Chapter 14: Naked Truths

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(Thanks going out to Beaker (Love you too!), Aizenfan6969 (The next one's on the way!), Tiffany91 (I was listening to Byakuya's Japanese voice actor singing as him while writing. Awesome! Hey, the first chapter of your long ago requested story should be ready tomorrow, hopefully along with another chapter of this!), Picklez80 (What's funny is that although I know in general how things will go, weaving the pieces together leave me on the edge of my seat too!), TehWonderer (Will do!), Sariniste (Whew! Got through this one. It was a little harder to write because I had to think of how exactly to move the pieces all in complementary directions. I am glad you like the song. I enjoy writing poetry and occasionally find it handy in stories.), Yukino76 (Aizen is becoming aware that he is changing little by little, but he has some serious challenges. There are reasons that evil is inside of him.), PrivateCaller (I will be trying to weave in more Isshin and Bya interactions. They are funny!), Winterheart2000 (Tetsuya is understandably wary of Aizen, but he is also intrigued by him. The two are connecting in a way that surprises Tetsuya and has him asking a lot of questions. Those questions will lead in dangerous directions!), Jess0409 (Sleep? What is this 'sleep' you speak of?) and Enjali (Central 46 is...well...just I can't find the words...) Enjoy the new chapter! Happy holidays everyone, whatever you're celebrating! Love you, Spunky)

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The last of his duties seen to, Kuchiki Koji walked down an interior hallway of the main house of Kuchiki Manor. As he made his way along, his emerald colored eyes looked up at the paintings that decorated the walls, depicting historical scenes dating back as far as the soul king's first creation. He paused when he had reached a representation of the soul king's first incarnation.

I think of Tetsuya-sama whenever I see this painting of Hajime and the king.

He smiled sadly as his eyes traced the delicate looking lines of the Kuchiki progenitor's slender body, his dark blue eyes and the intensity of his expression as he regarded the king. In his hand, he held a bright blue steel sword.

His zanpakutou even looks like Tetsuya-sama's Re-kuhime. Except for the tsuba, of course. Tetsuya-sama's was in the shape of a drop of rain, symbolic of his use of the element, water. Hajime's is square and sectioned into four parts…a raindrop, a tongue of fire, a whirlwind and a hand sprinkling bits of soil. Hajime-sama's steed looks similar to Arashi, but is white instead of black and has the feathery wings and the sharp horn of an alicorn.

Looking at Hajime-sama makes me miss Tetsuya-sama even more.

He walked slowly towards his bedroom, his body weary and ready for sleep, but his heart aching with loss.

It doesn't feel like he has gone.

Koji's fingers sought a small, raindrop shaped pendant that hung at his throat.

I still feel his presence in my heart and in this protection charm he gave me after his powers went out of control during a night terror and he injured me. He gave this to me so that I couldn't be harmed by water or ice. I still feel power inside the charm, but it will slowly fade, now that he has died.

Koji glanced back down the hallway, then he turned, not into his own quarters, but into the hallway that led to the master suites. He proceeded past Byakuya's suite that had been given to Tetsuya upon his ascendance to leadership, to the smaller suite that had been Tetsuya's since his arrival at the manor following his emancipation from the prison. Koji smiled at the fact that it looked much the same as it had in the years Tetsuya had occupied the room.

He never moved all of his things, but left much here. And I know that sometimes he came in here to lie down, to close his eyes and remember. It was terrible for him after Byakuya-sama was reported killed. It was worse that there was no closure.

Koji stood in the doorway to the room, his mind going back to the night Tetsuya had arrived at the manor, and had been placed in the soft, warm bed and left in Koji's care.

"It is important that you realize that Tetsuya was born in the prison," Byakuya told him, "He has lived all of his life there and he has no idea of the expectations of civil life. He will be awkward and he may not be able to express to you that he just needs guidance. Be patient with him and do not make him feel distant from you. Be kind to him and explain things that you do and why you do them. Whatever happens, make him feel accepted. However he began his life, he is a family member and must be treated with dignity and respect."

"Of course, Byakuya-sama," Koji said, bowing, "I will make sure that Tetsuya-san learns all he needs to know."

A tear slid down the attendant's soft cheek as his mind replayed each mistake and each lesson they had shared, from the shaky beginning to the end, where Tetsuya had faced his arranged wedding with the expected grace and empathy of a clan leader for his wife-to-be.

