The day always started the same. Ichigo, like a bundle of excess energy, would run ahead of them both and disappear into their labyrinth of gardens. He'll be back after a few minutes, usually with an arm-full of wildflowers, and bloody wounds which he gets from the prickly roses that he loved to pick.

Their strawberry was like a child-or rather the training made him a child. He'd crawl into Gin's lap and have him perform the healing, although at his level of power he was more than capable of doing it himself now. Aizen would just approve it all, often the mere sentient of them three watching over his beauties with some quiet pride. They were the jewels in a crown he never wore.

Citadelian Tea was being served late in the afternoon, with cakes and other edibles. They had missed breakfast, and lunch, because after waking up they had another tumble in the large bubbling bath, Aizen taking Gin before Ichigo and proving how serious he was with his earlier promise.

"Guess we'll have tea?" Gin chuckled, grasping the edge and taking deep heaving breaths afterwards.

Ichigo slipped from where he was on the other part of the pool, but managing to squeal, "Cake!", before splashing completely into the bubbling suds...

So then it was tea, and cake, which was another addiction they all shared besides fucking, agreeing that the best place to have it was where they normally had their early morning meals, on a massive elevated platform of living marble overlooking one of their many stunning gardens.

"Souls...souls...souls..."Gin said in his usual sing-song, pushing an orb away from his nose with such a fascinatingly long finger.

The Garden of Souls were an epic mass landscape, made especially for Gin after they were wed, with trees and pavilions, hidden alcoves and water features and lots of rare, beautiful flowers that Aizen-sama himself chose from all the best dimensions (some long destroyed now) they ruled including that of the Human World and Soul Society. Gin loved Persimmons for some reason, thus wanted a garden full of them. The High God happily obliged...

With that, the entire space was constructed directly on top of the Pure Sea itself, the stone foundations buried deep into spiritual waters. Then Aizen ordered a labyrinth made, to symbolize how complex Gin's personality was, and how he loved it. Said labyrinth now extended to the very edge of the gardens, and underground, with tunnels that open into the many secret rooms and hallways of their even grander palace home. All of them known to the gods by heart...

"They're tickling," Gin laughed, letting the orbs bounce off his skin and the hairs there.

"Then raise your barriers my silver," Aizen suggested, taking his sip of tea from a marvelously golden cup. It was a suggestion he didn't need to make, but it amused him that he's allowed to be so loving and thoughtful.

Being constructed in the Pure Sea meant that the Gardens were always occupied by floating orbs, the state of all souls be it here or the Dark Sea before they Cycle through the dimensions. During the mornings they looked more like bubbles, and look more like fireflies at night. They had the tendency to overwhelm lesser beings such as the servants who happen to wander these parts sometimes, but to gods felt more like a smooth, tickling caress.

Another thing odd about Gin was that he wanted to compellingly feel souls, drawing the full sleeves of his silver robes back to reveal his arms to the touching little orbs of light. Aizen-sama asked him about it once, and he said he was drawn to the warmth. The Pure Sea souls were warm, the entire Sea was in fact; while the Dark Sea was cold, the black orbs produced there as icy as its waters.

"Sit and eat your cake, love. Your tea is going to get cold."

Aizen watched Gin dance, gathering an armful of the orbs and just making circles around with them. The God Spear laughed to himself, "So hot. Sooo...hot!"

Like what he would say while he was being pounded into, Aizen mused with a chuckle, standing up from where he was lounging in a rather enormous cushioned seat, dragging his regal fineries with him. He had his gold robes on, as Gin wore his official silver-blue, and Ichigo his scarlet. Their colors. His favorite colors for them.

The orbs parted as the Lord of the Realm swooshed forward, the common effect of barriers he wanted Gin to likewise raise. Aizen didn't find the feel of souls appealing much, and would rather feel skin on his skin on any given opportunity.

