Akumu ('Nightmare')
By Spunky0ne
(A request by Henka-chan)
(This is a Byakuya/Ichigo/Ren (OC), Renji/Tetsuya story)
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Chapter 1: Not Meant to Be
Aizen Sousuke gazed quietly at the computer screen in front of him, his fingers moving deftly over the keyboard as he watched the changes in the display in front of him. He made a soft sound of approval as they reflected what he had hoped to see and he added a fresh set of data to what had already been collected.
"Ah, I see," he whispered, half to himself and half directed towards the unconscious shinigami that laid on the nearby examination table, "Very crafty, Urahara Kisuke. I have always said that of all of the minds in the Seireitei, yours is the one that exceeds mine. But...you are too easily manipulated. As you can see, it has led you to yield all of your hard work to me. Although you tried so hard to hide it, I know your secret. I know what you and I both created. But neither works properly, and I want to know why. This search could take some time. And while we wait, there is a test you will help me with. My apologies for not asking politely, but I don't think you would have approved. As you see, approval isn't necessary now. Despite any objection you would make, I will have what only you can give me...my power and your mind made one. This one will be a dream, Urahara Kisuke...or for you...a nightmare."
He rose from his seat and approached his captive slowly, pausing at a console at his bedside to press several buttons. He watched as several soft beeps sounded and pale fluid within a large vial was sent into the other man's body through a tube that had been inserted into his abdominal cavity.
"This, Urahara Kisuke, is our dream," he said softly, watching as the fluid seeped into the spirit chamber he had implanted in the man, "This is the mating of our two souls. The greatest shinigami mind and the greatest shinigami power, blended together and made one. Don't worry. This will not harm you. You will never even know that it happened. The drug I will give you will make you forget. And you will be home and safe in your bed before you ever know you were gone. I regret you will never know this one exists, but if you did, you might destroy him. You did, after all, say that this power was too terrible for the three worlds to manage. I don't share your pessimism. I choose to believe that we will be successful."
Aizen went quiet, then, watching as the last of the fluid entered the spirit chamber in his colleague's restrained body. Several of the machines around Kisuke beeped and hummed, and Aizen's eyes widened as the spirit chamber was brought to life. He leaned over the other man's body, laying his hands on the pale skin of his exposed abdomen and feeling the swell of power under his fingers and palms. And slowly, as the area glowed softly, the restrained man's abdomen began to swell.
"Ideally, I would like to have taken this more slowly," Aizen said dulcetly, "but I don't think that even I could keep you restrained like this for long. You would eventually escape. This will put a strain on your body and may weaken you for a time, but don't worry. Even though I could kill you right now, I won't. You, my friend, are far too useful in my plans. Yes, we will do great things together, Urahara Kisuke...great things..."
He returned his focus to the machines that surrounded the examination table, making sure that the readings remained stable as the process continued and Kisuke's exposed belly continued to grow. Finally, a monitor beeped and Aizen smiled as he sensed a new reiatsu, and the vaguest touch of a developing mind. And as he perused the readouts, his smile warmed.
"Yes...you are everything I hoped you would be. But there is a little more we need to do."
He waited until the main screen flashed to indicate the completion of the reiatsu's growth, then leaned over Kisuke again. He caressed the soft skin of his captive's abdomen, watching in wonder as he sent his reiatsu into the man's body and the spirit chamber he had placed slowly opened.
The light around Aizen's hands grew more intense, almost blinding, and he made another soft sigh of approval. The light moved then, rising out of Kisuke's body and curving gently into Aizen's opened arms. He watched closely as the light began to fade, and the cluster solidified and gradually took on the form of a tiny, shinigami baby. The infant gazed up at his father through bright, red-brown eyes and he started to cry softly.
"There now," Aizen said affectionately, "You are all right. You will be fine. I will see that you are taken care of."
He cleaned away the apparatus around Kisuke, then carried him to another room and bound him in kido ropes before leaving him sleeping again.
"I will let you go in the morning," he said quietly, "I will need to monitor you through the night to make sure that there were no ill effects. You see, I still need you, Urahara Kisuke. It wouldn't do at all to have you die now. I thank you. You have given me a wonderful gift. I hope that someday, I can return the favor. We shall see, ne?"
He abandoned the room, leaving several monitors to ensure that he would be kept stable, then returned to the child he had made with their combined essences and reiatsu.
"Now, to you," he told the infant, admiring the baby, "I would like to keep you here, but it would be too dangerous. If anyone discovered just how you were made, you would be destroyed. I want very much to avoid that."
