AN: A bit of a shorter chapter this one, but oh wellz. Seeing as I updated the first 3 chapters at once these are my second official author notes. Yaaay! Thanks for the reviews so far. Keep readin' and keep 'em reviews comin'. Hope ya like it. :)

4th chapter – Dimmu Borgir, Sacreligious Scorn.

Chapter 4

"Business Beckons"

Aizen Souske slowly walked through the streets and alleyways of Karakura Town. His dominant and superior gaze inspected everything on his way towards his destination. It was almost the evening now, and the sun was slowly setting down beyond the horizon, covering everything into orange colors. The people around the city started to go home – children, those coming back from work and kids from high school, who had stayed on supplementary lessons, or had any other business to take care of until the night would set upon the world of humans, bringing darkness along with it. For many the night was a time of rest, but some would only begin to stir in the darkness. Humans… and Hollows both.

Aizen was invisible to the humans, of course, yet he noticed that one man seemed to look at him as he walked by. His eyes showed some degree of interest, but the man quickly turned away, talking to some friend of his. Aizen noted that perhaps this one had been the same as those kids from before – when he first visited Karakura Town and chased them around, ridiculing their pathetic attempts to inflict any harm on him, as well as stating the fact that they could not outrun him – no matter how they tried. A shame he did not kill them. Gin stopped him before he could use the souls he needed for the Oken. It was silly… but Aizen still felt somewhat hurt by the actions of his most trusted comrade. "Most trusted" – but not entirely, of course, since Souske had some suspicions about Ichimaru betraying him when the chance would arise.

As the last of the light rays illuminated the roofs of the highest buildings in Karakura, Aizen stepped into a narrow street, not too far from the warehouses. There was a small café to his left with a portion of the seats outside the building, umbrellas protecting the possible customers from the heat and rain. While the rogue Shinigami stood on the crossroad between the three streets his eyes scanned out the best and shortest possible way towards his target. But then something caught the man's attention. There was a bit of a ruckus inside that very same café he had seen. A few voices were screaming loudly inside – two men's voices and a woman's voice. They seemed strangely familiar, and AIzen decided to indulge his rising curiosity, even counting the fact that he would not only lose some time, but also could accidentally get into some sort of trouble.

Aizen jumped upwards and landed on the small windowsill above the entrance to the café and the umbrellas. He smirked as he immediately recognized the voices coming from within, since they were growing louder and closer.

Below, the door suddenly flew open with a powerful kick and a pair stepped out of the building. One was a male – he was dressed in a pair of white jeans and a yellow shirt, which was a bit baggy on him, since the size seemed to be bigger than the man had, since this guy had a rather thin body frame. The man's hair was blonde and in his right hand he carried a white baseball cap, which he put on as soon as the two stepped out of the café. The woman was smaller than the man and a lot shorter. He had the same blonde hair, which she tied into two ponytails. Her clothes were a lot more… plain. She wore a sports jacket and a pair of sports trousers of the same matching color – black and white. She had white & black sneakers on her feet, while the man wore brown laced shoes.

The merry pair stopped at the entrance and the woman started to scream at the man. Rather rudely, as Aizen thought, and instead of defending himself the man took a punch to the stomach without showing much resistance.

Sagurako Hiyori and Hirako Shinji. How very fortunate that I found you here. Now I have the chance to gain some valuable information by watching you two a bit. This is indeed a streak of luck, which can, however, turn into bad luck if I am found out.

While Aizen was thinking he could hear the voices of the two speaking below.

Hiyori: "Shinji! Ya dumbass – how much more do I hafta tell ya to stop being such a wuss?" – the woman turned towards her object of anger and continued yelling, while gesturing at the door and pointing at him. – "You coulda been robbed if not for me here! Idiot! You're a real find for greedy bastards like that shopkeep there!"

Shinji: "Oh come on, Hiyori! That's why I took ya with me today, see? You got the hang of it and you can help me out here and there." – the man smiled, showing his teeth in that usual grin of his. Seconds later Hiyori's sneaker slammed straight into his nose, sending the man flying over the tables and onto the road.

Hiyori: "Grow a spine, ya dickhead!"

After the kick was delivered Hiyori turned away in disgust and started walking towards the district that housed many of the warehouses. Aizen raised an eyebrow, unwillingly, and shifted his attention towards Shinji. The man stood up and wanted to scream back at his female friend, but stopped when he saw she was walking away. Souske carefully watched the man as the latter stood in place, as if something was bothering him. Shinji raised his eyes to look at the café he and Hiyori just exited, and as his gaze went upwards he saw nothing… just closed windows and birds fluttering about.

The blonde man shrugged, put his cap back on and proceeded to walk after his friend, aiming to catch up with her.

