Chapter 16: The Path of our Footsteps

"Why, Kisuke," Aizen said, smirking, "did you really think that you could just sneak into Las Noches and kill me, yourself? That seems out of character for you…not an intelligent move at all. So, maybe I should assume that you are here for another reason?"

Kisuke felt a hard shiver go through his body as Aizen appeared in the row of books in front of him. He broke into a sweat, knowing full well that he was probably looking at an illusion.

But I have a few tricks up my sleeve too.

He gave Aizen an enigmatic smile and produced a white handkerchief from his pocket, waving it briefly in front of him.

"I didn't come here to kill anyone, and I'm not here to spy," he explained.

Aizen's head titled and he gave his former lover a curious look.

"This is…a personal visit, then? You wanted to see me?"

"Don't flatter yourself," the shopkeeper said with an edge of sarcasm, "I think we've said all we need to say, when you hollowfied a bunch of our comrades and let me take the fall for it. You knew that they could've ordered my execution for that. I was lucky to just get banishment."

"I was sure that Yoruichi wouldn't allow you to be executed, you being such good friends and all," Aizen chuckled, "And you see? I was right about that."

"You think that's some kinda consolation, huh? You really are a bastard," Kisuke mused, "But you're not what I came here about."

Aizen's smile warmed chillingly.

"Then, why have you come here? I assume, since we are in the archive, that this is a research mission, but…not related to the coming war?"

"It's not related to that at all," Kisuke affirmed, "and if you'd agree to a short truce, and let me look around, I'd really appreciate it."

"Tell me why you're here first," Aizen insisted, the look of curiosity in his eyes growing, "What are you looking for?"

Kisuke bit his lip gently.

"Well, I'm not completely sure, but I may have sensed what could be a parasitic demon, living in the form of a shinigami zanpakuto."

"Oh, how interesting," Aizen replied, gazing at Kisuke raptly, "Who is the shinigami?"

"Sorry, can't tell you that," Kisuke said, shrugging, "Can't even be sure that's really what's in there, but maybe I could tell you more if you let me research it. You can put whatever security on this place and restrict what you need to. I just want to make sure that what I sensed, isn't what I suspect it could be."

"Hmm," the traitor said, rubbing his chin, "though, if it's you doing the suspecting, I'd say there is a high probability you are right."

"Now, why are you tryin' to flatter me, Sosuke?" Kisuke laughed softly, "You know it won't get you anywhere."

Aizen laughed and Kisuke felt another unpleasant shiver go through him.

This man really is the devil in a shinigami form.

"So, flattery won't move you?" Aizen purred, "Can I offer you something else then?"

"Oh, I don't like the sound of that," Kisuke said, his hand tightening on the cane he carried, "Look, I came here under a white flag."

"And I have completely respected that," Aizen pointed out, "But I do feel that if you want to go poking around in the ancient hollow king's archive, I want to know why."

"I told you, I may have…"

"You may have sensed a parasitic demon in a shinigami zanpakuto, yes."

Kisuke felt a little jolt of warning as Aizen moved closer to him.

"A demon," he went on, "even a parasitic one, would not be able to cross into Soul Society from the royal realm, without upsetting a number of critical balances. We both know that. So, if you suspect that there is spirit demon, then you must also suspect there is a special soul…a light being, sent to balance it? I don't suppose you'll tell me who the light being is?"

"Heh, heh," the shopkeeper chuckled, pulling out his fan and flipping it open in front of his face, "give you an idea where to find transcendent power at a time when you're threatening to overthrow the…"

"Please do not apply the word, king, to that useless mound of impotent flesh that sits on the throne," Aizen scoffed, "You and I both know the truth about the soul king. The light beings are his servants. They're sent by him to keep critical balances, but assuming there is a need to kill this parasitic demon you suspect you found, you only need to tell me where to find it, and I will destroy it. Then…there will be no need for a light being's power, will there?"

"Well," Kisuke snickered, "there's hardly a reason to go to all of that trouble, when I'm not even sure what I have, is there? After all, your days are numbered."

"Are they?" Aizen said sedately.

"Yours, mine, everyone else's. Sosuke, just give me a few hours in here. I won't touch anything not related to my mission."

