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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
- 32
- 33
- 34
Chapter 33

Ichigo approached the entrance to the prison below, hindered only by a lone arrancar that stood guarding. He had never seen this one before, but Aizen was bringing more into their fold even now. His head was bald, and he had a goatee, long, pointed and a deep red color that matched blood. He looked formidable, with a broad build and a deep frown. A curved and ragged scar graced his cheek. His hollow hole was oddly smaller than most, it's placement on his right earlobe. Ichigo did not know this arrancar's temperament, nor where his loyalties lie.

He said nothing as he stepped in front of the massive arrancar, but motioned for him to move aside. He regarded Ichigo a moment, eyes black as coal. He sized up the smaller man before him, looking to the zanpakuto on Ichigo's back. The big man did not speak, but grunted soft as if satisfied. The arrancar either didn't care what business he had there, or he felt the power of his reiatsu. As he stepped aside to let him pass, Ichigo decided he didn't care which. Forcing his way in had already been a acceptable option if it had come to that.

Each step echoed off the stone walls in the otherwise silent space. The temperature dropped noticeably the deeper he progressed, but it didn't bother him, nor the foreboding aura it seemed to give off. He had never been in this part of Las Noches before There was never a reason to be. Aizen had never been so cruel as to lock him away in a cell, even early on when he fought so hard to resist the man he now shared his body and heart with. He reached the bottom where a few more arrancar guards greeted him. These two he knew and they let him pass with barely a look.

When he reached the far end of the cell block, he looked in at the only prisoner that was held within. Urahara didn't appear surprised to see who his visitor was. Maybe he was expecting it. Ichigo always thought the man was shrouded in mystery, and even in his weathered condition, he was just as much of an enigma now. Ichigo could feel the kido surrounding the bars. He lifted his hand to concentrate. After setting Hichigo free, this seal was simple in comparison. It was so simple that he wondered why Urahara had not attempted to break through. The collar around his neck gave him that answer. In minutes he opened a hole in the barrier and took out the item he had brought with him and tossed it into the cell before he let the opening he created close over again.

"Thought you might want that back. You look incomplete without it," he said. "It's a little damaged, but.."

Urahara took up the hat and smoothed out the wrinkles as best he could, dusting it and observing the ragged cut through the brim before he put it on his head. "Thank you, Ichigo." He gave him a ghost of a smile. "How did you come across it?"

"It was in Aizen's trophy room. Spoils of war I guess."

"Like you?"

Ichigo frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

"Grimmjow told me quite a bit." He watched Ichigo with a hint of pity in his eyes. "I'm sorry you've been through so much."

Ichigo scoffed. "I don't need pity, and there is nothing for you to be sorry for, Kisuke."

"Oh?" Urahara watched him curiously.

"I'm fine. I'm not some helpless victim!"

"Of course not. Just look at you. Strong and healthy."

"You managed to make that sound cynical." Ichigo rested against the far wall and folded his arm, taking comfort from the feel of Zangetsu pressed to his back.

"How so?"

"The tone of your voice. You're talking to me like I'm still the fifteen year old kid who was wet behind the ears about his power."

"I did not mean it to sound that way, Ichigo. You are much stronger than you were then, impressively so. I can feel it." Ichigo's angry expression did not soften, but his body relaxed. "Aizen treats you well then?"

"Yes. He loves me."

"Does he? Do you feel the same?"

Ichigo's bravado evaporated and he looked away from the man behind the bars. "I do."

Urahara mulled it over in silence. It didn't seem possible, but there it was. Ichigo refused to look at him, but his voice had spoken true. Yet, there was also a trace of distraction, a inner turmoil that he was trying to conceal. He had heard cases before, but had never seen it himself until now. Stockholm Syndrome. That or Aizen had put some spell over Ichigo that he could not detect, but he doubted that was the case. "I see," he said thoughtfully.

"I'm not here to talk about that," Ichigo said, looking down the cell block towards the guards before he put his attention back on Urahara.

"I didn't think so," he agreed. "What is it you wanted then, Ichigo? Surely it wasn't just to bring me my hat."

"Is my family okay?"

Urahara nodded slightly. "Alive and healthy, but as you can see by my appearance, life on the run in Hueco Mundo is not kind."

