Chapter 4: My Kingdom
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In the richly decorated monarch's bedroom in the royal palace, Inoue Orihime stirred and moaned in distress, tears leaking onto her face as horrid images assaulted her sleeping mind. She was stricken first with the terrifying sight of her longtime friend, Rukia, crumpling and falling onto her knees, under the weight of a heavy load of stones. Two men noticed and one yelled at her and raised his whip to strike her.
"Rukia, n-no!"
The next was a vision of Ishida Uryu, poorly dressed and imprisoned in an icy cell. A guard entered his cell and his reddened eyes widened as he scrambled backward on hands and knees, trying to get away.
"Get over here you little quincy bastard!" the guard snapped, grabbing the front of his thin yukata so hard that it tore, "I won the dice game. I get to be your torturer tonight."
More scattered images followed of the lovely and proud Kuchiki Byakuya, lying half naked in a alley and being attacked by two violent men, Abarai Renji taking the hand of a battered and unbearably thin Kuchiki Tetsuya and the two running away as town guards chased after them. But the last and absolute worst was an image of her husband, the new soul king, restrained in heavy bonds and locked away in the darkness. He screamed a name and Orihime felt the dream flicker strangely.
He wasn't crying out for me.
That's so strange. Ichigo is so loving and kind. He is the most wonderful husband. He is just the person our worlds needed to heal them. But...why would my Ichigo be calling out someone else's name?
It doesn't make sense...
A touch on her shoulder made her inhale sharply and turn too fast, sending a throb of pain through her swollen belly.
"Oh!" she gasped.
"Orihime," Ichigo said, touching her face and looking into her teary eyes, "Are you all right?"
Orihime blinked and stared in confusion as the image in front of her flickered strangely. She heard a strange whisper, then watched the odd flickering fade.
That's so weird! Orihime mused, For a moment, I didn't see Ichigo at all! For a moment, I saw...
"Hey," Ichigo said, smiling and rubbing her belly as he bent his head to kiss her trembling lips, "You look kinda pale. Should I have a healer come to see you?"
"Oh no, I'm fine!" she insisted, forcing her lips to smile cheerfully, "I just needed to wake up a little."
"I'll have our servant bring you some breakfast," Ichigo said, sliding out of bed and wrapping a yukata around his slim, naked form.
"I can walk down to the dining room," she laughingly chided him, "I'm pregnant. I'm not crippled."
"No, of course not," Ichigo said, slipping an arm around her and helping her to her feet.
He offered a bracing arm as her rounded belly made her lose her balance for a moment.
"Huh, are you sure about that?" Ichigo teased her.
"S-sorry," she stammered, blushing brightly, "I know I'm a little clumsy, but it's better for the baby if I don't lie around."
"Of course," Ichigo said, grinning and bending to kiss her baby bump, "And hey, it's not just any baby. This is the next soul king!"
"Right," Orihime said breathlessly.
It's still so hard to believe that Ichigo was made king and that he chose me to be his queen. It was like my dreams suddenly all came true. I just wish I didn't have those nightmares all of the time. They're so scary. I have to go the king's gardens and look down at the worlds beneath us, just to be sure everything's all right.
It always is.
Soul Society has been rebuilt and Kuchiki Byakuya's home looks as beautiful as ever. Renji became a taichou, like Byakuya. Rukia still insists on staying with Ukitake taichou, because she likes him so much.
The living world looks wonderful too. It wasn't damaged in the war and the people there that aren't able to see ghosts never even noticed anything happened. But even the ones who see ghosts and all of the shinigamis posted there are doing fine.
Everyone is happy. The quincies have made peace with the shinigamis. I couldn't hope for more beautiful and peaceful worlds.
But...why do these dreams still torture me?
"C'mon, let's go and get some breakfast," Ichigo said, guiding her towards the bedroom doors.
"Good morning, your highnesses!" their two male attendants greeted them, bowing.
"Good morning, Jun," Orihime answered cheerfully, "Good morning, Ken.".
The attendants swiftly dressed the royal couple, then followed them out of the room and down to the dining room. As they approached the doors, a white hell butterfly approached the king.
"Oh man, again?" Ichigo complained, looking at his wife ruefully, "Sorry, Orihime. It looks like I'm going to have to go and deal with this. It'll probably take a while, so go on and eat. I'm sure my dad and sisters can keep you company."
As Orihime turned away, Ichigo's eyes darkened slightly and a flicker of power flowed out of him and into Orihime's body. A wicked smile touched his lips as he watched the human girl walk into the empty dining room, calling out greetings to Ichigo's sisters and father, conversing with them as if they were really in front of her and making the motions of eating. He glanced at the two hollow servants she had thought were royal attendants.
"Watch her," he instructed them, "Make sure she stays in the palace. Do not, under any circumstances, let her near the king's healing pool."
The servants bowed in front of him.
"Hai...Aizen-sama!"
