Subject: Bleach
Pairing: Gin Ichimaru x Toshiro Hitsugaya
Warnings: T for this one, there's not much of anything, slight Louis/Toshiro un-consensual advances and some stuff with Aizen and Gin but nothing even close to being R.
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone other than Domino and Louis
Notes: Ok so obviously i've been MIA for like, 6 months, but I'm back at it now. This chapter took such a long time because a) I had stopped watching bleach while on my three week trip and over that time period I became obsessed with Kingdom Hearts instead, so I totally stopped writing everything. Another thing is, I had no idea what to write (but I have now written down the plot and will be following it accordingly). So anyways now I do have the ability to write this story again and will be doing so. Enjoy this story. I'm sick today, so what better to do when your sick then write yaoi? Lol. This chapter will have slight Louis/Toshiro (un-consensual like always) and super slight Aizen/Gin hintings, so nothing serious this chapter at all, and why? you may ask, because the plot is about to get a.w.e.s.o.m.e!
17 pages long and I loved this chapter! Oh I wanted you, my loyal reviewers opinions, what do you think of a part of a chapter being completely about Shinso and Gin? Obviously because there is such little information on Shinso most of it would be my own interpretations and imagination, but if your interested in this idea let me know! Enjoy!
In Point of You, Toshiro and Gin are taken back to the Soul Society early in an unconventional way. Everyones upset and yelling. And what does Aizen have to do with it all? Stay tuned for the next chapter Seeing Red, For Blue.
Being Lost, Is a Point of You
Chapter 7: Seeing Red, for Blue
(NC-17)
.:SS:.
The calm wind that hardly rustled a leaf in the Soul Society was a mirage of calm, for the people within the Seireitei were anything but. Agitation rippled through the captains and seated officers like crawling ticks, for the sudden disappearance of Captains of squad 10 and squad 3 had caused chaos.
Though chatter too passed through the squads, during public get togethers at the pubs, it only served to crack the breaking structure more, rumors flew, nasty words were hissed and concern arouse in the voices of troubled seated officers and other shinigami.
On a cool night, with the moon at it's highest in the sky and that tauntingly calm wind hushing over the soul society, Lieutenant Kira stood outside his captain, Ichimaru Gin's house, staring at the door.
He always had a way of looking tired, with bags under his eyes and sadness there as well, but as of late his appearance had dwindled even more, he'd lost a bit of weight from his loss in appetite, and his eyes looked weary and old from insomnia. He was unable to sleep, his mind raced with resolve and questions. "Ichimaru-san is not a traitor." "He will come back." "He is not dead." He tried so hard to figure out where his Captain had gone.
His hand drew up to grasp the door, ready to pull it open, but a voice stopped him. "He won't be in there Kira…" He stared at the door, then his hand fell back to his side, his shoulders sagging a bit in defeat before he looked over upon the women who had spoken.
He was not the only one who had begun to deteriorate from the lack of a beloved Captain. Even Rangiku looked tired, strained. Kira knew she, like himself was trying to keep the squads from falling into chaos without captains and it was wearing them both thin and weak.
"I know… I know he's not here." Kira sighed at the door before turning to her, seeing the stress in her eyes, and he gathered, she must be thinking of her dear Toshiro, wondering where he was, and in that motherly way, wondering if he was alright.
"The Captain-Commander is going to send Captain Soifon and Captain Zaraki out to find them. They are dispatched tomorrow…" she said it, with hesitation in her voice. She was wondering how the two hot headed Captains would deal with two other Captains currently labeled as abandoners.
Kira felt it, that fear, he knew his own Captain would never fall to harsh words from any other captain, but Toshiro was still young and despite his harsh mouth and strong attitude, he would still be more likely to be impacted by the general, traitorous view of him.
"We have no leads, no idea as to where they went." Kira said this, trying to make sense of how they would ever track the captains down, without a clue, without a single lead, how could they ever find them?
"They know that they passed through Senkaimon into the world of the living a week ago. They just don't know where it came out at. So Captain Kurotsuchi has been trying to find out where it let them out. They have a few leads." she spoke softly. She wasn't supposed to know all this information but through talking to Captain Ukitake, who had been the only one to calm her thoughts since the disappearance, she had been given this information.
