"Curse you, Generalla...! I was never told there were Shinigami like this..."
In the dead of night over Karakura Town, a massive monster's death throes echoed. Against that scream's backdrop, the lone Shinigami who'd slain that grotesque Hollow—the Arrancar Grand Fisher—offered prayers for the repose of his late wife's soul.
"...Did you get your revenge?"
"That ain't it. It's my fault she died."
The one calling out to him was his friend and benefactor, Kisuke Urahara. A senior who'd served as a Gotei captain alongside him, but whose shadiness made it impossible to show proper respect. Still, since the man himself preferred casual relations, their relationship was excellent.
The man's name was Kurosaki Isshin.
A Shinigami who'd once traveled to this World of the Living for Hollow extermination under the name Shiba Isshin, then watched over his wife Kurosaki Masaki and their children as a human for twenty years due to extraordinary circumstances—a man following a peculiar fate.
"Generalla... a feminine noun. If we're talking women in Aizen's group..."
"...Yes, it's probably her."
Isshin had an idea about the mastermind the Arrancar had mentioned.
Though they'd never met directly, she was both his true enemy who'd drawn this peculiar fate to him and, in a sense, his benefactor—a complicated relationship.
"So about that 'Reader' woman and Momo-chan who Aizen took—did you learn anything about their connection?"
"Nah, I thought I had a good lead. Yoruichi said she couldn't believe that was an act either, so we're back to square one."
"...Well, I certainly can't imagine that sweet girl committing such heinous crimes and then calmly greeting you afterward."
The former captain recalled his days in the Tenth Division twenty years ago.
Shiba Isshin didn't know about the mysterious petite woman who'd appeared before Urahara calling herself "Reader" back then. But he did know about the girl at the center of the recent incident in the Soul Society—Hinamori Momo.
She was the childhood friend and love interest of his subordinate, then-Third Seat Hitsugaya Tōshirō, and Isshin had often seen her when she came to greet them at the Tenth Division barracks. Pure and adorable, a beautiful maiden as lovely as a flower. She seemed like the ideal woman a teenage boy might dream of made manifest, maintaining a sweet more-than-friends-less-than-lovers relationship with Tōshirō that Isshin often teased them about.
When told that such a delicate girl had secretly aided a great criminal's misdeeds, he'd doubted his ears, but Isshin vaguely sensed some major lie in what Aizen had revealed at that scene.
Though whether it was an optimistic or pessimistic lie remained dangerously unclear.
"I'm not doubting Yoruichi's intuition, but nobody could believe Aizen either until he revealed his true nature. I thought Hinamori Momo might be that type too..."
"Or maybe she really was opposing Aizen behind the scenes like you read, and he saw through it, leading to what happened at Sōkyoku Hill..."
The two Shinigami each disclosed their theories. But with insufficient information and low credibility, they couldn't escape the realm of speculation.
"All we can do is assume the worst and not dismiss the possibility that whole revelation was an act."
"...Well, whether 'Reader' is Momo-chan or not, she's the fated opponent who made Masaki suffer. Even if it's that cute girl, I'm ready to give her a solid knock on the head."
"...Is a knock on the head enough? Even at maximum optimism, she's a third party we can't trust. Let's just cut her down."
Though Isshin honestly accepted Urahara's harsh opinion from someone who'd never met her, he theorized for reasons beyond sentiment that Hinamori was "not Reader."
Even if that pure and innocent Hinamori Momo had been entirely faking it, he couldn't understand the benefit of taking such an excellent subordinate home instead of keeping her as a viper in the Gotei's bosom as before.
Perhaps Aizen wanted someone powerful enough to instantly defeat Bankai Tōshirō with a single kidō spell, but even so, her efficiency as an emergency card was incomparably better. The policy had completely reversed from Urahara's case, where he'd thoroughly concealed not just face and spiritual pressure but even voiceprint.
"Aizen took back veterans Ichimaru and Tōsen because he feared their activities would be exposed to Ichigo and Yoruichi, who you influenced. But Momo-chan's different. There's no merit in taking her."
"Maybe it's Aizen's pride as a strong fighter? Like undermining his dignity to use tricks after declaring war?"
