next morning to the warm and now pleasant feeling of Haschwald's soft, gentle hands sliding beneath his clothing to offer him the balancing reiatsu needed for his gestation. Even with his eyes closed, he found he could now picture the handsome blond quincy's quiet, intent expression, his bright, but sad eyes and long, tumbled golden hair as the reiatsu glowed between them. He breathed slowly, enjoying the intimacy of the exchange and thinking back.
I was never able to have this kind of closeness to Hisana. Although I did love her, I had always to be cautious not to overwhelm her. I need not hesitate to relax completely while with Jugram. He is as strong as he is beautiful. I look at him now, and I think of the men who hurt him…
…his uncle…
…his king…
I don't want to be to him like those men were. I still mourn the loss of the Shinigami life I had, but I realize that what Jugram was saying is true. There is a parent, and half of my life that has been held away from me all of this time. None of what is happening is fair. We are all suffering because of what happened so long ago. We lost some of our choices, but we are not without some choices now.
And I choose…
He opened his eyes and captured Haschwald's slender wrist as his husband ended the infusion and began to pull away. The quincy's eyes blinked slowly, looking back at him dazedly, like someone coming out of a nightmare and finding with relief that it wasn't real.
"Your highness?"
"Byakuya."
Haschwald's unexpected smile sent new warmth flowing through the noble's still aching heart. He surged forward, shoving the blond man down, onto his back and attacking those smiling lips with hard, hungry kisses. His half-lidded eyes watched that beautiful pale face blush as his hands slid down to play with Haschwald's pink nipples while he ground against that strong, willing body, seeking release from the intense arousal that their bonding always caused. Wordlessly, Haschwald answered with raised hips and clenching hands, and with kisses just as ferocious and voracious as his own.
Byakuya meant to approach their next joining with more care, but the desire swelled in his heart and in his powerful body, and he managed only a short preparation before flipping his husband onto his belly and entering him roughly from behind. Haschwald's blissful groan of surrender stole away any regret he might have had and he gave himself over to a fury of hard, fast thrusts, his fingers gripping the quincy's pale hips until he was sure he would leave bruises. But if Haschwald felt any pain, he gave no sign as he raised his bottom to meet each powerful collision and his gasps and moans reflected only that he didn't want their joining to end.
His chest heaving and his body giving itself over to climax, Byakuya's head bowed and he loosed himself into the blond man, suffering a moment of complete sexual abandon as Haschwald loosed a howl of ecstasy and his own release spilled out in long spurts, onto the bed. The two men collapsed, panting and still shaking from the intensity of their orgasms. Haschwald shivered and closed his eyes against threatening tears as the man still buried in his body whispered into his ear.
"I wonder…if we were always meant to meet and to be together, but that because Ywach was born, this was the only way for that to happen."
"Byakuya…"
"I wish that we could have met, and that I could have known you and my father when you and I were children, that I could have known all of my own history, so that when your arms wrapped around me and stole me away from the Shinigami elders, I could recognize them and not have one regret in leaving. So much was stolen from all of us by that man. I am just grateful that he is gone now, and we can finally really know each other, Jugram."
The long, ragged sigh that escaped them left the two men calm and blissful.
"I am glad to finally know you too, Byakuya."
XXXXXXXXXX
Kuri sat quietly in a reclining chair, his and Tetsuya's daughter in his arms, and his handsome turquoise eyes focused on his blue-eyed mate as Tetsuya held their son to one breast, gazing lovingly down at him as he fed, cooing contentedly.
"I don't like that we still have to be here," he complained, keeping his voice carefully lowered and calm, so as not to upset their progeny, "but they are keeping their word to take good care of you and our children. I will just be much happier when we can leave and go back to our home."
"You think we all don't want the same thing?" his mother gently scolded him, looking over from where she worked a needle through fine cloth, slowly weaving a bright, cheerful pattern, "Kuri, you know how secrets can wear on people. There were painful secrets in our past too. None of us live truly carefree lives, mijo."