"Koji-san?"

Koji blinked in surprise at the presence of Kojika, framed by the open garden doors of Tetsuya's old room.

"I thought you had gone home, Kojika-sama," he said, brushing the tear away.

"My father was meeting with the elders here," Kojika explained, "They are staying the night."

"Are they?" the attendant asked, frowning, "I wonder why Matsuko-san did not assign me to attend them."

Kojika smiled and took his hand in hers.

"I think Matsuko-san believes you are working too hard, trying to keep yourself from thinking about him."

Koji sighed.

"I suppose I am," he admitted, "It's just hard to believe that he isn't coming back. Tetsuya-sama had grown so strong and so brave, I just never thought."

Koji's emerald eyes closed and his head bowed.

"But he always said that he owed Byakuya-sama for giving him his freedom that day and saving his life. Tetsuya-sama left us the way he would have wanted to…protecting the one he loved most dearly."

"He was a kind and loyal person," Kojika recalled, "And when I was afraid because we were going to be forced to marry, he was gentle and reassuring. It was like he understood exactly how I felt and he spoke to my heart. I know he did not ever want to marry a woman, but I could have loved him, Koji-san, if we had married."

"I think he would have loved you too," Koji reflected, "Tetsuya-sama only feared hurting you. He saw too much in the prison. It left him determined never to see harm done, especially to women or children."

"He knew too well the evil of hatred that those people had," Kojika agreed, "My father has told me. And I learned a secret from Tsuna-san. I will tell you because Tetsuya-sama trusted you, but you must not tell anyone, Koji-san! Do you promise?"

"Of course," Koji promised.

Kojika moved in close to whisper conspiratorially. Koji caught his breath softly at her sweet scent and her closeness, and he turned his head slightly, so she couldn't see the little blush that came onto his face.

"Tsuna-san told me that she didn't always live in the Rukongai," Kojika whispered, "She told me that a long time ago, she was a prisoner in Itamigiri."

"What?" Koji exclaimed.

"Shh! You promised, Koji-san!" Kojika scolded him.

"Sorry. I was just very surprised. You say that Tsuna-san was a prisoner with Tetsuya-sama? Did they know each other?"

"Yes. She knew that Tetsuya-sama would probably recognize her when she came to us, but she said that her dreams haunted her after she met us in the Rukongai, so that is why she accepted work with my father and came here. She had a vision that made her go with Tetsuya-sama when he went to save Byakuya-sama and Ichigo-sama."

"She is lucky to have come back alive," Koji said sadly, "I hear she protected Rukia-san when she fell from her horse."

"I overheard that she came face to face with Aizen Sousuke, and she used her illusion on him!"

Koji's eyes widened.

"She must be powerful to do that."

"She is. That's why I offered to let her stay and serve Byakuya-sama. She feels bad that Tetsuya-sama was lost, and she wishes to carry on protecting them as he would have wanted."

"That is…incredible news," Koji whispered, "I shall make sure she is given a room near Torio and me. Did Byakuya-sama indicate that he would accept her as a bodyguard?"

"He still needs to meet her. He messaged my father to say that he wanted her to remain in Karakura Town with them. You should go there."

"What?" Koji said, looking surprised, "Oh, I can't. I am…"

"You are what?" Kojika asked, crossing her arms, "Staying here and being sad, Koji-san?"

"W-well…"

"I know you really miss Tetsuya-sama," Kojika said, taking his hand in hers, "And I think you should be with other people who are missing him too. Go to Karakura Town, Koji-san."

Koji looked back at her with a thoughtful expression. Kojika gave him a cute smirk.

"Besides, I also know something else about Tsuna-san."

"What?" Koji asked.

"She likes you."

"Wh-what?" Koji asked, looking startled as the young woman flash stepped away laughing merrily, "Kojika-sama!"

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Byakuya turned off the guest room light and joined Ichigo in bed, curling up next to him and nuzzling his cheek affectionately.

"Did you have fun meeting my sisters?" Ichigo chuckled, "I know Karin was a little loud. She's like that. I thought Yuzu was going to hang onto you, talking to you all night."

"She is an affectionate person. She was pleasant to talk to."

