Chapter 3: Into Night
Takiyo laid on a bed across the room from his sleeping brother, flopped haphazardly over a pile of pillows and lit by a little shaft of moonlight that came in through the garden doors. His eyes moved sluggishly beneath his closed eyelids and dreams filled his resting mind, taking it wandering about as the moon crawled across the sky, outside his doors. He moaned softly as the moonlight moved past him, leaving him in darkness again, and his thoughts were suddenly interrupted with a far more vivid image.
His eyes opened,, and he found himself laid on some kind of altar, set on top of a small, grass covered incline. A line of kneeling forms were chained in a circle around the altar, their heads bowed. Armed men and women in white clothing and carrying quincy bows, stood behind the kneeling prisoners, watching as a cloaked and hooded figure approached. The cloaked person leaned over him, but Takiyo couldn't see into the swell of maddening blackness within the hood. The person's gloved hand touched him, and suddenly, the spirit centers in his body flared, making him scream in pain as they burned and stung. Then, he realized that power was flowing into him, being stolen…torn from the ones in chains. Those people, too, were screaming in pain, and Takiyo knew they were dying.
Takiyo sat up in his bed, loosing a horrified cry.
"Takiyo!" Kisho cried, jumping out of a sound sleep and leaping out of his bed.
He stared in shock as Takiyo howled again, as though in wrenching pain. But it wasn't just sound. As the cry exited his body, white light flooded their room, billowing power that made Kisho go sheet white and dive for cover as it struck hard, shattering glass, wood and metal, and leaving the boys collapsed in a pile of debris as their bedroom was destroyed.
Neither boy could move, but the two were vaguely aware of footsteps pounding on the wooden walkway, Ichigo's voice, rising up angrily and Byakuya's calmer voice warning Takiyo's siblings to stay back. Ichigo forged ahead, crawling into the pile of broken boards, throwing bits aside, until he reached Takiyo's side and pulled him close.
"P-papa Ichigo?" Takiyo managed weakly.
He was vaguely aware of Byakuya joining Ichigo, and pulling a shaken Kisho out of a pile of tumbled boards.
"Are you all right?" Byakuya asked quickly.
"Y-yeah, Dad," Kisho managed softly, his eyes straying to look at his brother, "I'm not hurt."
Takiyo shivered and blushed as he realized that the explosion of raw power had burned his clothing away.
"It's okay," Ichigo said reassuringly, taking his outer robe off and wrapping it around the youth, "You're okay. C'mon, let's get you outta here."
Byakuya and Ichigo helped their sons out of their destroyed room and into the safety of the gardens, where they stood together, staring at the mess.
"What h-happened?" Takiyo asked, shuddering as his eye fell on the ruins of the bedroom, "What was that explosion?"
Byakuya met his son's eyes warily.
"It was your reiatsu," he said quietly, "It looks as though your powers are beginning to come to life."
"But, none of theirs came so late," Takiyo complained, "And none of them wrecked things. I d-didn't mean to…"
"We know that," Ichigo chuckled, setting him on his feet, "It's okay."
Takiyo pulled the robe more firmly around his slender form.
"We are just relieved that you were not injured," Byakuya assured him.
The clan healer arrived, and Ichigo led the two boys into a small study nearby, while Byakuya sent the other children back to bed before joining his sons and husband. Michio quickly examined Kisho.
"You look a little shaken up, but I only see some bumps and bruises," the healer said encouragingly, "You should go and get some rest."
"Toshi will prepare another room for you," Byakuya added.
Michio turned his attention to Takiyo, then frowned curiously and shook his head.
"What is it?" Ichigo asked, "It's just his powers coming to life, right?"
"Well," the healer answered, "not exactly. While it is clear that the blast initiated from his body and it moved through his spirit centers, there are no signs of an ongoing flow, except for that required to sustain life."
Ichigo scowled.
"What does that mean? What are you telling us, here?"
"He is saying that, while the blast came from within Takiyo's body, it was not our son who made it emerge, not even from panic within a dream. Something else caused it."
"Something else caused it?" Ichigo asked in a mystified tone.
"Torio," Byakuya said, summoning his attendant to his side, "I want you and Akio to go together to Karakura Town and bring Urahara Kisuke. Tell him that there has been a dangerous development in Takiyo's abilities, and we need his input."
"Hai!" Torio answered, turning and flash stepping away.
"So," the healer went on, "it seems that the excitement is over for now, but I will place a limiter on you, my boy, if that's all right. You only damaged things and not people, but you don't want to be destroying whatever room you sleep in, ne?"
"No," Takiyo laughed anxiously, regaining some of his usual good humor, "I'd like to not break my favorite things, especially not my brother!"
