Chapter 24: Cornered

Byakuya leaned over and gently kissed Akane's forehead, then bid the girl and his sister good night. He stepped out of the attendant's recess, closing the curtain and leaving the two together in the corner of his room. He walked back and slipped into his own bed, picking up the hot tea from the nightstand and taking a sip as he watched Renji talking to the guards outside the door.

"Most of the guards haven't seen Aizen's shikai, so we should have warning if he tries to attack us in here. But keep an eye out for him playing tricks. I don't want him slipping past you and getting to them."

"Hai, Abarai-san!" the lead guard said, motioning for the other guards to take their positions.

Renji sighed and stepped back into the bedroom and closed the door. He walked to the bed and slipped in next to Byakuya.

"Arigato," Byakuya said softly, "for the tea and for managing the guards."

He purposely left out the fact that it didn't matter how many guards were on duty or how they placed themselves. When Aizen was ready, he would find a way to reach them…He always had before…

"I guess I don't have to ask you what's on your mind," Renji said quietly.

"It's on all of our minds," Byakuya said, curling into Renji's arms, "but I don't want to think about Aizen Sousuke, Renji. He has taken enough from my life. I won't have him take away the comfort of having my family around me…of being with you."

He looked into Renji's eyes.

"And I won't allow him to take anything else from us."

"And that means?" Renji queried, studying the noble's determined expression in the darkness.

"I am going to appear before the elders tomorrow, Renji," Byakuya told the redhead, "I am going to move that they immediately annul my marriage to Aizen and secure permission for us to be married."

Renji couldn't help but smile.

"You think they'll allow it?" he asked.

"They won't have a choice," Byakuya said firmly, "Akane is yours. They already know that. And I will allow them to confirm that the child I carry now is also yours. Once that is done, they will annul the marriage. It will be erased as though this travesty had never happened."

But both knew that no matter what the council did, there was no way to erase what Byakuya had endured…

"But just because they annul your marriage doesn't mean they will support you marrying me…even if the children are mine. I am not noble."

"But you are the children's father…and I will accept no other. They gave me permission to marry Hisana. She was a peasant also, Renji. It is less of an issue than you think. Not that all of them will be pleased with it. But there is something else that they will consider. Since my return, you have been constantly at my side, watching over Akane and me. You have defended us against him. You have proven yourself loyal, dedicated and determined to protect us. That will be of value in their decision. Also an issue will be your growing power. And when they hear that you are accepting leadership of Squad Six, they will…"

Renji did a doubletake.

"Wh-what?" he said, his eyes wide.

Byakuya smiled at his confused expression.

"I mean just what I said, Renji. Before you found me, Soutaichou made the announcement that you would replace me as taichou of Squad Six. In so doing, he removed the haori from my shoulders, even should I return. Those are the rules."

"But, Byakuya…I…Squad Six is your squad…"

Byakuya shook his head.

"That's not true anymore. Renji, after I was taken, you assumed leadership and ran the squad. For five years, you were the leader they knew. The rules are there to avoid dividing loyalties, should a taichou return after new leadership is named. You are the rightful leader of Squad Six."

"No," Renji said firmly, "and I'll tell you why you are wrong, Byakuya…because when I agreed to become taichou…I agreed to do so only when you were declared dead. Soutaichou agreed to this condition…and when I announced my plan to accept leadership to the squad, I told them that it was only because if you were not found alive in Las Noches when we stormed it…then you weren't coming back. Byakuya, our squad is still yours to lead. It will be for as long as you want it."

Byakuya stared at him silently. The dark gray eyes were troubled.

"Renji…it was…a sign of great loyalty that you did this for me…but you need to understand, I was captured by the enemy. I fell in the face of his power. Aizen defeated me on the battlefield. And that being the case, how could I ever command their trust on the battlefield again?"

"Oh, come on, Byakuya!" Renji exclaimed, "Plenty of other taichous have lost to an enemy on the battlefield and have continued to lead…"

"But how many of those were taken by the enemy, tormented, raped, put under the enemy's control and forced to marry him? How can our subordinates accept the leadership of one so tainted? One so beaten? One who could not protect himself, let alone his men. Renji, every one of the squad members who went with me that day died trying to protect me! Many of the men you would have me lead lost friends or family that day, because of me. How then, can I ask the ones who endured those losses to trust in me again?"

Renji sighed in frustration and shook his head firmly.

"Byakuya, you need to understand…our squad doesn't see things the way you do."

He took the noble's face in his hands and brought their faces close together.

"When word came that your group had fallen and you were taken, of course they were shocked, but no one ever blamed you for what happened. I knew…and I made sure that they all knew…that you had done everything possible to keep your men and yourself safe, and that what happened to you and your group was not your fault. Damn it, you sat there the night before and pored over those battle plans. You sent the hell butterfly to Soutaichou recommending action to protect your group. What happened…happened because Soutaichou did not honor your recommendations. Soutaichou admitted this publicly. And whatever Aizen did to you, you can't be looked down on for that. No one else would be. Why do you hold yourself to a standard that would not be expected of anyone else? I will say it again. You are the leader of Squad Six. I will certainly consider moving on to accept leadership of another squad, but I refuse to take Squad Six. So…if you really want to abandon your squad, you can. Just don't expect me to step in and clean up your mess!"

