My most sincere apology for the long wait for this chapter my dear readers, but I am certain that the contents within will have made the wait quite worthwhile. Why's that? Because this chapter contains none other than the origin of Aizen Sosuke himself. I know that many readers, myself included, have always wanted to learn how he came to be and what helped motivate him. While I have no doubt that future light novels may touch upon this subject, I'd rather have something here and now to rely on. I can only hope it satisfies your curiosity.

We are also almost at 2000 reviews, which is a huge milestone for us. I'd really like for us to get to that point by the time the Arrancar arc is finished, so it would mean a lot to me if you could all leave us some feedback to help us reach that goal.

But enough with the delay, and continue with the story!

Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo and Shounen jump. Fairy Tail is owned by Hiro Mashima and Weekly Shounen Magazine. I own NOTHING. This is all just for fun!

It was beautiful. The king's key, a radiant thing, fully realized before his eyes. To see it manifest as a physical thing was stunning, even to him. A thousand times he had run through the simulations, the complex data matrix that went into a spell as complex as this, and he had thought he had a good idea of what it would be like. What he looked at now was exactly as he had expected, but at the same time so much more.

It was not a literal key, of course. It looked more like an ankh, surprisingly simple in its design. It glowed a light blue, emanating the raw energy of ten thousand rich human souls, stably contained within its shape. Aizen reached out to touch it, and for the first time since forever, he felt a sense of awe. He had always known he was brilliant, but to see it realized like this was vindication for every hardship he had endured, every indignity, every frustrating, slow-moving scheme he had committed to. It was validation of the superiority of his designs. It was victory. The shinigami had thrown all they had at him and failed. They had tried to stop him and it had been futile. Progress would stop for nobody, and with this thing Aizen would build a new world according to his will.

Aizen ran a finger across its length, fascinated. It was cool to the touch, surprisingly so. He would have expected it to be warm, like iron picked from a smithy.

Aizen smiled, as genuinely as he ever had. He had come so very far, so much further than he had once expected…

"What's your name?"

The boy was nothing special, just one of innumerable others lost in the rukon. Scrawny and with brown hair, Taku wouldn't have thought for a second he was anything special. Except, he had just made himself useful.

"Sousuke."

"Sousuke what?"

"Just Sousuke," said the boy, shrugging. "Never had another name. Do I need one more?"

"Nah," said Taku, shrugging. "Most people don't. Second names are for nobs, anyway."

"Nobs?"

"Rich assholes," Taku clarified.

"Oh."

"Look, you just did a number on that ganger. I never thought a squirt like you would have the guts to do something like that. I might'a been a goner now if you hadn't knocked him in the head with that rock. Anyone teach you how to do that?"

"It only made sense," Sousuke said, shrugging. "He wasn't looking at me at all. All I had to do was figure out where I had to hit."

The kid was a bit strange. He didn't even seem upset or pumped up, like just about anyone would be. But, he had just saved Taku's skin, and that was worth something.

"Come on, kid," said Taku. "I'll introduce you to my crew. Better running with other people than going at it alone, yeah?"

"It's safer," Sosuke agreed.

It was a small gang, if it could even be called that. Taku was the eldest and by default the leader, but Sousuke wondered if that was right. He talked a lot, more than what made sense. But, the others listened to him; the quiet Rina, the stubborn Koibu, the jittery Moto. Being the youngest, Sosuke didn't have much pull over anyone, not until he had proven his worth. And, proven it… he had.

"Why'd you kill him?"

Moto was freaking out, pointing agitatedly at the still twitching body on the ground. A pool of blood poured from his head, where Aizen had hit him.

"He was going to run back to his crew and tell on us. It only made sense. We have to protect each other," said Sousuke.

"What do you think will happen when his gang finds out?" snapped Koibu.

"Yeah, Sousuke, what the fuck?" Taku snarled. "They're going to kill us all when they find out!"

"They're not going to find out. Nobody's around, and nobody saw me do it."

"How's that help?" said Taku angrily.

"Boss Komu is after what little we have. I couldn't let him take it. We'd starve."

"Better starving tomorrow than dying today!"

"If you'll only listen," said Sousuke, irritation seeping through his tone of voice, "I can fix this."

"How?" demanded Taku.

"Boss Komu has been having beef with Boss Duga. Everyone knows that. We dump this body near Duga's territory, and they'll think it was him."

"That… would start a gang war," said Rina, shocked.

"I know," said Aizen. "It's two birds in one stone. Boss Komu won't care about us for a while, and if we're lucky he runs his gang into the ground. We'll take what's left over."

"…Sousuke, that's kinda messed up," said Taku hesitantly. "But… it works. Let's do it."

"You can't be serious!" said Koibu angrily.

"You wanna live off scraps your entire life? It's dog-eat-dog out here. Sousuke's right. We'll take what's left when they're done fighting."

Sousuke smiled. They had listened. And, when they listened to him, things were going to go well. It's just that… they didn't seem to understand why things were going so well. Wasn't it obvious?

He'd have to work on that.

He was a young man now, and he had real power. He could make his reishi bend to his will when he tried. Some of the local elders had called it reiatsu, and suggested he should join the shinigami.

