Chapter 8: Maelstrom
(**Spunky…Thanks to my lovely collab partner, Timewaster123456789**)
(**Time…This is the Spunky0ne show, I'm just the snarky sock puppet.**)
A dull, throbbing ache in his swollen belly and a feeling of nausea brought Renji awake suddenly, and the redhead scrambled out of bed and staggered to the master bathroom before slumping onto his knees and heaving several times. He dropped back, holding his abdomen with one hand and using the other to brush the light sweat from his forehead as Byakuya's attendant and his own hurried into the room. The elder of the two went to the sink to fetch water to rinse his mouth, while the other knelt at his side, infusing the aching area of his belly with gentle, comforting reiatsu.
"Thanks, guys," Renji panted softly, taking little sips of the water.
Torio gave him a little smile, though his lips trembled very slightly.
"I've sent Koji to inquire when Tetsuya-san will return," he said encouragingly.
"Yeah, he'n ol' fleabag oughta be back by now. I wonder what's keeping him."
"I'm sure he'll be here soon," Akio added, "You know how protective he is of you and the baby. And we've called on Michio to help until Tetsuya-san gets back."
"Damn, the old man was up with me an' Byakuya half the night. The baby'n me are gonna be fine. It's normal to be a little messed up when you're havin' a kid, right? I mean, Tetsuya always says that."
"I'm sure you'll be fine and the baby will too," Torio reassured him, helping him to his feet and guiding him back to the bed in the master bedroom.
Renji sat down on the bed, continuing to rub his belly, while Torio climbed onto the bed and sat behind him, working at slowly unbraiding and brushing out the long, wild strands of red hair, before beginning to braid them again.
"Would you like me to bring some of the food that Matsuko left for you to feed your cravings?" Akio asked.
"Ah, no," Renji groaned, scooting over and laying down on the pillows as Torio finished with his hair, "Couldn't eat a bite. Not right now, thanks."
"I need to check in with Byakuya-sama," Torio said, climbing off of the bed, "I'm sure he will want to know how you're doing."
"Now, don't you go an' worry him," Renji complained, "He's busy with all of the damned paperwork piling up from the division and the crap with the elders an' worryin' about me and Tetsuya…"
Torio shook his head firmly.
"Byakuya-sama made it very clear that you and your baby are his first priority," he answered, heading out of the room.
"Eh…women have been havin' babies forever," Renji argued, shaking his head as Torio disappeared down the hall, "It's nothin' to keep botherin' him about."
"I assure you Byakuya-sama isn't being bothered," Akio chided him, sitting down on the bed at Renji's side, "None of us are. We'll all so happy to be helping you and we can't wait for the baby to be born."
"Y-yeah," Renji agreed, finally relaxing and taking a few slow, steadying breaths, "thanks for that."
"No thanks are necessary," Akio chuckled, rising to his feet as Byakuya appeared in the doorway, dressed in his sleeping yukata and with his satin black hair loose around his shoulders.
"Torio informed me that you were feeling poorly again," the Kuchiki leader said, sitting down beside Renji on the bed.
Renji scowled playfully.
"What are you doing, still bein' dressed in your pajamas and here? I know you said you were working at the division today. Why are you…?"
"Well," Byakuya said, tilting his head slightly and reaching over to rub his mate's round belly, "Officer Rikichi and a few others came over this morning and relieved me of the bulk of the paperwork, so that I could focus on clan matters. The elders were then kind enough to excuse me from further in person meetings until the heir's birth, so I am able to work from home now. I assure you, everything is well in hand. You do not need to worry about anything but taking care of yourself."
Renji eyed him skeptically for a moment.
"You eat this morning?"
"A full breakfast," Byakuya affirmed.
"Yeah, I did too, earlier, Renji sighed, "but it just ended up in the toilet and I'm not feelin' good enough right now to eat more."
Byakuya nodded.
"I've sent for Tetsuya. He should be back shortly, and Michio…"
"Don't you go runnin' that old man around even more," the redhead complained.
"He has gotten plenty of sleep and he's going to eat before coming to see you," Byakuya chuckled, "I have not forgotten how to care for our attendants, anata."
"I didn't think you did," Renji responded, looking out the open garden doors as approaching hoofbeats sounded outside, "Ah, there's ol' fleabag."
Byakuya climbed off of the bed, then paused and turned back as Renji tried to follow.
"What are you doing? Get back in bed," the Kuchiki leader chided him.
"I wanna say hi to fleabag," Renji said, smirking, "I'm feeling better, and Michio said I should walk around a little."
"Well, as long as you're feeling all right."
"I'm okay, and I wanna be sure Tetsuya is too. He looked kinda out of sorts last time he came by."
