"Kurotsuchi Mayuri."
Naturally, Urahara Kisuke had heard this name before.
Even when he was in hiding, he had often observed the Shinigami who personally brought Aiyan out of the Maggot's Nest and appointed him as the Lieutenant of the Fifth Division.
However, when the name Kurotsuchi Mayuri came from Aiyan's mouth, his heart suddenly skipped a beat. He immediately turned to look at Yadōmaru Lisa, Muguruma Kensei, and the others who were controlled by Onmitsukido and had become prisoners. His pupils gradually contracted until they were the size of pinpoints.
Before, he had always felt there was something he had overlooked.
At this moment, he finally understood.
"This is your purpose, Aiyan."
"Knowing that I am just a spiritual replica with all the abilities of Urahara Kisuke, you still chose to put on such a show with me. It turns out that your purpose was never me from the start.
"It was Muguruma Kensei, Aikawa Love, Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō, Yadōmaru Lisa, Tsukabishi Tessai, Hachigen Ushōda, and Kuna Mashiro.
"Just like when you and your brother took away Hirako Shinji's position as Captain of the Fifth Division, eliminating three captains, two Lieutenants, the Chief Kidō Officer, and the Deputy Chief Kidō Officer all at once — then placing your own people into their positions. These captains and Lieutenants, after losing everything, will be grateful to you and your brother."
Urahara Kisuke's whole body trembled, as if struck by lightning, his face full of shock.
"You seem to have left two out," Aiyan said with a smile under the framed glasses after taking in Kisuke's expression.
"Captain Kirio."
"Lieutenant Shutara."
Urahara Kisuke clasped his fingers tightly and whispered.
Those were the only people he trusted, the ones to whom he had entrusted his body and temporary Gigai technology without reservation.
But after this battle, not only would they voluntarily give up their positions as Captain and Lieutenant of the 12th Division, but their souls and memories would also be altered — completely falling into Aiyan's hands and becoming the opponent's playthings.
"As for me, just like Kōga and Hirako Shinji — whether alive or dead — in the eyes of you brothers, my only role is to bear everything."
"All the infamy and sin belong to me, Urahara Kisuke. All the flowers and applause belong to you, Aiyan, and Aizen."
"The Kuchiki family Hollow incident, the Tsunayashiro clan massacre, the attack on the Great Spirit Book Gallery, and the battle at the Execution Grounds — everything ends today. This string of crimes is mine alone."
"The participants in these incidents will be grateful to you, but they will hate me to the core. Whether I am a spiritual replica or my real body doesn't matter. Maybe, to you, the living me is worth more than the dead me!"
Urahara Kisuke collapsed onto the ground.
He had originally thought that he wouldn't have to die in his real body — that he could simply send in the spiritual body carrying all his abilities to face the Sōsuke brothers. Win or lose, there would be no real loss, and he could even gauge the enemy's strength.
The result?
First, he was knocked down by Aiyan, who hadn't even used his Reiatsu or Zanpakutō.
Then, he was humiliated by Aizen's Kyōka Suigetsu.
If he lived, he would bear everyone's scorn and hatred, losing all his friends and allies.
If he died, his name would be nailed into Soul Society's history as a sinner.
"That's why we thanked you more than once…"
"The meaning of those words," Aizen said with a faint smile, "you should understand now."
Aiyan and Aizen exchanged a glance and smiled.
Yes. From beginning to end, they didn't care whether Urahara Kisuke was alive or dead, whether he was a spiritual replica or his true body.
His only purpose was to take on all the hatred and to amuse them.
Just as he himself had said:
The infamy and guilt belong to him. The flowers and applause belong to them.
Without someone to bear everything and draw all the hatred, how could they appear so untouchable?
At this moment, the Visoreds had abandoned their captain and Lieutenant seats, yet felt grateful to the two of them.
Hikifune Kirio and Shutara Senjumaru were equally grateful, rushing off to the Royal Guard as pawns.
With Urahara Kisuke's unwilling help, all of this was achieved — even the final step of manipulating Shihōin Yoruichi had been completed.
Of course, after this battle, Aiyan's standing in the eyes of the captains and Lieutenants of the Gotei 13 had risen to equal that of Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, rather than being a mere 'second Yamamoto.'
"Then it's time for me to make my exit," Urahara Kisuke said, staring at Aiyan. His words were framed as a question, but his tone was filled with certainty.
"You choose."
"Although you are just a spiritual replica, I will give you this honor."
"Which blade should bring down the curtain?"
Aiyan drew his Zanpakutō for the first time.
Even when facing the siege of captains such as Muguruma Kensei and Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō, he had not drawn it.
Now, facing Urahara Kisuke — even if it was only his replica — he chose to draw it.
Just as he had said, this was an honor only for Urahara Kisuke.
"The strongest in light and dark."
"The strongest in illusion."
"Either one is enough to see you off."
Aizen drew Kyōka Suigetsu.
"Let the Kōfūin burn bright!"
"Kyōka Suigetsu is too plain and simple," Aiyan said. "For a funeral, it's better to make it grand."
Urahara Kisuke looked at the Zanpakutō in the brothers' hands and laughed.
Before the battle at the Execution Grounds, he had thought that even if he lost, it would only be the loss of a replica. It was no big deal — he could always start over.
But now, even knowing it was only the replica in front of them, he felt as if it was his true body that was about to be destroyed.
Clang.
Aizen sheathed Kyōka Suigetsu, not angered by Kisuke's words. Instead, amusement flickered deep in his eyes behind the glasses.
"A grand funeral?"
"As you wish."
Aiyan's mind sparked with an idea. He pointed the tip of his Zanpakutō at Kisuke, and blue and purple-black Reiatsu particles rose together, spiraling into a sphere.
"Bijūdama?" Kisuke thought, shocked at what he saw.
When the blue-purple sphere formed, it didn't stop there. Golden light erupted from Aiyan's Zanpakutō, flowing like dragons into the Bijūdama.
With the infusion of gold, a nebula-like golden layer formed around the sphere, making it resemble a comet radiating Reiatsu that seemed to split space itself.
"Shōmei no Shita combined with the Bijūdama… What a Kidō achievement."
"You actually fused your Zanpakutō's Shikai with Kidō — and succeeded." Kisuke's eyes widened in disbelief.
"This is a farewell gift. Like it?"
Aiyan's eyes glimmered with amusement as he named it:
"Hadō · Laser Bijūdama."
...
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