Chapter 13: Problem Child
(Thanks so very much to my awesome co-author, Yaoihime420! No one writes feisty, sexy Renji like you do, my dear friend. You are a dream to work with and I can't wait to write more of this with you!)
The faint scratching of pen on paper brought Renji out of unconsciousness and into instant awareness of the aches and pains all over his kido restrained body from his encounters with Aizen and a deeply hypnotized Tetsuya. He cracked open one eye to see Gin facing away from him, taking notes of one of the monitors he was hooked up to. Not looking at him, Gin spoke quietly.
"I know you're awake."
Renji frowned - that was already becoming annoying as hell. The older man glanced at him briefly, then returned his gaze to the monitors as he spoke in that quiet, secretive tone.
"Aizen's got some nasty plans for our friend there, for Tetsuya."
"Our friend?" Renji growled softly.
Gin let out a sarcastic little huff of breath and continued to look at the monitors.
Renji's fists clenched uselessly at his sides as he breathed, "Tell me."
Instead of telling him he was in no position to be making demands, Gin simply set down the chart and laid his hands on Renji's stomach. The restrained prisoner tried to recoil from the touch, wanting desperately to curl up protectively around the new life he carried, but the kido held, leaving him to just jolt in place when his enemy's hands spread over his stomach.
Gin began speaking again, barely above a whisper.
"He's plannin' to torture him, using his zanpakuto. He's going to show him you and your Taicho together."
Renji clenched his jaw, barely remembering to keep his voice down.
"Fucking hell."
Gin continued his examination, talking quietly as if Renji hadn't spoken.
"Well, you did kind of ask for it, didn't you…fucking your friend's future husband?"
"I didn't…"
The sharp look Gin gave him stopped Renji from saying any more.
"Focus, Renji," the former taicho hissed softly, "He's gonna make Tetsuya think he's been caught and taken to the elders for judgment as a traitor. He'll know the punishment is death, and Byakuya, himself, will render the judgment."
The redhead couldn't remember ever feeling such rage and Gin hissed a soft warning as the monitors began to beep urgently.
"Quiet down. I don't want that either."
What?Top of Form
"You don't want it either?" Renji repeated softly, "What are you up to, you creepy little snake, huh? Are you just playing with all of us or what?"
Gin shot him a momentary look of warning.
"What," he replied, turning his attention back to the monitors, "Let's just say that…I have my own reasons for not wanting Tetsuya to be harmed."
The silver-haired traitor paused, his slitted eyes closing all of the way as he recalled.
A harsh ringing sound and the tingling feeling of pinpricks on his face, arms and hands brought him awake and he cracked his eyes open into slits. His breath caught slightly as he found himself looking up at what he was sure was an angel's face, framed with dark, untamed shoulder length hair. The angel's lovely sapphire eyes held him spellbound as he tried to think of something to say.
"Thank goodness, you've regained consciousness," the angel sighed, his pretty eyes exhibiting genuine relief, "You don't seem to have injured yourself when you collapsed. I have…stabilized your reiatsu and that of your child."
A sharp jolt rocketed through Gin at the young man's words.
"Arashi and I will take you to the fourth division."
"No!"
Renji's soft sneer cut into his thoughts, bringing him back to the present.
"You have reasons for not wanting him hurt?" the redhead said stiffly, "Excuse me if I don't find that at all reassuring, you freak."
"Yeah," Gin chuckled wryly, "I suppose that makes sense."
A little shiver passed through the silver-haired man as he scratched something onto the page in front of him, his mind wandering back again.
"You can't tell anyone. No one can know!"
"But, Gin-san, you are hurt and even though you and the baby are stable for now, you will need infusions from the father of the child to keep you stable so late in the pregnancy."
"Th-that ain't gonna happen," Gin panted, his voice breaking under the stress of even thinking of what Aizen would do to him to punish him for being careless and ending up pregnant, "Now, you said that he can be born now, right?"
