Chapter 5: Entangled

The difficulty when one is caught in a spider's web, is that movement usually results in becoming more deeply entangled…and it awakens the spider, allowing him to drain you of life. Removal requires a careful set of hands…one to distract the spider and the other to extract the one captured. One must be careful, first, not to be entangled as well…and second of the silken strands that still bind the victim…

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"So what do you want to do while your counselor's back is turned, Byakuya?" asked Renji, sitting down next to the bed and leaning forward to kiss him.

Byakuya smiled against the lips that warmed his.

"A shower, I think," he requested, a slight blush rising on his cheeks.

"A shower?" repeated Renji, "Okay, a shower, then. How long do we have?"

Byakuya gave a soft chuckle.

"He's making a report to the council. It will be several hours."

Byakuya pushed back the blankets and slipped out of bed, frowning at the coldness of the floor against his bare feet. He started for the bathroom, but stopped and swayed dizzily. Renji laid a steadying hand on his arm.

"You okay? You need a healer?" he asked quickly.

Byakuya shook his head.

"I'll be fine. It's just, I really didn't spend a lot of time on my feet in Las Noches…and with my spirit energy still sealed away…"

He trailed off, his eyes becoming troubled. Renji smiled sadly and wrapped his arms around the noble, capturing his lips and treating his mouth to several deep, slow kisses. As he pulled away, Byakuya felt his power flare softly. He caught his breath, looking up at the redhead in surprise.

"Renji…Hiromi said that…"

"I don't give a shit what Hiromi said," Renji replied, curling an arm around him and turning him toward the bathroom, "I know what my taichou needs…and no nerdy, snot-nosed counselor is going to tell me different."

"You do realize that Hiromi could order you away from me…I am still considered to be too unbalanced to know what I need."

Renji shook his head in frustration.

"Byakuya…you're making perfect sense. You know who you are…and who we all are. And now you know you've been brought home. What happened on the ledge…was just…confusion, because you'd just awakened, and because you didn't know for sure you were rescued. You do know this is real now, don't you?"

Byakuya captured Renji's face in his hands and kissed him again.

"I know I'm really here, with you, Renji," he assured the redhead, "and I can assure you…I won't be walking out onto any more ledges. You have my word."

"See," Renji said, lowering his lips to Byakuya's, "you don't need a damned counselor. You just need your friends and family."

"Especially you," the noble added.

They turned together and continued into the bathroom. Renji reached in and started the shower, then turned back to Byakuya. The dark gray eyes met his wearily and his hands shook softly as he reached for the tie at his waist.

"You belong to me now," Aizen breathed in his ear, "You're having my child and the two of you will always be with me."

"What of Akane?" he asked, his heart racing softly.

Aizen's lips caressed his warmly.

"You will see her again, Byakuya, I promise. All that is left is for us to be married and to have our child. Once you have given me your hand, then we can be together…all three of us. Now, come with me and we will make our union permanent."

Renji's hand touched his and pulled the tie free.

Do you, Kuchiki Byakuya, take Aizen Sousuke to be your lawfully wedded spouse?"

The warm, tanned arms wrapped around him as the yukata fell away.

To have and to hold from this day forward…

Renji's clothes fell away and he followed the noble into the shower and under the hot spray of water.

For richer or for poorer…

Their mouths met again and Renji's tongue dipped gently between his parted lips, touching, exploring, curling warmly around his.

In sickness or in health…

Byakuya pulled Renji closer, laying his paler flesh against Renji's darker toned skin and burrowing into his throat and shoulder.

"Renji…" he whispered, "Renji…I'm sorry."

Will you love, honor and obey him…

"What do you have to be sorry for?"

For as long as you both shall live?

"I only did it because he threatened to kill her…"

"Byakuya?"

"What?" Renji asked softly, "You gave in to him? You had sex with him? Byakuya, I know about him forcing you to have his child. Unohana taichou told us after they cleansed your body and ended the pregnancy."

"Byakuya?"

"I…" he paused, staring at Aizen with the wide eyes of a cornered deer, "I…"

"They…ended it…here?" Byakuya asked, his legs weakening, "They…did that? Without even speaking to me first?"

