Ch11 Urahara Kisuke Part 2

He'd been arrogant, he realised, rather too late.

Far too late.

Urahara suppressed the fifth sigh that minute. His gaze locked ahead of him as he walked on through the darkness. Ururu and Ginta mumbling by themselves as they each pushed the cart carrying the unconscious, sealed, captain.

He shouldn't have assumed Aizen would slow down following his exile... He'd been his only enemy after all, at least the only one he knew off. He shouldn't have just assumed that he himself was the only that progressed. That, with all the freedom he'd obtained would help him develop enough to turn the tides.

To come back far more dangerous than he could've ever anticipated.

The unknown threat that could end him at the worst possible moment.

He'd known Aizen would go on to improve his powers, his abilities and of course, his still yet unknown Zanpakuto, but he hadn't expected that.

Even then. Whatever his theories had on the man's sword itself, none of them accounted for the trial going the way it did. Which either meant he had an ally with a similar power... Or Aizen had somehow figured out how to modify his own soul. Successfully enough to do... That.

He wasn't sure what was worse.

And that was to say nothing of his use of Black Coffin.

He'd thought Aizen would stagnate.

He hadn't considered him to evolve. Not without the Hogyoku...

After all, it had been his goal, one of the few potential ways to truly evolve...

And unlike Aizen, he hadn't just considered looking for another way...

His freedom had allowed to master Kido of all kind.

Aizen had used that time to reach a new level. Had figured out how to do what he did, without a care. As if he wasn't breaking history.

He himself had spent most of his free time working on and improving his knowledge surrounding souls.

Aizen had somehow figured out how to twist the very fabric of his soul... Enough to fool the governing body of soul society.

His arrogance had led him here. Had led him into that game unprepared.

And now here he was, running off to Hueco Mundo having lost near everything.

And perhaps the worst part of it...

The bastard had been toying with him. Not once, not a single damn moment did the bastard take him seriously.

And in response? What had he, the Urahara Kisuke, given him in return?

His. Own. Bloody. Partner.

...

Author Notes: Part 3 will be out later on today.