Chapter 8: Ghosts in Vapor

Tetsuya left his bedroom and slipped out into the dark gardens, glancing over his shoulder briefly to make sure that his attendant followed. Koji proceeded at a respectful distance, moving in his wake as he followed a trail that led out, through a large orchard, then upward to the top of a cliff, where he paused under a blooming plum tree, his blue eyes looking up into the clouded sky.

Byakuya-sama's plan is so dangerous. I don't want him to be hurt, especially not protecting me when I could actually be losing my mind! I know in my heart that Naoki is gone. Whatever is happening, I don't expect he will come back. I made what peace I could with his passing, and I grew strong so that I could honor his memory by making the most of the life he died to save.

I don't feel angry over the past. I just feel sad when I think of the years I spent in the prison. I feel broken when I think of the hatred that was brought to bear on those of us who were incarcerated there. But in the depths of my heart, I accept that no amount of hatred or revenge will undo the past, or even give me more peace. Naoki and I talked about this. We agreed that the emotions our captors poured into their torments for us were a poison. We could have chosen to let their poison flow into us and make us as angry and as evil as they were, but instead, we chose peace. We lived through everything on the hope that the world outside the prison was better. We only wanted a normal life. That was the only way to be healed of the harm they did to us.

Tetsuya felt a little shiver pass through him and he wished he had remembered to bring his thicker robe. Before the regret had fully registered, Koji was there, simply dropping the robe around his shoulders, then melting back into the trees. Tetsuya sighed gratefully and set out down a little path that ran alongside a tranquil waterfall. A set of switchbacks led down the side of the waterfall to a lake and meadow below. Tetsuya followed the trail about halfway down, then took a tiny, hidden path that led behind the falling water and into a concealed cave. Within the cave, small kido lights flickered, illuminating a large, bubbling hot spring. Tetsuya removed his robe and nightclothes, hanging them on hooks that had been set in the rock wall, then he walked naked to the edge of the hot spring.

A little sound near the back of the cave startled him and he paused and peered into the darkness. He took a step in the direction of the disturbance, but was distracted from his investigation as he sensed someone else entering the cave. Tetsuya's eyes narrowed and he scowled and reached for his robe as he recognized his black-eyed cousin.

"Orochi, what are you doing here? You know Byakuya-sama does not want you here. Koji is…"

"Koji is looking into the eyes of my snake and he will not even remember I was here."

"Why have you come here? Are you angry you and your father were not able to have me institutionalized as you wanted?" Tetsuya asked scornfully.

"Come now, we both know that your mind has been playing tricks on you," Orochi said slyly, "Tell me, have you had any more visions or dreams tonight?"

He ran his eyes down the length of Tetsuya's barely covered form.

"Were you waiting for your dream lover to come to you here?" he mocked his cousin.

He paused and looked around the cave, missing the barely visible form within the shadows that shrank back and quivered in reaction.

"Where is he?" Orochi persisted, "Why don't you come out, Naoki? We can relive old times…"

"Get out of here!" Tetsuya shouted angrily, "And don't you dare speak of Naoki! Your lips do not deserve to speak his name!"

Orochi's mouth curled into a wicked sneer.

"No, Cousin, you are the one not worthy of him. Isn't that why your dearest love is not here?"

"S-shut up!" Tetsuya hissed furiously.

"You know it's true," Orochi inisisted, "If not for you…if not for your weakness…"

Tetsuya stepped back slightly, his hand quaking where it held his robe closed.

"Stop it!"

Tears filled Tetsuya's eyes and leaked onto his face as Orochi moved forward, his parted lips still breathing accusations as he backed Tetsuya up against the wall.

"You feel guilty, I know," Orochi continued, feigning sympathy, "I understand. It is a great burden on your heart and it taxes your mind… bringing you slowly to the point of madness."

Within the shadows of the cave, the crouched form that watched the two crept forward.

Tetsuya swallowed hard, staring up into Orochi's glaring eyes as his cousin pushed him up against the wall and brought his face in close, so that their lips were nearly touching.

"It pushes you to your limits. We all have our limits, Tetsuya. You were imprisoned. You were tortured. It's understandable that your mind would eventually break."

Fresh tears rolled down Tetsuya's tormented face and a hard sob escaped him.

"My mind isn't broken enough to believe anything you would tell me!" he spat, "Now, get away from me!"

"Oh, not yet," Orochi seethed, bringing his lips to Tetsuya's ear, "I've missed you. I've missed that warm, beautiful place inside you. I miss the rain that would fall sometimes in my room when we were together, Tetsuya."

The hidden man in the shadows stiffened and prepared to spring. He was just beginning to move as Byakuya's presence radiated somewhere nearby. Orochi laughed softly and breathed a command to his zanpakuto that made his body shimmer and take on the form of one of his snakes. He hissed a last warning as he took his leave.

"I wouldn't speak of this if I were you. You are already suspected to be losing your mind. No one would believe you."

His last words echoed in the steamy air as he disappeared and almost immediately, Byakuya entered the cave, also wearing nightclothes and looking concerned at the rain of tears and the distressed expression on his cousin's face.

