Aizen stared up at the artificial blue sky of Las Noches, lost in thought. The events of the past few weeks replayed in his mind like a film reel. Obtaining one Hogyoku, losing it to his own machinations, and now here, in this palace that was once under his command.
The cool night air rustled his wavy brown hair as he sat atop the white dome. His appearance had reverted back to normal upon entering Hueco Mundo and abandoning Ichigo's body. The loose, black shihakusho uniform and white haori of the captain of the 5th division rippled gently in the breeze.
How had it come to this? He was Sosuke Aizen, a god in the making. Yet now he was scrambling like a rat, scurrying to collect the crumbs left by his own design.
Frustration furrowed his brow. He should have killed that wretched hollow when he had the chance. But he had underestimated its cunning. And now, the Hogyoku - his Hogyoku - was in the hands of his alternate self.
Aizen exhaled slowly, regaining his composure. It would not do to lose control. This was but a minor setback in his grand design. With a focused mind, he traced back each step that led him here.
It had started with that fateful night when he awoke in Ichigo Kurosaki's body...
The feeling of being trapped in another's flesh had been profoundly disturbing at first. He was Sosuke Aizen, not some teenage human boy. But he adapted quickly, as he always did. Survival was paramount. And so he played the part, bidding his time until an opportunity arose to regain his power.
That opportunity came swiftly, in the form of a hollow attack. And with it, the arrival of Rukia Kuchiki. He manipulated the naive shinigami into transferring her powers to him. Finally, he could shed his bodily prison and move freely as a spirit again.
From there, it was child's play to set events in motion. A few carefully chosen words to earn Rukia's trust. A warning about the sinister intentions of those in power, namely Kisuke Urahara and the Central 46. An appeal to her sense of nobility and duty. And Rukia danced perfectly to his tune, returning to Soul Society as his unwitting spy.
A small smile crossed Aizen's face at the memory. Rukia's stunned expression when he restored her shinigami powers was most entertaining. She hadn't even questioned his intimate knowledge of Kisuke's gigai and the Hogyoku. His lies slid down her throat like honey.
Next came Orihime Inoue. Aizen grimaced, remembering how easily the hollow duped him. Distracted by his schemes, he had failed to sense its true purpose. And just like that, the Hogyoku was torn from his soul.
Such a foolish mistake, unworthy of him. He silently chastised himself.
But the final insult came when the hollow escaped to Hueco Mundo with his prize. To this place and time where another Aizen reigned supreme.
Chapter Seven
The Puppeteer's Web
Aizen rose to his feet in one smooth motion. Dwelling on past failings was pointless. The time had come to take decisive action.
He flashed stepped soundlessly through the empty corridors of Las Noches. The espada and their fraccion were absent, likely gathered elsewhere to avoid detecting his presence.
Before long, he arrived at the throne room. A pair of enormous double doors barred his way, carved with intricate hieroglyphs. With a mere glance, Aizen disintegrated them utterly. The shards that remained smoked gently as they settled to the floor.
At the room's far end sat his doppelganger upon a high, stone chair. The Hogyoku glimmered from its place embedded in his chest. Surrounding him were the espada, his most powerful arrancar warriors.
Aizen ignored them all, fixing his gaze solely on the man who wore his face.
"At last we meet," he called out. "I must admit, I did not foresee this particular scenario coming to pass."
His double smiled coldly. "Nor did I. Yet here we stand, two sides of the same twisted coin."
Aizen returned the smile. "Indeed. I presume the hollow was your doing?
"But of course. I could not ignore such peculiarity in my domain."
"Naturally. Then let us dispense with pretense." Aizen's spiritual pressure spiked. "Surrender the Hogyoku, and I may yet let you live."
The espada reacted instantly, sonido-ing in front of their master with weapons drawn.
His doppelganger laughed. "Come now, we both know threats are meaningless here. Why ever would I relinquish my prize?"
Aizen's eyes narrowed. "Do not test my patience. With the Hogyoku, I will surpass the Soul King and reign over all realms. But I would prefer to avoid unnecessary bloodshed."
"Bold words. But it is not yours to take." The doppelganger arose, the Hogyoku's radiance intensifying. "I found it first in this world. Find your own."
Aizen shook his head slowly. "I'm afraid that's not an option. Now, release it, or face the consequences."
