Chapter 2: Secrets

Ichigo felt something soft touch his cheek, and he opened his itchy, red eyes and found himself buried nose deep in the open bloom of a lovely, dark red rose. His heart skipped in his chest and he felt a chilling moment of uncertainty, but the card with the rose was in Byakuya's fine hand and the message would have warmed him all through, if not for the events of the earlier morning.

I enjoyed spending time with you at the celebration. I hope I will see you again soon. You are always welcome in my home.

Byakuya

Ichigo felt tears in the corners of his eyes as the mysterious warning he had received repeated in his worried mind.

You know what it will do to his reputation if this is made public.

He swallowed hard against the lump in his throat and set the rose and card on his nightstand, then ran his fingers through the ginger spikes of his hair, trying to think of what to do next.

I need to know who sent that note. I'm not going to let the bastard get away with hurting Byakuya and me. They're only dangerous until I know who it is, then I can stop them.

He tried to force away the feeling of anxiety that made his head throb uncomfortably and his stomach ache. He was almost relieved when his attendant arrived in the bedroom, carrying his breakfast tray, although his stomach quailed at the sight of the food.

"Oh, Toshi, I don't think I can."

"Ichigo-sama!" his attendant exclaimed worriedly, "Are you all right? I will bring a healer, sir!"

"It's…it's okay," he began.

He broke off as the sickness overwhelmed him and he jumped out of bed and ran into the bathroom, where he heaved and coughed repeatedly as his anxious attendant dampened a washcloth and cooled his face.

"S-sorry, I must have had too much to drink at the party," he lied, "I'm fine. It's just a hangover.

That and a lot of guilt…

What can I do?

I'll be right back," Toshi said comfortingly, "I am going to get some of the healer's remedy."

"You don't have to…"

Ichigo broke off and sighed wearily as the attendant ran out of the room. He dragged himself to his feet, shaking his head, then immediately regretting it as twinges of pain radiated through the area.

"Damn it, I did drink too much," he groaned, putting his face in his hands, "I feel awful."

He was surprised that the oddly spiced mixture Toshi returned with actually did seem to calm his rocky insides. But there was no calming the anxiety that made his heart pound painfully as he thought back to the note he had received.

That person means business. That picture of Byakuya, naked and lying underneath me…it could ruin him. I know just how the Kuchiki elders would react. He pissed them off by marrying Hisana, then taking Rukia in. He's managed to keep them content by promising not to break the rules. I thought it was just pride that made him act that way before, but it was always more than that. I found out after our battle. Rukia told me that the elders and Byakuya made a very strict agreement. If he breaks it, he'll be in real trouble with them, especially if the clan is embarrassed by a scandal with him caught in the middle. As much as I love him, maybe it's better to just let him go for now, so he won't get in trouble. I'm still gonna go after this creep who set us up, but…"

He closed his eyes and shook his head, moving into to the dressing area where stood quietly as Toshi dressed him.

I have to go see Byakuya.

I have no idea at all how to do this to him.

God, I hate myself already!

XXXXXXXXXX

Kuchiki Tetsuya rose out of sleep as a throb of nausea and a warning ache in his stomach brought him suddenly awake. He made a sound of distress and tried to untangle his slender, naked form from the handsomely tanned and tattooed body of his red-haired lover.

"Renji!" he gasped softly, not wanting to alert his attendant, who slept in the next room.

He shoved desperately at the collapsed and deeply sleeping redhead, but in the end, was forced to lean over the edge of the bed, loosing himself into the nearby wastebasket. Renji jumped awake at the sound, and moved quickly to his blue-eyed partner's side, curling an arm around him to support him as Tetsuya threw up again.

"Oh man," the redhead sighed sympathetically, guilt registering on his worried face, "You weren't kidding when you said that you couldn't handle liquor, were you? Sorry. I feel really bad that I convinced you to drink with me."

He paused and reached up to scratch the back of his tattooed neck, giving Tetsuya a confused look.

"I thought you only had the one," he said, frowning, "I told you to take it easy."

