8-4 The Assassin's Blade Falls

*Gasp* *Gasp*

Momo!

............

What is this?

Hey, Toshiro.

Captain Aizen? Are you alive, or is this some trick?

No trick, this is really me, Toshiro. Excuse me a minute...

Gin, he's returned sooner than we expected. I hope you have an explanation.

Sorry, sir. Izuru must not have been able to keep him occupied.

What's going on here? What are you two talking about?

Nothing really. We were just discussing the finer points of strategy.

The breaking down of an enemy's fighting power, to be specific.

Enemy... I see. Tell me where Momo is!

That's a good question.

Momo... No...

Huh, found her? Guess I shouldn't have left her lying around. I apologize. I really didn't plan on surprising you this way.

No, I should've chopped her into little pieces and hidden them away where you'd never find her.

Aizen... Ichimaru... How long have you worked together? Did Gin help conspire to fake your death?

He joined me long before that. Gin's been with me from the very beginning. From the moment I became captain, there was no one better suited to be my lieutenant.

So all this time you've been lying to everyone - Momo, me, the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, all the other Soul Reapers... Everyone!

You deceived us!

Well I had never thought of it that way. It's just... It became very obvious that no one was capable of understanding.

My true identity was beyond them.

Momo's blind admiration was what made her so easy to control. Admiration is the state furthest away from understanding.

Bankai!

Daiguren Hyorinmaru!

Now, Aizen... You've talked enough. Time to die.

Heh. You shouldn't be making such strong remarks.

It only makes you look weak.

This isn't...possible.

What a beautiful sight. It's the wrong season, but I rather like seeing ice this time of year.

It's time to leave, Gin.