Aizen was in high spirits. The girl had been a formidable enemy, but she had taken too long between attacks. It had given him the time he needed to release Kyoka Suigetsu and make his escape. There really was no need to fight them now. He was about to become a being who would never have to fight with such lowly creatures again.
He was halfway through the process now. He had undergone the Hollowfication, and he had easily dominated his inner Hollow. The creature was now lost, wandering forever in the labyrinth of mirrors. He had then devoured the soul of a Quincy and assimilated it's power into his own. It had been the most vital and most dangerous step of the plan. The Quincy soul would give him the ability to exist as both body and spirit at once.
Now he only had one last thing to do. He looked down at the table where his exact copy lay immobile. A gigai, perfect in every way. The Quincy aspect allowing both physical and spiritual nature. The Shinigami aspect allowing him to harness any power. The Hollow aspect allowing him regenerative abilities and free travel between worlds. And, of course, the Human aspect that would remove the limits placed on him in death. Now that he and his body were aligned in composition, he had only to become one with it.
Simply inhabiting the body would be insufficient. The Hogyoku, which had served many uses, had been acquired for this act alone. To do what had never been considered before. To reforge the chain of fate between a soul and a body.
Line -
"Why? Why am I not the one to train my own son?!" Ichigo demanded. He was getting rather tired of not being taken in to consideration when it came to his own family, particularly his son.
"We need you here to defend Soul Society if Aizen launches an attack. And you are more liekly to go easy on him and we can not afford that right now." Shunsui explained. "Urahara, Yoruichi, and both of our Lieutenants will take care of him and teach him to be a warrior capable of fighting Aizen."
"Send Grimmjow as well. He taught him to use Cero already. He needs an Arrancar, not a Visored to teach him the powers of a Hollow." Ichigo sighed in defeat. At least he knew Grimmjow would follow his orders over the Captain Commander's in a pinch.
After Shunsui agreed to allowing the Fourth Seat of the Eighth Division to take part in the emergency training, Ichigo set off for the Fifth Division.
"Hey Shinji." Ichigo greeted his friend and took his usual spot on the roof. "Do you think I'm crazy, allowing Kaien to fight?"
"Yeah. But I also think you're doing the right thing. I'm glad it's not Kirio, though. You're braver than I am for that." Shinji held out a bottle of sake, but Ichigo shook his head. "Momo's not handling the situation very well, as you can imagine. Seeing Aizen again threw her whole world out of balance. She's in the Fourth Division right now. Captain Kira is looking after her."
"He's always had a thing for her. Do you think she'll ever fully recover?"
"I would like to say yes... But I don't know. If I'm completely honest, I don't believe she will ever quite be the same again, but who would be? Kira does have some experience with what she went through though. Ichimaru defected at the same time. Although in the end, Ichimaru turned out to be a good man... It is hard to say."
"Yeah... You know Kirio is going to follow Kaien right in to this, don't you?" Ichigo smirked.
"I know. I've got a member of the Stealth Force keeping an eye on her at all times so we can follow them and lend them a hand when the time comes." Shinji grinned. "You in?"
"Don't ask stupid questions." Ichigo nodded.
Line -
"Flicker, Shinkiro!" Karin's blade shifted, taking on a fluid appearance, although it retained its form rigidly.
"Reign over the frosted heavens, Hyorinmaru!" Toushiro released his Zanpakuto, then flash stepped toward his Third Seat. Karin blocked the blow, then in the same instant, readjusted her grip and flicked the tip of her blade across her captain's shoulder.
The white haired captain knew he was unlikely to win this match. The young woman had grown in strength at a rate that put anyone but her brother to shame. Not only that, but her Shikai was nearly impossible to counter. While her Bankai could change the world around her as she saw fit, her Shikai caused ripples in perception. From a casual observer, nothing would seem out of place. It would look as if her opponent was simply mistiming their moves by fractions of a second. However, to a trained Shinigami like Toushiro, it was clear that his perception wasn't quite right.
Once it was released, Karin became the only person within range who perceived time as it actually was. All others were subject to the random increases and decreases of speed caused by her Zanpakuto.
The match was short, as the Captain had predicted.
"Thanks, Shiro... I needed that." Karin smiled at him as they sat side by side in the grass. "I've been thinking..."
"You want to go with him, when Kaien goes to face Aizen?" Toushiro asked.
"You know me way too well."
"I should hope so." He grinned at her, then sighed. "I'm coming too. Hirako is already organizing the trip."
"Who all is coming?"
"An army, at this rate." The white haired captain laughed quietly. "He's worked his way into a lot of hearts these past few years. There is no shortage of people ready to fight for him."
"Just like his father." Karin let her head fall on her captain's shoulder. "He even won you over."
"Both of them did." He nodded. "Your brother had to work at it a lot longer though."
