Chapter Text
No way. This couldn’t mean what he thought it meant. He repeated to make sure he understood what was implied. The guts of the man, how dare he played with his goodwill like that. “You, Sousuke Aizen, wannabe god, traitor of nations with delusion of grandeur, wants me to keep you around in my house as a pet for an unknown amount of time until your state gets resolved.”
No typing this time, a simple nod from the kitten that conveyed all he needed to know about the ex-captain's certitude that he was aware of what he was asking of him.
Fuck!!! Ichigo was certain the other was unaware of what he was projecting in his position, his pride wouldn’t allow it, but, as it was demonstrated ample of times, he was sadly a sucker for distressed and vulnerable souls. No matter what they had done before. The big helpless eyes of unbearable cuteness, almost pleading, were undoing him and whatever resolve he could muster against something that was bound to backfire in horrible ways. He had a feeling that Urahara was not coming back anytime soon....
There was absolutely no reason why the shady shopkeeper would want to resolve this. Unable to speak, powerless Aizen, it must be a dream come true for the scientist. Urahara must be having the time of his life, laughing at them and their predicament. Maybe he had hoped he wouldn’t realize who he had saddled him with? Motherfucker, there was no way, he was always throwing problems at him without revealing the full truth...
Would he get in trouble with Soul Society if it was ever found out? Harboring a fugitive sounded like the sort of thing you could get executed over... Could he plead innocence? Were they already aware? If not, how did the prisoner escaped Muken, bound as he was? Shit, he was already making mental preparations as if it was a certainty that he was keeping him...
Meanwhile, Aizen-bundle-of-fluff had settled closer, typing furiously with intense concentration, his tail wagging around excitedly. It was hilarious to witness, the master of deception didn’t have control of what he was projecting in this form, and Ichigo couldn’t prevent a chuckle despite the circumstances. How the fuck what this his life! He got a glare in return, but probably realizing his supplicant situation, the kitten didn’t react more (not even clawing his clothes; small miracle...) and pushed the screen towards him ‘NOT PERMANENT STATE, SS KNOWS’
Were his thoughts imprinted on his face or what...he always suspected that Aizen had mind reading capabilities... However, curiosity won over other considerations and Ichigo bombarded the cat with questions instead. “Were they the one doing this to you? How did you get out? Can regular people see you? For how long are you stuck? Do you still have the Hogyoku? Do you need food?”
A forceful slap from a paw on his wrist stopped his tirade and Ichigo calmed down. He knew deep down Aizen never had any ill intentions directly toward him. It was more about what he represented at the time, and even then, Ichigo long suspected that the man he had fought in the Winter War had been blindly overtaken by a momentary power craze from repeated evolutions. The exchanges during that fight were nothing like the poise and rational, conniving manipulator he had heard and witnessed all the other times. Hence, he was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Rather, he was certain that he was one of the few the wannabe god actually respected and wanted to keep alive. For what purpose, he wasn’t sure. However, he concluded that there was a really low probability that he was going to be assassinated in his sleep. Who was he going to dump him on anyways?
He couldn’t bring him back; he was certain of that. If Urahara didn’t want to be found, there was no way he would despite his best efforts.
Therefore, in good conscience, did he really have a choice in the matter?
********************
Hours turned into days, days into weeks, Aizen-bundle-of-fluff easily became a fixture of his life. He was a good companion for his tranquil nights where he didn’t want to mingle with anyone. Quiet, polite, respectful and very observant of his moods. Ichigo let him be most of the time while he became fascinated with various scientific and medical inventions, scrolling on his laptop whenever he had the chance. If Soul Society didn’t want him to get ideas by learning from the living world, then they shouldn’t have dump him there. Sure, he was going to keep an eye on him, but he wasn’t a jailor.
The magical kitty didn’t really need sustenance either, something about his Kido binding still being active on his soul, it was hard to get into the details, due to his limited speech, so overall his presence did not make a dent on his budget either.
Turned out everyone could see him. Ichigo had a scare when Karin and Yuzu dropped by unannounced, but Aizen behaved, even letting Yuzu pet him for a second or two before he ran away, probably recovering from the shock of being called adorable to his face.
