After countless years in Hueco Mundo — endless, bleak skies and sand that tasted like disappointment — I'd forgotten almost everything about my past life.
My father's face?
Gone.
My mother's voice?
Gone.
My old name?
I think it started with a "K"… or maybe a "D"? Whatever.
Most of the Bleach world's story and characters had turned to dust in my mind too. Those Four Idiots I fought the other day? I only knew their names because they had to introduce themselves like clowns at a birthday party.
"I'm Edrad!"
"I'm Yylfordt!"
Yeah, yeah. I still can't remember who did what in the actual story though.
Even the number of Espada members?
No clue.
Five? Ten? A hundred?
I forget.
And don't even ask me about the Bleach protagonist. What was his name again?
Ichibei? Ichibone?
No… something orange.
Bah, I forget.
But there were two people, two faces, burned so deep into my mind they survived centuries of emptiness.
Aizen Sōsuke.
The man I hated most in the world. That smug, calm face, like he's always the smartest and most handsome guy in the room. I hate it.
And the other?
Shinji Hirako.
The only character in Bleach I loved.
Why?
Because I'm pretty sure the creator of Bleach — whatever his name was, probably Ku…Kubo? — was secretly stalking me and made Shinji's character and personality based on me.
We both act stupid, but we're secretly smart.
And we both aren't handsome.
I'm taller though.
Why am I bringing this up?
Because the first two people I see when I open the Garganta today…
are Aizen and Shinji.
Yup. No kidding.
The plan was simple: me and my Bone Circle would sneak into Rukon District again, cause a little chaos far away from the Seireitei where the big dogs hang out. No captains. We safe
Baraggan tagged along too, his lazy skeleton butt somehow managing to stay awake long enough to play translator for my roars.
The Garganta split open, and there they were.
Aizen, with his smug face.
And Shinji, looking like a whole mess after his Hollowfication thing.
Also there?
Urahara Kisuke and Tessai, mid-confrontation with Aizen. I vaguely remembered this scene from somewhere, like a blurry old photo in my head.
The moment we stepped out, the four of them turned to us, their spiritual pressure flaring. Even Shinji, who looked half-dead, narrowed his eyes.
Aizen adjusted his glasses and said something in that calm voice of his.
I couldn't understand a word of it.
So I did what I always do.
I roared.
"GRAAAAHHHHRRR!"
Baraggan cleared his throat.
"He says… 'Sup losers. We just passing through.'"