Chapter 18: The Scion
(I know it's been forever, and the person who requested this has left the fandom, but I really love this story and I want to finish it, so...here's a brand new chapter to enjoy. Happy reading! Love, Spunky)
Renji woke to the unusual sight of Kuchiki Byakuya, a man who was usually out of bed before sunrise, sprawled carelessly across his bare chest and snoring softly at well past ten in the morning. He chuckled good-naturedly and slid his hand down the noble's bare back. letting his fingers curve lovingly over the man's perfect, white bottom, and burrowing his nose into the lush fall of sakura scented black hair. The noble's dark eyes opened and blinked slowly, then focused on him. Not waiting for any words to pass between them, Renji began a warm infusion of stabilizing reiatsu into Byakuya's enlarged abdomen, watching the noble's lovely, pensive face for any signs of lingering discomfort.
"We're getting really close now, aren't we?" Renji mused, a strange feeling like fear flickering in his own core as he said the words, "This could happen any time now."
"Are you afraid?" Byakuya asked, the ghost of a smile touching his lips, "How very unlike you, Renji. I thought that I was the one constantly questioning and worrying over things. You have been amazingly calm through everything."
"Yeah, well I guess everyone has their limits, don't they?" Renji surmised.
"You are wise to realize that," Byakuya noted, "So, since you have been such a stabilizing force while I have struggled, I will try to do the same for you. If there is something bothering you, then feel free to share it. I may only be able to listen, but..."
"Thanks," Renji said gratefully, smiling and kissing him several times before continuing, "But I don't know if there's anything to talk about. It's not like I have a specific problem, I just..."
He paused and rubbed the noble's rounded belly affectionately.
"I guess I'm worried about how much I don't know about having a kid and raising one."
Byakuya blinked in surprise, also throwing Renji momentarily off guard.
"Does that surprise you?" the redhead asked, "I mean, your mom died when you were a baby, but you had your dad and grandfather. I was just with a bunch of other lost kids that no one wanted. I didn't grow up with parents. I don't have a clue what a good parent should do or be like. At least you had some good examples."
"I think that we both had some good examples, Renji," Byakuya corrected him quietly, "After all, despite the way things were as you grew up, Rukia has told me how the two of you assisted street children younger than yourselves. The very urge to do that and the choices you made as you did were inspired somehow by other people you knew in that place...experiences that, while they seemed small or insignificant at the time, helped shape your thinking."
"Yeah," Renji agreed thoughtfully, "yeah, now that you mention it. There were a few people...an old healer who came through town every month with his wife, and there was this lady who couldn't take on any more kids herself, so she helped new kids find better groups of kids to watch out for each other. Here and there, people would come from other districts and hand out used clothes and such. You're right. Those people were kinda in the background, but what they did had a pretty big effect on all of us."
"You see," Byakuya said, giving the redhead a genuine smile, "no matter your circumstances, you and Rukia were guided by these examples and you made the choice to help those younger or needier than yourselves. I think that speaks to the fact that, whatever your insecurities about being a father, you will be a capable one. It's no different really than your quest to become stronger, only that the focus is placed on this."
He paused, took Renji's hand and rested it on his belly again, his own hand pressing lightly against the redhead's as they continued to kiss and gently touch each other.
"I think my focus is on all three of us," Renji replied, more softly, "I'm finally going to have the family I've always wanted. What Rukia and I pieced together was good, but this is amazing. I've loved you for a long time and this little one is the best expression of that. I want our kid to have everything I didn't as a kid, including parents and a real home, a happy home...wherever that ends up being."
He noted the sad shine that touched Byakuya's eyes for a moment and squeezed his lovely mate's hand.
"Byakuya, I know it's been eating away at you that we had to leave. I'm not going to lie and say it will be easy, but I understand that you can't just throw your family away. Despite what some of them did, you can't forget the ones who did feel for you, who opposed what the others did to you, or they're too young to even understand what was going on. You were made their leader for a lot of reasons, not just because you're powerful. As you grew up, your parents and your grandfather taught you that, being leader, you have to take care of the others and sometimes that means making difficult choices. You didn't really run away. We both know you never meant to do that. You just needed space and some time and support while you were taking care of seeing to this piece of the clan's future. When our kid's born and you're stronger again, we can go back, if you still want to."
Byakuya didn't give an answer, but the little sigh he gave, the way he sank a little deeper into Renji's arms and the contented look he wore as he fell asleep all told the redhead he had done the right thing. Then, as he was drifting off to sleep, Byakuya's sleepily breathed words confirmed it.
"I knew that being with you was the right thing."
"No, you didn't," Renji giggled softly, "You fought it, tooth and nail, at first, just like I did for a while."
