Umm...not a pair of characters that I'd usually do, but then there's a first time for everything ^_^. I have a vague feeling that this may be a little disjointed, and if thats the case then I apologise, but hopefully it will be an enjoyable read!

Tousen wondered, as he stood surrounded by the barren wasteland known as Huerco Mundo, if there was such a thing as redemption. He knew there was Justice, but what about new beginnings? If he were to return to Soul Society, crawling on his hands and knees, and beg for forgiveness, help them to defeat Aizen and his Espada, would be be forgiven? Or would they take his help and then execute him, as an example of their 'Justice'?

No. There were few people in Seiretei who would find it in their hearts to forget what he had done. He had betrayed the trust of many, and by now many of Aizen's other...curiosities would no doubt have come to light.

Then spring – hope - was an illusion. The blossoms which for a few brief weeks signified the beginning of a new year were so easily crushed underfoot, browned and mashed into something ugly. All that followed was scorching heat or icy cold, and the new year, so fresh and bright, becomes broken again in an unending cycle.

It was just as well then, that he didn't need to be forgiven, that his eyes could see neither the heat nor the cold, only the Justice behind it and its unending cycle of death and rebirth. He knew he was doing the right thing, and nothing could deter him from the path he had chosen.

For Ichimaru, it was hardly a question of 'would they forgive?'. It never had been. He knew that what he was doing was wrong but to be honest, couldn't care less. To him it had always been 'Do I want to be forgiven?', and, he could say without hesitation, that the answer was no. Unlike Tousen, he could see the spring, the summer and the winter and he knew that they were all, even spring, very real indeed, but he had always preferred winter, finding spring too mellow for his tastes. He wasn't called Gin for nothing.

Besides, it was far too much fun to give up! Life in Soul Society was sedentary, which was fine for old hats like Yamamoto, or those who preferred a quiet life, but to him it was like drowning, with the only breath of much needed air coming from the enjoyment of Aizen's deception and the occasional 'games' he played with other Shinigami.

This was like surfacing for the first time, like drawing a gasping breath after minutes underwater. The whole of Seiretei scurrying around like stricken ants below them trying desperately to repair they nest and protect their queen after Aizen had dug it up. Although, he found it a little ironic that far from splitting the Gotei 13 and weakening them, they had actually managed to unite them far better than the distant threat of Hollows ever had.

Ichimaru knew that at the end of this, someone was going to burn and fall, and the only reason he was sitting in the maze of stone buildings Aizen had created for his small army was for the enjoyment of finding out who.

As always its wonderful to find out what you think!