30 Chapter 30

Fingers rapped against a smooth surface, an inscrutable expression flickering over Aizen's face as he sat alone in a cave dwelling within Hueco Mundo. His back was straight, and his gaze contained a contemplative gleam while regarding the Hogyoku in front of him.

This was the work of a fellow researcher, and was fully deserving of Aizen's admiration, but it wasn't the main point of the matter.

Leisurely, Aizen turned his attention away from the Hogyoku which had the ability to dissolve the boundaries between Shinigami and Hollow, and instead absently turned his attention towards the pest that had entered his dwelling.

The sand in the corner of the room began to stir, creating a depression that a small masked head poked its way out of. It was a lizard-like hollow, unaware of the danger that had now befallen it due to its carelessness. Without regard for anything, it fully emerged into the room, sleek body lined with scales creating an unpleasant rustle to the ears as its head surveyed the area around it.

In a way, its ignorance caused Aizen to feel no small amount of amusement. After all, it lived in a world where it didn't appear to know of those that lorded over it; too insignificant to understand the concept of what it meant to be truly free from oppression and control.

His eyes narrowed, his spiritual pressure locking on to the lizard-like hollow and freezing it in place.

An intervention by a higher power, and the feeble hollow didn't even seem to understand its position as it uselessly struggled. A single thought, and his spiritual pressure would wipe out the hollow's very existence. Yet he didn't do so, but rather watched for a moment longer before losing interest and letting the thing scamper away, burrowing back into the sand.

Unlike that hollow, Aizen was completely aware of his own strength and existence. He didn't live in a reality where he was truly free from the limitations that bound him. As such, he refused to accept it.

His eyes narrowed as he refocused his attention on the Hogyoku.

With just his power alone, he was confident that none would be his match, and yet despite everything, there was an existence that still stood above him. Of course, he wasn't so feeble minded enough to be unable to accept such a thing, but what he couldn't accept was that the existence able to oppress him was no more than a lynchpin holding the world together.

Thus, an ambition had taken root within him in the pursuit of being truly free from limitation.

A long road.

One full of betrayals and deceptions, yet it was his to take.

His mouth twitched in amusement when he considered the irony. He with a power to control others with an aspiration to rid himself of those who would rule over him. How laughable.

He grasped the Hogyoku in hand and watched as the power within it seemed to respond to his intent, vapours of spiritual energy spiralling around his palm like a thin mist. It was no more than a tool for him to use at his disposal, but with it, it opened up his possibilities. To break the boundary between Shinigami and Hollows to aspire for a greater power. Still,

Is that truly the reason?

His lips thinned as he frowned to himself. There was a deeper meaning to the thought that just surfaced in his mind, and it wasn't one he was willing to admit. After all, with his strength, why was he gathering allies? Why was intending to use the Hogyoku's ability to heighten the capabilities of others rather than himself?

He was certain of it. There wasn't truly a need to undergo his plans to create Arrancar if he just utilized his own competence to create an Oken, the key to the Royal House. He wouldn't even have to wait and allow Kisuke and the Soul Society to react if he could simply overwhelm them with his power and the Hogyoku's combined. And yet he chose not to do so.

Instead choosing to foster the strength of those around him. It was the same for the hollows, and the same for Ichigo Kurosaki's unique existence.

As such, the only question was why was he going through all the trouble?

What exactly was he hoping for?

His face gradually became inscrutable. Perhaps inside of himself, he already knew the answer, but it didn't mean that he would ever admit to it. Nonetheless, the main matter at hand did not lie with the Hogyoku, but with the cooperation of the hollows around him.

Reaching out his arm, he placed the Hogyoku back into its crystal container and stared out into the opening of his current dwelling, towards the white sands that encompassed Hueco Mundo and the hollows that lived upon it.

The Vasto of White and the Hollows who follow him.

This hollow was far more difficult to deal with than the self-proclaimed God-King Aizen had already done his observations on.

Charisma.

Strength.

Versatility.

