Chapter 2: Temptation
Oh my kami, it's him!
THE ONE…
Tetsuya felt an odd inward shock of recognition and forced himself not to react. Years of living among the Kuchiki nobles had trained him well in hiding his reactions, even sudden ones. But hiding his reaction didn't stop him from flying into speculation on the inside.
It is just as it was in my dreams! A grove of trees…and my cousin approached us, then…a flash of wild, autumn red hair…feral, red-brown eyes, and golden, tanned skin. And what I saw before that so entranced my sleeping mind, but that my waking mind could not recall…the lovely, black tribal markings. I had only heard of Abarai Renji from my cousin. I never saw him before.
But I dreamed of him…
How is that possible?
He continued to wonder as Renji took his hand and he felt a soft jolt inside. He had but a moment to enjoy the feeling, then the clan's careful conditioning of his body delivered an equally powerful shock of pain and brought him back to awareness. Again, he kept his expression warm and serene as his eyes met Renji's and all else around them disappeared. He seemed to be spellbound, and trapped in the touch of Renji's hand on his. And though the moment was drawn out in his mind so that he felt the intensity of it for some time after, they only gripped each other's hands in greeting for a moment and then let go.
But it was warning enough for the noble.
This is why the clan did what they did to me. This is what they feared. Why? Is it so wrong for me to feel this? It doesn't feel dangerous. It threatens no one. Why? Why am I not able to experience love? Why do I have to ignore this and move on as though I didn't feel it? I feel it everywhere inside me. Why?
He walked quietly alongside Byakuya as they passed through the dimension wall, keeping his eyes focused on the land around them. He imagined that the royal guard had security well in hand, but nothing meant more to Tetsuya than Byakuya's safety. Of all of his relatives, only Byakuya viewed him with affection. And because of Byakuya's love, he had been protected from the worst of the things the clan had previously done to discourage the binding of noble and peasant blood. He had come along too late in Tetsuya's life to protect him from some things, but that he was alive at all, and that he had any freedoms were because of his late parents, who moved to the Rukongai to shield him, and because of his elder cousin, who heard of the way he was treated after his parents died and he fell into clan custody, and took him on as his personal servant, then later as his bodyguard.
So even though it was supposed to be safe enough, Tetsuya minded the area around them fastidiously, even as he continued to surreptitiously steal glances at his cousin's fukutaicho out of one cautious, blue eye. That sleek, red hair that he remembered from his dream was restrained within a hair tie on top of Renji's head. But Tetsuya could imagine sliding the tie out of his hair and watching it drop down around his shoulders and onto his long, straight back. He could imagine sliding his fingers through the long strands…
Another jolt of pain reminded him rather suddenly that such a thing was simply not possible. Whatever might have happened at the first meeting of their eyes and the first touch of their hands, Abarai Renji was off-limits to him. Love was off-limits. A weight settled over the noble's heart as he continued forward at Byakuya's side, forcing his eyes to look everywhere except that space on the other side of Byakuya that Abarai Renji filled. He was tempted to experience a sharp drop into depression, but was shocked out of the impulse as his sharp senses registered a sudden, malevolent change in the reiatsu around them. His body tensed for a moment, then Kuchiki Tetsuya flew from Byakuya's side, his zanpakuto in hand as he fired himself at the source of the danger he had sensed. He had a flash impression of a large, leathery black form, dangerous claws and sharp fangs. He had heard of the demons that populated parts of the spirit realm, but had never heard of them attacking a group…or anyone so close to the palace. He sensed the approach of the royal guard, but his instincts told him not to wait, but to attack. His sword came down on the demon's hard claws, then he broke away and slashed at it. The beast snarled, glaring into Tetsuya's eyes and promising death. He held the beast's eyes for a breathless moment, then threw himself into another attack.
XXXXXXXXXX
Renji sensed the sudden tension in Byakuya, then saw Tetsuya launch himself away from the noble's side and towards a large, black creature that had just stepped out of the trees to the side of them and was moving in their direction with obviously foul intent. He took up a protective position alongside Byakuya as a throng of smaller demons shot out of the trees and began to attack their group. He heard Senbonzakura slip free and saw a cloud of pink rise up and head towards the attacking demons. Renji sent Zabimaru after, and between the two, they took out a large portion of the attackers. Their guards moved in quickly to finish off the smaller demons as Renji's eyes found Tetsuya again.
The blue-eyed noble struck tenaciously with blindingly fast slashes and deadly accurate strikes with hands and feet. When the demon moved, Tetsuya moved with him, evading the beast's attempts to eviscerate him then and there, and throwing him back from Byakuya. His power flared bright blue around him as the demon fired a blast at him, only to see it shatter as an ice shield formed between them and Tetsuya disappeared in a blistering flash step.
"Ban kai, Koori no bakuha, Re-kuhime!" he cried, raising his zanpakuto and pointing it at the charging demon.