"True. Kaien just had to call you 'Uncle Shiro' once and you melted like a popcycle in hell." Karin nudged him playfully.
"Perhaps if Kaien sees me as family, your brother won't destroy me when he finds out we have a more than professional relationship."
"Ichigo is over protective, but I think he'll approve of you. And Dad has already given his blessing."
"You know, your father has been on the mark twice now... Do you think he already has someone picked out for Yuzu?"
"He better not! I'll kick his ass and theirs if he didn't consult me!"
They sat in silence for a few moments.
"I'm scared, Shiro."
"I know, Karin. Me too."
Line -
"How is he doing so far?" Ichigo asked nervously.
"He's progressing well with his Hollow abilities. He can even undergo Hollowfication at will now and hold it for three minutes. He still hasn't released his Shikai though. Is it possible he only inherited your Hollow side?" Grimmjow reported.
"Not according to Urahara's theory. He believes our bloodline will always be part Shinigami and either part Hollow or part Quincy. That guy who broke Aizen out was the only example of a Quincy and Hollow hybrid he had seen, and he is still trying to figure out how it was done." Ichigo shook his head. "Has he spoken to his Zanpakuto spirit, even?"
"No. He says every time he goes in to his inner world, it's dark. Like midnight with no moon and no stars. He knows there is more there, he just can't see it." Grimmjow said. "His riatsu is growing quickly, though. Not as quickly as you or Karin's, but faster than most average Shinigami. Urahara is working with him now."
"Good. Keep an eye on them. And thanks. I assume you're coming with us when he goes?"
"Of course, Captain." Grimmjow grinned. "I can't let the kid go out there without me there to make sure he doesn't screw it all up."
Inside the training grounds, Kaien sat in the typical position for meditation. The sword lay across his lap. In front of him, Urahara mirrored his pose.
"Breath deeply and tell me what you see."
"I don't see anything! It's just darkness!" Kaien growled. He had been at this for hours.
"Call out into the darkness." Urahara said.
In the dark landscape, Kaien stumbled over something he could not see.
"Hello? Is anyone out there?" He called into the night.
"Always..." The reply came back as nothing more than a whisper on the wind.
"What is your name? You are the spirit of my Zanpakuto, aren't you? Will you tell me your name?"
"..." The words were swept away in the breeze.
"I can't here you..."
"..." The voice repeated. "You are afraid."
"No I'm not!" Kaien shouted. "I am the son of a hero! I am going to fight Aizen and save Soul Society, just like Dad did!"
"Don't lie to yourself... You are afraid... Your father is a hero, and you are afraid you will not live up to his legacy... You are afraid you will disappoint him and the other who are counting on you."
"I... I can't fail..."
"If you fear failure, it is all you will ever find."
"What can I do?"
"Accept it. You fear is a part of you, just as I am. Just as we are."
"We?"
"We. Hollow and Shinigami. You must accept yourself to overcome yourself."
"How can I fight if I am afraid?"
"Face your fear."
"That is what I am trying to do!"
"No... Denying your fear is not facing it... Walking into certain death and pretending it is anything but just that is foolishness. Walk into certain death, greeting it as an old friend, and only then will it allow you to walk away and meet it another day. Face your fear honestly, or you will never earn my name."
"I don't think I can face Aizen if I let myself think about it... He is so powerful... Even Aunt Karin couldn't beat him..."
"She fought, nonetheless."
"Yeah..."
"What are you afraid of?"
"I'm afraid of letting everyone down... I'm afraid of not being strong enough..."
"You do not need great strength in this battle. You father. Your aunt. All the captains of Soul Society have such strength that the world trembles int heir presence. They do not need your strength. They need eyes that have not seen the moon's reflection in still water. Kyoka Suigetsu."
"But what can I do if I can see the truth but don't have the strength to act on it?"
"Show the truth to those with strength."
"How?"
"Take away the moon, and it can not cast a reflection."
"I don't understand..."
"Tessai. Urahara. Isshin. Ichigo. Together, they understand."
Kaien opened his eyes and blinked at Urahara.
"I... I need to talk to you, Tessai, my dad, and my grandfather..." The dark haired boy said nervously. Urahara nodded immediately.
"Hey! Grimmjow! Go get your captain and his old man!"
A few minutes later, three generations of Kurosaki men sat together with the two Shinigami ambassadors.
"He said that together you would understand... Kyoka Suigetsu is the moon's reflection in still water. He says I have to take away the moon, so there can be no reflection, just like my inner world."
"Hmmm... Isshin, your Zanpakuto is the Scathing Moon, right? And Ichigo, yours is the Slaying Moon... Perhaps it is a clue to it's name?" Urahara said. Tessai sat up straighter and turned to Isshin.
"Have you ever told them?" The kido master asked. Isshin was confused for a moment, then understood.
