Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. If I did, there would be gayness all-round…

Summary: Sinister questions are emerging. What if Aizen was not the enemy? What if everything he did was all part of a plan to save Soul Society from the real threat. When Soul Society turns on Ichigo, is there anyone he can trust? Some of his friends are keeping a secret from him, the most unlikely alliances are made and he is saved by the person he least expects.

Pairings: Aizen/Ichigo, Tatsuki/Inoue, Yoruichi/Soì-Fon, Gin/Kira, Hisagi/Matsumoto, Toshiro/Karin, Jinta/Yuzu (more will be added as I decide on them, reviews help choose!)

Warnings: Gradual Yaoi and possible Lemons in the future! If you don't like yaoi then why are you reading this? Also, there will be battle violence, character death (major characters die but 'comes back to life' as Shinigami) mild swearing, constructive criticism is allowed, (please be gentle, this is only my second fic…) flamers will be locked up with their flames and roasted alive.

When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred.
~Niccolo Machiavelli

Prologue

The room was dark, with only the soft sound of tapping keys surrounding the two men, working at their computers. The dim light of the monitors flickering as information scrolled down the screen at a rapid pace. Urahara Kisuke glanced up as a 'ding' sound signalled an authorised impersonal attempting to enter the room, the other man simply continuing his work. It was only a moment before the door let out a hiss as a pale hand pushed it open, revealing a longhaired blond man wearing a long white coat with the number 5 on the back.

"Yo Sousuke-kun. So whadya need me for Urahara-Taichou?" The newcomer called out as he slid the door shut behind him. Watching as the blond stepped further into the dimly lit room. Urahara swivelled his chair around to face him. He smiled genially as his dirty blond hair brushed against his nape.

"Shinji! You finally showed up. We were just about to start without you!" Urahara replied mischievously. The other man tucked a strand of copper brown hair behind his ear with a soft scoff, as warm brown eyes finally left the monitor. His authoritative aura filled the whitewashed room as he chuckled softly at his companions' antics.

"Come' on Urahara-Taichou, you know that you can't start without me…" Shinji boasted cheekily, strutting over to his friend. The man's overbite showed clearly even in the faint light of the viewing screens that hung on the wall. He casually draped an arm cross Urahara's shoulders with a grin before he sensed movement and glanced up.

"Hirako-Taichou, please disrobe and take a seat on the examination table." The brown haired man instructed in a polite manner as he stood, gaining the attention of the two men. Shinji sighed before releasing his grip on Urahara and strolling over to an examination table placed in the centre of the room.

"Ne, Aizen-sama, if you wanted see my sexy body, you coulda just asked, no need to be so cold yano." Shinji replied sarcastically as he removed his hiori, sitting on the table in the centre of the room. He watched passively as Aizen retrieved a case of needles and other medical tools.

"Please don't tease your poor lieutenant, I really doubt you want him fishing in your arm for the vein…really not fun…" Urahara shuddered at the memory of his unfortunate experience before he pressing a button on the consol. He blinked rapidly for a moment as the ceiling lights flickered on. Shinji's eyes narrowed at the sudden illumination, revealing the medical nature of the room.

"Damn, do them lights really have to be so freaking bright?" Shinji muttered as he shielded his eyes with his right hand. He immediately let out a yelp as he felt the tell-tale prick of a needle sliding expertly into his arm. His gaze shot to the side, glaring at the culprit as he instantly began complaining. The brunet simply ignored him as he injected the thick white substance into the pumping vein. Withdrawing the pointy object, Aizen Sousuke pressed a piece of cotton to the entry point. He turned to retrieve another vial, simply ignoring the loud complaint that soon followed. "Damn it Sou-kun that hurt! Gimmie a little warnin next time, kay?"

"My appologies, Hirako-Taichou." The handsome man replied smoothly with a deceptive smile, before swiftly sliding another needle into a different vein, eliciting another yelp and subsequent curse.

"You know you don't got to call me captain in here, Sire. You outrank me, remember?" The chirpy blond murmured soberly, watching Aizen inject a dark red fluid into his arm. A moment passed before he felt the exhilarating rush of energy, as various chemicals mixed with Aizen's blood entered his system. The experience leaving him slightly light-headed as always.

