The Broken Throne
By Spunky0ne
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When Byakuya suddenly disappears, Renji, Tetsuya and Ichigo attempt to find him. But what they discover along the way is an ancient secret that someone is willing to kill to protect. Main pairings Aizen/Byakuya and Ichigo/Renji with a feisty side of Grimmjow/Tetsuya...Yaoi, mpreg
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Chapter 1: Secrets
Renji felt a flicker of agitation in his captain's usually calm reiatsu and glanced up from where he worked on a stack of reports guaranteed to keep him planted where he was through half the night.
It's funny, he thought, how much things haven't changed, even while everything around us has become so different.
He still hadn't gotten used to the newly rebuilt sixth division headquarters. More modernly styled and equipped with the latest technology, it stood in contrast to the simpler design of their former quarters. Where before, the front office had contained standard desks and chairs, upon the new captain commander's order for captains to outline requests for their new facilities, Byakuya had, not only had noble designers prepare the plans based on his likings, he saved the ailing post-war Gotei 13 money by bankrolling the renovation himself and placing responsibility for the work on the shoulders of the very artisans who had made Kuchiki Manor officially one of the most beautiful estates in Soul Society.
Renji couldn't complain at all about the warm, earthy tones, the fine materials and especially, the sinfully comfortable chair he got to use that put his old chair to shame. And even less could he complain at having a computer and no longer having to hear his lovely captain tease him constantly about his lacking penmanship. Reports went faster, having templates and him only needing to print and sign each copy. And even better than that, when he finally finished his work, he no longer even felt tempted to go back to his great, but only normal looking apartment. Byakuya had spared no expense in the plans for the officers' quarters. The captain's quarters, of course, were nearly as lovely and comfortable as his rooms in Kuchiki Manor, and the vice captain's chambers were the most beautiful Renji had ever lived in.
It was hard to conceive of himself as ever having walked the streets of Inuzuri, hungry and cold, as he filled his stomach with hot delicious food every night and sank down into his bubbling hot tub to relax and unwind before rinsing off in the huge, many headed shower, then collapsing into his wickedly soft and comfortable bed and not moving again until morning. And sometimes, to Renji's delight, Byakuya would invite him to share dinner and a soak in the captain's quarters. They never seemed to run out of things to talk about, and Renji couldn't think of much that was more pleasant than spending quality time with the man most responsible for his development as a fighter and a Gotei officer. He had grown extremely sensitive to the nuances of the Kuchiki leader's behavior, which was why he knew instantly that something was amiss with his superior officer and needed to be addressed.
But as he silently observed Byakuya, he noted that everything on the outside seemed perfectly normal. Byakuya sat with his usual, graceful posture, his dark eyes deeply calm as he typed in his portion of the information on their latest mission, then signed and sent the completed item on to the first division. It was just that persistent flicker, that edge of discomfort in the energies around the man that only someone close to him would notice. Byakuya rarely exuded more than a small percentage of what he truly thought or felt, but luckily for him, his vice captain and best friend had grown into an expert at reading him.
"Hey uh, Captain?" the redhead inquired, "is...everything okay?"
Byakuya blinked slowly, rising up out of the businesslike trance he went into while working, then he met Renji's eyes curiously, making his subordinate think for a moment that he had only been imagining things.
"You wouldn't be asking me that if you hadn't already sensed something was amiss," the noble commented quietly.
"Then, something is wrong?" Renji asked.
Byakuya sighed.
"I am not sure," he confessed, something of a rare thing, but one that was becoming more common as the bond between them strengthened, "But it relates to clan matters and would be taxing to explain. Perhaps the way to diffuse things and to put me in a better state to work tomorrow would be to spend a bit of time relaxing in my quarters before bedtime. Would you like to join me?"
"Sure thing, Captain," Renji answered, nodding.
The two shut down their computers and rose, preparing to adjourn to the captain's quarters, but paused and stared in surprise as the door to the division was thrown open and a flustered looking Ichigo burst into the room.
"Hey, Byakuya, I need to..."
