Soulmaxxing — Chapter 1

"Sorry, Captain Aizen. I got caught," I said, smiling cheekily despite the slender hand wrapped around my arm in a vise grip and the gleaming blade inches away from my neck. In any other situation, I would've enjoyed having such a beautiful woman in my personal space, but right now, I could feel my heart picking up in anticipation.

Aizen's head turned slightly in my direction, the movement like a hazy mirage forced on top of reality, as the illusion spared me a brief glance.

"It's over." Yoruichi's cold voice broke the tense stand-off as she glared at 'Aizen'. Too bad that she and her Little Bee had the wrong one.

"What did you say?"

I ignored the cocky bastard and his aura farming, looking to the right from the corner of my vision, that shimmer of reiatsu unmistakable to my eyes.

I got you.

I had to time this juuust right.

"Don't you understand, Aizen? There's no place left for you to run," Yoruichi said, her words hanging in the air for a moment as a dozen more reiatsu signatures rapidly approached.

An eye-blink later, the other captains and lieutenants appeared atop the hill in a flash of movement, surrounding us on all sides.

My pulse quickened. Any moment now—

A jolt rushed through my veins as I saw the flicker of Hollow reiatsu coalescing above us, ready to pierce through the sky.

Now.

"Sorry, Rangiku," I whispered, flaring my reiatsu at her like a scalpel, a pang twisting in my chest as she instantly fell to her knees with a gasp, struggling to breathe.

Pivoting on my feet, I drew Shinsō in a smooth motion, flipping it in my grip as I fully opened my eyes, the world becoming clearer than ever. He couldn't hide from me.

Just as a dozen pairs of eyes flickered towards me, I pointed Shinsō at the back of my coat, my lips curling with a vicious smile.

"Bankai—

The Hollow reiatsu spiked high above in the sky, a flicker of golden light entering the corner of my vision. Too late, bastard.

—Kamishini no Yari."

A flash of light pierced Aizen through the chest, blood spurting out of the wound as Shinsō retracted. His eyes barely had time to widen as I flash stepped across the hill, appearing in front of him with a blur, two fingers touching his chest.

I couldn't keep the grin off my face as, for one, uncomprehending moment, he stared at me in disbelief, with a trickle of blood flowing past his lips.

"Kill'im—

Aizen's spiritual pressure skyrocketed, the world distorting around us like a mirage—

—Kamishini no Yari."

—only to abruptly cease, shattering with the sound of brittle glass, along with the rest of his illusions as his wound glowed brightly.

I leapt away a heartbeat later, just as the pillar of light crashed around Aizen, shaping into an impenetrable, golden barrier. Another pillar of light fell around me, a peal of ecstatic laughter spilling past my lips despite my pulse thundering in my ears.

I finally did it.

"Gin…" Aizen gasped out as he brought a hand to his wound, that tidal wave of reiatsu collapsing under its own weight, flickering, and sputtering like a flame in the wind.

I savored the way his face twisted in shock as he saw the gaping hole in his chest, the god-killing poison quickly eating him from the inside.

"…how!?"

Aizen hastily dug a hand in his robe, clutching the hogyōku tightly in his grip, but his shiny pebble did little more than glow prettily in his hand.

Nice try, but it was an arc too early to cheat with it. That thing wouldn't awaken for a while. Its energy was too unstable.

"How?!" Aizen snarled, bashing his fist against the Negación, sparks of reiatsu arcing across the surface.

I met his glare with a grin, watching as his legs finally gave out, bringing him down to his knees, his glasses askew. For the first time, I saw him looking truly desperate, and I enjoyed every single moment of it.

Ah, I've waited so long for this moment—

"Stand down!" Yamamoto's gravelly voice rose from below, his hands folded atop his cane as he stood there menacingly. "They are beyond our reach now."

I spared a glance at the gathered crowd, suppressing the urge to shake my head. How the mighty have fallen. Over half the Lieutenants couldn't even recognize a Negación.

Crossing my arms with a tired sigh, I looked back at Aizen, the smirk returning to my lips as I watched his last moments.

"Ever wondered why I keep my eyes closed?"

The question further twisted the man's face in anger, though he could do nothing but keep glaring at me in impotent anger, his torso already halfway gone.

"Damn you, Gin!"

The smirk curled on my lips like a snake, nearly splitting my face in half.