Sousuke wasn't sure about that yet. He could make little lights and make the grass bend with a gust of wind, and sometimes he had strange dreams about a world of mirrors, but the real power was in leadership. Taku had long since given up his position of relative leadership, letting Sousuke do what he was naturally fit to do. Their group had swelled, and they were now the most important gang in the area. And, unlike the ruthless cutthroats they had outcompeted, Aizen ruled justly.

He had taken a chaotic, lawless district and set up a stable rule. People would come to him to resolve conflicts. Thugs would avoid doing their dirty deeds in broad daylight because they feared his retribution. That, Sousuke decided, was a far greater calling than just refining one's spiritual force. Leadership. Making things better.

He had come to understand that he was exceptional. He saw things clearly that others didn't. Things that should be obvious were clouded, to them. When he had deposed the previous gang leaders and united those who had seen his talents it had seemed so obvious how to pull it off, but nobody had managed it until he came along.

Sousuke was brilliant, and others were not. It was lonely and a little painful sometimes, but that was reality. He took solace and comfort in the good work he did for the community. He would be like a good shepherd to them, leading them where they could not lead themselves.

Because they couldn't lead themselves. That much was painfully obvious. There had to be smarter people out there somewhere, perhaps in the Gotei where they did have peace and order already, but out here he was alone.

But, even with the peace and prosperity he had accomplished, they still didn't understand. Like now, when he had to work through another tiring argument. He loved his friends, but somehow he could not find it in him to respect them. Not like his equals.

"You went behind our back to talk to the Crow's Feet?" said Taku, infuriated.

"What about it?" said Sousuke. Inwardly he sighed, but he kept his composure. One had to talk them into the right space of mind to make them go along. Just saying the truth didn't work. He had learned that years ago.

"We're supposed to rule together, right?" said Koibu. "And, now you're talking to the biggest gang of another district without even asking us?"

"We've been over this," said Sousuke with an exasperated smile. "I always make the right calls for all of us, don't I? Every time I've had this discussion, every time you question me, it still works out. Have a little faith, will you?"

"It's not about that," said Taku irritably. "If you don't keep us in the loop then what does that make us? Your henchmen? You said we were supposed to be partners in this!"

He had said that. Sousuke composed himself. They're like children, he reminded himself. They can't help that they don't see. Be patient.

"Sometimes you have to act when you see an opportunity. I saw one of their underbosses in a bar, and I approached him. I managed to convince him to negotiate. I didn't exactly have time to ask for your opinions."

That was a lie. He had been communicating back and forth for weeks to make this deal happen. And, it had to happen, so anything he had to say would make it worth it.

"Well…" said Rina, "if you're sure. Can we trust them?"

"I already set up a plan," said Sousuke confidently.

"Let's hear it, then," said Taku.

"In two weeks, we'll help assassinate their boss. Underboss Motoku will replace him, and he sees things our way. He'll establish trade with us, and-"

"Assassinate?" Taku exploded.

"Sousuke, we're not murderers," Moto said angrily.

"We are when we have to be. You know your hands aren't clean," said Sousuke bluntly. "We've all done what we have to do."

"That was because we had to. Because we were defending what was ours!" said Taku furiously.

"Tell me one thing," said Sousuke. "We restored peace here. Everything is better. People aren't being killed every day. There's peace and stability. Is that not true?"

"Sure-" said Taku, but Sousuke cut him off.

"And yet, every region around us is the way it was before we came here. How long before some gang decides to band together and take us down? And, why should we just sit here contentedly and do nothing while every one of our neighbors suffer? Every day, hundreds go hungry. Dozens die. We can make a difference, and all it costs is one life. One life, for hundreds of others saved. Does even one of you think that isn't worth it?"

"What's the plan?" said Rina quietly. "The long term one."

Sousuke smiled.

"We set up an alliance with the Crow's Feet. Then we slowly replace their underbosses with our own, and merge our gangs. Together, we'll be the strongest force in the entire district. We'll set up our own laws if we need to. We'll create a better world right here and now, where people can trade safely without fear. All of that is within our grasp, if you listen to me."

"You're reaching," said Taku stubbornly. "You're biting off more than you can chew, and it'll burn you."

"I mean…" said Koibu hesitantly, "if anyone can do it, it'd be Sousuke, right?"

"One life," said Moto, "just the one, right?"

"Of course," said Sousuke.

He knew it would cost many lives before it was done. Dozens, maybe hundreds. He'd have to ease them into that. But, when he was finished the district would be at peace and thousands that would have died otherwise would be alive and safe. He'd be the hero they needed, and if he had to put up with this constant questioning of his plans that always worked, then so be it.

It worked. Of course it did. It worked, because Aizen had a sense for what would work and what wouldn't. He found sensible, likeminded people who could be trusted to not make a complete mess of things, made them his underlings, and made sure they were completely loyal. Those who weren't quietly disappeared, found dead where people would notice. The message was understood, and soon every local criminal had fallen in line. Within a few years the entire region listened to his words. A little empire grew out of the slums he had grown up in, and where once he had been a street rat nobody looked twice at, with rags for clothes, he now wore the best the district had to offer, and everyone looked up to him. His friends were lieutenants now, having more power and wealth than they could have ever dreamed of in this meagre existence. In this, Aizen felt fully validated, and the complaints and questioning he'd had to endure thus far were finally worth it. His friends no longer complained, at least not openly, and that was good enough. He had gotten everyone to see things his way, and it had worked.

