"Sōsuke, brought you dinner."
Kensei, who had been dragged by Yoruichi to the Shihōin residence and made to play chef once more, placed the thermally insulated bento box on the table. If not for Yoruichi being a beautiful girl, how could Kensei, a Master Chef, cook so easily?
They say heroes find it hard to pass through the beauty gate. The ancients did not deceive us.
Even after eating and drinking his fill, Kensei still remembered his good buddy Aizen. He originally planned to bring back some leftovers to casually feed his friend, but seeing the state of the dinner plates, he still ended up cooking tofu, which Aizen loved. Such a touching friendship.
The slight joy Aizen felt at Kensei bringing him dinner vanished without a trace the moment he saw the Shihōin family crest on the bento box. However, seeing the tofu feast inside, he still smiled. At least Kensei knew what he liked to eat.
Kensei not only knew Aizen liked tofu but also knew he hated eggs. So, he deliberately made tofu with egg coating, curious to see Aizen's reaction. Watching Aizen's conflicted expression, Kensei's mood, previously gloomy due to Old Man Yama, immediately brightened.
"You're injured?"
While savoring the delicious tofu, Aizen noticed the bandage on Kensei's chest, his brow unconsciously furrowing. He set down his bowl and chopsticks and moved closer to inspect the wound.
"I've recently learned Kaidō. I can treat it for you. Tell me in detail how you got this injury."
Placing his hand over the bandage on Kensei's chest, Aizen unconsciously hardened his tone.
"Sōsuke, you have no idea how dangerous it was today. If not for my extraordinary talent, you might not have seen me again."
This was purely Kensei exaggerating. When he fought Kishita Hanta, both Kuchiki Kōga and Yoruichi were watching nearby. There was no real chance of anything happening to him.
"They say great epiphanies come at the brink of life and death. Just as that old traitor Kishita was about to take my head, I felt myself merging with heaven and earth, comprehending a move—Shunkō—instantly turning the tables and snatching victory from defeat."
"They say, 'If I hear the Way in the morning, I can die content in the evening.' That old traitor Kishita was probably happy to die by this move of mine. Unfortunately, the Soul Society is too rigid, not allowing the execution of those with third-grade Reiatsu or above."
Kensei gestured animatedly, vividly describing his epic battle with Kishita to Aizen. Getting carried away by the end, he slapped his thigh with great regret.
"And that Old Man Yama! I performed such a great service, formally requesting he appoint me as a Captain, but he refused!"
As if remembering Old Man Yama's face when ordering him to reflect on his actions, Kensei pulled Aizen into a one-armed hug, looking at him with determined eyes.
"I think we should just stop being these damn Soul Reapers. Let's raise the banner of rebellion and seize Old Man Yama's position! Once we succeed, I'll be Captain-Commander, and your wealth and honors, Sōsuke, will be plentiful!"
Turning his head to avoid Kensei's overly enthusiastic gaze, Aizen didn't take Kensei's nonsense to heart. Kensei was just throwing a tantrum with the Captain-Commander. Anyone who believed him would be a fool. Even if Kensei really became Captain-Commander, he'd probably be a hands-off boss, dumping all the work on him.
But rebels... It seemed tonight would be busy. There were quite a few experimental subjects to collect.
Aizen resumed eating his dinner, silently calculating his experiments.
"Sōsuke, do you want to learn my Shunkō? It's very simple."
Just from Kensei's description, one could imagine the power of this technique. After a brief thought, Aizen shook his head, rejecting the tempting offer, and advised Kensei: "You'd better not teach this move to others casually. If possible, you should also mention it to that Shihōin Yoruichi—aside from the Stealth Force, don't let anyone else know."
"But Yoruichi already knows the principle of Shunkō. Why does she need to ask me about teaching others?"
Kensei scratched his head, confused.
"Heh, don't worry. She will definitely ask for your opinion."
Aizen sneered coldly. The psychology of a wildcat like her isn't hard to guess.
Kensei didn't understand where Aizen's confidence came from, but exhausted from the day, he no longer wanted to think about these messy things. After a simple wash, he collapsed onto his bed and fell asleep.
Aizen sat by Kensei's bedside. With a soft sigh of resignation, he dispelled the disguise covering his body, revealing his proud figure. Moonlight filtered through the window screen, illuminating Kensei's radiant face. Aizen reached out, playing with Kensei's hair, wondering if he should use Kyōka Suigetsu to alter how others perceived Kensei's appearance.
But this was just a passing thought. What was attractive was Kensei's personal charm, something he couldn't change. Mischievously pinching Kensei's nose, Aizen watched as Kensei, struggling to breathe, let out soft grunts. A mischievous, triumphant smile tugged at Aizen's lips.
Come to think of it, Kensei still didn't know his true appearance. He wondered what expression Kensei would have when he found out later.
Standing up again, Aizen gave the sleeping Kensei a lingering look. Reapplying the disguise to return to the familiar appearance Kensei knew, he walked out. There were many souls in the Rukongai waiting for him. He couldn't waste any more time.
In a remote forest, a group of rebels was clashing with Special Forces Soul Reapers. Rebels from the Rukongai didn't care about day or night; they just wanted to kill more Soul Reapers to earn rewards from their powerful backers.
"Good evening, everyone. Might I trouble you all to do me a small favor?"
On the chaotic battlefield filled with the impacts of various Kidō and the clashing of Zanpakutō, a gentle voice simultaneously reached the ears of both groups. This anomaly made both sides wary, temporarily ceasing hostilities and pointing their blades at the figure that had suddenly appeared nearby.
"Who are you?"
Many tried to make out the features of this uninvited guest, but a layer of Kidō distorting light enveloped the figure, revealing only a humanoid shape surrounded by brightness.
"Hehe, I merely wish to show you all something."
With that, the luminous figure raised the Zanpakutō in hand, pointing the tip downwards, and murmured softly, "Shatter, Kyōka Suigetsu." The people who had been warily watching Aizen only heard a faint sound of shattering glass, and then... nothing seemed to happen. Annoyance at their earlier wariness welled up.
The rebels began attacking the figure they perceived as Aizen. However, from Aizen's perspective, this group was simply slaughtering each other. There were quite a few passable experimental subjects among the rebels. As for the Special Forces...
Glancing at the Special Forces members standing dazedly in place, Aizen thought for a moment and decided to let them go. They were already captives of Kyōka Suigetsu and posed no threat. Using special containers, he collected the bodies of those with passable Reiatsu grades and left the scene.
As Aizen departed, the Special Forces members, freed from the hypnosis, looked at the not-yet-dried blood on the ground and the rebel corpses Aizen hadn't taken. A wave of relief washed over them at having survived. Thank goodness that mysterious person didn't target us, or we'd all be dead today.
After transporting the bodies to his secret base near Rukongai's West 80th District for storage, Aizen stared somewhat distractedly at the data jumping on the instrument panel.
Given his cautious nature, he shouldn't have left survivors just now. But why...
Kensei's sleeping face seemed to appear before his eyes again. Aizen rubbed his thumb and forefinger together, as if recalling the feel of Kensei's nose.
Perhaps it's because I don't want to touch Kensei with hands stained with sin...
Aizen quickly shook his head, dispelling the thought, and immersed himself in his experiment.
"Tsk. It's all that guy's fault."
A muttered complaint was soon swallowed by the hum of the machinery. Aside from the corpses stored within the base, no one could glimpse the thoughts in Aizen's heart.