Chapter 8: Mitsukai (The Angel)
"Are you sure that you should have taken him, yourself, Aizen-sama?" Yammy asked, looking up at his employer's reflection in the rearview mirror, "You could have had me capture him instead, so you wouldn't have to involve yourself directly."
"Yes, I could have," Aizen agreed, meeting the big man's eyes in the mirror for a moment, than looking down at where Byakuya's head rested gently in his lap, "And if this was anyone else, I would have. But Byakuya would certainly have put up a better fight against anyone else. And I don't approve of using brute force unless nothing else works. Resorting to violence is usually the sign of a poor imagination. Besides, I did not want there to be the chance that Byakuya would be physically harmed. He might despise me for what happened before, but hearing my voice made him hesitate to fight back, and gave me an opening to incapacitate him."
"What're you going to do with him? He's probably going to be hard to control."
Aizen smirked, admiring his former love's lovely and oddly vulnerable sleeping face.
"I have plans for that. It will not be a problem. Byakuya may get caught up in his emotions about Soujun, but he cares deeply about his cousin. In fact, I would say that he is nearly obsessed with that young man's well-being. And that being the case, it is simply a matter of helping him see that it is in Tetsuya's best interests to get him away from those people who have already spent years looking down on him."
"But, begging Aizen-sama's pardon of course, Byakuya-sama hasn't protected him from them before in that way. For years, they have mistreated him."
"Yes," agreed Aizen, "And yet, now in the wake of Kuchiki Ginrei's death, the opportunity arose for him to thwart the board's wishes and to bring Tetsuya to the front of the company. It makes me curious. Tetsuya is highly talented and would have been worth millions to the company. Add to that the fact that the company has been in financial trouble recently. That they are only now tapping Tetsuya's value, and that they had to be forced by Byakuya to do so suggests that there is a potentially devastating factor in play here. I wonder what that could be..."
He continued to consider the matter silently as the limousine sped through town and then to the outskirts, where it turned onto an elegant, tree-lined road that led to a sprawling mansion. The car passed through the iron gates and proceeded down the lush, tree and hedge lined driveway, to a long roundabout at the front of the painstakingly cared for white main house. Yammy brought the vehicle to a stop, then exited and opened the door for Aizen.
"You want me to carry him for you?" Yammy asked.
"No," Aizen said quietly, "I will see to it personally that he is made comfortable. I want you to find Grimmjow and the others. Tell him to make his move now. Byakuya will not be a factor working against us."
"Okay, Boss," the big man said, turning towards a smaller building, off to the right of the main house, "I'm on it."
Aizen lifted Byakuya out of the back seat of the limousine and carried him to the mansion's front doors, then waited as the doors opened to admit him. He walked inside and past the two waiting attendants, speaking a short greeting to them and sending them off on separate tasks. He left the entry and carried his surprisingly light charge up a gently sloping flight of white stairs, then along a bright hallway and up to the encompassing master suite.
A small, wicked smile coming to his lips, he carried Byakuya past the hot tub and large, soft bed, then touched a button on a small remote and waited as a hidden door slid open in front of him. He walked through the revealed doorway and into a smaller, enclosed chamber.
The inner chamber, too, was elegantly decorated and the bed he laid Byakuya down on, deeply comfortable. The walls around them had been carefully soundproofed, and the bed equipped with special equipment.
I suppose it is a bit lascivious, having had this built into the manor with Byakuya in mind, even though he was no longer with me. But...even not being 'with me,' I never ceased to see him as continuously and endlessly mine. And it was a relief from the monotony to just imagine sliding this door open and bringing him inside, then introducing his beautiful body to all sorts of sweet, heartfelt torments. Of course, such things will have to be handled exceedingly cautiously now. But...it is exhilarating to imagine the possibilities.
Yes, this has waited for a very long time.
He leaned over the raven-haired man, slowly undressing him and laying him in a comfortable position. Then, he worked his way gradually around Byakuya's body, carefully binding him in the soft restraints.
"My apologies for leaving you naked, and in such a vulnerable pose, but...I will be the only one to enter this chamber. You needn't worry about being exposed to anyone else. Hopefully, it will not take too long to bring your cousin into line and we can have this over swiftly."
His smile widened devilishly.
"Of course, I wouldn't exactly mind if things were more drawn out. I have missed you terribly."
He paused to verify that each slender wrist and ankle, each pale arm and shapely thigh were bound expertly, leaving the lovely man exceedingly comfortable, but completely open and helpless. Then, he set a blindfold carefully in place and stood back to examine the full beauty of the naked and utterly defenseless Kuchiki Byakuya.
So crushingly enchanting...