Aizen watched Shinji from beyond a tree near the edge of the street, where he had quickly repositioned himself after he understood that Shinji might have noticed his presence. The man was sharp – that Souske had to admit, and even though Aizen wasn't letting out a single drop of his reiatsu he was almost found out. That was close, yet the traitor had no doubt as to his ability to quickly hide himself or defeat both the Visored if the need would arise. He was far beyond the abilities that those half-breeds could utilize and he knew it – after all it was he who had made them what they are and it was none other than Aizen who had defeated all of them during the fight at Fake Karakura.

Now, little mock-Arrancars – lead me to your little hideout. Show me where you live, where you sleep, where you train. After all – one's home is not only their fortress but also their greatest weakness. If one would carefully exploit it, that is.

He followed them as they slowly made their way towards their secret hideout. Aizen was thinking about a great many things as he did. It would surely be very good if he would find out their base of operations, since that would prove to be a vital piece of information in the future… should the need to destroy the Visored ever arise. A sudden attack straight into the center of their home base would be devastating. Souske imagined a Garganta ripping the space inside their home to pieces and an army of those loyal to Aizen pouring in, destroying everything in their path – spirits and buildings alike.

But that was just wishful thinking, since the Vizard hideout was still to be found, and should Aizen fail to accomplish this task – all his ideas would crumble to dust without even baring fruit.

Aizen landed on a roof of a three storied building and looked beneath. He could see Shinji walking down the road, but as his eyes scanned the road he understood that Saguraku Hiyori was nowhere to be found. Did she actually enter their base and Shinji was going somewhere else? Or perhaps during the few moments Aizen had lost sight of the two she decided to check if there was a "tail" behind them?

In that very moment Aizen felt someone behind himself. A low female voice sounded through the air.

Hiyori: "Hey pal – ya been following us for some time now, mind tellin' us who ya are?"

Aizen's lips curved into a smile as he understood that she must not have recognized him. Sure – his hair had grown down to his chest, and would even go past that if the guards would not cut it from time to time, his body was a lot more thin than it used to be, seeing as he lost some weight. Aizen let out a quiet chuckle as he turned around, letting the woman see his face. His cruel, cold eyes peered into hers.

Hiyori's own brown eyes, which had the same color as Aizen's eyes, grew wide with shock and disbelief. Her mouth opened slightly and her lower lip began to tremble. She grunted instead of speaking – she could not force out a word out of her throat, which went soar in a matter of seconds. Her fingers clutched into fists.

Aizen: "It seems as though I have been found out – such a shame, really. I had intended to remain unseen until we reached your secret hideout, but I believe that is no longer possible." – the man's smile grew wider, showing his perfect teeth. – "Isn't that right, Hiyori-san?"

Aizen slowly made a step towards her, raising his left arm up, stretching it out towards her. The woman finally regained her senses and jumped back, grabbing the hilt of her zanpakuto.

Hiyori: "SHINJI!"

Smart girl. She figured out that I am no match for her in single combat. So different from what she showed in our last encounter… perhaps these two years made her smarter, or is she simply afraid of me? Oh yes… I can see the hidden fear in her eyes. Even though it wasn't me who had cut her in half. I still wonder how she survived. A miracle indeed, but perhaps I should rather applaud the work of either Orihime Inoue or Unohana Retsu than to express my surprise.

After a moment Shinji had appeared beside Hiyori, his eyes looking straight at Aizen's face – a clear sign of disbelief, fear and anger showing on his face at the same time. Aizen felt some sort of dark satisfaction as he remarked that his opponents both feared him and hated him. Perhaps he simply liked to be feared and hated… or perhaps only feared. He could not really say.

Shinji: "What the hell? Souske! What the fuck are you doing here? How's it possible you're here?"

Aizen: "Oh my, Hirako-san. So many questions at once – I am afraid I cannot handle that much. But in truth…" – the rogue shinigami raised his arms, the palms of his hands facing the sky. – "As to "How" and "What" I am doing here is simple – I escaped the pitiful punishment you and those like you bestowed upon me, and now I am here. It was pure chance that I met the two of you here and I might add that this was a great opportunity for me… until you squandered it." – Aizen stopped smiling and lowered his hands. His gaze pierced the two before him. – "Now I will ask you this – will you fight me, or will you run away from me? I give you a choice and I give you my word not to follow you in case you choose to retreat."

Aizen's eyes showed a new emotion –a hint of benevolence. A small portion of grace and nobility, with the help of which he showed that his word was absolute and he would never break a promise he had made.

Shinji looked at his companion, his own zanpakuto already drawn out of its sheath. The blonde man looked confused and couldn't decide whether to attack or run. Alas – he did not have the opportunity to choose any longer. Hiyori Saguraku jumped upwards, delivering a slash to Aizen's head.

Hiyori: "ORRRAAAAA!"

Her usual battle cry made Shinji snap out of his paralyzed condition. The woman's sword fell, clashing against Aizen's blade. In an instant she jumped backwards and dashed forward again, delivering a slash from down below, which would cut the traitor Shinigami in half from his crotch to his neck, but once again Aizen defended by placing Kyouka Suigetsu down in fron of him, blocking the woman's sword.

