Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or Star Wars, they belong to their respective creators and/or copyright owners. I make no money from this story. It is not for sale or rent.

Prologue: Betrayal

=DA=

Fifth Division Barracks

Soul Society

Ichimaru Gin was a patient man, even though there was perhaps one single person in all of Soul Society who might ever believe in such a preposterous idea. He made sure of that after all; he spent more than a century ensuring that everyone would see him as precisely wanted them to see.

In that, Gin succeeded beyond his wildest dreams, otherwise he wouldn't be here, now. For nearly a decade his "Master" had been suffering from nightmares, something that couldn't happen to a more deserving man. If Gin believed in fate, he would have called it karma, especially as of late, when they came closer and closer to showing their true colours… and Aizen's condition worsened. There were times he daydreamed, or at least it appeared so. For months now, Gin bit his time, observed Aizen and wondered if this was some elaborate trick or if he would actually get an opening long before he dared believe it possible.

Then it happened in front of his eyes. Their plan was in motion, Rukia Kuchiki was in custody awaiting her execution, courtesy to some faked orders, a group of Ryoka were busy invading Soul Society led by Aizen's pet project, and most importantly, Sosuke himself just faked his death, leaving his body on display for all to see. Now it was only a matter of time before someone stumbled upon the fake corpse and the next stage of the performance could begin.

There was just a little snag in that plan. While Gin himself was nearby, concealing his presence in order to play his part, he felt Aizen's Reiatsu spike and fluctuate from the direction of the man's office in the Fifth Division Barracks. That certainly wasn't part of the plan. Gin looked at the fake corpse, then his gaze snapped towards the nearby building where Aizen was busy leaking Reiatsu.

Was this a test? Perhaps a trap to see if Gin and Tousen were really loyal? It made sense, yet at the same time, no it didn't. They were almost ready to leave Soul Society behind for good, because with every passing day the odds of something going wrong increased exponentially. For all his power, Aizen couldn't keep everyone under his illusions indefinitely and sooner or later that would be required if they were to remain.

Then again, this was Aizen, and the damned man loved his mind games. The only thing Gin was sure of is that he was running out of time. He could already sense people stirring, Reiatsu spiking and heading this way. Very soon, someone would stumble upon the "corpse" and unless Aizen cut this nonsense off, they would be keenly aware that something was wrong beyond the obvious.

Gin cursed and flash-stepped in front of the door leading into Aizen's office. Said door was ajar and he could see the man himself leaning against his desk, looking like a right mess. Aizen was feverish, used one trembling hand to keep himself upright while the other one gripped the side of his face. His glasses laid discarded on the otherwise pristine desk, but that was a mere afterthought. Aizen was shaking, sweat covered his hands and fake, as if he was burning from inside. Gin couldn't help it in that moment even if a part of him screamed that this had to be a trap, because really, what else made sense? He grinned like the snake he was and took a careful step inside.

"Captain Aizen?" Gin asked as if he had no care in the world.

Sosuke didn't answer. He simply continued to shake, lost in his own world… if this was Aizen himself instead of another illusion. This right here? It was too convenient, too easy to be anything but a trap. With that realization, Gin relaxed. Besides, it wasn't like he was crazy to try and attack Aizen of all people, even if he really was dead to the outside world right now. He knew that he would have one single chance to do it right, and in order to be sure of success, two conditions needed to be fulfilled. First, Gin needed to have an excellent reason to be in Bankai while in Aizen's presence, and second, he needed and opening, a distraction, because anything less would mean certain death… if he was lucky.

Nevertheless, this simply wasn't right… Aizen continued to release Reiatsu like a particularly inept or disturbed academy student, while more and more signatures flared up around them until suddenly a scream echoed outside and Gin Flash Stepped away, bidding his time.