"Byakuya…for her…"

"They had to, Taichou. It's the law."

Byakuya nodded, trying to blink back the tears.

"I know that, Renji…and I certainly didn't want to have his child, but…

"I won't give you any more chances, Byakuya…"

"I…I…"

"He said that he would give her back to me if I…if I…"

"I will," Byakuya whispered, sinking to his knees.

"If you had his child?" Renji asked.

"Yes…but…"

"Then, by the power vested in me, I pronounce you partners in life, bound by the ties of holy matrimony. You may now exchange a kiss as a token of your love."

"He also forced me to marry him…"

He couldn't stop himself. He didn't make a sound, but the tears poured out onto his face and rolled down with the falling water. He sank to his knees, beneath the spray, washcloth in hand and began to wash everything away. As Renji dropped to his knees beside the noble, Byakuya continued to wash every inch of exposed skin, his eyes widening in frustration and his motions becoming more desperate by the moment. Renji felt tears in his own eyes and he caught his breath sharply as he saw the redness rising on Byakuya's skin. He reached out and took hold of the noble's hands, halting the shocking display.

"Byakuya…" he whispered breathlessly, "Byakuya, he's gone. He's gone and so is the child he forced you to conceive."

Byakuya looked up at him with tormented eyes.

"And that means that everything I did, everything I gave…was…for nothing, Renji. He…he was making me wait until our child was born…but then he promised to give her back. I…I…don't know what happened…what he was planning the day you invaded and found me. I heard…voices…outside the room he kept me in. They were killing everyone. They…knew I was in there and they would have killed me also…if he hadn't protected the room so thoroughly. I don't know if she was in Las Noches…or if he had her kept somewhere else."

"We didn't find her there," Renji assured him, "We found no children…and likely, Aizen would have worried that the hollows wouldn't have been able to resist. He would have sent her somewhere in Soul Society…or the living world. Byakuya…we can't give up yet."

He paused, brushing the wet, tangled hair out of the noble's face.

"And as for the rest, I don't care about all that. You did everything you could to protect our daughter. I would have done the same in your place."

Byakuya tore his hands free and rubbed them against his reddened flesh.

"I can't make it go away…his reiatsu…his scent…his touch. I can't make it go away…"

Renji grabbed his wrists again and held them tightly, bringing his face close to Byakuya's.

"You have to stop, Byakuya. You are hurting yourself. If you continue to do this, you will only give Hiromi more reasons to stick around and cause problems for us."

"But he may be right, Renji…"

"No…no that guy doesn't know you like I do," Renji said, pulling him close and burying his face in the wet, black hair.

"Renji," Byakuya said in a whisper, "You're wrong. The person you knew…the one you loved…died five years ago. I don't know who it is I see when I look in the mirror, but it isn't the person I was when we spent that night together. That person is gone…"

"No," Renji said, shaking his head, "I don't believe that…not for a damned minute!"

He took the noble's face in his hands.

"And neither do you! You're just…confused and you're trying really hard to make sense of things…but you're still the same person, Kuchiki Byakuya, and you will know that once you've had time to get past all of this. Just…please…don't try to push me away. You need me right now. And, damn it, I didn't search for you all of that time and bring you home again just to have you leave me now. Don't leave me, Byakuya. I want you to promise me that you won't!"

"Renji, I can't make a promise like that to you. You have to understand…I was forced…but I gave myself to him…and that can't be undone!"

"But it is, don't you see that? Taichou, Aizen Sousuke is dead! Your marriage to him is over. You are free of him…and all of the things he did to trap you and imprison you."

Byakuya shook his head miserably.

"That is where you are wrong. Look at me, Renji. It doesn't matter that you freed my body. He took far more than that…and I can't take it back…no one can."

"We can," Renji assured him, rubbing his face warmly against the noble's, "Just trust me, okay? Even if you're lost right now, you know you can trust me, right? I would never lie to you…and I would never hurt you. You can trust that…right?"

Byakuya shivered and let himself fall against the redhead's shoulder. He brought his still-trembling lips to Renji's.

"I trust you," he whispered, "I don't know who I am anymore…but I know you. And if you want me to promise not to give up on you…I will. I just…can't make that promise for myself yet."

