Bleach:. The Experiment Arc

By Jet Set Yoyo

Disclaimer: Bleach and it's characters belong to Kubo Tite; I only own the OC's.

Summary: Accidentally hollowized; an eight-year-old boy ends up in Hueco Mundo. It isn't long until he's under the reign of Aizen who soon finds out he can not only utilize his Espada but make an experimental army of hollowized children to eventually take on the Shinigami in the coming Winter War. After all, who could fight small children and not feel terrible about it? Certainly not the Shinigami.

Thank you everyone who reviewed; as well as that one guest reviewer I got as well. I'm glad this is likable. Shame on me though; I let this story fall off the front page too long.

Episode 7::. Hogyoku

Cael wasn't thrilled with the Garganta that brought them back into Hueco Mundo. Despite being content with his new surroundings; he did want to see more of his home town. Maybe stop in to say hi to a few friends. The queasy feeling from crossing the unstable precipice world finally subsided, leaving the young boy to finally notice he was right smack in the middle of the meeting room once more. He pouted only slightly; this was by far his least favorite place in Las Noches and that was only because he was fortunate enough not to have found Nnoitra's room yet.

"Cael?" Came a familiar, yet unfamiliar, voice; no one in Las Noches had that sort of voice. It was unsure, confused even. "I thought that was you. What's going on; why're ya here? You've been missing forever."

Following the sound, the sandy blond-haired child scanned through the various Espada and the children they had collected until a familiar face stood out; then another, finally one more. He had to be sure it was real, blinking a few times just for good measure. For all he knew he could have fallen off the path in the Garganta and Ulquiorra left him to whatever fate would have him. After a period of silence the boy grinned toothily.

"Korey! Zaiden! Keiraan," he squealed with excitement while the trio eyed him curiously. Korey, a fallow-haired boy with a piercing cobalt gaze, stepped towards him effectively ignoring the low growl from the Sexta that had kidnapped him. Despite all efforts the pre-teen had to be angry with the naive child; Cael only continued to grin unperturbed.

"Where have you been, you disappeared and no one could find you. That's not cool dude; everyone's worried about you," he piped up, not exactly angry with his younger friend but the relief of finding him alright, or as well as one could be in whatever situation this was, was overwhelming enough.

It was Ulquiorra who spoke next, shushing the entire room into a pregnant silence, "The boy will not be returning to his so-called home. Neither will any of you; you belong to Lord Aizen now."

"Hey bud, no one was talkin' to ya. 'Kay? I don't ca-," Korey remarked back snarkily only to be startled when the raven-haired Cuarto suddenly teleported in front of him.

"Your presence here can be dismissed; we could always find a replacement. Lord Aizen has not wasted precious time and resources to perfect you yet, therefore you are still expendable. Keep it in mind, boy, before you speak again."

A snort emitted from the pre-teen, angry yet frightened of the strange man. The others were just as odd; sitting so calmly at the table as if nothing interesting was happening around them. Did this sort of thing happen every day? Korey didn't want to know. He was pulled out of his thoughts by a light tugging on his sleeveless shirt; Cael was still enjoying himself obviously. Ulquiorra returned to the table, satisfied by the expression the young male had displayed that he had gotten the message.

"What's with these people, kiddo?"

"They're, uh, Es-pa-da. That was Brother but he's not always mean. And that's Grimmjow; he's got a cool sword and he's teachin' me to fight for real..." Korey's reaction only grew more incredulous as the eight-year-old's explanation went on. Half of what was said was surely impossible to be true. Floating, changing swords, masks, monsters; impossible. He tuned most of the fairy tale out. The expression went unnoticed, however, by the excitable chattering of the younger male. "Oh, and that's Starrk and Lilynette. They're nice too. 'an that's Nnoitra...I don't like him."

The children had been left by the back area of the room while the Espada took their usual seats awaiting Aizen's appearance and a verdict of what to do with these new beings. Korey turned to a boy his age, frowning lightly, and when he realized the other male wasn't paying attention to anything around him he punched him in the shoulder.

"Hey Zaiden, we've just magically gone to a new world and you're standing there in la-la land; what's with you dude? Besides, now we found where Cael went," he grumbled, eying the chestnut-haired teen who merely opened one eye to acknowledge him. With another indignant snort he continued, "I just got kidnapped, didn't you? And you're calm? What about you Keiraan?"

"Guess she wasn't lyin' when she said my friends would be here. Dunno who these other kids are though," a red-headed girl chimed in, peering around at the six other children occupying the meeting room. "That's how I came, I wasn't kidnapped. I came on my own."

Cael beamed at the trio; he knew them from home. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, a throat cleared gathering their attention. Aizen had entered the meeting room and had already seated himself at his throne.

