Chapter 9: The Beating Heart
(Thanks once more to my lovely and talented collab partner and bestie, SesshomaruFreak!)
Tetsuya seemed to come out of a fog that had entered his mind, and he found himself standing alone in the dark corridor of the precipice world. He shivered at the icy feel of the air around him and tried to recall why he had stopped.
I was heading back from Karakura Town, but I admit that my mind was wandering. So much was happening…
I was wondering if Renji's child could also be Byakuya's.
He bit his lip, frowning as his heart ached and throbbed in his chest.
I'm sure it must be my own insecurity. Wouldn't the reigai have said something if he sensed anything odd? Or…maybe did he sense something and simply respected that Byakuya might not want me to know?
Kami, what is the answer?
He swallowed hard, breathing slowly to ease the fast beat of his racing heart and he focused for a moment on the waterform that he had sent home. Instantly, Tetsuya stiffened.
"Byakuya…" he whispered, paling as he sensed his cousin's presence in the room, near the waterform.
Knowing that there was no concealing that he had used the form to hide his location, Tetsuya shifted to the waterform and slowly sat up in the bed. Sensing his return, Byakuya turned to look at him in the gentle moonlight.
"Tetsuya."
"Ah, I'm…sorry," he apologized, "Were you waiting there for very long?"
Byakuya let out a little breath.
"Usually, you would not need to ask me that question," he observed, "however, I imagine with everything that has been on your mind lately, with the wedding preparations and council interference, I can understand why you might be distracted."
Tetsuya sighed.
"I admit those things were distracting me, but…there is something that was tasking me even more."
"Oh?" Byakuya mused, his frown deepening, "Is this about the examination? Did the healer find…?"
"I am fine," Tetsuya assured him, "I should have no trouble conceiving or carrying the heir. It wasn't that…but that…"
"You were…upset by my absence?" Byakuya inquired, "I do apologize. I sent…"
"You did send word," Tetsuya acknowledged, "but what bothered me wasn't that you went to Karakura Town to check up on your lieutenant, it was that you felt that you needed to not mention that it was about Abarai Renji."
Byakuya's eyes widened very slightly.
"I will not say that you owe it to me to tell me every little detail when your plans change, I am saying that I find the deletion of information curious. Was it intentional?"
Byakuya drew in a slow breath and exhaled, thinking carefully.
"Renji is a powerful shinigami who possesses a bold, feral kind of beauty," Tetsuya acknowledged, his mind replaying the words of the reigai, "I would be surprised if you did not notice his attractiveness."
"Tetsuya…"
"It's okay!" Tetsuya interjected swiftly, his hands clenching as he fought the tears that wanted to form in the corners of his blue eyes, "Byakuya-sama, I'm telling you that I understand if you notice another man's beauty. I'm not…angry. Still, I must ask you and I do want you to be honest with me. Is there any chance that your feelings for Renji either are, or are becoming romantic?"
"Tetsuya, no!" Byakuya insisted, moving closer and wrapping his arms tightly around his intended, "What is this? Why are you asking me this? Please tell me what set you thinking that I would have feelings like that for Renji?"
The last thing he thought he should do was to tell the truth, but for some reason, the truth just seemed to heavy for him to carry anymore. He buried his face in Byakuya's shoulder, breathing in his scent and letting the tears slide down his face.
"I…I confess that I went to Karakura Town and I saw you there. I was…going to try to speak to Renji, because I sensed something in his reiatsu and I needed to tell him."
"Ah," Byakuya released in a guilty sigh, "I see. You saw me there."
"Yes," Tetsuya affirmed softly, "It made me wonder…because Renji is so attractive and what I sensed in his reiatsu was the presence of a child."
"What?" Byakuya asked, staring at him in shock, "Renji is…?"
"Pregnant," Tetsuya finished, "and I had to wonder…if maybe it was yours."
XXXXXXXXXX
"I'm never gonna let anything happen to you. You know that, right?"
Renji could feel that the powerful man in his arms wasn't really asleep, despite how still and limp he kept his body. Holding back a sigh, the redhead gently ran his hands over the shopkeeper's pale form, continuing to caress him until he felt a shudder.
He smiled and softened his voice.
"I know you're not asleep, Kisuke. Talk to me?"
Kisuke hesitated before shaking his head, nuzzling his face deeper into the crevice between Renji's body and the bed.
