Chapter 2: Focus
Byakuya flash stepped down a calm forest trail, his long ponytail streaming out behind him as he headed towards the quiet cabin at the edge of a nearby misted lake, where Aizen Sousuke had arranged to meet him.
It shouldn't be much farther now. I am almost to the lake. It is really peaceful here. I suppose for a man like him who enjoys calligraphy and science, it is a fine place to relax when he is tired after working so much.
He spotted the cabin and slowed to a walk, enjoying the fall of spring blossoms from the trees as he reached the lake and proceeded to the front entrance of the small cabin. He knocked and waited, listening as Aizen's calm footsteps sounded and the door opened. The fifth division fukutaicho smiled out at him.
"Byakuya-kun, you are on time, as expected. Come in."
"Thank you, Aizen fukutaicho," Byakuya answered, "but it is Kuchiki fukutaicho now."
He turned slightly to let the elder man see the new badge he wore on his shihakusho.
"So it is," Aizen said approvingly, "I had heard they planned to promote you. You certainly deserve it, after your courageous actions a few weeks ago."
A sad look came into Byakuya's eyes and his head bowed slightly to hide them. Aizen placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"I am sorry for your loss," he said sincerely.
"It was kind of you to attend his memorial, Aizen fukutaicho."
"Please," Aizen said, smiling disarmingly, "we are colleagues now, the same rank. Why don't you just call me Sousuke?"
"Oh," Byakuya said, coloring slightly, "are you sure? It feels a little strange."
"It's fine," Aizen assured him, "as long as we are in private. We can continue to use our titles in public, if you wish."
"Very well, S-sousuke," Byakuya said, accepting the seat at the dining room table that Aizen pulled out for him.
He studied the snacks and tea laid out on the table for them.
"It's kind of you to prepare this for us."
"Go ahead," Aizen invited him, "If you want anything else, just ask."
"Oh, this is fine," Byakuya assured him, selecting several savories and accepting a cup of tea Aizen poured for him, "Sousuke, I appreciate you seeing me to talk about things, but…I am not sure that I really need to do this."
"What do you mean?" Aizen asked, watching closely as he took a bite of one of the savories and a sip of his tea.
"Well, I understand what happened," Byakuya explained, "I am not in denial, and although I am sad that my father died, I am not despondent. I realize it is a part of life, and that other people I care about can die as well. I could die. It is pretty scary, but there is nothing I can do about it, so I don't feel like I should worry about it."
Aizen smiled and laid a gentle hand on Byakuya's, observing as the beginnings of weariness began to steal into the noble youth's wide, grey eyes.
"You are an intelligent and brave young man," he complimented the youth, "You are very well adjusted and you are handling your grief over your father's death admirably. However, even if you are not despondent, there are some things I can do to help you as you continue to adjust. You have, not only grief to contend with, but new responsibilities, both within the Gotei and within your clan. The techniques I am using with you are aimed at assisting you in making that transition as seamlessly as possible. Besides, I do enjoy your company, Byakuya. We share interests in calligraphy and have similar tastes in food and arts."
"There is that," Byakuya agreed, taking another sip of tea and politely warding off an oncoming yawn.
The two continued to eat and talk casually as Byakuya's dark eyes grew darker and more hazy, dimming slowly as his body sagged slightly, then finally collapsed and started to slide to the floor. Aizen moved quickly, catching Byakuya and lifting his deeply sleeping form, carrying him to the bedroom and slowly undressing him and laying him on the bed.
"My apologies for my rudeness in doing this without your permission," Aizen said as he bent over Byakuya, turning him to study the small marking on the back of one shoulder that laid over the heavy seal Aizen had placed on the hollow reiatsu that had infected him, "but I'm not sure there's any good way to tell you that your father hollowfied and then infected you with hollow reiatsu. It's best that you just not remember. But that being the case, I must check the seal and make sure it remains secure. I think the last thing we need is to lose a young talent like you. I am sure you will be useful later on. Until then, I will protect you from having this infection discovered."
He examined Byakuya's body carefully from head to toe, then slowly pored over each of the youth's spirit centers.
"You are quite the little powder keg, aren't you?" Aizen said appreciatively, "Ginrei wasn't exaggerating when he told the taichos about your abilities. You are turning into an exceptional shinigami. I think it's likely you will develop a bankai soon. I'm sure your grandfather will be proud. Soujun too, would be very proud of you. He was a truly gentle soul, and of all of the other fukutaichos I work with, he was the one who seemed never to notice our difference in classes. There is such a tendency for nobles to be too aware of those things, wouldn't you say, Byakuya?"
He looked down at the youth's lovely, pale body solemnly.
"I wonder which way you will turn," he mused, "Will you be more like your father, who learned to look beyond class and to recognize true intelligence and talent…or…will your strong powers and high position corrupt even the lovely, unspoiled youth you are? I think I would rather kill you with my own hands than to see you change that much."
