Chapter 7: Undeniable Truths

(A warning for non-graphic pwp and non-con sex. If you don't like, don't read.)

Byakuya looked up quietly as Tetsuya and Renji entered his study through the open garden doors, then Tetsuya reached back to shut the doors behind them for privacy. Byakuya's attendant stepped in from the inner doors to deliver tea to the three, then he slid the inner doors closed as he left the room. Byakuya bit his lip gently, blushing slightly as Renji took up a position behind him, and he loosened his clothing to allow the redhead's hands to slip beneath and touch his barely noticeably rounded abdomen. He flinched at the first touch, blushing more intensely, but Tetsuya slipped a supportive hand into his and smiled kindly, enabling him to relax as the stabilization commenced.

"Your baby bump's already bigger than Tetsuya's," Renji noted.

"I will have to set a waterform around you to keep it hidden beginning today," Tetsuya decided.

"That would be best," Byakuya agreed, closing his eyes.

The bonding is so pleasant. It is meant to strengthen the ties of family as we work together to bring this little one to life. I just regret that my baby's father cannot be here to be a part of this.

Ichigo…

I know you would be so happy to feel the growth of our child in my belly. I know exactly how your eyes would light up, and how your hands would caress the area over the spirit chamber. Your expression would grow softer and your lips would touch mine…and then, you would say something beautiful that would let me know how much all of this means to you.

How cruel it is that we cannot have the full beauty of that connection.

"Byakuya-sama," Tetsuya said suddenly, surprise and deep worry plain in his voce.

The Kuchiki leader froze as he realized that large tears were sliding down his face. Renji instantly withdrew his hands and sat back, beside Tetsuya, his cinnamon eyes lowered respectfully.

"M-my apologies," Byakuya said, turning his head aside and brushing the offending moisture away, "I suppose it is just the hormones of pregnancy."

"Right," Renji agreed, still not meeting his eyes, "Look, Taicho, I um…have some things to take care of, back at headquarters. So, if you don't mind Tetsuya finishing up here?"

"No, of course not," Byakuya said, keeping his own gaze averted, "Thank you, Renji."

"It's no problem. I'll see you there later."

"Very well, Abarai."

Tetsuya waited until Renji had gone, then he freshened the tea in his troubled cousin's cup and took up a position behind him to continue the stabilization.

"You know that you can be yourself in front of Renji," Tetsuya intoned gently, "He would never think badly of you. He's a friend, and he's so appreciative of the support you've given us. Hosting our wedding in the gardens and officiating personally…"

Tetsuya paused, his blue eyes misting as he recalled.

"It was the most beautiful day of our lives, and Renji and I appreciate so much the gift that you've given us. Whatever we can do to show our gratitude, however we can support you, you know that we will."

"Yes, I know this," Byakuya acknowledged softly, looking down at his belly and watching as Tetsuya's calm reiatsu joined together with his, "and it is a comfort."

"But you don't look very comforted," Tetsuya said solemnly, "Byakuya-sama, Renji and I are both very worried for you. Not to say that you can't handle things. We know that you can. It is just that neither one of us can stand to see you suffering so."

"There is nothing that can be done about that," Byakuya said dismissively, "What's done is done. Ichigo is married to Niwa Taishiro, and there is nothing that any of us can do about it."

"I've been thinking about that," Tetsuya said, giving his cousin a tentative look, "Maybe there is a way that I can use my…"

"No," Byakuya said firmly, "Tetsuya, you are pregnant, and your pregnancy is a high risk one."

"But there is no danger to me if…"

"I said no," Byakuya insisted, "I won't hear anymore. You must not involve yourself directly in this."

"But, Byakuya-sama…"

"If this is, as we suspect, a case of Niwa Taishiro somehow using his influence to force Ichigo into marrying him, then the man is determined to have Ichigo. He is sure to be well prepared for any attempts to interfere. I don't want you to be hurt."

"What about Ichigo-sama?" Tetsuya demanded, his temper slipping uncharacteristically, "Byakuya-sama, you love him! We all know this is true."

"And we also know that he is married to Taishiro," Byakuya said sternly, "The man is terribly dangerous, and both you and I are carrying children, Tetsuya. We cannot put our children at risk."

