The Death and Life of Erza Scarlet

by Goshinzilla

Death is only the beginning. Erza learns that much at the tower of heaven. But the afterlife, it turns out, isn't much better than life, with all its flaws. As she becomes a shinigami, Erza seeks to make a better world- but Aizen has the same idea... (ErzaXMomo)

20. Nothing but rain, pain, and treachery

Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo, Fairy tail is owned by Hiro Mashima. I own nothing. Thanks again to Greatkingrat88.

Here we are folks, chapter 20! Easily our longest chapter to date! Thanks for sticking with us for so long! It means a lot! If you;ve have fun up until now, just wait till we get to cannon. Many surprises await once we get there. In the meantime, We've gotten over 200 reviews! Over 200! That's amazing. I want thank each and every single one of you that left a review.

Special thanks needs to go to AnkoHolic, Draconichero18, wolfdude16, sephiroth12285, and NoNameAvalibe Bis for being regular reviewer's. Its SUPER appreciated and I cant thank you enough.

With that all said and done, lets begin!

---

Thrust. Slash. Dodge. Counterattack. Jump, jump, jump. Dodge again. Strike. Her entire world was violence, her heart furiously pumping blood through her veins, pearls of sweat glistening in the moonlight of Hueco Mundo, dampening her shihakusho. Erza was experiencing a completely singular focus- nothing existed in the entire universe but her opponent and the weapon she swung. Halibel had pushed her hard these last five years; after three years' worth of training, she had finally needed to not hold herself back entirely, but no matter how far Erza came, the hollow's energy seemed inexhaustible, and her power indomitable.

Strangely, Erza rather liked it.

At this moment, she welcomed the focus for more than one reason. What she had seen in Aizen's office that night, more than a week ago, had worn on her every waking hour since. There was no conceivable reason for him to have those designs- he had told her they had been destroyed by the onmitsukidou, but she had found them there, in his possession. As much as she wanted it not to be, the vain notion that perhaps he hadn't known they were there would not root itself in her mind- Aizen was a man of deliberation, of perfect calculation and planning; if the designs were in his desk, then he most certainly intended for them to be there.
She had wanted to confront him at once, but had held herself back. He would have an excuse ready at the tip of his tongue, and she would believe it the instant he said it- she would want to, because he was a decent man serving a good cause, against tyranny and injustice. Everything she had seen had told her this.
Yet, she had not confronted him. He had kept it from her, and now she was keeping her knowledge of this from him in turn. It was like a boil had burst, a boil of uncertainty and doubt which had worn on her for years- knowing how far they would have to go in the name of justice, what dark places it might take her… she had had these doubts for a long time, she realized, without wanting to acknowledge them.

So it was that when she dodged under a broad swipe from Halibel's blade only to receive a hard backhand, hard enough that she could feel it resonate through the bone of her skull, she felt grateful for the pain and shock it brought. Fighting, she knew. She had lived and breathed fighting since she was a little girl; it had an almost poetic simplicity to it once you had it in your blood and bones. Fight, fight, fight, be hurt and hurt back- she understood it as intimately as a virtuoso understands his violin, as the scientist understands theory, as the artist understands his vision.
She was thrown across the floor by the blow, a spatter of blood flying from her mouth, but she turned the momentum to her advantage- a helpless tumble was quickly made into a roll, and within seconds, she was on her feet again, launching herself at Halibel, the greatsword Render in her hand. She clashed with her again, sword pushing against sword. Halibel's strength truly was indomitable, unconquerable by Erza's level of strength- but she had come a long way since five years before, when she had first asked Halibel's help. It was a unique opportunity, really- the Gotei had few sparring partners with such strength, and none of them would have the time to train Erza like this. Furious sparring, so vicious and real that the difference between a true fight and a spar was needle thin, five times each week, for five years… it had left her different.

She had not gained power. Raw power, reiatsu, was not something that you could just increase- you had what you got, and you made the most of what you had. No, what she had gained was… control. If she tried, she could feel the blood running through her veins, the beats of her heart, the acids in her stomach. She could feel the courses of reiatsu, flowing through her body, billions and billions of microscopic particles making up her body.
She had not gained an ounce of power. She had come to harness what she already had.

Sword pushed against sword, in a furious reverse tug-of-war Erza could not possibly win. Looking unimpressed, Halibel head-butted Erza, sending her staggering back. A hard, massive swing followed immediately, and Erza just barely brought her blade up in time. She knew this move, had suffered it a hundred times and a hundred more- she knew its momentum, read it like a book, and with a simple twist she caught the blow at just the right angle. Vicious, powerful, it nearly knocked her off her feet- but it went wide, most of the force behind the blow averted, swinging away from her. The opening was small, no bigger than the quarter of a second, but Erza needed no more. Quickly, she lashed out with a foot, kicking Halibel square in the chest. The hollow was sent reeling back, although with both her feet still firmly planted in the floor. Halibel was a stoic to the core, almost impossible to read- but Erza could see it in her eyes, the lust for battle, the killer instinct. She was excited. And, Erza guessed, quite possibly pleased as well. 'Happy' might have been an overstatement; she wasn't sure she knew how to.

It would take at least two seconds for Halibel to close distance again. It would be enough. Erza held the great, black blade up, feeling a billion billion particles run through her body, up the sword and back again in lightning fast current, as the spiritual charge began to climb, awaiting her command.

"Dragon strike!" She roared, swinging the sword down. An arc of blue lightning shot out, crashing into Halibel with furious power. Every ounce of power she could use at once had been put into that strike, something she knew would likely kill almost any of her friends if it hit. But Halibel was not somebody she needed to hold back against.
The arc hit, sending Halibel flying this time, right into the wall, and Erza sped forward, holding her sword out for a stab. She closed the distance in a second, her legs burning with the pain of muscles used to their limit as she ran, and there she was, ready to hit-

But of course, Halibel stood up in time, redirecting the force of Erza's blow right into the wall. Her sword buried itself there almost to the hilt, and Halibel put her bony, white hand on Erza's face, holding it firmly.

"This, I believe, is where I crack your skull like an egg." She said, sounding almost triumphant- in her own subtle, subdued way.

"Dammit," Erza grunted, letting her blade slide back into its shikai form, pulling the sword out of the wall. "I got overeager. Overextended, I guess."

"Should we have done battle in real life, you would surely have died." Halibel said, gently letting go of Erza's head. Her voice, almost completely devoid of emotion, made Erza think of concern.

"Yes, well, that makes it no different than any match before this," Erza said with a smile. "I had a good run, I think."

"Battle cares not about 'good runs', Scarlet," Halibel said firmly. "All that matters is survival- who lives and who dies."

Erza gave her a look, and Halibel gave the slightest of shrugs.
"Yes, you did do better. An estimate of forty-two minutes of high-intensive, demanding combat, wherein you mostly kept your guard up and even anticipated some of my moves. Your improvement is noted, shinigami."

"I'd say it was at least… oh, twelve times I saw your moves coming." Erza said cheekily. "You're not as impossible to fight as you think, you know."

Halibel scoffed, a slight frown at her face. "You have grown bold, Scarlet. Arrogant, even."

"Or maybe I am just getting inside your head, so you'll underestimate me next time." Erza said, smiling at her friend.

Halibel shook her head, and Erza half expected her to grunt disapprovingly, or some other extreme form of emotional expression.
"Humans, shinigami… that we are distant relatives would be beyond belief, did I not know it to be true. I shall never understand you if I live to be ten thousand."

"That's how I felt when I first started speaking to my sword, and now look where I am." Erza said, her tone disarming.

"…again?" Halibel said, almost hesitantly. She was a powerhouse indeed, but she seemed a little lost in exchanges like these- it was strange to not be the awkward one for once, Erza thought.

"…no, I think this will be enough for today." Erza mumbled. "Thanks, but uh, I got some… stuff. To do. At home. Thanks, though!"
Well, the awkward part still needed work.

"…as you wish." Halibel said, nodding. "You will find me where I always am, then."

"Sure," Erza said, nodding. "Um… bye, then." She waved awkwardly, and walked out. On her way to the portal, she fought the unease running through her- it almost made her nauseous. Truth be told, the 'stuff' she had to do was a total lie, and had Halibel been any better versed in social interaction, she would have seen right through it. Perhaps even she had seen it. It was a lie- even the singular focus of hard training couldn't make it go away entirely.
She had been forced to join the Gotei, many years ago, under none too subtle threat. She had learned that they had intended to kill her if she said no, just recently. But even under threat, she had told herself it was the right thing to do, the right place to be. She had gained power, skill expertise… and most importantly of all, friends. All this, while doing service to humanity as a slayer of monsters and a guide of lost souls. She had been able to tell herself, for some time, that they were in the right- that she was in the right. That sure, they used rough methods and had strict laws, and some of their soldiers weren't what you'd call good people, but at the end of the day they all did good work for the betterment of the world, all of them. That maybe, if she rose high enough, she could change this place for the better.

Then she had slowly seen the truth, seen the Gotei Juusantai for what it was- a cruel, uncaring tyranny whose only merit was slaying hollows. Slaying them, not because it was the right thing to do, not because they had any desire for justice, kindness or a better tomorrow, but because they wanted balance between the worlds. A status quo to keep, to make the worlds keep going, without a single care in the world for the suffering of the people in the soul society, without any concern for what means they used- if it meant hiring psychopathic monsters, then so be it. If it meant suppressing any freedom to dissent, so be it. What she had come to realize was that the Gotei was the largest dark guild she had ever seen- wretched, indifferent and evil. If Natsu had seen her serve that kind of power, he would have punched her in the face. Repeatedly. And she would have deserved it.
Then had entered Aizen. It had been everything she should ever have wanted- to struggle against tyranny, not bowing to it like a coward because she was too weak to fight it head on. To create a new world order.

But that in itself had taken her to places that were, in their own way, darker than any she had been. She had realized that while the Gotei was corrupt, ruled by callous and uncaring people who hired monsters to do their bidding, it was also full of good, earnest people who wanted nothing more than to do right, people who were dead sure that what they did was justice.
It was painfully obvious, from her perspective, that change was needed. No, not just needed- it was absolutely vital. But at the same time, she could not achieve it without hurting people. That had been the worst revelation of all- ever since she was a little girl in Fairy Tail, she had been raised to have a firm moral core. Right was right, and wrong was wrong, and you always did the right thing even if it meant breaking the rules.

