Dark Side of the Light
By Spunky0ne
(A storyline request from Spunky's Nakama – When Ywach's dead body and powers unexpectedly begin to break down, Central 46 is forced to awaken the king's prism to attempt a royal rebirth. Ichigo is chosen to bear the king's reiatsu in his body and Byakuya to stabilize it until the rebirth, but neither man realizes the terrible toll that the rebirth will take…Romance/Angst, yaoi, not mpreg, as the reiatsu is not in a spirit chamber, but envelops Ichigo's whole body until the king emerges, already in adult form…Byakuya/Ichigo, Aizen/Urahara, Kenpachi/Tetsuya
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Chapter 1: Slow Death of the White King
Slow footsteps echoed in the hallway of the soul king's palace as Hyosube Ichibei approached the throne room. His head dipped slightly and he frowned at the touches of reiatsu that warned him about what waited ahead of him. The guards at the throne room door bowed as he passed, their faces reflecting dark uncertainty.
They know that something is wrong. We have been in and out of the throne room around the clock trying to keep the dead quincy's body stabilized. We keep calm expressions, but I'm sure they sense it. We need to do something. We need to do something before it is too late.
He moved forward, joining Kirinji Tenjiro beside the throne. He looked down at the quincy king's flickering body as the spring demon kept a swirl of healing water moving around him.
"You get the results?" Tenjiro asked gruffly, "That look on your face makes me think they're not good."
"You are right about that," Ichibei confirmed, reaching up to scratch his bearded chin, "He's definitely in decline, and nothing, not the special protective clothing Senjumaru made, not Hikifune's food and not your water seems to be enough to stop it. We may delay the inevitable for awhile, but..."
Tenjiro sighed and shook his head.
"You think we need to awaken it?"
Ichibei's frown deepened as he turned his head slightly to look at the black prism that sat on a small pedestal near the throne, surrounded in a heavy sealing enchantment.
"According to the will of Central 46, it is supposed to be a last resort."
"Well, don't you think that the fact that the process takes about a month suggests we should start pretty soon? How long will this dead bastard here hold out?"
Ichibei moved in close to Ywach, examining him for several minutes before straightening and meeting his comrade's eyes again.
"I don't think this can wait," Ichibei concluded, "Because of the time it will take and the strain it would be if his body fails too soon, I think we should sound the alarm and begin the process."
Tenjiro gave Ichibei a crooked smile.
"Gets around having to deal with those dipshits down there," he chuckled, "But you'd better have some proof to send to'em. You know the clans don't want to deal with the inconvenience of having an actual king, right?"
"Yes, I am aware, and I will have proof to back it up. But we should begin the process. Will you remove the seal?"
Tenjiro chewed thoughtfully at his lips, then nodded.
"I hope you know what you're doing."
"So do I," Ichibei joked darkly.
Tenjiro left the dead king's side and approached the black prism, extending a hand and focusing his power. After several moments, a loud cracking sounded and the water barrier swirling around the prism fell away. Ichibei approached the prism, his heart quickening as he laid his hands on the cool, smooth surface and fed it with his reiatsu.
"Reiou's Prism," he breathed softly.
His teeth clenched at the sudden rush of angry voices that greeted him.
Of course the spirits within are furious at being repressed. These are the souls of the former incarnations of the king. I'm sure they are quite aware of exactly why we have not allowed him to be reborn. We warned the noble houses that if it became necessary to attempt a rebirth, the new king would be angry at the long delay.
I do hope he doesn't just decide we're all not worth it and wipe the slate clean.
If he did, could we really blame him?
He turned his attention to connecting with the souls in the prism, his dark eyes glowing as he felt the king's mind touch his.
You finally allowed us to wake, the spirits hissed, The situation must be dire.
Ichibei smiled tentatively.
It is not as dire as it could be. Some of us simply don't want to take the chance on waiting until it's too late.
Painful heat flashed on the squad zero taichou's skin in rebuke.
You stood by and did nothing this long.
Ichibei nodded in agreement.
You know that, although we are strong, your majesty, we cannot completely defy the will of the noble sages. You did place responsibility for your rebirth in their hands.
He felt a bristling sensation.
We knew there were those who would steal power away from the crown, but we did not fear it because the Shiba and Kuchiki houses have always stood strong against the other houses when there was conflict.
Tenjiro and Ichibei exchanged unhappy glances.
None of us could have predicted the banishment of the Shiba house.
He sensed immediately that he had stepped over a line.
We could have predicted it if you had released us sooner!
Yes, your majesty, Ichibei agreed, I am deeply sorry we did not act sooner.
You are here now, the spirits answered more calmly, We will name the vessel, the hogosha and the guards.
Yes, your majesty.
Ichibei drew slow breaths as he waited for several tense minutes.
The vessel will be Shiba Ichigo. His hogosha will be Kuchiki Byakuya. And you will summon Zaraki Kenpachi and Kuchiki Tetsuya as guards.
It will be done immediately, Ichibei promised.