A little shock seemed to go through his insides as Byakuya's still hazy eyes opened and tried to focus on him.
"S-sousuke?" he breathed sleepily.
His eyes blinked, then seemed to register that he was lying in a bed, looking up at the ceiling, with Aizen Sousuke gazing down at his naked body.
"Aizen fukutaicho!" he gasped, sitting up and blushing brightly as he hastily covered himself, "what are you doing?"
He had every intention of just knocking the young man out and adjusting his memories.
But somehow, looking at Byakuya and seeing the youthful shyness that will deteriorate, now that he has come of age…viewing the last of the young noble I love, just before his rise to power changes him. There is something about him that I find intoxicating, and being a man without the usual need for restraint, I can embrace him and love him this way…just once before he changes.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Byakuya whispered, his voice shaking very slightly, "Aizen fukutaicho!"
The noble made a sound of mingled surprise and distress as Aizen's warm hand curved around his blushing cheek.
"Stop it!" Byakuya snapped, shivering.
He started to say more, but was stopped and stunned back into silence as pink light suddenly blossomed around them. Aizen looked on in fascination as Byakuya shivered harder, blinking in the strangely beautiful light.
"What is this?" Aizen asked curiously, "I can see by the look on your face that you know, and that knowing this terrifies you. What is wrong, Byakuya? Why don't you tell me what you've recognized here?"
"I…" Byakuya began, his face flushing darkly, "I can't!"
He stiffened and stared as Aizen's fingertips caught him under the chin, raising it and making their eyes meet.
"You are afraid?" Aizen observed, "Why is this? You have seen something in this light, Byakuya."
He loosed a swell of reiatsu that wrapped around the two of them, sinking into their bodies and gently binding them.
This should relax him enough to get the truth out of him. I would just take it forcefully, but it seems that I have no desire to break him. No, I am feeling something much different for Byakuya.
"It's all right," he said, gazing deeply into Byakuya's widened eyes, "We are friends, Byakuya, colleagues. You can tell me anything."
Byakuya's grey eyes blinked slowly, and his lips quivered, then parted to release the truth.
"That light," he said softly, his voice filled with disbelief, "is an indicator of resonance. In the oldest histories of the noble families, there are records of the use of this resonance to identify matches of noble sons and daughters among the clans. At some point, for reasons never clearly explained, the practice died out, and more political means of matching noble children took their place."
"I had never heard that story," Aizen said, smiling appreciatively, "But, did you say that this was a way of matching noble sons and daughters? I am not noble. Did it happen sometimes that one of the matched were not noble?"
Byakuya gave him a mystified look.
"I don't know. The records on this are spotty…almost as though some are missing. In any case, such a reaction has no bearing now."
Aizen's lips curled slightly and he let his fingers slide down Byakuya's soft cheek.
"Is that right?" he said seductively, "Is this another example of the noble families simply doing what they want instead of listening to their instincts? Something seems very wrong with that. Doesn't it seem wrong to you, Byakuya?"
"What are you saying?" Byakuya asked, sweat breaking out on his forehead as Aizen's fingertips traced along his lips, "What are you doing, Aizen fukutaicho? Stop it!"
Byakuya sucked in a sharp breath, raising his reiatsu warningly as Aizen.
"Is that what you really want?" Aizen asked, climbing onto the bed, beside him and slipping a strong arm around him, "Or…are you beginning to lose your beautiful, young, truthful soul to them?"
Byakuya felt a desperate urge to object, but couldn't move as Aizen's lips touched his earlobe.
"You are so lovely the way you are now. I would keep you here forever, just to see this never change in you. Do you not feel it at all, Byakuya? They are draining the life out of you. All that you are will be sucked away, and you will be a shell that only moves within their boundaries. If you must go that way, please, live just this moment with me. Live the promise in the light that is all around us. Let me know all of you. Let me fill you with love and strength to keep you alive when they've killed everything else inside of you!"
Byakuya's breath caught, and a tear leaked down one porcelain cheek.
How does he know?
Is he able to see that deeply into my heart? No one else ever has! Is it like the old histories read? Is this our fate calling us?
It feels like fate…
He closed his eyes tightly and let his body fall beneath Aizen's. He gave in easily to the hands that swept his clothing aside and caressed him as no one had ever dared. Aizen's mouth claimed his roughly, and the man's tongue thrust beneath his parted lips, sinking in and exploring every inch it could reach. The elder man's roaming fingers teased his pink nipples, exciting devilish twinges in his loins that made him spread his creamy thighs invitingly.
When I first read about the use of resonance to make matches, I was glad that the practice was no longer in use. I blindly feared forces that I could not see with my eyes, because I had been raised to expect a 'sensible' group of elders to decide something so important to my future. I see now just how ridiculous it was to trust the elders over fate, itself. I feel it in his hands, his mouth…everything!