It was all gradual too, how he accepted him in his life. Removing someone’s ability of speech transformed anyone into a good listener (aka spy). Combine to his small and cute size, it made the tabby almost invisible most of the time. Thus, his ex-enemy probably learned way more about him than he would have had if he had been a roommate. It was impossible to guard himself all the time. Ichigo wasn’t even sure when he became comfortable enough to confide it the little creature either, but he had to admit to himself that he now was.
It probably all started one night when he had one of his recurring nightmares. He probably spoke (yelled, screamed, shout, wailed) in his sleep and when he woke up, drenched in sweat and shivers, Aizen was there in his room, something like sympathy shining in his golden gaze. That look from the kitty undid him and he teared up, the losses and nightmares back to haunt him full force even in his woken state. The floodgate had been opened and, while the kitten settled on his tights in rapt attention, bringing a sense of calmness in its wake, Ichigo started to talk to him about his mother and his guilt and how it had impacted the last decade of his life.
After that, it became easier to express himself out loud when they were alone, and Ichigo realized how much he had suppressed all this time by keeping everything inside. Burdens he didn’t know he was carrying were unloaded and his steps felt lighter as he went to school and work. Even some of his classmates made comments about his less-foreboding-gloomy stance.
Nevertheless, despite their what-he-privately-called growing closeness, he never expected an inch of reciprocation from the mysterious ex-tyrant of Hueco Mundo. Imagine his surprise when he came back one day in front of pages full of text, fresh from his printer, Aizen nowhere in sight. It was an explanation of how the Soul King came to be and what was the true purposes of the Royal Guards. Ichigo was horrified. He was sure Rukia and Renji didn’t know about this!!! It detailed the dismembering caused by the fears of the Noble House and the vivid description of the original sin.
I couldn’t stand perpetuating this regime and living under the thumbs of people who didn’t deserve it. So, I plotted, knowing so few were willing to protest the status quo.
Ichigo went to bed, head full of conflicting thoughts, unwilling to confront his companion with all this unwanted knowledge. Aizen seemed to understand and stayed away for a while.
However, it didn’t stop him from printing more texts every few days or so; sharing his rationales, captain Tousen’s story of injustices and many others. Each and every one of these days, Ichigo picked up the sheets with morbid fascination and curiosity. It wasn’t a journal or anything of the sort, far from it, but he had a sense that he could understand the man better even if not necessarily agreeing with all he did.
Ichigo also reflected that maybe the deep loneliness he had felt when they had crossed swords were a heavy burden on the ex-captain as well. Maybe spending time with him without pressure like that was some sort of therapy for him too. Weirdly, after much consideration, he felt privileged to be so entrusted. He wasn’t going to betray the confidence. Thus, he continued to pretend he hadn’t noticed the second division seat lurking in his neighborhood.
Weeks became months.
One day, Ichigo was studying for his finals, Aizen perching nearby reading on a used-up tablet he bought for him, when he took a breather, resting his eyes away from the screen. They naturally settled on his companion with fondness. At the same moment, the kitten’s gaze crossed his, probably noticing what he never expressed in words. Ichigo hurriedly turned away under the intense scrutiny, blushing. How the fuck did this happened... He had suddenly realized that Aizen had become his best friend...
Another few days passed, Ichigo was extremely busy with exams, so maybe he didn’t pay as much attention as he should have about the state of his ward. Or maybe it was a total surprise and there hadn’t been any clues. He was almost at his door when he felt the overwhelming spiritual pressure only emitted by one person other than him. He ran inside and used his badge, body falling to the ground.
The scene he was confronted with was eerily reminiscent of when he had casted Tensa Zangetsu and Urahara’s kido has activated at the end of the Winter War. Aizen was biped again, naked, dark ribbons summoned out of nowhere pining him to the floor, already covering most of his body. He had a resigned expression however, not the passionate anger he had witnessed that first time.
