After the blond youth left the Third Division, I spent the rest of the time re-setting the passwords to the database of shinigami personnel information. Utagawa briefed me on the current organizational structure and assorted information – the disciplinary division, the mentoring program, the duty roster...

"Utagawa, my brain can only hold that much at one go," I interrupted when he launched into the minutiae of storehouse usage procedures. "We'll continue tomorrow."

"As you wish, taichou," he said, bowing.

I was surprised by his lack of antagonism, but since I took the captaincy Utagawa had been very cooperative. Perhaps it was also due, in part, to the training I was giving him with regards to bankai. I doubted he could ever make it to manifesting his sword's spirit in the real world; the man had a mental block about things belonging to where they were supposed to be. Probably Rinbayashi-sensei had seen that too, which was why she did not bother.

I'd rather he used his energy elsewhere.

As I cleaned up the room, I picked up a silver locket. Kira's chain had broken, probably when he was climbing up and down the stepladder to place my precious scrolls (all gifts from Aizen-sama). I decided to keep it for now and pass it to him when I wanted a moment alone with him.

Occasionally I would feel a tinge of guilt over the way I treated my snacks. Only a twinge, of course; they weren't worth more than that.

I also knew why I kept sampling the offers: Aizen-sama never showed more than detached amusement at the range of shinigami and non-shinigami that would come to me, sometimes timidly, often boldly. I could never imitate that aloofness though, when it came to the propositions for Aizen-sama.

He was mine alone.

The bodies were never found, thanks to the hollows that could come at my beck and call. This way I did not have to risk leaving my reiatsu signature.

Still, as I slid the doors closed, I realized I was feeling guilty towards Kira. That boy was so trusting that I had actually restrained myself from plundering that trust. It was... disconcerting. I never held myself back when I enjoyed the offers from various other individuals, and most knew better than to come to me for a second time.

Kira's tightly-shut lids, those slightly-parted pink lips, and the lily-white skin that flushed so adorably under my hands... and the soft moans, hesitant in uttering more than a choked gasp. He was sweet and innocent and demandingly eager, very different from my lover.

If Aizen-sama was the hawthorne, the wood of which producing the strongest and fiercest flame (I chuckled quietly, deciding to share that bit – with my own modification, naturally – with my captain), then Kira was the calla lily, elegantly-shaped and possessing its own unpretentious beauty.

"Kira Izuru," I murmured the name, feeling the syllables click and then slide over my palate. "Pretty Kira." Then I shut my eyes and smiled, tasting the promise on the tip of my tongue.

The walk back would not take long, but it was too warm. I ducked into a tea shop and waited to be served. Leaning back against the cool plaster wall, I closed my eyes again (not that most people could tell). Aizen-sama?

'Gin?' He was preoccupied with something; his mental tone was distracted. 'What is it?'

No time for flirting then. Could you get Tousen to pull Hisagi Shuuhei back to Seireitei?

Aizen-sama took less than ten seconds to understand my ploy. 'You are a cruel, cruel man, Ichimaru Gin.'

You know you love me like that.

'I'll go one better.' Aizen-sama's mind thrummed with approval. 'When?'

Around noon when I pick out plants for my office from the Academy greenhouse. I tapped my fingers against my thigh and counted. Tomorrow if possible, the day after if necessary. Kira is going back for some extra-credit duties, I hear.

Someone was at the office door on his end. 'I'll get back to you on this.'

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Aizen-sama was in a contemplative mood when he returned, and only nodded absently when I indicated that his bath was ready. Something was eating at him.

Having been his lover for so long, I knew better than to ask him what was bothering him. He shook out of his captain's robe, leaving it a pile on the floor. I frowned; the issue must be rather serious. As he got ready for his evening bath, I went into the bathroom and got the towels ready.

He stepped soundlessly behind me, his arms sliding about my waist. "Hey."

"Welcome home," I said with a soft smile. "Water's still warm."

"Mmm..." He nuzzled into my neck. "Scrub my back, will you?"

