Chapter 12: Broken Stars

(Thanks a million to my good buddy, Sesh, for writing part of the chapter relating to Renji's confrontations with Gin and Aizen, and Tetsuya and Renji meeting. Enjoy! Lots of love, Spunky)

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Where do we stand? I sense you, but cannot see you in the blackness. We reach for each other, but have only the dim light of broken stars to guide us.

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Renji braced himself as Gin opened the ornate door where he could sense Byakuya's disturbed reiatsu.

And Aizen's.

The door opened, and his eyes immediately found the too-pale form of his superior in the bed that dominated the room.

At his side, Rukia inhaled sharply at the sight of Aizen sitting next to the bed.

Renji felt his hands curl into fists at the knowledge that the man responsible for so much suffering was so close to Byakuya.

He clenched his jaw and stalked closer. The memory of Aizen cutting him down on Sokyoku Hill flashed through his mind, and his sense of self-preservation urged him to stay where he was.

But his feet kept moving, carrying him to the other side of the bed. He looked down at his superior, looking too pale and exhausted.

"Hey, Taicho. You doin' okay?"

The noble gave a slight nod.

"I am all right for the moment. But it seems that I sustained an injury of some severity."

Renji stiffened, his heart pounding as Rukia joined him.

"Nii-sama? What kind of injury?" the young woman asked.

Byakuya sighed quietly.

"There are people coming to help me. The baby and I will be fine. However, until they arrive...our health is in decline."

Renji's eyes slid closed, and he took deep breaths to calm down.

"Are you all right, Renji?"

The sound of Aizen's voice split right through his attempts to calm himself. His eyes shot open to glare at the traitor.

"You can go straight to Hell! This is your fault, you fuckin' prick!"

One eyebrow rose at him.

"You've regained that attitude and foul mouth of yours, I see."

"Damn straight! Let me tell you something, you egotistical, self-centered bastard - this is all your fault! You hurt him, and I swear to the gods, if I thought I was strong enough to take you down for that, I would. And then you got him pregnant, and left him alone to face all that shit himself!"

Aizen's gaze was level.

"But it seems he was not alone. He had you watching his back, ne?"

Renji's jaw dropped, and he sputtered for a moment before his righteous anger came roaring back.

"He deserves a hell of a lot better than anything you've done to him! Those bastards were torturing him because he was hiding the fact that it was you who got him pregnant!"

He was about to continue, when he saw Byakuya wince and touch his stomach. Immediately, he crouched by the bed, forgetting about Aizen for the moment as he impulsively took a slender hand in his own.

"Taicho? Are you alright? Do you need anything?"

The noble took a shaky breath.

"No, just...stop yelling at him. I don't feel well."

Renji nodded contritely, reaching out and tentatively laying his free hand against the noble's belly. He let a stream of carefully soothing reiatsu pass from him into Byakuya as he whispered his reply. A short distance away, Aizen watched through narrowed eyes, but said nothing.

"I'm sorry. That kinda stress ain't good for you. I was...I'm sorry. I won't do it anymore, okay?"

He could feel Aizen watching them closely as Byakuya gave a slight smile, looking relieved by his words and reiatsu.

"I know you were. I appreciate what you were willing to do for me, and still are. But there is no need at the moment. I am glad the two of you are all right."

Renji bowed his head for a moment to hide his burning eyes. When he had control over himself, he looked back up, glancing between his superior and Aizen.

He realized the traitor was watching them with dangerously aggressive eyes. He met the brown gaze steadily, careful not to show fear nor antagonism. But his thoughts ran in both directions.

Ha, you bastard. Taicho trusts me.

I'm gonna die for this, ain't I?

Oh well. At least I'm helping Byakuya. That's what matters. And he asked me to play nice, so...

Renji cleared his throat and glanced to Rukia, then looked at Byakuya's face for a moment before meeting Aizen's eyes again.

"So...this injury? Is there anything we can do to help?"

"Yes," Byakuya answered, "I will need you to find someone for me."

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Renji frowned as he examined the locator Byakuya had given him. According to the display, the one he sought was in the Rukon village just over the next hill.

His superior's words rang in his mind.

"I am sending you to retrieve my cousin, Tetsuya. This locator will let you know when you're near him. You will likely know him when you see him, as he has very distinctive Kuchiki features. He is a talented healer, and will be able to help me and the child I carry."

Renji sighed as he crested the hill and looked over the small village. He needed to hurry, needed to get the help Byakuya and his little one required.

But the confrontation before as well as being knocked out had drained some of his strength, and a flashstep attempt nearly had him rolling down the hill.

Shit.

With another sigh, he set off at a jog towards the village.

In this condition, no way could I have really stood up to Aizen to defend Taicho. He woulda wiped the floor with me. Without breaking a sweat.

I wonder if Taicho is gonna accept him? I know that man has done awful things, but Byakuya was really heartbroken when he betrayed us and left. You don't get that heartbroken over someone you care nothing about.

He loved that man once.

