Chapter 6: The Words That Waited

Byakuya turned to Ronin and adjusted the hooded cloak the boy wore so that it did a better job of hiding his face. Tsuneo dropped to one knee and offered Kiko the same treatment.

"You two stay together," the vendor warned them, "Bya and I will be near you, but we don't want to be perceived as traveling together. We will meet at the schoolhouse. Things will be fine, once we are inside."

"But why do we have to hide our faces?" asked Kiko, wide-eyed, "Is someone after us?"

"Someone is looking for Master Bya and we want to keep him safe and to be safe ourselves. They will be looking for a man and a boy, not two men or a couple of schoolchildren."

"Ronin," said Byakuya, gazing at his son, "I expect you will watch over Kiko and keep her safe. She is your responsibility."

"As you are mine," said Tsuneo, smiling at the noble, "We should go now. It is getting late."

Byakuya nodded and stepped out into the street alongside the vendor. The two meandered down the street, pausing to study the contents of the other vendors' carts and talking as they worked their way slowly towards the schoolhouse. As they left town and approached the building, Byakuya slowed.

"What is it?" Tsuneo asked, his hand moving to the long knife beneath the folds of his clothes."

"It is Renji. He knows I am here…and he is waiting. Do not worry, Tsuneo. Renji will not harm me, nor will he allow harm to come to me. Save your aggression for my cousin. He is of baser intent."

They reached the schoolhouse without further incident and passed inside, where they were met by Fumio and Gina.

"Master Bya!" exclaimed the girl, her face lighting with a lovely smile.

Dark haired Fumio was quiet, as always, but his blue eyes spoke volumes to Byakuya as they exchanged a greeting.

"I am pleased at how the two of you have continued our lessons while I was recovering from my wounds. I was fortunate enough that the wounds have healed well, but unfortunately my circumstances have changed and I must leave you soon. I do not know when exactly. I will depend upon the two of you to continue as you have until I am able to return."

"M-master Bya…" Gina murmured, tears coming to her eyes.

He met the girl's eyes and held them as he continued.

"I have told you in stories and as we shared our days…we will always be bonded by what we have experienced together…and nothing will take today from us. Do not forget that."

They left off as the other students began to arrive. Tsuneo slipped out the door and placed himself nearby to watch over the school. Byakuya turned to the gathered students as Ronin and Kiko slid into their seats.

Byakuya kept things as normal as possible as the day progressed. Time slowed for him and he savored every moment as he told the children stories, instructed them in reading and writing, and took them to the garden to check the progress of the plants they were growing. As usual, there were hurt feelings to mend, skinned knees that needed bandaging, and so many questions. He made sure to impart to each child, some sort of wisdom for them to take away from their association…for the stronger ones to protect the weaker…for the weaker to find their inner strength and for all to reach out to those around them and help each other survive. He felt sadness descend on him as the children left the building, and he, Ronin and Kiko were left alone. Tsuneo reappeared and together, they cleaned the room. Then Ronin took Kiko's hand and led her out and on their way back to Tsuneo's home. Byakuya looked out the window into the school's garden, lost in thought. His head turned as Tsuneo made a sudden sound of surprise, then moved in between Byakuya and the man who now stood in the doorway. He gazed at Byakuya in askance, then Byakuya nodded and the vendor left the two men alone. Byakuya looked out the window at the large, red-orange setting sun, remembering the evening he had seen Renji and run from him. There was no more running for either of them, he realized. Nothing would be right until they talked things out.

But he couldn't make himself turn…

Finally faced with the moment he had known must come, he found himself terrified inside. A hand touched his shoulder and Renji's scent and reiatsu struck his senses. Tears rose in his eyes and once again, he could not contain them. He continued to stare out the window, feeling Renji's warmth…but also keenly feeling the distance between them. He heard Renji take a breath to speak and turned, freezing the words in the redhead's mouth.

Renji inhaled sharply as Byakuya stepped in close to him, very slowly lifting his arms to encircle his former love's shoulders. Avoiding the redhead's eyes, he lowered his head into the long red hair at his shoulder and let his weight fall against the other. Renji's arms wrapped around him tightly and Byakuya felt tremors in the redhead's body. They stood holding each other silently as the sun sank on the horizon outside the window and darkness took hold. Byakuya felt the hair tie being pulled free and warm, calloused fingers ran through the long black strands, making him lift his chin instinctively. Renji's lips touched his gently.

