A/N: Sorry for the long absence. I'm currently focused on migrating to AO3 as I find it more user friendly. Please follow me there - username: Kicktokill
I plan to continue post this story and Adore here (and all the on-going stories - they will be posted in both websites), and maintain this account. But for future new stories, all of them will be posted at AO3.
I hope you still enjoy this story.
Chapter 24 - Cupidity
Kira
A few months ago things were simpler. Painful, but simpler.
Before the war, before the ryoka showed up, life was unbearable, but he kept going. Everyday waking up earlier than necessary, drinking his tea in the darkness of his kitchen. He never ate anything before going to his office. The thought of eating made him sick, actually the thought of going to work and face Ichimaru made him ill. The ache and marks in his back and hips, reminding him of the night before. It was disgusting and humiliating. But he still went to work… Why was that? Maybe because the routine calmed his senses, maybe because he felt things would never change, couldn't change. There was nothing else in his life anyway. Going to work was the only thing that kept him going. Maybe he was a masochist who relied on Ichimaru to make him feel something other than disgust… But disgust was the only thing he felt, and that was a constant.
However, things did change – the betrayal happened -, and Izuru still continued his routine. Waking up early while it was still night, drinking his tea alone, walking to his office. There was no dreadful feeling anymore, knowing that he wouldn't be there. He left and abandon him without saying goodbye, and it didn't faze him, actually he felt temporarily stronger. It gave him the strength to continue waking up everyday. There was still a disgusting feeling in his stomach, but easier to bear.
The past few weeks had been different though, and they were wonderful. Waking up next to the one he loved, his back still aching but with a fond memory of the care he received. Having an actual breakfast with him, made by him… It was surreal. Hisagi Shuuhei was his lover, and took care of him like no one did.
They made love almost everyday. In the days they didn't, they would still be together, hugging and cuddling, Shuuhei's arms circling him and bring him close to the wonderful warmth. Izuru didn't know how sexual he was until he started dating Shuuhei. He had fantasies and many lonely nights using his hand and regret afterwords for tainting the image of his then-friend. These changes, though, affected him greatly. Izuru loved Shuuhei, loved his body, his hands, his smell, his tongue. He loved feeling the brunet's weight on him, his legs being spread and feeling him inside making him whole. Hisagi was as sexual as him, and he didn't understand how lucky he was. Izuru asked himself if it was all a dream. A dream that had a horrible end, a dream that turned into a nightmare.
Things now were still painful, maybe even more. They were not simple anymore. Izuru had a taste of what was paradise, and now that he lost it, it ache more than ever.
Grimmjow looked at him, expecting an answer. Izuru wasn't even sure if his opinion mattered. Grimmjow was rude, loud, and assertive. He never asked, he demanded. The blond's answer shouldn't matter, but Grimmjow waited. His blue eyes piercing right through him. Strangely, Izuru wasn't scared as before. Grimmjow now looked at him in the eye, and treated him different from that time in the cave. It had been a long time since then… He wondered why the Espada treated him better than before.
Ulquiorra was no where in sight, neither was Kuchiki-taichou. Both were in another area of the hideout. Grimmjow had trapped Izuru there and spoke lower than usual, contrasting with his usual louder self.
"I don't know" Izuru simply replied.
Grimmjow shifted slightly, his hands in his pockets. This wasn't the answer he was wanted, Izuru could tell.
"There's no other way. When the time comes, you have to do it."
Izuru was not sure anymore of what he was suppose to do.
"I will be exiled, or even executed..."
"You can stay here," Grimmjow said. Izuru looked surprise. Staying at Hueco Mundo?
"Seireitei would never allow."
"Fuck Seireitei." Grimmjow puffed, "You shinigami think too much. For them, you came willingly to Hueco Mundo, they're going to kill you anyway. In here, they need to go through us."
Izuru was strangely flattered. He had two strong Espada on his side. It was too good to be true.
"What's so good about that place, anyway?"
He looked at Grimmjow. That place was where is life was, Shuuhei was there. Grimmjow would never understand that. Still, Izuru couldn't deny that the enemy was too powerful and that there was a chance of them not being able to defeat them.
"I will think about it."
Grimmjow sighted annoyed. The clap on the wall startled Izuru. Grimmjow's arm was stretch against the wall cornering Izuru in between. He leaned down and lowly spoke. "Stop thinking, and act. Don't screw things up."
Izuru knew that he probably was already treated as an official traitor. That he was going to be fired and sentenced. He wasn't stupid or delusional, but leaving Soul Society was not what he wanted. His plan was to solve this situation with the Negativa, that would be only way to clear his name. Even if he was dropped out from Seireitei, he would still be in Soul Society. He would return and be with Shuuhei. That is if Shuuhei still wanted him.
He vaguely remembered his lover calling his name, his handsome face cut and covered in blood. The faint sound of an infant crying surrounded them. He was panicking, just like that day so long ago when he lost his friends and Abarai, Momo and him helped. Shuuhei was so afflicted…
The memories were dark after that.
