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  Chapter 14: Kurayami III

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  "Akashi..." Akashi's attention by the voice right by him. He reluctantly took his eyes off his bde and saw that without him realizing it, several of the teachers appeared before him.

  "You... You’ve learned your Shikai?" Arisaka, the head instructor of Zanjutsu, stood at the forefront, his sharp eyes fixed on Akashi’s Zanpakuto.

  "I did," Akashi replied, his voice steady. A smile; rare and genuine; spread across his face, startling those who had grown used to his cold demeanor.

  For over a year, Akashi had been distant, rarely dispying any emotion beyond grim determination.

  The instructors exchanged gnces, their surprise evident. It wasn’t just the achievement of Shikai, an impressive feat in its own right; it was the transformation in Akashi’s presence.

  "Well," Arisaka said after a pause, his expression softening into something resembling pride, "This is no small accomplishment. Few students unlock their Shikai during their time at the academy, let alone so early."

  Another instructor, one from the Kido css, stepped forward. "You have yet to inform the administration, right? They’ll need to evaluate you and consider what this means for your pcement moving forward."

  Akashi shook his head. "I haven’t. I learned my Shikai just now."

  His hand rested lightly on the hilt of Kurayami, his bond with the bde now an extension of himself.

  If they wanted to say something more, they couldn't, interrupted by the silent arrival of Aizen, "I've come to inspect some students with potential, and I was indeed met with a surprise... Congratutions, Akashi."

  "Captain Aizen," Not just Akashi, but the teachers also respectfully greeted him.

  "You’ve achieved your Shikai," Aizen said, his gaze falling on Kurayami. His voice was warm, almost approving, "A feat that few accomplish during their time at the academy."

  "It was... Difficult, but I'm gd I finally did it," Akashi replied with a gentle smile, his eyes falling on Kurayami again... She was gorgeous.

  Aizen stepped closer, his eyes meeting Akashi’s with an intensity that felt both disarming and reassuring, "I would like to see it for myself," He said. "Would you mind demonstrating?"

  Akashi didn't hesitate even for a moment, raising Kurayami high, tangible darkness spreading from the weapon.

  From the bck sphere within the hilt, Ink dripped. It should've dripped downwards to the ground, but it wasn't.

  Instead, the Ink dripped down the bde, even though Akashi had raised it opposite of gravity, the Ink seemingly lured by the bde's beautiful texture.

  "I don't think I can demonstrate much nor can I use it against someone of or close to my level as even a drop of Ink can break someone's mind," Akashi expined.

  Aizen observed in silence, his expression one of measured curiosity. Even Gin, who usually carried an air of detached amusement, watched with keen interest.

  They observed as the Ink coaguted into a coat of Ink around the edge of the bde, almost unnoticeable and not taking away the bde's sharpness even one bit.

  "Try it on me," Aizen instructed, raising his hand closer to the bde.

  Akashi didn't hesitate, moving his bde til its edge made contact with Aizen's hand, gently so.

  When Akashi finished, he sheathed his bde. Akashi's Zanpakuto was so much longer than his sheath, yet it somehow fit right in. He awaited Aizen's judgment.

  "Impressive," Aizen said after a moment. His voice was calm, but there was an undercurrent of intrigue that Akashi couldn’t quite pce.

  "Your bond with your Zanpakuto seems profound. However, what strikes me most is the nature of your Shikai; it’s... unique.”

  Aizen though didn't speak to the nature of Akashi's Zanpakuto nor did he make its effect known, "With your potential, it would be a waste to remain here for the full duration of your studies."

  Akashi raised a brow, "You think I should leave the academy?"

  "Not immediately," Aizen crified, his tone gentle, "But I can help expedite your graduation. You have already proven yourself capable, and I see no reason to dey your progress. I would like to invite you to join my division, should you choose to accept."

  The offer hung in the air for only a split second. Akashi couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to Aizen’s offer than he was revealing, but still, he didn't refuse.