He flinched as wetted fingers traced his entrance, then worked their way inside and slowly prepared him for their joining.
I didn't tell him that matched couples were required to mate twice on their wedding night…once to prime the bearer, and once to conceive the heir. It doesn't matter, though. We both know that this will be the only time.
I will never again feel true love after this.
Locked away so deeply in his thoughts, he barely felt when the fingers were removed and Aizen began to make his entry.
"Look at me, Byakuya."
He obeyed instantly, though he knew perfectly well that he shouldn't. And in those dark brown eyes, he saw more truth than he expected the other man would ever willingly reveal to him.
Sousuke is not at all what he seems. Something…something has darkened his soul! He is dangerous!
His fingers dug into the other man's shoulders, and a sound of pain escaped him as he was penetrated. Aizen held his hips still, but was taken aback as Byakuya began to grind wantonly against him.
He is a dangerous man. That is true, but we were fated to be together! There has to be a reason. There must be. I believe this with all of my heart.
He flipped his surprised partner onto his back and straightened to grind more forcefully against him. Aizen's hips bucked upward in response, deepening their thrusts to the point of them being painful. But neither seemed to notice anything but the heady attraction that held them in its thrall.
"Byakuya!" Aizen panted, his vision blurring slightly as he watched the younger man's rise and fall.
There came a moment when their eyes met, and both partners felt the warning twinges of climax. Aizen thrust upward, hard, tearing a howl of intense pleasure he never would have expected from those pristine lips. Byakuya collapsed heavily onto his chest, groaning in bliss as Aizen's wicked heat flooded his body, and his own release spilled out onto their sweating flesh.
There was a long breath of contentment, then, it seemed, reckoning.
This was wrong, Byakuya thought, turning his head to look quietly at Aizen's lust-soaked eyes, but he was right about everything. Now that I have come of age, there will only be more expectations. The child I was, the rebellious one, will slowly wither and fade. I don't want Sousuke to see that.
Aizen's fingers threaded gently through the lengths of his unbound and tumbled hair.
I don't know if I should have made love to him. I decided to, mostly because I could take the memory of it from him after. I thought that I was fine with remembering, and knowing that I was the only one who knew. It feels like this might be a greater burden.
"Thank you, Sousuke," Byakuya whispered into his ear, derailing his thoughts, "I would never tell anyone, but you this. I was afraid that this younger incarnation of myself would die…and no one would even know it had ever existed…not even me anymore!"
Aizen's eyes gleamed with mingled adoration and rising evil.
"I will remember you, always, just as you are now," he whispered back, gathering his power, "but I will also spare you the pain of realizing the loss."
"Sousuke!"
"Those eyes are too beautiful to shed tears over me…over this. The only way is to steal it all back and keep it safe in my heart."
"What are you saying?" Byakuya asked, sitting up quickly as Aizen's reiatsu swelled dangerously around them.
"Well," Aizen said, smirking, "the only way to end our regrets most swiftly is to kill them, ourselves, ne?"
"What are you doing? DON'T!"
"Shatter…"
At the command, Byakuya's dark, wet eyes glazed over, and his body went still, falling easily into Aizen's embrace.
"There is no stopping what is about to happen to you," Aizen said apologetically, "but at least, I can have this much of you, my love.."
He paused to carefully heal any markings their joining had left, then he dressed the unconscious noble and carried him back to the table, setting him in his chair and refreshing the tea before touching him with a flicker of reiatsu to wake him. Byakuya caught his breath and straightened, blushing.
"Oh, I am sorry, Sousuke," he apologized, "I didn't mean to nod off. I was just…tired from training so hard this morning, I suppose."
"It's fine," Aizen chuckled good naturedly, "I think we've talked enough about unpleasant things for now. Would you like to practice our calligraphy for a while?"
"That would be fine," Byakuya agreed, finishing the last of the food in front of him, not seeming to notice it had gone cold, then helping Aizen to remove the dishes and to gather the supplies for their calligraphy.
Aizen sat down close to Byakuya, watching as he took a fresh sheet of paper and began to write a letter. He admired the noble's perfect posture, the careful positioning of his slender hands and precise shaping of the letters.
"You know, not many people your age appreciate the beauty of calligraphy."
Byakuya gave him an oddly shy smile.
"My grandmother instructed me before her death," he explained, "When I write this way, it causes me to remember my time with her. It feels like a gift she has given me, so I still practice every day."
Aizen's narrowed eyes watched as Byakuya's pen moved over the paper again.
Ah yes, I had forgotten that some memories could return to him later, if triggered somehow. But the only thing that would be likely to trigger the memory is something affecting the seal on the hollow reiatsu within him.
And there are no forces in Soul Society but me that have a power to do that.
