Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or anything to do with the franchise... but Saya (and her love for Ukitake!) belongs to me!
"Forgive me, Urahara-taicho, but I am new to your squad and I am nervous about performing my duties well for you. I haven't made any friends yet. I'm kind of shy. Please, would Captain mind if I spent some time in here with him tonight? I promise not to get in the way. I'll sit in the corner and be quiet if you want. But I feel lonely, and if maybe Captain would let me stay here, if only for a little while, I would feel better about being in your squad."
Saya was staring at the back of Urahara Kisuke, smirking slightly to herself. Baka, she thought. How many times have I come here and you don't recognize my spiritual pressure? Or are you just playing dumb?
"What did you say your name was again?" Urahara asked, still standing with his back to Saya.
Maybe he does suspect something? But he's acting clueless. Maybe I did do a good enough job masking my spiritual pressure.
"Is Urahara-taicho working on something important? You seem to be taking great care to not let me see."
Urahara turned to look over his shoulder at the young lady. "Oh nothing really, something to amuse myself is all."
Saya didn't say anything else, and for the next hour she only watched Kisuke work with the small, harmless looking orb. Every two minutes or so, she would notice Kisuke looking towards the window through which she usually entered. Although she found this amusing, Saya was annoyed that he hadn't stopped with the experiments she found inappropriate.
This captain is too careless. Why would one need a gigai that cannot be tracked by the Soul Society? And another that actually steals away a shinigami's reitsu. What is the point and why does he feel the need for such a creation? What is he up to? Is it mere curiosity or does he have something much more dangerous in mind? Not to mention, he allowed that dangerous Kurotsuchi Mayuri to be released from the Maggot's Nest. Now he has that damn orb too. He's been hesitant to tell me the details of what it can actually do, but from what I've gathered, it may have something to do with 'Hollowfication.' Father was right to have me keep an eye on this one. Though I have to admit, he doesn't seem treacherous in anyway, but his actions are cause for concern. Either way, I'll have to thank Oto-san for tipping me off about him. But, I've grown found of Urahara-san, it'd be a shame if he turned out to be nothing more than a deceitful coward.
Saya watched as Urahara once again turned his attention to the window. She wasn't sure, but Saya thought he might look a little disappointed that she wasn't coming through it.
It seems he hasn't found my visits to be bothersome. I have enjoyed them as well, but this will be the last time that I come. I don't want to be involved in the mess anymore, and Oto-san has all the information anyway, so he can step in if Urahara-taicho does something out of line.
"Captain, why do you keep looking up at the window? Are you expecting a visitor or something?"
"Oh, no. I'm not expecting anyone." Kisuke lied.
"She won't come to you tonight." Saya stood up and began walking to the door.
"Who are you talking about?" Urahara stiffened a little, but didn't turn around. How could this new recruit know about his visitor anyway?
"Your friend. She won't come to you anymore. She asked you to stop with your experiments, to stop making that orb and specialized gigai, but you didn't listen to her. Dangerous objects like that attract dangerous people and dangerous deeds. Please destroy it."
Saya had made it to the doorway, but stopped when Urahara spoke.
"What did you say your name was again?"
Saya stopped at the threshold and looked over her shoulder at the blonde man staring at her with curious eyes. She smirked. "You may call me, Ichijin."
Saya didn't give the captain any time to respond, and immediately flashed away from the twelfth division and towards the lower districts of Rukongai.
"If anyone finds out that I revealed my face to a member of the Gotei Thirteen, a captain no less, I'm sure to receive a severe punishment." Saya said to Kamikaze as she slowed down her flash steps. Her kimono was not suited for running.
"You reveal your face to your father." Kamikaze mused.
"Yes, but I don't think that really counts. Of course I could trust my father with my identity. He'd be in trouble too, anyway. It's forbidden that he and my mother should have even met, let alone continued their secret affair. He'd be in much more trouble than myself if anyone knew."
"I see, so you both keep each other's secrets."
"Haha, what a perfect father, daughter relationship, ne?" Saya said sarcastically. "One in which deception is key. How cruel to have such a kind father, yet I can't even acknowledge him."
"Yes, I think that your mother fell in love with a good man. He has put himself at great risk to continue to have a relationship with you as well."
"I don't think there is a man out there as wonderful as my father."
"Ah, spoken like a true daughter." Kamikaze laughed.
Saya's smirk returned as she continued to towards the seventy-eighth district of Rukongai.
"Damn kimono." Saya sighed and slowed to a normal walking pace. She watched as her surroundings slowly grew more dilapidated and the people she passed looked deprived, malnourished, and miserable. Others looked rough, as if they were ready for a fight any time, anywhere. For the most part, Saya ignored the suffering, and concentrated on not getting her kimono dirty from the mud in the streets.
