Disclaimer: Bleach and its characters belong to the great Kubo Tite. This is a just a non-profit fanfic.
Warning: Spoilers from chapter 175

- : Secrets : -

Uruhara fell asleep at his desk again. Aizen shook his head, and smiled to himself. The genius scientist was truly committed to his work, but he should learn to take care of himself better.

"Uruhara-kun," Aizen called out softly as he approached the sleeping figure. The light brown-haired man did not stir. Aizen gazed down at the peaceful face, which strangely hinted nothing at fatigue. Uruhara had flawless, creamy skin, and Aizen wondered if the 12th division captain had concocted a potent facial cream of sorts. "Uruhara-kun," he called out again.

The younger man's lids fluttered slightly, but it was apparent sleep had a stronger hold. Aizen shook his head again. He would have to carry the scientist back to his room again, it seemed. Gently, he took hold of Uruhara's shoulders and carefully straightened him in his seat. Uruhara's head fell limply to one side, a tired moan escaping his lips.

"Really, Uruhara-kun, you ought to be ashamed of yourself," Aizen teased as he scooped the scientist into his arms then.

"… ou… gyo..." Uruhara murmured then as he unconsciously grabbed the lapel of Aizen's robe and snuggled closer. He breathed in deeply then, and his lips curved into a small smile.

Aizen chuckled lightly. He was about to move off then, but a particular piece of paper on the scientist's desk caught his attention. He leant in closer, frowning slightly at the incomprehensible jumble of words, flow charts and drawings. But one word, written in a hurried stroke, stood out clearly, particularly because it was foreign.

Hou gyoku.

Aizen wondered what it was. His eyes darted across the paper, trying to follow the flow charts and drawings, but it was obvious then that Uruhara had devised it as such that only he would understand the content. Aizen felt a sharp twinge of disappointment.

"What secrets are you hiding from me, Uruhara Kisuke?" he whispered, the acid behind his words permeating the air.

Uruhara was still deep in slumber, of course. The smile on his face was still there though, and for a moment, the disappointment was forgotten. Effortlessly, he lifted the sleeping figure in his arms closer so that their faces were only inches away. He gently brushed his lips against the other's then, loving the softness and suppleness. His tongue darted out slightly to trace the outline of Uruhara's lips.

The scientist stirred, and Aizen pulled back just as the other opened his eyes. Uruhara squinted and blinked, sleepy confusion giving way to realization, and his lips curled into a lazy smile then. "Aizen," he breathed. "Did I fall asleep at my desk again?"

Aizen nodded sagely. "I was about to carry you back to your room."

Uruhara grinned then. "Ah, good. Just don't let anyone see us. Rumors spread fast here in seireitei. Troublesome."

It was little wonder why the 12th division captain and President of the Research Institute of Technology – his own brainchild – was someone well-loved by many; even though he was a genius, he was someone with a wonderful sense of humor and was always down-to-earth in his dealings with people. Aizen smiled.

Uruhara closed his eyes and snaked his arms around the elder man's neck. Aizen walked out of the 12th division office then, and was greeted by the night's cool air. He kept looking straight as he walked down one of the many winding corridors, but Aizen knew that the man in his arms had gone back to sleep.

No one saw Aizen entering Uruhara's room. The bespectacled man gently eased the sleeping captain onto the low bed, and pulled up the covers. Uruhara moved slightly, but was otherwise lost in his dreams. Aizen smiled and leaned to plant a soft kiss on the other's forehead. "Sweet dreams, Uruhara-kun."

He quietly made his way out of the scientist's room and went in the opposing direction from which he came. His steps echoed once he was quite a distance away, and then he was joined by another who insisted on masking his footfall.

"No one's around this late at night," Aizen remarked.

A soft laugh came from his partner. "But we're up."

Aizen cast a sidelong glance, a small smile playing on his lips. "You don't have to wait for me. You know I'll brief you in the morning."

"I know," the other sighed. "But I can't sleep anyway." They fell silent for a while. "So did you learn anything?"

"And here I thought you were a patient one, Gin."

Ichimaru Gin laughed again. "I'm just curious. We have failed, after all, and our best hope lies with Uruhara Kisuke now."

"Yes, he is the number one genius in seireitei, after all," Aizen concurred. He sighed then. "There was nothing much I managed to find out, except the words 'hou gyoku'. Does it make any sense to you?"

"Hou gyoku?" Ichimaru echoed, looking thoughtful. "No, I'm afraid not."

"I thought so. There are flow charts and diagrams on the paper which the words come from, but I can't make them out."

"A coded content."

Aizen nodded. "Yes. But not to worry." He came to a stop then – he had reached his own quarters – and turned to face Ichimaru. "I have my eyes on him."

Ichimaru grinned, looking like the deadly serpent that he was. "Of course you do. Well," he gave a slight yawn then, "I'm suddenly feeling very sleepy. I think I'll go back now. Good night."

"Aa, good night."

Ichimaru gave a little wave before going off. Aizen watched his partner's retreating back till he disappeared from sight. His thoughts returned to the piece of paper on Uruhara's desk, and he fingered his lips. He would learn the secrets revolving around 'hou gyoku' soon enough.

He offered one last smile to the night and retreated into his sanctuary.

- : owari :