CW: More Violence and Torture - Do I need to mention these at this point?

Brats — Gin's thoughts
*Weaklings* — Other Voice

— Early Morning, a Couple Days Later in May, 1886 — Somewhere in North, Rukongai —

"S-senpai, please!"

Gin ignored another ragged plea as he checked their progress against their target's. They still had several districts to go, but their target had been moving surprisingly slow.

*Should've caught up already.*

"Tch." Gin came to a dead halt in the air above a valley of abandoned farms and dropped his cargo. This was as good a place as any.

Tetsuo immediately collapsed, one hand to his mouth, the other to his stomach.

"Careful~! Ya would've had a long drop if I hadn't made ya a platform, ya know?" Gin chided with his usual smile, crouching down to get a look at Tetsuo's pale face. "Was I really going that fast?" he wondered, half genuine, half teasing.

"This isn't how I wanted to spend my day off from classes, Senpai~," Tetsuo moaned, wiping the sweat from his face with a shaking hand. "Maybe I don't qualify for this secret mission."

Gin propped his chin on his hand, putting on a thinking face. "Well, I suppose I could drop ya here and grab some random soul..."

Looking up with shiny, hope filled eyes, Tetsuo clasped his hands together in entreaty. "And I could make my own way back at a reasonable speed and—"

"Ah, it'd probably only take ya a day," Gin agreed, enjoying the stunned look on the kid's face—it'd only taken them a few hours to get here, after all—and gleefully made it worse: "And I'd have to kill the soul after. I'd make it quick of course, since they're doing us a favor, but I'd probably have to feed the corpse to a hollow to get rid of the evi— "

"I'm perfectly qualified after all! Hahaha!" Tetsuo exclaimed, jumping to his feet with gusto, even though his normally tan skin remained as white as a sheet. "I was just, ya know, comparing myself to, I don't know, say someone more skilled, like—"

The kid broke off into unintelligible mumbling after a single look at Gin's growing smile.

"Who was that ya were going to say, Tecchan? Hmm?" Gin asked with a dose of menace, throwing an arm over the kid's shoulder, encouraging him to start moving forward—there was no reason they couldn't make a little progress. "I can't possibly think of who else I could've taken, since I checked all the teams for qualifying volunteers and you were the only one!"

The kid mumbled something that might have been 'Akio'—smart enough not to mention Ran even in a mumble—but Gin just continued over him, leaning forward to give the kid a good look at his smile. "Ya don't think I'd let anything happen to ya, do ya?"

"Haha, of course not, Ani—ah, Senpai," Tetsuo said with a weak laugh, looking firmly over Gin's shoulder. "Um, could ya maybe tell me the plan, uh, now. Please?"

Gin laughed, patting the kid on the head. "Ya know, I think this worked out after all. Yer too thick-headed to freak out in highly dangerous situations."

While Tetsuo squawked in protest, Gin swung him around by the shoulder so they were face to face, staring the kid down until he sobered.

"Nothing ya see or hear today gets repeated to anyone, no matter how shocking; ya act like ya never saw or heard it; ya don't even think about it. Got it?"

"Yes, sir!" Tetsuo promised with clear, determined eyes.

"Yer job is simple: this guy has a special shikai ya haven't been affected by, so yer here to be my eyes and ears—and my reikakou, got it?"

That made the kid shrink and sweat, looking like he wanted to disappear even as he reluctantly raised a finger to get Gin's attention. 'Uh, S-senpai? M-my range still hasn't improved much..."

Gin ruffled the kid's hair, less concerned about his choice by the minute. "I can get us approximately in the right direction— I want ya to focus completely on reikakou and tell me when ya sense other officers, or anyone ya know. If anyone so much as twitches in our direction, just say the word and we're out. Ya can do that, right?"

Tetsuo looked up at him with wary eyes. "While yer using shunpo?"

"I'll slow down when we get closer," Gin promised, ruffling his hair as he turned his focus to weaving kidou wards. The Kyokkou was easy, but the one-way sound barrier took a bit of time and focus. Normally, they'd be a waste of effort so far away from their target, but he wasn't taking chances once he entered Kyoka Suigetsu's area of effect.