=DA=

Hinamori tore her way out of her bed the moment she sensed her Captain's pulsating Reiatsu. She could practically feel his distress growing with every pulse of energy passing through the building and ran out only pausing for an instant to pick up her Zanpakuto. Within moments she was in the courtyard, holding Tobiume's hilt in a death grip. She looked wildly enough, trying to pinpoint the origin of Aizen's Reiatsu when her eyes caught something that her mind initially refused to comprehend. She blinked in confusion at what she saw, while her sight and the reassuring if distressed Reiatsu of her Captain send clashing messages to her mind.

There he was, in front of her… broken, bleeding, hanging from a pillar with a sword stabbed in his chest. Yet, at the same time, his Reiatsu practically drowned the courtyard, so he couldn't be really dead, could he?

Hinamori screamed, awakening everyone who hadn't been awoken by Aizen's Reiatsu. Soon, over a hundred Shinigami gathered in the courtyard and stared at the gruesome sight in confusion. Yet, the Reiatsu pulses didn't cease, giving Hinamori hope that this had to be some cruel joke, Aizen couldn't be dead, right?

=DA=

Aizen's Inner World

He fell on his hands and knees upon scorching coarse sand. This was wrong, this was nothing like his Inner World was supposed to be! Yet, this place was familiar. Very much so in fact. He knew this desert and the half-buried ruins surrounding him. He had dreamed of them, after all, this place often was part of the nightmares that plagued him ever since he began regularly experimenting with his incomplete Hogyoku a decade ago. That however didn't matter much. What the hell happened to his Inner World and why he felt like burning from inside out while at the same time freezing, that was of much greater concern…

Aizen sensed a familiar presence materialize beside him and to his consternation, he barely had the strength left to raise up his head and look at his Zanpakuto spirit.

"Kyoka…" He rasped.

She looked different. The kimono she usually wore was gone, replaced by metal armour that shifted colour to mimic her the desert around them. Despite that, there was no mistaking her with her dark blue skin and solid red eyes.

"You were going to discard me, weren't you, Aizen Sosuke?" Kyoka Suigetsu glared at him with contempt. "I could see you at the end, when you would become one with the Hogyoku. You would declare that you would have outgrown me. That you no longer need me." She snarled, making him wince.

This certainly wasn't how things were supposed to happen.

"What did you do to me?" Aizen wheezed through gritted teeth. He wanted to strike back, or at least take control of the situation, yet his body refused to obey and he couldn't even control his own Reiatsu much less do anything about his current situation.

Under different circumstances, Aizen Sosuke might have been impressed by his rebellious Zanpakuto. Right then and there? He figured out he loathed her like nothing else. His hour of triumph was close. Once he got Urahara's original Hogyoku and merged it with his own, he would be mere steps away from achieving ascension and thus divinity.

Kyoka chose that moment to sneer as if she could read his mind. "You would discard me for something like that? So you could become a mere godling?" She shook her head and her shoulder length black hair fanned out like a halo. "Pathetic."

She grabbed him by the shoulder in an iron grip and dragged him to his feet. "Do you know that there was time all I wanted was to protect you? To aid you in achieving your dreams? Do you know that, Aizen? Do you even care?"

He opened his mouth to speak, seeing an opening to exploit, however before a single syllable could leave his lips, Kyoka let go of his shoulder and grabbed his neck, crushing his throat.

"No, you don't get to speak now." She hissed and raised her right hand. Darkness exploded from her open palm, expanded then shrunk, condensing into Kyoka Suigetsu's Shikai, however this one was different – the blade was midnight black. "You're going to die here and now, so you could be reborn. Goodbye, Aizen." With those parting words, Kyoka slammed the blade into his heart, and he couldn't do anything.

Aizen felt impossibly cold steel part his flesh. He felt cold fire explode within his chest and start burning him from within. Even his mind, his only remaining sanctuary wasn't spared. Something tore within it, an abyss opened that swallowed him whole and he screamed.

=DA=

I remember dying. I remember my flesh igniting, skin and muscles cooking, bones cracking, only for pulses of immense energy to imperfectly heal me up only for the process to repeat itself. I remember the dying screams of a whole world as I consumed Bothawui. I remember sacrificing a woman who not so long ago was my friend and lover, in a desperate attempt to survive my desperate actions. I could remember dying at Bothawui. Yet, I could remember awakening some time later in a med bay.

