Noble Beasts

By Spunky0ne

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Chapter 1: Resonance

"Aren't you ready to go yet, Ichigo?" Rukia said impatiently, "Usually, isn't it the girls who take a long time getting ready?"

"Shut up, will you?" Ichigo snapped irritably, sweat breaking out on his forehead as he tried to hold his body still, while one attendant worked to set his formal kimono in place and a second tried to make some kind of sense of his wild, bright ginger hair, "I'm almost done here."

He paused and met the eyes of one of the attendants.

"I am almost done here, right Toshi?"

"Yes sir," the hazel-eyed youth answered, smiling, "It will just be a moment."

"Thanks. See, Rukia? Almost ready."

"Nii-sama's hell butterfly came almost twenty minutes ago. He's ready and you know they have their first heirs that were born only last night. That's why Tetsuya's not going to the ceremony."

"Oh, so he finally decided to have those kids, huh?" Ichigo chuckled, "That's great."

"You can see them for a moment if you ever get your stupid butt ready!" Rukia shouted.

"Okay! Okay, I'm ready!" Ichigo shouted back, "Geez..."

"Come on!" Rukia huffed, pulling on his arm impatiently.

They left Shiba Manor and started down the front walkway, but were met halfway down by a tall, lovely black Arabian stallion.

"Hey there, Arashi," Ichigo greeted him, "Did Tetsuya se...whoa! What the hell?"

The stallion lunged while he was still mid-sentence, lowering his head and pitching the stunned Shiba heir into the air like a bale of hay that landed on his back just as Rukia landed in front of him.

"I think Nii-sama sent him actually," Rukia concluded, "I told you that you were taking too long!"

"Sheesh..."

Ichigo went quiet, wrapping his arms around Rukia's slim waist as Arashi plunged forward, carrying the two down the long entrance road that led out of Shiba Manor and into the streets of the Seireitei. The tall stallion kept a fast, steady pace, moving gracefully along the street, through the central Seireitei, then along a northern path. He thundered through the entrance gates to the manor and came to a stop in the courtyard, where the two riders slid down and were greeted by a member of the house staff.

"Ichigo-sama, Rukia-chan, welcome," said the old woman who greeted him, "Come this way, please."

"Sure thing, Matsuko-san!" Ichigo answered cheerfully.

They followed the old woman down a wooden walkway, past several rooms to one where the garden doors stood open, letting in the fresh air. Stepping inside the room, Ichigo couldn't help but smile at the sight of Byakuya, beautifully dressed in a dark navy kimono with a pretty fall of pink sakura, his grey eyes proud as they gazed down at his newborn son. Beside him, a still pale but smiling Tetsuya reclined in swirls of royal blue, holding their newborn daughter.

"Hey, Byakuya, Tetsuya, wow! So, this is the family, ne? They're really cute."

"Akemi, Emiko," Byakuya said quietly, "This is our friend, Ichigo. Do not let his inability to be here on time fool you. He is a reliable and steadfast friend, and a powerful protector of Soul Society."

"All right, sorry I'm late," Ichigo chuckled, "And they're really cute. But, um, if they're twins, which one is the heir?"

"They are both heirs of the household," Tetsuya explained, "but as Akemi arrived first, as long as he proves out when he comes of age, he will inherit leadership."

"Ah."

"You look ready for the ceremony," Byakuya commented, "finally."

"Okay, I said I was sorry, but geez, this is a lot of clamor. It's kind of embarrassing. And I don't get why they have a ceremony like this anyway. I told those old farts that I didn't want to marry anybody."

"Well, the establishing of resonance is a step in the direction of choosing the best spouse for you. I assure you, the means they use is very reliable at determining compatibility. It will make the selection process more likely to yield a proper set of options for you to consider."

"Yeah, well, I'm not holding my breath."

"Just hope you aren't tasked with a true resonance," Tetsuya chuckled.

Huh? What's that?"

"A true resonance is a soul that balances perfectly with another," Byakuya explained, "It is a powerful, undeniable bond that is said to be unbreakable. And when one is found," he said, looking amorously back at Tetsuya, "instant approval is granted to the couple and they are immediately wed."

"What?" Ichigo gasped, his eyes widening, "You...you mean they might force me to marry somebody right there?"

"Don't worry," Byakuya said, shaking his head slightly and turning his son over to a male attendant, "True resonances like the one I share with Tetsuya are very rare. They are usually a sign that the chosen pair will either play a role in a significant undertaking or will give rise to significantly powerful children."

