Chapter 6: Power of Truth

"You're looking at me strangely," Tetsuya noted as Renji followed him into one of the bedrooms inside Kisuke's hidden dwelling and the redhead paused to close the door behind them, "I understand why. I suppose it's odd to see me as anything but the lowly prostitute you have known me as for the past year."

Renji watched silently as his blue-eyed companion's head bowed and his voice became more solemn.

"It must be confusing for you to think of me as someone who would wear this crest and carry such a fine blade…much less to be anyone's protector."

"Hey," Renji answered, moving to join him and sliding an arm around his slim waist, "I admit I was surprised when that change came over you, but I don't have any problem believing that you are his protector. Even at the worst of what you went through, you were strong. You did what you had to do to survive. And now, you're regaining your memory. Tetsuya, we're gonna get it all back. I know that we're going to relearn our names and the names of our powers and…"

"And what?" Tetsuya asked, gazing back at him through tragically sad eyes, "Just what do you think that we'll be able to do? Even if we are people with some kind of power, remember that we were stripped of those powers, of our memories, of our very names. All of that was done by someone! And a person like that…"

Renji nodded and let out a harsh, ragged breath.

"A person like that's not gonna hang around and just let us remember everything and come after them. Whoever this is will kill us if he figures out where we are and what we're tryin' to do."

"Yes," Tetsuya whispered, his already pale face going a shade paler, "and until we learn our enemy's name, we are hopelessly vulnerable."

"Yeah," the redhead agreed, "so I guess Kisuke's got it right. We've gotta take a chance and go into the deadlands."

Tetsuya shivered and burrowed into his companion's strong shoulder.

"Renji," he whispered into the taller man's ear, "I need you to promise me something. Whatever happens, whether we are able to identify and face this devil who did this to all of us or…"

He broke off, shuddering and burrowing into Renji's strong shoulder again.

"I won't let them have you," his lover promised, "I'll do anything and everything to protect you. I swear it."

"Please," Tetsuya managed, closing his eyes as he momentarily relived the horrors of the past year, "One and I can't go back…not ever again, even if that means you have to…"

The redhead's cinnamon colored eyes blazed and he captured Tetsuya's chin and tilted it upward to make their gazes meet.

"Don't you talk like that, now," he scolded the slighter man gently, pressing his lips to Tetsuya's forehead, "It's gonna be okay. Let's just do what Kisuke said and get some rest, all right?"

Tetsuya nodded and stood quietly as his lover removed the fine clothing he wore and laid it neatly over a chair, then he watched as Renji bared his own body before rejoining him beside the bed. He smiled warmly and caressed Tetsuya's soft, now unmarked cheek.

"I know your name now," the redhead sighed approvingly, "and I want you to use mine without fear, Tetsuya."

"Renji," Tetsuya answered softly, meeting his lover for a long, open-mouthed kiss that somehow began with them still on their feet, but ended with the two tumbling onto the bed in a tangle of arms and legs.

Renji felt his heart twinge almost painfully at the rare and indescribably beautiful sound of Tetsuya's laughter and he captured his lover's face in his hands, gazing raptly at his enchanting smile.

"You're so damned gorgeous, you know?" he sighed.

"I am not," Tetsuya scolded him tenderly, "You're just not used to seeing me look like a real human and not a thing to be used."

"You…" Renji insisted, touching his forehead to the younger man's, "have always been real to me. I love you so much. I'm glad we got you and One away from that mess back there. All I wanna do from now on is love you to within an inch of your life!"

"Renji!" Tetsuya gasped, reeling as the redhead's hot mouth began a tantalizing exploration of his mouth and along the fine lines of his jaw and graceful neck, "Stop? I want this too, but One is still…"

"Shh, I know," his lover assured him, "I haven't forgotten him, but with everything we've been through, it seems wrong for us not to grab at what happiness we can. You know he'd want you to be happy."

Tetsuya started to object further, but his breath was stolen away at watching Renji's handsome, tattooed body as the redhead crawled downward, trailing seething kisses that he was sure would leave his pale flesh as fiercely reddened as his blazing cheeks.

"Renji…"

A heartbeat later, the two experienced as sudden throb of energy that seemed to billow out of their hearts in tongues of red and blue flame. For a moment, everything disappeared and a dark, fireshot memory erupted in front of their shocked eyes.

"Tetsuya!" Renji called out over the sounds of the alert, as his half-noble lover leapt off the back of a tall, black Arabian stallion and ran to meet him.

Tetsuya's arms wrapped around him tightly and the younger man's blue eyes sought his almost desperately.

"Sorry!" he apologized, "I know you have to go. I have to see to the evacuation of the manor and protect the noble families while you face them. I just…Renji, please be careful! And…"

Tetsuya glanced in the direction of the sixth division as the door opened and Byakuya exited, flanked by a group of other officers. Byakuya and Tetsuya's eyes locked for a moment, and an unspoken message passed between them.

"Protect him, please," Tetsuya said, laying a parting kiss on his lover's lips.

"Of course," the redhead promised, "You be careful too. I'll be back. I'll see you at the compound."

