It didn't sink in for some time. Not until he had sat down with his sisters to a table set for three, seeing as their father thank the Gods, had a conference out of town and would be gone for two days; just what he had agreed to.

In fact, Ichigo was in the shower sudsing up when the thought came to him; he wondered if Aizen would expect to be-- Ichigo's thoughts screeched to a halt and the bar of soap went flying from his tightened grip, landing with a clatter. What the hell?!!

"I have not come here to fight you, boy, merely with a message from my Lord Sosuke Aizen. 'I will bring to an end the offensive on Karakura town and the Soul Society if Ichigo Kurosaki agrees to become my lover'."

There was no ifs and buts about it.

Ichigo braced his hands against the wall to keep the world from spinning out of proportion.

He was going into a world of hurt, and it had been all with his consent.

His lover: the traitor Sosuke Aizen's. Lover. The word had a certain ring to it that had Ichigo's mind going in circles of everything he had ever heard about male/male pleasures. Just thinking about it, had him shuddering and turning the water up so that he was enveloped in heat.

Although if he did recall correctly Aizen did have a nice bod-- Ichigo had no idea where that thought had come from.

After standing beneath the cascade of hot water for a few more minutes, he decided to get out. Thinking and worrying were two things he wasn't good at. Ichigo much preferred the stimulation his senses keened to during a battle. He was much less experienced in the romance department. Grabbing a towel off the hook, he casually ran it through his hair, ruffling the spikes even more before tying it modestly about his waist. Karin and Yuzu were still downstairs from the sound of the TV and muffled laugh-track, so he had no problem crossing the remaining way at the top of the landing to his room marked by a 15 plaque on the door.

A moment later, Ichigo wondered if he was that preoccupied in his thoughts, or it was just the Espada's reiatsu was so indiscernible that upon the light switch flicking up beneath his fumbling fingers, the room was flooded with light and by the window, hands in pockets was the same green-eyed Arrancar from earlier.

His yell was temporarily stifled by the hand of the Espada.

He hadn't even seen him move.

"You will come quietly, Ichigo Kurosaki." Ulquiorra said dispassionately, ignoring the way Ichigo's eyes widened and the furious blush rising on his cheeks at the thought of meeting Aizen-in only a towel! The one good thing was that so far, the whole Prince thing had stopped...

"M-my family?" Ichigo mumbled when the Espada's hand had loosened. Ichigo thought it wiser to say nothing of the cause for his embarrassment, given that the Espada might say his Master preferred it that way.

"You've been given sufficient time to say your goodbyes." The Espada said then ran his green-eyed gaze up and down Ichigo's body. His face burned and he crossed his arms over his chest, trying to ignore the rigidity of his nipples. They had grown ever so slightly harder upon Ulquiorra's mute appraisal, which without saying a word, Ichigo knew instinctively that's what it was.

After a moment, the Espada dipped his raven head once in approval, turning away now to slide his long white fingers across the air, the dimensional wall sliding apart like pieces to a puzzle. Ichigo remembered him doing something similar the first time they had invaded.

No more. Beyond the opening was darkness. The Espada stepped back, allowing him to pass through first. No more invasions. This one thing was going to stop the entire war.

~*~

Ichigo wasn't sure what he had expected. Maybe a crowd of jeering, leering Arrancars making a mockery of what was left of his pride. But to his surprise there was only one--wait..of all the-?!

Ulquiorra didn't glance back to see if he had followed, only went on to the large double doors at the end of the darkened corridor. Grimmjow was slipping out of one side of the doors, a scowl on his face. Were these Aizen's quarters? If they were, Grimmjow didn't look too happy exiting them.

"Ulquiorra.." the Espadas eyed each other warily, well-Grimmjow did, Ulquiorra looked as if he couldn't care less. Ichigo gulped hastily and clutched the T-shirt snatched from his dresser top. Sharp teal eyes rolled his way, then widened, a smirk growing as the eyes looked him up and down, "never thought I'd say this, Kurosaki..."

Ulquiorra was announcing them; Grimmjow walked quite closely to Ichigo's side, enough so that the spicy scent of cloves wafted over Ichigo. "Nice cheeks!" Then he roared with laughter, Sonidoing from the spot as Ulquiorra had begun to turn.

Green eyes swept past his reddened face, disregarding it. "Come, Lord Aizen is waiting."

Like before, Ichigo entered first, stepping into a white high-ceilinged room. The floor was black tile and cold beneath his bare feet. Ichigo wondered if all the rooms in the place were like that and was about to question Ulquiorra, when a low, decidedly male voice called from the back of the single chair in the room. A small table was beside it, a fine-stemmed glass of dark liquid filled it. As Ichigo watched with growing trepidation, an arm encased in a white sleeve leaned on the armrest, fingers coiling around the stem.

"Welcome..." A head of coffee brown hair rose, then the broad expanse of a back. Ichigo felt his heart leap up into his throat. Aizen's smile was slow, languid, taking in his appearance leisurely. For not the hundredth time since he had first sensed the strange reiatsu, gone to check it out and came upon the aforementioned Espada, Ichigo cursed his stupidity and the green-eyed Espada now bowing to his Lord.

"...Kurosaki-san."

~To be continued~

AN: thanks to everyone who reviewed the first chapter! (=^.^=)

No flames-stupid comments-Haters!

Reviews appreciated :)