Chapter 21

The room, or whatever it is, was nothing but a endless bright landscape surrounded by infinite numbers of broken clocks. As I looked around, I noticed that each and every clock was stopped, does this mean that time doesn't exist here.

"Yes it does!"

The childish yet sinister voice that came from above me. A small child was playing around with a broken clock, twiddling with the minute and hour hands. He looked toward me, his expression was like my own when I was kid. I pulled out my zanpakutō and noticed that it look like any other sword.

"I take it you know why I'm here, Jikan."

Strangely He noticed the sword and backed away, afraid.

"Yes, but I can't believe you're going to go through with this, any chance I could change your mind?"

It was pitiful, I was kinda expecting to fight him.

"Sorry, no can do! Time is short I'm afraid."

His expression then suddenly changed dramatically. From a scared face to downright frightening.

"AND WHAT WOULD YOU KNOW OF IT!"

The environment turned darker and for once, I was scared by him, my own zanpakutō. The clockhands began spinning rapidly. I had to finish this quick. I rushed towards him when suddenly he disappeared into dark fragments. I stood there confused as he suddenly vanished.

"Put down your sword. Saidō." The voice was a woman's, wait? What the-

She stood in front of me, very beautiful. Her expression was cold and desolate, her appearance reminded my of Aiko, in a way. The only difference was that this woman's hair was white and long that it reached and touched the floor. She wore a white kimono.

"What did you just say?"

"I said! PUT DOWN YOUR SWORD!"

Her powerful voice echoed in my head. It frightened me a little yet my grip remained constant.

"Like hell I will!"

"You arrogant fool! Don't you see that your weapon here is entirely pointless."

I seemed baffled by this, am I really a weakling or was she telling the truth.

"What are you! What happened to Jikan."

She closed her eyes.

"Fool! Don't let your eyes deceive you, Jikan and I are one and the same."

"Lies-"

My sword broke in half with a swipe of her hand. Apparently she wasn't kidding. Damn! It's now nearly impossible to defeat her now. The only hope is the-

"Saidō. When will you face the truth."

Truth. What the hell is this?

"What are you talking about? Lady, all I want to do is obtain Bankai! Not find out some concept."

She grew angry at me.

"Fine then, can I just beat the truth out of you, in that case I prefer the child version instead-"

"ENOUGH!"

She threw a sword in front of me and froze it in midair.

"I didn't bring you here to fight me. I brought you to face the truth, fighting and making me submit to you is merely pointless and nothing more."

Impossible! The only known way to learn Bankai is to make the zanpakutō bow to you. But this.. this is something else.

"What's the truth then? Tell me!"

Eyes reflected a piercing flame.

"Are you sure you want to know?"

"Why would I not? Gosh am I really like that Jikan, I don't remember being so depressing-"

"I'm the prime example of who you should try to be! The power and it's responsibility is too great to be handled by a soft one."

"Why! A cold emotionless person! You know you remind me of Ichigo when-"

She laughed strikingly.

"What is it!"

She stopped instantly and reached out her hand.

"Take it, and I will reveal you the truth, back away if you wish. Believe me, when this is over, you'll wish you had."

It took me only a second to ponder this. I took her hand reluctantly with a smile.

"Sure, why not? Let's just get this over-"

Suddenly the room became nothing.

10 years earlier

He had done it!

Despite the impossible odds, Aizen was finally defeated by Ichigo Kurosaki, alongside his father, Isshin. Blood ran down Aizen's chest. He had lost. Despite many centuries of plotting and scheming and planning, he was forced to accept total and unequivocal defeat. His transcendent godlike powers had abandoned him, and he was reduced to nothing more than a mere Soul Reaper.

"Impossible..." he thought, and laughed.

He had overcome reason with the power of the Hōgyoku, and against all reason, was himself defeated.

How ironic.

Ichigo Kurosaki was, in the end, superior. "In ways he'll never understand," Aizen thought.

He envied him and his power.

"It's over, Aizen." Ichigo said as he pressed Tensa Zangetsu to Aizen's throat. "You have lost."

"Then please, go on and kill me." Aizen said confidently.

"No. You still have to pay for all of the blood you have shed. If I have anything to do with it, you're going to live a long life, hated and despised by all of those whom you betrayed and the friends of those you killed. Killing you now would be a release."

Aizen chuckled.

"It would seem that the son has learned a lot from his father, am I right, Isshin?"

"Hell yeah! Right you are." He said, smiling in the background. "I'm proud of my son."

He rubbed his son's hair. Ichigo brushed him off. "Hey cut it out Dad! You just ruined a awesome moment."

"Ah, a touching family moment. Oh how I miss those." Aizen said sarcastically.

A Senkaimon suddenly opened behind him. They all looked to see who would emerge. A man with long dark hair appeared: Byakuya Kuchiki, followed by Renji Abarai, Rukia Kuchiki, Yatsatora Sado, and Mayuri Kurotsuchi.

"Hey guys! Where is everyone?" Ichigo said, still proud about his victory.

"Uryu, Kenpachi, and Nell are still back in Hueco Mundo." Renji said.

"What about Orihime?"

"Oh yeah, she's still back there tending their wounds. Wait! What the-"

They all noticed Ichigo's victory. They immediately began to cheer. Ichigo then noticed that his Dad had disappeared. "What is up with him?" he thought.

"You're going to spare my life then, Ichigo." Aizen said, sounding bitter and defeated.

"Yeah. There are people you hurt far worse than me."

He chuckled a bit. "Is that so..."

This spark of confusion flared in Ichigo's mind.

"What do you mean?"

"Remember June 17?"

He pressed his sword harder to Aizen's throat.

"What of it?"

"I'm the one who sent him to do it."

Ichigo knew where this was going, but asked anyway.

"Who?"

"I made sure to order it when you were of that age and that time." His cold words reflected the anger in his heart.

"In order that you of all people would bear the weight of the guilt and pain."

Ichigo's friends beseeched him helplessly to stay his hand. He was barely aware of Rukia trying to hold back his hand; he hardly heard the others telling him that Aizen was clearly lying and that killing him would only make Ichigo like him.

He didn't care! All his attention was focused on Aizen's words.

It started to pour rain; lightening streaked the sky.

Ichigo raised Zangetsu despite Rukia's restraint and brought down his sword, piercing Aizen.

Blood spewed out of his mouth. But the wound wasn't intended to be fatal. It went through his right side, destroying his soul chain and soul sleet, destroying his soul's source of power, leaving him in horrifying pain but alive.

"Ichigo." Rukia said, shocked by his action.

"I don't need to kill you! You're not even worth it." He then turned and motioned for Byakuya to arrest him.

Instantly, a strange power rose from behind him, before Ichigo could react! Aizen lunged at him with his broken zanpakutō-

Rukia moved to block him with her zanpakutō.

Her sword pierced Aizen, and he fell to the ground.

Dead.

Everyone there stood frozen in shock.

As Rukia turned to face him, Ichigo saw that she was had been stabbed by Aizen.

"NO!" Ichigo screamed as he caught Rukia.

Byakuya and Renji rushed to his side.

"Ichigo.. I.." Tears enveloped in her eyes.

"Don't speak! Save your strength! Orihime is on her-"

"..love..." She then became cold.

Tears filled his eyes as anguish tore at his soul. The portal opened behind them and Orihime emerged. She was too late.

Ichigo's inner world was flooded with cold, cold rain.