It had always worked out for them.

Now, she was in a place where she couldn't do the right thing without hurting a lot of people, where she would have to make herself a traitor to all her friends. For the greater good. And the problem was, when you started thinking the ends justified the means, where did you stop? It's not like they had had much respect for any greater sense of right, like the law, back in Fairy Tail- but here she was alone; there was no wise guild master to rely on, no friends raised next to her to be just as firm and reliable, who would stop her if she went wrong…
What if she one day decided that killing people, even innocent ones, was all right so long as it was for the greater good?

And now, on top of all of these doubts, were Aizen himself. A liar. The one she had trusted more than anything, let herself talk into treason in the name of a better tomorrow, to fix the gaping wound that was the Gotei and the entire soul society, had lied to her all this time. She wished she could call this an eye opening moment, that this was it and from now on she'd make a new path- but it wasn't. Even if Aizen were the worst scum in the world- and she certainly did not know enough to make that kind of judgment- he wasn't wrong. The Gotei was all wrong, all power and no passion, a cold an un-emphatic entity, carrying all the love and care of a dead fish.
That was what made her so uneasy, what killed her sleep at night. That, no matter how she looked at it, she could find no right or wrong. She knew right from wrong, yet she could seem to find neither in the path she had taken. Was it always like that? Was she always just lucky enough, back in Fairy Tail, to maintain a grand delusion about morality?

What on all the earths were she to do?

---

"Erza! I'm so glad you could make it!"

The voice was Momo's, as strangely soothing as always. She had risen fast these last few years- she was a natural talent, better at soldiery than Erza herself in many ways. Just last week, Aizen had promoted her to third seat. She was smiling brightly, as she should- this was her party. Rangiku had been the one to insist, naturally, but it didn't seem anybody minded. It was a small gathering anyhow.. comparatively speaking. There was herself and Momo, naturally; there was Rangiku, of course, busy pouring drinks. It was some strangely coloured liqueur from the world of the living, one that she'd undoubtedly feel the sting of in the morning if Rangiku had her way. There was Isane, sitting in the couch, looking a bit uncomfortable as usual. Next to her, Nemu, resting her head against Isane's shoulder, looking oddly at peace. Good; if anybody could use a good friend, it was her. There was Nozomi, wearing her brand new shinigami's uniform even to this informal occasion, looking constantly a little amazed, and there was Rukia- not looking quite so much in the spirit of partying, but present nonetheless.

Another friend of Momo's was here as well, Hitsugaya Toushiro. Erza had never really had the chance to speak with him properly before- he was but a child, in body if not in spirit, and worked himself hard, and rarely had leisure time to spend- Erza doubted he even wanted it. Still, she was impressed by his growth rate. Becoming a third seat in only eight years was unheard of, especially for someone so young. They had only spoken briefly, but he seemed nice enough, if not especially friendly. Though, being a childhood friend of Momo, she supposed he would have to be.

Of course, there was at last Momo, beaming brightly like a child on its birthday. She had worked hard, and she had been rewarded far beyond her expectation- just the look on her face was enough that Erza could, for the moment, forget the cloud of anxiety hanging over her head like a thundercloud readying to burst with lightning.

"Of course I came." Erza said, smiling back solemnly. "I wouldn't miss it for the world. You're my precious little student, and you've come so far."

"I'm not little!" Momo exclaimed, sounding almost indignant- but there was not much that could take away her joy at this moment.

"Is that so?" Erza teased, walking in close and towering over her. She stood well over a head taller.

"I'm not that little…" Momo grumbled.

"Of course you're not." Erza said, ruffling Momo's hair. "You're like a tiger in spirit. A small, adorable tiger. That's nevertheless very fearsome. And cute."

"Geez, Erza!" Momo huffed, blushing a little.

"Congratulations, Momo," Erza said, smiling a genuine smile for what felt like the first time in ages. "You earned it." She pulled Momo into a quick hug. Friends… gods, how good it felt to have friends.

"I'm- I'm not sure I did," Momo said, a little flustered as she broke the hug, "but… thank you, Erza."

"Aizen is a fair man," Erza said, not quite sure if it was a lie, "and he would never have promoted you if he hadn't believed you deserved it. He's not like some captains who will go on looks alone, you know."

"I know… it's just, making third seats in five years? That's incredible, isn't it? It's faster than you, isn't it? I mean, not that I meant I'm better-"

"It's all right, Momo," Erza said reassuringly. "You probably are better, anyhow. Just wait till you start filling out the paperwork, and delegating work, and taking complaints from a million and one people who don't have the guts to go to the captain but sure don't mind going just below that- you'll be sorry then." She smiled again.

"Thanks." Momo said, giving her a quick hug again. "Well come on, it's a party- let's go have something to drink." She gave Rangiku's table of drinks- now quite full of glasses with liquids of varying, bright colours- a suspicious look, and said, "well… not too many."

"Maybe just the one?" Erza suggested, as they walked over there.

"Just the one." Momo agreed, looking excited. "Or two. But definitely not more than that."

"Good choice."

The two walked over, and Erza settled for a yellow, not-quite-as-garish-as-the-others drink. Colour, it turned out, was no indicator for taste; it burned like fire with every sip.

"Congratulations, Momo!" Nozomi cheered, walking over to the two of them. "I hope I'll do as well as you will one day!"

"Thanks- thanks!" Momo stuttered, looking a bit flustered at all the praise.

"Would you look at that, Momo- you're a role model now," Erza said, only half teasing.

"Me?" Momo said, almost shrieking- the alcohol seemed to get to her head fast. "Don't be silly- I'm just… well… me. Nothing special. I just uh, worked hard?"

"Admirable in itself." Erza said. "Like it or not, lots of people will look up to you now. It's a high position."

"Oh… oh my goodness." Momo said. "I hadn't thought of that…"

"You'll do great." Nozomi said firmly.

"Let me tell you something," Erza said. "Remember the first time I walked into your classroom, Momo? All those years back?"

"Of course," Momo said, nodding. "You looked so tough and strong…"

"I did, yes," Erza said, nodding, "but the truth is, I was completely terrified. Shaking in my boots- not literally, but I was."

"No way!" Momo said. "But you took charge of everything like it was nothing."

"Here's what I told myself," Erza said. "Act like you know what you're doing, and people will believe it. And it turned out to be true, didn't it? If ever you feel unsure about something like that, just pretend you know what you're doing. When you're in charge of people, they need to believe they're being led by somebody who knows where to go and what to do. Manage that, and you've got half of leadership done already."

"Huh…" Momo said bemusedly.

"That's a great story." Nozomi said. "But… I can't imagine you being afraid of anything." She giggled.

"Oh, I'll laugh in the face of danger. Except not really laugh, but sort of glare at it, really hard. You know what I mean. Anyhow," Erza said, trying to un-awkward the point she was trying to make, "hollows are easy. Sure, they can rip your guts out with their claws, and sure they represent the worst of humanity, and sure you could die on any mission where you hunt them-"
Seeing the faces of Momo and Nozomi, Erza realized that inspirational speeches were not really her thing.
"What I am trying to say is, fighting hollows is easy. They want to kill you, you want to kill them, and that's all there is to it. I've got my sword, the skills to use it and power to back it up, and I walk into a fight with them, and either I die or I live. Simple. People, though? People can be terrifying. You never know what they'll do next, and you can't whack them with a sword to make them go away."

"That… makes sense, I suppose." Nozomi said, nodding. "You're strange, Erza, did anybody ever tell you that?"

"They never really stop." Erza said soberly, ironically downing her drink.

"It's a good kind of strange." Momo insisted. "It'd be boring if you weren't the way you are, Erza."

"Thanks, Momo." Erza said affectionately. "But this night isn't about me, now is it? You've done great, and we're here to celebrate you."

"Well, I'm not that special-" Momo protested, almost as if by routine, blushing again.

"Yes, you are." Erza said firmly, in a tone that brooked no disagreement.

"You're special and that's it, no more arguments young lady!" Nozomi said firmly, taking on a deeper tone that, supposedly, was an imitation of Erza. It wasn't the best, but it made the three of them burst out in laughter.

"Say," Nozomi said, grabbing another drink, "that's Nemu over there, right? Vice-captain of twelfth division?"

"And Isane. And Rangiku's here, too. And me, of course. You're around a whole lot of vice captains." Erza said.

"Is it true… that her captain built her? From nothing?" Nozomi said curiously. Erza knew where this was going, of course- Nozomi herself was a mod soul.

"It's awful how he treats her." Momo said, shaking her head.

"It's true, yes," Erza said. "I think the legality is a bit shaky, but he can do about anything so long as he says it's for science."

"And she's a full shinigami." Nozomi said.

"Better, actually." Momo said, nodding cheerfully. "Since she was designed, her reiatsu flow is more efficient than a regular soul's. So I heard, at least."

"So it's… an advantage, then?" Nozomi said, smiling.

"There's advantages to everything if you just look." Erza said. "And the most important thing is, we care about her whether she was designed or not."

"Of course." Nozomi said, nodding and giving her a look. "Well… more drinks?"

"Just the one." Momo said, smiling.

---

The next day Erza woke up, and with a small note of pride noticed that she only had a slight headache. Rangiku was mightily persuasive, especially when it came to frivolous matters, but Erza has remained strong- anxiety was good for something, at least. After a quick breakfast, she made her way out into the Gotei, into the bright, shining, deeply corrupt Gotei, to go on about her duties in service of tyranny. Her thoughts might have continued as such till they spiraled out of control, had a familiar presence not distracted her.

"Erza!" The voice, jolly, firm, a bit childish, was unmistakable- her once captain, Shiba Isshin. "Erza, how ya doin'?"

"Captain!" She said, standing up straight. "I'm- I'm fine."

"Ya looked real lost in thought there. Aizen working ya hard?" He said, grinning the same dumb, disarming grin.

"…something like that." She mumbled.