  "A year... I need one more year in the Academy. I still have a lot to learn," Akashi crified.

  Aizen shot him a brief gnce before saying, "Continue honing your skills, and when you’re ready, come to me. Until then, I will leave you to your studies."

  With that, Aizen turned and walked away, Gin following close behind, the tter sparring Akashi a second gnce with his eerie narrow eyes.

  "Curious?" Aizen must've noticed Gin's inquisitive eyes as he asked.

  "I want to know what you saw in him," Gin nodded.

  "Akashi's Shikai ability is simple... If his bde comes in contact with someone, it can devour the darkness within them. At the same time, it can transfer darkness into them," Aizen's expnation was vague.

  However, it was enough for Gin to figure out something, "Hmm, Does that not mean that he saw something," He raised a brow.

  If he saw the darkness within Aizen, then... "But you showcased your Shikai to the students st year, and he had seen it, thus what he saw is what you wanted him to see."

  "Does it not feel rather underwhelming to you," Gin asked with curiosity.

  "..." Aizen stayed silent, continuing on his way, leaving a confused Gin behind.

  'Have I missed something?' Gin was confused, 'It's a strong ability. He doesn't need to cut an opponent to devour or transfer darkness, just needs touch... It's something that I can not understand unless I try it, but I can't try it or else he will see the darkness within me... It's tricky.'

  Wait... Gin realized something, 'Darkness should mean something like negative emotions and thoughts, negativity he devours from others. If he theoretically saves up years' worth of darkness and then transfers it all to someone, what will happen?'

  Depending on the answer, it might turn from a dark ability to a horrifying one... It still wouldn't be strong enough to attract Aizen's attention.

  Sōsuke Aizen is the captain of the 5th Division of the Gotei 13 and the holder of Kyōka Suigetsu, his Zanpakuto with the ability of Complete Hypnosis.

  Aizen's Shikai ability is to control the five senses, allowing Aizen to make his enemies misperceive everything about someone or something: form, shape, mass, feel, smell, etc.

  The hypnotic ritual; that is, the sole condition to pce a target under Kanzen Saimin; Is Aizen showing them his Shikai release.

  If they see it once, the target will be under the hypnotic spell ever after, succumbing to it with every new release no matter how long ago they were hypnotized.

  Akashi saw Aizen's Shikai release for the tter seem to showcase his Zanpakuto every year, giving new students a goal to strive for.

  It's unheard of for a Captain to show their Zanpakuto to students so casually, thus why Aizen is very loved and respected in Seireitei.

  The reality is that he just wants to put everyone under his Complete Hypnosis, and Akashi is one of his unwilling victims.

  Akashi, however, is not an unwilling victim. He knew of Aizen's ability, yet he gdly fell for it.

  He realized that he wasn't nearly as smart as Aizen nor as he as wise for the tter lived for hundreds of years more than him.

  Akashi concluded that trying to py mind games or outpy Aizen is just suicide.

  He pretty much had no choice but to fall for Aizen's Kyōka Suigetsu. Had he looked away, Aizen would have noticed.

  Now, what would it mean for a student to avoid seeing his Shikai? Especially Akashi which has already caught Aizen's attention.

  It was either falling under his Kyōka Suigetsu and knowing that your senses are under his control when he wants to or being monitored personally by Aizen from the shadows.

  'Come to think of it, why do I even consider Aizen to be an enemy?' Akashi mused, walking back to his room after a brief talk with the instructors.

  'Aizen isn't my enemy just yet, he will, in fact, be my savior,' Akashi judged, knowing that their level as they are now is hundreds of magnitudes different.

  Akashi reached his room, closed it tightly, and then used some mediocre Bakudo spells to seal his room before standing at its center, and pulling out his bde.

  He pointed it downwards and held its hilt with both hands. Akashi moved his bde downwards til its tip made gentle contact with the floor... What is Kurayami, truly?