Byakuya shook his head in frustration.
"Do not get me started…"
The two stepped out of the room and onto the wooden walkway as the tall black Arabian stallion approached them. Renji frowned.
"Hey there, Fleabag," the greeted the horse as Arashi slid to a stop in front of them, tossing his graceful head and showing the whites of his blue eyes, "Where's Tetsuya?"
Their eyes widened, then rounded as the stallion's wispy voice sounded frantically in their minds.
I don't know! he managed, adding a flash image in their heads of the healer wearing a troubled look, We were preparing to leave Karakura Town and he said that he forgot to bring along the research he was bringing back to Byakuya-sama."
"What?" Renji asked, "He didn't come back?"
No.
"Could he have just been delayed, speaking to Urahara?" Byakuya added, "The two have been…having issues as of late."
No! Urahara was not with my master and when I tried to speak into his mind, he wouldn't listen! He was thinking that Tetsuya was hiding somewhere, but I cannot reach his mind. I speak to him, but he doesn't answer and I've lost all sense of where he is!
Byakuya stiffened and his grey eyes narrowed.
"You cannot sense Tetsuya at all?" he asked worriedly.
No!
Byakuya exchanged worried glances with Renji and the redhead nodded.
"Go on. I'll be fine here with Torio, Akio and Michio. I promise I…"
The redhead paused and grunted, placing a hand on his abdomen and leaning forward, panting through a sharp pain.
"Torio!" Byakuya called urgently, "Akio! Get Renji back inside and bring Michio now."
"I'm here," the elderly clan healer called out as he hurried down the walkway to meet them.
"G-go on now," Renji urged him, his chest heaving, "We got this. You take care of Tetsuya."
He held onto the two attendants as Byakuya called out for another.
"Koji!"
A flash step sounded and the attendant appeared in front of him.
"Sir!"
"I want you to take Arashi back to Karakura Town and help him find Tetsuya. When you find him, inform him we have an emergency here and we need him to come home at once."
"Yes, sir!" Koji affirmed, leaping onto the stallion's back as Arashi reared and whinnied, "Let's go, Arashi!"
Byakuya followed the attendants and the old healer inside, watching silently as Renji was laid down on the bed and his clothing was moved hastily out of the way. Michio leaned over the redhead, carefully sensing his vital signs and examining the swollen bump on his belly. He kept his eyes carefully lowered as his senses flickered warningly. A moment later, he sent a sudden flash of kido through his palms that instantly rendered the redhead unconscious.
"Michio?" Byakuya mouthed breathlessly, moving closer and sitting down on the bed beside his pregnant mate, "What is happening?"
The Kuchiki leader felt time reversing to a day over a hundred years before, hearing the same awful words he'd heard that time.
Ginrei placed a warm hand on his shoulder as the two watched Michio examine the young man they had rescued from the hidden prison.
"Is Tetsuya going to be all right?" Byakuya asked.
Michio swallowed hard and nodded.
"The boy will survive, but…he has miscarried."
"Wh-what?" Byakuya stammered, staring as history tragically repeated itself in front of him.
"I…I am sorry, Byakuya-sama," Michio sighed, shaking his head, "There was nothing I could do. Renji-sama has lost the baby."
XXXXXXXXXX
Soi fon smirked, expelling a hard, sarcastic laugh as she watched Kisuke escape Tessai's incessant attempts to get him to change his mind about letting himself be dumped by his much younger and too damned emotional lover. She refused to think for a moment about the obvious parallels…only lamenting that as Tessai also left the room, she couldn't spy on the two anymore. She was about to shut down her receiver when Kisuke re-entered the lab, looking around for a moment before satisfying himself that he was alone and letting out a shuddering breath.
The shopkeeper walked slowly to his desk, pausing in the same place Tetsuya had, and his pale grey eyes lowered to find the small framed picture that his lover had been studying earlier. His head tilted and his frown deepened as he noticed the additional damage to the glass in the frame. It was then that, out of the corner of an eye, he caught sight of a scattering of papers on the floor.
"Wh-what the…?" he began, crouching to retrieve the papers, shaking his head as he examined them closely, "The analysis for Byakuya…"
His brow furrowed and the intensity of his expression increased, his body tensing as he read the reiatsu and followed it in the direction of the transportation device. He had almost reached it when a flash step sounded and a panicked looking Koji burst into the lab, his face deathly pale and his green eyes looking haunted.
"Urahara-san!" Tetsuya's attendant cried frantically.
"Koji?" the shopkeeper acknowledged, turning away from the transportation device.
"S-sir! Byakuya-sama sent me. H-he would have come, himself, but…"
"Did something happen to Tetsuya?" Kisuke demanded, "What's going on?"
