AN** Thanks once again to Sesh for her assistance. I love her perspective on Kisuke and Renji's powerful sexual connection and the slower burn of their budding love for each other.**

Chapter 7: Awkwardness

Kisuke heard Byakuya walk out of the lab, and glanced over his shoulder at the examination table. Renji was curled on his side, facing away.

He hesitated, then walked over and touched the younger man's shoulder.

"Renji?"

"'M sorry."

Kisuke felt his eyes widen at the apology, and he took a deep breath.

"No reason to be sorry."

"Yeah, there is."

The redhead shifted onto his back, reddened eyes lifting to the ceiling and avoiding his own.

"When he showed up...I just...I acted like a stupid dog, getting all excited. I'm sorry. And I'm sorry that I snapped at you."

Kisuke sighed as he reached out to smooth some stray hairs out of Renji's face.

"Don't worry about it. I used to be the same way about Aizen."

"How'd you get over it?" the redhead asked, blinking at the stinging in his eyes.

The shopkeeper gave a half-smile.

"He made it kinda easy when he betrayed me, remember? Framed me for the Vizoreds?"

Renji sighed, but managed a small smile back.

"Right. So, all I gotta do is find a way to turn Byakuya evil. Problem solved."

Kisuke snickered in spite of himself at the thought, relieved when he heard a slight chuckle from the redhead, as well. Then he sighed and sat on the edge of the examination table, meeting Renji's auburn eyes.

"It really is ok that you behaved the way you did while he was here," he assured Renji, "After all, we...that is, you and I...we aren't...you know..."

Renji shook his head and smirked.

"Never known you to be at a loss for words. But yeah, I get you. We ain't...uhh...heh I guess it is kinda hard to really put it into words, huh?"

Kisuke nodded, his eyes flicking across the tattoos peeking out of the yukata the younger man was wearing.

"Should we discuss this? Put a name to whatever it is that's between us?"

Renji looked thoughtful as he sat up a bit.

"Probably be less awkward to talk about if we actually knew what the hell we were talking about, right? I guess, first off, the sex is fuckin' amazing. Well, uhhh, at least to me, it is."

Hearing a note of uncertainty creeping into Renji's tone, Kisuke smiled at him.

"You're right - it is to me, too. I've really enjoyed being with you like that."

His heart warmed at the reassured look on Renji's face. He cleared his throat.

"And we're...friends, right?"

The redhead's lips curved in a smirk.

"Yeah, when you ain't treating me like a maid. When we're on more equal footing, yeah, I'd consider you a pretty good friend."

Kisuke smiled and was about to continue, when a quiet knock came from the door of the lab.

"Boss, Kuchiki Tetsuya is here to see you and Renji."

The two exchanged a glance, then Kisuke went to greet their guest while Renji dressed hurriedly.

The young half-noble was kneeling by the coffee table, his troubled expression smoothing out as Kisuke entered the room.

"Urahara-san, it is good to see you again."

He chuckled as his fan appeared in his hand.

"Now, now. What did I say about using my name?"

Tetsuya blushed.

"Right, Kisuke-san.."

Tessai brought out dishes of appetizers and snacks before retreating to mind the tea. The rich aroma of the brewing leaves filled the air, prompting Tetsuya to inhale deeply and smile.

"That smells good, yet unlike any tea I've encountered before."

Kisuke smiled.

"I prefer variety, and drink many specialty teas. I get most of them from Israel's cabinet in the West. This one is Banana Nut, a Rooibos tea. Give it a try."

Tetsuya sipped at the deliciously aromatic tea and sighed contentedly.

"It is wonderful! It tastes just like a banana nut muffin."

"It's good to see something can make you smile," the shopkeeper chuckled.

Just then, Renji appeared, nodding to Tetsuya before taking a seat near Kisuke. He missed entirely the little reaction in his half-noble friend as he absently rubbed his aching belly.

Kisuke smiled as he poured Renji a cup of tea and began explaining his idea.

