Memories

By SesshomaruFreak and Spunky0ne

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Warnings: language, angst, canon-typical violence

Pairings: Renji/Byakuya, Kenpachi/Tetsuya, Ichigo/Rukia

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Chapter 1: Fallen Angel

"What did you just say?"

Renji Abarai stood in the hallway of the fourth division where he had been impatiently waiting for news, his cinnamon eyes widened and staring at the door just a little ahead of him as Unohana taicho held him by the arm, gently but firmly restraining him from going any further.

"I said it doesn't look good. His injuries are severe and his condition is critical. I can't promise he'll wake up."

Renji dragged in a painful breath as Unohana continued, "Abarai fukutaicho, normally I would not allow non-family visitors for a patient so wounded as Captain Kuchiki is. But given the strength of the bond that has grown between you...I know that if he has any chance, it will be with you at his side. The Kuchiki elders are in agreement with this, and they have given their permission. You may go in now."

The healer met his eyes, softening her tone further as she finally released his arm. "I'm sorry, Renji. I promise we'll keep doing everything we can for him."

Renji nodded, mind and body torn between numb shock and heartbroken panic.

"I know you will. Thank you."

He stepped towards the room that held his captain. He opened the door, choking back a sob at the surreal sight that met his eyes.

His partner of the last few years lay dwarfed by the hospital bed and shock blankets. Bloody bandages swathed the left side of the noble's head, and both eyes had been blackened. The machines beeped incessantly, and an IV trailed along one slender, bruised arm.

"Byakuya," Renji whispered as he stepped closer. "Oh, baby, look what they did to you."

He touched the deathly pale hand resting on the blanket. "It'll be ok. Unohana said...she said you'll be fine, baby. So, don't you worry, just focus on healing, ok?"

He swallowed against the tears that threatened as he whispered, "I need you to open your eyes, Taicho. I need you to bitch at me for getting caught up fighting and not watching your back like I'm supposed to."

He gazed down at the older man, carefully wrapping his hand around the frighteningly motionless one.

Renji heard a gasp and glanced over his shoulder to see Rukia frozen in the doorway. She gazed with round eyes, her mouth moving, but unable to make a sound. Renji desperately tried to think of what to say, something normal. "Make your report," he ordered hoarsely. He rarely pulled rank on his friend but desperate times...

Rukia stood at attention, tears brimming in her eyes. "Tetsuya is on his way, sir. Everyone else that was informed of the incident said they'll be here asap."

Thundering hoofbeats and a loud whinny sounded outside. Moments later, Byakuya's cousin Tetsuya burst into the room. Wide, desperate, sapphire eyes landed on the injured noble, then filled with tears. "Oh Byakuya-sama," he breathed, holding one hand over his mouth.

"Can you help him?" Renji pleaded, "I know your healing power is kinda different."

Tetsuya nodded, "I can help him…at least I can shore up his reiatsu and cure his visible wounds."

The pretty half-noble stepped further into the room, and Kenpachi appeared in the doorway behind his slighter partner, looking unusually solemn. "The fuck exactly happened to the princess, Red?"

Renji sucked in a breath as the fresh memories played across his mind mercilessly.

The ground shook under Renji's planted feet and loud, hungry snarls assaulted his ears as scores of hollows appeared in the gaps where their brethren had fallen to the slashes of the shinigamis' power. More appeared behind these and the group closed in on the badly outnumbered sixth division unit.

"Taicho, there's too many!" Renji cried.

"We can defeat them - hold your position!" his commanding officer snapped, sending bright waves of flashing petal blades crashing into the advancing enemy.

Renji sent Zabimaru in a wide arc around them, following the path of his taicho's attack and killing the hollows that tried to fill the new gap. But still, he could see clearly that they were falling behind. New hollows appeared too quickly and more joined them. He fought like a madman, demolishing every hollow that got within range of Zabi's fangs. He thought they might be making a dent, when suddenly he heard a sound so unfamiliar he wouldn't realize until later that it had been his captain crying out in pain. The sound made him turn, just in time to see Byakuya, surrounded, drop to his knees, Senbonzakura's petal-blades reforming into sword form as the Zanpakuto fell from his nerveless hand and down onto the sand.

"TAICHO!" he screamed, his reiatsu exploding around them and forcing the hollows back from his fallen leader.

