Knights in Black and White
By Spunky0ne
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(A request by Ashesofthefirststar. Lol, this may be a case of 'be careful what you wish for, because your wish really might come true." Warning…this is a darker storyline, although, I promise a very satisfying ending. After the fall of the quincy king, Ichigo struggles within himself as he tries to resume a normal life. But beneath his flesh is a monster…one that threatens everything and everyone he loves. As he teeters on the precipice, one person hears his lonely cries for help and tries to answer…yaoi, **non-con/rape (non-graphic)**, mpreg, angst…Byakuya/Ichigo, Kurushimi/Tetsuya, Renji/Rukia, Uryu/Orihime, Aderia/Ogano. Shimas Kurushimi, Aderia, and Magdelina appear courtesy of Shima-Taicho31)
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Chapter 1: Invasion of the Soul
Kurosaki Ichigo shivered and moaned restlessly in his sleep, his mind creeping back to the icy palace in the skies above Soul Society.
Ywach's hand clenched at his clothing, the sharp nails raking across his heaving chest, leaving bright red trails that oozed drops of his blood. The coppery scent filled his senses and a scream of pain and horror escaped him as the quincy king's face came closer, his mustached lips curling back into a cruel smile.
"Do you finally understand?" Ywach hissed wickedly, "No matter what power you bring to the battlefield, I will travel into the future and I will break it! No matter what you do, you can't win, Ichigo. Your powers, your life, your very soul belongs to me. And you are going to learn now just what that means!"
"You bastard!" Ichigo howled, struggling as the quincy king's power swelled and encircled them, "You won't win! I won't let you. I don't know what I can do, but I will defeat you!"
"There is nothing more that you can do," Ywach answered icily, shoving him down onto his back and leaning over him, "That power in you belongs to me, and I am taking it back."
Another wrenching scream escaped Ichigo as he felt ice cold fingers touch the place on his abdomen, just above his spirit core. He turned his head and his desperate eyes found Orihime's collapsed body, lying a short distance away.
"She can't help you," Ywach said with chilling calm, "Your friends and allies can't help you. No one can help you, Ichigo. But…I am a benevolent king. I will take your power, but I will leave something too."
Ichigo's body twisted wildly beneath Ywach's and his reiatsu poured out around him, trying desperately to push the attacking king away from him. But the quincy king only laughed as he sucked in the freed power and quickly made it his own. Ichigo closed his eyes against the sight of Ywach's madly grinning face and tried not to feel the rending of his clothing or the viciousness of the physical attack that followed.
He tried to escape his ravaged body, to see the smiling faces of his mother, father and sisters, to see Karakura Town, looking as peaceful and tranquil as always, to scent the pleasant aromas of fall, the light, misted air, smoke from fireplaces. And instead of Ywach's evil laughter, he tried to hear the sounds of his friends' voices, birdsong, and light sounds of breezes through the trees.
He wasn't sure how long the torment of his body continued. He was only aware when it stopped and he felt Ywach's eyes raking over his bruised and bloodied form. A ragged sigh of deep satisfaction escaped the quincy king and his lips smiled again as he heard fast flash steps approaching. On the debris strewn floor of the throne room, Ichigo gasped and panted in distress, his hands moving quickly to hide what had been done to him. He managed to lift himself onto his knees as Rukia and Renji burst into the room, prompting haughty laughter and a final threat from the departing quincy king as he opened a portal back into the Seireitei.
"Follow me, if you dare. But know that if you do, I will find that happiest place in your future, and it is there that I will slaughter you."
"Ichigo," a solemn male voice called softly, bringing the shinigami substitute suddenly awake.
Ichigo sat up quickly, his golden brown eyes red, damp and haunted as they found Byakuya sitting at his bedside and looking down at him with a concerned expression.
"B-byakuya?" Ichigo managed shakily.
"You were crying out in your sleep," Byakuya explained.
"Should I bring a healer, sir?" Byakuya's attendant asked from the doorway.
"I'm okay," Ichigo said, shaking his head firmly, "I just…"
"Please leave us, Torio," Byakuya said quietly.
"Of course, sir."
Byakuya studied Ichigo's pale face and still spooked expression.
"Are you sure that you do not wish to have the healer come and visit you?" the noble asked, "Your reiatsu seems very unsettled."
"I…I uh…" Ichigo stammered, looking around the room and recognizing the dark cherry wood furniture and what had been the lovely Kuchiki gardens outside, "Are we…? Is this your home, Byakuya?"
"It is," Byakuya answered, blinking slowly, "I apologize for the state of things, but…"
"Don't be silly," Ichigo said, recovering a little smile as he took a deeper breath and looked around, "We're lucky that anything survived what happened here."
"We are," the noble agreed.
