Chapter 29 A Change of Heart

"The indestructible has broken down.
The undeniable has turned around."

I Just Don't Care
Justin Hayward


For the next four hours, Supho and Pincot trailed Yumichika as he put on a display vulgar enough that it might have turned their stomachs, had they not known that it was all an act.

Nelphune's prized bedmate went from rubbing his privates against this or that reveler to the feigned drunken stumble of a lush through small schools of dapper and dignified guests of honor to blowing out the eardrums of those who happened to be nearby during one of his many fits of pique and brilliantly crafted tantrums.

And yet, neither Supho nor Pincot felt that the performance was making Yumichika any less attractive to those in attendance. In fact, while his behavior was gallingly disgraceful, it was also interesting, making him even more intriguing to the many people who had heard so much about him before this first viewing. It was just as Zibell had stated. Yumichika's selection was a given.

Shortly after the first dust-filled rays of dawn filtered into the temple, now less than a quarter full—as most revelers had retired several hours earlier—Supho realized that kicking Yumichika out of contention to be Shekkeln was an impossible feat. Nudging Yumichika aside, out of Pincot's hearing, he asked, "It's not going to work, Yumichika. You're going to be chosen. What do you want to do?"

Yumichika's answer was calm and reasoned. "If I can't talk Nelphune into withdrawing me, then I'll go through with it."

"But—"

"If I have no choice, then I have no choice," Yumichika stated firmly. "And now that I know my friends are here, I'll do whatever I have to until they can fix my escape."

Supho regarded him intently. "Are you sure?"

Yumichika nodded.

"Very well," Supho agreed reluctantly. "I guess we should head up to the suite. The Penferta will be calling for the viewing in a little while. The Orator will be looking for you."

Yumichika hesitated a moment. "Supho . . . if I'm selected, I may not see you again," he began. "And if that's the case . . . I want to thank you for looking out for me – and for your friendship. I don't know what I would have done without you. I just have one final thing to ask. If I can't find a way to take Sweetie with me when I'm rescued, I want you to promise me you'll make sure she ends up with someone who loves her."

"I'll do what I can."

Yumichika glanced over at Pincot, who was maintaining his distance, undoubtedly desiring to keep away from the clandestine words being spoken, endeavoring to implicate himself no further in any furtive plans.

"And take care of Pincot," he concluded. "He didn't ask to be involved in any of this, and the less he knows, the better."

"Pincot will be alright," Supho replied. "He's not one of Nelphune's top guards for nothing. He feels the same way I do. He just doesn't have the . . . foolish streak I do." With that, he turned to Pincot and called him over. "I guess we should go back upstairs before the Orator comes looking for us."

Pincot, sensing that his time with Yumichika was nearing its end, was uncharacteristically morose. "I guess so." His countenance grew hard. "I hate this fucking place," he ground out, pushing past them and leading the way towards the stairs.


Hanataro might have been clumsy, but he was also fast when not falling over his own feet. Immediately after his encounter with Yumichika, he'd disappeared into the milling crowd, ditching his new acquaintances, and making like a hare for the message spot. The distance from the temple had to be at least fifteen miles as the crow flew, and even moving at top speed, Hanataro knew that, without the benefit of spirit energy, it would take him well beyond sunrise to make the roundtrip.

Between his own excitement and the sense of urgency he felt, the miles passed quickly underfoot, and he was soon running along the sea path north of the city with not a soul to be seen before or behind him, to the left or to the right.

As he drew near the ruins, he slowed down instinctively. Someone else was there in the shadows. He could feel it. He was about to duck behind a scrubby gorse bush growing out of a collapsed column when a hand clasped his shoulder.

He yelped but cut himself off quickly at the sound of Ikkaku's voice hissing in his ear.

"Hanataro!"

"M-Madarame-san, you—you scared me!"

Ikkaku went straight to the point. "Have you found anything out?"

"I've seen Ayasegawa-san!" Hanataro replied anxiously. "I saw him face-to-face!"

Ikkaku's heart began pounding in his chest. "Are you sure?"

"Positive. We were only a few feet away from each other. He saw me, too," Hanataro explained. "I tried to let him know that we were there for him, but it was hard because there were so many other people around."

"Tell me what happened," Ikkaku demanded.