And above all, the loyalty the Vasto of White instilled in its subjects was an obstacle hard to overcome. To begin with, none of the hollows he had spoken to out of those in the Vasto of White's lands adamantly desired more power. After all, they would eventually become Vasto Lordes in their own rights after enough consumption of spiritual energy from the swords lodged in the sands. Therefore, why would those hollows be enthusiastic about the notion of tearing off their masks and sealing their future prospects in evolution? It wasn't a choice many were willing to make in the face of a means of an already simplified evolution to a higher power. As such, the Adjuchas and lower leveled hollows in the Vasto of White's lands out-right refused his described process of becoming an Arrancar and gaining more power.

To make matters worse, none of the current Vasto Lordes were willing to take the procedure either without confiding in their Lord of Hollows, the Vasto of White.

A light gleamed over the spectacles Aizen was wearing over his face as he decided that it was time to have a talk with that particular hollow.

For the Vasto of White was the key.

And perhaps, just maybe,

A friend.

The further she walked, the more pronounced her agitation became. Her upper lip began to twitch, and her hands were steadily balling into fists.

"He's not here either," Lilynette seethed in frustration.

Starrk had told her that Shirou would be in the cavern near where the Shinigami were staying, and yet she didn't find him there on arrival. Instead, all that greeted her, Ichigo, and Silent was an empty room.

Silent patted Lilynette's head in an attempt to console her, but only ended up making her sulky, her lips pursing together as she clicked her tongue.

"Isn't it time to stop by now?" Ichigo asked sighing. "You've been leading us nowhere for the past few hours."

After not finding Shirou in the cavern, Lilynette had not given up and decided to scour the area. However, the Vasto of White's lands were large and Lilynette didn't possess a means to lower the search radius. Instead, she just dragged Ichigo and Silent along to help search.

Over the course of the journey, Ichigo had endured not just a single glance from other hollows, but multiple. He was simply too unique if any word could describe him. He felt like a hollow to other hollows, but his appearance was rather contrary with just a mask over his face and Shinigami Shihakusho on his body.

If it wasn't for Lilynette pulling on his sleeve as they travelled, Ichigo was certain that he would have had been approached by other curious hollows.

His shoulders drooped. On top of the worry he felt for the conditions of his friends when he'd last seen them, he wanted to get his mother out of Hueco Mundo as soon as possible. However, his goals were just too unlikely at the moment. He was too weak, and he could feel that the majority of the hollows living in the area could crush him with just their spiritual pressure alone. They were nothing like the average hollows he had encountered and opposed in Karakura Town.

What the hell was this place?

The thought struck his mind. The hollows nearby were just too powerful.

"I suppose you're right, Ichigo," Lilynette had a wronged expression on her face.

All that she had wanted to do was enjoy herself. The past few years, were the best years of her life. Even if Starrk wouldn't admit it, she knew how he already felt. They weren't alone anymore. Every passing day, even if nothing exciting occurred, it was fine.

Lilynette glanced up at Silent, Ichigo, and then to the hollows in the distance before her mood gradually grew better.

"So, you're the hollow releasing that foul spiritual aura," a voice spoke from not too far away.

Ichigo's gaze shifted towards a hollow with the lower body of a horse and the upper body of a woman.

It was Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, a Vasto Lorde.

Over the course of Lilynette dragging Ichigo and Silent around, they had ended up in a part of the Vasto of White's lands where Nelliel and the Adjuchas under her were living.

"Foul spiritual aura?" Ichigo echoed, unsure of what to make of Nel's words. He had assumed that his aura was just as chaotic as a regular hollow at the moment.

"Indeed," Nel nodded. "Your aura is like an open river, overflowing from out of you incessantly and filled with more chaos than an average hollow. In fact, just from the quality and power of it, it's as if a new Vasto Lorde had appeared. You should understand my prompt arrival as a result. However,"

Nel's eyes narrowed.

"It comes off as a bit of surprise when I stare at you now. All that strength and you're simply letting it go to waste; the amount available to you miniscule compared to the amount you're letting off to dissipate into the air."

Finished speaking her piece, Nel gave a pleasant nod to Lilynette and Silent before shifting her gaze back on Ichigo who appeared perturbed.

