Chapter 8: Changes
"Ahh.... Home sweet home." Aizen stated as he steps into his throneroom in Las Noches. Trailing behind the former 5th Division captain were his shinigami cohorts and his arrancar guards.
"Well now.... The last time I was here in Hueca Mundo, you were just starting to build Las Noches." Gin stated as he looks around. "This is quite a setup you've got here, Aizen Taichou."
"It is an extremely secure location considering where we are." Tousen opined. "Soul Society will be hard pressed to penetrate our defenses if they ever decide to invade us now."
"I do not believe that will be an issue for a while since they have a lot of other things to attend to but I thank you for your kind words." Aizen said as he sat on his throne. "Now then gentlemen, you must be weary from our journey here. You may rest for a little bit and take the time to familiarize yourselves with Las Noches. Just be back here later so we may discuss our future plans."
Aizen then turns towards Naoto and Sano to address them. "Naoto, please show Gin where he'll be staying. Sano, please accompany Kaname to his quarters."
"Yes Aizen Sama." Both arrancars replied and led their respective guests in opposite directions towards their quarters.
Once they were gone, Aizen gets up from his throne and goes to the center of the room where a small, cylindrical platform rises from the floor. He then takes out the Hogyoku from inside his robe and places it on the platform before turning towards his throne with a smile.
"Naoto and Sano did an excellent job in Soul Society Ulquiorra. You made the right choice sending those two warriors with me. They show much promise." Aizen said.
The stoic Quatro Espada steps out from behind the throne and spoke. "I am gratified that you recognize their potential, Aizen Sama. This mission just confirms what we have been suspecting all along about their power. But despite all this, I'm fairly sure that their loyalities still lie with you Aizen Sama."
"What's certain is that they have their own agenda and I'm curious to know what it is. But let's allow them to reveal their true intentions at their own leisure and we will see where we go from there." Aizen said before adding with a knowing smile. "After all, it'd be a shame to waste such talent."
".....I like what you guys did to the place."
"..........."
".....Paintjob's a little dull but I guess you don't really have access to the hardware store from here, don't you?"
"............"
".....What do you do for entertainment around here, anyways?"
"............"
"Yare yare.... Still upset about what I said during our first meeting, eh? Can't say I blame 'ya." Gin said with a sad sigh. "We did get off on the wrong foot didn't we?"
"......It's not that Gin Sama....." Naoto started to say but was interrupted by the ex Third Division captain.
"Call me Gin or Gin San if 'ya have to. Adding Sama to my name sounds a little too stiff." Gin said with a dismissive wave. "And you don't really have 'ta lie so you won't upset me coz I know that I DO tend 'ta be a bastard."
At this point, Naoto was starting to revise his opinion on the white haired man. Sure the guy was abrasive, sadistic and creepy as hell. But Naoto also managed to catch a glimpse of his more human side.
Unlike Aizen, Gin had people whom he truly cared for. Naoto saw how well Gin treated his lieutenant despite how he manipulated him. And the look that he gave a long haired, strawberry blonde female shinigami as they were being rescued by the Negacion back in Soul Society was unmistakebly one of affection and regret.
To Naoto, that meant that Ichimaru Gin was not such a lost cause after all and it also made him wonder about his reason for joining Aizen in his quest for power.
"I suppose I can relate. I tend to rub people the wrong way too." Naoto admitted. "Guess that's the reason I'm in this predicament, eh?"
"Mah mah.... It ain't really so bad." Gin said. "Everything happens for a reason. You just gotta find out what your reason for being here is."
"I suppose." Naruto said before offering his hand with a grin. "Maybe it would be for the best if we start over then? Make it easier to work with each other? I'm one of the Numberless Arrancar, Namejin Naoto. Nice to meet 'ya."
Gin raises an eyebrow at this and returns the grin as he shook Naoto's hand. "One of the Numberless Arrancar eh? Well then, the name's Ichimaru Gin. Former captain of the Gotei Thirteen's Third Division. I'm glad we had this talk Naoto and I think we're gonna get along just fine."
Naoto hoped that was true. Both for his own sake and Gin's.
As they walked along the corridors of Las Noches, Sano observed the enigma known as Kaname Tousen out of the corner of his eye.
In the time he and Naoto spent observing the events in Soul Society, he noticed that there was something eerily familiar about the way the blind shinigami acted. The man could preach and spout about justice all he wants, but Sano could read him like an open book and knew that he was truly interested in just one thing.
Revenge. A need for revenge so great that it could only come from losing someone precious to you because of unjustified reasons.
Sano didn't know what the blind shinigami had lost and what compelled him to betray his comrades like this. In his opinion, Tousen had everything a man could possibly want or need.
Great power which obviously earned him his captain's rank despite his disability.
The loyalty, respect and admiration of both peers and subordinates alike.
And probably more then a measure of sympathy from people because of his unfortunate predicament.
But then again, Sano also had those in his previous life and look where he ended up now. Maybe they weren't so different after all seeing as their respective losses had somehow unhinged their minds.
"You have a question?" Tousen spoke out, shaking Sano out of his musings. It was eerie how the man seemed to know that he had something in mind.
"Actually, I'd just like to make an observation if I'm not being too invasive, Tousen Sama." Sano stated.
"Asking relevant questions and speaking your mind is never a crime. And as comrades in arms, it would be unseemly for me to not hear your opinion without a valid reason. You may speak." Tousen said.
Sano took a moment to choose his words carefully before speaking. "I may be mistaken but you seem to be someone who has experienced a significant loss in your life. A loss which probably influenced you to leave your home."
Tousen tilts his head at Sano, looking more curious rather then upset. "How did you come to this conclusion Uzuki San? You speak as though you've gone through something like that yourself."