"Well me, I'm headed out to the world of the living. Great big mission." He leaned in, and gave her a look. "Come to think of it, I could use backup. Mission intel didn't say it'd be too dangerous, but… you can never be too sure, right?"

"I see why you'd say that, yes." Erza said, nodding. Kaien, Isshin's cousin, had died fighting alone, she recalled. "How about your vice captain?"

"Rangiku?" Isshin said, scoffing. "She got drunk as a skunk last night, and I don't think she got outta bed yet. Probably won't till it's noon. Ha, she won't be so pleased when I land her with the paperwork from this mission… and maybe ten or twenty more."

"You are a cruel man, captain." Erza said, smiling.

"I am!" Isshin said, laughing heartily. "You know me, tough love leadership and all that to the bone. But say… you wanna come?"

"I don't know…" Erza said. There was protocol to observe, she'd have to file the request with her captain, and you couldn't just run off like this, so suddenly…

"Are you sure?"

Something sparked in Erza. Running headless into the thick of it without regard for the consequences, when had she forgot how to do that? No, being away would be fantastic- away from the doubts, and away from… Aizen. She frowned, and said, with a steely look on her face,
"No, I'm not."

"Does that mean you're coming or not?" Isshin said.

"I'm coming." She said determinedly. "In fact, let's go at once."

"Damn, you're really aching for some action, huh?" Isshin said, grinning. "Don't tell me Aizen's hard work means pencil-pushing."

"Oh, you know how it is, captain," Erza said evasively, "you can't lift a sword without having to write a twenty-page essay on it."

"Ha! Ain't that the truth? C'mon, let's get out of here before the pencil-pushers find us. I bet you we'd have to fill a form just to leave through the portal."

Erza nodded, and together they walked their way toward the mission zone. She kept looking around her, expecting to see Aizen, or Gin, tearing her away from this. Just weeks ago, she had thought of them both as allies. Now… she wasn't sure what to think.

---

Karakura town looked the same as before, for the most part. The human world did change a lot, of course- a shinigami's world was static, bound by tradition and the view on life that one gets with a centuries-long lifespan. But though there were more cars, more people, more houses, it looked mostly the same.
Erza and Isshin landed softly on the ground, having descended from up high- the portals never seemed to bother with opening ground level.

"It's here?" Erza said. "People could get caught up."

"We'll find somewhere secluded- well, as much as we can, I'll flare up, and make it come to me."

"I'm good at letting loose." Erza said worriedly. "But fighting like this… what if somebody winds up hurt? Because of me?"

"Trust me, the what-ifs are much worse if we don't get this thing soon." Isshin said firmly. "Say 'what if' we don't catch this thing today. Could mean dozens dead, or worse. 'What if' it got away? Hundreds more dead in the long run. I hate to say it, but even if we run the risk of humans getting caught in the crossfire… the alternative is much worse. Got that?"

Feeling a little uncertain, Erza just nodded. Right was right, and wrong was wrong… but sometimes, there was just the better of two options. She knew at least that much now.
Together, they sped into the city, searching for someplace deserted. It took some time, but at last they found a building that, according to the sign next to it, was condemned and scheduled for destruction. Perfect. Or rather, as close to perfect as it got. Still worried, Erza followed Isshin to the rooftop.

"What's the plan now, captain?" She said, looking around her. "I do hope you have a plan." She should be more respectful, she knew, but Isshin- despite having what it took to be a captain- was, well… a goof.

"Of course I have a plan!" Isshin huffed. "It's a brilliant, intelligent plan, which I spent all of last night planning!"

"That being, sir?"

"I'm going to stand here, and flare my reiatsu until the hollow shows up. Drawn like a moth to the flame, I'll strike him down immediately!"

Mentally, Erza put her palm to her face. Yep, she had been right to doubt, after all…
"That's it?" She said skeptically.

"Hey, don't knock the plan!" Isshin said spiritedly. "Hollows love reiatsu, so that's what I'll give it. No need to make it complicated- keep it simple when you can, that's a good rule. Occam's zanpakutou, I think they call it."

"And if it doesn't show?" Erza said.

"Then I'll look very silly. But I do that all the time, so I don't mind." Isshin said cheerily, and let his reiatsu rise and flare, rapidly growing to as high of an output as he could under the limit seal they both wore, holding them down to twenty percent. Some time passed- a minute, two minutes, five minutes… they were approaching ten minutes, and Erza was starting to wonder if her captain would faint from reiatsu drainage before anything remotely wicked would come their way.
But then it happened. It came fast, so fast- a massive, malevolent source of reiatsu, climbing up the side of the building. Out of nowhere! It had to have hid its reiatsu, Erza thought- dear lord, it was… huge. She couldn't see it yet, but the presence felt nearly overwhelming- not quite like Halibel's, but most certainly up there.
Seconds later, a bony, clawed hand grabbed hold of the roof's edge, and the hollow heaved itself up in one swift motion. It wasn't very large- in fact, she saw it was not much taller than herself, as it landed on the roof. It had a long, narrow mask, with two red lines running down vertically from its forehead and over its eyes, and two bull-like horns protruding from its forehead. It had hands almost like a human's, except it was bony and clawed, and a tail protruded from its rear. It was so small for a hollow, humanoid- was it a Vasto Lorde, like Halibel? No… she had spent enough time around them to know the feeling- it was always subtle, overwhelming, like a dam that could burst at any moment but chose not to. They were the pinnacle of hollow evolution. This… was not. Its power was raw, radiating in big, uncontrolled bursts just like her captain's, and it glared at them with yellow, hungry eyes, glowing at them with sheer malice. It was powerful, all right, but it had none of the restraint, none of the control… it was different. She didn't like this.

"Well, you are damn ugly." Isshin said cheerfully, his sword out and held at the ready. "Let's do this, then. Scarlet, get my back."

Erza didn't have the time to so much as nod before the hollow sped forward, at an unnatural, vicious speed comparable even to a high level shunpo. Isshin, though, was not a captain for nothing- instantly, he had caught the hollow's first swipe, and undeterred by its furious charge, he pushed back. The monster slashes at him with its free arm, but Isshin put a foot in its chest, kicking it back. The hollow skid back, sliding across the rooftop, leaving deep claw marks in its floor.

"Strong, aye." Isshin said. "Scarlet, did you fall asleep?"

"N-no, sir!" Erza exclaimed, holding up her sword.

"Good, 'cause this will be a hard one." Isshin said, nodding. "Burn, Engetsu!" He cried, and his zanpakutou glowed. There was no noticeable change on the outside- but his reiatsu changed, so much better focused now. He was serious- and she should be too.

"Strike, Tetsu no Tama!" Erza snapped, and she felt the spirit heed her command- a little reluctantly, but still. Her blade changed into the axe, Breaker, and she stood ready. Not a moment too soon; the hollow immediately charged at Isshin, furiously clawing at him, lashing out with a combo of sharp claws, kicks, and even a tail lash. Isshin neatly parried each strike, but he was on the defense- he met each strike so far, but seemed to have no window to hit back. The monster moved in a blur, with precision and fury unlike any she had ever seen from a hollow before- well, not counting her friends in Hueco Mundo…
Erza did not stand idle. Grasping Breaker with both hands, she strode forward, and swung in a wide arc, cutting into the beast. It wasn't meant to hurt it much- just get its attention. The beast caught her swing with one arm, and though it had no face, she could swear it looked surprised- surprised that her swing had cut it, chipped its bony armour, cracked its skin. It growled, and Erza stepped back. Isshin seized the opportunity, and slammed the pommel of his blade in the hollow's mask. It staggered back for just a second, and Isshin raised his blade.

"GETSUGA TENSHOU!" He roared, bringing his sword down hard from upon high. Erza could feel it, every little particle aligning, charging up, dispersing… in the shape of a crescent moon, the blast hit the hollow square in the chest, sending it flying off the rooftop.

"Think- think that did it?" Erza asked, as they watched it sail through the air.

"Not a chance." Isshin said, shaking his head. True enough, the hollow recovered, willing itself to stop its descent, and leaping through the air right back at them.
"Ready!" Isshin snapped. "Don't underestimate it-"

He had no time to finish his sentence; the beast was already upon him, pushing him hard. He was still holding, still avoiding injury, but he was on the defensive now- it would only be a matter of time…
Erza cut in again, quickly moving at the hollow, her axe out and ready. She move in to swing- but that instant, the hollow caught Isshin in the chest with a kick, sending him back. Immediately, it grabbed Erza by the arm. For a second, she saw it up close- its evilly grinning non-face, its cold and rank breath, its glowing yellow eyes… and then she saw it. In its free hand, a red ball of energy. She knew what it was. She had seen menos use it, she had seen Halibel demonstrate it…

"Cero!" She hissed, desperately trying to break herself free. "Oh sh-"

Then the red ball turned into a bright, red beam, hitting her point blank, and Erza was sent flying. Barely conscious, she was aware of pain- distant, but present, all over her body like fire. She saw the building grow smaller and smaller, and then, she hit the ground. Things went dark.

She awoke with a start, sitting right up. She immediately regretted it, snapping awake with a jolt of pain. She felt asphalt under her palms, and she ached- she felt burns on her skin, and in general she had the sensation that somewhere down the line, a speeding train had run her over.
The hollow! Yes, the hollow! Ignoring the pain, Erza stood up. Her sword! Where- where was Tetsu no Tama? Almost panicking, she looked around. There, on the ground, not far from her, it lay, looking quite whole. Quickly, she stepped over there, her steps wobbling a bit. With an almost desperate eagerness, she put her hand around its hilt. Relief flooded through her as she felt its spirit respond, its mind connecting with hers. The scabbard was gone, but that was unimportant.
Where was she exactly? She looked around- she hadn't noticed until now, but it was an alley. Dirty, with garbage bags lying around it… how did she end up here?

Oh yes. Cero.

The fight! Erza's mind snapped awake, properly awake, and she sensed for her captain's reiatsu. She had no idea for how long she had been gone- was it minutes? Was it hours? Desperately, she tried to feel for his presence- the worst of thoughts raced through her head, fantasies of her captain dead and broken, a feast for monsters, that she had been beaten so easily and failed him and no please no-
But then she felt him, not far off. She sped out of the alley, and felt a little silly- the building they had been on was only a block away, and it only took a few well placed jumps to get back. The fight was still going strong, she felt it now- Isshin's reiatsu blazing strong; the dark and vicious reiatsu of the hollow- was it a bit weaker now, or was it her imagination?- and… something else.

