After the disastrous captain meeting, Hitsugaya had made his way to the training ground behind the 10th Squad House. It was the only place he had felt at peace with. And he needed to be at peace to sort out the confused thoughts running through his mind.

He flopped onto the grass and sighed. Why would the Gotei 13 ever spy on him? He felt betrayed. He felt like he had nobody to talk to, to confide his troubles in. Hinamori was still shell-shocked from the (also disastrous) conversation they had between worlds. Matsumoto was probably off somewhere, getting drunk on sake with Shuuhei or something. That just left one person…

"Shiro-chan?" a soft voice came from behind him.

Hitsugaya sat bolt upright for two reasons. One, he did not want anyone to see him letting himself go by sprawling on the grass. Two, he wanted to talk to Ukitake Jyuushirou, who had snuck up behind him somehow without him knowing.

The senior captain with long flowing hair sat down beside him. The two of them sat in silence for a moment, as unsaid words swirled around them. The older of the white-haired broke the silence.

"How was your trip to Karakura?"

"Hmm? It…" Hitsugaya looked sideways at the 13th squad captain. Why did he ask this question when it was already asked at the meeting?

"I saw you made a friend down there," Ukitake said lightly.

Hitsugaya felt his heart stop for a moment. He looked up at Ukitake, and Ukitake looked back down at him. He smiled understandingly. A little too understandingly.

"Don't worry. It's good to have friends, even if they are… human." The older Shiro-chan looked away into the sky and smiled to himself. Hitsugaya felt himself let out a long slow breath that he didn't know he'd been holding. Luckily Ukitake did not interpret his feelings for Karin for the way they actually were.

"Jyuushirou?" Hitsugaya's voice came out smaller and gentler than he had meant it to.

"Hmm?" Ukitake looked at him.

"Who… who authorized the Correction Corps?" his voice was as small as ever.

After a brief pause, Ukitake replied, "Yamamoto-sho-taichou."

"I see." Hitsugaya felt a deep pit of sadness grow within him. The whole of the Gotei 13 had turned against him.

"Shiro-chan," Ukitake's voice grew soft. "I never wanted the Corps tailing you like that."

Hitsugaya's mood brightened as he realized that he had a friend.

"I know."