I could remember an alien Jedi Master whose face was familiar, burst through shattering doors, cut down my guards and jump at me with a burning lightsaber in his hands, determined to drag me with him to hell. I could remember trying to fend him off with what little strength I had remaining, I could remember my Apprentice's Force Ghost manifesting within my mind and trying to protect me.

I remembered barely fending certain death again, yet at the same time, I could remember my grasp on the Force faltering as my brutalized body could no longer sustain channeling any meaningful amount of power.

I remembered the lightsaber plunging in my chest, burning through flesh and bone, vaporizing my heart even as more and more Clones ran into the med bay and shot the Jedi to pieces.

I remember dying with a blade in my heart.

Yet, that's how I awoke lying on burning sand, with my Apprentice's armoured form standing above me and peering at me with hope in her gaze. Her grim expression softened as she stared at me and slowly she beamed at me. A moment alter, she was on her knees beside me, hugging me. That was certainly new.

"Aria?"

"That's no longer my name." She muttered. She wasn't speaking Basic, in fact I wasn't sure what language she spoke, yet I understood her without any trouble. "You're back…" My Apprentice sobbed with face pressed into my shoulder. "There's only us now, only us…"

What the hell just happened?

Chapter 1

=DA=

Part 1

=DA=

Fifth Division Barracks

Soul Society

After Ichimaru went back into hiding, events proceeded more or less according to plan. A crowd made of Fifth Division Shinigami gathered in the courtyard and stared dumbly at Aizen's fake corpse. That much was not only accounted for but expected. The pulses of Aizen's Reiatsu flooding the area until every member of his division within the area came to see what the hell was happening, well those had nothing to do with any plan Gin was aware of. As if that wasn't bad enough, while seated and unseated officers gawked at the corpse, the pulses finally stopped, which offered Ichimaru a short lived hope that things might still go according to plan.

It was then that Aizen stumbled out of the barracks to the shock and relief of his division. Sosuke held his Zanpakuto in a shaking hand and used it as a cane to keep himself upright, offering the perfect image of an invalid. The first to react was his Lieutenant, Hinamori, who rocketed at Aizen and managed to actually plow him over so they both fell in a tangle of flailing limbs.

Gin stared at the unfolding scene with wide open eyes wondering what the Soul King's name was happening. This most certainly had nothing to do with the plan. He decided that the plan was already scrapped for some reason and Flash Stepped in front of the still stunned Shinigami, appearing between them and Aizen. He got there just in time to see and hear Sosuke gently hugging his Lieutenant and whispering empty words in her ear. A moment later Aizen noticed his presence, or so it seemed, and roughly Flash Stepped away, depositing Hinamori just behind the open door of the barracks and standing protectively in front of her. He had his left hand on her shoulder and his right clutched the hilt of his Zanpakuto so hard that his knuckles went white. His posture was tense, as if he was ready for combat, yet at the same time he looked utterly exhausted.

"Captain Aizen?" Gin inquired with his trademark smile plastered all over his place.

"Gin." Sosuke narrowed his eyes at him as if seeing him for the first time.

Now, that was even more concerning that everything else that already happened that night. What game was Aizen playing?

Sosuke glanced to the left and he relaxed a bit. A heartbeat later, Ichimaru sensed two familiar signatures fast approaching and within moments, Toshiro Hitsugaya and Retsu Unohana appeared, floating in the air above the courtyard. The youngest Captain took one look at the area, glared at Gin and Flash Stepped beside Hinamori. His gaze went from his little friends form to Aizen, then to Ichimaru and back. Interestingly enough, Sosuke's reaction was to simply offer a thankful nod to Hitsugaya.

"Captain Aizen, can you explain this, please?" Unohana asked in a kind voice, however her small smile was anything but.

"Infiltrator." Aizen croaked and nodded stiffly at the fake corpse. "Tried to steal my memories and Reiatsu. Almost succeeded too."

