Chapter 15: Recovery
(This one's for Alabirdie, who I know was waiting, and for ytygr, who PM'd with a request today. See how you guys inspire me? Okay, off to see Mockingjay! Love you all, Spunky)
Rikichi registered a soft, pleasant purring sound and felt someone's breath tickling his throat and shoulder. He opened his eyes and smiled at finding the freshly bathed Shihoin youth sleeping contentedly, curled up along his side, with his handsome face buried in the Kuchiki heir's hair. He marveled at how Kisho was so silent as he inhaled, yet upon exhaling, he emitted that exotic feline rumbling that seemed to sink down into Rikichi's healing body, bringing about a deep feeling of well-being, as well as relief from the harsh burning that had afflicted his damaged spirit centers. He turned his head and nuzzled the other youth's cheek, then sought his lips as Kisho's eyes opened and instantly left him entranced.
The black pupils had reshaped themselves, more in the manner of his wild clouded leopard's and the golden circles glowed softly with innate power. Even as he woke, the lovely, intermittent purring sound continued.
"What is this?" Rikichi asked, "It...feels like a healing spell."
"This is my healing ability," Kisho explained, smiling at him and warmly returning his kiss of greeting, "Did you know that when cats purr, they not only allow their own bodies to restore themselves, they can also cause their human counterparts to heal more quickly?"
"I didn't know that," Rikichi confessed, "But I've always had a cat around somewhere. We had lots of them at the orphanage and I helped take care of them. They would follow me around and sit on me and purr, every time I sat down. They did that when I slept, too. I just thought it was soothing and it made me feel happy inside. But...your purring sounds a little different."
"That's because my were-form is technically a big cat. They are made slightly different than smaller felines in the physical apparatus that we use for purring causes roaring cats like me to only make that sound upon exhaling. In any case, when I purr, it causes my eyes to change to their feline form and allows me to heal whomever hears that sound. Touching the person while purring intensifies the effect.
Rikichi smiled and looked back at him with playful eyes.
"Touching, ne?" he repeated, letting his fingers play over the other youth's face, "And what happens if you make love to someone while in that state?"
"Ah," the Shihoin prince sighed, blinking slowly, "I should probably stop you, but...we have already stepped over that line, haven't we?"
"Yeah," Rikichi agreed, blushing and seeking his feline boyfriend's lips again.
He plunged deeply into Kisho's mouth, smiling at the soft purring that continued on each exhale and the gentle feelings of well being it brought about. Rikichi's eyes blinked and his chest heaved softly. His hand slid down the other youth's body, then his fingers caught on the tie at Kisho's waist. But just as he started to pull, a tap sounded on the door and the two youths sat up quickly, staring as Byakuya, Renji and Kisuke entered the room. Rikichi flushed brightly, noting that his own yukata had opened in front, and he refastened the tie hastily.
"Rikichi," Byakuya said solemnly, standing back as Kisuke reached the boys and began to examine the injured youths.
He turned a dark, unreadable eye on the Shihoin prince.
"Kisho. It is good to see the two of you have recovered."
"H-how is Tetsuya-san?" Rikichi asked quickly, "He was really brave to do what he did. With that man after us, he came to find us. But he seemed hurt pretty badly when the snake came out of him. Is he going to be all right?"
"Tetsuya's going to be fine," Kisuke assured the unsettled youth, "and so are you and Kisho."
"And Arashi?" Kisho asked, carefully avoiding Byakuya's gaze.
"Arashi's doing fine also," the shopkeeper assured them, "You guys don't seem to need anymore intervention, thanks to Kisho's ability, but Rikichi, I don't want you using your powers at all until I tell you it's okay. I placed a limiter so that in an emergency you'll have your flash step, but other than that, you've got nothing, so Kisho's going to be looking out for you."
"I would have done so anyway," the Shihoin youth said, smiling at Rikichi and trying not to notice the stern expression on Byakuya's face, "Rikichi is more than just my friend, he is my soul mate."
Byakuya studied the two for a moment, then nodded briefly.
"Kisho, Renji and I will need to speak to our son for a while. I believe that Kisuke could use a hand in Tetsuya and Arashi's healing."
"Oh...right, of course," the youth answered, pulling free of Rikichi and giving him an affectionate kiss on the cheek before flash stepping away.
Rikichi looked up into Byakuya's eyes, his heart pounding as he waited for what his parents would say, now that they were alone again.
"Tetsuya told us that he explained the truth of your birth to you," the Kuchiki leader said carefully.
"Yes sir," Rikichi said, trying to exude calm, but trembling softly at what he saw in Byakuya's dark eyes, "I know that you are Miki's and my father and that Abarai fukutaichou...erm...Renji-san gave birth to us. He also told us that he took us and gave us to Michio and Noa so that Miki and I would be safe and well taken care of. And i can tell you that Tetsuya-san, even though he didn't tell us who he was, did everything he could to protect us. He came to spend time with us and helped out at the shelter."