"Not yet, Hirako-Taichou. As of now, I am still your faithful lieutenant and until the time is right. I will continue to address you as such." Aizen replied softly as he removed the needle and placed another bit of cotton on the opening. He instructed the blond to place pressure on the wound as he placed the two needles into the incinerator and activated it.

"So, Urahara…any progress in the Maggots Nest?" Shinji fixed a serious and concerned stare on the dirty blond man. Urahara grimaced with a sigh. Rubbed a hand across his face, the man's shoulders sagged as he slumped back into his chair.

"Not good I'm afraid. I've done all I can but most of the Shinigami there are already too far gone and the more recent prisoners are quickly slipping away…there's nothing I can do…nothing…" Urahara choked, his reiatsu flaring slightly as he buried his face in his hands. Memories of watching helplessly as various comrades lost their minds to the poison of the prison flashed across his eyes, before he trying and failing to shove them aside. After a moment, he relaxed slightly. Feeling the warm weight of Aizen's palm resting on his shoulder, gradually soothing his pain.

"Remember, while there will always be those who cannot be saved, we then owe it to those who can." Aizen murmured softly as he consoled the broken man.

"I still can't believe it even though I've seen the hidden deposits myself. To purposely place a prison close to the Earth's most poisonous natural vapours to drive the prisoners mad…it's inhumane. How anyone can be so corrupted? Going to such lengths to 'ensure that the secrets of Soul Society don't leave these walls' is unforgivable! Those men just wanted to retire from the fighting! Zit too much to ask to spend the rest of our afterlives living without fighting and constant hollow hunting?" Shinji muttered slamming a fist on the table, making a large fist-shaped dent in the metal, causing a vein to throb in the Aizen's forehead.

Urahara raised his head slightly at Shinji's words. With a huff, he practically growled his frustrations. "Exactly, no body will believe that Central 46 could be so corrupted as to build a prison right on top of such a poisonous mercury vein. Everyone's too brainwashed by their propaganda! Besides, who will believe the ramblings of madmen poisoned by dimethylmercury and methylmercury. I had to bring Aizen-sama in to use his Zanpakutō to wipe the memories of those I told…not even Shunsui and Joshiro believe me, they love the Captain-Commander too much to see the corruption he bows to." He released another weary sigh before continuing resignedly. "Kuchiki-Taichou believes us but he's too concerned with keeping Byakuya safe. His clan elders have been threatening to remove him then make Byakuya the head of the Kuchiki Clan. They plan to force him to marry into the Shihōin family to produce a 'noble' heir."

"Have they gone mad? He's too young!" Shinji cried out in shock pausing for a few moments before continuing thoughtfully. "And isn't he in love with that pretty Rukongai girl? Hisana right?"

"That's the point nya…" The three men turned to the door. A woman with long purple hair stood, leaning against the closed door. "Ginrei-dono will do anything to make sure that Byakuya is happy with the woman he loves."

"Ah, Yoruichi, you made it, did anyone hear us?" Urahara greeted his childhood friend amiably as she walked further into the room.

"Relax, I got in and closed the door with my Shunpó. Not even light could've escaped." She replied as she leaned against the examination table.

"So the Kuchiki clan heads think that the young Kuchiki heir will be easier to control then Ginrei-Taichou." Aizen mused as though there had been no interruption. He received a solemn nod from the dirty blond. With a curt nod, the brunet stood and gestured for the others to follow. He led them through another door, heading deeper into the large building they were in.

"So I see you finally made some improvements to this shoddy place, neh Urahara?" Shinji drawled, attempting to lighten the oppressive mood.

"I guess, it was quite difficult to convince the men to follow along with my plan of turning the place into a science facility, don't you think it looks better now?" Urahara replied with a cheeky grin as they entered a large room. As he turned to face forward, he abruptly found a rather diminutive foot planted in his face. For a moment, there was silence. Urahara's companions stared at the small horizontal figure, before the foot launched its owner off his face, sending the man flying and crashing into the wall behind them. Urahara collapsed to the floor moaning in pain, a man shaped indent appearing in the wall. He raised his head, groaning as blood gushed from his nose.

