Hideyori Matsunaga (♡ | SosuHide)

introduction

The flower seen in the mirror, and the moon reflected on the surface of the water. Unattainable, untouchable, a deception. On the surface, one sees an image of perfection, a relationship that is to be envied. They naturally gravitate towards the other, satellites sharing intersecting orbits. They reflect the beauty and light the other emits, amplifying it strong enough to blind the observer to their reality. The pair is out of reach, outshining the dull stars surrounding them, mirroring bright smiles.

But in the darkness, out of sight, they feed on each other's faults, thick as thieves. Feelings of superiority, isolation, and malicious intent come out to play. These, too, are magnified by the other's presence. They separate themselves from the weak, isolating themselves from everyone but the other. All alone now, safe and sound in their love's arms, they claw at each other and shatter the illusion of perfection, seeking momentary refuge from the skeletons in their closets. Searching for understanding, longing for even a drop of salvation for their sickness. There is no cure to be found however, and their illness merely festers and multiplies until they are consumed. In their night-time whispers, after they have been stripped bare of their false skin, they make sweet, terrifying promises and confessionals. A God and his devout faithful.

They've chained their souls together, bonded for an eternity in this life and every incarnation thereafter. For while they are alone in a world that does not understand them—a world that does not wish to understand—they are alone together.

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students

Sosuke Aizen doesn't believe in love at first sight. In fact, he doesn't believe in much at all, save for his own capabilities. In himself he believes in, but he's already beginning to find that the reality around him is often times skewed. People will say one thing but mean another. People will smile in his face but turn around to speak ill of him in hushed tones. People can be born with exceptional powers, but instead of being praised for it, they are the objects of envy. Hatred. Lack of understanding.

Sosuke Aizen doesn't believe in love at first sight, doesn't believe in love as a concept at all. Love requires trust, and trust was obsolete. One could wholeheartedly trust in a lie while rejecting the truth. Truth itself was something that could be constructed, varying from person to person. The victor can rewrite history, create the narrative that becomes accepted as the truth. And who is the victor in love? Love is a losing battle in which neither party wins. To give one's self up to another, to be vulnerable. To risk being weak in order to have a shot at being understood.

Sosuke Aizen doesn't believe in love at first sight, but even from a young age, he is able to scrutinize another and get a feel for their true self. No one can deceive him, even when hidden behind a false reflection. With just one look, he can surmise everything about a person's personality, their intentions, without even speaking to them. All of the dirty secrets one wishes to hide is laid bare before him.

When Sosuke Aizen first laid eyes on Hideyori Matsunaga Yamamoto, he wonders if the Soul King had a twisted sense of humor. First instructional day at the Shin'ō Academy and he's already caught his attention. For starters, there was the family name he introduced himself with: Yamamoto. The Captain Commander's son? He had heard rumors whilst eavesdropping, but he wasn't sure if this sweet little fairy with his soft alluring voice met his expectations. He had envisioned a stern-looking man with callouses all over, not a dainty flower with full lips, fluttering lashes, and vibrant strands of hair that bounce like a spring with every movement.

But he was not just a pretty face. That alone wouldn't suffice to draw his attention. No, it was something far more interesting than superficial beauty. Even at a distance, Sosuke can feel it, drinks in the foreboding presence. The stream of Spiritual Pressure leaking out from the untrained boy as he tried in a continuous, conscious effort to reel it in. It tasted bitter but also sickly sweet, luring him in further. Yes, he too appeared to be burdened by the same affliction—imbued with godly power—and had come up with a similar conclusion: to conceal it from the masses.

Then Hideyori looks away from the professor's desk, looks up into the auditorium's gallery, seemingly searching for something. No, someone. As his gaze sweeps over his fellow students, their eyes meet, and Sosuke's nails dig into the cover of the book before him. That dark look brewing behind Yamamoto's eyes... This couldn't be a coincidence. A shared blight, a shared understanding. This was the one. This boy also held others at a distance, lacked something vital in his heart. But then his gaze pans over, torn from Sosuke's grasp, and they lighten up with familiarity as they land on another student.

Hideyori smiles as he bounds up the steps to greet "Utsubayashi," with a degree of casual informality that makes Sosuke's skin crawl. Ryoma Utsubayashi rolls his eyes and pretends not to know him, but clears up the seat he had saved next to him. Opening up his notebook, Sosuke begins to sketch out the outline of a plan, pen straining in his grip.

Luckily for the both of them, Sosuke is a patient man. He's so patient in fact that he bides his time, observing from afar. He watches Hideyori as he takes notes, never once showing frustration or confusion. He watches how his lips curl in a smile as he teases the group of weaklings he has graced with his presence. He watches Hideyori perform various Kidō spells as a demonstration for the class, without requiring the usage of mantra. During Kendo practice, not a single student wishes to be paired with him, lest they suffer a swift, humiliating defeat, at the hands of a soul from the Rukongai no less. Hideyori outperforms in every single category, save for physical combat, but his excellence in every other endeavor more than makes up for it.