He slid to a stop, suddenly realizing he had caught the two unprepared.
"Oh, sorry guys," he apologized, "Was I interrupting something?"
Byakuya gave him the ghost of an amused smile.
"Aren't you always, Kurosaki Ichigo?"
Ichigo couldn't help smiling in return at the way that, even though everyone else seemed to have forgotten the surname he had grown up with, Byakuya, though himself a clan leader and raised to be very proper, respected his desire to continue being called after his late mother's family.
"What is it that you need?"
"Well, look, I uh...I need to know, how in the hell did you get your elders off your back about who the hell you married? I've told these guys flat out that I don't want to get married right now and that when I do, I want to choose my own wife. But they keep putting the issue on the agenda and talking it to death until I want to scream at them to shut up about it! You're a clan leader, and you convinced your own council to let you marry a commoner, right? How do I get these jerks...erm...elders to leave me the hell alone about it?"
"Ah," the Kuchiki heir sighed, somewhat sympathetically, "I am afraid that you aren't going to be able to get them to stop putting pressure on you about it, as long as you are single and not involved with anyone. Our elders annoyed me about marrying while I was your age, and my answer was a bit rash."
Ichigo gave an amused chuckle.
"You mean, you ran off and married a commoner?" he laughed.
"I did not actually go to Inuzuri with the intent of surprising them with that particular decision, but I would suggest that if you did something that convinced them that toning down their rhetoric was the better option, perhaps they would stop being so insistent."
"Like how?" the young man inquired, "What do you mean, convince them?"
Byakuya sat back down in his chair and exchanged a glance with Renji that instantly had the redhead crossing the room to prepare tea for the three of them. Several minutes later, the trio adjourned into Byakuya's stately quarters, undressed and sank down into his hot tub, before going back to a discussion of Ichigo's problem.
"If you want to convince the Shiba elders that it is better to say nothing about marriage, you need to show interest, perhaps, in someone that would make them rethink the idea of getting you married off quickly."
"You mean, like dating someone that they don't approve of?" the Shiba heir asked.
"Exactly."
"But the thing is, I don't really feel attracted to anybody!" Ichigo objected, "And I don't want to lie. I wouldn't lead anyone on that way. I mean I know that Orihime and R...w-well, Orihime," he quickly corrected himself, "has been interested in me for a while, but I don't know. I just don't feel attracted in that way to her. I don't feel attracted that way to anyone. And I don't want to pretend I am."
"I wasn't suggesting you needed to lie exactly. There is a fine line between strategic suggestion and actual lying."
"Meaning?"
"You don't actually have to say that you are interested in anyone," Byakuya explained, "It could be as simple as increasing the time spent with a particular friend, appearing in public with her...while remaining completely discreet about any intentions. I know you are not a creature of subtlety, but you must pick up that skill if you are to manage the elders of your clan."
"That doesn't sound too hard," Ichigo said, frowning, "but I don't know who to choose. I mean, who would they not like? Rukia wasn't born noble, but she's been made a part of the family and is captain level and a vice captain now."
"Rukia would not be a good choice," Byakuya said shortly, making Ichigo flinch slightly, "As you pointed out, she is too much accepted now to bring the proper effect. There is the chance that they would be accepting, and then you might find yourself closer to marriage, not farther from it."
"That wouldn't be good," Renji chuckled.
"I don't want to tease Orihime, because she's a good friend and I know she still has a crush on me."
"I agree that would present problems," Byakuya replied, "Also, your friend, Orihime, received a royal commendation in the war. She too, would probably be too acceptable to your elders."
"So, you're saying that the choice would have to shock them a little," Ichigo posited, "It should be someone they're not expecting...someone who kinda stands out and doesn't fit the role of little miss clan wife, right?"
"Yes."
"Huh," Ichigo mused, shaking his head, "I'm sure as hell not bringing Uryu into this. He's trying to keep a low profile after everything."
"I agree that would be going too far, and besides, the fact that your mother was originally supposed to marry his father would be a little disconcerting to some," Byakuya surmised.
