Chapter 16: Sweet Deception
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Take me in your arms and hold me tightly. Ours is a doomed romance, but we seek each other's lips desperately and love with abandon. Given that this moment is all that we have, let us embrace it...
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Byakuya sat quietly in his hospital bed, gazing out the window at the lovely moon and trying to stave off the feeling of illness that had come on after forcing himself to eat the dinner that had been brought to him. It wasn't that there was any problem with the food itself, but the very act of eating made him feel ill…and though he knew he must eat and rest to get well and to be allowed to return home, the feeling persisted stubbornly.
And as much as he ate, he couldn't seem to reach any level of satisfaction from it…
He continued to feel as though he might be slowly starving…
Gradually, the nausea became overwhelming and he slipped silently from his bed and loosed the contents of his stomach as quietly as he could, then rinsed his mouth, took a few small sips of water, and returned to his bed.
Kami, how will I ever get well enough to leave if I keep doing this? I know I must eat to gain weight…and I must gain weight before they will let me go home, but…this awful feeling inside…this constant feeling of illness…it's almost like…
His thoughts were interrupted as his door opened and an attendant slipped into the room.
"Ah…" he said apologetically, imagining his discomfort had been sensed, "My apologies, I…"
He broke off as the other quickly approached him and sat down on the edge of the bed, wrapping an arm around him and covering his mouth with a warm, calloused hand.
"Shh…" he said softly, "I've rerouted the monitors for now, but we still have to be quiet so no one passing by the room hears. Don't worry, we have friends watching in case Tohma tries to come here."
Byakuya's heart twinged painfully.
"Renji!" he breathed as the hand left his mouth.
His arms wrapped around the redhead and he dropped his head onto Renji's shoulder, closing his eyes and breathing him in, hardly believing that he could really be there.
"I've missed you," the redhead whispered, kissing the top of his head gently, "I've missed you…too much…"
Byakuya met his eyes gratefully.
"Renji…we've been working together for…"
"That's not what I meant," Renji said, stopping his lips with warm fingertips, "I just meant…that I missed feeling close to you…the way we used to…before."
Byakuya nodded, his eyes misting over as Renji's arms tightened around him.
"It was beautiful," Renji went on, his voice soft and affectionate, "the time we spent falling in love. I know that we fought…and we struggled for a while, but it was all worth it…just to be with you…just that one time. Byakuya, that meant everything to me!"
The noble blinked back threatening tears and nodded again.
"The memory of that evening with you," Byakuya said softly, "of sharing dinner and conversation…of that nervousness I felt, not knowing how you would react when I told you. And then the moment came…and I couldn't say the words. You had to say them for me…"
Renji's cheek brushed lightly against his and he was sure he felt those warm lips touch him there. He remained frozen against the redhead, waiting for something to interrupt them, for the door to open again and someone to catch them, for Tohma to arrive as he always seemed to…something. But the hallway outside the room remained quiet and Renji did not disappear. His head turned and very tentatively, his lips found Byakuya's. The noble felt the breath leave his body and he sagged against the other.
"Are you all right?" Renji asked quickly, "Should I bring a…"
"No…I'm…I'm fine. I just…I thought that you said…"
"I know," Renji sighed resignedly, "I know it's wrong for me to kiss you…to want to hold you…to want another night like the one we had. But Byakuya…I feel like I'm starving for you. I hurt inside because I want to be with you so badly."
Could this be what Tohma did to me? Could it be having an affect on Renji as well?
"I tried to do the right thing…or what I thought was the right thing," Renji went on, "but it tore me up to sit there watching you suffer…and not doing anything to help you. Byakuya, I can't let you go on suffering like this. And I know what I risk by doing this. But…I…can't help it. I love you too much…and if it will help bring you back to life inside…if it will help you to have hope…and to get well…then I would do anything…anything at all to save you! I would die for you, Byakuya…"
"You still love me that much?" Byakuya whispered, "After everything? Even when it seems that there is no hope left for us? Renji…"
His words were stopped as the redhead's hot mouth captured his and Renji kissed him into silence. He turned and laid down next to Byakuya, leaning over him and kissing him harder, as though straining to hold back, but not being able to any longer. Byakuya's arms tightened around him painfully, and it seemed that they couldn't be close enough to each other. So they tore away their clothes and Renji rested his body on top of Byakuya's, his head spinning at being so close again to this person he loved with such abandon. He had thought to keep his head while seeming to seduce Byakuya, but as the heat of their closeness took hold of him, the temptation raged all around him.