The light between the two naked men was suddenly extinguished, and they collapsed onto the bed, panting and shaking with memory. Several tense moments passed as they sought to regain full cognizance, then Renji's hands gripped his lover's and the two knelt, facing each other with the truth radiating dangerously between them.

"B-Byakuya!" Tetsuya panted warily, "One's name is…Byakuya!"

Renji nodded.

"You," he mused dazedly, "You were my lover and he…was my taicho!"

"We were both his protectors," Tetsuya reasoned, "and somehow, we failed to protect him!"

Renji grabbed Tetsuya's hand and pulled him to his feet.

"We've gotta tell Kisuke. C'mon!"

XXXXXXXXXX

Orihime woke to find herself in bed next to her sleeping husband, but she frowned as the disturbing dream she had been having circled in her confused mind.

I dreamt that we were at the healing pool together, holding hands and walking, like we do every night. As we passed the pool, I looked down into the water, but there was no reflection of Ichigo on the surface! My reflection was there…but he wasn't there at all! And when I tried to look at him again, I saw…

…him…

It's been a long time since I thought about Aizen-sama.

She blushed at the fact that she still automatically used an honorific she was keenly aware he did not deserve.

He really twisted my mind, playing games the way he did. I'm so glad Ichigo saved me.

She sat up in the bed and turned slightly to study the moonlit form of the man lying next to her. Her eyes blinked slowly and she peered more determinedly, unsure at exactly why she felt the need.

Only then did she begin to understand. And as comprehension settled over her, an icy chill roared through her suddenly frozen body from end to end. The truth rang so loudly in her shocked mind that she was sure someone would hear. But fortunately for her, neither the truth nor her pounding heart alerted anyone, and it was clear to her that she was in the bed alone.

He's an illusion!

And the power that made this illusion is…!

No.

No.

No, it can't be!

Her body shook with terror, but she forced herself to her feet, holding her breath as she carefully studied the room around her. She knew well that there was a guard at the door, and that more watched the gardens. She moved to the side of the balcony doors, peeking through the glass and watching closely as one pair of guards watched over the area below her room and another pair walked a route along the trail that led to the king's healing pool.

I have to get to the pool. The pool reveals the truth, and it will tell me what to do! I have to find out what's really happening here. It's clear that Aizen-sama…erm, that Aizen has taken Ichigo's place. If I want to learn what really happened to Ichigo…

The young woman's thoughts halted abruptly and she caught her breath in surprise as a strong arm wrapped around her and a hand covered her mouth. She stiffened and started to struggle, only to freeze again at the voice that hissed warningly in her ear.

"Don't make any sound! It's me."

The arms holding her loosened, allowing her to turn to face the cloaked and hooded figure behind her. A slim hand rose to pull the hood back, revealing a heartbreakingly familiar woman's face.

"Rukia!" Orihime gasped softly.

"Yes," the dark-haired woman agreed.

"Is…is it really you? I mean, it's hard to know if anything is the way it looks. I've just learned that Aizen-s…that Aizen Sousuke did something to trick me into thinking he's Ichigo! I thought that we were married and I'd lived here for a year, but…"

"But he's confused you so that you don't know what or who you can trust," Rukia sighed sadly, "Still, if you have broken through his illusion enough to realize this much, then maybe it's time to get you out of here."

Orihime glanced out through the balcony door warily.

"But…"

"Don't you worry," Rukia said firmly, "I'll look after you. Just come with me and please trust me. I know a place we can go that Aizen can't enter, a place where we can be safe while we figure out what to do next."

She slipped a hand into Orihime's and tugged her in the direction of the bedroom doors.

"But, it's guarded!"

Rukia smiled and gave a soft chuckle.

"We won't be using that door."

She led the other woman instead, into the closet, then through the hung clothing to the back, where she touched a panel on the solid looking wall. The panel slid back, revealing a hidden passage.

"Wow!" Orihime said, following her inside, "I knew that there were supposed to be hidden passages, but I couldn't figure out where they were. How did you? How did you escape Aizen? What have you been doing all of this time? Do you know where Ichigo is? Rukia…!"

"Slow down a little," the darker haired woman laughed, pulling her along, "We can get to those questions as soon as you're safe. Let's go now. Be really quiet. We don't want anyone to hear. These passages are still used by servants and Aizen knows they're here, so we have to be careful."

"Where are we going?" Orihime asked, holding tightly to her longtime friend's hand.

"Shh, just come."

The two hurried quickly through the maze of kido-lit passageways, ducking into darker corners from time to time as servants entered and left the area. Gradually, they worked their way closer to the center of the palace and Rukia paused at one of the exit points.

"This is where we have to be really careful," she warned her friend, "We have to leave the safety of the passage to enter the king's archive. There's a door in the back of the archive that leads directly into the Kuchiki family archive, since we've been tasked with keeping Soul Society's historical records. Aizen can't enter the archive, only my brother, his guests and the royal family can enter. I have a permission charm Byakuya gave me, so I can enter. I am allowed to bring one other with me, so I can permit you to enter too. We'll go into the archive and stay there while we figure out what to do next."