"I see too much."

Aizen could only muster a strangled gasp in reply, a delicious flicker of horror finally touching his face. He looked like he wanted to curse me until the end, but kinda hard to do that when missing both lungs. Whatever strength he still had quickly waned, the man falling backwards on the floating chunk of land as we slowly ascended to the sky.

"You treacherous snake… how dare you?!"

I glanced at the pillar to my left, flashing Tōsen a mocking smile as he glared murder in my direction, shaking in rage.

Cope and seethe, you blind fuck.

He was too angry to say anything else, but I ignored him anyway, my gaze flickering back to the pillar across from mine. The only trace left of Aizen was his captain haori lying on that chunk of earth inside the Negación.

Rest in pieces, assho—

"Gin!"

A voice, pleading and thick with emotion came from below, and I instinctively looked down. Rangiku stood in the same spot where I'd left her, an unreadable look on her face.

"Was everything just a lie?"

My throat clenched, the hurt in her tone feeling like a knife driven through my chest. I swallowed that sudden knot, shaking my head as a sour feeling coiled in my gut.

"No."

I should've kept my distance as I used to. I'd only ended up making this more painful for her…

"Then why…"

I wasn't sure what to say. Words wouldn't comfort her at this point. The only thing I could do was give her a sad smile and shrug weakly.

"I had to."

Rangiku's expression didn't change, but her grip tightened around her sword as she stood there, rooted in place. She looked like she wanted to say more but didn't get the chance.

"Explain yourself, Ichimaru." Yamamoto's gravely voice rumbled across the hill as his eyes cracked open, pinning me with a glare. It was enough to send a brief shiver crawling up my spine.

Scary sonovabitch.

"I'm afraid there ain't much to explain, Captain Commander." I pushed a smirk to my face, pointing a thumb casually at whatever atoms remained of Aizen on that floating rock. "I've hated this guy since the day we met."

I didn't bother elaborating, despite the several looks of confusion among the captains and lieutenants gathered down below. If they wanted the full story, they'd have to wait for me to come back with the milk.

"I'll show some lenience in your punishment if you turn yourself in by dusk," Captain Murderhobo spoke again, though I only shook my head, smirk turning cheeky.

"Sorry, gramps, but first I hafta take care of Aizen's little Arrancar army. I know how to handle 'em, so don't worry about it."

A chuckle escaped me as Yamamoto's eyes opened fully. Heh. That got a reaction out of him.

"That's not your prerogative, boy."

"Maybe." I shrugged. "But ya know what?" I gestured around lazily with a hand, despite the cold sweat beading down my back. "After all this depressing stuff, I could use a vacation."

My joke met deafening silence, smile dimming as I caught Rangiku's dismayed look. Another pang of regret twisted in my chest as I looked away.

Sorry, Rangiku… There was no other way. None other that I could find.

A tired sigh escaped me as the gaping maw of the Garganta, and the mindless Gillians swarming inside, entered the corner of my vision. There was no turning back at this point anyway.

"I'll see ya when I'm done." I pushed a cheerful note in my voice, bending over a little to give everyone below a cheeky wave. "Bye bye."

<[]>

I opened my eyes as soon as the Negación vanished, Tōsen already drawing his blade, holding it against his palm.

I stood my ground calmly, a smirk tugging at my lips as my grip tightened around the quiet lump of metal in my hand. I could've made the first move, but I had no reason to bother. Waiting would make this much easier. And more satisfying.

"You treacherous snake… I will get justice for Lord Aizen even if that's the last thing I do," he snarled, his spiritual pressure rising like an angry sea at tide. "Bankai."

I slid one foot backwards, body tensing in anticipation as a ring spun rapidly between Tōsen's hands, expanding and splitting into ten others. The discs flew apart, and, as I blinked, everything turned dark and deathly quiet.

Pretty neat, but this parlor trick wouldn't help him here.

He might have taken away the light, the sound, and that sixth sense for spiritual energy, but even so, my eyes could still see. A bright, thick haze, shaped vaguely like a human, flaring amidst the darkness like a beacon.

He couldn't hide.

Tōsen's reiatsu suddenly flickered, vanishing for an instant, then reappearing right in front of me. The bones rattled in my arm as I blocked the angry, diagonal slash with a flick of the wrist, his spiritual pressure clashing against mine, only to find an immovable object.

