Yamada raised an eyebrow. "That's easier said than done. There's not a whole lot I can do, but Sousuke probably has something up his sleeve already."
A mysterious smile crossed Aizen's face. "One cannot simply overpower him. It is easy enough, however, to outsmart him. Outsmarting Jugram Haschwalth, however, could prove more difficult."
Yamada's curiosity was piqued. "Does that mean you already have a plan to outsmart Yhwach?"
"Possibly. Let us just say that...he is not completely aware of the extent of my ability."
"Ooh, scary," Yamada said with a chuckle. Turning to Askin, he dropped the playful facade. "Were you followed here?"
"No one else has been around but me and my men. Their loyalty is to me, not to Yhwach-sama."
"That doesn't exactly inspire confidence, Quincy." With that, Yamada pushed past Askin and surveyed the area outside the door. Satisfied that there were no other Quincy around, he closed the door.
"I told you, demon lord. Now are you going to help or not? Our interests...intersect, after all."
"You're going to give me a complex if you keep calling me that," Yamada said blithely. "More importantly, it's not really my help you want, is it?" He turned to Aizen, who had been observing quietly. "Sousuke? What do you think?"
Aizen sighed quietly. "One question for you, Askin Nakk Le Varr. What is your ability?"
"Well...I'm not supposed to tell YOU. But I guess I can say I'm Sternritter D."
"And D stands for...?"
"Let's just say that I'm more like the demon lord here than like you."
"Do you always speak in riddles, Quincy? Answer my question directly."
"Oh, all right. I did come to you, after all. D stands for 'Death Dealing.'"
"Go on." Aizen was beginning to lose patience.
"Now why would I want to tell you all my secrets?"
"Remember one thing, Askin Nakk Le Varr. You solicited this conversation, not I. If you do not intend to answer my questions, then you will leave this instant. If you do so, however, I cannot guarantee your safety."
"I'd start talking if I were you, Quincy," Yamada added. His blue-gray eyes hardened. "Otherwise, my sword may find its way to your throat." Before Askin could respond, Yamada pointed at him and murmured, "Way of Binding #61: Six-Rod Light Prison."
"What's this for?" Askin snapped.
With an almost feline expression, Yamada replied, "I don't trust you. That's all. Now, you were about to tell us what 'death dealing' means...?"
"Uh, no, I wasn't."
"You sure you want to smart off to me like that?" Yamada pointed at him again and gave him a menacing glare.
"I have to keep SOMETHING up my sleeve, don't I?"
Yamada tightened the kido spell. "You don't understand your position. You came here. You don't GET to hold any of the cards."
"You ARE a demon."
"You'd better believe it. Now talk."
"Wait a moment, Yamada," Aizen said thoughtfully. He narrowed his eyes and cast a scheming glance at Askin. "You told us that Yhwach used Auswahlen on most of your comrades."
"Yeah. What about it?" Strangely, he was relieved to not be dealing with Yamada.
"I know that Yhwach uses that spell on those Quincy that he finds expendable."
Askin sighed. "I'm pretty sure I know where you're going with this, Master Aizen."
"He clearly did not find you expendable. I want to know why."
Yamada looked smugly at Askin. "It's a reasonable question, Quincy. I'd answer if I were you."
Askin glared at the two nemeses, who were working surprisingly well together. "You won't leave this alone, will you?"
"Nope," Yamada told him. "And here you went and got me interested in this 'death dealing' business. So disappointing."
"If you expect my assistance, Askin Nakk Le Varr, do you not think it would be prudent to cooperate with me?" Aizen added. "After all, I would prefer that you NOT use this 'death dealing' on me."
Askin sighed wearily and nodded toward his subordinates. "Those guys are out cold, right?"
"Or dead," Yamada said eerily. His eyes glittered as he motioned toward the corpses he had defeated. "Way of Destruction #54: Abolishing Flame." In seconds, the corpses were obliterated, not leaving even a fragment of ash or clothing.
"Yamada, what are you doing?" Aizen demanded. "Are you trying to destroy the dojo?"
"Relax, Sousuke. I only used it on the dead ones. As you can see, the wall's not even charred." He chuckled blithely. "You think I'd do that if I thought I'd ruin things?"
"Actually, I would not put it past you."
Askin cleared his throat. "Uh, excuse me, you two. It's all right if I talk now, right?"
"Yes, that would be advisable," Aizen replied.
Askin looked around him nervously. "Well, Master Aizen, since you already know about Auswahlen, I'll get right to the point."
"It's about time," Yamada muttered.
Askin continued. "You noticed it yourself. I told you Yhwach-sama is trying to establish his own kingdom here in Soul Society."
"Yes. Go on."
"He took several of us with him to the Royal Realm."
Aizen tried to conceal his growing concern, but he simply said, "Then what happened?"
"Anyhow, I'm the newest member of what he calls his 'elite guard.' It surprised me, too."
