Therefore, when Ailin mentioned encountering an acquaintance in the World of the Living, Haruko's first thought was of the villagers she had protected as a "shrine maiden" over a hundred years ago.
However, she also remembered that, back then, the average human lifespan was only fifty or sixty years.
It had been over a century. That village must have had four or five generations of descendants by now. How could there still be anyone she knew?
As expected, the moment she voiced this question, she was punished.
"How is that possible?"
Ailin chuckled, flicking Haruko's forehead.
"It's been over a hundred years since we last visited the World of the Living.
Even if those villagers were still alive, they would have passed away and been sent to the Soul Society. How could they still be in the World of the Living?
"Ugh…"
Haruko clutched her forehead and groaned.
She thought for a moment.
"You said it was someone we both know. Besides the villagers, the only other people we know in the World of the Living are Captain Urahara and Lady Yoruichi, right?"
Haruko's mind was finally working properly.
At least, those two wouldn't die of old age in a hundred years.
"No, while Captain Urahara and Lady Yoruichi are in the World of the Living, the acquaintance I sensed isn't one of them."
"Oh? Then who is it?"
Haruko's curiosity was piqued.
"It's Gin.
"Gin?"
"Gin?"
Haruko repeated Gin's name, her voice filled with surprise. Even Ailin could hear it.
After all, when Ailin took Gin as his disciple, Gin was still a child.
While Ailin and Haruko hadn't considered adopting him back then, she had been quite fond of Gin.
However, Gin had always been somewhat resistant to her affection.
Because, at that time, he believed that Rangiku Matsumoto was still suffering in Rukongai. He didn't deserve to be treated so kindly.
Of course, Gin's resistance didn't change Haruko's attitude towards him.
However, unable to withstand her kindness, Gin rarely visited the Kuchiki Clan afterwards.
It had been over a hundred years since Haruko last saw Gin.
"Let's go, Ailin. I want to see what he's become. I heard that he went to Hueco Mundo with that… that bad guy. I was worried about him. There's nothing in Hueco Mundo. How would he survive…?"
Seeing the sadness in Haruko's eyes, Ailin pulled her into an embrace, gently patting her back.
"Don't worry, Haruko.
"I'm watching over him.
"He'll be back in six months."
"Yes."
"Let's go see him now. That boy, he hasn't visited you in over a hundred years. I have to see if he's grown up!"
"Haha, Ailin, you're exaggerating…"
…
In the World of the Living, within a dilapidated ruin, two figures stood facing each other.
The setting sun stretched their shadows, painting a chilling scene amidst the overgrown vegetation.
One was a middle-aged man with a white buzz cut.
The other was a man with silver hair and fox-like eyes.
It seemed that the silver-haired man was saying something to the man with the buzz cut.
Suddenly, they both looked up at the sky.
Swoosh…
"So fast!"
A flicker of surprise crossed the buzz cut man's eyes.
He had just sensed a spiritual pressure approaching, and the newcomer was already practically before him.
"Oh?"
Ailin, carrying Haruko in his arms, landed gracefully. He instantly recognized the man standing opposite Gin Ichimaru.
It was one of the few remaining Bount, a race that had been nearly eradicated alongside the last Quincy hundreds of years ago.
He was also the only one the remaining Bount considered their leader— Jin Kariya!
Gin actually knew a Bount?
No, Aizen knew a Bount?
"Gin!"
While Ailin was still pondering when Aizen had formed a connection with the Bount, Haruko had already run to Gin's side, pinching his arm.
"It's been over a hundred years, Gin. You've grown up, but you're still so thin. Have you been eating properly? Your teacher, too… I made so much food for you, wanting to help you gain some weight, but he insisted on training you and wouldn't bring you home for dinner…"
Haruko's incessant chatter made Gin, who had seemed calm and collected before Kariya, feel awkward.
For him, his greatest wish was to reclaim what Rangiku Matsumoto had lost.
Because he knew Aizen's strength, even Gin, at his current level, wasn't confident in surviving a confrontation with him.
Therefore, he had deliberately severed some of his attachments.
This way, even if he failed, no one would grieve for him.
However, some bonds couldn't be so easily broken.
Like Ailin, and Haruko.
Seeing Gin occupied, Kariya knew this wasn't the time for a conversation. He glanced at Ailin warily, then summoned a whirlwind and disappeared.
"Oh? How interesting."
Ailin's eyes narrowed slightly. He had seen how Kariya, or rather, how the Bount, used their powers.
The Bount were a tragic race.
They weren't a naturally occurring species. They were born from an experiment conducted by the Seireitei, an experiment that had accidentally broken the barrier between the Soul Society and the World of the Living, allowing spiritual particles to leak into the human world. These particles were then absorbed by humans, giving birth to the Bount.
That experiment had been an attempt to achieve "soul immortality."
It was also an attempt to save the world.
Since the Soul Society's energy was constantly being depleted, if they could create immortal souls, then the rate of depletion would be greatly reduced.
Perhaps they could even make all souls immortal, preventing the Soul Society's destruction.