Although it had taken a while to get there, Saya finally entered the dingy pub in which she would be meeting her father. One look around told her that she had dressed far too nicely for the establishment.
"And I tried so hard to choose something modest too. I still look an aristocrat who lost her way. But father always likes it when I wear pink."
"Forget that, Saya-sama, I wish you hadn't left my zanpakuto form with your father, even if he is bringing it with him when he comes. I don't like for you to be without it."
"There's no reason for you to fear. Look, the place is almost completely deserted, save for the barman and the one customer." Saya said as she walked to a private, corner booth. "Father should be here any minute and I can take of myself."
Saya sat in the corner booth, facing the door so that she could see her father when he entered. The wooden bench was hard and rough, as was the table. Saya ran her fingertips over the grooves and knots in the worn wood.
"I know that we have to meet in places like this so no one will notice me or recognize him, but honestly, does it have to be some place so far away from the Sereitei? And does it always have to be so… humble?"
Saya heard Kamikaze chuckle from the back of her mind. "I think you meant to say 'poor,' didn't you?"
Saya tutted and crossed her arms, which just seemed to amuse her zanpakuto even more. At hearing the creaky door swing open, Saya dropped her pout and smiled brightly at the man approaching her. He ran a hand through his wavy brown hair and pushed his glasses up further on his nose.
"Hello, Oto-san!" Saya stood and wrapped her arms around her father. He patted her head like he often did.
"Good evening, Saya-chan. How are you?" He asked with a smile.
"Well, thank you. And yourself?"
"All things seem to be going my way."
Saya and her father sat down in the booth and ordered some plum sake.
"What new fads is Hirako-taicho into these days?"
Saya saw her father smirk a little to himself. "He's been listening to this new type of music called 'jazz.'"
"Sounds interesting. I'm sure I could send a servant to bring me back some." Saya said absently as she sipped her sake.
Her father's deep brown eyes gazed at her for a moment. "It doesn't seem all that trendy to me."
"Yes, but you always say that and Hirako-taicho usually is up to date with the latest trends and fads that happen in the real world, along with the trends and fads of the Sereitei. He's a fashionable guy, not matter how you look at it. At least, it seems that way to me. Having never really met him, I don't really know."
"Yes, well, he seems to think the same way you do. In that I'm neither cool or hip."
Saya smiled at her father. "It's because you're a father and fathers aren't supposed to be concerned with such matters. You don't have to be trendy, Oto-san, I'll love you whether you're trendy or not."
Saya was rewarded with a kind smile. "Thank you, Saya-chan."
Saya smiled too. She loved her father's smile, kind voice, and warm actions. Ever since she first met him, she admired him above all others.
"Any news from the twelfth division?"
Saya shook her head. "Urahara-taicho hasn't ceased with his experiments. He has developed this orb, I think it might have the ability to distort the lines between shinigami and hollows. A terrible thing, really. I had asked him to destroy it, but he hasn't. But I won't be visiting him again. You have all the information that I have collected over the years, so now you should be able to offer up any knowledge if he proves treacherous in anyway."
"That's good of you to have kept your eye on him. Please leave the rest to me." He said with a smirk.
Saya shrugged. "Just doing my duty, Oto-san. Besides, you're the one that warned me about him."
"Speaking of duties, how are you doing?"
"Well, I think. I know mom was a better 'Saya' than I am, but I'm still learning. I always try to carryout any orders he gives me. My purpose in this life is to ensure his safety, so that is what I do." Saya looked up to see her father smiling at her, but his eyes had taken on an odd glint.
"You will always be loyal to the king?"
"Of course. But that doesn't mean I don't love Oto-san!" She said in a sing-song voice and a cheesy smile.
"But you will first be loyal to him, correct?"
Saya opened her eyes and stared at her father, she wasn't really sure why he was asking such a question. "I suppose so, yes. We are talking about my grandfather, and my life's duty, so… of course I will always be loyal to him. He may be... what he is... but he is also my grandfather who is kind to me and dotes on me. I love him very much as well."
"I thought so, you're a good girl, Saya-chan." He reached acrossed the table to pat her on the head.
"I suppose that would go for any king though, correct? Your great uncle is next in line, yes?" His brown eyes darted across the room, making sure that no one was eavesdropping on their conversation, not that it mattered. He had already hypnotized the barman and the other customer, they were under his complete control.
Saya nodded. "Because grandfather never produced a male heir to his line. But yes, I would be just as loyal to my uncle." Saya furrowed her brow slightly. She had never had this kind of conversation with her father before. Why was he asking such things?
"Saya-chan, what if I were the king?"
