Chapter 2: One Little Mistake
It was still dark when Tetsuya woke, and he heard a rumble of thunder, and the sound of raindrops striking the house and wooden walkway outside his bedroom. A little feeling of dizziness made him pause and clench for a moment at the covers as he sat up, his eyes widening as they cast around the room.
I haven't been afraid of the dark for awhile, but just being in that horrid place for even a few minutes is enough to bring back those old fears. And not only was I inside the lowest level of the Central 46 prison, I was in the company of a monster strong enough to survive for a long time in that dreadful environment. And while in his company, I let him deeper inside me than anyone has been since the guards of Itamigiri and my own wicked cousin, Orochi, filled me with their wickedness, probably hoping that their seed would poison me and kill me slowly. Even Naoki's more tender invasions met with only a numbness. I did love Naoki, but I didn't even want his hands on me.
A tyrant's hands can be warm, but they are full of coldness. A slave's hands may be cold, but the heart beneath them is warm and caring. It knows the price of hatred and cruelty, and it would never inflict that on another.
A little quiver ran through Tetsuya as he recalled Sosuke Aizen's fury, and his desire to break the strength of the Gotei 13 and noble houses.
There are some slaves…peasants…commoners, who let the hatred inside them. It poisons them and enrages them, swelling their pain into a dangerous madness. Sosuke Aizen is one such man, one who suffered the wickedness of hatred, and was tainted with it. No one but me knows the truth of what took him down that road. He asked me not to speak of it, but that truth tears at my mind. It torments me.
He looked down at his slim abdomen, reaching down to caress the area where he felt the creative forces within his body already working.
He may have given himself over to the madness, but I have done my part to defy Central 46's plans for him. They tried to kill Sosuke as a child. They did kill his family to try to snuff out the power that lived in that peasant bloodline. But I won't let them! Sosuke may dismiss this child as the side effect of his scientific curiosity, but to me, this child means hope. Strength does not lie only within the noble class. There are noble peasants also. This child will have an unspoiled heart. I will raise Sosuke's child, surrounded in love and light. He or she will need careful guidance to steer clear of the hatred that consumed Sosuke. I will raise our child to be wise and caring, like Byakuya is…gentle at heart, like I am. And the steps I take now will pave the way for our child to have acceptance we did not.
I hope.
Still…
Tetsuya made a low sound of distress, wrapping his arms around his midsection as his mind suddenly returned to the icy, dark place that had imprisoned him, denying him any semblance of a normal childhood.
"Know your place, half-blood!" Orochi hissed, shoving him back against the hard stone wall and watching him collapse, "I'm the only thing protecting you from the rest of the men in here. You remember what it was like before I marked you as mine! Now, get up and show me your gratitude."
Tetsuya pushed himself onto his hands and knees, but his body shook too hard to rise any farther. He could only manage a pained whimper as Orochi grabbed the front of his worn yukata so violently that it tore.
"P-please, Lord Orochi, it hurts!" he sobbed.
"Sleep there in the corner of my room then, like a dog!" Orochi snapped furiously, shoving him back down onto the floor, "I don't know why Byakuya wants you protected anyway. You're completely useless, even as a slave!"
"Gomen nasai, I promise I will try!"
"Shut up!" Orochi scolded him, slapping him hard as he tried to get up again, "Go to sleep, Tetsuya. You won't be of any use in this condition."
"Master Tetsuya!"
Tetsuya snapped instantly out of his thoughts, startling at even the familiar sound of his own longtime attendant's voice.
"Sorry! Sorry!" the green-eyed youth apologized, moving to Tetsuya's side, "I didn't mean to frighten you, but I heard a strange sound and came in and saw you were crying!"
Crying?
Tetsuya's hand rose and his surprised fingertips found a damp trail of tears coursing down his face. He started to turn away, but his attendant climbed onto the bed and embraced him tightly.
