Chapter 10: Tug-of-War
Byakuya felt warm fingers touch the band on his wrist, then the welcome fading of some of the heavy reiatsu drain it had caused before. Aizen gave him a look of warning as he helped the noble to his feet and led him out of the cave they had been sleeping in.
"I have lessened the hold of the reiatsu draining device over you so that you can walk and do not have to be carried. But make no mistake, it will still bind you enough that if you waste energy on excessive talk or a pitiful escape attempt, you will not succeed."
Byakuya sighed and fell in alongside Aizen, quietly accepting the traitor's arm around him to steady him against the continued weakness the device was still causing.
"You are able to walk in the sand now, ne?"
Byakuya simply nodded and leaned against the other man as the two made their way forward.
"Won't leaving me stumbling allow my allies time to catch up to us?" he offered wearily.
"You have forgotten that Tetsuya's stallion has been affected by my power," Aizen said in an unconcerned tone, "Arashi will not be able to track us."
Byakuya's head bowed and his brow furrowed in thought.
But…Arashi does know where he has been. He can lead Tetsuya to the last known point and my cousin can make a guess at where we are going, by extending the line of our progress. There is still hope.
"Very well," he sighed softly, allowing himself to be guided forward.
He felt Aizen's dark eyes watching him closely as they continued in the direction of the ancient palace. They moved forward slowly through the cold, dark sand with Aizen's arm around him and steadying him. After several hours of walking, Aizen slowed and looked off to the left of their pathway.
"We are near an old outpost," Aizen commented, "Come, there may still be provisions if it wasn't discovered and plundered after I left here."
Byakuya went along wordlessly, stumbling slightly from the weariness that nagged at him constantly because of the reiatsu limiter he wore. By the time they reached the secret entrance to the old outpost, he simply collapsed and was forced to endure being lifted and carried inside. As Aizen's arms pulled him close, Byakuya's hazy eyes caught sight of a nearby rise and a little cliff, just a short distance away from the entrance.
"You should have told me that you were tired," Aizen chided him, "I could have given you time to rest."
"I assume that rest is safer here," Byakuya surmised, looking around at the seemingly untouched shelter.
Aizen set him carefully back on his feet and adjusted the limiter slightly.
"There is a shower," he mentioned, "We are covered in dust. We can eat after."
Aizen gave the noble a sly smile.
"There are limited supplies of water, so we will bathe together," he said, loosening the tie at his waist and letting his clothing slide to the floor.
Byakuya showed no reaction as the traitor pulled free the tie at his waist, baring him, then taking his hand and leading him to the bathroom. The shower turned out to be small and just functional, but a lurid sigh of relief escaped the noble as hot water rained down on his filthy hair and skin. A little jolt went through him as he realized that Aizen had made a similar sound and had closed his eyes to savor the comfort. Exhausted from the long walk, Byakuya stood quietly, watching as Aizen lathered his body in foaming soap, scrubbing every inch, then carefully washing his hair. As he rinsed the soap away, he caught the noble staring, and he gave Byakuya a wicked grin.
"Ah, you are quite weary, aren't you?" he commented, "But, I dare not weaken the limiter on you any more than I already have. You could escape."
"I am not going to escape," Byakuya argued, "I know that the only way to resolution is to move forward with you. And…I can take care of myself."
"Oh, that wouldn't do at all," Aizen insisted, moving closer and applying the foaming soap to the noble's back and shoulders.
Byakuya flinched at the first touch, but swiftly found himself unable to resist the strong caress of the other man's hands.
"You are enjoying this," Aizen mused as he felt Byakuya's body relax into his embrace.
"I just hate being dirty," the noble said, matter-of-factly, "I am accustomed at home to having an attendant bathe me. In addition, I find that I am to weakened to do a proper job myself right now."
"Then, let me take care of you," Aizen teased him, sliding a warm palm down his wet, soapy back and around the sweet curve of his bare bottom, where he lingered as he lowered his head to meet the noble for a kiss.
Byakuya stepped back, only to find himself backed up against the wall of the small shower, and his mouth being invaded roughly, as Aizen's hands continued to slide over his slick, white flesh.
"Mmmmph, stop!" he snapped, trying to pull away.
He stiffened at hearing a little whisper in his ear.
"Keep resisting me. I am going to rile the hogyoku purposely."
Byakuya was sure he couldn't have made himself hold still anyway, as Aizen's mouth clamped down on his and the man's hot, probing tongue plunged in between the noble's stiffened lips, forcing its way inside and plundering every inch. Aizen's fingers lingered over the soapy nubs on Byakuya's heaving chest, teasing them until the resisting noble's privates rebelled against him. Byakuya gapsed as Aizen's body pressed up harder against his, and one hand slid downward to touch and tease his virgin entrance.
"S-stop!" Byakuya hissed, closing his eyes against the helplessness he felt to avoid what he was sure was coming next, "Sousuke, stop!"
What are you doing? The hogyoku's voice demanded, You remember our agreement!
