1

Once they were outside the First Division Aizen let Ichigo go. Ichigo rubbed his aching shoulder were there were sure to be bruises later. The meeting had gone about as badly as Ichigo had figured it would. Yamamoto knew without a doubt that he was lying. Ichigo wondered why the old man had not called him on it, or Aizen for that matter.

"Little fool," Aizen said in a low harsh voice as they walked. "What went through your head that made you decide to challenge the Sou-taichou?"

"I already said: I hate being talked about like as if I am not in the room," Ichigo answered simply. The truth was much more complicated than that. He could never sit and listen to Yamamoto without speaking his opinion. He respected the Sou-taichou, but respecting him and understanding the reasons for why he did the things he did were two different things. Accepting Yamamoto's actions was an even less likely third thing. Ichigo could not let the decisions Yamamoto had made in his past stand unchallenged, and he was not going to this time around. The old man had made far too many mistakes and had nearly gotten everyone killed twice. For all Ichigo knew, before he had been sent back everyone would really have died. It was something else he owed Urahara in the long run.

Aizen sighed exasperatedly and pinched the bridge of his nose. The boy just didn't see that he had almost ruined several plans carefully laid over the course of centuries. "Annoying brat," Aizen muttered under his breath.

"Hey, I'm pretty sure Yamamoto knew that I was lying in there," Ichigo said suddenly, oblivious to Aizen's inner turmoil. "Doesn't that bother you?"

Aizen raised an eyebrow. "I knew you were a terrible liar when I brought you to see him."

Ichigo twitched. It was one thing to admit that he was bad a lying and another to have Aizen say so.

"It does not matter in the long run," Aizen explained. "Yamamoto will be too late in any move he makes to have much effect. The point is that he knows thatyou are lying. He knows that you have something to hide. By contrast, I do not. Needless to say, I have full authority to watch over you. And I will be watching you, closely. As long as Yamamoto's suspicion remains on you..."

Aizen did not need to finish the sentence. Ichigo understood perfectly. He was being used as a distraction. It made him feel like such a fool. Aizen smiled at his as they continued walking back to the Fifth Division.

Ichigo was beginning to have second thoughts about his ability to handle Aizen's manipulations. He wasn't the type to deal in secrets and lies, and in Aizen's case illusions. Ichigo was much more comfortable with rushing in and overpowering any and all obstacles that got in his way. He kept trying to remind himself that doing so was a bad idea. He had made far too many mistakes rushing into battle before.

On one hand, he could just kill Aizen now. It would be so easy at this point in time. Aizen wasn't an immortal being with more power than was healthy for him. He wasn't lost in the madness that they Hougyoku caused in him. Right now he was a Shinigami, a smart manipulative, evil Shinigami but still a problem was that Ichigo needed the Gotei 13 to trust him when Yhwach made his move. He could not kill Aizen before he revealed himself a traitor, and expect Yamamoto and the others to listen to him when he told them that the Quincy's they thought were long dead were going to kill the Soul King and destroy all three worlds.

Ichigo,Ossan said firmly. Ichigo pulled himself out of his spiraling thoughts. Calm down. This challenge will be no more difficult than any other you have faced.

No more difficult? A small, bitter laugh escaped him. Aizen paused at the seeming non-sequitur, but Ichigo kept walking. His body was working on autopilot as it always did when he was conversing with his zanpakutou in the real world. I have to try to convince the Shinigami that the world will end if they don't listen to me. They lock people up in the living world for saying crazy things like that. Why should it be any different here? Heck, considering Yamamoto's track record I'll be lucky if he doesn't have me executed.

It will be no more difficult because when the time comes you will not be the one to tell Yamamoto of Yhwach. Ossan answered smoothly.

I wont?Ichigo asked now completely confused. Who else was going to tell them? Urahara?

No, I will be the one to tell him.

Ichigo stopped walking, his mind now fully engaged by his zanpakutou. He vaguely saw Aizen wave his hand in front of his face as Ossan continued to speak. Yamamoto at the very least will recognize me for who and what I represent. He knows about the Quincy prophecy as well, though he chooses not to believe in it. I can convince him to ready the Gotei 13 for war and not the peace they will expect after Aizen's fall.

