Gasping for air, Ichigo rested his hands on his knees. This Quincy, who called himself Askin Nakk Le Var, was tougher than he looked. If Ichigo wasn't careful, he was going to be in even worse trouble. Just then, a voice behind him murmured, "Kurosaki Ichigo. It seems that you still have much to learn." Ichigo slowly turned his head, and his eyes widened as he saw the owner of that silky purr. With a single meaningful glare, the slender, handsome newcomer "requested" that Ichigo stand aside.

With the grace of a feline, the fresh combatant evaded the attacks of his heavier opponent, all while delivering some well-timed verbal barbs and powerful kicks to the midsection. Then, as Askin attempted to land a decisive blow, he was met with a blast from a Hado #63.

Trying to regain his equilibrium, Askin shook his head. Finally, he fell to the ground, unable to move. The victor smiled slightly and murmured, "What exactly are your intentions, Quincy?" He then turned around and asked a surprised Ichigo, "Why are you surprised? Do you not know your opponent, even now?"

The soft-spoken individual narrowed his eyes and remarked, "You still have the same predictable fighting style. How do you expect to beat these opponents if your repertoire never varies? It would benefit both you and me if you learn how to set the pace of a fight, rather than allowing your opponent to do so. Come with me. It seems that there is no choice but for me to train you myself."

"Wait! Aizen!" yelled Ichigo.

"What did I say about raising your voice to me?" the man called Aizen responded mildly.

Ichigo looked down before finally asking, "I don't get any of this. You, training me? Just how do you know so much about me?

Aizen sighed imperceptibly. "Kurosaki Ichigo. Do you truly not understand? You do not realize the urgency of the situation you are presently in? That Quincy just attacked you."

"Aizen Sousuke!" A yell came from behind Ichigo and Aizen. "I'm not done with you!"

Ichigo's newest sensei raised his eyebrows and hardened his gaze. "Yes, you are done with me—unless you wish to say something. State your business and be gone."

"My business was to draw you out, Aizen Sousuke."

"For what purpose?"

"Yhwach-sama still has interest in you."

"Does your Yhwach-sama truly believe that one of his subordinates is able to do something that he himself was unable to do? I have already given him my answer."

"I'm sure you understand why Yhwach-sama chose to wait until now to invade Hueco Mundo..."

"Get to the point, Quincy."

"Yhwach-sama acknowledged you even then, Aizen Sousuke. Your power and wisdom are well known. So he didn't want to risk a battle with you. That's why he waited until you were gone from there."

"A wise decision indeed."

"So why do you refuse to join us in our righteous cause? You don't like the way Soul Society is run either."

"A righteous cause? Total annihilation would defeat the purpose of my leaving Soul Society. I wish to rule it. So why would I join a group that wants to destroy it?"

Askin's eyes narrowed. "You've made up your mind. But don't think you've seen the last of me or the Quincies."

"If you have said everything you wanted to, then we are finished here. Come, Kurosaki Ichigo." Aizen turned around to leave, leaving Askin with his mouth open in surprise.

"Aizen, what was that all about?"

"It means that we have no time to waste. Your training will start immediately. So prepare yourself." He quickened his pace, with Ichigo close behind.

"Why should I go anywhere with you?" Ichigo blurted out.

"A good question, Kurosaki Ichigo. Can you think of a reason not to come with me? Surely you cannot expect to simply go through this place alone in your present state?"

"What do you mean, 'my present state'?"

"I mean exactly what I said. I told you, you lack strategy. You were able to increase your power after whatever that 'Final Getsuga Tenshou' is, but do you honestly believe you can continue to win with luck and brute force alone?"

"I beat you, remember?"

"That may be, boy. But surely you must realize that I had multiple opportunities to kill you, both in Soul Society and in the replica of Karakura Town."

"So why didn't you kill me, if you had all these chances?"

"Ah. Now you are asking me the proper questions. I told you already: I have known about you since the beginning."

"That's what my dad said. But is it true that you tried to KILL him?"

"If I had wanted to kill your father, he would be dead. He was useful to me."

"You're impossible."

"If you have decided to accompany me for training, then we should end the pointless banter and be on our way," Aizen said pointedly.

"Where are we going?"

"An individual in my employ has told me that my former captain's quarters are intact. So we are going there for rest and a change of clothes." He chuckled, "Hinamori-kun has her uses after all."

"Just who's working behind the scenes for you now?"

"It is of no importance. What is important is the current situation. These Quincies have somehow moved Soul Society into their own realm. It pains me to say this, but the technique seems similar to the one that Urahara Kisuke used to transfer Karakura Town to Soul Society."

"How are we going to get to your captain's quarters and not be seen?"

"I still have the same abilities I had before my ahem hiatus in Muken. It is no problem for me to erect a barrier around us. You are unable to use shunpo, so we will have to walk." With deft hand movements, Aizen erected an airy bubble around himself and Ichigo.

