Sorry, for both the hiatus and for the subject matter of this one. I had to struggle to get this one out, and I ended up going with a similar theme as #10. Not the most uplifting, I know. I guess I've just been simmering on how much Hinamori has been disappointing me lately. She used to be nice...what happened? Anyway...hopefully I won't have such a long break between updates again.

He wondered if Aizen knew how damned lucky he was.

He wondered if Aizen understood just how rare the total adoration and devotion Hinamori had for him was. He didn't know anyone else who tried so hard to please her superior. Hinamori would, without a thought, die for her captain. Anything he asked, anything at all, she would do.

If he asked her to draw her zanpakutou and slide it across her own throat, she would. And her final thought before dying would be to wonder if her blood was red enough for him.

Hitsugaya shivered, wondering just where that particular thought had come from, but knowing just the same that it was true. Hinamori was devoted mind, body, and soul to Aizen Sousuke. It was a bit unnerving, honestly. A few of the other officers of the Gotei 13 thought it was adorable, a few thought it was pathetic, some even considered it perfectly normal.

It wasn't normal; it wasn't adorable; it wasn't pathetic.

Hitsugaya didn't know what it was, but he did know what he felt whenever he was reminded of it.

Jealous.

He knew it was childish, and he never admitted it aloud, but he was fiercely jealous of the Fifth Division captain. Hinamori had once gone to him whenever she had free time. She had once gone to him when she needed to talk about something. She had once gone to him when she'd had a nightmare and needed the reassurance of a friend.

...Now he'd been replaced.

He really didn't blame Hinamori for loving her captain as much as she did. Aizen was everything anyone expected in a captain. He was brilliant, kind, just, patient, and so strong that he almost never needed to draw steel to deal with Hollows. He was, in a word, perfect.

How could he hope to stand against that?

Oh, sure, he'd made captain. He was called a prodigy, his division respected him, several of the other captains admired him. Hitsugaya had quite the reputation himself...but he wasn't perfect.

Hinamori had been proud, of course, when he'd first donned his captain's cloak, but there was a hint of condescension in her praise, as if she had been thinking, Aw, how cute. Shiro-chan's trying to be a captain. He's nothing like my Aizen-taichou, though. He's a real captain.

Hitsugaya had once, long ago, been the most important person in Hinamori Momo's life.

And perhaps, if he had recognized and appreciated that, he might still be. But...he'd pushed her away, and she had found someone else to take up her entire existence.

Hitsugaya really had no one to blame but himself.

But he still hoped Aizen realized how lucky he was.

The captain's office of the Tenth Division was usually quiet, and this day was no exception...which was a good thing because that meant no one suspected anything was amiss. No one caught the fact that Hitsugaya was in a dark mood.

Well...one person did.

Matsumoto-fukutaichou looked up from her paperwork and caught sight of the expression on her captain's face. She instantly knew what he was thinking about, and she frowned.

I need to talk to Hinamori-chan. Maybe if she realizes how much she's neglecting him she'll start finding time for him.

It was a long shot, of course. Who knew what assignment Aizen-taichou had for her this week? She likely wouldn't have time to come visit with old friends. But Matsumoto had to try.

Hinamori was the only one who could snap Hitsugaya out of this mood whenever he slipped into it.

She sighed.

Matsumoto really didn't think Hinamori deserved the affection Hitsugaya had for her. It just didn't make sense...at least not to her.

But she had to do it. She had to speak to Hinamori, as much as she really didn't want to.

It was for her captain.

That was one of the only areas where Matsumoto agreed with Hinamori.

Anything for her captain.