Deep Set

What if Aizen's plan all along didn't involve Orihime? What if all he wanted to do was lure two powerful shinigami onto his side? He figured it out all he had to do was kidnap one small child.

Disclaimer- I do not own bleach or any of its characters.

Chapter Eight – Arrivals

Ichigo, Rukia and Hitsugaya had headed straight into the oval at the call to go. Once through they did not expect what lay before them what seemed to be endless dark in all directions, they all could barley see even with the light still filtering through from the slowly closing portal behind them. Hitsugaya noted before the portal sealed shut behind them that the only thing that was holding him up from what looked like a really long fall was his own slightly glowing reatsu. It had concentrated seemingly automatically to create a solid place for him to stand. He saw glancing to his right that Rukia's had done the same he was about to look over at Ichigo's when he felt his own reatsu-platform lurch sideways with an unexpected concentration of reatsu.

Hitsugaya turned his head swiftly to look but the portal chose that exact moment to close plunging them all into darkness. Cursing silently he righted his reatsu to also support the weight of the other which he now recognised as Ichigo's

"Kurosaki, what are you doing?" he inquired attempting to peer through the dark to see the familiar mop of orange hair

"I don't know!" answered Ichigo, "I can't see a damn thing!" he added frustrated and Hitsugaya's own platform wobbled slightly, Hitsugaya was about to fall when he felt a small hand grab his uniform holding him steady. He was about to utter his thanks but he was interrupted as he head Rukia muttering fast under her breathe. Her voice too quiet for him to hear properly Hitsugaya remained silent to as not to intrude on her concentration. After a few seconds a soft red glow emanated from Rukia's hand lighting the space around them to where now Hitsugaya could clearly see Ichigo holding onto the edge of his own reatsu.

Resisting the urge to face palm at Ichigo's ridiculous predicament he concentrated his reatsu to expand around Ichigo's feet and rose him back up to be level with his own and Rukia's reatsu platforms. When Ichigo was finally level he merged his two platforms together, turning from Ichigo he looked to Rukia to thank her for shedding some light on the occasion and then noticed what it was.

Rukia had by the looks of things has successfully modified kidou 31, Shot of Red Fire. Instead of firing like it should the red ball of energy was hovering calmly in Rukia's palm lighting up the space around it in a red glow. Hitsugaya raised an eyebrow at Rukia,

"Impressive Kuchiki, Tell me why aren't you a lieutenant?" he watched intrigued as Rukia blushed and muttered something that sounded like 'Nee-sama' but Hitsugaya couldn't be sure as she was speaking so quietly.

They where interrupted as Ichigo again attempted to walk on his own reatsu, from what Hitsugaya could tell he had made one foot worth before it had vanished causing the substitute to stumble and almost fall again he obviously lacked the concentration.

"How about you just stay on either of our paths Ichigo?" Suggested Rukia as she walked forward slightly a glimmer of white reatsu in her wake lighting her feet, Hitsugaya followed her lead noting that his reatsu had a slight blue tint compared to Rukia's and then realised they where probably coloured to reflect the creator of the path's zanpaktou.

Ichigo grumbled slightly but stepped behind the two standing where they both has just before, both Rukia and Hitsugaya turned and started to walk forward before breaking out into a run there way lit by Rukia's kidou spell. They ran some way in silence the only sound that penetrated the darkness was there breathing as they ran Rukia and Hitsugaya then slowed as something began reflecting the light of her kidou. Approaching it at a slow walk they felt it and were surprised to feel that it was a smooth concrete wall.

They all glanced at each other before turning and smashing through it as one into a dark hall dimly lit by some unknown source. Looking about they heard a rumble as the ceiling began to fall down as a result of part of its structure being smashed away,

"Ah well that can't be good" Ichigo commented before all three ran for it out of the way of the tumbling rocks Hitsugaya who had been further back than the two when they had gone through the wall was just behind them but that didn't stop one of the rocks slamming down on his Taicho cloak, scowling he quickly shrugged of the torn garment and followed Rukia and Ichigo around many corners and along many corridors until they thought they had outrun the overhead rumbling.