"Someone not noble...a little shocking, but not so off the wall they'd flip completely..."
"Someone they would possibly want to discourage you from dating, but they wouldn't want to say too much for fear of putting the thought of marriage in your head. And once you decide on someone, you need to be seen a lot in public together, on social occasions. Bring the person to some of your clan fucntions, but not the major ones. To those, go unescorted and politely dance with everyone, but favor no one at those occasions. You will have your elders on edge and afraid to broach the subject of marriage. It won't put them off forever, but it could bring you some peace for now."
"Well, some peace is better than the bullshit I'm taking now!" Ichigo complained, "I don't know what's wrong with those guys. They really can't take a hint."
"And your hints are not quite subtle," Byakuya added, smiling slightly.
"Hey!"
"He's telling the truth, buddy," Renji said, laughing softly.
"What the hell do you know?" Ichigo said, swatting at him playfully.
The two splashed water at each other, forgetting, for a moment, the quietly amused noble who sat across from them, saying nothing and taking sips of his tea. Byakuya's eyes blinked slowly, and a thought occurred to him.
"Renji," he said calmly.
The two young men paused and looked back at him.
"Eh, sorry Captain. I just got carried away. It won't happen again."
"No, I meant, Ichigo, you should hint at interest in Renji."
"What?" the ginger-haired Shiba objected, his eyes widening, "Hey, I understand wanting to shock them, but that's just...Renji? Renji, really?"
"Hey!" the redhead snapped, "What's wrong with me? I'm not exactly ugly or anything. I know I look a little weird and I don't have great manners, but I...!"
"Renji is bold and striking," Byakuya explained, "He is not female, not submissive, not noble, and he does not have incentive to follow clan rules. He is a friend, so you spend time together anyway, and while being a shocking choice, he is somewhat redeemed by his commanding reiatsu, his position as a vice captain and his performance in the war. He will have your elders very conflicted and unable to agree on any particular action to take."
"Okay, I get what you're saying, but...Renji?" Ichigo lamented.
"You make me sound like some kind of stinky dead fish!" the redhead said heatedly, "I'm not that bad! I get more dates than you do, asshole!"
"Ah...the suggestion of promiscuity," Byakuya said approvingly, "That is also helpful"
"I'm not promiscuous!" Renji yelled, "I don't sleep with anyone. I just go out with a lot of people. I like to dance and have fun. I don't care about romantic crap!"
"That also makes you a good choice," Byakuya suggested, "as Ichigo's intentions might fluster someone who had amorous intentions. You are friends, so you can enjoy time in public and through subtle cues, you can suggest to the ones around you that you are intimate."
"But I'm not subtle!"
"You can say that again," Renji chortled.
"Shut up!" Ichigo roared.
"You have the proper amount of tension between you, something that could believably erupt into sexual tension, given the right nudge," the Kuchiki leader went on blithely.
"The right nudge?" Ichigo repeated curiously.
Byakuya nodded briefly, then moved so he sat next to Renji. He leaned towards the redhead, placing a hand on his arm and breathing a few words into his vice captain's ear. Renji blushed instantly, making Ichigo laugh delightedly.
"Whoa! What was that? What did you say? He looks really flustered now!"
Byakuya gave him an innocent look.
"I only asked if he could hand me a packet of sweetener for my tea," he assured the Shiba heir, "but the subtle things, my hand on his arm, my closeness to him, giving him my eyes as I did, speaking into his ear...all of those things are tantalizing hints of something that could be beneath the surface."
"Well, I'll tell you what's beneath the surface of this water," Ichigo snickered, "Renji's hard on!"
"Will you knock it off and grow up a little?" Renji said, smacking him on the head.
"Ow! Sorry, geez. You're kinda pissy today."
"You have good chemistry," Byakuya observed, "I am sure that, given a little guidance, you can use this to..."
"To scare the pants of the Shiba elders!" Ichigo giggled, "So, what do you say, Renji? You want to fake date me?"
