Chapter 3: The Seduction
"Hey Byakuya, thanks for coming," Shunsui greeted the noble, motioning him inside the captain commander's quarters and then following him to the desk at the end of the room, "Would you like a drink?"
"No, thank you," Byakuya answered solemnly.
"I hope you don't mind if I do," chuckled Shunsui, "Look, I'll be honest with you. I have something that has to be done that's kind of a pain in the ass, but it really is a priority. It requires the attention of a captain, and you are the only one I would entrust with something like this."
"What do you mean? What do you intend for me to do?" Byakuya asked, frowning.
"Word has reached me that it's suspected that Sousuke Aizen is being mistreated."
"As well he deserves after what he did...though, of course, it would be wrong to allow such a thing. It is not within the parameters of his sentence. He was given imprisonment, not torture."
"Exactly," Shunsui agreed, "Now, the other captains all have as much reason to hold a grudge as you do. After all, not only did the guy betray us, he attacked many of us in very personal ways, for example, trying to turn Juushiro and I against Old Man Yama, using young Hitsugaya's attachment to Momo to cause friction and, well, what happened with your sister. In fact, I don't think there's a one of us that doesn't want to see him hurt for that. The thing is, the other captains would tend to openly say they refuse to follow up on this, or they might accept the assignment, then not attend to it properly. You understand that, if it goes that way and captains are proven to have neglected their duty, not only could Central 46 demand punishments for that, it could be grounds for Aizen to appeal his case. We just want to keep the guy in prison, so I thought that, despite your distaste for the man, you could go and examine him in the presence of a healer. What do you think? Can you take care of that for me? It would really ease my mind."
"Hmmm," Byakuya sighed, his frown deepening, "I would tell you that I didn't care if the man was being mistreated and it would be the truth, however, I do understand the need to adhere to proper procedure."
"I kind of thought that you would, Captain Kuchiki," Shunsui said gratefully, "I'll leave it to you, then. Take a healer with you and check things out over there, then send me a report with your findings."
"As you wish."
Byakuya took his leave of the captain commander and left the first division building, returning to the company of his cousin and mounting behind him.
"So, how was your meeting with the captain commander?" Tetsuya asked, nudging his equine companion into motion.
"The meeting itself was fine, although I was given a troubling task. I will need your assistance."
"As your new vice captain?" Tetsuya asked.
"As that, and as a trained healer," Byakuya informed him, "I have been given the task of examining and documenting Sousuke Aizen's physical condition, as well as determining in the presence of a trained healer, whether or not he has been mistreated. Your station as my vice captain and your training as my personal healer make you the most qualified person to accompany me for this task."
"Of course," Tetsuya agreed, "Will we see to this now?"
"Yes."
"Very well," Tetsuya said, turning the stallion in the direction of the prison.
"How are things going between your new husband and yourself?" Byakuya asked quietly as they continued on towards the Central 46 chambers, "Have you decided on a location for your honeymoon?"
"Yes," Tetsuya confirmed, "It just took a bit of time to get clearances for our leave to go. But Renji and I decided to go to the living world, a set of tropical islands, Hawaii, it is called."
"A lovely destination, especially for a newly married young couple," Byakuya said approvingly, "I think you will enjoy it. You are welcome to leave after we see to this task."
"Thank you, Captain."
"You don't have to call me that when we are alone, Tetsuya."
"I know, but we are in a public place and on a Gotei mission."
"I suppose. Fine, then."
They reached the Central 46 compound and left Arashi outside, pausing at the front doors until they were cleared to enter, then following the guard who met them through the main entry and back to the entry to the prison levels. At each level, their identity was confirmed, and they passed on to the next, until they reached the lowest level, the cold and dark place known as Muken.
"Captain Kuchiki, Vice Captain Kuchiki, welcome," the guard captain greeted them, "Will you come this way?"
The two followed the guard captain to the closed and heavily chained door that led to Sousuke Aizen's cell. They waited quietly as the chains were removed and the way into the cell was opened, then the two moved forward, followed by the now anxious looking guard captain.
"We have been ordered to keep the cell door open during the examination, but for us to remain outside and await your instructions, sir."
"Thank you," Byakuya said, leaving the guard posted at the door as he and Tetsuya entered.
They paused for a moment to adjust to the darkness of the cell, then Tetsuya extended a pale hand and conjured a kido light so that they could see more clearly. The two men approached the bound form in the chair at the back of the cell. Aizen's one uncovered eye was already open and fixed on them as they moved forward, and the uncovered lips smiled at them.