Kira had no one but Renji and Hisagi to talk to about the issue, both of which did not comfort him nor give him helpful information. So hearing this information from Matsumoto made him feel less tense, more hopeful.
She'd been looking up at the moon for awhile, but her eyes slide shut slowly and she lowered her head. "Goodnight Kira." she said softly, her voice still reflecting her sadness. He nodded to her and she left him still standing in front of Gin's home.
His eyes settled over the handle once more. He wanted to go in, and be reminded and comforted by Gin's smell and his things. Yet he knew the punishment for entering Gin's home without invitation and the sadness he would find in the empty home, the reality that the Captain was truly missing would devastate Kira, so with one more defeated sigh, he retired to his own home.
By next morning he was told that the Captains of squad 11 and 2 had left on a rescue mission to find Gin and Toshiro and Kira quietly prayed they would be successful.
/*.* 10 *.*\
Toshiro awoke where he had curled into his bed. His eyes were foggy, his head hurt and it took a long time for the room to come into his focus. He tried to sit up, but reeled in pain and lay back down, curled tight upon himself, shaking slightly.
He recalled, with anger, the night before. Once again Ichimaru had stripped him of his pride and then had cast his aside like a common slut. Toshiro was angry, his eyes piercing the door that connected their rooms, trying to freeze it with his very will.
He knew Gin wasn't behind that door right now, he had already identified that he was outside in the garden with Domino, as he could hear slight chatter through the glass panels of the window.
He tried to sooth himself to relax. But anger took over and he hated Gin with all his mind till he was too tired to bother hating him anymore at the moment.
They were still stuck here, he still had the butterfly in which he needed to release with a request to be saved. He glanced over at his gigai. That thing. It had been bothering him, picking at his brain for awhile yet he didn't know why.
As he stared at it though, his mind began to analyze and work. Then he knew why it was bugging him. He stiffly got out of bed, donned his gigai and moved ever so painfully to the bathroom, locking both doors before climbing into the shower.
How was it that not only had they received a map straight to the shed which had held their gigai, but there gigai had actually been there, when they had been sent to the wrong city? It didn't make sense. Surly that map had been intended to lead to a shed in Karakura yet it had matched up to the shed in Haguru.
Not only that, but the Hell Butterflies, which always traveled with the shinigami they were assigned too, had just disappeared, into thin air, gone. It just didn't make sense he concluded as he washed conditioner from his hair and painfully cleansed himself with soap.
He shut off the taps and wrapped himself in a fluffy white towel, casting Gin's door a glare before exiting into his own room, throwing the towel upon the bed as he fell back onto it, groaning in pain.
Then he heard the familiar creek of the door that lead to the hall and he glanced up, wide eyed, seeing Louis staring at him in slight horror as Toshiro scrambled to cover himself up with a towel. But he knew it was too late, Louis has already seen the bruises and bites and marks that littered his entire core.
/*.* 3 *.*\
Gin was perched on one of the great branches of the sakura tree in the garden, suspended over the pond of koi, sitting with his smile and closed eyes as he stared out at nothing but the restless surface of the water as the fish swam about.
Domino sat on the grass at the tree's base, his back pressed into the bark, eyes closed and legs crossed in calm meditation as he listened to the sounds of the water and the birds.
Gin didn't notice these things. He was thinking, hard. He thought of Toshiro. "I am gaining control over his mind. Soon he will be ours and the plan can go on." Complete control over the child-prodigy that wields the zanpakutō that only comes along every few centuries. To gain control of an influenced weapon. "He will love me, and do what I say without a single thought, when I am done with him." he hummed softly to himself as he thought about it.
The plan was set, the trap laid and the game was half-way done.
Yet.
It had begun to take it's toll on Gin's facade. He found himself seeing the difference between the true him, and the fake one. He was loyal to the plan, to breaking Toshiro's spirit and taking control of him like a puppet-master. Yet he was conflicted with the true feelings he had begun to develop for the young shinigami.
He didn't know the word to describe his feelings for Toshiro, all he knew was it was the real him that didn't want to continue with the plan. That didn't want this obsession to control Toshiro. It was the real him that wanted to protect. He wanted to see that smile, those misplaced affections. The fire in those cyan eyes.