What about all the damage Aizen will cause.Ichigo pointed out. They had barely recovered the last time before the Quincy's attacked.

Then that shall be one of our goals: to minimize the damage Aizen will cause with this plans.Ossan answered.

How?

Firstly, the empty taichou positions were the worst of the blows. I would work to save Gin from Aizen now that you know his ultimate goal is to kill him.

Ichigo nodded, seemingly at nothing making Aizen frown.

And Ichigo, Ossan said. I am able to draw on Yhwach own experience in manipulation. If you need help navigating Aizen and Urahara's plots you should ask me.

You think you can do that?Ichigo asked still skeptical.

He felt Ossan smile. I had you believing that I was your zanpakutou long before I actually was, and I had the hollow convinced that it was for the best.

Your point is made, Ichigo said dryly. He could hear Shiro growling at Ossan's choice of words.

Of course he leaves out the part where it was all my idea,Shiro griped.

Any ideas on how to deal with Aizen? Ichigo asked ignoring Shiro. He was eager for a second opinion on that particular situation.

Ossan thought for a moment. The best thing you can do in this situation is give them what they expect.

What do you mean?

Everyone in Seireitei will know about the child prodigy Aizen has adopted by night fall.Ossan answered.

So?

Break it up into smaller pieces for him. Shiro advised. He's great at fooling himself but not so much others.

Ossan counted to ten. His wielder's sincerity was very endearing most of the time, but in this game it would be their biggest obstacle. They expect a talented young child. You will have to act like a child as you have, mostly, in school in Karakura.

So you want me to act like a little kid?

You don't have to lie, Ichigo. Just allow them to assume that what they see is the truth.

Oh... okay.

Ichigo was pulled back to the outside world by the sound of snapping fingers from right under his nose. He crossed his eyes and scowled at the offending digits.

"Do you have any medical maladies I should know about?" Aizen asked once he realized that he had Ichigo's attention. "This is the second time I have caught you staring off into space. Is it some kind of seizure perhaps?"

Ichigo snorted. "I was just talking to Zangetsu," He said.

Aizen laughed softly, "I remember when I was eager to speak with my zanpakutou as well. But you should not let the spirit distract you in that way. Not paying attention to your surroundings could get you killed one day."

"Zangetsu wouldn't let that happen," Ichigo said in defense of his blade. He unconsciously touched the hilt of his trench knife in silent support.

Aizen snorted derisively. "I am going to give you a bit of advice. Don't listen too much to what your zanpakutou says. They are merely warped illusions of their wielder driven by your deepest desires. A zanpakutou spirit would have you believe that they are separate, sentient beings, but they are not. They are merely a tool to be used to access your full potential as a Shinigami, nothing more. And even that potential can only take you so far."

Ichigo swallowed hard. Aizen's words disturbed him on a fundamental level. How could he say something like that? There were time when Ichigo knew he would have died if not for Zangetsu, both of them. Not trusting in Zangetsu was completely against the relationship he and his zanpakutou had painstakingly built.

Scratch that trust building exercise with Yamamoto and let's kill him now. Shiro burst out angrily. The hollow sounded mortally offended by Aizen's words. Ossan, on the other hand, did not say a word, but then he never did when he agreed with Shiro. He would speak up in an instant if his opinion differed, but it seemed that even if they shared the same soul a Quincy would never willingly agree with a hollow.

"You're wrong," Ichigo said to Aizen. He wondered what Kyoka Suigetsu thought of Aizen's opinion.

Aizen smiled thinly, "I am never wrong." He began walking once more forcing Ichigo to hurry up to keep up with him.

Ichigo rolled his eyes. This was a prime example of denial. "I'll let Urahara tackle that statement. He's better at it." Aizen glared at him. "But what about Muramasa then? I doubt his wielder wanted him to do what he is doing right now."

"I would not be so sure of that, boy," Aizen answered primly. "You need to study the history of that particular zanpakutou before jumping to conclusions. Tell me: why do you think that zanpakutou are separate beings from their wielders?"

"What?" The question confused Ichigo.