"Greetings, Byakuya...and Tetsuya, isn't it?"
"Yes," Byakuya answered calmly, "Tetsuya and I have come on the captain commander's order to investigate your situation and to report back to him. I will ask you some questions, and then examine you in the presence of my cousin, who is registered as my personal healer. Do you have any questions before we begin?"
"How is Rukia?" Aizen asked slyly, "I heard a rumor that she achieved bankai. I suppose that congratulations are in order."
Byakuya moved forward with Tetsuya at his side, ignoring the prisoner's words completely and beginning to unbind him.
"Are you sure that you want to free me while the cell door is standing open?" Aizen asked sedately, "You know, I could be past you and out of here in a heartbeat."
Byakuya didn't answer, but picked up a small rock and tossed it back at the doorway, meeting Aizen's eyes meaningfully as the rock impacted with an unseen barrier and immediately flashed with unnatural green light and melted.
"Ah, I see. You are being cautious."
"Tetsuya, will you stand ready while I reveal him?" Byakuya said, still ignoring Aizen and focusing on his task, "You will have to take the images quickly, because once the bindings are off, any injuries will immediately begin to be healed."
"I am ready," Tetsuya answered.
Byakuya continued to loosen the bindings, working his way from the prisoner's head downward and pulling away his bloodstained yukata to reveal a shocking array of bruises and abrasions beneath. Tetsuya reacted instantly, swiftly capturing images of the physical hurts before the innate power of the hogyoku activated and gradually erased the damage.
"What is this? The Gotei is showing interest in how I am being treated?" Aizen mused thoughtfully, "Are they worried I will be able to prove abuse and negligence, then?"
"The law has obviously been broken," Byakuya answered simply, "We are only documenting the evidence and leaving it to Central 46 to review and act on the information."
"Ah, and I was just hoping that you came to see me because you missed me."
"I could never miss a person like you, Sousuke Aizen," Byakuya answered, an angry edge in his voice.
"No," Aizen agreed, "you were much more enamored of the person that you thought I was, weren't you?"
Such talk is pointless," Byakuya sighed, continuing his work quietly, "That person was a lie. He never existed. All you know how to do is to lie and be deceitful. You deserve everything you have gotten."
"Is that so?" Aizen asked, "Then, why are you here, gathering evidence of the torture I have been subjected to? If I deserve everything I have faced, then why?"
"As I said, the law has been broken."
"Oh yes, and you are a fastidious believer in the law, aren't you, Byakuya? It made you rather easy to manipulate."
Byakuya released the last of the bindings, then helped the unsteady prisoner to his feet, while Tetsuya finished the image taking and nodded.
"I have everything we need," he informed his cousin.
"Thank you, Tetsuya. You may go."
Tetsuya blinked in surprise.
"Captain?"
"Wait at the doorway."
"Yes, Captain," Tetsuya answered, moving to the doorway and positioning himself alongside the guard captain.
Byakuya met Aizen's calm, brown eyes in the darkness.
"Come, I will help you stretch your legs."
Aizen smiled.
"Kindness? Coming from you, and after everything I've done? If I didn't know you better, I would think that you had an ulterior motive, Byakuya."
"Have someone get him a clean yukata," Byakuya ordered the guard, as he began to assist the prisoner in walking the edges of the cell.
"That feels quite a lot better," Aizen said calmly, "but you have underestimated me."
The words were the only warning Byakuya had before Aizen pushed him back against the cell wall and held him there, glaring down into his eyes and smiling devilishly. Instantly, Byakuya reacted, raising his reiatsu, then freezing as he realized that no power appeared to be flowing through his restrained body. The next moment, he realized that although Tetsuya and the guard were looking directly at them, neither seemed to have noticed what was taking place.
"How are you doing this?" Byakuya demanded, "Stop it, now!"
"Surely, you must understand," Aizen breathed in his ear, "that even with a seal on my powers, I still have access to a small amount of my natural ability. In a regular shinigami, this would not be a concern, but because my reiatsu is so strong, even my restrained power is considerable. But don't worry. I am not going to use that power to kill you. I just need you to get me through that barrier."
"I won't help you escape!" Byakuya seethed, "No matter what you do to me, I won't!"
"No matter what I do to you?" Aizen asked, smirking as he stepped back, "What if I do something to someone else, then?"
Byakuya tried to move, only to find himself still frozen against the cell wall. Aizen walked calmly to where Tetsuya stood and drew back his hand.