With a last onceover for quality, he turned back to Tetsuo. "All set?"

Visibly summoning up his resolve, the kid nodded and closed his eyes to concentrate, and they were off again.

Within moments they were swallowed by the miasma that Gin would rather never have to feel again. As always, it was disorienting; despite knowing the borderline of effect was right behind him, Gin's reikakou was no longer able to sense it.

For all purposes, he was running blind, a little voice in the back of his mind warning him that anything he saw or felt might not be real—that there could be an enemy right next to him.

*He can't fool us—not completely. All he can do is—*

Move at a faster speed than our ability to filter through his lies and kill us just as we realise he's there? Gin suggested cynically, even as he let the cold spread freely and numb the uncertainty.

Despite what he'd told Tetsuo, Gin was the one that sensed it first.

It was a smaller, weaker, orb than the merged one Saigo had shown off; even a bit weaker than several of the other orbs Gin had retrieved.

*If ya can sense that, ya should be able to sense—*

He pushed that aside and focused on the fact that it was moving on its own at high speeds with a group of hollows in pursuit.

Exactly what Gin was looking for, expected or not; he recognized the limits of the bastard's illusions immediately. No wonder Aizen had been moving so slowly. "Multiple targets," he murmured to Tetsuo, as he switched directions to head for the pending confrontation.

The bastard could only craft one illusion for all under his hypnosis, so Gin had no doubt the pawns carrying the orb—the bait—would become sensable as he got closer.

Invisible bait was useless after all.

Tetsuo's tug on his sleeve got half of Gin's attention.

"Two groups of four officers up ahead," Tetsuo said quietly. "One's running, the other waiting ahead of them. Second group has, maybe a senior and an upper officer?"

*The bastard and an overseer to keep the bait in line.*

Enough bait to run again and again until the bastard found a hollow to give him the answers he wanted, Gin mused, absently nodding.

Not long after, Gin could faintly feel the first group himself. Between his half-compromised senses and Tetsuo, Gin managed to wind a path parallel to the chase, keeping the chase between them and the 'upper officer.'

Within moments the chase reached the second group. Glimpses between the trees revealed only seven officers to Gin—none of them Aizen.

The pawn-bait carrying the orb didn't stop for the safety of the larger group or the senior officer, passing them by completely. Unfortunately for the fool, the hollows didn't give the other pawn-bait, or even the senior officer, a second glance, solely focused on him and his precious cargo.

Gin didn't wait for Tetsuo's guidance now, leaving behind the invisible bastard and keeping pace with the pawn-bait. It was only a matter of time before Aizen followed and Gin wanted to find a good seat first.

Of course, that meant that Tetsuo also got a front row seat to watch the pawn-bait get torn apart. For some reason, the kid's usual vindictive thirst for noble blood was nowhere in sight as he hugged himself and squeezed his eyes shut to block it out.

Gin shook the kid's shoulder mercilessly as the lead hollow picked up the orb. The fool tried to overwhelm the ward on it, triggering a Byakurai that electrocuted him and several others nearby. Any minute, the bastard would be there—

Tetsuo's gasp alone would've told him Aizen had arrived even if he wasn't watching half a dozen hollows get sliced to ribbons by 'nothing.' Gin glanced over in time to see Tetsuo mouth Aizen-sochou and gave him another shake. "Focus."

With a full body shudder, Tetsuo swallowed his shock and nodded, determination taking over. "He's, um, taunting the hollow. Talking about the trapped ward on the—device? What's—"

And taking the orb back. Gin could see the hollow's still-clutching fingers being bent back one by one, before the orb in his hand disappeared from Gin's sight and senses. "Nevermind that. Word for word, Tecchan."

"Ah, r-right." Tetsuo's brow furrowed further as he concentrated. "He's asking, 'why are you so interested in getting hold of this little thing even to the point of stupidity?'"

The bastard went on, mixing taunts and questions and casual dismemberment. Even as Tetsuo stuttered through relaying the conversation, Gin could all but hear it in Aizen's voice, the facade of warmth and patience over the lurking, clinical disdain Gin was all too familiar with.

