On A Dark Path, He Walks

Disclaimer: I DON’T OWN THEM!

Warnings: Darkness. Depression. Angst. Shonen-ai. No mansecks. Uh-oh! Upset within the ranks! AU (please keep in mind that this is all ALTERNATE UNIVERSE and the ideas I write are my own. This is NOT meant to be taken as canon.) Oh…and character death. Times two. Please forgive me.

Notes: I’m trying to make this fic a little cleaner during the last few chapters so there will be little secks and more plot. If you want naughtiness, go to my other fics from here on out. –laughs- Thank you btw, to my dear readers and reviewers. You guys have given me such pride in my work. And thanks for waiting during my time away. I’m almost finished with the marital stuff and I’ll be settled again shortly.

*blah* denotes emphasis and //blah// denotes barely heard speech because AFF.net's bad for losing Italics code. >_<

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Ukitake had paced his cell fourteen hundred times. On the last step of the fourteen hundredth, the white haired captain sat down on his bunk and closed his eyes, weakened by the effort it took to walk and suddenly feeling very sorry for himself, his predicament no better than the day they had arrested him.

Three days had passed and during the night he slept, but during the day he paced, trying to clear his head and make a true decision on where he stood. He wanted to be with Gin but he feared Aizen, and he wanted to put up a good front to his shinigami comrades but he feared their reprisal over his supposed betrayal. Supposed, to most of the populace. To Hitsugaya, the other light haired taichou was absolutely guilty.

He sighed in the near darkness and only lifted his head from where it hung to stare into the shadows just outside of the barred room, candlelight from the corridor lighting the single figure that stood there. Ukitake had not heard the door open. Nor had he heard permission from the lone guard outside for someone to enter. He squinted and got up, grunting as his ill body refused to co-operate properly, approaching the figure, which now he noticed wore a shinigami uniform.

“Who’s there? I was told that I wasn’t allowed to have visitors.”

The shadowed form moved forward into the moonlight that spilled through the bars, supplied by the tiny window that resided in the man’s cell. Jyuushiro gasped and stared, unable to take his eyes off of the dark haired man, his hands shaking as he lifted one to cover his mouth, hiding his look of absolute wonder.

“K…Kaien?”

The deceased shinigami smiled, his eyes closing from the width of it. Not one to be so shocked by anything, his former captain’s actions made him chuckle quietly.

“How ya doin’, Taichou? Ya look kinda bad off, ne?”

The elder man nodded and lowered his hand, trying to look as calm as possible but no doubt failing in the young Shiba’s eyes. He stepped closer again and held a hand out, frowning noticeably as it passed right through the now apparent apparition.

“A ghost…”

Kaien laughed again and shimmered through the cell’s bars, easily folding his limber self onto the captain’s bunk, not even indenting the sheets or the mattress itself.

“I’m kinda surprised ya thought otherwise. I’ve been gone a long time.”

Ukitake lowered his head and grimaced as he spoke. “I know. I’ve…missed you, Kaien.”

The happy look on the boy’s face disappeared and he frowned as well, a sight few ever saw when he was alive, the uppity nobleman normally smiling away and causing a ruckus somehow or another.

“Ya miss him more than me, Taichou.” The sadness in Kaien’s voice was unmistakable. “He’s bad for ya. Let him be with Aizen-taichou. I don’t wanna see ya get shit on just ‘cause you’re too kind to let him go.”

Ukitake grit his teeth and shuffled a little bit closer, wincing and doubling over from a sudden sharp pain in his side, a light coughing fit breaking out before he calmed himself and looked up into the dead man’s serene face.

“And you’re not gettin’ any better health-wise either.”

“It’s not that easy, Kaien. Aizen’s got…”

“The sixth division guys. I know. Ya need to make a decision, Taichou. I’m kinda here to see it through for ya.”

The thirteenth squad captain blinked and settled himself onto the lone chair in the center of the cell.
“What do you mean? You’re a ghost, Kaien. My muddled mind is no doubt playing games with me.”

