Shinji Hirako, by nature was a very patient man. But right now, his insides were boiling with anticipation. His former lieutenant stood few feet in front of him, unsheathing his Zanpakuto. Shinji couldn't help but smirk. His gaze shifted to Misaki and Hiyori down below, and immediately looked back at Aizen, whose gaze was unwavering. Shinji took a deep breath, 'She's safe, supremely injured, but alive. I don't need to worry.' He thought to himself, and spoke, "So you've finally unsheathed your sword. You sure are taking your time." It was true, Aizen pulled out his sword, as slowly as he could. "Are you scared?" Shinji mocked, and Aizen's gaze turned into a glare. But Aizen didn't speak, just kept his gaze steady on his former Captain, and Shinji chuckled darkly. "You can't just ignore me. I don't care how strong you are, but you must be a little worried." Shinji's smirk grew and Aizen's gaze turned darker. "A hundred years ago, you told me that I never opened my heart to you. Never gave you any information, never tried to engage with you. And so, you don't know my Zanpakuto's power." Shinji's smirk died, and his contemplation changed. "Listen to me, Aizen. If you think that your Kyouka Suigetsu is the only Zanpakuto that can control the senses, you are very, very wrong." Shinji warned, his tone dead low. Aizen continued to stare, but secretly he was interested. "Fall-"Shinji lowered his blade. "-Sakanade."
Shinji revolved his blade in his finger, and Aizen just looked, not understanding what was so amusing, but the blade. He thought it looked…different. "That's an interesting shape for a sword." Aizen commented. "Nice isn't it? But you can't have it." Shinji teased. "But I don't see any changes, maybe I misheard you when you said you would control my senses." Aizen asked. Shinji cocked his eyebrow and said, "What're you talking about Sosuke, it's already changed." Aizen was confused, but he did a good job not showing it. Shinji looked to his right, and sniffed. "What's that?-"Shinji's gaze turned to Aizen. "-something smells good." Aizen's eyes widened and it was true, something did smell good. A sweet fragrance surrounded the air, and Aizen could smell it rather clearly. "Too late to hold your breath now." Shinji said. Aizen looked at Shinji, who seemed to be standing upside down. "Welcome. To the inverted world." Shinji said. 'Upside down? No, backwards too.' Aizen made a mental note to himself. "This is Sakanade's power. It reverses my opponent's control. Isn't it cool? Like one of those traps in those Tetris type games." Shinji said, chuckling. "Well,-"His gaze hardened. "-not that you play games, but…"Shinji dashed toward Aizen and finished, "-still!" Aizen smirked.
"Interesting indeed. Everything is backwards. Up, down, left, right." Aizen turned backwards and saw Shinji almost near him, with his blade. "Front and back as well." Shinji's eyes widened and their blades clashed. "Or did you think I wouldn't notice?" Aizen smirked. But there was a deep cut on Aizen's right arm, and his eyes widened. "Looks like you didn't notice. Up and down, and left and right, and front and back, are backwards." And Shinji smirked wider. "And so is the direction your looking and the direction of the attack." Aizen glared. "Up and down, front and back, left and right are all the possible directions an attack could come from. Can you reverse them all in your head in the heat of battle?" Shinji asked. "You can't. No one can. The stronger you are, the more experience you have. The more your body reacts automatically!" Shinji rushed to attack Aizen, but it missed. "What?" Shinji was perplexed. "Is that all? It's nothing more than an illusion." Aizen said. There was a slash against Shinji's back, and blood oozed out fast. "I can control the five senses, this is nothing compared to my power." Aizen said. "All you have to do, is get used to this. It's nothing but a child's game, Shinji Hirako." Aizen finished.
Misaki's eyes widened as the sky tore apart.