"There's a big religious festival going on in the city," Hanataro began. "I got in with a group of street kids, and we went to the festival to pick pockets and steal food. We were inside the temple when I saw Ayasegawa-san at the food tables. I'd been inside for hours—the place is huge and there are thousands of people there—but it wasn't too long after midnight when I saw him. Another boy I was with—Bin's his name—talked about how beautiful he was and that he belonged to someone they call the Orator. I said something like, 'I'll bet wherever he came from, they're all looking for him'. I said it loud enough so he could hear me and know that we were here, and that we'd come to rescue him. I think he understood the message."

"Did he say anything to you?"

"No, we got pushed away," Hanataro replied. "We weren't really supposed to be inside the temple to begin with."

Ikkaku tamped down on his swelling emotions. "Was he okay? Did he look okay?"

Hanataro colored and hesitated before answering. "He didn't appear to be harmed or sick or anything. I mean, he looked healthy . . . but he . . . he was on display, so . . . so . . . "

"On display?" The icy coldness in Ikkaku's voice made Hanataro unconsciously take a step back.

"It's—it's a ritual they do at the festival," the medic said haltingly.

"What kind of ritual?"

"I—I don't know all the details, but—but they choose a man to . . . to have sex with a bunch of priests and then with—"

"And the man they chose is Yumichika?"

The venom was roiling through Ikkaku's veins, threatening to burst forth in a frothing, foaming fit of outrage.

"They haven't chosen him yet," Hanataro replied in a rush, hoping to head off a scene. "That doesn't happen until the second day. Yesterday was the first day. Ayasegawa-san was—was being, er, shown for consideration."

"Shown? What do you mean by that?" Ikkaku demanded.

"All the bedmates who want to be considered go out and mingle with the guests. Ayasegawa-san was mingling." It was a curt answer, but Hanataro wanted to avoid the sordid details.

"Mingling . . . how?"

"Madarame-san, I—I don't want to say it, but he was dressed . . . he was . . . you could see everything," Hanataro stammered, turning every shade of red in the process. Seeing the vein pulsing in Ikkaku's temple, he quickly went on. "Like I said, I also learned that he belongs to someone called the Orator, and that this Orator is considered to be very powerful."

"Is the festival still going on?" Ikkaku asked.

"It lasts for five days," Hanataro replied.

"And when does all this sex take place?"

"I'm not sure. I didn't ask."

Ikkaku did not hesitate a second. "Take me there."

"Madarame-san—"

"Take me there."

For a diminutive and passive soul, Hanataro found the grit to stand his ground in the face of a man known for his aggression. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"I don't care what you think—"

"Then maybe you'll care what I think." Jubal spoke with authority as he stepped into view. He eyed Hanataro with disdain and warning. "I don't know how long after you I left the temple, but I was able to catch up to you and follow you the whole way here without you knowing. You may be sneaky enough to outsmart some street urchins and party guests, but don't forget that there are a lot of former Shinigami here, and if any one of them had had an inkling, they could have trailed you just as easily as I did."

Hanataro lowered his eyes. "I'm sorry. I was just so anxious to leave word of what I saw."

"So, Ayasegawa did head your way after I saw him," Jubal stated with a satisfied nod. "I saw him coming down from the suites and I tried to direct him to the food tables where I'd seen you. I take it he made it."

"Yes," Hanataro replied. "And I tried to let him know we were here for him."

"So, what the hell are we doing standing out here when we can get in there and get him out this very night?!" Ikkaku snarled. "We're wasting time!"

"Ikkaku, take a step back for a moment," Jubal cautioned. "It's not that easy. Let me tell you what we're up against, and maybe you'll think better about charging in there, half-cocked and swinging." A pause. "And besides . . . don't forget: we were supposed to send word to the head captain once we found Yumichika and wait for his instructions."

"How the hell are we going to do that? It would take another month-long journey by ship!" Ikkaku protested. "We don't have that kind of time! Yumichika doesn't have that kind of time!"

"He's not in any danger, Ikkaku," Jubal replied. "In fact, he's uh . . . he's well cared for."

"It doesn't sound like it! Forced sex isn't in my definition of well cared for," Ikkaku shot back.

"Ikkaku, we need to be smart about this," Jubal said calmly. "Look, there has to be a reason the head captain approved a rescue party. He wouldn't have done that for any other former Shinigami. There's something else at stake here. That's why he wants to know what we discover before we act. The best thing for us to do is send word back of what we've found, and wait for the head captain to give us instructions."

"I want to see him," Ikkaku said through grit teeth. "I want to see that's he's alright. And I want him to know that I haven't forsaken him."