He could not. He would not give into his true self. For to bear the feeling of affection makes you weak, easy prey, susceptible to death. He would continue with the plan. No matter how much it tore him apart.
A fluctuation in Toshiro's spiritual pressure, caused Gin to abandon his thought process to look up at the window of Toshiro's bedroom, wondering what was wrong. As the pressure continued to flutter and go from extremely weak to incredibly strong he leapt down from the tree, leaving Domino under it as he made his way into the house.
He moved upstairs, eyes closed to slits a smile of teeth on his lips as he made his way to the bedroom. He could hear Toshiro from inside making inaudible noises.
The door opened under his fingers as he stepped in upon the scene. Louis had Toshiro pinned under him upon the bed. His eyes, muddied in lust and that concern as he yelled near Toshiro.
"He will kill you. Now let me help!" His hand moved down one of Snowy-chan's bruised thighs and Toshiro growled with anger.
"Louis GET OFF!" he screamed in the blondes face, then he froze as he realized that Gin stood in the door, quietly, dangerously, observing the scene he'd walked in upon.
Anger was spread across Gin's face in a way only Toshiro seemed to note as Louis turned to glare at Ichimaru, seemingly unaware of the dangerous ground he was walking on.
"Get the fuck out! You did this to him!" The blonde was yelling but Gin wasn't looking at him, he was looking at Toshiro who had a look of horror on his face.
"Mah mah, I'll leave yah to it then." he spoke in a chillingly calm voice and watched in pleasure as Toshiro became more afraid and went back to trying to shove Louis from the bed as Gin retreated into his room, but not for long.
He shed his gigai and made his way angrily, but calmly back to the bedroom. Toshiro saw him right away, his eyes flew open in shock again.
Gin had not been expecting it when Toshiro left his gigai suddenly, leaving Louis to mentally deal with Toshiro's empty self.
Toshiro stood between Louis and Gin. "Don't… He's just a human, he's not worth the blood, or the time…" He said, his voice was shaking, Gin noted. His eyes were searching, begging Ichimaru not to do what he would.
"Yah let 'im touch yah again Snowy-chan. Vermin like 'im, should be, exterminated." he purred, watching Toshiro slowly approach him, knowing Toshiro would try anything to beg for the life of scum.
He could have non of that and he opened his eyes, Toshiro froze as the red iris' held him. That was enough for Gin as he redirected his attention to Louis, still on the bed over Toshiro's gigai.
"Pierce his flesh.. Shinso." His voice fell like hot water as he drew his sword, the blade extending towards the targeted blonde, advancing, ready to take the blood of whoever got in it's way.
Once the words were uttered, Shinso never stopped it's advances, it never let the prey get away, it craved the blood it had been set upon and would not stop till it's bloodlust was sated.
Thats why an odd, worrying shock crossed Gin's face when Toshiro moved in front of the blade, once again taking up his position between Louis and Gin, Hyorinmaru drawn to block the attack.
Those cyan eyes pierced Gin's own, but shock continued to wash over the Captain of squad 3 when Shinso suddenly stopped it's advance, a second away from meeting the sharp metal of Toshiro's zanpakutō.
The shock was shared, for Toshiro went from looking at the blade, stopped in it's path, to Gin. Toshiro swore he saw something there in those eyes.
The sweetest wash of a color that reminded him of the ocean they had sat in front of when they had kissed. The soft blue of water. It reminded him of that first glance he'd gotten under the mask of Gin Ichimaru.
Toshiro swore that in that moment, with Shinso stopped in it's tracks, he was seeing not blood red eyes but sweet ocean blue. Pure and concerned.
Then it was gone. Like everything, they were once again fake, and red. "Mah mah, that is interesting." muttered Gin as Shinso returned to it's original length and was sheathed by Gin.
Toshiro did not lower his guard. It was not heard of, Shinso being sedated without having drawn blood. Everyone knew Gin was a ferocious killer because who ever contacted his sword never lived to see mercy.
Toshiro should be fighting against the pressure of that blade, trying to break Gin and destroy him right now, yet here they were, just standing.