"Well, she couldn't get enough of you. Did you really like what she made? I know it wasn't gourmet or anything, but…"

"It was exceptional. She has obviously spent time learning how to cook well," Byakuya assured him.

"Are you sure?" Ichigo said skeptically, "You're not just being nice because she's my sister?"

"Of course not," Byakuya said dismissively, "And I will be honest that your friend, Orihime's, dessert was…"

"It was awful!" Ichigo snickered, "I tried to warn you. You were really nice to her about it, though."

"You also ate it without complaint," Byakuya pointed out.

"Yeah, but I'm knocked up, so I don't mind eating just about anything," Ichigo laughed, "I feel bad for you, though."

"It was only good manners to be polite and to say nothing negative. Besides, the young lady did stabilize our baby and make sure he was all right, while you and I were unconscious. I am grateful to her."

"I am too, but I don't know if we need to be that grateful, eh?"

"You seem to be in good spirits," Byakuya said in a pleased tone.

"Yeah," Ichigo said, nodding, "I do feel better. I guess it's getting back to where it feels like home. It was a little weird stuffing myself into a gigai, since I couldn't use my human body while I'm like this."

"You will be able to use your human body again, soon enough," Byakuya assured him.

"I don't know. Kon's so used to animating it, he might just wanna keep it."

"I will help you take it back," Byakuya said, his eyes betraying a hint of lust.

"What a guy," Ichigo breathed, nipping at his lips, "I'm lucky."

"I am much more fortunate," Byakuya whispered, making a line of kisses up the side of his throat. He sank into Ichigo's mouth hungrily, his hands shaking slightly as he forced himself to hold back taking things any farther.

"Byakuya?" Ichigo panted softly, "gods, I really, really want you."

"I know, anata," Byakuya answered, burrowing into his husband's shoulder, "but it is too soon. I do not want to hurt you."

"But you want me too. I can feel that. I just want you to touch me."

Byakuya nodded.

"I will touch you, but I will not penetrate you," he promised.

Warm fingers traced Ichigo's soft cheek, following the line of his jaw, then sliding along his throat, where Byakuya had been kissing him. Ichigo sighed and closed his eyes, enjoying the gentle brushing of his lover's hands as Byakuya gently caressed his shoulders and chest, carefully avoiding direct contact with his husband's erogenous zones. Byakuya's comely face rubbed against his, and handsome grey eyes held Ichigo's as Byakuya's hands curved over his belly, infusing the area with stabilizing reiatsu. His lips touched Ichigo's brow, then cheek, then lips and Byakuya smiled as he realized that Ichigo had drifted off to sleep. He curled up against Ichigo's side and dropped off quickly.

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Well aware of the continued touch of the eyes that observed him, Tetsuya left the tower and strayed out into the tower gardens, his mind wandering back to Aizen's words from earlier in the day.

"Do you know the song's origin?"

"No."

"Byakuya did."

"Did he?"

"It was the oldest known love song, made by Hajime, for his king."

Tetsuya walked along a small, rushing stream, following it until it came to a larger waterfall. He stood at the top, looking down and thinking. Several moments later, his soft voice augmented by the sound of the falling water, he began to sing.

Beneath the crawling vine, near the blooming rose,

Beside the reaching sakura, where the silvery stream flows,

This is where I'll meet you, at the setting sun,

When you put your cares away, when your work is done.

I will be the breath of wind that lifts your silken strands,

I will be the one to soothe your heart with healing hands.

Your narrowed eyes watch over the world. Mine watch over you,

You lay out the pathway, I will keep it true.

Aizen's watching eyes widened as a soft, blue mist rose and swirled around Tetsuya's body, making his yukata disappear and revealing his slender, naked body while he continued to sing.

Night comes just as sure as day and our time comes now too,

In light, I am your shadow, At dark, lie down with you.

Round and round our worlds will turn and in the black collide

When the sun comes up again, it finds us side by side.

But if you get lost in dreams, and in nightmares entwined,

I will throw the curtain back and your hands unbind.

Only 'tween your parted lips, let my name reveal,

The samurai to keep you safe with heart and sword and shield.

A sound of surprise escaped Aizen Sousuke's lips as mist swirled in the shape of the mentioned armaments, and for a moment, Tetsuya took on the consort's shape, standing at the side of a white mist horse and holding his blue steel sword ready. His gaze intensified as he honed in on the sword in Tetsuya's hand.

