Chapter 16: Rain

"Here, Renji," Byakuya said, handing the redhead a cup of hot green tea, "this should soothe your nerves."

"Soothe my nerves?" Renji said miserably, "I just found out that you are going to have to allow yourself to be slaughtered to regain your shinigami form, Byakuya! I doubt that tea will soothe me after that!"

Byakuya sighed.

"I know. I just don't know what else to say…what to do. We are just in a holding pattern until I figure out what to do."

Renji sipped at the tea and was surprised that it actually felt somewhat comforting to do so. He watched as Byakuya returned to the kitchen briefly and returned with a cup of tea for himself. He sat down at the table beside Renji and sipped at the tea, studying Renji silently.

"Does Ichigo know about having to fire the reiatsu into the receptor?" Renji asked after a few minutes of silence.

Byakuya shook his head.

"Kisuke and I decided that we would talk to you first and then speak to Ichigo. I needed time to reflect on what Kisuke told me. I was…not prepared…for how my emotions would turn upon hearing, so I needed time to consider my options."

Renji nodded.

"I can't imagine what that must have felt like. I wish I could have been there for you."

"You were there for me, remember?" said Byakuya, slipping an arm around him, "Renji, I might not have told you everything…but I said what I could and you steadied me so that I could face the rest. I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have you to turn to. Adjusting to life as a human has been difficult enough, but now to adjust to the fact that my human form has to die so that I can regain my shinigami form…"

"It scares me, Byakuya," Renji admitted, "I just can't stand to think about it."

He sighed softly and rested his head on Byakuya's shoulder.

"But you don't have to worry. Whatever you need…I'm going to help you."

Byakuya turned his head and brushed his face against Renji's hair.

"I know you will," he said quietly, "I trust you, Renji."

They sat quietly for several long minutes, listening to the waves crashing and rolling in onto the beach. Byakuya turned his head and captured Renji's lips in a slow, gentle kiss. Renji wrapped his arms around Byakuya and pushed his tongue in between the noble's parted lips. Byakuya's tongue moved slowly along the length of his, stroking it with gentle pressure. The redhead thrust his tongue in deeper and moved it warmly against Byakuya's. Renji let his hands fall to the noble's waist and released the tie on his robe. He pulled Byakuya closer, moaning at the feel of the noble's tongue as it caressed his.

Byakuya loosed the tie on Renji's robe and pushed it aside, moving forward and parting his thighs as he slid onto the redhead's lap. He rocked his hips slowly, dropping his head down to nuzzle Renji's throat. He felt Renji's body tense and pulled away to look at him.

"Renji?" he said questioningly.

Renji pressed the side of his face to Byakuya's chest, over his heart and rested it there, listening to the warm pulsing of the noble's heart. His hand found Byakuya's and he laced their fingers together. Byakuya waited silently, his eyes on his lover's.

"Are you…sure this is okay for you?" Renji asked finally.

A look of realization passed over Byakuya's features.

"Oh…Renji, I assure you. The form failure occurs on its own. It isn't affected by my exertions," he smiled, "It won't hurt me."

The redhead smiled against the warm pale skin of Byakuya's chest.

"Sorry," he said softly, "I just…wasn't sure."

Byakuya took hold of Renji's face and raised it, bringing his mouth down onto the redhead's and engaging him in a long, deep kiss. He moved his hips, causing warm friction and the pleasant feel of skin on skin. Renji moaned into his mouth and moved his own hips, increasing the friction and making Byakuya moan softly in response. Renji slid his hands down the noble's back and took hold of his hips, tightening and encouraging them to move faster. Byakuya gave another hungry moan and lifted himself away for a moment, then slowly lowered himself again onto the redhead's thickened erection. He leaned back and braced himself against the edge of the table behind him and rocked his hips, making Renji moan and thrust his hips upward.

Renji tightened his hold on the noble's slender body as Byakuya's back arched and his head rolled back. They moved faster and thrust harder against each other, deepening the contact until Renji felt himself getting breathless. He released his hold on one of Byakuya's slim hips and wrapped his hand around the noble's swollen arousal, sliding his hand up and down the long shaft and leaving Byakuya as breathless as he was.

