Chapter 26: The Coronation
(Sorry this took longer than expected, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AIZEN SOUSUKE, my favorite bad boy! Wishing you all the best!)
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I wondered before, what it would be like to stand atop the greatest of the mountains, so I fought my way there. With clawed hands, I gripped the crumbling surface and with a resolved heart, I sought the pinnacle. But the solitude I felt, standing there and looking down was no different than it had been in the valley. And now I know the truth. My eyes, my heart and my hands will know no peace until they rest upon you again.
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Aizen Sousuke woke to find a pair of curious gray eyes peeking out at him from beneath a tumble of black strands of hair. Smiling, he reached over and brushed the hairs aside to reveal more of the noble's lovely face. He curved a hand around Byakuya's head and drew him in for a long bout of greeting kisses. The rosy flush on the noble's throat and cheeks sent a soft jolt through his loins, and despite having told himself that he would wait until after the coronation and wedding to make love with his newly returned soul bonded, he found himself tempted.
He sat up and coaxed the noble onto his lap, pulling the tie at his waist free and opening his yukata to reveal the enticing form beneath it. The two indulged in deeper, more insistent kisses as their lengths rubbed warmly together. The prince's resolve was nearly undone as he slid his hands down the long, straight back and wrapped them around Byakuya's firm bottom, then the slender hips began to move under his palms, reducing him with nearly alarming swiftness to breathlessness.
"I think," he said quietly, "that we had best continue this after our nuptials, ne Byakuya? Any more of this and I think I will require something to tide me over."
Byakuya slid off his lap, then sat, gazing down at Aizen's thickened member.
"Don't worry," Aizen said quietly, "There will be time enough for us to focus on each other after today's excitement. Come."
He took the noble's hand and the two climbed out of bed and made their way to the large bathing room. A servant stood by to assist the prince, but Aizen waved them off before he could notice Byakuya following a step behind.
"Leave me."
The servant disappeared, leaving them alone in the bathing room.
Aizen watched as Byakuya slipped out of his yukata, tested the water with a tentative foot, then stepped in and walked out to the far end of the room length bathing pool. He stood beneath a small, rock waterfall, letting the water rain down into his hair and onto his skin. Aizen thought he looked lovely there, outlined in the delicate ivy that crawled and hung everywhere around him. He shrugged off his own yukata and moved out to join the noble. The two took their time letting their hands roam the contours of each other's bodies, then remained beneath the soothing fall of water, leaned into each other's arms and exchanging slow, deep kisses. Aizen's hands captured the noble's face and their eyes locked.
"Byakuya," he said softly, "Before we go out and start interacting with others, there are some things you need to be aware of. Although most of the ones here accept me as the crown prince, there are those who do not. It is possible that they will use my coronation as an opportunity to attack me. While I am extremely powerful, with the destruction of the hougyoku, I am also able to die. Because of this, we must be extremely cautious. Therefore, I have something in mind for the coronation. I will use Kyouka Suigetsu to make you invisible to them. I want you to keep your eyes open and to alert me if you see anything suspicious. Do not reveal yourself to anyone just yet. We will do that at our wedding, later today."
He slipped an arm around Byakuya and the two returned to the water's edge, where they dried off and dressed in fresh yukatas. They stepped back into Aizen's room, where the prince searched the closet and found an array of formal kimonos. He selected a deep, royal purple one with gold embroidery for himself and a complementary royal blue with tiny, golden accents for Byakuya. When they were dressed, he concealed Byakuya, using Kyouka Suigetsu and the two proceeded out of the room, where Aizen met Kuchiki Ginrei, Saito Ryota and a royal guard detail in the hallway.
"Good morning, my lord," Ginrei greeted him, "The throne room has been prepared for your coronation and…"
"And my wedding," Aizen finished.
"Yes," agreed the noble, "About that. Do you intend to leave us in doubt about the identity of your intended? I understand that with Byakuya's death, your obligation to each other ended…"
"But naturally, you are curious as to how I could, so callously, after his act of self sacrifice, move on to someone new, is that it?"
"My lord…"
"Kuchiki Ginrei, I will not explain yet, but let me assure you that I will not dishonor your grandson's memory."
The noble's eyes blinked slowly, then met Aizen's with a careful look of acknowledgment.