For a tense heartbeat, he stood there, frozen still as a statue, his reiatsu wavering like a rippling pond. I took full advantage of his shock, pointing my middle finger at him.

"Rikujōkōrō."

With a single word, six beams of light formed around the blind fuck, stabbing him in the torso as he staggered to a halt. His reiatsu surged in a hasty attempt to break free, yet those rods of energy barely budged.

"Aizen this, justice that..." I sheathed my sword with a sigh as I shaped my reiatsu with atomic precision. "Gimme a break, nigga."

His struggling was slowly pushing the beams apart, though it was too late. I gestured with a hand in his direction, two fingers curled up, a black spark crackling above my palm.

"Hadō #90, Kurohitsugi."

A torrent of spiritual energy rippled outwards, the air thickening with an oppressive weight. That dense haze surrounded Tōsen in the blink of an eye, enveloping him in a malevolent coffin that briefly warped his Bankai.

My smile dimmed as I stood there, in deathly silence.

Still only about a third of its power…

From one moment to another, the pervading darkness suddenly vanished, sound and color returning to the world. Tōsen stood there, unmoving, his face a rictus of pain. A heartbeat later, blood spurted from gashes all over his body, and the man dropped to his knees, crumpling to the ground like a puppet without strings.

Dusting my hands, I looked around in search for my prize, smiling as I spotted it lying on the ground amidst the distant trees. As I walked away though, a weak, strained voice suddenly reached my ears.

"H-how…"

Pausing mid-step, I glanced over my shoulder, a tinge of mirth bubbling in my chest. "Fuck you, that's how."

I waited for a moment longer, but he'd gone quiet, simply lying there motionlessly on the ground in a Yamcha worthy pose. I could probably kill him, but maybe I should deal with him another way…

I'd lost enough brownie points with Soul Society already.

Hmm… My lips drew a thoughtful line as I stood there, my gaze drifting to the sword at my hip.

Yeah, that could work.

Shrugging, I walked up to the white haori and searched through the pockets, smiling in satisfaction as I pulled out this world's version of the infinity stone. A tiny blue orb that shone like a star to my eyes as I held it in my palm.

I finally did it, Rangiku...

Despite the satisfaction on my lips, a sour feeling lodged in my chest at the reminder. I shoved it away, clenching my fist around the hogyōku as my gaze shifted to the dark and eerily quiet forest surrounding me.

...but what did it cost...

<[]>

She stood rooted in the same spot, staring at the burnt orange hues painting the sky. People rushed around the place to help with the injured, but the crushing weight in her chest made it impossible to move.

"I'll help stabilize Captain Kuchiki until the Fourth Division shows up." Nanao spoke up from nearby as people rushed around the place to help the injured.

"Ah, Nanao, my dear, reliable as always." Even Captain Kyōraku's light-hearted tone did little to alleviate the somber mood.

"Someone help me with the Ryoka boy! I can see his spine!" Another voice rose above the commotion.

"Don't move him!" And another.

She couldn't help much, though. She wasn't good enough at kaidō. She'd only end up getting in the way if she tried. The others had this handled...

Her eyes drifted back to the twilight sky, that deep ache twisting inside her like a dull knife as her shoulders fell with a shuddering breath.

Gin...

Why deceive everyone like that?

Why leave?

He'd promised her...

Did these last few days mean nothing to him?

Why, Gin...?

Just when she thought that things would finally go back to the way they used to—

"Matsumoto, are you alright?"

She barely registered the voice, her gaze leaving the sky as a broad figure entered her vision. Iba stopped in front of her, a concerned look furrowing his brow.

"Yeah…" she said, hating how quiet and weak her voice sounded.

She took a slow, centering breath, sheathing Haineko at her hip with a quiet sigh.

"I'm fine," she said, despite the way her heart clenched as Gin's face surfaced again to her mind.

She just needed a drink...

<[]>

"It is time, Gin."

A sibilant voice carried across the verdant garden, breaking the eerie quiet. I couldn't muster more than a tired sigh as I glared at the pale-skinned man who stood across from me, in the shade of a nearby tree.

"Do you seriously have to be like this?"

Amber, snake-like eyes pierced me with quiet intensity, not a single muscle twitching on Shinsō's dour face.

"We have already agreed on this. Aizen is dead. You have avenged her. My end of the bargain has been fulfilled. Now comes yours."

