AN - There will be some new characters in the Graveyard of Dreams. There will be some OOCness, although I tried to keep it as low as possible. There will also be a lot more going on here than in the Dream Walker. I feel obliged to warn you about impending violence, noncon and all the stuff that makes a fanfic M rated. And yes, there are no chicks in this story. It's a man's world.
I added a short summary of the Dream Walker, and some explanations of the religion this AU is based on, just to make it easier to understand. Feel free to skip it if you read the Dream Walker, and/or if you don't need any clarification.
Summary of the Dream Walker - One rainy night Abarai Renji wandered, wounded and weak, into the East Fenore monastery, where he met Kuchiki Byakuya. The East Fenore monastery is the HQ of the Yumearuku order, led by Zaraki Kenpachi, the First. Their religion is based on controlling people's (bad) behaviour through dreams, and they are called dream walkers. Byakuya develops a strong interest for Renji, after he is made to walk through his dream, and he breaks all the rules he upheld during his 30 years of service. The high priests of the order find out about his transgression and he is punished accordingly. After Zaraki Kenpachi learns of the true nature (of the sexual kind) of Byakuya's interest, he allows the two men to spend three days together. He allows this only after Renji accepted the offer to join the order and to be transferred to West Fenore. During the three days Renji and Byakuya spend together, they realize just how much they have risked to be together, to satisfy their desires. Byakuya goes back to East Fenore. Renji goes to take his place in the West Fenore monastery, where Aizen Sousuke has some plans of his own.
Info on the Yumearuku religion
This is a religion which uses control of REM waves to maintain order and propriety as proscribed by the Scriptures. Members of the order are obliged to take pills which prolong their life span, and are highly addictive - once you stop taking them you have a year or so to live. Depending on the strength of the dream walker and of the frequency of dream walking, the person taking the pill eventually develops a resistance. After this happens the priest has to leave the monastery.
Another pill exists in this AU. The so called training pill. This red pill enables trainees to enter dreams before they are able to isolate the REM waves on their own. These red pills were a part of the punishment Byakuya received once his transgression was discovered, and they enabled Renji to enter Byakuya's dreams without receiving extensive training. Kurotsuchi Mayuri's household (consisting of his deacon, lesser priests and servants attached to the household) is in charge of producing these pills, as well as life-span pills.
Zaraki Kenpachi is the First of the Yumearuku order, Kuchiki Byakuya is the Second. There are five high priests in East Fenore, and four in West Fenore. Although Aizen Sousuke bears the title of the Second, he is in fact the Second of the West Fenore, and not of the whole order. Each of the high priests has a main servant and a deacon. Deacons are priests of a lower level, superior to lesser priests.
One of the rules to which the members of the Yumearuku order adhere is strict celibacy. This is explained in the Scriptures as necessary due to the strenuous activity of dream walking. Dream walkers have the ability to control people's thoughts (within the dream). The level of self-control, mental composure and control over ones consciousness which this ability entails are severely compromised by unruly desires and thoughts. Emotional attachments are discouraged, but tolerated to a certain extent.
Another rule prohibits walking through the dreams of the person the priest is acquainted with. This rule is imperative, because one of the most important things in dream walking are detachment and objectivity. The only person allowed to perform dream walking, regardless of the person, is the acting First of the Yumearuku order. The First is also the only person who can perform long-distance dream walking, and he passes this knowledge to his successor. This rule exists because (powerful) dream walkers possess the ability to influence people's minds and their thoughts and desires.
And now, the sequel to the Dream Walker ...
Ch01. The Homecoming
Kuchiki Byakuya heard the gate behind him come to a screeching halt. It felt like a prison cell was locked, and the key thrown away forever. He took a deep breath, resolved to carry on where he'd left off. He had to go back to the time before that stormy night, before Abarai Renji, before the awakening of something unknown and desirous within him. Another deep breath was necessary for him to start walking towards the office of Zaraki Kenpachi, the man who knew, the man who, Byakuya suspected, understood.
It was early, the morning dew still clung to the grass and the sun still struggled against the clouds to show that it was time for a new beginning. Byakuya did not expect to see anyone awake, except for Zaraki Kenpachi, who had visited him in his dream, reminding him that he was waiting for his return. It was like Kenpachi knew he had second thoughts about fulfilling his duty.
He appeared in his dream, just when he was informing Renji of his decision to give up his life, his calling. Kenpachi did not accuse him of not being loyal, which surprised Byakuya. He did not even acknowledge Byakuya's desire to abandon the order and leave with Renji. Instead, he calmly reminded him of what was expected of him. Kenpachi made sure that Byakuya understood the risks he had taken when he named Byakuya his successor. He reminded him of what pains he had to go through to explain his decision to the Governor. The First did not fail to explain just how dangerous it would be if someone was to find out that he had allowed him to engage in an illicit relationship with another member of the order. All thoughts of days with Renji dissipated and turned into a distant vision of a future never to be.
