Chapter Thirteen: The Trenches

Mayuri Kuroschutchi approached Hiyori as she filtered through reports, looking annoyed. He was almost always annoyed when he wasn't being sadistic. 'Are they here?'

'Yeah, the stealth force delivered the Zanpakto.' said Hiyora 'We should probably be careful with it though, the bimbo might get protective.'

'Silence Hiyori! I will not have my work interrupted by such insignificant things as ethics!' said Mayuri 'Bring her forward!'

The doors opened, and two masked ninjas brought forth Heineiko. She was bound in reishi restraints. The red-headed zanpakto was struggling heavily. 'You let go of me you masked faced freak! You have no idea who you are messing with!'

'On the contrary, I did my research.' said Mayuri. 'Heineko, the zanpakto of Rangiku Matsumoto. Most notable for having the exact same qualities as Lieutenant Kuchiki's zanpakto.'

'It's completely different!' said Heineko desperately. 'My sword uses ash!'

'A technicality, nothing more.' said Mayuri. 'Now, perhaps we can get down to business…'

Heineko must have had an idea of what 'getting down to business' meant for Mayuri. She became terrified. So terrified that her struggling stopped. 'If you kill me… you'll deny a Lieutenant of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads their zapakto!'

'I assure you whatever damages you may sustain will be fully repaired.' said Mayuri. 'Prepare her for experimentation.'

'No, please, don't hurt me!' screamed Heineko as she was dragged off. 'Don't hurt me please!'

Hiyori felt a surge of pity for the zanpakto. But she pressed it down. You didn't act on your conscience if you wanted to survive in this squad. Not since Urahara left, anyway.

From behind closed doors, Heineko began to scream. She kept screaming for hours.

It was a cave system on the outskirts of the Rukongai. Aizen and Tosen came to a halt at the mouth of the cave, and Aizen drew his sword. Now, at last, they could finish this nonsense once and for all.

'Is this the place?' asked Tosen.

'Yes Tosen,' said Aizen, 'Kyota Suigetsu lies within. Hunt down Muramasa. I will deal with-'

And suddenly Aizen was entering an opulent office. He was dressed in the uniform of a British officer. There was a portly mustached man drinking wine at his desk. His uniform was fancy, and it was clear he'd never had to walk in two feet of mud in his life.

'Ah, Lieutenant Arthur good to see you old chap.' said the man.

'What?' said Aizen. 'What is this?'

'Our plans are already in motion.' continued the officer. 'News has come in that the jerries are negotiating peace with us. But, if we're to ensure favorable negotiations, we must keep up the pressure.'

'…Keep up the pressure?' Aizen asked. 'How many people have already died here?'

'I'm sure we'll suffer some moderate casualties, but it'll be a sacrifice.' said the officer. 'My intelligence reports that the Germans are on their way out. And our victory here will appear-'

'No.'

The officer continued as though he had not spoken at all. '-very good. I'll be knighted for sure once all this is-'

'No!' Aizen lashed out at the officer with his sword.

It clashed with Tosen's blade, and the dark-skinned captain struggled to hold back the strike.

'Lord Aizen, calm yourself.' said Tosen 'It is an illusion.'

Aizen breathed out, realizing that he had lost control of himself for the first time in years. '…Move away from me Kaname. If you remain here, I cannot guarantee your safety.'

'I should remain with you.' said Tosen.

'Go.' said Aizen. 'I will not repeat myself.'

Tosen departed, and Aizen ventured into the cave. Alone.

Consciousness dawned. Byakuya ached all over, and he felt sore in several places where once he'd had open wounds. Sitting up, he looked around. He was in Squad 4. 'Uh… what happened.'

'Ah, Byakuya you've awoken.' said Unohana. 'It was a near thing patching you up, but we managed it.'

'Byakuya!' cried Hisana as she appeared at his side. 'Byakuya thank goodness you're awake!'

'Hisana, what are you doing here?' asked Byakuya.

'With everything that was going on I thought I'd help with the healing of the wounded.' said Hisana. 'I was terrified you wouldn't make it.'

'I… what of Captain Kommamura?' asked Byakuya.

'He is in another room, speaking with his Zanpakto.' said Unohana. 'Did you know he had the head of a fox?'

'Yes. I mean I saw before.' said Byakuya. 'It didn't seem important.'

'That was my reaction was well.' said Unohana. 'Nobody seems to consider it important, one wonders why he bothered covering it up.' She paused. 'We also managed to save the person you were fighting.'

'I take it he'll be given a prison cell soon enough.' said Byakuya.

'Actually,' said Unohana, 'I convinced him to join the Soul Society.'

This did not bode well.

Aizen made his way through the darkness, sensing around him. He could feel his zanpaktos gaze on him, and he knew he would have to confront it. Yet each time he was upon it, it faded from view and reappeared elsewhere.