"After all that scheming with Kyōka Suigetsu, that's not it, Urahara..."
"...Then the only other option is using her as bait."
If maximally utilizing the objective value of taking Hinamori Momo back, perhaps as a lure to draw away the friendly captains seeking her rescue from the decisive battlefield? Though even then, Aizen could've just taken her as a hostage without revealing her as a subordinate, making this prediction equally unsatisfying.
"Come to think of it, did your son say anything?"
To break the circular reasoning, they changed topics seeking hints from another angle.
"...Nah, he doesn't talk to me about stuff like that..."
"You're his parent, aren't you? At least confirm whether some unknown woman did anything weird to him."
"H-hey, I've been trying as a dad for sixteen years! Don't make it sound easy when you don't know how hard raising kids is, idiot!"
Apparently this avenue yielded little information either. Though they'd expected the meticulous "Reader" to contact the talented Ichigo, it seemed the Kurosaki family's overly unique parent-child relationship made getting information from this father difficult. Isshin and Urahara both hung their heads and sighed.
The mysterious Hollow researcher, "Reader."
Was this eerie woman whose identity and purpose remained inscrutable enemy or ally? The two men, instinctively sensing the opportunity approaching to end this twenty-year entanglement, explored every possibility with renewed resolve and thorough preparation.
"...More importantly, is that seal complete?"
"Yes, well. I suppose I can call it a confident work."
"Oh? That's good."
But that wasn't their primary concern.
A long, hundred-year dormancy. Learning that great evil had finally begun moving, the two Shinigami who'd once worn captain's haori for the Gotei shifted their focus to the main topic, each holding their own thoughts.
"We'll have one chance. Creating that opening will require Kurosaki-san's cooperation as well."
"Leave it to me. If 'Reader' is his pawn, I'm involved too. I can't let this slide with just a punch!"
"Yes, then let's carefully prepare..."
—The plan to defeat Sōsuke Aizen.
✦ ✦ ✦
And so, me—"Reader" Hinamori Momo—having eavesdropped on that serious old-man faction conversation through my stealth Hollow, smiled while commending Aisslinger and Di Roy, the Karakura Town monitoring supervisors who'd delivered Grand Fisher's defeat report to my office.
"Thank you both so much for your long World of the Living assignment. Are you getting used to your new bodies?"
"Yes! Only thanks to your recommendation, Commander. This new Aisslinger Wernarr pledges even greater loyalty to Lord Aizen."
"Di Roy Rinker, same here."
"How reassuring! Please continue your good work!"
The two who now had their canon appearances were declaring their resolve while bowing to me. Di Roy couldn't quite hide his thug vibes even while playing subordinate, but Aisslinger genuinely worshipped Yon-sama, so that was reassuring. When this loyalty gets directed at me instead, they sometimes make moves completely unlike their canon selves, making them troublesome to handle.
"Then as of today, you're both relieved of your Karakura Town monitoring supervisor duties. Return to your original posts."
"Yes..."
They don't seem very happy—is it because they dislike the idle gatekeeper job and bullying from colleagues? I should follow up a bit.
"...This is still being discussed with Captain Aizen, but we're considering a plan to lure Kurosaki Ichigo and his companions here to Las Noches and crush them. Aisslinger, you'll be our Arrancar army's vanguard then."
"...!"
"Prepare for intercepting them by training diligently with your new Arrancar powers."
"Y-yes! Understood!"
Good, good—this should motivate him. His purpose in canon was being level-up experience points for Glasses Ishida and Chad. True for all the Arrancars, but if they fulfill their canon roles, as long as they stay alive afterward, I won't spare effort saving them!
Now then, next is Di Roy.
"I'm attending the ceremony to decide the new Espada after this... would you like to join me?"
"M-me...?"
"Yes. I'm appointing Grimmjow as a new Espada, and I'd like to return you as his Fracción since you've grown stronger through re-Arrancarification. I'm sure he'll find you reassuring!"
"Grimmjow... me...!"
A delinquent with sparkling eyes is kinda cute, huh? I can't help giving him a warm look, but sadly my words mean little more than empty comfort. Sorry, individual ability is what it is...
