• Note to Reader: This is a fan-fiction. All that follows is not part of the actual show.

    Bleach: Pawns of Despair

    Chapter 0: Temptation




    HIDDEN DEEP WITHIN THE EIGHTH AND LOWEST LEVEL of the underground prison of the soul society, Aizen Sosuke sat motionless, bound in black bands that completely covered his body. He could not see, could not hear, and he could not escape. The battle he fought was nearly successful, but he was defeated, sentenced to prison for twenty-thousand years. Today marked his first year.

    tab He grinned underneath his mask. Ninety-nine thousand, nine-hundred and ninety-nine more to go, he thought, although he was not pleased. It has been one year, but Aizen desperately wanted out. The imprisonment was driving him insane. He had tried many times to demand release, but the thick membrane of the bands blocked his voice. He tried to move his fists and break free, but they were too strong. Freedom was his wish. Revenge was his desire.

    tab “My, my! What a mess you’ve turned out to be.” A voice came from across the room, “You are practically covered—not even your eyes are visible. Oh, I bet how lovely those eyes may be.”

    tab Aizen became startled. Was that a woman? He thought. But how? I cannot hear…

    tab “Your ears did not mistake you, my dear, for you did hear my voice.” She answered, as if she heard his thoughts.

    tab Aizen gasped. How did she get in here? There should be guards all over the prison! How did she know my thoughts?! Who are you, woman? Speak to me!

    tab Then, he could see. He could hear. His mouth was free and his hands were exposed from the black bands that enveloped him. He looked about the room. It was pitch black, well, at first. Suddenly appearing ten feet in front of him, glowing like a saint, was a hooded woman. From underneath her hood, he could see her crimson lips sparkle like blood and her eyes glowing gold. Her skin was beautifully pale and long, brown hair flowed over her rouge cheeks. Her stare was irresistible.

    tab Without moving his eyes away from the beauty, Aizen spoke for the first time in one year, “Who are you?”

    tab The woman smiled deviously. Her black cloak flew in a wind that was not there, creating the illusion that she was floating.

    tab “That is a question in which I cannot give an answer for there are many. Let’s just say I am here for you.” She was now directly in front of him, her soft hands holding his face, her lips nearly upon his.

    tab Chills came down Aizen’s spine and he opened his mouth for the kiss he desperately wanted. His eyes drooped down and he could see down the woman’s cloak. She was indeed bare underneath. Something about her was not right and he knew it, but he felt like he needed her.

    tab “What do you want?” he asked, almost in a whisper.

    tab The strange woman brushed her fingers through his hair and brought his cheek to hers. Her right hand swept down to his chest and stopped at his heart. She paused for a moment as if she was feeling its beat. She raised her head towards his ear.

    tab “How would you like to be…” she paused, “…free?”

    tab Aizen held his breath and stared past her, into the darkness. He closed his mouth and shifted his eyes to the side. “Impossible.”

    tab She laughed, “You assume too much.” She stood up and lifted his chin. “What if I can set you free? What if I can slip you past the security and out of this hellhole without having anyone notice your disappearance? What if we take the Seirietei without trouble? It’s quite easy, I can tell you that.” She dropped his head and turned around.

    tab Aizen glared up at her. “Do you really think you can do all that?” He sat up straight, “DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT I CAN ESCAPE AND ATTEMPT TO TAKE THE SEIREITEI ONCE MORE? IT’S IMPOSSIBLE, WOMAN. IMPOSS--” He hesitated for her eyes were staring back at him. He saw pity in them.

    tab “I do not think so, I know so. After all, I’ve already removed your seal.” She pointed at his chair. “And I managed to get in here without even being suspected. So far, so good. Am I right?”

    tab Aizen was speechless. She was right. The woman returned to him and placed her hands upon his chest. The feeling of temptation swept through him again and his heart raced. “What’s the catch?”

    tab The words triggered her devious smile and her hand played with his hair. “I need something of yours.”

    tab “Why do you need it? What will I get in return?” Aizen asked without thinking. Why the hell did I say that? He thought. It’s as if she was controlling what he was saying.

    tab “Oh, you will get your freedom! You will be with me forever and you’ll get your chance for revenge.” She answered, suspiciously.

    tab Aizen liked the sound of that. Maybe I should listen to her, he suggested to himself.

    tab “And the Seireitei? Will I have that?”

    tab “Yes, yes you will. We will. You and I will destroy it and replace it with a new one. A better one.” She kissed his forehead. Her bare legs climbed on top of his lap and her hands softly brushed his hair.