Ichigo noticed suddenly the slightly rumpled nightclothes Byakuya wore, his tumbled black hair and tired eyes.
"Sorry," he apologized, "I woke you up."
"It's fine," Byakuya assured him, "I do not think anyone is sleeping very well tonight. Too much has happened."
"Y-yeah," Ichigo agreed, looking down at his hands.
"Would you like one of your friends to come and sit with you?" Byakuya asked, "Inoue Orihime and Renji are still unconscious, but Rukia, Ishida Uryu and your friend, Sado, are all nearby and well enough."
"No," Ichigo answered, leaning back against his pillows and closing his eyes, "I just need to sleep."
"Sleep will certainly help," Byakuya replied approvingly, "But…perhaps when you wake, you will want to speak with Shima Aderia. She healed you after the battle, and she said that she recommended therapy sessions with her as soon as you felt able."
"Why?" Ichigo asked sharply, "I'm fine. I'll be fine. I just need rest and food. My injuries aren't that bad."
Byakuya gave him a measured look and then nodded in acquiescence.
"I will leave you to your rest then," he said, rising and turning away, "If you need anything, my attendant will be nearby and Tetsuya is on guard duty. Goodnight, Kurosaki Ichigo."
"Goodnight Byakuya, and…thanks…for everything."
Ichigo felt a little jolt inside at the look of mingled sadness and genuine gratitude Byakuya gave him.
"It was nothing compared to what you did for the sake of Soul Society. We are the ones who should be thankful to you. You saved all of us."
Byakuya left the room and started back towards his own, but was stopped a moment later as Shima Aderia stepped into the hallway.
"Is there a problem, Kuchiki taichou?" she asked, blinking sleepily, "I heard raised voices."
"Ichigo was having more nightmares," Byakuya reported, "I asked if he wanted you to come, but he said that he prefers to sleep."
"Ah," Aderia sighed, looking worriedly in the direction of Ichigo's room, "Sadly, that is not surprising after what he's been through. He is used to being there for other people and he is very private with his troubles."
Byakuya observed the pretty, caramel skinned healer, his dark eyes contemplative.
"Aderia," he said softly after a few moments, "you know what I discovered when I found Ichigo in the wreckage of his battle with Ywach. He wasn't just injured from the fighting. It was clear that he was raped."
"Yes," Aderia agreed, "And I took the evidence that you provided and healed him fully. I did a full scan of his body and cleared it of foreign reiatsu."
"But healing his body is not enough," Byakuya argued, "I am sure that this is part of what is troubling him. When I entered his bedroom, I found him lying in a suggestive position and looking as though he was struggling with someone."
"I understand," Aderia said reassuringly, "and I have every intention of attempting to convince Ichigo to allow me to counsel him. But it must be his choice. I can't help him, no one can…unless he chooses that path."
Aderia smiled sadly and placed a hand on Byakuya's shoulder.
"I know that you concern yourself greatly with Ichigo's well-being. He is lucky to have a friend like you."
"But I am not really…"
Aderia chuckled in amusement.
"You may have just been a comrade before," she commented, "but the care that you took with him before we arrived and the concern you are showing for him now, make you something more than that, I think. Please try not to worry, Kuchiki taichou. I will encourage Ichigo to accept counseling."
"Very well. Thank you, Shima Aderia."
Byakuya started towards his room, then turned and looked back at her again.
"I am sorry," he apologized, "I was very focused on Ichigo and I neglected to ask if your brother has been located yet."
Aderia's eyes darkened with worry.
"No, he is still missing. Mamà is sure that she saw him being dragged away as she lost consciousness after Shima Adobe was attacked. We did not feel his death, and he was not found with the prisoners that the quincy forces slaughtered in revenge for their king's death. He may have escaped them. We don't know."
Byakuya's grey eyes reflected genuine sympathy.
"I hope that he returns home safely to you soon."
"Thank you, Kuchiki taichou."
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Kuchiki Tetsuya's lips frowned and his dark sapphire eyes looked out into the pouring rain as lightning flashed, illuminating the heavily damaged grounds.
Something doesn't feel quite right out there.
He moved easily in the darkness along the wooden walkway, alongside the partially collapsed main wing of the estate, stopping as he reached one of the house guards under his command.
"Tsutomu," he greeted the guard.
"Sir?"
"Have you sensed anything unusual?"
"No sir," the guard reported, "Except for the thunder and lightning, everything is quiet."
"The storm is going to make it difficult to see or sense an incoming attack," Tetsuya commented, "Inform me immediately if you sense anything out of the ordinary at all."
"Yes sir!"
Tetsuya left the walkway and stepped out into the steadily falling rain, his sharp senses piqued as he headed across the gardens and left through the broken back gates. He paused on the meandering forest path, his frown deepening as he sensed a flickering reiatsu.