Byakuya stared at him in surprise, then his eyes softened and he leaned forward and kissed the redhead warmly. He sighed softly and nuzzled closer, enjoying his lover's warmth.

"Arigato, Renji. I appreciate everything you have done…to protect me, to protect my reputation…and to see that what I lost due to Aizen's treachery would not be lost permanently. Very well, then. If you insist, I will retain leadership of Squad Six…but in return, I expect that you will pursue one of the other open taichou positions. You have qualified for promotion and I want to see you achieve what you deserve."

Renji smiled.

"I give you my word that I will do that…after you have had a chance to settle back in and I personally train my replacement. I will not leave your safety in any but the most competent of hands…not ever, Byakuya. I will achieve plenty, but I'm going to do it the right way."

Byakuya smiled and dropped his head onto the redhead's shoulder. He slipped a hand beneath Renji's yukata and let it rest on his chest. He sighed softly and closed his eyes.

"Again, arigato, Renji," he said softly, "I consider myself incredibly lucky to have you…in my squad…and in my life."

Renji laughed softly.

"I feel like the lucky one, Byakuya," he whispered, "I thought I'd lost you forever. It was hell living without you. I'm just so glad I found you again. I never want to lose you again…"

"You never will," Byakuya promised, "We will defeat Aizen Sousuke…and we will spend the rest of our lives together."

XXXXXXXXXX

Byakuya stepped into the dressing area and gazed at the clothing set out in front of him. He hadn't dressed in full regalia since returning from Las Noches and it seemed strange to look at these things and to prepare to wear them again after the last time he had worn them…five years before…

He felt Aizen's zanpakutou slide into his body, sending a shock of pain through him and dragging a gasp from his breached and bleeding chest. His head bowed reflexively and touched the front of Aizen's white uniform, blood exploding from him and splattering the front of his enemy's clothes. He stared in surprise, wondering at the feeling of his legs buckling and the numbness sweeping through him. Aizen's hand touched him, braced against him, and the unreadable brown eyes locked on his. A heartbeat later, he tore the blade from Byakuya's chest, dragging a scream of pain from him and sending him crashing to the ground. His last thought as he fell was that he was, at least, relieved that there was no one left to witness his fall…his failure…his death…

He sighed softly, wondering as he had so many times, if it wouldn't have been better to have died. But for the first time since escaping and returning to his life…Byakuya found himself forcing his guilt over being the only one of his group to survive aside…and fully embracing the gift of having another chance to be with Renji, to marry him and to share a happy future with him.

But to start on the way to that future, he had to take this step…to dress in his taichou's uniform and to go before the council, to reclaim his position as clan leader and to have his marriage annulled…then to gain the council's blessing to marry Renji. He reached for his shihakushou and let his yukata fall away. The shihakushou felt strange, and the fit was no longer as perfect, feeling as though it needed to be taken in somewhat. He fastened it tighter, then slipped the fingerless gloves onto his hands, wincing as he remembered Aizen's fingers touching his as he removed them…

He wove the kenseiken into his hair and then slipped the mended haori around his shoulders, marveling at how all signs of the blood and torn fabric had been removed. The ginpaku kazahana no uzuginu had also been mended and carefully cleaned. He would it around his neck and looked at himself in the mirror. He hadn't seen himself that way in over five years…but now he looked as though nothing had ever happened, as though it had all been an awful nightmare.

"Wow…" Renji's voice said, startling him.

He turned and gazed at the redhead sadly. Renji stepped forward and placed his hands on the noble's shoulders.

"You look beautiful, Byakuya," he said appreciatively, "I thought I was never going to see you like this again…but here you are…looking like you never left…"

Byakuya tore his eyes away from Renji's and cleared his throat.

"The meeting will take about an hour, after which, you and I will meet with Soutaichou and then with our squad to discuss my return."

"I'm going with the group taking you to the clan meeting. I will wait outside and escort you to the meetings with Soutaichou and our squad."

Byakuya nodded briefly.

"Come then, Renji," he said, feeling an odd clutch in his heart, "It is time to go."

They left the manor, surrounded on all sides by armed guards, and made their way to the Kuchiki Clan Hall. As they walked, curious eyes turned and watched them…and many openly marveled at the return of the Squad Six taichou. Byakuya met their eyes and nodded in acknowledgement as he passed them. They reached the clan hall without incident and Byakuya and Renji climbed the front steps together. Renji walked him to the council chamber door and wrapped his arms around the noble.

"I'll wait for you right here, okay?" he promised.

Byakuya nodded.

"Arigato," he whispered, kissing his lover gently, "I won't be long."

