Chapter 9: Lost
Ichigo placed a warm robe over his sleeping yukata and walked barefoot out onto his balcony. He stood quietly, looking down into the king's gardens and wondering how he could feel so sad inside while being in such a beautiful place. Below him, bright green grass spread out like a thick, soft carpet, inviting him to sink his feet into and feel the lovely, lingering coolness of the morning dew. Tan colored trails meandered between blossoming plum and sakura trees, making Ichigo think wistfully of Byakuya's home back in the Seireitei.
Even the way he used to brush me off before is better than feeling alone like this. I just wish I had at least gotten a chance to say goodbye to everyone. Being dragged away like I was...
"Prince Ichigo?" Miki's voice queried cautiously, "I am...sorry to disturb you, but...you look really unhappy. I know that you left your family and friends behind very suddenly and it's expected that you would be sad, but...I really want to help you feel more comfortable. Is there anything at all I can do?"
"Not really," Ichigo sighed, "Sorry. I know you want to help, so don't take it personally. I just kind of want to be alone to get to know my surroundings. Is it...okay for me to go outside and walk in the gardens?"
"Of course, sir...erm, Prince Ichigo!" Miki answered, smiling, "You can go anywhere in the palace you want to go and into the gardens. The king and queen just don't want you to leave the palace, because it wouldn't be safe for you while you are carrying the heir. You are not a prisoner, Ichigo."
"All right, I get it," Ichigo chuckled, feeling a twinge of liking for the friendly, green-eyed youth, "I'm not a prisoner."
"You are a member of the royal family. His majesty plans to introduce you formally to the family and to his advisors at a banquet in a few days, but he first wanted to let you get more comfortable here. If you want to look around, I can dress you and..."
"Naw, I'm fine like this," Ichigo said dismissively, "But how can I flash step when my powers are sealed away?"
"Oh, you have your flash step. A small amount of reiatsu flow is necessary to sustain the heir, so that is enough to permit your flash step."
"Great, thanks!" Ichigo said, engaging his flash step and leaping nimbly over the railing.
"B-but Prince Ichigo!" Miki objected, "Wait!"
Ichigo touched down on the cool grass and flash stepped again, leaving Miki behind and gaining the soft dirt trail. He followed it more slowly through the trees, listening to the pleasant sounds of birds chirping and water rushing softly somewhere nearby. The thick groves of trees gave the area a closer, more secluded feel and offered him a chance to gather his thoughts in peaceful solitude.
It's weird, knowing that I am having Sousuke Aizen's kid...and that kid is going to be Soul King or Queen someday.
He felt an uncomfortable twinge in his abdomen and vaguely remembered having a stomachache before while visiting Kuchiki Manor.
"Try some of this," Byakuya suggested, looking around, then picking several bright green leaves from one of the nearby plants, "That should soothe the ache quickly."
He blinked in surprise and hesitated for a moment, then slipped one of the pleasantly scented leaves into his mouth and chewed on it slowly.
"Does that help?" the Kuchiki heir asked, looking away and glancing up into the darkening sky.
"Yeah, thanks, Byakuya."
For once, the stoic noble's response was inexplicably warm.
"You are welcome, Ichigo."
Ichigo smirked.
"Why are you being so nice to me? Isn't this when you're supposed to tell me that my work here is done and I should go back to the world of the living?"
Byakuya's dark eyes regarded him quietly for a moment.
"It would not be right to address the savior of Soul Society in that manner."
"I thought I was 'just a human.'" Ichigo reminded him, still smiling.
"I suppose that in truth, you have never been that," Byakuya concluded, "You are always welcome in my home, Ichigo."
Ichigo's breath caught at the memory and his eyes filled with unbidden tears. He barely heard when Miki appeared on the trail behind him and hastened to his side.
"There you are, Prince Ichigo!" he panted in a relieved tone, "I lost you in the trees before. I am not supposed to be very far from you, sir. I will stay a bit back, but please try not to go to far ahead of me. I will get in trouble!"