Tetsuya blanched.
"I said that the baby is far enough along that he could survive if…"
"Then, you have to take him now!" Gin panted, "Take him now and get him somewhere safe. Then you forget all about this. If you really want to help, you forget that you ever found me here!"
Gin checked the monitors again and turned away from Renji to record the readings.
"Your baby's doing fine," he commented in a normal tone, "You should be thankful for that. You might wanna try not to get so agitated. It unsettles your reiatsu and…without the baby's father being here, that can be dangerous."
Renji stiffened, but he kept carefully silent, only glaring up at the silver-haired man as Gin leaned over him, appearing to check his restraints, but instead loosening them.
"Don't attack me. Wait til I'm gone and the computer timer over there beeps three times in a row. The camera feed in here's gonna be disrupted and you'll have about five minutes to get up, knock out the guard by the door and get your friend outta the next room. Go out of that room and into the storage room two doors down on the right. There are some weapons and a secret garganta entry that will open if you give the code word, Rangiku. Remember, you only have five minutes to knock out the guard and make your escape. You screw up and get caught and there's nothing I'll be able to do for you. Understand?"
"Yeah, I get it," the redhead whispered back, closing his eyes for a moment to gather himself, "Hey…"
Gin gave an amused little snicker.
"Please don't tell me you're going to thank me for this. I told you. I have my own reasons for helping you. End of story."
"I get that," Renji sighed, shaking his head, "but I do owe you, even if you are a backstabbing little snake who almost killed my taicho."
"That was a mistake, you know."
"Like trying to kill Rukia is so much better?" he snorted, "Y'know what? Forget it. I don't owe you a damned thing, but…thanks for this."
"Hmm," Gin huffed dismissively, "If you want to show your thanks, then you get Tetsuya out of here and back home where he belongs."
Renji shot the silver-haired man a measured look. Gin frowned back at him questioningly.
"What?" he prompted the redhead.
"Oh nothing," Renji chuckled wearily, "I was just thinking that Kuchiki Tetsuya has a way of making friends with pretty much everyone…even sneaky, conniving snakes."
"Be that as it may," Gin said warningly, "His charms have not worked on Aizen Sousuke. If you don't get him out of here, Sousuke will kill him."
"Yeah, I know," Renji said, narrowing his eyes in determination, "but I'm not gonna let that happen. Tetsuya is going home…no matter what it takes to get him there."
"Be careful, Renji," the silver-haired man admonished him, turning away and starting towards the door, "If you screw this up, Tetsuya will die and eventually, you know Sousuke will get everything out of you. Everything."
"I get it," Renji growled softly, his body tensing as Gin passed through the doorway, leaving him alone in the examination room, "I know exactly what's at stake."
XXXXXXXXXX
Kisuke narrowed his eyes at the monitor in front of him, pale grey gaze flicking to the smaller screen to the right, then to a chart near his left hand. Byakuya stood nearby, dark eyes thoughtful as he watched the Karakura shopkeeper work.
"You know, I had wondered what it was that was keeping Renji in Karakura Town," the noble commented, "As much as my fukutaicho complains about how you and those two children tease him, I was surprised to hear that you were the reason."
"Hmph," the shopkeeper huffed, keeping his back to Byakuya as he glared at the screen in front of him.
Byakuya's frown deepened slightly.
"Are you saying that there was another reason for Renji being here?" he asked pointedly, "I assume it was more than simply passing time drinking too much and sparring…as there is a child involved."
"That's something you'd need to discuss with Renji," the shopkeeper said shortly.
The noble's eyes narrowed and his tone grew colder.
"I would, of course, talk this over with Renji, but he is currently in the hands of a man diabolical enough to betray and deceive everyone in the Seireitei and try to overthrow the soul king. Kisuke, if we are going to save Renji, then I need to know the exact situation. People are getting hurt…"
Kisuke's hand slapped down on the table involuntarily and the shopkeeper's voice loosed in an angry hiss as he turned to face the surprised noble.