"T-Then how do I use it?" Ichigo asked. Power was the one thing he needed right now. To grow stronger.

Nel rose a brow but smiled after considering that Ichigo wasn't one of those mindless hollows bent on exerting their supremacy. Instead, it appeared as if he had a reason to fight. A reason to attain power.

"Instinct," was what Nel said at the next moment. "As hollows, from the very beginning, all that we had left was the instinct to survive and evolve. You should be able to feel your own power, it comes to you naturally."

Nel extended out her palm and a pink cero began to form. "Our energy is like an extension of our selves much like how Shinigami rely on their swords to aid in the direction of the flow of their spiritual energy. The energy of us hollows generally doesn't have a conduit as convenient as a Shinigami's sword. Instead, our powers are unbridled. Something harnessed with our willpower and fortitude."

Nel's eyes narrowed as she stared at Zangetsu strapped to Ichigo's back. "No short cuts by taking the blade of a defeated Shinigami will help," she said disapprovingly. "You must use your power as your own."

"No this is," Ichigo trailed off as he considered not correcting Nel's assumption. It was for the best that he not explained that Zangetsu was his. "Yeah, fine, you're right," he eventually said.

Nel's impassive expression from the beginning softened after Ichigo's admission. The hollows she had met before arriving at the Vasto of White's lands were all difficult to get along with. Especially those that were arrogant or had self pride.

In fact, the more that she looked at Ichigo, the more that she was reminded of her first meetings with Pesche and the others who were her friends and followers. As such, she couldn't help but grow a favourable impression.

Her arms fell to her side and as she fully faced Ichigo while staring at him up and down she quickly made a decision. Meanwhile, Silent and Lilynette remained quiet in consideration of Ichigo.

"I must apologize," Nel began. "Although its true that instinct is the main factor involved in utilizing and controlling our spiritual energy, it still takes a certain level of skill to accomplish it."

Saying that, Nel opened her arms wide and beckoned Ichigo forward.

"Attack me," she said frankly.

Ichigo was stupefied at first but recollected himself when he noticed the seriousness in Nel's expression.

His hand moved subconsciously to draw Zangetsu from his back, but the motion caused Nel's face to blacken which he took note of and consciously stopped himself. He breathed in and thought of what Nel had said.

A power that came by instinct.

It was almost as if he could feel the torrent gushing from within him.

Thoughts and planning were irrelevant.

All that mattered was destroying what was in front of him.

"That's it King, Just like that!"

A voice shouted from his inner world, and it was then that he felt it. The sheer volume.

It was like an ocean, something welling from within him.

The howling of a hollow.

Guttural and deep.

Vying for release.

Lilynette gasped while Silent's face creased in worry.

The image of a horned demon seemed to take form from the spiritual energy surrounding Ichigo.

Not only did Lilynette and Silent react, others in the distance did too. After all, it was a primal sort of power. The reverence once would feel when faced with something incomprehensible.

Nel's lips thinned, her focus on Ichigo increasing several folds. This wasn't the kind of power she was expecting Ichigo to be able to utilize immediately, and as such she released her own spiritual energy in preparation.

"Come at me!" She yelled domineeringly, gaze unflinching.

It was then that Ichigo moved.

All of his power was concentrated on his fist as he punched out, black and red vestiges of energy cloaking the entirety of his arm.

Nel scoffed, eyes darting as Ichigo appeared right before her.

"Naïve!" She rose a hand and captured Ichigo's fist within.

In a clash of spiritual power, Nel's fingers gripped tighter and tighter before suffusing the energy in Ichigo's fist and tossing him to the ground.

Tumbling, Ichigo groaned as his back smashed against a nearby rock before stopping completely.

Nel starred at the bruises on her hand and the black spiritual energy that clung over it that nearly caused her to wince. Dispersing the black spiritual energy with a bit of effort, she stared peculiarly at Ichigo.

He wasn't an Adjuchas, nor was he anywhere near a Vasto Lorde. However, if he was still just an average hollow, then his attack strength was too absurd. His energy was able to penetrate through the natural defence of her toughened skin as a Vasto Lorde.

