Hanatarou plodded back to the 4th Division through the near empty streets of Sereitei late that night. His back and shoulders ached from carrying the boxes and packs of items for his date with Hinamori, as well as parcels containing other souvenirs and letters from the human world. It seemed like every division took advantage of his recent trip to send or receive goods and messages from Ichigo and his friends; and the encounter with Matsumoto on his return did not give him enough time to take a rest or distribute the packages. So he'd long-sufferingly carried the entire load to and from the dinner in Rukongai. Then he had to follow Hinamori back to the 5th (since Orihime said that even if she was more powerful, it was a man's duty to see his girlfriend home). Clutching his lantern, he wearily swallowed an energy pill and trudged slowly towards the 6th Division to deliver what he was instructed to. Abarai Renji was to receive a new pair of sunglasses. Jushiro Ukitake was getting a crate of candy. Soifon would receive a photo album of nothing but Yoruichi. Bottles of pet shampoo awaited Sajin Kommamura. Many more bags, boxes and envelopes hung from Hanatarou's back.

Despite all this, the healer still wore a contented smile. Mostly, this was due to the silver engagement ring he now wore on his finger. The past year had been one of romance and happiness and he could look forward to many such years to come. So with his heart on other matters, Hanatarou paid little attention to his surroundings; and he did not know that he was not travelling alone.

An hour later, Hanatarou emerged from the mail room of the 3rd division, after he left behind the appropriate box of goods and documents. Unseen, Izuru Kira watched him from an upper floor. As usual, he hadn't been able to sleep; and so tried to bore himself by watching the comings and goings of the night shift working below. The keen-eyed lieutenant noted the glittering object on Hanatarou's finger and smiled. Then another movement a bit further away caught his eye. A very familiar, curvaceous figure with long hair and a full chest stalked into view. Now he frowned slightly. What did his friend want with Hinamori's new fiancé? He remembered the call he received from Hitsugaya-taichou earlier, and he grew puzzled. The woman trailing behind Hanatarou hadn't noticed him yet…perhaps he should go to ask her…

Kira padded quietly down the nearest flight of stairs. Hanatarou was gone, and Matsumoto was nowhere in sight. Perhaps she had already gone past, but he looked about just in case. Then the blond man looked up and saw something else that made him freeze in a brief moment of absolute, disbelieving horror. He watched, paralysed in shock, as a tall, slim figure in a white robe slipped around a corner in the distance; before vanishing into the darkness at a brisk run.

Whoever it was carried no lantern, but even in the dim light, Kira could see the pale hair, slitted eyes and eerie smile on his face. Surely he hadn't just spotted Ichimaru Gin?!!

It's in moments like this that the human – no, shinigami – mind tends to shut down. Having had his spirit broken by the same man before, Kira's mind warred between the urge to kneel in subservience and the urge to tear out Gin's throat with his teeth. Veins bulged in his temples as the confused man let out a maddened howl. Completely forgetting about Hanatarou and Matsumoto, Kira drew his zanpakutou and gave chase.

At long last, Hanatarou reached the headquarters of the 10th Division. Somewhere in the shadows behind him, Matsumoto sent off a quick text message to her captain to signal his arrival. But as Hanatarou approached the mail room, he stopped in alarm. Huge quantities of reiatsu emanated from within. Captain-sized quantities. They didn't give off that much unless they were mad. Fighting the urge to turn tail and flee, he took Matsumoto's care package of perfume and cosmetics from his pack and opened the door with a shaking hand. As soon as he did so, he caught a brief glimpse of icy-blue eyes before a freezing cold hand closed around his wrist and pulled him inside. His scream was cut off by the slamming of the door behind him.

"T-t-taichou…"

"Good evening, Hanatarou."

The pair was completely alone in the dark room. A stack of half-sorted mail sat on a nearby table. Hitsugaya released Hanatarou and watched incredulously as the healer robotically walked over to it and put the bag down on top, even while shaking like a leaf. The instinct to complete their assigned menial tasks was apparently ingrained into the 4th Division's psyche. When Hanatarou turned towards the captain, he found his foot sliding slightly. The terrified shinigami then noticed that much of the floor was covered with a thin film of ice.