"Renji was already being hurt! I was just trying to help him numb the pain. I didn't mean to fall in…"
The two men froze, gazing into each other's stricken eyes for a moment. Then Byakuya's eyes blinked slowly as realization washed over him.
"Renji was in pain," he said more softly, a flicker of dark emotion entering his usually calm grey eyes, "because I was marrying Tetsuya."
He paused, knowing the shopkeeper was beyond words, but the two found they hardly needed them.
"This is my fault," Byakuya whispered, paling, "I had no idea that Renji…"
"Hey," Kisuke snapped, bringing the Kuchiki leader back to awareness, "none of that matters right now. The only thing that matters is getting Renji and Tetsuya back."
Byakuya nodded wordlessly as Kisuke turned back to look at the monitor. A moment later, the shopkeeper made a little sound of triumph.
"Bingo, you bastard,' he muttered under his breath, sensing Byakuya move to his side.
"You found them?"
Kisuke nodded, snatching Benihime up and moving for the underground cavern with the noble less than a step behind. "My sensors have picked up reiatsus matching Renji and Tetsuya's energies in the northwestern sector of Los Noches."
The Kuchiki leader paused, noting the arrival of the reigai and he summoned the copy to his side.
"I want you to stay here in case there is need for you to stand in for me. I give you permission to act on my behalf to protect my interests."
The reigai read the unspoken order beneath the noble's words.
Whatever happens, do not let anything happen to Renji or Tetsuya. Should they need you, be there for them as I have not.
"Kuchiki taicho," the reigai said sympathetically, "this is not your…"
"Just be there for them."
"Of course."
XXXXXXXXXX
Renji closed his eyes, slowing his breaths and listening to Gin's retreating footsteps. His muscular body tensed slightly, but he held himself still, waiting silently as the footsteps faded away and a few minutes passed. His teeth gritted with impatience and he wasn't sure how much longer he could hold himself still, but finally, the monitor across the room emitted three long beeps and in the next room, Tetsuya stirred softly and groaned.
Without a moment of hesitation, the redhead slipped free of the loosened bindings, and he threw himself onto shaky legs, his jaw clenching at the flashes of pain that came with movement. He forced down any response to the discomfort and crept to the door, positioning himself carefully to ensure his next move wouldn't be seen. As soon as the coast was clear, he yanked the surprised guard into the treatment room, silencing him with a quick strike to the back of the head. He shoved the unconscious guard into a corner, then stumbled into the next room and to Tetsuya's side.
"Hey," he said softly, lifting the half-noble into his arms, "everything's gonna be okay now. I've got you."
"R-Renji?" Tetsuya managed uncertainly.
"Hang on," Renji hissed, carrying Tetsuya to the door, "We're gettin' outta here now."
He peered out, making sure no one had entered the ward, then worked his way quickly to the storeroom that Gin had mentioned, slipping inside and closing the door behind him. He set Tetsuya on his feet and gripped his shoulders for a moment.
"You gonna be able to walk?" he asked softly, "I can carry you if you need me to."
Tetsuya shook his head, swallowing hard as he met the redhead's eyes warily.
"Renji…I'm so sor-"
"Later," Renji said brusquely, "Don't think about anything but us getting the hell outta this."
He stepped forward to the back of the storeroom, unsure where the garganta entry was, but paused as he heard a little anguished whimper behind him. He turned to find Tetsuya standing and mostly calm, but with tears coursing down his face and wearing a tortured expression.
"Do you hate me?" the half-noble asked in a shaky voice, "I think you should."
"Why would I do that?" the redhead challenged, glaring meaningfully into Tetsuya's teary eyes, "You didn't do anything…"
"I betrayed everyone! All of you!" Tetsuya sobbed breathlessly, "Especially you. I took your happiness away and I personally made sure Aizen caught you."