And Aizen is the father of the little one.

If he treats Byakuya right, the way he deserves to be treated... there's a good chance Byakuya will open his heart for him again.

And I hate to admit it, but Aizen could keep Taicho and the baby safe. Safer than I ever could.

Wrapped up in his thoughts, Renji didn't notice the hollow that came at his back. The beast slid noiselessly in close to him, defying Renji's reduced ability to sense and his distraction. Then, he screeched and struck out with a huge clawed hand.

Sharp pain exploded through the redhead's right shoulderblade, and he snarled as he spun away from the howling beast. His right arm hung useless as he stared at the large hollow that had managed to creep up on him.

Renji fumbled for Zabimaru's hilt with his left hand as the hollow lunged at him and crashed into his chest, bowling him over as it tumbled away, then scrambling to its feet. In another explosion of agony, Renji grunted and swore profusely, gritting his teeth as he felt something running down his arm.

He had just managed to draw his weapon, only to hear the baboon king's voice roar inside his skull.

'No, Renji! You're still worn out - we can't fight! Not even Shikai!'

Suddenly, an equine bugle split the air. Thundering hoofbeats made the ground tremble underneath his, and a flare of beautiful blue light blinded Renji.

"Hado number thirty-three," said a soft, slightly musical masculine voice, "Sokatsui."

A heavy burst of concentrated power erupted from somewhere above Renji's fallen form and sent the hollow to the ground, roaring and twisting its body to angle itself for another attack.

Renji blinked the spots from his eyes just in time to see hooves tearing into the ground inches from his face.

"Holy shit!"

"Stay still, and Arashi will not step on you."

He looked up to see lovely sapphire eyes focused on him, lighting a pale, beautiful and determined face that instantly reminded him of Byakuya. Blue reiatsu blazed around both man and horse and the black stallion stamped a foot at the hollow and pawed aggressively at the ground.

The stranger brandished a blue steel blade and turned his attention to the hollow. He breathed a soft command, and Renji watched in wonder as a flood of copies of man and horse appeared all around him. He felt an odd sense of disorientation as the hollow slashed at the nearest copies, destroying some of them. The feeling of the blue-eyed shinigami's presence seemed to shift from place to place at a dizzying rate of speed, then one of the copies slashed at the hollow, and to Renji's surprise, cut through the hollow's huge body effortlessly.

Damn…

The hollow exploded into a dark flash of scattered reiatsu and screamed again as it disappeared. The copies of the man and horse disappeared, except for the one still protectively positioned in front of the still stunned and now completely enthralled redhead.

"Nice work," he chuckled, starting to climb to his feet as the young man dismounted and offered him a slim, soft hand, "Let me guess. You're Kuchiki Tetsuya?"

"And you must be one of the officers my cousin informed me he was sending," Tetsuya concluded, "Was there another with you?"

"There was supposed to be," Renji affirmed as he brushed the dust off of his uniform, "but as we were getting ready to leave, Taicho complained he was having some pain and he seemed to get dizzy."

"His injury is that bad?" Tetsuya mused anxiously, "But then, he wouldn't send for me unless it was very serious."

"Well, the healer seemed to get things under control again, but Rukia didn't want to leave him, and I thought I was fine coming to get you myself."

Renji laughed sheepishly.

"I guess I wasn't thinking about the fact I'd been in a fight just before and unconscious for awhile."

"That was reckless of you," Tetsuya chided him, in a way that made the point without sounding at all harsh, "I wouldn't want you to be hurt…ah…"

"Abarai," Renji said, offering his hand, which Tetsuya took gently, "R…"

"Abarai Renji, his fukutaicho?" Tetsuya inquired, "Byakuya-sama mentioned that he had chosen you, the last time I saw him, however, a lot has happened since then, I understand. I heard that three of the taichos have betrayed the Gotei 13 and have gone to Hueco Mundo. I was so surprised to hear that Aizen taicho was among them. I met him once, and he was not at all the kind of person who I thought would ever betray all of us."

"Yeah…well, there have been quite a few surprises lately, not all of them good," Renji sighed, reaching up to scratch the back of his neck, "I think Byakuya…erm…Taicho, will want to explain things himself, but I probably should warn you that Taicho and Rukia are in Hueco Mundo, with Aizen Sousuke."

Tetsuya's blue eyes widened with alarm.

"He has not…!" he began.

"No," Renji said firmly, "Taicho ain't no traitor. There's just…stuff happening between Aizen and Taicho, and Aizen's not holding him prisoner, but Taicho is injured and he needs you."

Tetsuya's brow furrowed for a moment.

"But he said that he needed me because of my knowledge of noble male pregnancy."

"Y-yeah," Renji confirmed, reading the signs of wary comprehension in the other man's eyes, "Tetusya-san, it's complicated, but you can trust that Byakuya would never betray any of us. What's happening is…is something he and Aizen don't really control."

"I see," Tetsuya said worriedly, "Then, of course, I will come with you, but please, allow me to at least heal you and restore your reiatsu, Renji-san. I am surprised you were not restored completely before you came here."

