They were connected. Something about that made Ichigo happy yet it was an odd feeling. There was something that still didn't make sense.

"If that was your Bankai, how do you explain the many times I have almost been killed? How do you explain the changing back and forth? How do you explain the imposter who released you I mean us from that cell? What do you know?"

Aizen frowned. "Right there are those facts. Perhaps…"

Ichigo looked at the man. "Perhaps what? You can't just start something and then not finish it."

"Perhaps it is more than just my Bankai involved. Which by the way, you are very special. No one except you knows what my Bankai is. I never told Gin that."

Ichigo groaned. "That world was more than just your Bankai. It had to be. It was real, it wasn't an illusion. Though what is real anymore? Gin is another factor that didn't make sense. It was almost as if… he didn't die. Then you have Kisuke. Do you know what the man's Bankai is, per chance?"

Aizen looked at him. "The man does not have an illusion base zanpakutō. The only ones are mine, Shinji Hirako's, and Koga Kuchiki's. Shinji's zanpakutō, although I do not know my past captain's Bankai, I now know his shikai. He hid that from me. You also destroyed or rather healed Muramasa."

"Surely there are other people who have an illusion base zanpakutō."

"Ichigo, illusion base zanpakutō are extremely rare and very tricky to handle."

"Though it is possible, right? There could be someone else who possesses an illusion type. Maybe it is a device that Kisuke or Mayuri made."

Aizen sighed. "Things aren't that easy to explain. As for the zanpakutō comment, I'll clear things up for you. Kisuke Urahara's zanpakutō is a kido based type. Mayuri Kurtosuchi's is a poison type. Yours if you want an actual name for it is a melee type. As for devices. I don't think either of those men are capable of creating such a device."

"Then what happened, are you saying that your Bankai went and malfunction somehow?"

"No. Ichigo, take a breath and calm down. I am saying that there is a logical reason behind it. My Bankai did have something to do with it, but I'm not sure what else."

"There was a door, I had a dream about you saying something was terribly wrong while we stood in front of those doors. Gin and Kisuke both lead me to those doors. I usually ended up coming here when I went through the doors. Gin said I would always keep coming back. What kind of zanpakutō does he have anyways? "

"I'm not exactly sure, in all reality his zanpakutō doesn't fit any classification. It isn't an illusion zanpakutō. Just go with what I tell you."

"So changing subjects. How did you get a change of clothes and how did you get an extra set of…"

"They are mine, promise. As for how I got them, it is better that you don't know. "

"If they are yours, why not have your captain haori?"

"Someone is full of questions. Though it is easier to blend in without wearing that haori. "

"Sōsuke, if this is going to work out you have to be more open with me."

"Trust me, this is the most open I been with anyone in my life. If I didn't care about you, I wouldn't be so open."

The door opened. The man that was Aizen's 'father' looked worried. "You two have to go. They are on their way."

"How did they figure out we were here?" Ichigo had to voice his comment, Aizen on the other hand was quiet.

"Don't know, but get out of here as quick as possible."

Something was fishy. Ichigo got off the bed, he didn't care about his physical appearance at this moment, he did care about grabbing Zangetsu though. Aizen had gotten up from the bed, and has already gotten his zanpakutō in place. He raked his hand over his hair, again his hair fell perfectly the way he wanted it to. They were being ushered out the backdoor. That was when Ichigo realized they were being lead into a trap.

"Any final words? Traitor" Byakuya was in front of him, his zanpakutō ready. So this actually was true, great.

Ichigo grabbed for Zangetsu, he noticed Aizen had Kyōka Suigetsu still at his side, the man did not even reach for his zanpakutō. Ichigo had to ask Aizen how he stayed so calm later.

"Call me what you want" Ichigo got out, he didn't deny the new name. He had fallen in love with Aizen, it made him a traitor himself. He did hope that everything would work out in his favor.

Aizen had grabbed his hand, he noticed that the party that had been sent to do who knows what to them was seeing something that he could not. Aizen lifted his free hand and ripped open a Garganta. By the time that the illusion broke, Aizen and Ichigo were already in the closing Garganta.

….

Ichigo looked at the familiar place, white walls. It made him half sick looking at the layout of Los Noches, but at least he was safe here. He never thought he would be thankful for being brought here.

"How did they find us? You said they wouldn't look in Rukon first."

