5,599Gin Interlude
All plans must come to an end, and if anyone understood this point better than anyone in Hueco Mundo, it was undoubtedly Gin Ichimaru.
From the eyes of a genius, the world was just one large set of rules with set boundaries and constraints able to be identified through logic. The same could be said about the human psyche. If one knew the limits of a person's tolerance, their likes, desires, and motivations, then it would be a simple matter to guide said person's point of view in a form of manipulation. Aizen had surpassed even this.
Aizen did not simply analyze and comprehend the nature of any individual, he altered them based on necessity. The subject being misled in the first place would not once suspect foul play, as they themselves would believe that what they were doing was of their own volition. Momo Hinamori, Aizen's former Lieutenant of Squad Five was one such example. Even until the end she never doubted Aizen, and Gin suspected that given a few choice words, Aizen could convince her that he'd been wrongfully accused.
Aizen's cunning was not to be underestimated, and Gin himself knew this for a fact. It takes one genius to get into the skin of another. It was a battle of wits and shrewdness, and Gin was more than willing to play and win. That is…until now.
'With the same eyes and voice that once said we'd be inseparable, could you still say the same now?'
Gin Ichimaru frowned ever so slightly, the perpetual smile over his features fading.
"Gin. Where are you going again?"
'To be a Shinigami.'
"Why?"
'I've made up my mind. I'm going to become a soul reaper. I'm going to become a soul reaper to change things. I'll fix everything...so you won't be crying anymore.'
A small smile, and a vague response filled only with half truths, never revealing anything substantial.
Old memories and promises caused Gin no small amount of hesitation, and this was dangerous. He couldn't allow for any breaks in his persona, or it was game over. He wasn't being prideful, but he placed himself on a similar level to Aizen in his ability to read people. A single slip up would be instantly noticed. He couldn't allow that to happen, and yet, as one who put himself on the same intellectual level as Aizen, he knew that he was already running away from the truth.
Rangiku, the only one who ever really mattered to him, would never condone his actions. He could tell that all that she'd ever wanted was for him to be by her side like old times. Instead, here he was convincing himself that he was fighting for her sake while ultimately understanding that he was only making excuses.
He wanted revenge. He was petty like that.
Aizen had harmed Rangiku and took something from her. Most likely a part of her spiritual energy. Whether or not she'd ever make Captain with the reserves she had left was enough to infuriate him all over again.
If Tousen spoke of Justice, then this was Gin's justice.
Making sure that there was no one around, Gin entered a private tunnel he'd made for himself in Hueco Mundo that led directly into the Menos Forest. Once inside, he flash stepped deep into the core of the forest where he grinned slyly.
He did not know how many days had passed since the Quincy had first made their appearance in Hueco Mundo, but Aizen had not been idle. He was occupied with prying information out of the Quincy who introduced a sudden new variable into his plan, meaning that Gin now had the leisure to act on his own.
It was the first time such an opportunity had landed in his lap in years, and he knew better than to waste it.
He could not predict the outcome of what was to transpire with the introduction of the Quincy, but he was certain that he had to adjust his goal of murdering Aizen once again. Waiting for an opportunity for Aizen to let his guard down was never going to happen anymore, not with the Vasto of White around who could prove to be an even bigger monster than Aizen. Things would change if he could get the Vasto of White on his side like Shinso had suggested, but it was unlikely at the moment. There weren't even any chances to make contact between evading Aizen's suspicion, and the other Arrancar flocking to their lord.
So no, things weren't exactly going to any sort of plan or consensus. This being the case, Gin could no longer remain idle. If an opportunity to kill Aizen would never come, then what point was there in maintaining the charade any longer?
There was none, but that didn't mean that a chance did not exist.
With a meticulous hand, he activated one of Aizen's inventions. Hollows could open Garganta at will, but Shinigami could not do so, making it difficult to enter Hueco Mundo. Aizen bypassed this natural barrier by creating a device that mimicked the action of opening a Garganta.
A black and distorted corridor formed in front of Gin.
He was going to take a risk, but he was confident enough of leaving and returning before his absence was noticed if at all. See, the Menos Forest had this distinct property of making it difficult to locate anyone inside. It had something to do with the vast amount of Menos and the constant fighting causing the spiritual energy to be difficult to distinguish. One would have to know what they were looking for or risk not finding anything at all.
Gin was not that naïve. Aizen was a monster who could sense spiritual energy with pinpoint accuracy.
Extending his hand forward, he produced a ball of his own spiritual energy and hurled it through the Menos Forest. The Menos and Hollows that were attracted to the potent energy attempted to eat it, but only got their heads blasted in the process. The ball continued to sail. With the amount of power that he'd created it with, it should be enough to last for a good hour or two.
With his energy lingering in the Menos Forest, Aizen would have the impression that he was still around.
"Well then," Gin quickly masked his spiritual energy and stepped into the corridor before him. "Let's see if this works out. Did you not know, Aizen? Never trust the mouth of a cornered snake. It carries poison."
When next he knew it, he was back in the Rukon district of the Soul Society, but this was far from what he was expecting.
His narrowed eyes uncharacteristically widened, the scent of ash and soot wafting up into his nose.
The Seireitei was burning, smoke rising up into the sky in wisps from the direction of the Sekkiseki stone walls dropped down from the heavens in times of emergency. Flashes of light and buffeting winds spread outwards rapidly, forcing him to shield his gaze with an arm. The intensity of the spiritual energies in the air was not lost on him, but for all the damage being done, he could care less.
He'd never viewed being a Shinigami as a position of justice to defeat all evil. To be truthful, he'd never even wanted to be one until the day he returned home to find Rangiku hurt by Shinigami under Aizen's command. The position was nothing more than a means to an end.
Values? Sentiments? Perhaps he may have had a few such as his former lieutenant who never doubted him, but so what?
