Bleach Database

* (Translation: SleepyFans)

* "Ichigo is overwhelmed by Ichimaru's powers!! Meanwhile, what change has come over Aizen's body?! And just what is the Hougyoku...?!"

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

Aizen: I am at the end of my rope. At least as a Shinigami.

Isshin: ... what are you talking about?

Aizen: It appears the Hougyoku has finally begun to understand my heart.

Isshin: What nonsense is this?

Aizen: Don't you get it? I am saying... the Hougyoku is conscious.

Isshin: ... it still sounds like nonsense to me.

Aizen: I'm not surprised you can't feel it. It was only once I became the Hougyoku's host that I learned it had a consciousness. What do you think the Hougyoku's power is? Do you think it is to control the boundary between Shinigami and Hollow? No. It's true power... is to make real what is in the hearts of those around it.

Isshin: !!... what...?!

Aizen: Don't you get it? All these miraculous things that happened to Kurosaki Ichigo and Kuchiki Rukia and Urahara Kisuke, those could all be said to have been realized by the Hougyoku's will.

Isshin: What are you saying...?

Aizen: The reason Urahara Kisuke misunderstood the Hougyoku's power to be the ability to control the boundary between Hollow and Shinigami is that as its creator, that is what he himself wished for. The reason Kuchiki Rukia's spirit powers passed to Kurosaki Ichigo and she lost her Shinigami abilities is that she had not recovered from the pain of having killed Shiba Kaien. The reason Sado Yasutora and Inoue Orihime developed such singular powers is that they both cursed their powerlessness with all their hearts.

Isshin: !!

Aizen: But I have realized the Hougyoku's power. ... no, that's not quite right. It would be more accurate to say I knew that it was not to control boundary between Hollow and Shinigami as Urahara Kisuke had stated. The reason I knew that, is that if it were true, Hirako Shinji and the others would not have become full Vizards. The hollowfication of Hirako Shinji and the others was not just an experiment in hollowfication, but also a test of the Hougyoku's powers. And that experiment was successful. Urahara Kisuke's Hougyoku was activated and Hirako Shinji and the others became Vizards. And in order to build my theory of the Hougyoku's powers, I sent Kuchiki Rukia to Kurosaki Ichigo.

* Isshin is speechless.

Aizen: Of course, the Hougyoku does have its limits. The Hougyoku realizes what is in people's hearts, but it cannot work if that possibility does not already exist within them. So in that way, you could say it simply leads people to where they want to go. But people are strange creatures... and their stunted hearts are made to be able to realize their wishes.

Isshin: You bastard...

* They are interrupted by Ichigo as he defends against Gin's attack.

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

* Gin wields Divine Spear (Shinsou) in Bankai mode.

* Ichigo deflects the attack and lands next to Isshin.

Gin: I'm surprised you stopped it. Not bad for a fluke.

Ichigo: What're you calling a fluke, stupid?!

Isshin: I... Ichigo...

Ichigo: What?! Shut up!! I've almost got him! So don't interfere!!

* Isshin is a little startled, but smiles.

Gin: ... sorry, Captain Aizen. Did I interrupt your conversation?

Aizen: No. The conversation has just ended.

* The Hougyoku begins enveloping Aizen.

Isshin: !!

Ichigo: Dad!! What the hell is that?! What's going on?!

Isshin: How should I know?! I was just thinking I didn't know what was going on and then you showed up, so I still don't have a clue!!

Ichigo: So what?! You've been fighting him, haven't you?!

Isshin: Quit your squawking!! If you're so desperate to know, ask Aizen yourself!

Aizen: Good grief. It was named the Hougyoku, the breakdown sphere! Surely it has the power to destroy the line that separates God from man!!

* Aizen laughs before something blasts through him from his back. Aizen looks over his shoulder...

Aizen: ... there you are... Urahara Kisuke...!!

* Urahara Kisuke stands on a building, holding his cane like a firearm.

* "The first president of the Research and Development Institute!!"