Chapter Two: Consulting an Expert

The meeting had been sudden and came quite out of the blue. Yoruichi had not yet dared annoy Ginrei Kuchiki. Being a pillar of the Soul Society as steadfast as Yamamoto himself, Ginrei not one to cross. So she waited as he entered the room. He looked at her with the sort of careful gaze which meant she had done something he did not approve of. Even if he didn't know what it was.

'My grandson has changed.' said the Head of the Kuchiki Clan.

'…Well I guess we all change over time.' said Yoruichi, feeling somewhat nervous despite herself.

'Do not think me a fool, Yoruichi Shihoin.' said Ginrei. 'I know you are behind it. Ever since he returned from chasing you he has changed. Where once he was dutiful, he has now become obsessive. He spends hours every day pushing himself to his limits to gain additional power. When he isn't doing that he is researching statistics without end.

'If you intend to continue training him, you will at once explain what happened on that day.'

Well, there was nothing for it now but to come clean. '…I lead him into the Rukongai.'

'You…' Ginrei paused. 'He could have been killed!'

'I was watching him the whole time.' said Yoruichi. 'He was in no real danger. The worst that could have happened was him getting humiliated.'

'I trust you have an explanation for endangering my Grandson?' said Ginrei.

'Because the Nobles of the Soul Society live pampered existences.' said Yoruichi. 'Out of sight and mind of the troubles suffered by the lower classes. Byakuya has the potential to be so much more than another in a long line of Kuchiki's. What he needs is motivation. I've given it to him by taking him out of his comfort zone.'

There was a cold silence. '…Out of respect for your family, I will not force you to cease your association with Byakuya.' said Ginrei after a moment. 'However, you are not to incite him to enter the Rukongai again. This matter is to be put aside and forgotten. Do you understand me?'

'He won't forget.' said Yoruichi. 'Byakuya has never learned a technique and then forgotten it. He will remember what he saw in the Rukongai for the rest of his life. You can't pretend as though this never happened.'

'Do you understand me?' repeated Ginrei.

'Of course.' said Yoruichi, feeling like a child again.

Dinner was a luxurious affair, again as usual. Byakuya was not exactly able to think about it. As he ate he kept remembering the run down and broken up remnants of the Rukongai. What did people eat there? His Grandfather was noticing as much, and so he decided to be honest. 'Grandfather, can I speak to you about something?'

'What is it Byakuya?' said Grandfather.

'I… I'd like to learn more about the Rukongai.' said Byakuya. 'I've been researching the outer regions. Some of the things which happen there are terrible. I'd like to see if there is anything I could do to help.'

'And where do you propose to begin?' asked Ginrei. 'I don't deny the truth of what you say, but you must realize that even if you want to help them, the Rukongai is a vast place. It has never been fully charted. There are some people there who might prove a threat even to trained Soul Reapers.'

'I don't know. I know rushing in won't work. I think…' Byakuya paused. 'I need to learn more.'

'Then you should focus on studying it.' said Ginrei.

'No, I've already done that. I've been pouring through the reports for weeks, but all they tell me is who might be a threat to the Soul Society.' said Byakuya. 'Population levels, things like that. Those are helpful, but they don't tell me how people live. They don't tell me what could be done to improve their lives.

'I need to speak to someone from the Rukongai. Someone who knows about it. Grandfather, do you know where you can meet anyone who used to live in the Rukongai?'

His Grandfather remained silent for a long, long, time. Finally, he sighed. '…I suppose I could arrange that. Give me a few days and I will to arrange a meeting with one who knows the Rukongai quite well.'

A few days later, Byakuya stood in front of a brown-haired man with glasses. He looked ordinary for lack of a better term. He was handsome in an ordinary and unremarkable sort of way. And he seemed the sort of person who would be lost in a crowd. He wore the Lieutenants Badge of Squad 5.

'Byakuya, this is Lieutenant Aizen of Squad 5.' said Ginrei.

'Lieutenant Aizen,' said Byakuya, bowing his head. 'I'm honored that you took the time to meet with me.'

'Please, don't stand on formalities Byakuya.' said Aizen in amusement. 'We barely use them in my squad. Actually, I was very interested as to why you chose to have a meeting with me. Usually, people go to my Captain for information, yet Lord Kuchiki was quite specific about me.'

There was silence. 'I think I'll leave you two to speak alone.' said Ginrei, before departing the room. There was a moment of silence.

'Now, what is your purpose in calling this meeting?' asked Aizen.

'I need to know about the Rukongai.' said Byakuya.

'Surely you could have read one of the numerous reports?' said Aizen.

'No, I need to really know about the Rukongai.' said Byakuya 'The people who write those reports are always people who haven't lived there. The Stealth Force doesn't approve of people having personal connections. Especially to those they are spying on. They watch like Gods from on high, and do not actually live in the places they police.'