Saya blinked a few times in confusion. "Huh?"
"What if I became the king?" He asked again, an odd smile edging at the corner of his lips.
"Well, if it were possible, then I suppose I would be thrilled that Oto-san were king and I could protect him. But since it's not…"
"What if it were possible?"
Saya stared at her father and noticed herself shift uncomfortably as he stared back at her.
"Saya-chan, would you be loyal to me, too?"
"I am already loyal to Oto-san." Saya could feel herself tense up and mentally chastised herself. This is father! Why are you turning an innocent conversation into suspicious? Oto-san has always been loyal to the Soul Society and loving to you. He's simply feeling insecure is all, and needs you to boost his confidence.
Noticing his daughter's tense body language, he put on his best smile, the one that was always sure to calm her down. "Ne, Saya-chan, are you alright? I'm asking hypothetically, you know? Wouldn't it be nice? We wouldn't have to hide our relationship anymore. We could live as a father and daughter should."
Saya immediately relaxed a bit. See? All tense for nothing. She smiled. "Of course, it would be nice for Oto-san and I to be like that. Hypothetically speaking, I would like that very much."
"Just a boost, that's all he needed. Why did I feel so overwrought just a moment ago? This is father we're talking about."
"I don't really understand either, Saya-sama, but please keep on guard." Kamikaze answered. Saya could see his narrowed eyes as he mentally thought through the situation.
To busy herself, Saya took another sip of sake.
"I'm glad to hear that, Saya-chan. You are truly a beloved daughter."
"Thank you, Oto-san! You, of course, are my favorite father." Saya took a deep breath and looked down at her cup, glad that the awkwardness of the situation had passed.
"Would you like me to tell you how I'm going to do it?"
Saya's eyes widened and her head snapped up. "What did you say?" She whispered.
"Well, I was planning on using you, to help me get into the King's realm, but then I thought that was too careless of me. It would mean most certain death and I don't plan to die any time soon, not when I am to become the most powerful ruler the Soul Society, no, the universe has ever seen."
"Kamikaze, is he being serious?" Saya didn't receive an answer, only a concerned look from Kamikaze.
"So I've decided to use Kisuke's creation to obliterate the Soul Society by making another King's Key. First I will rule over the hollow realm, Heuco Mundo, and create an army of shinigami-hollow hybrids. I have already established contact and allies there. With this army, I will have enough power to destroy any who oppose me and sit on the highest throne in heaven."
Saya swallowed hard, her breathing had turned shallow, and her muscles were rigid with anxiety. "You're joking, right, Oto-san? You don't really mean any of this, do you?"
He gave Saya a smile she had never really seen before. It wasn't kind at all, it looked soft, but beneath the surface was malice. His eyes looked amused that she wouldn't take him seriously. "I assure you, I am not. With your help, I am sure to achieve this goal even faster than I originally planned."
"My help?" Saya still hadn't found her voice, and she hated that she was showing so much fear before this man.
"Didn't you say that you would like for us to have a normal parent, child relationship? Did you not just say that you would be loyal to me?"
Saya shook her head. "Not at the cost of the ones I love! How could you do this? You are not my father! I don't know you at all! Who are you? What have you done with the real Aizen Sosuke?!"
He gave a slight chuckle and removed his glasses. "I assure you, I am the real Aizen. This is my true self. Do you not like it? It would be a shame to be rejected by my daughter, I was really hoping that you would join me and that I wouldn't have to kill you."
"Saya-sama!"
Saya reached for her zanpakuto and realized it was missing.
"Did you just notice? I decided to leave your sword back in my quarters. It would be a nuisance if you were to release your bankai. I don't particularly like the idea of having my spiritual pressure directly attacked."
"Saya-sama, get out of here."
Saya didn't give a second thought and flashed out of the dirty pub into the streets of Rukongai.
Saya ran through the streets of Rukongai as fast as her feet could take her, barely making out the buildings and people as she dashed in and out of alleyways.
"Damn kimono! Kamikaze! How could this happen? Why is he doing this to us?"
"I don't know, Saya-sama, keep running! He's not that far behind, you must make it to the Sereitei!"
Saya jumped on a rooftop to get her barings, the white walls of the Sereitei still seemed so far away, and her legs were already burning from the speed and length of her shunpo.
"This isn't right, Hanryo, I shouldn't be running away from my father! He should be the one protecting me. How is it that this man wants to kill me? This had to be of his plan, meeting me out so far all of the time. He knew that he'd kill me if I didn't agree to his plan. Am I truly to die by my father's hand?"
"There's no time to discuss that right now! Keep your eyes forward and your senses keen! You're only focus should be escape."
Saya darted down another dark alleyway, the tears stinging the edge of her eyes.