She got back up on the rooftop again, one last jump propelling her through the air. What she saw was… unexpected. Isshin, she saw, was in a bad way- he was bleeding heavily, and although she couldn't see how bad it was through his torn shihakusho, it was obvious he was badly injured. The hollow looked in no better shape, bleeding from multiple wounds all across its body. But what was truly strange was the third arrival- a young woman, human judging by her reiatsu, was peppering the monster with brightly shining arrows. She was young enough to be a school girl, Erza was sure of it- and she was winning. A quincy, here? They were… not dead, not all of them?
The young woman drew her bow again, a bolt of blue energy flying from it in an instant, spearing the monster through the chest. It roared, attempting to leap at her- but before it had even taken its second step, another bolt hit it square in the chest, and another, and another. The monster roared, screamed, looking furious that its assailant stood so far away, beyond its reach- but his screams were in vain. With cold precision, a look of true focus on her face, the Quincy wore down the hollow with one bolt after another, methodically hammering it to the ground. Within seconds, well over a dozen bolts had pierced its chest, glowing a light blue before dissipating. The beast writhed, rolling on the floor-top in its death throes, mortally wounded.
The Quincy girl walked forward, from near the edge of the roof, and stopped just a few yards from where the monster lay. Looking fully on her guard, she strung her bow again, took aim, and struck it square between the eyes with a charged spirit bolt. Its mask cracked, the hollow screamed, and it dissolved. But it was different, so different- any normal hollow would simple disintegrate, its particles shattering to the winds, but this hollow… it was as if it had become smoke, a lingering mist. The Quincy girl jumped back, out of its way, and the mist finally dispersed, like a clearing fog… and Erza could feel its presence no more.

Quickly, Erza hurried over to Isshin. He had looked bad before, and he looked worse now- she could see several gashes on his chest where is shihakusho had been ripped, a nasty cut in his thigh, but… worse still, his skin looked grey, and his eyes looked blank.

"Captain!" She cried, kneeling by his side. "Captain, are you all right?"

"G-got- got sum good hits in-" Isshin said, his voice a weak, hissing parody of his normally strong, deep tone. "S-stronger 'n I thought- Scarlet, I, I- cn't breathe-" He seemed out of it, struggling for breath. Desperately, Erza tried to see what was wrong. He was wounded, all right, but shinigami were made of stern stuff, and a captain could survive much worse than this. No, this looked like something foul had come over him- his reiatsu was in flux, utter chaos as if he was tearing himself apart from the inside. She had learned much about reiatsu since her school days, but nothing about this made any sense to her.

"Quincy!" Erza cried, looking at the girl. "Please, we need help! I beg you!"

The quincies surely hated them all, if there were survivors- they had been hunted to extermination by her kind, by the shinigami. She had probably only shown up to destroy this one hollow, an accidental ally… but she had to try, because she had a feeling if she didn't, she would watch another friend die. She would beg as much as necessary; no price was too big to save him-
But she wouldn't respond. Why would she? Their two races were enemies.

But to Erza's surprise, the quincy carefully walked toward her, looking on her guard still. She went down on one knee next to Isshin, and put a hand on his chest.

"Thank you!" Erza burst out. "Oh, thank you-"

"Shush." The Quincy said, her tone sharp- although less sharp than Erza would have expected. "I am trying to focus. "

Erza opened her mouth, then thought better of it, and nodded. She leaned back, letting the quincy do her work. All she could do was hold his hand, not knowing if it did any good or not.
For a few minutes, the quincy seemed not to do much of anything. She touched various parts of his body; his chest, his forehead, his stomach, his legs. It seemed like nothing, but Erza knew it was not so simple- she was examining him, reading his reiatsu to an extent she herself could not. The quincies, she recalled, were masters of spiritual manipulation- they had to be, lacking the natural affinity for it that any shinigami would have.

Eventually, the quincy stood up, looking unsure.

"Well?" Erza said anxiously.

"His core is beginning to destabilize. You do know what a core is, yes?"

"Sure, sure," Erza said, nodding. She remembered that much- an abstract concept used to refer to the center of reiatsu flow, from which all other particles emanated.

"Then you know what happens if he is not treated. He will destabilize entirely, and dissolve just like a hollow." The quincy said. "Probably within an hour, I think."

Erza panicked. Could she get him back in that time? She would have to call for a portal, call for emergency medical aid, and even then it'd need experts… what were she to do?

"I'm sorry." The quincy said, sounding sincere. "I think he will die soon."

"Please, you have to help!" Erza hissed, desperately grabbing the girl by her arms. "You- you have to- there has to be something you can do!"

"I can't!" The quincy protested. "It's well beyond my ability- I'm not even grown up yet! I can't help!"

Erza felt, like so many times before, like an abyss was opening under her feet. No, not again… not again!

"…I know somebody who could." The quincy said, and Erza felt like she could kiss her.

"Who?!" She exclaimed eagerly. "Who? Where?"

"…I'll take you to him." Said the quincy. "Can you carry him?"

"Not a problem." Erza said, gently picking Isshin up, holding him in her arms. He felt limp, and so much colder than he should be.

"This way." The quincy said, and leapt off the rooftop. Erza swallowed, hesitated- how fast could she go, with Isshin like this?- but jumped after her, speeding off in a shunpo, hoping dearly it would not be too late.

After what felt like an eternity, but was probably less than ten minutes, the quincy slowed down. They had got to what looked like an alley of sorts, looking mostly deserted. There was what looked like a candy store- or a store of some kind, at least. Oddly, Erza noted, there seemed to be no customers anywhere, despite it being in the middle of the day.

"I'll go get him." The quincy said. "Just wait here. He's shady, but… I don't think he's a bad person. It's not like you have any options, anyhow."

"…sure." Erza said, nervously cradling Isshin's lifeless form. Why? Why did things always have to go to hell like this? Why was being dead so much harder than being alive?

Another few minutes passed, and the quincy came out again, followed by a large, burly man with glasses, two children, and a man with blond hair, simple Japanese clogs, and a green-and-white striped hat obscuring his eyes. He carried a cane, and looked rather lackadaisical.

"Ah, we do have guests indeed!" Said the hat, smiling a friendly grin. "Two shinigami, I see. Important ones, even- good day to you, miss vice-captain of division five, and captain of division ten!" He waved cheerily. "Get him inside." He said, nodding to his muscular associate. The man promptly walked up to Erza, and took Isshin from her, carrying him inside. Erza was not sure if she should protest, but was in no state to do anything about it- she still ached from the blast she had taken, she was emotionally and mentally exhausted- and, she noticed now that she had got the captain to safety, physically exhausted too.

"Well, come on inside, come on inside!" The hat said, bowing sardonically, and gesturing at the door. "It may be but a humble store, for a humble store owner, but it will accommodate an injured reaper nonetheless."

Hesitantly, Erza walked inside.

"Can- can you fix him?" She mumbled. "That girl, the quincy, she said… she said he'd die within the hour."

"My associate is an expert, I assure you," the hat said, walking inside behind her. "Under his tender mercies, your man will be up and about in no time. I should warn you, though- my services do not come for free."

"Sure." Erza mumbled. "He's noble and all, so I think he's got the money."

"Who said anything about money?" The hat said, with a strange tone. "By all means, come sit down." He showed her to a room, with comfortable sitting mats, and Erza gratefully sat down, resting her back against the wall.

"But- where are my manners?" Said the man, and took a seat opposite of her. "I am Urahara Kisuke, humble store owner, procurer of rare items, and trader of secrets."

"Wait…" Erza mumbled, something clicking inside her head. "Urahara… I know that name. You… you're… traitor!" She exclaimed, reaching for her sword.

"Looking for this?" Urahara said, with a smug grin, holding Tetsu no Tama in his hand. "I relieved it from your belt when you walked in. Amazing that it didn't rip through your sash as you ran, really."

"Give it back!" Erza snapped, leaning forward, attempting to get up, but Urahara pushed her in the chest with the end of his cane, putting her back.

"In time." He said. "We'll have a little talk first. Then, we'll see."

"I'll demolish you." Erza growled. "You think I won't? You think being a little beat up will stop me from wrecking your store and your face?"

"Will you now?" Urahara said, sounding amused. "Yes, you are very determined. I was wondering, though, what not one but two of Aizen's puppets were doing in my town at once."

"…what?" Erza said, sounding genuinely surprised. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You're as bad a liar as my intel had me believe." Urahara said bemusedly. "I am a trader of secrets. Simple secrets, like what the first division's vice captain likes for breakfast, or the secret stash of erotic novels that the second division's captain collects, or what made the captain of eleventh the brute he is. Then there are the secret secrets… like Aizen Sousuke, and his little scheme to replace a cruel, callous tyranny with a cruel, callous, slightly more efficient tyranny."

"I'm not!" Erza insisted.

"Please, let's not keep insulting the both of our intelligences like this," Urahara said casually. "I know quite a few things, Erza Scarlet. Aizen Sousuke, secret revolutionary. Uses illusory abilities. Cold, scheming, ruthless, highly intelligent- but not as intelligent as he thinks he is. Long term plan to overthrow the order of the Gotei Thirteen, to create his own personal new world order. Allied to Ichimaru Gin, psychopathic sadist murderer, as well as several key figures in Hueco Mundo."

Erza gaped. How could he possibly know all this?

"And allied also, of course, to you." He continued. "Only, all my sources paint you as a good and moral figure. Somebody who believes strongly in right and wrong. A terrible liar, too. That considered… he must have made you believe. Believe in his vision, while conveniently editing out the parts that would not appeal to you. Like the way he framed me for the hollowification experiments, or how he commands his hollow friends as tools, goodly or not."

"How- how the hell do you know?" Erza said. "And he's not!"

