Chapter 34: Thou shalt not sin

Aizen took a few deep breaths, inhaling and exhaling shakily. Closing his eyes tightly and leaning his head back against the chair. Trying to breathe through the constrictions in his chest. Listening only to the sound of his heart beating loudly in his chest, thinking it to be hitting his ribs with such force that it might break free of his body. His entire body shook; every muscle in his being shivered and trembled of its own accord. His hands grew colder, and his body temperature dropped slightly. Beads of sweat dripped slowly down his forehead and down the rest of his body as he tried to push past the sickness that had overcome him, and tried to calm himself down to get rid of his anger. Rage only fuelled the beast within him, and he could not afford to have it take over him again now. Not when the damage it could cause was so great. And it could wreck everything he had worked so hard to build.

But it was understandable why he was angry. To love someone and want to make them happy, and then to pursue an ideal to create that happiness for them, only to have that plan torn apart by the stupid mistake of another, of someone you trusted... of course it causes anger. Of course it causes rage and the feeling of betrayal. Of course it causes the mind to jump to irrational conclusions, for that is what a paranoid mind does. That is what his paranoid mind does. It jumps to conclusions, it assumes the worst.

He had wanted her to be pure and untouched for precisely this reason. He wanted to be the first one to take her because not being her first produced the likelihood that the child she bore would definitely be his. That was why he had her thoroughly examined medically when she first arrived here to ensure that fact. He knew that he would grow jealous and this jealousy would turn into anger that would weaken his defence against this other part of him, his inner hollow. And he couldn't show any anger towards her, or else it might drive her away from him. But if she bore a child that wasn't his, it would destroy Gin, and Aizen would be made a liar. He knew that Gin was a forgiving person, but he doubted that he could forgive him for a lie that big. It just wouldn't happen. After all, Gin wanted Aizen's biological child more than anything. And to be denied the child of his lover would just destroy him internally. It would break him, and Aizen couldn't have that. He loved Gin far too much to ever let that happen.

He took another deep breath, trying to stop his hands trembling of their own accord. He hated this part, the bit where the nausea came over him. Along with the dizziness. He kept his eyes tightly closed as he swallowed once more. Trying to breathe, trying to calm his body and let the nausea pass over him. Panting heavily to try and get air into his lungs. Not hearing the sounds of footsteps coming towards him. The footsteps of Gin.

"Aizen?"

Aizen still didn't open his eyes, but he knew it was Gin from the familiar spiritual pressure filling the room.

"Gin..." Aizen panted, still trying to push past the sickness that had overcome him. And Gin didn't hesitate in running over to his side, now sick himself with worry and fear. His pale hands clutching onto his arms, his cold hands finding his.

"Oh my god! Aizen! Aizen-san are you okay? Talk to me!"

Aizen's breath was shaking terribly, and Gin knew what was happening to him; he had witnessed it before, and found the results of it to be rather unpleasant for all involved. His other personality was taking over again. And Aizen was trying to fight it.

"Talk to me..."

"Get me Ulquiorra..." Aizen growled quietly, still trying to stabilise himself through his current haze.

"Aizen?"

"Just... get me Ulquiorra." he snarled, not really having much control any more. Because once the personality shift started that was it, there was no stopping it. Gin knew that more than anyone, so he decided not to argue, standing up and bowing his head respectfully as he turned to leave, only able to comply with him. Knowing full well what the consequences of not doing so were.

"Yes, Aizen-sama."

And with that, he left to go and find Ulquiorra. It wouldn't take him very long to find him, but he still walked slowly. Because he really didn't want things to become violent again. He didn't really know Ulquiorra that well, but still Gin wasn't one for violence, even if he didn't know the espada personally.

He followed the traces of his reitsu until he found him. He was in his room, sorting out his things when Gin knocked on the door and opened it, looking quite unsettled as he stood in the doorway.

"Ichimaru-sama, what are you doing here? Do you need something?"

Gin tried to smile, but due to his current fearful state he probably failed miserably. The lack of his usual accent also not going unnoticed by Ulquiorra. Which unsettled him somewhat, because Gin rarely ever spoke to him without his usual tone and sarcasm.

"Ichimaru-sama, is something wrong?"

"Aizen-sama wants to see you."

"When?"

"Now."

"Very well then, I will leave immediately."

Ulquiorra walked rather quickly down the corridors to see his master. Wondering the exact reason as to why he was being summoned like this on such short notice. But then again, he was always summoned on such short notice. And today was no different. But even Gin was unnerved, so could he be in trouble? Could Aizen have found out about the situation with the girl? No, he couldn't have, could he? Either way, he would just have to wait and find out.

He always got nervous whenever he approached Aizen. Which given his previous experiences, was quite a natural reaction for him. He didn't really know what kind of mood he would be in, so he did not know how to act when in Aizen's presence. He swallowed hard as he walked into the room, his eyes darting around the room subconsciously as he walked in rather sheepishly.

"You wanted to see me, Aizen-sama."

Aizen was sitting casually in his chair, propping his chin up with his right hand as he sat there, in quite a calm manner.

"Yes Ulquiorra, do come in."

Aizen watched as his creation stepped into the room before getting up from his seat and walking quietly over towards him, his footsteps being the only sound in the silence.

"You do know why I've called you here, don't you?" he asked, nothing betraying in his voice. No emotion, no feeling, nothing. His tone was merely cold and factual.

"No, Aizen-sama. I do not."

"Really?" Aizen asked, raising one of his eyebrows, getting quite close to Ulquiorra now. Still not revealing his intentions, or his eyes by not looking directly at him.

"I would have thought that you would know, seeing as you are not one for breaking the rules."

"Rules, Aizen-sama?"

"Yes, you know, rules. I do not have many rules Ulquiorra, but I do expect you all to follow them."

The espada just stared at him blankly, not moving a muscle as Aizen stepped yet closer to him.

"Have you ever heard of the ten commandments, Ulquiorra? You shall have no other god before me... you shall not worship engraved images..."

He continued on, Ulquiorra only able to look at him as he spoke. Regarding his master with a quiet awe, and fear.

"Honour your father and mother... keep the Sabbath day holy..."

Ulquiorra stood there listening to him, not quite sure how what he was saying had any relevance to why he was called here.

"You shall not take the name of your god in vain..."

Ah, so, this was his point. Now Ulquiorra could see where this was going. Well, even if he couldn't he could tell this wouldn't end well. But he was rooted to the spot by fear. Only able to listen as Aizen continued. Not even able to run.

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour... you shall not covet your neighbour's belongings or possessions... you shall not commit murder..."

Aizen was standing right in front of Ulquiorra now, the espada just listening and waiting as Aizen calmly continued his little explanation on what the ten commandments were to the young Ulquiorra.

"You shall not commit adultery..."

He spat out the last word, making it quite painfully obvious what he was angry about. Even though it was technically Orihime that had committed adultery, but that was besides the point here. He was angry at Ulquiorra for taking advantage of her. He knew it was Ulquiorra, for his reitsu was all over her, he could sense him. Tainting his woman, his woman. And for that, there could be no forgiveness.

"And the tenth and final commandment," Aizen stated, finally reaching the pinacle of his little talk, his eyes fully blackening as he stared directly into the eyes of his espada, inspiring fear and watching with much pleasure as Ulquiorra's eyes widened considerably. Gasping quietly as Aizen's blade passed through his stomach, causing blood and pain to trickle down him.

"Thou shalt not steal."