Gin wasn't surprised when Kaien and Miyako appeared at his home the next evening. He was just relieved it wasn't Aizen. Of course, a simple confrontation wasn't Aizen's style. Aizen would play with him first; let him think he'd made it clear; then he'd start dropping little hints; he'd love to watch Gin panic, give him enough time to try to escape, and then stop him at the very last moment, force him to watch Rangiku and the boys pay for his mistake. Gin wasn't sure if Aizen would kill him then or if he'd keep him alive to play with. He did enjoy experimenting on live subjects.

He watched Rangiku welcome the couple in. Miyako was a mess. She looked like she'd spent the entire night crying, which Gin supposed was probably a natural reaction to watching your entire team die around you, but still seemed to him like a waste of energy. Rangiku was quick to hug her friend and bring her inside, sitting her down on the couch beside her and saying all those comforting things Rangiku was always so good at saying.

Within a couple of minutes Toshiro brought in a tray of tea, and his brother trailed him with a tray of snacks. After they said hello Toshiro dragged his grinning little brother from the room with a promise to play. He was smart enough to see that his mom and Miyako did not need to have to deal with his brother's nonstop antics.

"Could I have a moment of your time, Captain?" Kaien said to Gin as soon as the boys left the room.

"Let's take a little walk," Gin suggested.

They walked side by side through the forested area of Division Three. Gin talked about the boys. Children were perfect for talking about when you didn't want to say anything. There were always plenty of stories to tell.

Kaien stopped abruptly when they were a good distance from anyone who might overhear. "You saved Miyako's life last night," he said, bowing stiffly. "Thank you."

"Are you sure?" Gin asked, his most innocent, puzzled look taking the place of his usual smile. "I don't remember having done so. I expect I would remember something like that. Maybe I should ask Ran-chan?"

Kaien did not seem amused. "A single strike to a hollow by a retractable blade from at least a hundred yards away," he said simply.

"That does sound like me. Do you think someone else may have learned to copy my shikai?"

"You also let nine members of the Thirteenth die before you acted," Kaien said, seriously. "I took Miyako's report to the captain this morning. He's not well, but after an incident of this magnitude my only other choice would have been to take it directly to the general. If I had I know you would immediately have been required to explain yourself to the assembled captains.

"Before that happens we have agreed to give you this chance to explain yourself. Tell me why you did what you did, give me a reason to give my captain, so he will not have to take this any further. It's clear you need this to stay secret, but if we are going to do that for you we need to know why."

Gin almost managed to look offended. "I don't see how I did anything that anyone needs to make such a fuss about. All I did was repay my debt, and I'm treated like a criminal. I'd think you'd appreciate having your wife saved. Are you already getting tired of her?"

Kaien grabbed ahold of Gin's shihakusho, forcing Gin to look him directly in the eye as he spoke. His voice was low and filled with suppressed rage. "She sensed you there the whole time. She felt you approach on the hollow's tail. She knew you were there, standing nearby, watching them die, doing nothing. You saved her life, and that is the only reason I am asking you, tell me why you let them die."

Gin looked down at the hand clutching his clothing. "I think you may have forgotten you are speaking to a captain, Shiba-kun. You might have to be punished."

Kaien let go of him, but he didn't back off. "What are you going to do, get rid of me, Miyako, and Captain Ukitake? That's ambitious even for you."

Gin shrugged. "I do what's necessary."

Kaien took a deep breath. "This time it's necessary for you to explain how the hell you're involved with these over-powered hollows that have been appearing and why you let one kill our men," he said as calmly as he could.

Gin turned away. "Can't you simply be glad Miyako survived?" he asked softly.

"You think I would even be offering to hide your involvement otherwise? Nine people died, Captain Ichimaru. You let them die. Why?"

Gin closed his eyes, trying to sense Aizen's reiatsu in the chaos of reishi that was Seireitei. He appeared to be in the Fifth, but appearances couldn't be trusted. Nothing he could see or sense could ever be trusted. Any confidence he'd had that Rangiku was safe was gone forever. He could never know if Aizen knew of his betrayal. "I should have let Miyako die with them," Gin said, softly. "How could saving her life be worth risking Rangiku's?"

He raised his head and his eyes widened, his bright blue eyes stared at Kaien, but the anger that glowed so bright was directed inward. "The question is not why I let them die, it's why did I save your wife? I have spent nearly a hundred years proving I am a monster worthy of including in his plans and this is how I fail? Saving a woman I don't even like?"

He started laughing, suddenly. The absurdity of it all was suddenly very clear, how very futile it had been from the very beginning. Maybe if he had let go of Rangiku he could have become the monster he pretended to be. He could have cut himself off from everyone and simply ceased to feel, but Rangiku kept pulling him back, forcing him to interact with everyone, to see them as more than tools for his game.

