Urhara exited the room in silence. I hadn't listened in to their conversation, but from his expression I knew it hadn't gone well.

Good.

I escorted him to the door and then, very pointedly, waited for him to step beyond the threshold. Before he did, however, he turned to me. "I can make the way back myself. What is your name, young shinigami?"

"Ichimaru Gin."

"Ichimaru-san," he said seriously, "I think it best for you to dissociate from Aizen Sousuke. He is a dangerous man."

I looked down at my hands and then back up at his face, and I wore a thin, mocking smile. He appeared taken aback.

"I know. So am I."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

When I entered the subdued warmth of the bedroom, I knew he was better. The aura surrounding his frame was not even a hint of his former power – which he would return to very soon, I was certain – but at least it was steady.

By now it was almost daybreak. I felt like my bones had turned to water, I was so exhausted. But he had a light in his eyes as he welcomed me to bed. "Come here, Gin."

I shifted in, a little concerned that my cold hands and feet would be unpleasant for him. However Aizen-sama took no notice of them as I slid under the covers and hugged him, and only pulled the quilt up to cover us. He kissed my hair, and then whispered a 'thank you'.

"You're welcome," I replied as he tucked the quilt up further. There was a tight band stretched over my heart, and I found it difficult to breathe. His fingers dug into my shoulder and I could feel the oddly fast heartbeat beating against his ribs.

How do you acknowledge a near-death experience?

Finally he spoke. "There was something I wasn't pleased with though."

"What, Aizen-sama?"

He breathed deeply before answering, as if each word was too taxing on his strength. With a gentle smack on the back of my head he asked, "Why did you doubt me? Have I ever given you a reason to doubt me, Gin?"

He sounded hurt, if that was possible. I swallowed against the probability. "...No."

"I will never - never – give you a reason to doubt, Gin," he said, his voice intense. "There isn't room for that between us."

I smiled into his neck. "I know. You said that you will open yourself fully to me."

"And the time is come." He shifted; something was bothering him. I repositioned myself, hoping he could find a comfortable place to rest."Before tonight, I had – not doubts, but reservations – about carrying out my plans."

I couldn't help blurting out the main worry in my mind. "Because of Urahara-san?"

He smacked my head again. "Do not speak his name. But yes."

I sat up, my elbows supporting my body. I bit my lower lip, suddenly angry. "So he's still important."

"Ichimaru Gin, I just told you not to doubt me." Aizen-sama sat up too, his eyes blazing.

"But he's clearly important-"

"He' important because he holds the key to my plans," said Aizen-sama, his breathing heavy. There was an edge to his voice I had never heard before – bitter and determined. "Before tonight - or rather, yesterday - I still thought of him as a friend, if not an ally, and that was why I had hesitated."

I said nothing, not sure if I wanted to believe.

He must have lost his patience as well. He snapped, "Still so transparent about your feelings. Have you learned nothing, boy?" With one hand he grabbed the back of my head, fisting his fingers into my hair and tugged hard. I winced with the sudden pain.

He went on. "If I have to fuck you until you forget the name of that blond bastard, I will. Once I get my strength back, don't even think of leaving this bed until I know that you no longer know who the hell he is."

He must be more out of it than he realizes. My good humor began to surface. This is...wicked.

In a hushed whisper, "You just made sure I will remember his name forever."

he furrowed his brow, as if trying to figure something out. I waited for light to dawn. Then, after a beat, he started to chuckle, and then began laughing. Until something pained him. "Ah- Ouch. Ouf. Gods, that hurts."

Okay, that's a really bad ploy for some tender loving care if I've seen one. What the hell.

"Here," I said, concentrating my reiatsu on my left hand and running the chants through my mind. "Let me practice my healing jutsus."

"That'd be great," he said and relaxed into the mattress. Turning his head he looked out the small aperture of an upper window. "Gin, it's snowing."

I looked around and saw the white flakes drifting slowly down. Then I turned back to him. "Then I guess we'll just have to stay in until you get strong again, hmm?"

He merely closed his eyes, a lazy grin on his face. My hands began to hover over his body, repairing what damage I could.

Hope the snow falls forever.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

I padded silently to the kitchen. Someone up there must have heard my wish, because snow blitzed through Soul Society for a week without rest. It was pleasant to have some time alone with Aizen-sama, even though he wasn't quite up to our usual...uh, shenanigans. Although we had designed our schedules together, any excuse to break the routine for some intimacy was welcome.

To my surprise Kei was already in the kitchen cooking up a storm. She started when she heard my greeting, but composed herself. "Good morning, Gin-sama."

"You're back early," I said, helping myself to a bowl of soup. She was a good cook, I had to admit; way better than I was. "I thought you'd wait for the snow to stop."

"Grandmama said I shouldn't keep Aizen-taichou and Gin-sama waiting," she replied.

A biddable girl indeed. I wondered briefly if she ever made a decision on her own. Perhaps I should assist in some way – women should learn to fight for themselves. Then I recalled my original intention. "Get a tray ready. I'm bringing food back to the bedroom; Sousuke shouldn't be walking about."

"Yes, Gin-sama."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

He was standing by the window, admiring the view. I picked up a thicker robe from the stand and placed it over his shoulders.

"It's stopped snowing," he said, not looking at me. "We'll have to return to work soon."

"Do we have to?" I complained delicately, leaning my chin on his shoulder. "I like the idea of you all weak and kitteny."

Oops.

He gave me a 'you-better-think-that-over' gaze. I hastily backpedaled. "Kitten-ish?"

The gaze endured. I squirmed and kissed his cheek. "Sorry. Got carried away."

As we ate he asked if Kei was returning today. I grinned. "Mm-hmm. In fact, she came in this morning while you were still resting. She made breakfast."

He rotated his shoulders. They were probably sore, even after the many massages I had given. "Get her to draw a hot bath."

Bath? Hmmm... has potential.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Before Aizen-sama was to proceed to the bathroom I went in.

Kei had rolled up the sleeves of her kimono, and was testing the temperature of the water. A lovely tanned arm, just toned enough without losing its essential femininity. Offhandedly I wondered what her fingers and palm would feel like: roughened by work, perhaps, yet with a tenderness beneath the callused skin.

She looked up and her breath caught. I knew it was not from desire but from unpleasant surprise.

Let's see... I've threatened, cajoled, mocked, cautioned, whipped... what is left to do?

Then my ever-present smile grew. If I had judged correctly just now, Aizen-sama was fully recovered. Perhaps it was time for a little celebration.

I walked around the bath and stalked over to Kei, who by now had clambered to her feet and was backing away very subtly. She jerked a little bow. "Gi-Gin-sama."

I smiled. "Hello, Kei."