"THE HELL IT LOOKS BETTER! THE PLACE WAS MUCH BETTER BEFORE YOU ARRIVED DUMBASS! AT LEAST I HAD MORE AUTHORITY THAN THAT DUMBASS MAYURI!" Urahara stared at the culprit who had broken his nose. A short girl with pigtails stood in the doorway, glaring fiercely at the man. Her arms were crossed and her hair was almost bristling.

"Ne, Iori-cha hat urt yano!" Urahara muttered as he gently prodded his broken nose.

"Hiyori, stop beating people up and let them in yeah? We've all been waiting for ages!" A voice called out from inside the room, prompting Hiyori to step further through the door. This revealed a nicely decorated room with four couches and a tall chair around an oval table. As well as about a dozen people sitting at various spots in the room.

"Well he started it first Love. The dumbass…" Hiyori muttered as she strolled into the room and hopped onto a couch to sit on the armrest. A beautiful woman with black braided hair sighed and stood as the newcomers entered the room. Aizen took a seat in the one chair at the end of the oval table. Bowing slightly as he sat, the others found themselves spots to haunt. Upon settling down, they turned their attention to the imposing man. Aizen slowly removed his fake glasses and gracefully smoothed his hair back.

"Is everyone present?" Aizen asked softly, somehow managing to make his voice resonate through the room with authority as he glanced around. The woman with black braided hair glanced up from where she was healing the injured captain.

"Kuchiki-Taichou asked me to inform you that he'll not be attending today's meeting, as he will be preparing his grandson to learn the truth from you, Sire." She sighed as the soft green glow of healing kido left her hands, Aizen acknowledging her with a nod.

"Thanks Unohana-Taichou, I owe you one!" Urahara chirped as he rubbed his newly healed nose. The motherly woman nodded as she returned to her seat.

"We will be giving our reports in an anti-clockwise direction. Starting with Unohana-Taichou, please begin." Aizen nodded to the captain of the forth division. With a nod, she stood to face the group.

"So far, I have been able to convince approximately one quater of the forth division, as my squad are often disrespected, many of them find do not find it hard to see the truth beneath the lies. I have also managed to convince my lieutenant and 3rd seat as well as a majority of my Advanced Relief Team. That is all I have to report." Unohana ended as she sat. Aizen and the others took a moment to absorb her information. With a nod, he turned to the dark skinned man wearing dark shades sitting beside her.

"Tōsen Kaname. Do you have anything to report?" Aizen sighed at the solemn negative gesture. No new converts from Tosen's side.

"Do you have anything to add Ichimaru Gin?" Aizen turned to his left, eyes softening upon meeting his protégé's bright sky blue crystals.

"Rangiku-chan's bein' kinda difficult, too naive ah think but I'm sure mah li'l sis 'll come 'round." The small sized silver haired boy sitting beside him replied cheerfully. Smiling with his usual squint as Aizen ruffled his hair gently.

"Yadōmaru Lisa, do you have anything to report?" Aizen frowned with concern as he received the same response from the bespectacled woman. "And you, Kuna Mashiro?"

"Ushōda Hachigen, Aikawa Love?" He asked when he received yet the same answer. His frown deepened ever so slightly. This was not good. At this rate, they will not be able to perform the coup within the next millennium and who knows how much would have changed by then. It seemed that they would have to resort to that method. "And you Hirako Shinji?"

"You already know I got nothin to report…" The blonde muttered, staring at the ceiling. His head tipped back against the headrest.

"Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō? Anything?" Aizen's brown eyes darted to the wavy haired blond who gave the same negative response. "Muguruma Kensei?"

"What about on your end Shihōin Yoruichi?" Aizen asked, looking almost hopefully at the purple haired woman with the shape-shifting ability.

"You already know that the Stealth Force has pretty much become the Central 46's lapdogs since they struck the power deal with the Shihōin Clan Elders, I have no real power. The Stealth Force answer to them not me, there's only a few potentials and I've already had them transferred out of the Force. Soì-Fon has potential but she's too naïve and idealistic at the moment, she would turn us in 'for our own good'." Yoruichi chuckled ironically with a mild grimace, Urahara placing a hand on her shoulder with a sympathetic expression.

