"Aizen? You've been in the bath a long time." Ichigo's question roused Aizen from his reverie. Aizen's fingertips were wrinkly and painful from being in the water so long.

"You need not worry about me, Kurosaki Ichigo. My mind tends to wander when I sit in the bath. If you would avert your eyes, please..." He climbed carefully out of the bath and wrapped the towel around himself. "If you will accompany me to the locker room, I would like you to update me on the status of your training."

Ichigo said nothing until they were both in the locker room. Aizen quickly dried off and changed into the blue outfit Chiaki had sent. "We are returning to Aunt Mitsuko's," he declared suddenly.

"I thought you wanted me to tell you how my training was going," Ichigo protested.

"Get my items out of the office, and bring them to me. We are leaving."

"But I don't understand! Tell me what's going on!"

"You will understand soon enough,"Aizen said, quiet desperation in his eyes. "You should retrieve my items, and then we will talk about your training on the way back."

"But what about training with Master Yasuda?"

"Kurosaki Ichigo. You ask too many questions. Do what I have asked you, and then I will answer your questions. Now go!" Aizen's mind raced with thoughts, but they were all a jumble.

Shaking his head, Ichigo reluctantly went to retrieve the items he and Yuiko had brought from town. He was stopped by Master Yasuda, who had a strange expression on his face.

"What are you doing, Ichigo-kun?" Master Yasuda asked in a low voice. "Training isn't over yet."

"Aizen asked me to bring him the stuff we picked up for him in town."

"Did he, now?"

"Yeah, but I don't know what he wants. He probably just wants a rice ball or something."

"Why don't I go talk to him myself," the priest murmured. Something about his voice seemed strange to Ichigo, but he kept his thoughts to himself.

Aizen couldn't imagine what was taking Ichigo so long. But when he stood up to look for the boy, a sharp pain surged through his back. "This again?" Aizen wondered irritably. What was this? He couldn't walk. Reaching for a bench, he sat down, willing his uncooperative legs to move. But his legs remained motionless as he collapsed.

"Took long enough for those muscle relaxers to kick in," he heard Master Yasuda say. He couldn't believe it, but he guessed he deserved it.

"Muscle relaxers?" Ichigo demanded. "Just what are you trying to do?"

"I...realized the truth of things," Master Yasuda intoned.

"What 'truth of things'?" Ichigo thundered. "Stop talking in riddles and tell me why you gave Aizen muscle relaxers."

"It's simple, really. I sought out his birth father, Heitarou, to learn the other side of the story. And Heitarou's story made more sense to me."

"Aizen told you he was abused. Mitsuko-san told you he was abused. What doesn't make sense about that?"

"Heitarou is my nephew. I simply think it's wrong to drag his name through the mud. If he beat Sousuke, it's because he had it coming."

"WHAT?"

"And looking at how Sousuke turned out, it seems I was right. He killed my sister, after all. And you said yourself that he nearly destroyed your hometown. How can you still want to learn from him?"

"All this time you were pretending to want to help him. Even after I told you what's going on with Soul Society, you want to take Aizen out of commission?"

"Heitarou was right...my sister was right...it would have been better for everyone if Sousuke had never existed."

"You asked me why I wanted to learn from him. I'll tell you. I've never seen a fighter as graceful and intelligent as Aizen. He interested me a lot more than you did."

"Watch your mouth."

"Even I admit that Aizen has done a lot of horrible things. I haven't forgiven him. But I can at least try to understand him."

"How can you want to understand someone like Sousuke? He brings destruction wherever he goes. It was painful to be in the same room with him."

"Does Yuiko-san know about this?"

"No. But her schoolgirl crush on Sousuke was perfect for my plans. If anyone asked, she's the one who massaged him with the oil. She gave him the green tea, too. That's where the muscle relaxers were."

"You made her do your dirty work?"

"It's not my fault she found Sousuke attractive. I purposely put chemicals in the oil that I knew would cause an anaphylactic reaction for Sousuke. Why do you think I kept pressuring him to keep his shirt off and let Yuiko massage him?

"So you don't care what happens to Soul Society so long as you get your revenge on Aizen?"

"That's pretty much it," Master Yasuda said smugly.

"Uncle Kouji! Is that true?" the distressed voice of Yuiko called from the doorway. "You used me to harm Master Aizen?"

"I did what I had to."

"I can't believe this! How could you?"