You will also summon Aizen Sousuke and Urahara Kisuke, the spirits added.
Ichibei's breath caught and his next words were inadvertently spoken aloud.
"Aizen Sousuke?"
Tenjiro's head jerked around in reaction.
"What did you say?" he demanded.
Your majesty, are you sure? Ichibei inquired, shaking his head, We have already endured a war, trying to keep Aizen Sousuke away from you! Why would you…?
Have you asked yourself why Aizen Sousuke defected? the spirits asked, I am sure that you must understand. He objected to the 'vacancy in the sky.' He was not threatening us.
Ichibei gave the prism a doubtful look.
Your foresight doesn't tell you what he will do because he is a transcendent, he noted, You are taking a very big chance that he will just kill the ones trying to revive you.
Ichibei waited through a long, pregnant pause.
That is why we need Urahara Kisuke.
I see, Ichibei mused, Very well, I will summon the ones you requested.
Do not inform Central 46. If you do, they will kill the only chance I have for rebirth. Send the others to gather the ones I specified. Do not tell them we are coming or they will be in danger. Go now, Hyosube Ichibei!
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Byakuya glance quietly over at the young man walking alongside him as the two headed for Byakuya's favorite moongazing spot, at the top of a cliff, underneath a lovely sakura tree that overlooked a pretty waterfall that tumbled down into a moonlit lake at the edge of a large field the two had earlier used for training.
"You know, Ichigo," the Kuchiki leader said, frowning, "the point of me coming to this place each night is so that I can relax under the stars. As riled as your reiatsu is right now, we are unlikely to be able to relax much, if at all."
"Sorry," Ichigo sighed unhappily, "I'm just still pissed about those old jerks trying to run my life. They just wanna butt into everything!"
"They do intrude in their heirs' lives," Byakuya acknowledged, studying his more youthful companion, "but then, as I explained to you, they are concerned about the balances of power within Central 46. Things like reputation and public relations are important in maintaining those balances."
"But why does that have to affect me?" Ichigo complained, scowling, "You know I didn't want to be their goddamned heir! I was born in the living world and I grew up and no one gave a shit in all of that time about me."
"That was your father's doing," Byakuya said quietly.
He realized immediately the boundary he had breached as Ichigo's reiatsu swelled and his golden brown eyes flashed.
"Oh, is that right?" the ginger-haired youth snapped sarcastically, "What're you saying here? You think that my father should have let the woman who saved his damned life die, just because saving her made him have to go into hiding? Who fucking makes all of these rules anyway? These people obviously don't live in the real world that normal people do."
"No, we do not," Byakuya agreed, "The noble clans have great responsibility…"
"To who? The king?" Ichigo asked heatedly, "You know the fucking dead body that we're all not allowed to talk about?"
"And yet, you choose not to follow that rule either," Byakuya said reprovingly.
"You really think I should?"
Byakuya paused, considering.
"I do think it would be shocking to the general populace to know," he admitted softly, "I know, and it is a burden to me."
"But is it really that?" Ichigo challenged him, "Or is it that they're afraid that the commoners who outnumber them would rebel against the idea of having the noble lords in charge of everything? Byakuya, I've been into the Rukongai. I know what the people think. They think there's a king looking out for all of us, when all it really is, is a bunch of old geezers who are taking advantage of the fact the three worlds have no leader!"
"I know how it looks…"
"You do? Cause if you know how it looks, then how can you just let it happen? Why don't you do something?"
"Says the young transcendent who wants to just go home and forget about us."
"That's not fair, and you know it," Ichigo shouted.
"If I may point out, you did ask Rukia to share her power with you to protect your family."
"But my own was in there," Ichigo said sadly, "Even if not for Rukia, it would've come out eventually, wouldn't it?"
"Most likely," Byakuya said in a slightly more sympathetic tone, "And you would be in the same position. The benefit to it having been found in the way that it was is that you have built a connection, here in Soul Society. Everyone knows about you. They respect you and your powers, and they do need you."
"I know," Ichigo said, deflating, "That's why I'm here. But I can complain when it's just the two of us, right?"
Byakuya gave him the slightest of smiles and glanced over his shoulder.
"You mean the three of us," he said, smirking, "Or four, if you count Arashi too."
Ichigo looked up, smiling ruefully at the barely visible shadow in the nearby trees.
"Hey Tetsuya. Hey Arashi," he greeted them, "Sorry about all of the yelling."
"It's all right," Tetsuya assured him, his slender form coming fully into view as he shed the waterform he had been using, "Byakuya-sama also struggled at times, when we were younger, accepting the difficult requirements of leadership."
"I guess I must sound kinda selfish, griping about how all I wanna do is go home and be a normal kid. I knew I was choosing a more difficult life when I decided to go and save Rukia, although I didn't have any idea I'd end up someday leading a noble clan."
"And not just any noble clan," Byakuya added, "One that, along with the Kuchiki clan, has always had heavy influence on Central 46."
"Except when we were banished," Ichigo sighed.