"Oh, sorry," Ichigo sighed, "But hey, you don't have to go just yet. I was wondering. Do you know where any fresh peppermint leaves grow?"
"P-peppermint leaves, sir?"
"For my stomach," Ichigo explained, "My stomach kinda hurts and back in Soul Society, my friend, Byakuya, gave me peppermint leaves once when I had a stomachache."
"Oh!" Miki said, nodding, "There is an herb garden near he king's healing pool. I was going to suggest you visit the pool anyway, as you probably want to bathe and it's also good for balancing your reiatsu while you are with child."
"Oh, right, okay," Ichigo said, falling in alongside his attendant, "Lead on."
Miki led him along the trail, then turned along a branch to the right and continued into a quiet glen, where a waterfall splashed down into a waist-deep pool of astonishingly clear water. Around the edges, flowers grew, their sweet scents radiating in the steamy air. Just breathing it in made soft waves of calm seep into the troubled prince.
"Do you like it, Prince Ichigo?" Miki asked in a quiet voice.
"It's really beautiful," Ichigo said sincerely, "I thought Kuchiki manor had the most beautiful gardens I'd ever seen, but this is...beyond amazing."
"Leading our worlds is a great task and our leaders need a place for relaxation and calm reflection."
"Well, I feel more relaxed already," Ichigo said, smiling and slipping out of his clothing.
Miki watched silently as the prince stepped down into the water, then he moved away to locate the requested peppermint leaves.
Ichigo stepped down into the water, breathing in the calming vapors as he enjoyed the gentle lapping of the warm water against his body. He made his way to the waterfall and stood beneath the soothing spray, closing his eyes and letting the tension drain out of him. The water seemed to cling to his flesh lightly as it ran downward, and he felt much the same sensation as he had when being healed by Orihime's power.
The thought of his friend triggered thoughts of his other friend, then his family, and the sense of peace he had begun to gain melted away, leaving him looking sad and contemplative again. He moved out from under the waterfall and sat down in the shallows, wrapping his arms around his bent knees and looking straight ahead as he continued to think about the people he was missing. His eyes blinked for a moment, and when they opened, Ichigo sucked in a surprised breath and jumped to his feet. To his astonishment, the faces of his sisters had appeared on the surface of the water, and he could hear their happy voices as they prepared for dinner.
"Karin, could you set the table?" Yuzu asked "The curry is almost done."
"Man, when is Ichigo going to come home!" Karin said irritably, "Ever since he got his powers back, he's been away more than here."
Ichigo noticed another flicker on the water and saw Orihime, Chad and Uryu walking home from school together.
"I'm getting really worried," Orihime said sadly, "Ichigo hasn't been at home for several days."
"Yeah," Chad sighed, "It's weird he left without telling anyone."
"Has anyone heard from Renji or Rukia?" asked Uryu.
"Not yet," said Chad, "Maybe they know something."
"We should check with Mr. Urahara. He might know," suggested Orihime.
At the mention of the shopkeeper, another image popped up on the surface of the water. Ichigo's heart froze and he went breathless as he saw an image of Kisuke leaning over a yukata clad Sousuke Aizen and applying healing power to the former captain's nearly blackened hand.
"This is taking a long time," Aizen said unhappily.
"Yeah, dealing with such a malevolent reiatsu takes a while. I am working as fast as I can."
"I need to get to Ichigo quickly. He needs to know about..."
Ichigo's eyes widened as the image flickered and disappeared.
"No! Come back!" he exclaimed.
He heard a flash step and found Miki returning with his peppermint leaves. The attendant stopped short of the pool, looking at the prince curiously, an edge of worry in his friendly eyes.
"Are you all right, Prince Ichigo? I heard you yell."
"Ah...I uh, I saw some of my family...my friends...in the water," Ichigo mused, "They were there, but then they disappeared."
"Oh, it's okay," the attendant said reassuringly, "It's really all right, sir. The pool is a sentient pool. It cleanses and restores you and it reflects your thoughts to help you think things through. But don't worry. It's completely private. Only you can see your thoughts on the surface, just as only I would see mine."