They were able to make contact with Urahara in the outpost. He was relieved that it wasn't the 12th Squad who answered their distress call. Despite of the shopkeeper being a strange man, he was an ally and he could help them.
For this reason, he was surprised when he saw Kuchiki Rukia and Hisagi. His heart fluttered as he saw the brunet walking towards him. His knees gave up and suddenly he realized: Hisagi came for him.
Hisagi knelt with him, and hugged him tightly, ignoring everyone around. The blond closed his eyes taking in the smell, and circled his arms around Hisagi waist. He felt weak, his hands trembled. All the ideas about facing the enemy, Grimmjow's plan, were meaningless in this moment.
Hisagi came for him.
Izuru hated himself for the damage he did. Shuuhei's forehead was bandaged and so was his cheek. The bandages continued along his neck and arms, hands, fingers… And he was the one who hurt him…
His insides ache, everything blurred around him. He mumbled apologies and Hisagi just continued embracing him, assuring him it was ok and it wasn't his fault.
After he calmed down, he let Shuhei take him to the same place he was before with Grimmjow. Hisagi opened his yukata and analyzed his chest. He had tried to heal himself, but it still looked ugly. Feeling his lover touching him was out of this world.
"Is Matsumoto-san's baby alright?"
Shuuhei gently smiled and Izuru melted. He missed his face so much. The way his lips curled. Was Shuuhei really his?
"He's fine, don't worry."
Izuru sighted in relief. He leaned against the wall. Shuuhei still smiled, the glint in his eyes faded as he raised his hand pulling Izuru's hair out of his eye.
"Shuuhei, tell me what I did."
"Izuru..."
"Please."
He stayed quiet as Shuuhei told him the severity of his actions, the amount of deaths he caused. Every piece of information he received hit him in the gut to the point he became numb. Soutaichou would never forgive him.
"Urahara-san said he can provide untraceable gigais, and find us a place to hide."
Blue eyes widen in surprise.
"Us?"
"Yes, us," Shuuhei said with no hesitation. "I won't leave you."
Nothing could hold the emotions running inside. Hisagi wanted to stay with him, even with all the atrocities he committed.
"You can't," Izuru stated. "Your life-"
"You are my life."
He didn't deserve Hisagi. Izuru looked up at the great man in front of him.
It was unfair that he finally had Shuuhei, when things as they knew were going to end. Izuru leaned his face against his lover's chest, both sitting on the floor, holding each other.
Izuru was a monster. A killer, an unwilling servant of the enemy, a liar, a betrayer. Hisagi Shuuhei said that he was his life, that he would give up everything for him. However, Shuuhei didn't know him. The things he did in the past, his conversation with Grimmjow… And he wasn't going to know, because Izuru was a coward. The thought of stopping having Shuuhei in his life was unacceptable. For this reason he would continue being the deceiver he was.
He closed his eyes frowning. What could he do that wouldn't affect this relationship? Why was he always losing everything he had; and was involved in situations that he didn't want?
"Izuru?"
"Yes?"
"Are you okay? You're hurting me." Izuru let him go once he realized that he was gripping Hisagi's waist hard. He didn't even notice.
"I'm sorry. I was just thinking."
Shuuhei didn't say anything trying to read him like he always did. Always did. Looking back, he always took care of the blond, and what did Izuru ever did for Shuuhei? Why did Shuuhei even liked him?
"I know you're worried," Hisagi said, "but we are going to make it together. We'll stay in the Human world and elope, just the two of us."
Izuru chuckled when he heard the word elope.
"We'll get a place for us, a big house, and we can even adopt a kid," his words were soothing.
Izuru's heart, what was this dream? He couldn't answer anything.
The brunet gently smiled, "Or several kids." he continued "All I know is that I need you in my life. Seireitei or not I will follow you."
"Why?" the blond finally had the courage to ask.
"Because I love you," Shuuhei replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I already told you, nothing will keep me away from you. Nothing."
"I'm a bad person, Hisagi-san, I'm a muderer." the sudden change in the name visibly afflicted Shuuhei, but he quickly recovered.
"No as bad as me. Trust me. All the bad things you think you did were not under your control. I have done worse, and because I wanted. We all have skeletons in our closets, I don't care about yours. I know you, the real you and nothing will change my mind about that. Nothing will make me stop loving you."
Izuru kissed him and was kissed back immediately.
He truly didn't deserve this man.
Lurking from outside the room, Grimmjow scowled.
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"The Negativa will be guarding the D area of Las Noches, behind Szayel's secret lab. This location is critical for them," Ulquiorra spoke.
"We can assume, that they're already preparing to absorb the Shi crystal," Urahara added.
"What if they already did it?" Ichigo asked.
"If they did, we would know by now. We are talking about a god-level energy boost. We will feel it."