Finally, Aizen and Ichigo arrived at fifth squad headquarters. In a soft, almost pensive voice, Aizen murmured, "This brings back memories."

His brown eyes softened as he entered his former captain's quarters. Somehow, Ichigo thought, it seemed as if the normally emotionless Aizen was relieved and even a bit pleased. Aizen quickly glanced around the room. Nothing had changed, except that the futon had recently been aired out and his study table had been dusted.

In the closet hung his Shinigami attire. Aizen remembered that Hinamori had enjoyed spraying laundry with Febreze, especially the fresh linen scent. He looked up above the fresh-smelling shihakusho and gave a faint smile as he saw the canister of fragrant green tea. Next to the tea was his favorite tea service: a silver pot and a ceramic cup with a blue and white pattern.

"Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?" Ichigo asked a bit nervously.

"That depends entirely on what your question is," Aizen replied quietly. "But I would like to make some tea first. Would you care for some?"

"Some tea sounds good," Ichigo agreed. Aizen's quarters were among the few that had running water. The aroma quickly wafted through the air as Aizen brought the teapot and two cups.

As Aizen sat down at his study table, Ichigo struggled with how to ask his question. For the first time, he noticed that Aizen's brown eyes, once gleaming with confidence, seemed almost dull and lifeless. Had he just not noticed?

"This is good tea," he started. "It has a nice aroma to it."

Aizen nodded. "This particular canister was a gift from students at the academy after they completed my calligraphy course. But it seems that you want to ask me about something besides tea."

"Yeah. I always wondered why you hate Soul Society so much. You attacked your own lieutenant and tried to kill Yamamoto-ojiisan. I don't understand."

In the lamp's flickering light, Aizen's face looked more fatigued than Ichigo remembered. He closed his eyes and laughed mirthlessly. "I wondered how long it would take you to ask me that. But let me ask you something first. Do you never feel that you are being taken for granted? Why do you defend Soul Society, even after you found out that Ukitake had you under surveillance? Surely you do not think the Shinigami went to protect Karakura Town out of loyalty to you."

"I have friends here. And no matter the reason, they still protected my home."

"I see. " Aizen tilted his head slightly and studied Ichigo curiously.

"I answered your question. Now you answer mine," Ichigo insisted.

Aizen sighed softly. "I cannot forgive those who blindly follow the Spirit King and never question its rule. And I fail to understand why we, the Shinigami, should have had to take orders from the Central 46, none of whom were Shinigami."

"I don't know. You would know that better than I would, wouldn't you, Aizen?"

Aizen continued. "And I must say, seeing Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni so determined to execute Kuchiki Rukia and all you ryoka was truly laughable. Shouldn't such an order have raised his suspicions?" His voice rose.

"That order actually came from you. You slaughtered the whole Central 46," Ichigo countered.

"That was too kind a punishment for those self-righteous imbeciles. It was easy for me to convince them that Urahara Kisuke, rather than I, was responsible for turning Hirako Shinji and the others into Shinigami-Hollow hybrids.

"That still doesn't explain why you hate Soul Society so much."

"It is not Soul Society that I hate, Kurosaki Ichigo. But enough of this. My tea is cold, and I feel quite sleepy. So I think it is time for us to rest for now. Training will start at daybreak tomorrow."

Ichigo sighed. He was used to getting cryptic answers from Aizen, but his curiosity was aroused. Nevertheless, he knew that he would be getting no answers from Aizen tonight. Yet he couldn't help watching Aizen drink his tea. Slowly, even gently, Aizen sipped his tea. Ichigo thought he saw a brief moment of relief as Aizen took in the familiar aroma.

"Aizen?" started Ichigo.

"Kurosaki Ichigo," Aizen said as he raised his eyebrows. "Doubtless you have many questions you wish to ask me. But this is not the time. Your answers will come later. For now, we need to sleep. Daybreak will come soon, and we have no time for long discussions. No more questions." He put his cup into the sink and took his favorite blanket from the closet.

"Then at least tell me where I'm supposed to sleep," Ichigo insisted.

"Sleep on the settee," Aizen told him. "Use one of the spare blankets from the closet. I will be sleeping on the futon."

Ichigo nodded as he found a blanket and settled in to sleep. Aizen turned off the oil lamp and lay down to sleep on the futon. For some reason, he thought the blanket felt especially warm and comfortable. He smiled faintly and closed his eyes.

But Ichigo was restless. He watched Aizen with interest. Aizen's face was still beautiful, but it seemed that his already slender frame was even thinner. Just what had happened to him while he was in Muken? Aizen's words still troubled him, even in his dreams. Why did this man seem so sad?

Finally, Ichigo fell asleep. He dreamed of a regular day at school, of playing a pick-up game of basketball with Keigo and Tatsuki. Of his classmates, Tatsuki was always the best in PE class. Ichigo wondered how he would do in a kendo rematch against her. He knew she had encountered Aizen when he made his way through Karakura Town.