Grimmjow pushed Ichigo forward roughly. Ichigo nearly growled at him, but restrained himself, remembering that he was going to have to get along with that stupid Arrancar sooner or later. He looked up at where Aizen sat on his little throne, watching him, purely interested. On the same level as him, Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tosen. Gin had that same damn grin on his face, and Ichigo was just itching to beat it off him, but, then again, remembered he was going to have to get along with him, too.

And then, on the side of the room, leaning against the wall, was that angel. The dark and cold angel that had once been just out of his reach, but he was now one step closer.

Ulquiorra Cifer, the 4th Espada in the Arrancar army, looked at him with cold, emotionless and disinterested eyes. His hair hung slightly in his face, hiding one of those bright green eyes. His skin was pasty white and just as frosty as the rest of him, his jacket partially unzipped to reveal that perfect chest and his Hollow hole just below his collarbone.

It was all Ichigo could do not to drool.

"Ichigo Kurosaki."

Aizen's voice broke through Ichigo's daydreams, making him look up at the traidor bastard.

"I don't understand why you've had such a sudden change of heart." Aizen smiled, and Ichigo felt like sneering at the thought that Aizen knew good and well why. "But we welcome you. It's a relief to have such a powerful Shinigami on our side, with such good potential. But I must ask...what do you expect to do here?"

Ichigo thought for a second, his eyes looking flatly up at the former Shinigami Captain.

"I don't know." He shrugged. "I just got bored."

He was lying through his teeth, but it was worth it. He hadn't been able to stop thinking about Ulquiorra since the day they first met in the park, even if he had almost killed his friends and him. He just saw him, over and over, in his dreams, behind his eyes...It was hard to get away from. It had driven him insane, which was partially the reason why he was here.

"I see..." Aizen raised his eyebrow. "Well, Ichigo-kun. Gin, would you take Ichigo to his new quarters?"

"Sure." Gin nodded, still grinning.

"And, also..." Aizen smiled wistfully at Ichigo. "Considering your power and former rank in the Soul Society, I'd like you to be a Commander along with Gin and Kaname."

"Whatever." Ichigo mumbled.

Secretly, he thought it'd be fun to be able to boss around everyone...

"Let's go." Gin playfully pushed his shoulder. "We ain't got all day."

Ichigo resisted telling him to screw himself.

"Aizen-sama?"

The cold voice sent tremors through his body, like ice on a hot day. His jaw clenched and his back tensed as he ever-so-conspicuously glanced over his shoulder at Ulquiorra.

"Yes, Ulquiorra?" Aizen looked over at Ulquiorra, too, but Ichigo knew he could see him out of the corner of his eye.

"Should he really be allowed a rank as such?" Ulquiorra asked. "We must remember that he has just arrived and decided to join us. How do we know it's not a trap?"

"Are you questioning my judgement, Ulquiorra?" Aizen asked lightly, but the words seeped through Ichigo's bones. His bright voice was murderous.

"No, Aizen-sama." Ulquiorra looked away. "Excuse me."

Ulquiorra swept out of the room with a graceful exit that had Ichigo in awe. God, he was beautiful.

"Ichigo-kun?"

Gin was a couple feet ahead now, waiting for him. "Comin'?"

He nodded and followed Gin out.

"Lord Aizen?" Tosen spoke once Ichigo was gone. "What if Ulquiorra is right?"

"Kaname, trust me." Aizen grinned, his chin in his hand. "I know a traidor when I see one, and that boy reeks of it."

"I see." Kaname looked at the door where Ichigo had just exited. "Why do you suppose he's here?"

Aizen chuckled. "Love does odd things to a man, Kaname."

"Love?" Tosen looked up at Aizen. "He had a fight with his girlfriend?"

"No." Aizen smirked. "He's fallen in love."

"With whom?" Tosen questioned.

"With an Arrancar." Aizen finally looked down at Tosen. "A very...difficult Arrancar."

"An Espada?"

"Yes." Aizen muttered.

"I see." Tosen rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. "Do you know which one?"

"Oh, yes." Aizen nodded with a smile. "But I'll let you figure that out yourself, Kaname. It'll be...entertaining to see how this unrequited love tale turns out."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Ichigo looked at the new cloths sighing as he looked back at Ichimaru who watched him intently.

"I have to?" He asked.

"Yep." Gin nodded. "You wanna be one of us, dontcha?"

Ichigo sighed.

He pulled the haori around him, pushing his arms through it. It fit well, besides it's belled sleeves going partially over his hands. He zipped up the top part, leaving it unzipped to reveal part of his kimono and neck. He put Zangetsu back on his back where it had been before.

He turned back to Ichimaru, watching as the man nodded in approval.

"Yes, yes." Gin nodded. "Ulquiorra will definatly think you look attractive."

"What?" Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Gin chuckled. "Silly Ichigo. Ya didn't think that we actually believed ya when you said ya were only bored, did you?"

Ichigo narrowed his eyes. "I don't know what you mean."

