Summary: What was Aizen thinking about when he was explaining his ulterior motive to Ichigo? Could there be a hidden story among Aizen, Isshin, and Masaki? Spoilers for Ch 397. One-shot

This is my first fanfic ever. I took the second half of Ch397 and added my own spin to it, so it's quite short. Might seem a little stretched and that you may find some grammatical errors here and there…Hopefully you'll enjoy it regardless.

Warning: Spoilers for Ch 397

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, Tite Kubo does. The translated words are from mangastream

"I wanna…ask you one thing," said Ichigo slowly, unable to look up as he spoke.

Aizen merely gazed at Ichigo. He knew what Ichigo would ask, but that did not mean he would like to answer his question.

"You said it just now…that you believe I possess the finest raw materials for your research."

Aizen turned away, unwilling to look at Ichigo as he continued desperately, "Why? Where is the proof for that belief?

"If you've been watching me from the moment I met Rukia, then let's hear it…When did you gain that conviction?!"

Though Ichigo would not see it, Aizen closed his eyes for a moment, willing himself not to remember the details as he responded.

"…From the beginning."

Aizen could not help it – the face of Masaki flashed before his eyes. Truly, he did not expect anything less from Masaki's son. Nor did he expect anything less from the offspring of an ex-captain.

"Don't give me that," rattled Ichigo, still not knowing.

"Do you still not understand?" said Aizen, slightly angry now, "I said: From the beginning."

Although usually having a composed face, only those who knew him very well (and there were not many) could have sworn to see the pain in his eyes as he turned to face Ichigo, "I have known about you from the day you were born," said Aizen as he stared at the son of an exiled shinigami captain and Masaki, whose journey so far, though unbeknownst to Ichigo back then, has been orchestrated by his hands.

Ichigo widened his eyes, undoubtedly shocked. He was barely about to utter, "Wh..at?"

"You have led a special existence from the moment of your conception," Aizen continued with an almost undetectable agonized smile. Saying these words left a bitter taste in his mouth. He was not surprised at Ichigo's lack of knowledge of his own heritage as he said, "Because you're a shinigami and a-"

A blade was suddenly struck down, but Aizen merely side-stepped to avoid the strike, smirking only slightly at the all-too-familiar ripple of a white haori.

"You talk too much," Kurosaki Isshin stood in front of his bewildered son with his katana at hand, poised as though to protect him from the one horrifying truth Aizen was about to reveal, "Aizen."

I'm sorry that it's so short x.x