Sakura exited the room, closing the door slowly behind her, and then leaned against it, mind reeling. Hanataro cleared his throat politely, and Sakura sighed, gazing down at his worried face.

"Who was that man, Hanataro? It seems like no one really knew who Aizen was. How could he keep his real personality hidden like that? How could he do this to Hinamori?"

She realised her voice was rising and bit back the sudden surge of bitter rage. Aizen, Kariya, Grimmjow. . . They were all the same. Selfish, arrogant, egotistical bastards who cared nothing for those they stepped on; for those they hurt. Collateral damage to their grand plans.

She started striding down the corridor of the hospital, Hanataro running a little to keep up.

"What will you do now?" His voice was anxious. Sakura shook her head.

"I'm not sure. Wait!" She stopped, looking down at Hanataro.

"Renji told me that he used to be close to Momo. He trained with her and vice captain Kira, right?"

Hanataro nodded. "I believe so. He comes to see her sometimes, and they talk for hours."

Sakura's eyes darkened with thought. When she'd first joined the ranks of the Gotei 13, she'd been placed in the 3rd division under vice captain, Izuru Kira, and they had at least a working relationship. With his captain, Gin Ichimaru, being one of the traitors to join Aizen, along with Captain Tosen, he had witnessed the events leading to the theft of the Orb of Distortion hidden inside Rukia Kuchiki. Maybe he could help her understand what drove Aizen to his betrayal? He wasn't exactly fond of her, considering how much trouble she'd caused when she'd been a member of his division, but they had their friendship with Renji Abarai in common. Maybe she could appeal to his better nature?

Her mind alight with the possibility of a new avenue to explore, she thanked Hanataro once again, bowing deeply to the smaller Shinigami, before racing away down the corridor. It was still light out when she dashed across the courtyard, and she suspected Kira could be found either at his squad's training grounds with the recruits, or in his quarters. Since Captain Ichimaru had defected, the young vice captain had been busier than ever, and he'd moved into the upper floor of the division's barracks.

As she sprinted across Seireitei, she spotted a familiar face wandering along a bare path lined with blossom trees, and skidded to a halt, nimbly changing direction and waving an arm, thanking her sudden luck.

"Vice captain Kira! Sir, do you have a minute?"

The tall Shinigami, with a thick fringe of blond hair that fell across one eye, turned slowly to look at her as she approached. She slowed her pace to something a little more sedate and tried to look as respectful as possible. Noticing the pile of papers in his hands, she bowed her head.

"My apologies. You're busy."

"No, it's alright." He sighed. "It's one of many things that require my attention. I am on my way to a captain's meeting, however. Walk with me?"

Straightening from her low bow, she matched her pace to the tall blonde and snuck a glance at his face. Although Kira tended towards a serious expression, his face looked drawn and dour. A crease beneath his eyes belied a habit of frowning, and he looked as if he'd aged considerably since she'd last seen him.

"Are you acting captain now, sir?"

"In a fashion." He stuffed the papers into the sash of his vice-captain's uniform and looked down at her.

"What is it you need, Takahashi?"

"I was hoping to ask you about Captain Aizen."

Kira halted, turning to look at her, his blue eyes dark.

"Why?"

Sakura straightened her shoulders a little and looked honesty up at her former squad leader.

"Maybe it's pointless, but I'm trying to understand why he defected, and what his ambitions are. Right now, it seems like there's a lot of speculation and it's possible that I won't learn anything new but I feel like I have to try."

Kira gazed at her face thoughtfully for a moment.

"I've heard that you were denied entrance to Captain Hitsugaya's advanced protection squad in the human world."

She nodded. "That's right, sir."

He smiled suddenly, though it was fleeting.

"You must be curious if you're willing to be so polite."

"You know there's nothing else I can do." She raised her hands in a helpless gesture. "I'm not allowed to fight, I'm not in a position of trust. I have no idea what's really going on."

Kira frowned. "You're still fourth seat under Kenpachi Zeraki."

She sighed. "And that means, what? That I'm good in a fight, not that the Captain trusts me with anything the other captains have discussed with him. You and I both know this isn't his kind of fight; the intrigue, the deceit. He's all about the hard line. Blade on blade. And I?" She smiled a little, "am currently bladeless. So! Will you help me, Lieutenant Kira? Please?"

His pale face looked thoughtful, and Sakura fought down the urge to push that thick swath of hair aside so that she could see his face properly. Finally, he met her eyes and nodded slightly.

"I don't know if what I tell you will be of any help, but if you can meet me at the 3rd Division barracks in an hour, I'll tell you what I know."

Sakura bowed low again, resisting the urge to seize him in thanks.

"I really do appreciate this. Thank you so much."

He nodded, unsmiling, and walked away, leaving Sakura alone on the dusty path, her mind filled with a thousand questions.