"Still, you know that man is holding something over Ichigo-sama!"

"Yes, I do," Byakuya assured his agitated cousin, "and I will continue to work to find a way to assist him, but I must do so in a way that does not recklessly place us in danger."

"I never suggested being reckless," Tetsuya countered, a determined gleam coming into hi eyes, "What I mean to suggest is that there must be a way that we can reach Ichigo-sama and find out exactly what his situation is without being reckless."

"We tried to do that," Byakuya reminded him, "Even if you do not consider my attempt at the Niwa estate, Renji tried to speak to Ichigo in a public place and Ichigo offered no answers. He made no attempt to explain himself."

"Maybe he couldn't," Tetsuya speculated, "As your head of house security and your personal protector, I can tell you plenty of ways that a person could be quietly controlled. One could employ any number of controlling or monitoring mechanisms that would deter someone from speaking freely, even when not near the one doing the controlling."

"Yes, that is true," Byakuya agreed, "however…"

"It would only take a short interaction for me to…"

"No," Byakuya said sternly, "Tetsuya, Taishiro is either watching Ichigo or having him watched constantly. If he even thinks you might be probing the defenses around Ichigo, he would not hesitate. This is to dangerous, Tetsuya. I will think about the situation further, and I encourage you to do the same, but I forbid you to attempt this. I am sorry, but that is the end of it."

Tetsuya stiffened and his blue eyes rebelled silently, but he clenched his jaw and gave the answer that his cousin and leader was obviously expecting.

"As you wish, Byakuya-sama," he managed in a dispirited tone.

"Tetsuya," Byakuya said in a more conciliatory tone as his took his younger cousin's hands in his, "this is not the end of our efforts to assist Ichigo. I promise you. And I promise you that, no matter how long it takes, we will uncover what Taishiro is holding over Ichigo. We just may need to wait until you and I are not so vulnerable to retaliation."

"I understand," Tetsuya sighed, lowering his gaze, "I will not approach Ichigo."

"Good, then I know I do not have to worry about you taking risks while you are already in the midst of a high risk pregnancy. Tetsuya, I don't know what I would do if you or your child were hurt because of all of this. There has been enough hurt."

"I understand that," Tetsuya said sadly, "I am just too aware, as you must be also…that while we protect ourselves, there is no one protecting Ichigo, and it seems he is not in a position to protect himself."

"I am aware," Byakuya said reassuringly, "and while we attend to the birth of our children, we will search together for the best way to help Ichigo."

"Hai, Byakuya-sama."

Byakuya looked up as Torio appeared in the doorway, carrying a well stocked food tray.

"Ah, good," the Kuchiki leader sighed, "I am starving."

He gave Tetsuya an encouraging smile.

"Would you like to join me? You must be hungry too."

"I would," Tetsuya hedged, glancing out the door, "but I have plans. I will see you later in the afternoon, after I have checked in with the guard stations."

"Thank you, Tetsuya."

"Of course."

Tetsuya slipped out of the study and flash stepped across the gardens, his pretty mouth frowning and his eyes still determined. He sensed Arashi's direction and hurried quickly to find his stallion, who was grazing in a nearby meadow, at the base of the beautiful waterfall and lake.

You seem troubled, Master, the stallion spoke into Tetsuya's mind, What can I do to help?

Tetsuya considered his options carefully.

"Byakuya-sama has forbidden me to approach Ichigo," he mused aloud, "but someone needs to do something now. I feel it all through me. Ichigo is in a very bad situation. The problem is not just getting close to him, but is also in being able to speak to him without the monitoring around him picking up on the exchange."

He bit his lip gently, struggling for an idea. He blinked and looked up at the stallion as Arashi's muzzle nudged his arm.

"You have an idea?" Tetsuya asked.

I do, Arashi confirmed, Master, you have been forbidden to approach Ichigo, but I have not.

Tetsuya's breath caught, and he shifted to nonverbal communication, letting his words seep into his mount's mind.

And if you get close to him, you can coax him into communicating with you in our way!

The stallion tossed his head and nuzzled Tetsuya's cheek again.

Leave it to me. I promise I will reach Ichigo and find out what we need to know!

