Lies, Lust and Godmaking
By Spunky0ne
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(Happy Birthday, Byakuya!)
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He's the most wicked shinigami, and the ones who have imprisoned him can't begin to know his complexity, but as keeper of the Seireitei's histories, Byakuya is determined to understand him…yaoi, mpreg
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Chapter 1: How Do We Go On
Byakuya knelt silently at the low table in his study, focusing steadfastly on the book in front of him and trying to ignore the chatter and giggles of his sister and new brother-in-law, who were understandably caught up in the giddiness of their new union and chased each other endlessly around the tranquil gardens in a game that was probably more suited to the low Rukongai, where both had grown up, than the lush, tranquil environs of the famed Kuchiki Manor gardens. He knew well that it would be considered inappropriate by the strict noble standards, but given the recent darkness of the quincy conflict and the affection he felt for both his adoptive sister and his fiery, red-haired lieutenant, he couldn't bring himself to disturb their bout of wedded playfulness.
As I recall, Hisana and I had our wild, giddy moments too, and lest we forget, she was of the low Rukongai, so I was definitely defying clan law by courting and marrying her.
He tried to direct his eyes to the next few lines in his book, but found himself unable to concentrate as a familiar male voice rang out in the gardens and another of Rukia's friends arrived.
"Hey guys!" Ichigo called out, "What's going on?"
Ichigo Kuroskai…or rather, Ichigo Shiba.
Byakuya sighed and closed his eyes, suffering the onset of a headache as he thought about that piece of revealed information.
It was a shock to everyone that, all of this time, Isshin Shiba was alive and well, posing as a living world doctor and raising children with a quincy woman he gave up his powers to save. Such recklessness…
And it seems that his offspring is no less prone to trouble, although…Ichigo has shown a deep protectiveness for the people he cares about.
"Have you seen Tetsuya around?" Ichigo asked.
Byakuya flinched.
"He's checking in with the guard posts right now, but he'll be back soon for breakfast," Rukia answered, smirking at the newly named Shiba heir, "I don't suppose you want to join us for breakfast."
Byakuya's graceful fingers rose and worked for a moment at his temples as the ache in his head grew stronger.
The man has the choice of every lovely noble woman in the Seireitei, but he can't help but set his sights on my cousin. I understand, of course. As beautiful as they are, none of those women they have offered Ichigo could tempt him the way my shy, half-wild, breeder male cousin has managed to do. But Tetsuya is so gentle hearted. I can't stand the thought of Ichigo breaking Tetsuya's heart. I can't stand the thought of anyone hurting Tetsuya.
Byakuya sighed, running his hands over his face. He set the book aside, resigned to the fact that no more reading was likely to get done.
"Byakuya?" a quiet male voice intoned, making him turn his head to look in the direction of the inner door of his study, where the cousin he had been thinking about had appeared, "I've checked in with all of the house guards. All is well."
"Yes, that is good, Tetsuya."
Byakuya's dark, brooding eyes looked out, into the gardens, where Ichigo, Renji and Rukia were happily laughing and talking.
"It seems that you have a guest."
He watched Tetsuya's reaction as the younger man's eyes looked out, into the gardens, and he caught sight of the Shiba heir. His heart sank a little at the way Tetsuya's pretty sapphire eyes lit and the little flush that came instantly to his cheeks.
Not that I don't wish for my cousin's happiness, of course, but Tetsuya didn't grow up in a normal family. When he was just a baby, his family was abducted and held in one of the illegal noble's prisons for the crime of his noble father having transgressed by lowering himself to marry a commoner. Tetsuya was a teen by the time that my forces raided the prison and freed the prisoners. He had never lived in anything but a cold, dank cell, and had to learn how to live in a noble home. I'm so grateful to my cousin, Sadao and his wife for making Tetsuya part of their family and helping him learn to thrive in this very different life.
Still, something of that shy, feral boy still lives in Tetsuya, and I think this is what has lured Ichigo.
"Do you disapprove?" Tetsuya asked calmly, "I could…"
"I do not disapprove," Byakuya assured him, "I just hope that Ichigo appreciates the true gift of your friendship and affections."
Tetsuya's cheeks flamed brightly.
"B-but Ichigo hasn't been inappropriate at all," he insisted, "I assure you, we are behaving properly."
"That must be very difficult for Ichigo," Byakuya chuckled, "Go on, Tetsuya. Ichigo Shiba is an impatient man who does not like to be kept waiting."