"Well, it's almost time, so shall we head to the coliseum?"
"Yes."
Taking them along, I left the office and passed through the reception room.
...Midway, I felt my hair brush against my bare shoulders, and simultaneously sensed an unpleasant gaze on my back.
"Commander, is something wrong?"
"N-no..."
Still standing straight, I slowly turned around.
Behind me were Aisslinger and Di Roy. Both just looked puzzled, their gazes never leaving my face. Not a trace of that sexual lewdness the Shinigami in the Soul Society often directed at me.
Thinking about it, Hollows and Arrancars don't need to reproduce, so they shouldn't be interested in opposite-sex bodies. Must've been my imagination.
However.
(...What do I do? This unfamiliar exposure is making me super self-conscious...)
This is bad—an unforgivable problem for someone aspiring to be an NTR/ryona heroine.
I'm a Shiro-chan-exclusive pleasure-section yandere psychopath, and I'm wearing this outfit largely to make Shiro-chan anguished. I'm absolutely NOT some attention-seeker going "Oh nooo, how embarrassing~ (glance)." Being lumped with those types is offensive.
Which is why—
"...C-could you hand me that white thing?"
"Huh? Ah, yes. Understood."
Looking around for something to cover my wide-open shoulders and back, I spotted robe-like clothing tossed on a nearby sofa and requested it from Di Roy right beside me.
What he handed me was from that incident the other day.
"Oh, that's Lord Aizen's captain's haori! As expected of Commander—he bestowed it upon you...!"
"...Why is this here?"
Bestowed, or more like discarded. My polite speech slipped at Aisslinger's comment. It seems washed, but wearing this will get me teased again...
I should go back and properly choose a jacket from the wardrobe. The moment I turned on my heel, the culprit arrived at my reception room with the fastest flag recovery.
"What's this, Momo-chan? Looks like you already took a liking to Lord Aizen's drool-rag I fetched for you?"
"Captain Ichimaru, your phrasing!"
Yon-sama's aide who'd just entered while dropping a bomb causing terrible misunderstandings pointed at me drowning in the oversized captain's haori, grinning as he invited himself along for the triumphal ceremony attendance.
Wait, I wanted to go get a bolero-type something to wear over this first...
✦ ✦ ✦
The Espada.
What once referred to Emperor Baraggan's royal guard had transformed forty-four years ago under Sōsuke Aizen into an army of seven strongest Arrancars bearing the seven deadly sins.
Twenty years later, ten new members assembled through massive Hōgyoku enhancement became the Arrancars governing humanity's causes of death—the Espada.
And now that we in Yon-sama's faction possessed Kisuke Urahara's Hōgyoku—
Here in Las Noches in Hueco Mundo, a duel to determine the final Espada members was about to commence—the highlight of our four leaders' triumphal ceremony.
"Quinta Espada Cirucci Sanderwicci versus Octava Espada Nnoitra Gilga. Rank challenge match, begin!"
At referee Tōsen's signal, I watched the substitution battle alongside Gin, next to Yon-sama.
Cirucci-chan's spiritual pressure hadn't increased much with her canon second Arrancarification, making her ranking fraudulent, so the match was already decided from the start. Nevertheless, I approved this duel for her strong will and my kindness, thinking Yon-sama would want to see awakened Nnoitra's battle using Urahara's Hōgyoku.
"Victor, Nnoitra Gilga! By military order, this one becomes the new Quinta Espada!"
Well, DJ's moment aside, the throne's VIP seats got ice-cold since it ended without much spectacle.
While escaping Gin's "This guy's useless" look, I noticed Nnoitra trying to kill Cirucci in the coliseum below, so I punished him with bakudō. Energetic as ever.
"Guh!? D-damn...!"
"That's not allowed, Nnoitra. Defying military orders?"
Restraining him with my newly mastered completely chantless favorite Rikujōkōrō, I ordered Tesla to collect him. Nnoitra became generally obedient to us three ministers after I once burned him to the bone before his Nelliel ambush, but he still does things like this when unwatched, so I have Szayel monitor him.
