Chapter 19: Decision time

After the death of the old man, Sosuke and Ichigo stood with the now defeated captains and lieutenants of the soul society. They stared them all down, everyone was there, even the Vizards, Kisuke and Yoruichi. They were all within a barrier that cut off their spirit energy and was slowly sealing it away. It wasn't easy to make for Sosuke. It took over a century and had many high risks to it, but this was the end result. Everyone was either too defeated to put up a fight or to weakened to continue on. Miraculously enough, aside from Yamamoto there were no casualties on either side. True, there were a few severely injured and definitely more than a few battered, but all in all, no casualties on either side. It would be known as a war with only one death throughout history.

The two looked around the barrier and saw that everyone on the opposing side was accounted for. They were then contacted by Szayel and informed that the soul reapers sent here were dealt with and detained as well. There weren't any casualties, only injuries at Hueco Mundo, which was a relief for both Sosuke and Ichigo.

"Now then." Sosuke started as he stood in front of the barrier in front of them all. "I will say this once, and only once. After we are done dealing with the soul society as a whole, fixing the problems that have been instilled into the very foundations since its inception, I will give you all one opportunity."

"And what opportunity would that be?" Kisuke asked with a hard scowl on his face.

"The opportunity to bring about true, everlasting peace." Sosuke answered him, sensing the disdain the former captain had form him right now. "And unlike the powers that be that ruled over the soul society, we will all work together to achieve harmony. Not just for soul reapers and hollows, but for every soul within the Rukon district. For every soul brought into the afterlife."

"And what makes you think that any of us would believe that was your end goal the entire time, Aizen?" Shinji growled through gritted teeth. "After everything you've done, the lives you took back then, the ones you ruined." He stood up with the small amount of strength that he had left just to look Sosuke in the eyes. "You think that we would just forgive and forget how you tore our lives apart!?"

"No." Sosuke answered calmly. "I don't. What I did all those years ago was an unfortunate necessary evil."

"Necessary evil?" Kensei spoke up this time, attempting to stand up. "Turning us into Vizards was a necessary evil!?"

"That's probably just some shit you tell yourself just to make you feel like the good guy in all of this!" Hiyori yelled out as she too tried to stand.

Both failed and fell back down next to the rest of the group. Only Shinji was able to stand for a short time. "Nothing you say or do will ever change the monster you are Aizen." He said just before collapsing as his spirit energy was fully sealed away.

"I know that what I do now does not justify what I did over a hundred years ago." He spoke with his head down. He felt shame and intense regret for what he had to do for the hollows, but for now, he needed to make sure that it wouldn't be all in vain. It was only when Ichigo placed a hand on his shoulder and he looked into those beautiful brown eyes did he find his resolve once more. Looking back to the captives, he continued. "But what I did was to ensure that peace would prevail in time, and now that we are here, it is time to allow that peace to exist."

There was a silence for a short while, but it was broken when a certain captain spoke up. "What exactly are you going to do?" Captain Unohana of all people spoke out, surprising everyone there.

"Ichigo, myself and a few others are going to go to the Seireitei and end the last of the old world." Sosuke answered her.

"You're goin to kill the central 46?" Yoruichi asked with shock in her voice.

"No." Ichigo spoke up this time, getting everyones attention. "We are going to do to them what we intend to do to all of you who choose not to help us in maintaining this peace."

"And what would that be Ichigo?" Ukitake asked her in a stern tone.

"Sending you all to the Maggot's nest. Nothing more, nothing less." She answered with a stern tone of her own.

"So you expect us to either side with you, or spend the rest of our time in jail basically?" Kyoraku asked with a smirk on his face. "If that's the case, then is there just an option where we can lust live our lives away from it all?"

"Captain!?" Nanao yelled to him. "You can't be serious!?"

"I am actually." He answered her in a calm tone that surprised her. "What the old man said before, about how we all exist to solely defend the soul society no matter the cost. How he was willing to sacrifice us all just to stop one man that simply wants change for the betterment of everyone. It got me thinkin', maybe I'm gettin too old for all of this. I just want to sit back, relax and enjoy the rest of my life in that peace. Finally."

His words hit everyone differently. Some were seriously thinking about what the head captain said before in a negative light and saw it as an old, delusional man hell bent on his ways. Some saw this as an opportunity to let go and no longer seek battle or defend their home like this ever again. Some of the more stubborn or angered ones felt that this wasn't the way to bring about peace. That manipulation and murder was only a path to more violence, and that Sosuke would be the bringer of said violence.

"We will give you all time to decide on what you wish to do," Sosuke continued, "but for now, it's time to end finally see the end of this long journey." Ichigo nodded to him and Sosuke drew his zanpakuto. He placed it in front of himself and turned it ninety degrees to his right. "Open." A Senkaimon opened up and Ichigo, Gin, Halibel, Grimmjow(after reassuring Neliel he would return to her), and Ulquiorra all went through. Sosuke looked to the soul reapers with a genuine smile to his face. "I hope that decision will help build bridges and not barriers." He then turned and went through as the Senkaimon closed, leaving all to ponder on their choices.

Gonna end it here. The next chapter will be the official last chapter for this story and the first stepping stone to my crossover story. It's been awesome writing this and I do hope you guys and gals enjoyed it all the way to the end.

The next chapter will have a small time skip to it like how Kenpachi loves Strawberries did in its last chapter. Might even write a lemon in that chapter, but most likely not unless you guys really want an AizenXFemIchigo lemon.

Anyway, you guys stay awesome out there and to the ones in Hurricane Florence's path, I hope you are safe and doing well. An as always,

PEACE!