“You’d be surprised. Now, gimme an idea of what you’re gonna do. I can’t wait forever for ya.”

The sickly swordsman sighed and blinked back the beginning of depression-induced tears.
“I want out. I want to go back to him, even if he doesn’t want me. Even if it kills me.”

The regal Shiba smiled and slipped himself back out through the bars to stand before the heavy, high class binding sealed lock. One handedly, he tore it off, the steel falling soundlessly to the floor and the small door swinging open on a seemingly oiled hinge. Ukitake remembered it squealing loudly when he was placed inside. He stared at his former fukutaichou and moved to embrace him as he had in the past but only touched air, the man’s form gone again.

He could hear Kaien’s laughter as he looked around in shock and then took to the other, unbarred window upon hearing his guard outside shuffling around, hopping out of it and down to the second rooftop, only looking back for a second and not seeing what he had hoped for. The streets were surprisingly empty but considering the other Seireitei inhabitants were probably on their way to Hueco Mundo to fight Aizen, it made some sense. There had to be a way for him to get back there as well, to confront his lover and Aizen without being caught.

He frowned and disappeared as he headed for the Soukyou grounds in the hopes that he could be transported back the way Aizen had been, the dead shinigami’s last words echoing in his mind, only heard by himself as the figure had no doubt been a figment of his imagination.

“Tch. Since when did ya believe in ghosts, Taichou?”

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Aizen meanwhile, had begun preparations for the coming attack on Hueco Mundo, sparing no expense or time to making sure everything was secure, his arrancar army remodeled and set around the perimeter, the first line of defense against the soon to be arriving shinigami.
He watched from his place in the main corridor as various Espada moved teams of former hollows to their destinations, keeping his closest allies within the building to prevent a total massacre of those that dwelled within.

Alone now since Gin was busy, Sousuke made his way to his private chambers and settled in for a little bit, sitting on the large, overly plush cushions Ichimaru so enjoyed while visiting, the captive’s zanpakutou on the floor beside him. He sighed out loud and rubbed at his temples, still as human as his shinigami brethren and just as susceptible to headaches and fatigue.

To his private ward, a small arrancar created for the simple act of running errands, he gave a message for the former third division captain to join him until the fun began, waiting patiently while the red haired creature delivered the summons. He was pleased to see the blond vice captain at his lover’s side, his arms hanging limply at his sides as he walked dejectedly, no doubt having been verbally reprimanded beforehand. The lack of fresh marks on the boy’s pale skin suggested the same.

“We have less than a day until the others arrive, Gin.”

The silver haired captain smiled and nodded, shoving Kira in front of himself with a hand on the back of his neck, watching as the blond fell to his knees before the brilliant Espada leader.

“Hai, hai. I know. He’s gonna be taken care of right now.” He was secretly trying to show the other how obedient he himself could be, wanting Aizen to forgive him for his previous infraction back in Seireitei. “Smile, Izuru. Aizen-taichou wants to see how beautiful and loyal you are.”

Moving so that the young shinigami could see him, Aizen gripped Izuru by the chin and lifted him viciously, dragging him to a set of sealed doors, the binding art used on them of a level the blond had never seen before. One touch of Aizen’s finger and the energy bands gave way, the set of double doors spilling open to reveal Kaname Tousen bound with a similar spell, his chin against his chest. He was no doubt dead, the lack of reiatsu and anything remotely spiritually based giving the young shinigami cause to gasp in fright.

“T…Tousen-taichou!”

Aizen fisted his other hand in the boy’s hair and held his head back so he was forced to look up into the leader’s eyes.

“That’s what will happen to you if you so much as think about betraying me. Abarai-kun is dead to you, do you hear me? Your only desire should be to serve Gin and myself, Gin especially, as you have in the past.”

The blond blinked and nodded as much as he could, cringing as he was tossed aside, catching himself with both hands on the floor and staying put, his eyes on the young taichou’s feet. He refused to move, even when Gin tried to comfort him with a hand on his head, his hair mussed by Aizen’s hand as he angrily slapped the hand away.

