Three Stars

By Spunky0ne

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(Okay, since Bya/Ren/Tet was doing so well, I couldn't resist offering our beautifully wicked Aizen, not one but TWO lovely Kuchikis to conquer! I am also working on an Aizen/Gin/Bya that is not yet named, so that will be along soon! But don't worry, I will continue to update my other works in progress. I have quite a few near the end, so I'll try to finish those up! Take care and happy reading! Love, Spunky)

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Chapter 1: Dark Hand Grasping

"You seem more weary than usual, watashi no itoko," Byakuya said, setting his chin on top of Tetsuya's head where it rested on his shoulder, "Should we go back to the manor now?"

A gentle breeze blew across where they sat, leaned against each other, under the slender branches of a sakura tree, looking up at the night sky. It ruffled Tetsuya's wavy black hair, tickling Byakuya's cheek.

"I am fine," the younger man assured his cousin, "It was a busy day preparing the staff for the king's visit, but all is in order now. You can have confidence that the house security staff will be diligent in both your protection and the king's...though he certainly has his own protectors."

"He does," agreed Byakuya, "but your men know the manor and the area here, as well likely sources of disturbances. I am sure that his majesty's officers will rely on you to assist with that."

"Yes," agreed Tetsuya, stifling a yawn, "they have already sent couriers ahead...which explains my weariness. It has been almost non-stop for several days. I think I will sleep well after this visit is over."

"You and me both," Byakuya sighed.

The two went quiet for a time, watching the night sky with dreamy, hazed over eyes.

"Tetsuya, I wanted to...ask you something," Byakuya said, breaking the silence.

Tetsuya's blue eyes opened and peeked up at him through several unruly strands of silken hair.

"Hmmm?"

"The Saito clan leader, whom you know we have been in deliberations with for some time, has indicated a desire to settle our longstanding differences."

"That is good news."

"Yes, and in our latest discussions, he has indicated an interest in you. As you know, he is a young leader and he prefers a male partner. His clan is less concerned with matters of bloodline. He is a more gentle person than the prior leaders of that clan, and I think that he would try to make you happy. Would you consider such a union?"

A troubled look invaded Tetsuya's eyes, but he forced himself to think before answering.

"Byakuya-sama," he said finally, "You know that I will obey your every command. But if you want my honest answer, I must respectfully decline."

Byakuya tilted his head and gave the younger man the hint of a smile.

"Yet again?" he asked softly, "You have attracted the attention of more than a few lords and ladies as of late, Tetsuya. This despite the fact that many among the noble class still let themselves be distracted by the matter of you being half-noble and half-peasant. I have, of course, politely refused those I felt would not treat you honorably, but Saito Tama is a good man. And although you were not allowed full expression of your feelings for your Naoki during your years in Itamigiri, I know that you are not biased against relations with a man."

"No," agreed Tetsuya, "I am more anxious about having a relationship with a female, I think. There were so few of them in the prison...and I could never bear very well the way they were treated. It is too uncomfortable thinking of putting my hands on a woman that way."

"But you could accept a relationship with a man?"

"With the right person, I suppose," Tetsuya answered, a soft blush rising on his cheeks, "I know that it has been years, and perhaps I cling too tightly to what I lost when Naoki perished. But...I do not feel ready just yet...not even for so well respected and kind a man as Saito Tama."

Byakuya considered his words for several long minutes. He studied his cousin's downcast eyes and lightly flushed cheeks, wondering as he had been for some time.

Could it be that...?

"Tetsuya," he went on, "I would like you to answer me honestly again."

"Yes, Byakuya-sama?"

He pulled away slightly and turned so that they were facing each other.

"Watashi no itoko, are you sure that you do not focus too much of your heart on your commitment to my safety? I know that you take my protection very seriously, but...truly, you must not do so to the point that you do not find your own happiness."

Tetsuya's eyes closed.

"I am happy," he said quietly, "I am happy here, with you. I do not need anyone else to complete me. I would be happy remaining here and protecting you for the rest of my life."

There it is again...just that small hint in his words, and the way he does not meet my eyes when he says it. I have suspected for some time, but...such a thing would be difficult if we indulged in it. As much as I love my cousin, I do not want to undo all of the progress we have made on behalf of the half-bloods, by angering the elders now. Although he would be acceptable because his body could be made to bear a child, many of the elders would frown on me becoming involved with one of 'lesser' blood...breaking the rules, yet again, and after I had given my promise to follow them.

Tetsuya...if only...

