Retribution
By
PND
Part 4
"Why are you really here, Yumichika?" Aizen's amused voice slid across the room, smothering the arrancar in the sickly sweet feel of it. "Do you want to be here?"
Yumichika's slow blink was what pushed Stark over the edge. He gripped the shinigami's shirt and pushed him back to the door.
"Go back to the room, Yumichika." Stark's voice was more steely than he'd ever heard it before and his heart had all but stopped beating. "You will never set foot inside this place again, understood?"
Yumichika opened his mouth to speak. Had it been any other time, Stark was sure that it would have been something snide and insulting, but from the look in his eyes, Yumichika was more relieved that he'd ever been in his life. He turned and casually walked past the espada, not bothering to even look away from the doors. He was afraid to show them what he was thinking.
Stark turned to look at Aizen, he never wanted to see that look in his shinigami's eyes again. That look of silent desperation that was exposed during that short moment his eyes closed. Stark saw it and knew what it meant.
Yumichika was beginning to think that maybe Aizen was right.
Maybe he did want to be there.
Stark refused to allow that thought to ever go through Yumichika's head again.
No one should want to be here.
Chills ran down his spine until he managed to stop in a doorway and catch his breath in the bright corridor. His stomach was churning and he felt like he might be sick, but was too defined to even entertain that thought for more than a few seconds.
What in Aizen's words had made his mind shut down so quickly?
Yumichika dipped his head back and gazed at the ceiling, trying to figure out his weakness for this place. He'd been doing fine until Aizen mentioned leaving.
He wanted to leave. There was nothing he wanted more than to return home. He wanted to see his friends and feel the familiar reiatsu. He wanted to see Ikkaku again.
The thought of Ikkaku was pushed back. He didn't want to see him. Not right now.
He wanted to leave, didn't he?
He just didn't know anymore.
"This isn't like you, Stark," Aizen smiled fondly at the espada, absorbed by the cold look in his eyes and the defensive stance. "What are you trying to achieve by protecting him? He'll never love you. You should know that better than anyone."
"I don't see how any of this matters to you," Stark said bluntly. "That shinigami is my problem alone. Any input you have, I will listen to, but it's my choice whether or not I will use it."
"I'm not going to take him away from you," Aizen assured him. "My dear espada all deserve to have their fair share of rewards. Maybe you should find it in your heart to share?"
"I will do no such thing," Stark immediately refused. "He is mine. I won't let you or any of the others touch him. The one who does will find themselves in hell."
"Are you decided then?"
"Yes."
"Very well," Aizen chuckled, addressing the group. "No one is to touch the shinigami. If anyone does, Stark has my complete permission to slaughter you."
"Thank you, Sir." Stark gave an abrupt bow and turned to leave.
"Oh, Stark?" Aizen's tone made him stop. "Please, do be considerate to him. You can't expect him to put out for you right away."
The espada gritted his teeth, disgusted by his leader's insinuation. He nodded sharply, casting his eyes to the floor. "Of course, my Lord."
"Lilinette?" Yumichika asked softly as he returned to her room, closing the door gently behind him. There was a slight shuffle as the blankets on the bed moved a little in reaction. The shinigami sighed softly, crossing the room and crawling onto the bed. He wasn't surprised when the small arrancar crawled into his lap and laid her cheek against his.
"What happened?"
"Aizen wanted to see me," Yumichika said quietly, ignoring the concern that coated her eyes. "He...he asked me why I hadn't escaped yet and I couldn't give him an answer. The bastard."
"I don't like him," Lilinette murmured, rubbing her forehead into Yumichika's chest, trying to get closer to him. "He's always telling Stark what to do."
"He is your leader," Yumichika reminded her, lying back on the bed, cradling her against his chest. "It's Stark's duty to respect his wishes."
"Why do you sound so okay with that?" Lilinette wondered, looking at the shinigami carefully. "Shouldn't you hate Lord Aizen? Why aren't you upset?"
"It's not his fault I'm here right now," Yumichika whispered, closing his eyes. "I'm actually in Hueco Mundo because I followed Ikkaku here like a love-sick idiot and now I'm trapped here, by my own free will apparently," Yumichika laughed bitterly. "Stark should have just left me for dead, Lilinette. It would have been better for everyone. I've caused too much trouble for both of you."
"You shouldn't say that," Lilinette's eyes narrowed and she pushed away from him. "Stop talking like you're worthless. You know that you aren't. No one's worthless here, no matter who or what they are. You can't just expect me to sit here and agree with you, shinigami-san, because I won't do that."