He bundled the baby warmly and carried him out of the laboratory, moving out onto the darkened streets and using his zanpakutou's illusions to make himself unseen. He passed through the Seireitei's guarded gate and walked into the upper Rukongai, then on until he reached the middle districts, before stopping at a small, but homey looking orphanage. He smiled and altered his appearance, then knocked on the door. Soft footsteps sounded on the other side of the door, and then it opened and an old woman peered out.
"Goodness, my dear!" she exclaimed, staring at the image Aizen presented her with of a raggedly dressed and badly beaten young woman, "Come in, come in! You look about to collapse."
"I am s-so sorry, Ma'am," he said in a woman's voice, "P-please, you must take my baby! My husband hurt me and he would have killed the ch-child. But I escaped him and found my way to you. Please...please take my baby. Take my little Ren and care for him!"
The old woman gazed down at the lovely infant's bright red-brown eyes and felt her heart give way instantly.
"I will take care of you both," she promised, accepting the child from her arms, then watching in dismay as she collapsed onto the floor and stopped breathing, "Oh no...Michio! Michio, come quickly!"
Her husband appeared a moment later and dashed to the fallen girl's side, quickly examining her. His power flared around his hands and flowed into her beaten body, but failed to produce any result. Several minutes later, he sighed sadly and leaned over her to close her eyes.
"The poor dear," the old woman whispered, her aged eyes tearing, "That someone could harm a young thing like her...and threaten a mere baby! It's horrible."
"Well," Michio said softly, "We cannot help her now...except by caring for this little one."
"Ren, she said his name was."
"Welcome to our family, Ren," Michio said, touching the infant's cheek and earning a soft, happy gurgle.
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(One Hundred Years Later...at the Sixth Division Headquarters)
Renji looked up as the door to the sixth division opened and a slender noble male with barely behaving waves of raven hair, and lovely sapphire eyes entered the room. He registered Byakuya's absence, then turned his eyes towards the fukutaichou's desk and greeted Renji with a smile.
"Good afternoon, Abarai-san," he greeted the redhead pleasantly, "I am supposed to meet my cousin here. I am sure this is the time he told me to be here..."
"Y-yeah," Renji said, standing, "Well, a message just came that the taichous need more time for strategy formation, so he said that you and I could just go on to Karakura Town and let Ichigo know why he's going to be late. You know they have a date tonight."
"Of course," Tetsuya said, blushing slightly.
"That's right," Renji chuckled, "Of course you do, being his head of security and his bodyguard."
"But if I am in Karakura Town, I cannot very well be guarding him," Tetsuya objected, "I will just..."
He paused as Renji flash stepped in front of him and got between him and the door.
"W-wait just a sec," he said, placing a hand on the slighter man's shoulder and earning a curious and somewhat wary glance from the pretty, sapphire-eyed noble, "Taichou said it was fine. And he said he felt better knowing you would help me out with checking out a few spots where there was some unusual hollow activity."
"Surely a fukutaichou level, and one with a bankai at that could handle such an assignment without an extra tagging along," Tetsuya mused.
"Hey!" Renji laughed, "Those sound like fighting words. You looking to get me riled, Tetsuya-san?"
Tetsuya's blush grew at the redhead's show of familiarity, but although flustered, he couldn't seem to make himself reject the other man's advances.
"You are riled already," he said, trying to escape under one of Renji's arms, only to get tangled up with him and pulled in for a sudden, plundering kiss.
"Abarai-san!" he exclaimed, trying to pull away, "Stop, you shouldn't...!"
"Come on," Renji said, trapping him gently up against the wall and gazing affectionately into the younger man's eyes, "You know I'm really attracted to you."
"I-I know," said the noble, blushing more fiercely, "I just...It is just that..."
"Tetsuya," Renji said, stunning the younger man with the more familiar use of his first name, "I don't mean to be pushy or anything. And if you're not interested in me, all you have to do is tell me that. I'll back off and not say another word if you look me in the eyes and tell me that you don't want to see me romantically. We can still be friends. I just...want there to be...more."
Tetsuya stared back at him breathlessly, struggling for words. Renji closed in again and stopped his words with another long, penetrating kiss that left the lovely noble nearly unable to breathe and held helplessly in the other man's arms. Renji plunged into his mouth again, at the same time pressing forward so that Tetsuya could feel the hot swell of his inflamed arousal through their clothes.
"Abarai-san!" Tetsuya exclaimed softly, "Renji, s-stop!"
Renji paused in his kissing, but continued to keep him trapped up against the wall.