"I know.." Ichigo stopped and looked away again, shamed even though it wasn't he that cause this nightmare to begin with. "Is everyone else okay too? Rukia, Renji..all of them?"

"For now, and better for not being prisoners as they were." He watched Ichigo, the brim of his returned hat shadowing his keen eyes. "Lets be honest. Even with a inch of freedom, we are all still prisoners here. All of us." He stared at the young man before him, now clad is stark white instead of shinigami black. "Even you have to agree with that."

Something like malice flickered in Ichigo's eyes, but it was gone just as quickly. "Where is everyone?"

"I guess that depends."

"On what?"

"Are you asking for yourself, or Aizen?"

"I'm not.." Ichigo sighed.

"Either way, I don't know. I'll tell you what I told Aizen. Our group is always on the move and we never stay in one place for long. You and I both know how vast Hueco Mundo is, Ichigo."

"I just want to help. I could convince Aizen.."

"Convince him of what?" Urahara watched Ichigo and could still see that naive part of him from so long ago. Wanting to take on the world and save everyone, even with multiple odds stacked against him. It was a good trait to have, but it could also break you when you could not succeed. Ichigo was blinded, and that was putting them all in a more dangerous position than they were already in. Ichigo seemed unable to answer him. "I don't know all that you have endured here, Ichigo, and I know you think you can trust Aizen, but you are traveling a perilous path here."

"I know that more than you think," Ichigo muttered, looking momentarily lost. "I should go. I'll try to come visit again."

"Does Aizen know you're here?"

"I didn't tell him I was coming, but he probably does."

Urahara nodded. "Well, it is good to see you again, Ichigo."

"You too." His eyes softened. "Sorry it's not different circumstances."

"You and I both." He turned to leave. "Ichigo."

"What?"

"You look better in black."

"Yeah, I think so too." Ichigo started his trek back down the cell block and up the stairs, and Urahara listened to his footsteps fade slowly until he heard silence.

Again alone, Urahara suspected that Ichigo would not be as much help as he originally hoped. Three days had passed and he had not broken the seal to free the zanpakuto. Benihime was now amongst the other zanpakuto, imprisoned behind the sealed door. It was as it should be. The collar around his neck was no hindrance as he had broken its hold much like he had the limiters the other shinigami had been wearing.

He closed his eyes and meditated, concentrating as he had on this technique since the end of the war. With practice, any shinigami could achieve a connection with their zanpakuto without physical contact, even call them through the powerful link to bring them physically into their grasp through pure will. Urahara had been teaching their comrades how to do just that since finding them and breaking them free from their incarceration. He trusted Isshin would continue to practice with them all, so that when the time came and the seal was destroyed, their zanpakuto would go to them. It was a gamble, but it was all they had.

