"Behind ya." The Third Division Captain's smirk grew even wider, if that was possible.

"Behind... me?" Hinamori reluctantly turned her back on the fox of a man before her. When she saw the man standing behind her, she forgot that Gin even existed.

Captain Aizen stood there, smiling as warmly as he always did.

"Captain...?" Hinamori hardly dared to believe what she was seeing. Her captain had been murdered just days before, brutally staked onto a wall with his own sword. But here he was, standing in the doorway.

"It's been a while, Hinamori-kun." He said it calmly, as though dying was something he did every Tuesday. She slowly walked over to him, barely able to stand from shock and disbelief.

"Captain Aizen... Is it really you, Captain?"

"In the flesh." He smiled. "I'm not a ghost, Hinamori-kun."

She touched him hesitantly, worried that he would disappear at any moment. Now she could feel him. I can feel him! It's really him!

"I'm truly sorry to have worried you so."

She threw her arms around him and pressed herself close, the propriety she usually maintained vanishing in joy. She could feel him awkwardly returning her gesture, gently placing his hands on her back as she whimpered, half from her restrained grief, half from joy.

"I had something to do, something to prepare for. I had to fake my death."

"I understand. It's already enough... that you're still alive." She rested her head on her Captain, the uncertainty and grief that had shaken her world to it's core beginning to disappear.

"Thank you, Hinamori-kun. Soon, I hope, you truly will understand. I am thankful to have you as my subordinate."

Thankful... "Weakest Leutenant in Seiretei," that's what some called her. Just yesterday she'd heard the guards at the cell joking in the hall, saying that she was as weak in mind as in body. It had started with the Eleventh Division, but had spread. She was barely worthy of her rank, yet here was Captain Aizen, actually thankful to have her...

"I am so sorry, Hinamori-kun. And now, I must ask too much of you again." She looked up, confused, into his suddenly serious face.

"I don't understand," she stammered, "what do you mean?"

"Today I'm going to leave Seiretei." She recoiled in shock, but her Captain put a hand on her shoulder, steadying her. "What I'm going to do today will seem shocking, but I ask you to trust me. I want you to come with me."

"What? Why are you leaving, where are you going?" She was barely able to get the words out, her legs almost collapsed under her. Captain Aizen, leaving?! Go with him?

"I'll have to explain that later, Hinamori-kun. For now, I must be going. I'll have to leave you here for the time being. You can't be simply swept up in events, or you'll be indecisive later. Where I'm going, indecision is deadly."

"What?" It was still taking time to sink in, and these dark hints were starting to scare her. "Where are you going? What about the rest of the division?"

"I'm afraid you'll have to learn my destination from someone other than me. It's unfortunate, they'll probably tell you a hopelessly exaggerated version of my departure. If you decide not to come, I will understand. It will shock you at first." He smiled, "As for the others, you may bring anyone you choose from the division, but you are the one I am most concerned with."

"Captain..." Hinamori was still trying to get over the shock of what he was saying. He was leaving? Of course she would follow him, what was he saying? But then, where was he going that could be so terrible?

"I know, Hinamori-kun, I know." He pulled her in close again, she relaxed a bit. "Forgive me, Hinamori-kun, but I want to spare you the rest of this day. Bakudo 8, Nemuru."

A light purple ray came from his hand to her head, putting her to sleep almost immediately. He lightly set her down on the floor and looked over at Gin, who was, of course, grinning.

"So, Captain Aizen, how do you think that went?"

"She'll come. I gave her hope, and something to prove." Aizen straitened up and turned to face the entrance. "I think Hitsugaya-kun has decided to pay us a visit. We should greet him."