"Now, Tetsuya, despite certain distractions, I've thought of a way for you to practice different forms of intimacy and become more comfortable with Byakuya when the time comes."

He raised his voice a bit, taking Renji's hand under the table as he realized he hadn't warned his lover/friend.

"You can come in now."

The door slid open to reveal a perfect copy of the captain of the 6th. Kisuke felt Renji tense just as Tetsuya gasped.

"Byakuya-sama?!"

Kisuke shook his head at the younger men.

"This is a reigai, created with every detail of Byakuya's personality in mind. He will look, think, and act like Byakuya."

Renji frowned thoughtfully.

"Uhh..that seems a little fucked up, Kisuke. You made a copy of him? Like, how does that even work? And the reigais we fought before thought they were the real ones, the originals."

The reigai stepped forward and gracefully kneeled at the table as Kisuke poured him a cup of tea. He was dressed casually and he nodded politely at the others.

"Renji, you needn't worry. Urahara is a highly intelligent man, even if my implanted memories tell me he is not someone to turn your back on. I am quite self-aware. I know I'm not Byakuya Kuchiki, and that I was activated to help Tetsuya."

The reigai sent a slight smile to the astonished-looking noble.

"I may be a copy, but I have Byakuya's memories and my personality was created to match his perfectly. I would never let anything happen to you, Tetsuya."

Renji was watching the reigai with a mixture of fascination and freaking out.

"That's so...Kisuke, this seems really sketchy, man. Taicho's gonna castrate you. You can't just make a copy of someone! Whaddya gonna do with him when Tetsuya's lessons are over?"

The reigai met his eyes.

"Do not speak of me as though I am not here."

Renji straightened automatically.

"Hai, sorry."

"And to answer your question," the reigai said, "I am a mod soul, so I will return to my soul candy form until such time as I might be needed again. I am not, after all, created for only this one purpose, but for many purposes."

"That's right," Kisuke agreed, "I know the reigai got a bad reputation because of their misuse that led to the rebellion we had to quell, but those reigai were corrupted to make them act that way. A lot of their work in the past has been classified, so you don't hear about it, but Reigai have enabled our military officers and high ranking nobles to have an added level of mobility and protection that has helped us in a number of conflicts. They just tend to work behind the scenes, that's all."

"That makes sense, I guess," Renji said, looking less than completely certain.

He gave the reigai a little conciliatory nod.

"Sorry."

"You needn't apologize," the reigai answered, "Given your loyalty to the man I represent, it is logical that someone like me would seem both invasive and a possible threat. The fact that my kind were perverted and used against you in battle only adds to your mistrust, I am sure."

"I don't mistrust you," Renji assured him, "And even if I did, I trust Kisuke."

"Of course," the reigai said, taking a sip of his tea, "This is exceptional, Kisuke, neither too sweet nor too bitter. Thank you."

"Sure thing," the shopkeeper answered cordially, "Now, before we get started, I just wanna make clear, Tetsuya-san. You are in complete control of your situation, here. If at any time, you feel too uncomfortable with what's happening, you just tell one of us and we'll stop whatever we're doing. The idea, here isn't to add to your anxiety about intimate relations, but to make you more comfortable."

"Okay," Tetsuya said, his voice shaking very slightly, "Thank you, Kisuke-san."

His breath caught as the reigai's warm hand touched his gently.

"I promise that I will not overstep any boundaries with you that are not expressly required to give you the training you have requested. I know you are nervous, but it is obvious that you love your fiancé very much, to be willing to face your fears this way."

Tetsuya's heart fluttered wildly as he looked directly into the eyes that looked so perfectly like his lover's.

"Y-you don't th-think Byakuya-sama, erm, Byakuya would be angry if he knew about this?" he asked anxiously.

"Angry?" the reigai repeated, touching Tetsuya's cheek lightly and making it blush, "no. I think he is often regretful that someone hurt you so much that it has made what should be something beautiful into something that causes you fear and pain. I think he would be proud of you for fighting to regain the confidence that was stolen from you."

