Hello everyone! I hope everyone is doing well. I'm recovering from my first vaccine.
Many thanks to Alysaldria for correcting my mistakes and making sure this is coherent :P
Please enjoy and leave a review on your way out!
Chapter 33: My head is bloody, but unbowed
Sousuke rights himself with a half-swallowed curse. His knees and cheek hurt from breaking his fall and he can feel painful bruises starting to form. Since he is unable to manipulate his reiatsu inside of his body to take care of bruises and cuts thanks to this thrice-damned collar, he has to suffer pain like he hasn't suffered it in decades, well over a century. It's disorientating and very discomforting. He hadn't realized how many bodily needs were actively being suppressed or taken care of. Even his stamina isn't what it should be!
Halfway up the stairs to this blasted cell he thought he was going to collapse. His body couldn't keep up, his muscles ached and his breath came short. His sight had begun to spin and he had been sure that before long he'd fall and end up dead at the bottom of the Tower of Repentance. Then, a strange feeling had overcome him. At first, he'd thought the bindings were faulty and his control over his reiatsu had returned. But no. He couldn't manipulate the energy and it didn't quite feel like reiatsu once he studied it better. Yet, it infused his limbs and chest all the same and, ever so gently, steadily got rid of the pain and exhaustion. And not just him, Ichigo who had been in almost as bad of a state, had perked up just before the mysterious energy had surrounded himself.
It's a conundrum Sousuke is certain Ichigo has something to do with. Ichigo always has something to do with strange things happening out of the blue. But he doesn't want to think about any of this. Instead, he focuses his attention on an ethereal looking Ichigo. The line his body makes as he kneels almost makes him look like he is praying. His hair falls around him in unruly waves, the tips barely brushing the floor, and highlights the contrast between his strength and his grace. The light falling through the tiny window caresses his face, softening the harshness of his scowl and calling attention to the aristocratic bridge of his nose, the infinite length of his eyelashes, the sharpness of his high cheekbones.
He is, in a word, breathtaking and Sousuke's heart swells with love and gratitude that he can call this angel his. That he has won his love and Ichigo has carved out a place in his heart for Sousuke. On his knees he shuffles closer to Ichigo — for once unbothered by the indignity of having to crawl — and nudges at Ichigo's cheek with his own chin from behind. His beloved easily makes room and Sousuke shuffles as close as possible, moulding their bodies together from thighs to cheeks. Getting the hint, Ichigo leans back a little, resting part of his weight against Sousuke's chest.
Sousuke nuzzles Ichigo with his cheek, the skin to skin contact soothing the fear brought on by not feeling their bond somewhat. Though, he has another motive for wanting physical contact right now. The strange energy does indeed linger on Ichigo's skin. It is not reiatsu, it doesn't carry any hint of Ichigo's essence. Rather, it's very neutral in a way. Like water or light. Or… but no! How could that be?
He looks down in wonder at the miracle resting against his chest. His beloved's eyes are closed, his frown gone from his forehead for once. He looks utterly at peace, as if there is no place he would rather be than here. Love swells in Sousuke's heart. In the end, it doesn't matter what Ichigo is or what he can do. Sousuke loves him all the same, will love him all the same until time itself ends and their souls move on in the endless circle, only to find each other again.
"Sousuke?" Ichigo asks, eyes still closed and his voice heavy with trepidation.
"Yes my love?" The answer comes quick and reassuringly.
"How do you feel about rebellion?"
Meanwhile, Hiyori is doing her level-best to kick whatever guard comes closest to her below the belt. And she might be cut off from her power-reserves, but she is still strong enough to make it hurt a lot. Shinji almost feels sorry for the guards. But then the collar shifts against his neck and the feeling disappears like a fart in the wind. If they hadn't been outnumbered ten to one. If they hadn't still felt weak from their ordeal. If they had had more time to prepare. So many ifs.
Central 46 surprised him with their speed. Surprised all of them. They had expected to have at least a full day and maybe even a night's rest before they would have to run. No such luck, unfortunately. Ichigo and his husband — Which… Why? How? Well, of course, but… — had only been gone for a couple minutes and the others had been arguing about it furiously, while Shinji had been mentally going over the bets. And goddammit Kaien! He knew, didn't he?! He had silenced the people condemning Aizen for pursuing such a young soul. The bond had taken, that alone was proof enough everything was above board. Kaien's glare had taken care of the last stragglers, who were failing to catch up with the reality of the situation. The overprotective Lieutenant might not like it, but Aizen was family now and the Shibas protect their family above all.
And then the Onmitsukido marched in, proclaiming Central 46's judgment and their sentence, and bound each and every one of them. Kaien had tried to protest, but was silenced. Unohana-taichou was silenced too. She was forced to stand in a corner and watch as her patients were whisked away without being given proper care.
Now they are here, in the Tower and stuck in a cell where their only view is a reminder of the fate that soon awaits them. Hiyori kicks the door and prompts starts yowling in pain.
"What did ya expect would happen? No powers means feeling the pain," Shinji chides, but his heart isn't in it. Their only hope is the Captain-Commander, but how far will he go against Central?
"Fuck you" Hiyori spits back. Shinji doesn't take it personally. Hiyori doesn't deal well with anything. Knowing her mother in all but name condemned her to die only heightens those tendencies. For once, he can't find it in himself to be annoyed.
"Sit down and spare your strength," he says as he motions towards the floor.
"For what?! So we can die well-rested and having had our eight hours of sleep?!" she screams in his face, while stomping her foot.
Shinji swipes her legs from under her and makes her fall to the floor. He sits down on her back, ignoring her kicking legs. "So we can plan on how we're gettin' out of here."
