Chapter 4: Whispers
Byakuya shivered softly in his sleep, then suddenly turned into the arms of a pleasantly surprised Aizen Sousuke. He was less than surprised that the noble was still asleep…that otherwise he would not seek, let alone sink deeply into the embrace of a man he knew to be his enemy…even though that same man was his husband. But not one to pass up such an enjoyable opportunity, he smiled and closed his arms around the noble, bringing his head lightly to rest on a warm shoulder and burying his face in silken, sakura scented hair. He held Byakuya against him and gazed out the garden doors, loathe to sleep, himself, while the noble was relaxed and not glaring at him, threatening him or destroying something near him.
We seem to thrive on complexity, ne Byakuya?
Byakuya's lips moved and he shivered again, and when his voice sounded, it had a lighter, more boyish feel to it.
"Oh!" he gasped, "Aizen taicho…it is you! I was…I thought that…"
Aizen's eyes softened and he kissed the dreaming noble very tenderly on his still moving lips.
"Very well," he whispered, "but slowly, this time. Not too much at once…"
Byakuya shuddered and panted softly in his sleep as Aizen watched him closely and waited.
Byakuya slipped out of the gardens and into the forest, then broke into a run, carefully concealing his reiatsu and not daring to use his flash step. Wide, frightened gray eyes watched the trees all around him as he fled, wearing a dark yukata and hooded cloak and carrying a small pack over one shoulder. He heard a sound behind him and ducked into the trees, where he stood, trying to make his breathing silent, and carefully watching the trail. All seemed quiet, except for the soft breeze through the trees and the occasional sound of night birds. He waited and caught his breath, his sharp eyes scanning the area around him, and when he was sure he was alone, he moved out onto the trail again and began to run.
He had only been to the cabin once…to meet Aizen taicho for one of his calligraphy lessons while the fifth division taicho was on leave. He still remembered the way, and with any luck, the cabin would still be empty and no one would think to look for him there.
He paused again and heard the very faint sound of someone calling his name.
"N-no!" he gasped, "So soon?"
He ran as fast as he could without flash stepping, forcing his reiatsu down and holding the pack against his chest so that it wouldn't make any sound. He gave a soft cry of relief as he reached the lake and turned towards the place where Aizen's cabin lay hidden amongst the trees.
He reached the cabin in moments, and found it to be dark and quiet. He wanted to reach out with his senses to make sure it was empty, but dared not use his powers when the search for him was already underway. Instead, he looked in the windows and then slipped around to the back. He breathed a sigh of relief that Shihoin Yoruichi had, while tormenting him, also managed to teach him a little more than the lessons that Ginrei had requested. His slender fingers searched his pack and found a small lockpick, which he used to open the lock on the cabin door. There was a soft click as the lock released, and a moment later, he was through the door and closing it behind him. He put his back against it and slid down, dropping to his knees and letting the pack down gently beside him.
He didn't want to think about why he had run, but now that he was where he had planned to hide, there was little else to do. He didn't dare turn on a light or make any kind of noise. He waited until he had completely caught his breath, then stood and left the small back entry room. He remembered that the room led into a hallway, and that the kitchen was to the right. He started out into the hallway, then turned in surprise as a hand came down on his shoulder.
"Oh!" he gasped, "Aizen taicho, it is you. I was…I thought that…"
"Byakuya-kun?" the man said, blinking sleepily, "What are you doing here?"
"I…" Byakuya stammered, swallowing hard, "I…Aizen taicho, please forgive me for trespassing! I had to leave home and I didn't know where else to go!"
The fifth division taicho's eyes narrowed.
"You…had to leave?" he asked softly, "I don't understand. I had heard that there were all kinds of plans for your coming of age. What happened?"
Byakuya let out a distressed breath and Aizen studied him quietly for a moment as he sought to gather himself.
"Why don't you let me make us some tea?" suggested Aizen, smiling at the youth, "We can sit down and talk for a while."
"I…" said Byakuya, looking around, "You cannot let anyone know I am here."
Aizen nodded.
"No one will know. Come…"
He followed the fifth division taicho into the kitchen and sat down at the table, setting his pack down by his feet. He watched quietly as Aizen prepared the tea, then walked to the table and took the seat next to him.
"Now then," said Aizen kindly, "Why don't you tell me what has you so upset…"
Byakuya bit his lips and looked down into his teacup, then back up at Aizen.
"I am almost afraid to say it, because…because I know it will sound unbelievable," Byakuya explained, "but…Aizen taicho, this concerns the soul king…something that I saw!"
Aizen nodded.
"All of the taichos were briefed on the king's arrival, and his visit to Kuchiki Manor. So you are saying that something happened?"
"Yes," said Byakuya, his face paling, "His majesty actually came to…to claim me as his consort."
