Chapter 8:
"Huh!" Emiko swung her leg in an arc, attempting to hit her father's sternum, but he blocked.
Frustrated, she tried to swing her foot on the ground to knock him off his feet. Again, he dodged her attack effortlessly.
She bit the inside of her cheek and pouted. "This isn't fair. You're too fast."
Aizen gave her a soft smile. "You're doing a great job. You'll be as fast as me in no time."
She crossed her arms and glared at him.
His smile turned into a grin. "Come here Emiko. Let's cool down."
Her frown disappeared, and she trotted over to her father.
"Raise both hands up," he instructed as he raised his hands up. Emiko followed.
"Bend down and touch the ground." They held the pose for a minute and went through a few other stretches, ending with a meditation session.
"Keep your eyes closed, and tell me what you feel,"Aizen commanded.
Emiko scrunched her eyes together. "I feel you, the trees, and …" she paused for a moment, "a deer behind the bush."
"Very good. Let's go inside now." Aizen was very pleased with Emiko's progress. Her sensory skills were sharpened everyday, and she had the basic forms of taijutsu down within a month's time. She had adjusted fairly well to staying over at his home, so Momo agreed to let him have her every other weekend and two days a week. He was able to spend much more time with her, and she was able to train longer and more frequently.
He also suspected that Momo was secretly thankful that he had her much more now. When she picked up Emiko or dropped her off, she didn't look so frazzled or have bags under her eyes. She also didn't look so wary about leaving Emiko in his care. The first few times she had dropped Emiko off had been productions. She had even called his phone and texted him to make sure Emiko had been fed and got to bed on time. Now, she seemed somewhat relaxed when she saw him.
Unfortunately, their interactions didn't go further than handing off Emiko. True to her word, Momo never joined him for dinner, and she kept a distance from him.
After Emiko took a bath, by herself she bragged, they had a simple dinner - fish, steamed vegetables, and rice.
"Tou-san," she said.
"Yes?" He put his chopsticks down and looked at her.
"Why don't you live with me and kaa-chan?" she asked with red cheeks. He figured she'd ask something like this sooner or later.
"Why do you ask?" he replied calmly.
"Well, it's just that…" she trailed off. "Yona-chan said her parents lived together when her tou-san was alive, so I was wondering why we don't all live together." Timidly, she took another bite of her food. She had wanted to ask her mother, but she felt she'd react poorly. Her father rarely got angry or overly emotional, so she presumed it would be best to ask him.
"I don't think she'd want to live with me," he answered vaguely. If Momo hadn't told her about his transgressions, he didn't think it wise to do so. She could be too overwhelmed and not understand. Besides, it was partially true. He had offered to live together, but she had rejected it.
She frowned. "Why not? You stayed with us for a week, and it was really fun." She genuinely didn't understand why her mother didn't want them to live together. Her father was kind and considerate, and he seemed to like her. After all, he used to be her captain and spoke highly of her workmanship as his lieutenant. That was another mystery to Emiko. Why had her mother never told her that he used to be her captain? She felt as if there was some huge secret she knew that she wasn't telling her.
"It was nice," he commented, "but you're too young to understand." His eyes became distant as if he was remembering something from long ago, and Emiko shrunk back. He was hiding something from her too. Whenever adults didn't want to tell her something, they'd give an excuse about her age to avoid the subject.
Seeing her figure now slumped over the table a bit, Aizen tried to placate her. "It doesn't mean that your mother or I love you any less because we don't live together." His eyes softened and focused on her again.
"I know." She sighed and put down her chopsticks.
"Then what's the matter?" he asked carefully. She crossed her arms and turned her face away. He reached his hand across the table to lightly touch her shoulder.
"You probably didn't like the answer to your question," he concluded.
She nodded.
"Let me try again then," he began. Her head turned back to face him.
"You remember that I was in Muken?" She nodded again. "I was there because I hurt many people, including your mother."
There was silence for some time. Aizen studied her reaction while Emiko's expression was unreadable. It was inevitable that she would ask questions pertaining to their familial situation.
