Ever since Apache started appearing in the manga, I've really liked her character, but i could never find a decent pairing for her, so i made my own. This is my first fic, constructive criticism is appreciated, but no flames please. I tried to keep everyone as "in character" as possible, hope you enjoy it.

Prologue:

Aizen sat at the end of the long table, Gin at his left, Kaname at his right. The ten Espada all sat in rows according to their rank, staring down at a young Shinigami. He was down on one knee and had his head bowed before Aizen. Though determining one's age by their looks was impossible among shinigami, he looked to be around nineteen or twenty years old. He was dressed in a black shihakusho and had long blonde hair that went halfway down his back. Aizen looked at him inquisitively before he spoke.

"Why do you wish to join us?" he said in his calm voice. The young shinigami raised his head slightly, "Because I want to give those bastards in Soul Society what's coming to them."

Aizen raised his eyebrows, "What do you mean?"

When the young shinigami spoke again, Aizen noticed that there was a deep hatred in his voice, "I just graduated from the shinigami academy three days ago. Then I received a summons to appear before all thirteen captains. When I arrived, that old geezer told me that both my Zanpakutou and me were too dangerous to be allowed to exist. Before I knew it, I was running for my life, with the entire Gotei 13 on my ass. Luckily, they didn't know that during my years at the academy, I had mastered my Zanpakutou. I was able to fight my way out and escape to the World Of the Living."

"Quite a story," Aizen said, "but how was it that you managed to get here?"

"I heard about you leaving soul society for Hueco Mundo a few weeks before my graduation," he said. "To be honest, I was expecting for that old geezer to try and have me killed for a while now. Some research told me that in the World Of The Living, an exiled shinigami named Kisuke Urahara had created a way in which to enter Hueco Mundo. I snuck into his shop while he was out and was able to make it here."

Aizen stared at him for a few moments, "I believe you," he said. There was an instant uproar among several of the Espada.

"Are you fucking kidding me," one of them spat, "you're gonna let some shithead shinigami join us?" There was a murmur of agreement among several of them.

"That is enough Grimmjow," Aizen shot at him. The Espada called Grimmjow scowled and turned his head away.

"As I was saying," Aizen continued, "I can tell that you are not lying to me. If you were, I would have killed you already. However, I cannot simply allow you to join us without some kind of test of loyalty."

The young shinigami merely smiled, "I don't think that will be a problem." As he spoke, he pulled what Aizen recognized as a Gotei 13 Captain's Haori from within his shihakusho. It was mangled and heavily stained with blood. Aizen looked down at the Haori, recognizing the symbol on it as his own former squad five.

"Poor squad five," the young shinigami said, "they're just going through captains like crazy aren't they."

In light of this, the Espada that had been sneering at him were now looking at him differently, almost with respect. Only Grimmjow seemed to still think he was trash. Aizen stared down at the Haori. He had to admit, he was surprised, for someone so young to have killed a Captain without sustaining a single injury was impressive. Perhaps this young shinigami would prove to be a powerful ally.

"Very well, you may join us, but first," Aizen looked him straight in the eye, "I wish to witness your combat skills for myself. Grimmjow, care to test our new brother's strength?"

The words had barely left Aizen's mouth before Grimmjow jumped up from the table and flew straight at the young shinigami. He reacted instantly, unsheathing his Zanpakutou so fast it was blurred. He parried Grimmjow's attack easily, then immediately dropped to the ground and swept Grimmjow's leg out from under him. Back on his feet in under a second, he placed his Zanpakutou at the edge of Grimmjow's throat before he had time to counterattack.

"That will do," Aizen said calmly. The young shinigami shealthed his blade, and extended his hand to help Grimmjow to his feet. Grimmjow scowled and smacked the shinigami's hand away, got to his feet, and walked out of the room.

"What is your name?" Aizen asked.

"Zansatsu," the shinigami replied.

"Nnoitra, please show Zansatsu to his new room," Aizen said.

Zansatsu followed the Espada called Nnoitra out the door. He was very tall and skinny, with snakelike eyes and a creepy smile on his face. Nnoitra led Zansatsu down a long corridor and into a small apartment looking room.

"Later," he said, walking out of the room.

Zansatsu looked around. It was a relatively small living area. It had a room with a bed, a bathroom, and a balcony overlooking the vast desert of Hueco Mundo. Feeling very tired, he set his zanpakutou down by his bed, lay down, and fell asleep.

"So, what made you decide to let him join us?" Gin asked after all the other espada had left.

"You can't sit there and tell me you couldn't feel the massive amounts of reiatsu he was giving off," Aizen said, "just at the level he's at right now, he'd be able to fight on par Ulquiorra, and if he releases his zanpakutou, he'd probably be right up there with Stark in terms of power. Yamamoto made a grave mistake. This shinigami would have been an extremely powerful ally against us during the coming battle. But he's too blind and arrogant to accept a power that's different from the norm." Aizen gave a small laugh, "He has no idea that he just created his own worst enemy."

AN: More on the way soon