"What?" queried Aizen, his eyes widening.
"It…is a practice of the clans and I was aware it could happen. I must admit that I was taken by surprise, but I was in no position to refuse, as it is considered a great honor. His petition for my hand in marriage was given to my grandfather yesterday. Grandfather was surprised as well, but he accepted the petition on my behalf, as was expected."
"So…you are here because you do not wish to go through with the marriage?" asked Aizen.
"No…it is not that…exactly. I was accepting of the king's proposal, despite my fears about it…but…but earlier tonight, I was walking in the forest…and…I didn't realize it, but King Yoshiaki was there too. I came to clearing…and I…I saw…"
Byakuya sat up suddenly, grabbing his head and gasping in pain. It registered that Aizen was holding him tightly and saying something, but he tore away and staggered to his feet, gasping as another shock of pain passed through his head.
"You!" he screamed, backing away, "What were you doing to me? You were doing something! What did you do?"
Aizen shook his head and let out a resigned sigh.
"I did nothing to you," he said quietly, "I saw that you were having a nightmare and I was trying to help you."
Byakuya's eyes flared indignantly.
"Do I look stupid to you?" he hissed, backing up to the garden doors as Aizen came to his feet, "You think I don't know what you're doing? You're trying to affect my mind. I can feel it!"
"I don't even have Kyoka Suigetsu with me. I don't bring it in here, because, believe it or not, I actually want you to feel more comfortable with me. I know that you are expecting that I will try something, but…"
He trailed off for a moment as his eye came to rest on the pendant Byakuya was wearing. He frowned and slowly moved closer.
"But I hope that you will come to the realization that I do want this marriage to work. I am willing to give you space, and I will not try to tinker with your mind."
"Lies!" said the noble, his eyes blazing, "Why do you even bother? I am not going to believe you."
He turned to face the gardens.
"I am going to my division…and I do not want you to follow me!"
"Wait," Aizen said quietly.
Byakuya surprised himself by holding perfectly still and looking into the other man's eyes, waiting.
"Byakuya, we need to get past the point of you suspecting me of something at every turn. I am not saying that you have to trust me, but you must stop assuming that I am constantly plotting."
"Aren't you?" the noble asked softly, "Sousuke, no matter what anyone else believes, I know the truth. You still want what you have always wanted. You still want to overthrow the king! Go ahead…deny it, if it's not true!"
Aizen lowered his eyes.
"I will not lie to you," he went on calmly, "If I could overthrow Yoshiaki, then I would do it. But I do not have the means. I lost it when I lost the hogyoku…and he made it impossible for me to recreate it. I have been thwarted, and now…all I really want is some amount of comfort and peace. Come…let's have some tea and calm a bit so that we can sleep."
Byakuya's eyes were guarded, but he summoned his attendant and sent him for the tea, then followed his husband out to the newly replaced patio table. They sat down next to each other and waited quietly as Torio served their tea. Aizen took a sip of his tea and leaned forward slightly to examine the pendant on the gold chain around Byakuya's slender, white throat.
"That is lovely," he commented, "I haven't seen you wear it before. Was it a gift?"
"It is a family heirloom," Byakuya lied, glancing down at the pendant, "I found it in the archive earlier."
"I see," said Aizen, taking a closer look.
Byakuya frowned as a look of sudden comprehension appeared on the other man's face, then disappeared just as quickly.
"What is it?" he asked, glancing down at the pendant, "Is something wrong?"
"No," said Aizen, giving him an odd look, "Nothing is wrong."
He stood and started back towards the bedroom.
"I thought that you wanted to have tea and talk for a while," Byakuya said, stopping him.
Aizen shook his head briefly.
"I am tired…and we both have to work in the morning. You can go to your division if you wish. I won't trouble you anymore."
He disappeared into the bedroom, leaving the noble staring after him. Byakuya sat at the table, taking sips of his tea and thinking carefully.
Something is not right. He seemed to come to some realization about the pendant King Yoshiaki gave me. I wonder if he might have recognized it from somewhere. His guard is up. But…I was asked to watch him, and if I go to my division, I cannot do that.
He studied the night sky for a time and finished the tea, then stood in the gardens, torn between the peace of escaping Aizen's company, and the mission he had been given by the king. In the end, he took neither road, but slipped out the back gate and walked into the forest. He walked the dark trail, listening to the wind rustling the tree branches. He spotted a small clearing off to the left of the trail and stopped for a moment, blinking and paling as a what seemed like a memory, returned to him.
He slipped out of the gardens and walked into the forest, his heart heavy, but resigned to do as duty demanded. Yoshiaki had the right to claim any virginal mate from the noble clans, and only had to wait one more day until Byakuya was of age to make the binding legal.
"There is no escaping this," he whispered, moving his feet slowly and enjoying what might be the last time he would walk the grounds of his family's estate.