"No way!" the redhead snapped, "I wouldn't really date you and I wouldn't fake date you if you were the last noble heir in the three worlds! Go find yourself another beastly boy to scare them with!"
"But I don't know anyone else who I like enough to spend all that time with. Come on. You said we were friends and if I ever needed anything..."
"Well, fake dating you wasn't what I had in mind when I made the offer!"
"You nearly have me convinced you are a couple, and I know the truth," Byakuya said, making the two freeze and blush, "Renji, you are a person who goes the extra mile for your friends. You have been a friend to Rukia, Tetsuya and me, and you have been Ichigo's friend. You don't want to see him unhappily married off, do you?"
"Well, no sir, but...?"
"Then, it seems that you should offer Ichigo your assistance, as he does not seem to have any viable alternatives."
"Ah..."
"I hate to say it, but he's right that I don't have any other good options," Ichigo confessed, his joviality fading, "I really don't want to have to get married. All joking aside, you're one of the few people I trust for something like this. Will you help me out, Renji?"
Renji looked from his captain's solemn gaze to Ichigo's worried one, then sighed heavily.
"Fine, whatever," he capitulated, "But under no circumstances whatsoever am I going to kiss you. You got that?"
"Yeah," the Shiba heir said, relief overtaking his features, "Sure thing. Thanks, Renji. You're really saving my ass, here."
"Just remember to keep your hands off of mine!" the redhead snapped, giving his friend a withering glare.
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Sousuke Aizen rested quietly in his bonds, his emotions mixed as he reflected on his imminent release.
Sousuke Aizen, while your activity in the war is labeled 'classified' and cannot be publicly revealed, the Soul King has ordered that you are to be fully pardoned, and that you will be released as soon as the public can be assured that you are not a threat to their safety. It will take a few weeks and careful maneuvering, but we will honor the king's wishes and set you free soon.
"I should hope so," Aizen said smoothly, "Without me yielding the hogyoku to help stop Ywach, he would have killed all of you. And having given it up, I have, once again, become vulnerable to death. Had I wanted it, I could have let the king be killed."
"Only to face an even stronger foe!" the Central 46 head councilor rebuked him, "We know exactly why you chose to support the king, and while we must obey his will, we are taking steps to make sure that you do not pose a threat any longer. Therefore, we are going to place seals on all but your core spirit center, which you need to survive, and we will be having you mind-wiped to ensure that you harbor no illicit plans to renew your plans against the king!"
"What?"
"Bastards!" he whispered, his lips tightening, "How dare they..."
He knew well enough that the king would not approve of the action, but that Reio would not interfere in their decision.
And they wonder why I wanted him to die. Unfortunately, I understand why he can't involve himself. He is vulnerable when he extends his reach too much outside the royal realm. If I still had the hogyoku or the means to remake it...but that is gone now.
Instead, he waited quietly, longing for a moment that would allow him to break free.
I am not about to give up my powers and identity to suit them! There is a way out of this. I will find it...
His thoughts broke off as the door to his cell clanked open and a robed figure entered his cell.
"Who are you?" he queried curiously, noticing suddenly an odd crest at the man's wrist, and deep, haunting silver eyes that studied him contemplatively.
"Who I am is not important," the man said in a low, compelling voice, "It is who you are that concerns me. That is why I have come, Sousuke Aizen."
"Would you care to explain what that means?" Aizen asked, "Because I know you are not an official of the Central 46 council. Do they know you are here?"
"It doesn't matter," the man persisted, "All that matters, and that you need to know is that your life is going to end. I have come to see to that personally, Sousuke Aizen!"
Aizen's uncovered eye widened and he called for the guard outside the door, then gave an infuriated snarl as he realized the man could not hear him.
"What are you doing? Get away from me!" he roared as the hooded man closed in on him.
He flinched as a needle penetrated the skin of his arm, then the other man moved closer and Aizen felt himself falling into the depths of his frightening silver eyes.
"How does it feel to be on the receiving end of such cruelty?" the man taunted him, "How does it feel to lose everything, Sousuke Aizen?"