The Bount’s Hypocrisy?  

It wasn't until two hundred years ago, after Ailin forged a truce with Sōken Ishida, the "Last Quincy," that the Shinigami finally ceased their relentless hunt.

By then, Sōken was the only true Quincy left, with only a few scattered families—the Ishidas, the Kurosakis, the Katagiris—each reduced to a single descendant, clinging to their heritage. The Bount, too, had dwindled, with only ten surviving the centuries of persecution.

Later, Sōsuke Aizen, in his research on souls, rediscovered the Bount. After some experimentation, he created badges, inspired by the Quincy's Sternritter crosses, that the Bount could imbue with souls and manipulate. These became the core of the Bount's unique power: their Dolls.

Even with this newfound power, the Bount's plight remained unchanged. Shunned by humans and scorned by Shinigami, they could only use their Dolls for self-defense against Hollows. Adding to their despair, the Bount, as products of a failed experiment, were sterile. They couldn't reproduce, either with humans or with each other. They were a race without a future.

This knowledge fueled Jin Kariya's resolve. Even as a pawn in Aizen's game, he was willing to gamble. He wanted to give the Bount a dignified end.

"Hypocrites…"

Ailin was taken aback by Haruko's assessment. Had he failed to convey the Bount's tragic plight?

He had based his account on his previous life's memories and existing records, confident that his knowledge surpassed even that of Genryūsai Yamamoto. He had always felt a certain sympathy for the Bount. Why did Haruko see them as hypocrites?

Haruko rolled her eyes. "Isn't it obvious? You explained it yourself. Bount aren't truly immortal. If they were, how would they grow from children to adults? Their immortality is based on consuming human souls, stealing their lifespans to extend their own. If they truly wanted to die, they could simply stop absorbing souls and wait for their natural lifespan to end. They feed on human souls to survive, yet complain about being ostracized by humans? They want to live forever at the expense of others, and then expect to be welcomed with open arms? How absurd!"

She continued, "And why wouldn't the Soul Society accept them? Living humans have bodies that can recover from minor soul loss. But the souls in Rukongai have no such protection. If the Bount were allowed into the Soul Society, they would prey on the defenseless souls of the Rukongai, creating even more chaos." She shook her head.

Ailin understood the unspoken implication. The Bount's situation would be ten times worse in the Soul Society. In the World of the Living, they could at least operate in the shadows, discreetly absorbing enough soul energy to survive. But in the Soul Society, even the most powerful Bount would struggle against the ruthless inhabitants of the Rukongai districts. If their secret was exposed, they would be hunted relentlessly.

"I can't believe Ran'Tao, a scientist, wouldn't understand this. Yet, she still proposed that the Soul Society create a sanctuary for them? I suspect she was simply trying to justify her failed experiment, hoping to continue her research on the Bount."

Ailin stared at Haruko, speechless. Was this really his wife? He had never considered these implications. He had empathized with the Bount's tragic story, blinded by the memories of his past life. He hadn't realized that they were, in a sense, responsible for their own suffering.

As Haruko pointed out, the Bount's immortality came at a cost. If they chose to live like ordinary humans, they would be no different from anyone else, except for their inability to reproduce. Why play the victim while feeding on human souls?

The thought disgusted him. His perception of the Bount had completely flipped.

He also began to question his own judgment. Had he been blinded by his past life's memories, making assumptions without considering the consequences? He remembered Aizen's words to Jūshirō Ukitake, accusing him of arrogance.

Was he, Ailin, guilty of a similar arrogance, viewing the world through the lens of his past life?

The thought brought a wry smile to his lips.

"Haruko, you're brilliant," he said, stroking her hair. He now felt compelled to intervene in the Bount incident. He wouldn't allow them to exploit his sympathy any longer. Jin Kariya wanted to give the Bount a dignified end. Fine. Ailin would give them all a dignified end.

He considered his options and Uryū Ishida came to mind. The most resourceful member of Ichigo's group.

…

Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap!

Under the glow of streetlights, Uryū Ishida jogged through the night, his mind still reeling from the events in the Soul Society.

He had confronted Mayuri Kurotsuchi, the captain who had experimented on his grandfather. In a desperate gamble, he had broken the limiter on his Sanrei Glove, temporarily achieving a heightened Quincy state. But the power had come at a steep price: he had lost his Quincy abilities.

He was now like a Bount without a Doll, possessing spiritual pressure but no means to channel it.

Despite this loss, Uryū had continued his training. In fact, he trained harder than ever, knowing that he was now a prime target for Hollows, a delicious meal waiting to be devoured. He couldn't rely on his friends, Ichigo, Orihime, and Chad, to protect him forever. He needed to be able to defend himself.

He had dusted off some of the basic Quincy tools he had crafted in his younger days, enough to deal with smaller Hollows.

Suddenly, a shiver ran down his spine. Danger!

Even without his Quincy powers, his instincts screamed at him to retreat.

Footsteps echoed from the alleyway. Uryū stepped back with a small glass vial clutched in his hidden hand.

But as the figure emerged from the shadows, his eyes widened in disbelief.

"This… this can't be… Why are you here?"

…

Sōken Ishida had been Uryū's mentor, his grandfather, and his teacher. Uryū had always idolized him. But that day, he had witnessed his grandfather's helplessness, a stark reminder of the vast disparity in power. Even the terrifying Shinigami who had captured his grandfather had seemed like an insect before that… figure.

Uryū had joined Ichigo's rescue mission with a hidden agenda. He wanted to see that figure again, the one who had left such an indelible mark on his memory. But instead, he had encountered Kurotsuchi, forcing him to use his trump card.

He hadn't expected to see that figure here, in the World of the Living.

Ailin still looked as young, and as terrifying, as he remembered. Just standing before him made Uryū's soul tremble.

"Well, well," Ailin said, feigning surprise. "If it isn't Sōken's grandson, training so late at night."

Although it was a staged encounter, only Ailin knew that.

Uryū bowed his head respectfully. "My grandfather was grateful for your care, Captain Ailin."

"Care?" Ailin shook his head. "Unfortunately, I couldn't save him in the end. But I'm sure he was at peace when he passed."

Uryū, ever perceptive, caught the subtle implication. His grandfather's death was more complicated than he had thought.

"Also, young Ishida," Ailin continued. "Due to recent events, there have been some changes in the Gotei 13. I'm not a captain at the moment. Your grandfather used to call me 'senior.' If you don't mind, you can do the same."

"Yes, Senior Ailin," Uryū said, bowing slightly. He understood the significance of the gesture. By adopting his grandfather's address, he was acknowledging the connection between them, forging a bond that could prove invaluable in these uncertain times.

"Let's sit down," Ailin said, leading Uryū to a nearby park bench. Ailin sat casually, while Uryū remained stiff and formal.

"If I'm not mistaken, you've lost your Quincy powers, haven't you?" Ailin asked.

Uryū's eyes widened. This was the first time anyone had noticed. He decided to be honest. "Yes. I used a forbidden technique against Captain Kurotsuchi in the Soul Society. This is the price." A hint of bitterness crept into his voice. "And even with that power, I couldn't defeat him."

Ailin laughed. "Young man, do you realize who you fought? That was a Gotei 13 captain! As far as I know, besides myself, you're the only one who's ever managed to push him that far. You should be proud of that achievement."

Uryū was puzzled. Was there something he didn't know about Kurotsuchi? Why would Ailin consider it an achievement to merely injure him?

Ailin saw his confusion but didn't elaborate on Kurotsuchi's resilience. Without Ailin's prior interventions, Uryū would have been the only one in two centuries to inflict such damage on Mayuri Kurotsuchi.