Interesting in deed. Ichimaru thought to himself, his fingers touching the hilt of Shinso. Why had it stopped? Something else in his mind answered that for him. Cause your heart isn't in it to take Toshiro's life. He closed his eyes. That was nonsense. He didn't care about the brat and would sooner see him dead then become weak.
But something suggested he was lying to himself. He allowed his hand to drop from the hilt and he smiled a toothy snarl at Toshiro. "Yah better deal with blondie, Toshi-kun, before he has a heart attack." He purred before he turned on his heel and left the room, going back to his own to dress in his gigai, leaving Toshiro to do the same.
Toshiro must have gotten rid of Louis because a few minutes later, when Gin had returned to the branch of the Sakura tree, Louis walked into the garden, glaring up at Gin before sitting on a rock next to the fish. Gin smiled and glanced up at that window again.
But his mind was racing with concern. He did not understand why Shinso had stopped and it was beginning to worry him. He was becoming weak, or maybe it was his true affections for Toshiro that had made Shinso dull and unable to take the life of Toshiro. The plan would still have worked with Toshiro eliminated, so it must have been his true self whom couldn't commit to the death of Toshiro.
The question crossed Gin's mind.
"What now?"
The white of the gate faded away, leaving the towering Zaraki and stanced Soifon in the same place that Gin and Toshiro had been when they had arrived in the town of Haguru.
"Are they really here?" Zaraki's gruff voice asked as he looked around the sleepy town, dead to the idea of life.
"Can't you feel their spiritual pressure?" Moron. Soifon didn't want to be here with this man. She would have preferred doing this alone then being sent with Zaraki, the oaf had no clue.
She could clearly feel Captain Ichimaru and Captain Hitsugaya's spiritual pressure off in the distance, and ignoring Zaraki took off with shunpo in the direction they lay.
Their presence did not go unnoticed. Domino sent Louis out to get some groceries and Toshiro came down from his bedroom, joining Gin and Dom in the garden. Agitation creeping through him as Zaraki's pressure pushed down upon them with no restraint or control.
And then they were there, Soifon and Zaraki stood in front of them, Zaraki grinning wide and madly. "I guess you were right, they are here." he laughed, eyeing the two. Ichimaru's smile became slightly strained from agitation while Toshiro forgot Zaraki and looked at Soifon, the kindness and joy in his eyes catching her off guard.
She cleared it from her mind. "By order of the Captain-Commander we are to detain Captain Ichimaru Gin and Captain Hitsugaya Toshiro under conspiracy of abandonment as well as under conspiracy of treason." she yelled slightly, agitation building in her as well and she watched that happy look in Toshiro's eyes fade to slight fear.
Toshiro did not understand. This made no sense. They were suspected of being traitors and abandoning the Gotei 13? It made no sense! They had been sent here by the Captain-Commander himself.
"Coming with us without a fuss is advisable." growled out Zaraki and Toshiro nodded slightly, he turned to look at Domino.
"Thank you." Domino's memories of them were erased and they disappeared with Zaraki and Soifon, abandoned their gigai and were brought back to Soul Society.
.:SS:.
"Did you hear? Captain Zaraki and Captain Soifon returned with Captain Gin and Captain Toshiro!" Momo just had to share the good news with Rangiku and Kira the moment she saw them. It was her loyalty to Kira and Toshiro that drove her to tell them in a squealing voice the moment she saw the two looking sad together.
Kira stared and began to stutter a bit, as was common of him when he was excited. "R-really Momo?" He couldn't believe they'd been found already. He was thrilled, until Rangiku asked the question, her tired eyes closed and her voice level before she smiled.
"So where are they right now? We should go greet them Kira." She spoke, looking happily from Momo to Izuru, but Mom then lowered her eyes, shaking her head.
"Well, they are-" she was cut off when the announcement system went off.
"This is a message for all Captains. An emergency Captains Meeting is to be held in 10 minutes. You must report in."
Kira looked back to Momo's down-cast face, from the intercom he'd been gazing at. "Momo?" he pried, he wanted to know what was to befall his Captain. His beloved Gin.
