Chapter 9: Hiraku
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I know it's a little early for Uryuu's birthday month, but I felt inspired by some artwork I saw to continue this story. Thanks for the prayers and good wishes. My back that was giving me trouble recently is much better, so I am getting more writing done and will have more updates soon. Love to all, Spunky
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Uryuu returned slowly out of a deep sleep, registering the soft, pleasant sound of Byakuya's voice humming. A smile found its way onto the waking quincy's lips as his eyes opened and came to rest on his husband, where Byakuya sat on the bed, cradling their son in his arms, looking down at the infant boy with unrestrained affection. There was such a contentedness that he was sure he had never seen nor sensed in his usually stoic and reserved husband. It was such a beautiful and rare sight that he couldn't make himself move or speak for fear of shattering the moment. But after a few minutes, Byakuya looked up and noticed him watching.
"Uryuu."
The quincy's smile warmed.
"You look really happy," Uryuu mused, "I'm glad. I am too."
"I am happy," Byakuya answered, returning his gaze to their son as the infant gurgled and reached for him with tiny pink fingers, "Hisana and I longed to have children, not just out of obligation, but because of the miracle that they are. We were not able to bring that dream to pass, but you have given me a new opportunity to experience what I could not before, and I am deeply grateful to you for that. Despite all of our concerns and the danger that threatens, this little one is a true gift that will not be denied. I feel such warmth that I have never felt before."
"Yeah," Uryuu agreed, reaching out as Byakuya offered the child to him and he brought the baby to his breast.
The boy's head turned instantly and he latched onto his bearer's offered nipple, suckling hungrily. Uryuu blushed slightly, but quickly found himself distracted from his self-consciousness by the adoration in Byakuya's expression as his husband watched them.
"You look so beautiful together," the noble leader sighed.
"I look terrible," Uryuu chuckled, "He eats like a horse. I can barely keep up so that I can manage feeding him."
"You are doing well," Byakuya praised him, reaching out to curve a warm palm around his husband's flushed cheek, "Naturally, it is a challenge to balance your own needs with those of a newborn."
"I don't know what I'd do without you and Torio here to spoil me and to take him when I start to drop off," Uryuu yawned, tickling the baby boy's soft cheek and smiling at the happy cooing sound he made.
"Hmm, maybe before you drop off again, we should speak about what we should name him," Byakuya suggested.
"Yeah," Uryuu agreed, "We've barely had time to think since he was born, what with you passing out and being unconscious and me trying to figure everything out."
"We can take our time now," Byakuya said reassuringly, kissing the younger man on the cheek, "We have spoken about this a little, but I think we hadn't really made any kind of decision."
Uryuu nuzzled the top of the baby's fuzzy head.
"I think I needed to meet him to be sure," he reasoned.
"That makes perfect sense. And now that you have spent some time with him, what do you think?"
Uryuu loosed a sleepy sigh, lifting the baby as he detached from one plundered breast and eagerly sought the other. He waited as the infant latched on again, then looked up at his patiently waiting husband.
"He's going to grow up in a much different world than you and I did," Uryuu speculated somberly, his eye straying to the Ishida and Kuchiki tapestries he had been working so tirelessly on while waiting for the birth of their child, "Each of us saw the other's people as enemies. We've been through horrible wars that killed so many. But, you feel it, don't you, Byakuya? That…things are different now? That, even though it's dangerous, we actually have the chance to raise our son in a world where shinigamis and quincies can live together in peace?"
"If we give all of ourselves to bringing that world to life, then, yes, I do see us being able to raise our son without the heaviness of the hatred that plagued our societies," Byakuya agreed.
He turned his head slightly to look out at the cloudy sky.
"There is a reckoning that I think has to happen first, but…once we come through that test, Uryuu, our societies can prosper together. We only need to keep our eyes on the things that bring us closer together."
Uryuu nodded, biting at his lips for a moment and looking down at their baby.
"Speaking of which, have you and Kisuke figured out anything more about what we sensed with your reiatsu when the baby was born?" he asked warily.
"No," his husband admitted softly, "I have communed with Senbonzakura and tested my abilities, but although it feels as though there is a potential for something more, my powers seem to be working normally, with no additional manifestations."
Uryuu's brow furrowed.
"That doesn't make sense," he reasoned worriedly, "Ywach's sharing never acted like that. Once he granted abilities using his transcendent power, they manifested immediately. That's how my powers grew when I joined him."
Byakuya nodded.
"But you are a quincy."
"He also gave powers to some of the Arrancars who joined him, and I don't recall that gifting involving this kind of issue. Also, hollows and quincies are more incompatible physically than shinigamis and quincies, so…"
He broke off as Byakuya leaned forward and kissed the words away.
