Chapter 17: Love that Conquers
(Shout outs to Yukino76, Sariniste and SesshomaruFreak for their enthusiasm and support of this and other stories. You guys are awesome!)
Tetsuya opened the door to Byakuya's suite, and smiled as the Kuchiki CEO turned to face him. He admired the bright white tuxedo that had been perfectly fitted to his slender, shapely body, the dark swirls of raven black hair that danced around his shoulders and the lovely fingerless gloves that he wore.
The most beautiful thing, though, is how happy he looks. I have never seen Byakuya-sama look so happy. Not ever.
"Tetsuya," Byakuya greeted him, holding out his hands, and capturing the younger man's as he approached, "Is it time, then?"
"Hai, but we have a moment, and there is something that I want to say to you."
Byakuya gazed into his son's sapphire eyes and nodded.
"What is it?"
Tetsuya leaned forward and kissed Byakuya lightly on the cheek.
"I wanted to say thank you," he said softly, "I am very grateful to you...for bringing me into this world, for always loving me and protecting me. And...thank you for giving me the chance to stop being invisible...to come to life."
"Tetsuya, I..."
"Shh, you don't have to apologize for them. You never did anything wrong...not by loving my father, not by wanting to be free to choose your fate, not for any of the horrible things they did. You and I have been in this together, ever since I was conceived. And I want you to know that I will be with you to the very end...always. My world has always begun and ended with you. That won't change. I won't let it!"
"Tetsuya...segare," Byakuya whispered, loving the sound of the word he had longed to use, "I feel the same."
He embraced the younger man warmly, closing his eyes and letting everything else fall away but the simple beauty of holding his child close against him.
"My world begins and ends with you. Even being unprepared for you and in the midst of my greatest suffering, you kept alive the one thing I needed most. You kept my hopes alive in that dark time...that somehow your father and I were, and would always be connected in some good way. Sousuke has never been an easy man to love. But, having gained his heart, I was able to bring you to life. And whatever the cost, I have never regretted that."
"But, for so long, you regretted trusting him. You thought that he had used you..."
"And yet," Byakuya said softly, the hint of a smile on his lips, "Even had he been using me, there was honesty and genuine love in you. Whatever Sousuke could not be to me during that time, you took that place and gave me some part of him that could respect and love me. It was a great comfort, even when it seemed that Sousuke and I would not be together."
"Still," said Tetsuya, still struggling to come to terms with the full truth, "You must be aware that it was my fault that your father...my grandfather, and Kuchiki Takao were killed, ne?"
Byakuya's lips tightened and he shook his head firmly.
"No."
"How can you say that? Orochi-san and the others tried to kill you because of me. And it was in defending us that Soujun and Takao were killed! Don't you see?"
"I see very well," Byakuya said, squeezing Tetsuya's hands, "how their hatred of Sousuke led them into recklessness. You need to see that it was not that you were the cause of that situation, but that their excessive pride and arrogance, their selfishness and greed, led them to attack a pregnant mother and unborn child. There is no honor in what they did, Tetsuya...none."
Byakuya took a steadying breath and released his son.
"But there is honor in what we will do. We will right the wrongs that were done before. We will see the guilty face the penalty for breaking our family apart. And Tetsuya, our name will once again be spoken proudly."
"I am glad," the younger man said, looking out the window at the pretty, blue ocean, "I have always been proud to be a Kuchiki. You made me feel that way, the way you always tried to be an example to others."
Byakuya's smile widened.
"Thank you. I am grateful, but the Kuchiki name wasn't the one I was referring to."
"What?" Tetsuya asked, surprise registering in his eyes.
"I am taking Sousuke's name. After today, I will forever be Aizen Byakuya."
Tetsuya stared at him, the words trying to make sense in his mind and failing to do so.
"I have always been proud to be connected by name to my parents and my grandparents, and I want to believe that I made them proud, Tetsuya. But, even as I have worn that name proudly for all of this time, Sousuke has struggled to make a name for himself. You do not know this, but he did not come from a wealthy family. He was born in poverty and his father died while he was a very young child. His mother took him home to her family, and he was raised among those who also struggled, using their wits to survive. His struggles made him hesitant to trust, crafty and manipulative, in order to survive. They created the man I fell in love with. While I do not love everything about him, I do understand. But what made me fall for him was what I did not understand at all."
"Gomen nasai," said Tetsuya, frowning, "What do you mean?"
Byakuya's eyes softened.
"After struggling so hard and watching as people from privileged families like mine achieved what they wanted so easily...how could this man...this cold, manipulative person ever look at me and love me? Tetsuya, I am the embodiment of everything that he despised...privilege born of a name. It is by leaving that name behind and taking his that I will show him the true meaning of love and pride. I no longer need a name to lift me, Tetsuya. I only need our family to be one...as it should have been, from the beginning. Does that make sense to you?"
