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Prisoner of War	By : horrorgal Category: Bleach > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 57808 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 5
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, nor the characters. I do not profit from this story.

Chapter List
- 25
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Chapter 26

Isshin sat in silence beside Urahara, the two of them watching a terrified Hanataro healing Gin. The man had yet to wake since they moved him from where the battle had taken place. Isane, along with the few healers left from 4th Division were caring for some of the shinigami that had sustained injuries during the commotion. He glanced at Grimmjow, who was scowling, pacing and looking over at the injured man.

"Will you stop pacing like that? It's getting annoying," Isshin said, slapping his knee to get the espada's attention.

"Why are you healing him? He should be dead along with that other bastard. It will be one less obstacle in the way!"

"I told you already," Urahara said. "I want to ask him some questions. I can't very well do that if he's dead, now can I?" Urahara stared at him and smiled. "Are you sure you didn't get smacked on the head with a rock during that little skirmish?"

"Fuck you."

"Grimmjow enough! Get away from here and keep an eye out with Renji and the others. You're just in the way right now and Hanataro is nervous enough without you hovering."

"Fine, but I want to know when the asshole wakes up." With that, he headed off, moving past a few curious shinigami that had moved closer to get a look at Gin.

"He's definitely got a bug up his ass about our new guest," Urahara said.

"Him along with most. You heard Ikkaku earlier. He and Grimmjow have the exact same thing on their minds."

"Yeah, well, Ikkaku was saying the exact same thing about Grimmjow not long ago."

Isshin agreed by going silent on the matter. Hanataro was focused on the job, but it didn't take much to see his hands trembling over Gin's body. Maybe they should have gotten Isane to do it, but Hanataro had insisted he could do the job. Perhaps he wanted to prove himself. As it stood, only shinigami with a full grasp of kido ability were able to fight right now if needed. The zanpakuto had to be returned before they could even begin to fight on equal terms. Maybe they finally had the key to doing that; this enemy that lay unconscious before them.

"How's he coming along, Hanataro?"

"Well, the wound was very deep, but I can close it completely with a little more time."

"Not sure how much time we have," Isshin said.

Rangiku pushed gently past a group of shinigami with proud determination, Izuru on her heels. She looked to Urahara, silently asking permission with just a look to come closer. Though, Isshin didn't think a pack of hollows could stop her from what she wanted to do in that moment. He simply gave her a soft nod and he watched she and Izuru move closer to Gin and Hanataro, each sitting on either side of his laid out body. They were two people holding a silent vigil over a man that they had both trusted and admired for years before his betrayal destroyed their loyalty. Something bordering on hope was in their weary eyes as they sat still, watching for any sign of Gin to awaken. Isshin wasn't sure what they were hoping for, but he could not make any judgements himself until the man woke up and explained what was going on and what was his purpose of taking out one of his own allies. He would remain an enemy until then, and probably beyond that, but the saying was, keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

"Shit," Isshin muttered.

Urahara gave him a glance. "What's wrong besides the obvious?"

"I just realized I don't consider Grimmjow an enemy at all now," he spoke low so only Urahara could hear him. "I mean, I've been trusting him, and I have even gotten over the fact that he's with my son, but as I sit here, I think of him as a friend now. Isn't that off?"

Urahara thought a moment. "No." He smiled soft. "Look at the kind of life we are living right now. Making friends with a espada just fits at this point. Besides, your adopted daughter was among their ranks at one time, don't forget that."

"Yeah, but that's different. Nel is a special case."

"Try not to think too hard about it. Sometime very soon you may be thinking about more of them as friends if what Grimmjow said is true."

"I'm not so sure I'll go that far." He watched the others surrounding Gin. "The arrancar did help Aizen destroy everything we had. There were so many people, humans and shinigami alike, that lost their lives. It's not so easy to forget, no matter how much they regret following him now."

"All we can do is see how it plays out."

That's what they had been doing for the past few years while they kept in hiding. The unpredictability was wearing thin. Isshin got up to have a walk around to check on everyone. Sitting here waiting wasn't accomplishing anything, and he didn't want to get as impatient as Grimmjow was. He wandered, checking to see how the wounded were. Most were already back on their feet and helping others where they could. Karin and Yuzu were huddled together whispering, with Nel trying to squeeze in between them and Chad sitting close by keeping a watch on them. The girls shouldn't have to live this way. None of them should be, but it was all they had for now. Even if they found a way to get rid of Aizen for good, he wondered what kind of life they could make here in Hueco Mundo. It was a rocky prospect to think about.