"Tetsuya is a good friend...and your cousin. We are lucky that one of such loyalty learned of your situation and was there for you, as Renji and I could not be."
"L-look, that's not your fault, sir," Rikichi said tremulously, "I was fine. I mean, Miki and I and the others were all really happy growing up there. We didn't have a lot, but we had enough to eat, a good family and a home. If I couldn't be with you from the beginning, I couldn't think of a better place to have grown up...though I wish I could have known I am your son."
"You must realize," Byakuya went on, "the discovery of your lineage is going to change things for you and Miki...although, how much it changes is something you will have to consider. I don't know if you understood what happened to you before..."
"You mean my bankai?" Rikichi asked, "I got the idea when my eagle burst into flames, although I had no clue where a bankai came from."
"There was a seal that Tetsuya-san placed on your powers to keep you hidden," Renji explained.
"But in your desperation to protect yourself and Kisho, you were able to shatter the seal,
Byakuya added, "Your powers came to life suddenly and your spirit centers were damaged by its use. Fortunately, Orihime was able to heal you, although you still must wear the limiter and not use your powers until Urahara Kisuke says that you are recovered enough."
"I understand, sir."
"Rikichi, it is not necessary for you to continue to be so formal," Byakuya corrected him.
"Oh, right, but what should I call you then?" the youth asked, looking from Byakuya to Renji and back again, "I have two fathers...what should I...?"
"Well, he's the noble so you should probably call him 'Father' and me 'Dad," Renji suggested.
"Unless the adjustment is too jarring for you," Byakuya said, studying the young man's flustered expression.
"Oh no, it's fine!" Rikichi said quickly, "It's a little strange, but I'll get used to it."
A smile crept onto his lips.
"I like having family. I mean, Michio and Noa are wonderful for what they did for Miki and me. I just...it's different, knowing that you are my parents."
"Yeah, well we're pretty shell-shocked too," Renji confessed.
"Rikichi," Byakuya said calmly, observing his son's face carefully, "there is going to be a period of adjustment for all of us. We have all been taken very much by surprise. I don't expect that everything about your new life with our family will be easy, but I do hope that you and Miki will embrace being part of the Kuchiki clan."
"I will. I know I will!" the young man insisted, "But Father...and Dad, there is something about me that isn't going to change. I can't let it."
Byakuya glanced in the direction that the Shihoin prince had gone, then looked back at his son.
"Kisho?" he said quietly.
"Yes sir. Kisho and I are in love. And like you and Dad, we were...together for our first time."
Byakuya's lips twitched very slightly, but he only cleared his throat softly and exchanged glances with Renji.
"When was this?" he asked calmly.
Rikichi blushed brightly.
"It...it was after we escaped and before Tetsuya-san found us. Father, Kisho saved my life quite a few times, and he was hurt protecting me. He is...my very best friend and I have fallen in love with him. I know you don't always get along with Yoruichi-sama, but I can't leave Kisho...not ever."
Renji's hand slipped into Byakuya's and squeezed gently.
"That doesn't sound like such a bad thing," the redhead said, smiling at him, "That kid might be a pain in the ass, but he is a good person and a great fighter."
He paused and glanced at Byakuya questioningly.
"Tetsuya informed me that you were born first," the Kuchiki leader responded, "And you have also reached bankai, where Miki has not yet. I think that, given those facts, the Kuchiki elders will approve you as my official heir. Great responsibility goes with that, and part of that is having children, Rikichi. I am to assume that you...?"
Rikichi's blush deepened furiously.
"I let him take me," he confessed, his heart pounding so hard he felt faint, "I knew I might be an heir of some kind, though I didn't know I was your son. I just...really love Kisho and I don't want him to be taken away from me!"
"We get it," Renji assured him.
"And there is a way for me to know if you have been impregnated," Byakuya replied.
Rikichi remained frozen as Byakuya approached him and laid a hand on his slim belly. He loosed a flicker of reiatsu and paused, then stared thoughtfully as Rikichi's body glowed softly in response.
"F-father?"
"You are with child," Byakuya said, his eyes betraying a strange mix of worry and wonder.
"I am?" Rikichi asked, swaying slightly as the words struck him, "Then...Kisho and I...?"
"I will not stand in the way of your commitment to each other. Just be aware, by clan rules, you will be required to wed as soon as arrangements can be made."
"Whoa! I...I can marry Kisho?" Rikichi mused, more swells of dizziness passing over him, "He was worried it wouldn't be accepted. That's...that's...I don't know what to say!"