"Aw, come on, Ichi-kun." Gin said. "You can talk to me! Let's be buddies."

"When hell freezes over." Ichigo rolled his eyes.

"Ah, I see." Gin taunted. "You wanna hang with Tosen cause you're all about bein' a hero or whatever. Stupid. Dontcha see you'll get to see Ulquiorra more if you hang with me? And Aizen won't give ya no work if you're with me!"

Ichigo glanced over his shoulder to where the grey haired Shinigami still grinned. He sighed and scratched the back of his head.
"Fine, but only because I'm lazy." Ichigo said.

"Uh-huh, uh-huh." Gin bobbed his head. "Let's go see what Szayel's up to!"

Ichigo shrugged, only following him.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Ulquiorra saw the two of them walking down the hall, narrowing his eyes at Ichigo. He didn't trust him. Even if he was unbeliveably attractive...

Silence yourself, Ulquiorra. He told himself. Quit being a fool.

"Ulquiorra-chan!" Gin was suddenly beside him, throwing an arm over his shoulder. "You know Ichi-kun, right?"

"Hai." He muttered, practically glaring at Gin.

"You should come with us!" Gin advised. "We're gonna go bother Szayel for a little while, maybe spy on him first. Ya should come!"

"No." Ulquiorra moved away from Gin as he dropped his arm. "I'm busy."

"Busy doin' what?" Gin asked. "Mopin' around like an emo kid? Come on. Come with us! It's fun."

"No." Ulquiorra repeated.

"I'll tell Aizen-sama!" Gin threatened and Ulquiorra froze as he was about to walk away.

Ichigo looked at him, catching Ulquiorra's jaw snapping and resisting the urge to laugh. He raised an eyebrow at the Arrancar as Ulquiorra turned around, sulking.

"Fine." He mumbled.

"Yay!" Gin turned on his heel. "Off to the lab!"

Ulquiorra kept his hands in his pockets as he resisted the urge to reach out and touch Ichigo, his hands balled up in fists. Why did he want to touch that beautifully tanned skin so much? Was it because it was so much different than his own? Or maybe it was because it looked so soft...

Ichigo kept his eyes on Gin's back, afraid to look over at Ulquiorra in fear that he might reveal his secret. He couldn't have that...no....

He spared one glance over at the Arrancar, only blushing when he found the Espada was looking at him, too. He crossed his arms as he caught Gin vaguely looking back, chuckling lightly. He barely resisted the urge to draw Zangetsu and take the bastard out.

"Stay here." Gin told them, half turning to them. "I'm gonna go make sure Yammy isn't already rampaging."

And then he was gone.

Bastard!!!! Ichigo screamed in his mind, his jaw set. He lazily leaned his back against the wall, trying to give himself the look of having some sort of comfortable postition in the situation. Ulquiorra stood where he was, hands still in his pockets. He looked over at Ichigo, turning his head. Ichigo felt those cold green eyes on him as he stared at the ground. He tried to act as cool as possible, not moving a muscle.

And then Ulquiorra had him pinned to the wall, his arm at his neck, a threatening look on his face. At first, Ichigo looked at him with wide eyes, his mouth partially open in shock. And then his face set in anger.

"Why are you here, Soul Reaper?" Ulquiorra demanded.

" 'Cause I wanna be!" Ichigo said. "Now get the hell off of me!"

"I refuse to believe your excuse." Ulquiorra narrowed his eyes.

"Damn it, if you don't get off of me-" Ichigo threatened.

"Tell me why you're here." Ulquiorra said, increasing the pressure on his neck.

"No!" Ichigo screamed.

He pushed the Arrancar off, against the other wall. He grabbed Ulquiorra's face in his hand and glared into those cold eyes. Ulquiorra looked vulnerable now, not dark and demeaning like a few moments before. His hands were pressed against the wall and his eyes were wide as they looked back at Ichigo.

"Damn you, Ulquiorra." Ichigo mumbled through his teeth. "This is all your fault."

"What are you talking about?" Ulquiorra shook his head out of Ichigo's grasp, but the Soul Reaper only grabbed his shoulders and pressed him harder into the wall.

"It's all your fucking fault I'm here!" Ichigo told him.

"It's not my fault you have a feeble mind." Ulquiorra spat.

"No, but it's your fault that you're all I think about!" Ichigo said roughly, his eyes dark as he looked at the Arrancar.

Ulquiorra was speechless. He didn't understand...

They stood there, looking at each other for the longest time. Ichigo's hands were still on Ulquiorra's shoulders, pushing him back against the wall, when Gin practically skipped around the corner.

"Well, aren't we cozy?" He chuckled. "Come on, boys. Yammy's asleep."

Ichigo released Ulquiorra's shoulders roughly, turning to follow Gin and not giving him a spare glance back. Ulquiorra swallowed hard, trying to understand. He punched the wall before speed walking to catch up with the two of them.

Damn it, he was turning into Grimmjow.

Comments:

Sorry it took longer than expected. Had to make a quick run to Best Buy! Hope you like it! Chapter 2 will be up soon!