STOP ME WHEN YOU'VE HAD ENOUGH

Nope, No Way

"Speaking of the devil," Aizen jokes.

"Am I interrupting?" The ginger questions politely.

"Not at all. Come in. We were just talking about you, actually."

"Oh?" Ichigo quirks an eyebrow, followed by a small grin. "Should I be worried?"

"I don't think so."

"Why? Something guilty on your consciousness?" Grimmjow snaps.

Ichigo crosses over to them, and stands by Aizen's side. Tousen is usually standing here, but the blind man is nowhere to be seen. Neither is Gin. That's a little suspicious. Ichigo can't recall a time they weren't with Aizen.

"I'm not in the mood, Grimmjow," the ginger states. "I've come to speak to Lord Aizen, not entertain your demented head."

"What did you say!" The blue haired Espada snarls.

"What can I do for you, Ichigo?" Aizen interjects casually.

"I've found an Espada replacement."

"The little girl?" Starrk asks.

"She is Harrible's predecessor."

Harrible's eyebrows disappear behind her blonde bangs. "Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck was an adult before Nnoitra killed her. That cannot be her."

"Oh? You don't recognize her mask?" Ichigo asks, angling Nel better.

Harribel goes silent as she studies the child in the Cero's arms. She hums in thought. "The child does bear a strong resemblance."

"I think this is Nelliel," Ichigo confesses. "And if that's true, she's Espada material, no?"

Aizen grins. "I had wandered what happened to Nelliel. I knew she wasn't dead, but I couldn't find her. Thank you, Ichigo. If you give her to me, I'll find a way to reverse what Nnoitra did to her."

Ichigo is a little hesitant giving Nel to Aizen, but he has a role to uphold. The child, however, screams bloody murder before she could be handed off. She wails loudly, attaching herself to Ichigo's kimono top. He gently tugs at her to realize she's not coming off without a fight - a fight that he doesn't want to be a part of because she's a five year old.

"Maybe I can tag along?" Ichigo says sheepishly.

Aizen sighs, a smirk pulling at his lips as he shakes his head. "As I said the other day, Ichigo, loyalty clings to you."

"Not unlike Nel," Ichigo agrees.

"I'll have to bring this meeting to a close. We'll continue it later. Dismissed."

* * *

Aizen's laboratory isn't as bad as Ichigo thought it would be. It doesn't even look like Szayel's lab, and that place is literally a palace. It's mostly white with a black floor. At least it's a little different in color. There's a pedestal in the middle of a raised part in the laboratory, and if Ichigo had guess, that's where Aizen keeps the Hogyoku.

There's a metal table about the size of an average dining room table seven meters away from the raised pedestal. He sets Nel down on the table post request. She holds his index finger captive, trying to keep the ginger close. Pesche and Dondochakka are so nervous, Ichigo can hear the sweat rolling down their faces and over their masks.

Aizen just finished searching for something when Gin walks in. The narrow eyed man gives Ichigo a look that sets him on edge. What the fuck? All alarms are going off in his head, his instincts are screaming. Something is wrong here, he thinks. Something is very wrong.

He returns the look as indifferently as possible. Gin goes to tell Aizen something when the lord waves him off. Gin tilts his head in confusion.

"I apologize, my dear Gin, but this matter is of the utmost importance. Ichigo here has found our lost Nel," Aizen gestures to the child. "I'll speak with you when I'm done changing her back to her normal size."

"Of course, Lord Aizen. My apologies. I didn't even recognize the little squirt," Gin plays off smoothly.

"You can stay if you wish. Unless your task needs another inspection?"

Gin hums in thought. "I suppose I could give it another run down. I'll come find you again when I'm sure that's everything."

Gin gives Ichigo one last look before departing. Oh, something is so so wrong. What task? What is he talking about? Is Aizen onto the coup Ichigo didn't even speak of until earlier today? What is happening? How would he have known that? Unless Aizen sent Gin after him. If that's true, where is Tousen?

Ichigo holds in his panic for Nel's sake. Aizen doesn't seem to want to cause her harm, so he'll be calm for now. Once he gets back to the palace, he needs to speak with his group. He has to. He can panic all he wants once he's away from Aizen.

He zones out of the process Aizen proceeds to delicately. He tries paying attention, but it's no good with his mind as scattered as it is. This is all so wrong. He's ready to get on out of here. Nel's tightening grip seems to bring him to reality long enough to witness what's happening next.

Aizen applies some kind of pressure to her scar with some kind of tool. Nel shrieks in sudden pain. Her grip becomes so tight on Ichigo's finger, bones pop from his three different joints. Before Dondochakka or Pesche could say anything, a puff of smoke encases Nel, followed by Aizen and Ichigo.

The ginger coughs as he waves away the smoke with his free hand. His neck hairs are standing on end. What the shit just happened? Did the smoke come from Nel? Aizen, him being less than a meter away, cuts his hand through the smoke, the action chasing away the cloud.

What Ichigo sees next is something he's not quite sure how to explain. There's no longer a five year old girl clenching his index finger, but a well defined woman in her mid twenties. And by well defined, he means her tits are fucking enormous. The hoodie that was once too big for Nel is now ripped in half, barely containing her chest and hips. She's as surprised as Ichigo, her eyes gawking at herself and then him.

"Ah, Nelliel. It seems you're back to your old self."