"Of course, my lord," he said quietly, "I will be patient."
"And you will not be disappointed," Aizen said, nodding.
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The huge double doors opened in front of Aizen Sousuke, revealing the spacious throne room that was lined with Royal Guard. Across the vast expanse of the room, representatives from each of the noble families knelt in perfect rows, their heads lifting and their proud eyes turning to greet him as he entered the room. Around the perimeter of the section where the noble families waited, the seated officers of each division of the Gotei 13 knelt behind them. All eyes watched as the members of the King's Council took their places at the front of the room on either side of the thrones and the taichous of the Royal Guard and Norite moved to the space in front of the thrones and looked expectantly back at the entrance to the room.
Aizen watched as Byakuya moved cautiously into a position where he could easily observe the gallery, then he stepped forward and walked to the front of the room. For the first time since being separated from the hougyoku, he felt the discomfort of having his back, however briefly, turned to a large number of people who, given the opportunity to stab him in the back, would likely have done so gladly. His story might have convinced some of them, but he had much left to answer for in the eyes of others, and he knew it. He had plans for doing that after he was crowned, but he still had to get through the coronation without anything untoward happening. He caught Byakuya's eye for a moment and a smile appeared on his lips. He reached the front of the room, turned slowly and stood, facing the gallery.
"My greetings to you," he said, solemnly, "and welcome to the palace. Before we begin with the coronation, there is something that I need to say to all of you. I know that you have now heard the story of how I was taken from my royal parents and forced into the cycle of birth and rebirth, where I was born as a shinigami and set on the path to becoming Aizen Sousuke, Lord of Hueco Mundo and traitor to the shinigamis. It would be wrong for me to stand before you and deny my part in that. I did pick and choose my own steps, and I felt right in doing so at the time. However, I did not see the treachery of the hougyoku until it was too late. If not for the courage and resolve of one nobleman, I would have succumbed to the will of the hougyoku, and the demon, Diablo, would be standing before you now. "
He paused a drew a breath.
"Kuchiki Byakuya stands as a model of what nobility is. Upon receiving word from the king of my identity and location, Byakuya took on, alone, the task of freeing me, first from the Central 46 prisons, then from the grip of the demon I fused myself with. Knowing that the hougyoku would kill him if it sensed his mission, he nonetheless took the necessary steps, risking the rancor of those he loved and respected, so that he might humbly perform his duties to his king. And from the moment he accepted that task, he never looked at me the way others did again. He didn't look at me as a traitor…or as a criminal, but as his king. He served me well, and my father before me, being willing to lay down his life to protect me and to see me safely returned to this place. In honor of his commitment to me, and for the fathers I was not able to know because of Diablo's treachery, I will dedicate myself to bringing balance and stability to the three worlds. And before I begin that task, I would like to recognize those to whom Byakuya and I owe a debt of gratitude, for offering assistance at critical times in our journey. Will you please bring them forward?"
Yoruichi, Rukia, Renji, Grimmjow and Nel were led forward, where they stood, facing Aizen and waiting silently. Aizen stepped forward.
"Kuchiki Rukia, you suffered a great deal because of Diablo's manipulations. You had more reason than most to vilify Byakuya for releasing me. And yet, you kept your faith in him and proved to be a devoted sister. You have our gratitude for your dedication and you are promoted to the rank of fukutaichou."
A gold medallion on a bright ribbon appeared in his hands and he set it around her neck, then moved on to Renji.
"Abarai fukutaichou, you are another who suffered greatly as Diablo took his treacherous steps. You acted as Rukia's protector…and then became Byakuya's devoted comrade and friend. You stood by your taichou, even when common sense made you have doubts. You trusted in Byakuya's vision, and because of that, he was able to reach the spirit dimension unscathed. You also have our gratitude and a recommendation for promotion to the rank of taichou."
He set a medallion around Renji's neck and moved on to Yoruichi.
"Shihoin Yoruichi," he said, smiling, "Twice during Byakuya's struggles, you assisted him in escaping pursuit. You proved to be a true friend and a valuable ally to him, and therefore, I consider this as a service to me."
He set another medallion around Yoruichi's neck and moved on to Grimmjow and Nel.