"It's all right, Master Tetsuya," the young man said gently into his ear, lacing their fingers together, "You never have to be afraid of what I'll think of you. I am not just your attendant. I am your cousin and your friend. I'll hold you anytime you're frightened or lonely or sad. Just let me comfort you. Please."
Surrounded with his attendant's kindness and warmth, Tetsuya felt both embarrassment and fear drain out of him. He leaned quietly against the other young man's shoulder, breathing slowly.
"Thank you, Koji," he whispered, looking up as Byakuya appeared alongside a sleepy looking Ichigo in the doorway.
"Is Tetsuya all right?" the Kuchiki leader asked, "I felt an alarming disturbance in his reiatsu."
"I am fine," Tetsuya lied, "Gomen nasai, it was just a flashback."
Byakuya gave him a concerned look.
"You haven't had one disturbing enough to bring tears in a long time, Tetsuya."
"And you look pretty pale," Ichigo noticed, "You sure you're okay?"
"Yes, please don't concern yourselves. Koji knows how to handle my setbacks. You needn't be bothered with them. I am all right now and I just need to rest."
"I will stay with him, Lord Byakuya," Koji promised, "I know how to calm him when he is like this."
"Yes," Byakuya agreed, "thank you, Koji. Please have Torio wake me if there is any need."
Koji nodded, coaxing Tetsuya back into resting against his shoulder and running gentle fingers through the waves of his hair.
"I will have Torio bring some tea," Byakuya offered.
"Please make it ginger tea," Tetsuya requested, "I feel unsettled inside."
"Very well," Byakuya agreed, turning back into the hallway with Ichigo following.
He spotted his own attendant coming out of his bedroom.
"Torio, will you bring ginger tea for Tetsuya? He's had a setback."
"Ah, I'll get that right away," Torio promised, bowing.
"Does this happen a lot?" Ichigo asked, slipping a hand into Byakuya's as the two returned to the master bedroom, "I mean, I heard you say he hadn't had one in awhile, but…"
"It used to," Byakuya sighed, moving to his side of the bed and climbing back in.
He sat quietly for a moment, shaking his head in confusion.
"He used to have flashbacks frequently, and he underwent a great deal of counseling to overcome that. Tetsuya's emotional state has improved greatly as healing and love have made the markings on his body and heart fade…but there is some of that which can never be undone. Tetsuya will always carry a measure of that pain on his heart. I've helped him find his strength, but I fear he will never be whole again until something changes…and the end of the war…the way he was excluded from the marriage arrangements, the failure of the elders to give him the recognition he deserved for protecting their lives!"
"Whoa!" Ichigo said, laying a hand on his arm as Byakuya's reiatsu flared suddenly, "Take it easy. You could've knocked me onto the floor."
"My apologies," Byakuya said, carefully reigning in his errant power, "It just makes me angry."
"Tetsuya's a good person. He doesn't deserve to be treated differently for such a stupid reason. He's beautiful and powerful, and he obeys even their dumbest rules. You'd think they'd take that into consideration."
"Many of them do," Byakuya explained, "There have been positive changes during my grandfather's leadership and mine, but there is still so much that needs to be done."
"Well, I'm a noble heir now. I'll help, if I can," Ichigo offered, "I mean, I know we raise some eyebrows, but we have our place back now. There must be some way to bring things out of the dark ages, here, and make things better for the mixed blood family members."
"The Kuchiki elders are a difficult group, and they feel they've done enough, tolerating Tetsuya's placement as my healer and bodyguard, as well as head of house security. That would have been unheard of in the past. Tetsuya also has a pureblood cousin as his attendant."
"I'll bet they just loved that," Ichigo chuckled.
"It riled some of them, but this is my household and no one is allowed to counter my orders about house placements. Tetsuya has proven himself to be capable and completely loyal. He is talented, and especially in the wake of the recent war, we need that talent."
"You don't have to convince me," Ichigo chuckled, "I'd trust him with my life, just like you already trust him with yours."
"Tetsuya appreciates that," Byakuya said, the hint of a smile touching his lips.
Ichigo started to speak again, then paused and winced, making a discomfited face.