The dreams intensified as his power grew, too. But, it wasn't his increasing strength, or the fact that shinigami recruiters were taking an interest, that drove him to leave his first home. If he could bring order out of chaos in such a lawless slum, imagine how much good he could do if he made a career as a shinigami? With that kind of power, he could bring order to a dozen districts, to a hundred. He could bring peace and prosperity to all. He could even make some improvements to the Gotei itself.

"Look at you," said Rina proudly, brushing a piece of lint from his jacket. "You're going to be a shinigami, Sousuke. You'll show them all."

"It's Aizen, now," said Sousuke. "Aizen Sousuke. Can't go to a place like that without having two names."

"It's a bit too fancy for me," said Taku, "but whatever floats your boat, man."

Aizen turned to look at him. "I'm counting on you all to keep things running smoothly while I'm gone. If anything goes wrong, let me know. But, for now, I entrust you with this."

"We'll do our best," said Koibu, nodding approvingly. "You can count on us, Aizen. We might not be as smart as you, but we know enough to at least keep the peace."

"I know you do," said Aizen, smiling back at him.

The Gotei turned out to be easy. Much, much easier than he'd anticipated. Aizen passed every class in the academy effortlessly, barely having to study at all. It frustrated him; having to prove again and again that he could do what he was so obviously already good at. He took up extracurricular studies just to keep himself stimulated. Kidou theory was the first thing that really fascinated him, the complex mechanics of the subject finally giving him something to chew on. He mastered it relatively quickly, of course, but it was something compared to his classes. He was alone, of course; most seemed to resent him. He was used to it at this point. Everyone seemed intimidated by his intelligence, his skill.

It did not take long for him to move up. After a few years of service, he was already a tenth seat, a commander of men with a commendable record of success. The only thing Aizen found significant about this period of his life was the greater scope of the world it gained him. Realizing just how large the Soul Society was, how much power the Gotei wielded, and just how far he could go if he tried. A few districts? It had not taken him long to realize he had thought too small. He should be in charge of so much more. He would make captain one day, he was sure, and then he would explore just how much influence that could buy him.

In the meantime, he kept a close eye on his old territory, making frequent visits. To his relief, his old friends seemed to have made good on their word, keeping the peace and stability he had worked for. A few fires had to be put out, and it was clear to him it could never go fully unsupervised, but on the whole, what he had built remained in place.

Then, one day, it all came crashing down.

"It's bullshit, man!"

Aizen stared at Taku, a door of iron bars separating them. He had been thrown in there with the rest of Aizen's friends, along with a few other lieutenants. The list of charges ran long. Sedition, conspiracy to commit murder, down to the outright absurd, like loitering. Who didn't loiter in the rukon?

Of course, many of the charges were true. One didn't make a lawless place lawful without cracking a few heads. But, the law of the Gotei had made no attempt at their territory for as long as Aizen had lived. It was absurd.

"Calm down," said Aizen. "I need you to tell me what happened."

"It was this nobleman," said Koibu woefully. "Tatsumi Roku, his name was. Apparently he owns land near our territory. I think he just decided we were getting a bit too uppity."

"How is our territory holding up?" asked Aizen.

"You know how it is," said Taku, shrugging. "Unless there's somebody there to keep things running, it'll fall apart."

"Everything we built…" said Aizen, paling at the thought.

"Look, you need to get us out of here," said Taku. "You're a bigshot officer now, right? There has to be something you can do."

"I can't just pull a string and have you released. I'll talk to my captain. He's a good man. Reasonable. He likes me. When I explain it to him, I'm sure he can help."

"Aizen, what the hell are you talking about?"

Aizen had explained. He had politely barged into the captain's office, used all the right words, and gotten him to listen. He had explained in detail the case. He had been listened to, and until now he had thought it was going well.

"Clan Tatsumi is making a grave mistake. I was hoping you could mediate-"

"The Tatsumis are rich, and it would be a huge hassle to get involved. And, for what? Springing some Rukon criminals?"

Captain Toyotomi had until this point held some degree of respect in Aizen's eyes, if not for his intellect then for his experience and leadership. He was measured, calm, and sensible, and always thought twice before issuing a command. He listened to his subordinates, but never hesitated to make a decision. These were good qualities. Aizen had even learned from them. But now, confronted with a really complex problem political in nature, all of his care seemed to have vanished.

"They're not criminals," said Aizen calmly, a hint of urgency in his voice. "They're my friends. You ask why? Because without them, there would be chaos. They keep their area in check. There is less crime with them around. There is peace-"

"I would be very careful about associating yourself with gutter trash, Aizen," said Toyotomi firmly. "In fact, I question your judgment just for asking this of me."

"Sir, I showed you the list of charges. They're ridiculous. There's no way they'd even have had the time to commit that many crimes. I mean, cannibalism? Heresy? I think some of the charges do not even exist in the penal code."

"Aizen," said Toyotomi firmly, in a tone that brooked no disagreement, "Tatsumi is the head of a clan. They usually get what they want. If you get in their way, you'll end up squashed. You're bright and you have a good future ahead of you, which is why I'm telling you to let this go."

"How can I? This is unjust, captain. These are… these are my friends."

"Take it up with the man himself. This is not my fight."

"I tried. His guards wouldn't let me near him. I've sought an audience several times, but nothing works."

