Chapter Text
Dark grey eyes focused on the road in front of him and his mind struggling not to think about the too empty bedroom he had left behind in his family’s mansion, Byakuya Kuchiki sped recklessly through what was being called the biggest storm to hit Karakura Town in years. The cell phone sitting on the passenger seat vibrated several times, displaying the name Kuchiki Tetsuya and an image of his younger, blue-eyed cousin.
Torio must have called him.
Damn it…
Of course, his personal attendant and his bodyguard had every reason to be worried about his well-being, but he just couldn’t face anyone right now, so he let the phone go to voicemail, then when Tetsuya called back, continued to ignore the notifications.
I just need to get away from this.
UnKuchiki-like tears burned in the corners of his eyes and he blinked them away angrily. A family leader wasn’t supposed to show that kind of emotion. He was supposed to always evince calm and control in the face of everything. He had been able to stomach it all before, but having just lost Hisana…unbidden, the memories came back.
“Byakuya, the family elders understand the burden that leadership is putting on you,” Ginrei said in a sympathetic tone, “and if your father had lived, there wouldn’t be so many expectations. Still, we can’t bring Soujun back and you have no living siblings, so the burden necessarily falls upon you.”
“I understand, Grandfather,” Byakuya sighed, “but I was already preparing to marry Hisana before my father’s death. He definitely approved of her, even if she didn’t come from a prominent family.”
“Yes, yes, my boy,” Ginrei said patiently, walking over to the window and looking out at the falling rain, “and the elders will not stop the marriage from going forward, but…you must move carefully from this point forward. I am still here to intercede for you, but that will not always be the case.”
“Grandfather, don’t talk like that!”
“We must talk like this,” Ginrei insisted, “Byakuya, while I would like to think that we could have faith in the elders to do the right thing, you and I know their thinking is not so simple. There are many layers to their decisions and some of them are sneaky and underhanded. You must watch yourself and look out for those you care about.”
He'd had every intention of being careful. Extra bodyguards…around-the-clock attendants near them as they slept. Cameras and surveillance on the property…and still…
But I can’t prove it.
I can’t prove that anything other than the rigors of Hisana’s early life were the reason for her deterioration and death. Of course, I could go to Urahara, but…
He shuddered. The Karakura scientist was almost as bad as a criminal. He smiled like a friend, but there were torrid secrets behind that smile. Byakuya knew better than to think that Kisuke Urahara would help prove anything simply out of the goodness of his heart. No, there would be a price. Byakuya simply had to decide if it was a price he wanted to pay.
He sped out of the town and onto a lonely road, barely cognizant of the direction he was traveling, only making sure that he could still see well enough to keep his car on the road as the rain came down harder. In some part of his mind, he knew he should slow down. He should stop somewhere and take cover from the storm. He shouldn’t race through the darkness like he might have a death wish.
He started to take his foot off the gas pedal, then realized that the car had begun to hydroplane and turn.
Oh no…
Everything seemed to move in slow motion, the car spinning out of control, his breath hissing, heart pounding, hands gripping the wheel, eyes staring. The moment seemed agonizingly long, but finally, he felt the car moving backwards up an incline and, luckily, slowing enough so he could stop.
He swallowed hard, heart racing and his mind in a torrent as loud and as overwhelming as the howling storm outside. Suddenly numb and feeling horribly lost, Byakuya opened the car door and let the storm in. Rain and wind blasted their way in, making icy stings on his face that should have been painful. But all of his responses seemed to have shut down. He climbed out of the car and left it sitting on the side of the road with the engine still running, then he stumbled down the side of the road, staggering, tripping and falling, dragging himself to his feet and lumbering dazedly on.
He wasn’t sure how long he continued in that fashion, or how he didn’t stray into the path of a car, but eventually, he found himself on the edge of a town he couldn’t identify in the dark, drenched and starting to feel the iciness of the shrieking wind.
What am I doing?
What am I doing here?
He pondered the questions, looking around until his eye fell on what looked to be a bar or dance clubs. The lights were on and loud, pulsating music leaked out from inside, just reaching him above the howling of the wind. He headed towards the light and sound, holding an arm over his face until he was close enough the the wind stopped tearing at him. He opened the door and tumbled into the entry area, where he found a bored looking—
Greeter?
Bouncer?
The man was huge and hulking, someone Byakuya could have fought if necessary, but would certainly not seek any reason to provoke.
“Hmph, looks like you fergot yer raincoat an’ umbrella. Not that’n umbralla’d do ya much good ou’there, eh?”
Byakuya coughed and brushed the hair away from his face as the big man chuckled and shoved what appeared to be some kind of mask, white with pink petals decorating the borders and around the eyeholes.
“Name’s Yammy,” the man offered, “Here’s yer mask. Enjoy th’show and remember your button’ll be on the table and bids start when the music ends.”
Byakuya’s eyes widened.
“B-bids?” he muttered, but not wanting to draw attention to himself, he turned and slipped the mask over his face.
