Title: Prisoner of Love

Series: Bleach

Chapter Four

Waking up as the sun slowly hit his face, Gin let out a soft groan of discomfort, putting a arm over his eyes. "Not now dammit..." he muttered. He was having SUCH a nice dream too, with Byakuya moaning with wanton need...

Speaking of which... Sitting up, Gin looked over to where said man was, still dead asleep on the semi-decent cot he was able to find in one of the older barracks.

'Must be more comfortable than sleeping on the floor I suppose,' Gin thought as he got up to get dressed, but stopped when he heard a knock on the door. Frowning, not liking people knocking on his door this early in the morning, he went over and opened it. "What is it?" he nearly snapped at the messenger, who cringed back in fright.

The messenger stumbled back a bit, the full force of the red eyed glare more than a little daunting.

"Ah...uh...Aizen-dono...he...see you..."

Gin growled, eyes shutting angrily. Damn Aizen... this was suppose to be his day off. "Very well... let Aizen know I'll be there shortly."

Byakuya heard the whole exchange from his place passed out on the creaky old cot. He'd been feigning sleep for the last eight hours, so tense and confused and angry at himself for allowing Gin to drag him so far away from where he had been. It was a slight to all the people he had lost to be where he was now.

He was fraternizing with the worst of enemies.

He allowed himself to adjust his right leg, the shackle that was chained to Gin's bed post clinking as he moved.

Where ever he was going, maybe that bastard would be gone long enough for him to find someway to escape.

"If ya are thinking about trying to escape, please try ta forget it." Gin had close the door just moments before and was walking towards him.

"Unless... ya want Rukia-chan to deal with da consequences of your actions," he added with a shrugs, as if he didn't give a damn to what happened to her.

Byakuya resisted the urge to throw something.

He was trapped in this hell of a world, bound to someone he hated, who had killed too many of his friends, and worst yet was the fact that he was still so readable to the other man.

He thought he'd buried that weakness long ago, back when they'd both been in the Shinigami Academy.

"Now, I have ta go see Aizen about something," Gin tried to keep a look of dislike off his face as he said that. "Stay here and try not to cause any trouble, and I'll take ya to see Rukia later."

Byakuya spared the other man a glance before rolling back over. He knew full well that Gin would never let him see Rukia, not until he'd done whatever they planned for him to do.

Gin let out an over-exaggerated sigh. "I suppose ya don't believe me, but I am tellin' you the truth this time. Guess ya have to be good ta find out." With that said, he walked into the bathroom to get ready.

Gin took his time, knowing it would piss the other man off, but not really caring much about it. He had been doing it for so long now, had it REALLY bothered him, he wouldn't be breathing now.

Leaving the room, but not before reminding Byakuya to not cause trouble, Gin headed down to Aizen's chamber, opening the door with a flourish. "Ya called, Aizen-sama?" Gin asked with a smile, almost floating towards his at one time captain.

The brown haired man looked up from his position on the floor, the low table before him heaped with steaming plates of breakfast food. Hinamori, who was pressed into his side, barely spared the fair-haired man a glance, so intent was she on feeding Aizen a bit of sweet omelet.

"You took your time," the man drawled evenly, apathetically, as he took the fluffy bit of egg between his lips. He chewed thoughtfully for a moment, then pressed his mouth briefly to Hinamori's forehead before standing.

"Have you done what I've asked?"

Gin gave him an innocent look. "What was that again?" he asked, scratching his chin. "I'm sorry, its just been so long since you asked me that I forgot."

Hinamori frowned, just barely turning her eyes to look at him. 'Liar,' she thought. Seriously, what did Sosuke see in Ichimaru to even keep him around?

Aizen gave his subordinate a tight smile. "I don't think you want me to remind you again, Gin. My patience is spread thin as it is."

"He told you to do away with him, Ichimaru," Hinamori snapped, not liking how upset her master was. "Is it that difficult to do?" She let out a sharp laugh. "Perhaps you're getting soft."

Ichimaru opened his eyes, anger in his red orbs. "I suggest you watch it little one," he said in a cheerful voice that held warning in it. "I wouldn't want to accidentally kill you while we're in battle."

Hinamori immediately reached for her side, where her zanpaktou rested. "I'd like to see you try, old man," she sneered.

"Momo-chan," Aizen whispered, leaning in and placing a hand around the back of her neck. "You're loyalty is appreciated, but not needed."

He pulled her face to the side and placed, rough, calloused lips to her forehead, traveling them down to the tip of her nose until they met her eager lips. He kissed her roughly for a moment then pulled back, eying her blankly.

"Leave." he instructed, turning toward the fair haired man, the even look in his eyes belying his anger and frustration.

Momo eyes where glazed over, her cheek pink. "Y-Yes, Aizen-sama..." she murmured, bowing to him deeply for a moment before making her exit, her hands against her racing heart.