"He knows that now that he's seen us," Jubal assured him. "He knows you wouldn't abandon him." He drew close. "But Ikkaku, this isn't going to be an easy grab and run. From what I've learned, Ayasegawa is Orator Nelphune's top bedmate. And Nelphune isn't a man to be trifled with. He's fierce and . . . perverse and would kill you just as soon as say hello. He's got a house guard known for their efficiency and prowess. Their captain is a former Shinigami named Campion—"

"I've heard that name before," Ikkaku interrupted. "The men in the house guard where I'm taking up a position mentioned him."

"I don't think even you'd match up to him, Ikkaku," Jubal proffered. "But we don't want to risk a confrontation in any event. You need to steer clear, Ikkaku, until we hear back from the head captain and can formulate a plan – one with the best chance of success."

Ikkaku knew everything Jubal was saying was reasonable. And even more, he knew that it was the fact of Ruri'iro Kujaku being an Atmen that merited the head captain's concern and personal involvement.

"Okay . . . okay," he moaned, dropping down to rest on his heels and rubbing his hands over his head. "So, who's going to take the message back to the head captain?"

"I'll go," Hanataro volunteered.

"No, you don't have the ability," Jubal replied. "We need someone who, once the ship has cleared the influence of the seki-seki, can flashstep over great distances of water. Ikkaku, I know you won't want to go, and I think it's best if I stay, since I know the lower east better than the rest of you. We have to find out where Rangiku and Nara are. One of them will have to go."

"Rangiku left a message. Take a look." He lifted the box and handed it to Jubal.

"Zibell. Damir. This confirms what we saw at the festival. Yumichika belongs to Orator Nelphune. We've got our work cut out for us."

"What about Nara? Doesn't anyone know where she is?"

"I haven't heard from her, and she hasn't left any messages."

Ikkaku made a decision. "I'll leave a message here that we should all meet here in two nights at midnight. But in the meantime, see if you can find them and let them know what's happening." He looked up at the waning moon. "I've got to get back before someone notices I'm gone – if they haven't already."

"Where are you staying?" Jubal asked.

"I'm being considered for a position in the house guard for someone named Kennah," Ikkaku answered.

Jubal blanched in the pale light. "Regent Kennah?"

Ikkaku saw the expression on his face. "Yes. Why do you look like that?"

Jubal swallowed. "You sure know how to pick 'em, Madarame-san. If there's one man who's more dangerous than Nelphune, it's Kennah. I just spent the first part of the evening with his chief bedmate purchaser, Creega. In fact, the only reason I slipped out here so easily was because Creega needed to tweak his spindle. I figured that will take him the rest of the night. But let me warn you, Kennah comes off as a dumb, arrogant blockhead. He may be arrogant, but he isn't dumb and he sure as hell isn't a blockhead. He's as evil as the souls in Hueco Mundo and every bit as sick."

"I can hardly wait to meet him," Ikkaku sneered.

"You say that now. We'll see what you're saying a week from now."


"Come, beautiful peacock, take my arm. We go for the viewing." Nelphune held out his right arm.

Yumichika, looking forlorn, looped his arm through Nelphune's. He raised his eyes once more. "Please reconsider, Lord Master Nelphune. I don't want to be Shekkeln. If I mean anything to you, please withdraw me from consideration."

Nelphune chuckled. "And what do you mean to me? You are beautiful, but Lamos is beautiful. You are skilled, but so is Damir. You are gallant, but not nearly as much as Campion. The one thing you have that I want, you will not give me. So, what do you mean to me? Soon, you will not even be mine anymore."

In the privacy of his mind, Yumichika had the rejoinder, in anticipation of his rescue, "Soon, I won't belong to anyone anymore."

They stepped out onto the walkway, where Lamos stood ready to join them. He took Nelphune's left arm – and in much more fawning manner than Yumichika had done.

The three began the walk to the inner sanctuary with Captain Campion in front to clear the way, followed by Zibell, Damir, and several other members of the household.

Nelphune clearly considered himself to be the pride of the evening. As all eyes watched him and his two stunning attendants pass by, the Orator made no eye contact, but beamed his pearly smile for all to see. Lamos flitted along beside him, cheerful and alluring as a mating bird in spring, while Yumichika moved like a man towards the gallows.

At the entrance to the sanctuary, Campion stood aside, and only Nelphune and the two bedmates proceeded.