"Aren't things getting a little complicated, Sousuke?" a tall, slender, silver-haired hollow asked mockingly, "What is it, three times now you've impregnated her? How many times will it take before you realize that you made a mistake? And all of the wear and tear on that poor girl! It's a good thing she doesn't remember the first two miscarriages. What will you do when this one dies?"
"Enough Gin," Aizen sighed in annoyance, "Much more and I'll forget why I found your poor lost soul wandering in Hueco Mundo and brought you here to be with me."
"You know why you brought me here," Gin giggled, moving closer and slipping his arms around Aizen, then offering him a long, open-mouthed kiss, "You regretted killing me."
"I do admit that life was boring without you around plotting against me. And now that I'm immortal and can't be killed, you do bring a certain spark to life here."
"If that's your way of saying I'm better in bed than that little red haired tart of yours, then I say, let's make love!"
"In a bit," Aizen said, leaving the hallway and heading out into the king's garden. He led Gin to the king's healing pool and the two sat down at the edge, looking into the bubbling waters.
"What are you looking for?" Gin asked curiously, "Same as usual?"
"I need to know who he was supposed to choose as his queen," Aizen said in a frustrated tone, "In my vision, I saw Ichigo here in the palace, being called your highness. He's the rightful soul king. I know he is. I just can't figure out who his queen is."
"Hmm, I've been thinking about that," Gin offered, "You say you saw him here?"
"Yes."
"He was called your highness?"
"Yes, Gin."
"Well, did it occur to you that maybe he wasn't the king?"
Aizen's eyes widened.
"Ah...he could have been king's consort?" Aizen whispered, "That would make sense. It would certainly explain why Orihime isn't able to carry a royal child. If Ichigo is consort, then...all I have to do is to impregnate him!"
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"One," Ozuru said sternly, "I know what I sensed when I came into this room. You were using some kind of power! You know the ronin aren't allowed any powers. A ronin who begins to flow reiatsu again is always killed. The city guards may have sensed you!"
One's grey eyes rounded.
"I didn't mean for this to happen!" he insisted, his face going white, "Master, I was under great stress from being attacked. I didn't mean to disobey!"
"It doesn't matter!" Ozuru snapped, "If the guards sense power in you, they will execute you where you stand! There are no trials for ronin, no form of justice."
"P-please help me!" One pleaded, climbing onto his knees, "We both know how much I'm worth to you! Do you mean you'll give me up that easily to the guards?"
Ozuru let out a frustrated breath.
"A master who is known to have hidden a ronin with powers can be sentenced to death too," he said grimly, "I am sorry, One. As much as I do value you, I value my life more!"
"You're going to let them kill me?" One managed softly, tears filling his eyes, "Even though I've done everything you've ever asked? Master..."
"I know," Ozuru said more gently, reaching down to brush away the ronin's tears, "I don't know what the ronin could have done to have been given such a terrible sentence. And you, such a beauty. I'll bet you were once very powerful, like the myths say."
He thought quietly for several long minutes as One's shoulders sagged and more tears rolled down his lovely face, then met One's tragically sad eyes again.
"Maybe there is a way," he offered.
"I'll do anything!" One promised, "J-just, please don't let them kill me! I won't ever let my reiatsu do that again! I didn't even know it would. I swear I...!"
One watched, then sucked in a sharp breath and shivered as Ozuru left the room and returned with a filled syringe.
"What is that?" One asked warily.
"It is a drug...a very illegal drug that other masters have used when their ronin showed signs of power."
One's face paled even more.
"What does it do?" he asked in a shaky voice.
"It will repress your reiatsu...seal it so that no one can sense it and you can't use it. If I give you this once every day, it will hide your reiatsu, One."
"W-will it do anything else to me?" he asked worriedly.
"Well, it will fog your mind," the brothel owner admitted, "You should be lucid enough to serve the ones who come in here, but your mind will be rather hazy."
One gave him a distressed look and Ozuru smiled.
"It's better than dying, isn't it?"
One stared at the syringe, his heart pounding and his thoughts careening about in his head. He moved back reflexively as Ozuru advanced, reaching for his arm.
"Come now, it won't hurt. You've had injections before. There's just a slight pinprick, then you'll relax. You'll be fine if the guards come to see you. I'll tell them you required a tranquilizer for nerves. It will be all right, One."
"Are you sure?" One whispered, "Wh-what if they sense my power anyway?"
Ozuru's hand rose and brushed against his face lightly.
"At least if this is in your system, you will be calm and you will be spared pain as you die, then."
A little sob escaped the devastated ronin and he sat quietly as Ozuru plunged the needle into his arm. One quivered as he felt an odd burning in his arm, then a feeling of dizziness that swelled in his head and made his body go weak. He started to fall back, but was caught up and held in Ozuru's arms for a moment before the brothel owner laid him down on his back and leaned over him, watching One's eyes go empty and senseless. He waited for several minutes, then undid his pants.
"One," he said in a calm voice, "pleasure me."