"Don't you understand? Sousuke is a bad person. He has to pay for his sins."

"You don't get to decide that."

"Sousuke may have been a gentle and kind little boy, but he's always been a monster."

"I've heard enough," Ichigo said in a low, dangerous voice. "Now I know why he wanted to leave. He knew something was up."

"He was always too smart for his own good. But it's too late for him now."

Ichigo gave Yuiko a sidelong glance. She tried to leave, but her uncle said sharply, "You're not going anywhere, Yuiko."

She ignored him and ran out of the dojo to town, desperately hoping that the worst wouldn't happen.

"Now, to deal with you, boy," Master Yasuda hissed.

"I wondered why you sent Aizen away for so long. You didn't even teach me anything."

"The water in the bath was poisoned just enough to interact with the muscle relaxers. Why do you think I tried to stop you when you kept trying to check on him?"

"I guess you really can't know someone. I expected better of you. Aizen trusted you with his life."

"Too bad for him. But he's just getting what he deserves. You said yourself that he betrayed the Shinigami."

"What Aizen did was wrong. I understand that. What I don't understand is why you think your vendetta is more important than saving Soul Society from total annihilation."

"There are others with Sousuke's level of power who can stop this 'destruction' you speak of. Sousuke is hardly indispensable."

"Then why did the Captain-Commander himself free Aizen? He thinks Soul Society needs Aizen's power."

"You would know that better than I would."

"You can't answer me?"

"There's someone I want you to meet...Come on out, Heitarou."

Ichigo wasn't sure what he expected to see, but he knew he wasn't expecting a black-haired man with glasses who looked more like a office worker than an intimidating presence. Heitarou was a sharp-featured man with cold blue eyes, thin lips, and a pointy chin. It was obvious that Aizen had gotten his good looks from his mother.

"How long I have waited to see you, Sousuke," Heitarou began with a self-satisfied smirk. "Nothing brings me greater delight than seeing you lying there, powerless and suffering. Where are your fogs now, Sousuke?"

"Wow...you're a creep," Ichigo blurted out. "Glad you're not my dad."

"This monster, this aberration cost me so much money. I almost got run out of town because this...creature...couldn't control those blasted fogs. Beating him didn't work. I finally had to just disown him to get him out of my life and have some sort of normalcy. I didn't deserve any of it. And then his mother wouldn't shut up about him. That low-class idiot actually tried to kill herself because she missed him so much. I wouldn't have had her locked up if she'd have just let go and quit clinging to a pipe dream of seeing him again."

"You're a piece of work. What do you want, anyway?"

"I told you...just seeing Sousuke pay for ruining everything for me is enough. In fact...I think I'll get a bladed sword from the kendo equipment and kill him myself. He won't feel a thing. Bye-bye, Sousuke."

"How do I stop him?" Ichigo thought to himself. "He's not a Shinigami. And Master Yasuda is a martial-arts expert. What do I do? Think, Ichigo!"

Heitarou came back with an epee. "This should do it. One good thrust through the chest."

"You have to take that gem out of his chest first," Master Yasuda pointed out. "He's immortal so long as that's there."

"Ah, thank you for telling me that," Heitarou said. "Die, Sousuke!" With the epee, he tried to pry the Hogyouku from Aizen's chest. Aizen, still unconscious, felt nothing.

"STOP!" Ichigo screamed. "There has to be a better way."

"You're right," Heitarou sneered. "I should wake him up and let him feel the pain.'

"No! That's enough!" yelled Ichigo.

As Heitarou raised a hand to smack Aizen across the face to wake him up, Yuiko ran in front of him. "No, uncle! You can't do this!"

"Out of my way!" Heitarou backhanded her across the face, just as he had done with Yume and Aunt Mitsuko.

Ichigo leaped up and punched Heitarou in the jaw. "You would hit a girl who's smaller than you?"

Master Yasuda gave Yuiko a warning look. "Sit down, girl. Don't interfere again."

Yuiko tried to hold back tears as she moved to stand next to Ichigo. "Help is coming," she whispered quickly.

"What are you saying over there, Yuiko?" the priest demanded.

"I just asked Ichigo-kun if he was all right," Yuiko lied, hoping her uncle would believe her.

"Now, where were we?" asked Heitarou, cracking his knuckles and glaring at the unconscious Aizen.

"That's your own son!" Ichigo screamed. "What kind of father are you?"

"He's my shame. He is no son of mine. He will die here and now."