"For now, just attempt to be discreet. Do not be overly affectionate in public until I have been able to explain matters to the elders. You must realize that they may not be approving at first, but if you attempt to work with them, they will come around. That being said, we must deal with the here and now. You understand that Urahara Kisuke had to open the dimensional rift we are in, because there was no other way to conceal you any longer from my cousin, Orochi. He wants leadership, and the surest way to discredit me and to claim it is to bring a scandal. He may well be at it now, poisoning the council against me. And because we are within the protective rift, I can make no communication with them until everyone is recovered and we return together. When we emerge, he will come at us with everything to keep us from reaching the clan. We must prepare ourselves to fight. As soon as you are able, I want Renji to train you in using your bankai more safely. He will help you gradually prepare your body for the strain. Just be mindful that the prior injury to your spirit centers will take time to heal fully, so you should expect the training will be painful. I am going to have Kisho return to continue your healing. His ability seems to be working very well. Also, the infusion of his reiatsu into your body will keep your child's reiatsu stable, which will be important to a healthy birth."
"I can't believe I'm going to have a baby!" Rikichi exclaimed happily, "I can't wait to tell Kisho!"
"You two are too damned young to be having babies," Renji said, shaking his head, "You're barely adult, yourselves. But congratulations, kid."
"Thanks Dad," Rikichi sighed, accepting the redhead's powerful embrace.
He looked back at Byakuya.
"And thank you, Father, for understanding. Kisho means everything to me. We'll do whatever we need to, to make this work."
XXXXXXXXXX
"How are you feeling?" Ichigo asked, slipping a cup of tea into Tetsuya's waiting hand, "You look a lot better now."
Tetsuya smiled gamely.
"I feel rather like I had a very large sword implanted in my abdomen, but that is to be expected."
"It took a long time for Orihime to make sure that guy's reiatsu was gone from inside you," Ichigo remembered, "But it's gone now. He can't reach us here."
"It's too bad that we can't stay here," Tetsuya sighed, sipping at the tea, then setting it down on the nightstand next to his bed, "but we have to go home and stop Orochi from stealing leadership from Byakuya-sama."
"Well, everyone needs to be healed all the way first," Ichigo insisted, "we've got a good start, but you need to rest and Orihime will be back in a while to check up on you."
"I will rest," Tetsuya promised, "but I must give you proper thanks first. You saved my life, Ichigo-san. Orochi was about to kill me when you stopped him. I am very grateful to you."
"It's no problem," Ichigo assured the blue-eyed noble, "I'm glad I got to meet you. Byakuya told us about how you gave up everything to protect those boys. It must have been really hard for you."
"Oh, it wasn't all bad," Tetsuya said, smiling, "I wasn't able to be close to anyone because it wouldn't have been right to have to lie constantly to someone like that. But I stayed close to the boys and had their friendship."
"It was good you had that. And I hope that you know you have friends here now."
Tetsuya blushed.
"Thank you, Ichigo-san."
The door opened and Tessai entered the room, bearing two food trays. He delivered one to Ichigo, then set the other in Tetsuya's lap.
"Thank you, Tessai-san," Tetsuya said politely.
"You're welcome, Kuchiki-san. Let me know if you need anything else. Oh, and Ichigo, the boss asked if you would give Tetsuya-san a reiatsu infusion. Orihime-chan needs to rest and the Shihoin boy is busy with Rikichi-san."
"Are those two okay?" Ichigo asked, echoing Tetsuya's thoughts.
"They are doing well. It is just that Byakuya-san discovered that the new heir is with child, in addition to being injured, so the Shihoin prince is assisting him."
"What? Rikichi is...?"
"Pregnant, sir. Some noble males are able to impregnate others or to be impregnated."
Ichigo chuckled and took a bite of his food.
"Man, this is one of those moments I'm glad not to be noble, you know? Not that kids are a bad thing, but that stuff needs to wait! I can't believe Rikichi is going to have a kid."
"He is young, but he is also an adult," Tetsuya concluded, "And the two seem well suited to each other. I am just glad they are all right."
"I'm glad you're all right too," Ichigo said, smiling and setting his food aside.
"What are you doing? You haven't finished eating," Tetsuya noted, frowning.
"He said you need an infusion."
"But you should really finish eating first. You will be drained."
"Naw, I'm fine," the ginger-haired youth said, laying his hands on the noble's injured belly.
Tetsuya looked as though he wanted to argue, but returned to eating as the other young man restored his depleted reiatsu. As Ichigo worked at his task, light sweat broke out on his forehead and his eyes blinked several times. And as he pulled his hands away, he paused and swayed wearily.
"Ichigo-san!" Tetsuya exclaimed in a worried tone, "Ichigo-san, I told you to finish eating first!"
His breath left him as Ichigo collapsed onto the bed and his body trapped Tetsuya's partially beneath it. He gazed into Tetsuya's surprised eyes, smiling and blinking several more times.
"You fool!" Tetsuya snapped softly, shaking his head as the shinigami substitute snuggled close to him, "You could have passed out!"
"Eh," Ichigo mused woozily, surprising the lovely noble's lips with an affectionate kiss, "It was worth it!"
"Baka!" Tetsuya laughed, "Byakuya-sama was right about you. You are reckless!"
"Says the guy who protected those boys from that monster cousin of yours all alone," Ichigo fired back appreciatively, "I think I'm in good company."