"And Urahara Kisuke?" Aizen turned to the man.

"Like I said earlier, not even Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Joshiro believe me. They love the Captain-Commander too much to see that the orders he receive are corrupt and Kuchiki Ginrei believes us but he's got Byakuya to worry about, their Elders have been threatening him with his grandson's happiness." Urahara rolled his eyes on the 'Elder' bit as Aizen nodded.

"Sarugaki Hiyori?" Aizen turned to the girl as he spoke, seemingly deep in thought.

"How am I supposed to have anything to report? No one's gonna believe us if we don't got any evidence dumbass!" Hiyori exclaimed. Her tone was saturated in frustration as she almost growled at the brunet. Almost immediately Love's hand came down hard on the back of her head, almost knocking her off the armrest. "WHAT WAS THAT FOR DUMBASS!?"

"Show some respect for Aizen-sama! Chibi." Love replied monotonously as he rolled his eyes.

"WHO MADE YOU KING DUMBASS?! AND WHO YOU CALLING CHIBI!?"

"Who else here is as chibi as you?"

"YOU DUMBASS! I'LL SHOW YOU CHIBI!"

Aizen smiled, the frown leaving his face as he watched their antics. Shinji's grinned at the soft look in Sousuke's eyes. He really does care, even if he didn't show it often.

"Oi, Aizen-sama…you gonna stop them or are you getting too soft?" Shinji's grin widened, displaying his extreme overbite. The regal man raised an eyebrow elegantly at his implication before shaking his head slowly. He sighed, blatantly ignoring the sound of Urahara and Yoruichi sniggering like cheeky little children in the background.

"Settle down children…" Aizen ordered quietly. His reiatsu abruptly flaring for a moment before settling. The two arguing Shinigami froze for a moment before obediently shrinking into their seats. A vein throbbed in Hiyori's forehead at being referred to as a child but found herself too cowed to retort.

"Now, does anyone have anything else to add?" Aizen scanned the room. His eyes stopped at Urahara as he opened his mouth to speak.

"Kurosaki-san is doing fine in the human world, I gave him one of my one of the best gigai I've ever made and have helped him settle down is a place called Karakura Town. It was really nice of you to go through the trouble of collecting so much Reiryoku(1) to compress into pills to gradually restore his Reishi(2) after using Engetsu's Final Getsuga Tenshō. How long do you think it'll take to regenerate?" Kisuke arched an eyebrow at the brown haired lieutenant.

"Considering his level, his powers should return gradually over the next century or so. It's the least I can do after he defended me from the 2nd Squad's assassination attempt. After all, I promised his mother that I would look out for him." Aizen replied vaguely. His dark eyes swirling with memories as he absently rubbed at a faded burn scar on his left upper arm. A moment passed before a gentle tugging on his sleave stirred him from his thoughts. Glancing curiously at the small boy sitting on his left, he raised an eyebrow in question.

"Ne…Aizen-sama, tha Reiryoku me'n Rangiku-chan gave teh ya was useful, neh?" Gin asked with an proud smile, clearly looking for parise.

"Yes it was Gin, thank you as well as Kisuke-kun." Aizen smiled at the young boy before turning back to the gathered Shinigami. He gazed seriously at them for a long moment before begining. "Now I have a few important things to tell all of you. As much as it pains me to admit it, while we are each powerful in our own right, there are simply too few of us to successfully perform the coup. As such I have decided that we will not be making a move against Soul Socie-"

"WHAT?!" Aizen raised an eyebrow at Hiyori's predictable outburst. Her sentiments obviously shared by most of the other Shinigami, if their expressions were anything to go by. "Please calm yourselves. I am not suggesting that we give up and allow Soul Society to remain corrupt. However it is simply an undeniable fact there have insufficient allies, there are many who could be swayed easily and if we move now, they may not have the opportunity. If not given enough time to fully decide, the confusion may cause any new believers in our cause to accidentally reveal themselves and will no doubt be removed by Central 46's assassins before they can reach us."

