Chapter 5: The Road Back Home
Renji sat quietly beneath the sakura tree, looking out over the darkened meadows beyond and trying to ignore Byakuya's presence, somewhere in the area around him. The noble was being guarded around him, only appearing as necessary to stabilize the king's power, then disappearing without comment. He never approached Renji otherwise and spoke to him only when necessary. Renji knew he was only acting that way because he, himself had told Byakuya to leave him alone, but to some extent, he actually wished the noble would force a confrontation. Perhaps it was the opposite of what he said, but it would be some kind of sign that Renji made a difference in his world.
He wondered why he gave a shit about that. It didn't matter. He was in Byakuya's world now, whether either one liked it or not. He was part of a noble clan…and as soon as their obligation in the royal realm ended, he would learn just how much that was going to fuck up his life.
He was already screwed as far as falling in love and having kids…not that he had sought those things before, not with any real interest. He was young enough to enjoy the freedom of being single and able to move around freely. And although the military took up a good portion of his time and energy, he was able to do what he wanted with his free time. But he knew from what Rukia had told him, that things were very different in a noble household. There were rules and expectations, foreign concepts to a free spirited Rukon kid. It felt like a noose had been placed around his neck and even though they were still in the royal realm, already he was beginning to feel it tighten. It left him feeling sick inside, sick and trapped. He wondered briefly if Byakuya might just feel the same.
He almost stopped and laughed at himself…
I'm worried about Byakuya Kuchiki's feelings, now? Who the fuck even knows if that guy has feelings…
Immediately, for some reason that Renji couldn't fathom, he flashed back to the moments before Byakuya's soul was removed from his body…the shiver of fear, the wet eyelashes brushing lightly against his throat, the tightening of his hands…as though he was hanging on for dear life. Then, he remembered carrying Byakuya's essentially lifeless body to the transitioning room.
What would I feel if Byakuya died?
The thought took him by surprise, then the answer made him swallow hard and tremble softly. Because the truth was that from this point on, he would never know. If Byakuya died now, because they were soul bonded, Renji would die with him.
"Shit," he whispered softly, "Kinda makes being his vice captain and protecting him a little more personal…"
But it also gave Byakuya a new vulnerability…because Renji was not yet as powerful as Byakuya…and if he laid down his life protecting his captain…then his captain would die anyway.
Talk about a fucking waste…He flinched as a dull, throbbing pain began in his abdomen. Shifting positions beneath the tree helped only slightly. He tried to distract himself, to think about something else, anything else, but the throbbing sensation only grew and beneath his skin, the king's power began to burn.
"Oh…" he groaned, looking around for Byakuya, "Fuck…this…this hurts…"
A flash step sounded and Byakuya appeared suddenly beside him. Wordlessly, he eased his life partner down onto his back and placed a hand on his abdomen.
"It feels…different this time," Renji groaned as Byakuya brushed his eyes closed and lowered his consciousness, dulling his senses to ease the pain, but leaving him lucid enough to speak and comprehend.
"That is because it's time," Byakuya said, lowering his head and focusing heavily, sending his reiatsu into Renji's glowing abdomen, "Relax and focus on breathing slowly. The king is about to emerge. This is good, Renji. We'll be going back home…"
Renji's hazed mind only half heard the noble's words, but he heard enough to know he needed to stay focused and relaxed, so he took a slow breath and released it as the comforting swell of Byakuya's reiatsu slid into his body, relieving the pain and providing a buffer between Renji and the emerging king. He cracked an eye open and was treated to the admittedly beautiful sight of Byakuya outlined in bright white light, with the moon and stars at his back. His face was calm and serene, more like the captain he remembered from before…
"Aw…and I'd thought I'd found a way to escape that idiot, Zabimaru!" he groaned in an attempt at humor.
"Well," said Byakuya in a rare show of affection, "I think Zabimaru will be likely to behave a bit better, having missed you so…at least for an hour or two."
"Oh…" Renji panted softly, "shit…"
"What?" Byakuya asked, washing his face with a cool, wet cloth.
"You made a joke…and it was actually kinda funny," Renji moaned, "I've got to be dying, ne?"
"If you are, then I am too. Do not forget that, Abarai," Byakuya said serenely, "And I do not intend to die any time soon."
"Yeah," huffed Renji, "leave it to you to even tell me when it's okay and not okay to die!"
