Ailin studied Ichigo Kurosaki, then nodded slowly. "Not bad. Urahara's methods are… effective, but they have their drawbacks. Shortcuts may get you to your destination faster, but without understanding the journey, you risk losing yourself along the way. I thought you'd need at least three months to regain control of your Bankai. It seems I underestimated your potential."
Ichigo's eyes widened. During his fight against the Bount, he had twice tried and failed to activate his Bankai. Only after confronting Jin Kariya, allowing himself to be impaled by Kariya's Doll, had he regained access to his full power. He was certain Ailin hadn't witnessed those failures. How could he know?
Ichigo asked, "Captain Ailin, do you know Kisuke Urahara?"
While Urahara had helped him regain his Shinigami powers, he had also unleashed a monstrous presence within him. Ichigo wanted to know more about the shopkeeper. He suspected that his mission to the Soul Society had been orchestrated, and he wanted to understand the full extent of Urahara's involvement.
"I know Urahara, Tessai Tsukabishi, and Yoruichi Shihōin," Ailin said, confirming Ichigo's suspicions.
Ichigo hesitated, then decided against asking further questions. He trusted Urahara and Yoruichi more than this unfamiliar captain. If they wanted him to know, they would tell him. It would be rude to pry.
Ailin, sensing Ichigo's hesitation, smiled. "Don't worry, Ichigo. There's nothing… scandalous about their past. Yoruichi was the former head of the Shihōin Clan, one of the Four Great Noble Families, and the former captain of the Second Division. Tessai was the former Grand Kidō Chief, his power rivaling that of a captain. And Urahara… he was the former captain of the Twelfth Division. A hundred years ago, due to certain… circumstances, they were declared fugitives and escaped to the World of the Living. I was the one who apprehended Urahara and Tessai."
Ichigo's eyes widened. So, they had been important figures in the Soul Society. It all made sense now, their familiarity with the Seireitei. But Ailin's role in their capture made him wary.
"Don't worry, Ichigo. The Soul Society knows they're hiding in Karakura Town. If they wanted to capture them, they would have done so decades ago. I came here to talk to the young Quincy and… to see you. Two of my disciples have… conflicting opinions about you. I wanted to see for myself what kind of person could elicit such disparate reactions."
"Your disciples?"
Ailin's eyes twinkled mischievously. "One of them called you a reckless brute who relies solely on his spiritual pressure. The other said you possess remarkable instincts, particularly that… presence within you. He believes that if you master your powers, you could rival even him."
Ichigo gulped. Could it be…?
"It seems you've already guessed who they are," Ailin said, smiling.
"Byakuya Kuchiki… and Gin Ichimaru," Ichigo murmured, his grip tightening on his Zanpakutō.
Byakuya. The man who had effortlessly defeated him, stealing his powers. Even now, having regained his powers and achieved Bankai, he wasn't sure he could win a rematch.
And Gin… the man who had defeated him even with his inner Hollow's help. The strongest opponent he had ever faced.
They were both Ailin's disciples? Just how strong was this captain? While exceptional students could surpass their teachers, Ichigo couldn't imagine either Byakuya or Gin exceeding Ailin's power.
He looked at Ailin, his heart pounding. He felt as if he were being scrutinized by a predator, a terrifying presence that threatened to consume him.
"Your instincts are sharp," Ailin said, sensing Ichigo's fear. "Keep training, Ichigo. You still have a long way to go."
With a wave, Ailin stood and walked towards the Fifth Division barracks. He had a duty to fulfill. He had been a captain before. He knew what was expected of him.
Ichigo gasped for air, cold sweat dripping down his face. Ailin's presence had been suffocating.
…
Later that evening, Ichigo, instead of going home, went to Urahara's shop, seeking information about Ailin. Uryū, for reasons he couldn't quite explain, followed him. He, too, wanted to know more about the enigmatic captain.
Ichigo and Uryū sat at the table, facing Urahara and Tessai. Yoruichi, in her black cat form, perched on the table.
As Ichigo voiced his question, a heavy silence fell over the shop. He suddenly regretted asking.
After a long pause, Yoruichi spoke. "Ichigo, if you want to know about Ailin, I'll tell you what I know."
The tension in the air eased slightly as Ichigo and Uryū nodded eagerly.
"Where to begin…" Yoruichi mused, her gaze distant, as if lost in memory. "Over two hundred years ago, I was the captain of the Second Division. Urahara was my Third Seat, and Ailin… he was just an ordinary Shinigami in my squad."
Ichigo and Uryū exchanged glances. They had learned about Yoruichi's past from Ailin.
"Ah, those were the days," Urahara chuckled, hiding his smile behind his fan.
Yoruichi glared at him. "I won't say much about Urahara. Back then, Ailin was… unremarkable. Of course, I later investigated his background. According to his colleagues, he was the most dedicated Shinigami they had ever met. He spent every spare moment training. What truly set him apart, however, was his mastery of healing Kidō."
"Kidō?"
"Oh, right. You're a Substitute Shinigami. You wouldn't know," Yoruichi said, turning to Ichigo. "Kidō is a way of manipulating reishi, similar to your… girlfriend's abilities. It can heal injuries." She tilted her head. "The Second Division specializes in reconnaissance, assassination, and espionage. In such a division, we prioritize stealth and combat skills. Ailin's focus on healing was… unusual. We were all curious how he ended up in the Second Division."
Ichigo and Uryū felt a shiver run down their spines. This harmless-looking cat had been the leader of an assassination squad? They found themselves strangely drawn to Ailin, a healer in a group of killers.
"One day, Ailin challenged my lieutenant. After some investigation, I discovered that he believed, like the seated officer positions, the lieutenant position was also earned through combat. He didn't realize that lieutenants were appointed by their captains, based on trust and loyalty."
Yoruichi's words revealed the harsh reality of the Gotei 13. Without a captain's approval, a Shinigami, no matter how skilled, could only rise to the rank of Third Seat.
"I was curious about his motives, so I accepted his challenge. After he defeated my lieutenant, I appointed him as the new lieutenant. Of course, I also assigned a trusted subordinate to assist him with his duties, to keep an eye on him. But during his time in the Second Division, he never did anything to harm us. In fact, his suggestions improved our efficiency and reduced casualties during missions. Even now, Soi Fon still uses some of the procedures he established. Later, he married into the Kuchiki Clan and became the captain of the Sixth Division…"
She paused. "That's… pretty much all I know about him. Oh, and one more thing. He's deeply devoted to his wife. There's a saying in the Seireitei: 'You can offend Captain Ailin, and he won't mind. But if you upset his wife, he'll make sure you never smile again.'"
Ichigo and Uryū exchanged puzzled glances. Why would Yoruichi emphasize that?
"Now that Yoruichi has shared her perspective, allow me to offer mine," Tessai said, stepping forward.
They all knew that Urahara was their leader. His opinion of Ailin would influence theirs. Both Yoruichi and Tessai had wanted to share their accounts before Urahara spoke.