Renji's heart surged into his throat, sure that the attack wouldn't release quickly enough, and that he was about to watch Byakuya's beautiful cousin die. But Renji and the rest of the entourage were forced back by an icy wind as Tetsuya's zanpakuto roared to life and a storm of ice blades exploded out of it, capturing the shocked and howling demon and throwing him down, then cutting him to pieces that shimmered fitfully, then faded away. The few remaining, smaller demons fled and the guards inquired if Byakuya and the rest of the noble family were all right as Tetsuya slid his weapon back into its sheath and turned back in their direction. The fight replayed in Renji's mind as Tetsuya started towards them, and he saw again the firelit blue eyes, the incredible speed and grace of his movements, and the huge explosion of his power that he wouldn't have expected.
He is bankai level? He has the power of a taicho? Well, who else would Byakuya choose to guard him? Of course he has a bankai…
Tetsuya seemed to move in slow motion as he strode back towards them, the power still radiating around his slender body. He returned to Byakuya's side and again became the quiet, calm person he had been before. Renji's head spun from the shift for some time after. He walked silently on Byakuya's other side, the questions running rampant in his head. They nagged at him relentlessly until they reached the palace and he was distracted away from his thoughts.
"Greetings, Kuchiki-sama," said the attendant sent to meet them at the gates, "Welcome to the palace. Dinner will be served soon, but first, I will show you to your rooms."
Byakuya nodded and the group fell in with the attendant.
"Our deepest apologies, Kuchiki-sama, but space in the palace has become limited due to the number of guests here for the royal nuptials, so your guardsmen will share rooms if that is not a burden."
"It is no burden," Byakuya said, nodding, "It is understandable that space would be limited during such an event."
They followed the attendant to the second floor, then turned down a long hallway and the group began to disappear into the rooms to bathe and dress for dinner. Renji walked into his room and waited for a moment, surprised when he saw the single, large bed in the room. But he had slept in a barracks before and out on the battlefield. In addition to that, the bed was large enough that he and whoever he was rooming with would be able to avoid space issues.
He walked out onto the balcony and gazed down into the King's Gardens. He knew he had never seen a place so beautiful, and probably never would again. His eyes roamed over the sea of colors, rolling hills and green meadows, rambling brooks and large rivers. Animals of all kinds roamed about freely.
"Wow…" he whispered softly, "Unbelievable…"
"Abarai-san?" said Tetsuya's voice from the doorway.
Renji turned, his mind still on the King's Garden and just assuming that the noble was merely there to bring a message. But then, he followed Tetsuya's eyes to the single bed in the room and saw the lovely blue eyes blink in momentary confusion. Then, the truth of the situation smacked Renji as much as if it had been Rukia, admonishing him for his stupidity.
"We're sleeping together," he blurted out before he could stop himself.
Oh shit, that was not good!
"I uh…I mean, you are…assigned to this room too?" he said, recovering.
"It seems so," Tetsuya said, exuding perfect calm, "Is that…all right with you?"
"Oh," said Renji quickly, "yeah. No problem. The bed's huge. The room's huge."
What the fuck is wrong with me? Why do I feel like I can't breathe? Why can't I string together a simple freaking sentence?
Tetsuya nodded briefly and moved to the closet as Renji turned away and continued to stare out at the King's Garden. He tried to ignore the fact that right behind him, Byakuya's very attractive cousin was settling into their room. And despite his admonishment to himself to keep his thoughts clean, he felt a jolt in his loins, thinking about spending a night so close to him…stealing peeks at his relaxed, sleeping face, admiring the curves of shoulder, hip and thigh, to see that pale, lovely skin lit with moonlight.
Sweet kami, this really feels like heaven…
Except, he thought, that it would be hard being close to all of that beauty and not acting on it. As much as Byakuya's cousin was beautiful, he was also Byakuya's cousin, noble, and off-limits.
So it would really be like very sweet torture.
But he smiled, even so. Their forced closeness would give him a chance to break the ice between them, to learn more about the noble and to share stories. Tetsuya seemed friendly enough. And it suddenly occurred to Renji that the noble was actually more likable than any of the other nobles he had ever met. In a way, Tetsuya seemed too likable to be one of them. He smiled more readily than his stoic cousin…more readily than any of them Renji could remember. And his grip on Renji's hand had been firm…strong, not at all hesitant.
Hmmm…
He turned back into the room and was surprised to find himself alone again. Shaking his head, Renji walked into the closet and located the kimonos Byakuya had ordered placed there for him. He picked out a forest green one with a warm, brown pattern on it and laid it on the bed, then grabbed a yukata and walked into the bathroom.
A shock went through his body as he realized, first, how big the bathroom was. It was as big as the room outside of it, the greater part of it being taken up by a large bathing pool that was surrounded by flowers and grass, so that it had the feel of being outside. Skylights added to the atmosphere. Renji blinked, and as he continued to admire the room, he made a second discovery. As he turned his head, he spotted Tetsuya slipping out of his yukata. Speaking and breathing suddenly became nearly impossible, and he flushed and scrambled to make something come out of his tongue-tied mouth.
"S-sorry…I uh…I'll, um go."
"It's all right," Tetsuya said, not missing a beat, "My cousin mislikes anyone being late for formal occasions, and time is short. Feel free to join me…to save time."