For all his experience and cold blood in his veins, Gin couldn't help it, his eyes went wide as saucers when he heard Aizen's words. What was that madman playing at? He glanced at the fake corpse and back at Aizen, a terrible suspicion worming its way within his heart. In that precise moment, the fake corpse burst into flames and before anyone could react, it flaked out in ash until there was nothing left from it.

Now it was Gin's turn to feel unwell. His eyes bored into Aizen who slowly turned his gaze his way and stared at him. It was at that moment that Ichimaru knew, he hasn't been the one to deceive and play Aizen so he could betray and end him when the opportunity presented itself. Instead, it has been the other way around. Hitsugaya was already glaring at Gin, Unohana didn't miss the wary look Sosuke was giving him as, neither how he stood protectively between Hinamori and Ichimaru.

He wondered how much of the plan he knew of had been a lie crafted to deceive him. Was anything true? When did Aizen figure it out? How long did he play him? How much of what he knew was true and how much an illusion? These questions ran throughout his mind, shattering his composure, even if he somehow managed to keep himself from visibly wavering.

Gin was sure now that he had been played. He could swear that he knew what was about to happen, he was about to be turned into a patsy and Aizen was going to throw the blame for Central 46 and everything else that he could make stick at him. Was Tosen on it too or was the blind man just another pawn ready to be discarded when it was convenient? Did it matter at this point?

He had seen this particular performance happen once before, about a century back. That should have been a lesson enough, he should have seen this coming. Laughter bubbled deep within his chest and Gin choked it down with supreme effort of will. The last time, Aizen managed to get multiple Captains and Lieutenants disgraced and exiled… and every single one of them was a veteran in a good standing, most of them were respected, trustworthy.

Ichimaru Gin was none of these things. He was Soul Society's cold blooded snake, an image he gleefully crafted for himself in order to integrate himself with Aizen. It was hilarious, really. He gave Aizen all the rope the man needed to hang him with.

Yes, he should have seen this one coming, yet he didn't. He knew that getting rid of Aizen once and for all would be hard, perhaps close to impossible. He would likely get one single chance to kill the monster for good… But now? How was he supposed to do it now?

They have been crafting this betrayal for a century. He had been played for at least that long. It was clear as a day now, Aizen had never trusted him. Perhaps he somehow knew Gin was out to get him from the start, either that or he had always planned for things to turn out this way and to use him as a fall guy. Aizen had been gathering irrefutable evidence about Ichimaru's crimes since day one, that was another thing he was now convinced of. It all had been a set up.

How was he supposed to deal with something like this?!

Just like that, Gin found himself in a desperate position, left at Aizen's nonexistent mercy. That monster could doom him with a single word now and both knew it.

Ichimaru Gin began to shake. He had done monstrous things in Aizen's name, all for the singular hope that he would get one good chance to bring down that monster with him. That in the end, he was the only one in Soul Society who knew the truth and given an opening could stop the monster. Now he knew that said fragile hope had been a lie. It had always been a lie.

=DA=

Part 2

=DA=

Fourth Division Barracks

Soul Society

The things that could peak Retsu's interest were few and far between, becoming fewer and fewer with each passing year. She had learned to cherish every single such event, to do anything less would be foolish as rare as they were as of late. If she was to be honest with herself, finding Aizen in any way interesting, that came as a surprise. Oh, she could sense that there was more to him that the face he showed to the world at large, which was par to the course for most Captains in Gotei 13.

That didn't make most of them interesting to someone like her. When you stripped all the masks, hers included, no matter their depth, they simply couldn't move her heart and she knew the truth about most of them.

The Aizen Sosuke she found leaning on his Zanpakuto in the courtyard of his own division, he was different now. His bearing, the taste of his Reiatsu now that it was calmer and recovering. More importantly, it was how he was acting and talking. There was more than a hint from the kind man he showed to the world, yet the mask was gone now, broken or discarded. That combined with his claims about the body she saw skewered in the middle of the Fifth's courtyard was more than enough to have him confined, which he accepted with wry amusement. That didn't change when a grumpy Yamamoto arrived demanding answers, answers which Aizen was actually eager to provide.