He's close…so damned close…but I…can't…can't let myself lose it.
He panted against the noble's soft white throat, trying to catch his breath and regain control. He almost had, when Byakuya's body shifted and he overturned the stunned redhead. He rose up over Renji, a lovely white aura curling all around him, enchanting Renji and leaving him breathless and unable to move as Byakuya moved on top of him, sliding their lengths against each other and releasing his name in hungry, soft whispers.
"Renji…" he moaned hungrily, "Renji, watashi no koi! I can't be without you anymore! I want you, Renji…I want you inside me…"
Renji was held spellbound as Byakuya's body writhed hotly against his, sending beautiful twinges through body and loins…making him gasp for breath, making him desperately sad that he had to stop it, that it couldn't be real…couldn't be allowed to happen. Agony broke over him as he caught that sweet, pale face in his hands, as he sent a shock of kido that made the noble collapse on top of him. He kissed Byakuya's closed eyes and unresponsive lips, tearfully apologizing repeatedly for what he was doing.
With heavy flares of guilt eating away at him, he turned Byakuya onto his back and checked to be certain that he was completely unconscious. He moved quickly then, as much to be done before his own emotions could overwhelm him, making him do something he'd regret, as to complete the task he had set before himself. He leaned over the noble, kissing him and carefully preparing him. Then pushing his fingers deep inside, he released a carefully prepared kido spell that sent heat coursing into the noble's body. Feeling Byakuya begin to stir at the intense sensation, he carefully placed touches of his reiatsu on the noble's body, then rested his body on Byakuya's and brought him into a state of semi-consciousness.
"R-ren…ji," the noble moaned dazedly.
"I'm here," Renji whispered against his lips, reaching down and wrapping his hand around Byakuya's warm and swelling member, stroking him and kissing him, open mouthed as the noble began to regain his senses and thrust into the hand that pleasured him.
"Renji…Renji…I missed you so…Renji…" he whispered, sounding barely coherent, "I tried to forget you…but I…I was aching all over to be with you. It was like being starved for you…and I couldn't think of anything else…"
Renji met the dark, tormented eyes warmly and kissed the words away.
"I missed you too, Byakuya," Renji whispered back, "I'm sorry…I tried to forget you too, but I…Byakuya, I just couldn't help myself! When you…got on top of me like that…I just…lost control. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to go all of the way. I thought we could stop ourselves…"
"W-we…?"
"Yes," Renji said, kissing him and continuing to caress his hardened length, "It was…amazing…but…you don't think…you don't think…he'll find out?"
Byakuya shook his head and thrust harder into his lover's hand.
"N-no…this…this hospital…has… ah…he can't see clearly…ah…Renji! Renji!"
Renji wanted to die, watching the serene expression that erupted onto the noble's face as hot seed pulsed out of him, into Renji's hand and onto Byakuya's lower abdomen. He kissed and soothed Byakuya into a deep sleep, then carefully spread some of the sticky fluid where it would leave the impression that they had, indeed, made love. He remained for a long time after, stroking the noble's soft hair and skin, kissing him lightly so as not to wake him, and feeling the seething flashes of guilt over what he had done.
But there was no other way to be sure of why…
Now, Tohma will make whatever move he has planned…
Whether it's to get rid of me…to maneuver Byakuya into a corner or something else, he will follow his plan and we will all be watching very, very closely. He won't get away with whatever he's trying to do. We won't let him!
He burrowed his face into Byakuya's shoulder, breathing in the lovely scent of sakura and feeling the loss of Byakuya even more keenly.
I'm going to end this! I'm going to get you out of this, then we will be together, Byakuya. I promise it. I swear it!
He was brought out of his reverie as a soft tap on the door sent him rolling out of bed and flash stepping across the room. He sensed Rukia and opened the door.
"The morning crew is coming on," she told him, "We have to go."
They moved to the window and climbed out, then flash stepped down to where Ichigo waited for them.
"You weren't seen?" the substitute shinigami asked softly.
"No," Rukia said, "and I reset the monitors so no one will know that we tampered with them. But we should go. Tohma is sure to arrive soon."
As though on cue, the three sensed the prince's approaching reiatsu and flash stepped away.
