Chapter 4: The New Prince
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It only takes the slightest glance to know that I am not the man I used to be. My face has not changed, but everything beneath it has faded. Do not dream you can save me. By the time you reach for me, there will be nothing left.
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"I am sorry," the tower guard told Renji, "Kuchiki Byakuya is only able to receive visitors who have proper clearance. As yet, we have not received your clearance."
"Yeah, well, I get what you're saying, but the thing is…I am his fukuktaichou…and I need to see him regarding the sixth division. Last I checked, he was still our taichou, so I need access to him to discuss work related matters."
The guard nodded sympathetically.
"I'll tell you what. Wait here for a moment and I will see what I can do."
He turned away and disappeared, leaving Renji at the base of the tower, looking somewhat blankly at another guard. He sighed deeply, beginning to lose hope he would get in. But even then, he knew he couldn't afford to NOT get in. His fingertips strayed to Zabimaru's hilt as he recalled the zanpakutou's sudden warning.
Renji…you should know…I have sensed that Senbonzakura is in distress. He says that he was left behind at Kuchiki Manor while Byakuya went into the spirit realm. He sensed that his master was in great pain, but Byakuya refused to call him to hand, even though he easily could have. Something is wrong…
And it seemed that Zabimaru must be right. Why else would Byakuya be locked in a tower in the palace and have such restrictions placed on who he could see?
"Abarai fukutaichou," said the guard, who had returned as Renji stood daydreaming, "your entry has been approved. Come, I will take you to Kuchiki taichou."
"Thanks," Renji said, sighing in relief.
He followed the guard up the long winding stairway, catching his breath softly as he noticed the seal that restricted use of shinigami powers to the guards in the area. Not that he planned to break his taichou out of the tower, or anything reckless like that…unless, of course, there was reason to do so. But he had to talk to Byakuya to know for sure what was going on…
"Hold a moment," the guard said, stopping him outside the cell door.
The door opened and an aged man stepped out. He paused and turned to look at Renji, curiosity in his features.
"And who might you be?" he asked.
"I am Abarai Renji, fukutaichou of the sixth division…and you are?"
"I am Kuchiki Ginrei, Byakuya's grandfather."
He extended a hand in greeting.
"I am pleased to meet you, Abarai fukutaichou. Word of your division's excellence has reached the spirit dimension…and your name is spoken often here."
"Is that so?" Renji said, smiling, "So…how is Taichou?"
Ginrei sighed softly.
"He is well enough, however, I think that things will improve once he has been wed…at least, I hope they will."
"Huh? Is something going on?" Renji asked.
Ginrei nodded.
"Go inside, Abarai fukutaichou. Your Taichou will explain."
He turned and began to descend the stairway. The guard held the door open for Renji and he stepped inside the cell. The door clanked shut behind him.
Renji sighed in relief that the cell he stepped into had more of the feel of a large bedroom than of a place of confinement. The bed and other furniture looked comfortable and there was a large window that overlooked the king's garden. Yes, it seemed comfortable enough and Byakuya's reiatsu seemed strong enough, despite being held back by the seal in the area. But he knew upon seeing Byakuya sitting by the window, gazing out at the sky, that something was off. He stepped forward, clearing his throat.
"Taichou," he said quietly.
He heard a sharp intake of breath and Byakuya's head turned, his eyes coming to rest on Renji and going wide for a moment.
"Renji…" he said softly, sounding as though he wasn't sure he was really seeing his fukutaichou, "How did you get here? It isn't as though entering the spirit dimension is easy to do. The permissions you need…the clearances…"
"Yeah, well…Soutaichou had a sense that something was wrong."
"So…he sent you?" Byakuya asked.
"No…actually, I went to him…"
"You…went to Soutaichou…and asked to see me? Why, Renji? It must be uncomfortable for you, knowing why I'm here."
"Of course it is," Renji said, matter-of-factly, "but look…just because we didn't end up together doesn't mean that we can't be friends…and when one of my friends is in some kind of trouble, I'm going to be there for him."
"And you think I am in trouble?" Byakuya asked softly, "You think I require assistance?"
Renji stared at him for a moment.
"Well, let's see. You're locked up in a tower…and your powers are sealed away. Your visitors are restricted and it's going to be that way until the wedding. To me, that sounds like trouble."
"Perhaps it is protective. After all, I am to join the royal family. Do not worry, Renji. I am well enough. You should return to the Seireitei."
Renji shook his head.
