It was not until several days later that Captain Hitsugaya commented again on the suspicions he had. The ryoka invasion had now reached a critical level. It was simply incomprehensible how a group of teenagers (as reports claimed them to be) could have entered the Soul Society and caused so much damage. A lieutenants meeting revealed that they had caused severe injury to two ranked officers from Squad Eleven: Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika Ayasekawa, third and fifth seat respectively.

Following my captain's warning, I was keeping a closer eye than usual on the Squad Three lieutenant, Izuru Kira, but I neither saw nor heard anything of suspicion or interest. I began to think that the whole conversation between Aizen and Ichimaru had been little more than a misunderstanding.

The captain, however, shared none of my doubts. Convinced in Ichimaru's guilt (though what he was guilty of, even Hitsugaya-taichou could not say), he took it upon himself to warn Momo Hinamori of the danger he suspected.

His advice was given to her after the news that Renji Abarai, Squad Six lieutenant, had abandoned all protocol and gone after the ryoka on his own. Naturally, his two former classmates, Momo and Izuru, had visited him as he lay in a critical condition.

It was a moment or two before the pair became aware of captain Ichimaru's presence. Though I was not a witness, my captain was present and informed me of it afterwards.

'the Squad Six captain is cold as ice, is he not?' Ichimaru declared, that ever present smile still gracing his lips even as Renji's life hung in the balance, 'one wonders if he is even the possessor of a heart at all.'

Momo and Izuru remained silent.

'But do not trouble yourselves,' he went on, 'I shall call for Squad Four to attend to young Abarai-kun. That way you will not be disobeying any orders.'

'Oh, thank you so much, Ichimaru-taichou!' Momo cried with her usual gratitude.

'Not at all, my dear, not at all!' he waved a hand, 'come along, Izuru.'

With that, he left, taking his lieutenant with him.

For those who wonder how it was that my captain came to overhear this, I must confess that to this day I do not know. Upon questioning him about it at the time, he turned pink and claimed that he was simply 'in the vicinity'. I did not want to mention it, but my captain often seems to be found 'in the vicinity' of Momo Hinamori. I can only conclude that he cares a great deal about his childhood friend's safety and well-being.

It was at this time when my captain decided to inform Momo of his suspicions. He did not confide in her all the details, but he advised her to be wary of Squad Three, and to keep her dealings with them to a minimum.

This, I understand, was not met with enthusiasm by Momo, who has been friends with Izuru since their academy days.

But what did gain her attention was her Shiro-chan's insistence on the matter. Having known him for so long, no doubt she recognised his earnestness. In the end, she agreed to be on her guard, especially as the captain warned her to keep watch of captain Aizen and make sure he came to no harm.

When he recounted what he had told his friend, I argued with him that he had no right to do such a thing, that his suspicions about Captain Ichimaru were simply that – suspicions. He was adamant, however, that something was amiss, and declared he would let no harm befall Hinamori as long as he lived.

I immediately leaped upon this last remark as an excellent opportunity to tease my captain about Momo. Long have I suspected that he feels more than friendship towards the pretty lieutenant, and I delighted in watching his temper flare as I called him by his most hated of nicknames.

'Why do you deny your true feelings towards Momo, Shiro-chan?' I asked him with glee.

'Matsumoto, you known full well how I despise being called by that ridiculous nickname!' he glowered.

'I must say taichou, you don't seem to mind as much when it is your Hinamori saying it!'

'She is not my Hinamori!' he fumed, 'and I do mind when she says it, as you are perfectly aware!'

'Captain, it's quite alright,' I soothed, stroking his hair, 'you have reached an age when you begin to notice girls more. It is known as puberty.'

'I know what it's called!' he snapped, pushing my hand away, 'and Matsumoto, I believe that there is a lieutenants meeting at ten?'

I glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece. Indeed, there was a meeting at ten, and it was currently five minutes to the hour.

My captain smirked, in the way he only does when he has come out of an argument the victor.

'You had better hurry if you don't want to be late, Matsu-'

All of a sudden, we were interrupted by a blood piercing scream.

'What in the world was that?' I gasped.

Captain Hitsugaya blanched, his normally composed complexion turning ashen grey and his eyes wide with horror.

'That was Hinamori!' he cried, racing out the door.

I followed, hard on his heels.

'Matsumoto, I cannot be certain where it came from. I will go to Squad Five, will you please hurry to the Court of Pure Souls and see if she is there?' he called back to me as we raced across the rooftops.

Normally I would have teased him about his desperation to rescue his beloved, but given the circumstances I knew better than to pursue it.

'Yes sir!' I called, and headed as fast as I could towards the Court of Pure Souls, the centre of Soul Society.

I heard Hinamori scream for a second time from somewhere up ahead, and I knew that I was close.

I arrived just as several of the other lieutenants appereaed on the scene.

'Hinamori, whatever is the matter?' cried Shuuei, the vice-captain of the Ninth Division.

She stared upwards in horror, her eyes transfixed on the upper storeys of the nearest building.

I followed Momo's gaze and gasped. Behind me, so did our fellow lieutenants.

Pinned up high against the pure white wall was the body of captain Aizen. He hung there, impaled upon his own zanpakutou, blood seeping down in a gruesome red stream.

It was in that instant when I knew my captain's suspicions were confirmed. There was indeed some great evil at work in Soul Society.