Chpt 23 – Family secrets
Sayuri sat in silence as Yamamoto began to speak. He chose his words carefully as if he were weighing each one before letting it out.
"It all began many years ago," he began, "when Aizen first met your mother."
Sayuri's eyes widened in surprise. This was the first time she had heard of her parent's past.
"Your parents had known each other since childhood but never thought of each other in a romantic way. That changed one night, on a night much like this, beneath a full cherry moon."
Yamamoto paused, letting the words hang in the air. Sayuri could feel the tension that was palpable in the room.
"Your mother was initially engaged to Kaien but like you had a mind of her own," Yamamoto continued. "She was a beautiful and intelligent woman, and your father was immediately taken with her."
Sayuri felt a warmth in her chest at the thought of her parents' meeting.
"After some time, Aizen asked for her hand in marriage. She accepted, and they were wed soon after."
A smile crossed Sayuri's lips as she imagined her father and mother falling in love.
Soon after, Ayame became pregnant. She and Aizen were overjoyed. They prayed every day that you would be healthy and strong.
When the day came for you to be born, the entire sereitei celebrated. People came from miles around to witness the joyous event.
You were the center of their universe. Every day, Aizen and your mother would walk hand in hand with you around the town, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells. They would bring you to work and show you off to everyone. You were their little miracle, the joy of their world.
They cherished each moment with you, and as the years passed, their love for you only grew stronger. You became the light of their lives, the reason for their happiness and contentment.
"Your father however started to change," Yamamoto said. Sayuri's smile faded.
"Your mother wrote me this letter fearing for your and her safety," Yamamoto said.
Sayuri felt her heart drop after grabbing the letter and reading the words her mother wrote.
"Dear Father,
My thoughts consume me, and I write to you with a heavy heart in need of consolation. Aizen's behavior has changed drastically since his return from the last mission. I know I am no stranger to his disdain lately, but now, even Sayuri has been subject to his cold embrace. He does not speak of love or affection but instead speaks of hatred and contempt. I fear for our safety and our future.
It began shortly after he returned. He came home with a distant and unfamiliar gaze, one that felt like he had traveled someplace far from here. His step seemed lighter than when he had left, but his heart was certainly heavier.
He was not the Aizen I had grown to love and adore. The Aizen I had seen off was replaced by a man who seemed to be made of ice, cold and impenetrable. My love and devotion did not suffice to warm him, and his heart seemed as distant as the stars.
That distant heart and cold embrace slowly began to make its way into our home. Everything we once held dear and sacred was suddenly fragile and broken, a victim of Aizen's growing disdain and bitterness. He no longer shares in our joys and sorrows, but instead keeps to himself. His presence has become a weight we have to carry, and I fear the weight might one day crush us.
He has become so distant and unreachable that at times I feel like I am standing in a snowstorm, my heart and mind shrouded in an endless blizzard of confusion and uncertainty. In moments of stillness, I can almost hear it calling out for him, longing for his warmth. But it is of no use, for he is as static and unmoving as a marble statue, and I know deep down that he will not return to us.
And yet, despite this, the love I have for him still lingers in my heart. I can still recall the way his lips felt against my skin, and the warmth of his embrace as we lay in bed together. But now, as I look at him, I can see the sadness in his eyes. I know he is trying his best to protect us, to keep us safe from the storm raging inside of him, but I can't help the feeling of alienation and fear that I get whenever I am near him.
I must ask you to take care of Sayuri should anything happen to me. I will be sending her to you in a few days while I uncover what has happened to him. I cannot bear for her to continue to see us in this turmoil.
I hope that one day he will come back to us and that we will all find the happiness we once shared. Until then, I will continue to wait with love and patience.
Your daughter,
Ayame"
Sayuri gasped, her hand covering her mouth in shock.
Yamamoto continued. "A few days later, your aunt Kisana found her with Aizen over her lifeless body."
Sayuri started to hold her head in pain as she started receiving visions.
•• ━━━━━ ••✾•• ━━━━━ •••• ━━━━━ ••✾••
*Flashback*
Kisana arrived at the scene as the sun was setting over the mountain. The sky was a deep red hue as the rays of the sun glinted through the trees. The officers were shouting at Aizen, trying to move him away from the place her sister lay. But Aizen stood firm, his gaze fixed on her sister's still body.