"Guess we need to watch out for traps" Ichigo spoke slightly breathless at the running

"Hn" responded Hitsugaya turning to look at the back of his uniform to see if the other parts of it had been affected by the falling rock, he was inwardly relieved to see it hadn't. It was just extremely dusty as was the rest of him.

"Which direction then?" Asked Rukia extinguishing the red light in her hand as it was no longer needed pointing ahead to where the corridor forked

"Left?" suggested Ichigo with a shrug, "Can't do much else but guess which way since I doubt there will be a tourist information booth around here"

Both shinigami shot him blank looks

"Eh right... guess you guys don't really know what they are" Ichigo muttered scratching the back of his neck in his discomfort of the stares

"Shall we just go?" offered Hitsugaya pointing down the left fork

Ichigo mumbled something incomprehensible and started of walking down the left one Rukia just behind him; Hitsugaya sighed and followed them.

---
Gin had only rounded one more corner behind Ulquiorra when he saw who exactly he had been looking for, Aizen.

He was about to speak up about what he had just witnessed through the camera's they had overseeing Huenco Mundo when he saw who was walking just behind Aizen without objection and supporting an emotionless mask, Kurosaki Karin. Pausing before speaking a little offset with Karin there Ulquiorra stepped in first informing Aizen to what he had walked in on. Gin inwardly growled at the arrancar again for making it sound like he was incompetent to come and inform Aizen himself, he waited patiently for Ulquiorra to finish telling Aizen who had gotten past there outward defences occasionally flicking his gaze between Aizen's and Karin's face, His seemed to grow steadily more pleased whereas Karin's expression didn't falter or show any emotion.

"Do you have a question Gin?" Aizen looked Gin straight in the face catching his gaze before he could look to Karin again,

"Merely wondering why the prisoner is following you around" Gin raised an eyebrow in Karin's direction, hoping he wasn't speaking out of term,

"I too am curious Aizen-sama" spoke Ulquiorra proving to Gin that he was not the only one in the dark over why Karin was there

Aizen leaned his head to the side slightly before replying, "I suppose with this most recent development my plan is running almost smoothly" he frowned slightly before continuing, "Well to discuss this here would not be the best place" He then without another word strode through the gap between Gin and Ulquiorra Karin trailing obediently behind.

Upon arrival at the big huge meeting room Aizen turned before going inside directing his gaze at Ulquiorra,

"Go fetch everyone else; they will want to hear this too"

"Hai, Aizen-sama" and Ulquiorra vanished in a flash of sonido. Leaving Gin alone with Aizen and Karin but Aizen didn't seem to notice and simply turned and entered the room. Company wasn't far behind and only a few seconds after Aizen had sat himself down on his throne like chair Arrancar began trailing into the room. Gin noticed a few sported a few cuts and there specially designed uniforms where less than perfect he scanned over them and then spied him near the back. Grimmjow still without a left arm noted Gin. Grimmjow wasn't exactly Gin's friend, in fact Gin couldn't recall a time they had actually spoken but Grimmjow made things interesting around here and Gin always thanked him for that. Especially the show that had been put on last time he had seen the blue haired arrancar, Tousen lopping of his arm had been an amusing slight and the look that followed when he looked down to find his arm has also vanished leaving no chance of it being reattached was priceless.

Gin drawing his mind away from pleasant memories focused back on the proceedings. He had taken up standing in his usual place on the right side behind Aizen's large chair, normally it gave him a clear view of everything going on below but today there was a mop of black hair getting in the way of his view of the closer arrancar. Wondering what on earth Aizen held over Karin to make her that compliant was something that Gin definitely wanted to here, because if she was anything like her brother there was no way she could stand still this long.