"They had help from someone, I have an idea of who. "

Ichigo waited for an answer, but Aizen never even uttered what he knew. He had to get used to it, he guessed. Aizen was leading him down the halls, the place was still in ruins in places. "You and your friends really did do some damage." Aizen opened a door, and Ichigo's mouth hung open.

"You got to be kidding me. There is no way this bed can exist in an illusion." Ichigo went to go sit on the bed, after laying Zangetsu against the wall.

"I swear that asylum was based off of Los Noches. "

"It makes sense, it was my Bankai. I designed Los Noches after all."

"You have an obsession with white then." Ichigo laid down on the bed. "However I can look pass it."
Aizen came and laid down next to Ichigo. "I'm glad that you can. I would hate to see you mad at me again. "

"Why maroon though? The green I can understand, but why maroon."

"I just like the color, I guess it reminds me of bloodshed."

"You are a very troubled man, but I love you anyways. "

"Good, because that would be very awkward if you didn't love me."

So the man wasn't that bad, Aizen may be somewhat twisted in the mind, but he did love the man. Ichigo couldn't help but smile, he wondered what would happen now. Were they really safe? Then he had a thought. He sat up in the bed. "You know that Mayuri and Kisuke can both make an artificial Garganta. They could follow us here."

Aizen looked at him. "They won't be able to get here, or rather they won't be able to find me. Even when you came in with your friends, you found it hard to get to me."

"But you had Espadas then, didn't most of them get killed?"

"They did, but some still exist."

"How do you know that? The place looks deserted. Plus even if you wanted to make more, didn't the Hōgyoku … you still have it despite the fact it rejected you."

Aizen nodded, he pulled the small orb out of his pocket. "You pulling what you did, distracted them enough for me to gather it again."

"So it really did full out reject you. So you plan to make more Arrancar?"

"Yes, at least it did not break."

Ichigo looked at the small orb in Aizen's palm. "Could I see it?"

Aizen looked at him questionably and then allowed Ichigo to hold the Hōgyoku. Ichigo could feel the surge of power, it felt familiar. He just couldn't put his finger on it, he had no clue where he felt it before. He quickly handed it back to Aizen.

"What's wrong?"

Ichigo bit his lip. "What if the Hōgyoku combined with your Bankai and put me in that place. Is that possible?"

Aizen seemed to weight the possibilities in his mind before he answered. "Well it seems that the Hōgyoku rejected me shortly after it deemed I no longer needed a zanpakutō. Because of my zanpakutō we are connected. So I don't see why not, but it doesn't seems like anything I have studied about when it comes to it. What did you feel when you touched it?"

"I felt that it was alive. The power felt familiar, like it was calling out to me."

"We are making rules. You are not to touch this orb, unless I am near you. If you feel the need to touch it for any lengthy amount of time, I must hold it with you."

"Why are you making rules for me all of a sudden? What is it that I said?"

"I don't want to take any risks. Plus if it decides to do anything this time, it will take me with you."

"Why did it do such before?"

"Come on, I'll answer the questions after we do some things."

In the hallways they pass an Arrancar, who bowed upon seeing Aizen. "Lord Aizen, you came back." The same Arrancar glared at him.

"I did, I would like you to spread a message for me. All those who are still alive, shall report to the throne room. Also no one is to touch this boy." The Arrancar nodded, bowed and scurried away.

Ichigo was the one who saw the blue flash as it came out of the shadows. "Grimmjow!" So he may have developed a closeness to the Espada in the other reality.

"I see you actually survived. I would have never imagined you would be one of the ones to survive. "

"Yeah. " Grimmjow looked at Ichigo. "Why are you here?"

"He is here as my guest, you are not to touch him Grimmjow. Do I make myself clear?"

"I suppose I can do that."

Grimmjow had turned to walk away, but Ichigo left Aizen's side to go after him. "Wait."

"What do you want now?"

"I thought you were killed. How are you alive?"

"Luck, I even thought I was a goner. You sure did give me the fight of my life. I would like a rematch later though. So does this mean we are now on the same side?"

"Yeah, it does. "

Grimmjow leaned towards him and whispered in his ear. "You owe me the story later." Ichigo simply nodded and let the blue haired Espada leave. So perhaps he and Grimmjow could be friends. He went back towards Aizen. Aizen was shaking his head.

"What?"

"You. It seems like you are closer to Grimmjow, what went on in your trip?"