Urahara continued.
"We are going to divide in two teams. Team one will be will be led by Kurosaki-kun, followed by Ishida-san, Kuchiki Rukia and Byakuya-san, and Hachigen. You'll be the one striking the D area upfront. The goal is to destroy the lab and keep the enemy busy.
"Team two will be led by me, followed by Kira-san, Hisagi-san, and our newly friends the Espada."
Grimmjow grunted at that.
"We are going to infiltrate through the main building. Ulquiorra has shared that there's a path that will take us directly to the control room. In there we'll disable the Forge."
"What is the Forge?" Shuuhei inquired.
"It's the platform where they are keeping the stone."
"How do we know that?"
"Because I helped building it," Ulquiorra replied. Shuuhei raised an eyebrow. Izuru knew that face, he was not happy working with the enemy. He hated the Arrancar.
"What about Lisa and Hyori?"Ichigo inquired again.
"They will be guarding the back exit. Most likely the enemy will try to flee, and we have a few surprises planned for them." Urahara replied.
"Hopefully we are the only ones with surprises," Rukia mumbled.
At that Izuru looked across the room at Grimmjow who was looking back at him.
No surprises, un? He was the worst.
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Shuuhei pushed him against the wall, kissing him fiercely. His hands traveled to his butt and then to his legs pulling him up. Izuru wrapped them around Shuuhei's waist, returning the force of the kiss. The brunet moaned as Izuru entwined his fingers in his hair and pulled.
In a few hours they were going to attack the Negativa. Most of the team was resting, but Shuuhei being himself, took him to the small storage room of the compound and started ravaging him with kisses.
Leaving his mouth, Shuuhei kissed his neck exactly where it felt best. Despite of the need to be quiet, Izuru couldn't stop the little sounds coming out of his mouth. He could feel Shuuhei was hard as he ground against him. They were just suppose to make out, not going further than that, but as things advanced, the blond knew that the other was past that. He knew that when Shuuhei started to breathe like he was now, he wouldn't stop. His hands were everywhere, and soon so his mouth. Shuuhei was that needy.
"I love you so much!" the brunet moaned.
"I love you too."
He continued being kissed. He was dropped slowly on the floor, Shuuhei's hand were on his hakama untying them.
"Shuuhei wait, we shouldn't."
"I want to make you feel good," the brunet said kissing him, his tongue invading his mouth. The hakama fell exposing his legs. Shuuhei's hand groped the bulge in an enticing way. Slowly he started going down, kissing his chest, stomach. Dropping on his knees, he untied the fundoshi, freeing Izuru's hard member.
The blond closed his eyes, as he felt himself being engulfed by Shuuhei. He hoped no one would hear them. He was so sensitive, as if it was his first time. With Shuuhei, it always felt like it was the first time. He couldn't control the sounds coming of me.
The tongue went everywhere, licking all it could. Izuru bit his lip as the other sucked, deepthroating him. He wanted to return the favor so badly. It didn't take long until he convulsed and climaxed in his lover's mouth. Everything went white, and unconsciously he knelt in front of Shuuhei, kissing him. The taste of himself lingered in his mouth and he moaned at that. Shuuhei sat on the floor pulling the blond to straddle him, never breaking the kiss. Their tongues twirled, as they swallowed each others groans.
Izuru untied the obi and loosened the black hakama enough to release Shuuhei's pulsing cock. Hands grabbed it, jerking up and down. Shuuhei's own hands roamed on his body, fondling his buttcheaks. Seconds after, he felt the pressure of a finger being pushed inside him.
He looked at the brunet who was still kissing him with closed eyes and flushed cheeks. He wanted more, Izuru knew it.
"Shuuhei..." his voice sounded tremulous. His breathing hitched as the finger inside him touched the right place. He whimpered against his lover's lips.
"Baby, I want to fuck you."
Izuru's eyes widen open. He never heard Shuuhei speaking like that with that ferocity, and it was an understatement to say this didn't arouse him to the extreme.
He pushed Shuuhei down and looked for ointment in his discarded hakama. It wasn't as good as lube, but it didn't matter anymore. He needed to… they had to… fuck.
The brunet watched him with glazed eyes as Izuru coated his member with the ointment. He returned the stare as he pulled himself up sliding and guided it to his entrance. He flinched at the sudden feeling of the head entering him. Shuuhei's hands gripped his hips down as he thrust up in a single move.
The blond cried out, waking Shuuhei from his daze. "I'm sorry." he sat up hugging the blond.
"I-It's alright, just… wait…"
Shuuhei nodded kissing him, waiting, and later started moving slowly. Izuru bit his lower lip again to not let any sounds out. Soon after, Izuru was pined against the wall as Shuuhei pounded lustfully, on his knees. The feeling was overwhelming, reasoning was entirely gone. He bit his lips until it bled. His lover looked at him and the red covered mouth, and leaned forwarded. The brunet licked them clean and sucked his lower lip drawing more blood.
