Ichigo groaned, feeling Shiro's body pressed against his in a glorious way. It sent pinpricks of pleasure racing across his skin, something he'd never give the hollow the joy of knowing. "Don't lie," Shiro mocked, warm breath sending a shiver down Ichigo's spine. "I can see the excitement flash in your eyes every time I say it."

"That's bull shit… now g-get off."

Shiro clicked his tongue while grinning at the double meaning in Ichigo's words. Get off… He leaned in, inhaling Ichigo's scent, and placed a teasing kiss on Ichigo's neck. "I don't wanna. You're so comfy, King." Shiro's grin grew as Ichigo shuddered. "Come on, your majesty, just admit you like the name and we can get back to our training."

Ichigo shook his head, attempting to weasel his way out from under the white demon.

"Yer not getting away that easily, yanno." Ichigo could feel Shiro's lips on his skin curl into a pale smirk. "I'm gonna stay right here until you admit it. For every minute that passes, I'm removing one article of clothing until yer naked. Then I'm gonna start touching ya."

Ichigo shivered, his resolve melting under those deliciously heated gold on black eyes. "Alright… fine. I like it when you call me 'King', happy? Now get off of me…"

As soon as Ichigo was given a chance to stand, a white blade was placed at his neck. With a flash of sparks, Ichigo's black version of Zangetsu pushed Shiro's blade away. Shiro smirked and said, "Your instincts are getting better, Ichigo. Keep this up and soon ya might be as good as me~"

Ichigo rolled his eyes, proving to be a fatal mistake when Shiro got the jump on him and tackled him to the ground once again.


Shiro knew he shouldn't have trusted Aizen. Furthermore, he knew he shouldn't have pushed Ichigo so hard. These were two mistakes he came to regret greatly as he carried an unconscious Ichigo back to their room. Before he knew it, someone smashed his head against the wall and he tumbled to the ground. He recalled holding Ichigo in his arms, preventing his lover from receiving any damage, before darkness took hold on Shiro's consciousness.

Aizen fingered the small trinket in his pocket with a wide grin on his face. If the Hogyoku had done its job, and it hadn't failed him yet, then soon Shiro would be under Aizen's control. He still wasn't entirely sure what had happened to give Ichigo such immense strength, but he knew the core was White. Since the Zanpakuto was half Hollow, he would be easier to control and bend to his will.

Or so he hoped. Shiro was vastly different from White, and thus he could produce a completely unpredictable reaction. Aizen grinned, regardless of the chances his experiment would be successful, Shiro was still such a worthy test subject.


Ichigo groaned and woke up, slowly, lights shining heavily in his face. "Wh-Where…?" His eyes widened when he found he couldn't move. Someone, or something, was holding him down. "D-Damn it… Aizen!"

Gin chuckled, sitting on a stool nearby. "How clever of you to figure out that much already. I'll let Aizen-sama know you're awake." Something about the way Gin spoke Aizen's name gave Ichigo hope. Perhaps his highness, Lord Aizen, didn't have the loyal followers he thought he did.

Ichigo felt the table move. "How long have I been unconscious? And where are you taking me?"

"A week…" Gin paused, unsure of how to continue. Eventually he broke the silence, deciding Ichigo may as well know, "I'll be taking you to see what's become of your Inner Hollow. Also, Aizen wishes to have some words with you."

Ichigo fell silent, unsure if he really cared to know more about this plan. He heard a click and suddenly he was no longer facing the ceiling. As he examined his surroundings, he found two things. One: Ichigo's head was throbbing and thus he couldn't move it without feeling a stab of pain. Two: Aizen was sitting in some mockery throne by a mask adorned Shiro.

Ichigo gulped.

"Well, if it isn't the substitute Shinigami- Oh, my apologies…" Aizen stepped off his throne and marched up close to Ichigo. "You're known as the x-substitute now, aren't you?"

"What do you want, Aizen?" Ichigo gathered enough saliva to spit in the brunette's face.

Aizen, angered by Ichigo's actions but otherwise amused, wiped the spit from his cheek with his sleeve. "Stubborn to the end, you just won't give me what I desire. Your mate over here, on the other hand, was oh so willing to bend to my will."

Something about Gin's expression told Ichigo that Aizen was holding back the truth. Ichigo shot Aizen a glare, one that made him shift uncomfortably even though he had Ichigo safely fastened to a table. "You're a liar… He wouldn't submit to you on any circumstances!"

I think you'll find he will, Ichigo Kurosaki. Aizen smirked confidently, "You're right. He wouldn't submit, he would agree. I offer him more power, what does he have to lose?"

"What are you on about?"

Come little fly, get stuck in my web…

"I believe I told you. He agreed to my will, to create the perfect being. He was tired of dealing with an immature brat like yourself, and decided my path was better suited." Aizen gripped Ichigo's chin, staring him in the eye. "I understand your pain, Ichigo. You must feel truly betrayed… Who can you trust if not your own Zanpakuto?"

"M-My… what?"

You're right, Ichigo. He won't submit to my will for I cannot break him. "Your Zanpakuto… you mean Shiro didn't tell you? Oh poor boy… He's been leading you on for so long."

Upon hearing his name, Shiro twitched.

"Why do you think he'd train you? It makes perfect sense, does it not? If Shiro is your Zanpakuto, he would get stronger as you do…"

Don't believe him, King! Please don't believe him! But as Ichigo slumped forward in defeat, tears of anguish escaping tightly shut eyelids, so too did Shiro break. His resolve weakened long enough for Aizen's will to grip onto his mind.

Aizen returned to Shiro's side, the being releasing a broken growl. It lowered its head in Aizen's presence, cooing for its master. Aizen waved his hand and Ichigo was taken out of the room. With a gentle chuckle, Aizen thought, You, however, can destroy his feeble heart. Thank you, Kurosaki Ichigo, for now I have my perfect weapon.


Gin felt bad for Ichigo. Scratch that, he felt downright terrible. Over the past week he'd heard the lies Aizen fed Shiro, many of them he'd heard before, but Shiro hadn't given into a single word. Not even the Hogyoku could fully change Shiro's mind. Ichigo wasn't that strong, thanks to Aizen's special planning. Shiro was a mistake, or rather an unexpected side effect, but Ichigo had been in Aizen's sights since he was conceived.

It was thanks to him that the Soul Society thought Aizen dead. It was also thanks to him that Aizen was able to make his ultimate weapon. Worst of all, no one except Ichigo could stop Aizen, and without him the Soul Society would never see this assault coming.

Gin sighed, wishing he could do more. For now he could at least provide Ichigo with a comfortable cell, until Gin could devise a plan that would rid this world of Aizen. If he managed to get Ichigo and Shiro back together, then he knew together they'd have the power to diminish Aizen's threat.

For now, all he could do was wait.