Master?
Tetsuya startled at the sound of his stallion familiar's voice as it sounded in his mind, and the tall, black Arabian appeared in front of him.
"Arashi!" Tetsuya scolded the beast, "I might've attacked you. I usually sense when you're this close to me, but there is something malevolent in this storm. It feels as though it dampens our senses. It is similar to what we felt when the quincies first attacked, although on a lesser level. Still, it may be that the remaining rebel quincies are using this to continue to set up attacks on us."
I will remain on watch out here, Arashi offered, Using our waterforms, we can avoid the eyes of any incoming attackers and warn the household.
Tetsuya nodded and implemented his shikai, causing his own body to fade as his stallion did the same.
"Stay here and watch over the household," Tetsuya instructed his equine counterpart, "I am going to investigate a disturbance I felt out this way."
Should I go with you?
"No. Please remain here and protect Byakuya-sama and the others. I will be back."
Be careful, Master.
"I will," Tetsuya promised.
Tetsuya flash stepped away, heading down the soggy trail that led through a thick stand of trees, then to the top of a cliff that was dotted with lovely sakura trees. A river ran along one edge of the trees, cascading down into a large lake beneath the cliff. Tetsuya walked along the edge of the water, then out into the trees, scanning the area carefully.
This is a good place for either an ambush or from which to launch an attack on Kuchiki Manor.
He paused at the edge of the cliff, watching in silence as lightning flashed, lighting up the lake and meadow below him, and making the waterform he inhabited glow for a moment. A staggering step sounded behind Tetsuya and he spun around, reeling as a tall, badly bleeding man crashed into him, sending both tumbling over the edge of the cliff.
He must have seen me when the lightning lit my waterform! Tetsuya realized.
He employed his flash step immediately, recalling a safe landing place that should have been within reach. To his surprise, the bloodied man hung on tightly to him, dragging him down and sending both crashing down into the lake. Instinctively, Tetsuya used his innate ability to breathe underwater. The man hanging onto him thrashed and struggled wildly, trying to reach the surface, but obviously confused by the pitch blackness beneath the water's surface. Tetsuya's hand found the man's face and he willed his ability to extend to the other.
Breathe, his voice whispered into the other man's mind, You can breathe under the water now.
The man holding onto him stiffened, then seemed to realize he was no longer drowning. His grip on Tetsuya loosened and he moved easily with the blue-eyed noble as Tetsuya guided him to the surface of the water, then to the shore. The two men crawled out of the water and collapsed on the bank of the lake, panting harshly and coughing the water out of their lungs.
When he had recovered enough, Tetsuya employed a kido light and rolled the other man onto his back. He was immediately stricken by the man's handsome caramel colored skin and turquoise eyes.
"Are you injured?" Tetsuya asked, shifting his body to shield the injured man from the rain.
The man nodded and groaned fitfully.
Biting gently at his lip, Tetsuya peeled back the folds of the man's top, revealing his muscular chest that was marked with two deep slashes.
"Hold still," he instructed the man.
The man nodded again, flinching as Tetsuya laid icy hands on him and invoked a healing kido.
"Can you tell me your name?"
"First, you tell me yours, angelito," the man said, smiling up at him dazedly.
"Are you from the Shima clan?" Tetsuya asked, "They have your coloring and the same sort of accent."
"Sì, you are right about that, angelito. I am Shima Kurushimi."
Tetsuya's eyes widened.
"Shima Kurushimi?" he repeated, "You are the Shima leader? Aderia-san's brother who was missing?"
"Th-the same," Kurushimi assured him, "You may call me Kuri-kuri. And please tell me what cloud you fell off of."
Tetsuya blushed.
"I was on duty and sensed what must have been your reiatsu."
"Ah," Kuri said dizzily, "Then, you are my…guardian angel?"
Tetsuya looked back at him blankly.
"Um…"
"You are an angel, aren't you, lovely one? I saw you in your angel form, just before I fell and you caught me and helped me breathe under the water."
"Oh that!" Tetsuya laughed, his shyness leaving him as the humor of the situation overtook him, "That was a waterform, Shima-sama. That is my power. I am not an angel."
"Then you are a pretty devil, come to suck my life away?" Kuri asked weakly.
"I am a shinigami," Tetsuya corrected him, touching a hand to his face to set a pain block.
Tetsuya froze, staring in surprise as Kuri's hand captured his, and he brought it to his lips and kissed it gently.
"What is your name, angelito?"
"I told you, I am not…"
"What is your n-name…?" Kuri said, trailing off as the pain block took effect and he began to drift off.
"I am Tetsuya," the noble told him, "Kuchiki Tetsuya."