She blanked when she considered just what kind of strength Ichigo would have when he eventually became Vasto Lorde like herself. Just thinking about it was terrifying, yet it was still far into the future. Still, she didn't let her surprise show on her face.

"Now do you understand how to use your own power?" Nel questioned when Silent helped prop Ichigo up.

Ichigo groaned as he moved himself away from Silent and forced himself to stand on his own. "More or less," he grunted out.

"If that's the case, then good," Nel praised, however, her voice sharpened in the next moment. "However, you're an idiot. What kind of fool charges head on against an enemy whose strength is far above one's own? What were you thinking?"

"…" Ichigo didn't respond.

From Ichigo's expression, Nel knew well enough that Ichigo wasn't thinking.

She pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes in disappointment.

Eventually, when she opened them again, there was a hint of exasperation on her features. But she didn't say anything else at that moment and instead just stared at Ichigo. He appeared to be a newly emerged hollow, and if anything, his reactions were likable. In fact, after Ichigo had noticed her disappointment, it was hard for him to maintain her gaze without glancing away. Her lips nearly twitched into a smile, but she forced the action down.

Instead, she gave a glance towards Lilynette and Silent before the three of them came to a quiet agreement.

Nel moved to stand in front of Ichigo, her back straight.

"It would seem that you need more practice, but it will be inconvenient to practice here," Nel said slowly, trying to gauge Ichigo's reaction. "There's not enough danger involved. As such, follow me if you're willing. I know of a place more suitable."

Nel turned her back on Ichigo and gestured for him to follow closely.

Ichigo hesitated, as this wasn't exactly something that he expected. However, knowing that Nel was doing this for his sake and benefit, he shut up the protests in his mind and allowed his feet to take him forward. This would let him grow stronger, and perhaps be strong enough to protect those he cared about.

Without turning around, Nel smiled in approval, slowing down her pace so this odd looking and newly minted hollow could keep up with her.

How strong Ichigo would become as a result of his actions would entirely be up to him.

Lilynette and Silent trailed at the back.

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He was harder to find than expected, Aizen mused to himself as he avoided the detection of the hollows nearby and approached a certain location.

It was a plateau overlooking Hueco Mundo's vast dunes of sand, but Aizen wasn't much for looking at the scenery. Instead, his senses locked on to the figure motionlessly staring off across at the space.

The Vasto of White.

Aizen slowed his speed and approached while making his presence known by the fluctuation in his spiritual energy. Part of the reason it had taken him so long to find this particular hollow was that the Vasto of White had different areas where it chose to stay.

This particular plateau was a new one different from the hill of sand Aizen had once found and observed the Vasto of White in.

No other hollows were in the area, causing Aizen to raise a brow. From the way the hollows living in the Vasto of White's land revered their King, it was expected that several hollows would be at his beck and call. However, with the personality of the Vasto of White, Aizen already knew that that wouldn't be the case. Instead, it was more likely for hollows to simply remain in the King's vicinity to aid in any troubles.

Contrary to expectations though, it was as if the Vasto of White knew that he was coming and relocated to a sparse area devoid of others.

Perhaps it was a coincidence, Aizen mused, but it didn't really matter.

He descended from the sky, landing a couple feet away from where the Vasto of White stood.

"Aizen," Shirou called in greeting.

Aizen simply replied back in kind before the conversation grew flat and quiet. Each of the two had their own thoughts to consider.

A wind blew by, a common event in Hueco Mundo that shifted the positioning of the vast dunes. It tugged on the long white coat Aizen was wearing and at the same time blew along small plant-like tumble weeds across the desert. He watched them silently as he gathered his thought for what he wanted to say.

The Vasto of White was an individual that undoubtedly required his full attention, and despite knowing this, he couldn't fully explain his lack of apprehension. Perhaps he was just confident in his own spiritual strength, or maybe it had to do with the challenge of dealing with someone on a similar level. But no such feeling ever arose when he thought of confronting Head-Captain Yamamoto.

Therefore, it was a first.

Someone he acknowledged that possessed a strength and means similar to his own.