"Is something wrong?" Byakuya asked.
"Just a little dizzy for a second," Ichigo said, running a hand over his suddenly slightly sweaty face.
"Tetsuya was right. You look pale," Byakuya said, touching his cheek.
"I'm just tired from all of the lovemaking," Ichigo giggled, dropping onto his back, "and I think I might've had something to eat that didn't agree with me. Maybe a belly rub would be good?"
"I think I can manage that," Byakuya said, lying down beside him.
He slipped a hand beneath Ichigo's yukata, sliding it gently over the younger man's slim abdomen, releasing a touch of his reiatsu to calm the area. Ichigo sighed contentedly, looking up into Byakuya's calm, affectionate gaze as the Kuchiki leader soothed away the discomfort.
"That feels really good," he whispered, reaching up to curve a palm around his lover's soft, flushed cheek, "but you're starting to turn me on again."
"When do I not?" Byakuya chided him teasingly, "Ichigo, you are obviously not feeling well. I am not going to…"
Byakuya's words disappeared into a surprised exhale as Ichigo turned suddenly, taking him down and flipping him onto his belly.
"Ichigo, stop!" he objected, "I know you're not up to…"
He sucked in a flustered breath as Ichigo's weight dropped onto his back, and he felt the insistent touch of the younger man's hungry member on his bottom.
"I'm good now. I promise," Ichigo laughed, beginning a slow invasion, "You made me feel good again. Let me make you feel even better!"
Sensing the inconsistent flicker in his amorous lover's reiatsu, Byakuya considered insisting that he stop but there was an almost instant sense of intoxication, feeling Ichigo's unyielding strength as he made his entry and bit down on the back of the reeling Kuchiki leader's bare shoulder.
"Ichigo!" Byakuya panted, lifting his hips slightly and closing his eyes.
So impulsive!
He found it impossible to continue his thoughts as Ichigo's hard, fast thrusts brought him swiftly to the ends of his endurance. He gave in with a sigh, smiling as he felt Ichigo's body stiffen, then shudder in release. Such beautiful, melting heat flared inside him, a strangled cry escaped him. A sharp nip on the back of his neck seemed to amplify his pleasure to the point where his ears rang loudly, and he felt his body weaken. He pulled free of Ichigo, turning and seeking his mouth.
It took the Kuchiki leader a moment to realize that Ichigo's body had gone limp and his eyes were closed.
"Ichigo!" he called urgently, "Ichigo, are you all right?"
Ichigo stirred and groaned at the sound of his name.
"S-sorry," he mumbled, "Just got a little…"
"Baka!" Byakuya snapped, glaring at him, "I told you to get some sleep before we did this again."
"Relax, I'm fine!" Ichigo giggled, nuzzling his cheek and earning a petulant scowl in reply.
"It's not fine when you pass out while we're making love!" Byakuya complained.
"C'mon, people sometimes do that," Ichigo insisted, "You just got to me with that sexy shimmy of yours."
It wasn't often that he was able to make the usually stoic Kuchiki leader blush.
"You're ridiculous!" Byakuya scolded him, turning away.
Ichigo wrapped strong arms around him from behind and kissed him on a flushed cheek.
"And you're the most beautiful person I've ever met," he breathed into Byakuya's ear, "No wonder I wanna make love to you until I pass out. I never met anyone like you."
"Do not try to flatter me," the elder man said indignantly, "Lie down and get some rest now, or I promise you, I will get up and leave you here by yourself for the rest of the night."
"Oh, you wouldn't be that mean to me," Ichigo snickered, licking his lover's soft earlobe, "I need to snuggle up with you to fall asleep."
"I believe you have already told me this tonight, and you ended up seducing me after," Byakuya reminded him.
"Well, can you really blame me?" laughed the younger man, reaching under Byakuya's rumpled yukata and wrapping a hand around his lover's bare bottom.
A sudden, loud growl emanated from Ichigo's stomach, and the two exchanged amused glances.
"I guess I'm hungry now," Ichigo announced, "How about a late-night snack."