Byakuya leaned forward and fastened his mouth on Renji's again, thrusting his tongue into the redhead's hot mouth and moaning loudly. Renji's hips thrust upward into his and Byakuya gasped and panted, trembling with pleasure. The redhead thrust upward again and the noble's body shuddered against his. Byakuya's hands tightened on Renji's muscular arms as the hot seed spilled out between them. Renji thrust deeply into the noble one last time, holding himself tightly against Byakuya as his cock pulsed again and again. Byakuya sank deeply into Renji's mouth, treating it to a rendering of slow, indulgent kisses as the two rested against each other and gradually regained their senses.

Byakuya started to pull away, but the redhead wrapped his arms warmly around him, holding him in place.

"Stay a little longer?" he requested softly.

Byakuya smiled and relaxed against Renji's shoulder.

"Of course," he whispered in response, "for as long as you want."

He rested his face against Renji's head as the redhead kissed and nipped lightly at his throat.

"I love you, Renji," Byakuya whispered into the strands of red hair, "I'm so thankful that you came to me in Inuzuri…that you stayed with me…that you love me."

"I do love you," Renji answered softly, "but I'm the one who's lucky, Byakuya. I'm so glad you kissed me…that you wanted to be with me…that you overcame the fears you had and let yourself love me."

"We're going to get to the other side of this, Renji," Byakuya promised, "I know we will. As long as we are together, we can overcome anything…anything."

Renji nodded against the noble's throat, swallowing the harsh emotion that was returning.

"I know we can," Renji agreed, "I am scared, though."

Byakuya sighed and brushed his face against the red hair.

"I am too."

Renji gently ran his fingers through the noble's silken black hair and gently rubbed his back. Byakuya sighed again and closed his eyes, listening to the pounding surf outside the beach house. He was starting to doze off when his ears picked up the patter of rain on the wooden roof and balcony. Byakuya yawned and slid off of the redhead's lap. Renji gave a small discontented sigh and released him.

Byakuya picked up their teacups and took them into the kitchen as Renji forced himself to his feet and fastened the tie at his waist. He walked down the hallway to the bathroom and was just about to turn on the shower when he heard the sound of breaking glass and a heavy thump.

"Bya!" he gasped, turning and running back to the kitchen.

Byakuya laid on his side with broken glass from the teacups on the floor next to him. Renji ran to him and dropped to the floor beside him, careful to avoid the glass.

"Byakuya," he said pleadingly, "Come on. Don't do this now! You said it wouldn't hurt you! Bya!"

He leaned forward and was relieved to see that Byakuya was still breathing. He lifted the noble and carried him to the bedroom. He set him down in the bed and climbed in next to him, resting his body against Byakuya's side and leaning over him to gently stroke his face. He heard the front door open and close.

"Renji?" called Kisuke's voice.

"In here!" Renji called back.

A moment later, Kisuke stepped into the room and sat down next to Byakuya.

"How did you know?" asked Renji, looking up at him as he quickly examined Byakuya.

"Your reiatsu fluctuation…and I heard you yell."

"How is he, Kisuke?" Renji asked nervously.

"Not so good…breathing's pretty ragged. It's definitely worse than last time…but I think he'll come around. We'll need to watch him though…just to be sure."

Renji nodded, his heart pounding painfully in his chest. Kisuke looked up at Renji.

"I'm going to send Ichigo to bring Orihime," he said quietly, "She may be able to help keep him stabilized for longer between these episodes. I don't know, though. I just don't know how long we have."

Renji watched as Kisuke extended his hands over Byakuya, focusing on the area around his heart.

"He told me," Renji said softly, "He told me what has to happen…"

Kisuke nodded.

"Good," he sighed, "That will help move things forward…but we still have to tell Ichigo about his part in this. Then there's the sticky matter of how to awaken the receptor."

"Kisuke," Renji said with desperation in his voice, "how do we deal with that? How in the hell are we going to…I mean…I just can't see how we can…do that to him!"

Kisuke looked up at him.

"What are our other options, Renji? We're running out of time. His body is failing. Even with Orihime's help, we won't buy him much in the way of time. There's just no two ways about it. Someone is going to have to do it. Every time he has one of these episodes it weakens his body and it puts a strain on the receptor. If his body gives out or the receptor shuts down, it's all over."

Kisuke looked back at Byakuya and sighed.

"Renji, it may be me who has to do this. He doesn't want you to have to do it…and Ichigo has to stand ready to do the reiatsu infusion. There really isn't anyone else. It's going to require a lot of precision to be done without killing him."