Although Yamamoto was strong, in the face of Aizen's own intelligence, Aizen was confident in dealing with the Shinigami Head-Commander. Yet the Vasto of White was different.

Kyoka Suigetsu's complete hypnosis was ineffective against the Vasto of White, therefore if push came to shove, only a direct confrontation would be able to settle things.

Ability vs Ability.

However, he wasn't really inclined to make an enemy out of a hollow who may not necessarily be simple to deal with. As such, there was only one objective left to achieve, and it involved a single question. Was he friend or foe?

A part of him revolted in the act of setting all cards on the table, but he calculated that it was precisely something that he had to do. He was no fool, and he knew that his previous actions in the Soul Society had already harboured suspicion on his character in the eyes of the Vasto of White. In fact, he had already considered the outcome before following through with his plans to attain the Hogyoku. Nevertheless, it was a necessary loss, and not one that was irredeemable.

Of course, he considered another prospect in simply leading the Vasto of White on to further his own means, but the consequences of failure far outweighed the benefit. Besides, he would rather a colleague rather than a pawn. Yet a test was still necessary.

Should he lay down all his cards and the other party still refuse to reciprocate his intentions, and instead hinder him, then there was no longer any room for negotiation.

"Do you know that there's a higher realm than the one that you and I exist in?" Aizen probed slowly while inclining his head in an inquiring gesture.

His eyes were trained solely on the Vasto of White, searching for a reaction of which there was none.

Unperturbed, he decided to continue.

"Within this higher realm exists a power able to dictate and control our lives on a whim. We are the rats bound to the limitations and restrictions placed upon us by a fictional maze designed to be described as the world's natural order. As such," Aizen's expression became frank. "We are not truly free."

Aizen watched again for any changes in the Vasto of White's posture or expression but was yet again left with not a single sign to rely on. It didn't matter either way as he had yet to express his main point. Still, from the Vasto of White's lack of reaction thus far, Aizen felt that his chances of moving the Vasto of White to his cause were growing dimmer and dimmer.

Still, Aizen was never one to give up half-way.

"You do not seek power, yet have power greater than any hollow," Aizen's eyes grew pointed, expressing the observations he had made on the Vasto of White.

"You lead the hollows that follow you yet have no ambition."

"You protect them, act as their guardian and they hail you King for it, yet here you are still upon this desolate hill staring off at a blank horizon."

Aizen's words echoed silently into the wind, his voice reverberating.

"What is it that you see? What is it that you are looking for?"

Somewhere in Shirou's mind, thoughts appeared one by one and then vanished, replaced by a feeling of emptiness. Aizen was right in a way. When he stared off into the horizon, even he didn't understand what it was that he was searching for. It wasn't for any signs of hostile hollows, nor was it anything substantial or physical. Instead, it was simply a longing deep within him.

"You are a hollow but act more like a Shinigami. You save others, but in the end will still be left with no one to save."

Shirou glanced up at Aizen, the first action he had taken since the beginning of the conversation.

"Enough of this Aizen, what is it that you are getting at?" Shirou spoke frankly, unwilling to admit that he felt something for the last words that Aizen had uttered.

Indeed, over the course of saving others, in the end, there would eventually be no one to save. And the pattern only repeats, an endless cycle of one chasing something that was unattainable yet grand.

"I want your help," Aizen said simply. "The higher realm I spoke of, within it lives an existence known as the Soul King. A being that can be said to be at the center of all realms, the Human World, the Soul Society, and even Hueco Mundo. He who writes the laws of the world and rules above all, a being that can be said to even control individuals like ourselves."

"I want your help to be able to obtain freedom, and everything I have done thus far was for such a purpose."

"The Soul King?" Shirou felt a pain in his head, causing him to waver.

Something stirred from within him, a recollection, a memory, he didn't know. It was simply too fast to comprehend like lightning striking forth from the sky.

The meaning of one's existence.

A reason to continue fighting, or what it was that caused him to end up in Hueco Mundo.