"Pay attention, Erza Scarlet." He said dismissively. "I know many things about those who may one day be my enemy. I know every captain, every vice captain, every ranked officer of consequence- which aren't that many, to be honest. You, I know intimately. Forced into service, graduated with decent grades. Suffered tragic accident soon after your graduation, resulting in the death of all but one of your classmates. Went on to join division eleven, then ten, then five, which is where I assume Aizen sunk his claws into you. Stellar reputation as a fighter, but known for a general lack of diplomacy or subtlety. Supremely competent in some areas, incompetent in others. And judging by your reiatsu… I'd say you've spent a lot of time with Aizen's pets. Does the company of hollows appeal to you, Erza Scarlet?"
He smiled, a smug, inscrutable smile, and Erza felt herself boiling over.

"Her name is Halibel. She is a person."

Urahara nodded. "As good a start as any."

Erza took a few breaths. How… how the hell could somebody know this much? About their plans, all along, from the outside? Why did he hate Aizen so? He was a traitor- a very clever traitor. She couldn't trust a word he said- but for now, she and Isshin were in his hands. This could turn ugly…

"…not that I believe you at all," Erza said, "because you are a traitor and a mad, amoral scientist, but…"

He chuckled. "To be called a traitor by a traitor, Erza… now that's amusing. But, go ahead."

"You said two puppets." Erza said, scowling. "You don't mean captain Shiba and I."

"No, of course not." He said, seeming as infuriatingly amused as ever. "I meant the hollow. It has Aizen's signature all over it. An enhanced hollow with special abilities, very much experimental, but clearly designed for a specific purpose? That is him, all right. Nobody besides him has ever successfully attempted hollow experimentation."

"Except you."

"I could, if I wanted to." Urahara said dismissively. "There certainly is much to learn. But sadly, I haven't got the budget. Do you know how much a functional lab for that kind of research would cost? Millions, maybe billions, a full research team, one's conscience…"

"Conscience!" Erza sneered. "You hold us in debt for keeping a man alive, and you speak of conscience?"

"I am a businessman, not a doctor." He said, shrugging. "And even doctors get paid. But to the matter at hand- that little pawn of his did not really die."

"I saw it destroyed." Erza said flatly. "How could it not?"

Urahara smiled. "Now there's the crux. Its essence lingered- and attached itself to the only possible host body around. I wager it was supposed to possess a human, because it seems a poor fit for a shinigami."

"Why? What would the point be?"

"To poke things with a stick and see what they do is the basis of any science anywhere." Urahara said.

"But…" Erza said, frowning, "why would you tell me all of this, if you know I am on Aizen's side?"

"An even better question." Urahara said. "I was starting to think your intelligence had been overstated." Erza harrumphed, but the blond man ignored it. "Yes, why would I tell you? This is a good day for me, you see- because one way or the other, Aizen loses two of his pawns. All that remains to see is if I have to kill you, or if you leave him voluntarily."

"How will you know if I really mean it?" Erza said, glancing at her zanpakutou, still in his hands.

"Because you are a terrible liar." Urahara said. "I can see you ogling your weapon, for one. Trust me- even if you were healed and rested, I've no doubt that you would die if I wanted it so. You are a skilled fighter, but you have the subtlety of a hammer- you are terribly predictable. I have a plan for taking on any officer of strength- that includes you."

Erza grit her teeth, and glared at him.

"What will you do to Isshin?"

Urahara scoffed. "Heal him, of course. Then charge his family an outrageous amount of money, and make sure he knows he owes me one. I'm a businessman, not a villain."

"Very well then. Do what you must." Erza said, keeping herself calm.

Urahara rolled his eyes. "Good lord, you're dramatic. I haven't decided to kill you yet, dummy. No, I'd like you to make your own mind up."

He reached into his coat, and pulled out a file.

"Here." He said, holding it over to her. Erza frowned. Urahara sighed, and held up Tetsu no Tama to her, hilt first.

"A token of good will, miss vice captain." He said. "Now please, accept this file."

Eagerly, Erza snapped her sword from his grasp, and glared at him. Hesitantly, not sure why, she then took the file from his hand, too.

"What's this?" She asked. "Pictures of my captain kicking puppies, or what?"

"Good one." Urahara said, chuckling. "No, it's better than that. It's research notes. Specifically, of hollowification experiments. Look at it, and tell me you do not recognize the handwriting."

Still holding the hilt of Tetsu no Tama firmly, Erza flipped through the file and its contents. She saw loose bits of information, data and pictures of hollows. She could recognize her captain's writing there, too.
She frowned, and shot the shopkeeper a glare- she was not born yesterday, and she was not about to take the word of a stranger and a traitor over Aizen's.
But despite herself, she slid the file into her kimono. There had been… trouble lately. She still believed in his vision. He probably had a good reason for concealing those prints from her. She was just on edge because of the way they had to hide… he wasn't wrong. Of course he wasn't.

But it never hurt to be sure.

Deep inside her mind, Erza could hear Tetsu no Tama chuckle smugly.

"There you go." Urahara said. "Review this at your leisure. Let the evidence speak for itself."

Erza just glared at him.

"Well then!" Urahara said, standing up. "Please, enjoy your stay at my humble shop. We'll have a look at you once we're done with captain Shiba."

---

The healing process, she was assured, went smoothly- but it took time. She had looked in on Isshin whenever she was allowed to, and the greyness in his skin had gone; he was back to a healthy shade of pink. He was still, though, unconscious. The burly man- Tessai, he had introduced himself as- had explained that while his reiatsu was contained, he needed several focal points rebuilt entirely, and at that point the conversation had become full of technical terms that made Erza wish Momo was there. The short of it seemed to be that he needed careful treatment for a longer time, or he would only have borrowed time, not a recovery.
Fully six days passed, and Erza fought the urge to run back to the soul society. She really should- they had been expected out that same day, and teams would have been sent out in search of them. They would be considered missing in action, perhaps even dead. She should set the record straight. It was duty. But try as she might, she couldn't tear himself from his side- the Shiba needed him. He had family. She couldn't leave him, not even for a few hours. And on a more practical note… even disregarding her emotions, she had no reason to trust a man like Urahara Kisuke. She didn't remember much about him- he had been captain of division twelve once, a brilliant scientist, then it had been revealed that he had been experimenting on applying hollow powers to shinigami, a concept as dangerous as it was blasphemous. Four captains and four vice captains had fallen victim to it, and yet another captain had turned coat to save Urahara from the fate he deserved. All in all, six captains had been lost in a single stroke. It was remembered as one of the darkest incidents in recent history.
And for all this time, he had been here in Karakura, waiting, gathering information…

Why would anyone trust somebody like that?

Because you don't know who to trust. Tetsu no Tama said, butting into her train of thought.

"Quiet." She murmured.

She had reviewed the file. It was full of science she could not understand, complex equations and sentences that might as well have been gibberish, but some of it was undeniable. Experiments on hollows. Experiments on humans. Experiments on the creation of arrancar. Special hollows, with evil abilities.
One name had stood out. Metastacia. A hollow with the ability to dissolve a zanpakutou at a mere touch with its tentacles. A vile monster… just like the one that had killed Shiba Kaien. There was even a reference to its success- Field test completed, easily able to destroy zanpakutou of vice-captain level shinigami. Subject severely damaged, possibly dead? Will find out. If dead, can still reproduce results

Every last word was in his handwriting. Notes, written with the callousness of a scientist, one that had let go of any sense of ethics, any sense of right and wrong.

There were notes on Halibel. On Neliel, on Ulquiorra, on names she did not know very well- Barragan, Starrk, Nnoitora- and how to apply them as weapons. In gruesome detail, it was described how powerful they might become, what powers they might have… she could not bring herself to read it in detail.
If this was a forgery, it was the best damn forgery she had ever seen.

Finally, one week after his battle, Isshin had recovered, although not quite in the way she had expected. She walked up to his sick bed- next to which the muscular Tessai still sat- and sat down. She looked at him. He was… different.

"Erza?" Isshin said, sitting up. "Bet I really made you worry, huh?"

"What happened to you?" Erza mumbled. It was all wrong- she could barely sense any reiatsu from him, like it had all been sealed away. His body was… similar, but not the same.

"About that…" Isshin mumbled. "I'm uh, a bit of a cripple now." He sounded beaten, a far cry from his usual carefree, energetic self.

"The damage to his central reiatsu system was severe." Tessai rumbled. "We stabilized him, through much arduous work. However, the majority of his reiatsu was burnt out in the process. At the moment, he possesses no more spiritual energy than the typical plus soul post mortem."

"Oh…" Erza said, a sinking feeling in her gut.

"That's not all." Isshin murmured.

"Correct!" Tessai said, nodding slowly. "In the end, his spiritual matrix was still too unstable to be relied upon. To save his existence, we bound his being to a gigai."

"It's not all gone," Urahara said, and Erza wondered just when he had stood himself in the door opening. He looked as carefree as usual, as obnoxious as usual. "It's possible that one day, his powers may recover. He still has all the disciplines and structure of a shinigami. However, as it stands… he'll be like this for years. Possibly forever. Fascinating, what that hollow did to his system."

"You!" Erza snarled. "You said you could fix him! You lying-"

"Take it easy now," Urahara said, raising his voice just a little. "We really did do all we could. Do you think I want him not to recover? This man represented a significant meal ticket to me. A nobleman in my pocket, and a payoff on top of that? But no…" He sighed. "It's all for naught."

"What do you mean?" Erza said, frowning. "Captain," she said, turning to Isshin, "we'll get you back to the soul society. We'll have the best of the best look at you, they'll fix you, not like this hack-"

"Erza, it's fine," Isshin said quietly, gesturing for her to calm down with his hand. "I mean… I don't feel peachy about this, but there's not a whole lot I can do. I know this guy- he's real smart, even though he got sent off for treason. Without my powers… let's be honest, the Gotei won't give a shit about me." He shrugged. "If I go back, what am I? A disgrace. A liability. A cripple who lost everything. An idiot who couldn't even die when he was supposed to." He looked her in the eyes, looking weary.
"I've always been an idiot. I don't mind it, because when people see an idiot, they let their guard down. I was a strong idiot, one at least fit to lead people. But without that… what am I?" He shook his head.

"You have people waiting for you!" Erza said. "You have family, a clan, a whole squad that depends on you!"