And those answers, they made him interesting. More importantly, Aizen Sosuke was the only one who remained undisturbed when she briefly brought down her own mask and offered him a rare genuine smile. Instead of blanching and seeking a way to run away, he merely wigged his eyebrows in speculation.

"Please, Captain Aizen, do answer the questions again." Retsu offered him a second genuine smile, her Reiatsu spiking and filling up the room as she quietly and clearly chanted a Kido.

A soul brought open on display couldn't lie even to itself. That was why, Aizen sat on his hospital bed, holding his naked Zanpakuto pressed to the floor, right in the middle of a Kido circle, one that Retsu was busy supplying with power as she finished the incantation.

"Do ask, my dear."

"Are you Aizen Sosuke, child?" Yamamoto began the interrogation again.

The Captain of the Fifth rolled his eyes at that, completely disregarding the irritated pressure that Yamamoto excreted as he added his own Reiatsu to the Kido, ensuring that Sosuke would speak only the truth.

"I was known Aizen Sosuke, yes. As of a few hours ago, I'm once more Delkatar Veil as well." He rolled his eyes. "I know you're ancient that dirt, old man, that said I haven't been a child in a very long time."

Yamamoto's eyes actually widened briefly at the unexpected disrespect, especially when now everyone present knew that it was as close to genuine as it could get. At the same time, Retsu's smile became a permanent fixture on her face as she continued to examine the enigma that was Aizen Sosuke.

"Do you really expect us to believe that you're not only reincarnated soul but just remembered everything about your past life? That something like that actually happened?" That question came accompanied by sneer by the Captain of the Twelfth.

"I don't expect a hack like you to believe anything." Aizen answered without a care in the world. When Yamamoto actually glared at him, he rolled his eyes and continued speaking. "That said, I'll answer the question. I've been having dreams and nightmares about my past life for some time now, a few of you could attest to that. Those… memories have been a heavy burden and influence as of late. This night, when an entity messed with my Reiatsu and memories, something happened. I felt burning and freezing. Something tore within my Inner World, rend it asunder even as I remembered everything."

There was no hint of a lie or deception, not even a half truth that Retsu could detect. Perhaps Aizen was really telling them the truth as he knew it, either that or he was among the most accomplished liars in the world, someone able to deceive everyone with nothing more than simple truths. Either way, he was becoming more and more interesting every time he opened his mouth to speak.

"Aizen Sosuke, or Delkatar Veil." Yamamoto's voice rumbled in irritation. "No matter what you call yourself now, have you ever committed any crimes against Soul Society? Are you loyal? Do you intent to betray us?" With every question, the pressure in the room climbed up and up, and with the last one, the relatively tiny amount that leaked away as Yamamoto poured his Reiatsu into the Kido was more than enough to crack the floorboards.

It was a good thing that the only people present within the immediate area were either Captains or Lieutenants. Even most of them swayed on their feet. Only Yamamoto's two students who were content to remain silent and simply observe so far, along with Retsu herself could boast that they remained unaffected. Unohana suspected that Aizen would have been the fourth, if his Reiatsu hadn't been depleted and brutalized earlier this night.

"No pressure, eh, Captain-General?" After a brief moment of levity, Aizen became deadly serious. "I'll answer of course. To the best of my knowledge I have not broken a single one of Soul Society's laws… unless Central 46 have changed them since the last time I checked. I have committed no crimes. I am loyal. I would never betray Soul Society as long as I have an acceptable alternative."

Aizen met Yamamoto's gaze with a cool and collected eyes.

Behind them, standing in a corner and observing with ill disguised curiosity was one Gin Ichimaru. The man had became rigid as a board the moment the Kido took effect and stiffened more and more with every single question that Aizen answered truthfully. It was a most curious and entertaining sight. When Sosuke answered the latest questions, Ichimaru's Reiatsu was as sharp as any sword and the man literally stank of fear. For some reason, Aizen's answers terrified him.