It had been too long since he'd thought up on those concepts, never questioning them and instead apathetically maintaining a vigil over the white dunes of Hueco Mundo. To protect those in need of his protection, and to save those in need of saving. He had nothing else to concern himself with, but perhaps it was only because he was escaping from something. An answer.

"Indeed, the Soul King is my objective," Aizen nodded his head. "Will you help me?"

Aizen's words were sincere and Shirou understood that from how earnest Aizen was acting. There were no tricks involved, no double meanings, just a straight forward question. Aizen had spoken his mind and conveyed his intentions clearly.

It had been years since Aizen spoke to anyone as an equal, as everyone had always been within his control in the world created by Kyouka Suigetsu. It didn't matter if one agreed or not in the illusion simply because Aizen didn't have to care about opinions, he could move others how he saw fit. Therefore, there was never an equal basis when Aizen dealt with others.

Shirou was different.

He was the sole individual who Aizen could not predict, influence, or exert strength over to be entirely under his control.

"So how about it?" Aizen pressed for an answer.

At this point if Shirou didn't agree than Aizen was certain that he had to revise his thoughts. Moreover, if Shirou did agree, but have other intentions, then Aizen would rely on his own mind to work things out. Not only did he not need Kyoka Suigetsu to play on one's emotions, it had already become a second nature to him.

Perhaps he wouldn't have full control in this cooperation, but he could still influence, and that was enough.

However, the best outcome was still that Shirou would be sincere in a cooperation.

Shirou was silent for a long moment, his breathing even and a furrow in his brows, but eventually he came to a conclusion. Even if he still suspected Aizen's character, Aizen had made him realize something he should have had done long ago. He needed answers. Who he was, what was his purpose, and what it all meant. When Aizen spoke of the Soul King, it was undoubtable that Shirou had some sort of reaction to it. As such, to obtain his answers, there was merit in questioning the Soul King.

A goal was set.

"Very well," Shirou said, meeting Aizen's gaze. "I will help you, but I have my own conditions."

Aizen smirked. "Name them," he said simply.

"One, you are not to act on your own. I dislike your methods in how you obtain favours from others," Shirou began. "Did you not think that by saving Silent and returning her to us, that I would not follow through with a request of yours? Instead, you hang her safety over our heads as insurance so that we do as you want."

Shirou's eyes narrowed when Aizen opened his mouth to refute. "Don't say that that wasn't your intention Aizen. Although you insinuated Silent was safe when we were in the Soul Society, it can also be taken that she would only remain safe as long as you deemed our efforts fit."

Aizen closed his mouth and smiled wryly.

"So be it, I won't act on my own or at least not without informing," Aizen conceded. In the end, this request wasn't so difficult to deal with. After all, Aizen couldn't hide anything from Shirou anyway. His false realities were simply ineffective and anything he'd do would eventually be discovered anyway.

Shirou nodded.

"Second, you are not to harm those that aren't our enemies."

"Naturally," Aizen pushed up his glasses. "I would not do something to endanger our co-operation. Is there anything else?"

Shirou shook his head. "Nothing at the moment," he said.

"Good, then if you're done speaking then there's another matter that needs to be dealt with."

The spiritual energy around Aizen exploded outwards, one of his hands moving to his face to remove his glasses.

The very air seemed to tremble as hard rock began to dig into the ground, forming craters into the sand before the rocks themselves were buried within.

A sharp gaze, one that was riveted by a power that threatened to crush all within an unrelenting pressure.

The trees buckled and bent, fissures forming along the hard-crystalline surface before the entire structure crumbled to pieces.

Are you worthy of standing next to me?

Aizen's expression grew cold, calculative. Nothing he had ever done was without purpose. He would not tolerate working with someone incompetent.

"No one stands on top of the world. Not you, not I, not even gods."

Therefore, something must be done.

The spiritual pressure in the area doubled once again. Grains of sand beginning to vibrate before bursting entirely into thin clouds that faded in a still wind.

The unbearable vacancy in the sky,

That which was left unfulfilled.

A smile played its way across Aizen's face.

Do you have the right to compete alongside me for it?