Shinji Hirako appeared behind Aizen, swinging his blade sideways in an attempt to cut the enemy's back. Aizen pushed Hiyori away from him and disappeared, using shunpo before getting slashed with Sakanade.

In turn Souske Aizen appeared behind Shinji, standing on thin air, while Shinji was standing on the edge of the roof, and slashed to the right, cutting the man's shoulder only because Shinji jumped forward, evading the katana's blade. Aizen smirked, looking at how the two of his opponent now stood together again, the male slightly wounded.

Aizen: "Is this all? Is this the extent of your power, Hirako Shinji? Or are you simply buying yourself time until someone arrives here to help you?" – the traitor pointed the tip of his blade towards the two. – "If you are holding back then allow me to show you that you should not."

He disappeared, reappearing straight before Shinji. His blade entered the blonde man's flesh with a gentle and quiet sound of steel cutting through flesh. Shinji looked down, his eyes wide with shock once again as he observed Aizen pushing the blade further into his stomach. The pain came afterwards when Aizen pulled out the blade with a single swift motion and grabbed his former Captain by the collar of his shirt, then proceeding to throw the latter down, into the asphalt with great speed and force.

Hiyori vanished and appeared below, near her companion, holding her zanpakuto with both hands. She wanted to kill Aizen where he stood – that much was clear, but she would not leave her companion's side as well. Oh, the conflicted feelings and desires warring inside her… the rouge shinigami could see it all on her face, in her eyes, in the way she was gripping her sword.

Shinji(trying to stand up): "I'm alright, Hiyori. Don't worry about me."

Hiyori: "Dumbass! You gotta be faster than that!" – her voice was full of anger, yet she sounded relieved that Shinji was okay, and both the blonde man and the brown-haired man could hear that.

Aizen: "I am clearly stronger than the both of you. And… I would stay here and continue with this foolish battle, but I am afraid that I have matters to take care of. We shall meet each other again – and this time I will stand in the heavens, while you will kneel. Remember that."

Aizen smirked yet again and vanished. His speed was too great for the pair to follow and his reiatsu vanished completely. They were saved… for today. But the realization of the horror that their worst enemy was free again left them as shaken as they were during the battle. Finally Shinji felt no need to put on a façade of strength and fell down on his stomach, losing consciousness.

He could hear Hiyori screaming at him from a distance, as well as some other voice. Ah… Hacchi… and Love too. Shame he couldn't keep up the conversation…

Aizen had appeared near a small apartment building. His eyes studied the windows and a few bored faces for some time, before he finally moved, slowly walking towards the entrance into the building. Once inside he went up the stairs until he reached the 3rd floor and down the corridor. Now he stood before the last apartment – its number had long been torn off, or it simply wore off. He opened the door, breaking the lock and entered. The room was empty and it was clear that no one had lived here in years – dust was everywhere and half-broken furniture was everything that the rooms had. But…

The bathroom was not only locked, but it also had a spiritual barrier – one which could keep humans out and was well hidden enough for the Shinigami or Hollow to feel it. Aizen uttered the incantation, lifting the barrier and stepped inside. It was dark, yet the man could see everything perfectly as the door behind him opened, letting the light from moon and stars to illuminate the small room a little. Inside was a gigai, laying inside the bath.

Aizen carefully examined the gigai, which was a complete copy of his likeness and entered it, after picking it up. As he opened his eyes he could feel his new artificial body so well as if he had been dressed in a suit made of tight rubber. One word for it – uncomfortable. This new Aizen wore a dark-blue shirt and a pair of black jeans, which were a big baggy below the knees, but that was simply their design. On his feet were a pair of laced shoes with thinned tips. Above his dark-blue shirt was a dark-red coat, which stretched down slightly below his knees. A small silver chain necklace surrounded his neck.

The man checked himself out in the mirror in the living room and smirked. He looked as good in these humans clothes as he did in his arrancar outfit, if not better. Aizen focused on himself. Yes – he could not feel the slightest bit of reiatsu.

Urahara Kisuke was not the only one to invent a gigai which absorbed reiatsu and allowed it's wearer to go around undetected. I also had time to create one of my own, and this one does not weaken me. And… it serves a vessel for something more than myself, but a little something I had created with the help of the Hogyouku. Now I better get moving.

Aizen Souske had reached his destination, and right now he knew that his plans were going mostly as originally intended, but with a few alterations. Such as framing Hitsugaya Toshiro. Funny that it would be him who visited him – an event surely given to him by Fate, in a desperate bid to win the man's favour. And, of course, there was the meeting with the Visored, which served as a slight distraction, but pleasant nonetheless. They posed no threat yet – not until the Shinigami would arrive into Karakura in search of the escaped prisoner, namely himself. But by then Aizen would be far away – unreachable and victorious.

The brown-haired man turned around after he finished dusting himself off in front of the mirror and walked out of the apartment and then outside. The street lights illuminated his way as he walked further into the darkness. The final stage of his Escape was about to begin.