Trust  

Shinji Hirako and the others had become Hollowfication experiment subjects at Aizen's hands. Although Kisuke Urahara managed to rescue them, their reiatsu had developed subtle differences from normal Shinigami.

By tapping into their newfound Hollow powers and donning their Hollow masks, Hirako's reiatsu merged with his inner Hollow's, causing an explosive increase.

At that moment, Hirako's reiatsu felt more like a Hollow's than a Shinigami's.

It was only then that Hirako could fully counter Ailin's overwhelming spiritual pressure, allowing Hiyori to recover.

After locking eyes with Hirako, Ailin slowly withdrew his oppressive reiatsu.

"Phew..."

The cracks spread across Hirako's mask until it shattered into dispersing fragments.

Having just mastered Hollowfication, Hirako couldn't maintain the state for long yet. Those few seconds under Ailin's pressure felt like minutes dragging by.

Sensing Ailin's reiatsu surge, Urahara hurried over from crafting the reiatsu-sealing Gigais. Upon learning what transpired from Yoruichi, he stepped between Ailin and Hirako to defuse the tension.

"Captain Ailin, your spiritual pressure is utterly terrifying... However, I'm quite curious why you recommended Gin Ichimaru as the new 3rd Division Captain when we've told you he's allied with Aizen? Aren't you concerned Aizen controlling the entire Seireitei could jeopardize you?"

"Hah? Urahara, I recall your intelligence being quite sharp. Why are you asking such a stupid question now?" Ailin scoffed at Urahara. "Seems you're still rattled from your recent setback."

Glancing at Urahara and Yoruichi's current states, Ailin sighed. He knew this was their most sensitive, vulnerable period. If he didn't explain, it could drive a wedge between them later.

Ailin raised his right index finger. "I had three reasons for recommending Gin as the 3rd Division Captain. First, Gin is my disciple. Though I don't know why he's with Aizen now, as his teacher, I trust he's no utterly evil person. Second..." Ailin raised his middle finger. "I only learned of Gin's alliance with Aizen from you all. Yet in your accounts, I never heard of Gin actually attacking you.

If I recall, that night Aizen viewed you as experiment subjects, and the 9th Division's 3rd Seat Tosen ambushed you... But Gin never lifted a hand against any of you from the start, correct?"

Hearing Ailin's points, the others realized he was right. Gin was Ailin's disciple, so his teacher trusted him - fair enough. And that night, Gin had only followed Aizen, never attacking them himself. His only words mocked Aizen being discovered, asking if he should silence them.

Compared to them, it made sense for Ailin to trust Gin more.

"Third..." Instead of raising another finger, Ailin lowered his hand, his expression supremely arrogant. "Third, so what if Gin has turned to Aizen's side? As long as he doesn't provoke me, I won't go out of my way to deal with them. If he does provoke me, I'll simply go there myself and utterly exterminate them - problem solved."

Ailin's overwhelming confidence left Urahara's group speechless.

That's right, with Ailin's strength, if Aizen had any schemes, he could just kill him directly.

Urahara briefly considered expending his favor to have Ailin assassinate Aizen. But he shook his head - Aizen's Shikai ability seemed too unbelievable. He dared not gamble on whether Ailin could kill Aizen while affected by it.

This lesson taught Urahara to be more cautious and not so rash. With Gin in Soul Society, they'd have an intel source. If Ailin failed to kill Aizen, the consequences could be dire.

After saying his piece, Ailin rose from the boulder.

"Waaahhhh!"

His movement startled the previously cowed Hiyori, who scrambled backwards until hitting a rock.

"Hiyori!"

Kensei, Mashiro and the others rushed to check on the shaken lieutenant. Seeing she was just frightened relieved them, though Ailin browbeating Hiyori left some misgivings.

Having made his point to Hiyori, Ailin lost any desire to further interact with the group.

"Lady Yoruichi, Captains Urahara, Hirako, Muguruma, Aikawa, Otoribashi... Now that everyone's condition has stabilized, I'll take my leave. I won't come again, so stay careful going forward." Waving goodbye, Ailin turned to depart the underground base.

The eight had fully mastered Hollowfication, their subsequent training to extend the state duration could proceed without him. His presence now would only make the atmosphere more awkward without contributing much.

It was better they parted ways here.

***

"Well, if it isn't Captain Ailin."

Another familiar scene.

"Let me guess, Captain Kyoraku - you just happened to be waiting here too?" Ailin stopped, spotting Shunsui leaning against a wall. Given his posture, Shunsui had likely been there a while.

"Hahaha, you're mistaken, Captain Ailin. I was actually waiting specifically for you this time."

"Shall we go inside then?" Not waiting for Shunsui, Ailin headed straight for the Kuchiki Manor's entrance.

Shunsui followed without delay.

"By the way..."

Shunsui suddenly spoke as if remembering something. "At the recent captains' meeting, the old man Yamamoto had us recommend candidates for the other division captaincies. I wanted to put forth Aizen as a nominee for the 5th Division Captain, but you stopped me. Why?"

"Ah, about that..." With Shunsui, Ailin didn't bother hiding anything. After all, Shunsui's lieutenant Lisa Yadomaru was among those Central 46 ordered 'dealt with.'

"I've made contact with Yoruichi and the others, learning some information from them. According to Lady Yoruichi, all the soul disappearances in the last century were Aizen's doing."

"Oh?" Shunsui raised an eyebrow. "But when I was in the 12th Division, I personally witnessed the Stealth Force finding evidence of Urahara's Hollowfication research in his lab."

"Yes, Urahara said that was a side-effect from a device he created. Once he understood its ability, he sealed it away, never using it again.

This incident with Hirako's group being turned into experiment subjects was all Aizen's doing. The disturbance in the Rukongai that night was Urahara and Tessai Tsukabishi discovering Aizen's actions against them and battling to stop him from killing them."

"I see..." Shunsui nodded thoughtfully.

"I recall Central 46 questioning me about seeing Aizen in the late hours that night... Hahaha, so I was the captain the Commander-General referred to as having seen Aizen among over a hundred Gotei personnel?

Indeed, no surprise there - I'm likely the one who provided Aizen's alibi. Tsk, that sort of approach where he clears his own suspicion before anyone else can speak is truly a sign of genius...or perhaps idiocy."

"How so?" Shunsui questioned.

"I call it genius because he completely grasped Urahara's next moves. No matter what evidence Urahara presented, as long as Aizen appeared before most Shinigami that night, Urahara's claims would have zero credibility.

I call it idiotic because so blatantly singling himself out gives off a 'the lady doth protest too much' vibe. According to Central 46's evidence, 125 Shinigami including yourself witnessed Aizen that night." As Ailin spoke, Shunsui reacted.

Shunsui reached out and pulled down his hat, recalling in his mind the scene of seeing Vice-Captain Aizen that night.