“Sousuke!”

“This is punishment, Gin. For both of you. Kira-kun will remain here and you will not be allowed access to him again.” He turned away as he so often did when a conversation had ended, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Is that understood?”

The fox-faced captain glared angrily, his eyes open instead of being happily squinted shut, his mouth drawn into a hard little line instead of its casual smirk. His voice was poisonous with sudden hatred.

“Hai, Aizen-taichou.”

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“But he’s got fuckin’ *wounds*, Ulquiorra. He’s gonna bleed all over the fuckin’ floor if I don’t move him.”

“Aizen-sama said to watch them, not touch them.”

“Yeah, but he’s gonna be pissed if the bastard dies, right? Then we’ll get in shit because it was on our shift.”

The little arrancar rolled his eyes and moved to help the turquoise haired Espada, viciously kicking Renji as he reached weakly for them. It wouldn’t do to have him up and about during their duty with Byakuya.
The elder shinigami’s haori was already shredded in places so Grimmjow tore a long strip of it off and wrapped the poor nobleman’s hands and arms, the cloth not soaking through right away so it was obvious to them, despite his nearly vanished reiatsu, that he was healing up.

Renji was left alone, his arms not dripping vital fluid like his lover’s, so he was ignored for the most part. Nasty by nature, the taller man gave him a sharp kick to the young shinigami’s gut as he passed by, the movement not responded to due to the redhead’s unconscious state, caused by Ulquiorra’s attack just minutes before.

“He’s gonna have bruises now too, ya fuckin’ retard. How’re ya gonna explain it to Aizen?”

“Aizen-sama, Grimmjow. Don’t ever let him hear you talking so easily about him.”

“Fuck off. He’s not the one I’m scared of.” The blue haired Espada sighed and ran a hand over his face, making a disgusted noise at the sight of the two beaten shinigami. “I’m goin’ for a walk.”

Ulquiorra was instantly on edge, green eyes wide as he stared at his comrade.
“Are you so stupid as to ignore Aizen-sama’s orders like that?”

The larger man nodded as he walked off, turning to flip the little arrancar off and stepping into the hall’s doorway at the same time, bumping headlong into Ichimaru, who had stomped out of his lover’s quarters upon being reprimanded and denies access to his toy.

“Watch where you’re goin’ assho-“ But he couldn’t finish as the angered third squad captain caught him before he could even see who he was dealing with, a thin-fingered hand wrapping around his throat and squeezing dangerously.

“Were you addressing me, Grimmjow Jaggerjack? Do you even know your worth with me right now?”

The boorish Espada’s eyes went wide as the other squeezed even more tightly around his neck, now starting to struggle because of the strength behind the frail looking body. He shook his head in answer to Gin’s question and gasped as the man’s thumb pressed against his Adam’s apple, providing a new kind of hurt.

“Nothing. You’re nothing to me.”

The helmeted young arrancar stood bowed before the unfolding scene, unsure of what to do because duty instructed him to look the other way. He barely managed to stifle a shocked sound as the silver haired captain lifted his other hand and held it against his teammate’s forehead, pushing him away as he drew him closer with the other.
The sickening sound of Grimmjow’s head being pushed back over his shoulders beyond its limits and his vicious wail of agony echoed through the hall and corridor, the sounds quickly followed by Gin’s laughter, a child-like, lilting sound that caused gooseflesh to break out on Ulquiorra’s forearms.

The broken body fell to the floor once the shinigami let go of it, lifelessly crumpling into an oddly shaped heap, not even a choked sound of pain coming from it. The once proud arrancar was no longer a member of Aizen’s army. After all, how could a dead man serve and fight?

“Bloody arrancar. None of you know your place.” He stared directly at Ulquiorra as he spoke, nearly spitting the words in his enraged state. He moved to approach his fallen shinigami brethren but was stopped by the miniscule Espada, red eyes staring down into frightened but defiant green ones.

“I suggest you mind your own business, little one. I’m not above destroying you too.”

