Chapter 5: Dark Core
"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…"
"You bastard!" Byakuya hissed, flash stepping away and reappearing outside on the dilapidated wooden deck, "You admit it! You…you knew that I was going to be made consort! You knew and you took advantage of my pre-wedding jitters to steal what was his!"
"What was HIS?" Aizen repeated furiously, his reiatsu moving in a dangerous red swirl around him.
The wooden deck beneath Byakuya's feet rumbled and shook, then the noble was forced to flash step away as Aizen's anger made it explode into splinters. He reappeared on the bank of the lake and backed away as Aizen followed, his reiatsu swelling around him again.
"Now, that is funny!" he snarled sarcastically, walking towards the stunned noble, "It is also sad and demented, and Byakuya…I think you also know that it is a lie!"
He raised his hands, gathering his power, then glared at Byakuya as the noble's blade appeared in his hand.
"Yes," said Aizen, "I think that we cannot move forward until we have this out. I have tried to be understanding while you came to terms with your returning memory. I tried to be gentle with you, and sensitive to the fact that you really are caught between two formidable forces. But I am sick to death of the lies that people have been made to believe about me…especially you. So…if you refuse to see the truth any other way, I will show you in a way you will not be able to dismiss."
Black clouds swirled in the skies around them, lightning flashed across the sky, and thunder shook the ground under Byakuya's feet and riled the lake's waters.
"What are you doing?" Byakuya cried, flash stepping away and breaking into a run.
Aizen appeared in front of him, raising his hands and gathering his power as the thunder sounded again and the ground shook harder.
"STOP!" cried Byakuya, "Why are you doing this? I don't believe anything you say!"
Aizen appeared in front of him then, as he tried to flash step clear, made a circle of images of himself that surrounded the noble.
"Raise your senkei," Aizen ordered coldly.
"Wh-what?" Byakuya asked breathlessly.
"You heard me," Aizen repeated sarcastically, "Raise your senkei. And I suggest that you do it quickly or you will be blown all of the way back to Kuchiki Manor."
Byakuya stared as Aizen's power swelled around him again and the lake and forest around them glowed an ominous red.
"Don't worry," said Aizen, smirking, "I will not kill you. But I want you to be able to trust what I tell you…and if you refuse to believe me, then we will never get anywhere. Now, for the last time, I suggest that you raise your senkei, or you might just die, Byakuya."
Byakuya's widened eyes looked into his and read the seriousness, and he raised Senbonakura, tip down, and released the blade's power.
"Ban kai," he said quietly, "Senkei, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi."
He stood calmly as the pink swords began to fall into place around him. Aizen waited until all had settled into place, then nodded in approval.
"Now, your zanpakuto has taken his true form…and I know that within this chamber, Kyoka Suigetsu cannot fool your senses. It is why if I had ever fought you, you among all of the captains had the means to counteract my blade's power on some level, making you a formidable enemy. But you will see the reason I need not have worried, in any case. Because even bare handed, I can rip through your defenses as though they were made of butter and I can destroy you and your zanpakuto in a heartbeat. Do you want to know why?"
"I am not interested in what lies your lips would tell me," Byakuya replied in a more settled voice, "Remember that, although Kyoka Suigetsu cannot make lies of my surroundings, you are, even in this place, able to speak whatever lies you like."
"Well then," said Aizen icily, "Since you are determined to refuse to believe me, no matter what I say, then you leave me no choice. You had best brace yourself, Byakuya, because the truth is going to hurt you!"
Byakuya sucked in a surprised breath as the pink swords around them flashed white, then exploded, sending a hard shockwave outward and flattening the forest in a wide swath around them. Blistering heat washed over the noble and, though it passed over him without destroying him, the sword in his hand evaporated and everything around them was instantly obliterated. Byakuya screamed in pain as Senbonzakura's death cry ripped across his mind and the zanpakuto's spirit disappeared from his inner world. He fell to his knees in the blackened ash at the edge of the darkened lake, hardly able to draw breath. Aizen approached him slowly, watching solemnly as the noble's hands clawed the ashen ground and he continued to draw and release heavy, shaking breaths. An unbidden sob escaped Byakuya before he regained control and sat quietly, staring at his burned sword hand.