Renji was flash-stepping before Byakuya even fell the rest of the way. He sent Zabi tearing through the ranks. He gathered his superior into his arms, making sure to grab Senbonzakura.

Blood soaked his shihakusho where Byakuya's head laid. And the noble wasn't moving.

Fuck!

"I got him here as fast as I could," he managed, and he felt Kenpachi's heavy hand land on his shoulder.

"He'll be fine, Red. He's strong - it'd take more than a bump on the head to keep our favorite princess down, yeah?"

Renji forced himself to nod, gently squeezing the devastatingly unresponsive hand.

"Besides, my angel, here's got the best healing ability this side of that human girl."

"I think even Orihime couldn't manage this," Tetsuya said worriedly, "The reiatsu around these wounds is unusually thick and chaotic. That usually negates her healing ability."

Before anyone could say anything else, Unohana swept in. "What is going on here?" she asked stridently, "It is not good for Kuchiki taicho to have so many visitors at once."

Clear blue eyes appraised the group. "Ah, but it does seem that Kuchiki Tetsuya can be of assistance. And perhaps he will need all of you in order to recover."

Kenpachi started to turn for the door. "I'll go. He needs his family."

His sapphire eyes determined, Tetsuya caught the bigger man's wrist, earning a curious look from his fiancé, "Byakuya-sama gave us his blessing over a month ago. You are family, Ken-chan."

The huge warrior hesitated for a moment, then stepped closer, sliding one arm around his partner's waist. "Kay, I'll stay, if that's what you want, angel."

Renji met Tetsuya's eyes. "Can you help heal him?"

The young half-noble bit his lip. "Head injuries are very tricky," he admitted anxiously, "A lot of delicate systems, not the least of which is the brain. But if Unohana Taicho is ok with it, I will try."

Unohana nodded. Tetsuya took a deep breath and stepped closer, reaching out. A soft blue glow rose up around his hands, spreading around Byakuya's head.

"There's...a lot of damage," the healer murmured, tears in his eyes that he valiantly fought.

Renji nodded stiffly, unaware that most eyes in the room were focused on him, rather than the blue-eyed healer.

"He's gonna be ok. He has to be."

Under the healing energy, the dark bruises around the noble's eyes slowly faded. Unohana moved to the other side of the bed, unobtrusively removing the bloodied bandages. Renji had to look away, his broad chest tightening at the glimpse of blood-matted hair and more bruising.

It was quiet for several minutes as Tetsuya carefully made his way over his elder cousin's body, gradually erasing all of the darkened markings and restoring him to his beautiful, unspoiled look, until their naked eyes could no longer see any sign of the damage. Unfortunately, what damage was left, laid beneath the skin and would take longer to heal. Renji continued to hold his lover's hand as Tetsuya worked, praying harder than he'd ever prayed in his life.

Please...don't take him away from me. This man is my life. He's my heart, he's my strength, he's my soul. I can't lose him.

Please…take anything you want from me, just don't…

Then, he felt Byakuya's hand move.

He held his breath, wondering if he'd imagined it.

Then the slender hand moved again.

Renji could've cried. "His hand moved," he managed to whisper, and a soft groan issued forth from the injured man.

Slowly, the silvery eyes fluttered open, dull with pain and confusion. They focused on Tetsuya first, then slid to Renji and narrowed dangerously.

Renji blinked as the older man made a hoarse sound, and he spoke soothingly. "Easy, Taicho. You've been through a lot."

Tetsuya grabbed the chilled glass of water off the nightstand and handed it to Byakuya. "Here, Byakuya-sama. Drink a little of this; it'll soothe your throat."

Renji released the hand he held so his superior could drink. He tilted his head, unnerved by the intense, angry look his partner was giving him.

Was his captain angry with him for failing?

Byakuya drank some of the water, frowning deeply. Renji felt his eyes widen as his lover rasped, "Why are you not dead or in jail, Abarai?"

"Wha…?" the redhead yelped.

"Nii-s-sama?" Rukia stammered.

"B-Byakuya-sama?" Tetsuya inquired, his frown deepening.

"What th'fuck?" Kenpachi mused.

"Tetsuya," Byakuya growled hoarsely, "take Renji into custody at once and escort him to the sixth division brig!"