"I can see the mission was a success; good," he noted with a small smile as he scrutinized the children before him. "Each of you are very important to me, you see I need your help."

Korey didn't miss the look on the man's face. He was smiling but there was nothing friendly about it; whatever this help was, he wasn't so sure he wanted to do it. It was like a stranger in a car his mother always warned him not to accept candy from. The two-tone haired boy crossed his arms, noting how frightened Cael seemed by the man's presence even from across the room, and stared up at him.

The boy beside him, Zaiden, had his hands shoved lazily in his pockets. He was listening but it seemed as though he wasn't interested in the slightest. The indifferent expression crossing his features had not changed at all.

"You will all have a mentor here. You will be taught to fight and you will fight for me. There is a war coming soon and for us to win, your assistance is required," Aizen told them. "Children, come here."

Aizen did not explain further, despite the obviously confused collection of faces. A few hushed murmurs scattered through the group of pre-pubescents before they gathered at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the throne, climbing them one-by-one. All except Cael who took his seat beside Ulquiorra in favor, unwilling to get close once more.

A raven-haired male was the first to go up, smirking as if unperturbed by the notion of fighting. In fact he was quite thrilled by it having been found by Nnoitra while bullying a few other children. He came to a halt in front of the ex-shinigami and scrutinized the man right back.

"Your name, boy?"

"They call me Xalder Carrow."

Aizen made no move to reproach the boy's disrespectful behavior, only pulling out the Hogyoku and letting it engulf him in white light. When the light receded a Zanpakuto was left in its wake, already fashioned to Xalder's belt.

"You Xalder, shall be paired with Nnoitra."

"Eh, a sword, huh? Sweet," Xalder grinned, pulling the sword from its sheath to examine the blade. He pointed it at the boy directly behind him casually, earning a collective gasp from the few kids who could see the action.

"Move already, you're wasting time," The other boy grumbled, moving some of his long auburn hair from his eyes. The blade had startled him; he wanted to get one too before the other child decided to use his. Xalder only sneered, returning down the steps and towards the man who waved him over.

The Auburn-haired boy went up next, introducing himself as Owen Bridger, followed by his twin brother Wyatt. Each received their Zanpakuto's through the mysterious light-shining orb. The meaning behind it all was still unclear to the group.

"Owen, your mentor is Barragan. Wyatt yours is Aaroneiro." The pair of boys descended the staircase and parted ways to take their own seats.

Next a timid, silver-haired boy approached and whispered his name was Liam Baker accepting his Zanpakuto hesitantly.

"Liam, Szayel will mentor you."

Korey was next, still crossing his arms. He wasn't so sure he liked this guy but to him, free swords were much cooler than candy. Still, Cael seemed pretty freaked out enough not follow the rest of them up there; or maybe it was just his imagination.

Meanwhile the little blond was watching the event warily, afraid Aizen would make one of them fight someone like Nnoitra; just like he did to him. Ulquiorra, on the other hand, was curious as to why the children were already receiving Zanpakuto's from the Hogyoku when Cael had not gotten his until much later.

"The name's Korey. Korey Jergins."

"Ah, Korey. You will be paired with Grimmjow."

"Tch. The fruitcake who kidnapped me?" He quipped as he turned to see the blue-haired male give him the finger, indicating who he was to the irritable pre-teen. "Fine, fine, whatever."

"So much for one that wouldn't piss me off." Grimmjow growled, glaring at the impertinent boy as he took his seat beside him. Korey made to snarl back, holding his tongue only when Aizen cleared his throat as well as sent a warning glance down at the troublesome pair.

Keiraan approached next, blinking green eyes in curiosity at the blue orb held out in front of her. So many questions ran through her mind she couldn't sort through them to ask one before Aizen cleared his throat again, bidding her to state her name like the others.

"I'm Keiraan Minamoto."

"Halibel is your new mentor, Keiraan."

Keiraan trotted back down the steps, taking her seat beside the blond-haired woman just as a pair of small onyx-eyed twins stepped up to the throne. They were holding hands and seemed reluctant to separate. The female, seemingly bolder than her fraternal male counterpart, spoke up first.

"I'm Violet Jaciel," she piped up, putting on a brave front but her grip on her brother's hand tightened ever so slightly. Her brother's gaze never rose to meet Aizen's own piercing one, he didn't bother to speak up either. "This is my brother Virid."

Aizen raised an eyebrow in amusement. He considered berating the boy for not speaking up on his own but decided against the action just yet. The Hogyoku's light surrounded them, leaving behind their Zanpakuto's.

"Violet, Yammy shall be your guardian. Virid, you will go with Zommari."

The last child, Zaiden, stepped up. The chestnut-haired boy still had his hands tucked away in the pockets of his jeans as he observed the glowing orb in a disinterested fashion.