"I know you would," Byakuya said affectionately, "So...you would perhaps consider a man of more moderate status who might be willing to reside here...so that you could continue to content yourself, protecting me?"

"I...don't know," the younger man said uncertainly, "But I will consider it if it will please Byakuya-sama."

"Very well," said Byakuya, looking amused, "Then, I will let Saito Tama down gently."

"I hope it does not cause trouble," said Tetsuya, moving with Byakuya as he stood.

He whistled softly and a tall black stallion with sapphire eyes like Tetsuya's own, stepped out of the trees near them and stood quietly as they mounted. They followed the trail through the trees, back in the direction of the manor.

"It will not cause trouble," the clan leader assured his cousin, "although, I know he will be disappointed. He was very complimentary of you."

"Are you disappointed in me?" Tetsuya asked suddenly, "I will accept his proposal if it is what you wish. And I am sure I won't be unhappy with him. I would make every effort to satisfy him."

"I know that you would, Tetsuya," Byakuya said, as the stallion passed through the back gates and Byakuya reached back to pull it closed behind them, "But my concern is not so much with you making him content as with you finding contentment with him...or with someone else. You care for me. I am only showing that I care for you as well."

"I understand," replied Tetsuya, sliding down off of the stallion's back, then offering Byakuya his hand.

Byakuya dismounted and patted the stallion on the neck as Tetsuya offered his mount a horse cube.

"Off with you now, Arashi," the younger man said, nodding, "And get some rest. We will be busy tomorrow."

"You should take your own advice, Cousin," Byakuya admonished him gently, "Good night."

"Sleep well, Byakuya-sama. Pleasant dreams."

They started towards the wooden walkway that ran along the main wing, where the bedrooms were located, but stopped, staring as two dark figures appeared in front of them...one a tall, slender man with black hair and almond shaped green eyes, and the other cloaked and hooded so that they couldn't make out his features.

Noting instantly the fact that the lights in the area were turned down and the men were unescorted and near the leader's bedroom, Tetsuya summoned his weapon and shouted instantly for the house guards, as he took up a position in front of Byakuya and at the same time, mentally recalled Arashi to him.

"They cannot hear you," The green-eyed man told them in a calm, even tone, "They cannot see you, Kuchiki Tetsuya."

"What are doing here? What do you want?" Byakuya asked, his own weapon in his hand and ready.

"You shall see," the green-eyed man answered ominously.

Tetsuya and Byakuya felt an odd sensation sweep through their bodies and found themselves frozen in place as the cloaked person extended a sticklike hand and held up an odd black triangular talisman and hissed out a sharp command.

"Torimono (capture), Sanhoshi!"

The clan leader and his cousin loosed surprised cries as odd golden light flared from within the black talisman and wrapped itself tightly around them. Both felt a harsh tingling all over, then a painful pulling sensation. They watched in horror as the gardens and manor disappeared, and they were sucked into an impenetrable blackness. They crashed down together onto hard ground, crying out in dismay and lapsing almost instantly into unconsciousness, leaving the green-eyed man and the bearer of the talisman alone in the quiet garden.

They looked up as Tetsuya's stallion leapt over the back gate and raced towards them. The green-eyed man smiled.

"Kudakero (shatter)," he breathed softly.

Arashi slid to a stop, blinking as the image before him shimmered, and the man that had seemed a stranger suddenly took on Tetsuya's form.

"My apologies," he said to the stallion, "but something has come up and you must carry Byakuya-sama and me to Central 46 at once."

The stallion gave him a confused look and sniffed him questioningly, but stood quietly as the two men mounted him. He turned out of the gardens and carried them past the unseeing guards at the front gates.

"You promise now that my master will not be harmed?" said the green-eyed man, "You did agree that in exchange for my cooperation, that you would..."

"I agreed to keep you alive and to release you and your master once they have completed the task. Yes."

"And you are sure this will rid my master's body of the hougyoku?"

"Yes," said the cloaked man, "The ritual will draw out the hougyoku and use its power. When that is done, Aizen Sousuke will be freed from it...and I will allow the two of you to walk away unharmed."

"What will you do with the others?"

"We will have to kill the 'noble heart' after the ritual to cause the 'pure soul' to hollowfy. But the 'dark soul' can be released unharmed, as was our agreement."

The green-eyed man was quiet for a moment.

"Thank you," he whispered finally.

"You are welcome," said the cloaked man, "Kyouka Suigetsu. Though I find it a distinct curiosity that even after he betrayed and abandoned you, you still wish to act on his behalf."

