Author's notes/Disclaimer: Still don't own Bleach. Anyway, after this chapter I'll be having a time skip to when the Arrancars invade Karakura town to save time and move the plot along faster. If I need some more child Ichigo parts to the story, it'll be explained in a flashback. Hope that's not an inconvenience.

Ichigo smiled as he ran into his mother's arms, a grin on his face. Her smile was wide and welcoming, making Ichigo feel safe. He hadn't felt like this in a really long time. Ichigo saw his dad over his mother's shoulder. Isshin hugged the two of them and Ichigo laughed. Pure happiness was what he was feeling. There wasn't any pain for once. He heard some footsteps coming towards Ichigo and his parents from behind. Wiggling around in his parents arms until he could see where the footsteps were coming from and he saw his sisters but there was something... wrong with them. Karin had jagged scars across her face and was staring at Ichigo with pure hatred. Ichigo was But Yuzu... Yuzu was a bloody skeleton. He only recognized her from the lifeless head that was on her body, the flesh from the chin down completely gone. Her eyes stared at him blankly, tear streaks that were slowly drying underneath the lifeless sockets.

"You did this!" Karin yelled, taking a step forward with her fists clenched at her side. Ichigo wanted to deny it, but only a roar came out of his mouth. He turned to his parents and saw fear in both of their faces. Why were they scared? They let him go and stepped backward, acting like they had just seen a beast. Ichigo reached forward for them, wanting comfort from his loving family. However, instead of seeing his own hands, he simply saw the bloodstained claws of a monst-

"Wake up." Ichigo's eyes shot open from the nightmare he was having. He looked at Ulquiorra, who came into his room to wake him.

"Aizen-sama has requested all espadas to the meeting room. I was told to bring you," Ulquiorra said. Ichigo tossed his legs over the side of the bed and ran to Ulquiorra, not wanting to keep the fourth waiting. They walked to the meeting room, Ichigo having to practically run to catch up with Ulquiorra's brisk speed. When they got to the massive room, two single seats right next to each other were open. Ichigo quickly ran to one while Ulquiorra took a more calm but still speedy pace.

"Its good to see that you're all here," Aizen stated. His voice was practically oozing power at this point and all the arrancars snapped to attention upon hearing it, even Ichigo. The former soul reaper looked around at them before speaking again.

"Its been brought to my attention that one of you has been keeping a secret from me." The others looked around the room at their comrades, wondering who was the one that was hiding something. Aizen smiled before he spoke.

"Szayel, why don't you tell the others what you told me?" All heads turned to look at the scientist, who had an all knowing smirk upon his lips. He stood up and locked eyes with Ulquiorra.

"Ulquiorra has a second release that he has been hiding from us." As soon as Szayel said this, the room went dead quiet. Ulquiorra remained emotionless as usual but he felt a small stirring of worry within him.

"Ulquiorra. Is this true?" the leader's voice rang out throughout the spacious room, completely devoid of any positive tone. Ichigo let out a small shiver at the former Soul reaper's voice.

"Yes Lord Aizen," Ulquiorra said, turning to Aizen. "I apologize for keeping this information from you my king."

Aizen was silent for a couple seconds, all of the espadas' eyes on him. Some were worried about what he might do to the fourth, others had bloodlust in their eyes as if they couldn't wait to see Ulquiorra get punished. Szayel appeared to be practically salivating while picturing Ulquiorra getting yelled at or demoted by Aizen.

"Well, this is actually beneficial for us," Aizen said, his voice gaining a slight happy edge to it rather than the purely business tone from before.

"As you all know, recently Barrigan has passed. Ulquiorra, I would like you to take his slot." Everyone was surprised when the leader said this, but his next set of words shocked them more. "And Ichigo, you will take Ulquiorra's role as the fourth."

"Are ya fucking kidding me?!" Nnoitra stood up in rage. "First ya put a women in a higher spot than me, but now a damn kid?!" Nnoitra knew he was pushing it right now, but to him this was too far. He grit his teeth while his fists clenched at his side.

"Yes Nnoitra. That's exactly what's going to happen. Are you questioning my judgment? Perhaps you know better than me," Aizen's voice took on a dangerous edge as he spoke and Nnoitra know he had made a mistake. He quickly sat down as to not anger Aizen further and even ducked his head shamefully.

"Of course not sir," Nnoitra said. Aizen smiled and chuckled slightly.

"Good. Now then, this meeting is over. You are all dismissed," he said. They all quickly left, Nnoitra going especially fast. Ichigo was walking at Ulquiorra's side.

"Mister Bat, can I ask you a question?" Ulquiorra sighed when he heard the nickname but let it slid for now.

"Why were arrancar's made?" Ichigo asked. Granted, he was very happy to be one. But the question burned in his mind ever since he gained the humanoid form.

"To be stronger," Ulquiorra said in his normal flat tone.

"I know that! But why do we need to be stronger? And why are we training? Why did Aizen create us?" Ichigo said, his voice raising as he spouted his questions. Ulquiorra paused, seeming to consider this very question.

"Aizen has a plan. He needs us to fight for him. And you'll be very important to this plan." With that answer, Ulquiorra walked down the hallway, leaving Ichigo to process this news.