"Kisho wasn't hurt," Byakuya said soothingly, "Everything will be all right now. Why don't you go and find Toshi and Kisho and have another room prepared for you."
"Okay," Takiyo sighed sleepily, "Goodnight Papa Byakuya, goodnight Papa Ichigo."
"Goodnight," Ichigo answered.
"Goodnight, Son," Byakuya added.
The two men watched as the boy disappeared into the house, followed by the old healer.
"I wonder if Kisuke will find anything when he looks Takiyo over," Ichigo mused, "Michio didn't find anything that explains why this suddenly happened."
"No, he did not," Byakuya agreed, "and that is reason for concern. I think that we should…"
The arrival of a hell butterfly stopped his words and the two men paused to listen to the message.
Kuchiki Taichou, Shunsui's voice addressed Byakuya, Shima Taichou's group has just returned unexpectedly, and they report that Shima Taichou was captured while holding off a group of quincy attackers who appeared out of the shadows suddenly. Our men were well-armed and on guard when they were attacked, but Kurushimi barely managed to get everyone out, and he had to sacrifice himself to do so. We have received no contact from the enemy, and we cannot tell whether Shima Taichou's reiatsu has disappeared due to death, or that he was captured and taken into the shadows, where we cannot sense it. I have not yet informed Shima Taichou's family. I will do that, however, I need you to take a full unit to the area where the attack happened, and to investigate what exactly happened and whether of not it looks like Kuri survived. Your fukutaichou is already preparing your group.
"Damn it! Ichigo said breathlessly, "Kuri's really strong. If the quincies grabbed him, then it seems like they are gearing up for something big."
"I agree," Byakuya said, frowning, "I must go and take care of this."
Ichigo took a breath and bit at his lip gently.
"Maybe I should go with you," he suggested tentatively, "Not to say you can't take care of yourself…"
"No," Byakuya said, keeping his voice calm and gentle, "You are with child."
"Just barely," Ichigo argued.
"And," Byakuya said pointedly, I will be with Renji and a full unit of fighters. It will be fine, Ichigo. Please do not worry."
"I'm not overreacting," Ichigo said self-consciously, "We know the quincies are still dangerous, despite us winning the war with them. Sure, Ywach took out the Sternritters himself and I took him out, but Uryu told me that there are surviving members of the noble quincy leaders Ywach slaughtered as he came to power, who are resisting Uryu's claim to the throne."
"I am aware of all of this," Byakuya said firmly, "and I will employ due caution."
He moved in closer to his troubled husband, taking Ichigo's face in his hands and kissing him gently.
"Why did this have to happen now?" Ichigo complained, "Just when we'd started to relax and have another baby."
"Come now, Ichigo," Byakuya said, hugging him comfortingly, "The investigation will take a day or maybe two. I would appreciate it if you would take the news to Shima adobe and make sure that Tetsuya handles things all right. He is likely to feel much as you do, because his also with child."
"Yeah, I guess I know how he feels…or how he's gonna feel," Ichigo mused worriedly, "He's going to be really upset."
"I am sure he will be," Byakuya agreed, "But I am equally sure that with you, our children and Kuri's other family members around him, Tetsuya will have the support he needs."
"And, um, I will too, right?" Ichigo chuckled, shaking his head, "I see what you're doing?"
"And what is that?" Byakuya asked, giving him an amused look.
"You're making sure I don't go crazy, feeling trapped here while you go and protect everyone."
"Ichigo, you cannot bear all of the weight of taking care of everyone all of the time. You need to be able to enjoy your life too. Being a soldier as I am…or a troublemaker, like you, is a negotiation of protecting and appreciating. There needs to be balance."
"I still hate you going without me."
Byakuya huffed out a soft, dismissive breath.
"I survived two hundred years without you looking over my shoulder, and you, yourself, could not kill me, nor could the very determined As Nodt."
"He would've if the soul king hadn't told Squad Zero to heal you," Ichigo reminded him, "Byakuya…"
"I understand," Byakuya said calmly, "and I will return to you safely. I promise you, Ichigo. Please take care of our children, and my cousin. My protection means nothing if they are not cared for properly."
"All right," Ichigo sighed unhappily, gently shoving his husband away, "Get outta here, okay? I need to get dressed and go over to Shima Adobe."
"I will see you when I return," Byakuya said, kissing him gently, "It won't be long."
"Okay, but you know, I'm holding you to that. I haven't forgotten that you were once taken by the quincies and threatened with beheading."
"I will be with my men this time, as I was not in that instance," Byakuya assured him, "Farewell, my love."
"Goodbye, Byakuya. Take care of yourself."
"Always."
XXXXXXXXXX
Kuri knelt on the hard floor of his cell, blindfolded and heavily bound, his chest heaving as he recovered from a hard shock of power that had jolted his slender body.