"I know," Kuri sighed, rising out of his chair and laying his daughter down on Tetsuya's other breast as his husband offered him their son.
He watched adoringly as the baby girl latched on and began to suck hungrily.
"I just worry for them, now that they are here. I worry for my Tetsu-hana and for you and Antonia…for all of us. What is happening here…"
"It is beyond our means to control," Magdelina advised her son, "All we can do is to care for each other and ride out the storm. Storms come into our lives, but eventually the rain, it stops falling and the winds die down. Things get calm again and we go on, just as we always have."
"Yes, that is true, but it is a weight, some of these secrets. Byakurai being nephew to that maniac, Ywach? Tetsu-hana being related to him and Aizen Sousuke's son?"
"Shh!" Antonia hissed softly as she entered the room, "We are not supposed to let on that we know about that."
"It scares me to be related to either of them," Tetsuya said softly, lowering his eyes to look at his daughter for a moment, "but I know in my heart that I am not like them, and I never will be. They may be related to me, but they are not me, and I will not become like them."
"You never could," Kuri sighed, a little smile rising on his lips, "You may be kin to them, but your heart is so pure, my love. I don't know how one like you could be in any way connected to them. It just doesn't seem possible."
"Children are innocent," Magdelina reasoned, "It is what they learn from their world that shapes them. Our Angelito had a difficult beginning, but his gentle Naoki gave him the gift of enough love that he did not let himself be poisoned by men's hatred. And with Byakuya's love and care, he grew to be strong, yet gentle, powerful, yet tender. There is not a mean bone in our Angelito's body, sì?"
"None," Kuri agreed, petting Tetsuya's blushing cheek with one hand.
He sat down and snuggled their baby son to his shoulder, patting the baby's back until he emitted a loud burp.
"He takes after you, hermano," Antonia teased.
Magdelina giggled and Tetsuya bit his lip gently to hide a smirk as Kuri swatted at his sister with his free hand. The boy he was holding whimpered and Antonia's eyes narrowed.
"Be careful with him, idiot," she chided him, "You will drop the poor boy onto the floor and our Angelito would never forgive you. Where would you be then, eh?"
"Don't even speak of such a thing," Kuri said, shaking his head and hugging the boy closer, kissing his cheek to soothe him, "I will never let anything happen to my Tetsu-hana and our children. I would die a thousand deaths rather than let a hair be touched on their heads."
"Kuri-kuri," Tetsuya objected, blushing mor darkly.
"Well, I would," his husband insisted, "I love you helplessly."
"I love you too."
XXXXXXXXXX
"Hey, you all right there, Red?" Bazz-B snickered as the tattooed Shinigami stirred and groaned, grabbing his head, "We got kinda drunk last night, eh?"
He looked down at the sticky, naked tangle their bodies were in and laughed.
"Looks like that's not all we got, huh?"
"Shut up," Renji snickered, rolling onto his belly and giving the already aroused quincy a lovely view of the bold markings that ran down the length of his muscular back, over his round bottom and onto the backs of his thighs and calves, "You're talkin' like we gotta stop. What's up? You noble lords here actually have to work sometimes?"
"Heh, naw, I got all the time in the world for fucking you. You're amazing, Abarai Renji. Best damned fuck I ever had."
"Yeah," Renji snorted, "Definitely a step up from your own hand, right?"
"Oh, you're askin' for it!" the quincy steamed playfully, "I hope you brought some painkillers, cause I am going to be all over that fine ass of yours in a second."
"This ass?" Renji giggled, raising his tattooed bottom and wiggling it teasingly, "Come'n get it…if you think you can handle it."
"I handled it pretty fucking well all night, didn't I?" Bazz-B sneered.
"I think I handled yours even better," Renji laughed.
"Oh, so it's a competition now, huh?"
"Maybe. You sure you don't need to rest before we get started, Bazz?"