The others spring to attention when hearing that. Otoribashi and Aikawa stop whispering in their corner, Ushoda sits up straighter, and Hiyori stops trashing beneath him.
"How do you propose we do that without our spiritual powers and with our hands bound behind our backs?" Ushoda asks skeptically.
Shinji can't blame him for his apprehension. It's not like he really has a plan. Not yet anyways.
"The first thing we're gonna do is…" He can't finish his sentence, because at that moment Hiyori gasps loudly.
Startled by her sudden and unusual exclamation they all follow her line of sight. Only to be dumbfounded by the sight of a hole in the wall. Or rather a hole where the door used to be. Like, the door was there a minute ago!
They hear a soft "Well-done," before two familiar figures step into their cell. Shinji can hear the mouths drop as Ichigo and Aizen cross the threshold of what is supposed to be one of the most secure prison cells of Seireitei. He can't even bring himself to be surprised. Instead, it takes everything he has not to break out in hysterical laughter. Because why the fuck not?! He should just stop putting expectations on Ichigo, because when he does that Ichigo simply surpasses them.
"Everyone okay?" Ichigo asks quietly as he walks deeper into the cell. Aizen stays at the doorway, presumably to look out for guards. Neither of them are wearing their Zanpakutous strangely enough, so how did they get in? How did they even reach this level unnoticed? The Tower of Repentance is notoriously hard to get in.
"Wha…" Hiyori yells, but Ichigo cuts her off by putting his hand over her mouth and shushing.
"Be quiet!" he whisper-yells, "Don't alarm the guards."
"How did the two of ya get in here?" Shinji whispers back curiously.
"We were in the cell a level above you. The guards don't patrol too heavily around here, but we don't want to risk anything either," Ichigo responds quietly.
"And how did the two of you get out of that cell without your Zanpakutous? Weren't you both handcuffed and cut off from your reiryoku-reserves as well?" Otoribashi asks sharply. Good question — Shinji would like to hear the answer to that as well.
Ichigo smiles vaguely — it's an oddly ironic expression — before lifting a hand towards Shinji's neck. Shinji tries to flinch away, but his back is already against the wall. Ichigo's fingers touch the binding collar and the collar…. And the collar slowly disappears. Ichigo's face is scrunched up in intense concentration. His fingers are trembling slightly where they touch the band and when he is done, he is panting softly. Without stopping to rest, he grasps Shinji by the shoulder to turn him around and does the same on his handcuffs.
Everyone is staring in complete silence and astonishment at them. Shinji has never seen anything like this before. He wonders if it's a part of Ichigo's abilities, his Zanpakutou is centred around destruction after all. Yet, he isn't carrying his Zanpakutou right now. Nor has his spiritual pressure changed. It's still kept tightly together, a habit of Ichigo when it's not in use. So then, what is it? How is he doing this?
Hiyori is starting to kick up a fuss again, gradually getting louder in her demands to know what is going on.
Ichigo levels her a glare. "Quiet! Or I'll leave you till last," he threatens.
"WHA," she lowers her volume quickly at Ichigo's shushing, "What do you mean, leave me till last?"
Noticing Shinji isn't restricting her movements any longer by sitting on her, she rises to her knees. Only to come face to hand with Shinji's now freed wrists. She sits there silently in shock for a moment, but puts her neck towards Ichigo whisper-yelling, "Do me next!"
Ichigo rolls his eyes, but complies. Again at the mere touch of his fingers, the collar starts to disintegrate slowly. Before long Hiyori too is freed and Ichigo makes the rest of his rounds. It might be Shinji's imagination, but it seems Ichigo gets faster with every person he sets free. How interesting.
What isn't his imagination, is that it obviously takes a lot of concentration and effort on Ichigo's side to manage this miracle. Aizen abandons his lookout post to wrap an arm around him and pulls him close, all the while whispering to him, too softly for anyone else to hear.
"And now?" Hiyori demands.
Ichigo looks at her with a determined grin, "And now we escape."
"Captain-Commander!" The doors to the meeting room fly open and bounce back against the walls as a tornado, better known as Shiba Kaien, rushes inside.
"Yes, Shiba-fukutaichou. What can I do for you?" Shigekuni asks, though he is pretty sure he knows the answer.
Kaien is clearly distressed as he answers. "At the 4th… the Onmitsukido came and took them away! Ichigo, is he here?" He's frantically looking through the room as if Ichigo will jump from behind a piece of furniture to surprise his older cousin.
Shigekuni shakes his head sadly. "I'm afraid the Onmitsukido passed here already. They've taken Ichigo and Aizen to the Tower of Repentance."
Kaien stumbles. "No! No, they can't!" he cries out.
"I'm afraid they can. Central 46 makes up the laws and carries them out." Shigekuni says bitterly.
"But they didn't break any laws! Not willingly! They were victims of Kurotsuchi! Where is he? In the Tower of Repentance too?" Kaien replies, outraged.
Again Shigekuni sadly shakes his head. "In the Central Great Underground Prison. They have deemed him too important to kill just yet. First they want to learn every piece of knowledge he possesses. As for the Visored, the Central 46 has deemed them too dangerous to live. They don't care that the change happened without their consent. As part Hollows, they cannot exist in Soul Society." He waves the paper the Central sent him on the heels of the Onmitsukido which contains the judgement they came to.
"That's bullshit!" Kaien bites out, rage pouring around him like smoke.
Shigekuni lays the scroll back down and sits back in his chair. "I agree. That's why I'm going to confront Central 46 and end this nonsense once and for all."