"I did only have one," Tetsuya managed, closing his eyes against another wave of nausea.

"This is you after one drink?" Renji said, trying not to smile, "What the heck? Taichou can drink like a fish and never break a sweat. Are you sure you're really related to him?"

Tetsuya gave Renji a petulant scowl, then paled, bent over and threw up again. He scrambled to cover himself as the door opened and Koji flash stepped into the room.

"Are you all right, Tetsuya-san?" he asked urgently.

"Does he look all right?" Renji said in an amused tone, "You need to get him some remedy for a bad hangover."

"I will get that right away," Koji said, squeezing Tetsuya's hand, "and I will bring Michio-san."

"Oh, you don't have to do that," Tetsuya objected, "I just..."

"Hey," Renji interrupted, nuzzling his comely boyfriend's flushed cheek, "just be quiet and let us take care of you, okay? You don't wanna spend all day throwing up, right?"

"Well, no, but a hangover is hardly worth bothering Michio-san."

"Shut up, beautiful," Renji said, smirking and nipping at Tetsuya's soft lips, "give me some sugar."

"Renji, don't!" Tetsuya complained, trying to pull away, "I've just been sick!"

"I don't care about that," the redhead said dismissively, kissing Tetsuya again, "I want you to feel better. I can't make your belly hurt less, so I'll just distract you by kissing you until the healer arrives."

"Renji!" Tetsuya objected, trying to turn his head away and blushing furiously, "Stop it!"

"Easy," Renji chuckled, "okay, I'll stop. I was just trying to take care of you until Michio could get here."

"I am fine," Tetsuya laughed, reaching down to rub his aching belly, "It's nothing."

"Tell that to your trash can," the redhead joked, following Tetsuya's hand with his.

The two young men paused and went silent as a soft red glow rose up beneath Renji's spread hand where it laid on Tetsuya's slim belly. The two felt a tingling warmth erupt inside them that radiated grippingly. Tetsuya sucked in a surprised breath and went suddenly pale.

"Whoa, hey, are you okay?" Renji asked worriedly, "You look white as a ghost, Tetsuya. Are you gonna be sick again?"

"N-no," Tetsuya managed in a shocked whisper.

His pretty, dark blue eyes looked up into Renji's uncertainly.

"Renji, I think I might be pregnant."

"Whoa, what?" the redhead exclaimed, "But, we used the charm!"

"We did," Tetsuya agreed, reaching for his throat, then going a shade paler, "Oh…"

He bent over and threw up again as Renji curled an arm around him and shook his head apologetically.

"Looks like it broke," the redhead observed penitently, "Sorry, Tetsuya. I know you didn't want to, you know, have kids, because of what happened to you before."

Tetsuya sat back against the redhead, looking into the space in front of him and working to slow his breathing and his dangerously racing heart.

"No," he agreed, wiping tears from the corners of his large blue eyes, "I didn't want to become pregnant again. I know Renji-san loves children, and that you would be a wonderful father, but I already lost one child. I…don't think I could…if I…"

Renji hugged him tightly and kissed the soft skin on the side of his neck.

"I know you're scared," he said soothingly, "I am too. Not just of how your cousin and the elders will kill me for knocking you up before I even marry you. I don't think I'm ready either, but…I promise I'll take care of you and our baby. I won't let anything bad happen to you, Tetsuya. I swear!"

He watched in dismay as a large tear rolled down Tetsuya's soft, flushed cheek.

"What is it? What did I do?" Renji asked anxiously, "Tetsuya…?"

"Those are the words that Naoki left me with…the last ones he said to me before he was killed protecting me!"

XXXXXXXXXX

Byakuya knelt quietly at the low table in his study, poring over a set of reports and taking intermittent sips of his morning tea. He shifted the papers in his hands, considering their content, then he reached again for his tea. His hand paused as he spotted Ichigo standing at the open garden doors.

"Ichigo," he mused, straightening, "what brings you?"

"Sorry for barging in," Ichigo apologized.

"When do you not?" Byakuya said in an affectionate tone, "Sit down. Would you like tea?"