He sighed more softly as Tetsuya stepped out of his room and was immediately met by the enthusiastic Shiba heir.
Be happy, Cousin.
It is well deserved.
Byakuya glanced at his abandoned book, but he found himself less than enthusiastic about continuing his reading. Instead, he left his study and headed out, along the wooden walkway, to a locked set of doors that only he and people given his permission token were allowed to pass through. Stepping inside, he closed the door behind him and he felt all of his annoyance fade.
In front of him, the small entry opened into an immense chamber that, of course, could never fit into the space it was accorded on the outside.
The Kuchiki family is guardian to the histories of the Seireitei and noble clans. This sacred place is home to a treasure trove of information and artifacts, some of which go back to the earliest days of the noble clans.
He moved forward to a reading table that held on the shelf above it, the complete diaries of all of the Kuchiki leaders, as well as that of the very first Kuchiki, who was made in the king's gardens, by his own hand. He felt a twinge of sadness as he pulled out the surprisingly well preserved tome and opened to a picture of Hajime Kuchiki, smiling as he was held gently in his beloved king's embrace.
The first incarnation of king and consort, Reio and Hajime were visionary leaders. But even for the immortals, there is the need to be reincarnated. And when the time came for them to undergo the ritual, something went horribly wrong. Records speak of how the king's prism shattered when it was placed in the spring in the king's gardens.
It was a fake, and no one knew where the true prism had been taken.
It was never found.
The next soul king was a regent, and he was killed in the first conflict with the quincies. The invading quincy king was badly injured, and was captured and imprisoned in the crystal palace that was really little more than a prison. The true king's lands disappeared under a seal, and will not return until the king returns.
Should he ever return…
Byakuya's ever present frown deepened as he thought about the more recent conflict.
The king slain by Ywach was little more than a figurehead. He provided us with visions and information, and we saw to his comfort, even though he was our prisoner. The noble leaders decided, as they did in the last conflict, that seeking the king's prism wasn't necessary, given the amount of reiatsu that leaks slowly out of Ywach's dead corpse. They don't desire a strong king. They have grown to used to running the Seireitei and managing the three worlds as they see fit. It is not in their nature to give up power…and…if no one seeks the return of the king, then the rightful monarch will never emerge.
He felt a little chill inside as that line of thought made him also think of the traitor that had tried to steal the throne.
Sosuke Aizen.
Such a treacherous man, who tried to invade the heavens.
Byakuya glanced at the corner of the reading table, where he had been gathering resources to try to trace the enigmatic shinigami's history.
Before the war broke out, I was trying to gather what information there was on Aizen. He is incarcerated with a sentence longer than several of my lifetimes, but the man does pique my curiosity. And in the wake of the war, there is certainly more time for me to delve into that, if I wish to do it.
For some reason, that man…has always nagged at me. No one knows where he was born or to whom. He carefully covered all traces of that. He had to be sure that no one would suspect that the gentle-eyed leader of the fifth division, the accomplished scholar and mentor, was hiding a wicked, backstabbing traitor beneath that lovely surface. He was a devilish man with equally devilish aims. Still…while I don't understand why he did what he did, I do wonder.
Did he know?
Is it that Sosuke Aizen learned of the lie in the heavens, and he couldn't tolerate that lie? I heard that Ywach spoke of the same thing. Others were confused by the reference, because of course, only Squad Zero and Central 46 know that the king Ywach killed was the old quincy king from a thousand years ago. Even less people know that even the regent that Ywach's father killed was not a true king, but a stand in. Most have purposely forgotten that there was a true king and consort. They do not desire the king's return, and they would go to some trouble to prevent it.
And the king's prism is lost anyway.
He sat down at the reading table and pulled over the pile of references he had gathered. Letting out a long breath, he relaxed and began to peruse the books, one by one. But as the pages turned and he read more and more, he was stymied by the lack of information.
As an accomplished illusionist, Aizen hid himself well.
Still, our family has a long history of tracking down seemingly lost information. So, as the end of the war and the coming of peace have granted me the time, I will devote myself to learning all I can about him. It would be a stain upon my family's honor not to be able to put down more information than this about the man who caused to much disruption.
Perhaps speaking to him would help.