If the Shinigami's forces were already so far beaten that their overall strength dwindled, what was the point in coming back to the Seireitei in the first place to recruit manpower? Looks like his initial plans have gone to shit again.
He had no intention of doing something as foolish as meeting the Head Commander or any former Squad Captain in order to explain his position acting as a double agent for Aizen. No one would believe him, and even then, they'd be suspicious. He was on a time limit before Aizen would notice his absence. There was no way he could stay for any longer so he'd simply planned to leave behind clues for the smarter Captains to pick up on.
If an opportunity to strike Aizen would never come by waiting, then there was another means available.
'Give me a chance. That's all I'll need.'
Gin hummed lightly to himself. If the Captains understood what he wanted, then the possibility of success would increase drastically. However, it would seem that he could no longer rely on the Seireitei.
He frowned while looking at all the destruction around him.
The people of the Rukongi were running. As spirits with pitifully low spiritual energy, the spiritual pressure emanating from whatever battle was occurring in the distance was crushing. Men and women alike clawed at one another for the chance of running farther away.
Vending shops were destroyed, buildings toppled from mounting pressure.
Screams echoed through the air, mixed in with the scent of blood, and a palpable fear.
Gin had never seen it this bad, ever. It was as if the Seireitei would fall, but wasn't that impossible? Head Captain Yamamoto was still alive and even Aizen had to develop a means to deal with Ryujin Jakka's flames.
It wasn't a lie to say that Yamamoto was the backbone of the Court Guard Squads. So long as he stood tall, the Seireitei would never crumble. Therefore, Gin wasn't worried. The old man was tenacious, and despite the damage, recovery would surely take place.
Caught up in his musings, he allowed a local woman from the Rukongi to grab him by the sleeve of his hakama and shake him with trembling hands.
"You're a Shinigami aren't you! Why aren't you helping!?" The woman was crying, desperate.
Unable to respond at first, all he managed to do was put up his signature fox-like grin. The woman balked, backing away in fear as he disregarded her like many did when he smiled. Only Rangiku had never been uncomfortable with it.
Should he help? There was no benefit, and it wasn't as if Yamamoto would lose. Instead, it was probably better to return back to Hueco Mundo while he can. He'd wanted to be subtle in his visit, so it wouldn't due if he was spotted.
Well, then, the Seireitei could fend for itself.
Turning around, he readied another device to return back the way he came from, yet froze mid-action. His analytical mind ground to a halt, as for the second time in his life, he lost himself to rage.
His eyes widened while staring up at a familiar figure sailing down from the walls of the Seireitei after a resounding bang ejected pieces of rubble and debris everywhere. It was her. No matter how she changed growing up, Gin only ever saw the girl he first met in his youth, tied together by their shared love of persimmons.
"Rangiku?" The name slipped out of his mouth long after his body had already taken action.
He moved faster than he'd ever done before. Gone was any trace of amusement and replaced instead by smoldering fury. Part of the reason Gin still followed Aizen was that Aizen had promised to leave Rangiku for him to deal with. As he would never hurt Rangiku, this all but guaranteed her safety from Aizen who despite being deceptive, never went back on his own words.
Lining his position to Rangiku's trajectory, he caught her with a firm grip, smile leaving his face as traces of blood smeared across his cheek. His teeth gnashed together so hard that he heard a crack echo in his ears.
What was the point of his revenge? Hadn't it always been for her sake? So that she'd never cry again?
So why? Why was it like this?
He glared up from where Rangiku had been blown away from and spied the figure of white clothed individuals atop the Seireitei's walls. The uniform was one he'd seen recently in Aizen's labs.
Quincy.
That was it. That was the last straw. He'd thought that they were just an unknown variable that would be useful in delaying Aizen's plans, but when 'variable' turned into 'enemy,' the distinction was damning in his mind.
"…G..i..n," Rangiku suddenly rasped out, her eyes widening despite the exhaustion she was feeling.
"What are ya doing here getting blown off a wall?" Are you alright? His mouth asked one thing, but his mind asked another. Rangiku didn't respond.
Gin didn't know it, but she'd been staring up at his face ever since he'd caught her, and what she'd seen was the same concern he'd always shown for her in their childhood. Unknown to Gin, the last apology he'd ever given to her just before leaving with Aizen had never once left her mind.
Rangiku was told that Gin was now her enemy, but a deeper part of her could never accept it. To see him rescuing her, and being angered on her behalf, she could no longer hold back the tears. It was a familiar embrace, one where she'd always drawn comfort from.
More than anything, tragedy had occurred in the Seireitei, and despite being a grown woman, the bitterness was too difficult to bear without release.
Rangiku didn't have the energy to speak. She was in no condition to, but the tears were the only things Gin was focusing on, and it did things to him on a mental level.
He'd made a promise. One that he'd given away his life on.
Smoke billowed in the distance Gin knew the Seireitei to be under siege.
He asked himself again why he should care?
But this time the answer was different. Veins popped over his skin, his narrowed eyes opening to reveal the sharp azure pupils beneath.
He'd been naïve. Since when was Aizen the only one who could cause Rangiku to cry?
White spiritual energy erupted around him like a torch, one hand cradling Rangiku while another rested on his Zanpakuto's hilt.
"Shoot to kill."
A new target of vengeance existed before him.
"Shinso."
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Summary of book:
Death. Grief. Ruin. Nothing was left unchanged after an unexplained tragedy led to the loss of millions across the world in key locations. Cities were reduced to wastelands of steel and concrete, and many were forced into migration. When events leading to the prior tragedy occur once more, Kevin Black was going to have to learn that sometimes mysteries were better left unsolved. Trapped with his friends in the world of a ruined city filled with monsters, the journey out would be far more perilous than the journey in.
