"Ngh...!"
Hearing Sosuke Aizen's words, I couldn't help but let out a low groan.
After all, look at who I'm up against. I knew he'd have some kind of trick up his sleeve, but I never imagined he would be making several moves simultaneously... This was beyond my expectations. So that was his goal all along.
This is bad. If I'm not careful, our fighting strength is going to be cut in half...
『THE TWO CURRENT KENPACHIS ARE NOT SO FRIENDLY THAT THEY WOULD HELP ICHIGO KUROSAKI WITHOUT HESITATION. IF THEY HAVE TO CHOOSE, THE SCALES WILL SURELY TIP TOWARD MILADY!』
If I'm not being too conceited, I have to agree. Right now, I'm still stronger than Ichigo Kurosaki, and I have the weight of our shared history behind me. I'm happy they'd come to help me out of concern, but...! On the other hand, if they do come here...
『IF THEY ALL LEAVE AT ONCE, WE WON'T WIN EVEN A WINNABLE BATTLE!!』
Damn it... if I had known this would happen, I should have treated them a lot worse...
『SPECIFICALLY, HOW?』
Eh? Um... well... you know, just generally being mean! But that's not the point right now!!
Conversely, the ones I can definitely count on going to Ichigo Kurosaki are... first, Byakuya Kuchiki and the Sixth Division. And probably the Thirteenth Division. If Jushiro Ukitake goes, then we can expect Shunsui Kyoraku to follow.
...As for the rest...
『WHAT OF THE SECOND DIVISION?』
Yeah... what will Soifon do? Will she go after Ichigo Kurosaki to capture the person she finally got her hands on only to let escape? Or will she come to me?
『THE TANNED BEAUTY SHE ADORES, OR THE MATURE WOMAN WHO SUPPORTED HER IN HER TIME OF NEED... A TRULY AGONIZING CHOICE. AAH!! IF THIS WERE A SECOND OR THIRD PLAYTHROUGH, A HAREM ROUTE OPTION WOULD SURELY APPEAR!! —THAT IS LIKELY THE KIND OF DILEMMA SHE IS FACING.』
No, no, Nubatama, this is Soifon we're talking about. There's no way she's thinking about something that sounds like a romantic comedy.
More importantly, the enemy side—Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tosen are guaranteed. The Captain-Commander can't afford to be reckless because of his position, so while he might not be aggressive, he will definitely be an obstacle. That much is certain.
Captain Sajin Komamura seemed conflicted when I saw him earlier. If we had just one more deciding factor, we might be able to sway him.
And finally—
"You have enough breathing room to be lost in thought?"
"Ugh!?"
I must have been too distracted by my own internal monologue. I failed to fully dodge Sosuke Aizen's Zanpakuto, and it left a shallow cut across my chest.
『ATTACKING DURING A MONOLOGUE IS AGAINST THE RULES!!』
I wish that were a universal law of the world, Nubatama...
"...After hearing something like that, of course I'm going to be surprised."
"Oh, is that so? It seems I've finally managed to score a point against you."
Aware of his advantage, Sosuke Aizen maintained his smile.
"Besides, that look of shock on your face earlier was quite a sight. It makes the effort of racking my brains feel worthwhile."
"Well, I certainly didn't expect you to carry out my execution at the same time...!!"
I lunged at him with a hand-sword strike as I spoke, but he parried it with his Zanpakuto.
"Was it unexpected? Then I'm glad you enjoyed the surprise."
"I'm not enjoying this at all!!"
My hand was slightly injured by the impact of the parry, but I can heal a wound like that in an instant. I continued my assault, ignoring the risk of being cut.
"If you wanted to call me out, you should have just summoned me alone! Why did you involve Izuru Kira and the others!?"
"Is that what you wanted to know? It's quite simple."
After several exchanges, Sosuke Aizen caught my strike. He brought us into a blade-lock, then spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Airi Yukawa, you wouldn't have come if I had simply summoned you, would you?"
"...!"