Whatever darkness closes in, whatever demons seek you,

Air and Water, Fire and Earth will in balance keep you.

You gave the power to these hands to keep these forces stable,

No matter the evil threatening, together we are able.

"Air and water, fire and earth," Aizen repeated, focusing closely on the raised markings on sword's silvery tsuba, "It is a full elemental blade."

Day by day and night by night, from the start to end,

I will be there at your side, on my strength depend.

From the worlds' beginning and through all their days,

We will be the love and light that nothing e'er betrays.

…We will be the love and light that nothing e'er betrays…

Tetsuya let the last words trail off and he sent the mist swirling more fiercely around him before shaping it into a royal blue yukata the wrapped itself around him and he tied at his waist. He stood quietly as Aizen stepped out of the nearby trees and joined him in looking down into the splashing water at the base of the waterfall.

"That was lovely," Aizen complemented him, "You bring Hajime back to life sometimes, and…your performance gave me several insights."

"Oh?" Tetsuya inquired softly, breathing in the misted air.

"The references to air, fire, earth and water," Aizen went on, "Hajime had a full elemental sword, didn't he?"

"I am not sure," Tetsuya admitted, "I did notice in paintings he was shown with a sword that had markings for each element on the handle. But there is no way to know if that bit of the story is truth or myth."

"His song also mentions balancing," Aizen continued, "The elements may reflect different kinds of life. The king crafted beings from the elements and loosed them into the worlds. It may have been Hajime's responsibility to give balance to the elements that formed different kinds of life. He was made in the king's gardens and he remained connected to them. Your relatives all have the ability to make things grow, even where they should not."

Tetsuya frowned, still keeping his blue eyes focused on the falling water.

"Why are you so interested in this? Is it just because of the visions we have had?"

"Everything happens for a reason," Aizen said, moving closer to him, but carefully not touching him, "We have had these visions for a reason. Those visions caused me to realize that Ichigo was not the one I was meant to be with."

"What?" Tetsuya said, turning and giving him a surprised look, "I thought you enjoyed keeping Ichigo-sama as your sex slave."

"He was not a sex slave," Aizen countered, "Ichigo was perfectly happy with me. I treated him very well and I never hurt him at all."

"That is a lie," Tetsuya objected, "One without will cannot feel honestly. Only one whose heart is left free can truly love. And forcing someone into submission is not loving them. I was forced for years to submit to the will of my horrible cousin, Orochi."

"But he hurt you, Tetsuya."

"You did hurt Ichigo," Tetsuya insisted, "You know what state he is in now."

"That is because…"

"That is because the lie of your love was revealed and the truth of his love for Byakuya-sama overcame your lies. So, I would ask. Do you intend to repeat your lies with me?"

"No."

Tetsuya gave him a skeptical look. He watched as the elder man's hand extended and his fingertips touched the hougyoku embedded in Tetsuya's chest.

"There is no lying when it comes to you."

"You are attracted to me?" Tetsuya asked, "Is this just because of this thing in my chest? Is it because I resemble Kuchiki Hajime? Is it because you still ache with loneliness, Aizen Sousuke? I want to know. What exactly do you want from me?"

Tetsuya blushed and bowed his head as the elder man's hand curved around his face.

"I have become obsessed with everything you are, Kuchiki Tetsuya…you, not Hajime. I want to explore every part of you. I want to know all of your secrets. And I want to do this with your blessing, Tetsuya. Tell me honestly that you have no interest in me at all…that the visions haven't made you equally curious. You have looked into my eyes and seen more deeply than I have allowed anyone to ever look."

"I looked and I saw evil," Tetsuya said somberly.

"Yes," Aizen agreed, "You see it and you actually think that it doesn't belong there, don't you?"

Tetsuya looked back at him with a haunted expression.

"No one can change another person to be what they want," he said firmly, "I will not try to change you."

"No," Aizen agreed, "But you will understand me, and if you are right and that evil doesn't belong inside me, maybe, Kuchiki Tetsuya, you are the one who can do something about it."

"What are you saying?" Tetsuya asked, looking confused, "I still don't know what you want from me."

Tetsuya reeled with colliding sensations of danger and the feeling of coming home as Aizen Sousuke's arms curled gently around him and his lips touched Tetsuya's tenderly.

"I want you…heart and sword and shield."