On the dais five men sat in ornately carved wooden chairs. These were the Penferta, and they felt their own importance, which reflected in their stony demeanors. Already inside the room were at least three dozen other households, all of which had brought forth their most beautiful for consideration.

Yumichika actually felt a twinge of hope, for arrayed around him was a collection of extremely exotic and attractive men, although some he might count as boys. While he considered none of them to be his equal when it came to looks, they all had something to offer; and—to a man—they were clearly eager to be selected. To his immediate right, Lord Regent stood with one man from his own household; and this man did catch Yumichika's eye, for—after Yumichika—he was the most beautiful man in the room. He even resembled Yumichika in the coal-black, arrow-straight tresses, the pale and ovoid face with eyes the color of winterbur. He was much taller and broader than Yumichika, and his ensemble was not as risqué. Yes, he was certainly a contender. And he belonged to Regent Kennah. That might score him a few points.

And Kennah himself could not resist the urge to poke the needle. "My own latest acquisition. And soon, I'll have another gem to add to my collection."

Nelphune said nothing, and Yumichika copied his example.

The viewing was over almost as soon as it had begun. The bedmates were paraded, one-by-one, before the Penferta, who sat in silent observation and appraisal. When the last bedmate had done his turn, they were all dismissed. At noon, they would reassemble in the inner sanctuary for the announcement of Shekkeln, who would then be presented in the greater temple before being sequestered in the bowels of the temple for preparation.

As they filed out, Nelphune spoke some quiet word to Campion and then remained behind in the sanctuary while the captain escorted the two bedmates back up to the suite.

Upon Yumichika's arrival, Supho and Pincot—both of whom had remained in the suite during the viewing—rose from where they were sitting. Yumichika headed towards them, but Campion intervened.

"No. You go to your room." He turned to Lamos. "You go to yours."

But Lamos already knew the routine and was headed for his room. At the door he turned and simpered. "Which one of us are you rooting for, Campion?" Then he closed the door.

"Why do I have to go in there? I want to wait out here," Yumichika protested. "Or at least, let Supho and Pincot go in with me. I think the company would do me good."

"It's not permitted," Campion replied. "Tradition."

"Where's the Orator?" Supho asked.

"He had some business to attend to," Campion replied. "And you know it's not wise to inquire after the Orator's business."


Almost an hour had passed before Nelphune returned to the suite. He went directly to Zibell.

"You and Campion stay here. Send all the others down to enjoy the festivities," he ordered. No preliminaries. No explanation of where he'd been. No reason offered for his desire to have the suite emptied out. "Send Lamos down as well."

"My Lord, what about the selection—" Zibell began, but Nelphune waved a hand.

"Do not concern yourself with that. Now, go and send them to enjoy. Tell Damir to send down the bedmates as well."

At first Zibell had no idea what to make of his master's bizarre commands. Sending the entourage down was odd enough, but to free up the bedmates . . . what was going on?

But Zibell had been chief of staff long enough to know that Nelphune's orders were not to be questioned. He nodded curtly and set to his task.

Orator Nelphune went to Yumichika's room.

Inside, he found Yumichika sitting on the edge of the bed, tapping his heels up and down nervously.

At Nelphune's entrance, Yumichika stood up in dread anticipation of an announcement he greatly feared.

But the announcement did not come. Instead, the Orator crossed the room slowly, shedding his garments as he went. He moved behind Yumichika and reached down to unclasp the chain that held the uncomfortable shield in place. He gently maneuvered Yumichika's privates free of the pillow and its bindings.

"Turn and stand naked before me," he commanded.

Yumichika complied.

"That is much better," Nelphune nodded approvingly. He sat down and slid his way into the center of the bed. "I prefer to see you this way. Open and available to me."

Yumichika began to feel awkward, standing there doing nothing as Nelphune looked at him for what seemed like unblinking hours, but was in reality less than a minute.

"Come to me."

Yumichika moved to sit demurely on the side of the bed.

"Why do you look so distressed?" the Orator asked, stretching out his hand to stroke Yumichika's arm.

"Did they choose the Shekkeln already?" Yumichika's voice was timid.

"They chose almost immediately," Nelphune replied. "In fact, they knew who it was going to be even before the viewing."

"Oh?"

"Who else could it be but you? Any other choice would have been an insult." Nelphune wrapped his long, elegant fingers around Yumichika's arm and drew him down to lay beside him. "But you will not be Shekkeln."