"Stubborn ass…I knew you'd say that," he said in a low voice, "but I know something's wrong here. I know. Taichou, Zabimaru went nuts yesterday…and said that the reason was that Senbonzakura was in fits, because you were in pain and you refused to call him to hand."
"Well, perhaps your zanpakutou needs to be checked for mental fitness, because, as you can see, I am not in any kind of pain or distress. I am comfortable and in no danger. I do not need you to come to my rescue. And truly, I do not wish you to be made uncomfortable by having to witness my nuptials. You don't deserve that."
"Yeah, fine," muttered Renji, "I know why you're brushing me off…and just so you know, I'm not going to take offense, even though I can tell that you're trying to make me mad. You want me to get angry and leave. But it isn't just because you think I'm going to be uncomfortable watching you marry the prince. It's because of how it's making you feel. I know you don't want this. We both know that."
"Renji…"
"Not like our feelings matter. I know it doesn't change the facts of the situation…but you are still my taichou. And even though you're pushing me away to protect our feelings, I know we're still friends. Friends look out for each other. And that's why, even though it's pretty damned painful…I'm going to stay for the wedding. I'm part of the escort that is taking you back to the Seireitei. And remember, too that I am still your fukutaichou. As much as you can avoid me now, before the wedding, I heard you will be living at the manor…and you and I will still be working together. We need to be comfortable doing that…"
"I have been thinking about that," Byakuya said quietly, "And even before I learned I was to be married to Prince Tohma, I had planned for you to take the next taichou's examination. You are certainly well enough prepared. I will see to your recommendation when I return."
Renji's lips tightened and his eyes narrowed.
"So…you think it will be too hard to work together, with you married to the prince…and me still single…"
"Renji…considering the way things ended, is it really a good idea for us to work so closely together? Should we put ourselves in that situation. It will be uncomfortable, I think, for both of us…especially when I become pregnant with Tohma's child."
"Wh-what?" Renji stammered, "But…"
"When we are married and together for the first time, the contact with the royal prince will alter my systems so that it is possible for me to bear children."
"You mean…you'll change genders?" Renji said breathlessly.
"No," said Byakuya calmly, "Contact with his reiatsu will alter mine so that when we are together, my body will form a reiatsu chamber. It will combine our two reiatsu to make a third…and that will emerge from my body and take form as a shinigami child. It takes about the same length of time as a human birth, because of the need for the reiatsu to be stabilized within my body for a certain amount of time."
Renji's expression turned pensive and he stood quietly for a moment.
"In any case," Byakuya went on, "I am certain that I don't wish for us to be made uncomfortable thinking 'what if,' so…"
"You would have wanted children with me?" Renji blurted out, suddenly.
He froze at Byakuya soft, surprised inhale of breath. And the long silence that followed answered his question more thoroughly than words could have.
"Sorry, Taichou," he murmured, "That was uncalled for…"
"Why? Because fate made it so we cannot be together? So now we cannot admit to what we were feeling…and what we would still be feeling had the summons never come? I know it will do neither of us any good, Renji, but just so that you know…yes…given the choice, I would have wanted to have children with you. It doesn't change our reality…"
"But it does give me comfort, Taichou, to know that you loved me that much."
The room fell deeply silent and neither seemed able to speak again. Renji stood for a moment as Byakuya turned back to the window and stared out at the king's garden, then without saying any more, he turned away and left the cell, closing the door softly behind him. But even as quietly as the door closed, the click of the lock echoed loudly all around.
Back in the cell, Byakuya continued to stare silently out at the king's garden, a tear sliding down one porcelain cheek.
"Yes, Renji," he whispered, "I love you that much…"
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Byakuya stood quietly as Torio checked over kenseiken, ginpaku kazahana no uzuginu, kimono and everything else, then nodded in approval.
"You look perfect, Kuchiki-sama," he said, stepping back, "And your escort is here."
Byakuya nodded and turned to follow the guards out of the confinement tower and back down into the palace. They moved quietly down several hallways, through a large courtyard and into the main hall, where hundreds had gathered to witness the royal nuptials. Having been confined in the tower for nearly two weeks and without his powers, he felt the uncomfortable press of reiatsu in the room. It left him feeling somewhat suffocated.
"Just a moment now," his escort told him.
Byakuya stood patiently, catching a glimpse of himself in a nearby mirror. He felt a sense of disquiet seeing how awfully pale he actually looked, how even the lovely kimono and beautiful surroundings couldn't hide the toll his situation was taking on him. Because even though he had simply been confined and not punished physically after that first time, his situation was wearing on him. He had not been looking forward to marrying the prince. He had, in fact, been dreading it. He had been careful not to let Renji see it the one time his fukutaichou came to visit, but he had the feeling that Renji wasn't fooled. He was glad that the redhead had not come back to see him after that. It would have been far too painful for both of them.
