k59: i finally got the whole thing figured out! i think.. it was the general plot until the ending, so i need to think of the detail still, but i'm getting there.. i'm still thinking on how to close this story though.. so, hope you'll be patient with me.. for now, enjoy the chapter^^~
A Lifeful of Lies - Chapter 3
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"Are you sure it's alright, Ichimaru-taicho?"
Gin exhaled rather irritably at the repeating question. His lieutenant was a good and responsible young man, but the kid seriously needed to do something with those insecurities of him. It drove him mad like no other. Coming from him, that's saying something.
"Yes, Kira," the smile did not slip for even a second from his face. "I am very sure. Just like I was the ten times you asked me the same question before."
The blond flinched and his smile widened. Oh boy, this has become way too natural for him.
"It's just... As the lieutenant of the thi –"
"Kira," he quickly interrupted, "It's fine. There's really nothing left to do for today anyway. Go help your friend. I'm sure she'll appreciate your presence more than I do at the moment."
The boy coloured at the indirect nudge, but nonetheless bowed before almost scurrying out of the office. The silence did not last long, and neither did his amusement.
"Is there any reason why you are exposing yourself out in the open, Aizen-sama?" He carefully made sure his signature smile on his face didn't falter even in the slightest.
The man standing on the side of the room, leaning casually on the wall, grinned rather malevolently, "It is not in the open when you're the only one able to see me, Gin-kun. My power is rather convenient for times like this, don't you agree?"
Gin forced his smile to widen, "And to what do I owe this honour?"
"I merely want to enjoy the show. And I believe that the stage will be your office." His smile was positively evil now. "After all, with that genius of a mind, that boy would have no trouble making his own theory and comes into a conclusion."
The words made his heart sank. He absolutely did not want to have his son – oh how he want to say that out loud – anywhere near this vile man. Had he been brave enough, confident enough, he would march out right now, grabbed his troublesome son and locked him somewhere he could not get into trouble. Instead he donned an amused expression.
"Oh? Chibi-taicho's coming for a visit? So soon?"
"I would have been disappointed and incredibly bored if not because of him," Aizen seated himself behind the unoccupied lieutenant desk, making himself comfortable, "Too bad that Isshin got to him before I could. Give him a few decades and he would have made a formidable ally."
It took all that he had not to growl at that, so it was somewhat a relief when there was a knocking sound.
"Come in," he called and immediately felt uneasy when the white head poked inside before the small captain walked in quietly, closing the door behind him.
"Ichi–," the boy stopped suddenly when he took note of the other person inside the office, blinking a few times as if making sure that his vision hasn't tricked him.
Gin had to frown, following the boy's line of sight. What was going on? He had automatically assumed that Aizen would use his zanpakuto's power and made others unable to see him. What was that evil man planning, allowing Toshiro to see him?
And just when did Aizen show his son the release of Kyouka Suigetsu anyway?
"Izuru."
Frowning slightly, Gin watched silently as the boy gave Aizen an acknowledged nod. For a short second, his lips were pulled into a grimace. It looked like instead of being an audience, Aizen had chosen to be one of the actors.
"Hitsugaya-taicho," Aizen nodded back, a playful smile – which Gin was sure Toshiro wasn't seeing – on his face.
The child captain unconsciously tilted his head slightly to the side, one of the few habits Gin knew his son had picked up from his foster sister. One of the cute few.
"I thought that you'd be in the fifth division," the boy said slowly.
"Ah, yes, I am planning to. But I am obliged to finish my own duty beforehand. Do you need me to leave you and Ichimaru-taicho alone, Hitsugaya-taicho?"
Maybe it was just his imagination, but he thought he saw Toshiro narrowed his eyes for a moment, before his expression returned to normal.
"No, it's alright."
There was silence after that, which he spent watching the white haired boy staring at his 'lieutenant' impassively. Aizen was watching the whole thing with a sickeningly amused expression on his face. He finally had enough of it.
"I'm hurt, Chibi-taicho," he put a playful tone in his voice, feeling his amusement showed its face again when the boy jumped slightly. "You've been ignoring me ever since you came through the door. And here I was getting all pleased with your visit too."
The boy blinked rapidly for some time, but then his countenance changed to a detached calculating. A slight frown on the young face and the small hand came up to his chin told him that the child was thinking furiously.
"What?" Gin pursed his lip into a light pout, "Don't I get a hello at least?"
Toshiro seemed to have chosen ignore his antics, instead taking careful steps into the room, the contemplating look still etched on his face, "Are you busy, Ichimaru?"
"Eh? Not really, no," his signature smile was back again. "I was just telling Kira that it's okay if he wants to go help Momo-chan. But he's very adamant about finishing his work first."