Izuru whimpered. He was a mess. He wished he could stay with Shuuhei for eternity. He tried hard to not cry as he was taken to heaven.
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Shuuhei
Team one moved fast across the desert and soon disappeared from their sight.
The remaining went to a side entrance of the main building. They followed Grimmjow and Ulquiorra in silence. Once they were inside Las Noches, they traveled through hidden tunnels that connected different areas, for a while. They stopped once they reached the control room.
"Grimmjow take him with you," Ulquiorra said as he got inside.
The blue-haired Espada turned to Izuru.
"Let's go."
"Where?" Shuuhei asked. This wasn't mentioned before, they were not suppose to part ways.
"To access the Forge we need to disable the security system. I will do it, but it will take a while. I need someone to cover for me. The moment, I deactivate the commands from that area, they will know we're here. In the meantime, Grimmjow and Kira-sama will go to the Forge."
Kira-sama.
Before he could protest, Urahara replied.
"I will go with you two. I'm interested in seeing this Forge. Hisagi-san can you cover for Ulquiorra?"
"I prefer to go with-"
"Hisagi-san, it's okay," his blond replied. Again, the last name and suffix. Shuuhei understood it was all for appearances, but it still stung. When they were at Seireitei and had company, it was quite normal to call each other formally, but now… it's not like Urahara didn't know they were together, or what they were doing hours earlier.
He watched Izuru leave, feeling this uneasiness. The blond's back look broader. Izuru looked different, stronger. It was a great thing, but at the same time, he had a strange hunch. As if it was the last time he was going to see him. It was a stupid feeling, of course. He also felt the same, when Izuru disappeared through the garganta. He hated seeing him leave.
Shuuhei went inside the control room, where there were multiple screens around the room, and an enormous computer controlling them.
Ulquiorra pressed a few buttons and one of the screens showed the other three teammates walking away.
"How long until they reach the Forge?"
"No long," Ulquiorra kept pressing keyboards looking at different schematics in the screen. The largest monitor showed the drawing of a human being with seven balls surrounding them.
"What's this?" the Fukutaichou asked. The Espada ignored him as he continued typing. As he selected a file called Final_letter a new screen on the corner turned on with Ichimaru Gin on it.
'Hello Izuru. I guess I died if ya're watching this... That sucks...'
His heartbeat increased severely as he watched the video. He hated Ichimaru, he couldn't stand the idea that he was with Izuru, that he held him, that he hurt him. He hated Ichimaru for what he did to him as well. It was humiliating and for nothing. He wanted to protect Izuru, which he didn't, and Ichimaru… just wanted to show dominance, who was the main dog.
The more he spoke in the video, the sicker Shuuhei felt. Did his boyfriend see this as well? Probably not, or he would've mentioned, he would've told him about the video.
Ulquiorra was working behind, but he ignored as he continued to watch the video.
'I will tell ya somethin' that ya'll like to hear. Hisagi-kun likes ya too… '
Likes ya too…
Too…
"Son of a bitch," he breathed.
'I'm sorry and this time I'll say goodbye, 'cause this time I can finally tell ya that I love ya.'
He wanted to throw up.
How the fuck dare he? What a bunch of lies. He had to delete the video. He moved to console and pressed the button to delete. Izuru was never going to see this. He was his, and Ichimaru wasn't going to take him away from him.
"They arrived," Ulquiorra said ignoring whatShuuhei was doing and looking at the screen as the 3 men entered another room. Ulquiorra looked through the previous schematics reading them quickly and something caught Shuuhei's attention.
"Why is Kira's name in there?"
The cameras didn't follow the 3 men after they entered the room, and Ulquiorra continued to ignore his question.
"Where did they go? Put it back!" he demanded.
"There are no surveillance cameras in the Forge." Ulquiorra ignored him shutting down the computer, and left through a hidden door.
"Wait, where are you going?" Shuuhei followed him, but the Espada was fastand soon was gone from his walked through the tunnels, not sure where to go,it was a maze.
He shouldn't have let Izuru go, this was fishy from the beginning. That Espada Grimmjow was eyeing him weirdly from the beginning. At least, Urahara was there, there was no way they would catch him off guard.
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Kira
He felt terribly bad for not telling anything to Shuuhei, but he knew his lover would never allow him to carry on with the plan. He agreed to follow Grimmjow's idea for the greater good. To defeat the enemy, to protect Shuuhei.
As they reached the Forge, it was clear that something was wrong.
"It's empty," Izuru said, there was nothing in the room.
"They must have taken everything to the lab. We have to join team one and go through the D area," Urahara said thoughful, "that of course, if the plan wasn't actually to lure me here." the former taichou leaned his head, "Right, Grimmjow?"
Izuru gulped.
"What?" the Fukutaichou looked at the Espada. "Grimmjow?"
Grimmjow smirked and replied, "You're right the Forge is not here."