I slapped his thigh playfully. "You always tell me not to. Why the change of heart?"

"I'm ticklish," he protested with a short chuckle. "But I want to feel your hands on me also."

"Oh, I'm sure of that," I drawled and then pecked him on the corner of his mouth. Then I pushed him lightly on his shoulder. "Go sit."

He liked being scrubbed, actually. However, ever since I attacked him with tickling while scrubbing his back, he had refused to let me near him while he prepared for a good, long soak. It wasn't that he was very ticklish, but that he didn't like having to re-tile the bathroom: the first time I sneaked up on him, he had blasted the reinforced walls with kido and we had ended up having to bathe in the communal baths.

Having soaked and soaped the towel while he rinsed, I settled myself behind him. Even after these decades, the line of his spine and the smooth planes of his back still took my breath away. He was pale, without a single scar marring the perfection of his skin. I gently dragged the fabric down from shoulder to waist, before rubbing up in firm circles. He sighed and bowed his head.

"What is it?" I asked quietly. Clear water washed off the suds and I laved him up again, this time scrubbing with greater force.

Aizen-sama was silent for a beat. Then he breathed out slowly. "I like Ukitake."

I waited.

"I like him enough to really be his friend."

"You were looking for a toy," I remarked.

"I was."

"And now you can't bring yourself to think of him that way."

"I can't."

"So there isn't a problem."

"No, there isn't." He half-turned and showed me his grin. "Fooled you."

I slapped the wet rag over his shoulders. "Scrub your back yourself."

He grabbed me about my waist and dragged me into his lap. I pummeled him but gave into his kiss. With an extravagant sigh he hugged me tightly, ignoring my half-hearted protests about my clothes getting wet.

"I'm glad you thought I was troubled." He sighed into my neck and I warmed at the subtle caress.

"You wanted me to be fooled?"

"I'm going to live the role I was supposed to live from the start," he said. My hair stuck to his cheek and I brushed it from his face. Aizen-sama gazed at me. "I will be the Aizen Sousuke everyone believes I am."

"And everyone will believe, even I." I touched his eyelids. "Where will my Aizen-sama be then?"

"In here," he touched my heart, "and here," he touched my head. He bent to kiss me again, slowly, taking his time to savor my surrender. "And one day, when the opportune moment arrives, you will then have your Aizen-sama revealed."

Touched, I embraced him. "I believe in you."

"I know." His hug tightened to the point of pain. "I believe too."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

I checked the papers in my folder. These were the security gaps in the system installed in Rinbayashi's room, and I knew the program designer was now running the workshop Kira and Hinamori were attending. That bit of scheduling had been hard to achieve, but the original instructor had been paid quite well for his playing hooky.

Kira was staring blankly at his papers. I supposed it was boring for his quick mind to listen to security detail. As I discussed the details regarding the upgrade with the instructor, I expanded my reiatsu carefully. The blond twitched. Carefully stealing a glance, I saw Kira frown at me and resolutely face his papers.

Gotta give him credit; he knows when to be serious. I arranged for the instructor to come by my office on another day and then reminded him that it was almost time for the workshop to end. He hurried away, calling for the class to submit their assignment.

I smirked with satisfaction on seeing Kira's angry fluster. Time for me to make a graceful exit.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Where are you?

'Over in the third block,' Aizen-sama answered. 'He's approaching.'

Good. Give me some time – say, eight to ten minutes – and I'll send a signal.

I waited until I saw a pale blond head weave its way through the chattering students. Hinamori held him back for a second and I yelled at her mentally to let go. Perhaps she heard me: Kira resumed his storming to the greenhouse.

My informant was right. The youth headed straight to the healers' source of herbs. I stood up, brushed off the knees of my uniform and strode towards my target. It was a short walk, really, since I had been keeping an eye out ever since I left the classroom. Aizen-sama, I'm headed to the greenhouse.

'He's talking to me now. We're going to the Apothecary for the items he needs.'

Wait wait wait, slow down!

'We'll stroll. Go on, I'm waiting for the signal.'

