Chapter 36 At Odds

"Something's wrong in this house today.
Something's been going on, there may be a price to pay.
There's evil brewing, getting out of control,
And I'm helpless, I can't put it right.
Something unrighteous is possessing my soul,
And it's cold in the heat of the night."

Price to Pay
Alan Parsons

They were not the worst days of Yumichika's existence. Not even remotely close.

Still, the past three days had been not only humiliating and degrading, but sometimes frightening and oftentimes painful.

For the first time since becoming Nelphune's slave, he had been subjected to the corner and all that it entailed. It was a form of bondage far beyond anything he had ever experienced at the hands of Himsamoi during the latter's dalliance with the practice. No, Hinsamoi had been sadistic and brutal, ultimately succumbing to the worst aspects of his infatuation with Yumichika. What Yumichika endured for three days as Nelphune's "toy in the corner" was an exercise in stamina.

Bound, blindfolded, suspended, he'd had things done to him that he hadn't even known were possible. Not all of them were unpleasant. Not all were intended to be unpleasant. Yet, he could not derive anything positive from any of the actions – even the ones that made his body physically tremble with excitement. It was a molestation that seemingly had as its purpose the sole aim of visiting perversion after perversion upon him.

And heaping mortification on top of all the other indecencies was the presence and participation of Damir throughout the entire ordeal. It was Damir who slipped him—more than once—giving a step-by-step, detailed account as he performed the act, unmoved by Yumichika's wrenching cries, for although bound and blindfolded, Yumichika was not gagged. It seemed that his pleas, his screaming and panting, and the occasional moan of unwilling pleasure contributed to the Orator's arousal.

Damir had not missed a chance to stoke that arousal by manipulating Yumichika in whatever ways gave the greatest enjoyment to his master. His own deft hands and mouth—and Yumichika had to admit at least that much, that Damir was highly skilled in the art of arousal—drew Yumichika to the threshold, preparation for Nelphune's use, and Nelphune relished the chance to watch his most skilled handle his most beautiful.

For three days, Yumichika had no respite. Between Nelphune and Damir, they kept him in a state of constant stimulation. Nelphune had driven Yumichika deep into his inner world more times than Yumichika could count, and yet Ruri'iro Kujaku had remained as elusive as ever. Even the animal peacock only showed up intermittently. It was clear Nelphune was still convinced that the greater the sexual saturation, the greater the chance of luring the Azure Peacock out into the open.

But, finally, after coming no closer to success, Nelphune had ordered Yumichika released.

Yumichika still was not sure who had come to get him, who had taken him to the infirmary to be checked out. He remembered hearing voices, hollow and distant, commenting on how the Orator may have overdone it, but then admitting that they had seen much worse.

Now, here he was, a day later, lying in the infirmary and regaining some sense of equanimity.

Teffle appeared beside his bed.

"You look a bit better," the physician announced with satisfaction. "I imagine you're probably still pretty sore."

"I've suffered worse," Yumichika replied, pushing sluggishly onto his elbows. "Although three days of being ravaged by Damir . . . that's not something I'm going to easily forget."

"I didn't find any serious damage," Teffle reported. "But I can't help much with the memory."

"I'll just have to find ways to distract myself." Yumichika sat up and with Teffle's help, swung his legs over the side of the bed. "Do I have your permission to go back to my room?"

Teffle nodded. "I'll get you a robe and walk back with you to make sure you keep your feet."

Yumichika noticed the wry stares directed at him as they passed through the corridor back to the wings. "I take it everyone knows what happened."

"Something like that could hardly be kept secret," Teffle replied. "The rest of the bedmates were wondering when it was going to be your turn in the corner. They all have a barbaric streak, if you ask me. Besides, Damir wasn't going to keep it a secret – or his part in it."

Yumichika made a sound of disgust. "That might be the most embarrassing part of it."

Teffle grinned good-naturedly, then said, changing the subject – somewhat, "I can tell Nelphune you won't be in any condition for his anniversary, if you like."

"I'd forgotten about that," Yumichika replied. "It's only, what, a week off?"

"Saturday," Teffle confirmed. "And the Orator will expect you to be available to service his guests."

"Nothing new there," Yumichika stated, managing to sound both glum and petulant. "But would he believe you if you told him I wasn't well?"

"Probably not," Teffle answered. "But it can't hurt to try."