A scream came from outside the doorway, "No! No!"

Ichigo and Yuiko turned toward the doorway to see a small, brown-haired woman in a yukata. "Not hurt my Sousuke!" she screamed.

Somehow, Ichigo knew this was Aizen's mother. He couldn't figure out what such a beautiful woman could possibly have seen in Heitarou. Somehow, her quiet courage and her protectiveness reminded him of his own mother, Masaki.

Heitarou glared viciously at the woman. "What are YOU doing here, Yume? I should have killed you instead of locking you up." He balled his right hand into a fist and bounded toward her, ready to hit her. But before he could connect, he sank to the ground.

The next thing anyone saw was a small, dark-haired man releasing his arm from around Heitarou's neck. Presently a terrifying crack was heard. Heitarou stopped breathing. As Yume stroked Aizen's hair, the dark-haired man turned his focus to Master Yasuda, steadily releasing reiatsu as he approached the priest. His gaze was ghastly.

"Yamada Seinousuke...you dare to show your face here?" Master Yasuda spat.

"You and Heitarou just tried to kill Sousuke. I'm just glad Yuiko-kun found us when she did. I don't even want to imagine how upset Yume would be if I let anything happen to Sousuke."

"You..."

"Heitarou was rotten to the core. Both he and your precious sister were abusing Yume. Do you think Yume would have given Heitarou the time of day if his mommy hadn't threatened her?"

"I don't believe you," Master Yasuda snapped.

Ignoring the interruption, Yamada continued. "I tried to get him arrested for corruption, but it didn't work. At least he went to jail for abusing Yume. I was all too happy to testify against him for that."

"Seems you had your own vendetta, Yamada."

Yamada shrugged. "Your dear sister and her worthless son weren't getting away with making Yume miserable if I had anything to say about it. I just wish Sousuke had been the one to make Heitarou pay...for everything."

Ichigo was afraid to interrupt, but he cleared his throat anyway. "Yamada-san...are you any relation to Hanatarou?"

"Oh yeah. He's my little brother. How's he doing?"

"He's the third seat of Squad 4 now."

"That's good to hear. I haven't seen him in years." His eyes clouded over.

"Are you a healer, then?"

"Yep. Used to be lieutenant of Squad 4."

"Then can you heal Aizen? He's got all sorts of muscle relaxers and stuff in his system."

Yamada glared at Master Yasuda. "What did you think you'd accomplish by working with Heitarou to kill Sousuke?"

"Can't you see? He's too dangerous."

"Soul Society is on the brink of destruction, and you're more worried about revenge? What type of idiot are you?"

"Yamada-san, can you talk to him later?" asked Ichigo. "Aizen's been unconscious for a long time now."

"Yeah. But first..." Yamada cast Bakudo #1: Sai on Master Yasuda. The priest's arms locked behind him.

Yume was crying softly. "My Sousuke..."

Her husband turned and patted her arm gently. "It's OK, Yume-love. I'm going to help Sousuke. Just think how surprised he's going to be when he finds out I'm his stepfather now." He turned to Ichigo. "Keep an eye on the priest there. If he tries anything, clock him one." With his focus now on Aizen, Yamada began a high-level healing technique.

Even with Yamada's level of expertise, it took several hours before Aizen began to stir. Yamada smirked deviously at Master Yasuda and then made a circular motion with his arm. Soon, the priest was writhing in pain, screaming, "Curse you, Yamada!" Finally, he passed out.

"So what did you just do?" Ichigo wondered.

"Oh, I just transferred all the pain he and Heitarou inflicted on Sousuke back to him. Sousuke shouldn't be in any pain now. He's going to need time to recover. You and Yuiko-kun should go to his house and update Ms. Hoshino. Yume and I are staying here with Sousuke."

Ichigo looked closely at Yume. "You must be Aizen's mother. He looks just like you."

She tilted her head and looked at him quizzically. "Not know you."

"I don't either," Yamada admitted.

Ichigo introduced himself to them and explained why he was with Aizen. Yume seemed to understand, but Yamada was troubled. "Sousuke needs time to recover. He can't train you, obviously. You need to tell the captain-commander what happened. I can't train you until Sousuke's awake and alert. But you can't sit around waiting for him or for me. Keep working on whatever Sousuke was trying to train you with. That's all you can do right now."

Yume nodded gravely as she looked at her unconscious only child. "Wake up, my Sousuke. Sei-kun...help you."