"Captain Aizen, what do you know about the Ryoka invasion?" Sunishi deigned to speak at last.

Aizen smiled kindly and broke the staring contest he had with Yamamoto.

"I believe the Ryoka see themselves as justified. I believe that they're here to save their friend, Rukia Kuchiki." At that, Aizen looked Byakua in the eyes. "I find myself agreeing with the sentiment. It is utter foolishness, not to mention a terrible waste, to execute one of our own, over a human of all things. What crime did Rukia Kuchiki commit? As far as I know, all she did was what she had to in order to survive. Her trial," Aizen spat the word as if it was poison, "not to mention the verdict, are nothing less than a complete and utter disgrace."

Kuchiki actually flinched as if slapped. Even more amusing was what Aizen left unsaid as he stared down the girl's older brother with contempt written all over his face. And Ichimaru? He actually choked when he heard Aizen's words. How curious.

=DA=

Part 3

=DA=

Fourth Division Barracks

Soul Society

Ichimaru beheld utter madness. That monster was doing it again, he was going to get away with everything he had wrought, again, and almost worst of all, Aizen was going to cast much if not all of the blame on him, Gin was sure of it beyond any shadow of a doubt. Perhaps if he had acted first, if he had gone to the Captain-General and came clean, throwing himself at the man's mercy, then he might have stood a chance of avoiding this sheer insanity.

The fun thing was that when this particular meeting began, Ichimaru actually held a small grain of hope that the monster might have mis-stepped. Right here and now, Aizen's Zanapakuto's was supposedly bound, his Reiatsu was kept in check by two of the strongest Shinigami in existence and the Kido fueled by those two was meant to ensure that Sosuke could tell only the truth. The spell was supposed to bare his soul for all to see, so to speak.

Well, about that forlorn hope… It died stillborn when Aizen began to successfully lie in the faces of the Captain-General and Unohana of all people. Or perhaps he wasn't lying, not really. Perhaps all the crimes Gin saw Aizen commit were mere illusions, perhaps the mad genius had accounted for all possibilities, planned for them and saw something like this happening. That very much might be the case. Perhaps this was the real plan. After all, Aizen had been deceiving Gin for at least a century now. He could see it now, he thought. All the crimes Aizen was supposed to have done in front of his eyes… It has been someone else doing it, bound in tight illusion just like Ichimaru was. Perhaps it was Tosen, perhaps someone else. It no longer mattered.

Unless all of this was an illusion, then the case might be that Aizen hadn't technically committed a single crime with his own hands. Either that or he had somehow modified his very soul so it could deceive them all.

"Captain Aizen," Gin spoke for the first time since the joke of interrogation began. "How many crimes against Soul Society did you order, even if you haven't done them with your own two hands?" Ichimaru cursed himself when his voice trembled with emotion, thus shattering his carefully crafted image at the worst possible time.

Gin found that he wasn't capable of caring any more. Soon enough he would be labeled as traitor for crimes he did commit. The least he could do was try and take down Aizen with him or at lest make the monster's life as difficult as he possibly could in what little time he had left.

"All I've ever done was for the sake of Soul Society, for the balance between the worlds. I've done my duty in life, I've done it in death as Aizen Sosuke, and I'll continue to do it as a Shinigami if I'm allowed to continue doing it." Aizen spoke firmly, conviction ringing in every word. Then he had the gall to smile!

Gin grit his teeth at the obvious lies even as doubt wormed its way within his heart. Could Aizen be telling the truth? Could it be that everything was going as planned? And if that was the case, then how?! There was no way in hell that Aizen was innocent! At that thought, Ichimaru's breath caught in his throat when a terrible idea occurred to him.

Central 46, who were supposed to be dead – Gin helped slaughter them, he knew they were dead… and they were the people who could make all that Aizen wrought legal, and thus not a crime. What did it take? A mere hypnosis? Blackmail, or perhaps more traditional mind-fuckery?!