"I'm still the third division lieutenant first and foremost," Aizen added, almost as dutifully as Kira would have been.
"I see. Then," the boy's stance suddenly shifted, his gaze becoming fiercer, "I apologize in advance for what I'm about to do."
Toshiro's form vanished and appeared not even a second later behind Aizen, with Hyorimaru drawn and held at the man's neck. To Gin's chargin, the amused look on the bastard's face did not falter even for a moment.
"Chibi-taicho," Gin had to reign in his surprise at his son's unexpected move, and instead forced a mildly interested expression on his face. "Just why are you holding my lieutenant hostage?"
The boy didn't budge, sparing a glance at him.
"He may or may not be Izuru."
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"What are you talking about? Of course he's Kira. Maybe you should get your eyes checked Chibi-taicho."
Toshiro couldn't help the scowl that marred his face at the response. His father was being as unhelpful as always. He supposed it was only normal, seeing as the man had a cover to maintain and all that. It made it no less frustrating though.
He was so sure that this man was Aizen, but he knew enough to hold his tongue about it. After all, the only thing that clued him in about it was his memory of his father talking about it to him. And since he was a few months old at that time and was supposedly not remember it, that option was out. His father had planned this for decades, centuries even. He was not going to be reckless and unknowingly ruined it all.
That didn't mean he couldn't arrest Aizen though, even without revealing he knew of the man's plan. If he could finish this here and now – he bit his lip at the thought – he might just have his father back.
Fueled with that knowledge, he pressed the side of his Zanpakuto more firmly against his hostage's neck, determined not to mess this up.
"I met another Izuru at the gate," he forced his voice to remain calm. "He was on his way to help Hinamori."
"Hitsugaya-taicho?"
He looked back to the man he help at sword's end, feeling irritated with himself when he found himself without explanation as to how Aizen managed to take Izuru's form.
"Isn't it more likely for that me to be the impostor then? After all, I was with Ichimaru-taicho all this time."
"I can't take the risk," he fought the urge to just freeze him. "There's a chance that you are the impostor and good enough to fool a captain level shinigami. I won't notice a thing if I hadn't met another of you beforehand."
There was a sigh from the man, "How could I assure you that I am who I appeared to be?"
Toshiro frowned, sneaking another glance at his father, who was watching with an amused expression, and had to scowl, "When and where did we first meet?"
"At the academy," came the immediate response. "Momo was introducing you to me, Shuuhei and Renji."
He growled a "wrong," and swung his zanpakuto, lessening his speed to a level where the real Izuru would be able to dodge. There is a chance, though it was very very small, that this was the real one after all. His turquoise eyes followed as the man as the other stood with his zanpakuto drawn at the centre of the office.
"Only the real Izuru would know," he took a defensive stance. "That he was the one who found me when I got lost the first time I went back after visiting Granny."
'Izuru' looked contemplative, "Is that so? It is unfortunate that I took his form then," a positively evil grin spread across his face. "Otherwise, I would still be fooling you."
"Not quite," he forced himself not to sound too smug, but even he couldn't keep the grin off his face. "Your answer was correct. You blow your cover with that admittance though."
Instead of being annoyed as he thought Aizen – for Aizen he must be – would be, the man laughed instead.
"I must admit, you're better than I thought you'd be, Hitsugaya-kun," the man smirked finally. "Would you be interested if I offer you a place in my rank?"
Toshiro had to admit, it was tempting. Not because he wanted power or that he hated Seireitei – quite the contrary, in fact – but the chance to finally be with his father, to fight together. A glance at the silver haired man though, he knew that he could never accept the offer. Gin had fought tooth and nail to keep him as far away from Aizen's influence as possible. And that's what he was going to do.
"I have no intention in betraying Seireitei," he stated simply, his grip on Hyorinmaru tightening.
"Pity," Aizen sneered. "I would ha– "
A knock caused all three to turn to the closed door. Toshiro felt his blood ran cold when a familiar voice rang out the usual greeting from the outside of the room and saw a hand started to slide the door open.
"Don't come in, Oneesan! Get a –"
White hot pain blooming in his torso swallowed the rest of his warning, turquoise eyes widening in shock. As his fingers became numb and his vision tunneled, he felt someone leaned closer to him.
"A piece of advice, Hitsugaya-kun. Never take your eyes off your opponent. Especially one who is far superior."
The feeling was gone a moment later and his eyes found a pair of wide open sky blue eyes of his father. He tried to call out to him, but even his tongue was not cooperating with him. He couldn't even feel his legs anymore and his eyes were quickly losing their sight.
Someone screaming that blasted nickname of his was the last thing he heard before all went blank.