"You possess the unique ability of Phasing. Even before you mastered it, you apparently harbored some suspicion toward me. I didn't think someone like you would obediently respond to a summons."
I see. He really is observant and calculating. He knew that summoning me directly would be counterproductive, and he didn't take me for a fool who would walk into a trap alone. He needed a trigger that would force me to come without question.
"So, you used Izuru Kira and the others? Just to lure me out!?"
"Exactly. Originally, I thought Renji Abarai of the Sixth Division, Momo Hinamori of your division, and Izuru Kira lying over there might be useful for something. Unfortunately, you—or rather, your superior at the time—took them from me."
I really wonder what Captain Retsu Unohana did back then...?
"That said, my stance was 'if I get them, fine; if not, so be it.' I didn't think much of it... but thanks to you drawing Momo Hinamori and the others in, I was able to make contact with someone far more interesting."
Someone more interesting...?
"You mean... Toshiro Hitsugaya..."
"Heh... his heart was surprisingly repressed and chaotic."
Even as we spoke, Sosuke Aizen and I continued our skirmish. I neutralized the Kido he fired with my Phasing, and countered his slashes by catching them with my bare hands. Yet, Sosuke Aizen still seemed to be holding back.
"He seemed quite resentful that you had taken his favorite person away from him. A little prodding was all it took to make contact. Plus, with the Tenth Division's previous captain conveniently disappearing, gaining his trust was incredibly easy. After all, I am generally known as a 'kind-hearted Captain.'"
The previous captain... Isshin Kurosaki. He used his position as a fellow Captain to his advantage. He really is good at this! Toshiro Hitsugaya is a young genius, so he has the power, but his youth means he lacks interpersonal experience. It's no wonder a veteran fox like Sosuke Aizen could manipulate him...
『EVEN IF HIS BASE ABILITIES ARE HIGH AND HIS EXPERIENCE GROWTH RATE IS BEYOND NORMAL, HE CAN'T DO ANYTHING IF HE DOESN'T GET THE CHANCE TO GAIN THAT EXPERIENCE IN THE FIRST PLACE.』
"Though I must say, keeping up the act was rather tedious. Listening to his pointless concerns over and over... and then rumors spread, and other male soldiers started approaching me as well. After wasting so much of my time, I even went out of my way to tell him that I had faked my death. Toshiro Hitsugaya needs to be at least a little useful to make it worth my while."
Wow... he sounds actually irritated. The sheer sincerity in Sosuke Aizen's voice made me momentarily stop my attack. Come to think of it, I've never heard any rumors about Toshiro Hitsugaya making a move on Momo. Given my position, I would have heard that kind of gossip immediately...
And another thing—he just said he "told him he faked his death"...?
『"FOR THE SPECIAL YOU, CHOSEN FROM ALL THE SHINIGAMI, I HAVE A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!! ACTUALLY, SOSUKE AIZEN IS ALIVE AND SECRETLY LOOKING FOR THE TRAITOR!! I CAN ONLY RELY ON YOU, TOSHIRO HITSUGAYA!! IF YOU SUCCEED HERE, YOU'LL BE A HERO!!" ...I IMAGINE IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE THAT.』
...He probably fell for it. Deep down, he's still just a kid...
"Well, if there was any harvest to be had, it was the realization that I am not suited for the mask of a 'reliable older brother.' One should not do things they aren't used to... Ah, that goes for Izuru Kira there as well. Having the same pointless discussions over and over with Toshiro Hitsugaya... truly incorrigible."
"!!"
Ah, now he's targeting Izuru Kira.
"This is perfect. Why don't you tell her? Or shall I tell her for you? How you've yearned for her since your first day at the Academy, always approaching her with the secret desire to make her your partner—"
"Waaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!"
"Izuru Kira!?"
Despite being in the middle of treatment, Izuru Kira drew his Zanpakuto and charged at Sosuke Aizen.
