I Would Do Anything
By Spunky0ne
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Chapter 1: Deal With the Devil
Aizen Sousuke sat silently and in complete darkness, his mind floating aimlessly and his ears ringing with the horrid silence around him. The only things that registered were that time was passing though he couldn't gauge how quickly or slowly, and that eventually the long deprivation from light and sound, touch, taste and fragrance, would end and he would be back in a world that would touch his senses.
It is ironic that my power is one that controls the senses. But here, my own senses are useless.
He was beyond knowing what to think of to distract himself and had little to look forward to, at least for the next twenty thousand years, but that time had no meaning since the hogyoku's presence in his soul made him immortal. All he had to do was to wait. As burdensome as it was, at least it would have an end.
A sharp clinking sound broke the silence, making his one uncovered eye blink and rotate towards the door. Slowly, it opened, and a shaft of bright light blinded him for a moment as someone entered the room. Had he had his powers about him, he would have been able to sense the person's reiatsu, but as it was, he had to blink and stare as the light bent around the person, casting his face in shadows that only slowly resolved themselves.
"Urahara Kisuke?" he mused softly as he made sense of the person's features, "What brings you down to the lovely depths of Muken?"
Kisuke's grey eyes found his and Aizen felt a strange sense of disquiet looking into them.
"Why have you come?"
A slow smile came to the other man's lips.
"I came to relieve you of the hogyoku," he said quietly, "I found a way to destroy it. And you should be pleased to know that it will do absolutely no harm to you, so you can look forward to waking up back here and enjoying this place for the rest of your miserable, useless life. How does that sound?"
Aizen's brown eye narrowed and became hateful.
"Less than enjoyable."
"I kinda thought you'd feel that way," the shopkeeper replied, smirking and withdrawing a small device from within his clothing.
Aizen's eye darkened as Kisuke approached him and one sharply hissed word escaped him as the other man reached him and touched the device to the stone set in his chest.
"Bastard!"
Aizen's body recoiled beneath his bonds and his heart pounded wildly as the hogyoku's dying scream sounded in his mind. A tearing sensation took his breath away and his ears rang loudly. The room went even darker than it had been before the shopkeeper's arrival and Aizen sank down into that blackness, alone and all too aware of his changed circumstances. As he lingered on the edges of consciousness, Kisuke's voice sounded softly in his ear.
"Enjoy the rest of your life, Aizen Sousuke. While you sit here in the darkness, waiting to die, I will be out there really enjoying life and not missing you a bit. This is what being a backstabbing traitor earns you. Don't hope for anyone to save you. No one will. Not ever. Goodbye, Aizen Sousuke. Good riddance."
Aizen was glad for the numbness that the removal process had instilled in him. It held him back from making any reply as Kisuke turned and left the cell, clanking the heavy door shut behind him.
For a long time, there was darkness.
But now with the darkness, there came anxiety and then, growing concern.
I don't know how quickly or slowly time is passing. There is no measure of time in this place. And my perception could be distorted.
Not that knowing how time passed would change my fate..
Damn that horrid man.
For a while, he raged inwardly at the man who had stolen away his only anticipation. Now, all he had to look forward to was death.
I won't allow that, of course. This will only make me determined to escape, where before, I had no motivation to do so. But with the exception of this visit from Kisuke, no one ever enters my cell. If no one comes close, how then will I escape?
His mind worked at the problem for what might have been days. He was nearly at the ends of his wits, trying to find an answer, when one day his cell door opened again and someone else arrived.
Aizen blinked in surprise at the loud, unexpected sound, then squinted as a slender, lovely raven-haired man appeared out of the darkness. He couldn't help but smile at the noble's beauty and pleasant scent, having been so long deprived of such things. The clan leader gazed down at Aizen, seemingly lost for words.
"Kuchiki Byakuya?" he greeted the noble, "Why have you come here? Is it not enough for you to know that I will die, but you had to come and gloat in person?"
"Nothing of the sort," Byakuya said sternly, his grey eyes meeting Aizen's squarely, "I have come to make an agreement with you, if you are willing."
"Oh?" Aizen mused curiously, "What kind of agreement? Are you in some kind of trouble?"
"If I was in trouble, you would be the last person I would ever turn to. What is needed is not needed by me, but someone I love and protect."
"Go on."
"My younger cousin, Tetsuya, is afflicted with an illness that requires that he must receive frequent infusions of reiatsu from a compatible source or he will die. Unfortunately, we have determined that there is only one person whose reiatsu is compatible enough with Tetsuya's to permit the exchange."
"Ah, so you need me to provide these infusions for Tetsuya...and...what is in this for me? A TV in my cell? Food and water? Your undying appreciation?"