"They are being escorted to the meeting. Captain Aizen said they are going to be interrogated on their where abouts. They think they abandoned their posts to aid Rukia." Shock crossed Kira's face and Rangiku jerked her head.
"That's preposterous! What reason does Gin or Toshiro have to help a Kuchiki?" Rangiku almost spit, forgetting her position and to control the anger in her voice. She wouldn't here of it. Gin never had any sort of friendship with Rukia, or Byakuya for that matter and Toshiro was young and still a child when Rukia had become a Kuchiki and part of the Gotei 13, she had never even seen them talk before.
Kira nodded. "The captain's will see that too, I'm sure… They cannot support those accusations… We should go wait for the meeting to be over…" Kira was trying to keep calm as he tried to sort it all out in his mind. He was glad when his friends just agreed, and they headed to the Captain's meeting room, waiting patiently outside, no other lieutenants had shown up.
/*.* 10 *.*\
They stood at the center of the room, between the two rows of captains that stood their left and right, the Captain-Commander in front of them. Toshiro caught Ukitake looking at him in a saddened, but supportive way, and he could just hear the words "Hang in there" echo in his mind.
"Now Captain Ichimaru and Captain Hitsugaya, would you please tell us why you left a week ago without any orders to do so and without permission?" asked the Captain-Commander, and suddenly, it wasn't just Captain Ukitake who was looking at him. Almost every set of eyes in the room fell upon him or Gin.
"WHAT!?" yelled Toshiro, unable to contain his shock, causing Unohana, Ukitake and Aizen to frown at him for his outburst. But the week stuck with Gin had caused him to forget to be polite.
"Sir! We were given direct orders to go to the world of the living to collect the traitor Rukia Kuchiki and bring her back here for her execution!" One of the Captain's tried to speak but Toshiro ignored him, continuing to try and defend them.
"Instead of ending up in Karakura town we ended up in Haguru with no means of getting in contact with the Soul Society to have the situation corrected! We could not return and were forced to wait for the grace period of two weeks, that you gave us Sir, to end so we could be collected from the town." he was quiet now as the captains exchanged glanced with one another. They seemed to be sharing a common confusion. Was it true? What was going on? What reason did Toshiro have to lie?
Were they to believe Toshiro's story?
"There is no evidence to prove this story. You and Captain Ichimaru went missing from the Soul Society last week with no authorization." Began the Captain-Commander again, for now, ignoring Toshiro's outburst and lack of manners.
Toshiro was wracking his brain for a way to prove their innocence against their accusations. "We have witnesses! My own Lieutenant, Matsumoto Rangiku aided me the night before our departure in researching the world of the living, she also gave me the message that you had summoned me, she also saw us off along with Captain Kyouraku. Surely they remember! Or even you, Sir, must remember the conversation you had with us regarding the mission!" Desperation was leaking in Toshiro's young voice as he tried to find reasoning for this situation. Why did the Captain-Commander not remember!?
Everyone looked from Toshiro, to Captain Kyouraku, waiting for an explanation but he shook his head, a sad air about him, aimed towards Toshiro and Gin. "I was with my squad, training them, my lieutenant Nanao can testify for that, as can Captain Ukitake." The eyes settles on the Captain of Squad 13.
"Yes that's correct. I went to talk to Captain Kyouraku about his new training plans for his squad in hopes to apply them to my own…" his eyes too were on Toshiro, looking into that despair, it broke his heart.
Hitsugaya was mentally spiraling into a blackened pit of despair and Ichimaru noticed this with a bit of his own sadness. "And what of Matsumoto?" he asked with his smile plastered to his face. He would not show any sympathy for the Captain at his side, not in front of so many people.
"She and your own Lieutenant, Izuru, were detained after you went missing and asked of your where-abouts, neither could provide us with any information." spoke Soifon. Ichimaru cocked his head, and exchanged a look with Aizen that went unnoticed by everyone else.
"They too have witnesses that locate them no where near you two during the time period you've given me Captain Hitsugaya." drawled the Captain-Commander. Toshiro no longer heard him, his eyes downcast, shadows falling over his face as he stood in humiliation, fear and confusion.
Anyone who liked Toshiro at this point was trying to wrack their brains for any information that could clear them, but no one spoke.