It is a good thing I am not delicate. These bastards are vicious. There is a chilling hatred in them that goes far beyond revenge. Tetsu-hana, mi amante, I hope that I can keep my promise to come back to you. Please don't curse me if I do not.
Something struck him hard in the abdomen and he gasped in response and fell forward, grunting and emitting a choked sound of pain as one of his tormentors kicked him under the jaw, throwing him backwards. He was sure that he should have struck the back of his head on the floor, rendering himself unconscious, but something softened the impact enough that he remained conscious and all to aware that he was completely at his captors' mercy.
They haven't asked me any questions or explained why I was taken and not killed. They have some kind of plan, and it seems that they want me alive. Perhaps they do this to keep me beaten down, so that I will not try to resist or to escape.
And that means escape will be my priority.
"You take pain rather well," said a haughty male voice that came from in front of him, "You are entertaining, Shima Taichou."
"¡Púdrete en el infierno!" Kuri spat, "Tu eres más feo que el culo de un mono." (Rot in hell! You are uglier than a monkey's butt."
"I don't think I need to ask what that means," the man in front of him said disapprovingly, "You may want to shut your mouth now. You have a large family, and we are very capable of making them pay if you misbehave."
"You threaten my husband and children?" Kuri growled, his reiatsu flaring under the heavy seal, "Te voy a matar! (I am going to kill you!)
"You are going to kill me, shinigami?" the man mocked him, "You should be worried about me killing you."
"If you wanted me dead, you would have killed me already," Kuri pointed out, "You want something else from me. What are you up to, you devil?"
"I am up to the same thing that we sought in the war. Only, I don't plan to lose as that fool, Ywach did."
"You speak very casually of the man I was informed killed all of the noble leaders before coming after us. You…are a noble son, are you not? That kind of disdain in your voice only comes from being raised a spoiled brat!"
Kuri's breath left him and he curled on the ground, gasping and panting as another kick impacted his vulnerable stomach. Several more hard blows left him barely conscious and unable to move.
"You should remember that we just need power. It doesn't matter if it comes from you. If you agitate me anymore, I will cut you to pieces, myself! Go curl up in a corner, like the dog you are and wait for me. I will be back to give you a better death than what you deserve, unless you give me reason to kill you before that!"
Kuri managed a tight little hidden smile as his tormentors left his cell and the door clanked shut.
So, they plan something big, and it requires power drained from me? I wonder if they plan more abductions. I need to learn more. Forgive me, Tetsu-hana for making you wait a little longer for me to come home.
XXXXXXXXXX
Tetsuya shifted oncomfortably in his sleep as terrifying dreams plagued his sleeping mind.
He felt icy shafts of darkness all around him, and horrifying screams filled the air. A male voice sounded, screaming louder than all of them and tearing at Tetsuya's heart with its familiarity.
"Kuri-kuri!" Tetsuya cried out, sitting up in bed and tearing at the blankets.
A flash step sounded and Koji appeared in the doorway.
"Tetsuya-sama!" he exclaimed softly, "Are you all right?"
"It was just a dream," Tetsuya panted, running his hands over his face, "I am sorry for waking you."
"Is Tetsuya all right?" Aderia asked from the doorway, where she stood alongside Magdelina.
"I am fine," Tetsuya assured them, "I just…"
He paused and went pale, making a sound of pain and laying a hand on his abdomen.
Aderia moved quickly to his side and conducted a quick examination. Tetsuya made a more guttural exclamation of pain and fell back against the pillows, struggling for breath and beginning to lose consciousness.
"What's happening, Aderia-san?" Koji cried, "What is wrong with Tetsuya-sama?"
Aderia didn't answer for a moment, while she repeated the examination she had just finished, then sat back slightly, a devastated look overcoming her face.
"What is it?" Magdelina asked, moving forward and joining her at Tetsuya's side, "Is something very wrong with him?"
"Our angelito will be fine, Mamà," Aderia assured her, "but sadly, he is miscarrying. It happens sometimes with the male breeders that the soul is just not viable. I am sorry. There is nothing to do, but let him rest. I will make sure that he sleeps until morning. We can tell him after he is more recovered."
The two looked up as an attendant flash stepped into the room.
"What is it?" Magdelina asked worriedly.
"Ichigo-sama has just arrived with his and Byakuya-sama's children," the attendant reported.
"It is awfully early," Aderia noted, glancing at her watch, "Is something wrong?"
The two women left Tetsuya in his attendant's care and hurried out to the front entry, where Ichigo and the children stood, waiting.
"Ichigo, what are you doing here so early?" Aderia asked.
"I needed to come and tell you. The Gotei hasn't released the information yet, but…Kuri's group was attacked and, while he was protecting his men, he was captured by the quincies."