When Sosuke is paired with him for class activities, for these brief moments, Hideyori's eyes are trained solely on his. There is no way he couldn't be aware of what he was doing to him when he'd smile so softly at him. It was a bold, dangerous game he was playing, showing such cruel kindness. Sosuke's name on his lips was a blessing; a perfect fit. It had almost surprised him the first time Hideyori had called him by name, their first real conversation, proving that he was indeed paying attention to the other gifted student in his class. Sosuke was not invisible to him.

But once the class was done, it was back to Utsubayashi.

Ryoma Utsubayashi. Was it possible to have such a strong disdain for a total stranger? Utsubayashi, one of the sons of the Four Great Noble Houses. Handed everything on a silver platter, including Hideyori's undivided attention. As far as Sosuke could see, he had done nothing to deserve it. Mediocre at worst, above average at best. The boy thought of himself as a rival to the commoner's excellence, as though he stood even a modicum of a chance conquering him. He would treat Hideyori as though he were beneath him, a common and expected mannerism of the nobility. Made sure to berate the commoner in public view, so as to avoid suspicions. To avoid being caught sneaking kisses and holding hands with Yamamoto's boy.

Being part of a noble house is a curse just as much as it is a blessing. The nature of Ryoma's relationship with Hideyori would be a scandal after all, should it be found out. The Utsubayashi household is tied down by its rigid traditions and strict adherence to both societal law and societal norm. Better yet, Ryoma's family already disliked their son's new "friend," often berating him for being bested by an outsider from the Rukongai. For hanging around filth. It would be a shame if they were to somehow come across information that would ruin their reputation, if a little bird were to expose their son's obscenity. Sosuke was always fond of little birds. Little birds were beautiful when clipped and caged, made to sing for an eternity.

It was so, so easy to pull the strings. How could he not? Rumors spread in the right places so that the right loose-lipped noble ladies would catch wind. Nobility sharing concerned whispers during their high class functions. It was only a matter of time before Ryoma Utsubayashi no longer kept the seat next to him reserved. He'd ignore Hideyori, even mock him, and shove him away. Called him a dirty commoner, sneered at him with his friends. But Hideyori was persistent. This was not enough to push him away.

So, as predicted, Ryoma took drastic measures to drive the message home. Sosuke is at a safe distance, keeping his presence unknown with Bakudō #26. Kyokkō, to observe the two who had stayed long after class for extra training. Hideyori had followed Ryoma to the Dojo, hoping to find out the reason for the sudden change of behavior. The hapless soul is so distraught, it almost moves Sosuke to prevent what he knew would happen next. Almost. This was for Hideyori's own good. Weak friends are just weights that will break his legs, and Sosuke was merely removing these shackles.

So he does not intervene when Ryoma has his friends pin Hideyori down. He does not intervene when Ryoma calls him "just a pretty face," then proceeds to mar that pretty perfection. He does not intervene when a crescent moon is carved under Hideyori's left eye, reflected on the surface of the blood that began to pool. He does not intervene although his hand grips tightly on his own Asauchi. Thankfully, Ryoma decides that enough harm was done, then stands over the other, looking upon his work.

When he and his circle of friends leave, Sosuke finally reveals himself. Hideyori is right where Ryoma left him, laying on the cold wood and silently crying, bleeding. He hasn't even noticed him yet, the poor thing. He comes to a kneel beside Hideyori, and it is this movement that finally brings those pink lilies to him. The gaze that had drawn him in from day one is finally trained solely on him. It is narrowed in disbelief, as though he couldn't trust what he was seeing.

"Aizen-san?"

"I am here, Yamamoto." Everything's going to be alright now.

Sosuke is gentle, ever-so gentle with his fragile flower as he delicately props the other's head upon his lap. With a gossamer's touch, he follows along the edges of the wound, fingers staining with his blood. This would not be the last time his blood would be on his hands. With a sigh, his hand begins to glow as he uses Kaidō to try and reverse the damage done. He had expected a petal or two to be plucked, but Ryoma aimed to clip an entire bud. This was going to scar. He will not forget this.

He's pulled from his thoughts when Hideyori's trembling hand grabs the wrist hovering over his face. He had thought the other was shaking out of fear, but he should have known better. There is an anger in the bloodied countenance that spills forth. Hideyori rises, now sitting upright with his back turned to Sosuke. He fingers at the freshly sealed wound. "He betrayed me."

You shouldn't have put your trust in him. Sosuke nods, and Hideyori continues.

"It feels as though I am always offering my devotion to those undeserving." He punctuates this with a bitter sound, the hollow remains of a laugh. "Once they see the truth, they no longer wish to stay. No one understands."