Tetsuya smiled and kissed him on the cheek again.
"It does. But, Byakuya-sama, it has never been your name that defined you."
Byakuya's head tilted slightly in askance.
"You were never like them. You wore their name, but your heart was more open and accepting. You knew how to listen to your heart. And privileged or not, you struggled, just as my father did. In a different way, perhaps, but you did not get handed everything easily. And you had to fight all of your life to stay on top, while your own family tried to topple you."
"Ah, I suppose you are right. But enough of that. It is time. Come, segare."
Tetsuya turned towards the door and captured Byakuya's arm. With calmer hearts the two moved on to where Aizen Sousuke quietly waited.
XXXXXXXXXX
Aizen Sousuke stood alone, next to the minister, waiting as the moments ticked by, and remembering.
It was a very long time ago that I first laid eyes on you, Kuchiki Byakuya. You were young and wide-eyed, just being brought under their control, but still being young and spirited, you resisted their way of thinking. You looked at me differently, and you confused me.
You were brought up in the same rich surroundings as they were, and guided by the same stiff, traditional rules. But there was something in you that wouldn't let you become like them...a spirit that defined you, that revealed you to me and made me love you.
I was, and still am a ruthless man, Byakuya. I mislead, confuse and manipulate everyone around me until, like Kyouka Suigetsu, I am only seen as a reflection. The only person who truly sees me is you. And yet, you are able to love me. I don't know why, but I choose to be grateful for saving me the trouble of having to chase you down and bring you to my side unwillingly.
Because, one way or another, I was going to have you. For many years, I lost sight of that fact, but reconnecting as we have, I see it more clearly than ever. The only riches I need are the words 'I love you' being spoken by your lips. The only power I need is the power to command your heart. I would give up everything else for those things alone. And now that they are mine, I will never, ever relinquish them. I apologize for that. I have no choice but to pursue you to the ends of the earth if you dare to leave me again. I won't let go of you as I did before.
I will fight to the death for you.
He realized suddenly that Byakuya and Tetsuya were standing in the doorway to the small chapel, and beginning to move forward as the wedding march began. He forgot everything else then, gazing raptly at Byakuya's tall, slender body, clad in white, setting off his lovely raven black hair and dark, contemplative eyes. Those eyes focused steadily on him, and he saw clearly the gift that strode easily towards him.
Trust...hope...love.
These were foreign things to me before I met you. And I still only indulge in these things with you, Byakuya.
But then, you and I break all of the rules, don't we, my love?
Come to me.
Bind yourself to me.
And I will never let you go again.
The two reached him, and he watched as Tetsuya kissed Byakuya on the cheek, then set his hand in Aizen Sousuke's and stepped back. The music faded and the minister observed the two men who waited to be joined.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join Aizen Sousuke and Kuchiki Byakuya in holy matrimony. Marriage is a wonderful celebration, an embracing of the things that survive when all else fails, the power of faith, hope and love to move us along our pathways. Marriage is also a solemn passage, moving from protection of two separate souls to the protection of a new family. Who gives these two into that sacred binding?"
"I do," said Tetsuya, taking a step forward.
"Please state your name for entrance into the official record for the ceremony."
"I am Kuchiki..."
Tetsuya paused for a moment, meeting his parents' eyes meaningfully.
"I am Aizen Tetsuya."
"Very well," the minister said, nodding, "And do we have two witnesses who are not family to these two? Please state your names to be entered into the record for the wedding.
"Abarai Renji," said Renji.
"Jaegerjaques Grimmjow," Grimmjow added.
"Thank you," said the minister, turning his attention back to the couple in front of him, "Sousuke and Byakuya, and gathered guests, if you know of any reason why these two should not be wed, speak them now or forever hold your peace."
Aizen realized unexpectedly that Byakuya's eyes had closed and he was holding his breath. A wicked smile rose onto his lips, and he cleared his throat softly. Byakuya's eyes flew open in reaction and he inhaled in a surprised hiss.
"I know of more than a few reasons we should not be wed," Aizen said, smirking, "We come from vastly different worlds...worlds that clash dangerously. We were never meant to cross paths, let alone to fall in love. And all along the way, those who saw that tried to come in between us. For years, we let them do that. Only now, have we cast off their lies and manipulations. And now, despite everything that has impeded us, we will defy them all and marry anyway."
"It is as he said," Byakuya agreed, blushing, "There is much against us doing this, but we are decided."
"As you will," said the minister, looking amused, "Have you prepared your vows?"
"We have," said Aizen.
"Then, you are freed to speak them."