The ronin responded immediately, though his reflexes were noticeably slower. He climbed onto his knees and bent forward to offer his master the requested stimulation. His eyes continued to look empty and distant, but he responded acceptably to each of his master's instructions.
"I had forgotten how capable you are," Ozuru sighed, sinking his fingers into the prostitute's soft, black hair and moving his hips to increase the enchanting sensations.
His breaths shortened and he moaned hungrily, then pulled back and climbed onto the bed. He coaxed One down onto his belly, then raised his hips and positioned himself for entry.
"I don't like to get involved with my whores," he admitted, as his fingers slowly prepared One, "I don't want to feel too attached or I won't be able to tolerate you being with other people. But you're such a temptation."
He entered the groggy prostitute and began a gentle, steady thrusting. One made an incomprehensible jumble of words in response and lifted his hips higher to welcome his amorous master's attentions. Gradually, their motions became rougher and the sounds they emitted, more passionate. Ozuru felt his pleasure beginning to peak and he grabbed One's soft bottom, holding him in place, then collapsing onto his back as they released violently together.
It also isn't like me to fall asleep in a whore's arms. It makes me look too vulnerable, but One has always been different. I suppose that's why I couldn't let him be taken away.
He pulled One onto his shoulder and the two exchanged sleepy kisses as they drifted off. They slept for some time before an urgent knock sounded on the bedroom door.
"What is it?" Ozuru called out, frowning.
"S-sorry to bother you, sir," the brothel's clerk said anxiously through the door, "But there are soldiers at the door. They said that they sensed some kind of power that seemed to come from a ronin near here."
"Ah," the brothel owner sighed, looking at One, but receiving only a dazed look in response, "Have them wait in the greeting room."
He climbed out of the bed and leaned over to kiss One's soft cheek.
"I'll take care of this and be right back."
He slipped back into his clothes and walked out to where the town guards waited, wearing stern looks on their rugged faces.
"There was a report of ronin magical activity in the area," one of the guards said, "Your place is closest to where the disturbance is. We need to see your ronin. You have three, correct?"
"I have two," Ozuru corrected him, his eyes glinting as an idea came to mind, "I just sold Twenty-one today. I was going to call you because I suspected that little troublemaker was using powers behind my back. The guard said he didn't sense anything, but he bought Twenty-one from me on the spot."
"Which guard was involved?"
A cruel smile overtook Ozuru's lips.
"The redhead. Abarai Renji."
The guard nodded.
"I see. We'll check that out, but we still need to see your ronin."
"Of course," the brothel owner said pleasantly, "There is one sleeping off his last assignment downstairs. Miki can show you. The other, Ronin One is in the room at the end of this hall. I had to tranquilize him to calm him after a rough customer."
"Ah," the guard said, following as Ozuru led them down the hallway.
He opened the door and stepped inside, then stared in surprise at finding the bed empty and One nowhere to be found.
"One!" he shouted angrily, "One, where are you? Come out here now!"
XXXXXXXXXX
Outside the brothel, Renji held One over his shoulder and stuck to the shadows as he hurried towards the edge of town.
"Sorry I left you with him," he said sadly, "I couldn't get you out at first, so I just focused on getting Twenty-one away. He's with Kisuke, and that's where I'm taking you. Those guards are real trouble. I think I'll be in trouble. Did you hear that asshole throw me under the bus to save his own hide? I guess he was trying to save you too, but...what a jerk!"
He reached the edge of town and heard sirens rising up behind him.
"Damn, I guess ol' Ozuru's smarter than I thought. I think our time hanging here in Inuzuri is over."
He paused in the grassy meadow, just short of the forest Kisuke's home was hidden in, and laid One on the ground.
"Damn, he gave you some of that reiatsu suppressor, didn't he? I've seen what that shit can do to a guy. That guy deserves a special place in hell, you know?"
Renji heard fast footsteps on the trail a short distance away and hoisted One back over his shoulder.
"Holy hell, they're really serious!" he panted, setting out at a run for the forest.
He reached the house well ahead of the approaching guards, and Kisuke guided him swiftly down into the underground chamber, where Twenty-one and several others waited.
"One!" Twenty-one cried, running to his friend's side and dropping onto his knees.
One's eyes opened and blinked in confusion. A name rose on his lips and he spoke it without thinking.
"T-tet...suya?"
Twenty-one sucked in a surprised breath as reiatsu swelled around him in a bright, blinding blue color. He disappeared into it for a moment, only to reappear, wearing a navy blue uniform with a family crest on the left breast of his cloak.
"Whoa!" Kisuke breathed, his eyes rounding, "Thank kami that happened in here where no one out there can sense it!"
"What was that?" Tessai asked in a mystified voice, "What did he do?"
Kisuke stared at One's senseless form, where he laid on the ground in front of Renji and Twenty-one.
"I think he remembered that Twenty-one's name is Tetsuya!"
They watched in wonder as a blue steel sword formed in Tetsuya's shaking hand.
"I know my name!" he whispered, staring at the sword, then at One, "I am Kuchiki Tetsuya!"