"Okay," Renji sighed, kissing him lightly on forehead, cheek, then lips, "as long as I know you'll stay with me."

"I'll stay with you," Byakuya whispered into his ear, "I won't leave you. I gave myself to Aizen Sousuke to protect our daughter…and now he is gone. I want nothing more than to erase his touch, his words, everything. Can you help me, Renji?"

"I'll do whatever you need me to, Byakuya. You know that."

Byakuya nodded and lowered a hand to gently touch Renji's already aroused member. The redhead looked back at him uncertainly.

"Byakuya…are you sure you want to…get more intimate? I mean there's still a lot we have to work our way through. I don't want to do anything that might hurt you."

"You can't hurt me, Abarai Renji. I know you won't. I want to be with you. I haven't been able to do that for too long. I don't want to wait anymore. You brought me out of the darkness, body and mind…and now I need you to free my heart. Will you do that, Renji?"

"If that's what you want," Renji whispered against his questing lips, "then that's what I want too…just…I don't want to…"

"You won't hurt me…"

Byakuya shifted and climbed onto the redhead's lap, spreading his thighs and wrapping his body tightly around Renji's. He positioned himself carefully, then brought their bodies together, flinching as the pain flashed through him.

"B-bya!" hissed Renji, his eyes wide, "Are you…Why did you do that?"

But he found he couldn't speak anymore. The noble's shaking body rose and fell relentlessly and Byakuya's mouth devoured his as though starved. Renji returned his kisses with ferocity, sliding his hands down the beautiful, slender body that writhed so deliciously against his and holding onto the noble's hips as they moved. He loosed one hand to caress the noble in time with Byakuya's movements, gasping and tightening his grasp as he felt himself growing close. He looked up dazedly into the lovely, dark gray eyes, letting a smile play across his face as his breath caught, his body shuddered…and the wonderful heat shot out of him and into the heated core of his lover. Byakuya's body shook heavily against his and Renji felt the hot pulses flow out and onto their bodies. Byakuya gave a deep, sensuous moan and his lips parted against Renji's.

"Sousuke…" he hissed softly.

His eyes flew wide and he pulled away from Renji as though burned…one hand rising to cover his mouth. His body shook harder than it had while they were making love and sudden tears flooded his eyes. His reaction shocked Renji out of any response he might have had. He gazed sadly at the noble as he fought to regain control.

"Hey," he said softly, reaching out to touch his hair, "forget it. Byakuya…it wasn't your fault."

"I'm sorry," Byakuya whispered, a pale hand falling to wrap around his midsection, "I wasn't thinking…he…he always…ordered me to…when…"

"Okay…stop. He made you say his name. It was just another kind of cruelty, Byakuya. I know that there's no way in hell you ever wanted to be with him like that. Don't feel bad about it. Let it go…"

Byakuya took several long, slow breaths and let his body relax against the shower wall. Renji moved closer, slipping his arms around him again. Neither said anything, but just let the water run down their bodies, washing the heavy emotion away.

After a time, Renji climbed slowly to his feet, bringing Byakuya up with him, then took the shampoo and worked it into the noble's soft, tangled hair. He washed and rinsed it twice, then turned off the water and the two stepped out into the bathroom. They dried off and each slipped into a fresh yukata. Once dressed, they stepped out into the hospital room.

Byakuya climbed back into bed, noting that food had been brought while they were in the shower. Renji looked at him questioningly.

"Are you hungry?" he asked softly.

"Starving," admitted Byakuya.

Renji smiled and set the tray in his lap. As Byakuya ate, he slipped in behind the noble and carefully combed all of the tangles out of his hair. Byakuya sighed softly, his eyes closing for a moment.

"I want you to look presentable whenever you are seen with me. You will wear an Arrancar uniform whenever you are allowed to leave this room…and you will be impeccably clean and well turned out."

Aizen ran the comb through his still-wet hair.

"It is expected that anyone worthy of standing at my side must look the part," he said, kissing Byakuya's throat, just beneath his ear, "and you look much better now."

He trembled softly and forced the memory away. He was with Renji now. Aizen was gone…dead. He took another bite as Renji continued to run the comb through his hair.