"We have to establish a known method of reaching us and the Shinigami of this age are too lax and naïve, they have not experienced war, thus we must also give them time to mature and sharpen their minds in battle as well as accumulate our forces. Yet the strength of the pain of betrayal is strongest when it's most recent. With the help of Kisuke, Yoruichi, Unohana, Kaname and Gin, I have decided on a rather elaborate plan that will span many years but will grant us many allies, freshly disillusioned and stinging with betrayal, these allies will be very helpful in our fight for justice and peace." Aizen explained. The incredulous stares gradually vanishing, replaced with thoughtful expressions and impatient grimaces. He smiled as he received a few grudging agreements.

"Thanks to Yoruichi, we have received intelligence that that a group of Shinigami have been sent to Rukongai to collect souls, we're not sure as to the reason but as they are under the command of Yamamoto-Soutaichou, the Captain-Commander, we know that it can't be good. Therefore, we will ensure that they are stopped and use the subsequent investigation to proceed with the first phase of our plan."

"And what plan would that be, Aizen-sama?" Shinji inquired, narrowing his eyes slightly as Aizen stood.

"Your treatments are finished, my Visored. All that's left is to activate your first transformations." Aizen announced, gesturing towards them as he evaded Shinji's query.

"YES! FINALLY! IF I EVER HAVE TO GET JABBED WITH A NEEDLE AGAIN I'M GONNA KICK THE GUY TO HUECO MUNDO!" Hiyori crowed as she jumped off her perch. "Sheesh, it's been like forever since we volunteered to undergo those enhancements!"

"Indeed, I'm glad that you're pleased. Please, follow me." Aizen smiled at Hiyori's enthusiastic outburst and the sight of the other soon-to-be Visored's similar expressions of exasperation. Aizen turned to exit the room. A stab of pain shot through his chest as he steeled himself for what he was about to do.

"This is the chamber where you will undergo the transformation. I apologise for the pain you have to endure in advance." Aizen inclined his head apologetically, aggravating Hiyori and the other Visored who, knowing that Hiyori was going to react, decided to let her do all the work.

"YOU DUMBASS! HOW DARE YOU SAY SORRY! IF ANYONE'S GONNA SAY SORRY TO US IT'S GONNA BE US CAUSE WE VOLUNTEERED! DUMBASS DUMBASS DUMBASS DUMBASS DUMB-" She was cut off as Love reached out and grabbed her by the back of her shirt. Snatching her out of the air where she was hovering, kicking at Aizen. The man had been easily blocking her powerful flying feet with one hand.

"Ok, Hiyori, I think Aizen-sama got the message…seriously…" Love muttered as he dropped the girl on the floor, as she muttered one last 'dumbass' at Aizen. Warm brown eyes shining with mirth and concealed sorrow.

"Now my friends, please enter the glass dome in the centre of the room." The to-be Visoreds stared at the man. Blinking a few times in shock.

"Did you just call us friends?" Shinji asked cautiously as his jaw dropped, showing every tooth in his mouth clearly.

"I always knew you loved us!" Kisuke squealed and launched himself at Aizen, arms wide open. Without even glancing at the man flying towards him from behind, Aizen simply shifted slightly to the side. Watching with a raised eyebrow as the man slammed into the wall with a crack due to the strength of his leap.

"I was referring to my future Visored, Kisuke…" Aizen sighed at the man crumpled on the floor, the laughter of the others echoing across the smooth tiles. He turned to the almost Visored and gestured towards the dome. "Alright, in you go."

"Thank you all for your cooperation and I'm sorry." Aizen's voice rang out behind the Visored as the door of the dome closed. They turned towards Aizen in confusion and slight panic as a large puff of gas was sprayed into the dome.

"OI, AIZEN! What's going on!?" Shinji shouted as he banged his fists against the transparent walls of the glass dome. His eyes widened as Aizen's slightly muffled voice came through a speaker in the wall.

"I am truly sorry, however our plans require that they be done in secret and over a long period of time. Unfortunately, it seems that Central 46 and the Captain-Commander are beginning to suspect most of you. Therefore, for your protection and as a part of my plan, I intend to suppress your memories with false ones. In the memories I will implant, I will not be your lord and friend…but your enemy. These measures will ensure that you all will be in perfect position to assist me when your true memories return. Do not be sad, when this is all over, we will fight alongside each other again. See you later…my faithful friends…" Shinji growled lowly as his eyes slowly slipped close and his breathing evened out.

