Chapter 2: Lost Soul
(Thanks to those of you who reviewed and PM'd! Here is chapter 2. Enjoy, and don't forget to send along your thoughts!)
From the moment Kuchiki Byakuya fell, Aizen Sosuke was certain that he would have to kill the noble. It was only logical as Byakuya was far too powerful to control for any length of time. He was likely to find his way free of whatever restraints might be placed on him and if that happened, he would cause too much trouble and cost more in the way of lives of the hollows assigned to guard him. Yes, he was too dangerous and had to be killed. Yet Aizen Sosuke was terribly intrigued to have captured him. That, in and of itself, was a matter of some pride.
He sat at the unconscious noble's bedside, gazing down at the Gotei 13 taichou as he slept. Byakuya shifted uncomfortably, moaning softly. That was only to be expected, Aizen thought, after the beating he had taken. But he had certainly given them a good fight. Even cornered, outnumbered and outgunned, Kuchiki Byakuya fought with poise, grace and deadly precision. Aizen wasn't pleased at having lost some of his own men in taking the noble down, but that was the cost of bringing down someone like him.
And now the noble lay unconscious under a kido restraint field with bands on his wrists that sealed away his spirit energy. Now it was possible to look at him up close, something that most enemies would only do scant moments before Kuchiki Byakuya blasted them to ashes. He was beautiful…very pleasant to look at, Aizen Sosuke thought. He wondered briefly if the noble's hair and skin were as soft as they looked. He wondered if the features could really be so perfectly formed. The only way to know was to touch him, and that is exactly what Aizen Sosuke finally decided to do. His fingertips stroked the raven colored hair gently and found it every bit as soft as it looked. The skin only looked like pale porcelain. It was actually as soft as flower petals and carried the light scent of cherry blossoms. Aizen breathed this in deeply and released it in a soft sigh. He hated the thought of something as rare and lovely as this being deprived of life.
The noble shifted in his sleep and moaned in pain. Aizen motioned for his personal physician to approach them. The man moved to the noble's side and examined him briefly, then shrugged and gave him an injection. He slept more soundly after that, and his extended unconsciousness gave Aizen Sosuke more time to consider what course of action to take with his captive.
By the time the pain relief wore off and the noble began to stir softly again, Aizen had decided not to kill Kuchiki Byakuya, at least not right away. He decided instead to see if it would be possible to gain control of him so as to have his considerable power at his command. And his first step in taking control was to use Kyoka Suigetsu's special ability to create a hypnotic block in the noble's mind, leaving him bereft of much of his memory. If he didn't remember being a part of the Gotei 13, then it followed that he might be recruited to assist Aizen in his quest for world domination. It sounded relatively simple.
Beside him, Byakuya sighed softly and the dark eyes opened. He blinked slowly several times, trying to focus on his surroundings. Aizen held his breath as the eyes shifted and slowly came to rest on his. There was no spark of recognition, no sign of outrage. There was, however, a lovely mist of confusion in them. Aizen's heart skipped a beat.
"What happened?" Byakuya asked softly, "How did I get here?"
Aizen Sosuke smiled down at him.
"You were found injured and unconscious in the desert nearby. You were brought here to recover. You are safe, now. Try to rest," he replied quietly.
"Why can't I sit up? What is holding me down?"
"It is a kido field," Aizen answered, "We had to be certain that you did not injure yourself while shifting about in your sleep. I can remove it now that you are awake, but do not sit up yet. You still require some healing and rest."
Aizen released the kido field and the noble's reiatsu relaxed. The dark eyes traveled slowly around the room again, taking in everything. Then Byakuya's eyes took in Aizen Sosuke again. Aizen was enchanted by the shine in them, by the highly intelligent look in them. He tried not to stare.
"Who are you?" Byakuya asked him.
Aizen smiled.
"I am Aizen Sosuke. I lead the hollows of Hueco Mundo."
Byakuya blinked.
"But hollows are the enemy of the shinigami," he said softly, "and you and I are shinigami. How is it that you lead our enemy?"
"The hollows," Aizen explained, "are vastly misunderstood by most shinigami. They are called monsters, however when it comes right down to it, they are just fellow creatures who are trying to survive, much like us."
"I thought they were mindless killers, eaters of souls."
"Hmm," said Aizen, "they really don't have much of a choice about what they eat to survive. Living souls are what sustain them."
"If that is true," Byakuya said quietly, "then why do they accept your leadership?"
Aizen's smile deepened.
"Why…it is because I have the power to protect them from mindless unfair persecution by the shinigami. The truth is that the hollows simply want the shinigami to leave them be. They seek peace, and they believe that following me will help them find it. Don't you find the thought of peace attractive?"
"I think that peace is an admirable goal," admitted Byakuya, "I am simply uncertain it is possible to make peace with creatures that suck the souls out of other living creatures."
"Understandable," Aizen said, studying the noble's face, "Now, I must attend to some responsibilities. I ask that you remain here in this room. Food and drink will be brought for you and I shall return later to speak with you further."
