It occurred to Gin, after leaving Kaien with the First Division, that he might want to check to see what all the lieutenant's little friends might be doing. He could hear as well as anyone the thunderous noise that was Kenpachi playing with Ichigo. He wondered vaguely if the Ryoka was going to survive but wasn't curious enough to go check. Going near Kenpachi when he was fighting was a bit like being near sharks when there was blood in the water, really not somewhere anyone would like to be.
Instead, he headed back toward the Shiba estate. Someone really ought to let poor Miyako know her husband had been arrested. It would be such an awful shock-and maybe the talking cat would be there. Not knowing what was up with the talking cat really was going to kill him. If he managed to be somewhat sympathetic maybe Miyako would explain it.
But halfway to the estate he ran into Miyako with Ganju walking toward the Gotei. It seemed odd to him that they would walk so calmly; he really had expected the woman to run to her husband's side.
Miyako looked worried but also resigned, and Ganju didn't look upset at all. Gin wondered if it was possible the man was even stupider than he seemed and didn't understand that his brother being caught with one of the Ryoka would be considered treason by the Gotei.
"Hello," he called out as they approached. "I suppose you've already heard then?"
The pair stopped, and Miyako looked up at him. After a moment she let out a breath in relief. "Even you wouldn't be smiling," she said, calmly. "If he was already dead."
"Well, I didn't kill him, and we do still have a legal process here in Soul Society. Even if they do decide to execute him he should still have a few weeks."
Miyako's eyes widened in shock. "What are you talking about?"
"Kaien-what are you talking about?"
"What do you mean, Kaien? What's happened to Kaien?" She demanded.
Ganju, too, shouted questions at him. "What did you do to Nii-chan? If you hurt my Nii-chan I'll-"
"What?" Gin asked, suddenly curious. What did this ridiculous man think he could do to harm him? "You don't play with explosives like your sister, do you? That probably wouldn't be wise for someone of your intellect-or lack thereof-"
"Gin!" Miyako snapped. "Tell me what has happened to my husband!"
"My, my, Lady Shiba, you're beginning to sound like a proper noblewoman. Do you want me on my knees while I explain?"
"Just tell me!"
The poor woman looked ready to strangle him, and knowing her she just might do it, so Gin gave up teasing, and said, simply, "Lieutenant Shiba was caught with a Ryoka. He's been arrested and taken to the First. The Ryoka got away."
"Oh," Miyako gasped, and took a step back. Ganju proved himself less than useless by catching hold of her and providing a stable arm while she pulled herself together.
"Thank you for telling me, Captain Ichimaru," she said stiffly. "Do you think it will be possible for me to see him?"
"Well," Gin said slowly. "They're being pretty strict about things 'cause of Aizen, but they're always bending the rules for your type, aren't they?"
Miyako nodded. "I see; I can only try. I am afraid this will only send the Thirteenth into even greater chaos. You see, Captain Ukitake was rushed to the Fourth only moments ago, and that is where Ganju and I were headed. If Kaien is also-"
"The Thirteenth is under the command of Kiyone and Sentaro-that is a terrifying thought, but wasn't Ukitake doing better recently?"
"I thought so too, but this must be serious. Nemu didn't even want to wait for someone to be sent from the Fourth. She shunpoed him straight to Unohana, and now they've sent for me, but if Kaien-"
"I will go to the Fourth," Gin offered. "And you will go to Kaien. If there is any immediate danger I promise to I will fetch you right away, but the Captain is a great deal stronger than he appears. I'm sure he will pull through this too."
For a second Miyako looked surprised. Then she said, "What do you want, Ichimaru Gin? You're never this kind without reason."
Gin tried to look offended but didn't quite manage it. "How about you explain how a cat learned to talk?" He offered.
Miyako laughed despite herself. "Is it what bothers you most? I'm afraid you'll have to wonder a little longer. That secret doesn't belong to me."
"A hint?" Gin asked.
"The cat's name is Yoruichi," she answered. Then she turned to her brother-in-law. "Come, Ganju, we must see if anything can be done for Kaien."
