A Conversation with Shūsuke Amagai

Liu Hao slowly raised his hands, palms facing outwards, making a clear, harmless gesture. "It seems you already know about my situation." His voice was calm, yet tinged with a hint of helplessness.

Shūsuke Amagai's Raika Zanpakuto was still pointed at Liu Hao, the flames wrapped around the blade swaying gently in the breeze of Hueco Mundo. "What do you want to say to me?!" His tone was tough, but a complex doubt was hidden deep in his eyes—this "traitor" had just saved his subordinate.

Liu Hao looked directly into Shūsuke Amagai's eyes and asked his first question, "I want to ask, is the loss of contact with the Expeditionary Force the result of your communication with Aizen?"

This question made Shūsuke Amagai frown. "No," he answered decisively, "Our loss of contact is simply due to a problem with the equipment."

"I see," Liu Hao said thoughtfully. "After making contact, did you request support?"

"No." Shūsuke Amagai's answer was brief and clear, then he changed the subject, "Also, I have some questions I want to ask, so I can't just let you ask me questions."

Liu Hao nodded slightly and gestured for him to enter. "Alright, Captain Amagai, is there anything you'd like to ask?"

Shūsuke Amagai's gaze was sharp as a knife. "Why did Soul Society suddenly send reinforcements? Don't tell me we requested them; we never requested them."

"But in fact, Soul Society did receive your request for assistance," Liu Hao's expression turned serious, "And specifically requested that the Fourth Division send someone capable of overseeing the Medical Corps to provide support."

"How is that possible?" Shūsuke Amagai's brows furrowed even more. "The Medical Corps suffered no losses whatsoever, so why would they request support from the Fourth Division?"

The conversation between the two had reached a point of obvious contradiction. Liu Hao keenly noticed this and continued to press, "So what kind of information did you receive about me?"

Shūsuke Amagai remained silent for a moment, seemingly weighing whether he should reveal this information. Finally, he spoke, "It was the Gotei 13 that sent a message saying you betrayed Soul Society. Originally, the Gotei 13 sent reinforcements because of our loss of contact, but you and a special Hollow attacked Captain Ichimaru."

He paused, observing Liu Hao's reaction. "However, you underestimated Captain Ichimaru's strength. That Hollow was killed by Captain Ichimaru, while you escaped. Because Captain Ichimaru was injured in your sneak attack, the Gotei 13 had to withdraw their support forces. However, after learning about our situation, the Gotei 13 said they would no longer send support forces."

After listening, Liu Hao sighed deeply, "What a lame excuse. It seems someone is tampering with the message."

"Considering you helped us just now, I'll give you a chance to explain your situation." Shūsuke Amagai's sword tip dipped slightly, a subtle signal of concession.

Liu Hao looked around. The night of Hueco Mundo enveloped the rocky valley, and the faint lights of the Expeditionary Force could be seen in the distance. "My situation is that Aizen wanted to eliminate me, which is why this support mission came about."

"Why would Captain Aizen want to get rid of you?" Shūsuke Amagai's voice was filled with obvious suspicion. In his memory, the Fifth Division Captain Sōsuke Aizen had always been a gentle and polite leader who was deeply loved by his subordinates.

"Well, it's a long story." Liu Hao looked up at the pale moon in Hueco Mundo. "All you need to know is that I'm unaffected by his Kyōka Suigetsu and have become someone who can stand in his way, so he wants to get rid of me."

"Captain Aizen's Kyōka Suigetsu isn't Water-Type Zanpakuto; it merely uses water vapor to confuse the opponent," Shūsuke Amagai retorted. "Anyone with even a little strength wouldn't be affected by such an ability, so why is it targeting you?!"

Liu Hao looked at Shūsuke Amagai, a hint of pity flashing in his eyes. "His Zanpakuto, Kyōka Suigetsu, has the ability of Complete Hypnosis, not Water-Type Zanpakuto. Anyone who has seen his Shikai will become a subject of hypnosis. In the future, no matter where he is, as long as he releases his Zanpakuto, those who have been hypnotized will once again become prisoners of Kyōka Suigetsu."

These words struck Shūsuke Amagai like a thunderbolt. He recalled witnessing Aizen's Shikai demonstrations at several Captains’ Meetings, when everyone assumed it was just a routine Zanpakuto ability demonstration. If Liu Hao's words were true...