"Tetsuya," he said anxiously, "are you all right?"

Tetsuya brushed the tears away from his eyes and nodded briefly, moving to join his cousin.

"I am as well as can be expected," he answered softly, "Please don't worry about me. I will be all right."

"I will always be concerned when I know you are unhappy, Tetsuya," Byakuya chided him gently, taking his hands, "I know the attack on Arashi has caused you to question yourself, but know this. I do not believe, for a moment, that you injured him."

"But how can you know for sure?" Tetsuya objected his voice breaking and tears returning to his eyes, "Byakuya-sama, I don't even know if…!"

"Yes, you do know," Byakuya persisted, touching his face, then brushing away his tears, "You know in your heart that it is not in you to harm Arashi, or anyone else."

"I hurt Koji," Tetsuya whispered, sniffing, "I am capable of doing harm."

"No," Byakuya said firmly, "I know that, right now, you doubt yourself, and I understand why. But you must trust me. I would not lie to you. If I thought you were truly dangerous, I would protect you and everyone around you. This is not you, Tetsuya. Whatever is happening, it is not you."

Tetsuya took a shuddering breath and rested his head wearily on Byakuya's shoulder. His eyes closed and he let out a slow, shuddering breath.

"I don't think it's me, Byakuya-sama, but it is distressing because I am missing memory of some times. And at other times, I see or hear or feel something, and I…"

"You have suffered too much," Byakuya said regretfully, "but you have been strong. You have moved beyond the prison and though you have struggled, you have built a new life here, Tetsuya. That…"

A sudden, urgent sound of fast footsteps made Byakuya stop and stare in surprise as Torio appeared and skidded to a stop in front of them, his eyes registering intense relief at the fact they were present and unharmed.

"Byakuya-sama," he exclaimed, "there has been another attack!"

"What happened?" Byakuya asked, stiffening.

"Sir," Torio said shakily, "it is Abarai-san. He was attacked from behind and fell into the koi pond. He wasn't breathing when we found him. Michio-san has revived him, but he's hurt very badly!"

Byakuya and Tetsuya exchanged glances, then flash stepped out of the cave with Torio on their heels. They raced up the set of switchbacks and through the orchard, emerging and running through the gate at the back of the gardens. They slowed as they approached the healer, who knelt at Renji's side, his hands spread out over the redhead's blood splashed body. Renji laid in a puddle of his own blood, his skin gone a stark white that made his tattoos stand out.

"Michio, what happened here?" Byakuya asked in a shocked tone.

"We aren't sure, Byakuya-sama," the healer confessed, "Torio-san found Renji-san like this in the water and dragged him out."

Byakuya started to speak, but was stopped as the healer's hand touched his wrist lightly.

"Sir, Koji-san also found himself unconscious nearby," Michio continued, "He says he doesn't remember what happened to him, but the last thing he remembers is that he saw Tetsuya-san leave his bedroom."

Tetsuya's breath caught, but he refrained from speaking as Byakuya shot him a look of warning.

"I was with Tetsuya," Byakuya assured the healer, "He couldn't have…"

"This crime occurred within a time frame that could suggest…"

"No!" Byakuya said stridently.

At the sound of his exclamation, Renji stirred softly and groaned weakly.

"Ugh, Taichou…"

"Renji!" Byakuya exclaimed softly, dropping to his knees at the redhead's side.

"S-sorry, I must've…fallens asleep. I'll get to….huh?"

Renji's eyes opened and looked dazedly up at his superior officer.

"Taichou?" he inquired weakly.

"You were attacked," Byakuya informed him, "Renji, do you know by whom?"

"I was attacked?" Renji managed, his eyes blinking in confusion.

"Do you remember what you were doing before you lost consciousness?" asked Michio.

"Wh-what I was doing?"

"Was anyone with you?" Byakuya asked urgently, "Did you see anyone?"

"K-koji-san," Renji remembered, "He was lyin' on the ground."

Renji's brown eyes glazed over and he began to lose consciousness again.

"He said he lost sight of T-Tetsuya-s-san."

Byakuya, Michio and Torio exchanged surprised glances and Tetsuya backed away slowly, his blue eyes rounding.

"Tetsuya," Byakuya said firmly, "do not say anything. I was with you. I saw you in the cave."

"Renji-san was found in water," Tetsuya said, shivering, "I can transport myself very swiftly, using water."

"But I was with you!" Byakuya insisted.

"I know…I…Byakuya-sama, I just…it's too much!"

"Torio, please take Tetsuya to the bathing room and give him a warm bath and a massage, then accompany him to his room and wait for me there."

"You can't just send me to my room!" Tetsuya sobbed, shaking off Torio's hand, "Renji…!"

"You were not seen at the location of the attack and I, myself, was with you," Byakuya said stridently, "You couldn't have done this. Now, go with Torio while I see to Renji's care."

Tetsuya gave Byakuya a tormented look, but stepped back and allowed Torio to lead him away. Byakuya looked down at his fukutaichou's stricken face, his insides clenching at how pale the redhead remained, even as Michio continued to treat his wounds.