Renji suspected this wasn't the time for his usual brash way of doing things. Gently, he caressed down his lover's side, murmuring, "It's ok, Kisuke. You can talk to me. You know you can trust me, right?"
There was a moment of quiet, then the blond shifted to meet his eyes, looking both solemn and thoughtful.
"I do trust you, Renji."
The redhead smiled reassuringly, snuggling closer and running those big, deliciously rough hands down his bare back.
"Then talk to me. I wanna know what you could dream about that would freak you out like that."
Kisuke hesitated again, turning his head to look out the bedroom window and prompting the younger man to kiss his exposed throat.
"I'm not going anywhere, Kisuke. I promise."
The shopkeeper nodded, blinking at the odd burning in his eyes, accepting that determined redhead probably wasn't going to let this go. He lifted one hand to stroke the exotic markings on his lover's chest as he whispered one word.
"Aizen."
He sensed Renji frown against his hair, strong arms tightening slightly around him.
"That's enough to freak out pretty much anyone. You had a nightmare about him?"
Kisuke shook his head.
"Not exactly. I was just...remembering the promise he made. Threat, really. I know he's gone, but...I can't forget what he said, especially given what I just let happen here."
Renji gently nuzzled the soft blond hair as he asked gently, "What'd he say to you?"
Again, the older man hesitated, shifting as though to pull away. Carefully, Renji tightened his arms more, trapping the former taicho. Kisuke stilled, and Renji knew it was voluntary because if the former taicho of the twelfth really wanted to move, Renji wouldn't be able to stop him.
But Kisuke still didn't speak, so Renji fell to just slowly caressing his back and side for a while.
"S'okay," he said reassuringly, teasing the elder man's frowning lips with soft kisses.
As much as he was reluctant to talk about his monstrous ex-lover, Kisuke found the affectionate touches and little kisses enchanting.
I do trust Renji. I wanna tell him. I suppose I've kept all of this to myself for too long. It's stupid to let that bastard keep me from being happy. I should be happier without him. Renji makes me happier.
I just don't want that happiness to go away.
Why do I feel like if I say the words, it'll be Aizen who hears them?
Renji read the contemplative look on his lover's face, smirking as a wicked idea formed. Slowly, he slid his hand lower to gently cup Kisuke's soft bottom.
The shopkeeper sucked in a breath at the unexpected contact, lifting his eyes to meet that intense auburn gaze. Renji smiled at him, gently kneading his ass as he spoke in a low voice.
"I'll make you a deal, Urahara. You tell me what got you freaked out, and I'll do fun things to you. But if you stop, I stop. Fair?"
Kisuke nodded, a bit uncertain, but as he'd said, he did trust the redhead.
"It was about Aizen, like I told you."
Renji nodded encouragingly, gripping his backside tighter. "Go on."
Kisuke let out a soft moan as Renji's free hand slid down to stroke his awakening member. His own hands landed on the redhead's broad chest as he squirmed in place.
"He made me promise I'd never let someone else claim me, because I be-belonged to him."
He felt a feral growl vibrate Renji's chest. "What a fuck-face. Like anyone could own you."
Kisuke was touched, then touched in an altogether different way as Renji tightened the hand wrapped around his hungry erection, still gripping his bottom firmly with his other hand.
"You're doing good, Kisuke. But I can tell there's more. Tell me. What'd he say, exactly?"
Kisuke shook his head, only to whimper at the loss as Renji's hands stopped pleasuring him. He looked up quickly, but Renji shook his head firmly.
"We had a deal."
As much as he didn't want to talk about Aizen's ugly threat, he was lured by the promise that Renji would feed his aching need for more of the tantalizing sex they'd been sharing.
"Fine."
Grinning victoriously, Renji returned his hands to their previous positions, eliciting a moan from the older man. Kisuke began speaking softly, eyes sliding closed.
"He promised that if anyone tried to claim me, he'd give them a fate worse than death."
Renji frowned, still stroking his lover's riled body.
"Fuck him, ok? You shouldn't have to live in fear of what he said. What kinda asshole threatens something like that anyways?"
The blond man's gray eyes slid open, darkened by emotion and arousal. He touched Renji's cheek, giving a hitched moan as the delicious stimulation increased.
"Mmm, just promise me you'll be careful? I don't...I don't want anything to happen to you, especially not because of me."