"Kids?" Ichigo said weakly, "Th-this is all moving a little fast."

"Just take a few breaths, stupid, it's going to be fine," Rukia laughed, "Nii-sama is right. True resonances are really rare, not even one in a generation, usually."

The group paused in their conversation as they were joined by a tall, red-haired man dressed in a formal, hunter green kimono with an attractive rust colored design.

"Renji!" Ichigo explained, looking surprised at the appearance of his friend, "You're going to this thing too? You look great!"

"Thanks," said the redhead, smiling, "Taichou invited me to sit with his clan. I thought it would be cool to see who they roped you into marrying."

"Shut up," Ichigo snapped irascibly, "They're just establishing resonance. I'm not getting married right this minute."

"Maybe not," Renji said with an air of certainty, "but pretty soon they'll have you married to someone and making heirs, for sure. That's what you signed on for by being an heir."

"Well, it's not like I had any choice in the matter," Ichigo objected, "I was born an heir. I didn't choose it."

"Well, you didn't abdicate either."

"Hell, do you even know what that word means?"

"What?"

"I told you, I am not marrying anyone today. You got that?"

"Sure. Hey, don't bust anything," Renji said, putting up his hands defensively, "Just don't blame me if you end up coming home with a pretty bride. It's been known to happen!"

"Byakuya never took this resonance test," Ichigo complained, "I don't see why they're making me do this."

"Byakuya-sama defied the laws of the clan and married Hisana-sama before he could be mated with someone. I think they would have all fainted if they had learned back then that the one he resonated with was me," Tetsuya chuckled, "And we would have been taken by surprise, because it wasn't until much later we sensed our growing connection. It is different with everyone. Do not worry, Ichigo-sama. It will be fine. Even if you are matched with someone like that, it will be someone very special."

"Eh, whatever, let's just get this over with. I feel kinda sick."

"Come on," Rukia laughed, taking Ichigo by the arm.

Byakuya leaned over and offered Tetsuya a gentle parting kiss, then joined Renji and followed them out of the room.

Ichigo walked quietly alongside Rukia as the group left Kuchiki Manor and headed for the huge Hall of the Noble's General Council. Noting his friend's obvious discomfort, Renji patted him on the back comfortingly.

"Hey, it's gonna be fine."

"Yeah, I'm sure it will," Ichigo replied, looking less than convinced.

They arrived at the grand hall and separated, Ichigo joining his father in the preparation room while the others moved on to the Kuchiki family's private section. Rukia and Byakuya stepped forward to speak to several of the Kuchiki elders, while Renji was drawn off by the sudden appearance of two familiar young men.

"Hey, Ikakku, Yumichika," he greeted them, "What are you guys doing here? This is wall to wall nobles!"

"Same as you," Ikkaku said, grinning, "We're guests of Zaraki taichou. All of the taichous and upper officers were invited. It's only the biggest damned event in the last century."

"Huh," Renji mused.

"Here," Ikakku said, slipping a small shot glass into the redhead's hand, "I swiped a sample of the liquid refreshments. This is cool. Watch."

He took a sip from his own cup as Yumichika took a sip from his. Renji inhaled in surprise as the two began to glow a soft purple color for a moment.

"Cool, huh? Try it."

Renji took a sip as the other two did and scowled as they continued to glow softly, but he remained looking perfectly normal.

"Shows what you know, assholes. It didn't even work on me."

"That's strange," commented Yumichika, "We've tried it on several friends and it worked on all of them."

"Shoot, I have to go," Renji said, downing the rest of the sweet, slightly narcotic tasting brew, "See you guys later."

He flash stepped back into the Kuchiki family section and took his seat in the gallery, just as the meeting was called to order and a pale looking Ichigo was led out into the central staging area, where a group of noble ladies and several anxious looking noble males waited.

"Welcome," Grand Councilor Yuudai announced warmly, "Leaders, elders, family and guests. We are pleased you have joined us for the official compatibility sensing of the newly appointed Shiba heir, Shiba Ichigo."

He paused as applause filled the room.

Ichigo went a shade paler.

"As the celebrations for the coming of age of the Shiba heir will last through the night, let us get this first, most important responsibility out of the way, shall we? We all want to move on to the evening's frivolity, ne?"

Polite chuckles sounded around the grand hall.

"Prospective spouses, will you please drink the compatibility elixir?"

"Compatibility elixir?" Renji whispered to himself, remembering the drink his friends had given him, "Figures...stupid asses."

