Moonbathing, Chapter 10 - Marisa Serise
Arc: The Silver-Emerald Colloid-Collusion, Part Three
Disclaimer: Bleach ain't mine. Trust me, y'all oughta know Kubo ain't this wild!
Labels: yaoi, chessboard control games, and all of the usual treachery. Enjoy.
Author's Note: So...yeah, I know I need to update Sittin' Sideways, Lavender Scented Memories of Crimson, Pillars, and all the rest but Moonbathing is on my mind, I've got a few hours before I gotta get into work, so I'm thinking about just having me a good ol' time yeah?
Oh yeah. Right now has been a lot of GinUlqui, so I wanted to slide around the "universe" here and see what others are doing. Lemon fans might be disappointed, but I have some chessboard playing to do right now... ;)
Before I forget: storytime in the place to be!
Eternal night meant nothing to Aizen. As a boy, he had listened to his mother sing happily about the sunlight, opening the windows with a big flourish.
Sousuke-kun! Come and wake the day with me!
The night was so much more pleasing. Under the cover of darkness he could take the simple chessboard games his mother and his other relatives love and twist them into higher forms of perfection. Wouldn't his mother be so pleased to find that after all this time, he still loved playing chess with every fiber of his being?
Naturally, he was on a higher chessboard now. Gone were the cheap wooden pieces of his youth and now things were glass, stainless steel, copper, marble. He remembered bringing his mother a fine chessboard after his first job, surprising her with a quiet smile.
It's truly lovely, Sousuke-kun. And look, I can see myself in the glass! It's like a little board of mirrors...
He smiled at the memory as he put away the chess pieces.
Yes, it is like a little board of mirrors. And with the right eye, you can see everything - including the soul, character, and power of the opponent you're sitting across from.
And that, my dear, is why I play the game with such passion.
He was amused by Gin and Ulquiorra. They were making sure not to look too stirred up. During the meeting they were the picture of obedience. Gin was next to him and Aizen still admired the long, thin body and sharp, angular features. Gin had filled out some, but the frame was still lean and muscular.
Ulquiorra did not look at him during the meeting - his gaze wandered over everything else, save Gin.
Oh, you two believe that just because I don't call you out that you're safe?
Nothing is safe from me. Nothing.
My, someone is getting a bit jealous.
Aizen smirked. "Come out here, devil woman."
His sword came out, a youthful redheaded woman with green eyes. Her dress was layers and layers and layers of sheer purple fabric, enough covering to maintain modesty, while giving the eye something curious to gaze at.
Always fashionable, I see.
You like it that way. Devil woman, eh? I am you, and you are me. So who's the devil now?
We will share the title.
Oh, how kind of you. What a gentle god among men.
You are mocking me. What is on your mind?
Oh, your jealousy just amuses me. You know that you want the little fox all to yourself, and you are furiously envious that he's been getting pleasure from the Espada.
My blades are my blades, Kyouka. Why would they engage in anything but servitude and appreciation of me?
That's rather arrogant, even for you. Aizen-sama, you are playing a dangerous game if you have any feelings at all for Gin.
I am playing a dangerous game. Bringing out greatness in anyone is a dangerous game. You risk everything, including your own feelings. I know what I do. You will too, soon.
The woman touched his face gently and smirked. "As you said, Aizen-sama, you are a very careful gardener."
Aizen grinned. It wasn't often that his sword said words aloud to him, and he knew the power of words. Hadn't he spun pretty webs of poison for the shinigami before, in order to get to this point?
As Kyouka vanished again, he was left to his own thoughts.
Yes, bringing greatness out of someone is hard, but I have had time with Gin. He will surprise me like none other.
Grimmjow howled. What was the point of being King if there was nothing to fight? He could go a few rounds with Nnoitra, but usually the Quinta didn't really feel like it -he was usually whining about not having enough females in Las Noches that were easily "trainable".
Aizen won't let anyone get near the human girl, but I bet she would be fun.
Grimmjow didn't give a shit about the human girl. As far as he was concerned, she was just bait for Kurosaki.
Now that was a guy he wanted to fight! He'd beat Kurosaki into the floor and then work on getting stronger so he could shove Aizen off the throne and put a Hollow back in the seat of power.