"But why did it disappear?" Ichigo said more stridently, "I just saw S...my friends!"
"Were they in some kind of trouble?" Miki asked.
"W-well, no," Ichigo confessed, reaching up to scratch the back of his neck, "but...I really wanted to see them and they just...disappeared."
Miki smiled gently and offered him one of the peppermint leaves, which Ichigo accepted gratefully and slipped into his mouth.
"They will come back," the attendant assured him, "Sometimes if you become overly excited, they disappear. When you are calm again, they should return."
"Oh," Ichigo said, turning back to look at the water.
"Prince Ichigo, we should go back to the palace. You need to eat something and to see the healer. His majesty said that we must take very good care of you."
"I don't know how much I'll be able to eat," Ichigo sighed, exiting the water and standing quietly as Miki dried him off and dressed him, "The peppermint leaves are helping, but my stomach is still pretty bad."
"Perhaps you just need some rest. You've had a little excitement."
"I'm fine," Ichigo insisted, "I'm really fine. Stop worrying so much."
"S-sorry, Prince Ichigo," Miki apologized
"It's okay," Ichigo said, calming slightly, "I know you want to help."
"Yes, but I'm being a bother."
"You're not doing anything wrong," Ichigo corrected him, "and you helped with my stomachache. I do feel better."
He turned onto another trail that Miki pointed out and the two started back to the palace.
"It was just unexpected when I saw people I knew," Ichigo said carefully, "Miki, do you know, does the pool show only what's happening now?"
"I believe it focuses on your mind and it can show what is happening now or things that have happened in the past. People like the king who have the gift of foresight can use it for prophecy, but that takes special effort, a lot of effort. Prophecy is a demanding ability."
"Sounds like it is," Ichigo agreed as the two reached the palace and entered the living areas.
Ichigo went silent, considering what he had seen and Miki's explanation.
My sisters and friends appearing there and talking about missing me made sense, but Kisuke helping Sousuke Aizen?
The king and queen said that Aizen is dead. But he looked plenty alive when I saw him there. I don't know what to do with that. Should I tell the king and queen about this? But...Kisuke is involved...and he is helping Aizen. Is what I saw even possible?
What do I do?
He sat down on his bed and sank deeper into his thoughts, barely attending at all as he ate sparingly from the tray Miki brought. He hardly noticed as the royal healer arrived and examined him, then left him with an admonition to eat more and to get some rest. Miki took his leave and Ichigo felt a sense of some relief at finally being alone to consider things. He shook his head in confusion as a memory returned to torment him.
A breathy moan escaped him and his eyes cracked open again as Aizen's fingers slowly retreated, then his thighs were pushed open wider and his hips lifted. Ichigo arched his back reflexively as he felt the first warning touch, then panted and shut his eyes tightly as Aizen began to enter him.
"Relax, please, Ichigo," Aizen whispered, in a lower, deliciously thick tone that made the younger man's thighs quiver in reaction and his loins tingle with renewed arousal, "It won't hurt if you are relaxed."
He sank into the voice, blushing harder at the beautiful, desirous sound that erupted from between his lips as he was finally taken.
The truth is clear...no more deceptions. We were meant to be one.
He wasn't sure anymore whether the thought was his or Aizen's, or maybe some kind of mingling of both, but it made the remaining hesitation in his body give way, and with an aching moan, he gave himself over, moving his hips to meet Aizen's heavy, grinding thrusts, biting at the elder man's mouth and reeling in the mind-numbing sensations that had their way with him while they made love.
I can't stop it anymore. I can't fight it. It feels so good! If he kills me now, I won't even hate him for it. But it feels like there's more. I want more.
I want more!
He gasped as Aizen's hips responded to his errant thoughts, thrusting harder and faster, bringing him to the edges of reason.
I can't...b-breathe!
I can't...
I can't!
He expelled a hard scream of completion, then another as Aizen's seething heat flooded his still undulating body inside.
Oh gods, I think I'm dying!
Gripping hands held his hips tightly against Aizen's and flashes of intense heat licked at his skin as the heady pulses of climax shook them both soundly, then brought them down in a sweaty tangle onto the bed.