"No surprise there. Noblemen are pretty full of themselves," said Toyotomi, shrugging.

"Sir, you could make a difference," said Aizen, the calm dropping from his voice. "Thousands of people would be dropped into chaos if this happens. Hundreds will die. Everything we worked toward will be gone. All I'm asking is that you put in a good word."

"Drop it," said the captain, a hint of anger in his voice. "I am not sticking my neck out for some random rukongai criminals, friends of yours or no. I can't afford to make an enemy of nobility."

"But-"

"Aizen, leave. That is an order. I'm not going to reprimand you, in light of these circumstances, but I'm not helping you."

Aizen felt a void of helplessness as the door was slammed shut in his face. He had tried, and… nothing.

He was there to watch them hang. A jeering crowd threw rotten fruit at them as they were marched up to the executioner's stand, hands tied behind their backs. Nooses were put around their necks, and Aizen saw them stare at him as the executioner made ready.

He wanted to charge in and cut them free. He should have. But… what could he do? He, too, would be a criminal. He, too, would be hunted down. He would have accomplished nothing.

He stared at them as they stared at him, right until the lever was pulled. It was over in an instant, and something died in Aizen that day.

Tatsumi Roku sipped on sweet wine as he reclined in a chair. He was in a good mood. Those filthy, uneducated peasant criminals had been dealt with. They had dared to rise above their station, to threaten his lands, and they had been served justice. The thought of it gave him a thrill. Let's see what the next uppity commoner would dare to try after an example like this.

It was at that point the lamp he used for light went out, leaving the room in the gloom of the evening light. Roku was about to call for a servant to relight it when he saw it. A man in a shinigami's uniform, standing in a corner of his room. Had he used some sort of spell? Roku knew he hadn't been there a second ago.

"Guards!" he snarled. "Guards, come here at once! Remove this impudent commoner!"

Roku stood up, indignantly wagging a finger at the shinigami.

"I don't know who you think you are," he hissed, "but you are sorely mistaken if you think that uniform allows you to trespass on my property. Guards! GUARDS!"

"They can't hear you."

The shinigami was quiet, soft-spoken, but something about his voice sent a chill down Roku's spine.

"They'll be here any moment, and then I'll have you flogged," spat Roku, worriedly listening for the sound of approaching footsteps. None were heard just yet…

"I figured out my blade's power," said the shinigami. "It is very useful. Right now, your guards cannot hear a thing, and will not unless I allow them."

"Get out!" snarled Roku. "I command you, get out!"

"Why did you do it?" asked the shinigami, not at all phased by the nobleman's command.

"Do what?"

"The four people you had executed. Why?"

"You know damn well why. They were criminals."

"Hundreds of people will die. The order they built up- that we built up will crumble. What we built was peace and stability, and you had that undone."

"Who cares?" spat Roku. "Thousands die every day. Nobody cares or remembers. What's five more lives?"

The shinigami took a deep breath and sighed.

"I tried to negotiate. I tried the peaceful solution. All I ever wanted was to talk, to work this out. We were not about to take anything from you. All I wanted was order. Stability. But, you had them killed for… what? Your vanity's sake?"

"GUARDS!" shouted Roku, starting to feel afraid now. The shinigami took a step forward.

"I tried talking to my captain. I tried to do the just thing, to work with the law. I see my mistake now. The law is just a tool for men like you to use and abuse to get what you want. There can be no justice, not for as long as there are men like you."

As he spoke, he walked closer. Roku stumbled, backing up against the wall.

"Don't come any closer!" he shouted angrily, his voice shaking. "I am warning you!"

The shinigami pulled his blade from its scabbard.

"You dare?" shrieked Roku. "You dare? You will hang just like your friends! You will never get away with this!"

"That's just the thing," said the shinigami, a sudden intensity to his voice. "I will. Nobody will ever know who did this. In fact, right now people will swear I am doing paperwork back at the division."

"You impudent little-"

The shinigami surged forward, and his blade ran right through the nobleman's neck, expertly severing spine from skull. He slumped over, quite dead. Slowly, the shinigami wiped his blade clean of blood and sheathed it, walking out of the manor unseen.

Aizen sat down under a tree, breathing heavily with his face in his hands. He had never killed before, had never dirtied his hands like this. He had ordered deaths, but he had never done the deed himself. It had been… beneath him, somehow.

It had been so easy. His zanpakutou had allowed him to go unnoticed, in and out. There would no doubt be suspicion cast on him, but he would have a rock solid alibi, thanks to the powers of his blade.

No justice. He realized it now. The law was divorced from justice entirely, and if he wanted a just world, he would have to build it, himself. The Gotei only had the façade of law and order. For all its polish, it was just… another gang. Older, more powerful and more established, but still just a gang, kowtowing to rich men like Tatsumi Roku.

It would be up to him to change that.

He didn't stop trying. Aizen did not jump straight from disillusionment to revolution. Mostly because he didn't really conceive of a way forward quite that radical yet. He knew the system was irredeemable, but some part of him still held on to hope. So, he lobbied the Central Forty-six, writing essays and proposals on easy, manageable ways of improving the system itself. They all came back ignored. Sometimes, Aizen wondered if they were even read.