"Espadas Grimmjow and Nel, the two of you were responsible for protecting Byakuya from more than a few great dangers, the poisoning, the hollow witch's lair, the pursuit of the shinigamis, and most notably, the hougyoku itself. Byakuya would not have survived to play his role if not for the two of you. I do not know if you aware of this, but my father left a directive that any hollow who assisted in my return, should receive a special award."
He set one hand on each of them and focused his power through them. The Espadas' eyes widened and they gasped in surprise as their hollow holes slowly disappeared and each began to feel the soft beating of a newly reborn heart.
"Thank you for your service," he said quietly, "and you are welcome to join the ranks of the Gotei 13, if you wish. I am certain that your abilities and knowledge would be appreciated."
The five receiving the awards bowed and turned to take their places in the gallery. Kuchiki Ginrei stepped forward, holding the King's Crown and Saito Ryota approached, bearing the Royal Scepter. They stopped on either side of him, holding the items ready. Kuchiki Ginrei cleared his throat softly.
"Aizen Sousuke," he said, meeting the prince's eyes, "I served your father for many years, and as his life was ending, I promised his majesty that I would do my part in seeing you crowned and well advised about your role as king of the three worlds. As the crown settles on your head, his majesty, the late King Yoshiaki calls upon you to take on the weight of the fates of the three worlds and all of the souls contained within them. He charges you with maintaining the atmosphere of free will and choices, while wishing you wisdom to be a fair and just ruler, despite the unfairness that you had to endure, having been taken from your family and twisted by the machinations of one of your father's creations."
He set the crown on Aizen's head, then stepped back. Saito Ryota stepped forward.
"I also have served your father for many years, and particularly difficult were the years when you schemed against his majesty and planned his death. It simply proves that no one knows how his fate will turn, and we must all be careful in our choices. I think that while your struggles have been difficult, they will have given you important wisdom, I hope you will use to rule fairly. As you accept the King's Scepter, keep in mind the great responsibilities of power, and strong leadership."
He set the scepter in the prince's hand and stepped back. Kuchiki Ginrei stepped forward again as Aizen's eyes lifted to meet those of his subjects.
"Noble delegates and members of his majesty's military," said the noble, "We present to you his royal majesty, King Aizen Sousuke."
Sounds of applause and cheers erupted around the room, and Aizen smiled in recognition and gratitude. He sensed then that Byakuya was not where he had been before and registered a sudden odd movement of bodies in front of him.
"DIE TRAITOR!" screamed a male voice, as several dark clad bodies launched themselves at him from within the ranks of the nobles.
"Sousuke!" Byakuya's voice called in desperation.
Even as Aizen started to move, he heard a flash step and the slash of a sword. More screams sounded and the noble delegates scattered, crying out as blood exploded from the bodies of the attackers, and one by one, they fell at King Aizen's feet.
Aizen's eyes met Byakuya's and the new king smiled at his soul bonded, then pulled back the illusion, revealing him to those gathered in the throne room. Sharp cries and gasps sounded all around the room as the noble sheathed his sword and bowed to the king.
Aizen slipped an arm around the noble and waited as the people in the room calmed.
"He speaks," Aizen said, touching Byakuya's lips, "but does he remember?"
Byakuya sighed softly and shook his head.
"I don't know why I was able to speak again," he said in a barely audible voice, "I only know that I saw those men were going to try to hurt you and I reacted."
"Arigato," said Aizen, kissing him again.
"But Sousuke, may I ask you?" the noble went on, "You could have stopped them yourself. Why did you allow me to kill them?"
Aizen smiled.
"Well," he said in a tranquil voice, "It seemed like you really wanted to do it…and besides, it was a lovely way for you to make your entrance, ne?"
The king sighed a bit sadly, knowing that the former incarnation of Byakuya would have had a few choice words for him after such a comment, but this, more gentle version simply nodded and accepted what he said without comment.
When the people in the room had settled sufficiently, Aizen smiled soothingly at them and went on.
"It is to be expected that some will hold on to their enmity of me, but as you see, I am not without protection. I had planned to save the reveal of his return until our wedding, but it seems we were thwarted by necessity, ne Byakuya?"
He kissed the noble lightly on the mouth.
"So, if Head Councilor Nori would be so kind, Kuchiki Byakuya and I would like very much to be married."
