Chapter 12: Betrayal

Byakuya stood quietly at the side of the tall, handsome black stallion he had arrived on, his fingers running through the silken ends of the horse's mane that reminded him painfully of his cousin's soft hair. Arashi's eyes, too, bore the radiance and gentleness of his missing cousin's.

You are troubled, Byakuya-sama, the stallion's wispy voice spoke into the shinigami's mind, My master would want me to comfort and assist you, but I don't know what will help.

Byakuya sighed and leaned against the beast's satin shoulder.

"I think there is nothing that any of us can really do until we have more information," he reflected, "However, just your presence here is…soothing."

I suppose that is something.

"Yes."

Byakuya straightened and turned as he heard someone drop down into the training room. One dark, slightly narrowed eye followed the reigai as he approached.

"Kuchiki taicho," the reigai greeted him, "Urahara-san sent me to inform you that he has no information yet on your cousin and lieutenant's whereabouts, but that he is employing a number of methods to try to locate them. In the meantime…"

Byakuya turned to fully face the copy, giving him a curious look at the slight hesitation.

"Yes?"

"He said that…I should address any remaining questions you might have for me."

"I see."

"He also warned me that there was a low, but significant chance that you might attack me."

Byakuya considered quietly for a moment.

"I would gain nothing by doing so," he reasoned, "and according to you, I have no reason to do so. I do also have more questions, though they are of a more personal nature. While we are waiting for news, I want you to tell me…what is your impression of Tetsuya? In these meetings, what exactly did you learn about my cousin?"

He felt a soft twinge of surprise in seeing the reigai's little smile.

"Kuchiki Tetsuya is a gentle and kind soul, one who is wholly devoted to loving and serving you. While his gratitude for you rescuing him may have been the impetus for this dedication, his bonds of love and friendship with you are profound."

"I see," the noble replied, narrowing his eyes, "And…what are Tetsuya's impressions of you?"

The reigai let out a little breath and lowered his dark eyes.

"I was expecting you to ask this question," he answered calmly, "Let me assure you that although your cousin was initially flustered by my resemblance to you, and also the fact that Urahara-san gave him no warning before we were introduced, there was no confusion in Tetsuya's heart about you being his leader and his lover, and me being his mentor and…his friend."

Byakuya observed the reigai's bowed head silently for a moment.

"Ah," he said finally, "I see that Tetsuya's friendly affection for you has impacted you quite strongly."

The reigai nodded.

"Most do not look at me through that lens, so I was not expecting him to be any different. Though, to have won your heart, he had to be markedly different from everyone else, in your eyes. Still," he went on, raising his head, "while I find Tetsuya to be an attractive person, I am clear in my understanding and comfortable acceptance of the respective roles we play in his life."

Byakuya entered another brief moment of silence, then he met the reigai's eyes meaningfully.

"You are aware, I am sure, that your ability to perceive and appreciate Tetsuya's friendship and the fact you are able to respond uniquely is precisely why the reigai were eventually outlawed and most were destroyed," he said quietly, "Individual initiative was an unexpected side effect of the makeup of the original reigai."

"Yes," the reigai answered, "I understand."

"That is good," the Kuchiki leader said approvingly, "I would not want word of your survival to reach Central 46. Tetsuya would lose a valued friend and confidante."

The reigai loosed a soft sound of mingled surprise and amusement.

"I should have expected such a response from you, but I confess, I did not."

Byakuya nodded.

"Consider it my way of thanking you for taking care of Tetsuya's heart. I would never want it to be broken again."

"Neither would I," the reigai agreed, inclining his head, "But, Kuchiki taicho, you know that if Aizen Sousuke has been using Tetsuya to spy on you, the realization is likely to tear him apart from the inside. Tetsuya holds his loyalty to you…"

"…as a value central to his being. I know," Byakuya finished, "I am very concerned for him. Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done to help him until we find him. We must put all of our effort into doing that."

"Of course," the reigai agreed, "I will help in any way that I can…and when Tetsuya is found, I will also help to care for his emotions."

"As will I. Come now, we should go and see how Kisuke's investigation is progressing."

XXXXXXXXXX

Despite the horrid aches Renji felt in his body as he slowly regained consciousness, his instincts warned him to swallow the pained groan bubbling up in his throat. Having had abundant practice under Byakuya's careful mentorship, he realized almost immediately that he was under a powerful kido restraint and furthermore, he knew better than to try breaking it at the moment.