Ichimaru watched her leave before looking back at Aizen, eyes closed once again. "Quite the Romeo, Aizen-sama..." he drawled, smiling innocently.

"It keeps her in line." he replied steadily. He sat gracefully back down before his breakfast, motioning thoughtlessly for Gin to do the same. He may be a heartless bastard, but he'd never forget his manners.

"Have you killed Kuchiki yet or not?" he asked, pouring himself a scalding cup of tea.

Gin moved into a seat and waved his hand carelessly. "I believe killin' him would be a waste," he said. He was quiet for a moment. "Perhaps..." Gin started to say before shaking his head. "No, I don't believe you'll like the idea Aizen-sama..."

Aizen regarded him over the edge of his cup, annoyance finally leaking into his eyes.

"I'm not a simpleton, I cannot be played with such trifles. Tell me your idea or face the consequences for insubordination."

Gin smiled again, but this smile was tight. "My my, so testy. My idea is... perhaps you can USE Kuchiki to lure out the remaining shinigami we've been looking for."

"Explain."

"Well," Gin began, leaning back comfortably, "Since we DO have Rukia alive and semi-well, we can finally show Byakuya what we've teased him with, and tell him, if he wishes to keep her alive, he'll become your personal assassin."

Gin opened his eyes, looking over at Aizen. "Who else better than someone they trust?"

The brunette sipped his tea in contemplation, drawbacks to the idea filtering through his mind

"And if he refuses? Or, when he dose approach them, how is he to explain his fifty year absence?"

"If he refuses, we kill little Rukia in front of him," Gin said, ignoring the flip in his stomach. "And if he does accept, he can tell them he went into hiding or something. He can figure that out for himself."

Aizen considered the notion for a long moment, his tea going cold in his hand. The idea had promise - even if the plan only worked a few times, they could still force a few of the remaining gotei thirteen out; and perhaps, just perhaps, they'd finally find someone who was willing to talk.

"I leave the matter to you, then, Gin. You have twelve hours; if Kuchiki cannot make a decision by then, you are to kill him. Do I make myself clear?"

Gin stood and bowed for a moment before straightening. "As you say, Aizen-sama," he said, before turning and walking out the door.

Byakuya eyed the plain white kimono disdainfully, loath to wear anything but the rags he'd been in for the past fifty years. They were fithly, yes, and reeked of blood and other body fluids, but the sudden change of heart toward him was unsettling.

Whatever plan he was to be suddenly caught up in, he had to find a way out of it; or perhaps a way to end it, so that Rukia could find someway to live and be freed.

Considering this, he allowed himself a gruff sigh as he reached for the garment, the soft feel of the fabric foreign to his fingers. He'd once been used to this level of fineness, but so many years in a prison cell had been humbling.

It makes me sick to accept this, he thought, but I will do what I must.

"Ya sure take a long time ta get dressed," Gin's voice broke the silence that Byakuya had been in. "And ta think you would be pleased to see your sister."

The dark haired man didn't even spare the other man a glance, pulling on the robe and tying the obi around his waist. Amazing how even after years of not wearing one, the skill came back to him so quickly.

"What do you mean?" he asked flatly, voice rough from sleep and lack of use.

Ignoring the question, Gin went over to the vanity and picked up a brush. "Sit," he said. "You must look nice for your sister after all."

Byakuya didn't move.

"I want an answer."

"Apparently the help didn't tell you. You're going to see Rukia today. Now SIT." Gin's voice was becoming irritated.

He sat, if only because the displeasure of following any command Gin made jarred so intensely with his sudden need to see Rukia.

Moving behind him, Gin began to brush his hair. "Ya can be so stubborn and irritating, Byakuya," the younger man muttered, moving the brush through the tangled hair with gentle strokes. "Just like when I use to tried to crack that mask you always wore."

"That has nothing to do with now." Byakuya whispered, ignoring the way his scalp tingled at the gentle attention. He barely noticed when Gin took out a pair of scissors and began evening out his hair.

"It has EVERYTHING to do with now," Gin snapped. "If you hadn't been so damn stubborn, Aizen wouldn't have been so..." He scowled, realizing what he was doing. "Forget it."

Finishing with trimming his hair, Gin stepped back, feeling another dip in his stomach. This man shouldn't have short hair. It didn't look right on him at all...

Dammit! Why was he doing this AGAIN?! Gin gripped the scissors tightly, not noticing when blood began to drip on the floor. He needed to stop thinking these insane thoughts. Nothing would become of them...

"When are we going to see Rukia?" the dark haired man asked, turning toward Gin when the silence that descended became uncomfortable.

"Now." Tossing the scissors on the vanity, Gin started for the door. "Follow me."

He needed to get his emotions under control... and fast.