"You will want to kill me when you wake, I suppose," he said softly, feeling an erotic twinge in his loins as he imagined Byakuya's strong reaction to his predicament, "Ah, but that will bring its own sweet rewards, won't it? You are a deliciously passionate person, Byakuya...as beautiful angry as you are when making love...enticing, and, I am afraid, well worth every moment that I have waited and longed for your return. So, we shall make the most of this."
He bent over Byakuya and placed a gentle kiss on his soft, pouting lips.
"Wait for me here, my love. And do try to stay out of trouble."
Still smirking and feeling the insistent ache of arousal, he left the hidden chamber and punched in the code to lock the door in place. He walked to the opened balcony doors and proceeded onto the balcony, looking out over the lush grounds beneath him and unable to stop thinking of the raven-haired beauty hidden only steps away.
I hope that we can resolve things quickly, Byakuya. I know you will not appreciate my tactics, but you know me. When there is something that I want, I will pursue it endlessly and stalk it with unceasing devotion. You called it a dark obsession. And I have to agree with that. I love you passionately. And because of that, I will undo your every last defense...until the walls around you crumble and you collapse, at long last, into my arms. Nothing I have felt in the past two decades begins to compare to powerful, gripping love that I have for you. I will let nothing stop me from reaching and fully possessing you. Any obstacle that impedes me, I will destroy.
Even if that is your family, Byakuya.
The ones who protected you before are gone, and although you are strong, you cannot endure against those vicious, conniving people for long. They will find a way to use your loyalty to them so that they can gain control. But, I won't let that happen.
If someone is to corner you, to shatter the barriers around you, to take control and possess you, that person will be no other than me. Hate me and curse me if you must. I will take your passion in whatever form you offer it.
But, I will make you mine, Kuchiki Byakuya...
That has always been my plan.
"You sent for me?" said Grimmjow's voice from the doorway.
"Yes. Go downstairs to the studio and make the preparations. We are making our move."
Grimmjow's lips curled into a dastardly smile.
"You want me to deliver the pictures and our demands?" he asked.
"Such unnecessary brutishness and lack of subtlety again," Aizen chided the blue-haired man, "If you want any hope of luring that lovely Kuchiki into your bed, you had best learn to have some tact. Consider your actions carefully, Grimmjow. If you come on too strong, then I do not think that young man will ever become vulnerable to you."
"What are you talking about? I had the guy naked and totally helpless. I could have screwed him all I wanted to."
"Ah, yes," Aizen said, thinking of his own lovely captive, "But...if you want a repeat performance, then you must also take your conquest's state of mind into consideration. Or...are you just, perhaps, looking for a one-time release of your lust, with no commitments?"
"Naw," Grimmjow laughed, "A body like that isn't something to enjoy only once."
"Then, you must step cautiously. If he views you as a heartless enemy, then he will not give in to you. He is a Kuchiki and must believe you have a shred of decency if he is ever going to give you the time of day. You might consider exuding a compassionate attitude."
"Huh?" Grimmjow mutterd, frowning, "What the fuck are you talking about?"
"To put it bluntly, if you want to claim Tetsuya, to get him away from that red-haired mongrel he has pursuing him, you have to make him think that you are sympathetic to his plight. Simply let me be the 'bad guy' and you can be more embracing. Show him that you don't like what is being done to him...even make a slight show of helping him. I guarantee you that Tetsuya will fall gracefully into your waiting arms, and you will be able to enjoy him to your heart's content."
"Hey," Grimmjow said, comprehension lighting his glinting blue eyes, "I think you've got a point."
"Yes. Now, go downstairs to the studio and prepare for the recording session."
"What about Pretty-san? You going to threaten Kuchiki Byakuya to get him to cooperate?"
"Oh, that won't be necessary," Aizen assured him, "Just don't worry about it. I have everything under my control. Kuchiki Tetsuya is about to fall quite willingly into my hands."
XXXXXXXXXX
I should just give up on this. No matter how many times I recalculate or how many ways I try to approach this, the simple truth is that the family company is in dire straights. Byakuya-sama will not be happy about this. I hate that it is going to upset him. He has been very agitated since encountering Aizen Sousuke in that nightclub.
Tetsuya was startled out of the daze he had gone into as someone snatched the paper he had been staring at, coaxing him into glaring up at the handsome, red-haired offender.
"Renji, that is..."
"Oh, I see how it is," Renji chuckled, "Forgetting the formalities in public now. I am flattered, Tetsuya."
"Enough, you!" Tetsuya said, retrieving the paper that Renji had stolen, "I am trying to work, here. Someone has to find a light in the tunnel for this floundering company. Unfortunately, I do not think it will be me."