It was Ichigo, with his sword fixed to attack Aizen. 'Thank goodness you're alright.' Misaki smiled to herself. Ichigo used a Getsuga Tenshou and it was a direct hit on Aizen. Misaki gasped as she saw it, Aizen was shielded by some sort of barrier. "Ichigo!" She yelled. Ichigo's eyes widened. "Long time no see, Ryouka boy." Aizen acknowledged Ichigo. Ichigo couldn't digest what happened. Misaki couldn't interpret it either. 'Was that…magic?' She thought to herself. And she gasped once again. She turned behind her and her gaze was fixed. There wasn't anyone there, but she knew someone was on their way. 'Minato broke the barrier…' She cowered. 'He's still got a long way to come to reach here.' She thought to herself and looked upwards at Ichigo.
"Nice try, but you went for the wrong spot. The back of one's neck is the blind spot for every living creature. Did you really think I would go out to battle, leaving it unprotected?" Aizen questioned and Ichigo frowned. 'I was careless! Part of me was afraid that I wouldn't be able to control my Hollowfication. I made a mistake! I should've done it in hollow form.' Ichigo thought to himself. "Let me guess what you're thinking. You made a mistake. You should've attacked in your hollow form. If you would've attacked when you were hollowfied, you would've been able to kill me in one blow. Well, give it a try." Aizen challenged. "I'll show you how conceited it is to think so." Ichigo put his hand in front of his face, and hollowfied. Aizen's gaze turned sly, "That's it. Come at me." "Getsuga-"Ichigo dashed forward. "-Tenshou!" But his attack was dodged easily. Aizen was behind him now. "What's the matter? You didn't reach me." Aizen said. Ichigo swiftly swayed backwards, away from Aizen. "Why did you go backwards? If you want to hit me, you'd have to get closer. Or are you afraid to let any part of me out of your sight?" Aizen questioned. "That's stupid. It only makes sense to keep your distance in an evenly matched fight. Staying away from me, is meaningless. Look-"Aizen was so close to Ichigo, his right hand was touching Ichigo's chest. Ichigo's eyes widened. "-Like this. I can practically touch your heart." Ichigo was wide eyed, and in an instant swayed his blade forward in hopes to touch Aizen. "Let me ask you this, Ryouka boy." Ichigo turned back. "Why are you fighting me? Do you hate me for some reason? You shouldn't. If you're here then Orihime Inoue must be safe. That Mage girl is also alive. And just from looking at you, I can tell none of your friends have died. So, can you really hate me?" Aizen asked. "It's impossible." Aizen finished.
"You are fighting out of obligation, not out of hatred. You will never reach me like that. Battle without hated, is like a bird without wings. You'll never defeat anyone like that. Your powerless friends are just weights that will break your legs." Ichigo's hold on his sword wavered, and just then, Captain Komamura held on to the boy's hands. "Don't let him get to you, Ichigo Kurosaki." Ichigo turned to the larger male, and "Captain Komamura!" "Provocation is his specialty. If you lose yourself, you'll lose your life. Rest easy. I know why the Captains sent you straight down here from Hueco Mundo. You haven't seen Aizen's Shikai." Then quickly, he heard another voice. And several captains and the Vizards stood in front of him. "We will fight to protect you." Toshiro said. Ichigo's eyes widened. "You want you fight to protect me? What are you talking about? That's ridiculous! You're all worn out!" Ichigo said. "What's so ridiculous about it Ichigo?" A voice said from behind. Ichigo's eyes widened as someone placed their hands on his shoulders. "M-Misaki?" He looked at her wound on her stomach, and he flinched. "We'd all be pissed off if you fight him yourself. Don't try to shoulder the burden alone, cheeky brat." Shinji said. "This fight belongs to all of us." Ichigo's gaze was determined again. He took Misaki's hand in his, and held it tight. He was back on track.