"My heart wasn't in that fight," Byakuya confessed, "I was afraid."
"Me too."
"I am still afraid, Renji. We are vulnerable until I have our child and regain my full strength."
"Well, that will happen soon. And when it does, I'm going back with you and I'll be with you when you face them down. We'll do it together."
"Thank you, Renji. That is a comfort."
"You're welcome," the redhead chuckled, "anytime."
They drifted off to sleep again, lulled by the soft sounds of rain outside and the warmth of their sweetly entangled bodies. It was still raining when Torio and Koji entered the room some time later, bringing their midday meal, so they opened the doors into the gardens and rested quietly as they ate, gazing out at the cloudy skies and breathing in the fresh, cool air.
"You okay?" Renji asked, watching as Byakuya shifted a bit uncomfortably and set his tray aside after only finishing about half of his food, "You ate a lot less than usual."
"I am fine," the noble assured his red haired mate, "And after all, if I continued to eat at the rate I was before, I would be twice this size."
"But Kisuke did say that we should inform him of any significant changes. I think he mentioned changes in appetite."
"Well, that is a rather vague thing," Byakuya yawned, turning away from the redhead and curling up on his side.
"But you're also restless, kinda sweaty and more sleepy too. Are you sure we shouldn't get Kisuke? I think maybe we should."
Byakuya frowned and glanced over his shoulder, studying Renji's concerned expression, then giving him a small smile.
"If it makes you feel better, bothering that man and tasking me with his presence here for nothing, then go ahead. I suppose you won't rest until he's been here and told you that you're worrying too much."
"Probably. I'm just so excited about being a father," the redhead confessed.
"And you will be a wonderful father, I am sure, Renji. Just try to..."
The noble caught his breath softly as a sharp pain moved through his distended abdomen.
"You okay?"
Byakuya nodded, but panted softly as tension formed in his midsection, then slowly released.
"That really looks like something," Renji said worriedly, "Torio?"
The attendant appeared in the doorway with Michio at his side.
"What is it, sir? Is Kuchiki-sama all right?"
"I really think he's going into labor," Renji answered, slipping a hand beneath the panting noble's yukata, "The reiatsu around his stomach feels...different."
"Should we bring Urahara-san?" Torio asked.
"I don't know if there's time. C'mon, help me lift him. We'll take him there!"
Torio and Renji carefully lifted Byakuya and carried him into the senkaimon that Michio opened. They hastened through the dark corridor, the two carrying Byakuya focused on stabilizing him as they moved, and Michio holding his sword ready to defend them. They arrived in the underground training area without incident and found Kisuke already waiting for them.
"Come with me," the shopkeeper said, first leaning over Byakuya and initiating a powerful concealing kido, then indicating a second open doorway, "He's giving off such powerful reiatsu flares, the family will have sensed him. But don't worry. I have a safe house that's well protected and shielded. They won't find you. Bring him quickly!"
They dashed into the senkaimon, their heavy breaths the only sound as they fled. A short time later, they emerged into a small park, then Kisuke led them down several streets and into a quiet, sleeping neighborhood. They hurried to the front of a small house and ahead of them, Tessai opened the front door to let them in. Torio and Renji carried Byakuya into the master bedroom and laid him in a comfortable bed, then Kisuke leaned over him again to open his clothing and examine his now glowing belly.
"How are you feeling, Byakuya-san?" the shopkeeper asked, "Renji's started an infusion to help keep you stable through the delivery."
"I...feel rather dizzy, but...th-that may be anxiety," Byakuya answered.
It's going to be okay," Renji assured him, sliding in behind him and reaching around him to intensify the reiatsu exchange.
Kisuke's hands ran slowly over the bump the baby's reiatsu rested beneath and he nodded firmly.
"This is definitely it. The baby's coming. Just...Renji, keep that reiatsu flowing and let me know if Byakuya shows any sign of distress."
"Okay."
Byakuya and Renji stared, wide-eyed as Byakuya's belly began to glow brightly with iridescent light. Kisuke smiled and slowly sank his hands into the noble's opened midsection.
"The area above the baby's reiatsu has lost cohesion and I am able to remove it now. Just keep breathing, slow and steady. You don't need to push like a woman would. The reiatsu will emerge with just a little help from me."
Renji gave a confirming nod, but found his tongue too tied for speech. He smiled over Byakuya's damp shoulder, continuing the stabilizing infusion as Kisuke's hands moved and very slowly began to draw out the golden reiatsu cluster.
"Tessai, you want to give me a hand here?"
The bigger shinigami moved in closer and Torio and Michio watched silently from across the room as the golden light rose out of Byakuya's body and Kisuke set it gently in Byakuya's waiting arms.
