Chapter 11: The One Protected
"You've been kind of quiet since...earlier," Rikichi said softly, watching Kisho as the tawny haired youth gazed out the window at the stars and moon, "Is something wrong?"
Kisho turned back towards Rikichi, his golden eyes catching the moonlight and glittering brightly.
"I was just thinking about what that man said...that one of you five must be the lost heir."
"Huh," huffed Rikichi, "Lost heir of what?"
"He didn't say," acknowledged Kisho, "But it must a noble clan...or at least a wealthy family of the Rukongai."
He reconsidered for a moment.
"No," he went on, "For this guy to be so determined to kill all of you, it has to be either a noble clan...or maybe the royal family."
"You think so?" Rikichi said, his brown eyes widening at the thought.
He tried to think of himself as royalty and started to laugh. Kisho smiled, enjoying the moment of light-heartedness, then sobered slightly.
"What is it?" asked Rikichi, "What's bothering you, Kisho?"
The other youth returned to Rikichi's side and knelt next to him on the bed. He reached out with one hand and touched Rikichi's face lightly.
"I was thinking that...if you did turn out to be this lost heir, well..."
Rikichi frowned and caught Kisho's hand in his.
"Well, what?" he asked softly, squeezing the young prince's hand gently.
"Well, then..."
Kisho let out a breath and met Rikichi's eyes meaningfully.
"Then...this...what happened with us. It couldn't happen, Rikichi."
"What?" Rikichi asked.
His eyes widened as he realized.
"Oh! Because of being expected to have a baby?" he asked.
"Male noble couples can have babies, but it is more rare, so the clans kind of frown on it. And most noble couples are arranged. I told you before that my clan is sort of looked down on by many of the others. And if you are heir of a clan we aren't on good terms with, then you could be given in marriage to someone else. A few, like Kuchiki taichou, rebel against the rules, but..."
Rikichi smiled and surprised Kisho's lips with a warm, lengthy kiss.
"Then if it turns out that way, I will rebel against the rules to stay with you...Kisho. You are the best friend I've ever had, and I..."
He froze, staring into Kisho's much happier eyes. He couldn't force the last words out as Kisho wrapped his arms around him and brought their mouths together. Rikichi closed his eyes and sank hungrily into each sweltering kiss, shivering inside as his heart pounded fitfully and he felt an increasing ache in his loins. He felt Kisho's hand touch his abdomen and felt like pleading for him to move it lower, to touch him 'there,' to caress him, to make the pleasure resonate through his whole body. He flushed brightly at the thought and stole a glance at the other youth. He caught Kisho blushing and peeking as he was, and suddenly the two broke away from each other and began to laugh.
"I think I'm in love with you, Rikichi," Kisho said suddenly, sending a wonderful, sweet jolt all through him.
The Shihoin prince's golden eyes struck Rikichi with the force of a kido blast and he released a soft, unbidden sob of surprise and happiness.
"What?" asked Kisho, looking nervous, "Did I...I didn't make you feel uncomfortable, did I?"
"No," said Rikichi, his blush deepening sweetly, "You made me really, really happy, Kisho!"
Kisho reached out and brushed away a tear that had formed in the corner of Rikichi's eye.
"Then...you..." Kisho began.
"Yeah," Rikichi said, nodding and hugging the other youth with shaking arms, "I think I'm in love with you too."
He swallowed hard and lowered his eyes as he went on.
"No one has ever...said that to me, Kisho. That's why I reacted like that. I'm sorry you thought for even a minute that I didn't love you back. I just...was really surprised. I don't know why. Maybe I just couldn't believe anyone would look at me like you do...would want to be close to me...put his arms around me. When you touch me, I feel it everywhere. And I feel like I've stopped breathing."
He looked down at where Kisho's hand still rested lightly on his abdomen.
I want you to touch me, Kisho, Rikichi thought, trembling softly, but how do I say the words?
His face felt hot and flushed, and his blush deepened as his eyes met Kisho's again. To his surprise, the usually bold youth looked as nervous as Rikichi felt. His fingers moved slightly on Rikichi's abdomen and the brown-eyed youth quivered. Kisho's golden eyes softened, and he leaned forward and kissed Rikichi again. The brown-eyed youth took a soft, hissing breath as Kisho's hand slid down and touched him tentatively through his clothes. A light, hungry moan escaped Rikichi's lips and he opened his mouth, sucking the other youth's tongue into his mouth and curling his tongue around it, as Kisho's hand gently rubbed his aroused privates. The golden-eyed youth pulled away slightly and smiled at Rikichi.
"I hope it was okay for me to touch you like that. I mean...I want to...do more, but I think that I might not be able to stop once I started. I really like you a lot, Rikichi."
Rikichi's lips curved into a bright smile and refused to stop smiling.
"I feel the same," he said, the flush still on his cheeks.
The two went quiet for a moment, both looking out at the moon and holding hands. Rikichi stole a glance at the other youth, out of the corner of an eye.