He pulled Gin down to the marble floor, pinning him effectively against the newly-scrubbed stone with his weight, just as the other was gathering another armful of orbs. The souls all escaped in a multitude of glowing bubbles, sliding on Aizen's hair and robes, making him look almost ethereal. Like how he looked when his Alpha powers were being used.

"Aww...that wasn't nice," Gin pouted.

"You'll ruin the souls," Aizen scolded lovingly, which was true. He could spoil them if his power leaked into the souls' cores.

"No fun," accused his silver further.

"Oh?"

The High God held Gin's wrists on either side of his head, moving his very gorgeous face close enough that their noses were touching, their lips a hair's breadth apart.

"No fun ei?" Aizen had a seductive smile, gently grinding himself on the other until he arched.

Such thick robes, but even harder members beneath the fabric. Lust and lust together. The excessive spread on the table was fast becoming history, and so was tea time apparently.

"You'll wrinkle my robes..." Gin protested, even as he offered his neck to his Lord. Aizen gladly claimed it, nibbling on the skin all but lightly with his teeth. "These...are...my favorite!"

"I know. But I don't really care now do I?"

Aizen licked a wet trail up that slender neck, and indeed, would have just taken his complete fill of his silver then and there, one hand pinning the other's wrists together and the other already finding its way down. But then Ichigo came rushing in, abruptly cutting their supposed outdoor coupling.

"Lookie!" the youth beamed. "Roses!"

The large blooms filled their strawberry's arms, with some spilling over to fall on the marble of the platform's stairs. He had long, deep scratches and cuts on his grinning face, and positively bleeding perhaps in more than one place. Gin immediately shot up, concerned.

"What happened?"

He had wriggled free of Aizen's grasp and was on to Ichigo's side in a heartbeat, gently guiding the strawberry's arms to him by the wrists so he may push up the sleeves and look at the skin. More cuts. And they were all crying red. The large blood-petaled flowers fell in a heap to their feet.

Aizen sat up, watched them, Gin scolding Ichigo who looked like he was about to cry because of it. They were as holy statues, the way those pretty flowers lay all over their feet, as if devotees had come to offer them.

Beautiful...

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry..." Aizen could hear the strawberry say over and over as he descended the steps towards them. "These were for you and Aizen-sama..."

Ichigo sobbed, a tear slowly running down one cheek and mixing with the blood there. "I'm sorry...so sorry..." he was rubbing his eyes.

"It's all right," it was Aizen who consoled. "Come into my arms, young one."

Ichigo obeyed simply, burying his face into the mass of robes there and allowing to be wrapped in the warmth of the Lord's embrace. Gin remembered a scene close to this a human year ago, but dismissed it as he reached to pet their strawberry's hair. He was crying uncontrollably now, a typically normal reaction too, due to his current state of mind.

"Let's heal you, all right?" said the silver with a very kind smile, a tone of reassurance.

In the light of the lazy afternoon, they now all looked like statues.

Gin was picking thorns from each and every stem with his fingers while having tea. They had made room for the fine blooms on the table, upon Ichigo's insistence, and now he was working through the pile rather effortlessly, almost gracefully.

Some of the stronger servants came a while ago, but the gods dismissed them as Ichigo seemed to be upset again with the idea of handing his precious flowers over. So Gin volunteered, although that now meant the Lord of the Realm had to also play his spoon-feeder.

"Feed me..." he opened his mouth to a laughing and amused Aizen-sama, who was still holding up spoonfuls of cake into an enthusiastic Ichigo's waiting mouth on his opposite side.

They figured it's best to keep the youth as far away from the flowers while they still had their thorns, because he is likely to wound himself again. And Gin was sure as he was removing the pesky things that Ichigo might do this again tomorrow, as he always did. Roses were his flowers of Pain.

How does that feel, my sweet? Aizen crooned, pushing a thorny stem of a red rose into Ichigo's hole as he screamed incessantly into the void of his cell...