He tried at first to make his ideas more palatable. He used more conservative language, and toned down his proposals. He tried to compromise, even though it hurt to do so. Maybe one step at a time, over time, he could come closer to the society he wanted. He had centuries, after all. It could take decades if it needed to, but if he could only make some change happen…

He finally realized his delusion when his captain censured him. He was demoted several seats, and told in no uncertain terms to stop bothering those wiser and older. Who did he think he was, telling them how to run society? Didn't he know how much they had accomplished, and how hard they could make his life? How hard they made life for his captain just because Aizen wouldn't shut up?

That was when Aizen Sousuke finally lost all respect for his captain. He had tried it their way. He really had. He had believed his intellect would be capable of solving the problem ahead, but the Gotei was an obstinate beast. Unlike his friends, it couldn't be made to listen to reason. Slowly, he stopped agitating and arguing. And, just like that, his career picked up again. When he had only learned to shut up and fall in line- seemingly- he was allowed to do as he pleased.

It sickened him. The system allowed him to enrich himself, to gain power and influence in exchange for serving as the military arm of the system, but it didn't allow him to enrich others. He could help himself, but not others. Who made a society like that? Where the few lorded over the many, where poverty was the norm for most and a rich, fat elite kept all the spoils for themselves?

Finally having had enough, Aizen started playing into the system ruthlessly. He used his zanpakutou's incredible power to advance himself, always keeping its true nature secret. He climbed the ladder ruthlessly, eliminating anyone in the way of his ascension. And, as the years passed, a plan started to form. He would climb, but not too quickly. He would make sure not to be seen as a prodigy. He would watch and learn, and earn his place. He would not say another word in favour of the poor and repressed, and let his past be seen as a young, foolish idealist's notions, tempered by reality.

Slowly, the vision came into being. A plan. He would become captain eventually, and on his way there he would find out the Gotei's weaknesses, so that he could bring it crashing down. He would find information about every captain and vice-captain in the Gotei, so that he would know how best to kill them. He would find allies, misfits who were displeased just like he was, whether toward these cruel elites or just resentful and bitter. Anyone who would side with him would make a good tool.

The turning point came to him one day, almost twenty years after he had murdered that vile nobleman. His plans were grand enough that they would necessitate violence at one point, but the Gotei was mighty. No matter how powerful any individual might be, one could never hope to take them on alone. An army required an army to match, and Aizen struggled with that idea, until one day he ran into a chance encounter at Twelfth Division. He had delivered a few phials of hollow blood at the request of a scholar there. Anything to build relationships, to increase his power and influence. At the time, Aizen had thought it foolish. What use were such things? Hollow blood was hard enough to capture, since they tended to evaporate when killed; it had required an elaborate spell of stasis to make work, but the researcher had offered good pay.

"I'm curious," said Aizen, just as he was about to leave the man's messy office. "What is the point of these things? Hollows are but monsters to slay."

"That's what everyone thinks," said the scholar, "but I've lived long enough to see something else in them. Something…"

His voice lowered, and Aizen was curious now.

"What? You can rely on my absolute discretion, of course."

"There is power there," said the scholar with the held-back enthusiasm of a man eager to talk, but knowing he shouldn't. "Vitality. They not only possess a molecular structure stronger on average than ours, and an extraordinary resilience and recovery, but they manifest unique abilities in some cases at least equivalent to that of a zanpakutou, all without having to form an elaborate, disciplined bond with a spirit. Such power and sophistication, drawn entirely from intuition…"

"This much is known," said Aizen, concealing his impatience. He did not share this petty researcher's fixation on knowledge for its own sake. What use was something that did not serve a greater end?

"I can tell that doesn't impress you," the scholar said with a smirk, "but if my hypothesis is correct… this power could be synthesized. Hypothetically, with enough time and information, you could recreate it in a lab."

That was something else. Aizen's sudden fascination had to have shown, because the scholar continued.

"We're nowhere near that, of course. Hollows as a category have been largely overlooked except with regards for how to kill them more effectively, or how to counter their abilities. But, it's not as if their biology is mystical any more than ours is. We know how to do great things through medical kido. We can regrow limbs, with sufficient time. If we can develop that sophisticated a method within one field, why couldn't we do the same for a hollow?"

"To… what end?" said Aizen cautiously.

"Well, in theory, perhaps to understand what aspects of their biology could be useful to a shinigami. If you were to- and I am speaking purely hypothetically, here, of course- find some way to couple the regenerative abilities of a hollow with that of a shinigami, you would produce a superior breed of soldier. Or, perhaps to learn to control them."

"You speak of… combining traits between two species?"

"I would never want to actually go that far, of course," said the scholar hastily. "That would be deemed heretical, and deeply unethical, to boot. It would require an ocean of blood if you were to actually go through with it. But… the idea is fascinating, is it not?"

"Absolutely," said Aizen, with an earnestness he had not shown for a long time now. "Yes. Fascinating. This… could actually be done?"

"With enough data, certainly," said the scholar, shrugging. "I can only try to peer into hollow biology a little. It would require a lifetime of study, not to mention full approval by your superiors. It's not likely to happen, but… I honestly believe there is a goldmine of information to find, if we ever get past such a hurdle."

"Are there any other insights you could reach? I've heard of the process of arrancarization some rare hollows undergo. It sounds somewhat blasphemous, the idea of a hollow gaining a zanpakutou of their own. Do you think this could be understood, too?"