After all, given that he is imprisoned in Muken, there is little reason for him to withhold information. He is going nowhere. As a matter of fact, he is in danger of being forgotten. I wonder if that will loosen his tongue.
Byakuya worked quietly for another hour, then he left the archive to sit down to breakfast with his sister, brother-in-law, cousin, and Ichigo. He let the younger ones dominate the conversation, while he inwardly planned what he would say to the prisoner.
You are in danger of becoming irrelevant.
It is my task to record this information, and as you do not seem pressed for time, I suppose you can cooperate.
He took his leave of the others as soon as he was finished, and walked back to his room, where his attendant started to dress him in his Gotei uniform.
"Torio," Byakuya said, stopping him, "I have an appointment this morning. I will require something more casual, but still…appropriate."
His attendant provided him with a lovely rich red kimono, decorated with a colorful spray of flowers on the back. He waited patiently as Torio combed his hair to silken shine, then he left the manor and headed in the direction of the first division. He stopped, along the way, to pick up a hot meal of chicken teriyaki, rice and vegetables, then he continued on his way. He entered the first division and signed in, then waited for a moment as permission was sought for him to enter the prison. To his surprise, Shunsui appeared, himself, to answer Byakuya's request for entry.
"Byakuya, good to see you," the captain commander greeted him, "and congratulations on Rukia and Renji's marriage."
"Arigato," Byakuya answered, "but you know that you did not need to come to speak to me personally for this. I am sure that the captain commander has much more important things to do."
"Oh, of course," Shusui snickered, "but, I was curious why you were wanting to see him. You seemed a little put out that I brought him out during the war."
"I understand it was a necessary evil," Byakuya assured him.
"Exactly. I think we're all glad that he's back behind bars, where he belongs."
"Hmm," Byakuya sighed, "yes, I suppose…although, I do hope you had manners enough to offer the man something in return for his assistance in giving Ichigo a shot at killing Ywach. You do know that without his intercession and that of the quincy, Uryu Ishida, Ichigo would have been killed."
"Yes, yes, of course," Shunsui said, nodding, "We can't change the fact that he requires those bindings and such, but he is allowed visitors now."
"And has anyone come to see him?"
"Heh, no actually," Shunsui admitted, "just you. I guess that's what made me curious. You're dressed like you're going on a date."
"My attire is appropriate for an informal interview with a prisoner," Byakuya said, matter-of-factly.
"Right, I just meant that you look like a man with a mission, and do I smell Aizen's favorite dish? Did you perhaps stop by his old favorite restaurant?"
"So, I did," Byakuya answered unabashedly, "I intend to do my duty as the lead historian in the Seireitei and find out as much as can be known about that man. As our leader, you should appreciate the importance of such knowledge, both in historical terms and also in the interest of understanding what drove him to commit such horrible crimes."
"Oh, I get it," the captain commander said bracingly, "I think I just need to warn you that there are those who won't be happy you're poking around in that muck, you know?"
Byakuya nodded.
"And as leader of one of the great clans, I am prepared for such objection."
"Hmm," Shunsui sighed, his face taking on a more serious look, "Maybe for the official objections, but be careful. There are also those who have morals that are not much better than Aizen's."
"I am aware," Byakuya assured him, "I will be cautious."
"Good, go on then," Shunsui said, handing the noble leader a pass for prison entry, "Let me know if he tells you anything I need to be aware of."
"I will."
Byakuya headed to the lift and showed his pass to board, then he rode down to the lowest level and passed another checkpoint. A guard read his pass, and led him to the door to Aizen's cell, handing him three keys.
"Be careful, Captain Kuchiki," the guard warned him, "He's been pretty vicious lately."
"Hmm."
Byakuya walked into the cell and paused, looking ahead of him to the heavily bound figure that sat on a white chair in the cell. He took a steadying breath, but was silenced as Aizen used his reiatsu to speak.
"Well, this is interesting. I smell sakura, fine clothing and…is it the chicken teriyaki from my favorite restaurant? To what do I owe this unusual treat, Byakuya Kuchiki?"
Byakuya quietly employed the keys he had been given to unbind Aizen's head, upper torso and right arm. He moved a small table, placing it in front of his former comrade, and he laid out the food, then sat down on the other side. Aizen's eye studied him appreciatively, and his lips curved upward.
"Why are you here?" he asked more directly.
"I am here," Byakuya answered calmly, "for information."
"About what?"
Byakuya took a steadying breath.
"About you."