"When I gave up my powers to save Masaki, Engetsu told me about the Final Getsuga Tensho. He told me that it would have allowed me access to a release of my Zanpakuto beyond Bankai, but it would have cost me my powers. There was no harm in it then, because my powers were sealed, otherwise I bet he would have never told me." Isshin paused. "That final release... Was called Zangetsu."
"What?!" Ichigo stared. "You never thought to tell me that my Zanpakuto shared its name with your Final Getusga Tensho?!"
"It never seemed important!" Isshin defended himself. "After you lost your powers, I thought it was better to avoid the topic. After you regained them, I had forgotten, actually."
"So my Final Getsuga Tensho... Might be Kaien's Zanpakuto?" Ichigo asked.
"That would make sense..." Urahara nodded.
"Mugetsu... the Moonless Night..." Ichigo said to himself. "If you could take away Aizen's hypnosis..."
"Then he would be outnumbered and out classed." Isshin grinned.
"Kaien, go back in to your inner world and speak to your Zanpakuto spirit again." Urahara prompted.
Kaien closed his eyes and found himself once again in the emptiness of the night.
"Mugetsu! Is that your name?"
"Mugetsu... I am Mugetsu... Are you afraid now?"
"Yes... But I can face this. I can do this if I am not alone."
"You will never be alone again." The darkness pulled away and a form appeared before him. "I am Mugetsu, and I will fight by your side till our dying day."
Line -
"Kyoka Suigetsu, I need your assistance. Urahara has tracked us down, as expected." Aizen walked out onto the empty pavement where he was faced by a child a dozen of his strongest enemies. "Quite the force you have assembled. But what of it? My Kyoka Suigetsu is already released, and I can tell from here this child is not within a mile of Bankai. Urahara, surely you have a better play to make than this?"
"You and I know very well than Bankai is not what determines the victor in a game like this. You called your blade to your side. You would not have done so if you thought we were no threat." Urahara spoke casually, leaning on his cane.
"Or perhaps I am simply tired of humoring you all and I intend to be rid of you at last." Aizen raised the blade. "Are the ants we step on threats, or do we merely kill them because it is easier than letting them live?"
"Some ants will surprise you. You know, the humans have an ant called the 'cow killer'. I wouldn't mess with it." Urahara grinned. "Then again, enough ants can move a mountain."
"You have far too few ants to move me." Aizen began walking slowly to the side, leisurely swinging his blade as the eyes of the Shinigami remained fixed where he had been. It was all too easy. A sloppy last effort. A bluff, or a foolish gambit that would not pay off.
"Maybe." Urahara's grin widened. Somehow, seeing that made Aizen boil with anger. How dare that arrogant man smile in the face of defeat at his hands?
"There is no uncertainty in this." Aizen spoke, but the illusion of himself delivered the words. "Which of you shall die first? The child?"
"Careful. There's more to the boy than meets the eye." Urahara shrugged, but Ichigo tensed. Maybe the mad genius could keep his cool, but a father had weaknesses that no plan could iron out. Aizen walked to the boy's side, raised his sword, and prepared to strike.
"Any last words?" Aizen smirked to himself as the boy stared, wide eyed at the illusion of his attacker, still standing in front of them.
"Y-yes..." Kaien stammered. Aizen paused to hear him out. "We can see you." The boy turned his head and locked eyes with Aizen. "All of us."
"You..." Aizen felt the first blade cleave his arm. His Zanpakuto rolled from the slack grip of his severed hand. The next blade took his other arm, while a third brought him to his bloody stump of a knee. "How?"
"You are not the only one who can release their Zanpakuto silently." Kaien said, spinning the sword in question. The metal was black, and not a single glint of light reflected from its surface. It was not a thing that could truly be seen, but a thing that could be determined by the lack of anything else.
"Urahara! You will let the game end like this?! I am on the verge of greatness!" Aizen roared as Tessai began binding him with heavy chains of Kidou. "I can reforge the chain of fate! I can make a perfect being!"
"A perfect being can not be created. By definition, to be perfect, it must not require anything, not even its own creation. If you were to create it, then wouldn't it inherently have the flaw of needing a creator?" Urahara shook his head. "Humans are imperfect. It's foolish to try and deny ones nature, and worse yet to live in ignorance of it."
"Kill me, then! Kill me, and watch as I return! The chain of fate has already been created, I only need the Hogyoku to link it to me! Killing me will do just as well! You know I still have many loyal servants who will see my will done!" Aizen was wide eyed and delirious. Ichigo approached him. "Oh, you have come to finish me off? I welcome it! You were nothing more than an experiment!"
"Konso." Ichigo raised Zangetsu's hilt and pressed it to the mad man's forehead. "Give my regards to Yhwach." He stepped back. "You should not have threatened my son. I may have just killed you."