"Greeting's all" started Aizen silencing everyone in the room at once, all whom bowed to Aizen before straitening and gazing at there leader, all Gin noted except Grimmjow who kept his gaze on Tousen with a look of contempt on his face.

"You're all probably wondering why you have been called here" continued Aizen his face contorting into a smirk at the respect shown by the arrancar, "Some of you may be aware of the intruders that entered Huenco Mundo a short time ago; ordinarily we would have been warned sooner but I chose to remove the guards protecting the outer entrances" A few murmurs took over the arrancar at his words but soon ceased as Aizen started talking again,

"This was to insure there safe passage so I am able to use my latest discovery on those who have infiltrated you may have noticed our guest of honour..." Aizen trailed of as Karin stepped forward to be level with the arm of Aizen's chair and Aizen lent his arm over to pat her on the head, Gin resisted swatting the hand away a man that evil should not be anywhere near children no mind touch them.

"This is, Kurosaki Karin a younger sister to Korusaki Ichigo the substitute shinigami" Gin noted with a smile that at the mention of the name Grimmjow turned his head from Tousen to eye the girl. Which he really should have done awhile ago mused Gin, after all it wasn't like Tousen can see Grimmjow glaring at him.

"Currently she is under my complete hypnosis; it is an ability of my Zanpaktou's I have never exercised before as it is extremely draining keeping overall control over someone's mind, however I tied this ability into the Hougyoku and found it amplified very well, Kurosaki was then simply the guinea pig to test it on" Aizen seemed to pause for dramatic effect, "Now that I know how well this ability works I will be using it to control some very important assets to Soul Society" Aizen's voice at this seemed to take over a gloating note,

"Two of the three intruders will be placed under my control, one being a sibling of the current pawn I have under my control I will be able to gain access to his mind easier using there bond as siblings" Aizen's voice then took a more dangerous note, "Why I am telling you this is so you do not interfere with them it will be a few days before they reach the outer walls I ask when they do you do not approach them and let them into the building, avoid them at all costs" the last few words came out with a low growl emphasising how much Aizen did not want them messing with.

All the arrancar nodded in unison muttering there compliance to there masters wishes.

"Now leave" he spoke waving the arrancar away with a flick of his wrist, they all bowed respectfully before slowly vanishing. Gin moved to follow them when Aizen's voice stopped him

"Gin, Tousen... stay behind a moment"

Gin turned on the spot and moved back to where he had stood before then moved forward around Karin to stand in front of Aizen, Tousen moved in beside him.

Aizen got straight to the point then when he saw the other arrancar had left the room, "When I have successfully taken over the substitutes mind I will have no more use for the girl, Gin" He looked to the silver haired shinigami, "You will dispose of her, I would do so myself but while controlling the substitutes mind I will need all my concentration to then take over our little Taicho" Gin nodded and began inwardly thanking whatever gods there where that he had been handed that job, "I do not want her killed mind you just... well you can feel free to use your imagination" Gin suppressed a shudder and sent another thank you to the sky that he had that job and not anyone else.

"Tousen" Aizen started turning to the man next to Gin, "I trust you with keeping the arrancar in check and to make sure no-one else gets through our outer defences" Aizen scowled at that, "I don't want them getting any help in case there in contact with Soul Society" Tousen nodded as well letting Aizen know he understood his orders.

"Good" Aizen smiled, "Now until such time as our guests get closer continue with jobs as normal" Both nodded and turned to leave until Gin remembered something,

"What about Kuchiki?" he spoke attempting to keep his usual voice in place, "What's ta be done about her?"

Aizen's face exploded into an evil grin, "Well I've tried to kill her before, why not again?" he replied softly, "There is an agent on the outside that will be useful in that respect now hurry on Gin, I have some experimenting to do"

Gin didn't need to be told twice and with a whirl of his cloak he exited the room behind Tousen determined to send word to Soul Society about all he had just heard, they needed to get Ichigo and co. out of Huenco Mundo and fast.