Aizen's lips curved into a devilish smile.
I remember, he sent back, his hands continuing to prepare Byakuya's trapped body, But this is too much for any long deprived male to bear. Such loveliness. Such sweetness and softness. You paid no real price going to Muken, because, as you said, you could just avoid feeling my pain and discomfort. The hands of the guards never hurt you as they beat me. You never delved into my suffering that way, not for a moment. You invaded my past because it was necessary, but it wasn't useful to you to know how it hurt to be a prisoner. Now, you see that it made my needs so great that I can't resist this temptation. We will find another virgin to use for the ceremony. I am taking Byakuya now. You, of course, may involve yourself, so as to feel it too, or you can close yourself off.
The orb in his chest seethed.
No! Do not dare! Do not touch him or I will…!
Aizen's brown eyes darkened dangerously as he caressed Byakuya's soft thigh and the noble's limb trembled in response.
You see, Aizen went on, even with you trying to steal him away, Byakuya is drawn to me. The resonance is strong between Byakuya and me, not Byakuya and you.
The orb in his chest flashed warningly and Byakuya's body quivered as a shock passed through him, leaving him barely able to stand.
Stop, the hogyoku hissed, Stop, or I will kill him. I will murder him while you hold him!
Byakuya shuddered as Aizen's hands captured his face and angled it downward so that the hogyoku could register the terrified look in his eyes.
"You see, Byakuya," Aizen said aloud, "You heard for yourself how easily it was manipulated and how easily it turned from desiring you to wanting to end your life. Now, do you really think that a thing like that deserves any fate, but destruction?"
"Sousuke," Byakuya objected.
He shrank away as Aizen leaned forward, bringing the orb closer, so that it was nearly touching the noble's pale breast. Byakuya shrank back, struggling.
"S-sousuke, don't!" he gasped.
Byakuya, the orb's voice spoke into the noble's reeling mind, You are…afraid of me? I've made you fear me?
"Why wouldn't Byakuya fear you?" Aizen asked pointedly, "He felt your anger, your jealousy, your hatred, and he heard you threaten to kill him, just to keep me from touching him."
"Damn you both!" Byakuya howled, tearing free of Aizen's grasp and inciting a look of surprise on the traitor's face as he burst out of the shower, grabbing his dressing yukata and defying the restraint of the limiter as he ran for the entrance to the outpost.
I will probably pass out soon, because of the strain on my body, but if I can just reach it!
He ran up the rise he had spotted earlier, his heart pounding as he sensed Aizen following.
Just don't let him catch me for a few more steps. Kami, please!
He forced his feet to keep moving, despite the rising feeling of nausea and intense dizziness. He took the final few steps to the edge of the little cliff he had seen upon their arrival, and used the last of his strength to throw himself over the edge. His vision dimmed and he began to lose consciousness. The last thing he heard was Sousuke Aizen screaming his name.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Hey," Kisuke greeted Tetsuya and Renji as the two flash stepped into his laboratory and skidded to a stop, "you two are back pretty quick. Did you find something?"
"There was nothing telling in the area we went to search," said Tetsuya, "and I did not sense that Arashi was there."
"But ol' fleabag did show up while we were there," Renji reported excitedly, "And he says that he remembers where he went with Byakuya and someone that he thought was Tetsuya!"
"It was probably Aizen, using his illusions," Tetsuya added, "We are heading out now to trace their path, and from that, we should be able to figure out where they are going."
"Fleabag said that Byakuya seemed weak, barely able to walk on his own."
"Do you know if it was from an injury?" Kisuke asked.
"We aren't sure," Tetsuya said worriedly, "What is especially worrisome is that if Aizen was making a play for avoiding a return to the prison, he should have made contact with Central 46, the Gotei 13 or the Kuchiki family to bargain for Byakuya's safe return."
"Kinda sounds like Aizen doesn't plan to return him, doesn't it?" Kisuke said, furrowing his brow in thought, "We need to get into the desert and find out where they were going."
"Wouldn't Aizen probably head for Las Noches?" Renji asked, "Or would that be too obvious?"
"It's an obvious destination," Kisuke agreed, "but even so, if he's got his powers, Aizen is more than capable of regaining control of the fortress and setting up defenses. If that is his destination, we need to move fast to catch up with him and stop him."
"But, if he's got his powers, how in the hell are we going to stop him? You remember what it took before to get him?"
"Oh, I remember," Kisuke sighed, "But don't worry. We're all significantly stronger than we were when we faced him before. Besides, you and Tetsuya are going to have some serious help."
"Oh?" Tetsuya and Renji said, exchanging curious glances.
Kisuke nodded.
"Ichigo and I will go too. And we'll bring Orihime along to treat whatever injuries Byakuya might have sustained. We're going to have to leave quickly. I'll have Tessai help me get some provisions together. Orihime and Ichigo are already here. You can go and tell her what's up while I go and talk to Ichigo."