Sosuke smiles to himself, resting his hands on his lap where Hideyori's warmth was quickly fading. "Then perhaps you should not be offering devotion, but receiving it instead."

Hideyori looks over his shoulder, stunned. Cute. He stumbles over his words. "I, sorry, I've said too much. I don't usually trouble others with these things."

Sosuke does not let Hideyori leave until he has bandaged up the wound with gauze from the medical office on campus. It's a relief not a soul remained there after hours to ask too many questions. When he offers to walk Hideyori home he accepts without hesitation, although he spends the trek home apologizing for the trouble. He hadn't expected that when Hideyori promised to make it up to him before disappearing behind the paper door, he had meant so in the form of a homemade lunch the following day. Then it was the next day, and the one after that. Sosuke found himself looking forward to each day at the academy knowing that Hideyori would be waiting with a spot and a meal saved for him, Utsubayashi long forgotten.

And thus began their "friendship."

reapers

The two geniuses of the academy were on the fast-track to graduation. It came as no shock to any of the student body that not only would the duo graduate early, but they already had divisions lined up vying for their admittance. Naturally, they had discussed their plans for graduation, but only in vague terms. Hideyori wished for perfection and greatness, to stand out in a positive manner, while Sosuke aimed to blend in while maintaining a respectable identity. Additionally, Hideyori had confided to him that he had an eye on the position of Captain Commander. That one day, he would succeed his father and direct Soul Society towards a better future. Oh, if he only knew what lay beyond in their shared future. It was a cute attempt, but Sosuke felt assured that their wills would essentially culminate into the same ending in spite of their deviating paths.

WIP

- Sosuke gets Hideyori a graduation gift: a deep purple sash which he ties around Hideyori's neck. Hideyori later uses this as the obi for his Shihakusho.

- Hideyori joins Squad 1 as a seated member, and Sosuke joins Squad 5 as a lieutenant. Ryoma also joins Squad 1, and Sosuke suggests that Hideyori joins him in the Fifth, which he declines.

- Ryoma causes problems.

- They "officially" become a couple, much to Captain Hirako's dismay.

- Turn Back the Pendulum: Hideyori stumbles upon Ryoma undergoing hollowfication. Instead of offering aid or executing him, he leaves him to suffer. His callous behavior towards the man confirms Sosuke's suspicions about who Hideyori truly is.

- Sosuke becomes Captain; shortly after, Hideyori and Sosuke tie the knot. Everything seems to be going perfectly.

- Sosuke is found dead by Hinamori during the Ryoka invasion; Hideyori is immediately suspicious of the circumstances. He does not believe the Ryoka are capable to defeat Captain Aizen.

- He hides his despair at his husband's death with ease, which rouses the attention of others. In truth, he is merely forcing himself to continue onwards to avoid ruining his reputation; he does not wish to be dismissed due to being "too close" to the case as he investigates the truth behind Sosuke's death.

- His investigation leads him to interrogating Momo where she is locked up, asking about Sosuke's behavior before his disappearance. Due to the nature of his relationship to her Captain, she mentions his suspicions concerning Hitsugaya, and Hideyori scoffs at the idea and leaves her to dwell on the clearly false words.

- Suspicious about Central 46's erratic behavior and how Sosuke had attempted to instill distrust in both Momo and Renji but with two different targets, he uses Kidō to sneak into C46 headquarters, and is shocked to see them all dead. Something in him compels him to leave the scene of the crime immediately, or he'd get blamed for it (it is the vague ghost memories of his past, concerning him getting framed for killing his father Gentaro Matsunaga). Sosuke observes him in secret, intrigued by how quickly Hideyori had discovered the truth, but also how he did not alert any other Shinigami about what he had stumbled upon.

- When Sosuke arrives to take the Hogyoku from Rukia, Hideyori arrives shortly before Komamura does and interrogates Sosuke on his actions. He does not appear surprised that he is alive, but his tone is cold. He does not care whether or not Sosuke betrayed Soul Society: he wishes to know if Sosuke betrayed him. "Tell me now, so I can end it here and now."

- Before he gets an answer from Sosuke, the rest of the Captains arrive, and Sosuke is restrained by Soi Fon and Yoruichi. Genryusai tells Hideyori to step back, but he does not answer, continuing to stare down his husband and demand the truth. Then he and the three conspirators are bathed in the light of a Negación and whisked away to Hueco Mundo.

criminals

- Hideyori is furious, accusing Sosuke of not giving him a choice, noting that Soul Society would believe that he had betrayed them all with him. This results in a fight, with Hideyori using the sash Sosuke had gifted him to tie around his eyes in order to avoid exposure to Kyoka Suigetsu's hypnotism.

godhood

Eater of Worlds.