"I know that you do not care about my cousin's fate, nor anyone else's but your own. I know you have no reason to help us..."
"But you are asking anyway because you are desperate to save him, ne?"
"I am willing to offer you release into the Kuchiki family prison and to see that your cell in our prison is filled with whatever comforts you require. It will be a better existence for you, much more pleasant than remaining here and dying before you ever see the light of day again."
"It is," Aizen agreed, "But I think you know that it would still only be exchanging one cell for another. If I am to do this thing for your cousin, then I want more than that."
"You must understand that I cannot offer you freedom," Byakuya said firmly, "While being able to gain the approval of the Noble's General Council to house you in our family prison, they will never agree to allow you to roam about freely. You cannot expect that."
"I suppose," Aizen replied, smirking, "But I think that even within the parameters of your pretty manor, I could be content."
"What are you saying? What are you asking me to do?"
"You would do anything to save your cousin, ne?"
Byakuya's dark eyes narrowed, but he remained silent.
"Here is my counter-proposal. I will provide Tetsuya with whatever infusions he needs...and...you will request from the twelfth division a device that will offer me complete freedom within Kuchiki Manor. I will allow that my powers will need to be sealed away, but I am to have access to the full expanse of those grounds, and I understand I will never be allowed outside the gates. You may set in place any barriers or protections you need to assure that."
"I..."
"I am not finished," Aizen went on, "In addition to access to your manor, I want you."
"What?" Byakuya asked, his reiatsu darkening warningly, "What did you say?"
"I think you heard me," Aizen went on, "I have long been deprived of physical comforts of all kinds, so I crave as many comforts as I can get. So, I will save your cousin's life and you will agree to confine me there in your manor, and to marry me, giving me full rights to that lovely body of yours as well!"
"There is no way that I would ever agree to marry an animal like you!" Byakuya hissed, turning away and starting towards the door.
"Would you rather watch your cousin die, Byakuya?" Aizen asked sedately, "Could you really do that, watch him day after painful, heart-wrenching day, growing weaker and fading away before your eyes, knowing that you could have saved him, but your arrogance and pride would not let you do that? Are you really that cold?"
Byakuya paused with his hand on the doorknob.
"Think about it, Byakuya, but you probably shouldn't think about it for too long. You know that everyone here is aware I am mortal again. How long do you think it will be before someone tries to kill me? How long do you think I will survive? I am not useful to you if I am dead, so I should think that you would do what was necessary to keep me alive and well."
"Alive and well, I could understand," Byakuya said, turning back to face him, "But, what I do not understand is why you want me, when you could certainly request anyone else you would like. Why me? Why marriage?"
Aizen sighed softly, sensing the approach of hope.
"I need something to make sure that you won't just change your mind and send me back here if Tetsuya should someday be cured. I want assurance that I will be permanently moved from here to your manor for the rest of my life, as part of the agreement. That point is not negotiable."
"You don't have to marry me to..."
"Come now, Byakuya," Aizen interrupted, "We both know that the marriage would protect me as your simple promises will not. I am a lot of things, but I am not stupid. Don't think for a moment that being locked up here has dulled my mind that much. If we are not married and I save your cousin, other of your relatives will understand what you have done, and when they do, they will likely also understand that as long as Tetsuya lives, our agreement will be in force. Your cousin will die, but not from his condition. But, if he dies, unless there is a marriage, I will just get sent back to Muken. So, we will be married and you will agree to sate my sexual and other needs as they arise, like any dutiful spouse. I will live at Kuchiki Manor and will agree to be confined there and not to leave the grounds. In return, I will provide the reiatsu that will save your cousin's life."
Byakuya went silent for several long minutes, his eyes going black and unreadable.
"Very well," he answered finally, "These are the terms. You will agree to provide Tetsuya's infusions unfailingly. You will agree to being confined to the manor and your powers sealed away, and you will never attempt to leave the grounds. You will also agree not to harm anyone in the household or anyone who visits it. I need to be sure that you do not endanger my family and staff. Breaking any of these agreements will get you sent back to this cell. In return, I will agree to marry you and see to your needs of whatever kind as a married spouse would. My staff will see that you are made comfortable. Can you agree to all of this?"
A slow, wicked smile crept across Aizen's face and he nodded.
"I can agree to that."
"Fine. Then, we must go now. Tetsuya is in great discomfort and is in need of an infusion immediately."
"Hmmm," Aizen said coyly, "If I had known that, then I would have bargained for more."
"You are already getting far more than you deserve," Byakuya said dryly, motioning to the guards, "But I do not have time for such nuisances. My cousin is suffering."
