SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 10 out, this is Chapter 11 of this fic. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors (myself included) sustain on readers' reviews.

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny. Heck, even the pairings aren't mine.

Chapter 11: All Out War! Aizen vs. Shinigami

"Kurosaki Ichigo!" Suì-Fēng gasped as the eldest Kurosaki sibling entered the battlefield.

Letting out a battle cry, Ichigo released the powered-up Getsuga Tenshō at Aizen. "What?" he gaped when the blast was deflected by an energy barrier.

"It's been a while, hasn't it?" Aizen greeted. "Ryoka boy."

He blocked my first attack. Ichigo realized.

"Your attack was good," Aizen admitted, Ichigo jumping back to Guardian Frost's side to dodge the former 5th Squad Captain's blade. "But the place you aimed for wasn't. The back of one's neck is any creature's greatest blind spot. Did you think I would participate in this battle without placing proper protection? Let me guess what you're thinking. You think you made an error of judgment in your first attack. You think you should have Hollowified yourself before attacking. You think that if you had done that, it would have ended this. Am I wrong?"

He's right. Ichigo realized. I had to take him down with the first blow. I knew it. I was careless. Somewhere inside of me, I was scared. I thought that I might lose control of my Hollowification. I made a momentary error in judgment.

"Attack me." Aizen taunted the siblings. "I will show you that your thoughts are arrogant. That's right." he smirked when Ichigo donned on his Hollow mask. "Come on."

"Getsuga Tenshō!" Ichigo unleashed his Hollowified attack at Aizen.

"What's wrong?" Aizen mocked, reappearing behind the Kurosaki siblings. "It didn't reach me. Is that all you've got? Listen well, your attacks are useless against me; your blade cannot reach me."

"That's quite the claim." Ichigo retorted. "Then, I guess I'll put it to the test." and released yet another Hollowified Getsuga Tenshō at Aizen. I do know. You're saying that you can dodge my Getsuga Tenshō anytime you want, right? In that case...

Aizen simply Shunpo-ed out of the energy wave, only to have Ichigo attack him from above. "What's wrong?" he mocked, Ichigo having missed the traitor. "You haven't reached me."

My timing was perfect. Ichigo jumped back, his Hollow mask melting. I was sure of it. Is this the power of his Zanpakutō?

"Don't worry." Aizen assured. "I haven't been using my Kyōka Suigetsu's powers in our fight. This is just my basic strength. Let me ask you one thing, ryoka boy, why do you fight me? Do you have a grudge against me? No, you don't. The fact that you're here means that you've gotten Inoue Orihime back safely. And from the expression on your face, none of your friends have died. Can you really hate me from the bottom of your heart? It's impossible. Right now, you have no hatred. You're just fighting out of a sense of responsibility. You won't be able to reach me with that. The will to fight without hatred is like an eagle without wings. You can't protect anything with that. Your powerless friends only serve as weights to break your legs."

"Don't let him overpower you, Kurosaki Ichigo." Komamura grabbed Tensa Zangetsu before Ichigo could lower the sword. "He's a master at provocation. If you lose yourself, you'll lose your life. Don't let your guard down. Don't worry. I know the reason why the Captains who went to Hueco Mundo sent you here first."

At that, the rest of the able-bodied Shinigami and Vizards gathered around Ichigo.

"I won't let you see Aizen's Shikai." Komamura promised.

"We will fight to protect you." Hitsugaya declared.

"You really love the sound of your own voice, don't you, Aizen." Guardian Frost scoffed, the 'Moment of Truth' scythe was swapped for the argent and obsidian 'Senescence' scythe. "Acheron River: Chill of Pain." she stabbed Aizen's side with the curved blade. "You forgot to watch your back. You can already feel it, can't you?" she moved back to the gathered Shinigami and Vizards. "The chill that is slowly spreading through your body. Nii-san," she turned to her older brother. "Have you activated Genbu's powers yet?"

"Twice." Hirako answered for the Shinigami Daiko.

"Good enough." Guardian Frost nodded. "I'll need you to use Genbu's powers to 'reset' Kyōka Suigetsu's complete hypnosis counter on everyone here."

"Right." Ichigo replied and focused on the hexagonal talisman dangling from the hilt of Tensa Zangetsu. "Release!" he unleashed a wave of Shishin energy.

One by one, in each of the gathered Shinigami and Vizards' mind eye, mirror pane shattered into pieces.

"You sure charged in without thinking." Aizen taunted, Hitsugaya attacking first. "That's pretty reckless, Captain Hitsugaya.

"We won't get anywhere unless someone attacks." Hitsugaya retorted. "Missing this opportunity would be playing into your hands. I commend on you not using your Kyōka Suigetsu from the start."