"Are you telling me that you only want to be friends?" Renji asked, looking down into his widened eyes, "Because, when you called me by my first name, just now, it didn't sound that way. What are you telling me, here, Tetsuya?"
Tetsuya hesitated for a moment, then felt his resolve crumble.
"Renji, I..."
The door opened suddenly, and the two broke away from each other as Byakuya entered the room. The taichou's gray eyes quickly took in Tetsuya's widened eyes and piqued expression and he gave Renji a stern look.
"Abarai fukutaichou, were you being less than gentlemanly with my cousin?" he asked, frowning.
"No, Taichou," Renji said quickly, "I was just...erm...telling him that you were running late and we should go on ahead and meet with you in Karkura Town."
"Well, as you see, I am back, so we can go together."
"Great," sighed the redhead, trying to hide his disappointment, "I'm ready to go."
"I am as well, Byakuya-sama," Tetsuya said, recovering slightly, "Arashi is just outside."
"Good," said Byakuya, nodding, "But we will need to make a stop on the way. As it turns out, Ichigo came to see the Eleventh's new group of initiates. I thought that I would go over and meet him there."
"While also looking to deprive my ex-taichou of any talented guys you would rather not see slaughtered before they reach their full potential," chuckled Renji.
"Hmmm," the taichou huffed softly, "Those young men should be made aware, there are ways to grow as fighters that will actually allow them to reach their full potential before they die."
"Hey, I get it," Renji said, good-naturedly, "That's why I'm not still over there, getting bashed up on a daily basis anymore."
"I am glad that you came to your senses and grew out of that," Byakuya said dryly, "Now, you just might live to see the next few hundred years...provided you do not do something stupid, like treat my cousin dishonorably."
"There was no dishonor involved," Renji insisted, "I just asked him to go along to Karakura Town with me. There might have been a few kisses exchanged..."
"Renji-san!" Tetsuya complained, blushing again.
"I think I understand," Byakuya assured his fukutaichou, "And Tetsuya is free to do as his heart tells him. Just bear in mind that he is a member of my house and is to be treated with utmost respect."
"Of course, Taichou!" Renji affirmed, "I would never disrespect Tetsuya-san."
"Would the two of you please stop talking about me as though I'm not here?" Tetsuya objected.
"Come, Tetsuya, Renji," Byakuya said, turning back towards the door, "We should be on our way."
The three left the sixth division, the two nobles riding on the back of Tetsuya's tall, black Arabian stallion. Arashi walked alongside Renji, nipping playfully at the redhead's ponytail every now and again and earning a feigned scowl.
"Would you knock it off, you!" he said, swatting at the beast and making him toss his head and snort derisively, "What's with you guys anyway? All I want here is to go out with Tetsuya. What's the big deal? A little dinner at a nice restaurant. A walk in the moonlight, some harmless kisses. I don't think that's a bad thing."
"I don't mean to be standoffish, Renji-san," Tetsuya said penitently, "I simply haven't seen anyone romantically in a very long time."
"Well then," said the redhead, smiling up at him, "Now's the time to start. Why don't you come down off that big hairy fleabag horse of yours and hold hands with me?"
Tetsuya barely stifled a laugh as Arashi emitted a low, equine growl.
"Just kidding, baka," Renji said, dodging the stallion's teeth as he tried to nip at Renji's hair again, "Knock it off!"
"Well," Byakuya said, an edge of amusement in his voice, "you did insult him."
They reached the eleventh and Byakuya and Tetsuya dismounted, the latter issuing a directive to the stallion to accompany the clan leader. Arashi glowered warningly at Renji, then turned and placed himself at Byakuya's heels.
"You don't think he's really mad at me, do you?" Renji asked, scratching the back of his neck, "Don't want him killing me in my sleep or something."
"Arashi won't hurt you," Tetsuya chuckled, "He is only being protective. He teases you as much as you tease him because he likes you."
"He likes me, huh," the redhead said, sliding an arm around the younger man, then giving him a look of surprise when Tetsuya made no objection, "What about his master? Does he like me too?"
"I think he does," Tetsuya said, blushing, "But Arashi's master is cautious."
"Right. That makes sense, you being a bodyguard. But, I hope that soon you'll feel comfortable with me, Tetsuya. I really think you're beautiful. And if all you'll do is let me put my arm around you sometimes for now, that's okay by me."
Tetsuya stopped walking for a moment and gave Renji a look of genuine gratitude.
"Thank you, Renji-san," he said quietly, "It feels good to be embraced again. I'd almost forgotten."
