Ten days after Aizen's escape:
The open window obviously had to be investigated. Counter to common belief Gin was often up and about early in the morning. He liked to check on things before the morning shift, just to be sure everything was running smoothly, before heading back home for the daily chaos of morning with Rangiku and the kids. But this morning, as he was crossing the lawn alongside the barracks, soaking his tabi in the morning dew, he noticed Kira's window was open.
Kira's window was never open. Gin had told him more than once that the night air was good for him, and the cool breeze was all that made summer nights endurable. Kira countered that the night air was full of mosquitoes and a thousand mosquito bites was completely unendurable. Gin granted the point. The Captain's Residence had some sort of experimental barrier from Kurotsuchi that kept bugs out--it also murdered the bugs Kin-chan tried to bring inside, so that was an unexpected bonus.
But Kira had no such barrier so what was he doing with an open window? Clearly, Gin had to find out.
Kira's eyes snapped open as Gin leaned in through the open window, and the blood drained from his face as a huge grin spread across his captain's lips.
It was such a beautiful picture. A terrified and frozen Kira with Lieutenant Hinamori Momo asleep beside him in his bed. The girl's arms were wrapped around him so that Gin thought it would probably be quite the challenge to extricate himself without waking her. It was going to be so much fun to tell Ran what he had found.
Kira finally managed to open his mouth, probably to say something in his own defense, but Gin raised a finger to his lips. Then he motioned Kira to follow him and stepped away from the window.
He was right. It took Kira several minutes to join him on the lawn, and predictably, Kira started right out, "It isn't what it looked like, sir!"
"Well, it looked like little Momo-chan decided to cry her heart out and fell asleep on your bed," Gin said, still wearing that wicked grin. "What was it actually?"
Kira stared at him, unable to gather his wits enough to answer.
"I suppose I'm expected to tell you I'm very disappointed in you, and I am. If you are going to get a woman into your bed you ought to do something about it. You are a man, aren't you? You must realize women aren't going to climb in your window every night. You must take full advantage of these opportunities when they--"
"Sir, I would never take advantage of any woman no matter how rare the opportunity might be," Kira interrupted. His voice was hard and full of disapproval.
Gin shook his head. "Be a gentleman if you'd like, but try not to be too stupid. I wouldn't be surprised if she's still tangled up in Aizen's little games. Don't let her pull you in, too. Let her break your heart if you have to, but don't let her ruin your life. No girl's worth that."
"Except Rangiku-san?" Kira answered.
Kira sounded very sure he'd found a flaw in Gin's argument, but the enormous grin returned to Gin's face. "Nope. You've got it backwards, Kira. Rangiku gave me my life. I was the one who tried to destroy it, and I still would, for her. What has Lieutenant Hinamori given you?"
"She doesn't need to give me anything," Kira protested.
"Not even happiness?" Gin sighed. "I like you Kira, and I really appreciate how low you keep your expectations. It's nice to have someone I can't disappoint, but sometimes I think you really need to think about yourself. Try to be a little bit selfish. I already walk all over you, you don't need to let everyone else do so, too."
"I see, sir," Kira said.
"No you don't," Gin said. "Not at all because that's the sort of person you are. Just know, when Hinamori breaks your heart I'm not going to be the slightest bit sympathetic so you'd better go crying to Ran and leave me out of it."
"It's really not something you have to worry about, sir. We are friends, and we always have been. Nothing's changed."
"Sure, sure," Gin agreed. "Now I'd best grab some breakfast for Ran and the boys, and you should probably send Hinamori on home before the entire division's awake. Tell her I'm sorry I missed her."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It was the first time Kurotsuchi Mayuri had stepped foot on the Kuchiki estate. He did not do things like Cherry Blossom Viewings, and this was the first time he had been personally invited. He was led through the maze-like house, though to call it a house was akin to calling Everest a hill. It was the home of one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in Soul Society for thousands of years of history, and it had been constructed with that firmly in mind.
Kurotsuchi was not particularly impressed. The rooms were impractical, the passages confusing, and the servants were slow. It was as if no one had ever once in the family's long history considered efficiency. What nonsense!
When the servant finally brought him and Nemu--the girl had looked around curiously the entire time, silly thing, and she had been here before--to the master of the house, he walked right in without bothering with any of that nonsense about polite greetings and instead got right to the point. "You are interested in my plan?" he demanded.
Nemu was looking down at Kuchiki sitting on the floor beside his sleeping sister's futon with the strangest expression on her face. Kurotsuchi suspected it was pity, and he did not approve. Her range of emotions had extended far beyond his original intentions. She seemed to be constantly discovering new ones, and they were generally useless.
Byakuya raised his head slowly. "I am," he said coolly.
"You understand it is my intention to capture an Arrancar?" Kurotsuchi said. "The purpose is to collect one for study so we will be able to better understand its strengths and weaknesses. There is no purpose in going if your only desire is to slaughter them."
"I will see that your test subject is collected. What I do after that is not any business of yours," Byakuya answered.
Kurotsuchi frowned, but on thinking it over decided that was probably for the best. As long as he got his test subject he did not care what happened to the other captain. "Will you be bringing your lieutenant?"
"Of course not. He's an idiot."
Kurotsuchi nodded, accepting the truth of that statement. "I will bring Nemu, but if these things are as strong as they are reported to be I think it would be wise to bring additional assistance."
"I am sure the Eleventh would be willing to provide muscle," Kuchiki said.
"Yes," Kurotsuchi agreed. "But what do you think about Ichimaru Gin? I like the idea of going in with inside knowledge. He might be able to bring us directly to a perfect specimen."
"Or directly to a trap," Kuchiki said. "Trusting Ichimaru is as wise as trusting the fox he chooses to resemble. I would not follow him through a public park, much less the world of hollows."
"Then you do not believe the woman is of value to him?"
Kuchiki frowned at that. "She may be, but as long as the Gotei does not threaten her life, I doubt it's enough to guarantee his good behavior, and that we cannot do as long as her son is one of our captains."
Kurotsuchi scoffed at such sentiment, as well as sentiment in general. "I am sure I can devise some sort of device to control his behavior if you think it is necessary. Something that will cause excruciating pain if he steps out of line and death if he does not straighten up."
Kuchiki regarded the other captain coldly for a moment. "Very well," he said, finally. "Speak to the old man about it, and if he is satisfied with your precautions I will accept it."
Kurotsuchi smiled. "Excellent--come Nemu, we must go visit the general."