"Tell them I'm dead." Isshin said flatly.

"What?" Erza said.

"Tell them I'm dead. Do me that favour, Erza. Shiba Isshin died fighting a powerful hollow. He gave his life fighting for what was right, standing tall like a man. Please… let that be how they remember me. Not… this." He said, gesturing at his body, his artificially built, ever so frail body."

"This is a state of the art model, I'll have you know," Urahara said, "and it can be updated at your leisure, too."

Erza ignored him. "You can't do this!" She snapped. "What about the people at home? Don't you care about them?"

"I do." Isshin said, shrugging. "But… that's why I want it to be this way. I'm staying here. I can't make you say I'm dead, but you can't make me come with you."

"You idiot!" Erza all but screamed.

"Mr. Shiba has struck a deal." Tessai rumbled. "He has pledged servitude to this shop for a time, in exchange for his treatment, food and lodging, and the learning of a trade. He will not leave, young miss."

Erza made a fist.

"Really, don't try it," Urahara said calmly. "You're strong, but you won't like where this goes."

"You expect me to lie to your family?" Erza hissed through her teeth.

"You lied to us all along." Isshin said calmly. "And I don't judge you for it. There's a lot that needs changing."

"You told him." Erza growled, looking at Urahara.

"He did." Isshin said. "And that's why I ask. You keep secrets for Aizen- and whatever business you have with him, that's between the two of you. But for my sake, for me, the man who was once your captain- tell them I'm gone. Let them remember a strong man, not a cripple."

Erza shook her head. "You really are an idiot, you know that?"

Isshin smiled slightly. "Always have been. And hey, it's not all bad- I think that cute quincy who brought us here likes me."

Erza stood up. "Fine." She said. "Fine. I'll tell them you're dead. But don't ask me anything again, Shiba Isshin."

"…all right." He said. "Good luck in life, Erza. Make the world a better place, eh?"

"…something like that." Erza murmured, and turned her back. "Bye." She said. It was all she could manage. A grand farewell might have been more appropriate, but she could think of nothing good enough. She walked out, full of inner turmoil. How could he ask her to lie? How… could she not, when she had been a liar for so long? How could she have been a hypocrite for this long? Where had she gone wrong?
Full of indecision and anger, Erza sped off.

Urahara Kisuke watched her leave, his burly associate Tessai standing next to him.

"Tell me, Mr. Urahara," Tessai said, looking as inscrutable as ever, "how much of the evidence you gave her was a forged?"

"Most of it." Urahara said casually. "Imitating handwriting is not that difficult- the only problem was time. I like being prepared, especially for Aizen's pawns. If she had known her science, she would know that most of it was nonsense."

"A lie to guide her to the truth." Tessai said, and nodded. "Is that not ironic?"

"I suppose." Urahara said. She had opened a portal now, a ways away, and was leaving the city.

"When you told her you might kill her… was that true?"

"In theory, yes," Urahara said with a smirk, "but I was sure the moment I mentioned Aizen that she already had her doubts. All she needed was a push- one that I was all too happy to provide."

"It will not impede his plans." Tessai noted.

"Even so, spiting him is its own excuse." Urahara said with a grin. "Come on- let's help our new resident settle in."

---

He was waiting for her when she got through the gate. Aizen Sousuke, her captain, looking calm and content with a small smile on his face, the same captainly mask he always wore. Erza flinched, visibly so- did he know? Could he know? Of course he could- he seemed to know everything. And she was a bad liar.

"You were gone a week." He said. "We feared the worst."

"Did you now?" Erza said, completely on edge.

"Well, I did make some investigations of my own. Imagine my surprise, when I found your reiatsu in Karakura town, quite alive. What happened?"

She couldn't lie. Not convincingly. But Isshin nearly had died, and she knew a thing or two about losing friends the hard way. She remembered, remembered Marisa and Remon and Sensuke, the bottomless pit it had put her in…
"It was captain Shiba." She said, her voice trembling. "I… was watching over him. I don't know what happened- there was something weird about that hollow we fought…"
That's the way. Don't actually lie, but don't tell the truth either.

"He's dead." She mumbled. "Shiba Isshin's dead." She took a deep, sharp breath, remembering the way they had looked, her friends, when they had been torn to pieces before her eyes…
"Something happened to him. A quincy helped us out, we won the fight, but he got… poisoned or something. All his energy drained. I couldn't go back, and I couldn't move him either."

"It took a week?" Aizen said, raising an eyebrow. Erza held her breath. She couldn't convince him, please don't keep prodding, please don't keep prodding…
"I'm so sorry." Aizen said gently. "I know you knew he is part of the system we stand against- but nevertheless he was a good man, and your captain once. I understand."

"Thank you." Erza croaked, managing a nod. "It's… it was hard."

"Of course." Aizen said, nodding. "Please, take the day off. You need to rest."

"I've got to go report." Erza said, sniffing slightly. The tears which were almost spilling over were, at least, not a lie.

---

"…and that is your final word, Erza Scarlet?"
Old man Yamamoto's gaze was unforgiving, as steely as ever, and Erza felt like she might be struck down then and there for her deceit.

"Yes, head captain." She said, keeping her voice firm. "I was recruited to back up captain Shiba. We were assaulted by a hollow of unknown power, which killed him and incinerated his body. I was unable to defeat it, but I managed to escape."

"Grave news…" The old man murmured. "Very well. You may go. Submit a report to myself, and the second division, within a day. Dismissed."

"Yes, head captain." Erza said. She bowed, and began to walk out.

She was amazed that she had kept her composure. She didn't know how- she felt like up was down, like straight was crooked…

Aizen was an ally of hollows. Not of just people like Erza, but Barragan, the self-styled king of hollows. She had remembered his name at last, and he was a monster. Just how much could you say that you would use evil for the sake of good? How many Ichimaru Gins could you put in your service and still claim to be working for the good of the people?
He had made Metastacia. He had made gods knew how many others. He had stolen those notes. Again and again, she had tried to tell herself it was all a lie, that all this time had not been her duped, serving an evil man for an evil purpose- but she had run out of faith. Aizen had seemed a thoroughly decent man, but…
He was not.

The realization hurt her almost as bad as the death of a friend.

---

That night, not long after she had closed her eyes, she found herself in the marble palace again. Its pillars were being restored, and the floor was whole again. On the golden throne, as usual, sat Tetsu no Tama, looking down on her.

"Tell me, my fool master," He said, sounding more condescending than usual, "did your eyes finally open?" Casually, he sipped wine from a jewel-encrusted golden cup, and somehow Erza knew he was trying to goad her, to rub it in- whichever thing he was going to rub; there always were plenty.

"Aizen is not who he says he is." Erza said begrudgingly.

"Ha!" The spirit sneered. "I never trusted him- he is a conqueror, Erza, an ambitious man who wishes to be king of everything he can stake a claim to. Always too smooth, always saying just the right things to make you believe… but I am not like you, Erza. I am not weighed down by lofty ideals. I saw in him, the moment he bade you join him, what his true intentions were. Had you kept going down this path, I would have denied you my power."

"Fine." Erza said, gritting her teeth. "You were right. I was wrong. I was made a fool of. Are you happy now, my fool sword?"

Tetsu no Tama stood up, and put the cup down. Slowly, he marched down from his throne, until he stood face to face with Erza. Gently, he put an arm on her shoulder.

"Yes, I am happy now." He said softly. "You have freed yourself from the grasp of a tyrant through your own power. It is all I ever wanted to see."

"All that boastful talk and belligerence, and now you change your tune?" Erza said, feeling a little angry, and a little relieved.

"It angered me, being made somebody's thrall, however indirectly." Tetsu no Tama said. "It angered me, and for that, I became angry with you. But… now that you no longer dance to his tune, I am glad."
There was a strange, rare look on his face, Erza noted- a subdued look of joy, and… pride, like a parent whose child took her first steps?
"It was not your fault, Erza," He said, and Erza's jaw dropped a little.

"Say what?" She said flatly.

"He saw your virtue and kindness, and used it for his own gains." The spirit said, distaste in his voice. "You were the victim of a predator, Erza, one far beyond your ability to anticipate. You befriended a viper, one that made itself look like a lamb. He used you, like a tool, tried to warp you into his own image, to his own ends. He wanted a slave, and tried to make you one. But even then… you would not submit. You stayed true to yourself when it mattered most. However inadvertently, he gave you a trial by fire. You did well, Erza."

Erza blinked. She was being… praised. By her judgmental, moody, arrogant zanpakutou, who never seemed pleased with anything. Well, she wouldn't complain.

"…thanks." She said, after a good, long pause.

"You know what you must do next." He replied.

"Yes." Erza said firmly, nodding. "I will tell him it's over. I will not follow him anymore."

"And if this brings your world down?"

"Then so be it." Erza said, steel in her voice. "I'd rather that happen than stay in the employ of a monster."

"My master." Tetsu no Tama said, and to her shock, he gave her a courteous bow. He turned around, walked back up to his throne, and the dream began to fade.

Erza sat bolt upright in her bed. This could not wait. It ate at her, like fire inside her chest waiting to burst out. She would go, right now. Quickly, she put on her uniform, and strapped Tetsu no Tama to her belt. It ended tonight. She would tell him off, get it over and done with. What would he say? What would he do? She had no idea. Probably nothing good. But it mattered not. She would not run, she would not hide, she would get this done. She could feel her zanpakutou hum with approval, as she marched out of her room, out to the gardens of division five.

His office was not a long walk away. But of course, Aizen was not so conventional as to simply wait in his room. As she crossed the gardens, the moon shining down on them brightly, she felt him- standing further in, near the pond, quite awake. Of course he had expected her. Why wouldn't he?
Resolutely, she marched forward, and soon she saw him standing there. The glasses were off; he was there as his true self, waiting for her. She walked up to Aizen, standing face to face with him.

Aizen watched her approach. She had lied to him before- she had been clever enough to tell something close enough to the truth that it was convincing, but he already knew what had happened. He had noticed her doubt- she was, in the end, too strictly moral to understand his methods. Of course he had been suspicious of her- suspicious enough to put a bug on her.