"I could go and tell Ichigo, if you need to see to the provisions as well," Tetsuya offered.
"Well, I might take you up on that," Kisuke said, smirking, "except that Ichigo's kinda naked and cuddled up in my bed, at the moment."
Tetsuya blushed brightly and Kisuke laughed.
"Hey, don't you tease my husband," Renji chided the shopkeeper.
"Sorry," Kisuke laughed, good naturedly, "Couldn't help myself."
"It's all right, Mr. Urahara," Tetsuya said gamely.
"How many times do I have to tell you? It's Kisuke."
"Come on," Renji said, curling an arm around his flustered spouse, "Let's go and find Orihime."
Kisuke watched the two as they left.
"You know not to take that guy seriously," Renji said, nuzzling Tetsuya affectionately.
"Except when we are all in danger. Then he is one hundred percent serious."
"You've got it," Renji said, leading Tetsuya away.
"Cute," the shopkeeper snickered, heading out of his lab and down the hallway to his bedroom.
He pushed the door open and peeked inside.
Ichigo laid in the bed, naked under the blankets and curled around a pile of soft pillows. He stirred as Kisuke approached the bed and opened one golden brown eye to look up at him.
"What's goin' on?" the young man asked, yawning and looking at the clock, "Damn! I didn't mean to sleep so long. Why didn't you wake me up?"
"You seemed pretty tired after all of our lovemaking," Kisuke said, smirking, "I was being nice, strawberry."
"Yeah?" Ichigo laughed softly, "Well, I've got more. C'mon to bed."
"Sorry, lover," Kisuke apologized, "We have something we've gotta do."
Ichigo sat up in the bed, his expression suddenly serious.
"Did Tetsuya and Renji find something?"
"Yeah," the shopkeeper confirmed, "They didn't find anything at in the wooded area Tetsuya remembered, but Arashi caught up with them there and told them that he had been in Hueco Mundo with Byakuya and someone he thought was Tetsuya, but was probably Aizen, using his illusions. He said Byakuya seemed weak, like he could be injured, or maybe Aizen is just really restricting his reiatsu because he knows Byakuya's gotten more powerful."
"So, we're going to Hueco Mundo?" Ichigo inquired.
"Yeah," Kisuke confirmed, "Arashi will take us to the last place he remembers them being, and we will try to figure out from that just where Aizen was going. He might be heading for Las Noches."
"That would make sense, if he was looking for a place to dig in and fight off the Gotei 13."
"My thinking too, but just to be sure, we'll follow where Arashi carried them first. We're not going to beat them to Las Noches anyway, if that's their destination. And if it's not their destination, at least we'll know and we can make some guesses about where they are headed."
"You look like you'd rather they were going to the fortress," Ichigo noted.
"Yeah," the shopkeeper admitted, "because, if they are going to the fortress and Aizen's digging in, then Byakuya has value as a hostage, and Aizen will keep him alive."
"What if they're headed somewhere else?" asked Ichigo, "What then?"
"I don't know if we wanna think about that," Kisuke said darkly, "Remember, I've got quite a bit of knowledge about that place, especially since we've been on better terms with Grimmjow and Harribel over there. There's a whole lot of not nice places, things and twisted hollows out there. I don't like Byakuya's prospects if Aizen has something else in mind for him."
"What do you think he would do?" Ichigo asked worriedly, "You think he'll kill Byakuya?"
"There are worse things than death," Kisuke said, lowering his eyes, "I think you know that, don't you?"
"Yeah," Ichigo answered, climbing out of the bed and reaching for his clothes, "So, let's get going."
"Hey," Kisuke said somberly, "Just remember that you're still not one hundred percent yet. You're recovering really well. We don't want you blowing out your spark plugs and leaving yourself powerless again. We just got you back in working order."
"Don't worry," Ichigo assured him, "I'll be careful. But I'm going to help Byakuya."
"I'm going too!" Rukia said from the doorway.
Ichigo gave a surprised yelp and ducked his half-dressed body behind a grinning Kisuke.
"Oh, come on," Rukia scolded him, "I've seen you without your clothes before. It's not like there's anything I'd want to see."
"Whoa! That's a little harsh, don't you think?" Ichigo complained.
Rukia rolled her eyes.
"Get ready, will you? Byakuya is out there somewhere and he needs our help. You aren't going to help him if you're hiding behind your boyfriend."
"You wanna scram then?" Ichigo snapped, "I'll finished getting dressed and I'll be right there."
"Whatever," Rukia sighed, turning away, "Just hurry up."
Ichigo watched her leave, then turned his attention back to his clothing.
"She really needs to lighten up," he grumbled.
"She's worried," Kisuke said, looking in the direction that Rukia had gone, "And she should be. Aizen on the loose, using his powers and maybe having use of the hogyoku is not something we want to have to deal with. And having Byakuya as his hostage makes it even worse. I'm someone who can calculate odds and figure out thousands of possibilities…and I'm telling you, Ichigo, there are just too damned many ways that this could go wrong!"