"I think that we can agree that this is not an illusion," Aizen said calmly, "ne, Byakuya? You felt his death inside you. It was not any of your senses that made you believe that fact, it was your heart."
"What have you done?" screamed the horrified noble, regaining his feet and backing away, "Get away from me!"
He started to flash step, but was suddenly frozen in place as Aizen approached him again. He gazed quietly into the noble's terrified eyes.
"Do I have your attention now?" Aizen asked softly, "I will say it again. What happened is not an illusion. And you know it is not, because you had your senkei raised when I attacked. You felt the instant destruction of your zanpakuto and I know you also felt that I protected you from that same destructive blast. Think, Byakuya. No shinigami possesses power on that level…none! And what does that tell you?"
He frowned as his senses registered a hissing flash step, but Byakuya remained in front of him. A moment later, the image of the noble disappeared, and Aizen caught sight of Byakuya disappearing into the forest at the edge of the circle of destruction he had created with his attack. Instantly, he moved in pursuit, sensing the noble's intent and realizing the implications.
"Well, this is not exactly what I envisioned…" he muttered.
He shook his head and flash stepped faster, trying to hone in on the fleeing shinigami. Byakuya reached the manor and ran for the archive, ignoring Aizen's insistent call for him to stop. He burst through the door and slammed it behind him, then dropped onto his knees, wrapping his arms around his midsection and forcing himself not to make a sound as tears leaked onto his face.
"Sen…" he whispered brokenly, shuddering at the awful silence.
A hand touched his shoulder and he recoiled, staring in horror as he realized that Aizen had entered the archive. He scrambled to his feet and backed away, stopping as his husband paused, gazing at him silently.
"H-how…?" Byakuya stammered, "How did you enter the archive? Only the Kuchiki leader or members of the royal family can enter the archive!"
The already pale noble's face turned sheet white as Aizen extended a hand, breathing a soft command. To Byakuya's shock and surprise, the unmistakable form of Senbonzakura manifested in front of him, balanced on its tip. A ragged sob escaped him and the noble dropped to his knees as the voice of his zanpakuto spirit called his name.
Byakuya.
Unbidden tears flooded onto Byakuya's tormented face and his arms curled around his abdomen reflexively.
"H-how?" he gasped, "How did you do this?"
"You know how," Aizen said softly, almost apologetically as he moved closer.
Byakuya's dark, tortured eyes closed and more tears flowed down his flushed face.
"Sousuke…"
"No mere shinigami could destroy and restore your power like that," Aizen intoned calmly, "and only a member of the royal family could follow you into this place. Byakuya, it is time for us to dispense with all of the lies."
"You are a member of the royal family," the Kuchiki leader said numbly, "…but…"
"But I was forced to leave the royal realm."
"Stop," Yoshiaki's voice interrupted as the king flash stepped into view in between them.
"Your majesty?" Byakuya managed softly.
"Why are you here?" Aizen demanded.
"I think you should stop tormenting your poor spouse," Yoshiaki said quietly, "I think he might collapse. You've gone to quite some extreme, haven't you, Sousuke? Killing his zanpakuto like that? Terrifying the poor thing to within an inch of his life? Unforgivable. Byakuya, say the word and I shall undo this farce of a marriage. I will be happy to take you back to the royal realm with me and house you there, so he can no longer annoy you."
"I had no intention of leaving Byakuya without his zanpakuto, and you know it," said Aizen, glowering, "I was merely impressing upon him that I was not using an illusion to control him. I was trying to gain his trust."
