藍染 礎石

♖:: “Kurosaki Ichigo,” he murmurs, in a voice that’s a perfect mimicry of his older brother’s, while leaning close enough that his lips graze the young man’s, “Where is my hello kiss...?”

♖:: “Welcome home, aruji,” Soseki chimed as he sat in what was most likely the centre of the inner world they shared but could as easily have been the edge, or of no discernible relevance at all, given its eternal nature.

Initially the blade sat perched in thin air, as if there were a translucent throne suspended in the sky. After a few moments he hopped off and crossed the rippling floor toward his brother.

Sōsuke regarded him with a slight smile, “Yes... I’ve come back, Kyōka,” he knew full well who this man was, his brother, Aizen Soseki, and yet the blade spirit had introduced itself as ‘Kyōka Suigetsu’. It rejected being associated with that previous life, he was a zanpakutō now.

As such, his brother died in 1569 at the hands of his father.

“And what shape do you wish to give the world today?” it was fascinating to try and pick apart subtleties in Sōsuke’s mood based on the shape he directed the inner world to take: a grand, brooding cathedral tended to show he had heavy matters on his mind along with a degree of spite; a tranquil woodland suggested he wanted a space to reflect; while a resplendent castle tended to suggest the other was feeling grandiose and opulent.

The watery floor rippled and swirled, argent liquid rising up and twisting and twirling in response to Aizen’s command -- the shapes solidified into trees, it took mere moments for a dense forest to grow around them. Wind whistled through the space and birds twittered, sunlight shimmered in pleasant fragments through the myriad of leaves that sought its attention.

“I thought I might read some poetry,” Sōsuke said as he turned and started to walk down a makeshift path, his haori fluttering on the breeze, “You may join me if you wish.”

内面世界 ( ない​めん​せ​かい ) ~ ‘Naimensekai’ (one's inner world)

Sōsuke can easily commune with Soseki through the inner world they share. In its default state it is a bland space of an endless watery floor and overcast, silver skies. No matter how far one walks, no landmarks emerge and nothing changes.

However, this is merely the inner world’s most basic state -- it is capable of being manipulated into anything Sōsuke (or Soseki) can think of. In that regard its visage shifts from dull waters to intricate cathedrals to verdant woodlands to the endless expanse of the cosmos itself with its many twinkling constellations.

The only limitation is the imagination of the one who has dominion over the inner world. In that regard, Sōsuke is king; the world takes on whatever form best reflects his mood or his desires. Soseki’s devotion toward his brother means he does not mind letting him have total control over it; however, that loyalty was pushed to the limit when Sōsuke fused with the Hōgyoku and started to rely on its power more than Soseki’s.

As the Hōgyoku’s influence increased it further disrupted the connection between the siblings and over time that affected both the blade’s outward mien and that of the inner world, which adopted a broody inverted appearance.

♖:: Cherry blossoms sway in the spring breeze, petals flurry like snow. Such a peaceful afternoon and yet there is no rest for a Captain in the Gotei 13, even during lazy days it is important to hone one’s mind and body.

Soseki sits on the patio and watches Sōsuke training. His smile was dazzling, like the silvery edge of the katana as it dances through the air in wide argent arcs. A few of the petals are sliced cleanly in half, Soseki’s smile grew.

♖:: The beauty of spring

Dances through my heart and soul

♖::The Soul of the Sword

★ - Do they prefer daytime or nighttime and why?

Answered here – but also: Soseki was incredibly fond of nighttime moon viewings in the spring. Being immersed by a blizzard of cherry blossom petals and gazing upon the night sky was a very pleasing was to pass the time when he was human.

☾- Are they prone to nightmares or dreamless sleep?

Yes, Soseki is prone to nightmares of the experiments he underwent at the hands of his father Seiichirō. Even as a blade he has his memories and is capable of day-dreaming, so the nightmares have never left him (even though he does not actually require sleep).

☼ - Something that/Someone who makes them happy.

Sōsuke. Both as a man and a sword Soseki adores his brother.

☁ - If they’re caught out in the rain how do they react?

He would have laughed while finding a place to hide away from the downpour, probably made light of the fact his clothes were soaked.

As a sword it is far more troublesome to be caught out in the rain (but this has yet to actually happen as he is never far from Sōsuke’s side).

✓ - How do they react to praise?

He would beam happily, particularly if the person giving him praise is someone he admired (as a boy that was his brother and his father, as a man it was far more likely to be his brother). Heartfelt praise was important to Soseki.

Now (in sword form), he is glad to be praised for being a useful tool but it doesn’t have quite the same impact.

✕ - How do they handle rejection?

Soseki has always been an intelligent sort in all respects (socially, emotionally and academically), so he is able to rationalise such things and either accept that he is disappointed by the rejection if it was something important to him or shrug it off if it was something he could live without.

The one thing he probably couldn’t handle is his brother rejecting him.

☺ - Do they prefer sour or sweet treats?

♖::The Soul of the Sword

(( <3 kasfjask thank you Maxy! <3 ))

♥ - What does ‘love’ mean to them?

Love is a strange thing – it has the potential to cause wounds that are far less obvious than a sword wound (but just as painful, if not more) and yet it can also be a wonderful emotion. Soseki loves his brother and his mother, and his father when he was a child but that love was bitterly betrayed when his father decided to use his sons for his experiments.

Now, Soseki’s sense of love is more like twisted devotion – he loves his brother, so he will utilise all his power in whatever way his brother wishes him to. That is love, right? The unwavering willingness to do what must be done for another no matter how wrong.

♠ - What are they afraid of?

As a young man he feared death, all the more so as his father’s experiments grew progressively more painful. And yet, by the end, he was ready to die so even that fear disappeared.

As a sword the only fear Soseki has is being disconnected from his brother; losing the bond that has formed between Shinigami and Zanpakutō. In a similar vein he fears being useless to his brother, as that would probably mean the same thing (i.e. abandonment).

♦ - What is one thing about them that they are most proud of?

When he was human, Soseki was well-known for his incredibly keen intellect and affable personality. He was good at talking others around to his point of view, disarming them with a fond smile and a cheerful word.

Now, he is proud of the power he has amassed – the ability to craft near-perfect illusions that render his foes bewildered and helpless.

♣ - What is one thing that they find embarrassing?

Soseki used to be very embarrassed by his mother asking him when he was going to find a wife – particularly around female company (as it was quite clear his mother was fishing to find out if the female company would be willing to become his wife).

As a sword, he doesn’t really feel embarrassment.

★ - Do they prefer daytime or nighttime and why?