He called to Benihime, reaching, feeling for her strength. The seal made it more difficult, but being as they were both in Las Noches, it made the task slightly less exhausting. It took some time, but she answered. The seal was strong, but each time he communed with her it became easier. He could not physically approach the door to break the seal, but through the inner world of his beloved Benihime, he would break it just the same. Time was the only difference. He just wondered how much he would be allowed. Aizen had not come to see him again since the day he arrived, but he was sure to come calling on his rival, sooner than later. Until then, he would chip away at the seal until there was nothing left.

~~~

The visit hadn't went quite as well as Ichigo had hoped. It was upsetting that Urahara suspected Aizen had sent him to ask questions, but being in his position, he couldn't blame him for being cautious. He was just ashamed at himself for getting angry. He wasn't mad at Urahara, and the man had a right to point out what was painfully clear, but he didn't need to be told what he already knew. His perilous path, as Urahara had put it, began the day his shinigami powers awoke, long before he even knew of Aizen. Now it was darker and more sinister, but he had no choice but to keep going and hope for the end to be clear of any misgivings or regrets. Knowing his family was well made him feel like the conversation was not a total waste at least.

Ichigo was tempted to go outside the walls of Las Noches again. Maybe he could search for everyone on his own. Aizen would most likely come after him, or send someone to bring him back. Aizen could also let him go, using him to find out where his escaped shinigami were.That made what Urahara said all the more true. He was given liberties, but he wasn't confident that he was free. Sadly, he had become content with that. He still was, and the reality of it battered him. Even when he got angry at Aizen, it never lasted. He was no longer troubled over the news of Hichigo, his mother or the past. Once, he would have hated the man, but now he lacked the ability.

The throne room was empty when he entered and he took Zangetsu off his back to gently set aside. He went to the grand chair that Aizen often sat upon and flopped in the seat with a sigh. Ichigo frowned and slouched, then sat up straight for a moment before he tried another position on the chair. Grand or not, the thing was one of the most uncomfortable chairs he had ever sat on. He continued to try getting comfortable, but it was in vain. He couldn't understand how Aizen could sit on the thing for even a minute, much less an hour or more as he did during meetings he held.

"Hard to be rebellious when you can't even pull it off properly."

Ichigo frowned and looked at the infuriating man standing in the doorway. "Gin."

"Ichigo," he greeted back, smiling in his usual vile way. "I can see you look confused, so I'll explain. Aizen had Mayuri design that chair so only he would find it pleasant to sit on. A simple matter of science and kido. We can't have someone trying to take Lord Aizen's place now, can we?"

"Who would be arrogant enough to try that?" Ichigo said, refusing to get off the throne, even though it's exactly what he wanted to do.

"Who indeed?" Gin stepped into the room, his footsteps soundless. "Speaking of Mayuri. I heard all about his demise. Very impressive of Ishida to pull that off."

"It was, and the freak will not be missed."

"Well, yes and no," Gin said and took one of the seats at the long table.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ichigo detested even being in the same room with the snake, but he had a way of getting his attention. He shifted on the seat again, trying his hardest to look nonchalant about it.

"Aizen is a brilliant scientist in his own right, but he has more important business to contend with than to be in the lab all day. He has yet to find someone as intelligent as Mayuri or even Szayelaporro Granz was."

"I wasn't aware he was looking for a replacement," Ichigo said.

Gin picked up a bottle of wine and uncorked it. "He is, but there is not one good candidate amongst any of the arrancar. It's unsurprising really, considering most of them are just brutish muscle and nothing more."

"You shouldn't discount them like that."

Gin poured two glasses. "That's so like you, Kurosaki. Seeing strength in everyone." He took up the glasses and rose, approaching Ichigo where he sat and offered one of them.

"No thanks."

"Oh, come now. Don't be rude."

Ichigo looked at his smiling face and wanted to punch him in it. He took the glass instead and downed the red liquid in a few gulps. "Happy?"

"Absolutely ecstatic." Gin chuckled and sipped his own before going to retrieve the bottle. "As thoughtful as you are about others though, it does not compare to sweet Orihime. Someone could try to murder her and she'd see good in them." He shook his head and sighed. "Silly thing that she is."

"Don't talk about her like she's stupid." His temptation turned from a punch to the face, to a wine glass at the back of his head.

"I'm doing no such thing. What I am saying is, she needs to see people for who they are and not always try to make them innocent." He grabbed up the bottle and brought it back over and refilled the glass in Ichigo's hand.

Ichigo didn't even know why they were having this conversation. Unless Gin was just trying to get under his skin. The man took joy in such acts. "She has a kind heart. That's all, and I wouldn't try to change her. Someone has to stay innocent in this place."

"Perhaps you are right. She is rather attractive with those big innocent eyes."

Ichigo didn't like the look on Gin's face when he said that. He wasn't altogether sure he was thinking about Orihime's eyes. "She's happy with Uryu. Stay away from her."

"That protective nature you have is adorable, but unnecessary." He drank his wine. "Orihime was promised to me, but in light of Ishida's brutal murder of his tormentor, I've decided he deserves her delightful company in his bed more than I. Besides, there is really only one woman for me, and she is not amongst any of the raffle here." His smile lost it's sharpness and he stared pointedly at Ichigo, his eyes a blue that he had never seen before. There was coldness there even now, but loneliness was hidden deep within their depths.

"I don't understand you," Ichigo said and drank. "You look almost humble. Maybe it's the alcohol getting to me."

"Well, I am a snake after all. You can never predict the course of a reptile."

"I guess not." Ichigo shifted on the chair, grimaced and cursed before he got up and sat on the edge of the table instead.

Gin chuckled. "The throne finally beat your will, I see."

"Don't rub it in," he muttered and took the bottle to pour more in his empty glass.

"Not at all. You lasted longer than I did."

Ichigo looked at him. "You tried?"

"Mn," he said with a slight nod, "a few of us have. Aizen finds it amusing, actually."

"Why doesn't that surprise me?"

"I'm sure Aizen still has a few surprises in him," Gin said almost absently and emptied his glass. "A few of us do. You included, I'm sure."

Ichigo wasn't sure how to respond to that. Drinking more just seemed the best course. By now he would have left to free himself of Gin's company, but he wasn't completely annoyed by his presence for once. Maybe it was just the warm pleasant buzz of the wine faltering his common sense. He just wanted to relax for a while in a way that didn't involve sex. Besides, Aizen wasn't around to satisfy that need in any case. He thought of Grimmjow and Hichigo again and ached to go see them, but he had not attempted to since Aizen's warning. He hadn't even spoken to Hichigo or connected with him since that accident when he was outside the walls fighting.

"You're thinking really hard there, Ichigo."

He shrugged. "Nothing important."

"Perhaps you need a distraction?" Ichigo looked at him warily and it cause Gin to laugh. "I assure you, my intentions are innocent."

Ichigo hadn't forgotten that night long ago, but it had been Aizen's wish for them to use him so. "You're not exactly known for innocence, Gin."

"No," he agreed. He motioned towards the chess board that was in the corner of the room. "Can you play?"

"Yes, Aizen taught me."

"Shall we then? We can bring the bottle of wine along..or two."

Gin's sly smirk had returned, but Ichigo ignored it's mysterious undertone. He grabbed the half empty wine bottle and a unopened one. "Why not?" Any regrets he could deal with later. A few games couldn't hurt, and Gin was right about one thing. He did need a distraction.

