I might be about to make a complete nana of myself if they update the manga and it doesn't include my conclusions! However, this contains spoilers beyond chapter 354. I like the Ichigo Aizen pairing and I wanted to do another. Oh and I don't do Gin with a funny accent because in my viewing and reading I can see no evidence for it! Add to the fact its a bitch to write ;)

Warnings - swearing, yaoi and smex. Later descriptions of battle fields.

Summary - Truth was, he knew what Aizen wanted from him. He couldn't find one bone in his body that didn't willingly think he worth even that much. His kill and attempted kill condemned him to a fate he didn't care either way for.

So here enjoy this taster.


Aizen stood at the bottom of the gaping hole in the roof of Hueco Mundo and allowed one eyebrow to rise marginally. He could no longer feel the essence of Ulquiorra swimming calmly around the place and instantly he knew that this fresh bitter taste of shinigami-hollow mix was the reason.

"Kurosaki Ichigo." The lord said in his not to be questioned tone. "Come before me."

With a flash of speed not even bettered by Stark, the boy stood arrogantly looking with his glare. He'd grown stronger in the lords absence that much was obvious. The near naked state of this hybrid with torn clothing with the added perfume of victory hung like a seductive beacon to the dark haired man already fresh from his own triumph. What a perfect prize for a war hero. "You will replace what you have lost me." This child, his booty, if he was powerful enough to beat the 'happy' clowned face of his number four, he was good enough to stand in the position of his fallen espada. Later, they'd gather after licking their wounds and reassess the damage and make plans for the revival of his battle sore empire. But now at this moment, he wanted some reward.

"You won?" The accusatory tone echoed in the vast hallway laced with so many questions beyond the one simple demand. What was left for him to return to? Who was left? What state where they in and where were all the friends he brought with him?

"Your comrades need rest. We shall talk later. Gin." The silver headed man appeared with his smile and slanting eyes bowing reverently to his master. "See to our guests."

"If they've left any room standing." The sly man chuckled wiggling a finger towards Ichigo beckoning him to follow.

Ichigo turned to Orihime, he wasn't going to leave her behind now, not after everything he and his friends had been through. She rushed to his side and he waited again for Ishida to gather his bleeding body and also join them.

"Ishida-kun..." Orihime went to heal him but Ichigo stopped her.

"Not yet." The simple phrase left Ichigo's lips as he gathered a swaying Quincy in his arms despite his protest.

Aizen watched the ginger boy leave with his friends and he allowed a moments thought how the boy had won. The fight must have truly magnificent, it was sad he could no longer ask for a replay.

Was there any loyalty in Ichigo for a new master if indeed he was capable of being loyal to anyone? He knew enough details of his obedience towards the sotaicho. It wasn't going to be a smooth ride.

...

"Whoa!" Even Rukia who had seen the apparition of Hichigo before, stepped back when the trio entered. The aura of Ichigo was horrific, something so much more sinister was dripping from his soul now and it reeked of something unholy. It might have been his angered face was tarnished with blood or the raw increased hollow power that was seeping like venom from him.

Ichigo ignored the stares of his comrades and placed a faint Ishida down on a bed.

"Heal him now." He ordered Orihime before standing and turning to leave.

"Ichigo..." Byakuya's cold voice entered the void. They stared at each other and something passed between them, the whole room wanted to know the outcome of the war, but no one needed to say anything. Ichigo's expression said it all. So they were captives now.

"Ichigo..." Rukia called her friend, she didn't understand why was he leaving, he looked so tired.

With one hand on the door, he turned his head half way. "I don't belong here now." Truth was, he knew what Aizen wanted from him. He couldn't find one bone in his body that didn't willingly think he worth even that much. His kill and attempted kill condemned him to a fate he didn't care either way for. The little boy that lost his mother couldn't grieve for the teen that lost a way of life. That lost the person he once was. Ichigo knew he couldn't ever go back now. Aizen had won, he'd won everything, including the boy once named Kurosaki Ichigo.

The quiet room watched him leave before all eyes turned to Orihime and Ishida.

Ishida braved the pain of reconstruction to speak. "We watched him die." He dipped his head down wishing he could turn back the clock and let the beast of guilt within his mind rest. "A huge hole in his chest... He morphed into...something... it was terrible. I mean he ripped Ulquiorra's arm off with his bare hands."

"Ishida, you shouldn't talk any more." Orihime interrupted him in the guise he should rest, but in reality, she didn't want to hear what he had to say. It had been bad enough to watch.

"You saw it didn't you? You saw HIM?"

"I don't want..." Orihime looked away with tears brimming in her eyes.

"HE TRIED TO KILL ME!" Ishida screamed then fell into a fit of coughing with blood seeping through his lips.

