Aizen is so focused on Genryusai, on escaping the Ittō Kasō, that he barely senses her in time to react. The moment he lands, Ichigo is ready with a Getsuga, coming at him head on. He manages to dodge once more, avoiding the worst of the attack. She still manages to gouge his shoulder open, her blade biting deep as the Getsuga claims the building under them. She pulls her reiatsu in close, being sure none lingers in his wound, and attacks him again.
This time Aizen is prepared though, avoiding her blow and landing safely on a nearby rooftop. Ichigo follows him readily enough, chasing him with another Getsuga. He's ready with his shield once more, blowing her attack back and meeting her sword with his own.
"Now, didn't you say that my blade would never touch you?" Ichigo's voice is all sarcasm as she grins behind her mask.
Aizen smiles, a puff of air escaping in a laugh. "You have failed to kill me, Kurosaki Ichigo. That was your last chance; I will not leave myself open again."
"Everyone makes mistakes, Aizen," Ichigo replies. "You did it once, you'll do it again. I just have to wait."
Aizen just continues to smile, the glow of the Hōgyoku spreading under his shirt, spiderwebbed veins creeping out to touch the wound she'd inflicted and healing it. Ichigo growls as he disengages, throwing her back.
"Nice trick," she says.
"No trick," Aizen denies calmly. "This is the protective instinct of a servant towards its master."
He opens his shirt the rest of the way, showcasing the Hōgyoku where it's fused with him. While she watches, he reaches up to touch the healing wound, humming under his breath as he gazes at her.
"You have developed wonderfully well. Just as I planned."
Ichigo tightens her grip on her sword. "Plans have a way of going awry."
"Perhaps, but nonetheless, you encountered Kuchiki Rukia and your Shinigami abilities were awakened, and through your fight with Ishida Uryū, you became aware of your power as a Shinigami. Then, in your fight with Abarai Renji, you learned the power of your own Zanpakuto. You gained a foothold towards Bankai in your battle with Zaraki Kenpachi, and you advanced down the path to Hollowfication during your confrontation with Kuchiki Byakuya," Aizen summarizes. "In your battle with Grimmjow, you mastered Hollowfication. And it seems that during your battle with Ulquiorra, you gained a power greater than that. Kurosaki Ichigo, all of your battles thus far have played out in the palm of my hand."
Ichigo doesn't stop the laugh that bubbles up, Shiro bleeding through once more. "You're pretty conceited, thinking you have anything to do with how those battles played out. You may have influenced some aspect of how they came about, you can even claim that you're the reason I got where I am now, but my power doesn't come from you and those victories you so majestically plotted, they were won because they had to be, not because you planned them that way."
"Do you honestly think those victories were a result of your efforts?" Aizen smile is acidic honey. "How amusing. Your encounters were not fate or mere coincidences. I believed that you would be the best subject for my research and as such I assisted you in your development."
"You can keep saying whatever the hell you want, and rephrase it as many times as you want, but it doesn't change a thing," Ichigo says. "My powers are my own and how I use them are at the discretion of me and Zangetsu. The only way you factor into this, is in how we bring you down. Nothing else matters."
Aizen stares her down for several moments and after an inscrutable amount of time, he smiles. "You really are a special being, aren't you, Kurosaki Ichigo? From the moment of your birth I've held great expectations for you. You were the first of a new generation, a new race."
Isshin joining them cuts off any further conversation, landing squarely between Ichigo and Aizen. "You talk too much, Aizen."
He turns to Ichigo, closing he distance between them. She lets him, though she's quick to move out of the way when he tries to head-butt her.
"Not the type of welcome one usually expects," she says airily, dropping her mask. "But in our family I guess it's an adequate homecoming."
Her father gives her one of his usual looks, an over exaggerated mix of prideful and hurt. "What're you trying to say, Ichigo?"
"If you want him for yourself, all you had to do was say so," she continues in the same tone. "Just don't go getting' yourself killed, Oyaji."
She doesn't wait for his reply, disappearing in a flash of Shunpo to get past Aizen. She sends out a Getsuga, cutting through the building and sending their little corner of the rooftop sliding towards the ground. After that, she pays them very little attention, her focus now on Gin who'd been playing spectator until now.
Gin meets her blade gamely, that same enigmatic smile on his face as ever.
"You know, Rangiku keeps telling me that you're not a traitor," Ichigo says conversationally when their blades lock. "Kira, too. They both have so much faith in you, and I can't help but wonder why."
"Maybe it's my charming personality," Gin quips.
"Something about foxes," Ichigo smiles. "They're just as dangerous as any other creature, but they're also wise and cunningly clever and they symbolize protection from evil. That being said, I wonder if your loyalty truly lies with Aizen, or if perhaps a certain pair of blue eyes holds that honor."
"D'ya remember what happened when we last fought? You came at me in one helluva fury when I cut off Jidanbō's arm," Gin says, reiatsu dancing in a mesmerizing pattern, hard for her to get a read on. "I remember thinkin' to myself 'what an interestin' kid'."
