Kyōraku’s Invitation  

"What do I think of Captain Ailin?"

Izuru Kira paused to consider Momo Hinamori's question. "Hinamori, when I first joined the Gotei 13, I was assigned to the Fourth Division. I might not know Captain Ailin as well as you do."

For some reason, he decided to omit Ailin's visit and their subsequent training session. He was still unsure of Ailin's stance on Aizen's betrayal. While Ailin had outwardly supported the Seireitei, that night's training had left Kira with a lingering sense of unease, a feeling that he had misunderstood the entire situation.

 Aizen's power, revealed through his Zanpakutō's ability, was undeniable. But was he truly unstoppable? Both Yamamoto and Ailin possessed the strength to defeat, even kill, Aizen. So why had they allowed him to leave?

And Gin Ichimaru… Ailin's disciple. Was his allegiance to Aizen genuine, or was he acting on Ailin's orders?

Ailin had assured him that Gin would return in six months. What made him so certain? The machinations of these powerful figures were beyond Kira's comprehension. He couldn't decipher the true meaning behind their actions. He knew his own limitations. He needed to become stronger, to reach captain-level, before he could even begin to understand the Seireitei's secrets.

He pushed these thoughts aside. He didn't want to burden Hinamori with such complexities. She deserved a carefree life, unburdened by the weight of these secrets. As that thought crossed his mind, he wondered if this desire to protect her, to shield her from the darkness, was the same motivation driving the captains' decisions.

"I suppose you're right," Hinamori said, oblivious to Kira's internal struggle. She slumped back in her chair, listlessly flipping through the reports. Kira's words had deflated her.

"Hinamori, why are you asking me about Captain Ailin?" Kira asked. "As the Fifth Division's lieutenant, aren't you the closest to him? What you learn from others will differ from your own experiences. Why not find out for yourself what kind of person he is?"

He continued, "Do you realize how envious the other divisions are? Captain Ailin has trained several captains. Shouldn't you be taking advantage of this opportunity, asking for his guidance? Don't you want to become stronger? Do you want to be left behind by the others?" Despite his resolve to bear the weight of his own burdens, he wanted Hinamori to focus on her training. Strength was essential for survival.

"Stronger…" Hinamori sat up abruptly. Kira's words struck a chord. She had forgotten. She remembered the despair she had felt when she had discovered Aizen's "death," her helplessness when she had confronted Gin Ichimaru, believing him to be the killer, her frustration when she had been unable to even touch him, her desperation when she had received Aizen's letter, revealing the "true" culprit, and her fury when she had been stopped from confronting Ailin.

While it had all been a ruse orchestrated by Aizen, the emotions she had felt had been real. The pain, the confusion, the sense of betrayal. Knowing that Aizen was alive, even if he had deceived her, had brought a strange sense of peace. But she had wasted precious time, failing to ask Ailin for guidance.

"You're right, Kira. I'm too weak. I can't even compare to some of the seated officers in our own division." As the Fifth Division's lieutenant, she had often assisted Aizen in assigning missions. She knew that several of their seated officers possessed exceptional skills, completing missions she herself would have struggled with.

"I'm the lieutenant! If I can't even command respect through strength, I'm disgracing Captain Ailin. Tomorrow, when he arrives, I'll ask for his guidance!" She clenched her fists, her resolve firm. But then, she glanced at the mountain of paperwork on her desk and slumped back in her chair.

Ailin was no Aizen. While Aizen had always meticulously cleared his desk, Ailin… she suspected those first few days, when he had cleared the backlog of reports, had been his most productive period.

With a sigh, she joined Kira in tackling the paperwork. Thankfully, Kira's experience helped lighten the load. Still, the thought of Ailin relaxing somewhere, enjoying himself while they worked, made her teeth grind.

…

"Ailin! Long time no see. Care for a drink?"

A woman's intuition was a force to be reckoned with.

Ailin, on his way home, had been intercepted by Shunsui Kyōraku, who raised his sake cup from a second-story window of a tavern.

"Kyōraku! It would be rude to refuse such a gracious invitation." He knew Kyōraku wouldn't invite him for a casual drink without a reason. He was either seeking information or trying to convey something subtly.

He entered the tavern and joined Kyōraku at his table. "You live the life, Kyōraku. I used to have such freedom, but Yamamoto took it away from me."

He was referring to his transfer from the Eleventh to the Fifth Division. With Zaraki as his lieutenant, a powerhouse rivaling the other captains, Ailin had rarely concerned himself with the Eleventh Division's affairs. Now, however, the Fifth Division lacked such a figure, forcing him to take a more active role.

Kyōraku smiled, acknowledging the truth in Ailin's words. Many of the captains, while diligently working through their reports, had been smiling more since Ailin's transfer. Shared joy may be rare, but shared misery, especially when it's someone else's misery, was a universal experience.

"Alright, Kyōraku. Let's not beat around the bush. Ask your questions. I'll answer what I can." After a few drinks, Ailin decided to be upfront. He respected Kyōraku.

While Yamamoto ruled through strength, Kyōraku ruled through wisdom and experience. He might appear carefree, but beneath that facade lay a shrewd mind. He understood human nature, their motivations, their desires. Even Ichibei Hyōsube, lauded for his wisdom by Yhwach, had been outmaneuvered by Kyōraku.

Ailin had always been honest with Kyōraku, just as he had been over two hundred years ago, when he had revealed Aizen's Zanpakutō ability and plans. Back then, Kyōraku, ever cautious, had suspected both Ailin and Aizen, even entertaining the outlandish theory that they were the same person.

Aizen's betrayal had shattered that theory, but Kyōraku's vigilance had forced Aizen to act in secret, manipulating events from the shadows. He had orchestrated the Central 46's assassination and influenced disgruntled Shinigami to join Rukia's noble cleansing, all while maintaining his facade.

"I knew I could count on you, Ailin," Kyōraku said, raising his cup. He was relieved that Ailin was being upfront. It eased his lingering doubts about his past judgment. But Kyōraku, ever the smooth talker, quickly recovered from his momentary embarrassment.

"Amagai has been… quite active lately."

"Indeed." Ailin nodded. He knew Kyōraku wouldn't ask his questions directly. He would weave them into the conversation, subtly probing for information.

"He's determined to improve the Third Division's image. He's been accepting every support mission that comes his way. He even took some of the Fifth Division's workload to boost his division's activity." Ailin didn't hide this fact. Kyōraku would find out eventually. As captain of the Eighth Division, the intelligence unit, Kyōraku had access to all mission reports, except those of the Second Division.

"I see…" Kyōraku took a sip of his sake.

"Ailin, what do you think of Amagai?" He finally asked the question Ailin had been expecting.

"I thought you'd never ask, Kyōraku," Ailin said, smiling.

"Never," Kyōraku replied, meeting his gaze. "I just want to know if your perception of him differs from mine."

"Very well. I'll give you my… assessment. Amagai is… too eager."

Those words, "too eager," struck a chord with Kyōraku. As the head of the intelligence unit, he had naturally investigated Amagai's background.