"Damn!" said Renji, an edge of panic in his voice, "Kisuke, this is nuts! How can we even be thinking of going ahead with this?"

Kisuke shook his head.

"We have to because there's no other choice. Look, he seems to be stable for now. I'm going to go pull Ichigo in here for the night. It's pouring out there anyway. We'll stand guard in here tonight. We can take turns sitting with Byakuya. Remember, you need to keep your strength up for the battle with Senbonzakura."

"I haven't forgotten," Renji said grimly, "I'm taking care of myself."

"Uh-huh," said Kisuke skeptically, "So tell me, when was the last time you ate, Renji?"

Renji thought for a moment.

"It wasn't that long ago. I just…can't focus on that right now."

"Get out of here, Renji. Go eat something. When you get back, I'll go get Ichigo."

Renji nodded and left the room. He walked back to the kitchen and cleaned up the broken glass, then quickly fixed a small meal. He sat at the table, eating without interest and listening to the sound of the rain pounding down on the roof. He was just finishing when the door burst open and Ichigo stepped in, shaking the water from his hair and skin.

"Hey Renji," he said, stepping away from the door, "Where's Kisuke?"

Renji motioned toward the hallway.

"He's in with Byakuya," Renji replied, getting up from the table, "I was just about to go back there. Do you want something to eat before we go back there?"

"Maybe in a bit. I need to talk to Kisuke first."

Renji led Ichigo down the hallway.

"Byakuya collapsed again," Renji explained, "Kisuke was just sitting with him so I could go get something to eat."

He opened the door to the bedroom and the two stepped inside. Renji climbed onto the bed and sat next to Byakuya, while Ichigo took a seat in a chair next to Kisuke.

"Wet enough out there?" Kisuke asked, noting Ichigo's soaked clothing.

"Yeah," Ichigo said solemnly, "I guess."

"What's on your mind?" Kisuke asked more seriously, "You sense something?"

"Yeah," said Ichigo, "I sensed something…something not good. We have someone watching us. I sense someone with a lot of power nearby. We have company."

Kisuke nodded.

"I think it's good we're all in here, then. I'm going to send a hell butterfly to Yoruichi and ask her to bring Orihime. I was going to send you…but we need you close by in case there's trouble."

"You think there could be tonight?"

Kisuke laughed with an edge of sarcasm in his voice.

"I always think there could be trouble. I'm always prepared. That's why I'm not dead yet. I'll set a shield around the property and the house and some alert lines. That will give us warning if that powerful someone out there decides to try anything. But first, let's get this butterfly off to Yoruichi."

He summoned the small creature and whispered a message to it, then released it. Kisuke rose and walked to the door.

"You two stay close to him while I do this. Keep your weapons nearby…just in case. I'll be back."

Kisuke disappeared down the hallway, leaving the two young men alone with the unconscious captain. Renji leaned over Byakuya, studying the rise and fall of his chest.

"How is he?" Ichigo asked kindly.

"I guess he's okay now," Renji said uncertainly, "He wasn't so good earlier, but he seems more stable now."

"Good," commented Ichigo, leaning back in his chair, "Has he said anything to you about whatever he and Kisuke were talking about?"

"Some," Renji admitted, "but he wants to talk to all of us together when he's well enough. He asked me not to talk about it until he's ready."

"Yeah, I guess that's understandable," Ichigo replied, turning to look out the window, into the rain.

Renji settled down next to Byakuya, resting his head on the noble's shoulder. Byakuya remained motionless, his chest rising and falling steadily as he slept.

"I wish he'd wake up," said Renji, "It's already been a lot longer than last time."

"He'll be okay, Renji," Ichigo said reassuringly.

"Yeah," said Renji, "you say that now. We'll see if you still feel the same after he wakes up and tells you what's going to happen. I can't tell you everything, but I can tell you that it's not going to be pleasant, that's for damned sure!"

Ichigo opened his mouth to answer, but was interrupted by Kisuke's return.

"You get everything set?" Ichigo asked.

"Yeah, it's all set," Kisuke affirmed, "but we have to stay on our toes. I sensed the strong reiatsu you told me about. It's someone powerful, like you thought…and he isn't alone. He brought along a couple of buddies. I don't think they'll come at us tonight, but we'll be extra careful anyway."

"Any idea who it is?" Renji asked.

"Oh I know exactly who it is…and it's not good. Unless I miss my guess, our watcher is none other than Orochi Kuchiki."