"Hey," Renji said, his eyes softening, "I know that risking your heart after losing someone is hard. Look at Taichou. He was alone for over fifty years after his wife died, before he confessed his feelings to Ichigo. And even now, they're moving slowly. There's nothing wrong with that."
"It is good to see him happy," Tetsuya said, looking over to where Byakuya and Arashi were approaching the shinigami substitute.
"Hey, Byakuya," Ichigo greeted the noble, smiling and patting Arashi's satin neck as the stallion nickered and nudged him playfully, "Hey Arashi. You bite Renji's ass like I told you to?"
Arashi gave a short, wicked horse laugh.
"Ichigo," Byakuya said, arching an eyebrow, "I would prefer it if you didn't encourage him. He annoys my fukutaichou enough as it is."
"Sorry," Ichigo chuckled, slipping his arms around the clan leader and meeting him for a warm kiss of greeting, "Those two are just too funny."
"Hmmm," Byakuya huffed disapprovingly.
He turned towards the training grounds and the two watched as sparring pairs exchanged blows.
"Is there anyone here needing rescue from that barbarian?"
"The guy on the end over there," Ichigo said quietly, "He's good, but if he doesn't have some guidance, he isn't going to live long enough to get stronger. The girl in the red over there. She's god awful strong but she's holding back on the fact that she's even stronger in kido. Soon as that comes out, they'll hound her to death.
"Mmmm," Byakuya said, watching the two, "They are capable. I think I can seat both of them. I will have the promotions sent. Thank you for assisting me. It annoys me when good talent is wasted on this ridiculous, primeval..."
"I get it," Ichigo laughed, "You wanna go now? Looks like Renji's got Tetsuya's attention for a while."
Byakuya looked over to where the two stood, with Renji's arm around the younger man, watching the sparring and exchanging occasional kisses.
"He looks happy," Byakuya observed, "I am glad for them."
Ichigo started to answer, but froze as the Seireitei alarms began to wail. Byakuya's eyes widened as the memory of the quincies' initial attacks rose up in his mind.
But their leaders have been annihilated. This is just...
A shiver went through the two as a stern voice issued through the loudspeakers.
High priority alert...High priority alert...Prisoner Aizen Sousuke has been reported missing from Muken, Central 46. I repeat. Prisoner Aizen Sousuke has been reported missing from Muken, Central 46. All taichous and fukutaichous please report to your meeting sites for further information.
"Damn," Ichigo breathed, exchanging haunted glances with the clan leader, "That's bad."
"Come with me, Ichigo," Byakuya said, climbing onto Arashi's back and offering him a hand.
Ichigo hopped nimbly onto the stallion's back and wrapped his arms around Byakuya's slender waist, holding on tightly as Arashi plunged into a gallop.
Renji offered Tetsuya a kiss of parting and followed on foot. Tetsuya turned back towards Kuchiki Manor, sending a hell butterfly ahead to put the house staff on alert. All around him, shinigamis swarmed towards their meeting points, the memory of Aizen's past actions all too fresh in their minds.
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Several miles away, in the mid-Rukongai, Aizen Sousuke smirked at the sound of the Seireitei alarms that rose up in the distance, and he headed for the edge of town. He reached the orphanage quickly and slipped inside, his reclaimed power making him invisible to the ones there. He heard an old woman's voice and his eyes widened at the name she spoke.
"Ren, dear, would you mind picking up a few things for us while you are out?"
"Sure," the young man said agreeably, taking the list from his adoptive mother's hand, "But I think it might be a few hours."
"Oh, no rush," Noa assured him, "Just be careful. Something is amiss in the Seireitei. I heard there was an escape from the Cental 46 prison."
"I'll be careful," the young man promised as Noa captured his lovely face in her hands admiring the bright, red-brown eyes and long, mingled, black and purple tresses, then kissed him on the cheek.
"Go on, now," she urged him.
Ren slipped out of the house, into the suddenly too quiet street and made his way towards the town center. He felt an inner sense of disquiet and looked around, frowning.
That's odd. I thought that I felt malevolent eyes watching me.
He stood for a moment, sensing the area around him and finding nothing. He loosed a sigh and chalked it up to being unnerved over the alert, then took a step forward.
A moment later, he felt a shock pass through his body and heard a soft, chilling voice that seemed to invade his mind.
It has been a long time...to long, Aizen Ren.
He went into an oddly slow fall, losing consciousness as strong arms caught him and lifted him off his feet. A garganta opened in front of the two and Aizen stepped inside, leaving the rattled Seireitei forces behind.