"Che, anyone would try to kill ya, given how annoying you are. Shut up and heal emo boy." Renji shoved Ishida flat on the bed and patted Orihime on the shoulder.

...

"Back already?" Aizen didn't look up from his tea as the boy approached, the looming dark spiritual energy announced his arrival way before his body was in view. Instead he sat at the head of his table, legs crossed, contemplating the road ahead. "Tea?" He asked finally looking up. Ichigo shook his head and held onto the back of a chair. "At least sit before you untidy my floor." The boy looked ready to collapse, he was only human after all. "Gin, one more task before you retire." Aizen was confident that Gin didn't need his attention as he spoke, he was far too interested in watching the boy's face droop and his head begin to sag onto his chest.

"Yeah Sosuke?"

"Kurosaki will need his body." Gin bowed and paused as the boy slid into unconsciousness.

"Do God's have play things?" Gin let one finger trail through the golden hair of the sleeping teen.

"If they wish it." He gave a small smile. "Better get some insurance whilst you're at it."

"You reckoned they survived?"

"Find Kisuke and you'll find the family."

"You're the boss!" Gin grinned widely and chuckled as Aizen's smug grin grew ever so slightly. "He's very young."

"He gained his powers in May at the age of 15, yet turned 16 this past July. Would you question my laws?"

"Heh, you know me, innocent as the driven snow Sosuke. Glass houses and that hey Captain?" He laughed whilst walking away.

Aizen took his cup to his lips and finished the rapidly cooling green fluid. His eyes took a leisurely stroll over the sleeping young man and the first genuine smile graced his lips. As a man who appreciated artistic beauty of a sculpted body: the curves, planes and the undercurrent of power were all things addictive to a man who wanted to taste everything the dimensions could offer. He'd had wealth, status, power and land. He had reputation, fearlessness and health. He wanted to hold, taste and devour beauty next.

The other thing he possessed was patience. So he could wait for beauty to wake.

...

The first thing the waking teen saw was a veil of white gently moving in a breeze. It was the most amazing thing he saw this side of his reality and he let his mind stay there watching it for quite some time. He didn't want to move, he felt far too comfortable. Just for a little longer he didn't want to admit what he was. What he'd done. It was far nicer to stay in denial and just let this mess of feather down pillows, blankets and satin sheets devour him. Who would want to leave this haven of comfort and face what he had to.

Across the room, Aizen was finding the new view in his room captivating. He knew that the boy was awake, but it seemed he was as yet not ready to be up. Instead, the lord enjoyed his vantage point in the deep winged back chair that sat beside the open window, to gaze with wonder at his four poster bed and the creature resting in it. It was something he had already enjoyed doing for several hours and he would have been content to do so for many more, had three torn and disrupted dimensions not needed his attention.

The fraccion who'd been standing quietly awaiting instructions noticed the silent nod from his master and headed off into the bathroom, his feet leaving the faintest of echo's across the polished floor. Ichigo's eyes darted towards the sound and saw the glimmer of a bathroom through the open door the male hollow had gone into. Sounds of running water soon filled the silence and Ichigo watched as the small man reappeared and still within his view, opened closet doors to unhook a white outfit and take it back into the bathroom.

"That for me?" Ichigo's hoarse voice asked.

"So you knew I was here?"

"You're kinda noisy." The kid hadn't lost his sense of humour at least.

"My presence does not alarm you?"

"Should it?" The teen took his time to answer and pulled himself into a sitting position. "I mean, what's the point? I'm just another puppet you've been playing with. So now, thanks to Ulquiorra I... You've already made me do things I didn't want to... See things I shouldn't have. Become something I didn't want to." It was this moment that Aizen saw Ichigo's eyes clearly for the first time. Where once there was fire and defiance now shone pain and hate. A deep self loathing was brewing just beneath the surface and ready to strike.

"You think that anyone feels any different after their first kill? You are not a child any more. Grow up Kurosaki, there isn't any time for self pity." Aizen stood and walked towards the bed.

"I want him gone."

"Who?"

"WHO!" Ichigo flew into a fury. "You bloody well know who!"

"Your hollow defines who you are."

"I nearly killed Ishida!"

"Go take your bath. I have people to see." In his succinct way Ichigo was dismissed and Aizen turned to the servant. "Ning see that he eats and bring him to me when he is done." Ichigo watched the flurry of free flowing robes leave the room and he flopped back onto his pillow with a deep sigh.

"Screw you, you fucking bastard."

The thing named Ning, prodded Ichigo in the shoulder and he chose to ignore it. If he wasn't ready to get up, then why the hell should he? The prod turned into many more repeated over and over. "What!" Ichigo snapped at the annoying freak. Prod, prod, prod. "Alright, I'm getting up!" He yelled and flipped the covers back with a furious fling.