That glasses-wearing guy lacks loyalty but excels at cost-benefit calculations, so he won't needlessly displease his patron, making him useful as a monitor.
And welcoming those glasses to the Octava Espada seat Nnoitra vacated fulfills all promises I made regarding White-kun. One burden off Momo-chan's shoulders, yay.
"I pledge continued loyalty to our king, Lord Aizen."
"I'm expecting great things, Szayel."
Ooh, Yon-sama rarely addresses Espada directly!
That's the Yon-sama we know, interacting with them. Now that Hollow recruitment and organization ends today, can I return this canon-breaking Espada Commander position? No? I see...
Still, Szayel properly prioritizing Yon-sama first thanks to my warning gets high marks. If he'd glanced my way here, I'd have glared back.
Then in the next duel for Séptima Espada, Zommari defeated Gantenbainne, finishing substitution duels. Finally, that most stylish BLEACH group—the Espada—assembles.
Now, let's make this stylishly appropriate for them.
"With this, the Arrancar hierarchy—transcenders of species—is decided."
I removed my captain's haori and looked down at the hundred-plus audience below. Since Hinamori voice inevitably retains cuteness, instead of forcing bravery, I wore a victor's smile and declared emotionlessly, matter-of-factly.
"You who are our king Sōsuke Aizen's blades bear the absolute death commands he decreed, governing ten forms of death."
Unfortunately lacking Yon-sama's charisma, I cheated by leaking spiritual pressure to create an atmosphere of "This part's important~." Ignoring my grinning former Fifth Division seniors beside me. Only DJ nodding with satisfaction is my emotional support—thank you.
...Here I go!
"Rank Ten. Governing death form: 'Rage.'"
—Décima Espada—
YAMMY LLARGO
"...Yes."
The giant I'd known longest after Baraggan, Szayel, and Pikaro plodded forward to Yon-sama's VIP seats and knelt. Good, good—the education's paying off.
His ranking has a trick like in canon, but I'd explained it beforehand, so he doesn't seem dissatisfied with the number 10.
"Rank Nine. Governing death form: 'Greed.'"
—Novena Espada—
AARONIERO ARRURUERIE
"Yes." "Yes."
The tall man in flowing coat with elongated mask and dual voice followed Yammy, lining up beside him and dropping to one knee.
Aaroniero Arruruerie—befitting that outfit, one of the Bleach world's most stylishly named. His battle with Rukia sparked OPB theory, so I hope he performs strong-character moves befitting that, emphasizing her stylistic victory through a reversal defeat.
"Rank Eight. Governing death form: 'Madness.'"
—Octava Espada—
SZAYELAPORRO GRANTZ
"Before the king."
The gracefully kneeling former mad alchemist seems accustomed to this.
Combat-wise, please play with fellow glasses-wearers Ishida-kun and Renji-kun, show the birth play with Nemu-chan, then become everyone's Mayuri-sama's foil. Also don't forget appearing in his hallucination during Thousand-Year Blood War to give advice!
And Hell arc too.
"Rank Seven. Governing death form: 'Intoxication.'"
—Séptima Espada—
ZOMMARI RUREAUX
"Before thee."
The African-looking man with shaman-esque atmosphere bowing most respectfully after Szayel.
He's the most background character in this stylish group, but unlike others he's obedient and doesn't do weird things, so no worries. Fully draw out Byakuya's sister complex and let me become intoxicated by canon scene recreation as his governing death indicates. Please, I'll do anything Shimamura.
"Rank Six. Governing death form: 'Destruction.'"
—Sexta Espada—
GRIMMJOW JAEGERJAQUEZ
"...Yes."
Our delinquent boy number one. What's wrong? This is your dream Espada position. Be happier—Big Sis granted your wish but can't see your smile, makes me sad...
Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. Yep, that top-three best-sounding name rivaling Aaroniero is intact. You have important jobs training Ichigo-kun, so please don't do anything reckless. Or should I say "do"? Anyway, please.
"Rank Five. Governing death form: 'Despair.'"
—Quinta Espada—
NNOITRA GILGA
"Tch... Yes."