Renji's eyes softened as he tilted his head close to kiss the older man.
"I promise."
Kisuke smiled warmly, rolling onto his back and parting his legs as Renji shifted closer. The redhead kissed him again, then whispered, "Thank you for telling me."
He started to answer, but was rendered breathless as Renji began purposefully preparing him, sinking long fingers into his dampened entrance and taking his throbbing length into his mouth. Shaky fingers tangled themselves in the long scarlet hair and Kisuke's hips arched up towards the redhead.
Renji gave an amused hum, and the deep vibrations stole what breath Kisuke had left.
"Fuck!" he gasped, writhing as his hands fisted in the younger man's hair.
Renji sucked him harder, fiery auburn eyes meeting his as the fingers inside him curled to assault his sweet spot. He choked back a lurid moan, his legs twitching on either side of his lover. He was so close...
"Renji!" he gasped, panting hard.
Suddenly, Renji released him completely, and his body collapsed weakly onto the bed.
The bigger Soul Reaper moved above him, murmuring, "I don't think I've ever seen someone look so beautifully wrecked, and you ain't even climaxed yet."
Kisuke felt the redhead's thick member nudge at his entrance, and he spread his legs wider. Renji smiled, kissing him tenderly as he slowly sank in to the hilt.
Kisuke writhed erotically, unconsciously grabbing onto his lover's broad shoulders.
Renji growled in his ear, "This's gonna be fast - you feel so fuckin' good, I can't hold back."
"Me either, R-Red!"
Kisuke's body arched as Renji snapped his hips, driving into his sweet spot. A handful of thrusts later, he came hard, moaning as their rhythm grew erratic with their urgency.
Heat blossomed inside him, Renji's expression a sight that seared itself into Kisuke's mind as the warmth permeated him from end to end. Seemingly uncaring of the slick release on his stomach, Renji lowered himself to lie on him, and they exchanged slow kisses of recovery.
Kisuke's breath caught as Renji met his eyes, stroking his cheek with his thumb, and for the first time in decades, he was at a loss for words. No snappy comment or witty remark came to mind, nothing with which to shield himself from the wave of vulnerability that assailed him.
He suddenly very much missed his hat.
Where's my fan…something…
Renji tilted his head, still stroking his cheek with the most tender of touches. "You really don't want me to get hurt, do you?" the redhead asked softly.
Kisuke swallowed, hearing more under the words.
"No, Renji, I don't want you to get hurt."
A soft little smile curved his lover's lips.
"I don't want you to get hurt, either, Kisuke."
Again, Renji's words sounded layered, but before Kisuke could think too hard on it, the younger man was kissing him again.
XXXXXXXXXX
Byakuya continued to hold his fiancé against him and looked solemnly into Tetsuya's tormented eyes.
"I had no idea," he whispered, letting his fingertips caress the dark waves of black hair, "that Abarai was, or even could become pregnant. Male pregnancy…"
"It's rarely found in commoners," Tetsuya concurred, "which means that either Renji would have to have a notable amount of noble blood…"
"Which he does not," Byakuya provided.
"Or his partner would have to be noble."
"Hmm," Byakuya said, frowning and rubbing his chin, "I see why, when coupled with the fact that I left you so I could check up on Renji, that you would come to the conclusion the child could be mine, but I assure you…and I want you to hear me, Tetsuya, the only person who I will ever be making a child with is you."
For a moment, Tetsuya couldn't make his voice sound to answer, but he managed a little nod, then buried his face in Byakuya's shoulder, taking a steadying breath.
"I am sorry I doubted you."
"I am sorry that I worried you," Byakuya whispered, nuzzling his way through the misbehaving hairs to kiss his fiancé's blushing cheek, "Now, it's getting late and there is a lot going on tomorrow. I hope you don't mind if I join you. It has been a long day and there is nothing that soothes me more than sleeping in your arms, anata.
Tetsuya emitted a soft laugh and watched as Byakuya laid down on his back, then he leaned over the clan leader and slowly opened and laid back the layers of fine clothing, revealing Byakuya's pale, lovely form.
Everything about Byakuya is strong and beautiful, Tetsuya mused, letting his fingers trace the edges of the elder man's face.
He swallowed hard, his hands trembling as he opened his own clothing, revealing his also pale, but thinner and more delicate looking body.
