User blog comment:Xilinoc/Ch. 566 (not out yet, but dis gon b gud)/@comment-24153155-20140129222822/@comment-24153155-20140130074527

So true! Hope we will get an explanation as to why at some point.

Although I find Äs Nödt disturbing, I somehow get the feeling that it is a being (still not entirely sure if it is even male/female...) who is able to pop ideas/scenarios in your head somehow. Perhaps a little like hypnosis or so (but I know little about hypnosis) or like schizophrenic "thoughts"... in that sense I could see Äs being a "perfect" fit for Rukia as she is very, very strong in her beliefs. And yes, like you said, because of Byakuya.