"Sōusuke, I brought you dinner."
Kidnapped again by Yoruichi to the Shihōin estate, Jie Chengxian set the spirit-powered warmer on the table. Had it not been for the fact that Yoruichi was a pretty girl, a top-tier chef like him would never have bothered cooking.
They say even heroes fall for beauties; the ancients did not lie.
Still remembering his good friend Aizen after his own feast, Chengxian had meant to bring back some leftovers. Seeing only spotless plates, he ended up making Aizen's favorite—tofu. Truly touching friendship.
Aizen's initial delight at the meal vanished the moment he saw the Shihōin crest on the box, but he smiled when he uncovered the tofu banquet; at least Chengxian knew what he liked.
Chengxian knew Aizen loved tofu and loathed eggs, so he prepared an 'egg-clutch' version just to see his reaction. Watching Aizen's dilemma brightened Chengxian's mood, soured earlier by old man Yamamoto.
"You're injured?"
Aizen, savoring the tofu, frowned at the bandages across Chengxian's chest, set down his bowl and walked over.
"I've just learned Kaidō; let me treat you. Tell me exactly how this happened."
Hand pressed to the bandages, Aizen unconsciously hardened his tone.
"Sōusuke, you have no idea how close it was today. If I weren't so gifted, you'd never see me again."
Pure exaggeration: Kinoshita Hanta had faced him under the watchful eyes of Kuchiki Kōga and Yoruichi; nothing fatal could have happened.
"They say life-and-death moments bring enlightenment. As that old thief Kinoshita was about to take my head, I felt myself merge with heaven and earth and created Shunkō, turning the tables in an instant."
"They also say: learn the Way in the morning, die content at dusk. That old thief Kinoshita should have been honored to fall to my move—alas, Soul Society's too stuffy to allow killing anyone above third-rank spiritual pressure."
Chengxian gesticulated wildly, recounting his 'epic duel' with Kinoshita, and finished with a regretful slap on his thigh.
"And that old man Yamamoto—after such merit I petitioned for a captaincy, yet he refused!"
Recalling Yamamoto's order to contemplate his faults, Chengxian threw an arm around Aizen and stared at him intently.
"Let's quit this Shinigami nonsense, raise the banner of revolt and snatch the old man's bird-throne! When it's done I'll be Captain Commander, and you, Sōusuke, will have riches beyond count!"
Aizen turned away from the over-zealous gaze, dismissing the raving. Chengxian was merely sulking at the Captain Commander; anyone who took him seriously would be a fool. Even if he did get the post he'd dump all the work on Aizen.
Still… rebels. Tonight would be busy; there were plenty of experimental samples to collect.
Aizen resumed his meal, quietly planning his experiments.
"Sōusuke, want to learn my Shunkō? It's simple."
A simple description had been enough to sense its power; after brief thought Aizen shook his head, refusing the tempting offer. "Don't speak of it carelessly. If possible, tell Shihōin Yoruichi to keep it within the Onmitsukidō—no one else."
"But Yoruichi already knows the principle of Shunkō; why ask me whether to teach others?"
Chengxian scratched his head, puzzled.
"Hmph, don't worry—she'll definitely ask your opinion."
Aizen gave a cold laugh; reading that stray cat's mind was easy.
Too exhausted to puzzle over it, Chengxian washed up and fell straight into bed.
Aizen sat by his side, sighed, and released the illusion cloaking his body, revealing a striking figure. Moonlight through the screen lit Chengxian's sleeping face; Aizen toyed with his hair, wondering whether to use Kyōka Suigetsu to alter how others saw him.
He only toyed with the idea—what drew people was Chengxian's own charm, something he couldn't change. With a mischievous pinch on the nose he watched Chengxian snort for air and smirked in triumph.
Chengxian still didn't know his real appearance; Aizen wondered what face he'd make when he found out.
Standing again, Aizen cast one last glance at the sleeper, restored his familiar disguise, and left. There were souls to collect in Rukongai; no time to waste.
In a secluded wood, rebels clashed with a Special Forces Unit of Shinigami. Rukongai insurgents cared nothing for day or night; they only wanted to kill a few Shinigami and curry favor with the powerful.
"Good evening, everyone. Could you do me a small favor?"
Amid clashing Zanpakuto and Kido blasts, a soft voice reached both sides. The anomaly made them pause, blades turning toward the newcomer.
"Who are you?"
Many tried to pierce the glare, but a veil of Kido distorted the light, revealing only a luminous silhouette.
"Heh, I only wish to show you something."
The figure raised his Zanpakuto point-down and whispered, "Shatter, Kyōka Suigetsu." A faint sound of breaking glass echoed; nothing seemed to happen, and the rebels, annoyed at their own wariness, attacked.
To Aizen they were simply slaughtering each other. Decent specimens lay among the rebels; as for the Special Forces—he spared them. Already prisoners of Kyōka Suigetsu, they posed no threat. He packed the worthwhile corpses into special containers and left.
Once the spell lifted, the Special Forces stared at the fresh blood and rebel bodies, grateful to be alive; the mysterious stranger had spared them.
After storing the corpses in his hidden lab near District 80 of the West in Rukongai, Aizen watched the data flicker across the instruments, lost in thought.
By his cautious nature he should have left no witnesses—so why…? Chengxian's sleeping face surfaced again; Aizen rubbed thumb and forefinger together, recalling the feel of his nose.
Perhaps he didn't want hands stained with sin to touch Chengxian… He shook the thought away and threw himself into his experiments.
"Tch, all that idiot's fault."
The complaint vanished amid the hum of machines; apart from the stored corpses, no one could glimpse Aizen's thoughts.