The Space Between
By Spunky0ne
(For Sariniste, who is responsible for making my muse go a little haywire creating this one. You like Aizen and Gin teasing poor Tetsuya, do you? Well, be careful what you wish for!)
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One is a man driven to destroy the soul king and the other his lover who only waits to stab him in the heart. Both try to deny that they have fallen in love, but the hougyoku knows their true desires…and if there is a way, it will make them come true…yaoi, mpreg…Aizen/Gin/Tetsuya, Kenpachi/Byakuya, Urahara/Ichigo
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Chapter 1: Dreams Denied
Aizen Sousuke stood on a high balcony, his brown eyes quiet and tranquil as he watched the sun that he had conjured in the Hueco Mundo sky slowly set in the distance. He lifted a glass of red wine to his slightly frowning lips and sipped at the liquid, blinking as he swallowed. He heard a soft footstep and felt the touch of a reaitsu that both pleased and slightly angered him.
After all, to know that what I see when I look at him is a lie, a fabrication. Yes, it is a well crafted illusion he presents, but then, I am a master of illusion. Do you really think that you can fool me…Gin?
"Sousuke," Gin said softly, his voice a departure from the more deferential tone he used in front of the Espadas.
The pleasing scent of the silver-haired man drifted across Aizen's senses, both soothing and piquing him as a smile crawled onto his lips.
"Come, Gin," he invited his comrade.
Gin gave a soft laugh and moved forward, curling into his arms and smilingly accepting a sip of wine from Aizen's offered glass. They shared a wine-flavored kiss, their hands slipping beneath each others' clothing and exploring absently as they continued talking.
"You seem especially affectionate tonight," Aizen purred into his slighter companion's ear, making the pale skin flush as much from the words as the heat of his breath, "It must have been a good day."
"Mmhmm," Gin affirmed, stealing another sip of the brown-eyed man's wine, then sharing it in a deeper, more passionate kiss, "Everything is going just as you said it would. The old man reacted just like you thought he would to Orihime's abduction. He's now convinced that you'll somehow find a way to use her to launch a direct attack on the Seireitei. A silent alert has been raised for all troops to return. He's called everyone back. Hmm, although, as soon as he did, Ichigo and his friends got together and started planning an invasion. Also, although Byakuya escorted Renji and Rukia back to Soul Society, it seems they have slipped away again almost immediately."
Gin studied his superior's calm, unaffected gaze.
"It doesn't bother you at all that Ichigo and his friends are going to come here?" he asked, "They caused a lot of trouble before in Soul Society. This is…part of your plans?"
Aizen's smile widened wickedly.
"Of course it is," he chuckled, "Everything is playing out as I thought it would. We are on the path and making wonderful progress. But, while the pieces move along their courses, we can take time for relaxation and enjoyment, ne?"
"Oh, I was hoping you would say that," Gin said seductively, curving a cool hand around Aizen's handsome face and tugging him gently towards the bedroom.
The two worked their way back inside, exchanging deeper and more passionate kisses as they approached the bed they shared. Gin fell back as they reached it, spreading his thighs to receive the hard press of his lover's hardened member that was held back only by their clothing. Aizen rubbed sensuously against Gin's nether region as he attacked the silver-haired man's face and throat with devouring teeth and lips, and a probing tongue.
I would be lying if I said that I didn't love being with him like this, Gin mused inwardly, He is a wickedly beautiful man and his mind is so devious. If he hadn't stolen a piece of my best friend's soul, I might be able to forgive him.
But…
Even though I have to kill him to get that piece of Rangiku's soul back, I'll have fun sharing this naughtiness with him. He is terribly good in bed.
Gin groaned and pushed his hips upward eagerly as Aizen's warm hands opened his clothing, baring the pale flesh of Gin's chest and soft belly. That voracious mouth sucked almost painfully and his tongue swept over the pink nubs on his white breasts, pausing to treasure one, then the other while his hands finished baring his lover's slender body. He kissed his way downward to Gin's navel, slowing to dip inside, then he continued on to his lover's excited privates and commenced a deeper exploration that soon had Gin writhing and panting beneath him, his mind too hazy for plotting or even thinking clearly. As Gin swayed and moaned beneath his hands and mouth, Aizen's fingers slid down and began a slow preparation.
I would have thought that Sousuke would be a cruel lover, but he does like to play. It's as though all of the plotting and thinking leaves him weary of everything and he just lets down here.
Little does he know…
Gin wasn't sure why the thought suddenly left him feeling a little sad inside.
I suppose I will miss this, he had to admit to himself as Aizen's preparations ended and he positioned himself and began a long, unhurried entry, I have to admit, he's been my only lover and I'm not at all sorry about that.
