Ichigo sat up regretting it as he did so. His head hurt, it felt all too familiar to him.
"They knocked you out so you would stop fighting against them" Aizen said.
Ichigo took in the underground training ground, he made a noise deep in his throat as he recognize it. Too many memories happened in this training ground and the one that was similar to it that the Vizards had.
"What did you find out" Ichigo got out.
"Nothing from them. Though it all sort of makes sense. Normally it isn't so easy to get someone pardoned in the Soul Society. You kill people you usually get executed, even if you may save one good person along the way. If you killed the wrong people that happens. I mean hollification experiments, killing off Central 46 it was enough to get me killed. Well it would have been if I wasn't immortal. They would have surly imprisoned me though, back in the deepest level of hell. Power limiters in place, they wouldn't take me lightly. Yet somehow you were capable of getting me pardoned."
Aizen looked over him. "Even if my crime list isn't as bad as before, it is still pretty bad. It was just in my nature, there is no way I could just simply be the person who I showed to most of the Soul Society. It wasn't me. Even in the memories I had before I knew about Katsu, what I did all happened because of how I was pushed. Maybe a little bit was because of Katsu, but most of it was just life. The man who you met as my father, we never truly saw eye to eye as I stated before. I was kicked out of Rukon because of having too much power. I was always isolated. I stopped caring when I was young, it was all just what life did to me. "
Ichigo went over and wrapped his arms around Aizen. "Anyone can be thrown into different directions because of how life treats them. You saw how I was when I was Katsu. Also explain the runaway prince comment."
Aizen sighed. "I thought he was from Rukon, I assumed. I never asked him where he was from. "
"Why did you just let him treat you like he did?"
Aizen shrugged. "I loved him. He was truly the only person I had even founded that was somewhat my equal. I may have liked it, deep down. I don't know how else to explain it."
"So you really do like it rough, don't you."
Aizen looked at him. That look in his eyes, Ichigo couldn't even begin to describe it.
"Yes, but things are different in how Katsu treated me and how you treated me. I never thought I would become submissive. With Katsu, I fought for dominance, with you I found myself in a place where I did not want to fight. An understanding perhaps."
Ichigo cuddled up into Aizen's arms. Gin landed close to them.
"Am I interrupting a moment?"
Ichigo sighed and looked up at Gin. "Would you like to tell me what is going on?"
"I'm pretty sure the attack on the Seireitei was purely meant for ya. It is still bein handled there, but a few of us were sent here to protect ya. It is most likely due ta that bastard."
Ichigo grinned at that. Katsu hadn't gotten Gin's memory of the events. "Welcome back" Ichigo got out.
Gin grinned at him. "Someone had to be there to protect ya. It is easy to slip in and out of if ya know what to look for."
"Gin, do you think we could leave this place without anyone being alarmed or trying to stop us" Aizen asked.
Gin shrugged. "I don't even know if ya would be safe inside Hueco Mundo. This may be the safest place for ya. Hang on Ichi just let em protect ya."
Ichigo shook his head as Gin called him Ichi. I am a person who naturally protects the people I care about though. It is hard to just sit back and relax when the people I consider my friends defend me."
"Ya defend me by pretending to attempt to kill me, so am I ya friend too."
Was Gin his friend? He didn't know, he had protected the man before. When had his attitude towards the man changed? "Yeah I guess so. What are we going to do though? Also what do you know about the imposter, Gin?"
"Not much, the only information I have on him is what he allowed me to get on him. He is hard to catch, as if he was a snake. "
"A snake or the shadows" Ichigo got out. He could feel both men looking at him.
"When I was fighting him back in Los Noches. He pulled a zanpakutō out of the shadows. He knows more about Katsu then he lets on, why would he kill Katsu, and keep trying to kill me? Unless" he started. He tried to think back through the memories he had of Katsu.
"Katsu was the only one who could see him before. He was capable of making another Hōgyoku for Katsu. In the memories, he said one key phrase that someone else here uses. All according to plan. What was Katsu's plan though? Honestly two geniuses should be able to figure this out. Notice the only two people he even knew before was you two, or I should say the only two people he claimed to know. We are one in the same, he would be able to gain access to my memories wouldn't he, even if he was forced into me. The imposter kept his zanpakutō, why and how? Why would he not accept healing when he was so close to death, why not use Bankai to defend himself?"
"Are you sure you aren't a genius yourself? Yes you are overanalyzing things, but that might be the key to this. Gin go back up there, and report back to us. "
"Gin before you go" Ichigo started. "Back in Los Noches when Katsu was in control, why did you bow and call him my lord. Are you keeping something from us? You are after all able to slip in and out of things. Care to explain?"
Aizen looked at Ichigo "you were aware of what Gin did when you were under control?"
Ichigo nodded. "I couldn't move or do anything, but I was watching. Well Gin?"
Gin let out a forced laugh and started to back away. Gin was always backing away from him, he did when he had first appeared in the Asylum. He had done it multiple times here.
"Is that an order?" The words left his lips and Ichigo could see that Gin was uncomfortable.
"Explain exactly what you know. Yes that is an order" Ichigo got out.
Gin bowed his head slightly to him. "I was recruited to watch over you, my prince. You might be a different person in this life, but you are still my prince."