"You're gonna wish you had rested when I get through with you!" Bazz-B growled, dropping down onto Renji's back and trapping him in place, biting at the back of his neck, "What're the rules?"
Renji cleared his throat and nodded.
"You go. I go. Hard and fast. No mercy. The one who comes faster, loses."
"Sounds good," Bazz said approvingly, "You need some lube?"
"Nah," Renji laughed, "I'm still pretty wet from before."
"All right, then."
Renji glanced at his quincy lover's manhood and whistled softly.
"What?"
"Man, you want me to wake that thing up a little? Cause if I don't, this could take all day."
"Oh, you little Shinigami shit, you!" Bazz hissed, "You're gonna pay for that!"
The quincy noble ran his fingers through his mohawk, licking his lips and grinning down at Renji, who peeked back over a naked shoulder and gave him a little wink. Bazz-B took his thick member in one hand, positioning himself for entry, but just as he started to insert it, a knock at the door made the two men glare and growl audibly.
"This better be a goddamned emergency!" Bazz shouted, "I'm busy getting me the finest ass I've ever seen in here. Whaddya want?"
"L-lord Black," called a shaky, scared voice through the door, "s-sir, you said to let you know a half hour before the meeting of the noble lords."
"Gah! All right. Fine. Don't have an aneurism out there. I'm gettin' ready."
"Yes sir! Of course, sir!"
"Well," the quincy sighed, looking longingly down at the redhead shinigami's teasingly wiggling bottom, "fuck. I guess we gotta do this later, okay, Red?"
"Whatever you say," Renji said, flipping over and leaning languidly back against the pillows, then letting his hand slide down to run rough fingers through his pubic hairs before caressing his hard, tattooed member, "You want me to come? Or do you want me to just stay here and keep this thing nice and hot for you?"
Bazz-B climbed off the bed and yanked on his white uniform pants. He grabbed his shirt and knelt on the bed, smirking wickedly.
"Come for me," he laughed, working at his shirt buttons as Renji's hand moved, stroking his leaking erection as the redhead panted and snarled lustily.
"You sure you'll be able to walk away if I do that?" Renji teased him, stroking harder and flinching as the heavy stimulation increased his already burgeoning hunger for release, "F-fuck, this feels good. Not as good as when you were doin' me with your mouth, but it's pretty good."
"You got lots of practice at that, eh?" Bazz snickered.
"Not as much as you," Renji snorted, panting softly and tightening his hand, "Gods, that f-feels good!"
"It looks good too," Bazz said, sliding a hand down and opening his pants.
"I thought you were gettin' dressed, Lord Black."
Bazz shrugged.
"I got time for this."
The two young men locked glaring eyes, their hearts pounding as each watched the other's alluring sexual display. They continued until both were panting and sweating, moaning luridly and salivating as they approached orgasm. Just short of it, Bazz-B loosed a growled curse and launched himself at the redhead, then he forced Renji's willing thighs wide, claiming him roughly and treating his smiling mouth to a barrage of biting kisses.
"So hot!" the quincy gasped, pounding hard into Renji's writhing body, "Fuck! Fuck! Ah, gods, Red!"
"Bazz…" Renji groaned, his hazy eyes meeting the quincy's as their bodies shuddered and gave themselves over to a long, thunderous release, "I fuckin' love you."
"Augh…god," Bazz panted, falling onto Renji's chest, "I fuckin' love you too."
XXXXXXXXXX
Byakuya reclined on a comfortable chair on the balcony outside his suite, looking quietly down at the gardens, and enjoying the calm sounds of breezes making the branches of the nearby trees creak softly as they moved, of koi splashing in the large pond and birds chirping as they darted in and out of the bushes and trees. One pale hand slid down to caress the growing bump on his abdomen and he found himself taking a short respite from his worries and actually smiling as he considered what his and Haschwald's children would look like. He could almost envision them, running and playing in the gardens, sparring with swords and hakudo, and learning to form and fire their quincy bows.