"You did a lovely job of that. He looks very convinced. Come now, Byakuya. You needn't answer about having your marriage undone just yet. But come with me and I will see to the healing of your hand. You can spend the night with me…erm…in the palace, and decide under more peaceful conditions about whether or not to return."
Aizen's eyes darkened, but he let out a defeated breath and nodded.
"It is your choice, of course," he said, seeking Byakuya's eyes, "but realize what I was trying to tell you, using my powers as I did."
"Enough, Sousuke!" the king snapped, "You have hurt him enough, don't you think? Leave him be and let him gather himself. I am sure that Byakuya will give deep consideration to what happened and come to an intelligent decision, ne?"
Aizen gave the king a hateful glare, but said nothing more.
"Byakuya," said the king, releasing the noble, "Why don't you wait for me in the palace? I want to speak to Sousuke for a moment."
"Alone?" asked Byakuya, looking alarmed, "But…"
"Do not worry," the king assured him, "This shinigami cannot hurt me. Go."
Byakuya hesitated for a moment longer, his eyes meeting Aizen's for a moment.
"My apologies, if you misunderstood my intentions," Aizen said, nodding, "I will see you after you have had some time to think."
Byakuya returned his gaze for a moment, then shook his head briefly. Aizen and Yoshiaki looked back at him questioningly.
"I want to speak to my husband alone," he said solemnly, "Although his methods were extreme, I think that he had few options in confronting me."
Yoshiaki scowled at the little smirk that touched Aizen's lips.
"I see," the king said, carefully holding back any sign of a negative reaction, "Very well. But…if you find that this man tries to hurt you again and you wish to be rid of his manipulations, only call upon me and I will end this. You needn't suffer any more of his tricks."
"I understand," Byakuya assured him, "Arigato, your majesty."
The king shot Aizen a deadly look, then turned and swept away. Byakuya waited until he had passed through the door at the back of the archive, then he turned to his husband, who gazed at him, silently waiting.
"I do not know exactly what is happening," the noble went on, "but…I think I need to hear what you have to say. Sousuke, please tell me what is going on between you and the soul king."
XXXXXXXXXX
"Are you all right, Tetsuya-sama?" asked the young male attendant as he carefully removed the fine wedding garments from the new consort's slender body, leaving Tetsuya naked in front of the full-length mirror in the dressing room within the soul king's bedchamber, "You look so pale. Would you like me to call for the royal healer?"
Tetsuya gazed almost sightlessly into the mirror, stunned at how swiftly the course of his life had changed.
How did this happen? It all feels so surreal…so…wrong! I had no choice but to accept the king's proposal and we were immediately wed.
Why?
Why has Yoshiaki chosen…me?
"Tetsuya-sama?" the royal attendant inquired worriedly, "Sir…"
"I am all right, Jun," Tetsuya lied, swallowing hard and forcing himself to take slow, calming breaths, "Please continue."
He stood quietly as the attendant dressed him in a soft sky blue sleeping yukata, then removed the silvery decorations from the barely contained waves of black hair and swiftly brushed them to a proper shine. Jun smiled bracingly and Tetsuya returned the gesture, if half-heartedly.
"Please don't worry," his attendant urged him, "His majesty is not a cruel man. He does expect obedience from us, but he also rewards loyalty and I feel that he truly does care for all of us. I saw the way he was looking at you during the wedding ceremony."
"Y-you did?" Tetsuya mused, frowning thoughtfully, "I think I was so absorbed in my own emotions that I didn't notice anything else. Do you…really think that he…?"
Jun's friendly smile warmed until it seemed almost melting.
"What I think is that his majesty knows exactly how you are feeling right now, Tetsuya-sama, and it concerns him. But I believe that it was, for some reason, significant that he chose you, of all people, to wed. He wasn't looking at you with anything but affection."
He started to say more but broke off as the chamber doors opened and the king entered the room, dressed in a dark purple satin yukata and wearing his long brown hair unrestrained. He nodded briefly at Jun, who bowed and left the room, closing the doors softly behind him. Tetsuya remained standing silently in front of the dressing mirror, his blue eyes lowered respectfully.