"Very well," said Nori, rising from his seat and moving to join them.
The new king took Byakuya's hands and the two turned slightly towards the head councilor.
"We are gathered today for more than one celebration. We have seen the crowning of our new king and now will witness the binding of our king with the noble Kuchiki Byakuya. Although I admit to having been informed that there would be a wedding along with the coronation, it is only now that I have learned that our king was able to restore the lost Kuchiki Byakuya to life. It is a testament to our new king's power that he was able to achieve this. And in addition, it is a reminder of the power of love to conquer all, in this case, it seems, even death. So in celebration of your commitment to each other, would you please prepare for the taking of your vows?"
The two nodded and looked into each others' eyes.
"Will you, Kuchiki Byakuya, take King Aizen to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward? Will you love honor and protect him without fail? For richer of for poorer, in sickness and in health, will you remain true to him for all of the days of your lives?"
"I will," Byakuya said softly.
"And will you, King Aizen, take Kuchiki Byakuya to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward? Will you love, honor and protect him without fail? For richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, will you remain true to him for all of the days of your lives?"
Aizen smiled.
"I will."
Nori took a length of fine silk and gently bound their hands together, then laid his hand over theirs.
"With this ceremony, we recognize the will of these two souls to be bound together. We celebrate with them, the love that has brought them together and vow to give our love and support to them in their marriage from this day forward. I invite them now to share a kiss as a token of their love."
One eye carefully watching the gallery, Aizen leaned forward and offered the noble a long, lingering kiss.
"Congratulations," Nori said, nodding.
Aizen and Byakuya turned slightly and faced the gallery.
"I present to you his royal majesty, King Aizen Sousuke, and his majesty's royal consort, Lord Kuchiki Byakuya!"
The room was filled again with clapping and cheers as king and consort led the way out of the throne room and into the banquet hall.
"Byakuya," Aizen said quietly, pausing in the hallway, "It would be best if we do not make too great of an issue of your loss of memory, just now. Allow me to speak for you unless you feel comfortable answering, and try not to act startled if people expect you to know them. I will guide you as best I can. I promise you, I will find a way to restore your memory, but it is best if as few people as possible know about it, or some might take advantage."
"I understand," Byakuya responded softly as they continued down the hallway.
Neither saw the dark, angry eyes that peeked out from behind an opened door or the slow, wicked smile that spread across the man's face.
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Aizen Sousuke waited in his room by the open doors to the balcony that overlooked the King's Garden. He couldn't help but smile at having reached such a thing as being king, although he had reached it in a completely unexpected way. And along that way, he had done something he had promised himself that he never would.
Aizen Sousuke had fallen in love.
And while it saddened him that Byakuya had not yet regained his senses, he marveled at how well the noble was handling the loss. He was more quiet and docile, but he was completely devoted to Aizen and when danger had threatened, he had held back on purpose to allow Byakuya to express his willingness and ability to protect his king. And Byakuya had risen to the task admirably. He had been relieved to see that Senbonzakura had returned, even though he could sense that Byakuya could not yet use the sword's releases. The connection between the two would only be reawakened when Byakuya regained his memory. But the very fact that the zanpakutou had returned suggested that it was at least a possibility. And after the consummation of their marriage, he planned to devote himself to that task.
The door opened and Aizen turned as Byakuya was escorted in and left waiting, just inside. Smiling at the beautiful sight of the noble standing, dressed in a silken white yukata, his long hair freed of the kenseiken and fluttering slightly with the breeze that came in through the open balcony doors, Aizen crossed the room and met him there, offering him a very chaste kiss of greeting, before taking his hand and walking with him to their bed. He stopped beside it and wrapped his arms around the noble, kissing him again and gazing deeply into the lovely gray eyes.
"I will not make you pregnant yet," he said quietly, "I think that we should wait until your memory has been fully restored and you are in the best health for such a thing."
Byakuya nodded in acknowledgment, but didn't answer. He waited and looked into his new spouse's eyes expectantly.
Aizen noted the uncertainty in the noble's expression and smiled again, disarmingly.
"Would you like a cup of tea…or something stronger, perhaps?" he asked.
