So how is it so far, everyone? Good? Good.

Long chapter, sorry. But practically right out of the episode.

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Chapter 10:

Labs and Rats

Gin and Sosuke walked along a shrub lined dirt-path to Aizen's fukutaichou estate as the sun set leaving a twilight of rich blue to vibrant purple to pink and oranges fading into soft gold down at the forest toping. Ichimaru had a emerald green kimono on with a golden obi wrapping it in place. He was 10 paces behind his beloved leader Aizen who was wearing a black kimono with a red obi sash as the older of the two walked an even and slow pace. Gin smiled his mocking smile and gave off his usual cheerful disposition as he trotted happily after the brown-haired man. He had been confused as to why Aizen would be alright with him having an affair with Rangiku, but once Aizen had told him that Gin was Sosuke's and that Aizen saw nothing wrong with Ichimaru having what Sosuke called a 'concubine' he seemed to understand. If only a bit. But he did not want a formal headache and so he mentally dropped the situation, only keeping to mind that he loved Aizen ,but was not his 'formal lover' as of yet and that he was allowed to have sexual intercourse with his child hood friend Matsumoto as long as he did not give up Aizen completely.

"Pup will be the one to do most of the experiment's prepping and initial dosages to the Shinigami hosts." Aizen said as he and Gin walked to the wooden shoji door to Sosuke's home. Ichimaru tilted his head as he looked to his master whom opened the door with one hand almost delicately.

" 'Hosts' 'ya siad?" The youth inquired gently and curiously. The older half-turned and gestured with his hand for Ichimaru to go into his house as he spoke, smiling. He always liked when his experiments came to be in his lover's interest.

"Yes, I am seeing if a Shinigami can be host to Hallow genes and a Hallow's separate spirit." While he spoke Gin walked past him inside and Aizen followed, sliding the shoji shut as he turned and than preceded after his youth into the living quarters.

"So... Is it possible to have two 'n one bodeh?"

"Bo-dy, Gin, not 'bodeh.' " Aizen corrected as he ushered Gin to sit at the low table in the middle. Ichimaru flinched at his given name and than was quick to nod and apologize before sitting politely on padded, soft red sitting pillow as Aizen walked off, most likely into the kitchen to fetch some tea like always. Gin certainly did not want another one of Aizen's 'punishments' for ill language. The one he had received the other night had been enough for him. The healed flesh over his navel showed no sign of any 'punishments' Aizen had bestowed upon him, but he could still recall the smell of burnt flesh and the searing pain that came with it. Shivering at the thought Ichimaru didn't notice Aizen who had come back in the room with a tray of tea and two gray drinking cups. "What is it, Kitten?"

"Huh..?" the youth jerked his head up to meet an amused Sosuke placing the tray on the table neatly before sitting himself opposite Ichimaru.

"You were shaking when I came in. What was it about?" A grin, wide and mocking , snaked its way onto the silver-haired boy's lips as he looked to his leader. His gears were turning as he looked Aizen over and quickly his sly mind developed a loop so he would not offend Sosuke.

"Tonight. About bein' there with 'ya and watching more of your experiments. And the fact I'll be comin' back home with 'ya is a pretty big turn on, too." Aizen took a sip of his tea as he listened to his fox talk. He knew it was a lie, but fancied the words coming from the youth's lips anyway. Perhaps he would start to indulge Ichimaru and let the youth be the dominant one every now and than. As Gin spoke non sense and drank his tea Sosuke thought of the night they were to take part in. No doubt Tousen would be making his move soon and than Aizen and Gin would have to leave to meet up with him in order to properly observe the subjects. Knowing that there would be a fair amount of subjects with high reiatsu seemed to bring something similar to happiness into Aizen's heart. He would most likely have to make an appearance somewhere so that at least one of the Taichou's would believe him to be innocent of any wrong doing, that was but a given. While he thought of the night to come Ichimaru eventually stopped speaking, knowing that his beloved leader was not even listening at this point. He sighed with a bit of exhaustion before taking another gulp of his tea as he watched Aizen's chocolate eyes dance with what could be perhaps translated as happiness. Though Gin knew better than to say anything of the such aloud. For some reason Aizen seemed to not enjoy being reminded he actually has real emotions somewhere inside him that would surface only when he was truly having a decent time. Ichimaru smiled knowing that night would be very entertaining.

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The night had gone swiftly in Gin's eyes. It had been like an obscure game of tag. He was honestly impressed to see some of the Shinigami that were there. All either Taichous of Fukutaichous. Very impressive to the silver-haired youth. He stood close to his beloved leader like always. Watching, but keeping his conversations to nothing more than a sentence or two. His little face in that mocking form, smile spread across his lips and his eyes slivered into black lines. He watched as the fools tried to fight each other, sad, but very amusing. Finally Tousen swallowed them whole with his bankai and cut them all down. Aizen gave a small tug as he walked past Ichimaru, a soft signal to follow him. Gin did so with an interest sparked. He had assumed they were going to stay hidden, not come out into the opening. What was his leader thinking now?