"Such a beautiful night." He said, as if there was not a thing wrong in the world. "One really has to appreciate the simple things in life, wouldn't you agree?"

"Forget that." Erza said harshly, unable to keep her voice calm, aggression seeping from her tone.

"Then I assume you have something important to say?" Aizen said. "You sound so serious."

"You made Metastacia." Erza said. "You were behind the vizard incident. You've lied to me all this time."

"I imagine Urahara Kisuke must have seemed very convincing." Aizen said calmly. "After all this time, all I've done for you, you would rather trust a ruthless, amoral gutter feeder convicted of treason? You disappoint me."

He could see the doubt in her, the guilt and pain his words caused. He had indoctrinated her well, well enough that this was difficult for her. She was not beyond helping yet.

"I saw for myself." Erza spat out. "I didn't just listen to him. I knew you had been lying to me long before that!"

"Oh?" Aizen said innocently. This was interesting.

"The blueprints." Erza said. "I saw them, in your office. Kageroza's notes, the ones you said were destroyed. You lied."

Aizen kept his face straight, but suppressed a bit of annoyance. The blueprints. They had lain in his desk drawer for years, hidden under a stack of paper. Nobody ever looked in the captain's desk, because of the reverent respect everyone held for such a position- he should have put an illusion on those, too. It was an oversight.

"Then there's this." Erza said, pulling a file from her shihakusho. She threw it at Aizen, who caught it with one hand quite smoothly. He opened it, and rifled through it.
It was a poor copy of his own research notes, most of them imagined- except his notes on the vizard process. Just how Urahara had got his hands on these was something he would like to know- that man was nothing if not resourceful, it seemed.

"Lies and slander." He said casually. "I understand you are troubled, Erza- my plan is one that demands much sacrifice. But I had really hoped you would put more trust in me than to let it be upset by such lies. Has your perspective changed? Have you seen the tyranny of the Gotei, and understood it to be liberty? Have you seen its oppression, and decided that slavery is freedom? Have you seen its callous cruelty, and decided that it is justified? Tell me Erza, just where am I wrong?"

He resisted the urge to smile. It was tearing her apart- such a goodly person she was, so sure of right and wrong, and there was no bigger wrong than the tyranny he had shown her- carefully sprinkled with exaggeration where necessary. Any moment now, she would have to give in.
She was quiet for a minute. Then she shook her head, and said,

"You are not wrong at all, sir."

Just as planned.

"Then-" He began, but she cut him off.

"You are not wrong about the Gotei. It needs to change. It is not a system I can be part of. But! I cannot be part of your system either. If we are willing to do anything, anything at all to win, then that means there is nothing we won't do. I cannot follow your way anymore, Aizen."

Inwardly, he sighed. She was so terribly headstrong.

"Is that how it will be, then?" He said coolly. "You reject my vision still, even knowing what it is I aim to create?"

"I don't know what you truly aim to create." Erza said harshly, crossing her arms. "I cannot trust you anymore. I am through. Enact your plans without me."

"I see." Aizen said. It was irritating, at the least- probably, that was Urahara Kisuke's only intention. Erza certainly was not an irreplaceable pawn. "And what will you do with your knowledge of my operations?"

"I'll keep it to myself, don't you worry. I think maybe I'll run off somewhere I can be the way I want to- or maybe I'll stay, and try and change this place for the better from the inside. I have not decided yet."

"Very well." Aizen said, giving a sigh- out loud, at last. "I will not stop you. I wish you the best of luck for the future, Erza."

"As simple as that?" Erza said skeptically.

"No matter what you may believe of me, I am no monster." Aizen said, giving her a convincing smile. "I will not kill you for turning away. Perhaps when I change this place for the better, you will see that what I did was for the best after all. Until then… well, good night."

"…okay." Erza said. "So… we're… good?"

"Fine and dandy." Aizen said.

Not saying another word, Erza hesitantly turned around, and began to walk away. Aizen stood there for a long while, thinking. He could have sworn he had bent her will…

---

The next day, Erza woke up feeling relieved. A bit shocked, but relieved. It was like a band-aid ripped off quick- it hurt, but it was all better once it was done.
But what was she to do? She had not been all talk last night- this was not a system she could be party to anymore. The Gotei was a tyranny, and… well, could she really change it if she tried? Should she run, or would it be quitting if she ran without trying? Life was confusing, she decided, and the best thing was to give it a good thinker. Once she had calmed down. Which probably could take years.

But as fate had it, she did not have years, or even days. Exactly three hours after breakfast, when she was just about ready to head out on patrol, she was approached by the unmistakable form of captain Soifon, the tiny but frighteningly competent head of division two. She was flanked by a full team of onmitsukidou officers. Erza's heart sank. Oh, no…

"Erza Scarlet, vice-captain of division five." Soifon said sharply. "You are under arrest for treason, conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to undermine the Gotei, subversion and blasphemy."

"No, no, no," Erza said, desperately holding up her hands, as if it would appease the captain, "no, you don't understand, it's not-"

"Get down on the ground!" Soifon barked. "Get down on the ground and put your hands on your head. Failure to obey will result in forceful subjugation."

"But-" Erza said desperately. A captain. Of course Aizen hadn't let it go. She had been stupid to think he would.

"Obey!" Soifon insisted.

"…I can't." Erza said. With a feeling of dread, she reached for her zanpakutou, pulling it out swiftly. Maybe she could knock her over, knock her out, maybe she could distract them long enough to start running-

Before she had even had the time to call out her zanpakutou's name, Soifon was on her. She grabbed Erza's wrist in an iron grip, twisting her sword arm aside, and her other arm moved in a blur. Quicker than Erza could see, Soifon jabbed her fist into her solar plexus twice, slammed it into her throat once, and brought her palm up, slamming it into Erza's nose. Pain and nausea overwhelmed Erza, and she staggered back, only barely holding on to her sword. Not a second passed before a sweeping kick struck her in the head, once, twice, in the blink of an eye. Without quite knowing how it happened, she was thrown into the ground, and her arms were twisted behind her. Still, she struggled, trying to wrestle the little captain off her. Soifon grabbed her by the hair, and slammed Erza's head into the ground. Finally, blissful oblivion took her.

She woke up in a cell, her hands cuffed. The first thing she noticed- after the pain, and the nausea, and the woozy feeling she always got after taking a hit to the head- was her energy. She was locked down, unable to channel any reiatsu. The cuffs around her wrist were sekki-sekki, no doubt, the spiritual ore that blocked out energy completely.
She looked around. It was dark, the cell windowless- there was some light coming from the cell's opening, through the iron bars. It was a small cell, large enough for a cot and not much more. How long had she been down here? Erza sat herself up, and cringed- Soifon was shorter than even Momo, but she kicked like a mule.

"So you finally woke up."

She recognized the voice. She would recognize it anywhere.

"Aizen!" She sneered, getting herself up on her feet. She nearly fell over as soon as she had stood up, leaning herself against the wall. The world looked blurry, but she could see him there, looking so self-assured.

"It's so interesting." Aizen said. He sounded cold, calm, collected, so completely dispassionate. "I spent a lot of time trying to shape you to be a good lieutenant. You really would have made a worthy choice."

"You are a monster." Erza snarled, forcing herself to stand up properly.

"I will admit I made a few hollows for my purposes, yes," Aizen said casually. "Metastacia was imperfect. White, the one that killed Isshin, was too- but both of them were successes. What you never could see, Erza, is that true change requires sacrifice."

"I think the first thing you sacrificed was any sense of right and good." Erza growled. "You did this for yourself, all along, not for the people of the soul society."

"What I will build will make for a better world." Aizen said firmly. "But it will be completely according to my design, and nobody else's. 'Right', Erza? That is a fairy tale for children. It is an assumption we make because we wish to make sense of the universe. The world is so, so very large, Erza, and it cares not how we live, suffer and die. But to find purpose, we invent ideas like 'right' and 'wrong', and just… assume this is a reasonable way of looking at reality. Anybody who sees through the veil will know… it is an arbitrary, ignorant world view, one that has no factual basis, one that is in constant flux and changes from one time and culture to another. A fairy tale is all it ever has been, and it has chained you well to Plato's cave."

"I have no idea what that means." Erza said bitterly. "All I hear is a really long excuse for how being scum is okay, for using monsters to do monstrous work. An excuse, that's all I hear."

Aizen smiled. "I really do like you, Erza Scarlet. Even though you are ignorant, narrow-minded and short-sighted, you are much more honest than any of the fools I suffer in this ridiculous afterlife."

"Go away." Erza said bitterly. "I want nothing to do with you."

"As you please." Aizen said. "You will be interned in the maggot's nest. I pleaded for you not to be executed, you see. I am very persuasive. And decades from now, when my plan has come to fruition and your power has drained, I will let you out. You will then see the fruits of my labour, and… you will see the error of your ways."

"Go away!" Erza shouted. Her anger was overflowing; she had so much to say yet no way to articulate it. She had been betrayed, by the man she had trusted more than any- he had betrayed her, her and everything she had believed in.

"Good bye, Erza." Aizen said, and walked away. "We shall see each other again."

---

Two days had passed since Erza's arrest, and Lisanna was as baffled as anyone else. Erza, the loyal, kind, dependable Erza, a traitor? She had seen the evidence, heard the testimonies, yet none of it still made sense to her- nothing of it fit. She had known Erza in life, unlike any of her other friends, and if there was anybody she had never expected to betray them, it would have been Erza. Everything she had ever done, she had done for her friends, for a better world…
And now she was painted as an anarchist, a terrorist conspiring to overthrow the Gotei and destroy all that it stood for. It made no sense.

Because of that, this sensation of utter wrong, she had jumped on it when she had received a note from Rod Sentry. She didn't know him, but he was apparently one of Erza's friends- the second of the sole survivors from the massacre. So here she stood, in an alleyway far from any regular patrol route, waiting for him to show up. She hadn't needed to wait long; she had stood there for a few minutes when she turned her head once, and then, upon turning it back, found Rod standing right next to her.

"Damn!" Lisanna exclaimed, flinching. "It's creepy when you stealth corps do that, you know?"