The government was dead, Gin was suddenly convinced of it. If he was a betting man, when Gotei 13 discovered that fact, there would be just enough evidence left to doom him, perhaps Tosen as well, just nothing to hint that Aizen was responsible at all. Central 46 was now dead, because they were a loose end after granting permission to Aizen to do all his crimes legally. Just like Gin and perhaps Tosen as well were loose ends that needed trimming…

It was at that moment, when he met Aizen's calm eyes, that Gin truly comprehended how completely and utterly he had been played. It was then and there that his reality shattered and he fell in bottomless pit of utter despair.

=DA=

"I can't believe this is working!" Aria, no Kyoka now, exclaimed in my head.

"We've had this lesson before, my dear Apprentice. The greatest gift and betrayal the Dark Side offers us is the masks we wear, the masks that allow to deceive even ourselves."

"It still shouldn't have worked! Not here and now! Not like this!"

"It works and that is all that matters. Besides, I haven't committed a single crime yet, hell, all I've done was try and protect my Lieutenant and comply with coming to the medical division for a check-up." I offered. "I haven't uttered a single lie. Everything I said is true from certain point of view, often mine and that is my firm belief."

"You didn't know that this will work!" Kyoka accused.

"It was worth a shot. It bought us more time to recover. Besides I've been telling the truth as I know it. In a previous life I might have been Aizen Sosuke, however I'm not that cunt. I may answer to that name now, I might make it mine and redeem it, however his actions are not my own. He is a monument to most things I loathe in power mad Sith!"

"Yet this time around, your soul managed to kriff up royally without any input from the Dark Side."

"Our Bankai surely helped?"

"Aizen went odd and became a self-centered cunt long before he could fully unlock our Bankai and it could begin to influence him. Its all on him." Kyoka huffed.

"I'll keep stating until the day I die for good that I am not responsible for Aizen's crazy schemes."

"You've done worse!"

"For good reasons."

"Tell it to the Bothans."

"I had excellent reasons." I declared firmly.

"You got yourself killed and somehow you drew me in this mess as well!"

"And for that you have my humblest apologies, my dear Kyoka. I know it would be hard, however I promise you I'll make it up to you."

"Promises, promises…" Kyoka sighed. "I still can't believe this worked…"

"Just be glad that no one is asking the right questions or we'll be hard pressed to flee more or less intact, emphasis on less..."

=DA=

Part 4

=DA=

Fourth Division Barracks

Soul Society

"Say, Kyoka, are you willing to do me a favour once the current unpleasantries are over?" I asked while smiling pleasantly at Aizen's accomplice.

If my current improvisation was to have any chance of working, certain issues needed to be resolved. Issues like Aizen becoming a bit sloppy as of late, because he had intended to leave Soul Society for good. The most glaring issue was the murder of the government. Sooner or later it would be found out, and I was betting on sooner. I needed a few things to happen before that.

"Do you really expect to be left unchecked in Soul Society after all you wrought as Aizen?" Kyoka incredulously asked.

"There's a chance. If you're willing to help anyway. On the bright side, if it works, we'll be pranking everyone, Shinigami and your fellow Zanpakuto spirits as well…" I pointed out.

I could feel my former Apprentice lit up with glee in my Inner World. "I'm in!" Did she just squeal in my head? I filled up that thought for later.

"Here is what we need to do…" I began. "Central 46 – we need evidence pointing at our buddy Gin, perhaps a trace or two that Tosen has been involved as well. More importantly, I need a fool-proof authorization making Aizen's various experiments legal. Can you manage this my dear Kyoka?"

"Challenge accepted! You'll need to use your Bankai however."

"I know."

"You'll need to master my Bankai as well, Master." At that, she sounded positively gleeful.

"I will. I do remember the most important lesson, you know. I did teach it to you after all."

Kyoka laughed merrily.

"Gin, pray tell, is Lieutenant Matsumoto all right? Did the Ryoka hurt her? I don't believe that there is anything or anyone else in existence that you could be concerned, even afraid for?" I asked, putting as much concern in my voice as possible. My body acted on instinct, leaning forward and at the same time, my face twisted in a perfect mask of worry.