"But Rukia!" Orohime objected, "What about Ichigo? Aizen must have him somewhere here. What do we do about Ichigo?"

"We have to think about ourselves right now," Rukia said sternly, "We can't save Ichigo until we have more information, but I think we don't have a chance of saving any of us if we don't have you. We're going to need your power. I know it. Now come along, before we get caught, okay?"

"Okay," Orihime said, nodding and following as Rukia led her out into the darkened archive.

They said nothing more as they crept through the library, keeping to the shadows until they reached the door at the back. Rukia withdrew a small charm, bearing her family's crest and she touched it to the keypad beside the door, then watched as it slid noiselessly open.

They were just starting through as the outer doors to the king's archive slammed open and the lights came on, revealing a furious looking Aizen Sousuke, flanked by Ichimaru Gin and several royal guards.

"You!" he hissed furiously, glaring at Rukia.

Rukia's blazing eyes met his for a moment and she loosed just a few words as she and Orihime passed through the door into the Kuchiki archive.

"I told you before that we were going to stop you, you bastard!"

Orihime clung to her friend as they reached the safety of the Kuchiki archive and the door to the king's library slid shut. Her body shaking, she met her friend's eyes again, sighing in relief.

"Thank you, Rukia. Thank you for saving me!"

Rukia smiled genuinely and hugged the ginger-haired woman tightly.

"It's nothing. That's what friends are for, right?"

"Right!"

XXXXXXXXXX

"Okay," Kisuke groaned, sliding out of his bed at the urgent tapping on his door, "Give me a second."

He climbed to his feet and wrapped a warm robe around himself, then stumbled to his bedroom door and opened it.

"Renji, Tetsuya, what's…?"

"Sorry for waking you," Tetsuya apologized hastily, "but Renji and I have remembered more!"

"You remember more?" Kisuke repeated, snapping to alertness, "What do you remember?"

He guided the two into his room, where he sat down on the bed, facing the young men as they told their story.

"Renji and I were…um…" Tetsuya began, then he broke off, blushing, "What I mean to say is."

"He means that we were getting ready to…"

"To be intimate," Tetsuya interrupted, blushing more brightly and scowling as Renji tried to hide a little snicker, "We've been together before and nothing happened. Well, I mean, nothing like this has happened. But this is the first time we've been together since I relearned my name. We were kissing and touching each other, then a sort of energy field like the reiatsu you were describing began to surround us. That is when we had the vision!"

"Hmm, very interesting," Kisuke said, rubbing his chin and furrowing his brow, "Tell me what you saw."

"I was in a town where there were a lot of people wearing military uniforms and carrying swords like mine. Renji approached me, wearing one of the uniforms and it seemed we were about to separate, Renji to face some kind of threat and me to help with an evacuation."

"Yeah," Renji agreed, "Then, a guy dressed in a military uniform like mine with a white coat, came out of one of the buildings and we remembered…"

"It was him! It was One! We remembered that One's name is Byakuya!" Tetsuya said excitedly, "Renji called him Taicho, so…"

"So, Byakuya was probably a captain of a military division," Kisuke concluded, "which makes sense with the bits and pieces I've been able to put together."

"I was Byakuya's protector," Tetsuya went on, "so I was thinking that the crest on my uniform must be that of his family."

"I was thinking that also," Kisuke agreed, "Now, I did an analysis on blood and reiatsu samples that I've taken from you and One…erm, Byakuya, in the past, and that revealed that you are not immediate family, but you are related, which means that since you said your name is Kuchiki Tetsuya, that could make him, Kuchiki Byakuya."

"But if he was a powerful guy in charge of a military division, who the hell could make him and everyone else lose their names and their memories?" Renji asked stridently, "I mean, it's great that we're starting to get somewhere, but how far are we gonna get before whoever made all of this happen, figures out we know too much and kills us all?"

"One thing at a time," Kisuke chuckled, "Don't worry, I'm working on that. But I think we've pretty much gotten all of the answers we're gonna find here. We're gonna have to…"

The elder man broke off as a horrid crashing noise sounded somewhere in the above ground part of the dwelling.

"Shit!" Renji hissed, pulling Tetsuya in closer.

"It's okay," Kisuke whispered, "As long as we're quiet, they'll just search up there and won't find their way down here. I used what I've learned from the old text bits I've been reading to form a barrier between us. They can do all of the damage they want. It won't matter to us down here. Still…"

He led the others into the hallway outside the bedroom where Zero waited, gazing warily at the entry to the underground hideout. The four men winced, stiffening as some kind of force struck the barrier once, twice, then a third time. A fourth strike seemed to make something give way and the hallway was rocked with a heavy explosion.

"Get behind me!" Kisuke snapped, stepping forward.

He set himself in the path of the huge, beastly looking fright that stepped out of the billowing smoke and dust.

"Well now," said a deep, rough, gravelly voice that immediately rang with familiarity to all of those gathered, "there you are, Urahara Kisuke!"

Kisuke froze, unsure how the man's name sprang so easily to his lips or how he knew instantly that he was to be trusted. All he knew was that the man's appearance was a sure sign that there was still hope.

"Kenpachi!"