"Well well, what shall happen to us now 'en?" cooed Ichimaru, looking straight at the Captain-Commander through closed eyes.
"For now, you shall be stripped of you privileges to travel outside the Soul Society until such a time that we see fit to return those privileges. If evidence is found that you have indeed committed treason and aided Rukia Kuchiki in evading capture, you will receive further punishment and be stripped of your titles as Captains." it was the final word, and Ichimaru and Toshiro nodded.
The Captains were dismissed, Ichimaru and Toshiro were the last to leave. outside they walked slowly together, Gin spoke so quietly Toshiro had to strain to hear his words. "Dun worry Toshi-kun. Byakuya will return with Rukia, she'll say we never aided 'er and we will be cleared of all charges. So stop worryin'." he smiled down at him, putting a hand on his shoulder, this action, observed by the lieutenants who were waiting for them, and Aizen who was already standing with them. Ichimaru removed his hand as they got closer but the action did not go unnoticed by a certain Captain.
"Captain!" exclaimed Matsumoto so full of joy and she moved up to Toshiro and hugged him, suffocating him with her breasts. Her smell and familiarity washed over him.
"Rangiku! Release me!" he yelped from under her grasp, but mentally, he was glad to feel her hug him again, to know they were, at the very least, back. She released him with a smile though he looked over her scoldingly, noting her dwindling appearance and health. Kira looked no better, noted Gin as he patted the blonde on the back lightly, but said nothing to his worried lieutenant.
"Please excuse mahself and Captain Aizen." he said with that easy tone and he left with Aizen in tow, leaving Kira standing there, slightly disappointed that Gin hadn't even said hello to him. He sighed, and glanced at the others who just smiled at him comfortingly.
/*.* 3 *.*\
They walked slow and calm towards Gin's house, not speaking a word to one another until Ichimaru had opened the door, assessing the quiet of his home before inviting Aizen in and locking the door behind them.
His home was nearly empty, as would be expected for someone like Gin who took no pleasure in having material things. However he did own a kettle and teapot and boiled some white tea and the two sat around an old creaky table that seemed ready to give out at any moment.
But the place in which they meet bore little importance, it's what they needed to discuss that was far more concerning.
Silence waited after the tea had been dispersed and Gin was quietly sipping at his cup, waiting for Aizen to speak and break the irritating quiet that surrounded his house.
He could smell the persimmons growing outside and hummed slightly out of the pleasurable idea of eating a dried persimmon, sipping again at his tea, till finally the silence was broken as Aizen leaned onto the poor creaky table.
"It seems, the grace time i'd given you was cut short. Despite that, how is the plan coming along, Gin?" asked Aizen, his kind tone seemed to waver for a moment but there was no mistaking the underlying passion that laced each word.
"I've managed to break 'im in a bit. With some more time I'll have 'im right where we need 'im. Then he'll be ours." Gin purred out, taking another sip of tea, letting the warm liquid trickle ever so slowly down his throat, enjoying the heat that pooled in his gut.
"Continue then with the plan Gin. You must have complete control if we are to do this correctly." he finished his cup of tea, setting it down as he smiled at Gin, whom nodded.
Aizen leaned across the corner of the table, his hand sliding into Ichimaru's silver hair as he grabbed one of his wrists with his other hand and slowly brought their lips together.
Aizen bit at Gin's lower lip, causing the softest, almost inaudible noise to leave Gin's lips as he returned the kiss, feeling Aizen deepen it and become slightly more aggressive, biting his lip again before breaking the contact, sliding his tongue down Gin's pale neck. He stopped at the junction between his shoulder and neck, sucking, eliciting a quiet groan from Gin before he bit into his pale skin, staking his claim, and reminder, upon Ichimaru's flesh.
"Remember, in the end, your loyalty is still to me." he whispered into the man's ear, before he released him. Silence followed as they both regained consistent breathing and then they exchanged goodbyes and Aizen left Ichimaru sitting at the table, his hand still clutching the cup of tea and he began to shake.
"It's not right. To be feeling this regret." his mind hissed, his knuckles white on already pale skin from the death grip he held on the cup. "This was not part of the plan. Since when did I even have the ability to care for another person?" He angrily threw the cup against the wall nearest to him, glaring as he watched the tea drip down the wood, venting his frustration before calming. He sat in silence, meditating almost, trying to find the answers. Instead, he found him. Shinso.