He turned and headed to the door.
"Wait," said Byakuya, "I must ask one more question."
Aizen turned back for a moment.
"What is my name? I cannot seem to remember."
"Ah…" replied Aizen, blinking, "You told the ones who found you that your name is Byakuya. That is all I really know about you. Rest, Byakuya. You are safe here."
He turned and left the room.
Byakuya slowly sat up, his dark eyes scanning the room again. There was nothing that struck him as being familiar. He rested in a comfortable bed in a medium sized white walled bedroom. Beside the bed was a small wooden nightstand and off to one side there was a brown dresser and a small closet. Directly across from him was a large bay window with a comfortable looking window seat. Outside the window, he could see the desert sand swirling on the breeze. It struck him as seeming somewhat lonely. As he stared out the window thinking, the door to his room opened and a young looking hollow carried in a tray of food. The hollow deposited the tray on the nightstand, bowed and left the room. Ignoring the food, Byakuya turned and let his legs drop over the edge of the bed. He came to his feet slowly, mindful of the aches in his body, and then walked slowly to the bay window and sat in the large comfortable window seat with his legs curled beneath him. He rested his face and side against the windowpane and let his eyes take in the expanse of the desert outside his room. Again, he noticed how lonely it looked, how empty…much like the way he felt.
He wondered as he sat staring out at the swirling sand, just who he was, where he had come from, and what had made him come to this lifeless place. And what would he do now?
_ _ _
"So what will you do with him now, Sosuke?" asked Gin, shifting in the bed to look at his lover's calm expression.
"Well," Aizen said, "as he has no memory of who he is, he does not seem to be a threat any longer, and he does wield great power. I think if we play our cards right, we can bring him to our side. We could definitely use him, Gin."
"I'm not sure I like the sound of that," complained Gin, his smile fading, "what if he manages to free himself of the hypnotic block, Sosuke? He could still be dangerous. Are you sure we shouldn't just kill him?"
Aizen's eyes narrowed.
"No one has ever broken the hold of Kyoka Suigetsu," Aizen said firmly, "and as I have taken his zanpakuto, there is no one here who will help him to remember."
"Ah, yes," said Gin, "what about Senbonzakura? How do you plan to use his power without giving him his zanpakuto? He does need the blade if you are to be able to access his power."
"I will speak to his blade later using Kyoka Suigetsu to establish contact. Once the zanpakuto is managed, I can return it to him and we can use him."
"A good plan it would seem," observed Gin.
He was already thinking of a thousand ways to circumvent it. He had seen the way Aizen had been looking at the noble. Byakuya might not currently be a threat to Aizen, but he was a threat to Gin…and Gin had his own way of dealing with threats. He simply eliminated them…one way or another. With Aizen already having an affinity for the Gotei 13 taichou, he would have to go about things very carefully. His first step, he thought, would be to get close to the noble. Once there was trust, Byakuya would be vulnerable to whatever course of action Gin finally decided to take.
He got started on that right away.
As soon as Sosuke was busy with other matters, Gin slipped past the guards and down the hallway to Byakuya's room. When he opened the door, he spotted the tray of uneaten food and the noble sitting in the window seat with his face and body rested against the windowpane. His eyes were open and staring out at the shifting sands and dull sky.
"Greetings," Gin said softly.
He stepped forward and sat down next to Byakuya. The noble looked up at him without the disdain that Gin remembered so well…without even the slightest hint of recognition. It suddenly struck Gin that the noble had very beautiful eyes. He hadn't tended to look into them directly when he lived in the Seireitei. Those eyes held too much power and they were too good at reading people. Now with the threat removed, he was free to sink into them. He found that quite enjoyable.
"Who are you?" Byakuya asked, "Do we know each other?"
"I am Ichimaru Gin," he told Byakuya, "I am Aizen Sosuke's associate. You and I are acquaintances."
The dark eyes sparked with curiosity. This, Gin thought, was going to be all too easy.
"What do you know of me?"
"I know that you have been injured and that Aizen Sosuke does not wish for you to be overwhelmed with information. I will answer your questions as soon as leave is given for me to do so. In the meantime, I'll just tell you that we knew each other as teens and that we have not seen each other for quite some time. I'm afraid you'll have to content yourself with that, for now."
Byakuya sighed and seemed to lose focus. Gin leaned forward and placed a hand on Byakuya's arm. The noble looked up at him questioningly.
"There is something I think you should know…but if I tell you, I do not want you to reveal to Sosuke that you know."
The dark eyes were curious now.
"Why do you ask this of me?"
"I ask this because the information is private in nature and it might make Sosuke feel somewhat uncomfortable, perhaps to the point of ordering me not to tell you anything…ever."
"Why would Aizen Sosuke want to withhold information from me?" Byakuya asked.
Ah…the seed of doubt was planted.
"Oh…I don't know. Perhaps he is just looking out for your best interests. You were rather seriously injured. I think he just doesn't want the stress of memory recovery to interfere with your healing. First we'll see to the healing of your body, then your mind. Understand?"