Tousen stood tall slowling peeling his googles from his unseeing eyes. His freshly cut down prey to his back, Hirako sprawled on the dirt looking at him with either disgust or fear or perhaps plain shock. The elder blond stared a moment than realization hit him.

"You're... Tousen!" Shinji accused as Tousen tossed his googles aside in favor of prying at the remaining of the mask. "Why? You... betrayed Kensei... Your own Taichou?"

"He didn't betray anyone." The long haired blond jerked back a bit. He recognized that voice, he was sure of it. As the blond stared on as Gin and Aizen came up behind him. "He's quite loyal. In fact..." Sosuke was getting close to him now with his little Fox Kitten close behind to his left, enough for him to feel the pulsing reiatsu Aizen was giving off. As Hirako looked up at the two the brown-haired man continued to speak as if this was simple outing for him. "... he obeyed every order I gave to him. Please don't get angry with him, Hirako-Taichou." Aizen spoke so calmly and with such a sincere smile Ichimaru couldn't help the small zip that laced up his spine. Later that night was going to be so very good, he was sure. The blond's eyes worked into a sneer as he looked on at the two.

"Aizen..? I knew it!" Hirako spat out as Ichimaru and Aizen walked closer to him. "You started all this!" Sosuke smiled more at the accusation.

"Then you noticed? I'm not surprised." He came to a stop as he spoke and smiled down at the fallen Taichou. as he spoke Shinji leered with great distaste.

" 'Course I did!"

"Since when?" Aizen questioned.

"Since you were kickin' around in your mama's womb." Hirako said with a foul taste in his mouth. He should have known this was all his Fukutaichou's fault. Damn, his Fukutaichou. What a bad reflection this was on his part. Aizen remained calm, but an air of smugness started to form as he smiled at Hirako. He closed his eyes and tilted his head to his left lightly, making Gin smile.

'So arrogant at times. But such a hottie...' - Ichimaru thought off-hand.

"I see." Stated Aizen.

"I always... knew 'ya were dangerous: that 'ya weren't a man to be trusted. That's why I chose 'ya to be my Fukutaichou. It was so I could watch you, Aizen!" The blond said as he balanced himself on his fore arms staring up with disgust at Aizen. Gin was amused more now. It was as if he wasn't even there. Not a single word to him. How very amusing. Sosuke stood tall once again, straight and Gin could tell he, too, was becoming amused as well.

"Yes, and I'm most grateful, Hirako-taichou." Aizen spoke effortlessly as he smiled like always, Hirako looking on to him, perhaps even taken aback a little. "Thanks to your constantly doubting me, you never even realized." Hirako was ticked off for Aizen's lacking now.

"I just said that I did!" The blond snapped back over his wounded shoulder.

"No, you didn't see a thing." Hirako gaped a bit at Aizen's words, unsure what to say as Aizen continued to speak. "For this whole month, I wasn't the one walking behind you." Shock became evident in the Taichou's eyes. Aizen was not there? Hirako felt even more pathetic as Sosuke explained. "I can... make enemies believe anything I want them to. That's my zanpakuto's, Kyouka Suigetsu's, true ability. I refer to it's power as..." Aizen paused a moment to bring his precious blade up to display it's brilliant blade and olive green hilt, held by his creamy hand. Ichimaru was entranced in his leader's elegance as he did that. So very gorgeous to the youth. Gin could never love anyone more than Aizen, not even his lovely Rangiku. Aizen raised the sword diagonal to his face. "... absolute hypnosis."

" 'Absolute hypnosis' ?" Hirako repeated exhaustedly. Aizen lowered his blade as he spoke again.

"You're a clever man, Hirako-taichou. If you had treated me the same as the other Taichous treat their Fukutaichous, you might have seen through it. But you never tried. Since you never trusted me, you always kept me at arms length. You never opened your heart to me, never shared any information. You never tried to know me." Aizen lifted his blade to slide it once again into the dark sheath with no resistance, all in one fluid motion. He moved ever so slightly into an offensive stance making Hirako flinch back slightly. "And that was why you never noticed..." The blond made an effort to push himself up higher in order to prepare to fend. "... when I had someone else take my place. I had my substitute memorize my behavioral patterns and the way I interacted with you and the other Taichous. If you had truly formed a relationship with me, you would have noticed slight differences in our ticks and mannerisms. The reason you're down on the ground right now is all because you never bothered to get to know me." Hirako's face turned and sneered more at Aizen. The bastard was right, as much as Hirako would verbally deny it. It made his flesh crawl and his blood boil in his veins. "Did you understand all of that, Hirako-taichou?"

"Aizen... "

"And one more thing... You said that you selected me as your Fukutaichou so you could keep an eye on me. But that's incorrect." Hirako was becoming irritable with his former Fukutaichou.

"What?"