"He's my father! He's my father! I've given him all the information about Urahara-san and his experiments. This whole time my father was using me to further his own treacherous goals. How could I be so blind?"
"Saya-sama! Keep moving, he's very close behind you."
"I know! I can see him!" Saya yelled as she tried to dash even faster. The seams of her kimono tore as she pumped her legs beneath the hindering material.
Saya noticed that her surroundings slowly started to become more polished, clean, and aristocratic. Jumping on to a roof once more, Saya saw that she was within the first district and the walls of the Sereitei weren't much farther ahead.
"I can see them! I can see the walls of the Sereitei! I'm sure I can make it to Urahara-taicho for help."
"Keep going, Saya-sama."
Saya's legs were almost at their limit as she felt her muscles start to cramp up. She could barely catch her breath though she was gasping for air. She turned around to see how close her father was behind her, surprised to see he wasn't there as he had been before.
"Did I manage to lose him after all?"
Saya's relief was short lived. As she dropped back down into another alley, she saw her father blocking her way, his sword held out before him.
"My little Saya, why did you have to run away like that? You've just drawn things out."
Saya's eyes widened as her breath hitched in her throat. "Oto-san, please, why are you doing this? You can't expect to get away with it!"
"You're wrong, I'll get away with everything."
"Are you really going to destroy the home that I love? Are you going to murder the people I care for?"
The only answer Saya received was a devious smirk.
Panic settled at the pit of Saya's stomach, as she feared for her life. But more than terror, Saya felt completely crushed under the heavy weight of betrayal. The man she admired, loved, and trusted was now pointing a sword at her chest. The smirk he wore sent shivers down her spine. Never before had she felt so afraid and helpless. Before she could stop them from coming, tears spilled down her cheeks.
"It's such a shame that I've had to kill both my lover and my daughter. She didn't agree with my way of thinking either."
Saya's eyes shot up to meet her father's. "You… you killed my mother? We thought she was ambushed by hollows."
"Don't worry, everyone will think you died the same way. I'll make sure of that."
Saya shook her head in disbelief. To her surprise, she found herself becoming furious with man in front of her. Her panic turned to anger and the betrayal she felt turned to hatred. Her father only seemed more pleased with her flaring temper.
"I won't let you get away with this, Aizen Sosuke! I'll have you tried for treason! You'll be executed by my own hand!"
"Such bold claims from one who can't even defend herself. Goodbye, my little Saya."
Within a second Saya felt her father's blade slash her chest. She screamed in pain and felt her body fall to the ground. The world around her started to turn black as the blood rushed from her wounds.
"Kamikaze, I'm sorry."
"Don't speak, Saya-sama. Just listen to my voice." But he was already starting to fade.
"Kamikaze, I can't hear you. Kamikaze? Hanryo!"
Just before the light left her eyes, Saya saw a pair of feet running towards her. An unfamiliar voice rang out in the darkness.
"It's a you girl, she's been badly injured! Somebody call the doctor and have him come to my home immediately!"
Saya opened her eyes to see that Kamikaze was still holding her within her inner world. The tears from her dream had followed her there and she quickly wiped them away.
"I'm sorry you had to see that Saya, but it was important that you remembered the truth."
Saya nodded. "I understand. I can't believe that I fell for it twice. I trusted him, whole-heartedly. What a fool I've been, I'm sure he's been laughing at me this whole time. I doubt his goals have changed. No, he's only gotten closer to them. We have to stop him, Kamikaze."
"It won't be easy, Saya-sama."
"I know, but we have to succeed. I can't allow him to destroy the Soul Society and do with it what he pleases. I have to protect the ones I love."
Kamikaze nodded. "Then wake up Saya-sama."
Saya's eyes fluttered as she opened them to the familiar ceiling of her sleeping quarters. A young hand-maiden who had been keeping watch over Saya jumped up in excitement and ran towards the door.
"Tell His Majesty that Hime-sama has opened her eyes! She's finally awake!"
Saya took a deep breath and sat up in bed.
"Saya-sama, you have woken up. I was so worried. Are you alright? You suffered a lot of injuries acquiring your bankai."
Saya smiled at Souta. "I'm fine, Souta-kun. I know exactly what happened to me."
Author's Note: I hope that everyone enjoyed this chapter! This chapter has been in my head before I even wrote the first word of the first chapter, so I'm hoping that you liked it! I also hope that it answers all (or at least most) of your questions and definitely confirms your theories. So the answer is "yes" for all of you that kept asking. "Is Aizen her father?" There you go.
Please take the time to post a review/comment. I would really appreciate it! Thank you to everyone who's been posting and commenting. I really do appreciate it and it always brightens my day! Thank you again!
