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Post by Commander Shunsui Kyoraku on Aug 4, 2015 13:03:05 GMT -6
"Jack in the Box":With his companions, the captain commander walked through the shadowy hallways of the Soul Society's darknest prison — to the sealed entrance leading to Sousuke Aizen’s personal eternal prison. His eyes narrowed. Or what had supposed to be. He nodded towards his best friend and then turned to Captain Kotetsu. “Stay behind us, me especially, Isane-san, and don’t remove the amulet around your neck. Not until I say otherwise. Those two precautions should prevent the hungry spells from latching onto anyone else but our enemy.” She nodded. He faced the entrance once more and sighed. “Time to learn the truth.” He stepped forwards, halting as the Kido erupted around him, testing him, threatening to steal his own freedom for stepping on the grounds. Shunsui’s eyes narrowed, drawing both of his zanpakuto and cutting across his palms. The air rippled and arched with power as the blood seeped into the ground. Then faded. The wall morphed into two large doors. Shunsui entered the room with his companions behind him. The door slammed shut and a lone light shone down on the bound figure in the stone chair. Shunsui raised his hand and snapped. The black bindings slowly uncurled from the head…. Revealing the smirking countenance of Sousuke Aizen. Juushiro sighed. "It seems that Kisuke was wrong, but fortunately, that means Aizen is still trapped within these walls for now." Shunsui frowned. "When has the shopkeeper been wrong, old friend?" he murmured. He snapped his fingers again, releasing the first level of binding on the air and stepped over to a groove, pulling out an iron key. "What are thinking, Shunsui?" Juushiro murmured, following his movements but staying at Isane's side. Shunsui lowered the key into the groove on the ground, preparing to unlock the ability of speech. "I have a hunch." He looked to his friend. "The weight of my commanding role is demanding further tests." He turned the key which dissolved and the binding around Aizen rustled, restoring sound to the room. "Still comfortable, Sousuke?" he murmured, walking over to stand in front of the prisoner.
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Post by Sousuke Aizen on Aug 4, 2015 14:21:56 GMT -6
Aizen looked up into the eyes of Kyoraku his smirk still in place. "As comfortable as one can be that is bound for eternity." He looked the way of Juushiro and Isane. "Out for a visit I see, and how nice of you to bring company." His eyes drifted back to Kyoraku, "it will be a nice change from talking to your boring ass."
Shunsui's eyes narrowed. "I am not in the habit of entertaining those who would destroy the realms for their own personal gain," he retorted, "and they are not here for a pleasant exchange either." He leaned closer. "There are rumors that we need to be put back in their graves."
Aizen chuckled. "And what might those be, Commander? Surely you don't think I am out and about tormenting others, then coming back and placing myself in your lovely state of bondage?" He cocked his head and chuckled, "Something I have been wanting to ask you, Kyoraku. Who else have you placed in a state of bondage to have your way with them, Nanao; perhaps?"
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Post by Commander Shunsui Kyoraku on Aug 4, 2015 15:06:14 GMT -6
The Commander’s hands clenched. “That is not something you have a right to think about, Sousuke." He turned around, inspecting the still room as he considered how to maneuver this conversation into revealing something more revealing. So far, it certainly seemed like Sousuke was where he belonged.... but there was Kisuke's conclusion. It wasn't sure yet. He turned back to Aizen, not surprised in the least to see the man had kept his eyes on him.
"What would you have done with the realms if you had won, Sousuke?" he asked. "You know as well as I do that you can't destroy Soul Society without seriously disturbing the perilous balance of the Realms? So what would have happened afterwards?"
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Post by Sousuke Aizen on Aug 4, 2015 15:36:14 GMT -6
Aizen scanned the room looking at the other two with Kyoraku, a wide smirk forming on his lips. His eyes then drifted back to the Commander. "Why would you care? You and all your friends and loved ones would be dead."
Shunsui resisted the urge to break his nose. "This is an academic debate, and you're a captive participant," he bit out. "Answer the question."
Aizen's eyes danced with defiance and a gilt of pleasure in seeing the annoyance in Kyoraku's eyes from his answer. "Am I? Are you sure I am the one that is captive? Or is it you? Captive in my game, an illusion. Stuck in an eternity of hell. A hell in which you will always second guess the fact of me being your captive. When in reality," Aizen 's eyes went serious as he looked away from Kyoraku to Juushiro and Isane. "You are mine."