Kisana could feel the heat radiating off Aizen's body and the anger emanating from him. He was a man who was used to getting what he wanted and now he was being denied it. Kisana stopped at the edge of the clearing. She felt a wave of nausea wash over her. She recognized the moment her sister was taken away from her forever by her spirit pressure suddenly disappearing.
Aizen, who had been a figure of comfort and safety to her ever since they were children, had killed her sister. He had lied to her, betrayed her, and taken away the one person she loved more than anything in the world. Kisana wanted to scream but all she could do was stand there, transfixed by the scene before her.
The officers could not move Aizen and instead kept their distance. He was so still as if he were waiting for something. For what, Kisana could not even fathom.
Kisana felt a hand on her shoulder, and she was suddenly enveloped in a hug from her father Yamamoto. He was trembling with sobs, his body shaking with grief and disbelief. Kisana could feel the warmth of his embrace and the strength of his arms. At that moment, she was thankful for her father's comforting presence.
Kisana broke away from her father, tears now streaming down her face. She stepped forward, her eyes glaring at Aizen. She wanted to make him pay for what he had done. His eyes met hers and she felt a chill run down her spine. He was daring her to come closer.
Kisana stepped forward, her feet dragging, her heart aching. She was close enough to see Aizen's face. His eyes were cold, and his jaw was set in a determined line. He had no remorse, no regrets. He had taken away the one person that had meant the most to her.
Kisana stood there, her fists clenched, her body trembling with rage and sorrow. She looked away and took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She had to focus.
Kisana looked back at Aizen and this time the words came out of her mouth in a fierce whisper.
"You killed her."
Aizen's face remained unchanged, but Kisana could feel the intensity of his gaze. The officers shifted uncomfortably behind him. It was as if they were waiting for something to happen.
Kisana felt her hands balling into fists and her feet moving closer to Aizen. He could not deny it. He had to face the consequences of what he had done. She stepped closer and looked him in the eyes.
"You killed my sister. Don't you dare deny it! Do you not remember that I have visions? She said again, her voice shaking with rage.
Aizen didn't move, his eyes never leaving hers. He waited for her to continue, his gaze never wavering.
Kisana looked away and then back at Aizen. She wanted him to feel what she was feeling. She wanted him to understand the pain he had caused her.
"You deserve to be punished," she said.
Aizen blinked, the only sign of emotion he had shown since she had arrived. He seemed to understand the gravity of the situation.
Kisana felt the tears streaming down her face and the anger rising in her chest. She was determined to make Aizen pay for what he had done. She didn't know how, but she was sure she would find a way.
Kisana focused her spiritual powers on reliving her sister's last moments. She wanted to confirm Aizen was indeed responsible for Ayame's death.
•• ━━━━━ ••✾•• ━━━━━ •••• ━━━━━ ••✾••
Aizen stared at his wife, Ayame, desperately trying to find the words to explain why they had to betray the Soul Society. She had been so loyal to them, and he knew it was a difficult decision for her to make. But he had to try to persuade her; there was no other choice.
He took a deep breath and began. "Ayame, the Soul Society has not been good to us. Where we are going, I will have more power. You are the only one I can trust who knows how to defeat your father and get to the soul king."
Ayame shook her head. "No. No, I can't do it. I can't betray my family and the people I've known my whole life. I won't."
Aizen's face darkened. "You must! Don't you understand that they are not our friends? We must take what is rightfully ours!"
Ayame looked away, her face full of sadness. "I can't do this. I won't betray my father."
Aizen clenched his fists in anger. "You must! We have no other choice, Ayame! We must take what is rightfully ours!"
Ayame's expression hardened. "No. I won't do it."
Aizen felt his anger rising, and he took a deep breath to try to calm himself. But it was no use. He was too filled with rage and frustration. He clenched his fists and shouted, "You must! I will not let them take away all that we have worked for."
Ayame shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I won't do it. I can't betray them."
Aizen felt his anger boiling over. He could feel a dark energy surging through him, and he could no longer control his rage. He grabbed Ayame by the shoulders and shouted, "You must! This is our only chance to take what is rightfully ours!"
Ayame stared at him in shock, her eyes wide. Then she pulled away and ran out of the room, tears streaming down her face.
Aizen stood there, panting. He felt a strange mix of emotions: anger, frustration, and regret. He had gone too far. He had pushed his wife too hard, and now she was gone. He had betrayed her. He had betrayed the woman who had always been so loyal to him. He had betrayed the only woman he had ever loved.