"I do not wish to die, nor to become a hollow, myself," explained the zanpakutou spirit."

"It is not so bad as you think," said the cloaked man, "But, as you will. I will keep to our agreement."

"Again, I am grateful."

The two rode on through the dark, empty streets, and into the heavily guarded area around the Central 46 grounds, shrouded in Kyouka Suigetsu's illusions. They dismounted and left Arashi waiting outside as the manifested zanpakutou spirit quickly hypnotized the guards and made the two of them appear as councilors.

"Go on in, sirs," the lead guard said, waving them through.

They walked in the entrance and passed through the darkened halls until they came to the high councilor's office. Okanishi Hideo looked up at them and nodded.

"You...completed your task?" he asked softly.

"Yes," replied Kyouka Suigetsu, "We only need to collect my master and we will be ready."

"Come then," said the high councilor, standing, "We will be on our way."

They left his office and proceeded down to the beginning of the prison levels.

"Did they give you any trouble?" Hideo asked.

"No," said the cloaked man, "Everything went as planned."

"And the shrine is ready?"

"Yes. It is prepared for the ritual, and well guarded."

"And to my knowledge, no hint of this has reached the Gotei 13. We should have no trouble."

They continued on, with Kyouka Suigetsu's power shielding them as they passed through the levels of the prison, down to Muken, until they stood before Aizen Sousuke's cell door. The guard opened the door and stood back, completely oblivious as they entered Aizen's cell and calmly released him from his bonds.

"Kyouka Suigetsu," said the former taichou, looking surprised, "I thought that..."

"You thought that I was dead," the manifested spirit said quietly, "but you were mistaken. I was near death. However, I was assisted by someone in regaining my strength, and I have convinced him to free you if you but assist him with one task."

"I see," said Aizen, "I know the high councilor, of course, but who is this other?"

Kyouka Suigetsu glanced past Hideo to the cloaked figure.

"I am Kuromiya, regent of Hueco Mundo."

"Ah," said Aizen, realization rising in his eyes, "I imagine that I do not have to ask you what task you wish done...though I must congratulate you on being able to corrupt Central 46's noble leader..."

Hideo smiled as Kyouka Suigetsu's illusion fell away, revealing that he was a hollow.

"He was difficult at first," said Kuromiya, "but we have opened his eyes to our vision of the new worlds."

"Very enlightening," Hideo said, nodding.

"And what is my role in your plans?" Aizen asked.

"You will see," said Kuromiya, raising the talisman.

Aizen's eyes found the relic, then widened.

"Kyouka Suigetsu," he breathed, "Are you mad? This..."

"I was dying," explained the zanpakutou, and Kuromiya-sama saved my life and sustained me. And he promised me that once this is done, we will be free. And...this is partly what you wanted, ne? The king will die."

"But a hollow king will be born," objected Aizen, "Not quite what I had in mind."

"No," said Kuromiya, his lips curling into a cruel smile, "I am afraid not."

Aizen inhaled sharply as the hollow regent gave the command and golden light enveloped Kyouka Suigetsu and him, wrapping around them and dragging them into the darkness. The high councilor and the hollow regent watched as they disappeared, then Kuromiya opened a garganta.

"Take care of things here," the regent said to the high councilor, "As soon as you sense it, begin the disruptions. I want no effective resistance. I do not want the Gotei 13 to be able to mount any kind of offensive during the gestation."

"Will you be keeping him in Hueco Mundo, then?" asked Hideo.

"Yes...within the shrine."

"But what if the king sends royal guard to retrieve him?"

"He will already be hollowfied by then. It will be too late for them to alter his fate," Kuromiya assured the other, "We will not need to hide him once he is turned."

"But they might decide to kill him, no?"

"And risk the end of our worlds? I think not. They will allow the scion to be born and then we will have dominance over the three worlds. We will make war on the king and kill him even before his time runs out."

"I will be waiting for that," Hideo said, bowing, "Good fortune to you, Kuromiya-sama."

"Thank you," said the regent, "Things will be tense as we cannot hide the nobles' disappearances, even with Kyouka Suigetsu's powers, but I am confident you will help to distract them from guessing why they were taken."

"I will," said the high councilor, watching quietly as Kuromiya stepped into the underground cavern and closed the doorway behind him.

He turned out of Aizen's cell, smiling at the illusion of Aizen Sousuke still bound within.

"Thank goodness we won't have to explain his disappearance," he chuckled, "I think I would lose my job..."