Bleach: The Two Gods of One Family

With Aiyan returning to his captain haori, being awarded the title of "Shinigami Hero" by Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, and the award ceremony concluding, the Hollow incident that had shocked Seireitei finally came to an end.

"Let's go!"

"Why don't we go see Hirako?"

"That's fine."

"Just think of it as bringing closure to this matter!~"

After leaving the First Division.

Muguruma Kensei, Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō, and other Gotei captains and Lieutenants who had been friends with Hirako Shinji looked at each other and chatted as they walked.

After passing through the streets and numerous buildings and leaving Seireitei, the group finally stopped in front of an inconspicuous tomb in the third district of Rukongai.

As a former Gotei captain, even if deposed, he was still a Shinigami.

Originally, after dying in the line of duty, one could be buried in Seireitei for future generations of Shinigami to remember.

However, due to the Hollow experiment and the massacre of the Kuchiki family, Hirako Shinji was directly stripped of his Shinigami status. Even after death, the only preserved head was not allowed to be buried in Seireitei.

In desperation, they could only bury Hirako Shinji — whose body had been reduced to just a head — near his former residence before becoming a Shinigami.

"Hirako, I really didn't expect you to start such a big event without saying a word."

Muguruma Kensei stood in front of Hirako Shinji's grave, placing his hand on the tombstone, his tone full of regret and sorrow.

"Speaking of this, it's our fault. If we had been more decisive and tied Hirako to the Fourth Division by force, and let Captain Unohana examine his spirit, maybe there would have been a chance to save him."

Love Aikawa shook his head and said regretfully while burning paper offerings to worship Hirako Shinji.

He had already registered a mental health appointment for Hirako Shinji in the Fourth Division, but the latter insisted he wasn't sick and refused treatment.

"No, it's my fault."

"I'm his Lieutenant. I should have watched this idiot more closely and stopped him from messing around."

"If I had stopped him when he went to the Shin'ō Academy, or at least notified all of you, instead of helping him distract Shiba and letting him hold a grudge against the Sosuke brothers, he wouldn't have ended up like this today."

Sarugaki Hiyori sighed, her reddened eyes slightly moist.

"Losing to Aiyan… I didn't expect the blow to be so severe. It completely distorted his entire being."

"Hollow, genocide…"

"Hehehe, this guy really messed up!"

Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō shook his head.

"Hirako, this time we came here not just to pay respects, but also to tell you one more thing."

"Perhaps, your soul in hell will find it unpleasant to hear, but all of us investigated many times, and whether it's Aiyan or Aizen, there really is no problem."

"We couldn't find any evidence for your suspicions about Aiyan, not even a motive. Instead, we found out that Aiyan and Aizen spared you again and again, didn't care about you, and even put in good words for you in front of the captain, trying to restore you to your position as a Gotei captain."

"What about you? You always targeted Aiyan's younger brother, but those two brothers were broad-minded. We also talked to Aiyan and Aizen — they held no grudges against you and even said that death is like a blown-out lamp."

"So, that's it for now. Rest in peace."

After Yadoumaru Lisa finished speaking, she took a deep breath and stood up.

"That's it for today."

"Mm!"

"Let's go, Hirako, see you later."

After burning all the offerings to Hirako Shinji, who was now far away in hell, Muguruma Kensei, Sarugaki Hiyori, and the others sighed, then slowly turned and left with their heads lowered.

Only Hirako Shinji's grave remained, sitting alone in the empty clearing of Rukongai.

… 

Woo woo

Suddenly.

A cold wind blew by, picking up a few fallen leaves and branches, sweeping them toward the tombstone.

Snap

Just as the withered yellow leaves and branches were about to hit the tombstone, a hand suddenly stretched out, swatting them away. Then, someone sat down in front of Hirako Shinji's tombstone without paying any attention to the dust on the ground.

"How sad! You died with only one head left, and among all your friends, not a single one believed in you."

"Should I say Captain Hirako was terrifying? Or should I say Brother Aiyan was terrifying!"

"It's so perfect that even after Aiyan cut off your head himself, captains and Lieutenants like Muguruma Kensei, Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō, Love Aikawa, and others not only didn't blame Aiyan, they still believed in him — even thanking him, not holding grudges against you."

… 

Urahara Kisuke took off his black cloak and looked at Hirako Shinji's tombstone with complicated eyes.

The last time they met was at Shin'ō Academy.

The next time they met, it was Soul Society and hell.

"No wonder."

"There were so many close friends around you, like Gotei captains and Lieutenants, yet in the end you could only choose to trust me, a stranger."

"You bet everything on me, someone you had only met once."

Urahara Kisuke murmured, his eyes gradually turning dazed, as the scene of his last meeting with Hirako Shinji emerged in his mind.

That was the third day after Kōga was imprisoned.

… 

In the dormitory of Shin'ō Academy.

"Why are you here?"

After class, Urahara Kisuke returned to the dormitory as usual, preparing to tinker with his inventions.

Unexpectedly, when he opened the door, he saw Hirako Shinji's figure.

His first reaction was resistance.

After all, when Hirako Shinji had threatened Aizen, he saw it with his own eyes.

"Your tone is full of disgust and rejection."

"It's really disappointing. I thought you were as intelligent as I believed, but I never expected you to be just another fool who can't even see through Brother Aiyan's disguise."

"Urahara Kisuke, it seems you're not as smart as I thought."

"It's in vain that I waited here for you so long and placed such high hopes on you. Forget it, just consider it a walk."

As soon as Hirako Shinji heard Urahara Kisuke's tone, he knew the latter was someone already fooled by the Aiyan brothers. He immediately lost all interest in talking, stood up from the chair, stuffed his hands into his pockets, and walked out of the dormitory, full of disappointment.

"Everyone is blinded by lard."

"How can there be so many good people in Soul Society?"

"As long as you reverse the entire story and look at who benefits in the end, you'll find the biggest suspect."

He whispered as he passed Urahara Kisuke.

"Why do you say that Kōga is innocent and Aiyan and Aizen are the masterminds behind it?"

Urahara Kisuke pondered slightly. Just as Hirako Shinji stepped out of the dormitory with one foot, he suddenly spoke.

How smart he was — although Hirako Shinji hadn't explicitly stated it, he had already guessed that the other party was referring to Kōga and the rebellion.

"On my life."

Hirako Shinji turned around, faced Urahara Kisuke, and grinned.

"What do you mean?"

Urahara Kisuke frowned slightly when he heard this.

"Although I hate the Aiyan and Aizen brothers, it cannot be denied that they are truly terrifying."

"Whether it's Shinigami ability, methods, schemes, or intellect, the two brothers have Gotei 13 completely under their control. Even if I stay vigilant and never relax, constantly watching them, I still can't find any flaws."

"I know very well that if nothing unexpected happens, I will never be able to defeat them in this lifetime, not even once."

Hirako Shinji turned around, first praising the greatness of the Aiyan brothers, then suddenly shifted:

"So, it needs a little surprise."

...

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