Why was some dumb shinigami ruling over them? Because for the moment, that shinigami was stronger than him. He didn't like that at all.
There was a shinigami he liked - liked screwing anyway. Gin had effortlessly snapped that cuff off, and that's when things really started getting interesting. It became a game, a chase that was designed to end in one thing: victory. And of course, to the victor go the spoils.
He started walking back towards the palace, the winds of Hueco Mundo whipping around him.
I'm going to get my claws back on that pretty body of yours, Gin, and there's nothing you can do about it!
Gin knew that they should probably move, but having a certain green-eyed Espada's full attention was a little too tempting right now.
You should eat him again. That would be yummy.
Be quiet. I'm just enjoying the peace.
Blah, peace. You're just itching to ride him again.
So what?
So...ride him.
He batted away Shinsou's mocking laughter, tapping the hilt of his sword as a subtle warning.
Shinsou got the hint, and there wasn't anymore conflict...for the moment.
There was a different conflict opening up for Gin. He had to put the wheels in motion, show Aizen-sama that he couldn't just be replaced like that.
I don't have a scrap to my own name...and yet this emerald clings to me.
To me. How incredible is that?
Ulquiorra couldn't stop staring at Gin. They were supposed to be on opposite sides - he, the Espada and Gin the silver-haired shinigami. Aizen's plans had changed that formula a bit - the three commanders ruled over Hueco Mundo with Aizen being the commander of all commanders.
Just as planned, one would say.
So he needed to keep thinking about how to keep Gin's attention.
We came to each other for...comfort. What now?
He knew their loyalties both lie squarely with Aizen-sama and really only Aizen-sama. Yet there was something that told Ulquiorra that somewhere in that loyalty web, there could be a little left over for Gin. There could be something for Ulquiorra to hold onto, even if it was only a few stolen moments here and there. Sure, he wanted something more open than that - but what would be the cost of such a thing?
He would not pressure Gin either way, but there was so much that he wanted to share with the man that he couldn't help getting a little anxious.
"Like what you see?"
Gin's teasing voice cut through Ulquiorra's thoughts, and he looked at the shinigami as pleasantly as possible. Smiling was something as foreign to Ulquiorra as true sunlight was to Hueco Mundo. He didn't know how to respond, didn't know what the right way to respond really was. So he defaulted to the most straightforward answer possible.
"Yes."
He heard Gin's laugh, the deep rumbling that sounded even stronger because the man was so lean.
I could get used to that laugh. I really could. The question is whether or not I will truly get a chance to get used to it.
Gin enjoyed the time here in the garden. It was good enough to fool the mind into believing that life could grow here, but it paled in comparison with the gardens in the officers' quarters. And if you added in the amazing gardens and forests around the Kuchiki place, then you really had a lot to compete with.
He remembered seeing glimpses of those gorgeous gardens as he flash-stepped around the Sereitei, but he knew he couldn't get any closer than that. Even as a captain, he couldn't get much closer than that. He wasn't well liked by anyone.
Except Aizen-sama. Before he was the Lord of Hueco Mundo, Aizen-sama was more Aizen-taichou to him than anything else.
He had killed for him, eliminating targets that would have become a bit too bothersome, a bit too aware of the subtle things Aizen needed to do.
Aizen was a man that could swing from emotion to emotion with ease. But it was the chessboard that brought Aizen closer to him at first.
He wanted to be stronger, to continue to grow in power and influence. Yet how could he? He didn't have the money or prestige of being a noble like the Kuchiki priss, wasn't well liked by just about everyone the way Ukitake-taichou was.
Aizen-sama had simply continued setting out the equipment of chess while Gin had paced, ranted, raged against everything. Then he spoke.
You are much too tense. Why don't we have a nice game of chess?
Gin batted away the memories carefully. He cherished them, but they reminded him all too well what had happened a few days ago. He wanted nothing to do with Aizen-sama right now.
Just leave it on the chessboard, Gin. Everything that you are worried about or fearful of, pour it into the game. In this game, there are two masters. Yet that is the first mistake. Truly. You see, Gin, there are really two forces at work, but only one can be the master. Only one can dominate and conquer everything their eye touches.
That someone, my dear boy, is me. Though, I have a feeling you might surprise me.
