Captain-Commander Yamamoto had once encouraged Shigū at the tea gathering—saying it wasn't the first time a student mastered Bankai while still at the Academy. In fact, it wasn't just in the history books; the most recent case was less than thirty years ago: the current Captain of Squad Ten, Hitsugaya Tōshirō—wielder of the strongest ice-type Zanpakutō.
The colossal spiritual pressure he'd honed since birth surged this moment. The floor collapsed, spiritons raged in a disc around him, and the loose reiatsu whipped up a gale. Space itself seemed to dim and cave in; invisible gravity nearly crushed the vice-captains present.
"Captain…!"
"Ah…!"
"My body…!"
"?!"
Big names—even to other officers—turned pale, drenched in sweat. Power leaked away; he didn't even need to strike—soon they'd be unable to resist. Such was the gulf between captains and vice-captains.
But Hitsugaya never used this to grandstand, so if he did now, it meant he'd nearly lost his mind.
He flickered, then reappeared where he'd been—now holding the long-dead girl, clearly having taken her down. From his crouch and his trembling arms, it was obvious how carefully he'd moved—reining even his raging reiatsu for fear of marring her.
"Hi—Hinamori…!"
He lifted a hand halfway to draw the blade from her chest—then froze, unable to do it, blank with panic.
"Captain Hitsugaya, she's gone. Please give me the body. Perhaps I can find traces of the killer," Unohana said, stern but gentle.
Matsumoto Rangiku pushed forward, face tight. "Captain…!"
They meant well. But to Hitsugaya—"well" meant nothing. Sensing anyone near, he lost it, bellowing:
"Get away! All of you, get away!"
"Captain, please—!"
"Take one more step… and I'll cut you down."
"!?"
Unohana blocked Rangiku with a hand—though she didn't really have to. The line hadn't been a roar so much as a statement—like his work voice. He meant it.
She sighed, helped Isane up, and was about to ask for details—when a light drawl lamented:
"How pitiful.
"So popular, sweet and clever—such a lovely girl, dead like that. Cruel world, ain't it? Always the good girls who get hurt."
"And the one who'd do this—crueler than the world itself."
"Who did it, I wonder… So hard to guess. If only we'd seen through someone's face sooner, it wouldn't've happened."
Heads turned. On a wooden rail under the eaves lounged Ichimaru Gin, all smiles.
"How ill-timed…" Kyōraku muttered, brim lowered.
"He's provoking him," Ukitake said.
Anyone could see he was needling Hitsugaya. He "lamented," wore "regret," but the grin held no tension—only irony.
"Captain Ichimaru…"
Aizen looked like he'd speak for his vice-captain—but Hitsugaya sprang up, murder blazing.
"Was it you, Ichimaru?!"
"What're you sayin' all of a sudden, Captain Hitsugaya~" Gin's flinch was stagey.
"You—!"
He'd heard that same line from Gin just minutes ago in the hall with Aizen. And "if only we'd seen through someone sooner" dredged up Gin's strange act yesterday after the ryoka were repelled—the one that left him unsettled.
In a flash, he saw it: the reason for that unease; Aizen's warning; Gin's savoring his work now. The threads pointed to Gin. In normal times you'd seek proof. Now he didn't care. As "Hinamori was likely killed by this man" formed, the last thread of reason snapped.
"AAAAAH! I'll kill you, Ichimaru—!"
The scabbard broke into spiritons; the ice blade rose high.
"Bankai—!"
Thwack!
Just as the reiatsu tide was about to crest into a blizzard, a blow to the back of his neck dropped him cold. The captains lowered shielding hands to see the old man with the cane next to the fallen boy.
"C-Captain-Commander?!"
"So many of you, and not one can restrain a captain—you leave it to me? You grow worse by the day," Yamamoto barked, and they had no answer.
When he finished, Kyōraku tried to smooth it over. "Don't blow your top, old man. We wanted to avoid escalation—and this is First Division turf. Not really our place."
"Spare me. What happened?"
His eyes cracked open; they moved from corpse to unconscious boy to smiling Gin, then landed on Unohana.
"Isane?"
"Y-yes!" She stammered out the timeline. "We gathered in the vice-captains' room, but Hinamori-fukutaichō never arrived. We were discussing how odd it was. I stepped out to the restroom. When I came out—she was already—"
"So she was already like that," Unohana said, frowning.
"Yes! I swear!"
"I can corroborate," Renji said. "She was gone less than thirty seconds before she screamed. At that time and distance, we'd have noticed any struggle."
"I agree," Kira said, glancing at Gin. "Kotetsu-fukutaichō was close to Hinamori. No motive. And with Squad Four—harshly put, she lacked the skills."
"So the time of death was earlier?" Soi Fon's gaze slid to Aizen. "Aizen, anything to add?"
Under their eyes, Aizen looked crushed, disbelieving—heavy with shame. "Hinamori… was diligent. Last night after her commute she said she had a report to send to First. I didn't think much of it. This morning I learned she hadn't come back. I worried, but figured she'd stayed elsewhere and would attend the meeting. So I came."
"Then I heard the commotion with everyone."
"I'm ashamed. As captain I was careless. If I'd sent a simple letter, maybe I'd have noticed. Maybe… she wouldn't have died."
"It's my fault."
Yamamoto flicked a glance to Soi Fon; she nodded. "Your statement is noted. Until the truth is found, you will not leave First."
"Understood."
"And you, Ichimaru—"
"Spare me. I didn't do nothin'. Gonna keep me here too?" Gin lifted empty hands.
"Drop it. You're not afraid. But unlike Hitsugaya-taichō, I'll investigate before I strike. If you're involved, this posturing won't save you."
"So you're not gonna restrict me? In that case… Izuru, we're leaving. Plenty to do; can't sit around."
"Wait," Yamamoto said, stopping Gin, who paused and looked back. The old man ignored him and addressed all, cane slamming a dent in the floor.
"Wartime special orders."
"All are permitted to wear—and release—their Zanpakutō at any time."
"In special cases you may leave your sectors and act at discretion, but inform First immediately."
"One more—regularly check in with your squads and neighbors. Do not fall out of contact."
"Dismissed."
"Yes, sir!"
They scattered. Aizen watched Hinamori's body borne away. After a time, he headed for the room where Hitsugaya lay; restricted, he'd have to leave the forensics to others.
No helping it.
-------
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