"It's easy, weak, and cowardly, to ignore your own feelings and do what others want you to do. It's far more brave and strong of a person to follow their own heart. Your a coward, Gin. And until you figure it out, your not worthy of my powers." The hiss in his mind stopped and fell silent.
Ichimaru opened his eyes and looked at his sword that lay beside him. Maybe that's why Shinso never took Toshiro's blood. Maybe it was because Gin had become too weak to kill. "Or maybe, it's because you could never kill him. The person that made you remember the difference between the facade and the truth. The release you've longed for, for so long."
He stood up, placing Shinso at his hip as he left his home and headed outside, into the fresh air.
It was then announced that Renji and Byakuya had returned with Rukia. He smiled to himself, everything was getting back on track, as planned and soon Toshiro and himself would be free of all charges.
Rukia was questioned if either captain had shown up to aid her and she told them the truth, that they had not. They were officially cleared of the charges and Ichimaru could feel Toshiro drop his tension. They were then dismissed.
/*.* 10 *.*\
Toshiro returned to his room, muttering to himself, still trying to figure out how this had all happened. He'd written a billion notes on things that didn't make sense. And he could come up with no way that such a great plot had been put into action without anyone remembering what had happened.
How could Matsumoto have told him to see the Captain-Commander, aided him in his studies and seen him off without remembering it? How could the Captain of Squad 8 be in two places at once?
Something had happened, was happening, and he was determined to figure out what it was.
/*.* 3 *.*\
A few days later Gin had set for Kira to take over his paper work as he went walking around the Seireitei for a stroll to clear his head when he came upon Zaraki who was waiting outside the prison looking smug. "Hm and who are you waiting for, Captain?" purred Gin, looking for a bit of fun and mischief to get his mind off Toshiro and Shinso. Zaraki smirked at him.
"Kuchiki is in there right now tellin' Rukia she's gonna be executed." He smiled like a demon having too much fun. Ichimaru found the smile a bit like his own and returned it with a threatening grin.
"Oh really?" he stayed there with Zaraki, waiting till Byakuya came out, who stopped when he realized he had an audience, turning to face Ichimaru and Kenpachi. Gin was more then happy to screw with the emotions of the royal Kuchiki.
"My compliments, Squad 6 Captain. Ya handled yerself very professionally in there. I would 'ave thought that condemnin' yer own sister to death might be difficult for you. You truly are 'n example for all soul reapers."
He was beaming with delight, perched upon the railing. His voice dripping sarcasm as Zaraki spoke up.
"Are you joking? The only soul reapers who are scared of dying are you and the Captain of Squad 9." He grumbled out, redirecting Gin's attentions.
"What? Really?" Ichimaru asked, feigning stupidity, he knew he couldn't fight here, it was illegal to fight with your own kind, and even more illegal to release your zanpakutō. Not that Gin could do such a thing. Not since Shinso had abandoned him completely.
"If this were official business, you two wouldn't be without your adjutants. So what do you want with me?" He was impatient, Gin noted the tone in Byakuya's voice was a bit different then his usual "I don't give a damn" tone. Maybe condemning his own sister really was getting to him? Gin smiled even more, his wrists loose in his lap, his fingers spread, like talons, claws. The threat was issued, Gin knew Byakuya saw it, but he said nothing of it.
"That ain't nice. We were just concerned, we wanted to make certain one of our esteemed colleagues wasn' feelin' badly about havin' ta pass sentence on a member of 'is own family." he kept grinning, kept peering at that irritated, exhausted face of Byakuya through his slitted eyes. This was fun.
"Our family lineage is non or your business.-" Byakuya was cut off by Zaraki, who was itching for a fight, if his tone and spiritual pressure was to be any indication.
"Good to know your not upset. Criminals can do such damage to a nobel family's image."
"Oh? And since when does a commoner like you know anything about nobility?" It was a threat. A stab, and Zaraki rose to meet it, much to Gin's glee.
