My admiration mounted as Aizen-sama held both adjuchas at bay without even releasing Kyoka Suigetsu.

Latrodecta was trying to be placating, but even a blind man – other than Tousen – could tell how furious Aizen-sama was. The spider-hollow said, "Now, Aizen-dono, you know he didn't mean anything by it-"

He interrupted coolly. "I don't know. Let me tell you what I do know." He began walking forward. "I know you owe me Las Noches. I know you allowed this man-whore to enslave you, blind you to my purpose, a purpose to which you had sworn yourself. I was going to make you great, Latrodecta, have you any idea what you threw away?"

I wondered why he said that; the spider was huge, but it didn't seem as if she was that powerful. Hesperus seemed more of a threat than that bloated eight-legged hollow. She was now scrambling, her legs waving in some form of crude defensive shield. Hesperus beside her was staggering. With a sudden hiss he burst into a patch of black smoke and swept past Aizen-sama towards us with deceptive speed.

"That, that was your great lover, the one you abandoned me for!" Aizen-sama pointed with his sword.

The black cloud collided with Tousen and smashed him into the wall before we could duck and cover. In a flash he had coalesced and gripped me about the neck, just tightly enough to cut off my air without incapacitating.

Your mistake.

He roared my captain's name. "Aizen Sousuke!"

Aizen-sama turned slightly in our direction. From my vantage point his expression was unreadable. I smiled. I knew how he would respond to the stupid threat this pathetic hollow was going to make. "Back off, Aizen, or I'll tear out the smooth white throat of your little ass-bitch."

"Go ahead, Hesperus. I can always find another lover," said Aizen-sama, his smile equally mocking as mine.

"Hesperus?" Latrodecta screeched, shaking. "Hesperus, save me!"

Fat chance.

My hand slid to my sword and I angled it blade point out. I choked out the release command. "Ikorose, Shinso."

My zanpakuto shot out and impaled Hesperus along the collarbone. He hissed in pain and fled back to Latrodecta's side.

"Bad aim, Gin," called Aizen-sama.

I shrugged. "Sorry 'bout that. His hide's thicker than I thought."

"Not a problem."He gestured and muttered a few lines. A glowing red web fell over Latrodecta, and the ensuing scream made my head hurt.

Her mate tried to rip the web apart, but his hands burned where they came into contact with the strands. "Let her go!"

Yeah. That'll work.

"Let me think... no." Aizen-sama lowered his sword. "Not until Las Noches is mine. You will clear the others out before you get her back."

Hesperus was stupid, but he wasn't an idiot. After a short pause, he dropped his jaw and ripped off Latrodecta's head.

She didn't even have time to scream.

Aizen-sama sheathed his sword. I frowned. What was he doing?

"Very decisive," he praised the adjuchas.

"At least now she'll always be a part of me." Ichor was dripping down Hesperus's front.

Aizen-sama raised his voice. "And I can now trust you to claim all of Las Noches?"

"I will. But not for you." Hesperus seemed to pulse and enlarge. "Never for you."

"We will see. For now, we will go." Aizen-sama swept around majestically, with a secretive smile on his face.

Tousen scrambled to his feet. I was a little anxious: he was leaving like this?

"Hesperus, I'll see you in a few months. You have work to do," Aizen-sama said as we strode out the complex. He was bringing up the rear.

"I'll be waiting for you," he answered, his voice reverberating.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXx

I listened intently as Tousen asked the questions I had in my head. But something was worrying me. I said quietly, "He'll be even more powerful a few months later, Aizen-sama. I'd say he'll be near vasto lorde standard. It'll be very difficult to defeat him."

"I know."

I went on. "Why did you keep the spider around anyway? She was weak."

"She was, but Latrodecta alone out of all the hollows in Hueco Mundo could reproduce. And each of her spawn was the spiritual equivalent of a normal human – and she spawned hundreds at a time."

So she could have sustained the reiatsu growth of dozens of hollows – endlessly? No wonderhe selected her.

After Tousen left Aizen-sama patted me on my shoulder. "It was good of you to speak up for me in there, Gin."

"It was nothing, Aizen-sama."

He chuckled and stroked my hair. "Now focus on your wedding, Ichimaru."

My heart sank. "Yes taichou."