'…I see, so you desire an eye witness account of the Rukongai.' realized Aizen. 'Which is why you came to me.'

'Yes, the reports my Grandfather gave me said you traveled to every section of the Rukongai. It's true isn't it?' said Byakuya.

'The reports are accurate.' admitted Aizen. 'I wanted to see and understand the place before I departed it forever. However, it is a very long story you are asking me to tell.'

'I have nothing if not time.' admitted Byakuya.

'Very well then.' said Aizen. 'Take a seat.' He motioned to a chair standing before his desk and sat down across from him behind said desk. Byakuya followed suit. 'I'll begin in the period right after I died for the sake of completion. I was from England if that word means anything to you.'

'A country in the World of the Living.' said Byakuya.

'Yes,' said Aizen, 'ordinarily, of course, they are under the influence of the realm of Avalon. However, I was consoled by a Soul Reaper. World War 1 forced the afterlives to cooperate. The situation in Europe risked creating millions of more hollows.

Far from what had been promised, I found that heaven was a dusty, ramshackle slum. One ruled by thugs and terrorized. I didn't speak the language, I hadn't the faintest idea on how to act. I had to learn Japanese culture from the ground up. And find ways to feed myself.' Something about what he said seemed to amuse Aizen, in a bitter sort of way. 'We tell souls that they won't go hungry or old, but that is an exaggeration, to say the least. Spiritually sensitive people do starve to death if they don't eat. And people do age, albeit at a rate which fits their mentality. If Captain Commander Yamamoto gained a new zest for life he might look quite different.' He paused. 'Where was I?'

'You had arrived in the Rukongai.' said Byakuya, finding the story fascinating.

'Ah yes, it was a disheartening experience actually.' said Aizen, looking far less ordinary all of a sudden. 'But I pressed on through, and in the process learned to control my spiritual pressure. I became very good at convincing people of my good intentions. I actually became something of a knight errant. I also learned to write, and over time got a source of paper and quill.

'That was when I made it my personal mission to chronicle everything I found. I traveled to each of the districts over the course of years, and had quite a few adventures of my own in the process. Eventually, when there was nothing left to see, I applied to the Soul Reaper Academy. I passed with flying colors. When I became a Soul Reaper, I submitted my findings to Central Forty-Six.'

'What did they do with it?' Byakuya had not heard of anything like that.

'Nothing, some months afterward I received a letter written by a secretary. It stated that my report had been received and was being considered. I think that was the moment where I lost the last vestiges of my old faith. It had been weakening for awhile, but that was the death blow.' Aizen remained silent for a moment, looking almost mournful. 'I'm not the same person I was back then, you know. I didn't realize it until now, but I don't think my past self would like me very much as I am now.'

Byakuya wasn't exactly sure how to handle that statement. He decided instead to move on. 'Lieutenant Aizen, this is fascinating, but I need to know more details. What was the Rukongai like?'

'…I don't remember.' admitted Aizen, in a voice of dawning realization.

'What?'

'I said I don't remember. When I sent in my report, no one found it interesting.' replied Aizen, looking more than a little annoyed. 'When I brought the subject up with the other officers I was firmly but politely told to turn my mind to more important matters. When I brought it up with Captain Hirako, I was handed more paperwork to do.

'I wish I could tell you what I wrote on that report, I really do. But I can't. Maybe I don't want to remember. No one who lived there has any incentive to. You are best off dropping the subject. I did. The Rukongai was hell on earth a century ago, and it will be a hundred years from now.

'Now is there anything else, or can I get back to my work?'

'…Only one more question.' said Byakuya finally, a curiosity nagging at him. 'You said before that you were someone else before you died. Who were you?'

'A soldier in the trenches of World War I.' said Aizen. 'I was a Protestant. I believed firmly in the Christian god and served King and Country. I was mowed down alongside all my men by machine gun fire. My officer wanted to advance his career. It was the last week of the war.

'If you want to learn more about the subject, you might try and find my report. I doubt Central Forty-Six has had it destroyed, just labeled it harmless. It was entitled On the Rukongai.'

'I see.' Byakuya stood, and bowed. 'Thank you for your time, Lieutenant Aizen.'

'The pleasure was all mine.' replied Aizen, looking contemplative as he left.

Sosuke Aizen had forgotten something, a great deal in fact. The idea was disturbing to him. He who had carefully balanced every aspect of his plans. And yet he had completely forgotten about a vast swath of his life. Perhaps he had not wanted to remember, or perhaps he had deemed it unimportant.

He began to sift through his memories. He would need to enter his inner world and sort this mess out, one way or another. He could afford no blind spots.