Eyes narrowing, the spiritual pressure focused on a single point, the entirety weighing over Shirou's shoulders.

Yet,

Those bronze eyes did not so much as flinch.

"Is that all?"

The voice was too apathetic, as if regardless of how much power Aizen exerted, nothing would change.

One arm moved, followed by the other. "Trace, On."

A vortex formed, the tribal marks over Shirou's body branching out and glowing with a dull strength that seemed to envelope everything.

Magic Circuits.

That which existed not within the physical body, but the Soul.

Conduits that converted the mana in the air into magical energy.

It was as if Aizen had not exerted his spiritual pressure at all. The stiffness in the air, the tension in the surroundings, they all disappeared, sucked away by something out of even Aizen's own comprehension.

Aizen blinked, then blinked again.

"You?"

The word escaped Aizen's mouth before he could stop himself. He stood there rooted, unable to understand what had just occurred, but composing himself nonetheless. Still, he made no motions of doing anything else aside from staring at Shirou like an even more complex puzzle.

"Was there a meaning in your actions?" Shirou asked. If not for the fact that he hadn't detected any malicious intent in Aizen's actions then Shirou wouldn't have even bothered asking.

"Of course," Aizen patted the dust off of his clothing. "You see if we are to be in a partnership, it is sufficient that we can understand the extent of the others powers and abilities."

Saying that, Aizen pointed a finger to a nearby dune of sand.

"Hadō #31. Shakkahō,"

From the tip of his finger appeared a high-temperature flame that condensed into a massive orb several times larger than Aizen himself before blasting off into the dune.

The air began to swelter and dry before a massive plum of flame and blunt force energy annihilated the dune from existence.

"As you can see, I am also proficient in various types of Kido, a Shinigami art based on advanced spells. The one that I just used in particular can only be judged as middle-class, but with my absurd levels of spiritual energy, even mid-class Kido can prove lethal."

"I see," Shirou said glancing at the direction of the previous dune.

Glass had formed from the sand, smooth and reflecting the moon up above.

"Trust can only be achieved on mutual grounds," Aizen began candidly. "I have demonstrated the extent of my spiritual energy and have given you knowledge of the strengths I possess."

Aizen spoke no more, but his meaning was evident. Even if Aizen theorized that Shirou possessed a power similar to his own to allow Aizen to look upon him as an equal, proof was still undeniable.

Aizen spoke of co-operation, but if Shirou could offer nothing with his power, then what was the point?

Shirou didn't reply, but instead he knew he had to act.

His eyes shut, the energy within him gathering.

He who was a sword, would draw himself once more.

It was a power different from any other, unique and never before seen.

Around Shirou, there was a peculiar blue light gathering. It was not the glow of spiritual energy, nor was it the malice of a hollow's natural aura, rather it was distinct.

Kyouka Suigetsu began to stir by Aizen's side, causing the man's eyes to widen in alarm. From the connection with his sword, he could faintly comprehend its feelings.

Attraction?

Aizen's brows knitted together but loosened in the next moment out of surprise.

Just what was going on?

Shirou's eyes opened, the light surrounding him bursting out. He didn't summon a sword, he didn't summon a world, but instead he responded to a calling from within him. It wasn't something that he was experienced with, but it was different from the strength he had already shown Aizen in the Soul Society.

The swords stored in an eternal armoury.

A lonely hill.

And the request of an individual.

The energy began to coalesce, taking form under Aizen's scrutiny.

Pale skin, and a refined grace, eyes like mirrors reflecting a tranquil lake.

It was a sword, yet not a sword.

That which embodies the spirit of a sword but doesn't exist in the natural world.

To give form to thought and recreate that which was uncreatable.

The rustling of silk and the billowing of long black hair. A demeanour that was unmistakable.

"I-Impossible," The words escaped Aizen's mouth even as he briefly glanced at the sword by his own side, his mind blanking.

For before him stood a woman with a disposition no different from his own.

One who sought a perfect state of existence.

Kyouka Suigetsu.

Hands grabbed at the hem of a dress before curtsying, a candid smile appearing over delicate features.

"Greetings, Lord wielder."