"That explains why he did not consider you expendable. What happened in the Royal Realm?"
"He sent us to fight the Royal Guard. Lille Barro, Sternritter X, shot down the tree of life."
Aizen's eyes widened. He hoped Hikifune was all right.
"We didn't have any trouble with Senjumaru. Kirinji and Hikifune teamed up against us, but we defeated them too."
"Continue, please."
"Then the sword guy, Nimaiya, told us all to come at him at once. But his sword was too much for the other Elite Guard members. I was the only one who survived, and that's only 'cause I dodged part of his attack."
"So then..."
"That's when Yhwach used Auswahlen. Most of the guys on the ground got caught up in it. I don't know if anyone escaped."
"I see. So Yhwach and the other 'non-expendable' Quincy benefited from this, I presume."
"Of course. That's why he uses Auswahlen. The other Elite Guards were brought back to life, and I wasn't near death anymore."
"And what of the Royal Guard?" He desperately hoped Hikifune was still alive and well.
"I don't know. Once they were all down for the count, we just went on to where the Soul King was."
"So explain this 'death dealing.' I imagine that you attempted to use it on the Royal Guard."
Askin waxed philosophical. "Those with power wish they didn't have it. Those without power wish they did have it."
Yamada pointed at Askin again. "Enough with the psychology lessons. Or do you like my kido that much?"
"All right, all right! Stop pointing at me already." He turned his face toward Aizen and looked him in the eye. "Master Aizen, I tried it only once. That was on Nimaiya."
"That does not explain exactly what 'death dealing' is. Perhaps Yamada needs to be a bit more...persuasive."
"Uh...no, thanks. Anyhow, where was I? Oh, yeah... I can turn any fluid into a deadly substance and decide how much of it is necessary to kill my opponent. So if I decided to make water a deadly substance, I'd simply have to expose my opponent to water. Naturally, I'd make the 'death dealing' level low, like a drop or something. But once my opponent is exposed to the fluid I chose, it's only a matter of time before he dies."
Yamada's eyes glinted. "Fascinating... And you used this on Nimaiya?"
"I tried. But he teamed up with Kirinji to heal himself after I used 'death dealing' on him. Otherwise he'd be dead."
"And you know what'll happen if you try to use it on anyone here, right?" Yamada asked, cracking his knuckles and staring Askin straight in the eye.
"I wish you'd quit that staring stuff, demon lord."
Aizen cleared his throat. "Yamada...if he tries anything, you are welcome to perform experiments on him to your heart's delight."
"Oh, believe me, Sousuke, I had already intended to."
"What have I gotten myself into?" Askin muttered to himself.
Yamada, ever alert, stood up and walked to the door. "I think they're back, Sousuke. I'd like to...brief...them." He stepped outside.
"All right. Askin Nakk Le Varr, do you not realize that you have endangered both yourself and your men by coming here? Furthermore, if you were followed here, you have endangered everyone here. You benefited from the Auswahlen. Presently, you are in Yhwach's good graces. What would possess you to risk that to come here and solicit my assistance?"
"The demon lord isn't around, is he? That guy's creepy."
"Yamada is directly outside the door."
"Seeing Yhwach-sama taking in all those little Mimihagi bug-looking things from the Soul King creeped me out. He had about seven of them on his head. He looked like a monster."
"Ah, yes. I destroyed my share of those creatures with a Kurohitsugi."
"Wasn't that overkill?"
"I was bound to a chair at the time."
"I'm not sure who's more terrifying, you or the demon lord."
"If you are here soliciting my assistance, then would you not say that Yhwach terrifies you more than Yamada or I?"
"He wants to destroy everything and rebuild his kingdom anew. I was there when the bottom fell out in the room of the Soul King. But Haschwalth...that guy's so stoic. 'His Majesty' this, 'His Majesty' that. He never even blinked when Yhwach-sama ended up with just one of those Mimihagi eye things. His own eyes disappeared. And all Haschwalth did was bow down and show even more loyalty, if that's possible."
"So tell me about Haschwalth. I know that he is quite the sycophant. What is the exact nature of his relationship to Yhwach?"
Askin wrinkled his nose and tried to think. "Haschwalth might not look it, but he's a lot older than me. I'm 25. He's about as old as the demon lord. I guess I'd say Haschwalth's the moon and Yhwach-sama's the sun. Haschwalth's the grandmaster of the Sternritter, you know. He's 'B.' But even I don't know what 'B' stands for. I thought it was 'Balance Bringer,' but no one really talks about it, including him."
"So how is Haschwalth the moon if Yhwach is the sun?"
Askin took a deep breath and looked pensively at Aizen. "You know that Yhwach-sama was asleep for a long time, right?"
"Yes. That is, I believe, one reason he did not attack Hueco Mundo while I was there."