They turned the corner onto the cloister wing housing Yumichika's room. Here, Yumichika stopped and faced Teffle. "Why would you want to help me?"

"Because I don't think you get the enjoyment out of being a bedmate that the others do," came the honest answer. "If I thought you liked getting your brains screwed out, I wouldn't move a finger to interfere. I don't think you like it. If I'm wrong, tell me and I'll butt out."

"You're not wrong," Yumichika replied.

"And I know you don't have much choice in the matter," Teffle went on. "Escaping from Nelphune isn't really an option. So, you have to grin and bear it, and I'll try as often as I can to find ways to disqualify you from . . . activity."

"I appreciate your help," Yumichika said gratefully. "I don't know how successful you'll be at it, but I appreciate it anyway." A pause. "But I think I should go to the anniversary."

Teffle raised an eyebrow.

Yumichika explained. "Campion will probably be here, and there are some things I need to ask him."

This time the physician had a knowing look in his eye. "Such as?"

There was no beating around the bush. "I know Nelphune was his zanpakuto. I also know Lamos is his son."

"If you already know those things to be true, what do you need to ask Captain Campion?" Teffle inquired politely.

"How. I want to know how this whole situation came to be," Yumichika replied. "If I were a father, I could never stand by and watch my son be forced into being a sex slave. And if I had a zanpakuto like Nelphune, I would never make any—any—agreement with him that could possibly end up in a mess like this."

"And you are expecting Campion to explain everything," Teffle said dubiously. "The captain is a very proud, very private man. You may end up being disappointed."

"How private can he be if everyone knows his secrets?"

"If his secrets are known, it's not because he revealed them. Both Nelphune and Lamos have . . . big mouths, let us say," Teffle grinned. "Not to mention, Damir."

"Maybe. But a proud man wouldn't become a slave to his own zanpakuto—"

Teffle's expression changed quickly to one of stern warning. "Campion isn't a slave. He is free to leave any time he pleases. He's the only one among us with that option. But would you imagine for even a second that he'd leave Lamos behind?"

"So Lamos isn't free to leave? He's a slave like the rest of us?" Yumichika pointed out. "Or are you saying he likes being a slave? That he wants to stay?"

A movement in the courtyard beyond caught Teffle's attention. "Ask him yourself," he said, giving Yumichika's shoulder a squeeze.

Yumichika turned and followed the direction of his gaze until his eyes fell upon Lamos, who was making exaggerated movements only partially visible behind the line of trees and shrubs. But his laughter was clear and carrying across the late morning air.

"Maybe I will," Yumichika acknowledged. He left Teffle and headed down the cloister walk. Stepping off at the end and coming around the edge of a large, sprawling mulberry bush, he saw the reason for Lamos' animation.

Sweetie noticed Yumichika at the same time he saw her, and she ran squealing with joy past Lamos and into Yumichika's waiting arms.

"Little mouse," he cooed, scooping her up and balancing on his hip. "I missed you."

"Me, too! Me, too!" she bubbled, hugging his neck and kissing his cheek again and again.

Lamos, seeing the happy reunion, wasted no time turning on his heel in the dust and heading off in the opposite direction.

"Lamos, wait," Yumichika said calmly.

In his arms, Sweetie turned and stretched out a hand anxiously grasping. "Mo-mo! Play! Mo-mo!"

Lamos barely turned and spoke over shoulder. "I have nothing to say to you."

Yumichika could tell the boy was a single breath away from leaving without another word, and he desperately did not want him to go.

"I want to thank you for playing with Sweetie," he scrambled.

Lamos words were caustic. "Someone has to spend time with her, and it's certainly not been you. You're the asshole who brought a little girl into a place like this, and then you don't even spend any time with her."

"It's not by choice," Yumichika pointed out, keeping his voice quiet and even. "I can't refuse the Orator when he calls for me."

"I don't care," Lamos groused. "I don't care a damn about you." He began walking again.

"But you do care about your father."

Lamos stopped for a moment, turned towards Yumichika with a moment of shock that hardened into a hateful glare.

"I hate him as much as I hate you. You can both go to fucking hell."