"I remember how blank you were," she answers in response, remembering how she'd unsettled him before. "When I cross swords with someone, I get a read on what's driving them to fight me, how it is they view me, what exactly it is that's in their heart at that moment, things like that. But every time you and I cross swords, I get nothing. It's like the entire time we're fighting, you're not even looking at me. Your mind is somewhere else; focused on someone else."
She sees him fighting back a blink, can see the muscles in his eyes twitch with the want to open, but he holds it back, his smile widening instead. "Here I thought you were an interestin' kid, but it turns out you're just plain creepy."
Ichigo gives him a flat look, "You have no room to talk."
"I think I understand pretty well now why Aizen-taicho has taken an interest in you." Gin tilts his head at her, his fingers dancing on the hilt of his Zanpakuto. "My Shinsō, d'ya know how far it extends?"
"Geez, with you men it's all about size, isn't it?" She says with a tired sigh, slipping him a sly look as she goads, "Instead of runnin' your mouth so much, why don't you just show me?"
"Oh?" Gin smiles but plays along willingly enough. "This time 'round, I ain't gonna hold back."
"Sounds good to me," Ichigo grins.
Gin shifts his stance, his eyes slipping open the barest hint as he gazes strait at her. "Bankai, Kamishini no Yari."
He makes a show of cutting the buildings around them before he aims for her, but Ichigo is ready when it comes. Her blade meets his and she slides under the force of the impact, feet digging into the ground until she manages to bring his sword to a halt.
"What're you so surprised about?" She taunts playfully at his look. "Did you think a Bankai can't be stopped by another Bankai?"
She lines her sword with a Getsuga, using it to push his away before she sends the Getsuga gliding down his blade to strike Gin head on.
He blocks it well enough, taking only mild damage. As the smoke is clearing, Gin studies her anew. "You really are a creepy kid."
"Coming from you, I'll take that as a compliment," Ichigo smirks.
"You're pretty scary. Seems like if I don't take care of you here real soon, this could turn into a real mess," Gin says as he studies the damage she's inflicted. He flicks Shinsō up to his shoulder, the Zanpakuto back to the standard size of a wakizashi. "And now I suppose I'm in a bit of a predicament, ain't I? You went and stopped my Bankai so easily. I guess I ain't got no choice but to fight the ol' fashioned way."
Gin comes straight at her and she's ready, dodging as much as she blocks. She remembers his Bankai's ability and is sure to keep the point of his sword from aiming at her, knowing his Bankai is still active and can expand in an instant. He tries keeping her distracted by talking and she answers on route, her eyes keeping locked on his blade.
When he disengages and jumps back, Ichigo knows it's coming and ducks before diving to the side to avoid his sword. A trench is cut into the ground, carving straight through all of the rubble and debris. She uses the moment to drive forward, hurtling a Getsuga that Gin is quick to dodge, collapsing Shinsō to move quicker.
"That's a pretty nice Bankai you got there," she commends. "I wonder if mine is as easy to read."
In her mind, Shiro cackles, Maybe now, but not once it's fully mature.
Tensa makes a noise of agreement, pride rampant in his reiatsu.
Ichigo smiles at their responses, though it's cut short when she has to dive to the side to avoid Gin's next attack. Apparently he doesn't like it being inferred that his Bankai is easy to read. They engage once more, Gin striking quickly and furiously with such speed that Ichigo is starting to tire some, but she's loving every minute of it. The give and take of battle, the sound of steel on steel something she's moderately missed in recent years.
He almost takes her by surprise, smashing her through several buildings when he extends Shinsō. She throws her sword up, knocking the blade off course and narrowly avoiding injury. When Gin calls it back, Ichigo narrows her eyes at him.
"Sneaky little bastard," she mutters, wiping sweat and dirt from her face. He hasn't managed to cut her yet, but she's starting to look a little beat up.
"You stopped that pretty well," Gin says, voice as sweet as can be. "Ya even managed to not make it look like a fluke."
"It wasn't a fluke, you jackass," she grumbles, narrowing her gaze at him. She wonders why Rangiku and Kira loved this man so much and, for a split second, wonders how mad Ran-chan will be if they fail to save him. Only for a second though; it's a fleeting thought that she bats away.
"I-Ichigo?"
Ichigo sends her father a flat look, "Mind your own fight, or haven't you noticed Aizen is doing something freaky over there?"
"Huh?" Isshin turns back to Aizen and lets out a startled noise at the first stage of transformation. "What the hell is that?"
"You're the one fighting him," Ichigo retorts. "You should know what's going on, you idiot!"
"None of this makes any sense!" Isshin defends. "I had no idea what was going on to begin with and then you came in flying in so I haven't made any progress!"
"I must say, the Hōgyoku is aptly named indeed," Aizen says, bringing their attention back to him. "This is undoubtedly the power to utterly obliterate the boundary between the ever-separate plains of the divine and the mortal."