"Zaiden Zakii."

"Zaiden, my boy, your mentor is Starrk," he told the child watching as the boy made no move to even glance at his Zanpakuto before sauntering down the steps and into the seat beside the last remaining Espada. "Now, my dear Espada, I trust you all to show your new apprentices the ways around here as well as keep them in good health. Teach them well, they will be crucial in the coming months. You are all dismissed."

With the Espada filing out to return to their own quarters, Aizen rose from his seat as Gin and Tousen joined him.

"Kids, eh Aizen? Ya sure that's a good idea?" Gin spoke up, eying the last of the little ones to leave the room. His gaze revealed nothing of his thoughts, but Aizen only smiled back at him.

"All in due time Gin," the man replied. "Do you doubt me?"

"Nah. Just curious as to how they could be so important when they're just a bunch 'o tykes."

"Lord Aizen would not do things without purpose, Gin," Tousen joined in the conversation, frowning deeply at the other man. "In any case, children need to feel they are important in order for them to be complacent. Ordering them would only make them insubordinate. It is in the nature of human children to be difficult if they are not getting their own way."

Cael flew from his seat to join Korey, Zaiden, and Keiraan as they left with their new guardians trotting along side them happily. This was, by far, the most interesting meeting he had gone to. It wasn't all war strategies and information about some guy named Ichigo. It was certainly a plus that no one had assaulted him during it either.

"You guys got swords too," he chirped, grinning ear-to-ear. "That's so cool. Hey Korey, wanna play?"

"Eh, beat it squirt. We're not fighting today," Grimmjow interrupted, pushing the boy away with a light scowl.

"You fought him? He's a kid, why would you do that," Korey shouted incredulously. Angered that his young friend was put in harms way on purpose.

"'Cause this isn't a place that gives a shit how old you are. If you're strong, you live. If you're weak, then you get eaten by something stronger than you. Get used to it."

Korey scowled back, continuing on down the corridor after the Sexta as he left Cael behind. He knew Cael and he certainly wasn't strong or a fighter. His thoughts drifted back to days spent with the younger boy back in their home town.

Korey always tagged along with his Mother when she did work at the Mikami household. She was a maid essentially; cleaning up, doing laundry, and other assortments of oddjobs when the Mr. and Mrs. of the house were away. Without fail, every time, Cael was left there with his Nanny whom he's always managed to give the slip.

They found their way out of the wrought-iron fence that separated the mansion from the rest of the town and right into the presence of a few older boys. Cael was their target, whom they pushed around and taunted without mercy. Cael never fought back, only took their teasing with his best brave face until Korey beat them up.

"You should fight back, kiddo. They'll only be meaner if you let them."

"I don't wanna. It's bad to hurt people, Brother says so," the tyke answered smiling up at the older boy. "You'll save me though, right Korey?"

"I guess if I have to. C'mon, let's go."

It was always the same; every time they snuck out from the confines of the fence.

Korey sighed, wondering what he and his friends had gotten into.

Shortly after Grimmjow had shooed Cael off, and the others had gone their separate ways, the small-framed boy scurried his way back to find his own guardian. Grimmjow always tutored him in the ways of sword fighting. Now that the arrogant Espada had someone else taking up his time, he wondered if Ulquiorra would teach him. Maybe he would even learn something new. However, despite all his searching he couldn't find the man. Somehow he had disappeared quite well in the short period of time but Cael had already figured out a long time ago the Espada knew how to do some sort of teleporting magic trick.

His eyes sparkled, lighting up with a new idea, and his search was renewed with vigor by the prospect of a magic trick. Perhaps Ulquiorra could teach him how to teleport. His smile spread and his pace quickened, scouring the halls and unlocked doors of Las Noches.

This chapter took me a while. Since the story pretty much came to me in a series of sessions where I was lucidly dreaming, this part of the story wasn't really covered in my brain. That and all my OC's are pre-known to me, explaining them and not seeming half-assed or just crappy overall to everyone else proved to be difficult for me. I actually rewrote this three times, hence why it took so darn long. The first, I went ahead and didn't cover this in much detail only noting who was paired with who and continuing on with the storyline. The second, I had the children stay towards the back and the Espada chose their own but I figured that was redundant; they pretty much chose their ideal apprentice when they yoinked them from the world of the living, consciously or not. So, despite me not liking how this chapter turned out. I present you with this. Aizen has final say on everything anyway so he chose in the end.

Cael's memory leading up to his arrival in Hueco Mundo will become clearer in due time. If you don't recall, he couldn't remember how he'd gotten from the park to waking up in the desert.

...Tousen's part sounds so out of place. I've kind of been neglecting him and Gin though.