Kaien stepped out of the lieutenants meeting to see Captain Ichimaru smiling and waving at him. For a second he wondered why the situation seemed familiar; then he remembered years ago when Gin had asked him for help getting into Kuchiki's wedding. It looked like Gin wanted something from him again.

As he approached Gin he had to remind himself they were no longer equals. He had to watch himself. Being rude to a captain could get him into all sorts of trouble, even if the captain was Ichimaru.

He bowed politely when he reached Gin, and said, "Captain Ichimaru," rather than just asking what the hell the man wanted now.

Gin's smile grew, and he answered with a smile of his own. "Shiba-dono," he said, reminding Kaien of his new position, at least equal to Gin's own, as head of the Shiba family.

"What do you want?" Kaien asked. He hated being reminded of the Shiba family and all the pressures various members were placing on him. He should have pushed harder for someone else to take Isshin's place.

Gin glanced back at the other lieutenants. Some were still gathered near the meeting room's doors. It was conceivable they could overhear if they were really trying. Gin nodded toward one of the walkways leading away from the city center. "Walk with me?" he suggested.

Kaien shook his head. "Fine, but make it quick. Miyako and I both have the evening off for once, and I'd rather spend it with her than you."

"Don't you make the work schedules?" Gin asked, looking puzzled.

"I try to be fair."

"Why?" Gin asked, looking even more puzzled than before.

"What is it you want from me, Captain?" Kaien asked.

"You're having trouble completing your bankai," Gin said, lightly. "Thought I'd offer to give you a hand."

"Why?" Kaien asked, before he'd even thought it over. Gin, as far as he knew, had never offered to help anyone with anything, unless something was in it for him.

"You can't really perfect it on your own, can you? You need a captain to train with, and I doubt yours is up to daily bouts," Gin answered lightly.

"Are you trying to pay me back for Kuchiki's wedding?" Kaien asked. "I think I'd rather keep you in my debt."

Gin paused at a railing. They had reached a place along the walkway where the gate of Division Ten was clearly visible in the city below.

"Rangiku goes back to work in a month," he said, ignoring Kaien's question. "Not that she hasn't been there every day recently, but she'll be officially off leave. For all intents and purposes she will be in charge of Division Ten."

Kaien frowned. "Maybe you should help her learn bankai," he suggested.

Gin visibly flinched at his suggestion. "You're closest, the only one in the Gotei who is, currently, and the Tenth needs a captain. Ran needs a captain-she needs one badly enough I'm willing to put in whatever time and energy it takes to get you there."

"Not me," Kaien said. "I'm not going to test for captain even if I perfect my bankai."

"Because you're waiting for Ukitake to die?" Gin suggested.

Kaien nearly hit him then. The only thing that stopped him was Gin's smirk. The bastard expected to be hit. "I am happy to serve as Captain Ukitake's lieutenant for the rest of my life. I have no ambition to make captain of any division. I work to increase my strength, only so as to be more useful in my current position."

"Seems pretty selfish to me," Gin answered. "Ignoring what's best for the Gotei because you're fond of your captain. The Tenth needs a captain. All of the members will suffer without one. Rangiku will do her best, but even I have to admit that it's not in her nature to push herself, and now she has two kids to drain all her extra time and energy. There's no way she will be able to run the division on her own."

Kaien looked away. The entire Shiba clan had already done this one to him, pushing duty and responsibility, while going on about how desperately he was needed. The family was barely able to hold together and hold onto their position because of the near disaster Isshin's brother had caused. They needed him, his wife, his family-he didn't blame Kukaku for taking off to Rukongai; he would have himself if he didn't have such an overactive sense of duty. And now the Gotei needed him? Damn Isshin, wherever the hell he'd ended up! He'd left one hell of a mess behind him.

"I've got to go," he said abruptly, and vanished from Gin's presence, doing his best to ignore how the bastard laughed as he ran.