"Explain."
"Katsu Ametsuchi is the prince to the Soul Society. One day he was reported to be missin. I was not round at that point, I came later. I was recruited because I was from the Rukon district part that Katsu decided to run off to. They knew he would be back. I was told to watch over him, and protect him with my life. He had gotten himself into some trouble, when he was approached and he was tainted. Well that is what some of em say, I think he was just attemptin to make things right. He was caught in two different lies and he died. He was then brought back, because the prince cannot truly die and Ichi that is ya. "
"Are you immortal as well?" Ichigo had to ask.
"I cannot die easily, but I am not immortal. "
"I rest my point" Ichigo said.
"How did ya know, that I didn't truly die."
"I didn't really, it was just a feeling" Ichigo got out. Aizen looked between the two of them.
"Would you like to explain yourself to me, how did I fit in to this all?"
Gin tilted his head and looked at Ichigo who simply nodded. "Katsu in his own way fell in love with ya. He had to use ya though, and I did what I could to serve ya. Some of it was out of revenge though for what ya did, but the end well it was all planned out. Apparently ya followed Katsu's plan just perfectly, the whole god thing, immortality everything was according to his plan. "
"Thank you Gin, report back to us with any news you receive."
"Yes, my lord."
Aizen's mouth was open, he was attempting to understand everything. "If what Gin is saying is true, then Katsu wanted me to be immortal, but not for me to be god. "
"It is because you're the only one he felt was equal to him. The two stories are kind of the same. I sort of like the reverse personality switches."
"What do you mean" Aizen got out looking at Ichigo.
"Katsu was as Gin stated ten times worst then you. You were more like me and don't deny that one. You got caught up with Katsu and would do anything for him. Katsu dies, you vow to get revenge over the Soul Society. You become like Katsu, then you find me and shall I go on."
"When did you get so wise?"
"Well it doesn't hurt that Katsu is part of me. My question though is what is Katsu the crowded prince of? I wasn't aware that the Soul Society had a prince."
"The Soul King rules over the three worlds. That is equal to a god that was my goal in life before. So that would imply that Katsu, that you are the next in line to be the Soul King."
Ichigo groaned. "I see why Katsu ran away and escaped into Rukon. "
"I could be your advisor and" Aizen said.
"No, if the whole Soul King thing did happen, you wouldn't be an advisor, you would be next to me. I guess it explains why I was able to pardon you. So why did my mom live in this reality?" The question had been bothering him, he was happy to see his mom, but it was odd.
"I can't be for sure. That is one answer I don't have. Though knowing she was a Quincy, don't you think it is odd that she died at the hands of a hollow?"
Another thing that was haunting Ichigo. "What is real?"
"One can only guess now."
"I guess so. Well I guess this is the shit that decided to drop on me. Do you think Toshiro was sent to watch over me?"
"Probably."
"Well no one is doing a good job at protecting you" a female voice hit his ears. Ichigo was looking at the two Espadas he had picked in the last reality. Yuzuki and Norio.
Gin had jumped back down in time to see the Garganta forming. His zanpakutō was pointed at Norio.
"Gin" Yuzuki spoke the man's name softly. "It has been a while hasn't it. Allow us to keep both of them safe. "
"I'm coming too" Gin said withdrawing his zanpakutō.
"Master Ichigo, Lord Aizen this way please" Yuzuki said.
Ichigo stood up and pulled Aizen up with him.
"I expect the full story when we get back to Los Noches "he said as he started towards the Garganta
"Of course, my prince" Yuzuki said. Ichigo didn't let go of Aizen's hand, something was telling him this was the right thing to do. He stepped into the Garganta. Gin was the last person to step through, behind the Garganta sealed shut.
…+++…
Author's Notes:
Spoilers follow… proceed with caution.
Yes this chapter does reveal some spoilers that are involved in the manga. Sorry to those of you who haven't read the manga. The 1,000 Year War arc is actually one of my favorites.
Here Ichigo learns some things about himself and his family…
His mother is a Quincy. This is pretty common knowledge that one could gather just by looking at Ichigo's race on the Bleach Wikia.
His father was Captain of squad ten. Toshiro was the third seat. So maybe Ichigo didn't learn the last part, but it is revealed in the turn back to the past. Yes in the Fake Karakura Town Arc Isshin is back in his Shinigami attire, but the number is never truly seen. It is just knowledge that he was a Captain. (Actually this is from my memory, they might have revealed that he was the squad ten Captain...)
The truth about how his mother and father met. Surprise Aizen had something to do with it. This is the point that is truly focused on in this chapter.
How is Masaki still alive in this reality? Well let me tell you this, and this is the real spoiler for those who have not read the manga... Aizen was once again doing his hollification experiments.
Masaki saved Isshin. I adored Masaki when she was a teenager. Ryuken is the cousin to Masaki, I sort of found that part interesting. Basically this small part in the manga actually is important to the story, maybe not so much this chapter as whole but later chapters it will be. Major hint there.
The reality has changed and Masaki lives. For those who know the arc I am talking about, you can figure out where the story is heading (well to a point.) For those who haven't read this part in the manga, I recommend it.