"If you hate him so much then why are you jealous of my relationship with him—and just to be clear, there is no relationship with him. You're jealous for no reason—"

Lamos advanced menacingly until he was directly in front of Yumichika, then burst out, "You know nothing about me and nothing about my father! And I don't give a fuck what you say! I have eyes, I can see, and I know what to believe! The good thing is—the good thing—the good thing is that I stopped caring about Captain Campion a fucking long time ago. And he stopped caring about me, so we're even!"

Sweetie had begun to blubber, and the sight of that took the wind out of Lamos's sails. He ended miserably, "I wish you would just go away . . . and take my father with you." Then, despite his high emotion, he found enough calm to kiss Sweetie on one reddened, tear-streaked cheek before leaving the courtyard.

"Ayasegawa has been located," Yamamoto announced. "Lieutenant Matsumoto returned yesterday and made her report."

The only other people in the room were his two senior captains: Ukitake and Kyoraku.

"That's good news," Shunsui stated, but then deflated by the head captain's silence, he added, "Isn't it?"

"He belongs to Orator Nelphune."

"I guess that's not much of a surprise," Kyoraku said. "Nelphune's one of the biggest slave-holders in the lower east. Him and Regent Kennah."

"That is true," Yamamoto agreed, "But you do not know everything about Orator Nelphune. Or Regent Kennah."

The two captains waited expectantly.

The head captain wasted no words. "They are both Atmen."

"What?" Juushiro was stunned.

Shunsui, always the more brazen, asked, "Are you sure?"

Yamamoto cast him a chastening gaze. "You are asking me?"

"Sorry," Shunsui apologized, coloring only slightly. "I just—have you always known they were Atmen?"

"I have always known Nelphune was an Atmen. His master was once a Shinigami. Kennah I learned about long after he had already taken up residence in the lower east." A pause. "And they are not the only ones. There are lesser known men who are, in actuality, Atmen. Currier the Horseman, Gosnosh the Scribe, a few others. And there is a hermit who lives in the easternmost reaches. He goes by the name of Forquet. He's Seventh Choir . . . as is Kennah."

"Not a good place for Ayasegawa to be," Shunsui said in his usual manner of stating a serious fact in a quippy manner.

"But do they pose a threat to him?" Juushiro asked.

"So long as he possesses Ruri'iro Kujaku."

The head captain's words fell like a hammer upon an anvil.

Captain Ukitake spoke carefully. "Are you now sure Ruri'iro Kujaku wasn't destroyed?"

"He did not go to limbo," Yamamoto said. "He is still somewhere inside Ayasegawa. And both Nelphune and Kennah are aware of his presence, but apparently they cannot find him."

"How do you know this? Did Matsumoto bring all this information back with her?" Shunsui asked.

"I had an unexpected visit," Yamamoto replied. "Currier the Horseman – he is called Pferden-Stimme—came to see me only moments before Lieutenant Matsumoto arrived. Currier told me about Ayasegawa's situation and Matsumoto confirmed most of it, although she did not appear to know that Nelphune is an Atmen."

"Why would this Currier come and tell you about Ayasegawa?" This also from Shunsui.

"Because he fears Kennah will find a way to lure Ruri'iro Kujaku out and draw him to his side. Kennah is a very dangerous creature, and . . . it seems likely that Ruri'iro Kujaku is a member of the Seventh Choir. The combined strength of two such Atmen would be nearly impossible to surmount, given the fact that they can create unlimited souls at will . . . an army forever able to replenish itself." The head captain paced across the room and looked into the low fire burning in the ornate and massive hearth of his office. "They are all wicked. All the Atmen."

"But Atmen have been defeated before, even members of the Seventh Choir," Juushiro pointed out. "They're not all powerful."

"Defeated, yes," Genyrusai acknowledged. "Destroyed, no. And who among us knows what happens while they are in limbo and if they are prevented from returning? Yet, they cannot be eliminated. Souls that ultimately enter the King's Realm or are consigned to hell must be replaced. Elements of the natural and the soul worlds come and go with every breath . . . the Atmen must remain to replenish what is lost—"

"But they're forbidden from creating," Shunsui pointed out.

"And they have disobeyed that command since the day they were put into zanpakutos," Yamamoto countered vehemently. "Their insistence on creating is what has made our job as Shinigami so arduous. They are forever throwing off the balance of souls. The Atmen were forbidden from creating at their own will. The Soul King could tap any Atmen he needed in order to create a soul and maintain the balance – that was his intention all along. But the Atmen have grown wild, and the Soul King allows it. He is like a father that refuses to discipline unruly children. That leaves it to us, the Gotei 13, to protect the citizens of Soul Society from the vagaries of such lawless beings."