Gin sighed, and looked at Ulquiorra. "I must be borin' ya. I'm sorry."
There was a quick burst of relief as the Espada shook his head. "I do not mind silence, really. Though I wonder at times how to entertain you."
When he talks like that, he gets me hungry.
"You don't have to entertain me, Ulqui. I don't mind just spending some quiet time with you. Unless you wanted to talk?"
It was a tempting question, because there was much that Ulquiorra wanted to say. However, he felt that there was something more that needed to be revealed.
He showed you so much of yourself, why don't you reveal something special yourself?
Yes, that's it. Show it to him. Then again, I may have to show him twice.
Life passed slowly for a man that wanted to sit on the throne of the world. Aizen had originally planned on playing chess with Tousen again, but he changed his mind at the last minute.
He needed to stretch his legs. Not to mention that the chessboard that really caught his attention was floating somewhere else. Of course, he could find Gin easily enough. Nothing was ever out of reach to him in Las Noches. Why would it be?
Everything in this palace belongs to me, whenever I please. However I please.
He replayed the scenes from a few days prior. There was a certain pride about being such an excellent gardener. Orihime couldn't appreciate the subtle notes of manipulation, but he could.
Oh, how gullible she had been, to actually think that she held power over him simply because he had allowed her to hold the hilt of his sword. He could have crushed her with mere spiritual pressure alone, so what was there to fear?
Power. Influence. Control. Leverage. The four disciplines through which all things in the world could be acquired. He would acquire what he wanted, through any means necessary.
Gin's long, lean frame slipped back into his thoughts, and Aizen found himself smiling.
Yes, it would be a good idea to go for a walk. To stretch his legs, get a bit of a different perspective. It was time to see what his little fox was up to.
Ah, Gin. For all of your manipulations, you still haven't surpassed me.
Although, like always, you still surprise and intrigue me. Hmm.
Gin was watching Ulquiorra carefully, still smiling all the way.
Ulqui, what do you have up your sleeve?
"So whatcha gonna do, Ulqui? Lately you've been surprising me."
The Espada simply stood up. "I want to go for as much honesty as I can. Although, I am hesitant as it pulls you deeper into my despair."
Gin looked blank for a moment, thinking. He waved a hand. "Whatever you need, I'll support you."
For a moment, there was a strange look on Ulquiorra's face. It wasn't the usual pout of indifference, nor was it a long, wide grin like what Gin wore as his default setting. It was a look of triumph, blended with a look of confidence.
Excitement and tension coiled within Ulquiorra and for once, the Espada looked more peaceful than anything else.
Mm, whatever Ulqui has to show me really pleases him. This could be fun.
Excitement was an understatement. Ulquiorra wanted to do a lot of things, but he remembered where he was. He calculated and decided that it was best to play by the rules, despite his excitement.
"First, a little trip, I think. We have ...sonido. You have shunpo. We will need both."
He looked up and saw the open window leading out to the top of another tower within Las Noches.
Perfect, lead him out that way. Once we get away from Las Noches, I can show him more...
Author's Note: Yes, I left you on a cliffie but I'm publishing Chapter 11 right after this one! Yay!
Thank you all for your sweet comments! I'm trying to juggle a new publishing company and fanfiction and two kids and and and and and and what else am I NOT doing lately? Three companies, a family of 5, and getting over my illness... oh my? Good thing I have writing as my release.
Speaking of releases, I was shocked this came out as a lemonless chapter! Wow. But I really need this one.
Moonbathing is built on past flashbacks, so if it's not obvious – Gin is recalling his early days of training with Aizen while he's with Ulquiorra. I didn't know how to format that so it would stand out, but it's important.
I think that Aizen is pleased that Gin seems to be doing something to rise against him.
I included the part with Aizen's memories because I think it's important to know where Moonbathing's Aizen is coming from. Yes, I know a lot of this deviates from canon, but we don't know anything about where Aizen comes from. So yeah, I'm sort of slowly filling in those gaps.
I'm going to go ahead and whip up Chapter 11 now. We are still in the Silver-Emerald Colloid Collusion arc, just for the record. I'm not finished yet :)
Thanks for commenting, faving, alerting and everything else in between!