Byakuya's arms trembled slightly as they accepted the warm bundle, and his dark eyes held more pride than Renji remembered ever seeing in the man. His own eyes shone brightly as the baby's form began to resolve in front of them and he spotted a wild shock of handsome red hair with raven black ends. Dark, cobalt eyes looked back at them with a stoicism equal to Byakuya's and the little boy gurgled contentedly.
"You have a son," Kisuke announced, leaning forward to examine the tot.
"He's amazing!" Renji said breathlessly, "Beautiful."
"That is because he looks like you," Byakuya said, smiling.
His smile wavered slightly as he noticed Kisuke's suddenly more serious expression.
"What is it?" the noble asked quickly, "Is something wrong?"
"He's healthy," the shopkeeper assured them, "at least in the most important ways."
"What do you mean?" Renji demanded, "What are you telling us here?"
Kisuke let out a shuddering breath.
"His core spirit center is underdeveloped."
"What?" Renji gasped.
Byakuya exchanged glances with the shopkeeper, then closed his eyes against the rising emotion.
"What's going on? You know something you're not saying, don't you?" the redhead demanded, "Tell me what the hell's going on!"
Kisuke took a steadying breath.
"Look, a lot of things can affect the development of the spirit core," he said carefully, "Things like stress, malnutrition and...drug use or intoxication."
Renji froze for a moment, staring at the shopkeeper in disbelief.
"Y-you're saying this could be...my fault? Because I got so drunk and it leaked through the spirit bond?" he whispered brokenly.
"Renji, no," Byakuya insisted, "There is no knowing for certain why this happened, and we were under horrible stress..."
"Yeah," the redhead agreed, tears leaking onto his face, "Stress that I caused you by acting out and treating you like shit! Getting dead drunk and...and...!"
"Renji, you didn't even know I was..."
"What does it matter?" Renji sobbed, rising and stepping back, "It doesn't change the fact it hurt him! I hurt my own kid!"
"No!"
"Before he was even born, I hurt him! I don't...deserve him. I don't!"
Renji sank down onto his knees, looking down at his shaking hands and crying harder. Across the room, Byakuya kissed their son on the forehead and handed him to Kisuke, then climbed to his feet, swaying unsteadily.
"B-byakuya-san, you really shouldn't be out of bed," Kisuke said worriedly.
"Byakuya-sama!" cried Torio and Michio, flash stepping forward, only to be waved off by the noble.
Byakuya reached the collapsed redhead and lowered himself painfully to the floor.
"What are you doing?" Renji complained softly, "Now, you're hurting yourself for me too."
"Abarai, shut up and listen to me," Byakuya said firmly, "We do not know why our son's spirit core is underdeveloped. As much as you want to blame yourself, there were many things affecting us before. We must keep this in perspective. Even with his handicap, he is our son. He is a living, breathing miracle. I know that I don't love him any less for that he will not have a chance of reaching bankai."
"He may not even get a shikai," Renji whispered, his voice trembling.
"So...you think less of him for this?" the noble asked pointedly.
"Hell no!" Renji snapped, "It's not his fault. It's just...it's because of..."
"Don't say that. You do not know why. We may never know why and it doesn't matter. My father was not in possession of a bankai, yet he was chosen to lead, just the same. It is as much a noble's heart as his powers that make him suitable to lead."
"But think of the way those guys will treat him," Renji objected, "You know what they did to your dad. You told me that a lot of them didn't respect him."
"But most of them did," Byakuya said sternly, "We cannot let ourselves be mired in the past, Renji. We have to do the best with what we have. We will rest here for a few weeks and then we will go back together."
"How can we go back?" the redhead mused, "They tried to ruin us before and you know they'll try again."
"I know no such thing," Byakuya insisted, "But it's enough for now. Come. We need to name our son."
He slipped a hand into the redhead's and helped him to his feet and the two returned to where Kisuke sat, holding the baby boy in his arms. Byakuya took the child and set him in Renji's arms, then whispered a blessing over him.
"I want you to name him, Renji," Byakuya said quietly, "I want you to name our boy."
Renji looked down into their child's dark, lovely eyes, his own tearing again as he thought for several minutes.
"Kichiro," he announced finally, "It means lucky son, and believe me, with me as his father, he's going to need all of the luck he can get..."
"Abarai..." Byakuya sighed, smiling down at their son, "I don't approve of you still blaming yourself, but I do agree that is a good name for our child."
He smiled down at the tot and kissed him on the forehead.
"You are Kuchiki Kichiro," he said solemnly, "heir of the twenty-ninth generation of the Kuchiki clan."