"What about what I do to your cousin?" he asked, gazing back at Byakuya triumphantly, "I will reach in and rip his heart out right now unless you shatter that barrier."
"I don't doubt that you will," Byakuya answered, his voice shaking slightly, "but the answer is still no."
Aizen's lips stiffened and he thrust his hand into the younger Kuchiki's unprotected body. But as he struck, he felt a shift in Tetsuya's body, and the noble's broke apart and splashed to the ground as water. The guard, too, disappeared, then reappeared next to Tetsuya, outside the barrier.
"I see," Aizen said, still smiling, "You anticipated me. Well played, Byakuya. I wasn't sure that you would be expecting that. But...you are still here, and it doesn't look like the two of them are any bit aware of what just happened. So, what will you do?"
"I will accept my fate," Byakuya said quietly.
"And what fate do you think I will hand you?" Aizen wondered aloud, "You have thwarted me in my plans and you are now the last chance I have to escape. If I kill you, I take away my own chances, so I will have to think of something else. What shall I do?"
He closed in on the restrained noble, his brown eyes blinking slowly and his lips smiling wickedly. He reached Byakuya and looked down into his eyes, reading the glimmer of triumph and suspecting immediately another sort of trap.
"You expect me to hurt you, don't you?" he asked softly, bringing his face close to the noble's, "but I will not. No, I have a different plan in mind for you."
"It doesn't matter," Byakuya said calmly, "You are not leaving this cell."
"Is that so? I have lost to you? You play this game masterfully, Byakuya, but you are up against an enemy you can't fathom. Let me show you just how foolish you were in thinking for a moment that you could best me!"
Still frozen in place, Byakuya could only watch in dismay as Aizen leaned forward and crashed his lips into the noble's, then plunged deeply into his mouth, holding him against the cell wall and rubbing up against him provocatively as he kissed the stunned man.
It was foolish of you to allow me to touch you at all, Aizen's voice hissed in Byakuya's shocked mind, My innate powers are still fully functional if I am touching you. Watch now, how they will undo you!
Byakuya's mind spun fitfully as the bindings on his body shattered, but he still remained unable to move. A shudder went through him as he felt pulsating throbs of the other man's power and his mind dimmed and spun. When Aizen spoke again, his body moved as though disconnected completely from his will.
"In a moment, I will free you so that you can move. When I do, you will break the barrier and you will bind your cousin in my place. The guards will be none the wiser as we leave. Tetsuya has a horse, does he not?"
"Yes," Byakuya answered, his mind feeling oddly dulled and unable to resist.
"We will take the horse and I will open a garganta for us. We will travel into Hueco Mundo and you will not resist me in any way. Do you understand?"
Byakuya quivered inside as he heard himself answer.
"Yes."
"Come then, we are leaving."
Aizen wrapped an arm around the noble's slender waist, holding Byakuya against him as he approached the barrier and the noble raised a hand and shattered it. Aizen released the clan leader, who moved to Tetsuya's side, and led the unsuspecting shinigami into the cell, where Byakuya bound his cousin to the chair that Aizen had occupied. He returned to Aizen's side and walked with him, back through the checkpoints and out of the Central 46 compound. Arashi appeared and gave the two a disconcerted look, before sniffing at Aizen, then nickering softly in welcome.
Aizen mounted the stallion, then quickly opened a garganta. He pulled Byakuya up in front of him and entered the black cavern. The doorway closed behind them and they moved forward, Arashi's dainty feet tapping on the path of reiatsu that Byakuya created as they went. They emerged some time later, dropping down onto the cold, dark sands of Hueco Mundo. Aizen stopped the stallion and glanced at the spellbound noble, smiling.
"I thank you," he said, kissing the noble again and encountering neither resistance nor encouragement.
Aizen loosed a soft sigh of relief at having been freed, then he nodded at Byakuya.
"Shatter the seal on my powers," he ordered the noble, "but be sure that you do not unbind the hogyoku."
Byakuya complied instantly, shattering the bonds and coaxing a chilling laugh from the escaped prisoner. Aizen intensified his control over the ensnared noble, holding Byakuya against him as he sent Arashi charging forward.
"Again, I thank you, Byakuya," he said appreciatively, kissing the noble's earlobe, "If not for you, I would still be in that place. As a gift, I left your cousin alive and did not kill anyone as we left. There is but one life that I will take on this journey...and that is yours."
Byakuya did not react at all to the words, but rested quietly with his back against Aizen's chest and his dazed eyes fixed on the sands in front of them.