Izuru gripped Wabisuke in self-defense. It wasn't fully healed yet, but he could see use his shikai if he had to. The Espada continued, "But you're wrong about luring you."
"I'm sure you must have a reason." Urahara said, "I've been observing you and Ulquiorra since I arrived. You've been stalking Kira Izuru the whole time. He's the one you wanted to bring here."
Grimmjow grinned, "Now I get how you defeated Aizen, nothing escapes you."
"Yes, not-" Urahara stopped talking or moving, as a field of electric energy stunned him. His eyes moved to the side, eyeing Izuru, blond was ashamed, as he walked next to Grimmjow.
"I'm sorry, Urahara-san. We promise to free you once all is over. You're going to be safe here," he spoke. He just betrayed the only person who could help him and Shuehei. Their life…
Ulquiorra appeared alone through a hidden door.
"Where's Hisagi-san?" he asked. He agreed to help them bring the fifth wheel to the Forge (although, he didn't expect him to be Urahara), but Shuuhei was another story.
"I left him in the tunnels. He will find his way out eventually."
Izuru was relieved.
"Don't bother Urahara Kisuke, this room was built to hold Kurosaki Ichigo's full strength," Ulquiorra said. "Let's go."
Izuru followed the Espada, but before leaving he looked back at the former Taichou.
"I will make things right, Urahara-san. I hope you forgive me."
They moved quickly to the throne area. The real plan was to infiltrate the Negativa lab, while they were fighting the enemy, they would steal the crystal and Izuru was going to absorb it to defeat the enemy.
"Don't you get it, shinigami? Ichimaru created it for you, you are the vessel."
Grimmjow's words repeated themselves over and over in his head. They stopped walking when they heard voices around the corner. Ulquiorra hid behind a column, while Grimmjow pulled Izuru to a hidden door that led to a small storage room. It was too small to stand up, and in order to be able to close the door he had to sit on the Espada's lap.
"I-Im sor-" Grimmjow covered his mouth so he wouldn't make any noise. The voices outside became closer, he didn't recognize them.
"They are 5, we are over 100, they have no chance. Take your men to the back entrance, we'll attack them from all fronts."
Izuru's back hurt from before, but he felt worse knowing he was sitting right on top of Grimmjow.
"Kurosaki Ichigo is there. He was the one who defeated Aizen..."
"So what? Yun-sama will boost our power once he's in his complete form, we have the full advantage."
The voices faded away. The door opened, and Ulquiorra ignored them.
"We have to move on."
Izuru got up, "They are attacking from the back, that is where Lisa-san and Hyori-san are."
"If they didn't know what they were going to face, they should've stayed in the human world," Grimmjow replied annoyed.
Izuru was trying not to doubt his own actions. Because of him, people could get hurt.
When they arrived at the Forge, they realized it was completely destroyed. Including a platform made of stone.
"We came too late," Grimmjow grunted.
Suddenly, a burst of reiatsu ignited. An immense power was released somewhere not far away. Izuru never felt something like this, it wasn't like Soutaichou or Aizen, it was more like Kurosaki's power but different… Seconds after they felt Kurosaki's reiatsu as well.
"He's in his bankai form," Ulquiorra spoke. "His power is faltering."
It was true, Kurosaki's strength was weakening drastically. In fact, Izuru could feel everyone's reiatsu diminishing. On the exception of Urahara or Shuuhei's that he couldn't feel at all inside the building.
"We have to help them," Izuru said.
"If we do, they will know we are here. We lose the advantage," Ulquiorra spoke.
"But they will die! What is the point of getting the crystal if they kill everybody."
"You will be able to revive them once you absorb it."
"How can we do that? The Negativa already have it!" Izuru stated, "we have to help them, please."
He looked at Grimmjow who was quiet. "Please, Grimmjow." The teal blue eyes showed no emotion, but they stared back.
"No."
Izuru was disappointed, but he couldn't expect less from an Espada. Grimmjow was nicer, but not that nice. He was still a heartless being.
"Well, in that case you can go alone, I'm going to help them," Izuru turned his back. One thing was to separate Urahara from them, the other was to ignore the enemy while his allies were losing.
Grimmjow was not happy and barked. "Don't be fucking stupid! What can you do against them?" Izuru kept walking ignoring him. He knew he had no chance against the enemy, but he could support them anyways.
Yanking his arm, Grimmjow turned him around. "You're not going."
Izuru snapped at that and pulled his arm away. "I am going. If you want my help with the crystal, you're going to help me first." His heart beat madly; he was so upset that the seriousness of the situation didn't strike him until late. He was arguing with two Espada that could easily kill him.
The blue-haired Espada raised an eyebrow. "And why would we do that?"
"I fight you if I have to," Izuru stated.
Grimmjow was taken a back for half a second, so quick that it could've easily be missed, he smirked at that. "Interesting."
Ulquiorra stayed silent for a while, looking at both in front of him.