Reason was returning and he realized all of a sudden how it would be if the news reported he’d been spotted in this place of—what, he didn’t know yet. He passed through the door leading into what looked to be a dinner and showroom. The room was full of people, predominantly men and all of the naked dancers on the stage looked to be males.
What have I gotten myself into?
He managed to find a small table in the back and not too close to the loud, very drunk patrons who watched the dancers, then began tapping madly on the buttons on their table as soon as the music stopped. When the song ended, the three dancers onstage, moved into a line and bowed, then straightened, turning slowly while the bids continued.
“Thank you, folks. At the end of the show, you can check to see if you’ve been awarded one of our fine escort’s services for the night.”
Byakuya’s eyes widened at the sight of the offered men, all young, all striking in some way, from the more effeminate beauty with feathers around one eye to the more feral, blue-haired one who wore a toothy mask on one side of his face that made him look more like a wild cat. But nothing stunned him more than the next man to take the stage. Even as he strode with catlike grace onto the stage with the house lights off, Byakuya could see the bold markings all over the young man’s skin. And when the lights came on and the heavy, erotic music started, the man’s fiery red hair and narrowed cinnamon eyes seemed to ignite. He was an expert dancer, entrancing everyone and making the jeers and cheering that had gone on before fall silent. The man looked as though if he didn’t kill you with his bare hands, his looks would do the job neatly.
Byakuya swallowed hard. Gods, his mouth and throat felt dry. He motioned to the nearest waitperson to bring him a drink, barely cognizant of what drink he ordered. His eyes remained riveted on the stunning redhead dancing on the stage as he slowly rotated his hips and turned, displaying every inch of luscious golden-tanned flesh and each striking black marking.
Even that is marked…
Then, the redhead’s burning eyes seemed to look out over the crowd, as though he could see each one of them, despite the lights that Byakuya knew inhibited his vision. Still, when those eyes seemed to stop, staring directly at him, Byakuya froze like a deer caught in headlights.
How is he doing this?
Even when he finally broke eye contact, Byakuya’s gaze remained locked on the man, unable to break away. The steady, throbbing beat of the music wound down and at some point, the music stopped, but Byakuya remained silent and staring until he finally blinked and realized the man was taking a bow and turning, once again, to show off everything he had to offer.
Out of the corner of one grey eye, Byakuya caught sight of two men dressed in dark clothing, masked and seated at a nearby table. The two smirked under their eye masks and began pushing their buttons to make bids.
“Nice piece of ass,” one snickered, “He’ll look especially good in chains. Spread those legs wide and pound that hole into tomorrow!”
“Tomorrow?” the other lecherous beast muttered, raising the bid, “How about next week? I don’t care who fuckin’ wins him, you or me. We’re sharing him. I’ve got a whole roomful of toys to try on him.
Barbarians.
But, looking around the room, it seemed that the other options weren’t any better. It might have been the oddness of everything happening around him, his stress over the recent loss of his wife, the pressure of leadership of the family or any number of other things, but the men’s lascivious voices echoed loudly in his head.
“Look at that mouth! I want that around my dick.”
“Looks like a fuckin’ tiger.”
“I’ve got some milk for that guy’s pussy.”
Bile rose in the back of Byakuya’s throat and his hand moved to the bid button before he had time to really think. He swallowed hard as the bidding ended, wondering what would happen to that beautiful man. It was torture thinking any of these rogues were going to touch him. The whole situation had him ready to vomit. He climbed to his feet and walked to the bar to close out his tab. He had turned away from the bar and was ready to walk out the door when a deep, friendly male voice called out to him.
“Hey beautiful, aren’t you forgetting something?”
Byakuya turned back, ready to throw a punch at anyone who dared to try to lay a hand on him, only to find himself falling into the handsome cinnamon eyes of the red-haired dancer he’d been bidding on. He stared blankly at the taller man, admiring the sexy scent in the air around him, the clean but simple slacks, shirt and black vest he wore and that amazing smile.
“You weren’t going to leave without your prize, were you?” the man chuckled.
“My—?”
“Heh, me,” the man said. Damn, even his smirk was stunning. “You made the top bid, so I go home with you tonight. But before we can go, I need ya to come back inside with me and pay the bill. Ol’ Mayuri doesn’t mind letting us out to play, but he’s gotta get his money first, y’know.”
“Ah…”
What have I done?
I can’t take this man home with me. Can you just see the elders’ reaction? If it gets around I was here—like this. I can’t even…
“I’m sorry,” he managed, “I think I’ve—”
The young man’s smile faded into a curious frown.
“You’re not from around here,” he commented, “not to mention, you don’t look like the kinda people who come in here lookin’ for guys like me. Hey, you’re not a cop, are you? I mean, Mayuri’s got half of you on his payroll, so you probably don’t wanna mess with—”
“I am not a policeman,” Byakuya assured him, “and no, I am not from around here, nor do I belong here.”
The young man gave him a befuddled look that took Byakuya’s breath away all over again.