"I don't see why not," said the scholar, shrugging. "Our processes are well understood, and so could theirs be. In theory, if you understood the process, and had a sufficiently developed processing spell, you could devolve that sort of transformation, reverting the hollow to its original, weaker state."

"Or, transform an already existing hollow into an arrancar."

"…with enough power and understanding, yes. Although, I have no idea why anyone would want to create more of those monsters."

"Of course not. We're both speaking hypothetically," said Aizen reassuringly.

"Of course."

"I'll leave you to your fascinating research, then," said Aizen. Somewhat uneasily, the scholar nodded, returning to his studies.

Aizen's mind was aflame when he left.

Hollow and shinigami, combined? A new breed of hybrids? A legion of hollows with their powers advanced, dwarfing that of the Gotei's army?

It wouldn't take too much. It would take many decades of study, sure, but if he had a few dozen of these, if he found especially powerful hollows and found a way to control them…

Then he would be unstoppable. He would have the power to truly overcome his enemies.

Aizen threw himself into the study. After copying everything the scholar had produced, after learning everything already known about the hollows such as they were, he started his own research, conducted in secret. For years he worked away in secret, paying only enough attention to his career that he could advance himself as he had planned. There, in underground laboratories, the first of the victims were sacrificed for the sake of greater understanding. Aizen gave their lives willingly, knowing their sacrifice would pave the way for a greater tomorrow. And so, in secret, through an ocean of blood, Aizen started to unlock the dark mysteries the Gotei had been too cowardly to find out themselves.

Kaname clutched his blade. His first and only friend had carried it until her death. On impulse he had taken it from her before she had been buried. It had bonded with him; he had been the only one in the academy not needing to have one assigned to him.

He had studied hard and graduated, seeking to follow her example. The path of least bloodshed, the path of mercy; the way that protected the weak and stood up to the strong.

These were ideals he held very, very firmly. But, sometimes, he felt like nobody else did. He had petitioned the Central Forty-six for justice over her murder, but nothing had happened. The sheer injustice of him had slowly driven him toward madness. Her killer walked at large. Everyone knew of his guilt. Yet, the law had protected him, sheltered him from consequences. Mercy. Compassion. These were such simple, obvious beliefs to have. Nobody sane would disagree with them. Yet, when push came to shove- when it really mattered- justice turned a blind eye.

So it was that on this evening, Tousen Kaname walked toward the abode of the man responsible, not quite knowing what he would do.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Sharply, Kaname turned around. Although he could not see, he sensed the man perfectly. Powerful for his station. Calm, collected. Spiritual energy running like clockwork, collected and stable.

"Pardon me?"

"I know what is on your mind. I have seen your desires, too, Tousen Kaname. They are written quite plain if you look."

"Who are you to think you know me?" demanded Kaname.

"I am Aizen Sousuke."

"I know you," said Kaname, his brows furrowing. "You're in Fifth Division, aren't you?"

"I am."

"This is none of your business."

"I am looking out for you. What do you expect will happen when you get there? When you find the man who murdered she who was so precious to you?"

"I… I will make him admit his sins."

"You don't really believe that. You might lie to yourself, but in your heart you already know what you have decided to do."

"And, what is that?"

"You may find me presumptuous," said Aizen smoothly. "After all, who am I to speak as if I know you? But, the truth is I do know you, because I am you. I, too, have cried out for justice and found none. I, too, was castigated by a system that protects the wicked and punishes the righteous for being principled."

"…If that is true," said Kaname suspiciously, his guard up, "then you understand why justice must be done. One way or the other."

"But, is it worth your life? Whether you are sent to jail or executed, your life will be over. Is justice really worth the ultimate price?"

"Yes," said Kaname flatly.

"That's admirable," said Aizen, "but wouldn't you rather not lose your life? How can you serve justice if you are dead to the world?"

"I'd rather die than let this go unpunished!" spat Kaname, surprised at the intensity in his voice. "I've sensed him walking around free, laughing, as if he had any right! After what he did- I will find no peace in life without- without-"

He trailed off, and shook his head.

"This is what will happen," said Aizen matter-of-factly. "You will be seen. The Stealth Corps will investigate the murder of a ranking officer, they will find evidence of your presence there, and you will be jailed. You will lose all your power. Everyone you could have saved in the future will suffer for it."

"Don't try to talk me out of this, Fifth Division."

"You misunderstand. Did I not say I, too, feel the same? The unjust must be punished. Justice is dead, and we must create it for ourself in this wretched society."

"…I do not understand. If you do not wish to dissuade me, what is it you want from me?"

"We are alike, you and I," said Aizen smoothly. "We've both felt the same things. The same anger, the same desire for peace and mercy, the same frustration when it never happens because of how the corrupt rule us. Doesn't it just drive you mad? Doesn't it make you wish for a better tomorrow? One where murderers are punished, and the weak protected from the strong?"

"…Of course," said Kaname weakly, "but what is there to do? I am but one man. All I can do is find justice in one instance. I cannot change the courts. I cannot undo nobility."

"That's where you're wrong."

The statement was simple, decisive and firm, and something about it made Kaname pause. There was conviction there, like the officer knew something he didn't.

"What if I told you of a world where nobility is dead, and the courts are remade with men of justice, beholden not to noblemen but to the people? A world where we have just rulers. What if I told you this could become reality?"