"Huh, well I guess your could say, i've always been a keen observer. While I'm being considerate, want me to go to that criminal...and lop off her head for you before the execution?" Gin glanced at Zaraki. Uh oh, now he couldn't have Zaraki going and doing that…
"I didn't know, one can cut off a head with just your skill, Captain of Squad 11." Gin took note that Byakuya had just played his Rank card.
"Want me to try it on ya?" It was getting dangerous and Gin quietly began a binding chant.
"I don't think you really mean that."
"Try me."
Gin had stolen Zaraki away to the next roof over, the huge Captain bound and in tow. That was close. Gin almost had a big problem on his hands. Now to mend the wounds a little. "My most sincere apologies Squad 6 Captain, I assure you, it was not my intention to offend you in any way. Please give my regards to your sister, alright?"
Gin turned and took off with Zaraki yelling at him to let him fight, things Gin just ignored and he took Zaraki to a more quiet place, away from Byakuya, before releasing hism from the binding spell.
"Geez Ichimaru, you could have just let me at 'im." He groaned, glancing back from where they had come from.
"Don't waste you're time Zaraki. Anyways, I'm leavin'" he said, waving good bye before shunpo'ing away, leaving Zaraki alone.
It was later in the day, as Gin was making his way to Toshiro's office to steal the Captain away that he instead found Toshi-kun was not there, just Rangiku sat upon the yellow corn colored couch, peering through paperwork with a dull, bored-to-death look on her face, which sparked and lit up when she saw Gin was in the door.
"Ah! Ichimaru. Where you looking for Toshiro?" Gin nodded, noting her happiness at seeing him. "He's not here, he went out with Momo to get something to eat." she explained. Gin smiled at her.
"Ah I see…" then he formed a game in his head. "Would you like to join me for a stroll? It's rather lonely just walkin' around alone." He grinned more at her, eyes closing tight.
She saw through the facade but nodded anyways, putting down the papers before straightening herself out and following him from the building out into the night air, the moon high and big in the sky, catching her wandering attention every now and then.
They spent most of the walk in silence, till they found themselves on top of one of the taller buildings, looking out into the Rukon district. He knew she was reflecting on the first time they met. He could always tell cause her eyes would glass over and she'd feel like she was very far away. He let her be.
He instead thought about Shinso, about Toshiro and about Aizen. Such conflicting thoughts butting into each other began to hurt his head. He could not sort his emotions and feelings and was glad when Rangiku's voice awoke him from his mind.
"Gin… If you were in Byakuya's situation, would you care for Rukia's life? Even if she is a traitor?" This wasn't what she had wanted to ask, she was getting to a point.
"Shedding feelings out of love makes you weak." he retorted on instinct. Instinct of the facade. It was a lie to his nature and a pain in his heart, his cold iced over heart, reminded him of that.
She was quiet for a minute, as if taking it in. "Gin.." He waited. "Have you ever been in love?" she asked softly. His smile faded away at that and he opened his eyes a little bit. But she didn't see it, she was staring out at the land before her, reflecting on her past life, when he'd saved her.
He considered the question then came to a resolve. "No."
He knew he had never loved. He had admired Aizen for taking him in. For proving he could be a killer, be strong. For giving him such high ranking positions and believing in him. But he did not love Aizen. He loved what Aizen gave him.
But the real him had never loved either, however, he had once felt pity for Rangiku, starving in the dirt. And now he felt something very new, for Toshiro. The only person to ever cause Shinso to stop in it's tracks and forget it's lust for blood.
Toshiro. The only person who had ever exposed the face under his mask.
The only person, who had, for even one moment, seen past Shinso's blood-filled eyes and seen Gin's blue ones.
Toshiro, who saw the truth.
End Notes
Dun Dun Dun!!!! I really enjoyed writing this chapter, mostly because I'm so excited about developing this new plot i've created. This chapter took me forever though and I hate how it feels rushed at some parts. I tried to add more details when I edited after writing it, but it's still not detailed enough for me. My next chapter will have more detail, I promise, I just needed to get the plot moving again. Anyways, thank you so much to my readers. I hope you all read this chapter and drop me your lovely reviews and comments as they always bring a smile to my face. The next chapter will hopefully be up next week, So stay tuned =D