Shuhei Hisagi sat apart from the others, his eyes focused on the covered body of Tosen. He looked much like Rangiku and Izuru had, but there was no hope in his expression, only one of loss. Everyone was keeping a respectable distance from the lieutenant of the 9th Division, but Isshin watched him as his eyes stayed focused and unflinching at the dirty cloth that hid the body of his former captain. Isshin couldn't imagine what was going on in the man's mind, but the betrayal must still be as devastating as it was that day Tosen defected with Aizen. He left Shuhei in peace and walked on until he heard Grimmjow's voice, slightly raised and most definitely angry.

"What now?" Isshin muttered and went to see what was going on. He neared and moved his way through a small group of gathered shinigami that were watching the two men argue. Ikkaku and Grimmjow faced each other, dangerously close to throwing fists by the look. "What's going on?!" Isshin forced his way between the two of them, pushing them both apart with a shove.

"This asshole is accusing me of being in some stupid plot with Gin!" Grimmjow growled and attempted to grab at Ikkaku who was fighting to get past Isshin.

"You have to be. We can't trust you any more than Gin!"

"Knock it off, dammit!" Isshin struggled to keep them apart.

"Move, Isshin! Let me beat the truth out of him!" Ikkaku pushed against his arm.

"You can try, shit for brains!"

"I said, knock it off!" Isshin threw his elbow, landing a blow under Ikkaku's chin, making him stagger back, then knocked Grimmjow's leg from under him with a quick sweeping kick. "Yumichika, grab that idiot and cool him off!"

"I tried to stop him before," he said and ran over to grab at Ikkaku's arm before he could rush forward into the fray once more.

"The rest of you, stop standing around like kids in a schoolyard!" He stopped Grimmjow with a firm hand when he launched himself from the ground with fists raised, threatening to rush his opponent who was being dragged back. "Enough!"

"He started it," Grimmjow sneered.

"For fuck sake, we don't have time to be fighting amongst ourselves. We have bigger problems."

The shinigami that were gathered wandered off. Isshin hoped it was to go do something more productive. He observed Grimmjow. The espada still looked pissed, but he had stopped his pointless attempts of going at Ikkaku again. He also noticed his sword was still at his side, unsheathed. He could have easily drawn the blade to cut Ikkaku down, but he hadn't. It could have been the simple reason of not wanting to kill one amongst their ranks, but Isshin suspected more than that. Grimmjow had too much honor to brandish a blade against another that had no zanpakuto to fight back with. Ikkaku and Yumichika were locked in a heated discussion. He wondered if Yumichika could talk some sense into him before something worse happened.

"I'm not, you know."

"You're not what?" Isshin asked.

"In some mystery plot with that bastard. Why would I be? I hate the son of a bitch."

"I know you're not." Isshin leaned against the cold stone wall with a weary groan. Every time he thought he had a grasp on their situation, something yanked at his hold. "And here I thought you and Ikkaku were getting along," he said.

"I don't know," Grimmjow muttered. "He was alright with me until this shit, and to be honest, I don't care. I just want to get back to Ichigo and I want Sosuke Aizen dead."

"You and I both."

The cavern around them was so cold. The darkness would have been denser if not for the crystalline rock that hung jagged above them, the icicle like formations glowing with their own bluish and white energy. A few fires burned for warmth but there wasn't much to burn down here. Isshin had realized that quickly the first time they retreated to these depths. Renji and Rukia had told him that while enslaved they were given supplies regularly through a drop system. They never saw their captors during these times. Only instructions were given in written form. Mostly is was to mine rocks and stay put. There was no use for the rocks, it was merely a ploy to keep the prisoners moving and working. Looking around at the gathered shinigami, their shikakusho tattered and worn, dirt smeared on exposed skin, Isshin wondered what was Aizen's purpose in keeping them alive. It was not spoils of war, nor did Isshin think it was some form of slow torturous punishment. No, he would have had them all executed along with the Captains. He had been holding them for some reason. Isshin was completely sure of this. It gave him some satisfaction in knowing he was probably disrupting some on Aizen's precious plans, even if just a small part of it.

"You're thinking hard," Rukia said as she walked over to him.

"Guess I am," he answered and looked to see that Grimmjow had wandered off again. "Hope another fight doesn't break out," he muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing." He put his attention back on her. "All quiet on the patrol?"

"So far. Renji is still keeping an eye out with a few of the others." Isshin nodded and looked closer at her and smiled a little. She seemed taken aback by his sudden interest in her face and she flushed, wiping pointlessly at dirt that painted over her cheeks. "I..," she started.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry about Ichigo. Maybe if I had never come across your home back then, he wouldn't be where he is now."