『WELL, IF SOMEONE EXPOSES YOUR INNERMOST FEELINGS LIKE THAT, DYING OF EMBARRASSMENT IS THE ONLY OPTION LEFT. OF COURSE HE'D GO ON A RAMPAGE! IT'S LIKE HAVING YOUR LOVE LETTER POSTED ON THE SCHOOL BULLETIN BOARD!!』
Ugh, that is incredibly embarrassing.
"Captain Aizen—no, Aizen!!"
"Good grief... your role is already over."
"I won't let you!"
I made it in time! I forced my way between Sosuke Aizen and Izuru Kira. I used one hand to shove Izuru Kira away to create distance, while throwing a punch at Sosuke Aizen with the other.
"Whoa!?"
"Guh..."
"Gah...!"
Three different cries rang out. Izuru Kira cried out from the shock of being pushed and the pain of his wounds reopening from the sudden movement.
I let out a pained gasp as Sosuke Aizen's Zanpakuto pierced through my abdomen because I had forced myself into the opening. It hit my internal organs... I could feel blood overflowing from the corner of my mouth.
And as for Sosuke Aizen—
"This was a little... unexpected."
—He muttered, still trying to maintain his composed attitude.
What do you mean "a little unexpected"!? This is a total anomaly!!
I hit him. I actually hit him! I slammed my fist right into Sosuke Aizen's cheek! His glasses were half-shattered and went flying from the impact. He clearly hadn't expected to be punched; he stumbled back slightly and touched his cheek as if checking the extent of the injury.
"Your Phasing is still a mystery—no, perhaps this is simply due to your own high level of ability? I'd like to investigate further, but... ah, what a pity. It seems my time is up."
It definitely had to hurt, yet he didn't even flinch. He cast a brief glance into the distance and spoke.
"Captain Airi Yukawa, your Phasing is indeed wonderful. If possible, I would have liked to solve its mystery."
"Wha... what?"
Because I was busy healing the wound in my stomach, I was a split second late in moving. In that gap, Sosuke Aizen pulled a white cloth-like object from his clothes and released it. The cloth writhed as if it had a will of its own, expanding in a motion like a tornado.
"Farewell."
Just as the cloth enveloped Sosuke Aizen, a brilliant flash of light erupted. When it faded, he was nowhere to be seen.
He got away!! I thought he was staying here because Rukia Kuchiki was his goal, but I didn't know he had a trick like this up his sleeve!!
...Ah! Damn it!! I forgot to ask the most important thing!!
『W-WHAT IS IT!? MILADY, WHAT IS WRONG ALL OF A SUDDEN!?』
The size I measured during the autopsy! I wanted to check if it was life-sized!!
『EH... I-I MEAN, YOU'RE RIGHT! THAT IS INDEED A CONCERNING PIECE OF INFORMATION!! LORD AIZEN!! COME BACK!!』
"He... vanished...?"
Izuru Kira, who had seen Sosuke Aizen disappear, muttered feebly.
"It was probably a type of teleportation device. He got us... I didn't know he had something like that prepared..."
"T-Teleportation device!? Does such a thing even exist!?"
"There's no need to be that surprised. Kisuke Urahara and Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi have made similar things before. At worst, he might have just stolen it from somewhere. Anyone can use one if they have it... Wait, have you never used one, Izuru Kira?"
"Never..."
...Ah, right. The teleportation devices I know about are for going to the human world, so Izuru Kira wouldn't know about them. Almost all the female Shinigami know about them, but only a few of the men... Well, I suppose it's not the kind of thing that should be publicized...
Regardless, I can feel an overwhelming spiritual pressure approaching... I see. Sosuke Aizen fled because he sensed this. If he had stayed here, he would have been overwhelmed by the sheer difference in power and numbers. Even with Kyoka Suigetsu, he'd probably be defeated by someone's "intuition." Of course he ran. If I were him, I'd definitely run too.
"Captain Unohana! Vice-Captain Zaraki!"
To the two who had arrived—the two sources of that monstrous spiritual pressure—I gave a light wave.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]