"If your captor is not aware that you are conscious, better to learn what you can about your surroundings and situation before making any moves."

With just the subtle movement of his breathing, he could feel a coolness on his skin, indicating he was bared to the waist. A very slight pulling sensation betrayed the presence of sticky tabs and wires touching his revealed flesh. There seemed to be monitors around him – he could hear the quiet, rhythmic beeps and humming. The buzzing in his ears evolved into voices, and he laid still and quiet. Gin's voice was the first one he heard distinctly.

"If you want someone to be useful to you, you don't get 'em run through the chest with a sword. A few minutes more and he would have bled out before arriving here, Sousuke."

Fuck, Tetsuya! I hope he's okay – is Gin healing him?

"I have every confidence in your abilities in healing, Gin," Aizen said smoothly, "You are as good at putting things back together as taking them apart, ne?"

Bastard.

What I wouldn't give to have Zabimaru within reach.

"It'll be awhile before I can get him fully stabilized," Gin complained, "I may be here half the night."

"It's all right," Aizen purred, moving closer, "I don't mind waiting up for you."

He paused for a moment, then continued.

"Ah, but I do need to meet with our Karakura Town spies. They'll be checking in soon. I will check back with you after. Just…be sure that you confirm the information Tetsuya gave about Abarai."

Information? About me?

"Of course."

As Aizen left, Gin turned his attention to someone else in the room.

"Well, have there been any changes?"

Another voice sounded, a meek, nasally sycophantic voice that Renji didn't recognize.

"Not to worry, Master Gin. I've stopped the bleeding and he's receiving a transfusion as we speak. He will recover fully, though it'll take a couple days for him to be a hundred percent."

Profound relief flooded Renji that he hadn't killed the gentle healer. Then Gin's voice came again, menacing in its calmness.

"And the other prisoner?"

Renji forced himself to stay calm, hoping the monitors wouldn't give away his conscious state. The nasally, cringing voice replied to the former captain of the Third.

"His vitals are good, though he is a bit undernourished, which is to be expected with male pregnancy."

Male what?! I'm... pregnant? Oh, gods, Kisuke...

"Then…you've confirmed it?"

"Yes, there is a viable reiatsu in the spirit chamber."

"Hmm…go on and give the information to our leader."

"Yes, sir."

Gin's coldly friendly voice sounded lowly as the footsteps of the other man shuffled away.

"I know you're awake, Abarai."

Renji cracked one eye open to glare at his captor. Gin smiled, the expression frightening in the context Renji found himself in.

"Lord Aizen is very interested in you, seeing as how you're carrying your captain's brat."

What?

Renji tried not to react, but the soft beeping of the monitors sped up.

They think Taicho is the father?! Aizen doesn't know I've been with Kisuke... if he finds out, neither me nor this baby have a chance in hell of surviving. Aizen'll kill us for sure.

Gin's smile remained, eyes slitting open to show dazzling ice-blue as the older man glanced at the traitorous monitors before meeting Renji's eyes again.

"I'd be careful if I were you, Abarai," he whispered, leaning closer. "You're only alive cause carrying Byakuya's child makes you a very valuable pawn. If that child inside you belongs to someone else, I'd keep that to myself."

Renji didn't reply, the heart monitor beeping madly.

It's not just my life on the line – I can't let them find out this is Kisuke's baby!

XXXXXXXXXX

Kisuke tried to hide his nerves as Byakuya and the reigai entered the lab together, some distant corner of his mind relieved that they seemed to be acting civil towards each other. Renji's reaction upon meeting the reigai had given him doubt that Byakuya would respond well. Of course, with that memory came several more of Renji - the vibrant redhead grinning at him, getting staggering drunk with him, comforting him, tangled in the sheets with him... Renji confessing his love the last time they'd seen each other.

Renji... I should've said it back.

Quickly, Kisuke shook his head, sharply biting the inside of his cheek to refocus.

I gotta keep my mind on the mission, getting both Renji and Tetsuya out of Aizen's hands. Once they're safe, then I'll be free to feel. Until then, I must prioritize the mission. Focusing on my feelings could cause me to make a mistake. We can't afford that... Renji and Tetsuya can't afford that.