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Post by Commander Shunsui Kyoraku on Aug 4, 2015 16:13:59 GMT -6
As Isane gasped out behind him, the commander lowered his hat and hid his eyes. He didn’t like that response, not one bit. Threatening, no, coaxing him to question every piece of evidence before him and to always end up the loser. “You’re an eloquent speaker, Aizen, but a rat in a cage is still a rat in a cage, no matter how diseased his bite.” He stalked away.
Returning to his best friend’s side, he slowly shook his head. “That’s him. I have snakes crawling down my neck because I refuse to believe his damned statements. But it’s still so tempting to follow his reasoning. He has the damned piercing intelligence and the choking charisma.” He wiped his brow. “But that was only round one. I’m not through with this game yet.”
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Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Aug 4, 2015 16:15:48 GMT -6
Juushiro nodded. Reaching inside his haori, he handed his friend the wooden key and took his turn. He pushed aside all of his worry for Yumiko as he walked over. “Sousuke,” he greeted. Aizen stayed quiet. He continued. “These mind games are nothing but that, diversions to pass the endless darkness you have condemned yourself to.”
He paused. “It's sad. The truth of the matter is that your path left you alone. No friends or even one true follower. Was it worth it?
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Post by Sousuke Aizen on Aug 4, 2015 16:31:42 GMT -6
"Alone?" Aizen questioned looking to Juushiro. "I don't think so. Your idea of being alone and my idea of such a thing are not comparable, Ukitake." He looked to Kyoraku a smirk still in place across his lips. "Solitude is the best for ones that seek colossal power." When Kyoraku turned to look at him Aizen continued.
"Your questioning is dull and ineffective. If it is knowledge of my secrets you seek then you may as well leave now. For they will die with me."
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Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Aug 4, 2015 16:39:33 GMT -6
Juushiro looked over to the commander who waved him away. Juushiro looked back to his past friend, now constant enemy. Finally, he turned around. He halted. "You might think on those words when we're gone and you're forgotten." He turned back around at farther distance. "I will tell you one more thing. I don't know if it matters to you or not. Himamori is getting married. Do you have any final words to her before she's finally free of you?"
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Post by Sousuke Aizen on Aug 4, 2015 18:03:05 GMT -6
Aizen chuckled, "Momo? Getting married?" His laughter grew. "Even for me; Ukitake, that lie is quite a stretch." He looked to the man before him, a smile forming on his lips. "That would be like saying Ichimaru would marry. Would you like to lie to me about something else?"
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Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Aug 4, 2015 19:13:35 GMT -6
Juushiro sighed. "What happened to you, Aizen?" he murmured. "You were once someone everyone looked up to. Now, you're only a nightmare to vanquished." He started walking away once more. "Did you care nothing about the young minds you tore apart in this quest?"
His eyes cold as steel Aizen looked into Juushiro's. "Should I have? Emotions are a hindrances. They are not needed for my goals, nor will they ever be."
Juushiro's own eyes hardened. "One day you will realize the folly of that statement." He continued over to his friend, nodding.
He also agreed that it was Aizen.
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Post by Commander Shunsui Kyoraku on Aug 4, 2015 22:07:53 GMT -6
The commander nodded. "One last test to satisfy my gut feeling." He looked to Aizen and glared. "Until we deign to speak to you again, Sousuke." He clapped his fingers and drew a key in the sand, withdrawing the iron key as the bindings once again wrapped and tightened around Aizen, leaving him in complete darkness. He nodded to Isane and walked over with her. "Take the samples you need." She nodded. They soon found out that even the blood tests, hair samples, and pulse of reiatsu belonged to the same person - Sousuke Aizen. What did it all mean? Kisuke's intuition being countered by cold, hard facts. The commander didn't know, but he was going to find out. |
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Post by Ichigo Kurosaki on Aug 26, 2015 11:00:21 GMT -6
"The Soul Prison's Torment":Ichigo remembered one thing: leaving the apartment to find Evita and finding Vale in front of his old shop. Then, he blacked out. Now where am I? He spun around, but nothing changed from the darkness that only seemed to flow more thickly at his struggles. He grit his teeth, skin rising in goose bumps. Something was just wrong about this place. And he wasn’t scared of the dark. “Alright, Zangetsu, this isn’t funny,” he muttered. “Zan-” Even his voice seemed to be fading… disappearing. What the hell! He wasn’t dying! His anger boiled. “Whatever sick joke this is, guys, cut it out!” he hollered, vibrating the confining space. His ears started pounding and his throat closed. “Now!” he screamed. And fell to his knees. He chuckled, sweat beading on his brow. Something was just tapping and sapping at his soul. “Come on… guys…” “Boss? Is that you?”