"We were wondering if you could tell us what was going on," the shaken attendant answered nervously, "Arashi arrived at Kuchiki Manor alone. Tetsuya-san was supposed to return with him, but Arashi said that he went back for something he'd left behind, and he never returned. He said he'd tried to speak to you, but…"
"Damn it," the shopkeeper hissed, looking down at the papers in his hand, "I just found these, here."
"Urahara-san," Koji went on, "we need to find Tetsuya-san. He has been helping Renji-sama with his discomfort while carrying the Kuchiki heir, but he never arrived."
Kisuke nodded, barely comprehending as he mulled over what he'd found…the additional damage to the picture frame, the papers on the floor and the traces of Tetsuya's presence. His eyes suddenly fixed on a splash of red fluid on the platform of the transportation device.
"Oh, hell no…" he breathed, dropping the papers.
Soi fon didn't hear the rest as a knock sounded on her guest room door and Yoruichi's voice floated in from outside.
"Hey, Soi fon!"
Damn it!
She barely managed to flick the switch to close the observation window on her computer as the door opened and Yoruichi entered the room. A little, aggressive growl almost escaped the younger woman as Yoruichi smirked, looking around the room and then back at her scowling associate.
"You look like you were up to something," she said, crossing her arms, "What's up Soi fon?"
XXXXXXXXXX
Tetsuya crouched in a thick cluster of bushes, his body cloaked in a waterform and dripping with raindrops that leaked through the soft, leafy limbs that surrounded him. The comfortable temperature and the fact that he actually loved being out in the rain enabled the young man to put the whole of his focus on scanning the area around him. Upon his arrival, he had quickly broken the kido restraint that had been placed on him, and he had carefully masked the presence of his reiatsu. He conducted a swift search that brought him to the conclusion that, for the time being, he was alone in the pocket dimension, which made it safe enough for him to gather a small amount of food. He had no container for water, but was fortunate enough to have a power that enabled his body to 'drink' in the rain, itself.
Though the rain won't last forever, and if I am not rescued before the prisoner from the twelfth division is sent here…
He stopped himself from continuing along that line of thinking, placing his attention instead on eating some of the nuts and berries he'd gathered. One hand slipped down to rub his abdomen as a little feeling of illness passed over him.
I'm fairly certain now that I must be carrying Kisuke's child.
He breathed slowly until the nausea passed, enjoying the light, fragrant breeze that soothed the feeling of heat on his face.
Someone will realize I am gone, soon enough. Help will arrive. I just need to remain calm and try to sense the moment when the prisoner passes through into this dimension. If I am quick enough, I may be able to send Arashi a call for help. I'm sure he's already realized I'm in trouble, and he's probably alerted Kisuke or my cousin.
The thoughts worked to calm him and he settled in the brush, leaning his back against a small tree.
Perhaps while I am here, I should give more thought to what I'll do when I get back. I know very well that Kisuke is not ready to commit to a spouse and child, so I imagine that limits my expectations. I will, of course, offer to bring the child to see him if he wishes it, but…he may choose instead to have no contact.
Tetsuya bit his lip gently, considering.
He may think it's better for our child not to be worried about why 'Daddy' doesn't live with us or why we don't live with him…though that won't be an issue for awhile.
He swallowed hard, blinking away the tears that tried to form in the corners of his eyes.
There is no time to allow myself to mourn our relationship now. I must focus on survival. That is all that I can do. I must protect this child and myself and leave everything else until later.
A hard shiver went through Tetsuya's body and he was distracted completely from sending any kind of thought to anyone as the barrier to the pocket dimension opened to admit someone, then swiftly closed again. Little icy shards seemed to stab at his insides as he sensed the other, then he felt the other sweeping the area. Closing his eyes and focusing, Tetsuya used everything he had at his disposal to make himself disappear.
The clock is ticking.
I must hope I am rescued before time runs out.
XXXXXXXXXX
"What's up Soi fon?"
Yoruichi hadn't wanted to appear too desperate, after all it was her stupid game that had led to Soi fon avoiding her. Unfortunately, her libido didn't seem to care and stubbornly demanded Soi fon's attention. Now though as her scowling subordinate met her eyes, her nerves and embarrassment were overtaken by growing concern. Something wasn't right here, beyond the obvious.
"Nothing," Soi fon said and turned away. She'd hesitated a beat too long though.
Yoruichi didn't buy it for a second. "So I was wondering if you might like to train, then afterwards maybe we could hangout," she said flinching a little at the huskiness of her own voice.
Soi fon's shoulders tensed. "Uh thanks for the offer but I'm busy." She gestured at her computer which though awake didn't seem to have any programs running.
