Asano Kiyoshi smiled faintly as he looked at the gentle man before him. He looked at Aizen and slowly extended his hand. "Long time no see, Captain Aizen."
Aizen extended his own hand as well and clasped Asano Kiyoshi's. As a faint warmth passed between them, Asano Kiyoshi felt his heart abruptly tighten.
"Yes, it has been a long time, Chief Kido Master Asano Kiyoshi. The day you first joined the ranks still seems like yesterday. I never expected that in such a short time, you would become such an important link between Hueco Mundo and the Soul Society."
Hearing Aizen's praise, Asano Kiyoshi merely gave an awkward smile and said nothing.
Still, worried that the conversation might fall flat, Asano Kiyoshi quickly brought up another topic.
"I wonder what brought Captain Aizen here this time?"
Aizen smiled at that and said to Asano Kiyoshi, "There is no particular purpose. I merely happened upon this situation by chance. There is no need for you to be nervous, Chief Kido Master Asano Kiyoshi. I only came by to take a look. I was not ordered here to inspect you."
Aizen answered Asano Kiyoshi's question in a rather humorous and witty manner, but had he actually answered anything? No. He had merely repeated what Mayuri Kurotsuchi had said, only from his own perspective and in his own tone. He had not provided Asano Kiyoshi with any useful information at all.
Then, before Asano Kiyoshi could say anything, Aizen walked directly over to Halibel and Ulquiorra and said gently, "You two must be Arrancar. This is our first meeting. My name is Aizen Sosuke. It is an honor to make your acquaintance."
Faced with Aizen's smiling expression, Halibel and Ulquiorra, neither of whom had much experience dealing with others, were unsurprisingly led around