Delinquent boy number two. A threatening 215cm tall—two of my heads taller!
Despite being supposedly misogynistic judging by his reaction to Nelliel, he doesn't particularly oppose me or Harribel for some reason. Well, beneath the swagger he's surprisingly timid and pessimistic about life to the point of wanting destruction—a pitiable man in a way, but this inner truth is his landmine so I'll skip it. He handles the scene where Kenpachi's danger first becomes clear in canon, so do your best.
"Rank Four. Governing death form: 'Nihility.'"
—Cuatro Espada—
ULQUIORRA CIFER
"Yes."
Loyal vassal Ulqui-boy who finally got mouth, nose, ears, and skin—so precious. Precious precious precious. Get a good atmosphere with Orihime-chan where she calls you "Ulquiorra-kun"? And show me that bonus scene? (Tearful blood wish)
I won't say much about this man. He has important important important roles regarding Ichigo-kun beyond even Grimmjow, so handle it perfectly.
"Rank Three. Governing death form: 'Sacrifice.'"
—Tres Espada—
TIER HARRIBEL
"Yes."
Harribel promoted from my idle attendant position. Please stand coolly as this stylish group's sole woman.
And she has an important important important role making my Shiro-chan shine. She's also an indicator showing how hard Shiro-chan worked training to "take me back" from Yon-sama, so please do your best. Ah, but don't try TOO hard. I'll get angry if you hurt Shiro-chan, okay? (Unreasonable demand)
"Rank Two. Governing death form: 'Senescence.'"
—Segunda Espada—
BARAGGAN LOUISENBAIRN
"..."
The former Las Noches ruler glared at me and bowed his head slightly. Oh, no reaction to the No. 2 position? Since he's aimed at defeating me and Aizen from the start, maybe he doesn't care about ranking?
He's the first Vasto Lorde I subjugated, since then (his former subordinates) worked hard for Yon-sama's faction—embodying the mighty's inevitable fall. Still, he has ambition and trains daily. I also know he surprisingly enjoys his current stimulating life.
As a kidō enthusiast, I absolutely want to see his battle with Hachigen, so I'm expecting canon performance, Grandpa.
"Rank One. Governing death form: 'Solitude.'"
—Primera Espada—
COYOTE STARRK
"...Yes."
The scruffy uncle kneeling above Baraggan looking slightly awkward. Since my Bankai resembles his Resurrección's combat method, I'd like to consult him now that he's properly Arrancarified with the Hōgyoku.
Starrk-san gets called weaker than Baraggan, but he's a monster who fought four captains simultaneously in canon. He just gave up on life after unfortunate events piled up—his other half loli getting killed, learning Yon-sama's true feelings, etc. In my terms, it's like Shiro-chan shouting "AIZEN!" instead of "HINAMORI!" at Sōkyoku Hill—that level of despair.
I understand, Starrk. Facing such tragedy, you'd choose death no matter how strong...
Now then. I looked down at the assembled powerhouses below.
Starrk, Baraggan, Harribel, Ulquiorra, Nnoitra, Grimmjow, Zommari, Szayel, Aaroniero, Yammy...
Look, Yon-sama! And all you Bleach readers!
Aah... finally...
—They're finally assembled...
"With this, Espada appointments conclude."
A sigh of relief almost escaped.
How many years since Yon-sama abandoned the job? Specifically forty-four years and four months spent gathering, bundling, disciplining, organizing—the fully assembled canon Espada finally complete. Though far from Shiro-chan's "Hinamori!!", this too deserves being called deeply moving...
"Ten blades governing death, thus you shall offer victory to our king."
Concluding the announcement and mini-speech, I released enough spiritual pressure to activate Tobiume-chan's Bankai. The Arrancar audience collapsed to the floor, but the Espada all trembled yet kept looking up. Ufufu, then I'll respond to that determination and fighting spirit by conveying my true feelings.
"—Accomplish what you must accomplish."
Whether they saw hope, mercy, expectation, or mockery there—the Espada who'd taken deep breaths unanimously expressed acknowledgment.
"Yes!"
Now, our preparations are complete.
How about yours, masked me?
***
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