Aizen's brown eyes narrowed and blinked slowly.

"And what will you give me in return?" he asked.

"I won't kill you before I leave? I won't use anything I learn to kill you later?" Kisuke offered.

"I have a better idea," the traitor said, curving a palm around the shopkeeper's cheek and moving in closer to breathe into Kisuke's suddenly blushing ear, "Spend the night with me. Sleep with me."

A sarcastic laugh erupted from the flustered shopkeeper, and he stepped back, shaking his head.

"No?" Aizen sighed, giving him an amused look, "Well, I had to try. How about I look around with you?"

"It's probably gonna be boring," Kisuke insisted, "a complete waste of an evil genius's time."

"You should let me be the judge of that," Aizen chuckled, stealing a lingering kiss that burned on the blonde shinigami's lips, "Come now, let's get started."

"Fine, but no more kissing," Kisuke warned him, "I'm a married man now."

"Are you?" Aizen mused, looking at him more closely.

"Yep," Kisuke affirmed, "Baby on the way. All that."

"That doesn't sound like you at all."

Kisuke shrugged, smirking.

"Kinda just happened suddenly. It was a surprise."

"Was it now?" Aizen said, turning suddenly and trapping him up against the tall bookshelf as he stole a longer, more penetrating kiss, "So, who am I going to make sure I kill for leading you astray?"

"That's not nice," Kisuke said, shaking his head, "You dumped me and left me holding the bag full of your crimes. Seems to me, the least you can do is just be happy for me."

Aizen paused and let out a soft breath, betraying just a hint of regret.

"I am happy for you."

"Now, why do I find that the scariest thing you've said yet?" Kisuke mused.

"Come," Aizen chuckled, stepping back, "let's find this information you need."

XXXXXXXXXX

Ichigo sat back against the pillows in his guest room bed in Kisuke's shop, quietly contemplating the unexpectedly warm interaction he had experienced with the man who had once been his enemy.

I don't know how it happened, but I see something different when I think of him now, just a different side to him that I didn't know existed.

His heart skipped and thumped in his chest as he recalled the little dampness under his fingertips he had felt when Byakuya had captured and guided his hand to the noble's face.

I've never known Byakuya to show such emotion like that…to cry. For him to, not just open up like that, but to open up to me…that's…

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his bedroom door sliding open, and he felt the reiatsu of two people entering the room.

"Rukia, Orihime," he greeted them, "what's going on?"

"We just came to see you," Orihime said, taking a seat beside the bed, "and I thought that I'd just…I mean, I know my power hasn't been useful, but…"

"Hey, you're welcome to try," Ichigo assured her, smiling, "Worst case scenario, I get a reiatsu recharge, right? That's not a bad thing."

"Okay," the ginger-haired girl laughed, invoking her healing power.

"Ichigo," Rukia said in a more serious voice, "I noticed that Nii-sama seemed happier when I saw him. I guess your talk with him went well?"

"Yeah," Ichigo said, reaching up to scratch the back of his neck, "we did have a good talk. I think we're understanding each other a little better now. I wanna thank you for talking some sense into me before. I guess I was pretty hard on everyone, especially Byakuya. I may have been unconscious, I may not have been given a choice, but I'm making my own choices now, and my choice is to try to make things good with your brother."

"I'm glad," Rukia said, sitting down beside Orihime, "I was worried for both of you."

"I think we're okay now," Ichigo reassured her, "We seem to be on the same page about things."

"That's good," Rukia replied, nodding approvingly, "It's better for you and the baby."

"The baby's reiatsu feels strong," Orihime noted, "but I guess that's no surprise."

"I guess not," Ichigo said, flushing slightly as one hand slid down to touch the small, emerging bump on his abdomen.

I feel it now, that bit of life growing inside me. I didn't ask for it. I didn't mean for it to happen, but now that I feel it, I just…

The door opened and Tessai entered the room, carrying a tray of food that Ichigo wolfed down as he chatted and laughed with his friends. But, time and again, his hand slipped down to touch his belly, and each time, he felt a little twinge of happiness at finding the constant presence of that other little soul.

