Chapter 5: New Connections

"Taicho," queried Renji, "Don't you think that if we're going to be talking about Tetsuya, he ought to at least be awake and part of the conversation? It feels kind of wrong to be talking about him while he's out cold like that."

"I think it is better that he be spared this conversation," suggested the noble, leading Renji out of the bedroom and into the kitchen area of the suite, "We will not be discussing anything he does not already know. And he has indicated that he trusts you. I trust you as well. But if you are going to be involved in this situation, then you need to know the facts."

"He told me some," admitted the redhead, "but I hope you know that I would never tell anyone what was said to me in confidence."

"No, I know that you would not," Byakuya agreed.

"I know that you and Tetsuya have been lovers for almost fifty years."

"Yes, we have been close for many years, since I led the raid that freed him from the prison where he and his family were incarcerated. He has told you about his incarceration in the illegal noble's prison, Itamigiri?" asked Byakuya.

"Yeah, he told me about the boy who helped him, about the abuse they suffered and how you saved him."

"Yes, well, when I realized who Tetsuya was, I brought him into the family. Because of the shock generated by the conditions and abominations that occurred within the prison, sympathy enough was generated that I was allowed to make Tetsuya a personal attendant. We interacted more like brothers as I taught him how to function in a noble home and how to handle the attitudes towards him without becoming bitter. Then, a little over fifty-five years ago, I met Hisana and fell in love with her. Tetsuya was monumental in protecting us while we navigated the dangerous path to marriage. He was close to us at all times, knowing that even though I was able to convince the council to let me marry her, the hatred that had caused the destruction of his family was still alive in the family. When Hisana became ill and slowly began to die, it was Tetsuya who was there for both of us. And then, when she died, he held and comforted me."

"He probably had a good frame of reference because of his own loss," Renji speculated.

"Yes, it did bring us closer, and slowly, I realized that I was falling in love with him. Tetsuya did allow me to kiss him and touch him, when I asked it, but six months after Hisana's death when I asked him to allow me to have the council recognize our relationship, he refused. When I pressed him for answers, Tetsuya confessed that he suspected, but could not yet prove, that Hisana's death had not come from her poor physical condition from living in the Rukongai, but she had possibly been slowly poisoned."

"Was he ever able to prove that?" Renji asked, "Because that's the first I've heard of it."

"We both investigated as much as we could, but we were not able to bring sufficient proof and the matter was dropped. It was enough to convince the council to allow me to make Tetsuya head of house security, based on his performance in the investigation as well as the fact that our training had led by then to him achieving bankai. We continued to become more and more intimate, but Tetsuya was too badly haunted by what had happened in Itamigiri. I wanted to seek assistance for him, but he didn't dare, as we would have had to expose our relationship. As Hisana's possible murderer was never found, he was concerned that the perpetrator would strike again."

"Well, it seems like you were worried about someone doing something more recently," Renji observed, "I had my suspicions when I learned who Tetsuya was and saw how suddenly he had been brought on. Did something happen?"

"Yes," Byakuya answered, giving him a conflicted look, "Tetsuya informed me that our cousin, Orochi, who was one of his abusers in Itamigiri, had made comments suggesting that he knew there was something between the two of us and that Tetsuya should be careful if he didn't want to end up in a grave next to Hisana. Then, he made another comment about his own bankai, and the fact that there was strength in his subfamily that rivaled mine. Between the threats to me and to him, Tetsuya was convinced that something was in the offing. Add to that, the tension between our clan and the rival Kuromori clan..."

"And you get a powder keg about to blow," concluded Renji, "I see now why you brought him on."

"But even doing so apparently isn't enough to protect him," Byakuya said worriedly, "After what has happened to Tetsuya, and the fact he looks to be pregnant by Kuromori Tatsuo, I am very concerned about making the right moves. And amidst all of that, I need to find a way to comfort and support Tetsuya. That, I think, is where you will be most helpful. Tetsuya feels comfortable with you in a way he doesn't with most people other than me. He trusts you."

"I just listened to him and gave him the best advice I could. I don't know how much help I will be."

"You will be a great help, just continuing to do that. But there is another area in which I would like to ask your assistance, Renji."

"What's that?"

Byakuya paused and considered his words carefully.

"Would I be wrong in thinking that you were surprised and perhaps disappointed when you learned Tetsuya and I are seeing each other?" he asked, watching closely as surprise lit Renji's eyes, then he blushed.

"Ah...look, Taicho, I..."

"I am not trying to fluster you. It's just that I was curious if the little frustration I felt coming from you is because you are attracted to me or to Tetsuya."

"Um..." Renji managed, shifting uncomfortably.

"It's all right to be honest," Byakuya assured him, "If you have a preference for one of us, that is understandable, but if you, perchance, felt something for both of us, you and I could work together to help Tetsuya overcome his inhibitions."

"I don't know what you think I could do," Renji said, frowning, "I mean, I took care of a lot of other street kids when they were raped before, and a few who had babies by their attackers. It doesn't make me a professional."