XXXXXXXXX

Ichigo laid in his and his wicked husband's bed, glad for the blindfold that kept him from being able to see as Taishiro wrapped a leather collar around his neck, then ran rough fingers along the two thin chains that ran down from the collar, ending in small, feathered clamps that he placed, one by one, on Ichigo's already painfully swollen nipples, eliciting a sound of pain from the younger man and made the Niwa heir smirk. He enclosed Ichigo's crossed wrists in more straps, then bound them to the headboard, above his husband's head. He caged Ichigo's slim torso in thinner leather straps that crawled down to meet in the V between the younger man's thighs. Additional bindings held Ichigo's legs in a completely open position, leaving him helpless to the icy glare of his husband's predatory eyes and whatever evil he wished to visit upon Soul Society's most celebrated hero.

"Beautiful," Taishiro whispered, making Ichigo flinch and clench his teeth as he ran his fingers along one of the binding leather straps, "I don't think I've ever seen anything so beautiful as this."

Ichigo bit back a hateful reply and only clenched his jaw harder against the obvious attempt to bait him.

The bastard wants me to say something to him, so that he can feel justified in hurting me. But he doesn't care about anything I say. He wants to hurt me. He gets off on seeing my body react and hearing the sounds of pain I make. It gives him pleasure to know he's causing me agony…both mentally and physically.

So, I'll give that animal nothing that he doesn't tear out of me!

"You really are a treasure I've stolen from your unfortunately rather obtuse family. The Shiba clan may be notable for their power, but brains do not seem to run in the bloodline," Taishiro laughed.

Neither does pure evil.

"You might as well answer," he baited the younger man, "I can already feel the tension in your body that speaks louder than words. I can feel your heart racing because you know what's coming, and there is absolutely nothing that you can do about it. All of that strength, all of the powers in your very lovely body are useless, when pitted against my stronger intellect. I would have thought that Byakuya would at least put up a fight for you, but even he has given in. I have to say that I'm disappointed. Maybe I should dangle you in front of him…let a little something slip."

"Don't you dare!" Ichigo hissed, hating himself for letting the words escape him, "If I know you're gonna hurt Byakuya in some way, it makes me feel a lot less like just rolling over and obeying you!"

"I know," the jade-eyed Niwa heir said, smirking and kissing Ichigo on the scowling mouth, "As much as I use that to ensure your cooperation, I want you to see that I can also manipulate it to get you to resist exactly as I choose. You don't take a breath that isn't granted by me now. You don't expel a whisper I don't hear. I draw the sounds I want from you. I get the reactions I want from your body as I take my pleasure. As much as you are Soul Society's hero, you are Niwa Taishiro's slave. Now…let's begin, shall we, my willful little prize?"

Damn it. I shouldn't have spoken. I know in my head that he doesn't want Byakuya looking at this too closely. He knows that, of everyone, Byakuya is most likely to figure out that something is wrong. He already suspects. And once he knows, Byakuya will be able to think of something to do. If anyone can match Taishiro's intelligence and strategy, Byakuya can.

Taishiro has to play his cards carefully.

Ichigo barely held back a guttural exclamation as Taishiro's cruel fingers pinched his badly aching nipples and his husband's smirking mouth assaulted his throat, biting down and sucking passionately, making sure to leave a raw, red marking.

He thinks that trapping me and marking me like that makes me his. He's an idiot. As much as he can trap me so that I can't use my powers, as much as he can hurt me and I won't resist, there's a place inside me where he has no power at all, and that place is where I go so that I won't feel the sting of his abuse.

Ichigo closed his eyes beneath the blindfold, ignoring the humiliating way his body shuddered as Taishiro's fingernails scraped along the pale flesh of his breast, leaving pink lines, and his mouth continued to leave a trail of brazen markings all down the younger man's bound torso. He didn't hear and barely felt the leather crop that snapped to let him know his master was displeased with his inattention. Instead, he imagined Byakuya's deep grey eyes the way they had been on that night they had enjoyed together. Instead of Taishiro's cruel mouth that bit and flung hateful words, he felt only the silken touch of Byakuya's smiling, gentle orifice as it pleasured him, whispering only loving sentiments.