Byakuya had met Captain Ukitake many times before, for he was often a guest at Ginrei Kuchiki's house. He was a tall man, with long hair as white as snow, a clean shaven face and a somewhat thin appearance. He had an aura of understanding and caring which affected everyone who met. 'Byakuya, this is an unexpected surprise. What brings you here so late?'

'I apologize for the late hour,' said Byakuya. 'however, I'm looking for a document. I was wondering if you knew how I could find it for me.'

'Your clan is responsible for recording the histories of the Soul Society, Byakuya.' said Ukitake. 'Are you sure you shouldn't look there first?'

'I did.' said Byakuya, letting some irritation creep into his voice. 'There was nothing about it. What I'm looking for was never meant to be officially recorded, it was written by a third party.'

'Well I've access to the libraries so if you need it I suppose I might be able to find it.' said Ukitake. 'What was it called?'

'On the Rukongai, by Sosuke Aizen.' stated Byakuya.

Captain Ukitake's eyes narrowed, and he took on a guarded expression for a moment before it was gone. '…Very well, but I warn you it is not a lighthearted read.'

'It doesn't matter.' said Byakuya. 'I need to read it.'

'Alright then Byakuya, I'll see if I can get it for you.' said Ukitake. 'It may take awhile, so you should head home. I'll have someone send it along when I have it.'

'Many thanks, Captain Ukitake.' said Byakuya.

In the end, Ukitake came to deliver the book himself. 'I thought I'd cut out the middleman, Byakuya.' He pressed it into his hands. 'Here take it.'

On the Rukongai was a large black tome which was rather heavy to lift. It made an audible thud when it hit the table. When turned to its first page, Byakuya noted that it was written in careful handwriting. Its lines were neat, and short and had an elegant stroke to them. The paper was far too neat to have been composed in the dusty and rough areas Byakuya had seen before.

'This isn't the original version of course,' admitted Ukitake, 'it was in bad disrepair. So Aizen transcribed his notes and documents into a better edited single document. That is the one you see before me today. You know, he used to be far more idealistic.'

'He didn't exactly seem cynical to me.' noted Byakuya.

'Well yes,' said Ukitake, 'but when you are as old as I am you pick up on whether someone is wearing a mask. Aizen has one of the most perfect masks I've ever seen. At any rate, I actually have some business I need to conduct elsewhere. Kaien can only handle so much on his own after all.

'I'll leave you to it.'

He then flash stepped away in a mere moment.

Byakuya began to read, and this is what he saw:

Preface:

I have chosen to write this book under the pen name of Sosuke Aizen. I have done this because those I have spoken to find my real name difficult to remember. I have only recently come into a source of paper and quill, so this will be the first of my adventures I actually recorded. When I first set out on this journey in the aftermath of my death in the trenches, I had no idea where it would go. The conditions here are far better than in the trenches, I will certainly admit. Even so, there are some serious problems to be found. There is no electricity or running water for that matter. The supposed 'afterlife' lacks any of the modern advancements which set the modern world apart from the feudal era.

The government, if indeed it can be called that, consists for the most part of groups of local thugs. They occasionally menace and rob those under their 'protection.' There is something of a higher power, in the soul reapers. However, they rarely make any serious attempt to improve things. To their credit, they do slay powerful monsters known as hollows on occasion. For the most part, they are despised as tyrants.

Ironically enough then, it is the aspiration of every person with spiritual power one. One of the first things I was told when I manifested my abilities was that I should become a soul reaper. However, I do not intend to do that, not yet. For one thing, I still hold loyalty to my homeland, and to God. I would feel uncomfortable associating with such an organization. For another those who become soul reapers almost never return to the Rukongai. I do not believe this is a coincidence.

At the least, I will finish my reports before I do anything else.

Now on to ways the Rukongai could be improved. First of all, when a person dies and goes to 'heaven', they do not see their family. Their family could be in any of hundreds of districts, and they may never find each other. Instead, most people find new groups to associate with, forming new social circles. This seems to me an intolerable situation. It would be a simple matter for these soul reapers to assign a few soul reapers to each district. Their task would be to reunite people with their family members. It would also provide a far more efficient form of security. This way they would be on hand when a hollow attacked.

Furthermore…

But I'm getting ahead of myself. This is a preface; I'll leave the analysis to the later chapters.

It was only the beginning and Byakuya had already got a bad feeling.

Author's Note:

Well, here we have the second chapter. You know, I considered dedicating a large part of the plot to chronicling the in universe book. Then I decided that was more work than I was willing to put into it. Instead, I mean to have snippets to give you an idea of what Aizen was like.

It's kind of disappointing. The document which details how Aizen became who he was is an interesting proposition.

The Aizen backstory is one that has long been my personal fanon.