Ichigo felt so powerless. He tentatively stepped closer, hands in front of him, reaching out to do he didn’t know what. Aizen waved him away. “There is nothing you can do, Ichigo. I have long ago accepted that this was my faith. Time is of no consequence to me. Ideals will prevail in the end. I will continue to believe.” and as the last ribbons came to cover his face from behind, Ichigo was certain he could read from his lips ´thank you’.
Before he could act or reply, a horde of ninjas invaded his house; captain Soifon at their head, and he saw her cast a cage barrier around their most valuable prisoner, dragging him away without further words or explications.
This only took minutes, and he was by himself again. He sat on the couch, staring at the ceiling, a bit shell shock. It all went so fast... He couldn’t even say goodbye...
His solitude didn’t last long however, since Urahara appeared through his window a few minutes after. Ichigo rolled his eyes, how predictable...
“I knew I could count on you Ichigo! Sorry for my late arrival, it’s better for everyone’s sake if I am not in the presence of that overgrown bee. It could have jeopardized the operation, so I didn’t take the chance.”
Annoyed and not trying to hide it, “Didn’t explain why you hadn’t visit in months with a few explanations, Urahara. I’m tired of being used as Soul Society errand boy.”
Waving his fan excitedly on one hand, the other shooing him to contradict. “How you underestimated yourself, don’t be so disparaging! This was of crucial importance to the realms. Certainty well above errand boy level.”
Pfft. There was no point arguing... Ichigo changed subject. “Nevermind that, what’s done is done. I'd never gotten how he got stuck that way. Care to clarify that at least?”
“I guess it couldn’t compromise anything since it didn’t work. Yoruichi’s uncle came up with the idea to force transform him into a cat to try to remove the Hogyoku’s merge effect.”
“The goal was to kill him, right? That’s what you are implying.”
At his less than enthusiastic reply, Urahara seemed puzzled and continued. “Wouldn’t that make everything simpler? Of course that would have been ideal, but it’s attached to his soul now, not his body, so there is no point in changing his physical form. I told them, but they wanted to try anyways despite the risks to the wheel or reincarnation... I wanted to conduct more research before trying, it’s not as if we don’t have plenty of time, but Central was in a hurry and I prefer to avoid them. They are throwing so much money around to fund all sort of scammers without an inkling of sense in the hope of finding a way.”
“Doesn’t Soul Society have anything better to do! Help the poor for example, that would be a good start...”
“I don’t even live there anymore; I am simply stating how it is. Despite his permanent restrained state, most nobles still fear Aizen. A vast majority of them lost a family member to his purge of central. They want him dead. Simple as that. There are good reasons I am not going back despite my pardon. Stay away as long as you can, Ichigo. It’s better for your long-term health.
And on that sad note, I got to go. Stuff to do, people to see, you know the drill. Wish you the best on your exams. I’m sure you’ll become a fine translator, Ichigo. Goodbye!” And the blond disappeared in a showy flash of smoke, leaving him alone again.
It had been a long time since his apartment had been so empty....
He sat down with a glass of water, reflecting on what was said and the recent events. Did Urahara subtly warn him to stay away? Was that a threat? Did he figured out he’d grown attached to his imposed roommate? Had he understood correctly that there was a horde of scientists trying to find a method to make Aizen mortal again to execute him for his crimes? If so, was he okay with that?
Fuck but he already missed his pet/confidante/friend... they always greet each other when he came back from school. What was he supposed to do... There was no way he was running to Muken to get imprisoned there as well. He knew now how ruthless the ones in charge truly were. What were all those mysterious objects in Ichibei's palace... What could have been his faith...
Hours later, his eyes settled on the tablet haphazardly thrown on the ground, he picked it up by reflex, mind still not-at-ease with his ex-mentor's revelations. The screen opened at his touch; there were precise instructions on how to reverse Kyūjūrokkei Kakafūmetsu (九十六京火架封滅, Ninety-Six Capitol Fire-Suspended Seal Destruction) and where the keys to Aizen’s seals were...
He hysterically laughed out loud. Fucking Hell, why was he always stuck in-between manipulative, egocentric, brilliant bastards...