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Chapter 6

=DA=

Part 1

=DA=

Las Noches

Hueco Mundo

Retsu Unohana was both scary and exciting wrapped up in one very tantalizing package. As it turned out, the real reason why she learned Kaido and more conventional healing in the first place was so she could heal herself in combat in order to go on fighting for much longer. As a side benefit, that meant she could go much longer as well during various different activities.

A cracked pelvis might have been involved at some point in figuring that out, along with updating my definition of incredible angry sex. For the record, while it wasn't the best sex I've ever had, it was certainly the best I've experienced in this reality.

While that was all and good, most of the night was gone by the time we made our way into my palace of doom wrapped up in my illusions. There was no need to scar my Shinigami and Arrancar for life, Ulquiorra's reaction to our midnight adventures was bad enough.

"You know, you aren't off the hook yet." Retsu murmured. Her declaration would have left more of an impression if she didn't have an almost content smile on her face.

"Promises, promises. I do have to put my house in order first, then I do have some explaining to do." I smirked. "You as well. I didn't forget that comment about your experience with the dear and unlamented Central 46."

"That's a secret, though I might be persuaded to share it." The way she said it, I wasn't sure if she meant more sex, trying to kill each other again, or perhaps both.

Yep, my kind of woman.

"Master, there are times I despair for you." Aria pipped up.

"Given your condition, you have access to all my memories. You know very well what I got up to in the good old Imperial days."

"I'm happily trying to forget at least half of what you've done during those days. That way leads madness, which explains a lot."

Children these days.

I left Retsu at one of the free suites near my quarters. After we got frisky in the sand the promise for a hot bath was enough to get her to leave my side, the desire to leave me enough rope to hang myself in a few hours probably helped as well. I Flash Stepped away, shifting my illusions to make me invisible and went to the special storage vault where my own incomplete Hogyoku waited patiently.

"Kyoka, we'll be having words about your own stunt, I haven't forgotten about it."

"What's the big deal anyway? It worked for the best and that was the original plan anyway. Don't tell me you aren't going to make an extensive use of that toy?!"

"Not the point. Side effects, potential mind-fuckery, not to mention any subconscious desires that might fuck us both in the long run." I began listing just the most obvious drawbacks.

"You got to survive your little mating ritual with Retsu intact and got some mind-blowing sex out of the deal. It was energetic enough she had to fix up you pelvis after she broke it." Kyoka hummed gleefully. "From where I'm standing it all turned for the best."

"A few hours ago you were singing a different song." I pointed out.

"I admit nothing."

What atrocity I committed in the past, either as Veil or Aizen to deserve this? What crime against sentient life was too far?

"It's a very long list, Master."

"Shush you."

It took me five minutes to safely and quietly make my way through all the defenses surrounding the my Hogyoku, in no small part because my control was still shot to hell. There it was, floating above a stone pillar within otherwise featureless room lit up by the barriers surrounding it. As I approached I could sense it resonate with something within my soul, its counterpart that was more or less melded within my very being and content to mature in relative safety.

I raised my right hand and plunged it through the shields which recognized me, yet executed over two dozen scans before deciding not to do something appropriately nasty in response to the intrusion. The moment my fingers touched the jeweled cube, it lit up with golden light and painlessly melded into my flesh. A pulse of Reiatsu shot through my soul and I keenly felt the instant when the two incomplete Hogyokus began to slowly meld.

"Huh, that's actually beautiful."

I closed my eyes, concentrated and found myself in my Inner World. A shower of golden motes fell from the sky like a rain. Where they touched the ravaged desert that was a mirror image of Korriban, the sand melted, twisted and turned into a fertile soil, which soon spotted fast growing grass and flowers that only existed in a galaxy far, far away.

"Side effects, Apprentice." I grumbled. "Not necessary for the better, looks aside."

