Erza's eyes snap open, she is covered in a cold sweat, shaking, heart pounding. She looked around the room suspicious and paranoid that the horror may have followed her in reality. She gets up cautiously, shivering, rubs her head and eyes and tries to fully awaken from her hellish nightmare. She looked at herself in the mirror- it was nothing, the merciful sensation of feeling nothing at all. Her eyes were blank and lifeless. In her dream she saw familiar faces of her friends, from when she was still alive up until she is in the after life, people who a re all torn down and destroyed in the sea of blood. Then she felt it and whispered "I feel so tired".
Then her memories came flooding back to her well, at least some of it. She remembered Grandpa Rob and how he died protecting her, then Simon died doing the same, Irene her mother who can't kill her own daughter and ending up killing herself so she wouldn't be able to harm her in anyway, Lieutenant Kiba dying for the mission then her captain, Ukitake died protecting her. They were all dead. She whispered "dead".
A wave of nausea hit her and her body convulsed. She arched forward, retching, spitting but only a little gall came out making her mouth to taste bitter. She felt so weak, so sick remembering "I watched them die. I promised I'd protect them but they died. I failed them" and in that very moment she genuinely wished she's the one who should have died not them or at least she should join them. She felt cowardice and her being a traitor for letting them die. She saw her reflection in the mirror and remembered who she was back in fairy tail and remembered her own words "Moving on doesn't mean you forget about things. It just means you have to accept what's happened and continue living... We don't die for our friends, we live for them." She raised her hand and formed a fist, smiled and nodded at her reflection. Even soaked in despair, she had her will harder than steal. "I am Erza the strongest female wizard and the seventh master of fairy tail, the crown princess inheritor of the soul king's thrown, the daughter of the queen of the dragons, the mighty Titania now the scarlet reaper... I won't give up, I will change everything and protect everyone I love. I will live and get stronger for their sake"
She heard a knock on the door "Who is it?" she asked as she reached out for the door and opened it. "Hi lil Erza" Gin teased waiving his hand with eyes narrowed into slits. "Oh good morning Ichimaru taicho" she greeted shyly. "Oh yes, Aizen Taicho want to see you for a mission" he said. She just nodded in response. "Want to grab breakfast with me?" he asked smiling. Erza stared at him and leaned closer to examine his face which made him blush because of how close she is. "I knew it!!! your eyes, they'r beautiful!!!" she said cheerfully as she smashed her fist on the palm of her other hand. "You should show your eyes more often, do you know how attractive they are? there's something about them, it calms you like I'm looking into the sky" she added. He smiled at her rubbing the back of his head. "Are you falling for them?" he teased "Yes, I am" Erza teased back leaning close to his face and smiling foolishly.
"Right this way, lil Erza" He said showing her the path "He's waiting for you, just follow the path" he instructed. Erza nodded as she walked past him but before she can go farther he grabbed her back into a tight hug and whispered "Everything going to be okay, If you need anything, you know where to find me" Erza tilted her head up to look at him and smiled, his heart pounded wildly as his cheeks heated up and released her staring at her fading figure. it didn't take her long enough to find Aizen sitting crossed legged beside the table with a tea set by the pond with a peaceful look on his face without his glasses wearing his hair back which is Erza's favorite look. She smiled at him with a hint of redness on her cheeks. He motioned for her to come closer "Sit beside me Erza". She complied by walking closer and sat down next to him "This is not a mission, is it?" she asked in confusion.