"He was attacked from behind," the old healer explained, "I cannot read the reiatsu in the wound to tell by whom. The weapon struck from the back and impaled him, barely missing his major organs. A few more inches…"

"A-and you would've been p-planning my funeral," Renji finished, weakly, "Damn…"

"Renji, do not try to talk," Byakuya chided him.

"I have been able to stop the bleeding, but I need to do a deeper cleansing and close the wound properly."

Byakuya took Renji's hand and pulled it to his chest as the old healer continued to treat the injured redhead.

"It is a blessing it is chilly, so the water he fell into was very cold," Michio commented.

"I d-don't think falling into icy water was s-so good," Renji complained, shivering.

"He meant that it kept you from irreversibly drowning," Byakuya said, shaking his head.

"I was gonna say," Renji chuckled, flinching at the flash of stinging pain it caused, "cause I think I'm freezing to death over here."

"Will you bring him a warm blanket?" Byakuya asked a waiting attendant.

"Yes, Byakuya-sama."

"Byakuya-sama," said the watch commander, "I have had the grounds searched and there are no signs of forced entry or trespassing. I will examine the scene of the attack personally and inform you of anything I find."

"Thank you, Tsutomu," Byakuya said gratefully.

He turned his attention back to Renji, who smiled up at him weakly.

"It's gonna be okay," the redhead reassured him, squeezing the hand that held his, "You've hit me harder than this before and I was fine."

"I did not impale you," Byakuya scolded him.

"Only cause I saw you trying to," Renji giggled, flinching again, "And you did give me like a billion paper cuts all over."

"Pardon me?" Byakuya said, scowling, "Are you lying there, half dead and making fun of me?"

"S-sorry, Taichou," the redhead snickered.

"This is not a laughing matter."

"It could be the pain medication, sir," Michio suggested, "Or he could be dizzy from loss of blood."

"Or he could just have a morbid sense of humor and awful timing," Byakuya sighed.

"Hey, that's not nice!" Renji objected.

"I told you to be quiet and rest," Byakuya snapped softly, bringing the redhead's fingers to his lips and kissing them gently.

He looked down into Renji's pained eyes regretfully.

"And I told you not to worry," Renji said in a serious tone, "I'm right here and I'm staying right here. I'm not leaving the best thing in my life."

Byakuya's eyelids fluttered very slightly and he cleared his throat softly.

"When do you think he will be stable enough to move?" he asked the healer.

"Oh, I think a few more minutes," Michio assured him, "He is stable now and doing well."

"You hear that?" Renji said, arching an eyebrow, "Told you I'd be fine."

"Of course you did," Byakuya said dismissively, "Be quiet, Renji."

He turned his attention back to the waiting staff. Torio stepped forward to join him at Renji's side.

"Sir, Tetsuya-san is in Koji and Akio's care. He seems comfortable now and is resting in his room."

"Very well," Byakuya answered, frowning, "See that guards are posted near his quarters. If someone is sneaking about the premises, I do not want them getting near Tetsuya. They have already hurt Renji and Arashi."

"I will see that the security staff is informed."

"I think we are done here," Michio said, nodding to two attendants who waited with a small stretcher.

"Take him to my quarters," Byakuya directed them, "I will watch over Renji personally as he recovers."

"Yes, sir!" the attendants said, hurrying to Renji's side and carefully lifting him onto the stretcher.

XXXXXXXXXX

Tetsuya laid in his bed, gazing silently up at the ceiling and watching as the ceiling fan turned.

What is happening?

I should know that I had nothing to do with Renji-san's injury, but all of this has me second guessing myself. I don't know what to think anymore! I feel so confused.

He closed his eyes, relaxing his body and trying to let himself drift off.

I wonder if the elders will demand a new hearing.

He felt his mind drifting and was grateful that sleep seemed close.

It seems that sleep is my only respite…and only when it's not haunted with strange dreams.

He felt a twinge of anxiety as he felt again the gentle presence of his lost love.

He feels so close to me sometimes. Sometimes, I think it could be real. It seems real. I smell his scent. I feel the touch of his loving eyes. Sometimes…

He froze as the bed moved and a slender body joined his on the bed.

I wish it was real!

He kept his eyes closed, enjoying the touch of Naoki's gentle hands on his face and warm kisses on his lips.

I can't stay for long, Naoki's voice said longingly, I just want to comfort you, then I have to hide before he finds me. I am sorry, so sorry, Tetsuya! I love you. I never wanted to do what he said…and…

Tetsuya's eyes opened suddenly and filled with tears as they met Naoki's.

"It's true then," he whispered brokenly, "I really have gone mad!"

An odd little shock struck his resting body and Tetsuya felt his consciousness fading.

"N-Naoki…" he whispered brokenly.

"Be strong, my love," Naoki whispered as his body seemed to slowly fade into the shadows within the dimly lit room, "I dare not show myself now. It is too dangerous for me with Orochi pursuing me, but I promise that we will be together again soon."