To say that Grimmjow was surprised was an understatement. The brash, energetic teenager with the crazy orange head that he had fought just months ago was now a snot-nosed brat that didn't even look old enough to be out of diapers. That was fucked up, to say the least.

"What the fuck happened to the strawberry?" he all but yelled.

"Grimmjow, watch your mouth, you're in the presence of a child." Ulquiorra snapped.

"But, I mean, look at him! He's a frickin kid!" Grimmjow's hands waved in the air and he began to rant about how fucked up the world was and that shit had officially hit the fan.

Ulquiorra shook his head and then turned back to Isshin, "I apologize for his actions, he has no brain."

Isshin chuckled a bit. "That's all right, Ichigo is going to have to get used to his foul mouth. Now, can we get going?"

Ulquiorra nodded, "Yes, you can shunpo I presume?"

Isshin only shifted Ichigo to his back, quietly instructing his son to hold on tight, before racing off.

It took a few minutes for Grimmjow to realize that he had been left behind, and then hurried after them.

Aizen had to physically stop his chin from dropping when he saw the state that Ichigo was in. He quickly set his features to a welcoming smile and hopped down from his throne. "Isshin, my old friend, to what do I owe this visit?"

Isshin set Ichigo down and stepped up to take Aizen's hand, "Sousuke, I have missed you. Unfortunately I don't have time to reminisce. Soul Society thought it would be alright for Mayuri to experiment on Ichigo. They turned him into a 4-year-old. When that happened, his hollow thought they were being attacked. He came out, and now everyone knows. Some of his friends were able to get him out of there, but Yamamoto has ordered his arrest and execution."

At that moment Gin stepped out of the shadows, "On what grounds?"

"He is charged with treason by way of being a Vizard."

Aizen shook his head with dismay, "I knew they would turn on him one day. Yamamoto is very set in the old ways."

"Yes, and that's why I brought him here. They know where we live, so they'll come looking there eventually. I need you guys to take care of him until Kisuke can find a way to change him back." Isshin looked down at his son with sad eyes, "I hate to leave him, but I don't have any other choice. If it came to them attacking the house I'd have no choice but to expose myself. That would incriminate not only me, but Karin and Yuzu as well."

Aizen nodded forlornly, "Yes, that is true. Since that is the case, we will be glad to take care of him. We can even have Szayel working on a cure as well."

"Ya, an this'll give me an Ichi some time ta bond. We didn' get off on a good foot." Gin gave a true smile for once and walked over in front of Ichigo. "My name is Ichimaru Gin. Ya can call me Gin." He held out his hand.

Ichigo looked at Gin for a moment, gulped, then reached out and shook his hand lightly. "I'm Ichigo."

Isshin and Aizen looked at the scene before them with humor. It was clear that Ichigo was intimidated by Gin, but didn't want to show any fear.

Isshin pulled the backpack of his shoulder and set it down at Aizen's feet. "This has basic stuff in it. PJ's, underwear, socks, shoes, pants and shirts. I also added some kids books and toys." At this point he leaned in to Aizen's ear, "At the bottom there's some pull-ups. If he gets sick or starts wetting the bed put one on him while he sleeps. I put a kido spell on the bag. When you start to run low on something put a note in the front pocket and say Masaki. I'll get the note and send through whatever you need." Isshin pulled back and walked over to Ichigo and Gin, who were engaged in small talk.

"Ichigo, I have to go now. You're going to stay with Gin and Aizen for a while. So be a good boy while you're here, okay?"

Ichigo's lower lip started to tremble, "B-but why can't I go with you?"

Isshin sighed and pulled his son into his arms. "I know you don't want to stay, but I have some stuff I need to do, and it's not safe for you to be with me when I do it. I'll come back and get you as soon as I can, okay?"

Ichigo nodded and squeezed his father tightly, "I'll miss you."

Aizen could see tears starting to for in Isshin's eyes.

"I'll miss you too. Now I have to go." With that Isshin got up and walked away, not turning back because he knew he wouldn't be able to leave if he saw Ichigo's face.

"Well Ichi, looks like it's just us now." Gin said with his ever present smile

Aizen nodded and knelt next to the small boy, "Would you like to see where you'll be sleeping? And then we can do something fun."

Ichigo gave a small, almost unnoticeable nod and took the hand that was presented to him by Gin.

"Oh yea, Aizen-taichou, ya forgot ta introduce ya self."

"My goodness, how rude of me. Ichigo, I am Aizen Sousuke, but you can call me Sou-san"

"K," Ichigo said shyly.

With that Aizen and Gin led Ichigo down a maze of hallways until they reached a set of tall, black double doors. "This is Gin and I's room. Your room is attached through our bathroom."

Gin pushed the door open and led Ichigo inside, through their room, the bathroom, and into Ichigo's new room. It was fairly large, with a full sized bed, a dresser, desk, chair, closet and bookshelf. The carpet was soft underneath their feet, although none of them could feel it with their shoes on. "This is where you will stay," Aizen said as he set Ichigo's bag down. "If you ever need us during the night you can come get us, or yell, we'll hear you."

Ichigo looked around the room from where he stood, not showing any emotion on his face.

"Do ya no like it Ichi?" Gin asked.

Ichigo looked up, "I like it. But, it's really white."

Gin look around. He knew that Ichigo was right. Everything in Hueco Mundo was white. From the walls to the floors, from the furniture to the sand and moon outside, it was all white. He supposed that he didn't notice it because he'd been there for so long, but for a child used to vibrant colors all around him, this must have seemed very bland. "Ya, I s'pose so. We should get some color in here for ya."

Aizen agreed, it wasn't normal for a child to live in white all day. "We'll have some of the servants paint the room and find you a nice bedspread, how's that?"

For the first time since coming there Ichigo smile, "Okay!"