“Aizen-sama said that we were to watch them until he indicated otherwise.”

“I’m the ‘otherwise’. Now, move aside.”

The small fighter hesitated before starting to move, immediately stayed by a hand on his shoulder, his look of sudden fright making the newcomer chuckle, his reiatsu obviously that of their brown haired leader.

“Stay where you are, Ulquiorra. I’m afraid that Gin has overstepped his authority on this matter.” He gestured towards Grimmjow’s broken body and frowned for a brief second.
“Clean that up and then return to your post. It seems that you’ll be doing the job alone for the duration.”

“Hai, Aizen-sama.”

The two men ignored the smaller swordsman and squared off against each other, Gin staring with red-eyed hatred and Aizen smirking in his devilish way, one hand lifting to run through his hair.

“Leave me alone, Sousuke. I’m not in the mood for your games.”

The former captain chuckled and held a hand out, Kira’s adjutant badge resting in his palm.
“You’re hardly in a position to give orders, Gin. Your dear Izuru hangs in the balance here, doesn’t he?”

“Yes, but Jyuushiro’s still in Soul Society.”

The Espada leader clucked his tongue. “You left him behind. He’s worthless garbage to you, Gin. He’ll be judged by those shinigami left behind while the war surfaces and he’ll surely be put to death. Treason against Soul Society is hardly tolerated.”

Ichimaru flinched at the mention of his former lover being killed and clenched his hands into fists, his right one itching to snatch Shinsou from its sheath and attack the elder man, having finally come to the realization that perhaps the other shinigami had been wrong all along.

“Everything I love is worthless in your eyes, Sousuke! Jyuushiro, Izuru, my own worth in Seireitei! What does my loyalty mean? What does anything mean?”

The stench of old blood and fester was rank in the air and both men ignored it in favour of holding their ground, Ichimaru afraid of Aizen’s true power and Aizen afraid of the coming war, knowing that the best of Soul Society’s fighters would be coming.
As both men reached for their zanpakutou their world brightened as if a thousand fires had been lit, Ichimaru immediately cowering from it and Aizen glaring dangerously towards its source, the high windows of the grand room illuminated by the unseen force. It was no doubt an opening between Hueco Mundo and Soul Society, the heavenly world’s light spilling into the land of perpetual twilight.

Snarled orders and hollered answers came from the outside corridor, the arrancar soldiers fortifying the palace and protecting what lay within.

//The four of you, outside now! Watch the second post!//

//Hai! Keep a line inside for Aizen-sama!//

//Yammi, take the twelve behind you and go to the tear! Keep them from gaining any ground before we can assemble!//

//You! The group there! Stand with them and be their second line! The shinigami won’t be prepared for this much defense!//

Aizen chuckled before he dropped his hand from his sword’s hilt, turning away from the still angry third division taichou, moving out towards the hall in an unhurried fashion, knowing that he was staying indoors regardless of the situation beyond the building’s walls.

“The time has arrived, Gin. Our former comrades will be here shortly. What are you going to tell them once they arrive? Are you with them or against them?”

The flare in Ichimaru’s eyes made the elder man grin broadly and Kira’s badge was suddenly tossed down at his feet as the brunet turned to see his face.

“You can bet that Ukitake is dead, or will be in the next few days. Treason is a far more serious act than anything, save for killing a fellow shinigami and lo and behold, he was witnessed in our company, the very ones who took the life of the shobantai-taichou.”

Gin’s glare disappeared and he looked more shocked than anything, only just realizing that if no one else took responsibility for the death of Genryuusai-dono, his lover would be put to death, slowly bending down to retrieve his young toy’s vice captain insignia.
Again Aizen turned away, this time speaking as he left, having caught the frightened and saddened look on his former fukutaichou’s face and priding himself on it.

“Kira-kun was very distressed before I took his life. At least it’s done with now. Keep in mind Gin, that I’m the only one who’s left to love you now.”

An unseen smirk and a flash of shunpo and the elder man left to join his front line army.

“The question is, *Ginyanote*, where do you now stand in my favour?”