Sadly, the experiment failed.
Well, it was only half a failure.
Those humans who absorbed the leaked spiritual particles had become "immortal."
However, their "immortality" came with a condition.
They had to absorb the lifespan of human souls to sustain their own lives.
Sacrificing the many to grant immortality to the few wasn't beneficial to the world.
In a sense, the Bount were similar to Hollows. Both consumed human souls.
However, unlike Hollows, Bount were ordinary humans. They possessed immortality, but they lacked the power to protect themselves.
As immortals, they were ostracized by humans.
And as beings who consumed human souls, they were rejected by the Seireitei.
This forced the Bount to live in the shadows, constantly facing the threat of being hunted by Hollows.
After all, compared to humans, Bount possessed much stronger spiritual pressure.
To Hollows, they were delicious prey.
Thankfully, back then, there was another group being hunted by the Shinigami—the Quincy!
It was under the Quincy's protection that the Bount were able to survive.
However, when the Quincy were slaughtered, the Bount, who had been living alongside them, also suffered.
After centuries of being hunted, fewer than ten Bount remained.
…
Ailin noticed that the way Kariya used his power was similar to the Quincy.
Quincy could use their Quincy Cross to gather reishi, forming bows and arrows.
Bount, however, lacked the ability to directly control reishi. They could only imbue objects with souls, indirectly manipulating reishi, just like the Quincy.
"Gin, that was a Bount, wasn't it?"
Ailin didn't stop Kariya from leaving.
After all, based on his memories, the events that would happen to the Bount were arguably the most fitting end for them.
However, what surprised Ailin was that, based on their interaction, it was clear that Gin and Kariya had met before.
So, Aizen had been planning this for centuries?
It wasn't that Ailin looked down on the Bount.
With their limited numbers and Ran'Tao, their creator, in her unstable state, they couldn't solve the problem of their powerlessness.
Seeing Gin, Ailin realized that Aizen was behind the Bount's transformation from prey to predator.
Only Aizen, whose intellect rivaled Urahara's, could modify the Quincy's Quincy Cross, allowing the Bount to use it.
"As expected of Teacher Ailin. You even know about the Bount."
Ailin's question freed Gin from Haruko's enthusiastic chatter.
Looking at Gin's fake smile, Ailin sighed.
"Well, I am the one who intends to cleanse the Seireitei. How could I not know about the sins it has committed?"
"Then, Gin, did Aizen send you to meet with that Bount?"
"Indeed, Teacher Ailin. It will take Captain Aizen at least six months to fuse with the Hōgyoku. To prevent the Seireitei from interfering, he wants to create some chaos. The Bount are just one of his plans."
A black spatial rift opened beside Gin.
"Oh dear, Captain Aizen is summoning me. Teacher Ailin, I've completed my mission in the World of the Living. I'll take my leave now. I hope you and Lady Kuchiki enjoy your vacation."
With those words, Gin stepped into the Garganta and vanished.
"Gin, you talk too much."
After returning to Hueco Mundo through the Garganta, Gin appeared in Las Noches' main hall.
Sōsuke Aizen, sitting on his throne, his expression domineering, said to Gin.
Standing opposite Gin was a slender figure.
Ulquiorra Cifer, the Cuarta Espada!
Gin noticed that Ulquiorra's left eye was still a hollow socket. In the center of the hall, a screen made from reishi displayed Ailin and Haruko's faces.
This was Ulquiorra's ability. He could project his vision for others to see.
"Oh dear, oh dear, I couldn't help it, Captain Aizen. You know, if I had lied to Captain Ailin, I wouldn't have returned."
Ulquiorra's remaining eye turned to look at Gin.
As the most trusted Espada under Aizen, Ulquiorra was both powerful and loyal.
Of course, he also knew that, while Gin Ichimaru might appear frivolous, his strength was second only to Aizen's.
This was evident from Aizen's attitude towards him.
And now, Gin had claimed that he couldn't lie to Captain Ailin. Was Aizen truly going to let him off so easily?
Ulquiorra looked at Ailin, now clad in a suit, on the screen. He canceled his ability and used High-Speed Regeneration to restore his eye.
"Indeed, encountering Captain Ailin is an unforeseen circumstance. I forgive you, Gin. Besides, even if the Bount couldn't buy us much time, I still have other plans… Ulquiorra, I'm entrusting those two children to you. When the time comes, I need you to send them to the Seireitei. Can you do that?"
"As you command, Lord Aizen."
Ulquiorra bowed slightly. "Based on the spatial coordinates you left in the Seireitei, I can open a Garganta directly to their location. However, once I do, the Seireitei will discover it. We won't be able to use it again. Are you sure this is acceptable, Lord Aizen?"
"There's no problem, Ulquiorra."
Aizen chuckled. "Once everything is ready, nothing in this world can stop me! Ulquiorra, believe me. Follow my lead, and there will be no one who can defeat us!"
"Yes, Lord Aizen!"
Gin narrowed his eyes, watching as Ulquiorra left the hall.