"I can see very," Yoruichi said with a snort, though her concern deepened. An awkward moment passed between them before Yoruichi shrugged. "Well I've gotta to talk to Kisuke, so I guess I'll see ya?"
Soi fon didn't reply as Yoruichi went on her way, she would have to figure out what was going on with Soi fon but it wouldn't happen while the girl was feeling defensive, maybe Yoruichi would bring her a new plushie later to help break the ice. For now she let Soi fon's rejection fuel the fire she was planning to spit at Kisuke.
If anyone deserves it…
"Kisuke!" she snapped, kicking his lab door open with enough force that it rebounded off the wall.
"What!?" Kisuke snapped. His low hat shaded eyes that burned with determination behind a wet shine. He moved with deadly efficiency that belied his usual playful manner and she only noticed the way his hands shook on the electrical components because she was looking for it. Because she knew what Kisuke looked like when he trying not to completely break down, and this was it.
"What happened?" she asked, more calmly.
"Tetsuya's missing and I think—" a machine dinged and the rattled shopkeeper turned to check it. "No, " he managed, placing his hands on the edge of a table as though to hold himself up, "he is pregnant."
His face crumpled for a moment and Yoruichi ached to embrace him, but she knew better. Then he gathered himself and the awkward moment was gone.
"I really messed this up," he added in a shaky voice, "Yoruichi…"
The door opened again and the two turned to face the door as Soi fon stepped into the room, carrying her computer.
"I think…um" Soi fon raised her chin a little higher and stood straighter. "you need to see this."
With that, she handed Urahara the computer and he set it on the table in front of them.
Yoruichi raised an eyebrow but Urahara just nodded as he started the video clip that was displayed on the screen. As they watched the video play back, Kisuke stiffened at her side and she brushed their shoulders together in a supportive gesture, even as she tried to keep her own welling horror off her face. She needed to be strong for him even if she'd never say that to his face. Urahara paused the video when he and Tessai entered the frame and he braced his hands on the counter, head bowed. She glanced at him worried as he took a controlled breath and swallowed hard then straightened and whirled on Soi fon.
Soi fon actually let out a slight squeak as he stepped to her. He shook slightly and Yoruichi couldn't tell if it was rage or fear, probably both.
"Why am I just seeing this now!"
Soi fon raised her chin, "Because you deserve this but...he doesn't. The...I didn't know about his condition. Those two shouldn't be punished for your transgressions."
A slap rang out like a gunshot in the silence. Yoruichi lowered her stinging hand almost as surprised as Soi fon. She hadn't made a conscious choice to that, it'd just happened. Kisuke stared at her open-mouthed. Soi fon kept her head turned away probably to hide her face but all it achieved was to show off her scarlet cheek and the tear rolling downward.
"I'll get him back Kisk, do—," Yoruichi cut herself off before she could say 'don't worry' since it would only get her a bad joke in response and she wouldn't embarrass him in front of Soi fon. He was the one who had the answers, who reassured everyone. He'd never appreciated being on the other side of that cat door. Kisuke gave her a weak smile and mouthed 'thanks'.
"I'll help," Soi fon's voice was barely audibly but steady. Yoruichi thought for a moment before nodding.
"Well, as much as I want to, I sure as hell can't go, but I'll get some muscle in there as soon as I can," Kisuke said, "Not like I've been there for him anyway."
He muttered the last part so quietly that even standing at his shoulder Yoruichi barely heard.
"Don't do that to yourself, it wasn't your fault we were banished, it was Aizen's," Yoruichi chided just as quietly, then in a normal voice, "Now, let's get Tetsuya to safety…"
She glanced briefly at Soi fon, whose head was turned away, avoiding her eyes.
"…before that crazy bastard figures out he's there."
"Right," Kisuke said in a thick, tightly controlled voice, gesturing at the dimensional transporter, "If you step over there, it'll just be a minute."
Yoruichi walked over with Soi fon on her heels and wondered as Urahara's hand flew over the controls if the other girl had heard his voice shake. She hoped he wouldn't send them into a dead zone or something in his panic and closed her eyes as the transporter buzzed to life. God she hated dimensional travel.
The two disappeared and Kisuke was still gazing dispiritedly at the place they had been, when a hissing flash step sounded and Byakuya appeared in the lab, carrying his unconscious husband.
"Byakuya, what…?"
"It's Renji," the distressed noble panted, "He's lost the baby and he stopped breathing. Please, you have to…!"
Kisuke sucked in a stinging breath.
"Tessai!" he shouted.
"Yes boss," Tessai answered, flash stepping into the lab, "What is it?"
"Go and get Orihime, now!"