"No time for chit-chatting." Rod said firmly. He had a weary look about him, like he was constantly in a state of having woken up an hour too early, but his eyes were alert. "Erza. Facing trial in twelve days, where she is all but guaranteed to face a lifetime in the maggot's nest at the least. Your thoughts?"

"Oh. Um." Lisanna said, collecting her thoughts. "It's nonsense, of course! She would never!"

"The evidence is quite overwhelming." Rod said, striking a match and lighting a cigarette. "Very convincing."

"It's not her!" Lisanna insisted indignantly. "She couldn't-"

"Too convincing, actually. I've been part of the hunt for traitors three times in the past. When apprehended, you usually do not find a pile of evidence just lying around. You could, in theory, but… what are the odds?" He took a puff from his cigarette, blowing some smoke.

"What are you saying?"

"I am saying that Erza was very suddenly revealed a traitor, in spite of everything we know about her telling us it is extremely unlikely. I do not know her as well as you do, but- tell me, does Erza Scarlet have much of any guile? Is she the sort of charming socialite who could put on appearances and fabricate a mask to hide her true intentions? For years on end?"

"…no." Lisanna said. "No, she's just like me, just like the others- if she has something to say, she says it. She hates lying."

"Assessment correct." Rod said, nodding. "Her evaluation file in the corps says as much. Impulsive, a little reckless, strong sense of right and wrong, dutiful but known to prioritize her own sense of justice over service… we are rarely wrong, miss Strauss, and that is not the profile of a traitor."

"So what, then?" Lisanna said. "Was this a set-up?"

"It certainly smells like a framing." Rod said, nodding. "I don't know how or why, but I think somebody wanted her gone. Somebody very good at what he did, in a position to forge and plant evidence."

"Who?" Lisanna said. "Who could possibly…"

"Irrelevant." Rod said, shaking his head. "The question is: what will you do about it?"

"…I want to help her." Lisanna said. "She could be executed. I just… I don't know what I can do."

"I can do nothing." Rod said. "As she was a traitor, all her known associates are under scrutiny- especially one within the onmitsukidou itself. Currently, it is believed I am on mission- something I will need to prove later."

"Some help you are," Lisanna said, scoffing.

"I can do nothing," Rod said, "except…" He dug out a folder from his shihakusho, with a few papers in them.

"What's that?"

"A guard schedule for the coming week." Rod said. "The cells are patrolled regularly, at precise intervals. There are some windows, however… if you had the right information."

"So I take some of our friends and go bust her out?" Lisanna said.

"No!" Rod said sharply. "This is a one person operation. Anything more is too high a risk. You all have eyes on you. I can keep them off you for a few hours, if I know when exactly to."

Lisanna eyed through the papers. "Damn… I don't see more than a five minute window here." She murmured.

"And that's a luxury." Rod said. "Go tomorrow night. Just past ten o'clock. Bring your zanpakutou. Break her out, and don't stop for any heartfelt words- just go. Understood?"

Lisanna nodded affirmatively. "Understood!"

"Good." Rod said. "I'll be setting up a very firm alibi for myself. However… I think I can see to it that you'll be able to grab her zanpakutou. I'll set up a portal to the world of the living- I'll leave it there. You'll be given instructions when it's time."

"…good."
Damn… what a rush. It was almost like she was in Fairy Tail again.

---

She wasn't sure how much time had passed. Enough that the worst of the anger had passed- the boiling, seething rage had passed, replaced by a chronic, vicious resentment. That bastard…
But as luck would have it, Erza would not be left like so for long. In the middle of the night, something stirred- she could hear something rattle at the bars, then a crack as if from lightning, and a clanking as they dropped to the floor. Quickly, somebody hurried into her cell.

"Li-Lisanna?" Erza said, recognizing the presence at last.

"Your hands!" Lisanna said. Clumsily, her limbs stiff from having been still so long, Erza held them out. With a quick swipe from her claws, the sekki-sekki cuffs were ripped away.

"Thanks- thank you so much!" Erza murmured.

"No talking!" Lisanna hissed. "Come on, this way! Go! Go!"

---

Momo felt uneasy. Erza had been something special to her- a best friend, an older sister, a teacher… she had looked out for her, given her hope in her darkest hour and saved her life. Now, they said she was… a traitor. The way everyone had just turned around, one day adoring the heroic vice-captain and the next calling her a treasonous whore, it sickened her to the core. Under any other circumstance, being called to the captain's office, where she was now, would have been something she had approached with excitement, anticipation… but now, she could barely focus. She stood to attention, although she felt like she might cry at any moment.

"…as I am sure you understand better than anybody else, we were all shocked." Aizen said. "I personally had never expected she was anything but a model vice-captain. Brave, loyal, strong…" He sighed deeply, looking weary, a little sad. "The evidence has spoken for itself." He looked broken down, crushed. "Whatever comes next is out of our hands."

"She's innocent, captain!" Momo burst out, unable to hold herself back. "She'd never turn her back on us like this, she never would! She's innocent, and I'll prove it!"

Aizen gave her a warm smile. "Your loyalty warms my heart, Hinamori. But like I said, it is out of our hands… and for your own good, you ought not to do anything rash." Momo opened her mouth, as if to protest again, but Aizen held up his hand. "Whether rightly or wrongfully, I am robbed of a vice-captain. This division needs leadership, especially in these trying times- which is why effective immediately, I am promoting you to vice-captain."

"…" Momo gave him a blank stare, in disbelief. "No," she said at last.

"No?" Aizen said gently.

"It- it's her spot." Momo mumbled. "And I'm not- I'm not-"

"I would not offer you this if I did not believe you worthy." Aizen said. "I have no choice in the matter- Erza is not coming back any time soon. In the meantime… we need help. I need help. Will you not be there for those who need you? Is that not what the friend you so love would do?"

Momo looked hesitant. "I… of course I will accept." But there was a bit of steel in her eyes, as she said, "But one day, I'll prove she is innocent. I swear it."

"I have no doubt you will do your best." Aizen said warmly. "For now, you are dismissed… vice-captain."

Momo nodded, and Aizen felt content as he watched her walk out. Erza had been a pet project. Her belief had always made her a bit of an X factor… and look how easily he had disposed of her once she rebelled. Hinamori Momo, that pitiful, weak-willed little girl, would make a desirable replacement- competent enough for the position, but lacking the will and initiative to be anything but a good little servant. He would mold her with time, put his mark on her… the plan proceeded as it should. This little speed bump would be meaningless in the long run. And one day, he would make Erza see it, his vision made real, and she would either see his genius or be horrified. Either one was sufficient.

Momo walked into the night, her heart on fire. Erza was everything she had ever wanted to be- strong, responsible, confident, caring, pure… she was the older sister she never had. This was not over, not for as long as she lived. One day, she would see Erza set free. One day, they would be together again- her, Erza, Renji, Hisagi, Kira, the others…
No matter what it took.

---

It was strange how life worked. Less than two weeks ago, she had ran to Karakura, life being… normal. Comparatively speaking. Now, after having been rushed out of prison by Lisanna, with no time for anything more than a quick good-bye, she was once again descending through the air, Tetsu no Tama at her side. Rod had had his hand in this, she knew- Lisanna was not the break-into-prison type, she had to have help.
It hurt. It hurt more than she could describe. The betrayal hurt, the realization that she had been a pawn to a wicked scheme hurt, that she had been used and thrown away like a tool. But most of anything, it hurt to leave them all behind. She had left Isane, Rangiku, Lisanna, Momo, Rukia, Renji, Kira, Hisagi, Nemu… she had made so many friends, and now they were all gone from her life, perhaps forever, as sure as if they were dead. She had not even got to say good bye. And if they ever saw her again, they would be duty bound to hunt her down, to subdue or even kill her.
What did they all think, she wondered? Did they believe her a traitor? Did all of them hate her now, feeling as betrayed and angry as she did?

It was all she could do not to cry. Loneliness was ahead of her, and it was a hellish prison worse than any Aizen could have devised. All by her lonesome, she stared into the night, as she landed on top of a building in Karakura. From Fairy Tail to the afterlife, to once again in the world of the living- another world, with everything she had built since she died now gone.
She sat there, not quite sure for how long, very near despair. But then, her isolation was broken, a presence having snuck up on her- she had been too busy wallowing in misery to even notice it. Tiredly, Erza raised her head to face it. Let it be a hollow about to attack her, she didn't care. In fact, beating something senseless would probably help about now.

It was no hollow, though. As Erza raised her head, she saw in the moonlight a familiar figure- a young woman, the very same that had helped her back then.

"Hi." She said. "We um, we never got introduced back then."

"Mmh." Erza said, barely responding.

"I am Kurosaki Masaki." The quincy said sweetly. "Pleased to make your acquaintance."

"…Erza Scarlet. Formerly fifth division." Erza said sullenly.

"Formerly?" Masaki said? "Well… you look like you need a place to stay. Why don't you come with me?"

Well, to hell with it. Going somewhere, with somebody, even if it was somebody she didn't know, that was better than staying here, alone with her thoughts. Erza nodded, and the quincy smiled, and nodded back. Quickly, she dashed off into the night, and Erza followed suit. The future was uncertain and the past was painful, but she would keep going.

---

There we go, end of chapter 20. That sure was something now wasn't it? Lets address a few things first though.

1. Isshin being effected by the hollow. I wanted to do something different than cannon, but keep it the same somewhat. Greatkingrat88 came up with the idea of this simply happening to Isshin instead. Seeing as how something similar (similar not the same) happened with Kain, it only stands to reason it could happen. And yes, that does mean Ichigo will still have his inner hollow. I love that psycho.

2. Erza being cast out into Karakura town. This was ALWAYS planned, not some last minute decisions. When I say in the description of this story "What does her presence change? More than one would think." I'm very serious when I say that. All kinds of changes will follow once we get things going. What kind of changes? I'm not telling.

3. Momo. Yes, she still has faith in Erza. Her other friends do too, to be sure, but out of ALL of them, its Momo who has the most faith. This event right here is a turning point for her. How so? I'll leave it up to your mind.

Thank you all so much for reading with us for 20 chapters once again! Please feel free to leave any reviews you want. Be they positive or critical critisim, I welcome both!