422. the silent victory

In the wake of Aizen's defeat, the battle ridden Gotei 13 gathers itself.

Summary:
Kurotsuchi Mayuri is seen preparing to bring back the real Karakura Town to the World of the Living. A shinigami runs up to him and says that a material transfer without the aid of a Senkaimon would be dangerous since there are still shinigami there. Mayuri says that he will give them ten seconds to activate the Senkaimon, and the shinigami yells to everyone," Hurry! We're gonna die!!!" Mayuri then states that this generousness makes him want to puke. Unohana has healed all of the Vizards, but she cannot predict if Hiyori will give up living or not. Shinji then says that he owes her one. Unohana calmly tells him that she is just merely healing her allies, to which Shinji says that they're not allies. But Shinji thanks her again. Then, Byakuya and Kenpachi return from their fight with Yammy in Hueco Mundo. Their squad members welcome them back, and some shinigami request medical aid for the two captains. Squad 11 asks how the fight was this time, and Kenpachi says that it was too boring. In Hueco Mundo, Yammy is laying dying with his head smashed into a stone building. The hollow dog from a long time ago returns, and Yammy looks at it. He asks," Why'd you come back, you stupid dog..." With that, Yammy Riyalgo dies. Back in Soul Society, where Ichigo's fight took place, Ichigo is gazing up into the sky. Urahara calls him, and Ichigo asks where everyone is. Urahara says that they all went home, and that they wanted to talk, but it seemed like an equally diffucult task. Ichigo then asks if their memories where replaced, and Urahara answers with a no. Ichigo says good, and that he wants to explain to them with his own mouth. Urahara announces that Aizen's seal was transported to the Seireitei, where the Central 46 is deciding Aizen's disposal. Ichigo says oh, and then looks down. Urahara asks why he is making such a sad face, and Ichigo looks up in surprise. He says that he's wondering why himself. Urahara tells him that he saved Karakura Town by killing Aizen, and risking his own life, and that he shouldn't make that face. Ichigo sits down on a rock and doesn't answer. Ichigo then asks Urahara is Aizen really was rejected by the Hogyoku. His dad had told him about the Hogyoku, and that its ability was to take in the "hearts" around them and materialize them. But if that's so, then Aizen might have wished losing that power. He then says that he had aquired the right amount of power to defeat him, and he had finally touched it in battle. In Aizen's blade was only "solitude". Ichigo thinks that Aizen was searching for a person with the same viewpoint of the world as he had. Aizen just kept wishing that he was "just a shinigami." Then, Orihime, Uryu, Rukia, Chad, and Renji all appear. Ichigo looks at them in surprise, and asks them if they're supposed to be standing already. Rukia tries to answer, but Orihime interjects, saying that she knew it ws Ichigo, but his hair was all grown out, so she wasn't sure. Ichigo replies that she's making such a weird face and his hair is just messy. Then, all of a sudden, Ichigo drops to his knees and collapses. Everyone stares in shock, and then they all run forward to help him, and then Ichigo screams in agony.

Characters in order of appearance:


 * 1) Mayuri Kurotsuchi
 * 2) Hiyori Sarugaki
 * 3) Lisa Yadōmaru
 * 4) Retsu Unohana
 * 5) Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi
 * 6) Love Aikawa
 * 7) Shinji Hirako
 * 8) Hachigen Ushōda
 * 9) Kenpachi Zaraki
 * 10) Byakuya Kuchiki
 * 11) Yachiru Kusajishi
 * 12) Yammy Riyalgo
 * 13) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 14) Kisuke Urahara
 * 15) Orihime Inoue
 * 16) Uryū Ishida
 * 17) Rukia Kuchiki
 * 18) Yasutora Sado
 * 19) Renji Abarai