"I… I would do anything to see such a world happen," said Kaname, "but how can I see it as anything but a dream? What you speak of is utopia."

"It is not. And, I will prove it to you."

"How?"

"Tonight, I will grant you the justice you seek, and you will come away unblemished. People will see us speaking as we are now, and walking back in the opposite direction of that man's home. Nobody will suspect a thing."

"How? Kidou? What spell could possibly be so strong?"

"If I do this for you, if I make your justice happen, will you believe? Will you hope, as I do?"

"…If you can, I will believe you, sure," said Kaname, shrugging. He no longer cared. Let this fool talk big all he wanted. He was tired, too tired of losing, tired enough to not care whether he lived or died.

"Then I will escort you."

"Just so long as you do not interfere."

The man fell to his knees with a gurgle. Kaname had run his blade through down to the hilt and twisted it, taking him entirely by surprise. Somehow, he hadn't even noticed them approaching until they were right on top of him. He slumped over on the floor, dying, and Kaname took a few deep breaths.

He could feel the man's life draining away. He could sense his panic, his fear. Kaname had just taken a life, without warning and without mercy. This had been murder.

It had also been justice. Sensing his life slowly wither away, Kaname felt a cold anger. He felt right. Her death was avenged. Justice had been served. He had no regrets about this.

"Do as you will," he said, turning to Aizen. "Report me, or whatever else you see fit. I am through."

"I will come see you tomorrow," said Aizen. "Then, we'll talk about hope."

The next day passed in a blur. The news of the murder was all across the divisions. Kaname had expected that before long he would be arrested. Somebody would have seen him. He had not made a secret of it. Any time now, an agent of the force would bring him in for questioning, and then it would be over.

Noon passed. Evening passed. The whole day passed, and not so much as the hint of the law. Eventually Kaname became curious, and asked his colleagues about the murder. Had anyone seen anything? Were there any suspects? Had anyone been arrested?

He was shocked to find out that apparently, the best efforts of the Stealth Force had left them in the dark. It was as if a ghost had killed him. Nobody had seen or heard anything. People were being questioned, but they had found nothing yet.

This mystified Kaname. His victim had not lived alone. He had had many neighbours, officers like himself who would have been able to sense the change in reiatsu, who would have heard him coming, seen him leave. Yet, nothing.

Aizen. What had he done?

That night, as Kaname's shift ended, the man himself appeared as if on cue. Kaname followed him into a side street and, after making sure they were alone, turned to speak.

"What did you do?"

"My blade possesses power unlike any other. It affords me total control of all the five senses of anyone who lays eyes on it… perfect hypnosis, so to speak. Everyone who walked in our path was convinced they were alone."

Kaname was baffled, his mouth opening wide. What sort of mad power was that?

"Now," continued Aizen, "you are still a person of interest. You had a motive to kill him. Fortunately, you were seen walking back to your barracks with me. I will vouch for you. The only question is, what will you do when they come asking? Will you surrender yourself to them? Will that be justice?"

"…No," said Kaname in disbelief, shaking his head. "No, it would not. Justice? If the law had been just, I would not have needed to do it in the first place."

"And, you do not wish to die."

"No."

"So, you will lie to them, because it is necessary. Why should you do any less? It's not as if they've earned being treated with respect and honour."

"I… suppose I will," said Kaname. He hadn't thought that far.

"Now do you believe?" said Aizen. "Now do you see what I mean? With such a power, empires can be toppled. I am just one man, as are you- but together, we can change this wretched world."

"How? What would you have me do?"

"Pledge yourself to my cause. Follow me, and do whatever is necessary to find justice."

"What you ask is… how would you even get there?"

"I am glad you asked. You see…"

And so, Aizen laid bare his plans. There was no reason not to. Tousen had his hesitations, but he leaned into every word Aizen had to give him. All Aizen had to do was emphasize the justice part, and bake it into the need to do whatever was necessary.

He would need capable accomplices if his scheme were to succeed. Tousen, blinded by idealism, anger, and vindictiveness, made the ideal candidate. He was powerful, was talented, and had a malleable mind. He would be moulded like clay, and when Aizen was done… he would have an invaluable ally.

Tousen walked into Aizen's office. A vice-captain now, Aizen had his own space to conduct his business in, and being surrounded by people who had seen his blade's shikai, he could speak freely. Nobody walking past would hear a thing.

"What's the situation?" said Aizen calmly.

"There is good news and bad news," Tousen said levelly.

"Tell me," said Aizen sharply. A lot was at stake here, and although he could make almost anything disappear, the best way to avoid detection was to never have suspicion cast on him in the first place.

"Urahara Kisuke has escaped."

"How?" Aizen demanded.

"Shihoin Yoruichi interrupted the proceedings, broke his bonds, and fled the Soul Society with Urahara in tow. With the master of the Stealth Corps and her former subordinate on the run, it is unlikely we will find them unless they want to be found."

"And, the good news?"

"The good news is that escaping justice has thoroughly incriminated them both. They are both currently being charged with high treason in absentia. It won't take much to control the narrative- in fact, the narrative has written itself in our favour already. There is no evidence to incriminate us, and plenty of evidence to incriminate them."