He set his shoulders, striding towards Byakuya to report. The noble faced him, the concern in his eyes clear.

"I do hope you have good news."

Kisuke shook his head.

"Sorry, I haven't been able to locate either Tetsuya or Renji. I've got several scanners still searching, and we will find them."

Byakuya nodded, letting out a troubled breath.

"It needs to be soon, or Renji may be in even more danger than you suspect."

Kisuke stiffened at the thought, holding onto his composure like a lifeline.

"How so?"

Byakuya met his eyes.

"The other day, I discovered that Tetsuya has been leaving home sometimes without speaking to anyone, not even his trusted attendant. I asked Koji if he had noticed Tetsuya acting oddly or if there seemed to be something bothering him, but beyond his concerns regarding our upcoming marriage, Koji knew of nothing else. He did recall suggesting to Tetsuya that seeking someone else close to me could give him some reassurance. I concluded that Tetsuya's absences from the manor must have something to do with that."

Kisuke nodded.

"Tetsuya came here and he asked Renji to help him."

"Renji," Byakuya repeated softly, "Strange."

"Strange why?" the shopkeeper prompted him.

"It is strange because when I confronted Tetsuya with what I knew, he confessed that he had been in Karakura Town, but what he told me was that he had seen me there, checking on Renji, and that it brought him to a worrisome conclusion."

"Which is?"

"Tetsuya sensed that Renji is pregnant."

Kisuke very nearly fainted, his vision going fuzzy and knees shaking as he grabbed Byakuya's shoulder.

"You... are you sure? Renji's pregnant?"

Byakuya nodded, looking confused by his reaction, though he didn't pull away.

"But, he's not…Renji's not noble and I'm not in any significant amount."

"Yes, the odds of such a thing are extremely low, but it does happen."

"Renji is pregnant," Kisuke repeated, as though trying to convince himself.

"He is," Byakuya confirmed, "You know Tetsuya is a gifted healer as well as being a breeder male, himself- he would not be wrong about this. At first, he thought I had fathered Renji's child."

Kisuke couldn't breathe. Where was all the air?

"Mine," he whispered hoarsely, and Byakuya's eyes widened.

"Yours? The child is yours?"

He nodded, his eyes beginning to burn as all his resolve not to feel anything until Renji and Tetsuya were rescued flew out the window.

"Dare I ask…?"

"Renji hasn't been with anyone else, I'm sure of it. But... oh gods, if Tetsuya thought you were the father, then it's possible Aizen thinks the same. This is a move against you, Byakuya."

The noble nodded in agreement, then Kisuke's heart stopped as he realized something else.

"Damn it! You know what this means."

"I do. I am aware of your past relationship with Aizen."

"Then, you're also aware that if Aizen finds out that Renji is carrying my child, he'll surely kill him and the baby. Tetsuya, as well, whether for being wrong about the baby being yours, or if he suspects we know your cousin was being used as a spy."

Kisuke had to stop there, his throat tightening as he realized that Renji could very well die without ever hearing him say 'I love you' back.

A sharp pain in his arm drew his attention outward. Byakuya's slender fingers were digging into his limb, but he was released as he refocused. The noble spoke firmly.

"Kisuke, you are our best chance of getting them back safe. They're counting on you."

Kisuke took a deep breath and steeled himself.

"You're right. I'm convinced now that they have to be with Aizen in Las Noches, and I'm sure that the scanners will eventually confirm that. But Renji might not have any time to spare. So, let's go get them back."

XXXXXXXXXX

Renji felt a chill pass through his insides as the sound of approaching footsteps reached him and Aizen's voice sounded outside of the treatment room. Gin's voice answered.

"I know you're excited to start interrogating him about it, but he did get knocked around a bit in the fighting. If you nudge him too hard, he might just lose the Kuchiki brat and your hard work will go to waste."

"Hmm, there is always the potential for problems to arise," Aizen acknowledged, "but you know what they say. Where a door closes a window of opportunity opens?"

"I'm not sure that's exactly how the quote goes," Gin said, smirking, "Just try not to break him too quickly. Save some for me."

The fucking games these bastards like to play, the redhead mused, C'mon, let's think of a way to use that.

