It's Simply That I've Always Loved You

Chapter 15

If anyone else could have felt the thrill of terror in Byakuya’s gut that arose with the sight of Kyoraku and Ukitake waiting for him after he finally emerges from Renji’s private quarters, he doubts any of them would have blamed him for it. Considering their last appearance after such a situation, it seems a natural reaction to be concerned over what they have to say.

“Alpha, you look well-rested.” Kyoraku drawls, and Byakuya arches an eyebrow at him, unimpressed. “You’re glowing. You and Abarai must have enjoyed yourselves.”

The comment has his stomach dropping. I never stopped to consider what happens when the rest of the pack finds out. “Naturally. I assume you must be hear to tell me something?”

“Ah, yes, unfortunately.” Ukitake takes a deep breath and exhales slowly, but the uncertainty in his soft brown eyes makes Byakuya distinctly uncomfortable. “It’s about Aizen and his pack. We would prefer to have the conversation with Abarai present, and anyone else necessary.”

Anyone else necessarily means the rest of the older, established members of the pack that Byakuya trusts, which includes Yoruichi and Urahara. “Understood. Start rounding people up. I’ll let Renji know and I’ll go fetch Yoruichi myself. How serious is this information?”

“It’s not time sensitive so if it takes us fifteen minutes to get everyone together, that’s fine.” Kyoraku says, and Byakuya has to commend the man on knowing just how to phrase things to his personal liking. “But it is important that we have this conversation as soon as we have everyone together so we can make decisions and deal with what we need to deal with.”

“Understood. We’ll move quickly.” What have you been doing in my absence, Aizen?

Renji is an easy task. He’s off toward the pack meeting room that Byakuya keeps specifically for his trusted pack members as soon as Byakuya finishes speaking, though he casts a longing glance back over his shoulder before he goes. Being in their place in leadership of the pack means that of course these problems crop up while the afterglow of their last lovemaking is still upon them, but Byakuya is more used to that at this point. Even when Hisana was on her deathbed, there were problems he had to attend to one way or another.

Yoruichi answers the door in nothing more than a sheet, running a hand through her ruffled hair as she narrows her eyes at him. “What is it, Byakuya-bo? You’re interrupting me.”

He can tell. The scent of sex is heavy on the air. “I apologize, but we have business to deal with.”

“Serious?” When Byakuya nods, Yoruichi sighs and tips her head back. “Of course. I can’t do anything about our scents, but we can be there. Just give us about ten minutes.”

“Of course.” Byakuya bows his head, but Yoruichi leans on to press a kiss to the top of his head. “As soon as we have this dealt with, you can return to your personal activities.”

Yoruichi snorts at him. “I can return to knotting my omega. Just say it.”

“I did.” Byakuya rolls his eyes when Yoruichi pokes her tongue out at him. “Ten minutes.”

The meeting room is nothing more than a large and empty conference room with an old wooden table for all of them to sit around. Ukitake and Kyoraku are already in place, Kyoraku’s arm around Ukitake’s shoulders and his face tucked against Ukitake’s neck. The slight flush in the omega’s face tells Byakuya everything he needs to know. Kyoraku is whispering something in Ukitake’s ear, no doubt promising him something to help pass the meeting time faster. Renji is already in his second seat, rising when Byakuya steps into the room, expression pinched.

“Yoruichi and Urahara are on the way.” He says, and he lets Renji lean into him, running his fingers through Renji’s hair. “Relax. We will deal with this and move on with our lives.”