"It is the other viable theory at Shin'ou Academy," Aizen said dropping unconsciously into lecture mode. "I might as well start your education now rather than later. So why should zanpakutou be considered separate entities when they themselves will tell you that they are a part of your soul?"

Ichigo really did not understand this man. At one time he had thought he knew all of Aizen's motivations, but that was in another world as far as this Aizen was concerned. One minute Aizen was belittling and threatening him, the next he was lecturing him on zanpakutou philosophy. How much, exactly had the old Aizen deteriorated from his former self?

Ichigo shook his head to clear it of unanswerable questions and instead thought of everything he had experience with Zangetsu and everything Ouetsu Namaiya had taught him. Between his zanpakutou violently asserting his ability to take over and live Ichigo's life and Ouetsu's multiple zanpakutou- "You wouldn't understand." He said finally.

"Oh? And why do you believe that?" Aizen didn't even look angry at the remark. It was eerie.

"You don't believe that I am a separate entity that could stand without you because of the circumstances of one of your experiments led to my birth. How could you think any differently about something created within your own soul?"

"An interesting stand on the matter," Aizen said thoughtfully Ichigo peered up at him. Was Aizen actually considering what he had said?

Shiro chose that time to ruin the moment. That was deeeep.

Ichigo sighed heavily. Ever since they had come back to the past and Ichigo had become more dependent on his zanpakutou's opinions Shiro had become more and more his own personal peanut gallery.

It was a compliment, Shiro grumbled.

Back at the Fifth Division a young woman in a standard shihakushou and her hair pulled back in a tight bun accosted them outside of Aizen's office.

"I am so sorry, Aizen-taichou. I know you wanted me here to greet our new guest, but the Shinigami Woman's Association meeting ran long and Rangiku wanted to-"

Ichigo stopped listening to the long winded explanation for the girl's tardiness and studied the girl herself instead. From the way she was speaking and the badge she wore on her upper arm she was Aizen's former -present- fukutaichou Himomori,or something like that. Ichigo had never actually met the girl, but Toushirou and Rangiku had been very worried about her for a long time after Aizen revealed his true colors.

Ichigo was struck by how normal she looked. He was not exactly sure what he had been expecting, but he had come to the conclusion a long time ago that the elite Shinigami were an odd bunch to say the least. This girl looked was too normal to be a part of that group. Unlike all of the other taichou and fukutaichou he knew you could plunk her down in any high school in Japan and immediately loose her- unlike a certain group that had tried, and failed miserably, to do just that.

Aizen smiled indulgently at the girl, "It's alright Hinamori-chan. We have just returned from our meeting with the Sou-taichou. You are just in time."

The girl, Hinamori evidently, beamed at Aizen. She seemed happy enough with the assurance and the accompanying pat on the head, but Ichigo felt outrageously offended for her. The poor girl was so infatuated with her taichou that she had no idea he was patronizing her.

"Hinamori-chan, I would like you to meet Kurosaki Ichigo. He is the one who will be staying with us until he is old enough to enter Shin'ou Academy."

"Oh," Hinamori said putting her hand to her cheek. "He is much younger than I thought he would be."

Aizen laughed out loud. "Don't let his size fool you, he is a very surprising young man."

"If you say so Taichou," Hinamori said skeptically. She turned her attention to Ichigo completely unfazed by the scowl marring his face. "It is nice to meet you, Kurosaki-kun. I hope we can be good friends," She bowed politely.

Ichigo bowed back equally polite. "It is nice to meet you," He said gruffly still miffed at her reaction to seeing him for the first time.

"Hinamori," Aizen said redirecting her attention back to him. "Kurosaki-kun is a very special case. He is more than powerful enough to join the Academy first years, but is much too young to be accepted." He continued all seriousness. "The Sou-taichou is going to allow me the privilege of teaching him as opposed to having him disappear in Rukongai, where we may never find him again. We need to show him the best of the Fifth Division. I want you to help me look after him and teach him what he needs to know in order to become an asset to the Gotei 13."

Hinamori nodded ever eager to please her taichou. "Yes, sir," She turned back to Ichigo. "Well Kurosaki-kun, let's get you settled in then." She said gesturing for Ichigo to follow her.