As yet, I have not begun my own quincy training. I won't be of much use until the children are born, but Jugram has promised to train me, himself. He says that I have already been using the quincy vollstandig the few times that I used my Shuukei Hakuteiken. I can see it now, when I think back. The power of the white emperor sword always did feel notably different than my other bankai powers.
I truly am a hybrid of shinigami and quincy.
He looked down at his white quincy clothing, his grey eyes contemplative.
There is a whole side to me that I do not know…a past that beckons me.
~Byakuya~
The noble's breath caught, and he looked around quickly, trying to pinpoint the source of the voice.
Though, it sounded like it was somewhat disembodied. It echoed strangely in my ears.
~Byakuya~ the voice called again.
Byakuya looked back into the room for a moment, considering.
I could call an attendant. Jugram is in a meeting with the noble lords. Still, there is nothing holding me back from…
He stood and flash stepped down into the gardens, looking around and listening. The voice sounded again, seeming to come from somewhere ahead of him, in the trees. Byakuya moved forward, not noticing at all that the guards never looked in his direction or made any move to follow as he left.
Who are you?
Where are you leading me?
For some reason he couldn't fathom, Byakuya felt no fear, only a vague sense of familiarity and a growing connection with the one who was calling.
~Come closer. I've been waiting for you to be able to hear me.~
The voice, he realized, had to be in his mind, much like the mental communication that he and Tetsuya shared with their spirit steeds.
I feel like I have heard this voice before.
A gentle white glow rose around him as he moved forward and found himself suddenly far removed from the castle grounds, with no sense of exactly when he had left. Still, he felt no sense of alarm at being where he was.
It feels safe.
A memory flashed in his mind, of holding his father's hand and walking in misted trees like the ones around him, seeing a white clad man ahead of them, whose eyes were deep grey, like his own.
"This cannot be," the noble whispered, feeling a burning in the corners of his eyes, "Jugram said that you died long ago. You and Ywach fought, and you were never seen again. Is this a dream or…?"
His feet stopped moving and his mind froze as Bach Tarelle stepped out of the enshrouded trees in front of him, smiling and extending a hand in welcome.
"Byakuya," he breathed softly, "segare."
Byakuya swallowed hard, a little shiver going through him as he clasped his quincy father's hand.
"I don't…really know what to call you," Byakuya admitted as the man gently embraced him, "father?"
"I've hardly been that, have I?" Tarelle said regretfully, "Hiding out and not coming to you, not even after Soujun was killed. I am…sorry."
Byakuya looked back at him silently for a moment, gathering his thoughts carefully before answering.
"You are a transcendent," he said finally, "and you have some sense of possible futures, do you not?"
"Yes."
"Then, if you have hidden yourself for all of these years, and you have not come to me, I will assume that there was too much danger in doing so while…while he lived," Byakuya concluded.
Tarelle nodded.
"I am gifted with foresight, and I did foresee that there was great danger in trying to bring you to me sooner. I did see that you would suffer in the war, but also that you would live, and that you would be brought to Silbern Palace. When my wicked brother came to kill me, I did fight with him, and I let him believe that he had killed me. Also being royal and a transcendent, I had the means to not be revealed by his foresight, so I remained here, waiting until the moment you could return to me."
Byakuya's gaze dropped and he looked at the ground, his mind whirling with questions as the man in front of him touched his face gently.
"You have suffered too much," he sighed, "Is there anything I can do?"
Byakuya drew in a slow breath and met the man's grey eyes again.
"Can you tell me why?" he asked quietly, his hands clenching, "You have the gift of foresight. You…had to know the day you met my father, that he was going to die too soon. I was a child then, but I am grown now, and I am ready to hear what you have to tell me. So, tell me, Father, why did Soujun have to be allowed to die?"
Tarelle gave Byakuya a heartbroken smile.
"My son," he said softly, "Soujun had to come to me, had to love me of his own free will, and he had to die when he did…so that you would live. Without you, we would be lost. Without you, the coming genocide…would kill us all."