Yumichika lifted his head to look at her, caught up in her words for a few seconds. He closed his eyes, letting his head fall back on a pillow. "I guess you're right, Lilinette. Thank you."
"That's better," she nodded firmly, laying back down on him. She closed her eyes. "Please, just don't leave me."
Yumichika blinked, looking up at the ceiling. Why did she have to say that? He'd have to leave her some time. Either his damn lover would save him or Aizen would kill him off. He'd be taken care of no matter what. He couldn't tell Lilinette that though. He pressed his lips to her forehead and put his arms around her. He wasn't going to promise her anything. It wasn't his decision to make.
Damn it all. Why did this have to be so hard?
His footsteps echoed down the corridor, the sword in his hand rapping against the white tile with every step he took. Stark was bristling with concealed anger, wishing he had something to take it out on. Why did Aizen have to be such a greasy bastard? He'd have preferred talking to that weasel-faced Ichimaru because at least then he'd know that Yumichika wouldn't be touched. Aizen practically invited the espada to have free range of Yumichika. No way in blood hell would Stark stand by and allow one of them to touch Yumichika like that. He was the only one who deserved to. He was the one who saved him and allowed him to continue living. So, why wasn't he getting anything out of it?
He heaved a heavy sigh outside the door to Lilinette's bedroom, knowing very well that Yumichika would have returned there. No doubt clouded his mind that Yumichika would have gone anywhere else. He wasn't going to leave, that much was obvious.
"Stark?"
The shinigami's soft voice pulled him back to reality.
"Here," Stark shoved the sword into the shinigami's hands brusquely. "This is yours."
"Fuji Kujaku?" Yumichika looked down in surprise at his zanpakuto. "Why did you give him back to me?"
"Don't be a fool," Stark muttered, crossing his arms. "I'm not going to leave you unarmed when we leave this place. I want you to be able to defend yourself and—" Stark stopped at the sound of the zanpakuto clattering to the floor. "Yumichika?"
"You're the fool," Yumichika murmured, staring down at the abandoned sword. He swallowed, lifting his head to look Stark in the eye. "I'm not going back. Not right now."
"You have to."
"No, I don't," Yumichika smiled slightly, stepping over the blade and towards Stark. The arrancar backed into the door, surprised by how close Yumichika was getting to him. "I have duties here, don't I?"
"Duties?" Stark's breath caught in his throat as Yumichika pressed against him. His lips ached to meet the shinigami's. Yumichika had an odd twinkle in his eye that was making Stark uncomfortable.
"Are you taking back what you said earlier? Don't you want me? I'm just some two-bit whore to you arrancar, aren't I? Isn't that why I'm still alive?" Yumichika pressed his lips heavily against the arrancar's, anger and passion gripping his body. Stark very nearly gave in to the shinigami. Had it been two days ago, or hell, even yesterday, Stark would have willingly given in to Yumichika. He still wanted to, but he couldn't. Not like this.
Yumichika wasn't expecting the slap and pulled back when it came. He pressed a hand against his cheek, staring at Stark in wonder. He didn't look angry or even hurt.
"What did you think you were doing?" Stark grunted, disturbed by Yumichika's actions.
"What you wanted me to," he replied, dropping his hand. "You wanted me to be submissive to you and give you everything you wanted, didn't you, or was there another reason you wanted me here?"
"That's why I originally brought you here," Stark agreed, picking up the forgotten zanpakuto. "But now isn't the time. Aizen said—"
"Yes, tell me what your dear Aizen said," Yumichika's condescending look sent a chill down Stark's back. "What did you talk about after I left?"
"Yumichika," Stark shook his head. "Why are you acting like this?"
"Because it's better this way."
"No it's not," the espada gripped his arm. "I don't like you this way."
"What did Aizen say to you?" Yumichika's serious tone made Stark pause.
"He said that you wouldn't put out for me right away," Stark murmured.
"He said that?"
"Yes."
"I see," Yumichika paused, taking Fuji Kujaku back from him. He stared at the sword sadly, running his hand down the sheath, fingering the scratches that marred the wood. "I'm not beautiful anymore. Why do you want me still?"
"You are," Stark argued softly, leading the man back to the bed. Lilinette scooted to the side, letting Stark pull the shinigami onto the mattress with him. She stayed silent as Stark pulled him into his chest. "It doesn't matter why I want you. You're still beautiful."
Yumichika nodded, only partially believing his words and to Stark's surprise, he settled down in his arms and rested his head on his chest.
End part 4.