"Kisho?" he said, trying to force his voice not to shake.
The Shihoin Prince's golden eyes swung away from the moon and struck his forcefully, making him lose his nerve to speak. He stared for a moment, wishing the other boy could just read his mind...or that the words could just come easier. Kisho looked into Rikichi's flustered expression and smiled, then reached down and opened his yukata.
Rikichi stared breathlessly as the prince's hand reached out and loosed the tie on his yukata as well. And without further words, the two youths laid down together and curled comfortably into each others' arms.
Rikichi ached to be able to say something, to tell Kisho how good it felt to press their warm, naked bodies together and let their skin touch like that. He shivered when he thought about going on to more sexual touches. It was exciting, but a part of him wanted to move cautiously. And so, he rested his head on Kisho's shoulder and closed his eyes, letting the other boy's pleasant scent play over his senses. Kisho smiled and rested his chin on top of Rikichi's head.
"Being with you like this, doesn't just feel good," said Rikichi, "It makes me feel very, very safe, Kisho."
Kisho smiled warmly and shifted slightly to kiss him.
"You will always be safe with me, Rikichi," promised Kisho, closing his eyes and holding the other boy tightly in his arms.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Hey Matsuko," Renji said cheerfully to the Byakuya's housekeeper as she opened the door, "Kuchiki taichou told me to meet him after I finished up some things. Is he here?"
"Not yet," said the housekeper, "but we've received word that he will be here shortly, and he is expecting you. Come, I will serve you some tea in the gardens."
"Oh, hey, I know how to get there. You don't have to escort me," chuckled Renji, "I promise, I won't steal anything on the way."
"Really, Abarai-san..." Matsuko laughed.
"How many time to I have to tell you...it's Renji," the redhead corrected her.
"Very well, Renji-san, if you will wait in the gardens, tea will be served in a few minutes."
Renji nodded and followed the outdoor walkway down the side of the main wing, then turned right at the end. As he rounded the corner, he realized suddenly that someone else was coming around the other way, and stopped short to avoid a collision.
"Ah...sorry, I..."
Renji froze, staring into the man's sapphire eyes as the man stared back at him.
"Oh...you must be Tetsuya-san, ne?" the redhead said finally.
Tetsuya gazed back at him intently, as though trying to place him.
"It's...okay," Renji said, extending a hand, "You don't know me. I'm Abarai Renji, Kuchiki taichou's fukutaichou at the sixth division."
"G-ginrei is...?"
"N-no, not Kuchiki Ginrei...Kuchiki Byakuya."
"Ah, my apologies," said Tetsuya, "I don't know if Byakuya-sama told you, but I was injured and cannot remember very much. I feel, though, that you are familiar. I have seen your face before. I know I have. I just don't know where...the Rukongai, perhaps, when you were younger?"
Renji frowned and thought back. He caught his breath softly, and his eyes widened. He started to answer, but went silent as something struck the back of his head and pain exploded through the area. He caught a glimpse of someone grabbing Tetsuya from behind, and holding a cloth over his nose and mouth. As Renji hit the ground, he saw Tetsuya's legs give way, and someone dressed in dark clothes starting to drag him off.
"S-stop!" he gasped.
"You shut up and don't involve yourself," said a low voice.
Before he could protest, a second blow sent him plunging into blackness.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Renji?" said Byakuya's voice, sounding concerned.
"Is...is Renji-san all right?" asked Matsuko, sounding scared, "I sent him here to sit down for tea, and to wait for you. But when I arrived with the tea, he was collapsed on the walkway. And I saw Tetsuya-san's wrap on the ground."
"He will be all right, but go and summon a healer."
"Hai, Kuchiki-sama!"
Renji flinched and groaned as a horse's whinny sounded practically over his head. Running footsteps sounded on the walkway.
"Kuchiki-sama!" said the house guard, "Tetsuya-san is not in his room."
"Then find the guard on duty," said Byakuya, "And begin a search for my cousin at once!"
"Sir..." said the guard, panting softly, "We found the guard unconscious. That's probably how they were able to catch these two off guard."
"Very well, double the guards on duty as well."
He turned back to Renji, whose eyes were opened and looking up at the tall stallion whose head was lowered and nudging him.
"What the hell?" gasped Renji, "Who are you?"
"Ah," said Byakuya, looking relieved to see that the redhead was awake, "That is just my cousin's mount, Arashi. He is harmless. He is just worried about Tetsuya, so he is out of sorts right now."
"Oh," said Renji groggily, sitting up slowly and rubbing the back of his head.
"Are you all right?" asked Byakuya.
"Y-yeah...I think so," Renji answered, looking up at Arashi again, "D-did you say...Arashi?"
"Yes," the noble confirmed.
Renji frowned and thought back to what Noa had said.