I guess that even though things happen that we didn't think we wanted and can't make sense of…sometimes they are really good things. We just can't see the good until we stop being angry about the parts we don't like. I love my kid already, and I'm curious what he or she will be like. I hope the baby has Byakuya's pretty grey eyes.

Yeah.

Byakuya's eyes are beautiful, even though they can scare the hell outta me.

He felt a little, sad jolt inside and tears burned under the lids of his eyes.

I wonder if I'll ever see those eyes again…or if I'll ever be able to see our kid's face.

God…I hope I will.

XXXXXXXXXX

Uryuu's heart raced and pounded in his chest at a dizzying rate as Renji's arms wrapped around him, and the redhead's tongue pushed into his mouth, touching, tasting and tenderly caressing every inch of the quincy's warm, hungry orifice.

Just don't let him sense it, Uryuu thought feverishly as his fingers dug into the shinigami's thick biceps and their kissing intensified, I don't need to be reminded that the shinigamis are a quincy's mortal enemy. I know all about the evil that took the lives of so many of our people, my grandfather included. But Renji isn't like that. He's a good person…an honest one. He fights for honorable reasons.

This doesn't feel wrong at all.

He realized suddenly that Renji had stopped kissing him, and that the redhead was looking down into his eyes with a cute, baffled expression.

"What the heck?" he mused, a little chuckle in his voice, "What was that about?"

"You're asking me?" Uryuu managed, sitting up and pulling free of the redhead's arms.

"Well, it was you who started the kissing," Renji snickered.

"Actually, it wasn't," Uryuu informed him.

"Come again?" Renji said, giving him a confused look.

"The day we…Ichigo and me, went to Hueco Mundo to find you and the others," he explained, "While you were out of it, you kind of just…grabbed me and started kissing me. I don't think you know what you were doing. Sorry."

"What are you apologizing for?" Renji asked, smirking, "I was the one who stepped over a line, even if I was unconscious. You've got nothing to be sorry about."

"Well, I did just suddenly kiss you without even…I don't know what I was thinking," Uryuu said in a flustered voice.

"It's okay," Renji assured him, "I didn't mind being kissed by you. It was…nice."

He noticed the look of disapproval forming on the quincy's face and backpedaled slightly.

"It was good. I haven't been kissed like that before."

"What? Really?" Uryuu asked disbelievingly, "I thought for sure that…I mean…"

"What?" Renji teased, "You assumed because I come from the low Rukongai that I don't have any manners and I'll…I don't know what. What are you thinking?"

"I don't know!" Uryuu snapped, blushing and jumping to his feet, "I don't know what I was thinking. Maybe I wasn't thinking at all. I just…ever since you kissed me, I've been feeling like…"

He stopped and shook his head, unable to find the right words. Renji read his expression and grabbed his hand, yanking him back down onto the sofa. Uryuu struggled for a moment as the redhead pushed him down, onto his back and settled between his parted thighs. Renji's arms wrapped around him again, and the redhead's mouth clamped warmly onto his. Uryuu was sure that he should have stopped it, but whatever his intentions, he found that he just kept returning Renji's passionate kisses. And when the redhead's hands slipped beneath his clothes, he couldn't hold back a piqued groan of contentment at the feel of those rough hands on his smooth flesh, of the big fingertips that teased his erect nipples. A flash of fever seemed to engulf his whole body and he barely registered the two of them sliding their pants down and off. A strange glow that flared all around them, stirred him only slightly as he was dragged onto Renji's lap and the fingers that had been pleasuring him, began a slow invasion.

What's happening?

What is that glow around us?

Why do I feel like I can't stop?

He tried to make his voice sound, to raise some sort of objection, but before he could, Renji's fingers found the center of pleasure, deep inside his body that no one had ever sought, let alone touched before. An explosion of sensation dragged a low, primal growl from his depths, and he heard an equally feral sound issue from the handsome redhead. Renji's fingers retreated slowly, then Uryuu felt all of the breath leave his body as something far larger and hotter, took their place.

"R-ren…"

Renji's mouth crashed into his again, swallowing up his cry of surrender, and the redhead's hands gripped his hips, encouraging them to move. All thoughts of escape shattered, Uryuu rose and fell, writhing in an unscripted frenzy, with Renji's deep voice and rough hands encouraging him.