"Don't apologize, Rukia. My son became a even stronger man because of you, and I'm sure he doesn't regret having you as a friend."

"Thank you for saying that, Sir." She bowed.

"No need to bow to me," he told her with a smile. "After all, you're like another daughter to me, remember?"

She laughed soft. "And here we thought we were pulling the wool over your eyes back then. You knew the whole time, about everything."

"That I did." He looked down at her. "If anyone should feel regret, it's me. Ichigo should have been told everything about his heritage by his own father, long before he even met you."

"When we beat Aizen this time, and you see him again, then you can talk to him, Isshin."

"I intend to." He touched her shoulder with a soft, grateful squeeze. "Until then, I have time to think about how I will even start to explain everything." Isshin shook his head. "Maybe now it's too late and he won't want to hear it. Can't say that I would blame him." Rukia said nothing, put consoled him with a soft pat on his hand. Isshin knew they were all on edge, the little spat between Grimmjow and Ikkaku was proof enough of that. Too many had been lost during the war. They couldn't afford more now, but he wasn't blind to the threat that constantly surrounded them. He was determined to get his fellow shinigami to the next battle, even if it meant his own life to do so.

"Isshin!" Urahara hurried his way, beckoning when he saw him. "Our guest is awake."

~~~

Aizen sipped hot tea in the silence of his throne room, the usual presence of Tosen and Gin nonexistent. He didn't mind the solitude, in fact he rather preferred it unless he was with Ichigo. He knew he could be perfectly happy if Tosen and Gin never returned at all. It was possible they could destroy one another in battle, but he would not count on something so stupidly simple. Whichever one returned, he would keep using the fool until his plans were met. He was prepared for either result. Tosen was completely loyal, and he knew that even if Gin revealed to him that he had sent him to kill him, that Tosen would not believe. If he had to bet on a victor though, it would be Gin. The man was quick and deadly; a cold blooded reptile through and through. It was that venomous spirit that had served Aizen well over the years. Yet, it was also that same reason that Aizen kept close watch on him. Aizen would be a fool himself to think Gin was half as loyal as Tosen was. As it was now, he could not feel their reiatsu, but this did not worry him. Hueco Mundo was a vast place, and even Aizen could not keep track if any of his people strayed incredibly far from the palace.

He tapped his fingertips on the armrest as he stared at the empty room. His cool gaze gave nothing away of the inner turmoil that was indeed causing him slight concern. He placed his hand over his chest where the Hogyoku lay dormant inside him, where it had been so since the end of the war. Once victory had been his, he'd retreated it's power, pulling it inside himself until he needed it once more. Perhaps that had been his mistake by not letting it's power stay and be seen, shining for all around him to know of it's true power. He tried, experimenting, exploring his inner will, and yet the Hogyoku would not come to his call. No one knew of this, not even Tosen or Gin was aware of this setback. His lips pursed as he thought of resent events. Even through it's dormant state, the Hogyoku had crackled to life on and off over the past months, yearning, calling out as he had so many times to it. Perhaps this had been happening even longer than he thought. It was difficult to determine. He did know this; the Hogyoku did not reach for him, no. It was for another.

Aizen felt a spark then, deep down, but there. That reach, that needy call and it was only then that he felt his presence coming down the hall towards the chamber door. He gripped the armrest, his face going expressionless even though he felt excitement and joy. The door opened and Ichigo smiled to him before he came over. His moves were smooth and graceful as he straddled up on Aizen's lap, stealing a deep kiss that lingered until they were both panting for breath. Aizen clung to his body, knowing that he had to keep hold of his lover, keep him close...forever. He had to be prepared and ready, for if the Hogyoku wanted Ichigo as it's master, he would be helpless to stop it's wishes. He must keep hold of Ichigo's heart at all costs.

AN: Hello all. Hope this story is still liked. Didn't get much response from the last chapter, but if I go by read hits, looks like it's still going strong enough. The Hogyoku. Yes, I realize I never mentioned it since the story started. In truth, I didn't know how far this story was going to go when I started writing it. In essence, this should be considered a AU fic, so the Hogyoku acting this way is all my own interpretation. Since the story is going this long, I figured I best make some kind of explanation as to why Aizen isn't "Butterfly Aizen" anymore. LMAO. Even I don't know how it will turn out by the end, and I don't know how much longer this journey is going to take, but I hope we can all have fun getting there.
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Prisoner of War