Chapter 3: Self Destruction
(Thanks going out to Winterheart2000 (How's this?), Featherfoot (They will give it their best and they are ready to fight for Byakuya, if necessary.), Picklez80 (Bya's family will stand up for him, and he is going to need the support!), Anon (Of course!), Jemma M (I am so glad you enjoyed the prequel, and I do agree that Aizen will have to play a role in Bya's rescue. It will be fun working that out!), TMP3475 (Yes, nerves are frayed and things are definitely dangerous!), Grunt (So glad you like it! And here's more for you.), and Yukino76 (Byakuya's devotion to obeying the law is good in moderation, but it sure can backfire sometimes!) Enjoy the chapter! Love, Spunky)
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I was your shield and your sword…the deliverer of your just destruction. Always, I bled for you. Yet when you watched me fall into the darkness, you did not ask where my loyalty lay, but where my heart was. And I had no answer.
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"Kunio," Byakuya said quietly to the guard beside him, "If you will give me leave to speak to my kinsmen, perhaps we may avoid a direct confrontation. Such would surely result in needless death, while diplomacy would seem to be the better choice."
The guard nodded reluctantly.
"Nori," Byakuya said, only slightly raising his voice, "I would speak with you for a moment."
The aged head elder stepped forward. Kunio stepped back involuntarily, studying the tall, sturdy frame, the flowing silver and black hair, ice blue eyes and the fine hand that rested on his zanpakutou. The guard watched the zanpakutou carefully.
"Nori," Byakuya went on, "why have you and the others come? And why prepared for battle? You cannot have heard of my arrest already."
"No," agreed Norii, "we had not heard…but all of us sensed the awakening of the Kuchiki heir you are carrying. Then Rukia informed us of your being taken to the healing center. We followed you and your reiatsu led us here. We came fully armed because your own reiatsu was so disturbed as to suggest danger."
"Well, as you see, I am in no danger. I surrendered to the guards willingly and I am content to wait within the Repentance Center while my fate is decided."
Nori shook his head firmly.
"You must meet with the council to discuss the conception of the heir…and the plans for birthing the child."
"I understand your thinking, but the reason for my surrender is that the child I carry may have been forced upon me by a hollow, or by Aizen Sousuke. These are the only beings who could have fathered the heir…as there have been no others. I do not believe that my True Resonant could have been hollow or traitor, so I must conclude that the process of conception was somehow subverted. In either case, the rules of the Gotei 13 prohibit me from bearing this child…and perhaps the council, given time, will agree with the Gotei 13…but perhaps not. Still, being that I am a taichou and subject to their rules, I must face punishment for any crime I commit while representing them. Our clan may seek its right to take me into clan custody and pursue the issue under our own rules, but I ask that we attend to this diplomatically. Normally, we would approach the members of Central 46, but being that the new members have not yet been seated, we are still under martial law and that means that you must approach Soutaichou to obtain my release into clan custody."
Tetsuya frowned.
"Byakuya-sama, I do not like the idea of them holding you here for any length of time."
"And yet, if you force a confrontation now," Byakuya said warningly, "we may face more obstacles to my eventual release. No, it is better to allow my incarceration here and seek an audience with Soutaichou to secure my release."
"And what if he does not wish to allow the clan to take custody of you?" Nori asked skeptically.
"Then I would not object to the use of force to free me. But even our own council must see that this is a difficult decision. It is not as though there was a True Resonance. The conditions of the conception were manipulated…and even though the child is an heir, you must understand that the heir may be tainted."
"We will enforce our rules, Byakuya-sama, as the clans have done for all of these years. We are not subject to their rules. You must remember this, though you do serve them," Nori said sternly.
"I have not forgotten the ways of the noble houses, but neither do I wish to see Aizen Sousuke or the hollows use me to break down relations between forces that would serve their needs and purposes much better by working together. Perhaps this is why I have been used in this fashion. If you force this issue now, you threaten to fall headlong into the trap. Nori, you are one of the most intelligent leaders among the councilors. If I cannot convince you to honor my wishes…"
"So you wish to remain in their hands," said Nori unhappily, "despite the fact that they could force you to abort the heir…or is that what you want, Byakuya-sama? Are you looking for a way out of this?"
"I am trying to protect everyone involved," Byakuya insisted, "If I am being used by the hollows or Aizen Sousuke, the best place for me is the Repentance Center! It is the only place I can go where I won't endanger anyone! If the Gotei 13 attempts to rob me of my rights, our clan still has the ability to fight, but my staying here will indicate a desire on our part for peaceful resolution. There is always time for righteous bloodshed later if it is called for, but I believe that should be a last resort."
