"Lord Aizen, have you already met her? It seems you really have forgotten a lot of things, Lord Aizen."
The Hogyoku spoke plaintively.
"Lord Aizen, that annoying person is called Kyoka Suigetsu. She's a really annoying person."
Hearing the Hogyoku's words, Sosuke couldn't help but freeze.
"Kyoka Suigetsu...? That name feels familiar."
"Why are you inside my body? Who are you, exactly?"
Sosuke asked in confusion.
"The Hogyoku is the Hogyoku. It has already become one with you, so of course it's inside your body, Lord Aizen."
The Hogyoku's answer gave Sosuke no useful information.
He stared sharply at the light in his chest and asked,
"Then why do you call me Lord Aizen? My name is Sosuke. I'm not some 'Lord Aizen' you're talking about."
"But you are Lord Aizen! You awakened the Hogyoku, and ever since it woke up, it has been following you, Lord Aizen."
The Hogyoku once again tested Sosuke's intelligence.
Sosuke rubbed his head and said helplessly,
"Fine. Can you tell me what you're planning to do inside my body? You should know I don't have anything you could possibly want."
"The Hogyoku wants to destroy the world with Lord Aizen and become the one and only god!"
"That's Lord Aizen's dream, after all... Oh no, the Hogyoku is going to sleep! Lord Aizen, don't forget to absorb the power of souls for the Hogyoku. And be sure to watch out for that Kyoka Suigetsu!"
As soon as the Hogyoku finished speaking, its light suddenly disappeared!
It was as if it had exhausted all its energy and plunged into darkness.
No matter how Sosuke called out to it, there was no response.
"Destroy the world...? How could something like that happen?"
Sosuke murmured to himself.
It seemed the Hogyoku was dangerous. If possible, he absolutely couldn't let it appear again!
And that Kyoka Suigetsu—what was going on with her?
How had they ended up inside his body?
Thinking about all this, Sosuke fell into a deep sleep.
In the darkness.
Sosuke looked around at the immense, weathered palace. It was as if he were standing amid ancient ruins.
Where is this?
Suddenly!
Several fires around him flared to life.
On the raised platform, a lone seat stood by itself.
The sudden turn of events made Sosuke look over at it tensely!
There, the girl in the floral kimono was reclining on the seat.
Unlike before, when she'd been expressionless, she now looked utterly seductive.
Her exquisite features were complemented by the vivid floral kimono, and her slender, snow-white legs peeked through its slit.
Reclining on the cold seat, she gazed at Sosuke with a captivating look in her eyes.
The girl parted her red lips.
"Aizen, long time no see."
Seeing the girl's sensual pose, even the composed Sosuke blushed slightly.
When he heard her voice, he couldn't help thinking how pleasant it sounded.
Still, he composed himself and spoke to her.
"You're Kyoka Suigetsu, right? Could you tell me where we are?"
"And who are you and the Hogyoku? Why are you inside my body?"
At Sosuke's questions, the girl's seductive expression suddenly stiffened. Her eyes narrowed, as though anger were building inside her.
Her figure swayed.
Suddenly, Sosuke saw that she had vanished from the stone seat.
As he stood there in surprise, her icy voice suddenly sounded beside him.
He turned to look.
The girl was now standing right in front of him, her kimono neat and proper.
She walked toward him one step at a time.
Then she stopped in front of him.
Looking at the girl's exquisite, beautiful face from such close range made Sosuke's heart beat faster.
As if she'd noticed something interesting, a flicker of delight appeared on the girl's otherwise cold face.
Slowly, she leaned closer to Sosuke.
"What are you doing?"
Sosuke asked warily.
But he didn't move away. Deep down, he seemed to believe she wouldn't hurt him.
She didn't answer Sosuke. Instead, she raised a slender, pale hand and gently caressed his face.
"Why did you choose to trust it back then? I'm the one who was your power, Aizen."
"But maybe this is for the best. Now, you belong only to me."
As she spoke, the girl gently cupped Sosuke's head and pressed her delicate red lips to his.
Stunned by the sudden kiss, Sosuke stared wide-eyed at the beautiful girl before him.
The kiss left him flustered. He didn't know how to react.
After a long moment, he reluctantly pushed her away.
"Who are you, exactly? Why are you doing this?"
At his words, the girl in the kimono only gave him a seductive smile.
"This feels wonderful. I've never experienced anything like it before, Aizen."
Then the girl approached him again and gently wrapped her petite body around Sosuke.
Darkness began to envelop the immense palace, but Sosuke didn't feel the cold, desolate darkness. It was as if the girl's embrace filled him with boundless warmth.
"I'm your power, the power deep within your heart, Sosuke. Don't trust anyone else. Only I—only I will stay by your side forever. No matter what happens, I'll be there to protect you."
Her murmured words echoed softly in Sosuke's ear, and he grew more and more drowsy.
Just before he fell asleep,
he thought he heard a few words.
"...Kyoka Suigetsu."
Then he sank into darkness.
The girl in the floral kimono walked alone through the immense palace, its walls weathered and desolate, its halls silent and cold.
She seemed to be the only splash of color in that bleak landscape.
Gently caressing the stone seat on the raised platform,
the girl's eyes filled with nostalgia.
"Aizen, will you regret choosing it instead of trusting me?"
"Perhaps not. How could you regret your own choice? But it doesn't matter. This time, I won't let you trust anyone else..."
"I'll do my best to protect you. The throne beneath the heavens that you desire—I'll clear every obstacle and make sure you can ascend it in safety."
With that, she brushed her slender, snow-white hand across the air.
The entire palace seemed to come alive, vitality showing everywhere. Its bleak, weathered atmosphere suddenly gave way to a scene bursting with life.
She stood quietly beside the seat, as if waiting for someone...
The alarm clock beside the bed rang.
Sosuke woke up, rubbing his groggy head.
As he sat up, something slipped off him. He stared at it, eyes wide!
A katana lay beside his right hand.
Its hilt was jade green, and its blade was smooth and bright, as if showing off its sharpness!
"What is this!? Where did it come from?"
Sosuke wrapped his hand around the katana.
The feeling that their hearts were connected left him deeply shaken!
This sword!
It had a life of its own!
The sky, you see,
has no color.
It has never deceived you.
It's your own eyes that have deceived you.
—Sosuke Aizen
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