Ichigo's head rang like firebells and his body went numb and senseless. He floated for a time on the humming echoes of complete bliss. He returned again to find himself still warmly anchored in Aizen's strong arms.
"Was that the truth?" he whispered, "Or is it like the king said...a deception? Is he deceiving Kisuke? But Kisuke...Sousuke said that Kisuke's was the one intellect he feared. Kisuke should see through his lies if they are lies..."
His head ached as he struggled harder with what had happened.
"Do you think," Ichigo said slowly, "that if that if that dream we had was true...the reason that you made the hougyoku...was to find me? To bring me to you?"
"Perhaps," Aizen said, tilting his had slightly, "because I don't feel bad that it is gone, or that I could not stand alone at the top now. All I want is this, Ichigo...just this."
"And if I had to be honest," Ichigo answered, "This is what I want too."
Aizen gave him a surprised look.
"But you were so adamant before," he mused, "You said that..."
"I know what I said," Ichigo sighed, "but my heart said something different. So, if you ask me to stay with you, I will."
"I won't ask you to make any hard decisions just yet," Aizen said, kissing him on the forehead, then on the frowning mouth, "It is enough for me that you have accepted what your heart is telling you...what our hearts are telling us."
"I don't know what it all means yet. I'm gonna need some time to think."
"Take your time, then," Aizen replied approvingly, "We'll save talk about the future until we are sure that there will be one for us."
"What's happening here? I'm so confused!" Ichigo whispered, shaking his head and only making it ache harder.
He blinked and paused at the sound of soft whispers. Slipping out of bed, he moved towards his balcony and spotted the two ginger-haired children outside, peeking in. They started to turn away as he approached them.
"Hey Satoshi! Suki!" he called, "Wait a sec! C'mon, don't run away. I just want to talk to you for a second."
The two turned back to face him, their golden eyes wide.
"Y-you're not mad, are you?" Satoshi asked, his voice shaking slightly, "We just wanted to see you again. You're our big brother after all."
"You don't have other siblings?" Ichigo asked.
"Well, we do, actually," Suki explained, "but our big brother, Toshi, went on a mission outside the palace and he hasn't been here in a while. We have two older sisters, but they got married and aren't around much except for balls and banquets."
"Sorry to hear that," Ichigo said kindly.
He extended a hand towards Satoshi and his smile widened as it was gently accepted.
"I guess you know I'm Ichigo."
"Yeah," Satoshi said, blushing, "and you said our names."
"Oh, Miki told me," Ichigo explained, "I'm glad to meet you."
"I'm glad to meet you too, Ichigo!" Suki exclaimed, abandoning her shyness and hugging him tightly, "Is it true you're going to have a baby?"
"Yeah," Ichigo answered, "I was pretty surprised by that, but I am."
"I'm glad, Suki sighed, touching Ichigo's belly gently, "You're nice, Ichigo. I don't feel scared when I'm with you."
Ichigo's head tilted slightly and he met the little girl's eyes curiously.
"You feel scared other times?"
"Uh-huh," the little girl confessed, lowering her eyes, "Our attendants used to be more like friends, but they started acting different. And then Toshi and our sisters went away and Mommy and Daddy were busy all the time. We only see each other at meals and bedtime and they don't read us stories anymore. Do you know any good stories, Ichigo?"
"Maybe some. I'll tell you some another time, but I'm real tired and my stomach is bothering me again. Can I see you guys tomorrow morning? We could have breakfast in here and we can talk more."
"Okay!" the two agreed enthusiastically, "Good night, Ichigo!"
Ichigo watched as the two left, then slipped out onto his balcony again.
It's strange that things changed around here like that so recently, he mused, And if the king and queen are avoiding them, there may be a reason for that."
His face grew tormented as he considered the possibilities.
What the hell is going on here?
Are the king and queen telling the truth and Aizen is the enemy?
Or is Sousuke Aizen telling the truth and the king and queen are...?
Damn it! I have to find a way to get to the truth!