"Eh, don't worry so much about it. You can't help it that those bastards went nuts and wreaked havoc while you and Byakuya were seeing to your obligations to Kuchiki Ginrei. And no matter how many times you read that thing, it isn't going to change the facts. But, like I said, don't worry about it. You know," he said, leaning onto the counter and moving in on Tetsuya's frowning lips, "I hear they have some young, beautiful star-in-the-making who's going to turn this thing around for us all. He must really be something, too, to have so much responsibility placed on him like that."
"I said enough!" Tetsuya snapped, blushing, "I certainly hope the company isn't that dependent on my success. I will do my best, but..."
"Then, you'll do great," Renji assured him, sneaking a sudden kiss.
"Stop that!" the blue-eyed man objected, "We are in my cousin's office and anyone could walk in and see. I won't dishonor my cousin that way!"
"Heh, where is Kuchiki-san, anyway?" Renji asked, "I heard he didn't show up for the board meeting earlier, and that he'd cancelled his appointments for today."
"Word arrived that he had to meet with another group of investors and he missed the board meeting because of it. If it is an investor, it wouldn't be altogether unusual for Byakuya-sama to be tied up with that all day."
He paused for a moment, looking down at the company financials, then up at Renji again.
"But...I must admit that it is unusual for him to send word to me through a third party and not call to check in directly."
"Hmmm," Renji mused, "Well, he has a lot on his mind with Aizen Sousuke and his merry band of backstabbing bastards."
"Are you talking about Grimmjow-san?" Tetsuya asked, his heart pounding oddly as he was struck with memory about his odd encounter with the blue-haired vocalist.
"Grimmjow, Aizen, all of them," Renji said, scowling, "I hope Kuchiki-san tells the whole fucking bunch of them to go back to hell, where they came from!"
Tetsuya's expression softened, and he looked up into the redhead's angry eyes with sympathy.
"I am sorry for what they did to you, Renji-san. I am glad that my cousin found you and helped you."
"Yeah, I was real lucky. But just keep what happened to me in mind when you deal with them, Tetsuya. They're a nasty bunch...all of them. They'll be smiling at you, even as they drive the knife into your back."
"Renji," Tetsuya replied, reaching up to touch his face.
Renji's expression gentled again, and he moved closer, leaning down to meet the younger man for a long, warm kiss. A moment later, Tetsuya spotted an approaching courier and pulled away. Renji laughed good-naturedly.
"You get that. I'll go and start setting up for your practice session."
"Thank you, Renji," Tetsuya said, nodding.
He watched with admiring eyes as the redhead left, then turned to address the courier.
"Have you brought word from my cousin?"
"Actually, Tetsuya-san, this letter is for you."
"Oh?" Tetsuya answered, frowning, "I wasn't expecting anything."
He glanced in the direction that Renji had gone, wondering, then smiled and signed for the letter.
Maybe it is from Renji.
"Have a good day, Tetsuya-san!" the courier said, smiling in parting.
"Thank you, Ken-san."
The phone in the office rang and Tetsuya picked it up immediately.
Perhaps it is Byakuya-sama...
His face reflected disappointment as the call turned out to be from a client. He listened patiently to the man on the line, something nagging at his mind. As the call neared an end, he suddenly realized...
"Nobu-san," he said, trying to keep his voice calm, "Wasn't Byakuya-sama meeting with your company president this morning?"
"He was," the man on the phone confirmed, "But he sent a text message, canceling the meeting."
"What?" Tetsuya breathed, his heart quickening, "Do you know when he called?"
"Yes, around eight-thirty. Is something wrong, Tetsuya-san?"
"Ah...no, it's fine. Thank you, Nobu-san. I will give my cousin the information you relayed to me, as soon as he arrives."
He set down the phone, frowning and feeling his heart still pounding too quickly in his chest.
What is going on? Byakuya-sama would have called directly, and he would have also informed me of the change. And what that man said does not mesh with what came through here. We knew about the sudden meeting with the possible investors, but he never said that he was going there instead of seeing the original client first. Maybe he didn't deem it important to mention, but...
He frowned and shook his head uneasily, realizing suddenly that he was still holding the envelope in his hands.
"Oh..."
He picked up the letter opener from the desk in front of him and neatly opened the letter. As he withdrew the white slip of paper inside, a picture fell out, and he glanced down at it, then started to read the note. A fraction of a second later, his heart leapt into his throat as what he had seen in the picture registered with him.
Oh! Oh no!
He started again to read the note, but froze as Renji's voice sounded in the hallway. Tetsuya hastily stuffed the note and picture into a drawer and locked it as Renji returned to the room.
"Eh, just came to tell you that some of the equipment isn't working right. I put in a call to..."
He stopped, gazing curiously at Tetsuya's somewhat flustered expression.
"Is something wrong?" he asked.
Tetsuya swallowed hard, imagining what reaction the redhead was likely to have to the indecent picture he had just received.