"You're not dying, Renji. You're giving birth to our king." Byakuya said, sending his reiatsu into his life partner and slowly expanding it to wrap around the fully formed king.
"Hey!" Renji objected dizzily, "What the hell are you doing to me? Ripping my guts out? Hah, I think you're rearranging stuff in there. Watch what you're doing!"
"Abarai," said Byakuya, an edge of annoyance in his tone, "unless you'd like to do this for me, I suggest you lie there and breathe slowly, like I told you."
"Augh," grunted Renji irritably, "can't stop…being captain…for like a sec and…hah…actually show some…ow!…some sympathy?"
"Hmmm," muttered Byakuya, focusing intently, "I think you're feeling sorry enough for yourself, ne?"
"Huh, I knew you'd say that!" Renji groaned, biting at his at his lower lip.
Byakuya washed the sweat from his face again, then returned to his midsection.
"You might want to watch this, Renji," he said quietly, "I'm about to help him emerge."
"Oh…oh kami…ah…ah…Captain, I uh…I don't feel so…good."
Byakuya lifted Renji and knelt behind him, reaching around him and placing one hand on his chest and one on his abdomen. He rested his head on Renji's shoulder.
"It's okay, Renji, we're almost there…watch…"
He wrapped his reiatsu around Renji and focused deeply until the white light around them wavered and shimmered, then turned as golden as Renji's hair and eyes. Slowly, before the stunned eyes of the two shinigamis, Renji's midsection pulsed sharply and a golden body began to rise out of it.
"Ah, hell," hissed Renji, as Byakuya's hands left his chest and abdomen and captured his hands, "Ugh…"
The head and broad shoulders emerged first, then hands reached out and steadied the king as he turned and slowly pulled his body free of Renji's. Byakuya stared in amazement at the sight of the beautiful, fully formed body that emerged and stood, then slowly removed the golden light, revealing himself to them…all but his face, which remained cloaked in golden light and obscured. Byakuya realized suddenly that Renji had stopped talking and looked down at him. With the king emerged, his hair was changing, darkening, regaining its normal red shade. Oddly, though his glowing white skin was growing darker and more tanned again, the black tattoos remained absent.
"Renji," Byakuya said, touching his face.
But he had gone limp in Byakuya's arms.
"He was overcome as I emerged," the king said, leaning over the redhead and touching him lightly, "He may not regain consciousness again for some time. It was a very demanding process…"
"My lord," said Byakuya, his eyes still on the unconscious man he held in his arms, "I thought that he would be all right…that he would return to normal after…"
"And he will," the king assured him, "but his recovery will be slower than yours, because of the rigors of holding me inside him for an extended time. His spirit centers will slowly regrow and as he reconnects with his zanpakutou, the markings he had will emerge again. But before he returns to the Seireitei, he must have protection from the strong reiatsu that exists there."
The king touched the redhead's wrists and a golden band formed on each one.
"These bands will slowly fade as he recovers. When they disappear, he will regain his powers."
"But how long will Renji be like this?" Byakuya asked, worry in his voice, "An extended period of powerlessness like that after the monthlong process of the rebirthing…it will be difficult for him."
The king smiled.
"Renji will have you to care for him."
Byakuya nodded, but his eyes were troubled. The king set a hand on his shoulder.
"You worry, Byakuya, I feel the concerns burning all around you."
"Renji barely speaks to me anymore," the noble said quietly, "We were more normal during your emergence than we have been the whole time we were here and I was pleased at that, but I know when Renji wakes and he is faced with the expectations and responsibilities of being forced into my family, he will likely be troubled again."
"I am sure that your estimation of him is accurate," said the king, "and it will be your task and his to push through the difficulty. You are both creatures of free will and power. You must make your decisions independent of me and you will set the path for your future. I see grave challenges that you will face, but I believe the two of you will be successful in the end."
"Then," said Byakuya, looking down at Renji, "if we have our lord's confidence, I believe we will be successful as well. It's just…difficult to know where to begin."
The king smiled and nodded.
"Always, getting started is the hardest part…so I will give you and Renji a beginning. Your lives have been on hold for the last month while you prepared the way for me to be reborn. Your duty is now finished."
He touched the silver sigil on Byakuya's forehead and it faded. He turned to Renji and did the same.