"I already knew that," Gin called after her.
Toshiro noticed Gin skulking along one of the hallways of the Fourth Division, peaking in doorways with his usual indifference to personal privacy.
"What are you doing here?" Toshiro asked.
"Very nice to see you too," Gin answered, smiling his most fake and fox-like smile. "Doesn't look like the Ryoka have been giving you any trouble either. Glad of that. I'm sure your mother would find some way to make it my fault if one of them skewered you."
Toshiro glared at him for a moment. "Not that you'd care," he said.
"Not so!" Gin said, sounding offended by the suggestion. "I'd be very annoyed with you. After all the years I spent training you, if a fifteen year old human can best you, it would prove it had all been a tremendous waste of time. And an embarrassment! You carry my name, you know! You'd better win."
"Because that's what matters to you?" Toshiro asked. "Is that why you don't care what happened to Captain Aizen? You're just going to write him off since he lost?"
"Suppose so," Gin agreed. "That's what your mother's for. I'm sure she'll weap over him for weeks; it'll be Isshin all over again; months of crying and drinking and moping about the house. Doesn't that sound fun?"
"It wouldn't have gotten so bad if you'd ever even tried to help her."
"Well, I can't this time," Gin said. "You've gone and hidden her from me. I don't know how you talked her into it. Ran's not usually particularly cooperative, but then, you've always been good at getting her to do what you want.
"I do appreciate that your first thought was to protect your mother. You must have gone straight there while the rest of us were left dealing with the mess because you were all gone by the time I got there, but hiding her from me-do you really think I could hurt her, Shiro, really?"
Toshiro raised his head, turning cold, angry eyes on his father. "You hurt her all the time; it's all you ever do. You treat her just decent enough to keep her hanging on to that stupid belief that somewhere deep down you actually give a shit. When the truth is you never have."
Gin's eyes widened for just a second, and then the mask was back, the smiling fox that never hurt. He had not expected that, never imagined it would be so painful to hear his son accuse him of never loving Rangiku. He'd never said he did, but he'd never said he didn't, at least not in Shiro's presence. He'd always sort of assumed the boy would know, that in the end, when he was exposed as a traitor and a monster, that not just Rangiku but also Toshiro would know why he had done what he had done. Even if he never had a chance to explain, that they would understand.
"So I heard Captain Ukitake's taken a turn for the worse. Pretty hard on you if you lose your two greatest heroes in one day," he said in that oh so delighted tone that never failed to cause pain.
"At least I know you didn't have anything to do with Captain Ukitake being here," Toshiro said, turning his back on Gin.
"Do you?" Gin asked.
"What?" Toshiro demanded, turning back, eyes flashing with rage.
"You still lose your temper too easily," Gin told him. "That's not a good trait for a captain."
"What did you mean about Captain Ukitake?" Toshiro asked through gritted teeth.
"Nothing in particular. Just a bit odd, isn't it?" Gin said. "He got quite a bit better when he fell for Nemu-chan; that wasn't surprising knowing it's nothing but his own will to live that keeps him alive, and people in love, they can be very determined. And yet just a few years later, for absolutely no reason anyone can explain, his health collapsed completely-what might have caused that, I wonder?"
"You?" Toshiro bit out that one single word.
Gin shrugged. "I doubt I've yet gained the status of Source of All Evil in Soul Society yet. You may not realize it, but there's some stiff competition out there."
Toshiro's hand rose to Hyorinmaru's hilt. "This isn't a game," he said, slowly. "And if I find out you are involved I will kill you myself."
Gin's smile grew enormous. "Getting a little ambitious there, aren't you, kiddo? I suggest you stick to trying to solve the problems you can handle. Go on, figure out this little puzzle, but leave the fighting to the grown-ups."
He gestured to Nanao as she appeared at the end of the hall, and immediately called out.
"CaptaIn Ichimaru!"
"She means you," Gin said, and the moment Shiro turned to look, he shunpoed away.