Renji froze for a moment, his mind capturing the savory image of that model of pale perfection, the swirls of black, satiny hair, a slender, almost delicate looking figure, perfect, unmarred skin that wore a slight blush (perhaps from the warmth of the water), the luminous blue eyes and almost smiling lips, a sweet, round bottom and milky thighs.
He suffered a beautiful fleeting image of placing his hands on those inner thighs, burying his face in the nest of black curls and inhaling that dutifully flaccid member, bringing it to life.
Shit…
He felt it all through his body as the noble turned away and walked out to the waterfall on the other side of the room, his too pretty ass teasing Renji all of the way. The redhead shook his head to clear his mind, then, with softly trembling hands, removed his clothes and walked out into the water. He sighed softly at the warmth of it and walked to the waterfall trying not to look directly at the attractive man standing beneath it…lifting his arms to brush the hair away from his face…water running in streams down those soft curves, that softly heaving chest, nicely shaped hips…
Shit…shit…
Think of something else…anything else!
Don't think about how much you want to sink your mouth into his…slide your hands down the curve of his back and cup that pretty bottom in both hands. Oh kami, Abarai, get it to-fucking-gether!
He accidently raised his eyes and was surprised to see a flash of pain cross Tetsuya's fine features. His instinct was to ask if he was all right, but then the man might think he was staring. But…he suddenly realized, Tetsuya was looking too. When he thought Renji wouldn't see, he was stealing glances at the dance of tribal markings all over his body.
But it's just because they're kinda different. Anyone would notice.
Still, the touch of those eyes, just the suggestion of interest, stoked Renji's desire.
It's good that the water is deeper here, because I'm as hard as a damned rock!
I wonder if he's…damn it, stop! I have to stop thinking like that!
"Would you mind handing me the soap?" Tetsuya asked, startling him out of his reverie.
"Ah…n-no problem," Renji said, taking the soap and extending his hand to offer it to the other man.
His fingers touched the noble's in the exchange, and Renji felt another jolt in his groin. And again, a look of discomfort crossed the noble's face.
"Hey, uh, you weren't…you weren't hurt fighting that demon, ne?" he said.
"Wh-what?" Tetsuya said, sounding startled, "No…no, I…I'm fine. Arigato."
"But you looked like something was hurting."
Tetsuya blinked and shook his head.
"No, you must have been mistaken, Abarai-san. Nothing is wrong. I was not injured."
"Oh, ah, okay, sorry," Renji stammered, flushing and feeling stupid.
But I was sure I saw…pain.
He groaned inwardly as Tetsuya stepped out from beneath the waterfall and walked back to the edge of the bathing pool, his lovely bottom tormenting Renji until he reached the edge of the pool and wrapped a yukata around himself.
Renji waited under the waterfall until quite some time had passed, before exiting the pool and going back out into the room. By the time he left the bathroom, Tetsuya had dressed and left for the dining hall, and Renji was alone with just the sweet, sakura scent he left behind.
Damn it!
I can't wait until bedtime…
XXXXXXXXXX
Byakuya stood quietly at Prince Hiromi's side on a balcony overlooking the intense loveliness of the king's gardens. Below them, tree lined pathways, lovely, sculpted hedges and large expanses of lush, green meadows and pretty wildflowers spread out invitingly. Still, the observant noble read the worry in his fiancé's eyes and focused on his partner.
"Are you all right, Hiromi?" he asked calmly, "You've seemed unsettled since the demon attack earlier. I hope you know that they weren't going to reach us. Tetsuya has been carefully trained to sense and dispatch demons, as well as to remove demon venom so that it cannot corrupt any whom they injure."
"Yes, of course," the younger man acknowledged, lifting a slender hand to brush several misbehaving strands of golden hair out of his anxious green eyes, "I have perfect confidence in both Tetsuya and you. I know you will not let harm come to me."
Byakuya frowned.
"Is it our union, then, that is bothering you?" he asked patiently, "Please be assured, I am content to serve as your husband and to honor you at all times and in all ways."
"I understand," Hiromi sighed, closing his eyes, "and although I did not choose to marry you, I am at peace with the union. I am…just…"
He broke off, turning and seeking the elder man's arms. Byakuya's arms opened to him instantly and held him protectively, offering comfort that seemed to ease a measure of Hiromi's discomfort.
"Byakuya, I didn't want to say it in front of everyone, especially because it might seem like I was making a fuss and trying to get our marriage postponed, but…I…I fear that there is a plot against us!"
Byakuya's head tilted slightly and he met the prince's eyes silently.
"You may be thinking that I'm worrying unnecessarily, but…those demons…"
"You do not think that the demons just happened to attack at that moment?"
A little blush overcame the prince's face.
"Do you think I'm overreacting?" he asked, placing a hand on the noble leader's arm as Byakuya continued to hold him.
Surprise blossomed on the younger man's comely face at his fiancé's answer.
"No, I do not think you are overreacting, Hiromi."
"You don't?" the prince inquired looking back at Byakuya hopefully.
"No," Byakuya repeated, "All of my instincts tell me that…we were intentionally targeted. Someone allowed those demons to approach us, and I fear that you and I as well as our protectors are going to be in danger until that person, or those people involved are unmasked."