When he entered the office, he was surprised by the sight in front of him. Kenpachi was sitting in his usual, elevated place, Yumichika at his feet. The First had his eyes closed and, if it was not for the hand stroking Yumichika's hair, Byakuya would have thought him sound asleep. The pair did not stir when Byakuya greeted them with a simple Good morning. Slowly, they opened their eyes. It took them a few minutes to actually see and acknowledge that Byakuya was standing in front of them.
Byakuya bowed when Kenpachi responded to his arrival. The effort he'd put in bowing down sent an electric shock through his body, tensing each muscle, reminding him of all the places Renji had been allowed to explore. He shivered, at the same time wanting the pain to go away, and to stay with him forever.
"It's good to have you back, Kuchiki-sama," Kenpachi said. Yumichika used the opportunity to slide out of the office, unnoticed.
"It's good to be back," Byakuya answered.
"Is it really? You don't seem thrilled."
"I am tired from the journey, Zaraki-sama, that is all." It was not a lie, the journey back proved to be strenuous to the body he had surrendered to Renji's abuse.
"The journey? Are you sure that's all?" the First inquired. He wanted to make sure that he was clear when he visited Byakuya's dream. Abarai Renji was not to be mentioned. He was not to be dreamed of. He was as good as dead.
"What else was there?" Byakuya asked, each word a betrayal, a painful insult. A blatant, but necessary lie meant to convince him more than Kenpachi.
"Good. Then go and have some rest. Tomorrow we start."
"Start with what, Zaraki-sama?"
"With the final training. I am tired, Byakuya. It is time for you to learn that which I had learned from my predecessor."
"So soon?"
"Yes. I feel the time for me to go is near. I will teach you that which only I know. Eventually, you will meet the Governor of the Fenore region, and he will officially name you the First of the Yumearuku order."
"Zaraki-sama, I am not sure that I am capable..."
"Shut up, Kuchiki Byakuya. You are capable. The momentary lapse of your determination is gone, is it not? You have decided to do what you are meant to do, or am I wrong?"
"No, you are not wrong. I, I'm just ..." What was he? Dead inside? Unable to go on?
"You are tired from your journey home."
"Yes."
"You need to rest."
"Yes."
"Go and rest, then. And remember your promise."
"I remember, Zaraki-sama," Byakuya replied and turned to leave. The chime of the bells made him stop. Kenpachi's looming presence cast a shadow over his entire being, making him shudder. He truly was exhausted.
"Do you remember, Byakuya?" the voice coming from above him was deep, menacing. He did not know what he did to make Kenpachi so volatile, so quick to reproach him.
"I do," he said, determined, his voice unyielding.
"Good," he heard Kenpachi say as he was walking away from him, the voice somewhat softer.
"Because I wouldn't want to find out that you left those red pills with Abarai Renji. I most certainly wouldn't want you to feign surprise if, God forbids, he visited your dreams."
"I will keep him out," Byakuya said. Did he really think that he could hide anything from Kenpachi? It was stupid to believe that the First did not know about Renji returning those pills to Byakuya. It was downright retarded to hope he did not notice that Byakuya had left them in the cottage.
"Byakuya, this is necessary. If you weren't here, the only man apt to take my place would be Aizen. I do not have time to break in a new Second, and the Governor would hear nothing of it, even if I wanted to try." It was closest to an apology Kenpachi could muster, and Byakuya felt sincere regret and urgency behind those words.
"Thank you, Zaraki-sama. I will not betray your confidence again," Byakuya said.
"You never did, Kuchiki-sama. And I've always known you would not."
Byakuya took his clothes off, and felt the tension and pain in his body subside as he lowered himself onto the futon in his old, familiar room. Kenpachi had seemed convinced beyond a doubt that he would come back. He did not understand the trust the First placed in him. It made no sense to blindly believe in the loyalty of a man such as himself, a man who relented, who surrendered himself so easily to the most base, primordial instincts. A man? The words he said to Renji came back to him.
"After what I've let you do to me, I doubt I'll ever be able to call myself a man again."
How could he have said something like that? It was true enough, but was it really necessary to voice it so cruelly? He should have said how grateful he was for those days they spent together. He should have told him that he never imagined such pleasure existed in this world. He should have told him that, until he met him, he did not even dream that he was capable of such emotions. Renji taught him that he was capable to feel and express unrestrained passion.