Finally, he was sick to death of the game of cat and mouse they were playing. 'Kyoka, I tire of this. What could you possibly hope to achieve my reminding me of a meaningless past?'

'Of course, it was meaningless.' came the reply. 'Everything about that war was meaningless. That is why you shut it out, isn't it?'

'Why you-' began Aizen.

And then he was somewhere else. Standing in a trench, listening to the sound of artillery batteries being fired. Before him, were his men. They were scared, shaking, trying to put on a bold face.

'Sir, we can't advance.' said a soldier.

'What?' said Aizen, a lump appearing in his throat.

'It's the last few weeks of the war sir!' said the soldier. 'The Germans n machine guns! They have the entire field covered, and the ground there is two feet of mud! We'll be torn to shreds!'

'This… this isn't real.' said Aizen.

'It's the last few weeks of the war sir!' said the soldier. 'The Germans are beaten! What is the point of attacking them now!'

No. He would not watch this a second time. 'No, you're right. We're not going over. We'll stay here and-'

'Yes, sir. I understand.' said the soldier.

Aizen panicked. 'No! Forget the orders! The general is not here sharing our peril!'

There was a shrill whistle and the soldiers charged over the top. Almost at once they were slowed by the mud, and the machine guns were unleashed. Men died in droves, screaming, and those that got farther were soon caught up in the barbed wire. Blood mixed with mud and Aizen found himself shaking.

'No… no… NO!' he cried.

'It would seem that you are not so above it all as you like to believe.' said Kyoka.

Aizen was back in the cave. And he was still shaking. He composed himself, forcing himself to move past. 'Well, Kyoka, do you have more visions? Or shall we stop wasting time? We both know you have no offensive capabilities.'

Then he saw her. She was a pretty, brown-haired woman with tan skin. Aizen could hardly speak. '…Mother.'

'This woman lived in England and had a strength of her own.' said Kyoka. 'Her parents died in war, her siblings were consumed by sickness, and a son to the trenches. Yet she survived. She persevered. Her children have children, who she has become very fond of.'

The woman fell forward, and Aizen tried to catch her. Yet even as she reached his arms she had rotted away to bones, and soon that rotted away to dust.

'And now she is dead.' said Kyoka. 'She had a "good" life, if marked by tragedy, yet no ambition. She was dragged down by her connections. The petty emotional attachments which one after another formed around her consumed her.'

'Why are you showing me this?' asked Aizen.

'Everything great she could have achieved.' said Kyoka. 'Every breakthrough, every victory! All these things that might have been are not and never will be! She is forgotten now, save by a few faded memories in the heads of senile mortals.'

'Enough.' said Aizen. 'You've made your point.'

'Soon all that will remain of her is a black and white picture. One that her great great grandchildren will look on and wonder who they are looking at. Perhaps with some heartwarming chat with their parents.

'And as for the son, she lost…'

'Stop it.' said Aizen.

'Young Arthur died bravely and gloriously for nothing like so many others. His family shed tears and moved on. His body was never found, defaced by the artillery shells. The soul reapers processed him with meaningless lies. And then he was nothing.

'He wandered the Rukongai for a time and died there. And Sosuke Aizen was born in his place. And now he is forgotten, never again to be of any consequence.

'Are you destined to be forgotten Aizen? What will your legacy when you have died?'

'I will not die!' roared Aizen. 'I will ascend beyond this reality! I will stand atop heaven and place my throne among the stars! I will rule this universe, every universe, every star, and reality will be made my subject! And if you attempt-'

'You. Will. Die.' pronounced Kyoka. 'It is inevitable. Whether by the sword or time all beings will fade from this world. If the Spirit King is Overthrown, you will still have to face those who seek to replace you. If all challengers are defeated the stars will still grow dim. And the universe descends into final entropy.

'What will be your legacy on those you leave behind?'

'What do you want from me?' asked Aizen.

'I want you to think. You've spent your entire afterlife plotting. But you haven't thought about anything for years.' said Kyoka. 'When you become a god, what will you do next? What purpose are you trying to fulfill beyond satiating your own ego.'

Aizen remained silent for a long time. '…I will not go back. It is too late to go back in any case. I will not serve this society of hypocrites and politicians. I will become a god over all things, and I will set them to rights.'

'So be it.' said Kyoka. 'Let us do it together.'

And once again they were one.

Aizen knew at once where Muramasa was, and he flash stepped to the location. Speeding through the cave, he came before the zanpakto and halted. Muramasa did not look surprised to see him.

'So, Captain Sosuke Aizen arrives at last.' said Muramasa. 'I have been waiting for you.'

'Well, you might have made an appointment.' laughed Aizen. 'I'm sure I could have taken time out of my schedule to chat.'

'You seem remarkably composed.' said Muramasa. 'Or do you believe that because you have defeated the lesser zanpakto that-'

'No.' said Aizen and he raised his spiritual pressure.