Aizen captured Byakuya's hands in his and gazed down into the stormy depths of his widened, gray eyes.
"Kuchiki Byakuya, I am a man known to think circles around everyone, one who prides himself on anticipating and planning for everything, flawlessly. And for many years, that is the way it was. But then, you entered my life. I didn't anticipate you, and I could not have planned for the way that you would enchant and bewitch me, to the point of not being able to let you go, even when my instincts said that it was best to do so. And I so I pursued you more secretly, carefully planning and positioning myself to steal you away. But even as I did, you surprised me again by accepting and embracing me willingly, and by giving me a son I would not have had without you. You should prepare yourself. Being with me will not be easy. You might have lived a longer, safer life without me. But, as you have given yourself to me, I will love and protect you and our son. And I will never, under any circumstances, allow you to leave me again."
Byakuya smiled up into Aizen's powerful gaze.
"Sousuke, when I met you, I was young and very naive. I thought that all I had to do was to walk the honorable path of my ancestors, and all would be well. I did not know that the heart that beat within me would not let me do that. My heart was lost, and I fell in love with you the moment I first saw you. It was a reckless thing for me to do...to allow you to come close and to see what I didn't want anyone else to know. I gave everything to you all of those years ago, but you gave something even greater to me. You opened my eyes to the call of my heart. You gave me hope that I could be the master of my own fate. And you gave me Tetsuya, the one who embodies all that our love is, and who brought me through the years without you. Those days are over now. And as much as you vow never to let me go, I vow never to leave you. I give myself and our son over into your keeping and trust that it is where we belong."
"Thank you, Sousuke and Byakuya," said the minister, "Now, Aizen Sousuke, do you take Kuchiki Byakuya to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward? Will you love, honor and cherish him, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, for all the days of your lives?"
"I will."
"And do you, Kuchiki Byakuya, take Aizen Sousuke to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward? Will you love, honor and cherish him, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, for all the days of your lives?"
"I will."
Byakuya waited until their rings had been exchanged and the minister nodded in his direction. Then, he slid Senbonzakura from his sheath and captured Aizen's hand. With practiced skill, the touched the sharp blade to the other man's palm and drew a single drop of blood. Then, he nodded to Aizen to do the same.
"You...can handle a sword without removing my hand, ne?" Byakuya intoned, smirking.
"We shall see."
He drew Kyouka Suigetsu and touched the blade to Byakuya's palm, making the small cut expertly. Byakuya turned to Tetsuya, who handed him the ginpaku kazahana no uzuginu, used in all Kuchiki nuptials. Byakuya bound their hands together with the pale green scarf, then nodded to the minister to continue.
"Sousuke and Byakuya, having exchanged your vows and made your promises to each other, forsaking all others and choosing a path together, by the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Please exchange a kiss as the first gift of your new marriage."
Byakuya was left breathless as Aizen's arms gathered him in, sweeping him off his feet as he sank into the Kuchiki CEO's lovely mouth for a long, deep kiss.
"I present to you Aizens Sousuke and Byakuya."
Aizen waited no longer, but nodded politely to the others.
"Please enjoy the festivities," he said, starting back down the aisle, carrying his blushing bride away.
"But what about the...?" the minister began.
"I guess it's just us," Grimmjow said, smirking, "Let the party begin."
XXXXXXXXXX
Kuchiki Orochi sat quietly at his desk inside Kuchiki Studios, poring over the report he was reading and almost missing when the door opened and another man entered the room. He looked up at the man, arching a fine, black eyebrow and fixing his coal black eyes on the other.
"Well?" he said, expectantly, "What did you discover? You must have learned something. What is it?"
"All evidence points to them being in the city, just as the communications said. But, there is something odd to report."
"Oh?"
"Servants at Kuchiki Manor were seen removing five swords from the family vault."
"Which five?" Orochi asked, already suspecting some of them.
"Pantera, Zabimaru, Re-kuhime, Senbonzakura and the sword he had made for Aizen...Kyouka Suigetsu."
"Ah...interesting," Orochi mused, resting his chin on his palm, "Continue to watch for him. When he reappears, inform me."
"Hai, Kuchiki-sama!"
"And do not let him out of your sight again. Tell the one watching the brat to be mindful of that too. I want to be ready when they make their move."
"You have moves of your own planned, ne?" said the spy, smirking.
"Precisely."
Orochi watched with narrowed eyes as the spy left, then looked out the window at the bustling city.
"That was unwise, taking such a risk for stupid, emotional reasons, Byakuya. And you are about to pay dearly for your foolishness. As soon as Tetsuya has debuted and the company is stable, you and Aizen Sousuke are going to join your father and grandfather in death.