Aizen nodded. This was a solid point. Still, "Perhaps we should plant some evidence in his labs just to make sure. Make sure all blame is placed on him and him alone, with no loose ends."

"Already taken care of," said Tousen. "I took the liberty of placing copies of some of your research- the parts that did not pan out- in his desk before the Stealth Corps got there."

"Excellent," said Aizen, impressed. "You weren't seen?"

Tousen shook his head. "I made sure of it. Quick and quiet. I had my excuses prepared, but thankfully none were needed. The case against Urahara Kisuke, traitor and mad scientist, will be airtight. Our work will continue uninterrupted."

"Excellent work, Kaname," said Aizen, pleased. "And, the subjects?"

"It seems they remained catatonic. Unfortunately… from what I could tell, it seems like they were taken by Urahara before he escaped."

Aizen frowned. That was certainly irritating. Although he could certainly draw a lot of conclusions from how this experiment turned out, detailed data would have been invaluable.

"All of them?"

"I cannot be sure at this time. The Stealth Corps runs tight security. We can find out, of course, but I sensed unease about them. I believe all of them are gone."

"What could he possibly gain from this?" Aizen muttered, thinking out loud. "The experiments were failures. They were degenerating into hollowness quickly. Does he seek to copy my research?"

"Should we try to hunt them down, sir?"

Aizen pondered the thought for a second, then shook his head. "No. Like you said, they won't be easy to find to begin with, and neither of them really poses a threat. Their credibility is ruined, and although individually powerful, neither of them could stand up to the Gotei at large, and neither of them is unaffected by my blade. If they resurface we'll see about eliminating them, but for now I believe we can safely ignore them."

"As you say, sir."

"I hear some apprehension in your voice, Kaname. Do you doubt this course of action?"

"…Not as such, sir."

"Please, speak up," said Aizen encouragingly. "You know I always welcome your feedback, Kaname."

"It is not so much about Urahara Kisuke, but the fact that the Gotei just lost six captains and four vice-captains. Our research is vital, but it drew attention it shouldn't have. This will not be traced back to us, but it has caused an unprecedented amount of chaos. A great strain will be placed on all higher ranking officers until the investigation is closed out. I understand the benefit of using such exceptional subjects, but everything runs more smoothly when no stir is made. And, Urahara Kisuke proves that some people are able to suss out that something is not quite right."

"Urahara is exceptional. Regardless, you're not wrong. Going forward, we will conduct our research covertly. Still… still, all in all, this affair has not turned out poorly. We have gained valuable knowledge for our research, we have weakened the Gotei, which in the long run will work to our advantage, and we are one step closer to our ultimate goal. Before long- within a year, at most- we will both be named captains."

"Already?"

"A little sooner than anticipated, but they will be starving for good officers after this disaster. We will have a little less time to ourselves, but more influence in exchange."

"And the matrix you intended to create?"

"I have the end in mind. With a bit more work… yes, Kaname, everything is working out smoothly. Just as we planned all along. Just be patient, and work as we always have."

"A captain…" said Tousen thoughtfully. "The thought is intriguing. I feel both disgusted and… proud."

"It is natural to appreciate recognition of one's abilities. Just so long as we both remember what it truly means to be a captain."

"To serve injustice, and to protect the powerful from retribution."

"Exactly," said Aizen.

He had trained Tousen well. Over the years, the man had become almost fanatically immersed in the ideals Aizen had fed him. Yes, thought Aizen, reclining in his chair, everything is going just as planned…

Aizen felt a sense of euphoria as he seized the hougyoku, sensing the thousands of souls wrenched from their owners' bodies, one by one charging the artefact with its power. Two centuries' worth of planning, patience, and diligence had finally paid off. He had sacrificed so many pawns, thwarted so many fools hellbent on stopping him, and all of it was finally coming to fruition. Within moments, the hougyoku would be complete, and nobody could stop it. He had won.

Then he sensed a massive source of power coming awake, blazing brightly. Far down on the ground he saw the old man, Yamamoto Shigekuni Genryuusai finally stepping into the fray. Aizen smiled. The old man had been cautious, too cautious. He had gambled without fully understanding the risks, and now he paid for it. As the key started to take shape in his hands, Aizen stared down at Yamamoto from above. The captain-commander was rising, a furious look on his face.

Aizen's heart skipped a beat. This was it. The last person capable of doing anything to stop him. He had done all he could, and there was no reason to hesitate. Today, he would take the old man's head, and usher in a new era whose light would either burn or illuminate all that it touched.

So there you have it, the rise and fall of Aizen Sousuke. I wanted it to somewhat mirror Erza's path while also letting it be it's own thing. I know some may be disappointed we didn't reveal how he knew about the soul king, but I feel that in this version it was more of a word of mouth or knowledge that Aizen found out about him than anything else.

Also yes, I'm leaving it ambiguous if I just killed off Tokinada Tsunayashiro (the main villain from Can't Fear Your Own World) just like that, because while I could have used him as a future antagonist...the man is also way too cartoonishly evil to really take seriously in my eyes. Honestly, he's a fusion of Teruimi from Blaze Blue and Junko Enoshima from Danganronpa. So while I might use him later, I also probably won't. We'll see.

I do really hope you enjoyed the chapter itself though. The battle for Karakura will be wrapping up quite soon, so hang onto your butts becasue things are going to get wild.