Aizen nodded to the both of them and leveled a look at Ichigo that clearly said "Behave." Ichigo glared back but nodded grudgingly. Then Aizen was suddenly gone slipping away almost unnoticed, as if he had shunpoed into his office.

Ichigo blinked at the empty space that Aizen had been occupying before following after Hinamori wondering how in the world the girl could be so blind. It was true that his own view of Aizen was tainted by facts and events that the girl couldn't know anything about, but Hinamori should have at least caught on to how condescending her precious Aizen-taichou was toward her. He treated her like a dog after all. Ichigo shook his head. He didn't know much about what had happened to her after Aizen's defeat. He just hoped that she was not a lost cause.

"So Kurosaki-kun," Hinamori said suddenly as they distanced themselves from Aizen's office. "What district did you live in before Aizen-taichou found you?"

Ichigo wracked his brain trying to remember which district Aizen had found him in before giving up. "I'm from one of the middle districts originally, but I have been traveling a lot." He heard Shiro face-palm at his answer.

"Huh, I thought Aizen-taichou had to go to your home and talk to your parents for permission to bring you to Seireitei," Hinamori said confused.

Ichigo began to sweat. "Well, obviously I was traveling with my family," He amended turning red in embarrassment at his slip up.

"Huh..." Hinamori seemed to accept his explanation. Or at least she decided to change the subject. "I know Aizen-taichou said that I wasn't late. He is far to kind. But Obviously they had enough time to find you a shihakushou that fit. I am sorry I kept you waiting."

Ichigo chewed on his lower lip in frustration. This girl was just so... How did she even handle the responsibilities of a fukutaichou? "Actually my mom made this so that I could play like I was a real Shinigami," He said remembering the Shinigami who had accused him of just that. He still cringed at how juvenile it sounded.

Hinamori giggled, "Well, she did a really good job. But the swords are way too much. You must have quite the imagination to come up with such a unique a dual shikai form."

Ichigo quickly went from congratulating himself on telling a successful lie to a sulky pout. This was also the second time he had been accused of creating a fake shikai. "This is my zanpakutou in shikai," He snapped.

"Eh? Really?" Hinamori squealed. Suddenly more interested in his zanpakutou than she had been, eyes traveling up and down both blades. "That really is a very elegant form. It looks dangerous."

Ichigo heard Zangetsu thank her. He stopped to question what they thought they were doing. We ain't you, Aibou. When a girl complements our form we ain't gonna sit there like a slowly roasting lump, Shiro scoffed. Ichigo bristled at the implications of that comment.

Pass on our gratitude, Ichigo. Ossan added before an argument could start.

"Zangetsu says thanks," Ichigo deadpanned, not at all pleased with his zanpakutou at the moment.

"Your welcome," Hinamori said with a bow actually addressing the zanpakutou instead of Ichigo. "Such talent you have," She said to Ichigo eyes shinning. "No wonder Aizen-taichou wants to teach you. He is always going out of his way to help special students. Ichimaru-taichou comes to mind. He finished the academe curriculum in a year. Have you met him yet?"

"Yes," Ichigo said shaking his head. He could do without all the Aizen worship. "He is kind of creepy," He added as an after thought. He remembered how much gin had scared Rukia. Ichigo assumed it was a normal reaction no matter who you asked.

"Hehe, he kind of is at fist, but once you get used to his sense of humor he is really nice. He always brings Aizen-taichou and me some of his dried persimmons after they ripen. Have you ever tried persimmons?" Hinamori asked.

Ichigo was busy trying to wrap his head around the fact that he seemed to be talking to a teenage girl in a high ranking military position to answer right away. "Um, no. I have never been that adventurous with fruit," He answered finally.

"That's too bad," Hinamori said sounding far more sincere than the situation called for. "I'll have to save you some next time he brings some by."

"Okay?" Ichigo asked rather than stated. He was still trying to catch up with the conversation. How had they gone from where he lived to fruit? Ichigo had not spent much time talking to normal girls his age. He did not see any of his friends as normal exactly. Was this even how normal girls were supposed to act?

"Here we are!" Hinamori's upbeat exclamation pulled Ichigo from his musings on girls. "This is really supposed to be a guest room, but we hardly ever use it. I figured we could set you up here instead of the barracks with everyone else."

