Bleach Database

* (Translation: SleepyFans)

* "Shock!"

Living World, Karakura Town, 70m above the city, Fake Karakura Town

* Ichigo wields Moon Cutter (Zangetsu) in Bankai mode.

Ichigo: ... every... battle I've fought... has played... into your hand?! What the hell...? What do you mean...?

* Aizen is silent.

Ichigo: I SAID WHAT DO YOU MEAN?!!

Aizen: Don't.

* Aizen raises his finger.

Aizen: Don't yell, Kurosaki Ichigo. It shouldn't come as a surprise. It's just... once I realized that you were the very thing I was searching for, I decided to help you grow. That's all I'm saying.

* Ichigo is angered.

Aizen: ... didn't you think it strange? That you should be attacked by a Hollow right after meeting Kuchiki Rukia, despite having never seen a Hollow before in your life. Or that a Menos Grande should appear for that bait the Quincies use for Lesser Hollows? Or that just when you'd grown used to your Shinigami powers, Kuchiki Rukia would conveniently be found and reported to Soul Society when her reiatsu hadn't been noticed all that time before? Or that Abarai Renji and Zaraki Kenpachi and Kuchiki Byakuya would all fight you just when your power happened to rival theirs? Did you never once... think it strange?

Ichigo: !!

Aizen: Did you think all those meetings were destiny?

Ichigo: ... wait...

Aizen: Did you think all those attacks were coincidences?

Ichigo: Wait...

Aizen: Did you think your victories... were due to your own efforts?

* Ichigo bolts towards Aizen. Aizen defends with his own sword, but then pushes Ichigo's sword with his bare hand.

Aizen: ... don't disappoint me. You are stronger than this. Are my words so unbelievable?

Ichigo: ... of course they are...!

Aizen: But... it's the truth.

Ichigo: Liar!!! You're saying all those battles were your doing?! You planned it all?! Who would believe that?! You said it yourself!! You said you only found Rukia after she'd gone missing on Earth! But now you're saying you knew about me since I met Rukia?! It doesn't make sense!!

Aizen: ... aren't you funny. You said so yourself, didn't you? "Liar." "Who would believe that?" You say I'm lying now. But you believe what I said back then? I'm not surprised. I pity you. There are no lies or truth in this world. There are only grim facts. And yet, everyone in this world acknowledges as truth only what's convenient for them. They have no other way of lying. But... for the powerless who comprise the majority of this world's population, inconvenient facts that affirm their very existence are the only truth.

* Ichigo is silent.

Aizen: Do you know the entire truth? Who sent Kuchiki Rukia to Earth? Who equipped Abarai Renji with his ability to detect reiatsu? Who gave the lieutenants information on your whereabouts? Do you really think I hadn't figured out the location of the Hougyoku over a hundred years ago?

Ichigo: ... then tell me... one thing. You said... that... I was the very thing you've been searching for... but how...? How could you know that...? If you were watching me ever since I met Rukia... then tell me... how the hell could you know that...?!

Aizen: ... I knew from the beginning.

Ichigo: ... that doesn't tell me anything...

Aizen: ... don't you get it? I said I knew from the beginning. I knew about you... since you were born.

Ichigo: ........ wha............what?!

Aizen: You were special from the moment you were born. After all, you--

* Aizen is interrupted by a slash. Isshin Kurosaki arrives in his Shinigami uniform. Ichigo is speechless.

Isshin: You've said too much. Aizen.