They heard a disapproving hiss and looked up to see Hiromi glaring at them. The flaring brown eyes moved from the two men in yukatas on the bed to the half-empty tray in Byakuya's lap.

"What is going on in here?" hissed the counselor angrily.

Byakuya's face paled.

"Renji was only helping me shower and eat."

Hiromi shook his head forcefully.

"No…I think more went on than that, Byakuya," he said angrily, "The seal on your powers has been released…and I know more went on than a shower!"

"So what if it did," said Renji, sliding off the bed, "We didn't do anything wrong. Byakuya and I are lovers. If he wants to be with me, then you have nothing to say about it!"

"You had sex with him?" asked Hiromi in a disbelieving voice, "Just how stupid are you? He is in no condition to be going to bed with anyone! And knowing what Aizen Sousuke put him through, you should have known better, Abarai Renji! I said before that your being with him was dependent on you not interfering with his recovery. This is the definition of interference!"

"How?" Renji asked, "He's getting better! He's talking openly with me about what happened. He's working through his emotions. He's eating, for kami's sake!"

"He's eating because you had sex with him!" yelled Hiromi.

Renji froze.

"What?" he asked, horrified, "What did you say?"

Hiromi's eyes narrowed and his expression became smug.

"Aizen would not allow him to eat unless Kuchiki taichou had sex with him first…he revealed this during one of our sessions. He went along with it to protect the child he was carrying."

"I never…" Byakuya began.

"You were under hypnosis," explained Hiromi, "That is how I knew and was able to begin deprogramming him so he could eat last night. You just caused him to have a setback! Now…I want you to leave, Abarai Renji…and you are not to be with Kuchiki taichou any more until he has finished his therapy."

"Renji didn't do anything wrong," said Byakuya softly, "He loves me…and I don't believe he did any harm."

Hiromi took on a sympathetic expression and sat down on the bed next to Byakuya.

"I know he meant well," the counselor said gently, "but we can't have him interfering with your recovery. I can't allow this…it's for your own good."

"Renji and I will not be intimate again until my treatment is over," said Byakuya, "but please do not keep him away from me. I won't be able to do this without him. He is…he's…my closest friend…"

Hiromi shot Renji and icy glare, then softened his expression as he met Byakuya's gaze again.

"Very well…I won't disallow him visitation…but you are not to be alone together…Do you understand?"

Byakuya nodded silently.

"Now, if you will excuse me," Hiromi said dismissively, "I need to speak to Byakuya about my meeting with the elders."

Renji nodded and slipped back into the bathroom to dress. He emerged a moment later and walked back to the bed, leaning over to give Byakuya a chaste kiss on the forehead.

"I'll be back, Byakuya," he promised, "and you send for me if you need me…for anything…"

Hiromi glared at him as he left, but calmed his features before turning back to Byakuya.

"Now," he said softly, reaching out and touching the pendant at Byakuya's throat, "We need to talk."

Byakuya's eyes glazed over and he dropped back onto the pillows, moaning softly. Hiromi quickly sealed away his powers and placed a palm on his forehead, sending him into a deeper sleep.

"I think you know," said Aizen's deceptively gentle voice, "that you have disappointed me greatly, Byakuya. You know that there is a penalty for that."

The tie at his waist released and his yukata was opened by rough, unforgiving hands.

"You belong to me. You are not to give yourself to anyone else…or else you will be punished. Now…let's see to your punishment…"

As the torment began, Byakuya knew better than to let himself make a sound. He disappeared into himself, trying to think of anything else…anything that would keep him from thinking about the invasion of his body…about the searing pain…His mind spun as he registered and quickly pushed away the awful sensations. The pain continued until he was shaking and on the verge of crying out. Then it stopped and he felt Aizen's lips touch his ear.

"The next time you fuck anyone but me, I will kill her with my bare hands, Byakuya. You will help me with my work here…and then we will return to Hueco Mundo. You will give me the child you agreed to bear for me…and the three of us will live together…forever, Byakuya. You will not leave me again."

He dragged Byakuya to his feet and lifted him over a shoulder.

"Come now…we have something to do."