I rolled my eyes. My lover really needed to work on his timing. Though, in certain other areas of our lives, his timing was impeccable. I grinned slyly: I wondered how much of his skill I had learned over the years? However, going by the responses of the nibbles I had of the hors d'oeuvre offered to me, I was pretty damn good.

The door was half-opened. Hey, I'm an optimistic guy.

'Could have told you that. The Apothecary is about three minutes' away. You ready?'

Almost. He's shredding leaves... ahahaha. The gods are totally on my side.

'Why do you say that?'

I smothered the chuckle. He chose to shred the leaves of Eros' Wrath.

'Ah. The aphrodisiac. Guess we can speed up a little.'

I'm gonna be a gentleman.

'Have fun, lover. Break a leg.'

I walked in silently as Kira seethed. I loved seeing him angry, I realized: the blue eyes were almost snapping with ire and his cheeks were stained pink. The tight set of his jaw added a fierce elegance to otherwise plain features, and there was a far-off focused gaze.

I loved his canted eyes, I mused to myself as I navigated my way past fronds and potted plants. The damp heat was uncomfortable but not clammy. Kira was muttering under his breath when I stepped up behind him.

"I didn't think I could sneak up to you this easily," I commented.

Kira positively jumped out of his skin, his sudden reaction sweeping the potted Eros' Wrath off the ledge it was placed. I caught it carefully, knowing that it was a particularly strong aphrodisiac and that it removes inhibitions almost as well as the best sake in Seireitei. The poor sapling's leaves were mostly removed; Kira's little tantrum had been quite damaging.

I smiled at the blond young man. "You seem perturbed. What is the matter?"

"I... I, er, I, I... perturbed?" He was becoming flustered. I could practically taste the change in his reiatsu from the effects of the herb. Where it had been cool/clear/sorrowful, now red/desire/fire was threading through it.

"I just like the sound of the word," I said quickly to distract him from thinking about the stranngeness of his body and soul. "Perturbed perturbed perturbed. The sound of the word conveys the feeling rather accurately." I was talking rubbish and I knew it. Aizen-sama's mental chuckle told me he was listening in too.

'The Apothecary is searching for the relevant dried herb. You're sure you burned the whole stash?'

Yes.

"I'm fine, I came in to, uh... I came in..." Kira blinked, appearing to have lost his train of thought. "I-I-I'm, um. I should go."

I leaned on the ledge that would place me directly in his way. "Not that easily. We have to talk about what transpired the other night."

Those lovely blond lashes fluttered as he desperately sought a way past me. As if i didn't know the layout of the greenhouse and had him trapped in a corner. "Fukutaichou, I really don't think this is a good idea. People could see-"

"See what?" I bent forward slightly, invading his personal space. "That an officer is talking to his subordinate? That a student is conversing with an instructor? That you are terribly nervous?"

That last bit must have hit a little too close to home, because Kira burst out with, "That I'm terrified."

He was, his thin shoulders trembling and sweat beading over his upper lip. Nonetheless, he soldiered on. "That... that I... that you're here, and I can't – I can't think clearly, and I wish you'd not be so bold and I wish I could just dare to be like you, I can't. I can't."

The red/desire/fire was overriding his usual reiatsu signature too rapidly. My initial gladness gave way to concern. Eros' Wrath was acting too swiftly on him. I placed a palm on his cheek to try countering with my own reiatsu. At least I was used to such fierce desire – Kira was reacting badly. "Hush, Kira, relax."

"Huh?" His eyes were unfocused and glimmering with confusion.

I tamped down the surge of want that the plant had forced into him. "That plant... that is the source of stimulants crafted for the Fourth." I pointed with my free hand at the innocent-looking plant on the ledge. "As well as the basis for aphrodisiacs." After much dilution, I added silently. "Let me smell your hands."

His hands reeked of the plant.

"You rubbed the sap into your skin. How are you feeling?" The affected reiatsu was now trying to curl and merge with mine; ruthlessly I forced it away.