"Have you been seeing Hinamori?"

"Yes." Hanatarou was dizzy with the sheer spiritual power that poured forth from the diminutive captain. He reached out to steady himself against a wall, only to find his hand sticking to it due to the frost.

"What have you done so far?"

Hanatarou didn't know how to answer. He couldn't lie to a captain, but on the other hand; did Hitsugaya have the right to ask? Hinamori surely had her right to privacy. He decided to play it safe…

"I went to the 6th division, then the 7th, and then the 13th…" He was abruptly cut off when a small hand grasped him by the collar and slammed him into the wall.

"AAAAHHH!!!"

"Don't play the idiot with me. What have you done with Hinamori so far?!"

Hanatarou held back a sob of terror. Somewhere in his subconscious, Hisagomaru whispered. If you aren't going to die, you'd best tell the truth. If you are, well you can't stand to lose much more…

"ANSWER ME!!!"

"I trained with her. I gave her gifts. I consoled her and kept her company. I…loved her." That was it, I said it. Goodbye, cruel world…

"Did you make love to her?"

"No." Hanatarou answered with absolute truth. The room temperature seemed to dip slightly as Hitsugaya paused, wondering what to ask next. Although he already knew that Hanatarou was honest, he still found it hard to believe that Hanatarou could share the same bed with Hinamori on many occasions over a whole year; and still not give in to the temptation. But he betrayed no look of surprise to his captive. Instead, he released Hanatarou; who now slipped and fell on the floor. The wretch was now trying to stand and failing miserably. Hitsugaya found himself in the unusual position of having to bend over to have a conversation. Speaking with a gentler tone, he began to reason with Hanatarou.

"Listen, it's not often that I speak like this to someone of your rank. Firstly, I have known Hinamori far, far longer than you have ever been a shinigami. You and I both know how Aizen has affected her. I will be honest with you…I don't know if she really sees you as a replacement for Aizen, and if you end the relationship, I have even less hope of seeing her mentally and emotionally whole again. I don't want her to be hurt. Second; look at yourself…you are the 7th seat of a non-combat division. How do you suppose you can protect her?" Hitsugaya turned his back on Hanatarou, and paced to the other side of the room. "You are a gentleman, even if a lovesick one. So I ask this of you. Leave Hinamori. Leave her before you hurt her."

"…"

"I beg your pardon?"

"No."

There was a long pause. Hitsugaya lowered his voice.

"You defy a captain's orders, Hanatarou. You know, I can so easily kill you…leave you on the street when I am finished so people will think you didn't manage to escape the 11th Division's thugs this time… and for all your show of courage,…Hinamori would never find out the truth. I'll give you a second chance, Hanatarou. Leave."

Another pregnant pause.

"No."

By now it was very cold, and Hanatarou shivered and watched his breath turn to steam in front of him. It took every shred of courage he had to keep answering truthfully; so much so that he wondered irrationally if he would see his own soul waft from his lips when Hitsugaya finally decided to end his life. The captain seemed to shrug in the silence of the room, lit only by the lantern on the floor where Hanatarou had dropped it.

"Very well…" The captain now slowly drew his zanpakutou. Hanatarou scrambled madly in the opposite direction. By some miracle, he found the handle of the door, which had escaped getting frozen rigid. He pulled on it to get to his feet, but doing so caused the handle to open the door. It swung outward and Hanatarou stumbled outside. Nearly mindless with terror, he fled into the night.

Behind him, Hitsugaya sighed and flash-stepped out. It seemed like an incredible waste of his power; to use it to coat the inside of a room with ice simply to frighten someone. Another saying of Aizen's s sprung to mind – 'It is hard to step on an ant without crushing it.' Almost lazily, he muttered the incantation for his shikai.

"Sōten ni zase…"

It was probably just as well that Hanatarou was too terrified to turn around to watch the dragon of Hyourinmaru bearing down on him.