"We cannot take the chance of going to a professional," Byakuya insisted, "You are the only one I can think of that Tetsuya and I both trust completely. And...I assure you, you haven't escaped my notice, or probably his."

"You're saying that you're attracted to me also?" Renji asked, "What does Tetsuya think about that?"

"I am comfortable with you," Tetsuya said from the hallway outside the dining area, stepping into view and bowing briefly, "My apologies for intruding, but I was awakened by another nightmare and thought to have some tea to soothe my nerves."

"Sit down," Byakuya invited him.

"I'll get the tea," Renji offered, getting up from the table.

"You should really be sleeping, anata," Byakuya scolded Tetsuya gently, slipping a hand into his as his cousin sat down at the table, "You still look quite pale."

"I feel better, except for the nightmares," Tetsuya assured him, "and I am hungry and not too sick to eat."

Byakuya raised his voice slightly.

"Renji, will you please bring Tetsuya something to eat as well?"

"I'm on it, Taicho," Renji called back, setting the prepared tea on a tray, then turning back to make a quick meal.

At the table, Byakuya squeezed Tetsuya's hand again and looked into his tired eyes.

"Tetsuya, I apologize for not saying anything to you before asking Renji such things. It's just that..."

"It's what you sensed when you accused us of being intimate before," Tetsuya reasoned, "I understand that there is potential between us...the three of us. But, are you sure that you don't want to let me go and just seek Renji's affections for yourself? You must be tired of waiting for me to get over my issues. At least with him..."

"Let me make something clear to you," Byakuya said firmly, "I am never leaving you, Tetsuya. You have been there for me in ways no one has."

"Renji has," Tetsuya argued, "Renji has become very close to you over the years. Byakuya-sama, you deserve to be happy and with someone who can share in your love without all of the stress. I admit, I would be sad to lose you, but it may be the better thing for you to do, given that it's been fifty years and I haven't ever been able to let you penetrate me. And now this...this situation with Kuromori Tatsuo and the baby..."

"That doesn't mean shit," Renji said, stepping back into the room and setting Tetsuya's food and tea down in front of him, "Taicho is in love with you. He isn't going to leave you, just to start something with me. If you're both attracted to me and I'm attracted to both of you, there's nothing keeping the three of us from being together."

"Except that it widens the circle and exacerbates the danger," Tetsuya reasoned.

"Danger's not going anywhere anyway," Renji said, shrugging his shoulders, "It's going to be with you, whether it's the two of you, me and Taicho, me and you or all three of us together. And you know, I think our chances are better if we stick together."

He dropped into his chair and sipped at his tea as Byakuya and Tetsuya quietly processed his words.

"We will have to move slowly," Byakuya went on, "And all of this is contingent on us keeping this relationship completely private, at least until this crisis is over and things are safer for us."

"If they didn't like you being with a half-blood, I don't think they'll like it any more with you adding me to the mix," Renji chuckled, "Are you sure they won't just bump you off, Taicho?"

"I don't know what they'll do. I just know that Tetsuya needs help and I suspect you are the one who can help him."

"All right," Renji agreed, "I'll do it."

"You are sure about this, Renji?" Tetsuya asked cautiously, "I assure you, I will be accepting if you just want to be with Byakuya-sama."

"No way," Renji said with mock disapproval, "I see what you're doing there."

"What is that?" Tetsuya asked, frowning as he worked quickly at the food and tea in front of him.

"You're not running away from this that easily."

"I'm not trying to run away," Tetsuya argued, "I am not blind. I see your reactions around Byakuya-sama. I know you're attracted to him, and I know you were disappointed when you had to come here alone with me. I am sensitive to people's little expressions and actions, Renji."

"Yeah, well if you're so good at sensing people's expressions and feelings, then you should have noticed how I reacted to your little bankai display before, and how easy it was for Taicho to conclude we were sleeping together. What about that, huh?"

"W-well..."

"I just didn't know you as well as I know Taicho yet. But I'm getting to know you. And the person I'm getting to know is really attractive, Tetsuya. You are beautiful, talented and you're really strong when shit gets dangerous."

"I've been a mess since Kuromori Tatsuo...injured me," Tetsuya said, looking away, "I'm tired of having to disappoint Byakuya-sama with my weaknesses."

Renji reached over and slipped a hand under Tetsuya's chin, raising it to make their eyes meet.

"The answer isn't to run away from your problems. They're never gonna get solved that way. If you want an answer, I think you'll find it here, with two people who love you and want to help you."

"I know you want to help me, but is this really the way?" Tetsuya wondered aloud.

"Tell me if you think this could be the way," Renji challenged him, "Pardon me, Taicho."

Renji leaned over and captured Tetsuya, sliding his fingers into the noble's hair and around his head, coaxing him into a warm, chaste kiss. Tetsuya sucked in a surprised breath, but catching the approving look on Byakuya's face, he relented, and after a few moments of indecision, returned Renji's kiss, blushing furiously.

"That was okay, wasn't it?"