Yumichika froze for a moment. "What do you mean?" he dared to ask.

"I withdrew you."

"You . . . withdrew me?" He sat up and looked down at his master, not sure if he were hearing and understanding him properly.

"I withdrew you from consideration. After they had already selected you." Nelphune ran his hand up Yumichika's arm, indulging in the feel of the muscular lines beneath his fingers.

"But . . . but why?" Yumichika asked, flabbergasted. "I thought . . . you told me that you—that I—you said I didn't mean anything to you and that if I wouldn't tell you my zanpakuto's name, you wouldn't withdraw me. Why did you change your mind? Did you really change your mind? Or is this a cruel joke?"

"It is no joke," Nelphune replied. Once again, he pulled Yumichika down, their chests flush together. He looked into the doubting eyes. "I have tried everything I can think of to make him come out. He does not do it. Not for me. But I can tell he feels every caress on your body. He tastes every kiss on your lips. He is a sensuous being who desires contact and attention. But for me, he does not come." A pause. "But if you were to be Shekkeln, and all those men were to do to your body that which he most loves, and in front of so many onlookers – that is the kind of attention he cannot deny or resist. And I will not bring him so close to the surface only to have Kennah reap the rewards of my efforts." A strange softness made his face appear almost translucent. "And my beautiful captain begged me to spare you. I owe him at least that much, to grant his wish."

"Captain Campion?"

Nelphune gave a single nod. "As a soul, he has no equal. He will protect even that which he despises."

"He despises me?"

"He despises all bedmates," Nelphune answered. "Or perhaps not the bedmates, but their actions." He touched the tips of his fingers to Yumichika's lips. "And he is more dear to me than any other soul ever could be. For him, I have reconsidered and withdrawn you."

"I . . . I find it hard to believe that he would want to help me."

"Whether you believe it or not, I have already told the Penferta that you have been withdrawn." A broad smile brightened his countenance. "So, you see, I am not without a heart."

This was such an expected turn of events that Yumichika did not know what to say. At last, he managed, "Were they angry?"

"If they were, they dared not reveal it before me," Nelphune replied. "No one can be compelled to offer his bedmate for consideration." He drew Yumichika's head close to his. "Enough talk. Tend to me."

Yumichika's response was mechanical. He could not get his thoughts past the fact: Nelphune had relented and withdrawn him. One of the greatest honors that could be bestowed upon a bedmate and, consequently, his master . . . discarded without a care.

Yumichika wondered, was it possible he had misjudged the Orator all this time? Was there something other than lust burning inside the man? Whether he'd made the decision for Yumichika's sake, his own selfishness, or to placate Campion was a matter of little degree. All that mattered was that he had changed his mind. Had a change of heart also occurred?

In that moment of subtle intimate contact, with the Orator's hands moving skillfully over his body as they done so many times before, Yumichika found himself strangely docile. His instincts told him to trust where his words were about to take him. He only hoped those instincts were sound.

"His name is Ruri'iro Kujaku," he whispered.

Nelphune stopped what he was doing and pressed Yumichika back, so as to look him in the eye. And he knew from what he saw, that he was hearing the truth.

"Ruri'iro Kujaku . . . " he repeated softly. A pleased, thrilled smile curved his lips. "Azure Peacock. Ah, it is fitting. You were a good choice."

Yumichika began to speak, but Nelphune shushed him and rolled him onto his stomach. "Let me. Let me in, and I will find him this time."

Yumichika lay still as Nelphune entered him. He felt the warmth spreading throughout his body.

But then he began to experience something that had not happened before.

He was losing touch with the world around him—with Soul Society. The mental and physical connection with his current circumstances began to grow thin and fritter away like sand in a breeze. He could hear a voice—Nelphune's?—saying Ruri'iro Kujaku's name over and over again . . . only it wasn't really his name. Or was it? Yumichika wasn't sure. Was it Nelphune's voice he was hearing? What was happening to his senses? He couldn't feel the damp heat of the Orator's body pressing down on his back. He couldn't smell the heady fragrance of his master's oiled body. He couldn't see the luxuriant and vibrant colors of the linens . . .

"What—what's happening?" he gasped, but his voice only echoed away into nothingness.

A single command came through clearly and unquestionably.

"Find him."

For a brief moment, everything was plunged into blackness.

And when Yumichika next opened his eyes, he was alone.

In the maroon room.