"Aw, f-fuck! Feels s'good! That's beautiful. You're so beautiful, glowin' li'that," the redhead panted, pushing his hips upward and grinding hard.

Glowing?

Uryuu shivered at the connotation. He forced his eyes open and made a little sound of dismay at the soft, shimmering light between them. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he registered a sense of shock, but it was far too late for regret as Renji pushed in deep, striking the pleasure center inside him once, twice, then a third time before the two crashed over together into the heavy, jolting throbs of a powerful climax. Uryuu collapsed on Renji's lap, the redhead still buried in his body and holding him tightly.

Five minutes passed with them remaining just that way and Renji's warm hand caressing the quincy's slender, sweat-slicked back, then the reality of what had happened, began to sink in.

Those resonances that are the reason Kisuke and Tetsuya and Byakuya and Ichigo could conceive…are not just found in shinigamis. Quincies, too, are vulnerable to resonances.

But I've never heard of a quincy resonating with a shinigami.

"You okay?" Renji asked, "You look kinda pale. Paler than usual, I mean."

"F-fine," Uryuu lied.

What did we just do?

I wonder if my father already knows.

If he doesn't, he will soon.

He's absolutely going to kill me…and I can't even be sorry.

XXXXXXXXXX

Tetsuya crept along the side of a darkened Rukongai home, carefully cloaked and hooded and concealed in the shadows. He moved to one of the bedroom windows and loosed a little flicker of his reiatsu, then he slid the bedroom window open and crawled inside. A small light glowed in the room, lighting the face of a young boy with Orochi's solemn, masculine beauty and Tetsuya's blue eyes.

"Tetsuya-san," the boy whispered, "What is it? Is something wrong?"

"We must go quickly, Itsuki," Tetsuya urged him.

Tetsuya made a small inscription on the bedside table.

To assure his guardians that he is safe, and with me.

"Did something happen to Orochi-sama?" the boy asked.

"He is all right," Tetsuya reassured their son, "but you know the power that I told you about?"

"The power that made the snakes?"

"Yes, the power that made the snakes you saw before. That power is a dangerous one, and Orochi-sama is not fully in control of it. Because it is a danger to you, I must…"

"Did I tell you that the snakes can talk to me, Tetsuya-san?" Itsuki asked suddenly.

Tetsuya froze.

"They told me that you were coming, and they said that I must not go with you."

"What?"

"You heard the boy," Orochi's voice said as he opened the door and stepped into the room, alongside his hatefully glaring father, "Without the ritual, Itsuki is showing signs of inheriting Kurohebi's power. Of course, it won't present fully until the ritual is completed.

Tears filled Tetsuya's stricken eyes.

"Is that why you're here? You are going to…?"

"It's the boy's legacy," Isas hissed softly, "I'm sure you knew that when he was born, Tetsuya. Now, say goodbye to him, turn around and leave. Do not come near the boy again, or Kurohebi will force us to kill you."

Tetsuya's heart pounded, but he swallowed hard and forced the feeling down. Slowly, he gave a little nod and curved an arm around the softly shaking boy.

"Don't be afraid, Itsuki," he said calmly, "Everything will be all right. Please trust me, this is best."

Itsuki's blue eyes widened.

"Y-you are leaving, Tetsuya-san? You won't come back to see me again?"

Tetsuya breathed in slowly, picturing the waterform he had placed in the Kuchiki archive, then he met Orochi's black eyes for a moment.

"This is goodbye," he said solemnly.

Orochi's eyes flickered with understanding and he made no move as Tetsuya and the boy disappeared, leaving only a splash of water behind. Isas's face turned instantly livid.

"What the devil? Where did they go? I thought you said he was powerless!" the elder man seethed.

"He was," Orochi insisted.

"Kurohebi can track them."

"Kurohebi won't need to," Orochi said quietly, "I think even you know where Tetsuya has gone."

Isas thought for a moment and bristled.

"The archive."

"It was his only move," Orochi sighed, "You know that. We can't enter the archive without the clan leader's permission."

"Yes," Isas growled, "and you know what this means. It's time. We are going back, and you are going to challenge Byakuya for leadership of the clan!"