Gin shivered at the memory.

"Are you cold?" Aizen, with a wondering expression, mirrored by Ichigo who had managed to smear luscious icing all over his mouth.

"Gin-sama-chan?"

He had finished every single one of the velvet-petaled blooms, and they're now ready for a vase.

"No," denial, simply lifting a smile into his face and choosing to answer Aizen-sama first. "Bored," as he placed the last stem down.

"We are home, my Lord," General Kaname made a respectful salute as the top five Arcana of the kingdom immediately fell on their knees behind him before the entering gods.

The three had just come in from the gardens to the open court of the royal palace, flushed from the warmth of the Pure Sea which often created a noticeable glow to beings who spent time near its boundaries. As they walked in, Gin was slowly registering some form of shock at a realization, but he easily tucked it away for the sake of manners among their elite. But he was suddenly angered, Aizen could tell, because he hadn't had a say to all this when the Lord made his decision...

And so the deed was accomplished, and the bronzed general, his God Shield, friend and confidant, also brought proof that the dimensions ordered of them were already destroyed to the last particle. He held a rock in his hand, which he raised before the three. It crumbled immediately to dust, and Aizen watched the tiniest spec fade in the breeze, before he smiled slowly in approval.

"And so henceforth, they will no longer be remembered," the Lord said.

Gin cocked his head to one side. "And so I'll be needing to mend the walls again," he frowned, wanting to be sarcastic.

Of course he was referring to the actual wall that separated the many worlds that made up their true kingdom. This was often hard work, and he didn't like spending his energy on fixing such vast divides. But more than that, he hated it because he knew how the Arcana had come so close to that place and an accident could actually have destroyed it. He wanted to scream curses at Aizen, but now was not the appropriate time. Just had to reign into it a bit more. Ichigo held his hand, wondering...

The Lord just chuckled. It would be easier to convince his silver, later, to do such a tedious task, knowing fully well which buttons to press to get what he wanted. Easier to apologize than ask permission likewise. He will explain why to the other later, that is if need be, assuming Gin would forgive him for it of course.

For now though Aizen continued to address his army personally, "Excellent work."

A fine group all decked in what was referred to as their casual 'dimensional' outfit: thick, snow-white coats with fur around the hood, hem and arm holes. Full leather boots and gloves. But this was more of a protection against the cold travel through worlds rather than an armor really. It was more a symbol of uniformity than the actual dress code.

All Arcana were given full liberty to alter the design, or have an accessory or two added, like goggles, a necklace and other ornaments. They may chose to wear it at a shorter length, but their weapons of war must always be present, as they are now.

Aizen could name his fighting men and women by heart as he knew the history of each of them by heart. For starters, Kaname was there, his General, who wore his own coat to battle, and being the God Shield was equipped to the teeth for any situation. Then there are the Zero Arcana, the strongest of his hand-picked ones-a raven-haired head that is Ulquiorra's and the other that's almost-skyblue that is Grimmjow's: the total opposites, always in constant argument, but made to be a suitable team-up in battles as their skills complemented each other perfectly.

"Like the best blend of chocolates," Gin once made the comparison. "The same and yet different."

"Like an irony?" Aizen recalled saying. "As you and Ichigo are, my love?"

Arcana Isa would be the Wolf, Starrk, actually older than the others, had even been long married to another member of the Arcana class, yet was as sharp as ever. He loved being who he was, a conqueror, a soldier, surprisingly turning down being Kaname's right hand in favor of just being a walking weapon.

Arcana Duwa was Lady Halibel, a brown-skinned, gold-haired beauty who'd been human once, then an Arrancar another...both of which had been hard lives. Aizen knew she deserved the right of re-birth here; she had proven herself worthy. Thus he had her in mind while forming the Arcana, and then took her out of the neglected Hueco dimension immediately. She's been in the Citadel since.

