Chapter 9
How long had he been here? How long had he been running? There were those leering voices running behind him. He knew he couldn't keep this up much longer. His blood was giving them a nice trail to follow.
"GRAB HIM!!!" White faces glowered through the darkened terrain followed with footsteps sounding throughout the forest. Clashing swords contrasted with the darkness of the settling night. Pale hands grabbed for comfort of the nearest tree trunk while the sagging figure tried desperately to gain his breath. Will he be able to rest here? Just let him rest. Grey eyes fixed themselves onto the ground, blinking rapidly to rid them of the blood dripping steadily down his forehead. It had been an ambush.
"THERE HE IS!!" The tree lost the comforting hand as the figure once more groped blindly forward, forcing itself into shunpo. No, too tired. It collapsed halfway, falling into the dirt, staining its satin attire with brown and red. Clawing with every last bit of energy left, the figure tried to rise but was forced into the dirt once more as a foot stamped down hard onto his back.
"Not so tough now are ya," a harsh tone ground out, matching the malice with every grind of his foot. "Are ya shinigami?" Everything faded to black.
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"How is he?" a smooth tone echoed through the chambers of the darkened hallway.
"You know who's having a go right now right?" a snake like voice hissed back.
"Then he's definitely not going to be holding up much longer."
"I just can't see how he even made it this long." A harsh chuckle grated through the darkness leading to an uproar within the gathering group of glowing eyes.
"He hasn't screamed yet." The smooth voice spoke up once more, silencing the crowd.
"We'll see about that." Cold brown eyes looked down to a man with white hair. "Gin," the voice of high command echoed.
"Hai, Aizen-Taicho?"
"I think it's time we fetched our little guest." Aizen leaned his head against his palm, a cold smile spreading across his lips.
"I'll send word to our little watcher then." Gin turned to leave but a low chuckle caught his attention as he paused in his steps to add, "I'll have him brought to the special room and…prepared for treatment."
"You truly know me too well Gin."
"Of course, Aizen Taicho. See ya."
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"Byakuya," a voice called to him. "Byakuya." Right, that was his name right. How long had it been since someone had called him his name?
"Come, open your eyes." His eyes were closed. Oh right, his eyes were closed. But did he really want to open them. Everything was sticky. Everything hurt. Just let him sleep for a little while longer.
"Byakuya, open your eyes. I know you are awake." The finality in that tone caused the ex-noble's eyes to snap open. The blinding pain he felt running through his body nearly ripped a loud moan from his throat, but his pride forced him to swallow it and blink away the blinding white spots of his vision.
"There we go." The smooth voice called out to him again. "That wasn't so bad was it?"
Grey eyes turned to examine their surroundings and met into the cold brown.
"Aizen." A choked gasp was all that came for a voice. That was his voice. What happened to his voice? Larger hands enclosed around his own pale, slender hands and brought them to encircle his neck.
"It's alright Byakuya. You're voice will come back." He felt his body jerk away from the touch. He was standing now, breathing heavily. His eyes were narrowing. Right, Aizen was a traitor. He was man who nearly made the entire Soul Society collapse.
"Ah." Aizen was sitting down, that same smile playing across his cruel face. "I love your fire Byakuya."
"Don't—," his body was falling again. He couldn't move. It was blackening again. No, wait, not here. The same hand played its way through his hair as those smirking lips leaned towards his ear.
"Don't worry at all. I may lose that fire, but, what I gain will be a very nice compensation."
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The white door slammed as Aizen exited. He walked down the hallway, white robe trailing slightly behind him as a soft chuckle echoed down his throat.
"Gin, you honestly need to learn the habit of how to actually hide." Brown met the closed snake eyes as they two stared each other down.
"Ya caught me." Gin smiled. "But, what are ya going to do with new toy?"
"You know the basic ropes. I don't think I want to touch him just yet though." The former captain once again turned back fully to walk down the halls.
"Anything I want?" Gin chuckled.
"Within limits Gin," echoed the last warning statement from Aizen, causing the white haired shinigami to have a metaphorical pout.
"Yes, Aizen-Taicho." Gin opened the white door. "Though ya don't have to wait up." A leering snake's smile was all that was seen before the door once again clicked shut.