"You are really astute" he answered casually, leaning back, his arms crossed as he stared into the sky. "This is a beautiful place, isn't it? Sometimes you have to be quiet and still to appreciate things and remind you that life isn't always about missions, duties and responsibilities" he said with a satisfied sigh. "Eh!?! What's got into you all of a sudden?" she teased and giggles. "I lied, sorry, I had to lie to make you come to me. There is really no mission. But I have a reason to lie and make you come here" he explained "You better have, and it should be a good one" she answered. "But why are you not asking? Is it because of my position that you decided to respect me because you really do not bow down to authority easily but was never rude. Are you not intrigued?" he asked. "Maybe. You're quite strange today" she commented. He smiled back and leaned closely "Erza, do you trust me?" she was taken aback with his question and answered "Yes. I trust you with my life, I guess" she said blushing. "It's an honor" he said nodding "But the question is, can I trust you?" he said with a sly smirk "Eh!?!" is all she can say as she punched his arms lightly and formed a pouting frown. He laughed at her cuteness "I have things I couldn't say to a friend, even to Gin but I sure hope I can tell my lover and the one I love. These are dangerous things" he said sternly. "How dangerous?" Erza's expression changed from fidgeting fluster to a serious look.
"Dangerous enough for you to be called a criminal by just hearing these words." he said "You are a good man, you wouldn't do such things without a good reason, so I guess what I'm trying to say is, Yes- you can trust me" she said firmly. He smiled at her and nodded "Rukongai is a poor village a lot of them came here to become a shinigami to escape their fate and wanted to have a better life but most of them forget to make the world a better place. After they get their positions, their focus changes and only thinks about their career, their duties, promotions and friends, they only think about themselves." he said sadly. "That is just selfish" she said with a frowning pout crossing her arms. He pats her head gently "It's our nature, isn't it?" he retorted "You've seen people get killed by monsters, bandits, hollows and dragons. The Gotei has the power to change things but they won't" he added "I suppose they do" she said bowing her head down.
"What if Gotei did what they were suppose to do, to protect and take care of everyone? Wouldn't be our friends still be alive today?" He paused and looked at her. "I am telling you this because you are different. You dare to dream and to fight. You care for the people around you. You protect them and carry their burdens." he paused again and looked at her trying to check her reaction. Just like what he planned, something inside Erza burned up- her soul was lit flame "What do you want me to do?" she asked like a soldier reporting for duty and is ready for battle. Aizen handed her a folder with a red mark saying classified. It was a file he created just for his plan of luring Erza into his side. She opened it and saw her information- her recruitment file with a warning: "Subject is extremely dangerous: non shinigami standards, possesses great mastery in swordsmanship and her skills in swordsmanship are of the highest caliber, has keen intellect and an expert hand to hand combatant. In case of failed recruitment, send out hunters to annihilate subject with great secrecy to avoid risk" her eyes widened and fingers trembled as she looked at him waiting for the big reveal "I want to burn Gotei and central forty six down, every nobleman on trial, every corrupt officials punished. stripped off their wealth and be given to the people. We will change the system. I will be in charge of the new soul society with you by my side" then he held her hand tightly.
"That's treason!" Erza said "Yes, treason against Gotei but aren't you a traitor now? betraying the innocent knowing what needs to be done and chooses to do nothing?" he asked her "How can the four of us do this?" she asked nervously "What do you know of the arrancars, Erza?" he asked sternly "this is madness!!! revolution, teaming up with hollows? many will die!!!" she spat back. He touched her shoulders "there is a price for change Erza" she shook her head "We need change but is this the only way? let me think about it" she said shaking the thought of bloodshed off her mind "take all the time you need Erza. But promise me that you'll swear an oath of Omertà- a code of secrecy. You shall not speak about this to anyone. This will be dealt with an absolute confidentiality." he warned her and she nodded in response. He pulled her into his arms, "I didn't mean to put you on the spot. I just wanted to protect our friends and those who we love and put a stop to this non sense slaughter" he said gently as he tilted her head up to make her look at him and planted a heated kiss on her lips.
Aizen watched her leave, allowing himself a victorious smirk- in his mind making Erza responsible for all the things they set out to do and taking the blame for being a traitor is the perfect plan. With her reaction framing her up is coming easy. Erza left with a puzzled reflection, self conflicted and uneasy. She knew she what she heard was true enough and her sense of justice tells her that she needs to do something but is Aizen's way the right path? she walked towards her room having a lot to think about.
"Are we done here?" Ichimaru asked waiting, listening and hiding behind a tree from a fair distance. "Yes,Gin" Aizen answered feeling pleased and satisfied "We are done" and forming a devilish smile.