"I-uh- thank you. This is more than I expected." The room they were standing in was very plain, almost completely bare. A small desk and chair sat against one wall while an old wardrobe crowded the opposite. There was nothing else in the room but a lone potted plant on the window sill.

"You're welcome," Hinamori said brightly pleased that he like the room. "There's a futon in the wardrobe, or if you want we can put in a western style bed later. And you can redecorate anyway you want- as long as you don't go painting on the walls." Ichigo wondered where that particular stipulation had come from. "Do you need time to settle in?"

"I don't have anything to unpack," Ichigo said in a daze. "And I don't have any money to use to redecorate."

"No worries, you will be getting a weekly allowance that you can spend on whatever you want," Hinamori said beaming.

"I can't take charity," Ichigo said abruptly. More importantly he couldn't take Aizen's charity.

"Kurosaki-kun," Hinamori's voice dropped a full two octaves and became much more forceful. She sounded possessed. "You will be training and living with the Fifth Division. We wont let you live in poverty while we are responsible for your well being. That would make the division look bad." Ichigo gaped at her. For a minute there the sweet bubbly girl that Ichigo had met turned into a monster scary enough to chase Grimmjow under the bed. "Now then," Hinamori said clapping her hands and dispelling the menacing atmosphere. "Let's get to the mess hall and get you something to eat."

"Okay," Ichigo replied dumbly. It was becoming his favorite word. Ichigo followed Hinamori to the mess hall. She definitely was not what he expected. It was also quite obvious that she was insane.

They entered the mess hall just as dinner was ending for much of the division. Only a few people lingered over their meals. Ichigo could feel their curious eyes following him.

"This will be where you can get most of your meals, unless you wish to eat out. There are a lot of great places to eat around the Fifth, and the largest shopping district in Seireitei is only a few blocks away."

Ichigo ate his meal while listening to Hinamori describe the daily life of the division. The girl talked the whole time. The only way he could tell she was eating at all was that there was conspicuously less food on her plate every time he glanced at it.

"You will need to come to my office tomorrow, so I can brief you on your schedule," The hyperactive fukutaichou told him as she led him back to his room after dinner. "My office is right next to Aizen-taichou's, on the right. Just come by after breakfast and knock on the door." Ichigo nodded absently at her rambling. He was very worn out. "Oh and Kurosaki-kun, I have some time off coming up, and I can take you on a shopping trip to buy some things for your room."

"Okay."

It was defiantly his new favorite word. He had learned during dinner that Hinamori would accept it as an answer to almost any question.

They made it back to his room. "Good night, Kurosaki-kun," Hinamori said waving casually before disappearing suddenly just as Aizen had.

Ichigo backed slowly into his room eyes scanning the now empty hallway. What exactly had he missed? He closed the door and readied his futon for bed. He plopped down on the futon completely exhausted. But he still had two more things to do before he slept.

He reached into his shihakushou and pulled out the denreishiki Urahara had given him. He called up the only number in the contacts and pushed the call button. It hardly got through one ring before his mother's voice was on the other end.

"Ichigo!" She sounded worried.

"Hi mom," He said.

"Ichigo sweetie, are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine," Ichigo said trying in vain to sooth her fears.

There was a moment of silence on the phone before his mother spoke again. "What happened?"

"I met with Aizen and Yamamoto, then I was shown to my room and the mess hall," Ichigo said casually.

"Yamamoto?"

There was a quick scuffing sound and then his father was on the line.

"He took you to see the Sou-taichou?" His father demanded.

Great now goat-face was worried too. It said a lot about Yamamoto that Isshin was more afraid of him than Aizen. Knowing Goat-face it had to have a lot to do with insubordination and general lack of refinement.

"Yeah, evidently Aizen asked the Old Man to let him apprentice me and Yamamoto wanted to meet me," Ichigo told Isshin.

"Why would he do something like that?"

"How would I know what that crazy megalomaniac is thinking? I'm more afraid of my kidou lessons than Aizen's endgame."

Another long pause from the denreishiki and then, "I was talking about Yamamoto."