"I love you…" he whispered brokenly, "I swear on my life that I never stopped loving you. And when they said that you took your own life, I died inside thinking how I had hurt you so badly…and that you would never know the truth of what happened. I thought that I would never see you again…Bya…"

"It would have been better if you hadn't."

Renji's eyes took on a wounded look.

"You hate me that much?" he asked softly, "Then…why are you holding me like this?"

"I never said I hated you," Byakuya replied, closing his eyes and breathing in the redhead's scent, "I only meant that I managed to find some amount of peace here. I did what you wanted. I went on with my life. And I know what I have now looks like very little to someone surrounded in power…and privileged as you have become. But it has meaning…and what I do now is my choice. You always said that I should tell them all to go to hell and I should do what I want."

"I was kidding," Renji said, giving him a small smile, "I only meant it was wrong for them to tell you what to do all of the time. It was wrong that you had to constantly sacrifice your happiness to make them look good."

"I took a different route," Byakuya went on, "After you left me, everything inside seemed to fall apart. Mind…body…heart…all are supposed to function as one. That is what gives a shinigami his power. And when that is no longer possible, the soul weakens. This is what happened to me. Tsuyoshi took advantage of that. He knew I was losing my strength…that my constant illness was a sign that everything was falling apart in my inner world. My connection to Senbonzakura weakened as well…and I became vulnerable. Tsuyoshi approached the council…and he told them…that…that I had secretly soul bonded with you, but that we were unsuccessful in making an heir…and that your leaving meant I would only continue to weaken and die anyway and that the soul bonding couldn't be undone. I couldn't be paired with anyone else from that point on. He told them that it would be disgraceful to our clan to have a leader pine away and die over a mere commoner…and a male, at that. I was too ill to even attend the meetings in which he undermined me. Renji…even having the heir at that point would have done no good…you having gone…and me being in such a reduced state, all Tsuyoshi would have done if I had been pregnant would have been to see I would miscarry. Finally, the council realized that the situation could not go on. They had no choice but to give Tsuyoshi leave to kill me honorably and to replace me as head of household. Fortunately for me, my attendant overheard Tsuyoshi's plan and he helped me to escape the manor. I was leaving the Seireitei and stopped to speak with you one last time."

"And you saw me with Shuuhei."

Byakuya gazed at him silently.

"I know it won't help…but the reason that happened was because I tried to break into the manor and I was badly injured. Shuuhei knew what I was doing and got me out, then healed me. I didn't mean for things to happen between us…but I had tried so hard and so many times to reach you. I lost it. I just lost it and started to go out of control. I destroyed my quarters and was starting on the office… and when Shuuhei stopped me…what you saw…just happened. It was just raw frustration. I'd tried so many times…and even gone to Urahara, Yoruichi…Ichigo too. But that bastard had you surrounded and sealed off from everyone."

"I left instructions that…"

"Apparently, Tsuyoshi gained influence over the house staff and security," Renji explained, "I tried, Byakuya. We all tried. None of us could reach you. They wouldn't even let Rukia in…"

"They told me she was on assignment…"

"They fucking lied. Don't you see? They were lying to both of us. Tsuyoshi was desperate to keep us apart. He didn't want there to be any chance we would be successful in making that heir. If we had been then, his plans would have failed."

"But Renji…you leaving me meant that even though…"

He broke off and took a steadying breath.

"Even had I been pregnant, once you left, I could not let Tsuyoshi know. It all came down to your leaving…so…I have ask. Renji, why did you leave me? I heard what you said…and I felt the lie. You didn't mean a word of it, I know. I know that because I know you. So tell me now. Tell me the truth about why you left me."

Renji cupped the noble's tear stained cheek in a warm hand and rested his forehead against Byakuya's.

"Okay…I said that I would tell you…and I'm ready to do that. But there's a complicating factor…so I need you to trust me…and not to resist."

"R-resist?" Byakuya said, starting to pull away, "What do you…?"

He gasped in dismay as the redhead's power flared and a hard shock of kido made his legs collapse beneath him. Renji caught him as he fell and lifted the stunned noble into his arms.

"I'm sorry…but it's necessary. I'll explain when we get where we're going."

"You'll explain now," said Tsuneo from the doorway, "or I will kill you where you stand."

The vendor drew his long knife and stepped forward. Renji raised his reiatsu and caught his breath in surprise as Tsuneo stood firm.