Tetsuya's breath was taken away completely as Renji's hand clenched the front of his yukata and hard cinnamon eyes sank down into his widened blue ones.
"Now, you listen to me," the redhead growled, "You are, and have always been my friend! You didn't make Byakuya choose you over me and you didn't ask for Aizen to use you the way he did! Do you think Momo needs to feel bad about being used? Do any of us who were fooled by him? Hell no! Aizen is a snaky, backstabbing, manipulative piece of shit!"
He released Tetsuya, who swayed a little, but then steadied and nodded in acceptance.
"Now, let's get the hell outta here before the bastard figures out what we're doin'…though half the fuckin' time he figures it out too fast…ah, there it is!"
Renji whispered the password and the two young men watched as the garganta opened in front of them. A grin broke out across the redhead's face and he nudged Tetsuya in the direction of the garganta.
"C'mon now, friend, let's go home."
Tetsuya opened his mouth to answer, but an instant later, the little smile on his lips faded and his eyes widened as the door to the storeroom opened and a small hollow stepped in, looking around.
"Hey!" the hollow shouted, "What are you…?"
Tetsuya struck instantly, dropping the hollow with a brutal strike to the head, but the sound roused the interest of several more hollows outside the storeroom.
"Aw, damn it!" Renji snapped, "Go on, get in!"
"N-no, you should…"
"There's no time!" Renji insisted, grabbing the half-noble and shoving him into the opening as two masked hollows rushed into the room. The redhead tried to follow Tetsuya, but as he attempted to fire a kido blast at the approaching guards, he felt a burning sensation in his abdomen and the power fizzled out, leaving him defenseless as the hollows closed in around him, cutting off his route to the garganta. He threw himself wildly against the ones blocking his way, tearing with clawed fingers, even biting as he tried to slip free. Something hit the back of his head and although he managed not to lose consciousness, his vision dimmed and his legs went wobbly.
Renji struggled against the two guards as much as his aching body would allow, feeling a flare of satisfaction at the muttered curses as both masked enemies were forced to adjust their grip on him. He realized they were dragging him through several long corridors, then to a set of ornate double doors, and his struggles doubled so the monsters manhandling him wouldn't notice the shivers of disgust and apprehension coursing through him.
Fuck, he thought to himself as he caught sight of the only furniture in the room – a white marble throne, holding Aizen, who was calmly watching the guards haul him closer. Once in front of the dais, they forced Renji to his knees, and the traitorous former captain smiled cordially, as if he weren't the most demented person Renji had ever met.
"Why, Renji, trying to escape, even after being warned about what would happen? I am surprised by your behavior. Though I suppose I shouldn't be, hmm? You always were more trouble than you're worth. No wonder Tetsuya is the one Byakuya is choosing to marry."
Renji curled his lip, managing to surge forward a few inches before the hollows restrained him again.
"You can go straight to Hell, you bastard!"
Aizen 'tsk'ed as if Renji was being completely unreasonable about the entire situation. The older man rose from his throne and stepped off the dais to bend down and get in Renji's face. His expression was still mild, but his tone was laced with threat.
"Watch your tongue, you insolent dog. I've planned everything to perfection, and you will not- "
He was interrupted by blood splattering in his face, Renji grinning through teeth that matched his hair.
"Fuck you and your plan."
Aizen's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"It appears you are going to require more… extreme measures."
Before Renji could reply, Aizen smiled thinly, his friendly veneer dissolving as he spoke to the guards.
"Take him away. I want both of you to guard his cell, and if he escapes again, both of your lives are forfeit."
"Yes, Lord Aizen!" they responded sharply, and Renji scoffed in a mocking manner as they dragged him away.
Now alone in the throne room, Aizen hummed to himself as he wiped his face. One thing had been made clear in that little meeting, and the traitor's lips curled up.
"The problem child is hiding something."