"No," Byakuya corrected him, "Your clan still had a large role in that its absence created chaos for a time."
"And now, we're right back, making trouble again," Ichigo chuckled.
"You sound as though your spirits are beginning to improve," Byakuya observed.
"Well, it's nice talking to someone who can understand."
Byakuya gave him an amused look.
"Only a short few minutes ago, you were angry that I did not seem to understand."
"No, in knew you understood. You just weren't sympathizing with me."
"I do not excel at handholding," Byakuya answered, shaking his head, "but I do wish to make your way easier."
"You've been really good to me since everything came out about my dad. I appreciate that, even though I get pissed off a lot."
"Your confusion and anger are understandable, considering that you did not know your own history. It cannot have been easy learning how much was kept from you all of your life."
"It's not. But I'll figure it out."
He started to say more, then stopped as the reiatsu around the three men began to rise swiftly. Instantly, they summoned their swords to their hands, only to have slender white bonds wrap around their wrists. The three men gasped as the air glowed bright white around them and Shutara Senjumaru appeared in front of them, wearing an angry expression.
"What a rude way to greet a lady comrade!" she scolded the three, at the same time using the bonds to hold them in place."
"Wh-what are you doing here?" Ichigo demanded, "You're from Squad Zero!"
"Why have you come here?" Byakuya asked, glaring at the intruder, "No word was sent to expect a visitor from the royal realm!"
"I don't need permission," Senjumaru scoffed, "I was sent by the king!"
"The king," Byakuya mused, his head going into a spin as the light grew blindingly bright around them.
The last thing the three men saw was three white pods moving towards them.
"Be quiet now," Senjumaru, "Someone wants a word with you!"
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Kenpachi sat up suddenly in his bed at the eleventh division, his green eyes flying open and his reiatsu swelling around him, shaking the room violently.
"Whatsit?" he muttered sleepily.
He blinked several times to clear his eyes and felt his heart start to pound.
I feel a strong reaitsu.
Something powerful, just aching for a fight.
"You're not very perceptive, are you, big fella?" a male voice sneered from somewhere behind him.
Kenpachi turned and flew, naked, out of the bed, only to be swept up into a swirl of hot, blue water and carried away.
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"Are you really sure about this?" Kisuke whispered, dropping into a crouch beside a dark, hooded figure, "I don't know who's making the decisions, but it seems to me that giving a guy who tried to take over the royal realm a free pass into the place is a really bad idea. I don't know. Maybe it's just me…"
He looked around the darkened area they stood in as the hooded man removed a sword from the belt at his waist and traced a doorway on the wall of the Central 46 compound. He sheathed the sword again and touched the door he had drawn, sending his reiatsu into it. Kisuke grinned as the door clicked and opened.
"Now, I told you not to ask any questions," the hooded man answered, "I was instructed to collect the two of you and bring you up without telling you anything. So, be a good kid and help me get him outta here without tripping an alarm."
"All right," Kisuke sighed, handing the other man an odd, barely visible gigai, "if you say so."
"You did say that your method will keep that monster under control, right?"
"Yeah, it'll do the job," Kisuke assured him.
"Come on. The coast is clear."
The two slipped in through the doorway, then closed it behind him and stood for a moment in a dark, empty corridor, putting their gigais on. They continued down the hallway, careful to remain in the shadows and working their way to the entrance to the prison levels. The shopkeeper crept to the guard station and loosed a puff of gas from a small canister that made the guards stiffen and stare blindly as the two men passed.
"You're sure they won't realize?"
"Yeah," Kisuke said with certainty, "That's the good stuff."
They passed the other guard stations in the same manner, working their way down to the eighth and lowest level. The two slipped inside and headed quickly to the cell that held Aizen Sousuke. To their surprise, Aizen's reiatsu formed voice greeted them as they arrived.
"Ah, guests," he mused, smiling under the full-body bonds, "Who have we here? Urahara Kisuke and…if I am not mistaken, you are Nimaiya Oetsu. My captors seem to have neglected to tell me you were coming. Will you tell me why you're here?"
Nimaiya reached into the bag on his back and withdrew another sword, then he drew his arm back and hurled the weapon at the bound traitor. The sword impaled the prisoner's midsection, sinking into his bonds, then flashing with a strange green light before spinning in Aizen's abdomen and wrapping him in fresh green bindings.
"You just be quiet and come along with us," Oetsu chided him as the bindings quivered, then shrank the prisoner down to doll size, "We've got a job for you."
"That's a pretty neat zanpakutou," Kisuke snickered, "Can I borrow it sometime?"
"Maybe if you let me borrow a few of your toys," Nimaiya laughed, picking the shrunk prisoner up and slipping him into his pack, "Just remember that once we're in the royal realm, you're in charge of making sure this bad boy doesn't get loose."
"I've got him covered," Kisuke promised, "But let's get out of here before we get caught, okay?"
Nimaiya nodded briefly and turned back towards the entrance to the cell. Shaking his head and sighing anxiously, the shopkeeper tipped his green striped had over his eyes and followed.