As the Captains and Vizards fought Aizen, Ichigo spoke, "Misaki, you should go hide somewhere, you're hurt…" Ichigo frowned upon saying this. "No, Ichigo. There's someone here that needs saving. And I'm not talking about you." Misaki said, her gaze numb. Ichigo's eyes widened as she continued. "There was a reason you couldn't sense my brother's presence in Hueco Mundo." She was right. He couldn't. "Then-?""He's here. Aizen turned him into-"Misaki gasped as someone approached from behind. Ichigo turned to see Minato, his blade coming fast toward Misaki. "M-Minato? What the hell-"Ichigo saw the hollow mask on his face, it wasn't Minato, yet it was. "Victus Contego." Misaki muttered, and Minato's attack was dodged. "What the hell?" Ichigo told himself and Misaki cringed. "He's an Arrancar now." Ichigo frowned hard, and the barrier broke. Misaki winced and Minato took this as an opening. Before his blade touched her, Ichigo blocked the attack. "What the hell Minato? She's your sister!" Minato groaned monstrously and pushed Ichigo backwards. "So even you know my name! I don't know you and she-"Minato grabbed Misaki by her neck. "-is not my sister." Minato pushed his sword through Misaki's heart and she gasped. Ichigo's eyes widened with terror and saw that the girl began to choke. Her eyes turned lifeless, and her face turned white. "Now that she's out of the way you and I can finish this-"Minato gasped. Misaki held on to his chest and pressed him close. "What the hell girl-"Misaki cried and her tears fell on his chest. Minato gasped and Ichigo was speechless. He then saw the sky turn dark and he looked on with anguish. The girl of his dreams was dying in front of him. He didn't know what to do. He turned his gaze backwards and saw to his horror, Toshiro was piercing his sword into a female lieutenant. "Guys what the hell do you think you're doing?" Ichigo yelled and he heard a whimper from behind him. Minato was shaking, and Misaki was clutching on to him. 'What the hell should I do?' For the first time, he was helpless and no solution showed itself to him.
Gin was watching the battle between the Magi siblings from when it began. He frowned hard and shook his head. He turned to the siblings, seeing Minato's sword pierced into his sister's heart. 'That is one pathetic way to die…for the both of them.' He recalled how Minato became an Arrancar and he'd admit to anyone that the process scared him.
Minato was brought into the lab, unconscious from his previous fight. Gin and Aizen were both present. "It's a shame that we didn't have the girl with us, it'd be interesting if that half Soul reaper and her fought. But oh well, something is better than nothing." Szayel Apporo said, and Aizen's smirk was ever present. Even if Gin was smirking on the outside, he despised what was happening. The two Magi siblings, were in no way even related to this battle, yet, there wasn't anything Gin could do. Minato was then thrown into a large capsule like container, and he landed on its footing and woke up. He was naked, and he tried to break out. He frowned at Aizen and said, "You'll die you son of a bitch!" "My my, what language for such a frail human, and your reports said you kept your cool." Szayel filled the capsule with some sort of gas, and the boy began to choke. Gin watched, and he frowned harder. Aizen turned around and spoke, "Stay here till the process is complete, Gin." He nodded. Szayel Apporo turned to Gin and said, "The changes will occur in 24 hours." And left.
Minato was awake. He pressed his back to the walls of the capsule and breathed heavily. Gin noticed Szayel hadn't placed any sort of camera or wire taps in the lab, since Gin was 'trusted.' He walked to Minato's cell and said, "I'm sorry." "Why're you apologizing? You're the enemy." Minato spat. "You remind me of myself. Your sister, reminds me of someone I hold dear to me. I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I let her go, if that makes you feel any better." Gin was sympathetic. But he knew, whatever he said, wouldn't matter anymore. It was too late. "Thank you. I can tell you're here to kill him, as well?" Gin nodded slowly. "I hope you do it." Minato said. "I don't think I can. That Ichigo boy has a lot of hopes on him." Minato chuckled darkly. "Ichigo eh…whatever…as long as he stays away from my sister." Minato joked. The next thing Gin knew, Minato began yelling out in pain. Gin frowned hard. 'So it begins…the hollowfication.'
Misaki gasped and held on to Minato, who was trembling. He looked at his hands, and they were covered in blood. 'Her blood.' And Minato yelled. He was confused, why did this hurt him more than it hurt her? He was hurting inside and he dropped his sword, after pulling it out of her. What was going on with him? 'Brother…' Her words echoed in his mind. "Argh!" Minato yelled and the two fell down, fast. Before Ichigo could react, he saw Minato hold the girl protectively with his hands, and closed his eyes. Misaki was alive, he could feel it. And he knew one more thing. Minato was back.
A/N: Reviews please? Cuz this girl loves attention. :)