"I agree," Renji said, looking down into his teacup, "Taicho always encourages the guys at the division to do everything they can to get stronger. It probably upsets him that someone hurt you like they did and made you afraid. But he has confidence that you can overcome this. He wouldn't have asked you to marry him if he didn't think you could."

"I think he didn't have a choice," Tetsuya sighed, "The elders have been working on him to accept a mate. They won't let him forget that his father was lucky to have one heir before he died, and he was younger than Byakuya when he fell in battle. He was also only a fukutaicho, and Byakuya is a taicho. Then, Aizen betrayed everyone and Rukia-chan was going to be killed and Byakuya was nearly killed saving her."

Renji didn't miss the look of deep guilt in Tetsuya's eyes as he said the last part.

"Were you there when that happened?" he asked sympathetically.

He stiffened as the reigai shot him a deadly look and his face turned as red as his hair as Kisuke cleared his throat and spoke up hastily.

"Hey, ah, I'm sure that Tetsuya-san has other things he's gotta do today, and we do too. How about we get on to the first lesson?"

"Good idea," Renji agreed, standing, "Where do you wanna do this?"

"We'll start in the training room and work our way to the bedroom," Kisuke chuckled, "Come on."

He led the others down the hallway, to the long ladder that dropped down into the secret room under the shop. As they landed on the sandy floor, Tetsuya took up a position beside the handsome reigai and Kisuke motioned for Renji to join him.

"Okay," Kisuke said, clapping his hands together and smiling at the others, "I think the first thing we need to do is to work on some confidence."

"I am surely in need of that," Tetsuya sighed, "but I don't know that confidence is something that can be taught."

Kisuke chuckled.

"Do you think I would've agreed to do this if I wasn't sure that I could teach you?" he asked amiably, "Confidence is a feeling, and I know it's one that you've been lacking, but there are some things you can do that will help build your confidence and keep it as you and Byakuya go from being close…to being lovers."

"All right," Tetsuya answered gamely, "What do I need to do?"

"First of all, you need to know what exactly it is that you have, that draws people to you. Let me give you an example."

The shopkeeper turned his attention to Renji, who looked back at him questioningly.

"Look at our pal, Renji, here. He's a handsome guy. He's got a lot going for him…"

Kisuke's smile warmed as he continued and Renji felt heat on his face at the shopkeeper's words.

"Tall, great muscles…and damn, if those tattoos don't jump right off his skin and grab you by the throat."

"He also connects very well with people," the reigai added, making the redhead's head snap around so hard it hurt, "Many of the officers and subordinates of the sixth division look up to him as the very model of what a warrior should be."

Renji's blush darkened and he swallowed hard, his heart pounding. In his distraction, he missed the way Tetsuya's eyes saddened and his face fell.

This is how Byakuya feels about Renji-san. These are things he would notice. Does this mean that he just appreciates Renji-san's power and beauty? Or…

Tetsuya stole a glance at the redhead, barely holding back a little sob as Renji touched a hand to his abdomen.

I need to stop thinking this way. I have enough work to do simply learning to give and accept romantic and physical love. It helps no one if I complicate things by…

Tetsuya's thoughts were interrupted by a touch on his arm. His head turned, and he found himself looking into the reigai's lovely grey eyes.

"Are you all right?" the copy of Byakuya asked quietly, "You seem uneasy, though I understand why you might, in this situation. Is there anything I can do?"

Tetsuya sighed and closed his eyes for a moment before answering.

"No. I am fine. I am just…uncomfortable because of what we are doing."

"Okay, Tetsuya-san," Kisuke said, nodding, "you get the idea, right?"

"Ah, I think so."

"So, what are your best qualities that you think catch Byakuya-san's attention? What do you think he notices about you?"

Caught off guard in the midst of his distraction, Tetsuya froze briefly, his stymied mind trying desperately to think of what kind of answer to give.

