"Didn't I already tell you? I know everything… all of it, and naturally, that includes your situation too."
"The reason you're by Aizen's side, your objective, your actions, all of it, I know perfectly well."
Toshiro looked down at Gin from on high, his expression as aloof as a god.
Drip!
A bead of cold sweat traced down his cheek, and a feeling of fear involuntarily rose within Gin's heart.
For the first time, this was the first time Gin genuinely feared Toshiro from the bottom of his heart. Although he had been extremely wary of Toshiro before, it was because Toshiro's strength far surpassed his own. But this time, it came from the bottom of his heart, an involuntary fear of Toshiro.
That gaze, which seemed to see through everything, pierce straight to the heart, and was as indifferent as a god's, made Gin's whole body tremble involuntarily.
"Oh? Then go ahead and tell me, just what exactly do you know about me?" Despite sweating profusely, Gin still asked with feigned ease.
"Rangiku." Toshiro softly uttered the name.
Hearing the name, Gin's expression instinctively changed, and then his gaze turned as cold and sinister as a viper's, fixed on Toshiro.
But Toshiro acted as if he hadn't noticed, continuing, "Your guiding principle in life, everything you've done, including leaving Rangiku, joining the Gotei 13, colluding with Aizen, and so on, it was all for Rangiku. No, to be precise, it was to avenge Rangiku."
"Back then, to create the Hogyoku, Aizen hunted souls containing Reiryoku everywhere. Countless souls suffered because of this. Even if they weren't completely annihilated and managed to survive by chance, their souls were severely damaged. And Rangiku... was one of the victims of that incident."
"And you, who witnessed all of this firsthand, in order to avenge Rangiku against Aizen, voluntarily left Rangiku's side, joined the Gotei 13, then got close to Aizen, biding your time for revenge.
"To this end, even when you happened to encounter Rangiku in daily life, you deliberately put on an indifferent act, ignoring her..."
"Enough!!" Gin suddenly roared.
"I am well aware that you know 'all of this', you don't need to say anymore." Gin breathed heavily, forcefully suppressing his emotions.
Every word Toshiro spoke was akin to tearing open the scar hidden deep in Gin's heart. If Toshiro continued, Gin was afraid he wouldn't be able to hold back from exploding.
"Alright! Just tell me directly what you want. No need to beat around the bush. If you want to kill me, do it now. If you want to tell Aizen about my true purpose for being by his side, go ahead and tell him. No more nonsense." After calming down, Gin said expressionlessly.
"What are you talking about? Didn't I tell you? I won't kill you, and of course, reporting you to Aizen is even more impossible," Toshiro said.
"Then what exactly do you want?" Gin asked impatiently.
"You really are forgetful. Didn't I already say it? I'll help you kill Aizen. Of course... it's also for myself, and for the Soul Society. Since our goals are the same, why not cooperate?"
Gin had been lurking by Aizen's side for many years. If Gin helped, then when Toshiro moved against Aizen, the chances of success would naturally be greater. This was also a significant reason why Toshiro decided not to kill Gin anymore.
"Cooperation, huh?" Gin said noncommittally.
"So, what's your plan? How are you going to deal with Aizen? And what do I need to do?" Gin fired off a series of questions.
"As for my plan, you don't need to know. What you need to do... if Aizen reveals an opening after I make my move against him, you should take the opportunity to strike with your Bankai. I mean, of course, your Bankai's true ability."
Toshiro didn't directly tell Gin his plan. Although he wanted to cooperate with Gin, that didn't mean Toshiro completely trusted him.
"Of course, if you really can't find an opportunity to strike, then don't force yourself. You can continue to stay hidden by Aizen's side," Toshiro added.
"Hmph, you don't need to tell me that. I'll do it that way anyway." Gin snorted coldly.
Just as Toshiro didn't fully trust Gin and lay out his entire plan, Gin wouldn't completely trust Toshiro either, pinning all his hopes of revenge on him. If there was truly no opportunity to act, Gin naturally wouldn't.
After all, he had endured for so many years. Without a chance to strike, Gin naturally wouldn't mind waiting a while longer for the right moment.
"If you have nothing else, then I'll be going first. If I delay too long, Aizen will get suspicious," Gin said.
"Go ahead."
Toshiro waved his hand, dispelling the barrier he had set up. A layer of transparent partition suddenly appeared and then suddenly vanished.
Gin gave Toshiro one last, deep look, then turned and walked towards the distant Central 46 Compound.
"Oh, and..."
After taking a few steps, Gin suddenly stopped.
"Rangiku... I leave her in your care. Absolutely don't let anything happen to her. Also... please don't tell her about my real purpose for lurking by Aizen's side, about wanting to avenge her." Gin's voice carried a pleading tone.
Toshiro nodded and said, "Don't worry, I'll look after Rangiku's safety. After all, she's my Lieutenant. No matter what, I won't let anything happen to her. As for your situation, I won't tell her either. Besides causing her unnecessary worry, it wouldn't serve any purpose."
"I see... that's good then..."
With that, Gin lingered no longer, turned, and strode away.
"..."
As Gin's figure faded into the distance, Toshiro seemed to hear a word of thanks carried on the wind.
…
Sokyoku Hill.
"Look!"
"The Sokyoku... is... is being released!"
Seeing the Sokyoku released, some Shinigami couldn't help but murmur among themselves.
After all, most Shinigami had never even witnessed the release of the Sokyoku.
And Rukia, seeing the Sokyoku released and her own impending execution, wore a calm expression.
'It's truly amazing. The heart that Ichimaru Gin had disturbed is now gradually becoming calm...'
'Is it because of the promise with the Captain-Commander... or because... of my brother's indifference towards me, who wavered and desperately wanted to live...'
'Thank you for your many years of care... Nii-sama...' Rukia spoke to Byakuya again.
But Byakuya remained silent, eyes tightly shut.
Then the power of the Sokyoku erupted, and Rukia was involuntarily bound to it.
"Nanao, don't look so sad. Otherwise, I'll feel sad too," Kyoraku said to his companion, Nanao beside him.
"If I were sad... it wouldn't be like this..." Nanao turned her head away, as if unable to bear watching the impending execution.
"Screech!:"
A bird's cry suddenly rang out. One of the spears comprising the Sokyoku suddenly coalesced into a huge hawk, its entire body ablaze with blazing flames.
"Wha... what is that?!"
Seeing the immense power emanating from that huge hawk, the 2nd Division's Lieutenant, Omaeda Marechiyo, couldn't help but feel terrified. He was so startled that the green onion pancake in his hand dropped to the ground.
"Firebird King…"
"The Sokyoku spear reveals its true form, transforming into the final executor of the capital punishment. When it pierces through the sinner... the execution is over," Yamamoto stated solemnly.
Screech!
Firebird King let out a piercing cry and then flew towards Rukia.
Seeing Firebird King flying towards her, Rukia's heart remained calm, without a trace of fear.
'I am not afraid.'
'I am content to have lived this long.'
'Meeting Renji and the others...'
'Being adopted by my brother...'
'Receiving guidance from Mr. Kaien...'
'...'
'Being saved by Ichigo...'
'I am not in pain,'
'Nor am I sad,'
'I have no regrets,'
'Nor do I have any lingering attachments in my heart...'
'...'
'Thank you, everyone.'
'Farewell...'