Kira was looking at me stupidly. "Feeling? Slightly dizzy... a little, uh, a little breathless. But I'm fine, I'm, er... I'm..." His voice faded to a whisper. "Warm."

"Warm." I extended two fingers to connect with his pulse point, to ameliorate the effects. Too late: Kira was thrumming with heat now. I breathed out and stepped back. "Let me find the antid-mmmmph!"

Kira had latched his mouth on mine, his tongue pressing against my lips and begging entrance. His fingers sought a path along my spine and, as sensitive as I was in that region, I arched into his hold. Feeling rather regretful I grabbed his shoulders to push him away. "Kira, not that it doesn't feel good – oh!"

Now that little blond minx had his mouth on my earlobe, sliding down, and hot, moist breath that was combining forces to drive me crazy. "Kira izuru, you stop this right now-"

"No. Hot."

I shoved him away, ignoring the thin thread of saliva that trailed from my neck to his lips. There was a workroom nearby for him to cool down and I yanked him into following me. He staggered after me, oddly resistant, and when I pushed him into the room he dragged me in after him.

We collapsed to the floor of the shed. It smelled musty and earthy, deliciously natural and filthy all at once. He wasn't wasting time, pushing at my clothes while kissing every patch of my skin he could reach, and mostly fixated on my mouth and tongue.

I could sense his need pressing against me. He was already panting, wanting, and I felt my own ardor rise.

I was never one to turn down offers. Not when they came in pretty packaging like this.

I growled and forced him to wait while I shed the uniform. He crawled over my legs, licking and kissing his way up my thighs to my inner thighs. When he reached my erection he gave me one pleading look.

"Get to it," I ordered raspily.

His moist heat enveloped my cock, his tongue sliding inexpertly along the shaft and over the tip. I let my fingers twine into his hair and forced myself deeper into his mouth. He made a small choking sound and I eased off slightly, but then he continued to take me in as deep as he could, swallowing when he was clearly uncomfortable.

I think we have the makings of a masochist here, Aizen-sama.

'I know. We're watching.'

On hearing that I felt my lust rise abruptly. I could not see him nor sense him: he had hidden himself well from me, and even shielded his companion. With yet another growl I pulled Kira from my cock and plunged my tongue into his mouth, one hand gripping the back of his neck and the other freeing his straining erection from his hakama. As he whimpered at the contact I shifted our positions slightly.

"How do you want it, Kira?" I snarled. "How do you want to be touched?"

"Hard," he managed to gasp. "Like you own every inch of me."

I like the sound of that.

'As do I. Turn a little to your right, lover. The angle would me much better. That's right.' I could feel the pleasure coursing through Aizen-sama's mental tone. 'Now grasp both of you together, one of your hand, one of his. Lace your fingers together – that's right. And move.'

I moved my hips, pushing into Kira's, and he bucked forward into our grip with a soundless cry. Then he continued to jerk his hips forward while I nibbled and sucked my way down his chest, abusing his nipples with fingers and tongue and teeth, and Kira only threw his head back to allow easier access.

I ran my hands over his smooth, curved cheeks, gently parting it. The blond youth spread his legs instinctively, rocking his hips forward.

'No, don't take him yet,' my lover ordered. 'Not today, not in a shed.'

No fun, I pouted, but made Kira suck on my fingers one by one, sliding each digit in and out. The ravenous hunger in his wild-eyed gaze was almost satisfying. I added a small twist in my hold. He cried out and buried his face into my shoulder.

'He's left. I shall follow him. Don't, I repeat, don't take him. Do let him get off already – you've held him at the brink long enough.'

I locked Kira's mouth with my own, my tongue plundering the sweet wet depths and drinking in his cries as he jerked against my body. Out of the corner of my eye I caught sight of a corner of a captain's robe and a slightly more alluring view of a narrowed, lust-darkened eye at the crack in the door.

Do tell Hisagi I said hi. I bit down on Kira's lower lip, copper-sweet rushing my tongue as I came.

Aizen-sama chuckled mentally. 'I will.'