"We do it in the following way then," he intervened, "I will retrieve the crystal while you join the battle, then Grimmjow, you'll grab Kira-sama and come back here with both."
"It's all destroyed," Izuru intervened. There was no use in returning.
"No, it's not. The whole room is coated with reishi amplifiers, the Negativa don't know that. The entire room is the Forge."
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Renji
Yamamoto-soutaichou scared the shit out of Renji. From is voice, to the glare and of course to that absurd intense reiatsu.
He stood in front of the old man waiting for whatever was the reason he was called here for. Only Sasakibe was with them, who was also quiet.
Soutaichou's frown didn't change as he shifted his leg, crossing it on top of the other.
"I don't know what to do with you."
Renji's heart beat with anxiety. There was a lump in his throat, he couldn't speak.
"Attempting to breach Muken is considered one of the most serious offenses." the old man sighed and continued. "Only enemies of the Gotei 13 or idiots would try something like that. I want to believe you are the later one."
"Erh, y-yes, I'm an id-" Renji tried to speak.
"Shut up, Abarai-Fukutaichou."
Renji did as he was told.
"I understand you believe your reasons were noble, however being a close associate of Kira Izuru puts you in a bad situation. As you are part of the Sixth division, Central 46 agreed that you will face trial within the Kuchiki clan court. For now, you are temporarily demoted from your Fukutaichou duties. The only reason you are not completely demoted, is because you would lose the 6th Division privilege and because Kurchiki-taichou pleaded for you.
"Abarai Renji, I hope you understand the consequences of your actions. When the time comes, you better make the right choice."
"Choice?" Renji asked without meaning it.
"Choosing between saving yourself and the honor of the clan, or continue to defend Kira Izuru."
He frowned at that, it was obvious what he would choose. As obvious as when he went to see Aizen.
"Don't forget, that you are putting the Kuchiki clan at risk. If they are linked to Kira Izuru there's a high chance that Central 46 will exile them, in the same way they did with the Shiba clan."
What? Why what he did could affect the clan? He was not even part of family. He was only connected by his Fukutaichou position and by his relationship with Byakuya, which was the best kept secret of all time.
He understood though… Soutaichou knew he wasn't connected to Aizen or a traitor. He just wanted to use Kira as an escape goat for all the problems that were happening.
Renji's heart clenched. He didn't want to make this choice. Choosing between his best friend and his lover.
Back at his cell, he looked at the ceiling. Byakuya was somewhere unknown with Kira. The blond went bat shit crazy and killed a lot of people, including a couple of men from his squad. There must have been a reason for this, Kira wouldn't kill anyone just because. He was glad that Hisagi and Rukia went after them, but he couldn't stop think about Byakuya...
Byakuya… he wrote that fucking letter. Why would he sacrifice himself for Renji like that? He had so much to lose, Renji was no one comparing to him.
"You're more stupid than me."
Still, he knew what to do, he already made a choice before returning to his cell. He made a choice before Soutaichou spoke. Hell, he made the choice before there was a choice.
Grabbing the guards attention.
"Hey, can you bring Sasakibe-san? I need to speak to Yamamoto-Soutaichou."
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Byakuya
Zed taunted him with ceros. He was not firing to kill, he was firing to tire him.
The battlefield was chaotic, he was near the location he fought Yammi Llargo, where the large building was still destroyed. To his far right he could see Kurosaki fighting Yun using his shikai and hollow mask. The boy was clearly in a disadvantage, but never gave up. To his left Rukia and the Quincy fought the many Arrancar thatwere under the Negativa's orders, they were handling the situation well despite of the numbers. Behind him, Hachigen battled Xaoh. The former Fukutaichou was currently inside a yellow cage protecting himself from the Negativa who punched his way in. Hachigen was fighting in defense, due to the nonstop attacks.
"You should pay attention to what's in front of you," Zed spoke. His hollow pet stood next to him.
Knowing already, how this man fought, Byakuya evaded his attacks, as long as the hollow didn't touch him, he was fine.
He was already in his bankai form and was getting tired. He had to end this soon with Shukei Hakuteiken. As he prepared himself to concentrate his reitasu, Senbonzakura dissolved back to his original form.
Looking around, he saw Rukia's shikai also disappearing. Same with Hachigen's cage and the Quincy's bow. The only one who continued on his form was Kurosaki Ichigo. His reiatsu was decreasing though.
Zed laughed and left Byakuya to join Yun. Xaoh did the same.
"It is time," Yun spoke. An immense explosion of power came out of the Negativa leader who was holding the crystal in front of him.
"Bankai!"
Kurosaki Ichigo attacked immediately, to stop the transformation process. He moved faster than Byakuya ever seen, faster than himself. There was a tinge of jealousy inside him. Kurosaki was far stronger than he was, and although he always knew it – right now, it hit him in the heart. This was why Renji has feelings for him. Kurosaki was like fire, searing all the ones that were around him.