"I believe so," Byakuya said, blinking slowly, "So what is it that you thought I should know?"
Gin withdrew his hand slowly from the noble's arm. He smiled.
"You know, I think that it can wait. You should eat now. It isn't good for your body to go without food for so long. You were unconscious for a few days. You have to be starving. Come now, eat Byakuya."
He rose and walked to the nightstand, picking up the tray and returning to the noble's side with it. He sat down next to Byakuya again and set the tray next to him. He picked up the warm bread roll and handed it to him. Byakuya hesitated, then accepted it without looking back at Gin. He sat staring out the window, absently breaking off small bites and eating them. Gin nodded.
"Good, eh? The cooks here are very good at their jobs. Aizen Sosuke is quite selective about his staff. He has high standards. He is that way about everything…Byakuya."
The noble did not answer. Gin stood.
"Well, I must be going. I shall come back to see you soon. In the meantime, don't worry about anything. Just focus on getting well. All of the little questions will be answered eventually. Rest assured."
Byakuya did not answer, but as Gin left the room, his eyes turned to follow him. There was something he did not trust about Ichimaru Gin. He sensed games being played. And Aizen Sosuke, he decided, seemed to have a complicated agenda. Still, he wasn't in good enough shape to leave this place yet. At least for now, his only option seemed to be to depend on them somewhat as he recovered. But as soon as he was well, Byakuya planned to leave in search of answers. He had no idea that Aizen Sosuke had no intention of letting him go.
Byakuya set the unfinished bread roll back on his plate and leaned against the windowpane. The motion of the sand was comforting and it kept his mind from focusing too much on what he did not remember. He wrapped himself in the comfort of that and retreated into his mind.
_ _ _
When Aizen Sosuke returned, Byakuya was still seated in the window. Sosuke walked across the room and sat down next to the noble. Byakuya brought his eyes to rest on him.
"How are you feeling, Byakuya?" he asked.
"I am well," the noble answered, "I am, however, concerned at my lack of ability to remember anything."
"Ah, yes," Aizen replied bracingly, "well my physician has told me that this is likely due to your head injury and that things should return to you over time. It is best to allow you to recover your memory on your own rather than trying to force it upon you."
"I understand this," said Byakuya, "but…"
"Rest easy, Byakuya. Do not allow your desire to know everything disrupt your healing. Relax your mind and just adjust to your new surroundings."
"When will I be allowed to leave?" Byakuya asked softly.
"Leave?" Aizen repeated slowly, "Why would you want to leave, Byakuya? Where would you go? How would you care for yourself? I don't think you should concern yourself right now with thoughts of leaving."
"Then…I am your prisoner? A captive?" Byakuya asked quietly.
"Did I say that you were a captive, Byakuya?" Aizen asked in return.
"No," said the noble, turning his eyes away to look out the window, "No, you did not say it."
Aizen placed a warm hand on Byakuya's shoulder. The dark eyes turned back to him questioningly.
"You are not a captive, Byakuya," he assured the noble, "but you will remain under my protection for now. Even if not for your injuries, you are a shinigami who these hollows do not know, and you are in their home territory. You are safest here within this fortress. I expect that you shall stay here until I am certain that it is safe for you to leave."
"But…"
Aizen leaned forward and placed his hand under the noble's chin, raising the dark eyes to meet his.
"I am accustomed that as the one who leads, I am to be answered with the words, 'Hai, Sosuke,' Do you understand, Byakuya?"
The noble stared for a long moment.
"Hai, Sosuke," he said finally.
"Very good," he said, moving his hand from underneath the noble's chin and brushing it lightly against his face before pulling it away.
Byakuya flinched softly at the contact and his eyes narrowed.
"Byakuya," Aizen went on, "you seem to be one who might have leaned toward defiance. Those who follow me know that I am not one who enjoys defiance. I am certain that, given time, you will come to understand what is expected of you and you will adjust to it. I will, of course, provide you with guidance to let you know when you are out of bounds. I know you will adjust quickly and settle in comfortably. You strike me as being highly intelligent. I will put that to good use as soon as you have healed sufficiently. Rest, Byakuya. Things will move quickly once you are well."
He turned and started back toward the door. He opened it, then paused and looked back.
"Byakuya," he said quietly, "I believe that I told you earlier that you should eat. I also see that you have not done so. I expect that when I return you will have done as I have asked. It is for your recovery."
Byakuya was silent. Aizen turned back and sat down next to him, placing a hand on each side of his face.
"I have given you a task, Byakuya, and I expect an answer," he said, looking into the dark eyes.
The noble stared back silently.
The hands tightened uncomfortably.
"Byakuya?"
The noble sighed.
"Hai, Sosuke."
Aizen smiled.
"Good…we understand each other."
He rose and walked out the door, closing it behind him. Byakuya heard the soft click of the door being locked. He turned back to the window.
"And so the cage closes," he whispered.
But even as lost as he felt, even not knowing who he was, Byakuya resolved that the cage would not hold him for very long.