He released the redhead and passed through the doors, into the council meeting chambers. The doors closed behind him with a hollow sounding thud and a sharp click. As he entered the room, the eyes of the council members rose and watched, the room falling into a deep silence as they took in the sight of their leader returned. He felt warmth inside at the relief and happiness in their eyes, at the respect and deference they offered him…even after how he had been disgraced by Aizen's use. It gave him the very rare feeling that these people were more than just the Kuchiki clan council. These people were his family…and they were relieved and grateful that he had returned.

The head councilor stood and smiled.

"Byakuya-sama," he said, his voice trembling slightly, "welcome home. Please…you are freed to speak to the council as you will."

Byakuya nodded.

"Five years ago, I left the Seireitei with members of my division and went into the desert. My fighting group suffered defeat at the hands of Aizen Sousuke in a trap, carefully set to snare me. For the next five years, I suffered torment and dishonor at the hands of my captor. During that time, as you already know, my reproductive system became active, and using my reiatsu and the reiatsu and seed of Abarai Renji, I gave birth to the heir, Kuchiki Akane. Aizen Sousuke used threats to the heir to force me into wedlock…and now that I am free, I ask you now to reject and revoke those last bonds that hold me captive…and in doing so give me your blessing to marry the father of Akane…and of the child I now carry. In this way, the last vestiges of my captivity will fall away and free me to return to you fully."

The councilors exchanged quiet glances and Byakuya felt an odd chill pass through him. He wasn't sure why he felt unnerved…why something seemed wrong, although everything appeared to be normal. He was reassured by the presence of the guards around them…and the calm feel of Renji's reiatsu just outside the door. He took a calming breath and gazed quietly at the head councilor…waiting. The head councilor stood and looked at him with discomfort in his eyes.

"Byakuya-sama," he said with sadness in his voice and eyes, "this council has no choice but to take the following action. Your request to annul your marriage to Aizen Sousuke is respectfully denied."

Byakuya caught his breath and stared.

"But…he…"

"Byakuya-sama," the head councilor went on, "we have examined the reiatsu of Kuchiki Akane…and we have concluded that we were mistaken in our initial impression. Her father is not Abarai Renji…but is Aizen Sousuke."

Byakuya's face paled and his legs weakened beneath him.

"That's not possible…I know it's not…" he whispered.

He froze as a pair of arms wrapped around him from behind, capturing him and holding him tightly in place. He called for the guards, but the men stood quietly, as though they could not see the one restraining him.

"They won't listen to you," Aizen Sousuke breathed in his ear, "You are looking at an illusion, Byakuya."

He sealed away the noble's spirit energy, then pushed him forward until his body was pressed against the table around which the council members sat. Restraining Byakuya;s hands behind his back, he placed a hand between the noble's shoulder blades and forced his upper body forward and down until it rested on the table. His face was turned toward the head councilor.

"Would you like to see what this room really looks like, my Byakuya? Would you like to see what you forced me to do when you chose to commit adultery and to fill your traitorous belly with the spawn of that dog from the Rukongai?"

A heavy, coppery scent was breaking through and he felt an odd, thick wetness on his face.

"Sousuke," he whispered, shivering at what he was beginning to sense, "Sousuke, what have you done?"

"What I have done?" Aizen whispered in his ear, pressing his lips to the soft skin of the noble's throat, "It's what you have done, Byakuya. And I won't keep you in suspense any longer."

He brushed Byakuya's eyes closed.

"Shatter, Kyoka Suigetsu," he breathed.

He stroked Byakuya's back lightly.

"Open your eyes, Byakuya," he said holding the noble down on the table.

Byakuya's eyes opened.

His body stiffened, frozen with shock as he took in the scene in front of him. His chest heaved with revulsion and his legs collapsed. The only thing left holding him on his feet were Aizen Sousuke's hands.

All down the length of the council table, the lifeless elders sat in the chairs with their bodies pitched forward, their heads resting on the table and their dead eyes turned toward Byakuya. Their blood had pooled on the table and Byakuya's body rested in it.

"This," Aizen hissed, "is the price that you pay for your defiance and your infidelity, Byakuya. Because of what you did, you tied their hands. They would have sided with you and sent you, with their blessing, into Renji's arms. I couldn't allow that, so I came here and I killed them, one by one as they sat, unaware that I was in the room or that their brethren were dying all around them. And now, as you witnessed, I control the decisions that are handed down by this council. You will obey those decisions and you will do as I say from now on.

"Why would I do that?" Byakuya gasped in a choked whisper, "You have already taken their lives. What do you have left to use against me?"

Aizen laughed softly.

"Down the hallway is the daycare center," he said quietly, "and inside are the children of these dead men and women…and a few adults left to care for them. If you disobey me or defy me in any way…those young Kuchiki noble children will join the councilors in death…and in addition to losing mothers and fathers, these families will lose sons and daughters. It's your choice, Byakuya. So make your decision…and decide their fate…"