Byakuya shook his head and climbed onto the bed. Aizen followed and the two knelt, facing each other as the king reached over and turned out the light. Moonlight coming in through the balcony doors cast a pretty glow onto their skin, giving them an ethereal look that Aizen found enchanting. He pulled Byakuya onto his lap, sighing contentedly as the noble's legs wrapped around him and their thickening members rubbed lightly against each other.
A blush that Aizen could see, even in the darkness, rose onto Byakuya's cheeks and throat and he quivered softly as Aizen's hands opened their yukatas and began to caress the skin of his back and bottom.
"It is unusual to see you so uncomfortable, having been down this path before," the king commented, "Try to relax. We'll move slowly."
"I am fine, my lord," the noble said softly, "Do as you will."
Aizen sank into the pretty mouth, exploring every inch with a gentle, but penetrating tongue. He brushed his lips up the curve of his jaw and teased a soft earlobe, then planted hot, wet kisses all along the length of his long, graceful neck. He couldn't quite stop himself from moaning hungrily as Byakuya's fingers slipped into his hair and the noble's hips moved, rubbing their hardened cocks together. He wrapped a hand around their swollen members and stroked them slowly as his mouth returned to the noble's and fed him hard, biting kisses. Within moments, both men were panting softly and slightly misted with sweat from their arousal.
Aizen's' hands slid down the noble's back, pulling his hips closer, then curved around his bottom and gradually worked their way towards his entrance. Byakuya winced at the intrusion of the first finger, but buried his face in his lover's shoulder and made his body relax.
"That's right," Aizen said softly, "This is the first time you have been with me in this new body, so it will be a little uncomfortable. Just relax and let your body adjust."
The noble's body seemed to calm after a while, but tensed again as a second finger joined the first, sliding in and out of him, stretching and probing deeply. Aizen's fingers hooked and he pushed into the pleasure center inside his lover, making Byakuya gasp and stiffen, but allowing him to add a third finger without the noble registering the pain. He returned to Byakuya's mouth for several more hot, wet kisses, then pulled away to look into his eyes.
Byakuya looked back at him warmly, but still with uncertainty. And he couldn't, he decided, make love to him, looking into that vulnerable expression. It was too unlike the person he remembered. It certainly wasn't Byakuya's fault, and it was in no way a sign of not wanting him, but it left him feeling oddly wrong about their lovemaking. So with gentle hands, he turned the noble onto his stomach and pushed his thighs open wide. He held onto the slender, white hips and entered carefully, then laid his body against the noble's back and waited for Byakuya's body to calm as it adjusted to being penetrated. The noble shivered once or twice, then seemed to settle. Aizen pulled the hair away from the back of his neck and attacked the sensitive flesh there, then began thrusting in and out of him at a slow, steady pace. Byakuya caught his breath and shifted slightly, then his hips rose and he moved to meet each of his lover's thrusts as they increased in speed and strength.
Aizen ran his fingernails down the noble's side, making his back arch and changing the angle of the thrusts. He struck the pleasure center inside Byakuya several times in quick succession, dragging harsh, moaning cries from his lips as his body seized and hot seed pulsed out of him. He collapsed beneath Aizen as the king thrust in deeply and emptied himself into the noble's shaking body. He rested on Byakuya's back, still entrenched inside the noble, kissing neck, shoulder and cheek and caressing his body lightly to relax him.
He was completely unprepared for the words he heard next.
"Sousuke, I've…disappointed you somehow, haven't I?"
He lifted himself and pulled Byakuya onto his lap again, kissed the noble's frowning lips and brushed the hair away from his eyes.
"You will never be a disappointment to me," he said firmly, "So don't think that way."
"But, you seem to expect things…reactions that I don't have. I want to remember, so that I can give you what you want, but, Sousuke, what if I never remember? What if I am always like this? I mean, as long as you believe I'll regain my memory and be myself again, it's fine, but what happens if…"
"Stop," the king said sternly, "and listen to me. If you never give up, then you will not fail. You will remember. And even if you didn't, I would still love you. I'm not going to stop loving you because you died for me and came back a bit different. But let's stop this useless worry. We have all of the time we need now. Sleep for a bit. Let this go."
But even as he settled against his lover's shoulder and drifted towards sleep, Byakuya continued to feel uncertain.
What if I never remember?
What if I can't satisfy him?
What if I disappoint him?
What then?