I know what Byakuya and I had was a real, intense connection. And even though Taishiro could take me away physically and force me to submit to him, when I come here, Byakuya is still with me. I feel closer to him than ever. I'm glad that we had those few moments alone at the party. It was a relief to know that he has forgiven me, and that we're still friends. He didn't have to do that. From his point of view, I callously hurt him and ran off with another guy. Byakuya has every reason to hate me, but I know he doesn't. He's the kind of guy that Taishiro can never be, because Byakuya is a true prince and Taishiro is a complete bastard.

Ichigo felt his body beginning to shake under the wicked torments his husband had commenced and drew himself further inward, so that he wouldn't hear himself crying out in agony, or feel his body as it was forced to respond to the elder man's possessive invasion.

My life may be a living hell out there, but there's a place inside me where a little bit of Byakuya lives. It's here that I can go to escape when that animal is cruel to me. He thinks my spirits will break completely, but he's wrong. Just that moment, just Byakuya's few kind and reassuring words gave me exactly what I need to hold on.

Byakuya, thank you.

Thank you for giving me this little bit of hope.

Ichigo felt flashes of intense heat inside and his own body seized helplessly in reaction. He ignored his husband's sounds of pleasure, and even the kinder words that he knew were as hollow as Taishiro's black heart. He didn't move as the restraints were released and Taishiro's naked body curled warmly around his. He only waited until the man was deeply asleep, then he left their bed and walked out onto the balcony outside their room.

The full moon rose high overhead, giving Ichigo a warm feeling inside that defied the chill that had settled in his insides. He breathed slowly, letting his body calm, and he carelessly left his yukata open.

A little sound down below him made him look into the gardens questioningly. He was sure that he saw just the outline of something in the distance. Well aware that he was being watched, he flash stepped down to the grass, tying his yukata closed and walking into the trees, following a little walking trail. He walked as far as the garden's fountains, then stopped, training his eyes on the falling water and blinking as one of the house's cats stepped out of the brush to greet him.

"Oh, hey. You're Misha, right?" he asked, bending and picking up the cat.

Do not react, a wispy voice spoke into his mind, I am not Misha. I only copied her form so that I could reach you without evoking suspicion.

"Wait a second…"

Ichigo, don't speak out loud! Just focus on the form that I have taken, in your hands, and think what you want to tell me. Byakuya-sama and my master know that Taishiro is watching you very closely. We know it's not safe for you to speak the words aloud, but if you try, you can direct your thoughts to me, and I will pass them on to Byakuya-sama for you!

Ichigo stared own at the cat, his heart racing painfully fast and his mind racing. He considered carefully, then focused on the cat's gripping eyes as he sent back his thoughts.

It's Arashi, right? He recalled.

Yes, the wispy voice answered, Please tell me what is going on, Ichigo. What is Niwa Taishiro doing to you?

Ichigo felt tears well up in his eyes, but he held them carefully back and stroked the purring cat with a tender hand.

Tell Byakuya that I lied before. I love him and I would have stayed with him, but he has to let me go. Taishiro has something in his possession, and if I do anything to try to escape or defy him, he's going to be able to drag Byakuya's name through the mud and destroy him in the eyes of the other clans. Trust me, Arashi. Byakuya needs to stay far away from this. I promise I won't give up trying to find a way out. I just don't want Byakuya hurt more than he already has been. Tell him that, please.

The cat's eyes fixed on his and one more thought reached Ichigo, stunning him and leaving him unable to move.

Ichigo, there is something that you should know, Arashi's voice continued, Byakuya-sama knows that Taishiro is lying or wrong about you carrying his child.

Ichigo frowned.

How could Byakuya know that?

The cat in his arms meowed and nuzzled his hand.

He knows because when you were with him that night, you made a child with Byakuya-sama.

Wait! What? How is that possible? Byakuya told me that…

The cat stiffened suddenly and jumped down from Ichigo's arms.

He is coming. Just know that Byakuya-sama is aware of your dilemma. He only refrains from moving now because he is protecting your child.

Ichigo felt a shiver inside as he recognized his wicked husband's approaching footsteps.

Get outta here, he thought to Arashi, You go back and tell Byakuya that I'll be okay. I don't want him anywhere near this.

Ichigo-sama…!

Go. Go back and tell Byakuya it's okay. I'll be okay. He doesn't need to save me.

Just keep our baby safe.