Within the Land of Rain.
The sky seemed to forever maintain the same color, preserving its gray, gloomy tone.
Strands of light, as though veiled by a layer of haze, pierced through the clouds and shone upon the massive structure beside a cliff.
The mottled white building seemed like the most distinctive presence upon this vast plain, making its grandeur impossible to ignore.
At this moment, however, the pale building bathed in the gentle light maintained a solemn tranquility.
Within a great hall, smooth floor tiles faintly reflected the light and shadows. Dim candles burned quietly atop the enormous stone pillars on either side, their flames perfectly still.
At the deepest point of the hall, where the candlelight from both sides stretched to its end, a figure sat silently upon a cold stone chair. No one knew how long he had been sitting there.
His upper body leaned slightly forward, one hand lightly supporting his cheek.
A faint, intrigued smile rested upon his sharply defined face. His deep eyes gazed ahead, though it was unknown what had made him smile.
Just then.
Without any warning, a pair of fair, delicate hands appeared out of thin air beside him and gently grasped his sleeve.
Beside his stone chair stood an exquisite young girl in an elaborate kimono, appearing there at some unknown time.
Her fair face was as delicate as an angel's, her lips slightly rosy. Her large, beautiful eyes looked somewhat dejectedly at the man seated in the stone chair.
Her small hands lightly clutched his sleeve. Seemingly unable to bring herself to look directly at him, she turned her head slightly and spoke in a clear voice tinged with barely perceptible grievance.
"You haven't come to see me for so long... Aizen..."
Hearing her words, Aizen, seated upon the