Yoshiaki smiled and extended a hand.
"Tetsuya."
"My lord," Tetsuya answered softly, reaching out in a gesture of acceptance.
Heat flared on his face and throat as the king captured his hand and very tenderly kissed the back.
"I suppose I needn't ask how you are feeling," Yoshiaki sighed, holding his consort's palm to his cheek, "I hope it comforts you to know that I would not have asked this of you if I had any doubts about it being the best decision. Tetsuya, your presence at my side means more than you know, and it will help to bring things back into a state of balance that we can maintain together. The path we will walk together will not be easy, but if we have each other to hold onto, we…will not be lost in the torrent."
He moved closer and Tetsuya's chin lifted so their eyes met directly. The tears that had been threatening in the half-noble's eyes faded for a moment as the king's warm lips pressed comfortingly against his.
Yoshiaki smiled.
"It is good to feel we are not alone, ne Tetsuya?"
"Yes, my lord," Tetsuya agreed, calming under the king's gentle touch.
"Please, we are married now," Yoshiaki chuckled, "You may call me by name."
Tetsuya swallowed hard, blushing furiously as his worked to make his lips move and his voice sound again.
"Yoshiaki-sa…"
The king's lips pressed firmly to his, stopping him before he could finish the honorific, then his warm, searching tongue slid tenderly along Tetsuya's flushed lips, requesting entrance. The half-noble gave in with a little sigh, parting his lips and allowing his tongue to curl warmly around the one that pushed inside. His heart fluttering brought a dizziness that overwhelmed his senses as, still kissing, the king led him out of the dressing area and very slowly to the side of the large, sinfully soft looking bed they would be occupying. He barely felt himself falling, but found himself suddenly lying on his back, opening his mouth wider to accept the king's deeper, more passionate kisses.
An unexpected thought flickered across his spinning mind.
I have never been touched with so much tenderness. Naoki tried to be gentle, but because of the conditions within the prison, his fingers were cold and he had to hurry to be sure that the guards on their rounds wouldn't see. He had to put a hand over my mouth when he penetrated me, so I wouldn't cry out.
"Tetsuya, you are shaking."
The reeling consort sucked in a shuddering breath, crashing back down into reality as the harsh memory faded.
I should not be thinking about another man while with my new husband, he chided himself.
He hardly dared to meet the king's powerful golden eyes, but in them, he found only understanding and quiet sympathy.
"It's all right," the king assured him, "I know what all of this is bringing to the surface, and I apologize for the need to see to the consummation now, before you are ready. Tetsuya, what can I do to make you more comfortable?"
Tetsuya managed a sad smile as his husband's fingers ran through the wild waves of dark hair.
"I think there is nothing to be done," he said, trying to keep his voice from trembling, "I know you have no desire to hurt me and I appreciate the care you are taking with me. Yoshiaki, I…really do want to make this work. I do not know exactly why you chose me or what is going to be expected of me, but I will promise to always do my best."
The king smiled approvingly, his hands sliding down to open their clothing.
"You have a heart as courageous as it is kind, Tetsuya," he commented, reaching over to pick up a small tube of lubricant from the nightstand.
"Wait," said Tetsuya, capturing his hand and earning a curious glance from the monarch, "Please, I…want to…if it is all right, I want us to explore each other more slowly."
Yoshiaki smiled and gave him a little nod, then he watched curiously as Tetsuya coaxed him onto his back and leaned over him,
"With your permission," the half-noble said, meeting his eyes shyly.
"Of course."
The king felt a twinge of sympathy as Tetsuya's somber eyes focused on his body, and the consort's very slightly shaking hands began to explore and caress, sliding along his naked flesh, while Tetsuya's soft lips worked their way gradually down the length of his torso, brushing the surface, pressing down, then parting so that his silken tongue could be permitted to tease. Yoshiaki's reiatsu, always so carefully in check, began to feel rougher and more wanton as he watched his consort through half-lidded eyes.