"How can you expect me to believe you?!" A barely perceptible tremor tugged at Shūsuke Amagai's voice.

"I'm not asking you to believe these things," Liu Hao shook his head. "I came to see you about something else."

"What is it?"

"Something about yourself and your goals!!" Liu Hao's gaze sharpened, as if it could pierce through Shūsuke Amagai's heart.

Shūsuke Amagai's expression instantly turned serious. "You know my goal?!"

"I know, it's just killing the Captain-Commander!" Liu Hao's answer was casual and direct, as if he were talking about something perfectly ordinary.

Shūsuke Amagai's muscles tensed instantly, and the flames on his Raika Zanpakuto surged violently. "What, you're going to stop me?! But you're a wanted criminal in Soul Society now, and you still have the nerve to try and stop me?!"

"I'm here to tell you this, not to stop you," Liu Hao said with a hint of helplessness. "After all, I don't want you to end up committing suicide."

"Suicide! How could that be?" Shūsuke Amagai's voice was filled with incomprehension and anger. "I did it for revenge, why would I commit suicide?"

"Your father was indeed killed by Old Man Yama, that's undeniable," Liu Hao's voice was calm and firm, "But you don't know the reasons behind it. So what you need to do now is listen quietly as I explain this to you."

Shūsuke Amagai's breathing quickened. For years, avenging his father had been his driving force, the sole reason he became Soul Reaper Captain and gained his powers. Now, suddenly, someone was telling him that things might not be as simple as they seemed...

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. "Okay, go ahead, I'm listening."

"Your father was originally Old Man Yama's disciple." Liu Hao had just uttered a sentence when he was interrupted by Shūsuke Amagai.

"You're saying my father was a disciple of Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto?!" Shūsuke Amagai's voice was filled with shock.

"Yes, let me finish!" Liu Hao emphasized, his eyes revealing an undeniable seriousness.

Suppressing the turmoil within him, Shūsuke Amagai nodded with difficulty, "Okay, okay, I'll listen to you."

Liu Hao continued, his voice echoing deep through the valley. "Your father was originally Old Man Yama's disciple. Old Man Yama gave your father a mission—to investigate the Bakkōtō at the Kasumioji Clan. I think you should know about the Bakkōtō, since you have one on you."

Shūsuke Amagai subconsciously touched the Zanpakuto at his waist, a complex light flashing in his eyes.

"Afterwards, your father's identity was exposed, and the Kasumioji Clan used the Bakkōtō to control him. At that time, Old Man Yama wanted to save your father, but he was severely corrupted by the Bakkōtō, and his Reiryoku went berserk. In the end, Old Man Yama had no choice but to ruthlessly kill his own disciple, and because he had no direct evidence, he was unable to take action against the Kasumioji Clan."

Liu Hao paused, allowing this information time to settle in Shūsuke Amagai's mind. "However, the person in the Kasumioji Clan who controls the Bakkōtō is their family's old retainer, Kumoi Gyokaku. I don't know if the current family head is related, but the future family head's name, Ruri, shouldn't matter. If you want to seek revenge on Old Man Yama because of this, I think you've chosen the wrong target."

After saying this, Liu Hao stared quietly at Shūsuke Amagai, waiting for his reaction.

Shūsuke Amagai stood motionless, as if he had turned into a stone statue. His eyes were empty, as if all emotion had been drained away in an instant. After a long while, he slowly spoke, his voice hoarse. "Is all of this true?!"

"It's true," Liu Hao answered without hesitation, "You can confirm this with Yoruichi Shihōin and Jūshirō Ukitake."

Shūsuke Amagai closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. When he opened his eyes again, the flame in them had died down, replaced by a deep weariness and confusion. "I will," he finally said.

Liu Hao nodded, his gaze falling on the Zanpakuto at Shūsuke Amagai's waist. "Don't rely too much on that broken thing. Your own power is the most suitable for you, and only your own power can make you stronger."

"I know," Shūsuke Amagai with a wry smile, "But there are some lackeys of the Kasumioji Clan in the Expeditionary Force. Should we take this opportunity to get rid of them?!"

Liu Hao pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "Keep it. Use it as scrap in Hueco Mundo. When we get back to Soul Society, give the information to Old Man Yama let him handle it. So many years have passed, and we still haven't found any evidence. It's time he took a look."