Kaien and Miyako, in particular, had always been around, helping with Toshiro, laughing with Rangiku, and somehow, stupidly, he had started to think of them as friends. He couldn't afford friends. Everyone had to be expendable. It was the only way to stay by Aizen's side, the only way he'd ever find that one chance to kill Aizen.

"Who have you been working with?" Kaien demanded. "And what are his plans? What have you done?"

Gin smiled from ear to ear. "You would never believe me. I wouldn't. His reputation is irreproachable, and everyone knows I'm a liar. He planned that too, I'm sure. Even if I tried to warn Soul Society no one would listen. None of you will believe it until he decides to show you, and by then you will already have lost."

"Try me," Kaien suggested. "You saved Miyako. I'm in the mood to believe you."

Gin shook his head. "On the off chance that he doesn't know what I've done, I'm going to hold my tongue. You, your captain, and Miyako all suddenly suspicious of him, he could hardly fail to realize where your suspicions would come from."

"Then tell me what you can. What are his plans? What do we need to prepare against."

"His plan? The reordering of the universe with himself as God Almighty I'm sure, not that he's said as much. He says he will remove the limits to our power, giving us not only the power of shinigami but also of hollows. That's why he plays with hollows, making them more like shinigami; he tried the other way around, but he didn't seem completely happy with the results. Shinigami are not nearly as grateful for upgrades as hollows are," Gin said with a shrug. "And Urahara Kisuke got involved and pretty much turned it all into a mess."

"You're talking about what happened a hundred years ago? When we lost three captains? You're saying Urahara wasn't responsible for that?"

"Does anyone really think he was?" Gin scoffed at the idea. "I suppose if it helps you sleep better at night."

"But Urahara accused Aizen--" Kaien broke off. He shook his head and his expression immediately became suspicious. "Are you saying Captain Aizen is behind everything? You might as well accuse Captain Ukitake."

"I'm not accusing anyone. I'm giving you one warning. His bankai is not what he's led you to believe. It is perfect illusion, affecting every sense. For all I know he could be standing here listening to every word we say; you could be him, there's no way I could tell the difference. If I live through today I will never speak to you about any of this again; I won't take this chance again. But I've already risked it, so here it is: there's no way to fight him unless you are touching his zanpakuto when he activates the illusion. That is the one and only way to see through it, so my only hope is to stay by his side and bide my time, waiting for an opening to end him. There's nothing else anyone can do. No matter how strong the combined captains are, they cannot destroy someone they cannot see, hear, feel, or sense in any way unless he wants them to."

"Enough!" Kaien shouted. "Enough of your goddamned games! Tell me the truth! You know what is happening; you've known for years. You're a part of it. But whatever is happening, it's time it ended. You can either tell me the truth of what's going on and help stop them or you can go down with with them."

"You don't like that story? How about this: maybe I'm the one remaking hollows. Maybe I will bring down Soul Society all on my own, and I only spared Miyako last night to put you off your guard." Gin was smiling again. "You can't know, can you, Shiba? So what will you do? Will you report to the Gotei what I did when it could cost Rangiku and the boys their lives? But if I'm the true villain then it might be the Gotei's best chance to stop me, before I have had time to complete my plans. It's your duty to report me; it is. I allowed shinigami to be slaughtered and may be in league with hollows--no, let me make it even easier for you; I am in league with hollows. I am a murderer and a traitor to Soul Society, but, if you believe me, I am also the only person in a position to stop the destruction of Soul Society."

Kaien's hand went to his zanpakuto, but he stopped. "Damn you, Ichimaru Gin! How can I possibly know the truth?"

"No idea," Gin answered. "I don't really worry about it too much myself. As long as Rangiku stays happy and safe I don't really see how it matters."

Kaien smiled. "She does matter to you, doesn't she?"

Gin took a sudden step back, startled by the question. He almost answered Kaien like he always did Aizen, a laugh or a shrug, and something about how she amused him or helped to pass the time, but he stopped. Kaien was here because he had almost lost his own wife the night before; he was willing to protect Gin from the laws of Soul Society that would already condemn him because he had saved Miyako. Maybe, just maybe, Shiba Kaien might have some understanding of what Rangiku meant to him. "She's the only thing in the universe that matters at all."

Kaien drew a deep breath. "And that I believe. That's the one thing that makes me wonder if your story could be true. You aren't doing this on your own or for yourself. She wouldn't want it. What would be the point of making yourself ruler of anything if you'd lose her for it?

"It's moments like these that make me glad I'm not a captain. I will tell Captain Ukitake what you've told me, and he will decide what we do next. All I can promise you is that we will do everything we can to protect your family from sharing with you the consequences of your actions."

Gin bowed his head slightly. "I would expect no less from the honorable Shiba Kaien."