    tab Aizen closed his eyes. “And will I be the new king?”

    tab “Yes. And I will be your queen.” She added.

    tab Aizen thought for a moment. These were good offers. They were everything that he wanted. The woman was very intriguing and lovely. Maybe that was what he was missing. Someone to come home to after he had won.

    tab “What is it that you need, my dear?”

    tab The woman pushed herself away from Aizen and looked at him. She was grinning that demonic smile of hers. When she said the answer, it sounded as if it came straight from hell.

    tab “Your soul.”

    tab Aizen laughed aloud once she said it. It was completely obvious and pathetic.

    tab “My soul? That is the most ridiculous thing I ever heard. Completely absurd! What are you woman, a witch? You speak like the devil!”

    tab She was silent and smiling.

    tab “Why do you wish for my soul?” he asked.

    tab It took a moment before she spoke. She was staring at him when he was mocking her. Her eyes lost their luminosity and her face seemed greyer. She still smiled. All was going according to plan.

    tab “The Hogyuku, of course.”

    tab Aizen’s eyes widened. He held his breath, speechless. He shivered at the name. The Ho-Hogyuku?

    tab “I no longer have it! It reversed its power within me! Reversed itself out of existence!” he shouted.

    tab The woman watched him as he spoke. Pity was in her eyes. She was not smiling. Her mood had completely changed and when she replied, her voice was a deeper tone.

    tab “You are wrong. The Hogyuku did not reverse itself. It was not recognizing you as its master. The Hogyuku absorbed your soul. With your soul, it will unleash its power, and it will be far greater than what it gave you. You will die, Aizen, when this happens. The Hogyuku will take control over your body or whatever your helpless soul is clinging on to. To save your life, I must have your soul.”

    tab Aizen stared at the woman in disbelief. What he was hearing was indeed terrifying but she could be lying. He thought for a moment trying to decipher down her words. It seemed true. He decided to trust her.

    tab “How are you going to do this?” he asked, ready.

    tab The woman smiled deviously, but it was unlike the others. Aizen noticed that her face was out of proportion as well. It was as if she was growing older. She glided over, the grin getting bigger. She withdrew something from her cloak—a peculiar glove. She put it on.

    tab “This glove is very special. It can go through anything. Walls and doors, safes and vaults…flesh and bone. With it, I can reach into the pit that holds your soul, and I can pluck it out!” She placed her hand upon his shoulder and raised her gloved hand over his chest. “There is some pain, but it gets the job done. Are you ready?”

    tab Aizen was breaking sweat; he was nervous. He could not believe that he trusted her. He didn’t want to, but something in his conscious was urging him to. She’s controlling him, that’s for sure. He tried to pull away but she pulled back. Before he knew it, she reached into him, her hand slightly touching every organ. He screamed out, the pain was intolerable. He tried to strangle her, but his hands would not move as if they were still strapped to the chair. Take the pain, he heard his conscious say, you will gain the Seireitei. Aizen closed his eyes and clenched his jaw, ignoring his controlled mind and fighting the force that was holding him down. Then it all faded away once she grabbed it. His eyes snapped open and he looked straight into red, glowing eyes.

    tab “Finally!” she hissed.

    tab Immediately, she yanked her arm out, holding a glowing orb in her gloved hand. Aizen’s chest rose up with it and fell limp into the chair. He could barely breathe and he felt extremely cold. His eyes blurred and all feeling disappeared except for the emptiness that he felt within his entire body. His unsupported head fell down. He looked up with his blurring eyes and watched the woman walk away laughing; admiring the orb, he believed to be his soul.

    tab “Hey!” He shouted, “W-where are you going?”

    tab The woman turned around and glared at him with her red eyes. The skin on her face had completely shrunk to the bone. “I’m finished here.” She said, her voice shrilled and haunting.

    tab “But…but….What about the deal?”

    tab “What deal?”

    tab “T-The Seireitei! You said it would be mine. That you would free me and I would be king. You said…you said…”

    tab “That I must have your soul?”

    tab Aizen hesitated. He gasped for air, his chest heaved heavily and sweat beads trickled down his forehead. He trusted her when he should not have. Now she’s running off with his soul.

    tab “You LIAR! You lied to me! You tricked me and now you have my soul! I can’t believe I trusted you. But you...you...TEMPTED ME! You tempted me and you LIED TO ME, you whore!"

    tab The woman smiled one last time, “Lied to you? Tempted you? HA. Precisely.”

    tab She turned her back and disappeared into the darkness, leaving Aizen still tied to the black bands in his prison chair.






    To Be Continued...