"I can still see the boys, out there in the yard, running and playing, stubbing toes and scraping knees, scaring me half to death when they would ride Arashi, though he was a good horse, always so gentle with all of the children."
"You had a horse?" Renji asked, "I don't see a stable. Where did you keep him?"
"Oh," said Noa, smiling, "Arashi wasn't mine. He was Tadao's mount. He told me that Arashi was one of the wild spirit steeds, but that one day when he was hurt very badly and alone in the forest, Arashi appeared and somehow healed him, then refused to leave him. It was the closest I saw our Tadao get to anyone. Poor lad. If he had come to us as a child, he would have been like these we cared for, just another lost child. He was young, a mere teen, when he first brought them, and we offered him a place to stay, but he very politely refused. He was used to taking care of himself, he said. Still, there was always a sadness about him, and sometimes, when I would show him kindness, he betrayed a longing, like he really wanted to stay, but that, for some reason, he felt that he couldn't. But he watched over the children, always, especially those five boys."
"Taichou," Renji said, his suspicions growing, "how did Tetsuya-san and Arashi meet?"
Byakuya frowned.
"Tetsuya was injured one day and Arashi found him and healed him. They formed a strong bond. That is why Arashi's eyes are the same color as my cousin's. Arashi also is capable of wielding Tetsuya's zanpakutou attacks."
"Was he one of the wild spirit steeds?" the redhead asked, already suspecting he knew the answer.
"Yes...how did you...?"
"Taichou...Taichou, I think that...Tetsuya is Tadao!"
Byakuya blinked and stared at the redhead.
"What?" he asked, his frown deepening, "How do you...?"
"Noa...the orphanage lady, she said that when the boys were younger, Tadao would bring his mount, Arashi, for the kids to ride!"
"Hmmm..." said the noble, "But they could have just shared the name."
"But the story she gave me about how Tadao met Arashi is the same as the one you just told me. And...Tadao's approximate age is right."
Byakuya's eyes widened.
"B-but...why would my cousin have left home and gone to the Rukongai? And why would he be watching over those boys? The servants only said that he said something about protecting my honor. How could that...?"
"Taichou," said Renji, interrupting the noble, "There's something that I figured out...that night we got drunk together."
"Don't remind me of that night," Byakuya said, shaking his head, "I didn't know what I was saying."
"But you admitted that somehow, sometime before your cousin's disappearance, you had an odd night where you somehow ended up in a brothel in Inuzuri."
"So you think that perhaps someone was going to spread the story? Perhaps Tetsuya was being coerced to leave?"
"There's...something that you should know."
"What?" the noble said, an idea beginning to rise in his mind.
"Taichou, the truth is...I was the one with you that night...at the brothel."
Byakuya froze.
"Y-you?" he asked in a stunned voice.
"Rukia and I were taking care of a group of children that we felt responsible for. We were almost out of food, and winter was coming. Rukia was going to go to the brothel to earn some fast money so that we wouldn't all starve. But...I convinced her to let me go instead. I was only there that once...and the money I made that night, kept us alive well past the end of that winter."
Byakuya knelt silently next to Renji, his expression unreadable.
"Taichou...I was a virgin."
The noble gave a small, surprised gasp.
"And you said that if we were both virgin, then the heir would be made, ne?"
"I did," Byakuya whispered, "And if Tetsuya somehow found out that I had a child out of wedlock, he might well have protected him...and, by staying away, he would have been protecting my honor. But...you don't remember having a child? And if there was a child, who would he need protection from?"
"I don't remember having a child," said the redhead, "But I do remember being really sick and trying to go to a healer. Someone tried to kill me that night. He didn't even say why. But when I saw Tetsuya today, I recognized him as the one who fought off that guy who attacked me, and took me to a healer. I was out of it. I wouldn't have known if I did give birth. If I did, then I think Tetsuya took the kid and meant to protect him from whoever attacked me. That's why he stayed away. Then, whoever my attacker was, caught up with Tetsuya and abducted him before. He escaped, but the one after him is still trying to find the kid. I think that whoever attacked me, and abducted him today, is the same guy that killed those three boys, and is trying to kill Miki and Rikichi. It all fits!"
"It does," said Byakuya, "And it means that if Tetsuya is not found before that person reaches those boys, he will be killed."
"He may figure on killing them together, like with the other three boys. But whatever, we know where he's going to go..."
"We need to protect our son," Byakuya whispered, "and we need to find Tetsuya before it is too late!"
"Well, let's go then!" exclaimed the redhead, climbing to his feet.
He inhaled in surprise as Byakuya caught him by the arm.
"You are not going anywhere. You were injured. Let my attendant take care of you."
"Are you nuts?" said Renji, shaking his head, "I'm not lying around while some psychopath kills our kid and your cousin, who was protecting him for us! I'm going!"
He was surprised again by the odd, affected expression on his taichou's face.
"Renji," the noble said quietly, "When this is over and our son is safe, we really must have a long discussion about all of this..."