"So, where does that leave Ayasegawa?" Juushiro asked.

"He must be retrieved," Yamamoto stated.

Juushiro noticed the choice of words. Ayasegawa was not being rescued; he was being retrieved. And something about that choice of words rankled Captain Ukitake.

"But it will not be an easy task," Yamamoto went on. "Even if Nelphune did not know about Ruri'iro Kujaku, it would still be difficult to escape from his household. Being an Atmen himself, his powers are formidable, and he is very covetous of his own property, including his slaves. But since he now knows that Ayasegawa has an Atmen, he will be even more guarded. And I assure you, Kennah is watching, as well. Ayasegawa's extraction will have to be done with great stealth and precision." A pause. "And if Pferden-Stimme has gone back and told Nelphune or Kennah about his meeting with me, they will likely suspect that we may be coming for Ayasegawa."

"So, what's the best way to get him out?" Shunsui asked.

"And what happens to him—and Ruri'iro Kujaku—after we get him out?" Juushiro added.

"In answer to your question," he said to Shunsui, "We will convene a meeting with the other captains to discuss the best way." Then to Juushiro, "What happens afterwards . . . that I must discuss with the Central 46."

"Central 46. There's a bad idea, if ever I heard one," Shunsui sniped as soon as he and Juushiro had left the head captain's office. "We've seen how they've dealt with problems before. They seem to err on the side of death instead of caution."

"I don't feel any better about it than you do, but what can we do?" Juushiro asked. "And in a few hours we're going to be standing in the strategy room with the other captains—some who are just as callous as Central 46—and how are we going to convince them to do what's right?"

"What is right?" Shunsui inquired.

"Whatever solution doesn't result in Ayasegaw's death and Ruri'iro Kujaku's defeat," Juushiro replied. "Think about this: Ayasegawa has been Ruri'iro Kujaku's master for how long, going back how many incarnations? And Ruri'iro Kujaku is one of the few Atmen who's stayed with his master. They may have been at odds most of the time, but something kept Ruri'iro Kujaku from breaking free. Even when Muramasa gave him the opportunity, he couldn't bring himself to kill Ayasegawa or to even remain separated from him. Maybe Ruri'iro Kujaku isn't like the other Atmen."

"Maybe," Kyoraku conceded, but he didn't sound sold on the idea. "But even if that's true, what happens if the rescue is successful – and that itself is a big if. Where can Yumichika go to be safe?"

"Safe from?" Juushiro asked leadingly.

Shunsui nodded. "Right. From the other Atmen and from Central 46."

"I can think of only one place," Juushiro offered tepidly. "The Realm of the Soul King."

"Yeah . . . and you can't exactly invite yourself inside those gates," Shunsui acknowledged. He shook his head. "We have to think about this. We can't have Yumichika get rescued just to become a prisoner in the Seireitei."

Juushiro was thoughtful for a moment. "You know . . . with Madarame over there, this entire discussion may become moot . . . because I can't imagine him waiting for a decision to be made."

Shunsui cracked a grin. "That may be the best thing we have going for us."

He was only slightly drunk.

Slightly.

Definitely not drunk enough for him to find Yiowue in the least bit appetizing, although it was not as if Kennah's principal bedmate were not trying his best.

Despite the buffoonish style of his garb and the effeminate tinge of makeup, Yiowue was, beneath it all, a very attractive, extremely fit and well-toned man, and Ikkaku could not help but wonder what he might have been had he turned towards the path of warropr instead of the path of using his sexuality.

And use his sexuality, he did – with very great aplomb. Yet, he mightaswell have been howling after a eunuch, for Ikkaku had learned his lesson long ago. That terrible day in Maiweg's Orchard when he had given into temptation and in doing so, injured the only person he had ever cared for in Soul Society. And that injury had resulted in murder –Ikkaku's murder of the man who had been only minutes earlier, his almost lover. Pakkay's face, his voice, his clever manipulation – they were always somewhere in the back of Ikkaku's mind, and he had sworn to himself that he would never give into temptation again – at least not any temptation that might end up harming Yumichika.