"You could say that." Sano replied, aware that he was about to share something that might possibly give away his real identity if somebody he knew existed here. But then again, Tousen seems like the kind of guy who likes to keep mostly to himself unless there was something which needed his intervention.
"My entire family was massacred and I was the sole survivor of that incident." Sano started, deciding to give Tousen a version of the truth.
"I went after the man who killed them all and eventually caught up with him. But then I find out that my family were killed because of some perverted sense of justice." Sano continued, his fist clenching tightly at the emotion of the memory.
"I see.... Then you too have suffered." Tousen murmured. "Many people tend to misunderstand the true meaning of justice. That is why that word has alway been misused and abused for selfish means."
"Unfortunately, I'm probably one of those kind of people." Sano said solemnly. "I tried to delude myself that what I was doing was for justice rather then revenge. But in the end, my thirst for vengeance was far stronger then my sense of justice and I was willing to sacrifice ANYTHING just to attain it."
"I disagree." Tousen said. "A need for vengeance may have been your primary motivation but your ultimate goal was to see justice done. THAT is true justice."
Tousen turns to Sano before continuing. "You were correct in assuming that I have lost someone dear to me. But make no mistake about it. I follow Aizen Sama because I believe his chosen path is true justice and I will do everything in my power to see it achieved. It is my hope that you follow him for the same reason. Betray him and it shall be me who will mete out his justice."
Sano sadly watches as Tousen turns on his heel and walks away. The man was just another unfortunate soul being used by Aizen like a pawn in a demented chess game. A predicament he himself was all too familiar with.
But both him and Naoto played by a completely different set of rules and Aizen will soon discover that even pawns can topple the king when moved in the right way. That day was fast approaching.
But first, they needed to discuss a few complications to their plans.
"Are we all here?" Stark asks in a bored tone as he looks around the room they were having the meeting in. At first glance, one may think that this group looked extremely formidable with the inclusion of the current Primera and Trecera Espada as well as four ex Espadas along with five of the more powerful and experienced fraccions and two more arrancars whose real abilities have yet to be revealed.
But the truth of the matter was, they were still heavily outnumbered and outgunned in every concievable way. Add the fact that the ex Trecera Espada Nelial Tu still can't access her full powers yet.
"So how was your trip to Soul Society ninos? How did the babies measure up?" Dordoni Alessandro Del Socaccio asks. The 103rd arrancar and ex Espada may be a little wierd at times, but nobody can deny his prowess and experience in battle.
More then that, Dordoni was honorable, decent and was a good person to talk to. As a matter of fact, Naoto and Sano often went to the elder Arrancar whenever they needed advice on something.
"Terrible." Sano mutters. "If we were to attack them now, they'd be slaughtered."
"How heartbreaking. I had expected better of the shinigamis but it would seem that they have fallen on hard times." Gantenbainne Mosqueda said with his arms folded across his chest. The dark skinned, afro'd 107th Arrancar also had his own peculiarities, but was also a loyal and strong ally.
"You can't really blame 'em for that. With Aizen screwin' around with their system, I'm surprised that their doors ain't wide open right now." Cirruci growled. While the 105th Arrancar didn't harbor any real love for the shinigamis, betrayal in any form was something she despised. It was clear to her that Aizen was working for nobody's benefit except his.
"But there's another thing we need to talk about." Naoto spoke while leaning on a pillar. "While me and Sano were in Soul Society, we discovered.... Acquaintances who are now serving as shinigamis."
Naoto's words had the desired effect on everyone present. Their attention were now solely focused on the two masked arrancar.
"I see...." Halibel spoke after a few moments of silence. "Is that going to be a problem with you two?"
"It won't be a problem if they don't directly involve themselves in our affairs so that they don't get caught the line of fire. But since they're shinigamis, that possibility seems unlikely." Sano said.
"So what are you going to do about this predicament?" Stark asks.
"We're not willing to hurt them if we can help it. But there's only so much we can do as Numeros." Naoto said before adding with a foxy smile which was partially hidden by his mask. "So I think it's time me and Sano gave Aizen a sample of our true powers."
Within the massive throneroom of Las Noches, The Espadas, Privaron Espadas, fraccions and a few Select Numeros were gathered for a meeting with Aizen.
"Welcome brothers and sisters. I have returned and have obtained the means of our victory." Aizen said as the small pillar which held the Hogokyu rose from the floor. "With this, our evolution will be complete and we shall finally be rid of our hated enemies, the shinigamis."
"But of course, I wouldn't have been able to accomplish the task had it not been for the assistance of two of our brothers." Aizen continued, looking over the crowd before his gaze settles on Naoto and Sano. "With that in mind, I would like to call upon Namejin Naoto and Uzuki Sano to step forward."
In a burst of Sonido, both Naoto and Sano disappears from their place in the crowd and reappears kneeling on one knee in front of Aizen.
"Namejin Naoto.... Uzuki Sano.... In recognition of your accomplishments and service, I shall grant you one request if it is within my powers to give to you." Aizen said with an insincere looking smile.
"You are to kind Aizen Sama. We do not deserve such praise and rewards from you." Sano humbly said. "We were merely performing our duties to the best of our abilities."
"Nonsense. Such efforts should be rewarded. As a matter of fact, I insist on it." Aizen said.
"If that's the case, then there is one thing we would like." Naoto said, glancing at Sano who gives him an almost imperceptible nod. There was no turning back from this now. "Please allow us to serve you more as your Espadas."
Author's Notes: A little short but things are REALLY heating up now. The next chapter's gonna be a real doozy. Untill then, R&R please.