"No, thanks," Ichigo said softly, "I won't be here long."

"This sounds serious," Byakuya said, looking at him curiously, "What is wrong?"

Ichigo started to speak, but the words he had prepared and practiced all of the way over, suddenly spun out of his mind, leaving him staring at the shockingly lovely man of his dreams and unable to think of what to say.

"Ichigo," Byakuya said, frowning, "what is wrong with you?"

"I…I just. Look, I have something to say, and I feel really bad about it, but…"

Byakuya hesitated, then his dark eyes clouded ominously and his frown deepened.

"You…have regrets…about last night?" the Kuchiki leader asked haltingly.

Ichigo closed his eyes tightly and managed a short nod.

"I…was drinking a lot. I wasn't used to it. I just…I…came on to you, but I didn't mean for us to end up having sex."

Byakuya stared back at him, sure that he had misheard.

"You…think I took advantage of you?" he asked barely audibly.

"No!" Ichigo said quickly, "No way! I knew what I was doing. I just…usually wouldn't have acted like that with you. Man, I am so embarrassed. I feel awful about this, really!"

Ichigo flinched at the hurt look that flashed on Byakuya's comely face, then disappeared as the Kuchiki leader stiffened and glared at him.

"I am sorry that the idea of us being intimate is so distressing to you. It is fine. I will, of course, as you say, forget that it happened."

Ichigo let out a shuddering breath.

"Just like that, huh?" he asked shakily, rubbing his hands together anxiously under the table.

"What do you want me to do?" Byakuya asked pointedly, "You have made it clear to me that you think being with me was a mistake…an honest mistake that could easily happen to a young, drunk man."

"Hey!"

"Did I say something untrue?" Byakuya asked coldly, "You did just get finished telling me that you drank too much, so that your senses left you, and, while your barriers were down, you seduced me…unintentionally, of course. It would matter more if I was a woman or a br…"

"Hey, I said that I was sorry!" Ichigo shouted, bringing Torio instantly to the door.

He broke off, staring, pale-faced at Byakuya, who turned his head slightly away.

"We are fine, Torio," he assured the attendant, "Leave us."

"Y-yes, Byakuya-sama," the attendant said, bowing as he hastily exited the room.

Ichigo gathered himself and swallowed hard before speaking again.

"I know you're really pissed at me," he went on, "I deserve that. I just…want you to know that I would never intentionally hurt you. And what was I supposed to do when I woke up and realized what I'd done to someone I care about? I was scared to death to come over here and say this to you, but I felt like I owed it to you to be honest with you."

Ichigo felt a painful jolt at the mistiness that had entered the noble's usually tranquil eyes. Byakuya gazed back at him wordlessly for a moment, then took a shaky breath.

"Well, as you have been so honest with me," Byakuya said in a low, icy tone, "I will return the favor. What you have done is heartbreaking and it is disgusting, but to be truthful, I should have expected it."

Ichigo flinched visibly but forced himself to remain silent as Byakuya continued.

"After all, you have a history of wanting to crush my pride…my dignity."

"No," Ichigo said in low, rough voice, "That's not true."

"But it is," Byakuya answered stonily, "During our battle, you promised to crush my pride, and I thought that was what you did when you broke my sword. But this…shattering my heart and scattering the pieces this way? It is a very personal action."

Ichigo's jaw and hands clenched in reaction, and tears filled his tortured eyes.

"I suppose you have taken your revenge for the coldness I showed to my sister when she was threatened with execution. What goes around, comes around, is that not what they say?"

"Byakuya…" Ichigo whispered brokenly.

Byakuya paused, his face registering a moment of uncertainty. He moved closer to Ichigo, carefully studying his tormented face and dangerously tensed body suspiciously. He moved so that his frowning lips were nearly touching Ichigo's flushed earlobe.

"You are lying to me," he hissed warily.

"No…"

"You are," the Kuchiki leader persisted, "I do not know why you are doing this. I certainly hope it is worth the cost but look who I am talking to. You live in the moment. You do not look into the future or think about consequences. All that matters is that your justice is inflicted and you exert your control over those who are beneath you. I thought I stood with you, but I am just dust under your heel."

