To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.
~Confucius
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
"Sometimes I hate being right." Kimiko grimaced, taking in the scene in front of her before hardening her features. "I won't allow you to get your hand on the Hogyoko, Aizen. And Gin, I'll be happy to melt the flesh from your bones."
The aforementioned captain simply smiled and waved his hand nonchalantly.
"I'm amazed Kimiko-taichou, truly I am. You were the only person to see through my guise all these years, you truly are skilled at your craft. You should join me, leave this place, you would be an invaluable asset." Kimiko's jaw clenched at the offer, to think he would even entertain the idea that she would join him.
"Over my dead body." She replied coldly.
"Well that is truly a shame." Aizen sighed regretfully. "However, it seems I'll have to take you up on that another time. Since it seems you took your time getting here, Hitsugaya-taichou is going to be arriving any minute."
As if on cue, the white haired captain burst through the front door. He was puzzled to see Kimiko already there, but the puzzlement gave way to shock when he saw Aizen, alive and well.
This wasn't a good situation for Kimiko, she knew that the moment she felt Hitsugaya's Reiatsu fast approaching. Her mind was racing to find solution to the problem at hand so she took out her fan, the motion giving her a focal point to concentrate on. No doubt Aizen purposefully lured Hitsugaya to their location knowing his presence would be a hindrance to her.
Not that the captain wasn't strong, he was the prodigy of the Seireitei after all, but the two of them were probably the least equipped to fight alongside each other. Aizen knew that. After all, Kimiko had a fire-based Zanpakuto while Hitsugaya's was ice-based. Any of her attacks would have to be controlled with him in the picture, not allowing her to fight at her full capacity.
"What are we talking about? Just strategy, something dear Kimiko knows all about. Like how right now she's trying to come up with a plan now that you're here. Fire and ice don't exactly go well together, her attacks will have to be much more controlled around you." Said woman heard, tuning back into the conversation.
"My my, aren't you a clever one Aizen." She replied, fanning herself with a small smirk on her face. Hitsugaya suddenly seemed to remember something and looked around the room frantically.
"Where's Hinamori?!" He questioned haughtily.
The boys' anger will get the better of him. Hinotsubasa commented and Kimiko nodded in agreement, a grimace on her face.
There wasn't anything to be done, once he found the body of his friend there would be no reasoning with him. Hitsugaya was a captain, a prodigy, but he was still young.
"I wonder…" Aizen commented and Hitsugaya seemed to realize where she was. He Flash Stepped past Aizen and Gin to the spot where Hinamori was laying no doubt in a pool of blood.
"How unfortunate. You found her. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to surprise you. Maybe I should have chopped her into little pieces so you couldn't find her." Aizen suggested and Kimiko felt her anger flare, remembering how just yesterday the girl was alive and well, smiling and thanking her.
"Aizen…Ichimaru…When did you team up? Since before you faked your death?" Hitsugaya questioned, clenching his fists to keep from shaking.
"From the beginning of course. Since I became a Captain. I never considered anyone other than Gin as my Lieutenant."
"Then…All this time…Hinamori…Me…Your subordinates, all the other Shinigami…Everyone…You've been deceiving us all?!"
"I never thought of it like that. It's just; none of you saw my true identity. Except for Kimiko, she knew something was wrong the beginning; there just wasn't evidence to prove it."
"Didn't understand? Hinamori…She looked up to you. She joined the Gotei Fourteen so she could be closer to you. She worked so hard to become your lieutenant to serve you…And she finally made it!"
Things were going downhill fast, Hitsugaya was succumbing to his anger.
"I know. That's why she was so easy to manipulate. That's why I requested her to be my subordinate. This is a good opportunity. Remember this Hitsugaya. Admiration is the state furthest from understanding." Those are the words that set the young captain off. He pulled his zanpakuto from its sheath, the Reiatsu he was exerting causing an explosion.
Kimiko jumped to the wall, out of harm's way for the moment.
This is a good opportunity to witness Aizen's power levels. Hinotsubasa remarked, causing Kimiko to frown.
It was true, but the last thing Kimiko wanted was the younger captain to be seriously injured.
Unohana's on her way, if things get too serious you can intervene.