"Why would you hurt kaa-chan or anyone else? I don't understand." Her voice was small, scared even. Aizen could see the confused and betrayed expression on her visage now.
Maybe it was too soon. Should he have lied? No, that's what got him into this situation to begin with. He had lied to Momo, and he had lied to the whole world. He couldn't do that to Emiko.
"Sometimes people make mistakes and hurt people without meaning to. It's like when you visited me without telling anyone, and your mother was upset when she found out."
It was like a lightbulb went off, and her confusion melted away. "If you tell kaa-chan you're sorry, she'll forgive you and then we can live together." When she apologized, she was instantly forgiven, not without a punishment, but her mother went on loving her. It should be the same for her father too.
She was too young to understand. Apologizing would be foolish. It couldn't change the past. He drew his hand back. "I think it's time for bed now."
When he brought Emiko back to Momo's house, he was greeted by an alluring sight. In nothing but her chest bindings and a pair of black shorts, she was in some type of stretch. Her head was down, almost touching the floor. She stretched her arms straight forward while her straight shapely legs supported her raised hips. From afar, her body mimicked a triangle. She continued her movements, oblivious to her guests. Her taut stomach clenched as she pushed forward on her heels and bent her arms. Exhaling slowly, she lowered to the ground until she was flat on her stomach. Then, she pushed up on her arms, peeling her torso off the ground.
A small bead of sweat traveled down her neck and disappeared into the covered valley of her breasts. He had a sudden urge to trace the droplet's path with his tongue.
"Kaa-chan!" Emiko shouted from behind her distance. Momo stood up immediately, and Aizen was pulled along by his daughter.
"I guess I lost track of time," the flustered shinigami remarked, as she used a small towel to wipe off sweat from her brow.
"That's alright. That happens sometimes when tou-san and I train," Emiko replied with a smile. She let go of Aizen's hand and hugged her mother's legs.
Momo returned the embrace and snuck a quick glance at her former captain. He was looking at the pair with a feeling she couldn't pinpoint. It wasn't anger or malice, perhaps a bit of sadness. That couldn't be true though. He had no reason to be sad.
"Have you activated your bankai?" he inquired suddenly.
"No. I haven't," she revealed slowly.
He hummed to himself. "I suppose Shishio's training hasn't been effective then."
Her eyes narrowed at his slight against her friend.
"Perhaps I could train you when Emiko is away at her sleepover this weekend," he suggested.
"That's a great idea! Tou-san is really good at training!" Emiko beamed at the idea of her parents spending some time together.
Alone time with Aizen didn't seem like a good idea to Momo. There had to be an ulterior motive behind his offer. He wasn't helping her out of the goodness of his heart.
"Why do you want to help me?" she questioned.
"You're the mother of my child. It's in my best interest that you protect her to the best of your abilities, especially since my reiatsu is sealed," he explained with a half-smile. While not untrue or improbable, it was odd for him to offer to help her.
She glanced ahead at one of the big oak trees in her yard and quietly her options. Option one was to reject him and upset Emiko. Option two was to accept and train with him, which was guaranteed to cause her discomfort. However, he knew her zanpakuto well and had trained her before.
Following the poisoning of Tobiume, she felt like she was back to square one in obtaining her bankai. He couldn't really hurt her if he had his reiatsu sealed, and she had a feeling that wouldn't try either. If he had wanted to hurt her, he could have done so already and wouldn't have come to her rescue before.
Frustrated with her lack of progress, she agreed. "I suppose it couldn't hurt."
"Good. I'll be over early Saturday morning after I bring Emiko to Yona's house," he replied with a smug expression. He returned to the lab, leaving Momo questioning her decision.
Twelve white coated individuals surrounded the long rectangular table.
"Soi-fon, has the stealth force made any progress on the investigation?" Shunsei asked.
Her dim expression told him that little had been achieved since their last meeting.
She adjusted her coat, and spoke. "We're still determining the culprit, but we believe that multiple people were involved. One person couldn't have orchestrated it. We have also confirmed that someone released the mutant animals from the lab and stealth force training grounds. As for their motive," she continued in a frustrated tone, " we have no idea."