…...

"TAICHOU!"

Shinji shot straight up from where he was lying on the floor. Momentarily disoriented, he glanced around searching for the scream that had woken him. Locating the source of the cry, he spotted Hiyori sitting against one of the pillars in their hideout looking very pale and shaking. His eyes searched for the others and taking inventory of the situation, finding them slowly sitting up at various spots.

He frowned, he remembered walking towards Hachigen. Intending to ask him about when Urahara would arrive, when he saw him suddenly collapse. Not a moment later, he was struck with a sudden sense of vertigo and found the floor rushing up towards him. Then there was that dream.

"What happened…?" He heard Lisa mutter as she sat up.

"I dunno but I had the strangest dream…" Kensei mumbled while rubbing his head. "I dreamt that Aizen was a good guy and we-…umm guys why are ya'll staring at me like that?"

"…I had the same dream…" Shinji gaped. Extremely unnerved expressions forming on the others' faces, telling him that they had had the same dreams too. He thought of the dream he had had and shared his views. "It actually makes sense…all that stuff we never understood! Like why Aizen chose us-"

"And why we still hate Soul Society so much and wouldn't even hear of being reinstated as Captains, it explains why some pieces of the puzzle always seemed to be missing…" Rōjūrō interrupted with a look of growing understanding. The others gaped at them, their jaws nearly hitting the floor.

"Wait, that means Aizen was the good guy all along!" Mashiro gasped her hands coming up to cover her mouth in her shock.

"Wait. What if this is a trick? What if Aizen planted those dreams to confuse us, to make us side with him after he wronged us so many times? It would no doubt be hilarious to him to mess with our heads as usual." Lisa suggested, logical as always.

"It feels real though…I always kinda felt like I didn't really want to fight Aizen…like something was wrong…now, I feel complete again. Didn't you say so yourself, Lisa? We're not whole until we defeat Aizen. I always assumed that that feeling was because of our desire for revenge. That was what was always driving us…what if it's because a part of us knew that he was the only one who could fix us?" Hachigen mused as Lisa's eyes widened. It was true that they had all felt incomplete back then. They all paused, searching themselves and finding that that feeling was now wonderfully absent.

"For the past few nights I've been having dreams of the past…but some things, I didn't remember happening, maybe it's really all coming back, just like he said it would…some things I remembered didn't make sense like they were in the wrong context, now it's like I have the whole picture." Love added frowning thoughtfully. Shinji nodded before standing and walking over to Hiyori. His face contorted in concern at the sight of the normally loud girl still shaking, wide eyed against the wall.

"Hey, Hiyori, you ok?" He murmured gently as he placed a hand on her shoulder. He immediately fell backwards when the smaller sized girl threw her arms around him and began crying into his shoulder.

"Shh…it's ok…what is it? What's wrong?" Shinji muttered as he sat up. Carefully and gently smoothing her hair as the others approached them slowly.

"Hikifune-Taichou…s…she…" Hiyori sniffed and began bawling loudly. Her wails were filled with grief and anger as she screamed into Shinji's shirt. He gently held her a slight distance from his body, attempting to look her in the eyes.

"Hikifune-Taichou? Shh...Hiyori, calm down!" Shinji gently shook the girl by her shoulders when she suddenly stopped crying and was silent as she slumped into his arms. She was a sad sight, her head hanging low with her fringe covering her eyes. Shinji cautiously murmured her name as he cradled her in his arms. "Hiyori?"

"She's in the Maggot's Nest…they put her in the Maggot's nest… I'll kill them…I'll kill them all for what they've done…I'll…I'll…" Hiyori hiccoughed, murmuring mindlessly as she sobbed into Shinji's shirt. Her words trailed off into nonsense but it was enough to go by. With their memories now in place, they knew what happened to anyone in the Maggot's Nest.

