#during tybw—soul society is hiding a nuke under seireitei :)

[ilus1on]

aizen spends his two-years timeskip trying to mend his fractured bond with kyōka suigetsu, in order to repair his shattered (hah) shikai. at first, the spirit proves unwilling—aizen had consciously cast it aside, when he'd have likely overpowered ichigo easily if he'd relied on its power instead. they talk, they fight in aizen's inner world, and they talk some more. at first, kyōka suigetsu does not even allow aizen in. with the passing months, it becomes more willing, more responsive, but unlike the first time aizen heard its voice it is him who must reach out to the spirit, not the other way around. it is not until yhwach comes to visit that the zanpakutō fully recognizes aizen as its other half again, acknowledging that he needs its power to successfully counter the almighty. their bond is still not completely mended as aizen does not have control over his illusions, but enough to reforge the sword and repair its shikai