————
The bound figure on the chair writhed and the bonds hissed, tightening their grip. The figure became still once again.
———— Ichigo turned his head. “If I am hearing things now, I don’t like it.” He put all his strength into standing to his feet, grimacing as his feet seemed to stick to the nothingness. “If I’m actually hearing you, freak, do something. I’m going to lose it.” “Keep your head….”
“Don’t go away too,” the substitute groaned. Seriously, where on Earth was he?! “I am going to mur- ki - find you, Vale….” Now, his words were fading?! He shook his head from side to side, clenching his fists to stay awake within this trap and repeating the motion. He felt that falling asleep - letting the darkness steal any closer to him - would mean never waking from this inner realm.
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Post by Commander Shunsui Kyoraku on Aug 26, 2015 12:58:10 GMT -6
When a strange sensation had rolled over the tall tower hiding the fake Aizen, Shunsui wasted no breath in rising from his desk and starting the measures for a visit. As the second day faded into the third, he pushed forwards past Nanao and greeted Isane and her heeler curtly. He could sleep afterwards.
The commander's passage into the dark hallways was methodical, first stopping by another room into which Kyoka Suigetsu had been sealed. And the scope of the crime of the unknown kidnapper started to take shape. Because it wasn't Kyoaka that awaited them. It was the tall black form of Zangetsu. The Substitute's blade. He snatched it, muttering more key phrases to release more of the bindings surroundings Aizen's cage - to better get Kurosaki out of there as quickly as possible.
Sick joke, whoever you are.
He was glad he hadn't waited any longer. Even word from Juushiro.
And if that boy wasn't in one piece, the First Division wouldn't be able to protect him from another giant. The kid's father.
Entering Aizen's room, he whispered the phrases to reveal the head of the prisoner, and when that orange head started to show, snapped ten times, before calling out the booming words to shatter the keys and completely silence the forces at work.
He hurried forward, Isane at his heels.
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Post by Ichigo Kurosaki on Aug 26, 2015 13:00:00 GMT -6
Shapes formed around him and he didn’t know who or what they were. They just were. As soon as the bonds released him, he slumped forwards onto his knees, twitching madly. His freak was hollering obscenities and insults, but Ichigo couldn’t seem to care. Even as the mask started taking over, leaking down his face, darkening his vision.
“GET A GRIP ON YOURSELF OR I’M TAKING OVER!” Hichigo shrilled.
Ichigo jolted. And the mask fell off.
He laughed nervously as his vision cleared and the figure of the captain commander leaned over him.
“H-H-H- Hi th- th- there, pops,” he muttered, hoarse voice stopping and catching, as if learning to speak to again. “Wh- wha- what…”
He lurched to his feet, eyes narrowed. Stumbled. And fell back against the chair. “What the hell happened to me?” he hissed.
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Post by Commander Shunsui Kyoraku on Aug 26, 2015 13:04:52 GMT -6
Shunsui continued to examine the shaking soul reaper with his eyes, ignoring the question for the moment. Behind him, Isane whispered urgently about something with urgent care in it. He didn’t let her move forwards.
The boy had been in the Eternal Prison for a while. He had to be assured he wouldn’t lose his mind once torn completely from it. Or if only fractions of the youth remained.
With this prison, it wasn’t only faint flickering reiatsu and chalky expression he had to worry about.
Thank goodness he had woken up. That let him feel a little relieved.
The commander kneeled down, looking into dim pupils. “Do you remember your name?” he asked, setting a hand on the boy’s chilled shoulder.
“What the hell?” Kurosaki growled, a faint lisp falling from his chapped lips.
“Tell me. your name,” Shunsui repeated, slower and more sharply.
Kurosaki lifted his head, a fire started to kindle within his eyes again. “You’re a prick,” a gravelly hollow voice issued. “We have a headache. And you’re yelling at the King. Fuck off, old turd!”
Shunsui raised an eyebrow. If the hollow was in control, he had to wonder what preventative measure he would need. “I need to check-”
“Ichigo,” a tired voice murmured, the fire fading. “Ichigo Kurosaki. Substitute… Soul Reaper….” The boy shook his head slowly. “Feeling awful, sir, and tired.”
“I imagine,” Shunsui murmured, moving to one side. The boy’s grip tightened on the chair to keep himself upright. He sighed.
Isshin is really going to have my head if I’m not careful to explain what happened…
He waved Isane closer. “Don’t do anything too sudden. Another shock might do him in. And it’s imperative that he stays conscious.” The healer nodded before walking over and bending down by Ichigo’s form, running diagnostics and whispering to the Central healer who was her assistant in this matter.
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