"Byakuya-sama, there is something in this that does not sit right with me," Nori said in an unsettled tone.
"I also fear something is not right with all of this," Tetsuya agreed.
"I think it may be a mistake to leave you in their hands. Yet, you are our leader and your instincts are usually sound. If it is your will to be held by them, then we will allow it for now. And we will attempt peaceful negotiation for your release. But failing that, we will do what we must to free you."
"Arigato, Nori, Tetsuya," Byakuya said, bowing his head slightly, "I knew I could depend on the two of you."
Nori frowned deeply but stepped back and motioned for the others to follow. One by one, the Kuchiki elders stepped back, opening the way to the Repentance Center.
"Kuchiki taichou," Kunio said softly as they passed through the doors, "we appreciate your speaking to them. We are well aware of how a confrontation would have ended. I hope you are able to secure your freedom. Whatever you may have done, you deserve justice."
"As do all, Kunio," Byakuya said quietly in return, "but justice can be an elusive thing. And a just ending is not always a happy one."
"Too true sir," the guard acknowledged sadly.
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Aizen Sousuke heard his cell door open, and he felt the familiar presence of
The young man who entered every day around the same time to clean the cell and check his restraints. He knew better than to expect the man to be easily overcome. The guards had all been warned not to allow him to touch them, and were well trained in protecting themselves. Still, there was this one who, it seemed, had a measure of sympathy for the former taichou gone bad.
"Hello Miki," Aizen greeted the young man, using his reiatsu to make his voice sound aloud.
"Good morning, Aizen Sousuke," Miki greeted him, setting quietly about his tasks.
What is the news in the Seireitei today…if I may know?
"Oh, lots going on today," the young man said earnestly, "Everyone's stirred up because Kuchiki taichou was arrested and taken to the repentance center."
"You say he was arrested? Do you know on what charges?" asked the prisoner.
"Not sure. No one is, but your name came up."
"I see," Aizen said softly.
"You know something about why they would arrest him?" Miki asked, "Cause if you do, you should say so. I heard Kuchiki taichou's family showed up on his way to the Repentance Center and they blocked the way. Kuchiki taichou talked them into not fighting with the guards. There's been no word about it since then."
"Ah," Aizen sighed, suddenly feeling the weight of his bonds, "That is interesting. Thank you for sharing it."
Miki gave him a sympathetic look.
"Well, whatever you've done, it's a sad thing being locked up here for longer than any of us will live. I suppose you earned with your behavior, but…I don't like seeing people suffer."
"You are a gentle soul, Miki," Aizen said appreciatively.
"Aw, don't you try to get on my good side now," the young man chided him, "I'm not helping you escape. I may not like seeing you suffer, but I know what trouble you caused before."
"You are also wise."
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Byakuya sat quietly on the cot in his cell with his legs curled beneath him. Bathed in the moonlight that streamed in through the opening in the wall, he looked down at the sokyoku.
I wonder which way I will die. It hardly matters. One way is as fast as the other…and despite it being the greatest of penalties, neither is meant to be overly painful.
A momentary shock of pain…
A moment of realization…
Then…
"Kuchiki Byakuya?"
Byakuya answered without turning.
"Hai, Soutaichou."
"Your council has made their arguments before me. I have considered their words, but before I render a judgment, I have questions that only you can answer."
"Ask then. I assure you, I will answer."
"Very well. I know you are aware of the reasons why our rules do not allow relations or reproduction with hollows or with perpetrators accused of high treason. The evidence clearly indicates that what happened between you and the hollows was not consensual. However, the matter of your relations with Aizen Sousuke is another story. The evidence there is unclear. So I must ask you directly. Do you have any reason to believe that the contact between Aizen Sousuke and yourself might have been consensual?"
Byakuya stared down at the sokyoku.
"I do not know, Soutaichou. I don't remember anything of my time in Las Noches. I do have nightmares of being there, but I do not know if anything contained in those dreams is real."
"I have another question. Unohana taichou explained to me what you told her about True Resonance. And from what I gather, there has never been an instance where an heir was made without that resonance occurring."
"That is correct, Soutaichou."
"Then, is it possible that Aizen Sousuke could be your True Resonant?"
"A soul in perfect balance with mine?" Byakuya whispered, "How could that be? Soutaichou, I remain committed to the Gotei 13 and my clan. Neither supports Aizen Sousuke…and he represents things that I could never accept."