~~~

Ichigo's head was swimming, his footing unsteady, held up by his drinking partner as they made their way to his room. Gin was far less intoxicated, unfairly so. They had drank close to the same amount of wine, or so Ichigo thought. He either held his alcohol better or he weaseled around and had not drank as much as it appeared he had. Fuck it. He knew how sneaky Gin was. He felt good, all his worries suppressed so far down that he just didn't care.

The corridor they walked down wavered and spun. He closed his eyes as his arm gripped tighter around Gin's shoulder. This man he did not trust or even like, and he was clutching at him like a life preserver. It struck him as hilarious and he burst out laughing. He only laughed harder when he looked and saw Gin's eyes closed as he led him along.

"How...the.. fuck do you...see like that?" he slurred and laughed. "Can..you see..through your...eyelids, or something?"

Gin chuckled and kept him moving. "You are quite charming when you're drunk and not giving me that cold, distrustful glare."

"Then..I better...sober up quick then," Ichigo said slowly. It was too hard to talk, so he just laughed again.

"That would probably be best. I should not have let you keep drinking."

"I'm..a big boy. I do..what I want." Gin didn't argue the point and half walked, half carried him along. Ichigo didn't think his vision could get any more dizzying, but he was wrong. "St..op."

"Are you alright?" Gin did as he asked.

"Too..much spinning," Ichigo muttered and held onto him.

"Do try not to vomit on me," Gin said and lifted him up in his arms to carry him the rest of the way.

Ichigo went in and out of consciousness until he heard Aizen's voice speaking to Gin. He wasn't coherent enough to catch what they were saying, but his lover sounded none too pleased. Fine, let him be mad. It wouldn't be the first time. The bed beneath him cradled his body warmly and he craved sleep, but he forced his eyes open once more when he heard their conversation come to an end. Gin left and Aizen swam into his vision as he approached the bed.

"Have fun?" Aizen asked, looking neither angry or amused.

"My lips..feel numb," Ichigo muttered and stretched his body. He felt numb all over, relaxed in his drunken stupor. Aizen finally smiled to him and sat on the edge of the bed. "Kiss me." Aizen did. A soft press of the lips. They felt so warm against his. "Do..you..really love..me?"

"Ichigo, I love you. Never think I feel otherwise."

"Good," Ichigo muttered and curled up, enjoying the sensation of Aizen's fingers brushing his hair until he fell deep into the darkness of sleep.
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Prisoner of War