Aizen Appears

After the two groups met up, they exchanged information.

Gin Ichimaru told them about the Hollows they'd encountered on the way and how Kawai had been parasitized, while the Ninth Division shared what they'd experienced.

"Two Shinigami also disappeared while we were investigating Flower Wither. But when we arrived at the scene, all that remained was their Shinigami Uniforms. I never imagined a Hollow was responsible."

The Ninth Division's Vice-Captain said with a frown.

At this point in time, the Ninth Division's Vice-Captain wasn't Shūhei yet. After all, Shūhei and Gaoyu had both graduated only a few years ago.

That short time had only been enough for Shūhei to become a seated officer.

The Ninth Division's Vice-Captain had the Soul Ability Drawing Slash. It let him unleash a powerful slash as he drew his sword. Though it was an offensive ability, it wasn't something one could acquire in a short time.

He wasn't at all familiar with this Ninth Division Vice-Captain.

As Gin Ichimaru spoke with him, Shūhei noticed Gaoyu too. He walked over and said, "Gaoyu, I didn't expect you to be involved in this mission too."

"Shūhei, stay close to me later."

"What do you mean?" Shūhei asked, taken aback.

Gaoyu told him what had happened earlier, when Kawai was parasitized.

Then he added, "My Zanpakuto's ability lets me see who's been parasitized, so you have to trust me. It'd be best if you stayed by my side."

After hearing Gaoyu out, Shūhei said in shock, "Is that true? The Hollow's ability is to parasitize a Shinigami's soul? What a vile ability!"

"Of course it's true."

Gaoyu looked at Toru Tanimoto and Kohei Tanaka.

The two of them nodded, and Toru Tanimoto said, "Gaoyu is right. I saw it with my own eyes. There's no doubt about it."

Shūhei grew anxious. He immediately said, "No, I have to warn the others!"

Gaoyu nodded. "It'd be best to get as many people together as possible and avoid splitting up."

Shūhei gave a quiet "Yeah," but then suddenly said, "Actually, there doesn't seem to be much to worry about. We've already uncovered the truth, so we can return to Seireitei and report in."

"That's what we thought too," Toru Tanimoto said. "We only came here to inform you. And, well, having more people around... makes us feel safer."

"Looks like you thought the same thing," Gin Ichimaru said as he walked over. "In that case, let's head back together."

Gaoyu and the others nodded, and then...

Gaoyu watched as the group split up and went their own ways.

No—in the strictest sense, they were still walking alongside him, at least outwardly. But in Gaoyu's mind, a screen like a radar had appeared.

On the screen, the others' individual points of light drifted away.

When only two points of light remained, Gaoyu sighed.

"Captain Aizen, could you stop playing these nasty little games?"

"Toru Tanimoto" stopped. Hearing Gaoyu, he smiled.

"So you really did..."

He turned around and regarded Gaoyu with interest. "How fascinating."

Looking at the conspicuous Soul Ability above the Toru Tanimoto before him—"Ascension to Godhood"—Gaoyu said helplessly, "If I hadn't called you out, where were you planning to take me?"

Toru Tanimoto drew his Zanpakuto. In an instant, the world around them shattered like a mirror, revealing its true appearance.

The "Toru Tanimoto" before him transformed into Sōsuke Aizen!

Aizen wore glasses. Even though his Kyoka Suigetsu had been exposed, he didn't seem alarmed. He only looked somewhat curious.

"The hypnosis of Kyoka Suigetsu is considered perfect. Even someone who knows they're under hypnosis is powerless to resist. So I'm curious: how did you realize I was here?"

"Well..." Gaoyu stopped in front of Aizen, raised a finger to his lips, and whispered,

"That's a secret."

"...Heh." Aizen laughed. His glasses seemed to catch the light as he said, "You really are no ordinary Shinigami."

"You just asked where I planned to take you, didn't you? You'll find out soon enough."

Aizen turned around again, then reached out and pulled. Space split open like a sliding door, revealing a vast expanse of darkness.

"Come with me."

Aizen said it lightly, then stepped inside.

Watching Aizen's disappearing figure, Gaoyu could only sigh and follow.

In an instant, the world around them changed.

The place they'd been before was a wasteland, but there had at least been some trees, and traces of life.

Now he stood in a vast white desert. The endless world was filled with pale spirit-particle sand, and a waning moon hung overhead, doing its best to cast a faint light.

Just breathing the air in this world made one feel a sense of emptiness and decay. It was a world steeped in despair, one that stirred pity in the heart without anyone's choosing.

Pity for the lives that existed in this world.

"Hueco Mundo..."

Gaoyu couldn't help saying, "Captain Aizen, you're not planning to feed me to some Hollow, are you?"

"Why would I?" Aizen stood right in front of Gaoyu.

"You're my loyal subordinate. That would be rather cruel."

Cruel?

You've done plenty of cruel things.

Gaoyu didn't believe a single punctuation mark of what Aizen said, so he changed the subject.

"If I'd exposed the identities of those two parasitized Shinigami back then, what would you have done?"

"Then you wouldn't have seen me," Aizen said calmly.

The game had been meant to leave Gaoyu isolated and helpless, but Gaoyu hadn't done anything at all.

I'd rather do nothing than make a mistake!

"What about the others?" Gaoyu asked, his expression unchanged.

"I'm afraid... they wouldn't have fared well."

"Even the reinforcements Seireitei sends later will die in Rukongai." Aizen turned around and looked at Gaoyu with indifferent eyes.

Gaoyu sighed again. He'd known Aizen would say that.

"Then could I ask Captain Aizen to spare them? At least let Tanaka and Hisagi live?"

"Why?"

"No reason." Gaoyu's lips curved upward slightly. "It's simply my amusement."

Aizen looked at Gaoyu thoughtfully, then said, "I thought you'd choose Tanimoto."

After all, Gaoyu was clearly closer to Toru Tanimoto.

But Gaoyu only said coolly, "Tanimoto has already become a boring person to me."

"Captain Aizen, would you pay much attention to someone who'd already become boring to you?"