"But I was led to believe that the joining with the True Resonant is a one time coupling…to make an heir. It would seem to me that such a joining would not have to include such things as acceptance, agreement or love," Soutaichou said, narrowing his eyes, "It seems that it is a single act of reproduction…requiring nothing more than one joining."
Byakuya shook his head.
"Such a meaningless joining would not produce a noble heir. The resonance is what causes the joining and the conception. It is a bond so powerful that the conception occurs even between those of the same gender. I cannot imagine a bond of that sort existing between sworn enemies."
Yamamoto Soutaichou eyed him skeptically.
"When you speak of souls being in perfect balance…such a balance could exist in enemies as they are opposites…and opposites are often drawn to each other. And as I recall, when we met to consider Aizen Sousuke's betrayal, it was you who said that his values might be the same as many of ours, but what separated us was what we are willing to do to express our values. It was…a telling statement, Kuchiki Byakuya. Perhaps you can tell me…Where is your heart in all of this?"
Byakuya turned and stared at him in surprise.
"I don't…understand. What are you asking me?"
"I am asking you if you believe that there is a chance that Aizen Sousuke could be your True Resonant."
Byakuya turned back to the window and stared down at the sokyoku, searching his mind for an answer. The moonlight made the tall stand shine like giant, stark bones in the distance. He felt suddenly chilled and felt Soutaichou's eyes on his back.
"Soutaichou," he said softly, "I would never betray the Gotei 13. I know this with all of my heart."
"But that is not the question I asked you, Kuchiki Byakuya," Soutaichou said, frowning, "I am afraid that this is not a question of allegiance, but one of alignment. And I think your lack of an answer is an answer. You believe that it is possible for the two of you to share this resonance."
Byakuya tried to make his lips move in answer, to find his voice, but something was causing his eyes to burn furiously and his chest to feel constricted.
"Again, your silence speaks volumes, Kuchiki Byakuya. But even this is not the most important question. The question of whether or not the contact was consensual is somewhat secondary. The question that will decide your fate is this…Will you obey the rules of the Gotei 13 and abandon this pregnancy?"
Byakuya stared at the sokyoku and then thought of the members of the council…his own flesh and blood being forced to take his life. He turned back and looked into the eyes of the captain commander who had been served by several generations of his family, his eyes tragically regretful.
"Soutaichou," he whispered, agony in every word, "Soutaichou, I cannot…allow my own child to be killed. Whoever might have fathered him or her, my child is innocent, and is protected by the rules of our clan. And even if I did agree to abandon the pregnancy, such an act would earn a death sentence from my family. While I can accept you ordering my death, because you must, I cannot burden my own kin that way. I am…sorry."
Soutaichou lowered his eyes.
"Then it seems I have no choice," he said regretfully, "To disobey this command will also earn you a sentence of death."
Byakuya bowed his head respectfully.
"I understand, Soutaichou, and I accept your decision, but…"
He raised his eyes again to meet the eyes of his captain commander.
"As I have refused to obey your order…and I am to die for the privilege, I request that the delivery of my sentence be delayed until after the birth of the Kuchiki heir.
There was a long silence and Byakuya could feel the flare of his captain commander's anger. The answer, when it came, was terribly controlled, but rife with fury.
"Your request is denied, Kuchiki Byakuya. Tomorrow in an official military tribunal, you will be stripped of your position as taichou of the sixth division, and for your treasonous decision to willingly carry our enemy's child, you will be sentenced to death by sokyoku. Your sentence will be carried out thirty days from that announcement."
Byakuya's eyes closed and his head bowed respectfully.
"Hai, Soutaichou," he said softly.
"Hmph," mused the captain commander, "Defiance delivered with respect…How very typical of you…Kuchiki Byakuya!"
"I do not wish to be defiant!" Byakuya insisted, "I would comply if I knew a hollow or Aizen Sousuke was the father. I do not feel any rebellion in my heart! Soutaichou, all I feel is desperation. What if there is more to the story? What if the child isn't of either the hollows or Aizen? How can we know? And how can I be executed for a crime we don't know if I commited?"
"Hmm," the captain commander huffed softly, considering, "Your argument is sound. The results were inconclusive about the father of the child. I suppose there is one possible way to find an answer."
"Sir?"
"We could ask Aizen, himself."
Byakuya's face went pale at the suggestion.
"We?" he asked breathlessly.
"Yes," Yamamoto said firmly, "We will go together and speak to Aizen Sousuke."