"You are freed of this obligation as of this moment. I am grateful to the two of you for assisting me…and as a token of my appreciation, you have been given the ability to return to the royal realm at any time you choose, as well as special status with the royal family so that while you are here, you will be our honored guests, always. Your head captain will be according the two of you a month of leave so that you may recover and have time to settle into your new life together. Now, bring Renji and I will open the doorway."
"What?" Byakuya said, looking surprised.
"Come now, Byakuya," said the king affectionately, "I think I have been the source of too much disruption in your lives. The least I can do is make your return to the Seireitei as fast and trouble-free as possible."
He turned and opened a shimmering doorway. Byakuya lifted Renji into his arms and stepped towards the opening, feeling a sense of oddness and discontinuity at seeing Kuchiki Manor just on the other side. He turned back to the king and bowed his head respectfully.
"Arigato, my lord," he said softly.
"No, Byakuya," said the king, "My thanks belong to you…you and your Renji. Go now and find your way to each other…for that, you will find, is the greatest gift in all of this, if only you desire it and open yourself to it."
"I trust in my lord's vision," said Byakuya, "even though my own view is more limited."
He took his leave of the king and passed through the doorway that had been opened. Stepping down, he landed lightly in the center of the gardens. Tetsuya's sapphire eyes widened as they spotted his cousin, and he ran forward hastily.
"Byakuya-sama, welcome home. We were not aware you would be returning today. Let me alert your attendant. It looks as though Abarai-san is in need of care. Would you like me to attend him?"
"Yes," Byakuya said, nodding and turning towards the room he had sent word for his staff to prepare for Renji, "Come, Tetsuya."
He carried the redhead into the room and placed him in bed, then watched silently as Tetsuya knelt beside the redhead and examined him carefully.
"Is he all right?" the Kuchiki leader asked, an edge of worry in his voice making Tetsuya glance up at him curiously.
"He is stable," the younger man reported, "and his body is in recovery. I am sure that he will regain his strength with rest and food."
"Yes," Byakuya agreed, closing his eyes for a moment, "Watch over him, Tetsuya."
"But…"
Byakuya turned and quietly exited the room, leaving the doors into the garden opened and his cousin staring after him in dismay. Torio ran up to greet him, his face reflecting mingled relief and concern.
"Byakuya-sama!"
"Torio," Byakuya said, nodding in acknowledgement, "I have just placed Renji in his room. I want you and Tetsuya to watch over him and to send for Hanatarou to assist you if Renji has any additional needs. His recovery will take some time, as you will see. And Torio, Renji has not lived in a noble home before. I trust that you or Akio will accompany him wherever he goes within the manor and council offices until he is more accustomed to being here. He will need a great deal of guidance, I think…and I think he will find it easier to hear, coming from you rather than me. In any case, he is likely to be moderately temperamental and occasionally difficult to manage, so just do the best you can, and let me know if there is any reason for my intercession."
"Of course" Torio answered, bowing, "Akio is on his way, and will assist Tetsuya-san while I care for you."
Torio smiled at Byakuya sympathetically.
"Sir, which would you like first, tea or a hot bath?" he asked.
"Prepare a bath, I think," Byakuya replied, his mind relaxing as it began to sink in that he was really home, "and have the tea waiting for when I am done."
"Hai, Byakuya-sama, I will have the bathing chamber prepared right away."
Torio flash stepped away, leaving Byakuya standing quietly in the garden. He breathed in the fresh scent of the flowers and gazed down into the koi pond, reconnecting with all that was comforting and familiar.
Kami, it feels good to be home. The royal realm was stunningly beautiful, but it was such a strange place…and so much happened there…
He glanced over in the direction of Renji's room, wondering what would happen when the redhead woke. He had his concerns, especially considering Renji's withdrawal from him during the later days of their time in the royal realm. They had a lot of ground to cover, now that they were back.
But in a way, we will never fully return from that place. Something of who we are was lost there…and we became like two different people. But that time is over and we are home again. And I think that what we have to do is to put the royal realm and all of that unpleasantness behind us. The less I bring up the memory, the sooner he will forget…and the sooner he forgets, the sooner we will be able to move on from this. It will take time for him to recover his powers and to settle into noble life, but he has Torio and Akio to help him. There is also Tetsuya, who came to the family as a half-noble outsider, who will know better what might calm his nerves as he learns to cope with being here. And if I leave him space in which to settle and become adjusted, perhaps he won't feel crowded by me. Yes…forget and move on…give him space and let him approach me when he is ready. That is what I must do.
But, will it be enough?