Arcana Tatlo, Aizen could not forget. What with green flowing hair and lovely, determined eyes. Lady Neliel. A presence that actually made the Lord smile...for some really obvious reasons. Because she had the strength and guts. Because she stood for Ichigo in his dark days and was one of the means by which he survived the Citadel, and came back. She loved him, not romantically, but as a brother, and was perhaps more protective than Gin or him could ever be...

"Hmm...Aizen-sama?"

Ichigo tugged onto his robe sleeve, frowning at the heap of roses. He wasn't burdened by the blooms, but was worried that they'll wilt.

"Vase," he pouted rather cutely and scowled.

The High God tousled his strawberry's hair lovingly in front of the Arcana, always open and quite obviously a display of affection, which was never a real issue in the Palace. Everyone in the Citadel was free to love whom they chose and everyone knew the gods had chosen Ichigo.

"Neliel, my lovely one."

"Yes, my Lord," the beautiful Arcana immediately stood up to acknowledge, but was suppressing a blush for hearing the use of the endearment.

Her Lord had now made a habit of being so casual with her, not hiding his fondness which in turn made her feel awkward. Grimmjow was suppressing a snicker, elbowed by Ulquiorra who knelt on his knee next to him. They growled lowly at each other. Halibel and Starrk just exchanged knowing smiles.

Aizen dismissed the notion, "Accompany Ichigo for me to the cellars and find his flowers a suitable vase, will you?" and ordered simply.

Gin found one of the massively ornate chairs that littered the court and was now lounging comfortably, at least trying to distract himself. "And keep him out of trouble darling," he added with a grin, just teasing her.

Neliel was all red, all over, "Y-Yes, of...of course my Lords." Gin-sama was also infected by the same habit, adding to the awkwardness she felt. However, she is slightly used to the attention, and although often jesting, her comrades in the Arcana understood the reasons for the closeness she shared with the Royal trio.

She bowed a respective farewell, then immediately raised a hand which Ichigo enthusiastically took.

"Nel-nel!" the youth grinned at her, a vision of blood-like robes swishing away from Aizen's side.

"I want a LARGE vase!"

The lady laughed. "How about something that's suitably sized?" she looked at the generous bouquet. "On second thought, a large vase it is."

They watched Ichigo wave "Bye bye!" before disappearing into one of the passageways with the Arcana. Aizen was staring after them as his General took to his side.

"She loves him," Kaname spoke, and Gin laughed almost sardonically from where he was, still managing to hear that with his god hearing.

"By the kindness of her heart. She's a soul fated for that purpose. A sibling to that of my Ichigo," Aizen replied.

The High Lord then turned to his Arcana. "You are dismissed. However, I will expect you to be present during the next Covenant together with the rest of your brothers and sisters in arms."

"Thank you, my Lord," the remaining Arcana responded in practiced unison, glad to be relieved and on their feet again.

They immediately exited from the gods' presence, leaving the courtyard in complete silence. Well, not in complete silence as Gin began to laugh again, making the Lord and his General who had begun to discuss something stop immediately.

"I hate you, really, Sousuke," the God Spear finally spoke, on his feet and immediately off, leaving the two, a silver butterfly fluttering away from Aizen's grip.

Kaname was completely puzzled, but the Lord knew what it was all about. It wasn't only because Gin never really liked being the mender-and here they have three, possibly four, dimensions he needed to tend to again-but also the fact that the destruction was once more that close to where the silver didn't want it to reach. He'll have to fix this misunderstanding.

"Is Gin-sama all right?" asked the General.

"He will be, don't worry old friend," replied Aizen-sama in his usual confidence.

He then gestured towards one of the court's large pillars. A flash of blue. Grimmjow was there, leaned ever so quietly against the solid column, his hood up.

"You should go rest Kaname, it's late," the Lord actually meant the latter needed to attend to his own life now, and to his lover, the Zero Arcana, who was waiting so patiently for him.

The General just smiled at that...