His double's smirk turned vicious. "Never."
In a flash, Aizen unsheathed Kyoka Suigetsu and pierced the chest of his nearest opponent, the espada called Coyote Starrk. Blood arced through the air as the arrancar collapsed with a choked gasp.
Pandemonium erupted. The remaining espada charged forward in a frenzy. But Aizen was untouchable. His shikai had already placed them under an illusion before any could react. To them, he simply stood motionless as their attacks slipped harmlessly through his form.
Only his doppelganger remained unaffected, having never gazed upon Kyoka Suigetsu's release. But Aizen did not move for the killing strike just yet. He wanted the Hogyoku taken with his own hands.
The espada's desperate assaults continued fruitlessly. Growing bored, Aizen decided to end the charade. With a surge of reiatsu, he shattered the illusion and cut down three more arrancar in quick succession.
Only Ulquiorra, Yammy and Halibel remained standing amidst the carnage. Aizen regarded them dispassionately. "Join your fallen comrades."
Ulquiorra hesitated briefly before erupting in a shower of blood and limbs. Yammy and Halibel wisely chose retreat, sonido-ing from the throne room without a backward glance.
Aizen turned his attention back to the throne. "Now, I believe we have delayed long enough."
He shunpoed toward his doppelganger, eager to finally reclaim what was stolen from him. But as his fingers closed around the Hogyoku, its glow intensified painfully. Aizen's hand jerked back with a hiss.
His double chuckled. "Did you truly think it would be so easy? The Hogyoku is bound to me now."
Aizen's eyes narrowed. "No matter. I will simply have to carve it from your corpse."
Their blades clashed in a whirlwind of sparks and screeching metal. Neither warrior wasted energy on words. They knew each other's abilities all too well for tactic or feint to gain advantage.
Back and forth they fought, two equal halves locked in deadly combat. Aizen quickly realized negotiations had ended. This battle would only conclude with obliteration of one, so that the Hogyoku might fuse fully with the victor.
As their duel raged, the palace walls around them shuddered. Chunks of debris rained down as the opponents carved out large swaths of stone with each collision. Neither noticed nor cared about the structural devastation, so focused were they on their singular goal of annihilation.
But finally, an opening appeared. Aizen ducked beneath a horizontal swipe and answered with an upward thrust, puncturing flesh and organ. His blade sunk hilt-deep into the doppelganger's chest, right where the Hogyoku blazed.
His double's eyes widened in shock. Aizen met his gaze impassively. "Farewell."
He wrenched Kyoka Suigetsu sideways with a sharp jerk, eviscerating the torso in one savage motion. Gore splattered across his face and haori as the body slid free and toppled backward.
Aizen calmly cleaned his zanpakuto before resheathing it. Then he turned his attention to the true prize - the Hogyoku. Moving quickly, he retrieved it from the corpse's remains with a slick hand. The orb pulsated wildly at his touch, recognizing its original master.
"There, there," Aizen murmured. "All will be made right again."
Cradling the Hogyoku close to his heart, he summoned the garganta that would return him to the World of the Living. There he would implant the orb within his soul once more and gather strength for the battles yet to come.
But as the black aperture yawned open, a cold voice spoke from behind.
"Leaving so soon?"
Aizen whirled, eyes widening. His doppelganger stood whole and unharmed before the throne, wearing the same serene smile as ever.
"Impossible," Aizen breathed.
The illusion shattered around him. Corpses vanished, debris returned to its proper place. The Hogyoku in his hands clouded over into meaningless spirit particles.
"Come now," his double chided. "Did you think me so easily fooled by my own shikai?"
Aizen mastered his shock with effort. This battle was not yet over. "It seems we are at an impasse. Neither can claim victory this day."
"On that we agree." The doppelganger retook his seat upon the throne. "I propose a new arrangement. This world cannot sustain us both. Let us each walk our own path unfettered, and leave final confrontation for the time when one reigns supreme."
Aizen considered the offer silently. As much as it galled him, it was logical. "Very well. A truce it is...for now."
His double smiled. "Excellent. I am pleased we could reach this resolution without further unpleasantness."
With a subtle nod, Aizen turned and stepped into the waiting garganta. As it sealed behind him, he spared one baleful glance back at his doppelganger.
One day, their conflict would resume. And on that day, only one Aizen would remain standing. For now, he had much planning to do.