"I know, but this is so annoying." I couldn't help the whine in my voice. Shit was going to hit the fan in a couple years, and my magic sword was about to go on strike.

Did this jackass expect me to fight the Quincy army with kidō? Those motherfuckers could absorb reishi.

Shinsō stepped out from beneath the shade of the tree, his scale armor clinking softly as he crossed his arms. "You should be thankful that I allowed you this much."

A derisive snort escaped me. "Yeah, I'm very thankful. Shit's about to get real, and ya givin' me the cold shoulder."

Zanpakutō of the year, right there.

"Don't try to spin it around, Gin." His eyes narrowed as he spoke. "You know exactly why this is happening."

A flash of indignant anger flared in my chest, his piercing glare doing little to quench it. "Yeah, yeah. You don't like me anymore, I get it."

Shinsō didn't seem to appreciate my sarcasm, the tribal, snake-like tattoo on his face shifting ever so slightly as he frowned. "And instead of listening to me, you are doubling down."

"Because I have a plan."

What was so hard to understand?

"A plan you could've done differently."

Yeah, and risk getting myself killed instead of going with the safest bet. Brilliant.

"Not with this timeline. I couldn't do it with Soul Society breathing down my neck."

Maybe if I'd woken up a decade or a century ago, I could've played it by the rules. But with less than a couple years left to prepare? I couldn't risk getting my pale ass thrown in super jail before I was ready.

"You've lied to her and left her behind again."

My heart clenched at the reminder. "I had to. I'm not dragging her into this shit."

"That's a lie and you know it," Shinsō said with a scoff. "You're not fooling yourself."

Those words hung in the air for a tense moment, the brief staring contest reaching an abrupt end as I pushed a heavy sigh through my nose. Talking to this guy was so annoying. Did other people feel the same when talking to me?

"Whatever." I made a dismissive gesture with my hand. "I'll go back when I'm ready. She's a big girl. She handled it just fine for the past century. What's another month or so?"

"Gin wouldn't have done that."

"So what?" I cocked an eyebrow. "I'm the new and improved Gin. Ichimaru two point oh."

"Improved?" Shinsō mirrored the gesture, mouth quirking sardonically. "You went to Hueco Mundo to cavort with the Arrancars."

The ghost of a sneer pulled at my lip, that spark of annoyance lighting up again inside my chest. "And what's so wrong about wanting to fill some hollow holes?"

Part of me could've only dreamt about this moment, and now I finally had the chance to fulfill it. I wasn't giving that up just because it offended this guy's sensibilities.

"Gin wouldn't have done that," he said, sounding like a broken record, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

"I'm not the same Gin."

I thought we were over this shit already, but apparently not.

"And therein lies the problem."

God, we were just going circles around each other...

"And why can't you just accept this?"

The question hung between us for a tense moment, Shinsō's face staying as if carved from stone throughout all of it.

"That's all I had to say, Gin," he eventually spoke, his tone carrying a note of sadness. "I hope we'll meet again, but that depends on you."

A sour feeling twisted inside my stomach. We might have our differences, but he was still a part of me.

"See ya," I said, giving my zanpakutō spirit a half-hearted wave.

"Farewell, until you rediscover yourself." A brief, sad smile crossed Shinsō's face, and then, with a flash of light, he vanished, the garden once again turning eerily quiet.

I stood there, staring at the empty spot, arms crossed.

Rediscover myself?

A mirthless scoff escaped me as my gaze drifted to the dark clouds in the distant sky. Yeah, right.

Frowning, I took one last look around and closed my eyes, ready to leave. Just then, a flash of strawberry blonde hair and a warm smile surfaced to mind, and my shoulders sagged with a weary sigh.

I won but… this victory tasted like ash.

<[]>

Author's Note: I only had a vague plan for a Bleach story, but then I finally caught up with the TYBW anime, and my muse wouldn't shut up. So here we are. A sort of self insert as Gin. It's another fusion scenario, and while Gin 2.0 is still mostly Gin, he's different enough that Shinsō revoked his privileges :V

Also, for those of you who are curious about the timeline, the self insert happened 1-2 weeks before the start of this chapter. Everything up to this point happened the same as in canon, aside from a few interactions between Gin and Rangiku, and some small surprises that Gin left behind before leaving to buy milk.