"T-Tetsuya!" he panted, biting at his lips to maintain control as the otherwise painfully shy half-noble crawled down his body, honing in on the part of him most wanting his husband's attention.
Until he noticed that Tetsuya's own genitals remained soft and unmoved.
This is no good.
He wrapped a hand around his consort's wrist and instantly Tetsuya jerked away, a terrified look in his widened eyes. Yoshiaki released him immediately, connecting with his frightened gaze soothingly.
"It's all right," he reassured the younger man, "You did nothing wrong."
"But…?"
"I stopped you because I could see that you were only doing what you were taught by your wicked relation…Orochi."
At the mention of his cruel cousin's name, Tetsuya went quiet and perfectly still.
"I am not just your husband, I am your king," Yoshiaki reminded him solemnly, "I know exactly what that man did to you. I know this is why you know how to pleasure me, but you do not know how to receive pleasure, Tetsuya."
"I…I'm sorry!" Tetsuya apologized hastily, shivering.
"You have nothing to be sorry for," Yoshiaki reassured him, extending a hand, palm up and waiting until Tetsuya's own hand reached out to accept it, "Now, if you will please lie down, I will teach you what it means to be an equal partner."
"You don't have to…"
"I know, but I want you to feel comforted by my touches, warmed by my kisses and aroused and pleased by my caresses. Orochi never saw to your pleasure, only to his own, but there is world of good things that he stole from you and I intend to give everything back now. Will you trust me, Tetsuya?"
Very gradually, the fear that had come into the spooked consort's sapphire eyes faded.
"I will trust you."
Much better, Yoshiaki thought approvingly as he began to explore his consort's bared flesh, The only way to access the divine power within you is to bring on sexual euphoria. Then…only then…can I feed on that power.
He watched the blush on Tetsuya's comely face deepen as he teased the consort's nipples to erection. Mumbling his approval, he worked his way downward unhurriedly, despite the growing need in his own body.
I have waited this long, feeding the demon inside me with small bits of the life force of others around me. But…with Tetsuya beside me, I will no longer need to do that to keep my body and reiatsu in balance.
Yes, this is good.
He wrapped his hot mouth around his consort's awakening arousal, sliding down and sucking, enjoying the rising tension in Tetsuya's body and the way his blue eyes lost all of their fear and only showed him rising passion.
Yes, I want you to feel good, to be happy. We will be happy together, Tetsuya. You will end the madness that this beast inside me has caused.
He continued to stroke Tetsuya's now inflamed length, caressing the soft sac at the base with one hand, while his other played in the mess of saliva and precum before beginning a slow preparation.
Kuchiki Tetsuya has never experienced orgasm. That animal, Orochi, never pleasured him and even the gentle Naoki could not stir him.
I will.
I will feed on his divine power, but I will love and care for him in return…and in this way I will defy what that idiot advisor told my late parents about Sousuke and me.
He shifted into position, gently pushing his consort's thighs wide and kissing Tetsuya amorously as he made his entry. He sensed the younger man was already close to his limit and smiled as he began a vigorous thrusting that quickly pushed him over and into release. A sharp flash of his power stunned the consort, leaving him helpless and unaware as the dark presence of the demon flared, making Yoshiaki's eyes darken and glow dangerously as his head bowed and he latched onto the half-noble's unprotected breast. Sharp fangs penetrated flesh, bone and the quivering heart beneath, making Tetsuya's unconscious body stiffen in reaction as the demon fed on the pale, glowing essence it drew out.
You don't have to restrain yourself. Like Byakuya, this one is a direct descendant of the first king's consort. He has the power that the others did not. I will restore him after. Fill yourself. Then, together, we will have the power we need to eliminate the last obstacle to our supremacy!
Sousuke, soon, I will have the power to destroy you and leave no memory of you at all!