"We live in an age when unnecessary things are our only necessities."
Oscar Wilde
Unnecessary
Ichimaru Gin possesses a great many things that others would envy and a great many qualities that others would revere, but there is one thing in particular that he does not have. He does not have them because he does not need them. They would only hinder him in his chosen path. They are unnecessary.
Ichimaru Gin does not have feelings.
When Hitsugaya Toushirou paused just the slightest bit, emerald eyes narrowed in a mixture of accusation and concern as he and Aizen exchanged scripted threats, he thought nothing of the boy, nothing of the love-sick girl he would later try and fail to protect, and nothing of the hidden threat within a threat in his captain's words.
When Izuru Kira sat in his cell, scratching his bloody fingernails against the stone wall and scolding himself like a madman, he thought nothing of the vice, nothing of the countless laws he was breaking nor the undying loyalty he would shatter, and nothing of the daunting role he and Aizen would force him to play so soon.
When Kuchiki Rukia stood before him, sweat streaming down her pale face as she stared wide-eyed and disbelieving at his false offer of new life, he thought nothing of her, nothing of those she had tried so hard to keep out of this conflict, and nothing of Aizen Sousuke's cruel plans for her.
When Hinamori Momo hesitantly followed him to the Chamber 46's residential block, mind aflutter with doubts and worry, he thought nothing of the child, nothing of her utter devotion to a man who was merely a figment of her imagination, and nothing of the blood he already knew would soon leak freely from her fragile body.
When Matsumoto Rangiku held him in place, pale eyes alight with unrivalled determination and yet crying to know the reason why, he thought nothing of the woman, nothing of her sweaty palm against his wrist nor her other arm tied tight with bandages, and nothing of Aizen's reminder that time was short and never on his side.
No, Ichimaru Gin does not have feelings.
Because if he did, he knew he would hate himself. And he didn't. Of course not.
That would be a feeling, after all.