Chapter 8: Unprotected

Renji gazed across the room at his body resting peacefully in the bed in the attendant's recess and wished that Byakuya had accepted his invitation to share the bed he was in. He hadn't meant it to be a flirtation. He just wanted to feel the closeness of their bodies, the warmth radiating between them. As much as he wanted Byakuya in a sexual way, there was something more intense and sensual beneath that. He just loved being in the presence of that gripping power, of feeling that strong reiatsu wrap around him so hungrily. But most of all, Renji was enjoying the gift of seeing and experiencing Byakuya as no one else ever had before. He was sure there were so many secrets, so many things no one would ever guess about him. But it wasn't like he could just search his taichou's memory. Something had to trigger it to make that happen, so each new revelation was spontaneous, intense and breathtakingly unexpected.

As he drifted of to sleep, Renji heard thunder sound in the distance and the beginning of the rain.

Byakuya flash stepped down the walkway and into his room, still warmed by the memory of the gathering for the Cherry Blossom festival. Although the incoming storm had slightly shortened the evening's festivities, there was still more to come the next day. And for this night, the manor was not so silent and empty as it had been since his parents died. Now, nearly every room was filled and there were relatives, friends and servants rushing about everywhere. For tonight, he was able to put aside the grief, the ache of loneliness and feel warmth surround him again.

It had, for the most part, been a lovely day. The arrival of scores of cousins and family friends meant that his grandfather had to be there…and that was always a source of great pleasure. And he had spent a great deal of time preparing Byakuya, reminding him of the proper way to greet everyone and of the importance of presenting himself well. More than the words that passed between them, Byakuya loved being close to him, feeling like there was something of family that still existed for him despite losing his parents.

He ate sparingly during the day, his mind consumed with each new person who passed through the gates into the manor. After greetings were done, he and Ginrei had traveled the walkways, making sure everyone found their rooms to be comfortable. During the lunch hour, he traveled from table to table, again focusing on making the guests feel well tended to. He hated having to watch as several of his cousins left to swim in the lake, but he didn't want to disappoint his grandfather, so he waited until Ginrei's eyes lifted, until he saw the last of the cousins leaving for the lake, and he nodded briefly, excusing Byakuya to join them.

Byakuya couldn't flash step fast enough and gaining the lake, he leapt off the edge without slowing. The water was cold and shocked his senses, but everything else around him was delightfully warm. He was surrounded by cousins and the children of family friends, many of them teens, like him, and all of them eager to interact with their future leader.

One in particular stood out. Her name was Aika and she was a lovely, willowy girl about his age…her late mother a cousin of his father. She rested along the edge of the lake and watched him as he moved among the others, her eyes tracing him, her lips smiling whenever she caught his eye for a moment. And before long, he found himself drawn in her direction. As he approached her, he brushed the hair away from his eyes and felt the impact of her sweet smile, the pretty dark blue eyes and long, wavy black hair. He greeted her as Ginrei expected, though inside he felt a shiver that did not come from the coldness of the water. Her response was as expected and he was careful as the afternoon progressed to remain nearby, but not to appear to single her out. It wouldn't be proper.

But as the others drifted back toward the house to prepare for the evening's festivities, the two hung back. They stood alone on the edge of the now quiet bank of the river, out of the sight of everyone and gazing warmly at each other. He didn't remember what words passed between them, only that at some point, he had closed the distance between them and pressed his lips to hers, letting his arms circle around her. Her response was tentative and halting, but when he drew back, he found himself enchanted by the pretty blush on her cheeks. He took her hand and they turned to join the others. They had only taken a step or two, when they felt a dark, angry reiatsu swell around them. Their eyes widened as the girl's uncle closed in on them, looking as though he knew exactly what they had been about.

"Aika," he said sharply, "you are to return to the manor at once!"

The girl bowed her head and after a last glance at him, walked slowly away. Byakuya stood, facing the man, the reiatsu rising heavily around them. He sensed that although he was powerful for his age, this man was definitely somewhat more powerful. He met the angry eyes squarely, but said nothing.

"You should know better," the man began, "that girl is your guest, a lady and you should know that she is not yours to take. You think that just because you are above us that you do not have to follow the rules like everyone else. Well, you might not be subject to the punishments we are when we step over a line, but you will find that there are penalties for stepping on some. Do not trouble my niece again while we are here."