His eyes locked on Aizen's powerful brown orbs as the two surrendered to a flurry of hard, fast thrusts that swiftly brought them to the ends of their endurance. Gin gasped as the hard coil in his belly snapped and he gave himself over to the gripping shudders of a dizzying climax. He heard Aizen's low growl of surrender and felt the hard clenching of his hands as he loosed his release, deep into the silver-haired man's hot core. They collapsed together, kissing and caressing, teasing and laughing softly together as their bodies began a slow recovery.
There's no one like him…no one.
He read the like sentiment in his partner's lusty eyes and snuggled closer to him, sliding his fingers slowly over the curves of Aizen's face, throat and breast, feeling the hard, fast pounding of the man's heart.
No one knows the wickedness inside him as I do. No one's seen his relentless ambitions. They only know that he has plans to overthrow the king, but they have no idea that they are walking right into those plans. I wonder if he has any idea what my plans for him are. But now, if he did, he couldn't do this. He couldn't lie next to me, drifting off to sleep in my arms, as though he hadn't a care in the world.
"That is an oddly pensive look you are wearing," Aizen said suddenly, sending a little chill down his partner's slim spine.
Gin smiled disarmingly.
"I don't know what you mean," he chuckled off-handedly, "I'm quite in the moment, just like you. You've had too much of that wine. Are you worried about something?"
Aizen's fingers played gently in the silver strands of Gin's hair.
"Now, what would I have to be worried about?" he chuckled, smirking at his paler mate, "I have thought of everything."
"Have you?" Gin mused.
"Yes, Gin, I have. Go to sleep, now. It won't be long before Urahara sends his sweet Ryoka lover into our desert. We want to be well rested so we can fully enjoy his eventual arrival."
"Of course," Gin agreed, letting his eyes slide shut and leaving an open hand resting on his lover's proud chest.
Beneath his hand, the illusion-shrouded hougyoku pulsated softly, reading the desires of the two and sending an image into Aizen Sousuke's mind as he slept.
He found himself standing in a misted meadow, near a lake he remembered seeing on one of his visits to the Kuchiki estate. A monstrously huge hollow with sharp teeth and talons, his body lit with crackling electricity, faced a young swordsman who sat on the back of a tall black Arabian horse. He noticed immediately the markers of the Kuchiki family in the man's comely face and the uniform of Byakuya's personal guard. Surprisingly, there was also the mark of a healer.
"Who are you?" the king of the hollows whispered, watching as the horse reared and began to charge, "and why has the hougyoku shown you to me?"
The dream broke apart as the two foes collided, and Aizen's dark brown eyes opened and glanced curiously down to where Gin's hand rested on the hidden hougyoku.
You've given me an interesting puzzle to solve.
Now, why would you do that?
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Tetsuya sat up suddenly in his bed, his fingers clenching the covers and his sapphire eyes rounded and still seeing the huge, hulking hollow that had invaded his dreams. He panted softly for several moments, his heart pounding. His eyes blinked slowly and he registered his safe and familiar surroundings, and finally, the fear went out of his heart and he gave a little sigh of relief. A footstep sounded in the hallway outside his room, then someone tapped on the inner chamber door.
"Tetsuya-san," a gentle male voice called, "I heard you calling out. Is everything all right?"
"Come in, Koji," Tetsuya invited his attendant, smiling up at the dark-haired and green-eyed young man who entered, carrying a tea tray, "I am fine. I only had a nightmare. It was nothing."
He watched as the tray was deposited gently in his lap, then looked up at his attendant.
"Is Byakuya-sama awake yet?" he inquired.
Koji nodded.
"He's up and left for an emergency meeting early this morning."
Tetsuya frowned.
"Why didn't anyone wake me?" he objected, "I didn't need the extra rest. I should have accompanied him."
Koji gave him an apologetic look.
"I'm sorry, Tetsuya-san," he answered penitently, "Byakuya-sama told my brother to instruct me to let you sleep. He said he would be back for breakfast and training…and he took Arashi."
"Like that is supposed to make me feel any better," Tetsuya complained, "Sometimes I don't know why we moved back in here from my adoptive family's home. I could run manor security without living here, and Byakuya-sama clearly doesn't need either my protective skills or my healing abilty."
"Don't say that, Tetsuya-san," Koji said, sitting down on the edge of the bed, "You know that Byakuya-sama is proud of your abilities. And if he doesn't need you here, why would he place the safety of, not just the manor, but the entire clan, in your hands for the coming war?"
Tetsuya bit his lip gently and glanced at the blue steel sword that rested in a fine, dark cherry wood sword stand across the room from his bed.
"I think it's his way of saying he's sorry that giving me a place close to him meant giving up a position in the military," Tetsuya mused, "But he doesn't have to feel bad. I never wanted a post in the military. Being close to Byakuya-sama and seeing to his care and protection after he saved me, is all that really matters to me anyway. But he hardly lets me do anything for him at all."