"Eh, I was in kind of a hurry. While Taicho may be stable right now, we don't know how long he'll stay that way."

"Well, you won't be in good shape to be of help to him if you do not take care of yourself, and you'll worry him if you are careless."

"Yeah, sorry," Renji chuckled, "Go ahead, then, but we need to hurry."

"I promise, this will not take very long."

The two knelt beneath the branches of a nearby tree and Tetsuya moved in close behind the already fidgeting fukutaicho. He extended his hands so that they were just short of touching the backs of Renji's shoulders, and he closed his eyes, focusing intently as the blue light rose around them and began to sink into Renji's weary body. The redhead felt warmth on his face and a little twinge went through his loins at just the touch of the other young man's power. Peeking over his shoulder, he saw that Tetsuya also appeared to be blushing. A little breeze brushed by them and Renji felt a touch of dizziness or perhaps a little giddiness at the mingled scents of sweet sakura and fine leather that tenderly invaded.

"Are you all right, Renji-san?" Tetsuya asked, startling the flustered redhead, "You were swaying a bit."

"I kinda felt dizzy for a moment," Renji confessed.

"Hmm, do you think you might have sustained a head injury?"

Not exactly…that's not the head I need to worry about. Keep it together, little Renji!

Renji stiffened as a soft, wispy voice suddenly sounded in his head.

How dare you think rude things about my master!

"Huh?" Renji yelped, flinching and looking around, "Did someone say something?"

"Um," Tetsuya said, looking at him quizzically, "I asked if you thought you might have sustained a head injury."

"But I meant…"

Renji paused, noticing the black horse standing a short distance away casting angry blue eyes on him and baring his teeth slightly.

"Eh, does he always look like he wants to kick people?"

Tetsuya glanced at the stallion and gave him a little warning frown.

"I am sorry," he apologized, "Arashi is very protective of me and sometimes has poor manners, but he won't hurt you."

"Good to know," Renji said, smirking and glancing at the horse again, "Hey, his eyes look a lot like yours…just not as friendly."

Tetsuya nodded.

"Arashi is…rather unique. He and I share a close bond. In fact, Arashi has saved my life numerous times when I was threatened."

"You must get into a lot of trouble, then," Renji said, looking amused, "cause you seem like you can hold your own in a fight. Most healers I know don't have much skill at fighting. And, if I'm not mistaken, I saw some moves that make me pretty sure I know who your mentor was."

"Yes," Tetsuya affirmed, "Byakuya-sama, himself, trained me in the sword fighting, kido and hakudo. While he has always understood that healing is my calling, certain aspects of my personal history and the fact that I travel all through the mid and low Rukongai require that I be able to protect myself from any threats."

"I don't doubt at all you can do that, especially the way you handled that hollow. What was that power you used?"

"My zanpakuto is called Rekuhime, the lake princess. Her power is meant to be used for healing. We use waterforms to infuse damaged areas of the body and repair it. However, when used for battle, I can set many waterform copies of myself and shift my presence among them to confuse my enemy so that I can position myself for attack, or I can escape, if I need to."

"Well, once you get me powered back up, I'll be happy to do any fighting on the way to Las Noches, so that you won't have to," Renji offered.

"You should be fine now," Tetsuya said, slowly withdrawing his power, "and given what you've told me and the content of my cousin's message, I think we should leave right away. Come, Arashi will carry us. I assume you have some way for us to safely enter Hueco Mundo?"

"Yeah," Renji laughed with an edge of sarcasm, "I've got a royal key from King Psycho, himself, though I don't know how safe it will be. I'm warning you that you really need to be on your guard, Tetsuya-san. Don't trust Aizen, no matter what he or anyone else there says. The guy's bad news."

"I have heard," Tetsuya said soberly, "I will keep my guard up."

"Yeah, me too," Renji agreed, "If he makes one nasty move, the two of us are going to make him pay!"

Renji blinked and looked up at the sound of a hard equine snort that sounded like some kind of angry objection. Tetsuya yielded a little smile.

"What?" Renji grumbled, "Was he making fun of me or something?"

"No," Tetsuya assured him, "Arashi simply said that the better idea was for you to stay out of our way and don't get hurt while we put Aizen in his place. Arashi is a bit precocious."

"You don't say," Renji laughed, following Tetsuya to where the glaring stallion waited, "But hey, Tetsuya, y'know, I think I'll just flash step along with you on the way."

"Come, Renji-san," Tetsuya urged him, "and Arashi, you will behave yourself."

The stallion stood still until Renji was just settling onto his back, behind Tetsuya, then he shifted, throwing the redhead off balance. Renji's arms wrapped reflexively around Tetsuya's slim waist, and the blue-eyed shingami blushed, but made no objection.

Hah! Bet that didn't work out the way you wanted, you pain in the ass ol' fleabag, Renji thought.

Just wait, Arashi's wispy voice hissed in the redhead's mind, you are going to pay for that.