Shunsei thanked her and turned to Mayuri. "Anything you'd like to add, Mayuri?"
Gleefully, Mayuri told of his findings on the zanpakuto poison and his theory behind the different reiatsu.
"Why the hell would someone want to seal a zanpakuto?" Kenpachi asked with a toothpick between his teeth.
"To keep the shinigami from using it in battle," Byakuya answered.
"That's a possibility, but the work that went into creating the poison would be extensive," the scientist responded with a huff. "There are easier ways to incapacitate a shinigami."
"So you think there is a more specific purpose for the poison?" Toshiro pressed.
"Indeed. I believe whoever created this poison wanted to harness the reiatsu of the zanpakuto," he revealed with a toothy smile.
Shunsei rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "It would be easy to steal the reitsu if the zanpakuto was unconscious, and it's much more potent than the reiatsu of most shinigami."
"It seems like the culprit is someone or a group that likes to experiment with ways to obtain power, at the expense of others," Rukia noted.
"Sounds like someone very familiar," Toshiro remarked haughtily. He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.
Murmurings grew until Shunsui cleared his throat. "I agree that we consider Aizen, but he was still imprisoned before the attack. Besides, he was with someone at all times during the attack."
"Don't get me wrong. I am suspicious of him, but I don't see how he could have planned all of this from Muken. The only people he was in regular contact with was his daughter and I," Shinji pointed out.
More captains gave their various opinions. All parties eventually came to the consensus that there was no definitive proof that Aizen was responsible or anyone else, aside from the Blue Indigo group. The stealth force had looked into that lead and found nothing. As far as they could tell, Blue Indigo was a low level organized crime group, not a terrorist organization.
"Captains," Shunsei announced. "Our best course of action is to remain vigilant. Report any unusual occurrences to me or Soi-fon."
He scanned the room until his gaze fell on the squad eight captain. "Mayuri, please continue researching the zanpakuto and let me know if you need any additional support."
With a sly smile, he replied, "With pleasure."
"You're able to manifest your zanpakuto, but you have difficulty maintaining it past a certain time." He paced behind her, thinking to himself, while Momo sat on the ground.
She scowled and tried to concentrate on her spiritual pressure. However, it was hard not to be distracted by her shirtless and very muscular instructor hovering over her. Half way through their swordplay session, he removed his shirt. She was sickened and fascinated that somehow he was still so in shape after being strapped to a chair for four years. They had also discovered that her ability to maintain contact with Tobiume in the physical world had severely diminished. Aizen told her that it would take lots of focus and discipline to get back to where she was right before the poisoning.
Footsteps stopped, and he was kneeling behind her, close enough that she could smell him. He still smelled of warm rain and green tea.
His hands gripped her shoulders. "Relax."
"What are you…" she began until fingers started kneading the area between her upper spine and shoulder blades.
"You're tense," he commented in a low tone. He moved his hands down her back, with his thumbs pressing into her skin and massaging in circular motions. She almost moaned when he reached her lower back, but she stopped herself. The tightness in her muscles melted away as he continued for several more minutes. She felt herself slip into a dream-like state, as she closed her eyes.
"Remember when we used to do this?" he remarked, in a wistful tone. Her eyes flew open and her hand grasped the hand massaging her right lower back.
His hands stopped moving. "I think that's enough," she declared a bit louder than she intended.
He stood up, and she followed suit.
"I don't want you to do that again," she said firmly, now facing him.
"Did I upset you?" he questioned, cocking his head slightly.
Her angry glare became melancholy. Yes, he had done so many things to upset her. Tricking her into betraying her friends. Faking feelings for her. Leaving her to raise Emiko alone. And of course the two attempts on her life. Not to mention, he acted like none of this happened.
"You …" she started and shook her head. They had never discussed this topic. He had never apologized, and she didn't expect him to. However, she wanted to know why. For years, she had wracked her brain trying to make sense of his attempt on her life, but she discovered only more questions.