"Anyhow, during that time, Haschwalth had all of Yhwach-sama's power. He was ruling the Vandenreich while Yhwach-sama slept."
"This is interesting indeed. I do not understand, however, what his influence on Yhwach is at present, when both are awake."
"I don't know either. I told you, I'm one of the youngest Sternritter. He and Bazz-B do have some kind of history, but I'm not sticking my nose in that business."
"I see. You have been...most helpful."
"So can you release me from this technique? I answered your questions."
"Wait a while longer. Stay where you are." He went to the door and opened it slightly. A startled Yamada jumped back.
"Sousuke! Don't pull the door back when I'm trying to listen in!"
"You are impossible, Yamada. Where are the others?"
Yamada cupped his hands around his mouth. "Come over here, you two." In a few seconds, Yuiko and Ichigo were at the doorstep, studying Aizen curiously.
"Is it all right for us to go in now?" Yuiko wondered. "We brought Aunt Sachiko, but she's sitting over there in the garden. I'll take her to the side entrance."
"Sounds good," Yamada agreed. "Just be sure to let Yume out of the west meditation room. We put her there to keep her safe. Ichigo, you're coming with us." He turned to Aizen. "I've brought him up to speed."
A surprised Ichigo followed the two former Shinigami officers inside. He was none too happy to see Askin, though. "You! I'd punch you in the jaw if Yamada hadn't explained things to me."
Askin sighed. "Now I have to put up with you? The demon lord was bad enough."
"Oh, Ichigo, you can still punch him in the mouth if he tries anything," Yamada told him with mock solemnity.
"So we're helping you?" Ichigo wondered.
"You'd have to ask these two," Askin told him, giving Aizen and Yamada a sidelong glance.
"Come over here and sit down," Aizen told Yamada and Ichigo. "Askin Nakk Le Varr is going to tell you what he told me about Jugram Haschwalth." He peered intently at the Quincy. "Leave nothing out."
Askin took a breath and repeated the information he had given Aizen.
"I'm curious," Ichigo began. "Where does Ishida fit in?"
"I don't know. Yhwach-sama knew that appointing that boy his successor would make a lot of people angry. I can't understand why he did it."
"Ishida... Is he just a tool for Yhwach?"
"I told you, I don't know. I'm not much older than he is. He's so serious, but he's also really sad. He hasn't cracked a smile since Yhwach-sama introduced him to all of us."
Ichigo pounded the floor with a fist. "What the hell was Ishida thinking? Why is he at Yhwach's side?"
"You're friends with him, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then why don't you already know the answer to that?"
"I...don't even know."
"Then maybe you two weren't such great friends after all. At least I don't pretend I'm someone's friend, and then not even try to understand him."
"I don't need a lecture from you."
"I hate to agree with him, Ichigo, but he's right," Yamada said, dropping all pretense of mischief. "You figure out what type of person Ishida is, and you'll figure out what he's trying to do."
"I must be pretty pathetic if I'm having to get advice from you two," Ichigo sighed.
"That aside," Aizen interjected smoothly, "I think it would be useful to know about the other members of Yhwach's elite guard."
"Yeah, I'm kind of tired of this after-school special stuff," Askin answered. "I'm the newest member, so I don't know how much I can tell you."
"Then tell me their abilities. How many other members are there? Tell me everything you do know."
"And we mean everything," Yamada added threateningly.
"Oh, come on, demon lord. Quit with the intimidation tactics already. I'll tell you what I've seen for myself." With that, he told Aizen the names and abilities of everyone in the Elite Four, including personality types and weapons used.
"That information should be useful in planning a strategy," Aizen thought aloud. "I am not sure, however, how you expect me to fight Yhwach, the Elite Guard, Ishida Uryuu, and Jugram Haschwalth all at once. Or am I supposed to run a gauntlet?"
"What, isn't he coming with you?" He nodded in Ichigo's direction.
"His role in this fight has not yet been determined," Aizen answered vaguely. He gave Ichigo a warning glance.
"I want to at least see Ishida," Ichigo told him. "He doesn't belong with Yhwach."
"We all are in agreement, then, that Yhwach must be stopped," Aizen concluded.
"Yeah, I thought that was pretty obvious," Yamada replied. He turned to Askin. "It's time for you and your guys to leave. I don't think it's a good idea for you to come back. You don't want anyone to get suspicious. Sousuke, an illusion, if you would."
"Close your eyes, Kurosaki Ichigo," Aizen said softly.
Then, much to Askin's relief, Yamada released him from the Six-Rod Light Prison. "Right this way, guys," he announced, leading a confused Askin and the Soldats out of the temple.
After several minutes, Aizen let Ichigo open his eyes. "We woke the subordinates up, but we made them think they were in the forest. They do not remember anything that happened here."
"I guess we should get to Yuiko-kun and her aunt now," Yamada remarked. "And I'm sure Yume's not happy about being locked in the meditation room for so long."