Aizen's footsteps continued their slow, methodical approach.

"Ah, Renji," the traitor said in a low, delighted purr, "it's good to have a chance to talk with you again. It's been awhile."

The redhead glared back at him with murderous intent in his flaring eyes.

"Hmm, I see you are as stubborn as ever," Aizen chuckled, "Some things never change, ne?"

"Not if by things you mean me wanting you to die a slow and painful death," Renji hissed menacingly, "Cause that hasn't changed a bit, you bastard!"

"Why so venomous?" the tyrant asked, giving the restrained man a chilling smile, "Of all people, I think you should understand the hypocrisy and broken mess that Seireitei leadership is."

"Yeah," Renji agreed, "Doesn't mean I'm gonna turn traitor and betray everyone like you did."

"No," Aizen agreed, his voice silken, "you have your own way of betraying people, don't you?"

"What th'hell are you talkin' about? That's bullshit."

"Hmm," Aizen mused, looking down into his eyes, "You attacked your taicho, didn't you?"

"Yeah, because you were playing me like you played everyone else! Taicho and I are on good terms now that we know what you pulled, how you put us against each other over Rukia! You blame everything on our leaders, but you were pulling bullshit worse than theirs all along!"

The redhead knew his words had found their mark as Aizen laughed softly.

"What's so fuckin' funny, you monster?" he growled.

"You," Aizen responded, turning his head to look at Tetsuya's unconscious form, "You are so vehement in your criticism of me. You hate me for betraying everyone, but isn't that the slightest bit hypocritical?"

"I never…"

"What about him?"

Yes! Take the bait, you asshole.

Renji stiffened, letting his eyes widen slightly.

"Yes, I know all about you and Byakuya…and how you were having sex with him while he and this young man were planning their wedding."

"I didn't…"

"Of course you did," Aizen accused him smoothly, "You couldn't defeat Byakuya in battle, so you took away the thing dearest to his heart."

Renji gritted his teeth, biting back any reply as the traitor continued.

"Do you have any idea what level of pain you caused our friend, here, by sleeping with his fiancé and getting pregnant with the Kuchiki heir? I am sure that you know how Byakuya's family is likely to react. I have to say, I'm impressed with how well you brought this off. I rather enjoyed watching you stab them in the back. I couldn't have done better."

Taicho's gonna need to know how long this has been going on.

"You say you've been watching us?" he asked in a low snarl, "For how long, then? When did you hypnotize Tetsuya?"

He felt an ache open up in his chest at the other man's satisfied smirk and the words that came next.

"During your battle with Byakuya," Aizen confessed, "I was watching and somehow Tetsuya was able to take me by surprise. He was startled to see me, since he knew I'd been confirmed killed, so he concluded that I was manipulating everyone. Had Byakuya not been so focused on you, he might have sensed his cousin's distress. Tetsuya tried to intervene in your battle at that point. He tried to warn everyone, but with everyone attacking each other and the chaos all around, he was easy prey for me…though he didn't make it easy for me to gain complete control and he has fought back impressively."

"SCREW YOU, YOU BASTARD!" the redhead roared, heaving his body against the restraints.

"You sound so concerned," Aizen noted, studying the redhead more closely, "Are you still trying to be his friend after what you've done?"

"SHUT UP!"

"Does the truth hurt? It does, doesn't it?" Aizen said, glancing back at Tetsuya, "Renji, what do you think the truth is going to do to that young man…when he wakes?"

Renji wasn't sure quite how it happened, but something inside seemed to just snap and the restraints holding him down gave way, shattering as he threw himself wildly at the laughing traitor, only to see the man he was throttling disappear and reappear outside of the room.

"Be careful, Renji," Aizen warned him, "You've already stabbed Kuchiki Tetsuya in the heart, both literally and figuratively. When he breaks, there will be nothing left of him. I should thank you. It's better than anything I could have come up with to end him. When he wakes, I think the pain alone will kill him."

Renji's lips curled and his eyes blazed with fury.

"You son of a bitch," he seethed, "I'm gonna fuckin' rip you apart. If it's the last thing I do, I'll kill you!"

Gas hissed into the room, dropping the prisoner in his tracks. Aizen smiled and shook his head dismissively.

"Problem child," the traitor mused almost affectionately, "you have no idea who you're dealing with."