My own body was damaged so badly that I cannot even bear the heaviness of my own reiatsu in battle. This is why Arashi was born of my body—because my will to protect Byakuya was also greater than my strength. Somehow, I defied the confines of my body and I was able to grow strong. Still, it's a strength I never want to have to use…my shikai, my bankai and even that bit of divine power that has begun to grow in my core…all of it is not meant for fighting. It is meant for healing. My sword spirit was simply responding to my will when she agreed to lend me her power for fighting.
I promised to never kill if it wasn't absolutely necessary.
I promised to only fight to protect lives…most especially Byakuya's.
I have already given this man my heart, my sword and my deepest loyalty. In mere days, I will also commit my body to the making of his heirs. So much do I love this man who saved me.
Tetsuya poured the intense emotion into the softly glowing hands that caressed Byakuya's comely face, soothing away his cares so that he began to blink sleepily. He trailed tender kisses over every inch of exposed flesh, honoring his beloved with smiling lips.
"Aishiteru yo," he breathed onto the perfect, porcelain skin.
He laid down on his now sleeping leader's chest, resting his face over Byakuya's steadily beating heart.
How frightening is it that such a soft, vulnerable thing can mean so much? Without this beat, there is no life. There is no love. I must always protect this heart, no matter what the cost.
XXXXXXXXXX
Kisuke took a shaky breath as his eyes fluttered open. The silence was almost oppressive, bearing down in the semi-darkness. He glanced out the window at the position of the moon, determining he had woken at least a few hours before dawn.
His body still flooded with warmth and a deep feeling of contentedness, an unconscious smile curved his lips as he glanced at the man in his arms. Renji was resting peacefully, curled up to his chest, his golden tanned skin and bold markings touched with moonlight.
I can't remember anyone ever making me feel as good or as loved as Renji does.
Of course it was impossible.
When I first met Renji, I have to admit, what I saw was a savage, a rough mannered, streetwise kid from the Rukongai whose talk seemed bigger than his ability. Maybe at first, it was. But Renji had something more than extreme ability. He always had heart. Give that man a heartfelt reason and there was nothing he wouldn't do…nothing that he couldn't do. When this man's heart is engaged, he defies all expectation.
I guess I know where that heart is right now.
He could feel the gentle throbs against his breast, where the redhead slept.
It sounds so soft, so vulnerable, and as a scientist, I know that there are a billion ways to stop it. But this heart has pretty much decided now to beat for me…for my love, for my life, for my constant protection.
Kisuke felt his breath catch as Aizen's words once again whispered through his memory.
'...they will pray for death.'
The shopkeeper's gray eyes grew haunted as the details of that night returned.
He laid naked on his belly amidst a tumble of semen splashed bedding, with Sousuke's warm body stretched out along his back, his recovering member still planted in the blond man's recently plundered bottom. Out of the corner of one gray eye, Kisuke could see the other man's glasses sitting on the nightstand. He peeked over his shoulder at Sousuke and felt an odd, almost terrifying jolt go through him as he realized that his lover was awake and watching him closely.
A little, nervous laugh escaped him, but although Sousuke was smiling and chuckling too, the feeling of danger persisted.
"Is something wrong?" Sousuke asked quietly, "I do hope that I was able to make your first time memorable."
"Oh, it's been that," Kisuke sighed, "and then some. You're…not what I expected."
"And…you are everything I'd hoped you would be, Urahara Kisuke…a brilliant mind and talent to match it. I can see you are going to keep me on my toes, aren't you?"
"I'd rather keep you right here in bed," Kisuke joked.
"I don't think that's going to be a problem, after tonight's performance," Aizen said appreciatively, "Just remember that you are mine forever now, and mine alone. Should anyone try to claim you, then I promise you I will give that person a fate so dark that they will pray for death."
Carefully, so as not to wake the slumbering redhead, Kisuke stroked the scarlet mane with his fingertips.
Aizen is a dangerous man, no matter where he is. I need to keep that in mind, while not letting that thought rule my life.
He swallowed as Renji nuzzled his chest with a rough little humming sound, as if trying to comfort him in his sleep.
But...what if? What if he somehow found out? What if he decided to follow through on his threat? What if... what if he hurt Renji?
Kisuke Urahara was not a man normally given to fear.
But in that moment...
He was terrified.
