Ch103- Aizen
But Kai's response was not what Ichigo expected. He merely shrugged, his apathetic expression not wavering. He didn't share any brotherly affection with Ichigo. His reason for comforting the girls had been solely out of consideration for them, not for Ichigo.
Ichigo rolled his eyes but chose not to comment. Despite Kai's cold demeanor, he couldn't help but feel grateful for his intervention. He tightened his arms around his sisters, offering them a reassuring squeeze.
"Enough reunion." Kai's voice broke through the warm moment, commanding their attention. He stepped forward, his gaze focused on the sisters clutching their elder brother. "Yuzu, Karin," he began, "I will send you to the Mirror Dimension. You can wait there with Orihime and the others."
Yuzu looked at him with wide eyes, her fingers tangling in the fabric of Ichigo's shirt. "But...we can fight too," she argued, her tone hesitant but determined. Karin nodded in agreement, her grip on Ichigo tightening.
Kai merely glanced at them, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "No. That's out of the question," he asserted, his tone brooking no argument. Despite their disappointment, the girls knew better than to argue with Kai. They trusted him, and if he deemed it safer for them to be elsewhere, they knew he had their best interests at heart. They gave Ichigo one last squeeze before detaching themselves from him and moving to stand beside Kai.
He waved his hand, creating a portal that shimmered with a light that seemed to distort the very fabric of space and time. With a final glance at their brother, the girls stepped through, disappearing into the Mirror Dimension. The portal vanished as soon as they had crossed over, leaving no trace of its existence.
Kai then turned to the rest of the group. "As for you," he said, looking at Ichigo, Uryu, and Sado. "I will open another Garganta to Earth. Go and join forces with Gotei 13."
Sado blinked in surprise, then realization dawned on his face. "What about you, Kai-san?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
Kai sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I have one more objective. I'll see if I can do anything about it," he said cryptically. He didn't elaborate further, leaving them to speculate about his hidden motives. But he seemed to be in a hurry, not allowing them to voice their concerns or objections.
With another wave of his hand, a second portal appeared. This one led back to Earth, the familiar scenery of void visible through the tear in space. "Get going," he urged, a firm command underlying his seemingly casual tone. "The quicker you join the fight, the quicker we can wrap this up."
Kai's demeanor changed the moment he was alone. The playful glint in his eyes was replaced by a determined glimmer, his posture straightened, and his entire aura radiated an intensity that would've been terrifying had anyone been there to witness it. His lips pressed into a thin line, he turned on his heel and walked towards his destination.
"Let's meet face to face then, Aizen," Kai announced, his voice echoing through the cavernous hallways of Las Noches.
In a flash, he was gone from his solitary location, only to reappear in a dimly lit, ominous room. Before him sat Aizen, Gin, and Tousen. Aizen, with his signature glasses removed, smirked as he saw Kai, while Gin looked at him with cold hostility, and Tousen, although blind, seemed to be facing him attentively.
"Kai Kurogami, we finally meet," Aizen smirked, holding the Hogyoku in his hand.
"Aizen Sousuke, the douche," Kai replied nonchalantly, taking a casual step forward. His face was calm, but a flicker of ire danced in his eyes. Despite the lighthearted tone, the insult he lobbed at Aizen was far from a joke.
Tousen's anger flared. "Watch your tongue," he growled, his hand twitching towards his sword.
"Or what?" Kai returned, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
The air in the room grew tense. Aizen, however, remained unruffled. He examined Kai with his usual unreadable expression, a small smirk playing on his lips. "Your rudeness aside, it is quite a surprise that you're here," he admitted, his eyes drifting towards the Hogyoku in his hand.
Kai shrugged, crossing his arms over his chest. "Well, it gets boring sitting around doing nothing," he said, keeping his tone light. "I thought I'd join in on the fun."
Aizen's smirk grew. "Is that so? And what do you plan on achieving here?" He asked, his gaze shifting back to meet Kai's.
"I would normally say let's not fight and go our separate ways, but you hurt my woman." Kai's words were deadpan, emotionless. However, there was a glint in his eyes, a flash of anger that flickered only for a moment. His gaze remained steady on Aizen, unflinching.
Gin's fist clenched at his side, his eyes narrowed as they darted to Aizen. Yet, he refrained from any rash action, maintaining a composed exterior.
"What is it with evil people? You guys always want more power. Aren't you strong enough already?" Kai continued, his words laced with disdain. "In 100 years, you would replace Yamamoto and sit at the top of the Gotei 13. Why would you even go after a figurehead?"
Aizen chuckled, a soft, low sound echoing in the somber room. "You are a lot like Starrk. By the way, I am impressed you even managed to make him betray me. Out of all, he was the least I expected to betray me."
Kai waved his hand dismissively, shaking his head. "That is not important," he refuted, a frown etching into his features. "Anyway, I don't want to fight, but you will chase your pitiful dream so let's go to Karakura Town. I am sure you already know I replaced that place with a fake. You can go nuts and destroy it."
Slowly, Aizen rose from his seat, his smirk never leaving his face. "Alright then, let's go," he agreed, his voice filled with anticipation. A subtle gesture from him beckoned the last Espada under his command, Baraggan Louisenbairn into the room. He walked in, his Fraccions trailing behind him, taking their places next to Aizen.
"Only one left? How the mighty falls," Kai mocked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. He watched as Aizen opened a gateway to Karakura Town, the gleam in his eyes portraying his readiness for what was to come.
Ignoring Kai's jab, Aizen strode into the portal, followed closely by Gin and Tousen and later Baraggan, his entourage trailing behind. Kai heaved a sigh, a hint of disappointment crossing his face. His last objective, destroying the Hogyoku, had failed.
He stepped into the portal, leaving the empty room behind. The destination was Karakura Town, or at least the copy he had created.
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