"Come now," he chided the younger man affectionately, "in time, we will figure out what we need to know."
"But, with Hasch…"
"Shh," Byakuya soothed him, sliding an arm around his shoulders as their son left off feeding and loosed and contented burp.
The infant yawned and blinked as he started to fall asleep again.
"Now, we were about to name our son," Byakuya went on, "Did you have any new thoughts about that?"
"Yes, actually," Uryuu affirmed, calming as he leaned against Byakuya's warm shoulder, "I was saying before that our child has the chance to grow up in a world without the hatred that existed when you and I were growing up."
"Yes."
Uryuu nodded.
"And being our son and heir, he is going to have to help everyone learn to live in that new, brighter world. I thought that the name, Hiraku, expresses that responsibility…to be open and supportive of that new society."
Byakuya was silent for several moments as he considered. Finally, he smiled and nodded, letting his fingertips caress their sleeping son's face.
"Hiraku," he repeated, trying the name out, "Yes, I think that name suits him well."
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Haschwalth sat quietly at the head of the large dark wood table in the meeting chambers of the quincy noble's council, his pale eyes watching the gathered leaders closely and his mind turning over the most recent developments in the effort to return their enslaved king to his proper place.
The ones gathered here are newly returned to their former places in our society, to that which was stolen from them by Ywach. There is an anger that burns over the fact that they will never know retribution for what he did to all of them…the cold blooded murder of their family and friends, the taking of their lands and the enslavement of any survivors amongst the tyrant leader's ranks. In a manner of speaking, it was the shinigamis who rid us of that torment, although the ones most responsible for killing him were both sons of quincy nobility. Uryuu, our rightful king and Kurosaki Ichigo, son of Masaki. I have attempted to remind the returned nobles that it was the cooperation between shinigami and quincy that paved the way to Ywach's defeat. I have also warned them that we must avoid the creation of another Ywach by harnessing the potential to end our hostilities.
But…the actions of Central 46…the enslavement and rape of Ishida Uryuu by Kuchiki Byakuya…that is not something so easy to soothe away. The perception, real or not, that Uryuu has accepted and learned to embrace his subservience to his shinigami spouse only ignites more anger. There is a balance that has been lost in this situation, one that must be restored if we are to move forward. But, I think that balance can only be restored by the king, himself. If Uryuu does not want to lose Byakuya, then he must rise up and bring the noble houses under his control. He does not have to dominate as Ywach did, but he does have to earn their respect.
What exactly will it take for him to do that?
That is the burning, inescapable question we face now.
He continued to brood quietly as the house leaders trickled in, only returning out of his thoughts as he felt a little touch on his arm.
"Bazz," he acknowledged softly, turning his eyes to the side to observe his longtime friend.
"You look worried," Bazz-B observed, glancing at the other leaders, "It's probably what you should be with how hungry for blood these guys are."
"I am worried," Haschwalth admitted softly, "but my concern is not simply to appease the noble lords. My focus is on bringing a strong king to the throne who can end the violence and ensure a bright future for our people."
He considered quietly for a moment, then loosed an uneasy sigh.
"I wonder if Ishida Uryuu is going to be able to do that."
"Huh," Bazz-B huffed, looking around the room again, "I don't know who you think is gonna be able to do it, if not him. Are you planning to take the throne for yourself then?"
Haschwalth shook his head firmly.
"Although the noble lords respect my ability to keep order for now, I do not have the authority that Uryuu has. He is the rightful heir."
"You were gonna be Ywach's…"
"I was never going to be his successor in that way," the paler man asserted, "I was necessary to the former king's plans, so he kept me close to him and he used me. I think that the image of that is present in what they see when they look at Uryuu right now. The noble lords cannot make Ywach pay any more than he has in dying, so they turn their anger to the shinigami who dominates our king."
"Dominates him?" the red-haired man mused, shaking his head, "I'd say that Kuchiki taicho is wrapped around Uryuu's finger. He's head over heels for the guy who made him a father."
"That is not what the men and women in this room see," Haschwalth said firmly, "As long as Uryuu makes no move to change their vision of him, he will never achieve true legitimacy. If this goes on much longer, they will turn against him."
"And you don't want that?" Bazz-B asked, tilting his head, "Because that would make you legit, right?"
"I am not the leader that the quincies need."
"And Ishida is?" Bazz-B asked, narrowing his eyes, "Are you saying that out of duty, or is that what you really think?"
Haschwalth gave his friend a weary look.
"I admit to having been guilty of that in the past, but…I would like to think I have changed for the better. And to answer your question, I do believe Uryuu has it in him to be the king our people need. The question is, can he find the king that exists within him and bring it out so that the noble lords will fall under his direction willingly?"