"I commend you as well," Aizen countered, lifting a hand to form a shield to block off Kyoraku's sword from the side. "For having the wisdom to not face me alone."

"Are you saying I'm playing dirty, Captain Aizen?" Kyoraku mocked.

"If that's how you're interpreting it, I'll correct myself, Captain Kyoraku." Aizen replied.

"Kurosaki Ichigo." Komamura voiced. "I thank you. Back there, if you hadn't attacked Aizen, I would have lunged at Aizen in my fit of rag and I probably would have died. Thank you. Aizen said that you have no hatred and that your blade cannot reach him. But we know: the Avatar of Genbu battles without hatred. You have ended countless battles without hatred. You've protected countless of people your desire to protect is good enough. That is enough for you to reach Aizen; I don't mean your blade, but your soul."

"He sure likes to talk a lot." Hirako shrugged, the gathered Vizards clustered around the Kurosaki siblings after Komamura shot off. "Why didn't you bring back Orihime? Then again, you did bring back Unohana, who's more rational, so I'll forgive you. Listen, you two, we're going to protect you."

"They can only create an opening for an instant." Suì-Fēng reminded. "We're fighting for survival."

"Captain Suì-Fēng," Guardian Frost started. "Inform everyone else, including the Vizards, that Aizen will no longer be able to activate Kyōka Suigetsu ever again."

"Frost-sama?" Suì-Fēng was confused.

"I'm sure all of you have learnt from the Muramasa incident that one of a Shinigami's greatest fears is losing the abilities of their Zanpakutō." Guardian Frost reminded. "What do you think will happen if I have the ability to make a Zanpakutō forget it's powers?" at Suì-Fēng's shocked gasp, she continued. "All five of my battle scythes have the ability to channel the river waters from the five Rivers of the Underworld. And 'Moment of Truth' channels the waters from the River Lethe, the River of Forgetfulness. The second I struck Kyōka Suigetsu with 'Obliviate', I simply made her forget her abilities, every single one of them."

"That's..." even Ichigo was stunned. "A very scary power, Hasu."

"Too bad, I was too close." Kyoraku tsked, Aizen managing to avoid his sudden attack even after dodging Hitsugaya's sword.

"You seem quite confident, Captain Kyoraku." Aizen noted.

"If you think that, I'm doing pretty well." Kyoraku noted.

"For someone who's launching sneak attacks, that is." Aizen countered.

"Aizen," Hitsugaya growled. "You mentioned earlier... you don't seem to know, so I'll tell you. The only time a Captain swings his sword is when it is his duty. Swinging a blade out of hatred is just filthy violence. We can't call it a battle. Aizen, you truly are unworthy of being a Captain."

"How interesting." Aizen scoffed. "You hate me more than any Captain in the Gotei 13. I never expected you to say that. Are you saying that you're not directing any hatred at me with your sword? Or perhaps, all your hatred disappeared when you met with Suzaku's Avatar in the Real World? I told Hinamori that stealing the Phoenix Heart will grant her its powers and not only did she foolishly believe me, she also went as far as attacking the Avatar of Suzaku. She is such a malleable pawn, don't you agree? Little Karin-chan could already be dying, for all you know. How rude." he chided, dodging Kyoraku's strike. "I'm talking right now, Captain Kyoraku. You still love to butt in. it's a bad habit of yours."

"That's enough talking, Aizen." Hitsugaya spat. "Bankai: Daiguren Hyōrinmaru! It's as you say, Aizen. My swords is filled with hatred. I didn't come here to fight you. I came to violently kill you."

Omake: Shinigami Illustrated Picture Book

On the streets of Soul Society...

Unohana and Isane are walking past a sweets shop.

Isane: Captain, how about we stop by for some Japanese sweets?

Unohana: You'll gain weight, Isane.

Isane: (Sweatdrop) Um... you're right.

Ōmaeda: (Exits the sweets shop) Are you two coming in? The anmitsu dessert here is the best. (Holds out two bowls of sugared jelly) Here, take a look. (Offers a bowl to the tempted Isane)

Unohana: (Pulls out the nobori pole from the shop front) Kote! (Smacks Ōmaeda's hands with the pole) Let us be going, Isane.

SailorStar9: In the next chapter, Komamura, Love, Rose and Lisa join Hitsugaya in fighting Aizen, but all four are easily defeated. Suì-Fēng, Kyōraku and Hirako manage to confuse Aizen, allowing Hitsugaya to deal the final blow on him. As the Shinigami cheer on Aizen's defeat, it is revealed that Aizen has fused with the Hōgyoku as his wounds begin to heal.

Now that's done, read and review.