One month later…

I sigh softly as I walk into my bedroom within the Las Nochas fortress.

Sacrifices must be made in order to achieve to something greater.

That is exactly what I kept telling myself even before I became the Leader of this dead place. I sit on the bed and turn my eyes towards the window. The constant darkness was depressing whenever I looked outside before. I’m glad I created a roof with sunshine above the fortress. It makes this place more pleasant to be in.

I should shower though. Perhaps that would help relieve the stress from my body. I rise to my feet and walk over to the closet and pull a sleeping yukata from it, then make my way to the bathroom. As I walk in, my hand reaches out to turn the shower on then to test the water for a moment.

It’s funny, there’s no water here on Hueco Mundo’s surface. There hasn’t been in quite some time but very few knew of the water deep below the sand. I found it when I was younger and still studying at the academy. I was practicing my powers and skill with some hollows and I came across a trench, it was small at first, but as the years went on I had widened it so there was water available. Now most of Heuco Mundo knows of it but not all. Not many even know of how Heuco Mundo used to be. In my father’s youth there didn’t used to be all this sand or darkness. It looked a lot like the setting I placed in Las Nochas. It was bright and quite a peaceful place to be.

I remove my clothes slowly from my slightly achy body then turn to look into the mirror. Dealing with being a traitor and leader of the hollows has put tension on my mind and body.  I gaze at my reflection; I noticed I don’t really look like myself because my hair is pulled back and is slightly longer now that I have been here for a month. Thank kami I have contacts in otherwise I would not be able to see at all. I sigh softly and turn and step under the hot spray in the shower. It feels nice against my aching muscles as I simply stand under the water.

I wonder what father would have done if he were still alive. Would he have taken the trouble to make everyone believe that he betrayed them so he could carry out his plans? It is possible although I am uncertain. He’d probably take mother if she were here and hide until he could come up with a good plan. But plans shift and change according to the situation at hand. My original plan was not like this. I would have resigned and left so I could leave quietly. But I wasn’t able to do that because I needed to cause turmoil so that boy will become stronger. I need to use him.

Once the water starts running a bit colder I grab the soap and begin to bathe myself. My thoughts seem to go astray when I hear a knock on the door. “Damn...” I mutter. Can I not have a least a few moments to myself? “I will be right out.” I call out, trying to finish quickly. I wash my hair then rinse away the soap thoroughly before shutting the shower off. Hastily I dry off, wrap the towel around my waist, and then make my way to my bedroom door.

“What is it?” I ask as I open it, finding Gin frowning outside.

Gin turned his head to the side, respectfully. “My apologies, Aizen Taichou.”

I sigh softly and move aside so the man can come in. “It is alright, you can come in.”

Gin keeps his eyes adverted from me as he thanks me then walk in. I turn towards the dressing area with my yukata and go about changing for the night. But even as I do so I can tell there is a troubled look on my subordinates face. “What is wrong, Gin?”

He took a seat at the small table and sighed. “Aizen Taichou—“

“Just Sousuke or Aizen, Gin, there is no need to use taichou when we are alone. We are friends, ne?” I correct him.

“Hai, Aizen-san…I do have a bone to pick with you.”

My brow raises as I move towards the table after dressing. “You don’t like the fact that we are here on a false belief.”

Gin bright blue eyes slide open to look at me. “Well, I see I am easy to read.”

I nod my head and sit down. “Hai, you are but you are not the only one that feels that way.”

Gin’s face turns towards the window after he sets his chin in his palm while resting his elbow on the table. “I don’t like leaving things as they were even if it is to help your cause. I understand why we are here and I believe the same as you but, Aizen-san, was it necessary to do this?” He asked quietly. “Was it necessary to leave like that? We hurt a lot of people.”

My lips turn down into a deep frown as my eyes follow Gin’s to look out the window. “We did what needed to be done whether we like it or not. As for the people we hurt... We will be sure that we make up for it by succeeding in our plan.”