"S-stupid—" the hollow started, with stubborn defiance despite being on the edge of death. But he cut off with a mangled scream as he was relieved of another body part. The process repeated again and again, regeneration now a curse. Stubborn mocking soon faded more and more to desperation.

Tetsuo grabbed onto Gin's arm, clutching tight enough to turn his knuckles white.

Gin didn't comment or shake him off.

The hollow's answers soon changed from typical hollow hunger for souls, to admitting that word had spread in Hueco Mundo: there were tasty orbs full of souls and power being carried about by weaklings outside of the shinigami's city.

Gin's heart stuttered as Aizen asked for specifics, asked who exactly had told him this. But the hollow poured out a dozen names and none of them were Saigo's.

Indeed, even as the hollow gave in, even as the bastard pressed with more questions and pain, his explanation of why, of how he could sense it, didn't change. The orbs were made of hollow food—why wouldn't they be able to sense them?

In the end, Aizen caved first. Commenting that his patience had already been tried by others and there was hardly a shortage of hollows to question, he gave his victim one last chance.

The hollow died in a spray of blood still reaching for the orb.

Gin was left wondering if the hollow hadn't known more answers, or if he was truly stubborn enough to take the answers to his grave. Surely the instinct to live was stronger?

Tetsuo urgently shaking Gin's arm drew him out of his musings. The kid's eyes were wide in a pale face, his hand continuing to shake with tremors even after he drew Gin's attention. "He's... he's saying he's taking—that noble. He wasn't dead—somehow—and he's—"

"Taking his soul," Gin finished for the kid, ignoring that the kid should have never had to learn about this. Ignoring the sinking weight in his own soul.

The ironic death should have been only fitting, yet it disgusted him on a more visceral level than he'd felt in a very long time, almost as bad as that night. But there wasn't time for stupid new instincts and he shoved it aside. More importantly—he gripped the kid's shoulder with a hard hand—"What is he using?"

"Wha—?" Tetsuo turned to him with blank eyes.

Gin shook him again. "Focus, Tetsuo! Is he using the orb he took from the hollow?"

"N-no, its—he's using something else—! Aniki, yer hurting me!" Tetsuo cried, trying to pry Gin's hand from his shoulder.

"Sorry, brat,' Gin murmured as all the energy suddenly seeped away from him. He let go and slumped back. Even barely a hundred meters away with the real Hougyoku in use and he still couldn't sense it.

*It's never been that easy.*

"Um, he's leaving, Aniki. We should—"

With a sigh, Gin shook his head. "We've gotten all we need from this. Any farther is a pointless risk." He gave Tetsuo a facsimile of his usual carefree smile. "I'll chat with a few hollows myself instead and ya can forget all about this, hmm?"

Tetsuo managed a shaky smile in return, shoulders slumping as tension left him. "I think ya owe me for this, Aniki."

For that, Gin managed a more genuine smile. "Not if ya keep calling me that, Tecchan~." With a quiet huff of laughter for the brat's wince, he ruffled the brat's hair. "I'll let it slide this time, alright? Choose yer favor wisely."

"Um, maybe, uh, you coming to train us more often? The senpai are je—I mean, they're not as good as you. Or, or spill on the fight you and Saigo-sensei are having—oh, I know! Explain why ya abandoned me and the others last year out in the middle of the Rukongai instead of taking us back to Seireitei with you! We were three days late! Three! Do ya know how much trouble I was in?!"

Gin laughed freely. "Ya only get to choose one~."

— Several Weeks Later, July, 1886 — West Rukongai —

"Oh, finally decided to show up, have ya?" Gin asked, throwing the next pebble over the surface of the river with unnecessary force. The last pebble he idly tossed up and down, considering how much damage he could do with it.

Saigo slumped down to sit a few feet away, rubbing at his eyes with a yawn. "What was that? Done with your little side projects?" Saigo asked without even doing Gin the courtesy of a casual greeting or turning to look at him.