"Just as the Taichous have a right to appoint their own Fukutaichous, the candidate has the right to reject the offer. Of course, that's hardly ever happened. But nevertheless, I had the option of not becoming your Fukutaichou. So why did I take it? Because you were perfect." The blond swallowed Aizen's words hard. How could he have been so damn stupid, so naive about Aizen? The brown-haired man raised his right arm quizzically as he spoke further. "Your suspicious nature and caution around me created the ideal environment for my plans. Now do you understand? You didn't choose me, I chose you, Hirako-taichou. You should take the chance to apologize to your friends. They're on the ground, bleeding and unconscious because I chose you." That hammered the large nail in his chest. Hirako's boiling point popped and he shot up, unsheathing his maroon-hilted blade taking an offensive stance towards Sosuke.

"Aizen!" But before the blond could make another move he felt something awful ripple through his body, a white ooz purging from his throat and spewing from his left eye engulfing the left side of his face. Hirako was in a shock worse than before. What the Hell did this freak Aizen do to him? Aizen watched as a scientist would it's experiment. That's what all of this ever was. His plans, his... Experiments. Ichimaru watched in silence. He couldn't afford to mess up his leader's mood and warmed reiatsu. It was rare to see it out side of bed.

"Thank you for letting my little taunts anger you." Hirako's vision was now going in and out of a blurred state. But he was determined to stay conscious. He had to for his friends. The ones he landed here and bleeding on the ground.

"Damn it! Me, too!?" Shinji shouted out in a state between anger and bewilderment. Than suddenly the blond realized that the others were also in similar states. How could he not have noticed all of this? He turned and looked on as his fellow Shinigami were all being engulfed individually by a similar white substance. It was hitting Hirako hard now, the guilt and pain and the sight he was watching. He squeezed his eyes shut for what seemed like na eternity before he swirled around and confronted Sosuke. "Aizen! What's going on!?" Then another surge of that horrid rippling went through Hirako's body as the white stuff tried to stretch and move further on his face. As this was happening Tousen casually walked over and joined Aizen and Ichimaru, the happy family. Aizen began to speak while Kaname did so.

"It seems that Hollowfication proceeds quicker if the subject is agitated." Sosuke stated scientifically as he watched. Hirako caught his words and looked at him.

" 'Hallowfication'? What's... that?" Hirako asked heatedly as sweat began to slip down his face. Sosuke smiled and answered simply.

"You don't need to know." As he spoke the blond bent over with pain surging in his body. Hiyori finally was able to stand, her Hallowfication almost complete, her eyes gold and black, mask nearly set.

"Shin... ji!" She looked over at Aizen and he caught sight of her as well. They briefly locked eyes before Aizen had Pup go forth with the intent to cut her back down. He sliced up her left side making her fall once again, angering Hirako.

"Don't!" He leapt forward and landed, his blade connecting with Tousen's making a screeching cross. Kaname had to leap back from the force, landing heavily a few feet away. "I don't get what's going on, but I wouldn't assume everythin's gonna' go accordin' to plan just yet." Ichimaru felt a spark of delight ripple through Aizen. He looked to him as he softly spoke aloud.

"The Hallowfication's already progressed so far, and yet..." Ichimaru was happy because his master was happy. This was going to be a most lovely night to remember. It made his cock tighten in his loose hakama to think about it. He would have to most definitely get Tousen away from them tonight. The man wouldn't serve Aizen right anyway, Gin was sure of that. Though Ichimaru did muse in the idea of having relations with him and his leader at once. Ichimaru had gotte3n distracted and before he knew what was what Kaname had been buried under some rubble by the experiment once his Taichou. Tousen got up from underneath the rubble and stood apologizing to Aizen. Gin saw that the dark-skinned shinigami was already short of breath as he spoke.

"I will... kill him shortly." Aizen smiled warmly to his subordinate.

"No worries, Kaname. I had already anticipated this. Besides, the duration of the Hallowfication process varies from person to person." As he spoke Hirako's body purged more of the white Hallow substance and it covered him more. Moving and squirming about. It was obvious to even Ichimaru Hirako was in a great deal of pain. It was evident in his face and body language. "You've been most fascinating to watch. But I'm done with you 's put an end to this, Hirako-taichou." Aizen walked up to Hirako as he spoke, the blond shivering in pain and anger. As Aizen slowly drew his blade out of it's sheath he spoke to the defeated Shinji. "Here's one last one last thing for you to learn. There is no fear when one expects to be betrayed. What's truly terrifying is when betrayal is unexpected, Hirako-taichou." Aizen slowly brought his blade up. "Farewell. You made wonderful test samples." Hirako knew what was to come next. He failed himself and especially the others. They were nothing more than dispossible test subjects now.

"Damn it!" As Hirako became infuriated the Hallowfication took a turn for the worst as it began to purge and form again. Aizen watched his final experiments flourish before they died and than suddenly a flash to his left caught his eye. A cloaked figure had actually managed to sever his Fukutaichou band from his arm. He looked on, rather impresed.

"I see..." Sosuke turned to the figure smiling, his blade lowered once again. There was two figures there now, the black clothed one and the Taichou of the Kidou group. Gin could feel Aizen's excitement rise though he kept his face tamed. "We have more interesting guests."