"You cannot fathom what I have given to you " should have been "You cannot fathom what you have given me."
It was wrong from the beginning, as good as it felt. It felt natural enough to end it the same way; not the right way, not with the words that should be said, but with the words that could be said.
Renji took his time getting to the West Fenore monastery. He took his time erasing any visible signs of having cried like a little child. He sat in the cottage for hours, trying to convince himself that life would let him see Byakuya again, not only in his dreams, but in reality. Life has a way of making things right. There is a force in the world which moves things in the right direction, and he had to hope that Byakuya and him together was the right thing for the world, for the two of them.
From outside, the monastery in West Fenore looked identical to the one he had left four days ago. He rang the bell and it took a few minutes for the large gate to open. When it opened a blonde, young man showed his tired face and gave him an equally tired smile. The left side of his face was almost completely hidden behind the hair, but Renji could notice that the man with intricately arranged hair had blue eyes. The first thing he noticed as different in comparison to East Fenore was the intricate garment wrapped around the man's lean body. It was as white as snow, heavily embroidered in black. Floral embroidery covered only his sleeves and his waist. It looked uncomfortable, tight fitted, with a high collar: the blond man could not lower his head more than an inch or two.
"Welcome," the blonde spoke in a monotone, and showed Renji in. The concourse was reminiscent of the East Fenore, but the buildings seemed bigger, and sturdier. The overall impression was strange, because if Renji did not know better, he could swear that the monastery in West Fenore was the one in which the First of the Yumearuku order resided. There was no dirt under his feet, only grey, smooth stone. Soon he will learn that West Fenore was all about appearances; very little attention was given to substance.
He paced carefully because he had no idea what and who awaited him. The blond man seemed harmless enough, but he was just a member, and a member who went around opening gates. Sure, it was Kuchiki Byakuya who opened the gate for Renji that night, but this man was too timid to be compared to the great Second.
"I am Izuru Kira," the blond said, another tired smile appearing on his face. "I am the deacon to the Second."
Renji shook the offered hand. "Abarai Renji," he said dryly. "So you're Aizen's deacon?"
Kira shook his head, revealing his left eye momentarily. Renji noticed the dark bruise, but said nothing.
"I am Ichimaru Gin's deacon. Aizen-sama is the First. Weren't you informed of this?" Kira thought it was very strange that the newcomer was not informed of the hierarchy prior to his reassignment. It was dangerous. If this redhead made the same mistake in front of either Gin or Sousuke, he could get in trouble.
Renji frowned, scratching his scalp distantly. He was rather sure that Zaraki Kenpachi was the First. He shared his thoughts with Kira.
"That is true. But Zaraki Kenpachi is not here. Nor is Kuchiki Byakuya."
Hearing Byakuya's name, Renji forgot to protest at that stupid remark made by the deacon. It was the logic of the West Fenore monastery, and as a member, Renji will have to learn to deal with it.
He really needed to forget about East Fenore, about Byakuya, Kenpachi, Shuuhei, Madarame... the thoughts of those dear, familiar faces made him shudder. He wanted to go back to the time when he saw Byakuya every day, when he had to endure his arrogance and pride. When he drank sake with the deacons, pointing fingers at the disinterested Yumichika. He wanted to go back to the place where the patriarchal Zaraki Kenpachi ruled with stern hand and mild, understanding eyes. But it was too late. After all, he would never relinquish the time he had spent with Byakuya for an eternity in East Fenore.
Water under the bridge, he thought and sighed. It was not like him to ponder and mope around the unattainable past. He had to make the best of what was given to him. He will be depressed once he's alone.
Aizen Sosuke gave Renji a wide smile and walked towards him, both arms extended in a gesture of a warm welcome. Renji expected to meet an intimidating man, but Sousuke seemed all but intimidating. The brown eyes behind the glasses were warm and welcoming. But other men in the room seemed to compensate for Sousuke's lack. One with silver hair, and an eerie grin; one with expressionless eyes, and another with large opaque glasses hiding half of his face.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Abarai Renji. We were expecting you," Sousuke said.
"Thank you, Aizen-sama," Renji said and bowed his head. Although Sousuke seemed simple and candid, something told him he should be wary. His instincts were never wrong, and he was not about to start ignoring them.
"These are my high priests. Ichimaru Gin, Ulquiorra Cifer, and Tousen Kaname."
Each of the priests nodded when their names were called out.
"Kira here will show you to your room, and you will go over the details of your training with Ulquiorra tomorrow. I am sure you are tired from your trip."
Renji stared at Sousuke, warily, and the man's smile widened.