As he stroke the enemy, he was pushed away just by the intense reiatsu. His hollow mask breaking in two. Brown eyes were widen open in surprise as his body flew mid-air.
"Kurosaki!" The Quincy yelled, grabbing him mid-air. Bankai dissolved and the Shinigami substitute coughed blood.
Byakuya frowned. It wasn't a direct hit. How could he have suffered an internal wound. Looking back at the Negativa, he noticed Yun looking at the boys.
The Quincy laid Kurosaki on the floor and then got up. He adjusted his glasses and spoke.
"You should have not done that."
"Oh yeah, what are you going to do about it?" Zed mocked, it made Byakuya cringe. "With what power?"
"Tsh… you must be blind," the boy replied. "Look around you, there's power everywhere." he materialized his bow from the reishi surrounding them. True, he was a Quincy, and Hueco Mundo was composed of the source of energy he needed. Byakuya may have underestimated this person before.
Yun smirked, and closed his eyes. His power increasing so intense, Byakuya saw Rukia kneeling and gasping for air. He could feel the gravitational push, as he stood his ground. The Quincy was still up as well, but barely holding.
How was this possible? They needed a plan, they needed to take away that crystal from them.
Noise came from behind them, and suddenly they were surrounded by Arrancar, so many it was difficult to count.
"My friends," Yun spoke loudly, "feast on this power. We are free from Aizen, and now," he turned to Byakuya, "We'll be free from the Shinigami."
Yun raised his hands and all Arrancar's power reiatsu increased.
With just unreleased zanpakutou, they fought. Hachigen was still trying to use kido, but when he noticed that it didn't do anything, he started healing his allies from far. Shooting bakudou's defense spells.
Byakuya felt temporarily rejuvenated and moved forward against the Negativa. Zed moved as well, ready to attack him.
He knew they were outnumbered, he knew that Rukia was struggling fighting against that many Arrancar. The Quincy was now helping her, but they couldn't just stop the Arrancar, they had to stop the main culprits.
And this is why he moved forward. For a second, Zed disappeared, and Byakuya's eyes widen as he felt a sting of pain in his shoulder and face. The Negativa cut his left arm right to the tendon, and his left cheek.
His power increased as well. They clashed swords several times.
Byakuya looked around as he knelt on his knee holding Senbonzakura for support., his own blood covering his haori. Everything moved in slow motion. Rukia was bleeding and trembling, but she still held her zanpakutou with both hands, never quitting. Hachigen was laying unconscious on the floor, and so was Lisa and Hyori who appeared to assist.
Kurosaki was back on his feet, his mask only covering part of his face. He tried again and again reaching Yun, but kept being pushed away just by his reiatsu.
How could they win this? Byakuya felt ashamed of himself. When did he become this weak? What if Renji saw him right now…
Zed walked towards him slowly. "Say, we never continued what we started when ya were imprisoned…" Byakuya evaded the kick falling behind. He couldn't get up, Zed had strategically cut his leg tendons.
The Negativa continued moving towards him, and he shamefully crawled away. He felt Zed's foot in his back stopping him. He kicked and kicked him in the back. Looking forward, Rukia was also down, she was unconscious, with two Arrancar walking towards her. Byakuya bit his tongue, he could not reach her to protect her. Kurosaki flash stepped and hit both Arrancar defending her.
Again Kurosaki… no matter how bloody and hurt he was, he still had the capacity to move… Byakuya's stomach twitched. Why couldn't he? What drove that boy to go beyond his physical limitations?
Why is he better?
Byakuya tried to go up, he had to try…
"Where are ya going?" Zed teased. "We are just starting to play." he felt Zed's zanpakuto cutting through the fabric of his left leg, going up and up… Byakuya closed his eyes, ashamed. This lingering feeling of weakness and envy… it blinded him to the point he couldn't think properly anymore.
If there was something he learned from his grandfather that he would never forget, was that feelings always get in between of rationality and action. He was in the middle of a battle, lying on the floor hurt, while the enemy had an odd fixation with removing his hakama. The only one who could that was his lover, and he could not have his partner knowing that someone else was touching him. Renji would be upset to say the least, he would get angry and attack Zed without thinking twice, as he was an idiot who didn't think about consequences. He was an idiot… His idiot.
Byakuya gripped Senbonzakura hard enough to break his skin, putting all the remaining reiatsu he could on it to sharpen the blade, he turned around fast enough to cut Zed's arm. His zanpakutou thrown away.
Two seconds passed before the Negativa screamed in pain.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck! What did ya do, ya fucker!" he yelled gripping his arm. He pointed his other hand to him forming a Cero. "I'm gonna kill ya, fucking bitch!"
"Zed-san," a voice startled him. Yun glared coldly. "Not him."
That's all he said. Byakuya didn't have any energy left. From the moment Yun started using the crystal, his reiatsu was being drained slowly. It had reached a point now that, a bit more and he would die.