The king wanted an immediate wedding, and then the two would return to the spirit dimension for the consummation and seeding of the royal heir.
"I cannot even think about that…"
His stomach heaved softly at the thought of being touched sexually by Yoshiaki. Not that he worried that the king would be forceful or cruel, but just the cold truth of what would happen when they were left alone…
"What is this?" said the king's voice from nearby, "Who exactly are you?"
Byakuya froze and ducked behind a tree. He peeked carefully around it and spotted Yoshiaki standing with his back to him, talking to a person he couldn't see.
"What are you doing?" asked a soft, frightened youthful voice.
"Why were you following me?" the king demanded, "Did you really think I wouldn't sense you there?"
"I…I am a member of the house guards!" the person in front of the king explained in a shaky voice.
"So I see. Very well."
The king paused for a moment.
"Interesting…I see."
"Y-your majesty?"
"You are his cousin, the one from the prison?"
"Yes, my lord! I am…!"
Byakuya strained to catch the other person's name, but the sound was strangely distorted.
"So…I will accept that you mean no harm, but you must know it is dangerous to try to spy on me."
"I was only looking for my cousin. He was walking out here and I…"
"Ah," Yoshiaki said, tightening his hold on the young man, "he is somewhere around here too?"
"I…I couldn't find him. Perhaps he is already back at the manor. I should go…"
"And so you will," Yoshiaki growled softly, his power swelling around him, "but first, there is something I need you to do for me. Will you assist me?"
"Y-yes, my lord," the youth said, his voice still shaking, "P-please, I will try!"
The vision left him suddenly, and Byakuya dropped to his knees, reeling as he heard the sound of the youth's scream in his mind.
"What is this?" he whispered, "Is this something that he planted in my mind while I slept? Or…?"
He turned away from the clearing and moved into flash steps, following the trail up the waterfall and lake, passing through the meadow and moving into another stretch of forest that bordered the Kuchiki estate. He vaulted a low fence and found another trail, this one leading into a darker section of forest that meandered seemingly aimlessly before opening into a clearing, where there was a larger lake that was bordered by a number of cabins. He walked partway around the lake and came to one of the cabins, stopping as he noticed that all of them looked dilapidated and abandoned now. He moved forward and walked around to the back of the one he had found himself moving towards, then stepped inside, walking gingerly on the old wooden flooring. A vision flashed in his mind, freezing him again.
He started out into the hallway, then turned in surprise as a hand came down on his shoulder.
"Oh!" he gasped, "Aizen taicho, it is you. I was…I thought that…"
"Byakuya-kun?" the man said, blinking sleepily, "What are you doing here?"
Byakuya's heart began to pound as he walked down the hallway to the kitchen and another vision rose up inside him.
"Now then," said Aizen kindly, "Why don't you tell me what has you so upset…"
Byakuya turned and walked back down the hallway, all the way to the end, and stepped into the largest of what had been the bedrooms. His eyes closed and he remembered.
"I will be gentle. Don't worry."
He shivered as the yukata slid down off of his shoulders.
"Aizen taicho, I don't know if I…"
"It's all right. I won't let him harm you. I will protect you, Byakuya."
Byakuya backed up a step, staring into the room and trying to remember more, but found himself unable. He felt an odd presence, then inhaled sharply as Aizen appeared suddenly in front of him and Byakuya surmised that he must have used his zanpakuto to hide his approach. He started to speak, but was stopped as a binding kido froze his body in place. Aizen's hand curled around the pendant at the noble's throat and he tore it free, then he walked out onto the old deck and threw the pendant and chain into the lake. He walked back to the stunned noble and released him from the kido bind. Byakuya stared at him in silence.
"He gave you that pendant, didn't he?" asked Aizen, gazing into the noble's widened gray eyes, "He probably told you to watch me."
"It was only a summoning charm," Byakuya said, touching his throat where the pendant had been.
"I'm sure that's what he told you. But I think you know now that it was more than that. He wanted to know what you remember."
"What I remember?" Byakuya repeated, his voice shaking softly, "I am caught between a man who uses illusion as a weapon, and a transcendent who can alter reality around me. I don't know what is real…and what is a lie. I don't know anything anymore, Sousuke!"
He remained still, gazing at the place where the bed in the room had been, not even reacting when the other man's arms wrapped around him and Aizen brought his face close to the noble's.
"You are wrong," he said softly, "You know the truth."
He placed a warm hand over Byakuya's fast beating heart.
"Your answers are here. Remember what you learned earlier, Byakuya. Your mind and your senses can be fooled, but your heart remembers. I think you are intelligent enough that you have figured out that neither the 'truth' everyone knew before, nor the one Yoshiaki replaced it with are real. They are both lies. The truth you are seeking was covered up long ago…the night that we were together here…"