"It...it was...ah, pleasant, thank you, Renji-san," Tetsuya answered politely, still blushing madly.

Renji laughed merrily.

"Tetsuya, you're not talking to a stuffy bunch of elders or something. I just kissed you. I kissed you because I think you're cute. And now, if it's okay with both of you, I'm going to kiss Taicho."

He stood and moved his chair so that he sat between the two. Byakuya looked quietly into Renji's eyes and slipped an arm around the redhead, initiating the long, savory kiss that followed. When they parted, they noticed that, inexplicably, Tetsuya was smiling.

"So, everyone's okay with this, right?" Renji asked, "Because I think there's nothing I want more than to be with both of you. It's definitely more than I ever expected to happen. Hell, I thought even dreaming of one of you noticing me was impossible!"

"Of course we were going to notice you," Tetsuya said, still blushing brightly, "You are very handsome, and you have always been a good friend to first Rukia-chan, then Byakuya-sama, and now me as well."

"Thanks," Renji said gratefully, "and you, Taicho?"

Byakuya looked back at him, giving him the ghost of a smile.

"I think that you should stop calling me that, except when we are in the presence of others," he commented.

"Sure thing, but do you mean I should call you Byakuya-sama, like he does?"

Byakuya shook his head firmly.

"I've complained to Tetsuya before that when we are alone, we have no need for any honorifics. If we are going to be in a relationship, we should use just our names."

"Okay," Renji agreed, "Byakuya it is."

He paused, shaking his head.

"That was weird..."

"We should get going," Byakuya said, noticing the time, "We need to check out and get to the beach house. I think we'll want to spend some time there, getting more comfortable with each other."

Renji blushed and grinned.

"Sounds good to me. I'll go and pack my things."

Byakuya watched as he left for his room, then looked back at Tetsuya.

"Are you all right?" he asked, "You still look unwell."

"I am okay, Byakuya-sama."

He paused at the look of disapproval Byakuya gave him.

"Erm, Byakuya. I just can't wait to get to the beach house. I love the ocean."

"I do as well. And I enjoyed our last stay there."

"I think we might enjoy this one even more," Tetsuya speculated, "Byakuya, do you really think that being with Renji will help me? I mean, it has been such a long time and you have tried so many times to break through the conditioning I went through. What if I just can't be helped?"

Byakuya stood and brought Tetsuya to his feet, wrapping his arms around his cousin and holding him tightly.

"There is an answer to your troubles," he promised. "I feel that very strongly. And I also feel that putting this in Renji's hands is the right thing to do. Just...be honest about your feelings. Tell us when you are uncomfortable and trust us to stop if you need us to. We will get through this, Tetsuya. I promise we will."

Tetsuya nodded and worked his way free, smiling at Byakuya.

"I will go and pack our things," he offered.

"We'll pack together," Byakuya insisted, leading his cousin to the bedroom, then stopping him just short and pulling him into a long, open-mouthed kiss, "It's going to be all right. It will be all right, Tetsuya. I promise it will be."

The two entered the bedroom and quickly packed their suitcases, then left the hotel with Renji. They stopped in a nearby park and Byakuya opened a senkaimon that the three passed through and into the precipice world.

"I can't wait to get to this place," Renji said enthusiastically, "Sunshine, beautiful views and the two prettiest boyfriends in the three worlds!"

He paused for a moment, thinking.

"But there were attendants there before. Are we keeping this from them?" he asked.

"Only Tetsuya's and my attendants and our housekeeper will be there with us," Byakuya informed him, "The ones who will be there are all trustworthy and already know that Tetsuya and I are together. They will be discreet."

"That's good," Renji sighed, "We'll be able to relax. Too bad it's just for a week."

"It will be enough," Byakuya assured him, "It will give us time to help Tetsuya cope. And maybe, he will be able to tell us more about what Kuromori Tatsuo said and did to him."

"I did mark down all of Tetsuya's injuries and took a sample of the semen left in him."

He gave Tetsuya an apologetic look.

"Sorry, it probably is very uncomfortable to hear us talk about it."

"It's fine," Tetsuya assured him, "You were trying to help. I was reeling from what happened and you did the right things to preserve any evidence and to comfort me."

"I will want to see your notations," Byakuya requested, "and we will talk in more detail about that later, but Tetsuya, you will need a physician."

"Maybe Inoue Orihime?" Renji suggested, "Or Urahara Kisuke? Either one is trustworthy."

"I was thinking the same," Byakuya agreed, "After we are settled, I will have you go back to bring Kisuke and perhaps Orihime as well."

"You've got it," Renji said, nodding.

The three stepped out onto a sunny beach and looked up at the lovely beach house in front of them.

"Oh gods, I think I'm in heaven," Renji laughed, "This place is amazing."

He flash stepped up the steps and greeted the Kuchiki housekeeper with a warm hug, making the old woman blush.

"He is certainly energetic," Byakuya mused, squeezing Tetsuya's hand.

"I think that he is a very kind and loving person, Byakuya," Tetsuya answered, "and if anyone can help us, he can."