It was easier to push her feelings to the side when he was gone, but now he was here. It was unavoidable.
She turned around, unable to look at him.
"Tell me," he commanded.
The grass crunched as he stepped towards her. Wind swirled around her, causing her to shiver.
"I don't understand." She turned to face him, with a forlorn expression and clenched fists. "Why did you try to kill me?"
His visage betrayed no emotion. "I had a plan to carry out, and you were in my way."
She gave him an incredulous look. "How was I in your way? I couldn't have stopped you. I haven't achieved bankai." She was no match for Aizen and never would be. She could admit that, which is why she didn't understand his elaborate scheme to get into Central 46 or the letter.
He was silent.
"I couldn't even kill Toshiro. How could I have killed you?" She looked at the tree in front her, waiting for a response, a reaction, anything. Still, he said nothing.
"I'm not asking for an apology, but I am asking for an explanation. I think you owe me that much." His eyebrow arched up fractionally, half surprised that she didn't want him to say sorry or at least didn't expect it.
Unresponsive, she groaned. "Forget it. I shouldn't have -"
He cut her off, turning her around and pulling her into his arms in one fluid motion. "You were a distraction."
"A distraction?" she repeated. Tears pricked from her eyes. A plaything. A footnote. Something to pass the time. Although, if she was a distraction, he felt something towards her.
"You felt something for me," she concluded.
His nose was almost touching hers. "I still do Momo." He leaned in to kiss her.
Soft lips met hers, gently and firmly. He slanted his lips against hers and pulled her body flush against his. Her soft curves felt wonderful against his hard muscular form. He slipped his tongue inside the cavern of her mouth, eager to explore.
On instinct, she responded until she realized what she was doing. Harshly, she pulled back from him.
"What are you doing?" Her heart was beating furiously, exhilarated from his kiss and angry that he had kissed her.
" Let me make things right," he whispered in her ear. He began trailing his fingers down her neck, tracing the collar of her kimono. "I can give you everything you want."
Goosebumps puckered her skin, and her heart felt like it was caught in her throat. He was saying things she could never dream of. All this time, he had cared for her. It was in a completely twisted and illogical manner, but he cared.
"Think of how happy Emiko would be if we were a family." He was right. She would be overjoyed if they were together.
"And what if it doesn't work?" Momo couldn't imagine how upset Emiko would be if she got her hopes up, only to be let down. As for herself, she couldn't take anymore heartbreak from Aizen.
"It will. We'll figure it out," he assured her. Brown eyes bore into her coal ones.
"I don't know." His hands snaked around her waist.
"Give me one chance." He pressed his forehead against hers. She still looked unsure of herself, so he decided to change tactics. "If you don't want to try anymore, I'll leave you alone."
Her eyes widened. He really wanted another shot, but it couldn't be like before. Their relationship was built on lies and lust, and he held all the power.
"We have to be equal and honest with each other. If you lie to me or try to take advantage of me, then it's over." Her demands seemed reasonable for now. He had nothing to hide, and he wasn't her superior anymore, so she likely wouldn't perceive his actions of taking advantage.
"That is fair," he affirmed. "But you have to call me Sousuke." He added with a smirk, "I think we've known each other long enough to be on a first hand basis."
She rolled her eyes playfully. "Fine." For the first time in years, she smiled at him. "Sousuke." She lifted her heels off the ground and pecked his cheek.
He nearly laughed. All he got was a kiss on the cheek. He would need to remedy that.
She gasped when he began trailing kisses down her ivory neck. "Perhaps we could make use of your empty home."
Her body stilled, prompting him to look up at her now irritated expression. "You thought we'd sleep together right away? Honestly, for a man who prides himself on his intellect, you can be so foolish sometimes." She was now convinced that all men were pigs, no matter how young, old, rich, smart, or poor. Physically, she desired him, but she wasn't ready. They were going to take it slow and do it right this time.
Caught off guard, he had the decency to look sheepish. "You can't blame me for trying."
Amused by his surprise and honesty, she coyly whispered in his ear. "Good things come to those who wait."