"I...am fine," Tetsuya managed, "I am just worried about my cousin. I'll be glad when he gets back."
"You wanna go get a cup of tea while we wait for him?" Renji asked, "No point in hanging out here with the equipment failure."
"Oh, well, can you give me about five minutes?" Tetsuya asked, "I...have a matter to resolve first."
"Sure," said the redhead, dropping into a chair.
Tetsuya gave him a bemused look, then sighed and shook his head.
"Never mind," he said, rising, "It can wait. Come, we will go get that tea."
"You sure?" Renji asked, "Because I can wait a bit. I have something that Kuchiki-san asked me to edit. I can work on that and come back when it's done."
"Could you?" Tetsuya asked, looking relieved, "I..."
"No problem," Renji assured him, "I'll be back in a few."
He left the office, and Tetsuya rose and closed the glass door behind him. He returned to the desk, unlocked the drawer and took out the envelope he had placed inside. He avoided looking at the picture of his naked body spread out across Grimmjow's bed and picked up the note.
A car will arrive to pick you up in five minutes. It will be waiting for you in front of the cafe you visited yesterday. Arrive promptly if you wish to resolve this quietly.
Tetsuya felt a shiver pass through him as he placed the picture and note back in the envelope and glanced again in the direction that Renji had gone. He bit at his lips nervously, agonizing over what to do.
Kami! I wonder if he has done something to Byakuya-sama. The timing around this...the oddness of Byakuya-sama's absence...
But...I cannot just sit here and let this become public.
What do I do?
He slowed his breathing and closed his eyes for several long moments, just inhaling and exhaling slowly to calm his racing heart. And as he calmed, Byakuya's careful advice came back to him.
When dealing with an unscrupulous person, always consider what he stands to gain or lose. This will give you options if he corners you.
"That is right," he whispered, "Aizen Sousuke is after my cousin and he wants me to work for him. He doesn't want my name tarnished too badly, nor Byakuya-sama hurt, if he even has him. He is just trying to corner me. But...this requires an answer of some kind."
He thought carefully, then took a sheet of paper and penned a short message. He placed the message in an envelope and left the office, walking with purpose as he headed for the cafe.
You may think you have me, but think again. I am not as naive as I look, Aizen Sousuke. I will not let you manipulate me!
He reached the cafe several minutes later and approached the waiting limousine cautiously, frowning as the doors opened and he could see two of Aizen's bodyguards inside.
"Get in," one of them directed him.
"No," Tetsuya said firmly, "I am not going with you. Take this message to your boss and tell him I said..."
He reeled in shock as he was grabbed from behind and forced into the car.
"Let go of me, damn you!" he shouted as the car door slammed and the driver pulled away from the curb, "Let me out of here!"
"Quiet down," one of the bodyguards said tersely, "The boss just wants to talk to you. Don't worry, you'll be out of there fast, if you cooperate."
"Does he have Byakuya-sama?" Tetsuya demanded.
"I said to be quiet."
"NO! You tell me! Does Aizen Sousuke have my cousin?" Tetsuya argued, struggling and nearly getting a hand on the door release.
"Hey, stop that!" objected the bodyguard, wrestling him down onto his back and holding him down tightly, "You don't want to get hurt, do you? You jump out and you're gonna get hurt. Just sit tight."
Tetsuya caught a glimpse of the cafe as they pulled away and his heart leapt into his throat as he saw Renji running in that direction.
But does he know they took me? Did he see?
"I told you to stop struggling!" complained the bodyguard as Tetsuya tried to get up again, "Fine, you want to be like that, then you can just take a little nap, sweetheart."
"No!" Tetsuya yelled, shrinking away as one bodyguard grabbed him from behind and the other withdrew a wicked looking syringe, "Let go of me!"
He kicked the man's arm away, making him drop the syringe, then scoring a painful blow as the man bent to retrieve it.
"You little bitch! You're gonna pay for that!" the man snarled, slamming a fist into Tetsuya's midsection, then striking at his face.
The second bodyguard caught the man's hand and glared at him reprovingly.
"Aizen-sama said not to hurt him."
Tetsuya gasped and panted, his head spinning dizzily as he grabbed his aching abdomen and closed his eyes.
"Just calm down, all right?" the man still holding him said bracingly, "There's no need for all of this. Just relax and cooperate. You'll be fine."
"Why do I not feel the slightest bit reassured?" Tetsuya panted, "It doesn't matter what that man says. I am not going to work for him against the wishes of my cousin!"
"Fine, you can discuss that with him when we get there. Just relax for now, okay?"
The hands that held Tetsuya loosened and held him more gently.
"We'll be there soon and you can say whatever you want to the boss."
It doesn't matter what he says. I will die before I do anything Aizen Sousuke asks of me!