Gin yawned. Long and noisy. He was so tired, he couldn't help it.

Matsumoto Rangiku looked op from her onigiri "You've been yawning quite a bit, haven't you?" she took a bite of the onigiri "How can you still be sleepy after you overslept this morning and came late to class?"

A wind flew past them and made the trees and the bushes whisper.

"But I jus´ am… " He yawned again "I sleep an´ sleep. But it's jus´ not enough"

Not since Aizen´s last visit.

"`Sides, it's not like I overslept on purpose. I jus´ couldn't get up AT ALL. " he sighed and leaned back against the tree they were sitting under "I was so shocked when I saw the sun was already up…"

"Get yourself an alarm clock!" Matsumoto smiled and finished her lunch.

Gin tried to rub the sleep out of his eyes. "Afternoon classes ´re such a pain. I wonder if I should jus´ go home"

"Hey! Listen to yourself!" Matsumoto sounded rather annoyed.

.

"Aw. It's all good" Gin leaned forward so they noses almost touched each other "Why don´cha come wit´ me?"

"Nooo way" Matsumoto pushed him gentle away "I'm going to my afternoon classes. And you´re going to yours, too"

The look in her eyes was string but still warm.

"You're just a repeat offender when it comes to being late. Though I must admit that it's quit a feat you've stayed at the top of the class. But it's high time you buckled down and got butt into gear."

He sighed "Yeah. I guess yer right, but…" he turned so he could look at her with his almost closed eyes "Ya know. Life in the Rukongai an´ at this academy ´re completely different. This place is peaceful ain´t it? An` since we're safe ´ere, our sensitivity gets weaker by the minute."

Another wind came and caught his silver hair and blew it into his eyes. "That's why I think the body's jus´ wilful. Up ´til now, things like the cold an´ starvation made it so we weren't able ta even sleep. But I guess wantin´ ta get that kinda alertness back is wrong?"

Matsumoto was looking at him with a small open mouth.

"Sorry fer thinkin´ like that. But anyway…"

"What are you saying?" Gin almost opened his eyes.

"We're almost in our sixth year, aren't we?" she sounded almost angry "That means it's been six years since we've left the Rukongai. And you know that those kinds of excuses won't hold up in this day and age. Don't you think it's time you start getting acclimated?"

"Whaaat?!"

"But." She closed her eyes for a second "It's not like I don't understand what you're trying to say. Even so. I'm still worried about you"

She took his hand in hers. Gently and warm. "if you continue your life with this kind of attitude, I'm afraid that your acceptance into Division 5 will get revoked even though you worked so hard…"

Gin froze when he heard her words. "What're ya talkin´`bout? Division 5…"

"What? Am I wrong?" she looked surprised at him "I mean, everyone's talking about it. It's the latest rumor that you've been accepted into Division 5."

"´Scuse me?" it was almost like he couldn't say the words. "That's… complete bullshit. I'll tell ya that. ´Side, if I got any acceptance into anythin´, ya´d be the first ta know…"

She smiled warmly to him "Thanks."

"So I guess this means… it was a rumor without an ounce of truth, huh?" she said thoughtful "But isn't it strange? That they'd pick Division 5 out of all of them to start the rumor with?"

Gin opened his eyes lightly.

"When Aizen-taichou came to observe and you got introduced to him, it's not like… what was happening could have been misinterpreted, you know?" she said. "It was your first encounter with him. And it's not it's standard protocol to meet prospective member either, right?"

Gin looked thoughtful at the ground "Hmm…I don't know. I guess…"

"I was really happy to hear that you landed the opportunity to enter that division." she interrupted. Clearly she hadn't heard what he said before.

"Anyway. I hope that the rumor becomes reality." She smiled and her golden hair was almost shining in the sun "I mean, Aizen-taichou is such a nice, hardworking guy. I guess that's why Division 5 has such a good reputation, huh?"

His eyes were open in surprise. Did she really think so? His smile retuned quickly.

"Yeah… thanks, Rangiku!"

But why? Why Division 5 of all places? Gin could only think of one reason why.

As Rangiku pointed out, Aizen Sousuke only came to meet him as the Division 5 taichou that one time. All the other times after that were…

Either so he'd have an alibi or because he wanted ta avoid bein´noticed til he got us ed ta his trademark glasses or somethin´. That's jus´ the kinda guy he is.

Seems kinda hard ta believe that he'd let his guard down ta the point where people actually were able ta figure things out.

Which is why he made it a point ta plan all those meetin's with me. No one woulda ever suspected that those conversations were nothin´ but meaningless chitchat.

It that's the case, then it must mean…

TBC