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Tohma slipped into Byakuya's room and touched the noble's face gently, then leaned forward and kissed him. He froze with his lips pressed to Byakuya's, his senses piqued at the look of surprise in the noble's expression and the presence of someone else's reiatsu on his body. A smile crept onto his face that sent a jolt of tension through Byakuya.
"He was here?" Tohma asked so softly that the monitors would not pick up the sound.
Byakuya gave a barely perceptible nod.
"And you…managed to seduce him?" the prince queried.
Byakuya nodded again.
Tohma's face seemed to express an inner struggle of some kind, but he quelled the hot swell of rage that flared as he reached beneath the blankets and searched Byakuya's body, the sticky evidence there underscoring the noble's admission. Tohma swallowed the dark emotion and his smile trembled slightly.
"This is…good. You have done well. But let's get this off of you. I feel somewhat ill thinking of…what happened. Come with me."
He helped the noble out of bed and the two entered the bathroom. Tohma helped him out of his clothes, then kissed him lightly.
"Do you need me to stay?" he asked softly.
"No," Byakuya said, turning towards the shower, "I can manage."
Tohma returned to the hospital room and sat down near the window, looking outside and trying to force down the anger that raged inside him. He knew it had been necessary, but he hated knowing that Renji had laid hands on Byakuya again.
"If not for needing this child…" he whispered to himself.
But as soon as our heir is born, I can dispose of him. I can do it easily. Then, Byakuya will never again be touched by anyone but me…
His smile returned as Byakuya climbed back into his bed and Tohma took his place beside the noble. He talked and chatted lightly, but beneath the joviality, Byakuya sensed the gathering storm of emotions. He knew better now than to think that Tohma would quietly accept what he had done. Even though he had required it of the noble, he couldn't help but be upset at having Renji make love with Byakuya. The jealousy raged hotly, and Byakuya knew that it was only a matter of time before that anger erupted into violence. He looked around the room, his eyes touching on the monitors that carefully watched. They kept him safe for now, but all too soon, he would be returned to Kuchiki Manor and the torment would continue. He felt the weariness and stress of the situation press against his mind, and the feeling of sickness returned. His stomach turned as his next meal was set before him and he wasn't even able to climb out of bed before he was overcome. Tohma wrapped his arms around Byakuya and whispered gently in his ear.
"You must stop this…this…odd behavior. They must see improvement or they will not allow you to leave…"
He paused as a healer entered the room, examined the noble briefly, then left, and returned several minutes later with Unohana taichou. The healer leaned over Byakuya, examining him carefully, then stepping back.
"Prince Tohma," she said quietly, "I do believe that I told you that it was important to Byakuya's recovery that you not engage in any sexual activity. It is interfering with his treatment."
Tohma sighed softly.
"I am sorry, Unohana taichou. I know it was wrong, but…we are very much in love. I gave in to him because he seemed so very lonely here without me. I fear this is not having a good effect on him…this being away from me. I want to see Byakuya get well. I wonder if perhaps the healers in the spirit dimension would have more success in treating him…"
"I think as long as his body is subjected to sources of stress, he will continue to languish. I must ask you again to please refrain from any sexual activity…if you want me to release Byakuya any time soon."
Tohma's eyes narrowed a bit dangerously, sending a shiver through the noble.
"I understand your concern…and Byakuya and I will be careful not to go against your recommendations again. We both are anxious for him to return to Kuchiki Manor."
The healer nodded and left them alone again with an admonition to Byakuya to wait thirty minutes, then begin drinking small amounts of liquid…then increase the amount and add foods gradually.
"I will make sure he follows your instructions to the letter," promised the prince, glaring hotly at her back as she left the room.
He turned back to Byakuya, sighing impatiently.
"She is ridiculous…" he mused, "You would not be so ill if you ate food made by your own staff and not this peasant's fare. I will have the staff prepare your meals from now on. I will do whatever it takes to get you released, then as soon as we confirm your pregnancy, we will go back to the palace. We will be away from all of these stupid, intrusive people. That is all we really need, watashi no koi, just to be free of them. And we will be. We just need to wait to see if your seduction of Abarai Renji results in a child for us."
He smoothed the noble's long strands of black hair and kissed his lips.
"Your forced stay here will end soon, Byakuya, I promise you."
"That is good," the noble replied, half-heartedly.
But inside, he knew exactly what would happen as soon as they reached the manor and the bedroom doors closed behind them. He sighed and leaned against the prince, the hopelessness welling up inside him and bringing the darkness back.
He's going to punish me for sleeping with Renji…
I know he will…