"That's not true!" Ichigo gasped, tears leaking onto his face.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Byakuya asked in a dead calm voice, his eyes sending a feeling like jagged ice through Ichigo's shocked body, "Like you are the injured party? I gave you my heart willingly and you cut it and handed it back to me. You have no right to look at me that way! I want you leave, and do not ever set foot in my home again."

Ichigo stared at him through shattered eyes for a breathless moment, then disappeared in a flash step, leaving Byakuya looking silently after him. In the doorway behind him, Tetsuya and Renji ducked out of the room and hurried back down the hallway to Tetsuya's bedroom. Tetsuya closed the door and stood quietly for a moment, gathering himself.

"I guess this isn't a good time to tell Byakuya about the baby," Renji said, shaking his head in disbelief.

"I just can't make sense of what Ichigo just did," Tetsuya whispered dazedly, "One of the things that my cousin taught me is how to read people very well. Byakuya-sama is right. Ichigo was lying about something!"

"He sounded pretty sure of himself," Renji mused, "At least, he sounded like he wasn't going to change his mind."

"I need to talk to Byakuya-sama," Tetsuya decided, "He looked distraught."

"I thought he took it pretty well. I mean, he didn't lose it and threaten to kill Ichigo or anything. He was scary, but…"

"What you saw was my cousin carefully controlling his response," Tetsuya reasoned, "I need to go to him. He will need a soothing presence."

"Yeah," Renji agreed, "You do that. I'm gonna go and talk to Ichigo. Maybe I can bring him to his senses."

"Oh, I think it is too late for that," Tetsuya said worriedly, watching as Byakuya left his study and headed out into the gardens, "After this, he might never trust Ichigo again."

"Where's Taichou going?" the redhead asked, an edge of anxiety in his voice, "To cool off under that tree he likes?"

Tetsuya shook his head stiffly.

"To the cemetery. Please, Renji, go and find out what you can from Ichigo. I will try to talk to my cousin."

"Okay," Renji said, curling an arm around his lover and kissing him on the cheek, "Tetsuya…take care of yourself, okay? I know Taichou's gonna be a mess and it's good you're there for him. Just…go easy on yourself. If you start to feel scared about the baby and you need me, I am a hell butterfly away."

"Thank you, Renji," Tetsuya said, offering him a tentative smile, "That is a great comfort. But I will be fine. The one we need to worry about right now is Byakuya-sama. I know him well enough to see that he is devastated."

XXXXXXXXXX

Ichigo fled Byakuya's study, heading out into the gardens, then blazing up the wooded trail, to the place where he and Byakuya had given in to their passions the night before. He stood beneath the pretty sakura, petals raining down on him and guilt eating away at his conscience. He nearly jumped out of his skin as a hell butterfly appeared in front of him and a distorted male voice spoke to him.

That was a clumsy effort, the voice chided him, Byakuya is suspicious. You will have to avoid him entirely.

"What the hell do you want?" Ichigo snapped in a scathing tone, glaring at the offending insect, "Who the fuck ARE YOU?"

I am the one who has you completely at my mercy," the voice through the hell butterfly answered, Listen carefully. You work for me now. Here is what I want you to do. There is a ball this weekend at the Niwa clan residence. You will go and you will inform the leader of that clan that you wish to take the heir's hand.

"You want me to marry someone?" Ichigo mused, frowning, "What the…?"

The heir wronged me and I wish to exact revenge. What better way than to use one whose clan also wronged me?

"Who are you?" Ichigo demanded, "Stop hiding and face me directly, you COWARD!"

Focus, the distorted voice scolded him, Do what I say…or I will bring Byakuya down like a prize stag. When I am finished with that preening peacock, his own clan will kill him!"

"You fucking monster!" Ichigo panted his chest heaving.

Be careful, the voice warned him, I will make sure that Byakuya is not just disgraced, but he will die if you try anything. Your relationship with him is over. You are mine now.