"You can't hope to defeat a captain," he said warningly, "And anyway, I'm not going to hurt him. I did this to…"

"I don't care why you did it," Tsuneo said, cutting him off and taking another step forward, "I saw you attack him."

"He has to be unconscious because his enemy has subordinates searching for him. If they sense him as we travel to the meeting place, Tsuyoshi will come back and kill him. I'm just taking him away to talk. That's all I want to do."

"Then give him to me…and take me with you."

Renji frowned.

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"I don't think I trust you. I know he does…but what did it get him? You are the reason his cousin was able to do all of that damage to him. I know. I picked up the pieces after that bastard tried to kill him. I picked his broken body up off the ground and put him back together. I made sure he was taken care of after you and everyone else abandoned him, and I'll be damned if I stand by and watch you inflict more damage. No…he may trust you, but I don't. And if you want to leave this schoolhouse with him, then you'll do so over my dead body."

"Look, I'm not…"

He broke off as the vendor disappeared in a flash step.

"Shit…"

Renji flash stepped away as the long knife slashed down, catching an edge of his cloak.

"Hey…knock it off!"

Tsuneo flash stepped and slashed at him again, making another cut in his cloak.

"Damn," muttered the redhead, "This has gotta be one of the most embarrassing things…"

He flash stepped away from the long knife again, but was hit with a well-placed kido ball that tripped him up and sent him crashing to the floor. The vendor dropped down in top of him and brought the knife to his throat.

"Now…" said Tsuneo calmly, "Unhand my friend."

Renji frowned up at him.

"I'm gonna hate myself for this, but…"

He sent a swift, stunning shock of kido through the man, dropping him to the floor. Shaking his head in frustration, he stood and collected Byakuya.

"Sorry…didn't want to have to do that…"

He walked to the door, but slid to a stop and backed up a step as he found himself at the sharp end of Senbonzakura. On the other end of the sword was a very determined looking Ronin.

"Oh…holy hell!" moaned Renji, "Can't any fucking thing go right here?"

"Put my dad down," the boy growled, his eyes flashing.

"Ronin…look…"

"I know how to use this sword," the boy said, stepping forward, "and I will cut you if you don't put him down."

"Easy kid, I'm not gonna hurt your dad. We're just going to talk. I promise."

"Then why did you attack them?" Ronin asked, looking at Tsuneo, then back at Byakuya.

Renji sighed in frustration.

"I had to knock him out, because he wouldn't let me take your dad. He'll be fine. I have to take Byakuya to a special place for us to talk, because there are other people waiting for us there. Ronin, I swear. I am not going to hurt your dad…and I won't let anyone else hurt him. I just want to explain things to him in a safe place. I will bring him back here after we talk. And…if you want, you can come with me. You aren't the one that Tsuyoshi is looking for so he won't be looking for your reiatsu."

"Who?"

"I'll explain later, but we need to go now, before there's any more trouble. Come on, kid. Your dad agreed to talk to me. He wouldn't have done that if he didn't trust me."

"He didn't think you would knock him out…"

"I told you. I have to hide his reiatsu from the ones looking for him. Understand, if they find him, they will kill him, Ronin. I know you don't like me, but I'm asking you to trust me on this. Come with me. You will learn some things about your dad I'll bet he didn't tell you. And…there is a relative of yours who is waiting there."

"A…relative?" repeated the boy, still frowning and holding the sword ready.

"Yeah…your Aunt Rukia."

The boy's eyes went wide.

"Dad's…sister?" he asked, the sword lowering slightly.

"Yeah. You can visit with Rukia while Byakuya and I talk. And when we're done, if he wants to come back here, we'll come back…I promise. So…are you coming?"

Ronin glared at him darkly.

"If you try to hurt either of us…"

"Yeah, yeah, I already heard it from him…you'll kill me…" muttered the redhead, "Follow me, kid."

Ronin sheathed Senbonzakura and slipped the weapon into a closet in the school entry, then followed Renji out of the building, stopping to close and lock the door behind him.

"Wait," said Ronin, "It won't be safe leaving Tsuneo alone here…"

Renji smiled and nodded, then turned and raised a shield around the small schoolhouse.

"There…satisfied?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

The boy continued to frown, but nodded and followed as Renji flash stepped away.

Shit…that was way more trouble than it should have been…