STOP ME WHEN YOU'VE HAD ENOUGH

Ah, Fuck It

Okay, now this is entertaining. Ichigo could watch this all day, but for fear of Ryuuken's life, Ichigo emerges from the sand. The Espada shuffle back down the hill quickly. Isshin sees Ichigo, and immediately drops the Quincy.

"Ichigo."

The rest of the small group get up at the announcement of a new presence. At least they haven't seen the Espada yet. He can see in his peripheral the powerful Hollows crawling through the sand like scorpions surrounding the enemy.

"Yo," Ichigo greets.

Yoruichi throws her hands up to cover her gasp, but it's done so in vain. The men's reactions aren't much better.

"What..." the Flash Goddess starts, stepping forward. "What did Aizen do to you?"

Out of humor, he avoids the obvious change in his appearance. He starts to walk toward them as he speaks. "Oh, this was actually Szayel. Gotta say, when we first met, I didn't trust the man with a spoon. But goddamn does he know how to use a pair of scissors. Not too bad with a needle either, but he handled my ears a little to rough," he jokes, running a hand through his cut hair.

"Son," Ryuuken warns as he usually does.

"Sorry," Ichigo responds sheepishly.

"She meant your Hollow appearance."

"Yeah, I know."

"Did it hurt?" Kisuke asks.

"I thought I was going to die, but that's a monthly occurrence."

"Do you have a Hollow hole?"

"Yup." He puts a fist over where his heart used to be. "Nothing here but emptiness."

"When I get my hands on that bastard-" Isshin is cut off.

"Don't worry about it. Lord Aizen simply did what was necessary to make me an Espada."

All four of them reel back. "Lord Aizen?"

"Yeah," Ichigo quirks an eyebrow. "Did Ryuuken not tell you why I was leaving?"

Ryuuken and Kisuke's eyes flash with sudden understanding. Ichigo told Ryuuken he was leaving to save Rukia. None of this is for Aizen. "He did."

"What number are you?" Ryuuken asks.

"Kurosaki Ichigo, Cero Espada, at your service." He gives an extravagant Western bow.

"The cero?" Yoruichi stares.

Aizen stands up on the top of a dune. He's to the backs of Ichigo's company. He's signaling the end of this conversation.

"Yes, the cero. Also, I'm really sorry about this," Ichigo frowns, eyes falling on Ryuuken.

"This is a trap, isn't it?" Ryuuken sighs.

"Yeah."

Before the other three could react, the Espada move. All nine have them entrapped in a kill circle made of swords. Isshin goes to draw his zanpakuto, but Kisuke stops him. They're surrendering. Ichigo only offers his apologetic look to Ryuuken.

"Excellent job, Ichigo. The first prisoners of war."

The sound of Aizen's voice has the small group snarling. They send heat filled glares at the man that ruined their lives. The lord ignores the looks, and goes to stand beside Ichigo. He grabs the ginger by the back of the neck. God, Ichigo hates that.

"What have you done to my son?" Isshin snaps.

"From the sounds of it, he's barely your son," Aizen quips.