Team One was down, and he hoped that at least Urahara would come for their rescue.
00000000000
Shuuhei
Shuuhei stood in front of door that he recognized from seeing in the control room where Izuru entered. He unsheathed Kazeshini just in prevention.
He wished he had gone with his intuition and just followed Izuru on the first place. He was stupid for not listening to the little voice in his head alarming him about the Espada.
Why was Izuru even alright with this? Trusting them, following them… He bit the inside of his cheek. He finally had Izuru…
This was kind of messed up. Since they started dating, he had this feeling so many times. That they were finally together. But the truth was that there was always something in between. Something that kept separating them. He just wanted him so much… He wanted them to disappear far from all the problems, and just be together. He just wanted them to be a normal couple, and love each other until the end of times.
He meant, when he say he wanted to elope. Not necessarily marry, but just get away from everything. He was drunk on Izuru, but he always was. Now, he just knew how he tasted and could never leave him alone.
He opened the door in front, and immediately became still.
Urahara was the only one there, sitting on the floor.
"Hisagi-san," he said smiling, "I was waiting for you."
"Where's Kira?" he asked. That was the only thing that mattered.
"He left with Grimmjow and Ulquiorra."
He left. Means he went proactively, or Urahara would've said 'they took him'.
"Why are you not with them?"
The former taichou looked thoughtfully and then spoke. "They left me behind. Hisagi-san, I don't want to mislead you, but there may be some things about Kira-san that you may not know."
He frowned. He knew everything about Izuru. He knew him for so long, he knew his fears, his strengths, the way his eyes squinted when he was not happy about something, the way he chuckled when he lied. He knew the face he made when he was hungry, when he was horny, when he knew when he was thinking, when he wasn't sure… He knew when he was happy, when genuinely smiled. He knew everything.
He didn't knew he loved him back.
'Shut up.'
"I understand your relationship, and I know what you must be thinking right now. You know him better than anyone else. However, Hisagi-san, Kira has an ulterior motive for going with them."
"So what?" Shuuhei said surprising the former Taichou who was taken aback. "If he has then it means he has a plan."
"Hisagi-san-"
"Urahara-san," he interrupted. "You have no idea, how many times I heard people stating that Kira has a hidden plan or agenda, that he's helping Aizen or whatever. I was interrogated for 72 hours after the betrayal, about that. I trust Kira with my life, I know him more than he knows himself. It's not because I love him, but because he's… he's… he's me."
They went through the same type of heartbreak. Taichous who quit on them, and broke the simple code of their Squads. Justice, loyalty… they broke it, but that only made them stronger. Shuuhei was more fair and Izuru more loyal. Izuru suffered even more than him, being abused by his Taichou who couldn't even be a decent lover.
''cause this time I can finally tell ya that I love ya.'
"Urahara-san, Kira knows what he's doing. We have to trust him."
Urahara stayed silent looking at him. They couldn't lose his support, they couldn't… because then, there would be no one else to help them after all was over.
"Alright."
Shuuhei smiled thankfully.
00000000000
Byakuya
He opened his eyes and coughed, his mouth tasted like metal. The unnatural light blue sky covered everything, sand was everywhere. He was feeling cold, his vision blurred.
There was noise afar and he looked around and there was still someone battling. Ishida Uryuu.
He fought back the Arrancar. His bow fading a way and then reappearing as the Quincy absorbed more reishi, but he was getting weaker by the second.
He shot a last arrow before falling. There just a couple of dozen Arrancar left, but it was still too many.
They were not going to win...
The ground started shaking, like an earthquake
War cries filled the battlefield. More Arrancar appeared running, with unsheathed zanpakutous. Dreadful.
They were definitely not going to win.
It took a while until the noble realized, the Arrancar were not running towards them, they were runaway from a wave of black clothed people.
Shihakushous.
Shinigami.
Leading them, with a distinguishable charm and enthusiasm, - the most beautiful person in the world.
"Go with all you got!" Renji yelled cocky. He looked around and moved to where Rukia was, with a team of the forth division. He checked on her and seemed relieved, then looked around and pointed to Kurosaki.
"Over there." another team was dispatched. Renji continued looking, until their eyes met. He panicked, and ran.
"Taichou!"
When arms surrounded him, Byakuya could only think about how weak he was. This was the second time Renji saved him, and it was the second time he made Renji look sad and worried.
"Taichou," he gripped harder, hurting his bleeding shoulder. He did not care.
"Renji," he whispered, his moved his hand up to touch his face. His bloody hand, painted red his lover would didn't even thought about it. He just leaned to it.
He looked down at his injuries, and trembled, he yelled back.
"Hanataro! Here, quick!"
Byakuya wished he was strong to protect him the way Renji protected him. He wished he was like him.
Renji shone like the moon, and he just wanted to reach him.
To be continued...
Next chapter we reach the climax - the final secret.