Ichigo smirks to herself moments before she hears Benihime's cry, crimson slicing through the air and piercing through Aizen.
He slowly turns, his eyes leading the way, to see Kisuke perched on a building overlooking them, Benihime still in her cane form. "So you've finally arrived, Urahara Kisuke."
"It's been a long time, Aizen-san," Kisuke greets.
"One hundred years, I believe," Aizen replies smartly.
"That's a really extraordinary form," Kisuke replies, his face shrouded by his stupid hat.
"This is nothing, midway through evolution is always ugly," Aizen assures, the wound Kisuke inflicted closing over and disappearing altogether.
"Nobody said that you are ugly," Kisuke refutes. "It seems that you have finally fused with the Hōgyoku."
"This isn't fusion, please use the word 'subdue'," Aizen corrects, turning to face him directly. "The Hōgyoku you failed to master has just found its new master."
"Unable to master?" Kisuke's tone is indecipherable, but there's a trace of grim humor in his aura. Then, Kisuke always has had a dark sense of humor. "This is true. If you are talking about the past."
"The past? Aren't you going to admit defeat?" Aizen asks, just as unreadable. "No, that shouldn't be the question. Not anymore."
Aizen disappears in a flash and for all that she knows there's no reason to worry, Ichigo's breath stutters, her heart skipping in her chest, as he reappears in front of Kisuke, driving his sword through his chest.
"You have forever lost the chance to master the Hōgyoku," Aizen says, reiatsu radiating pride before it's suddenly replaced by surprise as Kisuke's form melts into that of a balloon and pops.
Kisuke appears behind Aizen, placing a hand against his back in a seemingly taunting touch. Aizen glances over his shoulder, reiatsu changing to irate chagrin mixed with bemusement as he realizes the ploy and Kisuke uses Rikujōkōrō to entrap him.
Kisuke retreats to a safe distance and Aizen smirks, following him with his gaze. "I've seen this device in Yammy's battle report. How careless of me. I never thought you would use such a cheap trick. So, what are you going to do with me now that you have me bound with such a flimsy Bakudō?"
"This flimsy Bakudō?" Kisuke echoes, full of wry amusement. "What makes you think I would settle for just this one? Bakudō 63: Sajō Sabaku! Bakudō 79: Kuyō Shibari!"
Multiple golden chains of light wrap around Aizen, entrapping him even as Kisuke activates the third, eight blackholes emitting a dark reiatsu form around Aizen with a ninth forming directly over is chest, immobilizing him as Kisuke begins the incantation for a fourth Kidō. Aizen's eyes widen as he recognizes the incantation, as ten points of energy glowing a mesmerizing pink surround Kisuke.
"Do you think I'll let you use such a Kidō?" Aizen says. "I can easily–"
"Too late," Kisuke cuts him off. "Hadō 91: Senjū Kōten Taihō!"
All ten energy points race at Aizen, a devastatingly brilliant explosion lighting the sky as they make impact. Everyone stands around, staring in awe at the sight, watching as the smoke clears away to reveal empty air.
"Aizen-san, it seems you became careless due to your newfound power," Kisuke says softly.
"You're right."
Aizen suddenly appears behind him, almost completely encased by the Hōgyoku. Kisuke whirls around at the voice but he's too slow.
"Too late," Aizen strikes out with nothing more than his hand, blood arching through the air as he cuts Kisuke. "I can be careless because there is no more need for me to be otherwise. I can feel the strength of the Hōgyoku in my body. My strength exceeds my older self. I'm now invincible, so I don't have the need to dodge level 90s Kidō anymore."
"You're mistaken. I'm not referring to the fact that you didn't dodge the Kidō," Kisuke clarifies. "I'm referring to the fact that the Aizen I knew would never have let me touch him twice unless it was part of his plan."
There's a golden flash around Aizen's wrists and he looks from them to Kisuke in shock. "These are…"
"They're seals," Kisuke answers, tilting his hat down to further cover his eyes. He's a devious little shit, but even he hates using tricks like these. It's partly because of how the person will die, but it's also because a part of him likes killing in this way, and he hates that he takes such joy from it. "They seal off the reiatsu vents that every Shinigami has in their wrists. You will be burned from within by your own reiatsu."
Aizen's reiatsu starts going crazy, circling around on itself as it's unable to vent and battling with the Hōgyoku that's attempting to rectify the situation. It soon becomes too much and there's an explosion near blinding in its intensity.
Kisuke lands by them, face still inscrutable.
"Urahara," Ichigo greets him solemnly, her eyes staying locked on where she senses Aizen.
"It's not over," Kisuke confirms. "It'd be lovely if something like that was the end of this, since that would mean he was just an ordinary monster."
"There's nothing ordinary about him," Ichigo sighs tiredly.
"Yes," Kisuke agrees just as wearily. "He will emerge shortly."