He did not wait for an answer, but turned and followed in the direction Aika had gone. Byakuya tried to brush off the incident, but as the evening's festivities ended and the storm rolled in, as the guests closed the doors to their rooms and settled down to sleep, he couldn't help but think about the kiss they exchanged and the veiled threat that followed. He left the doors to his room open so that he could enjoy the sound of the rain as the storm moved closer. He settled down into his bed and drifted on the edges of sleep.

A thunderclap woke him sometime later and he moved to close the garden doors. As he reached for them, he heard a small sound and followed it down the hall to a door that was slightly ajar.

"Be quiet," said the low, growling voice, "you need to know your place. And you need to know that you belong to me…Aika."

Byakuya felt a wave of anger and revulsion. He started toward the door, but heard the sound of footsteps. He fell into the shadows as the man left the room and passed uncomfortably close to where he was concealed. He waited until her uncle was gone and then slipped silently into the room. Her frightened eyes watched as he approached and he could see tears on her face as the lightning flashed and the rain came down harder. He pulled her to her feet and brushed the tumbled hair away from her eyes.

"Come with me. I know a safe place we can go where he won't be able to hurt you. And in the morning, we will go to my grandfather. He will know how to handle this."

"But you cannot tell anyone! It would bring disgrace…"

Byakuya was all too aware that she was right. Even though she, herself, had done nothing wrong, she would be seen as tainted…because of what her uncle had done.

"My grandfather will know what to do. His squad is on duty during the storm, but he will come in the morning and he will know what to do. Don't be afraid. I won't let you be dishonored."

She looked up at him gratefully and her hand tightened on his. He led her out the door and into the storm. They flash stepped through the rain, along the garden path and out the back gate, up the forest trail and down the cliff to the lake. He led her to an almost hidden trail that led to a small cave behind the waterfall.

Inside, the cave was warmed by a small hot spring. He had inset several hooks in the rock wall and hung towels and some dry clothes for after his soaking. He led her into the water and sat down next to her, careful to maintain a respectful distance. The hot water chased away the cold on their rain-drenched skin and when they were warmed enough, he presented her with a towel and a dry yukata. He turned away and waited as she dressed, then she accorded him the same courtesy. He used a kido spell to heat water for tea and set a cup in her hand, watching as she took a sip, then sat silently, waiting for him to say something. Byakuya considered his words carefully.

"How did you come to be in his care?" he asked.

"My parents were killed in a battle with hollows in the living world. I had no other close relatives, so my uncle took me in," she explained, "It was fine for the first few weeks, but then he began to look at me differently."

As she continued her story, Byakuya felt fury sweeping through him. That, not just someone of noble descent, but that anyone could act in such a way enraged him. She read the emotion in his eyes and paused.

"You must be careful," she warned him, "no one else can know. I…don't know what would happen…"

"Aika, I won't let anything bad happen to you. We'll stay here until my grandfather comes back. And when he does, he will find a way to get you away from your uncle without dishonoring you. Will you trust me?"

She nodded silently and sipped at her tea.

Byakuya eased the kido spell that lit the room, leaving them in half-light. He sat down beside her and sipped at his own tea. After several minutes, she set down her tea and brought her head to rest on his shoulder. He slipped an arm around her and brought his chin to rest on top of her head. He watched as she drifted off to sleep, then set her down and placed a soft, folded towel beneath her head for a pillow. He watched the entrance of the cave for several hours, watching the flashes of light and feeling the thunder rumble as the rain pounded down outside. He closed his eyes, listening to the sound. Although he had intended to stay awake, he dropped off, lulled by the sound of the rain.

He woke some time later to the feel of a hand tightening around his throat, cutting off the air and silencing him as he twisted madly and tried to break free. Kido ropes snaked their way around his body and held him still as a low, rough voice assaulted his ears.

"I told you that she is not yours to take. I warned you…"

"You were forcing her to have sex with you! I should kill you for that!" Byakuya gasped, sending a shock of kido through the ropes that bound him.

They trembled, but held.

"Lies!" the other insisted, "She is full of lies! But that is no excuse…to bring her here, to…"

"I didn't touch her. I was only getting her away from you! But then, you know that, don't you?"

He tested the ropes again and felt them loosen.