"Heh... that's right, it's time to let that old man worry about it." A hint of bitterness lingered in Shūsuke Amagai's smile, then he straightened up, his tone becoming firm again. "Don't worry, I won't be corrupted by this thing."

Liu Hao looked at him, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes, but it quickly turned into helplessness. "You should learn from Aizen. He wanted to evolve to a higher level, so he created something to guide his own evolution. What about you? You use this kind of external object, which can't even help you become stronger. What's there to brag about?"

"Captain Aizen?" Shūsuke Amagai's expression turned complicated. "What happened to him?"

Liu Hao did not answer immediately, but walked to a rock and sat down, gesturing for Shūsuke Amagai to sit down as well. The atmosphere between the two had subtly changed, from hostility to some kind of strange alliance.

"Sōsuke Aizen," Liu Hao slowly uttered the name, "What he sought was to break down the boundaries between Soul Reaper and Hollows, to reach a higher level of life. To this end, he conducted extensive research, including creating Arrancars, researching the Hōgyoku, and even..."

Liu Hao paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully. "It might even involve the essence of the soul. The Kyōka Suigetsu is merely a small part of his plan, a tool to ensure he can control the situation."

Shūsuke Amagai sat opposite Liu Hao, his Raika Zanpakuto already sheathed. "Why didn't you tell Soul Society about this?"

"Who would believe that?" Liu Hao retorted. "An accusation of betraying Soul Reaper against a beloved Captain? Besides, Aizen's scheme has been going on for over a century. Countless people in the Gotei 13 have seen his Shikai, including most of the Captains."

"Then how did you become immune to the Kyōka Suigetsu?" Shūsuke Amagai pressed.

Liu Hao's lips curled slightly upward. "This is my secret. But I can tell you that I'm not the only one who can do it. It's just that the others either chose to remain silent, or... are no longer alive."

These words made the atmosphere in the valley heavy once more. The wind in Hueco Mundo whistled through the cracks in the rocks, as if mourning the lives that had vanished silently.

"What do you plan to do now?" Shūsuke Amagai asked. "Continue to flee Hueco Mundo?"

Liu Hao stood up and looked into the distance. "I need to find some answers, and I also need to prepare for the coming storm. Aizen's Plan will not stop, and when he truly takes action, the entire Soul Society, Hueco Mundo, and even the World of the Living will be engulfed in it."

"What storm?" Shūsuke Amagai also stood up.

"A storm about the essence of existence," Liu Hao's answer was somewhat cryptic, "When the boundary between Soul Reaper and Hollows is broken, when the Oken is created, when the gates of the Soul King Palace are opened... that is the moment the storm arrives."

Shūsuke Amagai was silent for a moment, then said, "I need evidence, evidence about my father."

"After returning to Soul Society, go find Jūshirō Ukitake," Liu Hao suggested. "He's one of the few who knows the whole truth. Also, be careful of Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tōsen; their relationship with Aizen is closer than you think."

Shūsuke Amagai nodded, memorizing this information. The nature of their conversation had completely changed, transforming from a hostile interrogation into an exchange of information.

"Where are you going next?" Shūsuke Amagai asked.

"Continue investigating some things in Hueco Mundo," Liu Hao replied. "Also, I need to ensure the safety of certain entities."

Shūsuke Amagai keenly noticed something. "That particular Hollow? The one Captain Ichimaru killed?"

Liu Hao did not answer directly, but his silence itself was an answer.

"It seems the rumors aren't entirely true," Shūsuke Amagai thoughtfully. "You saved us, and I believe you're not the kind of person who would betray Soul Society. But I can't completely trust your word."

"That's enough," Liu Hao smiled. "It's wise to remain vigilant. But remember, when Kyōka Suigetsu reappear, don't believe anything you see."

After speaking, Liu Hao pulled his hood back up, the black fabric obscuring his face. "We should go back; staying too long will arouse suspicion."

The two left the valley one after the other, heading towards the Expeditionary Force's camp. But this time, the distance between them was no longer that of pursuer and fugitive, but a more complex and subtle relationship.

Upon returning to the vicinity of the camp, Liu Hao stopped. "Let's stop here. You'll have to walk the rest of the way on your own."

"You're not coming with us?" Shūsuke Amagai, somewhat surprised.