He wondered if they would ever feel comfortable together again. Renji seemed to be handling things well enough, but then, his Rukon life had made him a very practical survivalist. Byakuya had been more sheltered and had less to help him manage his emotions. He only knew how to conceal them, not how to alter or control them in any real way. He was still very much in love with Renji. And despite his understanding that he was going to marry Prince Tohma, despite his acceptance of the facts, he did not see himself ever loving the prince. He would not admit it, of course…but neither would the emotion change. He knew that his love for Renji was special…and that it wouldn't leave him…ever…
"Proceed," the escort said softly.
Byakuya stepped forward and his hand was gently placed in Prince Tohma's. They were careful to keep their eyes focused straight ahead…not to look at each other or anyone else. Byakuya could see out of the corner of his eye that the prince looked pale as well. He seemed calm enough and even managed a smile as he felt Byakuya's hand take his. They walked past the long rows of guests and to the front of the room, where they stopped and waited as the king entered from a side room. Byakuya felt the prince's reiatsu flutter, but his expression remained calm.
As the king began to speak, Byakuya half-listened, having prepared beforehand so that he knew what to say and do at each phase in the ceremony. The prince's hand held his through most of the ceremony and Byakuya could feel the happiness. He wondered if maybe, after what had happened in the throne room, that the prince could be turning a corner.
But it didn't seem likely. The prince was unstable…but the king didn't want to deal with it. That kind of thing didn't just disappear. He sighed softly, knowing that things would likely get worse before they got better. If they got better. And if they got worse and the couple lived in the Seireitei…and he still worked with Abarai Renji…then Renji would figure things out.
And Byakuya didn't want that…
He realized suddenly that the end of the ceremony had come. Somehow, even trapped in his thoughts as he had been, he had managed to say his vows…and now the king was pronouncing them married. The full weight of the fact settled over him and he felt the breath leave him. Prince Tohma turned and took Byakuya in his arms. And as the prince's lips touched Byakuya's, the room went dark around him. He felt his legs give way beneath him and he surrendered to the blackness.
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"Byakuya," said a soft, worried voice, "Byakuya, please wake up…"
He thought at first that it was Renji, and he forced his eyes open. He took a shallow breath and tried to sit up, but Prince Tohma pushed him back down. He lay in the prince's bed, and looking over at the window, he could see that night had fallen. He felt a weight settle on his heart as he remembered that they were married now. The prince was his husband…
"Are you feeling better?" Tohma asked, touching his face gently, "The healer said…that you would be fine."
"But…" said Byakuya, "I don't understand. Why did I lose consciousness?"
The prince smiled.
"Well…" he said, looking pleased with himself, "at first, the healer thought it was because of the sudden return of reiatsu after spending all of that time in confinement, with your powers sealed away. But then he had a closer look, and…well…Byakuya, that day we were together in the king's garden. It wasn't supposed to happen so soon, but…but we are going to have a child!"
Byakuya caught his breath in something between dismay and wonder. He stared at the smiling prince, then the conversation he had had with Renji reared up in his mind. He forced a smile, but inside his heart was breaking…because even though he was pleased enough to know that he would soon be a father, he would have given anything for this to have been Renji's child.
A cold chill went through him as it struck him that he had been with Renji just before the prince had taken even though he was not fertile until the prince's body altered his to make it so…at that time, there were two men's seed in his body.
And without tests to be sure…
The father could be either Tohma or Renji…
"Byakuya…you don't look happy," the prince said, kissing him.
"I…I can't be anything but happy," he said, feeling a hard knot inside, "I'm just…surprised. I thought that your body wouldn't alter mine until after the wedding."
"It is not the wedding," explained the prince, "but the first taking that alters your body. After that, you can have as many children as we want…"
He leaned forward and brought his body to rest on Byakuya's. His eyes took on a deeper, more intense look.
"I've missed you, Byakuya. It was horrible, being locked away like that and kept from you. But we are together now. We will always be together…"
Tohma's hands moved gently to open his yukata, and the prince slid down and pushed his thighs open.
"You belong to me now, Byakuya," he said, carefully preparing him, then pushing slowly inside.
But even as Tohma's body claimed his, the reality circled painfully in Byakuya's mind.
This child inside me...could be Renji's!