"Then, we had better see to the marriage right away," Aizen replied, smiling at the instant reaction in the noble's dark eyes, "You did agree to marry me."
"This is no joke!" Byakuya snapped, "My cousin is dying!"
"Then, we will see to the marriage and then we can see to the first infusion," Aizen insisted, "You must understand the position I am in. I no longer have the hogyoku keeping me safe from dying. The world has become a much more dangerous place for me. You have offered me the only path to having any kind of life, and I am grateful. But I am not about to leave you any small means of escape, now that we have made an agreement. So, send a hell butterfly and we will take our vows quickly upon arrival at the manor. I am sorry, but I must insist on this."
"Bastard!" the noble fumed, "Fine."
Byakuya turned his glaring eyes away and refused to look at Aizen as guards entered the cell and slowly removed the bindings on him. They helped him stand, then swiftly placed strong bands on his wrists and ankles to hold back his powers. Byakuya then wordlessly led him out of the prison and to a waiting horse. The two mounted the tall black Arabian and Byakuya nudged him into motion, turning him towards Kuchiki Manor.
The clan leader flinched as Aizen's arms wrapped around his waist and the traitor pressed up against his back, letting a hand slide down to tease his privates through his clothes. Aizen chuckled softly as the horse carried them on their way.
"I am very much looking forward to our wedding night tonight, Byakuya," he breathed into the noble's ear, "I hope you aren't planning on getting much sleep. I intend to keep you occupied all night!"
Byakuya's reiatsu flared, but he made no comment in reply.
The stallion thundered down the road, racing through the streets of the Seireitei, slowing as he reached the manor gates, where the guards waved them through. The horse stopped in the courtyard and the two men slid down. They went at once into the gardens, where one of the Kuchiki elders waited.
"Byakuya-sama," he pleaded, "You must reconsider!"
"I will not," Byakuya said firmly, "Nori, you know this is the only way. If I do not do this, then Tetsuya will die. And if I do not marry him, the other elders will take it as an invitation to kill Tetsuya, themselves. There is no other choice."
"Have you asked Tetsuya what he wants?" Nori asked quietly, "Would he want you to do such a thing, even if not doing so would mean his death. Please, think about what you are doing. At least give this a day or two to..."
"Tetsuya doesn't have a day or two!" Byakuya shouted, "He needs help now!"
"You should not waste any more time," Aizen said solemnly, "As much as you stall, you are not going to change Byakuya's mind. He knows what he is doing."
"I very much doubt that," Nori sighed, "But it seems you are determined."
He removed the long scarf from around his neck and bound one of Aizen's hands to Byakuya's, then placed his own hand over the top and spoke the words of binding. As he did, power flared around their bound hands, flickering as the binding was completed. Nori gazed at the two in silence for a moment, then unbound the scarf.
"We can have a family gathering at a later time if you wish," he offered solemnly.
"No, this is all we require. I do not want to make an issue of this," Byakuya said firmly.
"Very well. As soon as the kido I placed on you is broken by your consummation, the marriage will be official."
"Come," Byakuya said, taking Aizen by the arm, "Tetsuya needs..."
"You heard the man," Aizen said slyly, "The marriage is not binding until..."
We don't have time for that now!" Byakuya snapped, "We need to give Tetsuya the infusion immediately!"
"That's fine," Aizen chuckled, moving closer to him and letting hot breath tease his earlobe, "I want to take my time and enjoy the consummation with no interruptions. Show me to Tetsuya."
Byakuya led him to a room near the end of the wooden walkway, where a young man laid in a bed with an attendant and a healer at his bedside.
"Tetsuya," Byakuya called softly to the young, blue-eyed man in the bed, "Watashi no itoko, I have brought someone who can help you!"
He slipped a hand into Tetsuya's, resting his head on his cousin's shoulder as Aizen sat down next to him and began the healing infusion.
"You're going to be all right," Byakuya promised.
"Byakuya-sama," Tetsuya whispered weakly, "Thank you!" Thank you so much!"
He drifted back into unconsciousness, but some of the color came back into his face as Aizen continued the infusion, and by the time he finished, Tetsuya was sleeping soundly.
"Byakuya," he said quietly, taking the clan leader's hand in his, "We have something to see to now. Come."
A blush rose on the noble's face and throat and he shivered slightly at the other man's touch, but he moved along willingly enough.
"W-would you mind if we bathed before...?" Byakuya asked in a low, wary voice.
"Certainly, my love," Aizen answered, smirking, "I don't want to offend you with my filthy body. I would much rather offend you with a clean one!"
Byakuya gave him a scathing look and turned him in the direction of the bathing chamber.