"Oh, don't be like that, the Hogyoku is a good girl." Kyoka Suigetsu nodded sagely and pointed at the distance, where in the shadow of a ruined temple a small glade had formed, complete with a young blond girl sitting at the edge of the water. She was looking curiously at everything and occasionally pocked things with a grubby finger.

"What?" That can't be the Hogyoku, right? "Apprentice, what did you do?"

"Well, you might be right about the unintended consequences. You know, being a Clone, a messed up one at that, I've actually been wondering what would be like to one day have a daughter." My Zanpakuto spirit shrugged with a sad smile on her face. "I'm pretty sure that the Hogyoku responded to my desires and that's her."

Words failed me at that. Seriously, what crime was too far to deserve this? Was it consuming Bothawui?

"You know, your daughter, your problem. Congratulations." I offered with a forced smile and left my Inner World. I was going to end up regretting this, I just knew it. No, bad thoughts, let's not give the nice Hogyoku ideas…

I shook my head and left the now empty vault. First things first, check on the VIPs, see if someone has tried to eat my Shinigami and if so, deal with the bloody fool and then attend to the Espada before they got unruly. While dealing with all of that, I had to figure out the right bullshit and the way to deliver it for later today as well, otherwise things would turn ugly.

=DA=

Part 2

=DA=

Las Noches

Hueco Mundo

I found Hinamori and Orihime resting in a suite right beside the one taken up by Harribel and her faction. The little healer was still asleep and recovering after healing Ukitake. My Lieutenant dozen slumped on a nearby chair, obviously still keen on following my instructions.

"Momo?" I gently ruffed her hair, earning myself a huff of displeasure before Hinamori's eyes shot open. She looked wildly around before her gaze stopped on my form and she relaxed.

"Captain? What happened? Was it all a dream?"

"No such luck, Momo. Now everything is… complicated." I said and sighed. There were complications, then there was what happened this night.

"What did happen with Captain Unohana?" Hinamori asked warily while giving me a once over with critical eyes.

I glanced down at my state of dress and winced. I hadn't bothered to cloak myself in illusions after the two Hogyoku's merged and I the less said about the mess that was my outfit the better.

"Let's just say that Retsu has unexpected depths."

"Uh,huh. Is that what they called it back when the two of you were young?"

"You really don't want the details, Momo. Though if you insist you absolutely need to know, I might be wiling to share."

"I'll pass, thank you very much, Captain. Now what?"

"Now I check up on everyone, have a few hours of rest and then I do have some detailed explanations to make."

"That you do…" Momo trailed off. "Captain, about Central 46…"

"That is not a pleasant story and I'm sure that Retsu has some tales to tell about their past as well. Let's just say that in reality, while we do fulfill a critical purpose, we Shinigami aren't necessary the good guys."

"That sucks, Captain."

"That's reality for you, Momo. It's not like in the stories. Take care and stay safe." I left with those parting words and went to Harribel's suites.

I found my Third Espada lounging on a plush couch, watching with bemusement her Fraction bicker with each other and occasionally ask questions about what the hell happened tonight.

"Harribel, two points my dear. First, thank you for your excellent service tonight, you did great. Second, if it isn't too much of a bother, I do have another task for you and your Fraction."

"You're welcome, master. What is it?" Tier perked up at that.

"It's high time to bring back Nelliel into the fold now that we have the capacity to heal her."

"Nel's alive?" Tier jumped up at that. Beside her Fraction, Nelliel was the closest thing she had to a friend among the Espada even if they knew each other for a short time before Nnoitra did his stunt, which was something he needed appropriate punishment for. Perhaps I would only need to let him yammer at Unohana and leave him reap the consequences…

"She is. After Nnoitra broke her mask, she lost her memories and her form devolved to that of a child. You won't mistake her when you see her, and she has her Fraction taking care for her. Please do search for them and retrieve them after our meeting later today. Ms Orihime Inoue will recover in a few days and should be able to heal Nelliel then."

"We'll leave as soon as possible, master. We'll bring her back."