The gathered nobles and their guests watched closely as the prospective mates drank, then Ichigo was handed a small cup of the light colored brew. He took a steadying breath and took a sip, then focused on the gathered group in front of him. He breathed a sigh of relief that none of the prospectives showed any kind of reaction.

Then, he realized that he and another person were glowing brightly.

"What is this? What's going on?" Ichigo exclaimed, "What the hell is this, some kind of joke? Why are Renji and I glowing?! He didn't even take the damned elixir!"

Renji blushed furiously as the reddish glow around them intensified and began a soft pulsation.

"Holy hell," Renji said, standing, "I am so going to kill those guys!"

He glanced at Rukia, whose face had gone white and seemed unable to speak at all. Byakuya stared at Renji in wonder, then looked back at Ichigo, who was staring at Renji too. A few hands started to clap, and slowly the clapping built into a heady roar around them. The grand councilor waited until the room had quieted, then addressed the two still glowing men.

"Gentlemen," he said calmly, "It seems we have an anomaly. But, as nobles, we are required to follow our laws and immediately marry these two chosen. Abarai Renji, will you please join us?"

Renji stared at the man blankly, his feet refusing to move.

"Go," Rukia breathed in a stunned voice, "Renji, go!"

She gave him a shove, and the redhead proceeded forward as the council guards stepped aside and made room for him to walk to the central stage. He stopped and stood alongside Ichigo, not daring to look at his friend's face as the grand councilor began to read about the blessings of true resonance, then laid a hand on each of them.

"W-wait, this is happening too fast!" Ichigo pleaded softly, "Can't we just...?"

"Shut up," Renji whispered, "Don't you get it? We don't really have a choice. It's a big deal to them. Just, it's got to be a mistake. We'll figure it out later. Just don't disgrace your clan in front of everyone. Go along for now. We'll fix it later."

"Ah...okay, you're probably right," Ichigo sighed nervously, "Sorry. Go on."

"By the determination of true resonance, you, Shiba Ichigo and you, Abarai Renji are hereby bound in holy matrimony for all of the days of your lives. May you live to bring honor and dignity to the Shiba household and bless the family with many heirs!"

"Heirs?" Ichigo repeated weakly, "What's he talking about?"

He thought of Tetsuya, looking pale, but pleased as he sat in Byakuya's bed, holding their daughter.

"Wh-what?" he mused dizzily, forgetting where he was for a moment as the reality of things hit him forcefully, weakening his legs beneath him, "Me and Renji? We are married and...and b-babies?"

A roar of applause went up around them, startling Ichigo back into awareness, then it faded and the grand councilor smiled widely.

"Ichigo, Renji, please now share a kiss as the first gift of your new marriage."

Ichigo stared at the redhead, going sheet white as Renji quivered slightly, but kept his composure, leaning towards him and moving to kiss him.

"What the hell?" Ichigo squawked, shoving Renji away, "There's no fucking way I'm kissing Renji! The guy is my FRIEND!"

"Hey, baka," Renji said reprovingly, "Like it or not, this guy is now your husband. I don't want that any more than you do, but the least you could do is not embarrass the hell out of your family. I said it would be okay. Calm down and just go along with it for now."

"NO! NO WAY! I'm not marrying Renji and having kids with him! You guys are all crazy if you think I am!"

"Ichigo," Byakuya's solemn voice spoke, amplified by the microphone in the family's section.

Ichigo looked up and spotted the Kuchiki leader standing and looking up at him. He paused, swallowing hard as Byakuya continued.

"It is understandable that, given your recent discovery as the heir to your clan, you might have reservations. but please trust that this ceremony is well supported in our history, and that if you and Renji have reacted to each other this way, you are meant to be joined. I know it is asking a great deal. Much is asked of we who are chosen to lead. Sometimes, what is asked is difficult, but we must persevere. You are no longer an outsider, but are a member of one of the five great noble families, and will someday lead yours. Please honor that by maintaining your composure here in the seat of our power."

Ichigo stared back at Byakuya in silence for several long moments, then sighed, nodded briefly and lowered his head.

"Sorry," he said, more calmly, taking Renji's hand.

He leaned towards the redhead and brought his frowning lips to Renji's for a moment, blinking in surprise, first at how attractive the redhead's scent was and how warm and fiery his lips tasted.

"Ichigo, Renji, by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you partners in life, bonded in love and blessed by the elders of the Noble's General Council. Let the festivities begin!"