Gin considered pushing him into the river for several long moments.

*Too petty.*

Keeping it in the back of his mind as a possibility, he dropped his last pebble and sat as well, dipping his bare feet into the cool water. "Ah, I'm done."

For a few moments they sat in silence and Gin was left alone with dangerous thoughts.

*We could break Jyuuishiro's favorite tea set, the family heirloom, and tell them this little shit did it.*

Gin eyed the new bag Saigo was carrying. Intercept his supply of those rare fruits from Shunsui and eat them in front of them.

*Or tie him up and dump in front of Barrigan—that fool should be ruling Los Noches by now, shouldn't he?*

Long before Gin was ready, Saigo turned to look at Gin and sleepily asked, "Well? Are we doing this?"

"We still have to work out the details of yer shit plan." Gin kept his tone absent, knowing it would piss Saigo off.

*Chase him down and never let him sleep again!*

Gin restrained a dark smirk as he caught the irritated scowl taking over Saigo's face, the flash of brightness replacing the dark green.

"Tch. What happened to your good mood?" Saigo bit out. Leaning over and splashing river water over his face, he scrubbed at his face vigorously.

*Oh oh! Tie him up and dump him at Jyuuishiro's while he's sick!*

"Hmm? Why would ya think I was mad?" Gin asked brightly with a wide smile.

"You're leaking killing intent all over the place," Saigo deadpanned, slumping back and drying his face on his sleeve.

Gin didn't bother to restrain said killing intent or his bright tone and smile. "I don't know what yer talking about~. I've just been waiting around for ya to show up after disappearing to gods know where after ya antagonized the bastard into spending all his spare time in the Rukongai."

Saigo slowly turned to stare at him, darkly incredulous. "You were the one who wanted to run off and do—"he waved his hand vaguely "—whatever it is you wanted to do! I wanted to get started right away!"

*Or throw him in front of the old fire-captain! That could be real good!*

Gin's smile widened as he twisted to face Saigo directly. "I said I'd be back within a couple days."

Turning away with a grimace, Saigo roughly scratched his head, making a mess of his hair. "So I slept a few extra days—!"

Gin was on Saigo in a split second, dragging him up by the collar of his kimono.

"Weeks," Gin corrected, voice coming out flat and unnatural in the face of Saigo's wide eyes. More killing intent spilled out of Gin unbidden as he challenged the other man to brush this off. "Wanna guess how many times the bastard's been in West in that time?"

Shrinking, Saigo pushed Gin off, pressing at his temple with a pained grimace. "Shit! I didn't—you know I'm bad with time—"

"For some reason, that's why I expected ya to be at home where I could wake ya up!" Gin dropped back to the ground, frustrated at his own disappointment, and moodily snatched the abandoned bag of fruit. Definitely not letting Shunsui give him any more of these—the other ideas would have to wait until after Saigo bloody fixed the mess he'd created. "Now would be a good time to impress me with this plan of yers."

A long, drawn out conversation failed to put much of a damper on Saigo's certainty of success—but it didn't impress Gin either.

And yet...

"I'll go along with this—for now." He pulled Saigo close so he could murmur in his ear. "But ya have to pay attention. If Aizen identifies them..." His hand clenched around Saigo's arm. "You are the one responsible."

He released Saigo and turned away without looking at his expression, not wanting to know his response.

The sooner they started the better.

A/N: So I'm a little late... But here it is! Chapter 7!
The holidays were... well, lets just say I didn't get much writing in. I'm hoping to get back to a chapter a month - lol at my past self that was thinking I could post faster than that - but I really need some prodding to keep at it - any response really gives me motivation. Thanks to my betas that provided that this month.
In any case, the intro is almost over and things are starting to pick up. Look forward to some more familiar characters showing up soon.
Ch 4+5 are the last already posted chapters that are in the editing queue, then it's just a forward march. in Theory.
Anyway, as always, thanks to my betareaders, Ukranian Snowstorm and trashtulip.
And please share your thoughts and comments - typos, critiques, suggestion - anything lol. A complaint about the sudden change of word count between the chapters anyone?