Twelve Days after Aizen's escape

It wasn't until the next morning that Nanao realized the significance of Shuhei's middle of the night question. He had shaken her awake and demanded to know who called him 'Hisagi-san' to which she had replied that she had no idea why anyone would call him anything other than idiot and pulled a pillow over her head and rolled over. He'd tried to tell her it was always Lieutenant Hisagi or Shuhei-kun in the Gotei and Kyoraku-san outside. Almost no one called him Hisagi-san anymore, but she hadn't been listening.

But, of course, as she was sitting Ai-chan down for breakfast and Mina-chan, the nanny, told her Lieutenant Hisagi had hurried out the door just as she was arriving, she abruptly realized he was right. He was Lieutenant Hisagi to everyone below lieutenant and even most of the captains. A few people, lieutenants and less formal captains dropped 'lieutenant' but only the younger lieutenants added 'san'. Only Kira, Renji, and Hinamori called him 'Hisagi-san' and that was what he had told her the unknown woman had called him--she had to be Hinamori.

And of course the idiot was going to confront her, alone and defenseless because even after what had happened he still couldn't imagine Hinamori being dangerous. The idiot!

Nanao kissed her daughter goodbye and ran out the door.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hisagi felt extremely sorry for Hinamori Momo. She was in a situation very like his own, only she had no family to fall back on. Things had been difficult with Nanao, but he couldn't begin to imagine how he would have survived all that had happened without her. Poor Hinamori had been completely on her own.

And somehow Aizen had been able to contact her, and lie to her, and persuade her to serve him once again. He couldn't imagine what lies Aizen must have told her, but he knew how badly she must want to believe him, because he wanted just as badly to believe his own captain was not a villain.

He decided to go talk to her alone, without telling anyone, because he was sure that if he spoke to her, as a friend, understanding the struggle she was going through, he would be able to show her the truth, and once she understood, he'd help her find a way to get away from Aizen and all his agents in Seireitei, and bring her back to the right side without her having to pay for what she had done at Aizen's command. He was certain she had believed she was doing the right thing, and he didn't believe she should be punished, even knowing she had caused the problems he was having with his division and the entire Gotei.

Hinamori was alone practicing kido on one of the training fields far from any of the Fifth Division buildings. It was surrounded by high walls designed to contain explosive kido and violent shikai, and there was only a single entrance to keep traffic at a minimum. The last thing anyone needed when working out a new kido was someone walking up behind them.

"Do you need something, Hisagi-san?" Hinamori called out as she hit three targets with green reishi blasts.

Hisagi sighed as she began reciting the chant for Shakkaho. She clearly had no idea why he was here.

He crossed the sand to join her as a brilliant blast of red smashed one target to bits. "You can't keep following Aizen," he said as he reached her. "I know you want to believe in him. I understand; I feel the same. If they were somehow, secretly, fighting for Soul Society--but you know as well as I do that that's a lie. They're not good; they killed innocent people. And now Aizen is asking you to hurt innocent people."

Hinamori barely glanced at him. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said quickly. "But I wish you'd leave me alone," she added, before she began her next chant.

"I know you were there when Yoruichi was taken. I've remembered that much. You said you were sorry. You didn't want to hurt me, and I don't believe you wanted to hurt Yoruichi either. You probably didn't even know she was hurt until they found her in the prison at the First. You're a good person, Hinamori-san; you can't let yourself become a part of something evil, not even for your captain."

Hinamori's eyes narrowed. "I am sorry, Hisagi-san, but you're mistaken. Your memory from earlier in the evening must have gotten mixed up with what happened later."

She turned away from him and began another chant. "Scattered beast bones! Spire, Crimson Crystal, Steel Wheels! The wind if it moves--"

He spoke loudly, over the top of her chant, trying to force her to listen. "I'm not mistaken, and I have to report what I remembered, but if you'll go with me and you turn in the others who are working with--"

"--The tone of the spear striking fills the lone castle. Hado 63: Raikouhou!"

Hisagi tried to throw up a reiatsu shield, but he hadn't realized the danger in time. He was no match for Hinamori in kido at the best of times, but the fierce yellow lightning arced from her fingertips and shattered his shield like it wasn't even there. It hit him square in the chest, blasting through his heart and his entire nervous system in a fraction of second. He dropped like a stone.