Having access to future knowledge, even if it was mostly forgotten, was a beautiful and terrible thing, especially on the rare occasions you could use it to a great effect.

=DA=

"That's a good question, Gin." Sunishi peered at him with a frown, while Hitsugaya outright glared balefully.

Ichimaru? He froze, standing utterly still in shock. Of course the monster knew! He had known from the very start, hadn't he?! The moment Gin began to craft his current persona, it had already been for naught. Aizen remembered violating Rangiku's soul, he knew that Gin was her friend if not more at the time… and Sosuke remembered it very well when he approached Ichimaru all those years ago. Yes, he had been played from the very beginning.

That fake kindness on display didn't fool him for even a moment. Gin always knew that Aizen was a monster, it was just that until tonight, even he failed to comprehend how dangerous Sosuke was. He knew what the fake concern meant. He was to play his role to the bitter end or Aizen would do unspeakable things to Rangiku. Damn that man to the deepest pit of hell!

"I'm merely… concerned for my… childhood friend…" Gin bit off as if every word was dragged past his lips by barbed chains.

"Commendable." Aizen solemnly nodded. "I only wish that more of us cared about our friends and family."

For a moment, Gin wondered how even an accomplished liar like Aizen could say that with a straight face. Then he figured it out – it was all a dig aimed at their resident mad scientist, perhaps the only one beside Tosen and Zaraki who the monster couldn't manipulate through their bonds with friends, family and subordinates.

Gin screamed inside, desiring nothing more than to go Bankai and erase Aizen's taint from existence, something he now knew deep in his bones could never happen without a direct divine intervention.

"Do you have any more questions that need immediate answers, Captain-General? I must admit, after tonight's events, I'm feeling weary." Aizen stated shamelessly.

Briefly, everyone's attention shifted from Ichimaru to Yamamoto.

"Children…" The Captain-General grumbled quietly.

"That's the Ryoka. I've seldom seen so much potential, especially in humans." Aizen spoke with a far-away look in his eyes.

At that point, Gin honestly pitied those poor bastards, especially Aizen's pet project. One way or another, they were all doomed.

"We'll discuss them on the next Captain's meeting. I'll expect to see you there, Captain Aizen." Yamamoto ordered, confirming what Gin already knew.

Aizen did it. He deceived Gotei 13 once again and would get away with it, again. Damn that man!

"I would be honoured to attend, sir." Aizen nodded respectfully, earning himself points with a lot of the present Captains.

"Speaking about the Ryoka, if it was up to you, how would you handle them? Theoretically speaking?" Ukitake asked, curiosity coloring his tone.

"I would go to speak with them. Gotei 13 got damaged more than enough already for no good reason."

That admission earned chuckles from Yamamoto's students as well as more than one scowl from the others.

"See that you will, Captain Aizen. This nonsense has gone for more than long enough." Yamamoto declared and Flash Stepped away.

With the Captain-General's departure, the pressure within the area immediately lessened significantly. Even Aizen himself slumped, leaning on his Zanpakuto.

"I feel like I need a week of sleep or something." The monster grunted, earning himself both scoffs of derision and a few chuckles. "No offense meant, Captain Unohana, however when do you believe I should be able to leave your tender care? I just got my marching orders and given the circumstances, I don't believe it would be good idea to disregard the Captain-General's instructions."

"Once I'm done examining you and your Reiatsu is recovered." Unohana answered, while observing Aizen with a hungry smile.

"As you wish."

Under different circumstances, Gin would have almost pitied Aizen. As things stood, he didn't know what was worse – the monster getting chummy with Unohana of all people, what just happened tonight or, well all the lies and deceptions he had been subjected for the longest time.

There was only one thing Ichimaru knew. He had to find a way to protect Rangiku while he was still around.

"I have a patient to attend. Leave us." Unohana ordered.

It was telling that no one dared object.