“Then, why did you bid on me?” he asked, his tone almost exasperated, “If you didn’t want me—”
“I did not say that,” Byakuya answered, shaking his head and closing his eyes for a moment, “Or perhaps it’s more truthful to say that it made me sick to hear those beasts in there talking about you…”
He broke off for a moment, blushing and the cinnamon eyes that watched him softened adorably.
“I suppose it was a stupid, rash thing to do, considering how comfortable you looked dancing naked in front of them, but…it was almost unbearable to witness.”
Renji’s frown deepened and his bit at his lip gently.
“Well, it’s just about the only thing I can do to get by, y’know?”
“There are other jobs…”
“Don’t even go there,” Renji said, deflating even more, “Whatever options I mighta had at some point, it all went to hell when my mom got sick and I went to Mayuri to get money so she could get into the place she needed to go for help. I owe the guy too much. I don’t really think I’m ever gonna get outta debt and outta this place.”
Byakuya sighed and shook his head.
“Then, you tell me what you owe this man and I will pay your debt.”
“So, I’ll owe you and not him,” Renji sighed, “One way or another, I’m still just…”
“You don’t need to repay me.”
“I don’t do charity!” Renji snapped, the fire returning to his eyes.
“What do you call selling your body every night and letting that man rake in thousands of dollars more than what you paid him. A never-ending debt, you said. You would rather—”
“That’s not it,” the redhead insisted, “Look, I know he’s getting way more than he deserves, but you don’t want to be involved here.”
Byakuya took a step back, looking up at the young man in surprise.
“Now, you want to protect me?” he asked, “But you won’t save yourself?”
“Y-yeah, it’s complicated. I have friends in there. I don’t have any family since my mom died, but they’re like my family and we’re all in the same situation. Mayuri is crazy, but he’s also too fucking smart and he’s got powerful people in his pocket. If you want to do something to save anyone here, it’s gonna take a lot more than just buying me for the night, so I’ll tell you what. I’m gonna go back inside and I’ll just go to the next guy on the list. I’m sure he’ll be a beast next to a pretty guy like you, but he’ll pay my boss and Mayuri will be content. I just don’t want to get him pissed off, okay? I do that and I’m going to have more problems that drunks slobbering all over my naked ass.”
The redhead turned away and took a step, only to freeze as a warm, soft hand wrapped around his wrist.
“Wait.”
He let out an exasperated breath, glaring at Byakuya as he took a breath and nodded.
“I will accept your services for the night, but—I wish it to remain private. I will give you the money and you will take it inside, then return to me. Will you do that?”
“I dunno,” the young man sighed, looking doubtful, “Mayuri’s pretty strict about knowing where we are and with whom, though…it hardly matters since he’s got GPS inside our bodies, so…”
“GPS in your…?”
Renji let out a huff of breath.
“Remember, we belong to him. We make him money. Okay, fine. I’ll take the money inside and go with you.”
Byakuya nodded, then reached into his pants pocket and removed the payment.
“You just…walk around with wads of cash in your pockets?” the redhead mused, “You might not want to advertise that. You might not make it home.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“I can see that,” Renji chuckled, “Okay, I’ll be right back.”
Byakuya stood under the eaves of the building, breathing in the chilly air, a flutter of worry in his belly as he considered what would happen if the owner came out directly. But to his surprise, the young man returned.
“He took the payment,” Renji reported, “I’m yours for the night.”
He looked around, then back at Byakuya.
“Wh-where’s your car?”
Byakuya blinked, then shook his head, fully expecting not to see the car still on the side of the road. To his surprise, it was still there, engine running, doors open.
“Over there,” he said, turning and beginning to walk.
Renji’s puzzled look returned, but he followed the older man in the direction of the car.
“Y’know, that’s a good way to get your pretty car stolen,” he offered.
“Hmm,” Byakuya mumbled, keeping his head turned away.
What am I doing? This can’t end well, not with everything considered. But…
He risked a little peek at the young man as they reached the car.
“Hey, you’re not one of those freaks who kidnaps guys like me, kills’em and chops’em in pieces or any shit like that, right?” Renji asked, a little nervously.
“No,” Byakuya answered in a perfectly serious tone, “and I do hope that you are not just a thief planning to drug me and steal my belongings.”
“If I was that good of a thief, I wouldn’t be doing this, beautiful,” Renji laughed as he brushed some of the fallen rain off of the passenger seat, then climbed in.
“Hmm.”
Byakuya took his place in the driver’s seat, glancing back at the dance club. He swallowed hard and took a steadying breath.
“Hey,” the redhead said in a concerned tone, do you mind me asking? Why did you leave your car out here running and go into the club? There’s nothing wrong with your car, so that means there must have been something wrong with you. I mean, it’s probably none of my business…”
“But you worry about me when you don’t even know me at all,” Byakuya said quietly, “Why is that?”
The redhead gave him a confused look.
“I—dunno. I just do.”
Byakuya took a slower, more determined breath.
“What is your name?”
The redhead gave him a weary smile.
“You can call me whatever you—”
“Your…name.”
That breathtaking smile returned and warmed Byakuya to the core.
“It’s Renji.”