"Well, be that as it may. This is improper…and you owe me for dishonoring us with this outrageous behavior…"

Some part of him realized what was about to happen, but his mind could not accept it. He threw himself against the bonds holding him as the rough hands moved his clothing out of the way. He felt a heavy shock of pain, then heard a soft, pleading voice begging the man to stop, but the pain continued. He twisted and felt the kido ropes shatter, but the rough hands closed around his wrists and held them down. He managed to tear one hand free and thrust it into the face of the other, sending him rolling away. Byakuya staggered to his feet and threw himself on the man, only to be shoved away.

"Stop!" Aika screamed, throwing herself onto her uncle.

He turned swiftly and shoved her hard. The girl lost her balance and fell back, striking her head against the wall and falling into a heap on the floor of the cave. Byakuya saw blood pooling beneath her head.

Aika's uncle brought his body down onto Byakuya's again, trying to grab his hands as he fell back. He managed to capture one, but one remained free. Byakuya threw everything into one huge, shattering blast of kido. It exploded in the man's face and sent them tumbling away from each other. Byakuya was thrown into the wall of the cave and felt the room darken as his head struck the wall. The last thing he saw was the headless body of the other splashing down into the hot spring and blood blossoming outward to stain the water.

When he woke, he was in his bed at the manor. Dull light peeked around the closed shades on his garden doors and he could hear that the rain was still falling. He moved slightly and groaned in pain. A shadow fell over him and he found himself looking up into Ginrei's stern eyes.

"I'm glad you have awakened," he said quietly, "I am not going to ask you what happened in the cave. For the purposes of keeping everyone's honor intact, I have told the guests that a hollow attacked the three of you and killed Aika and her uncle. If you are asked, you will confirm this story and give no details. I know that you must have had good reason for involving yourself in this, but you must remember in the future to safeguard your honor carefully. As the future clan leader, you cannot have suspicion and disgrace fall on you…"

"I had to do something. He was…"

"I know. I surmised as much from what I found when I discovered you in the cave. But you need to understand that if that story is told, you will be disgraced. You will have suspicion cast upon you. You must trust me. It is better this way…better for your cousin to die with her memory untainted and for no one to know the atrocities he visited upon her…and upon you. He is of little importance and will pass quickly from all memory. That carries its own price. But you will move forward. You will shut this away and forget. You will grow into the greatness that your parents wanted for you. If you cannot do this for your own honor, then do it for theirs. Do you understand?"

Byakuya felt the compassion hidden beneath the necessary coldness and bowed his head respectfully.

"I understand," he replied softly.

Ginrei nodded and stood.

"I have to leave on assignment. Our staff will farewell the guests and you will remain here. There will be a healer who will come to tend you until you are well. I will come again when my squad returns."

He turned and left the room. Byakuya leaned back against the pillows, listening to the steady pounding of the rain and forcing his heart to quiet. There was no sense in letting the emotions out. It would only cause more damage. It was better, he thought, to sit quietly as he had been told and to let the rain wash everything away.

But after that, every time the thunder sounded and the rain began to fall, he remembered…

Renji jumped awake as the thunder sounded again and realized that the garden doors were open and that Byakuya was standing in the garden, staring up into the blackness and watching as the sky lit up with lightning and the thunder cracked and rumbled. He was soaked to the skin and completely oblivious…unaware of anything but the dark sky and that sound…and the rain on his skin. And Renji understood his need for that. But still, Byakuya had a greater need, one that Renji imagined no one else could perceive, let alone fill.

He walked out into the storm, ignoring the rain that drenched his skin almost instantly, and took his place quietly beside Byakuya, waiting and watching until he seemed to regain himself and realize that he wasn't alone. No words passed between them. Renji poured everything into the arms he wrapped around Byakuya and the body that captured his and turned him back toward his room. He allowed himself to be brought back inside, bared and set beneath the warm spray of the shower. The chill faded slowly and when they were warm again, they stepped out into the steam-filled room and dried the water from their skin. Still silent, they dressed and stepped back into the bedroom. Byakuya turned toward the attendant's recess, but as he moved forward, warm arms wrapped around him from behind. Black hair trickled onto his shoulder and soft lips brushed his throat and cheek.

"Trust me," Renji whispered.

Byakuya turned toward him, searching the dark, gray eyes and reading the intent behind them.

He knows…

He saw it…

He didn't know how to feel about suddenly not being alone with that cold truth. But the arms around him were warm and inviting. He allowed them to pull him down into the bed and gather him close. No further words were necessary. It was enough, Byakuya decided, to settle against a warm shoulder, to let the emotions wash away with the rain and to know that he wasn't alone.