I do not look as powerful as I am. The abuse and neglect I suffered as a youth left me looking delicate…fragile. Of course, I am more durable than I look, but I look weak. That is not an admirable trait, is it? I would say that he admires the sapphire color of my eyes, but it's uncomfortable to think about that, because when I do, I also recall how Orochi told me that he loves the way my eyes glisten when they are filled with tears.

This is so confusing.

I have to say something…

But try as he might, he couldn't think of one thing. He looked back at Kisuke's expectant expression and Renji's still slightly flushed face and felt his heart sink.

There is no way that I can compare with Renji-san's outward physical beauty, with his physical and emotional strength and with his brash confidence. He is so beautiful that he can't help standing out, while I…I live a life centered around not being noticed. It makes me good at my job…at keeping Byakuya safe. But, it also leaves me in the dark in every sense of the word.

What do I say?

"I would say," the reigai said softly, making Tetsuya's eyes fix upon him, "that while Renji's beauty is of a more overt nature, Tetsuya's is more elusive because much of it lies beneath the surface."

Tetsuya's breath froze in his chest and his heart pounded.

"Tetsuya captures the same quiet beauty that Byakuya saw in his very gentle father. There is a calm feeling to his presence, and a safety in trusting and confiding in him. Tetsuya is a steadfast and loyal friend, whose faith and love are a gift. There is a well-hidden wild side to his nature that has somehow survived as Tetsuya learned to function capably within the strictures of noble life. Byakuya is entranced when he catches Tetsuya swimming naked in the late hours of the night, or lying in the long grass, breathing slowly and just being. And…there is nothing that Byakuya loves more than Tetsuya's healing touch. In fact, just a few minutes under his hands and Byakuya finds himself enchanted to the point of near helplessness."

Tetsuya remained frozen as the reigai squeezed his hand supportively.

"He does not miss your humility. It only makes you more attractive to him that you do not seem to realize your own ability to ensnare him. You are lovely and alluring to him, Tetsuya."

Held fast by the reigai's warm gaze, Tetsuya noticed neither the shopkeeper's emphatic, pleased response nor the way Renji's smile faded.

"All right," Kisuke said, breaking the heavy moment between the reigai and the spellbound shinigami, "we can work with that. I mean, if you know that your wild side, as he called it, and your healing touch are both things that Byakuya loves, then you can learn to focus on those things to really set him off and make him happy."

Kisuke gave a little amused snicker.

"Just be aware that when you go stoking those fires, you're likely to end up in bed…a lot."

He drew back slightly and waved his hands bracingly as he noticed Tetsuya's instant look of anxiety at the thought.

"Don't worry! Don't worry, Tetsuya-san," he added quickly, flinching a little as he caught sight of Renji's almost tortured expression, "While we teach you how to catch Byakuya's attention and attract him, we'll also be working on getting you more comfortable with accepting his love. Hang in there, okay? It's gonna be fine…just…we'll take it slow and work on one thing at a time."

Tetsuya managed a little nod, but inside his mind wouldn't stop working.

What was I thinking? How will I even do this?

He stole a glance at Renji as Kisuke continued to talk to him.

Why couldn't I have Renji-san's confidence and physical beauty? The way the reigai was looking at him tells me how easily he catches Byakuya's eye, and I'm sure he isn't so shy about being noticed. It's not that I don't believe what the reigai said about my own beauty. It is just that I feel the strength of potential between Byakuya and his fukutaicho…and I wonder.

Did Byakuya just once…surrender to that potential and impregnate Renji-san?

He continued to ponder the question as the lesson continued, and while he did begin to feel more comfortable as the reigai seemed to address each of his insecurities as they surfaced, he found himself unable to catch a single moment alone with Renji to address the burgeoning question in his mind.

Who fathered Renji-san's child?

He was still focused on the question as he left the shop and headed into the quiet corridors of the precipice world. Lost in his thoughts, he missed the moment when a little whisper sounded in his mind.

Tetsuya, come.

We need to talk, now.

Tetsuya froze for a moment and his blue eyes went hazy and murky, then he left a waterform walking quietly towards Kuchiki Manor, while he melted into the shadows and silently slipped away.