So, he tolerated Yiowue's innuendos as well as his blatant offers. He laughed off the beautiful man's insistence, knowing that his comrades were watching him approvingly. He had only to handle himself properly, and part of ensuring that was to be cautious of too much imbibing.

He had no desire or intention of losing control. Too many things rested on his shoulders, including Yumichika's freedom. Ikkaku knew that, if he were to blow his cover, that entire scheme would come crumbling down. And then what?

No, he would not risk it. No matter how much Yiowue's very proximate proximity made him want to gulp himself into the sweet oblivion of intoxication, doing so was not an option.

Finally, well past midnight and close to sunrise, Ikkaku rose to call it a night.

"I'm sorry to bail out on my own party, but I could use some sleep," he announced.

There were good natured cries of protest, but in truth no one held it against him. After all, just because Harsho was leaving the party didn't mean the party wouldn't continue. The pavilion was available to the revelers for the entire night, and some would certainly be staying on until the first rays of sun slipped down through the surrounding trees.

Captain Hlayma graciously gave his newest officer the next day off, which Ikkaku declined until it became clear that Hlayma would not be gainsaid; and so Ikkaku departed the festivities, accompanied by Lieutenant Dunkip, who had also decided he's had enough merrymaking for one night.

"It was good of the captain to give me tomorrow off," Ikkaku noted casually as they followed the torch-lit path back towards the officers' quarters. "Although I'd be just as happy to get straight to work."

"It's customary to give the new guy the day off following his induction," Dunkip explained. "They usually need it, you know? But you didn't drink very hard, Harsho. The captain was happy to see that."

"Heh! I couldn't afford to get drunk with Yiowue hanging around," Ikkaku joked. "He sure is persistent, isn't he?"

"You were far more polite than I would have been," Dunkip smiled. "He really is repulsive. I swear, it makes me wonder what happens to a guy to make him act like that—"

"I'll tell you what happens." The voice came from behind them, and they both knew it instantly.

Turning together, they saw Yiowue close behind them.

"You both were so into each other that you didn't even hear me coming," the bedmate spouted gleefully. "Imagine that! A creature as beautiful as you—" this as he looked at Ikkaku, "turning me down for the likes of . . . ugh, this!" The latter part of the sentence directed at Dunkip.

Ikkaku decided he no longer needed to be on his best behavior – just fairly good behavior.

"No offense, but I told you I'm not into men—" he said.

"So, don't think of me as a man," Yiowue breathed in a sultry voice, stepping in close. "Think of me as a woman trapped in a man's body."

Ikkaku smiled politely, "I'd rather not."

"The woman inside you is very unfortunate," Dunkip could not help from commenting.

"As is the man inside you," Yiowue retorted, pursing his lips in a mock kiss.

Dunkip was completely unfazed. "Go back to the party, Yiowue. I'm sure you'll find plenty of takers."

"Of course, I could find plenty! But I don't want just anybody! I like the look of . . . this." He placed the palms of his hands flat against Ikkaku's clothed chest, and Ikkaku promptly removed them.

"Look, even if I were into men, you wouldn't be my type," he said dismissively.

"It's only a matter of time," Yiowue insisted.

"Then go pass that time somewhere away from me," Ikkaku replied as he and Dunkip both resumed walking. And this time Yiowue did not follow.

"That one's stubborn," Dunkip noted. "And he seems to have an eye for you."

"Unh, don't make me sick."

"But I do have to thank you . . . for taking his eye off me."

Ikkaku looked at him in surprise and saw the somewhat devious smile on his face.

"He acted like this with you, too?" he asked.

"When he first got here, two of the first people he met were me and Captain Hlayma," Dunkip explained. "Of course, Hlayma wouldn't even acknowledge him or the stupid things he said, so it didn't take Yiowue long to give up trying to seduce him. But the rest of us . . . well, most of us, anyway, we like to give a hard time here and there, so we teased him and made fun of him. We should have known he'd love it. When I saw just how much he loved it, I realized . . . there really is something amiss about him, and now I can't stand the sight of him. Even the men who tell him they're straight . . . he won't leave them alone. I think he'll just do anything to be the center of attention."

"Well, then I'll have to find a way to divert his interest back to you—"

"Oh, no, no!" Dunkip laughed. "New man of the guard . . . you can take this one to serve the greater good."

"There's no good that great," Ikkaku rejoined with a wry wit of his own.

Or perhaps there was. That was why he was here, wasn't it?