"Fine," Byakuya capitulated, "but we are going to sleep afterwards. I only have a few more hours before I must get up and get ready for work."
Ichigo scowled.
"Who the heck goes to work before dawn, anyway?" he complained.
"Captains do," Byakuya said primly, sitting up and tightening the tie at his waist.
"Captains?" Ichigo repeated, "What captains? You don't think Kenpachi or the new head captain, Shunsui will be up any time for noon, right?"
"I meant responsible captains," Byakuya said dryly.
"Ooh!" Ichigo laughed, "Did Byakuya Kuchiki just diss a senior officer?"
"If, as they say, the shoe fits," Byakuya answered, giving him a smoldering look.
"I'm hungry enough to eat a shoe right now. How about we go and get a snack?"
"Torio can…"
"C'mon!" Ichigo said, taking Byakuya's hand and pulling the surprised Kuchiki leader to his feet.
"I suppose there's no stopping you," Byakuya sighed, "but promise me…"
"Yeah, I'll sleep after this. Now, c'mon!"
XXXXXXXXXX
Deep in the bowels of Muken, Sosuke Aizen felt a strange, soft burning against his breast, and a little flicker of light formed behind his eyes. He saw a flash image of Tetsuya in his mind, dressed in his bedclothes and sitting up, his face pale and tormented, tears running down his cheeks.
"Tetsuya?" he whispered, "What is this?"
He remembered then…
Tetsuya paused as he reached the bonds that were to cover the prisoner's chest. He looked quietly into Sosuke Aizen's curious eyes and slipped a silver celtic charm from around his neck, placing it on the prisoner and laying the charm against his bare breast before binding him again.
"What is this?" Aizen asked, watching Tetsuya's slightly shaking hands work with the bonds, "What is that charm?"
"It is a moonstone pendant," Tetsuya explained, "But I have infused the moonstone with my reiatsu."
"And why have you done this?" Aizen inquired, looking down at Tetsuya's bowed head.
The younger man paused, keeping his gaze lowered.
"Tetsuya, look at me," Aizen said sternly.
Tetsuya's head rose, and his anxious blue eyes locked on Aizen's narrowed brown ones.
"No one should be left alone in their suffering," the young man whispered, "When you feel the weight of darkness, focus on this and you can connect with my mind. Through me, you can connect with sensory things that I experience. If the connection is strong enough, we may be able to eventually exchange thoughts."
"Fascinating," Aizen mused, barely noticing as Tetsuya's shaky hands laid the rest of his bonds carefully back in place, "Thank you, Tetsuya. I'm not used to people sympathizing with me."
"Sympathy would suggest that I agree with you," Tetsuya said quietly, "What I offer is empathy. Maybe this is something you haven't experienced in a long time, but empathy is central to healing."
Aizen smiled.
"Are you trying to heal me, Tetusya?" he asked in an amused tone.
"I am trying to show you love."
"Why?"
"Because that is what my tainted, mixed-blood heart is telling me to do. Please don't ask me anymore questions. I will be back as soon as I have confirmation of a soul within the spirit chamber inside me. And after the child is born, you will tell me the location of the rest of the information I need."
"Of course," Aizen said approvingly, "And since you've been so lovely, I will give you a gift."
"You don't need to…"
"Why don't you visit my old cabin in the woods, near the south edge of your cousin's estate?" Aizen suggested, "In addition to a peaceful retreat, you may find my hidden diary. I'm sure there's something of interest to you in there."
Tetsuya sucked in a surprised breath, only to find it taken away again at Aizen's next words.
"Be very careful, Tetsuya. The way only gets more treacherous from here."
"That's why I am doing this," Tetsuya assured him, pulling back a fold of his clothing to reveal a second charm, "I have infused the charm I wear with your reiatsu. If I am compromised, you may be able to help me…if that is something you want to do."
"You are a complicated person, Tetsuya Kuchiki," Aizen whispered into the darkness, "Not many people surprise me…but you do."