"Bankai. Daiguren Hyorinmaru." Toshiro uttered. Kimiko had to admit, she found Hitsugaya's dragon one of the most beautiful Bankai she had witnessed. It was surely a sight to see. As if on cue, Unohana and her Lieutenant, Isane Kotetsu, ran in, taking in the situation in mild shock.
"Aizen. I'm going to kill you."
"Don't use such strong words. It'll make you look weak." Aizen's words only served to infuriate Hitsugaya further. He charged Aizen, and his sword pierced right through his body, encompassing it in ice. It was almost too fast for Kimiko's eyes to catch, but she did. It was an illusion.
In the next moment, blood spurted from Hitsugaya's wound, and Aizen simply smirked from behind him.
He's strong. Kimiko's zanpakuto remarked. For Aizen to take out Hitsugaya without even breaking a sweat, the power he had, was far beyond the level of Captain.
"Aizen-taichou. No, we shouldn't call you Captain any longer; you're just Sosuke Aizen, the traitor." Unohana commented and Kimiko heard the edge in her voice, the edge of her Kenpachi past.
"Hello Unohana-taichou. I knew you'd show up by now. Did you immediately figure out that I would be here?" He questioned, genuinely intrigued.
"This is the only place within the Seireitei that is completely off limits. This is the only place to hide for someone who's gone so far to fake his own death with such an elaborate corpse doll." She said, voicing the thoughts the lead Kimiko here earlier.
"Close, your insight is good but you missed two things. The same two things Kimiko here was able to figure out almost immediately. First of all, I didn't come here to hide. And second, this is not a corpse doll." Unohana and Isane looked rightfully shocked, but Kimiko just kept a bored expression on her face, lazily fanning herself. Now that she knew was an illusion she didn't have much trouble seeing through it. If only for a few seconds the young captain would be pulled under, but quickly found her way out.
It had been the only possibly explanation to how Aizen could fake his own death, yet leave a body at the scene. Her theory had been confirmed in the fight with Hitsugaya.
"Wh-When did-"Isane stutters. Kimiko answered before Aizen can.
"His Zanpakuto is illusion based, to put it simply, its ability is perfect hypnosis. It was only a theory until I witnessed it in his fight with Hitsugaya."
"Very good Kimiko." He praised with a smirk. "Shatter, Kyokasuigetsu."
"Perfect…hypnosis? But Kyokasuigetsu is supposed to be a running-water-type Zanpakuto. That it uses diffused reflection of running water and mist to confuse enemies into attacking each other! Aizen-taichou that's what you told us! You gathered all the lieutenants and showed it to us!" Isane protests.
"Perfect hypnosis controls all five senses and can cause every dimension of a target, including its form, shape, mass, feel, and smell, to replicate that of an enemy. In other words, it can make a fly appear to be a dragon or a marsh a flowerbed. All I need to do to activate it is show my enemies the release of Kyokasuigetsu."
Aizen's words caused a piece of the puzzle to fall together, though it's a piece she wished wasn't there.
"Kaname Tosen." Kimiko stated, causing the grin on Aizen's face to widen.
"Yes, whoever lays eyes on it will be affected. Which means those who cannot see won't be affected. Kaname Tosen has been my subordinate from the beginning." Once he's done speaking, Gin released a long white bandage that began wrapping around the two.
"I assume I'll be seeing you again Kimiko." Aizen's voice called out and they were gone.
"Damn it." The woman muttered.
"Do you know where they're headed Kimiko-taichou?" Unohana asked.
"Of course." She replied. "They're going to Sokyoku Hill, and Rukia Kuchiki is probably already there also. Please inform all Captains and Lieutenants about these events, the Ryoka too."
"Isane." Unohana commanded and her Lieutenant began setting up communication.
"You're going after them I presume?" The soft spoken captain asked while moving to gather Hitsugaya and Hinamori.
"Of course I am." The woman responded before disappearing.
At the power level Aizen appears to be, we might be forced to utilize Bankai. Hinotsubasa advised and Kimiko nodded in agreement, taking a quick detour to her home for a quick wardrobe change before continuing on.
"I hope you're ready Hino; I'll need your strength for this." Kimiko muttered aloud.
It's already yours little bird.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed!
Razzle162: Thank you so much!