"Excellent. I know I can rely on you all." I smiled kindly and made my way out, heading towards the section of Las Noches now containing my Shinigami.

=DA=

I found Tosen and company in a large chamber turned into an improvised mess hall. Kaname had the presence of mind to break out some of the emergency supplies, including the sake, which explained why at least half of the Shinigami who chose to accompany me were currently busy drowning their sorrows in alcohol.

"Aizen, you're still alive." Tosen turned his head in my direction as soon as I entered the chamber.

"More or less. Retsu turned out to be a very high maintenance woman."

At that statement, coming from yours truly no less, everyone in the large room froze and stared at me. There were a few looks of pity coming from my more experienced Seated Officers, while most Shinigami looked at me with dawning horror written all over their faces.

"Captain Unohana, really? You're even braver and crazier than I ever dared believe possible." Kaname chided.

"It was all worth it." I answered glibly. "I hope no one has been eaten or worse by a Hollow or Arrancar?"

"The Espada have been behaving for the time being. However, I'm sure they're all eager to speak with you." Tosen said.

"I'll be dealing with them next. Barring any more complications, I'll be explaining everything in six hours or so. Do try to be sober enough to keep up by then." I told my people then glanced at Kaname. "Captain Tosen, walk with me please, we do need to talk. Haruki, you're in charge in my absense, obviously." I told my Third Seat, who was currently busy doing a good impression of Matsumoto at an all you can drink buffet.

"Yes, Captain!" The slim red haired girl saluted me with her cup.

A few minutes later, we entered my own suite and I headed to get a change of clothes while Tosen's sightless eyes stared blankly at me.

"Why the change of plans, Aizen?"

"Two points, my friend. While due to your blindness you might be immune to the illusions of my Shikai, your condition does nothing for my Bankai. What you experienced in my presence has been as much as I allowed you to perceive." I explained. It wasn't even much of a bullshit, Aria's physical illusions could deceive him, we figured that a long time ago.

"Ah. I see." There was a brief surge of killing intent that came from Tosen, however he knew better than to try something, especially now, that he didn't know if he could really sense me or if I was merely smoke and mirrors created by my Bankai. "What is the second point?"

"What I've been saying all night is mostly true. I got reincarnated a few hours ago and regained the memories of my previous life." Or a previous life, who knew if there were more lives that I've lived I couldn't recall. "Many of the things I've done was under the orders or with explicit authorization by Central 46, but that couldn't come as a surprise to you. You know better than most that there was no justice to be found among them."

"That's why you got us to kill them?" Tosen inquired.

"Some time ago they overstepped their bounds for a final time. I've done many things because they ordered them, and I do regret how some of them turned out and I had my fill of their brand of idiocy."

"And you decided to murder them all for it?"

"Among other reasons. Some times justice has to be forced and it has little to do with what any given government deems lawful."

"To force justice?" Kaname repeated with a surprised expression appearing on his face.

"Why are you sounding surprised? That's the path you decided to follow the moment you joined me. I remember grinding whole worlds to dust, Kaname and there was not a grain of justice to be found there. There is no justice but the one we craft with our own hands."

"It is, isn't it?" He asked after a long pause. "Then we aren't any different than them." Tosen laughed bitterly at that revelation.

"We are different and better than those worms. In comparison to Central 46 and the crimes they either ordered or let slide, we're the closest things Soul Society has to saints."

"I find that hard to believe, Aizen."

"Then believe this, the path I would prefer to walk now is the one of least bloodshed. Destroying Gotei 13 and Soul Society is in no one's interest, yet they do need to change. I would have preferred to do it from inside once I was free from Central 46. Considering that doing so is no longer possible, we'll have to do it another way. We will force justice, our justice. We will force Gotei 13 and Soul Society itself to change for the better." If for no other reason because I didn't want to clean up after them for the rest of eternity.

"I like the sound of that. If it is true."