Ichigo shrugged automatically before he remembered that he had to answer out loud. "I don't know that either, Oyaji."

There was another scuffle for the denreishiki and he thought he could hear his father whimpering in the background when he heard his mother's voice again. "Ichigo, where are you now?"

"I'm in a guest room at the Fifth Division."

"So you are safe?"

Ichigo thought about that. He was not in any immediate danger, but in the long run he was in the middle of one of Aizen's plots. He decided that it was a pretty safe bet to shoot for normal, or as normal as he could make it sound. "Yeah, I'm fine. The fukutaichou is really nice, and she is going to take me shopping on her day off so that I can buy some things for my room."

"That sounds nice," Masaki said not sure how to take the situation. "We miss you."

"Miss you too mom," Ichigo replied and he really did. He had been attached to her side for a much time as he could afford because he had missed her for so long. But he had slowly come to the realization that he didn't needher, and he hadn't for a very long time. "I love you mom."

"I love you too, sweetie," Masaki said. "It's late. You should probably get some sleep. To day could not have been easy for you."

"Okay," Ichigo yawned at the reminder of just how long the day had been. "Good night."

"Good night," Masaki said. He could hear Isshin's yelled "Good night, son," in the background. The denreishiki went dead.

Ichigo really was tired and wanted nothing more than to go to sleep. He yawned again. One more thing,he thought silently. Though when he was this tired was probably the worst time to talk to Urahara. He had enough trouble keeping secrets from the man when he was fully awake.

He listened to the faint sound of static. "Geta-boshi? You there?"

"Why yes Ichigo-kun. However did you know?" Urahara's voice drifted out of the speaker sounding faintly surprised and a bit garbled.

Ichigo snorted. "You give a pair of special custom made denreishiki away, for free, and don't listen in on the calls?"

Urahara chuckled. "Ah, we will make a master spy of you yet. But try not to say too much right now. Aizen cannot hack my denreishiki to hear what I say, but you are most certainly being watched."

"You are probably right," Ichigo said frowning. The more Urahara spoke the more it sounded like- "Did you by any chance get hit in the jaw recently?"

Urahara groaned in answer. "You would not believe how mean she can be, Ichigo-kun," He whined.

"Who?" He thought briefly of his mother socking Urahara in the face.

"Yoruichi-san of course," Urahara said with a weak laugh. "She said that my little stunt with Muramasa opened her eyes to the fact that we were getting lazy, and we were no longer at the top of our game, so obviously we need to spar often and violently, so that we are prepared to fight when the time comes."

Ichigo burst out laughing. Each and every "we" dripped with irony and resignation. He laughed again when Urahara clicked his tongue and whimpered when it made his jaw throb even more.

"That's what you get for lying to her," Ichigo said smugly.

"So mean," Urahara whined and then became serious. "Things are going pretty much as planned, and now you are in the perfect position - Ichigo, your mission, should you choose to accept-"

"Geta-boshi," Ichigo burst out exasperated with the man's antics. Even a sore jaw didn't stop him. Now he understood the true reason for keeping Urahara away from pop culture or pretty much anything that would make him more annoying than usual. And here Ichigo ignorantly thought it was because the mad scientist would most likely blow up a city block trying to create a real warp drive. "Stop playing around, or I'll tell Yoruichi you are pirating American movies."

"Sorry, sorry," Urahara said quickly. Ichigo was sure the blond was sweating. "I need you to try to find out what Aizen's plans really are."

"Easier said than done."

"Yes I know, but still you will have to try your best," Urahara paused. "But I have to know one thing now. Just answer yes or no. Does Aizen know you have destroyed the Hougyoku?"

Ichigo considered the question. Aizen had not given any indication that he knew, but he was one of the few who could recognize the reishi of the Hougyoku from the bursts in Rukongai. "Highly likely."

"Hm," Urahara said thoughtfully. "I will have to find a way for you to communicate freely. It may take me awhile. I will contact you then."

Ichigo yawned unperturbed. Urahara would have something ready by the end of the week. "Good night Geta-boshi."

"Good night Ichigo-kun," Ichigo hit the end call button with his thumb and stuck the denreishiki back inside his shihakushou. With another jaw breaking yawn he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.