"Yeah, that's the million dollar question," Bazz-B agreed, "So, what're you gonna do about that?"
Haschwalth looked from the gathering in front of them to his friend again.
"I will endeavor to provide Uryuu with a chance to prove himself."
"Sounds like a pretty big challenge."
"It will be," the paler man agreed, closing his eyes in thought for a moment, "and it will not be without danger. I will bring him into a position where he must assert himself and if he succeeds, he will prove himself to the noble lords."
"And if he doesn't?"
Haschwalth let out a long, slow breath.
"If he doesn't, Byakuya will die and that will at least pacify the noble lords so that they will support him. I think they understand that Ywach destroyed much of our strength when he killed his own noble lords and families."
"Yeah, he figured he didn't need them to do what he was planning to do. Fucking crazy how we all bought into it…and we all paid for it."
Haschwalth gave his friend a sideways glance.
"I'm glad we both survived," he commented softly, "Bazz, I know you said I didn't have to say it again, but…"
"Stop it," the redhead chuckled, waving him off, "You did what you had to do."
"I didn't have to almost kill you."
"Like Ywach was gonna let you avoid it? He fucking loved to play with us," Bazz-B growled, "Forget about it. Forget about him."
"No," Haschwalth insisted, his head bowing, "it is important for both of us that I always remember what he did to us, and what he made us do to each other. We can never let such a thing happen again."
"We won't," Bazz-B agreed, nodding.
"That is why it is so important to legitimize Uryuu as our leader now. That is why, one way or another, I will see that we succeed."
"You sound like you have a plan for that already," the red haired quincy noted with a smirk.
"Hmm, the plan is already in motion."
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Ichigo said a quick goodbye to his sisters, then he left their home and flash stepped along the banks of the nearby river, heading for Kisuke's shop. He smiled, humming softly, his heart flickering in anticipation of the evening he was about to share with his fiancé.
It's a little crazy, dealing with the rules of our official courtship, but we can be a little more relaxed here, in the living world, even if we can't do some things that we want to. But I'll jump through whatever hoops I have to so that Tetsuya and I can be together.
I never felt this way about anyone before.
"Well, you sure look happy," Rukia chuckled.
Ichigo slid to a stop and looked around, finding his friend perched in a tree near the edge of the water.
"Hey, Rukia," he greeted her as the young woman flash stepped down from the tree to join him, "I thought you'd probably be with Byakuya at Sakura no Kaiyo, looking out for Uryuu."
"Oh, I was," Rukia acknowledged, "I just came over to get some things to take back to Kisuke, since he's staying at the retreat to help with Uryuu, his father and their babies."
"It's funny to think of Uryuu being married and having a kid," Ichigo sighed, smiling and shaking his head, "and my dad marrying his dad."
"And you having a couple more siblings," Rukia giggled, "They're so cute! You should come and visit, you know. Your father would like that."
"Yeah, I think Tetsuya and I are gonna stay over at the retreat for a few days after our date tonight."
"Is that where you're headed now?"
"Uh-huh, we're meeting at the candy shop and I'm taking him to a concert tonight."
"It sounds like fun," Rukia said, falling in with him as he continued on his way.
"Do you wanna come with us? I have a couple of extra tickets. You and Chad could come along."
"We are not going to crash your date, Ichigo," Rukia laughed, "Besides, I have to get back. I'm on guard duty tonight."
"Byakuya's keeping defenses up, now that the baby was born, huh?"
"Yes," Rukia affirmed, "We're all expecting the quincies will make some kind of move now, although we're not sure what is going to happen."
The young woman paused just outside the shop as they arrived, touching Ichigo on the arm to stop him.
"You and Tetsuya should be careful too," she warned her friend, "The quincies are determined to get Uryuu back and that means that they aren't above using the people close to Uryuu and my brother to get to them."
Ichigo nodded.
"I'll be careful. And you know I'm not gonna let anything happen to Tetsuya."
The two entered the shop and were surprised to find the shop and living areas unusually quiet and empty.
"Geez," Ichigo mused, looking around, "where is everyone?"
"That's odd," Rukia said, laying a hand on her sword, "When I left, Tessai was about to start dinner and the kids were here in the shop."
The two flash stepped down the too quiet hallway to the hidden entrance to the underground training area and headed down the ladder. As they reached the bottom, they spotted Tessai and the two children kneeling beside what looked to be a collapsed horse.
"Arashi!" Ichigo cried, flash stepping to join them with Rukia a step behind, "Tessai, where the hell is Tetsuya? What happened to Arashi?"
Tessai looked up at the Shiba heir grimly.
"Arashi relayed that he and Tetsuya were attacked in the precipice world, just short of the exit," he reported, "Kuchiki Tetsuya has been abducted by the quincies!"