"Things that could not possibly be an illusion. He was my friend there. Even if he did knock me out when he was brought in. No there is no way…." Aizen looked at him, Ichigo shook his head. "It's nothing."

Aizen raised an eyebrow but said nothing else. He continued down his path and he came into the throne room. Beside his throne laid a box.

"What's that?"

Ichigo found out right after he asked as Aizen lifted the lid and he saw ashes. He put the Hōgyoku to it and it seemed to glow until in front of them stood Ulquiorra.

"Lord Aizen" he said as he bowed to the man. Ichigo felt like his throat was closing up, he could barely remember his battle with Ulquiorra. His inner hollow had taken over after Orihime called out to him. Then he went crazy and killed the Espada. "Why do you have that boy here?" He could hear the disgust in Ulquiorra's tone, even if it was monotone.

"You are not to touch him." Aizen placed his hand on Ichigo's shoulder to try to steady him. Ichigo looked at him, pain in his eyes. "Now be on the look on for the others."

"Yes Lord Aizen." Ulquiorra glanced at Ichigo before leaving the throne room. Aizen was sitting on the throne, he brought Ichigo into his lap.

"What's that look for?"

"When I fought him, he I think killed me. Orihime couldn't heal me, but she called out for me and I heard her. I came back, but my inner hollow took over me. I lost control. I barely even remember it. I almost killed one of my friends and I did kill him. "

"I had a feeling it would happen. That is why the box of ashes was waiting for me to come back. The Hōgyoku follows my will, so it brought Ulquiorra back from just those ashes." Aizen was rubbing Ichigo's back trying to calm him down. "I can assure you it won't happen again."

"How?" Ichigo's eyes landed on the Hōgyoku. "Please don't use that on me. "

"No, I wasn't planning on it. Even if I was going to use it on you, we have reached the point where it would be your choice. Just like with hollows, it could make you into an Arrancar. It would take less effort with you. Though it would have to be your choice, if I ended up doing it. I love you Ichigo, I would never do anything that would make you hate me. Not on purpose at least." Aizen placed the Hōgyoku into a glass case and it disappeared. He didn't have time to get off of Aizen's lap before he door opened again.

He saw some of the Arrancars gasp seeing him with Aizen. "Lord Aizen, what is this about?" Loly got out. Ichigo could barely recall that the girl had been one of the Arrancars that had been torturing Orihime. He tensed. Aizen looked at the Arrancars who had gathered before him. "We will rebuild Los Noches. I will be choosing new Espadas to fill the empty place."

That was when something entered. Ichigo didn't even think it looked like a hollow, much less an Arrancar. Two bodies were following it, they looked like they were enclosed in glass. Ichigo noticed that one of the figured was the fifth Espada which he fought before. The other was a pink haired Arrancar. Aizen gestured for Ichigo to get off of his lap, and Ichigo quickly did. Aizen had called the Hōgyoku to him again and had risen from the throne.

Ichigo watched as Aizen walked towards the two figures and placed the Hōgyoku to both of them, the glass broke from around them.

"So glad that you two could be saved. Now to get down to the real business."

The door opened and Ichigo noticed four females walked in, one was the leader. Ichigo hadn't been present at the fight, or he would know who the four women were. Harribel and her fraccions.

"I see you lived, I wouldn't expect anything less from you." Another glass container was brought in, this one housed a man that looked like he was sleeping with a broken gun on his side. "At least I see most of my Espadas are capable of being brought back." He touched the Hōgyoku to the new glass container and it broke like the others when the man woke up. However the gun had taken a new form and had turned into a girl.

Aizen turned around to walk back to his throne. None of the Arrancar moved. Aizen once again put up the Hōgyoku. "So as I was saying before the new arrivals came in. We will rebuild Los Noches. The few Espada positions will be filled with new recruits. I will choose those in time. I'm sure you have all been briefed already about the boy over there. Some of you may even know him, Ichigo Kurosaki. He is not to be touched. Anyone who goes after him will be punished." Ichigo had noticed the gasps at that comment. He had also realized that Aizen was still in his Shinigami clothes, he had never changed.

Ichigo was standing quietly by the throne, Aizen took his seat again, gesturing for Ichigo to this time sit on the throne's arm. Ichigo gladly took a seat.

"So do we all have an understanding" Aizen said. No one spoke up. Aizen smirked. "Fantastic, we can pick up where we left off."