"She saw Hikifune-Taichou when she went to the Maggot's Nest with me the first time." The Visoreds turned to see Urahara Kisuke entering the building, wearing his usual green coat, bucket hat and wooden clogs. "She went mad with grief. So Aizen-sama fixed her mind and erased her memory of the journey. When we went again the second time, I made sure she didn't see Hikifune Kirio, the woman she loved as her mother. Looks like that memory came back with the others…"

The now scruffy man frowned at his memories of Hikifune-Taichou, the beautiful and kind captain he had replaced. As he remembered the pain he felt the sight of the once strong woman rotting in her cell, mindlessly moaning and begging for her loved ones. There was silence from the team of outcasts as they faced the reality. If Urahara was confirming it, then their recent dreams were the true reality. Shinji gently cradled Hiyori's unconscious form into his arms. Lifting her as he stood carefully, her head resting against his shoulder.

"So what you're saying then…is that Soul Society is corrupt and everything was part of Aizen's plan to fix it." Shinji spoke for his friends as he carried his female team-mate over to one of the less 'holy' couches. The blond frowned, glaring suspiciously at Urahara. "However, there is one loophole in all this. Ichigo described his battle with Aizen. The supposed good Aizen would never allow himself to turn into such a monster."

"Indeed. Which is why he created the Hōgyoku. It was designed to do essentially create a false persona. It was a timer. A timer for himself which included a strong hypnosis within it that would react to him. It turned him into a monster to give Seireitei(5) the wake up call it needed. He offered himself for the dangerous and painful position. He of course ensured that he would not actually cause permanent damage to anyone innocent. Everything was part of his plan." Urahara replied softly. The Visoreds' full attentions upon him. "If you rejoin him, you might want to try getting used to calling him Aizen-sama again. You've all had a hundred years to assimilate and grow the powers he gave you with a mixture of his blood and months of research." Urahara replied seriously gazing at each of them in turn. "You are going to be called into action very soon. Your powers will be needed. This is what you wanted after all, remember? A chance to serve your Lord with all your strength, do you remember how all of you screamed and raged when he revealed his plan to make you into his enemies? Now is your time. There is was war coming, a war like nothing you've ever seen. Now that you have all the cards before you, it is time to choose a side."

Shinji frowned for a moment. Eyes still focused on Hiyori's unconscious body before turning to face his fellow Visoreds. Gazing steadily into the eyes each of them, he turned to face Urahara. "Oi, Kisuke, who dya think you're talking to, us Visoreds never go back on our words."

Urahara smiled, remembering the day the Visoreds secretly swore their allegiance to Aizen, performing the sacred vow of Service. To forever become Aizen's personal guard and most loyal companions.

"Good. Come, I have what we need to treat Hiyori-chan at the shop but we have to hurry. Aizen-sama will throw Kyōka Suigetsu at me if we make him wait too long…" Urahara turned to leave. Shinji bending to carry Hiyori, when Yoruichi burst into the depilated building. "Yoruichi? I thought you were with Soì-Fon at Soul-"

"I hurried back as fast as I could." Yoruichi interrupted him. Hissing out the next few words in rapid concession. "We have to get Aizen-sama quickly. I just overheard the Soutaichou. He's ordered that Ichigo and his's family be arrested. They've been sentenced for execution!"

(1) Reiryoku = spirit power the spiritual energy people have.

(2) Reiatsu = spirit pressure, the physical force of one's Reiryoku.

(3) Reishi = spirit particles. Like atoms, molecules, etc. but for spirits, etc.

(4) Reiraku = spirit threads. Condensed spirit energy which takes the form of a thread of cloth. Normal people have white threads, Shinigami have red threads.

(5) Seireitei = soul society

A/N: Ciaossu~! Kitren here, just wanted to let ya'll know that I may not update very often as I'm studying for my O'Levels and working at the same time, I hope you all will be patient and bear with me during this story. I had noticed that there are only 3 particularly good complete Aizen/Ichigo Fics so I decided to contribute to society, If I write lemons, they'll likely be in links that will redirect you to my blog. I have also decided to emulate Metamorcy and make it such that each review = 200 words, so please review, you decide how long the next chapter will be…. Thanks for reading and please review and remember, constructive criticism is allowed but flamers will be locked up with their flames and roasted alive. Ja ne~!