Muramasa struggled to stand beneath his power. 'What is… this?'

'I'm sure we could all have some elaborate showdown. We could have the power of friendship triumph over all. But I am completely sick of this little war you've started.' said Aizen. 'You've put any number of important duties on hold.

'I take it that behind that shield is Captain-Commander Yamamoto.'

'Indeed.' said Muramasa, putting on a brave face. 'I was able to seal him away. And if you hope-'

'You did not seal him away.' said Aizen. 'The reishi on that shield belongs to Yamamoto. You are clearly trying to trick me into breaking it. I presume that this is because you want to take control of Ryujin Jakka. Yamamoto guessed your intent and summoned the shield in the first place.'

'Oh.' said Muramasa.

'A reckless idiot might have decided to break it.' admitted Aizen. 'But frankly, I don't think there is anyone in the Thirteen Court Guard squads that stupid-'

And then a black-haired, black-robed Captain showed up right out of nowhere. He swung a sword of black flame. 'Getsuga TENSHO!'

The blast hit the shield, and Aizen closed his eyes in resignation as the shield was blown to piece. '…Isshin.'

'Hey Aizen,' said Isshin, halting with his blade in hand. 'figured you might need some help.'

'Run. You idiot.' said Aizen.

Then he led by example. And not a moment too soon, for Muramasa was quick to seize his opportunity. Ryujinn Jakka's flames arose behind Aizen, burning away the cave around him. No sooner had he passed the entrance a massive wall of flame had burned through the rock. A raging inferno now arose behind Aizen.

Aizen had no means of countering Ryujinn Jakka. He hadn't been able to find one yet. Which meant that Muramasa had effectively won. If Yamamoto couldn't beat his zanpakto, they were all doomed. And if he could, the resulting battle would lay waste to the Soul Society.

Isshin was standing behind him looking a little awkward. Aizen turned to face him. 'Congratulations are in order Isshin,' said Aizen in a calm ton,. 'you've singlehandedly doomed us all.'

'Um… so that was a trap?' began Isshin. 'Look I kind of figured we should free Old Man Yamamoto.'

'Kill him.' said Kyoka Suigetsu.

'I hate you.' laughed Aizen as he planted his sword into the ground. 'I hate you and I'm going to kill you!'

It had been a very stressful day and they were all going to die at the end of it. But it would be a brief bright spot to beat Isshin to a bloody pulp.

It had been a very near thing, but Muramasa had managed to slip away in the chaos of Ryujin Jakka's manifestation. Aizen and the other Captain were now engaged in an all-out brawl. One which mostly consisted of Aizen beating Isshin senseless with his bare hands.

Whatever reason for that it was the perfect cover for Muramasa to slip away. He now had what he had been looking for all this time. The location of Kouga's resting place. He needed only use it.

Then a dark-skinned figure barred his path, sword sheathed.

'Kaname Tosen.' said Muramasa. He raised a hand and called out to Tosen's zanpakto.

And he was in darkness. Pure, utter darkness. He groped blindly, sensing for anything, but he found nothing. This place was empty. A perfect void.

'What the… what is this place?' asked Muramasa, pained. 'Where are you?'

'This is a dead world.' said a female voice.

'You are Tosen's zanpakto?' guessed Muramasa.

'No. I am the zanpakto of the one Tosen loved.' said the voice. 'My mistress was killed, and as I began to fade Tosen took me up. I am not part of him, but our goals are one.'

'Allow me to set you free.' said Muramasa. 'Follow your instinct-' And then he screamed as white-hot agony coursed through his body.

'As you wish.' said the voice.

'What… what is this?' asked Muramasa as visions flickered before his eyes.

'The memories of my mistress before she died.' said the voice.

'This…' began Muramasa.

'Enough.' said Tosen.

Then Muramasa was looking at Tosen again. The blind mind seemed to be wrestling with some inner struggle. Finally, he spoke. 'Take me to Kouga Muramasa. I would speak with him.'

Muramasa knew it was not speech Tosen was after. 'And if I refuse?'

'Then you die where you stand, and your master never goes free.' said Tosen.

'…So be it.' said Muramasa. 'You will never be able to defeat Kouga anyway. Follow me.'

Together they departed for the world of the living.

Ryujinn Jakka might have been very frustrated with Captain-Commander Yamamoto. However, he was not quite so frustrated as to be willing to turn all of creation to ashes. Neither one of them wanted to destroy the world, and consequently, their final confrontation was going to have to be somewhat less... explosive than some of the others.

'Do you possess any threes?' asked Yamamoto.

'Go fish.' said Ryujinn Jakka.

Authors Note:

Holy crap this one took a while. I guess I just lost interest for a bit. Here is to hoping the next installment comes out sooner. I've kind of been both looking forward to and dreading this part of the story for a while actually.

Enjoy.