Tetsuya paused as a hell butterfly flitted in through the open garden doors and hovered in front of him.
Tetsuya, Byakuya's voice said solemnly, my apologies, but I have been delayed by meetings for war preparations and will not return to the manor for our training. I will bring you up to date and work with you on plans for manor security when I return this evening.
Tetsuya let out a piqued breath and closed his eyes for a moment, his discomfited look making Koji shift uncomfortably and look back at him with sympathy. He considered for several moments, then brightened.
"Tetsuya-san, since you have much of the day free, we could make a trip into the Rukongai together. We could ask Mai-san if she wants to go. We can take sweets for the children and you could offer healing to some of the citizens. You always seem to feel better after doing that."
Tetsuya considered quietly, his blue eyes looking out into the tranquil gardens.
"There are plenty of children who need our help there," he acknowledged.
His expression softened as memories passed in front of his eyes of past trips into the Rukongai and the needy people who populated the lower districts.
"Well," he sighed, "it is better than sitting here all day and feeling sorry for myself. Very well, we'll go. We can take Byakuya-sama's Ikazuchi. He's probably feeling a little left behind too."
Koji smiled and rose from the bed, heading into the dressing area. He stepped into the closet and fetched out his master's fresh house guard's uniform while Tetsuya sipped at his tea for a few minutes, then moved to join his attendant. He stood quietly in front of the mirror, studying his pale reflection as Koji's caring hands undressed him. He knew that when he looked into the mirror, what he saw should have looked like any of the other noble sons of the family, but as usual, he only saw the flaws that weren't supposed to be visible…the common blood mingled with noble, the markers of breeding, but the presence of a more feral, gypsy heart.
I do try to be like them, but it's really the truth that I would be happier in the wild, living among the spirit steeds and not even wearing clothes. Maybe Orochi is right. Maybe, no matter how hard I try, I can't be like them. Maybe the real reason Byakuya-sama is avoiding me is because he begins to see.
No.
I am just feeling sorry for myself for being left behind. I want to be more than I am. I want to make Byakuya-sama proud, but even more, I want to feel that I deserve to be proud of myself. I don't know what it will take to reach that point. But while I sit here and despair, there are less fortunate people who are hurting, who are sick or who are hungry. I do have a powerful healing gift.
He sighed and closed his eyes, remembering the fourth division taichou's visit the day before.
"What do you think?" he asked, watching Unohana's face as the lady taichou wrote down several notes into the journal she carried.
Unohana smiled warmly.
"I think that you are miscast, being placed in the role of a fighter," she answered honestly, "You do have impressive fighting ability, but you do not enjoy fighting. You wish to protect, but your stronger instinct and your natural inclination is to heal. Your waterforms, although adapted to fighting, suggest an undeveloped healing application. With your permission, I would like to speak to Byakuya about…"
"Oh, my cousin will never let me enter the fourth division," Tetsuya said, shaking his head firmly, "The elders have already said that it would hamper my ability to serve Byakuya-sama's needs properly if I became too focused on an officer's position."
Unohana gave him a skeptical look.
"I think you know that such a claim is complete nonsense," she said matter-of-factly, "Many of our upper officers are noble sons and daughters, and they have no trouble seeing to their duties in both places."
"But that isn't really what they care about," Tetsuya sighed, "I am a mixed blood and they are not going to let me show up the very talented pureblood members of the family by making a spectacle of myself. And I don't care if anyone knows who I am. I just want to keep my place close to Byakuya-sama. He's the one person who cared enough to come and storm the illegal noble's prison and save me. I owe him whatever he asks of me because I wouldn't even still be alive if not for him. I was moments from being executed for being a breeder male when he arrived."
"I understand your feelings about this, of course," the lady taichou assured him, "but you must see that your gift is being wasted. So, if you wish, I would be happy to train you personally."
She held up a hand to stop Tetsuya's instant objection.
"Tetsuya, I am not asking you to join my division. I understand and respect your decision not to pursue that. What I meant is that I would like to train you privately, so that you might improve your capability for defending and healing your cousin."
She gave Tetsuya a knowing wink.
"This also means at such time as the elders grow wiser and revisit their decision, you will already have the skills you need to gain a higher position. I assure you, this is in everyone's best interests."
"Tetsuya-san?" Koji said, breaking him out of his reverie,
"S-sorry?" Tetsuya stammered, shaking his head to clear it.
He noticed then that his attendant had finished dressing him.
"Ah, thank you, Koji."
Koji gave him an understanding smile.
"I will go and have Matsuko-san gather some things together for the trip and I'll message Mai-san to see if she wants to come along."
"Very well," Tetsuya agreed, moving to the garden doors and looking up into the cloudy sky.
He listened to Koji's retreating footsteps and loosed a deeper, shuddering sigh.
I wonder sometimes.
Why did I survive Itamigiri…and so many others did not?