Some time ago.
"Yare yare," he smiled. "I did everything you told me to do, Captain Aizen," said Gin.
He stood in a dark room. The only light came from the monitor, several tanks, and a humming computer. The captain himself sat in a tall, soft chair, eyes fixed on the screen where streams of numbers and calculations flickered.
"Good," Aizen smiled.
"Yes, he surprised me. So naive and gullible. But there's something else I don't understand," Gin said, carefully studying his captain's face. "Why are you interested in him? Do you want to make another follower for yourself?"
"Who knows," the man with glasses replied mysteriously.
"What's so interesting about him to you, Captain?" Gin pressed. "I don't see anything particularly outstanding in him. Yes, he's talented—his control is very high for his age. Not bad amounts of reiryoku. He has combat talent, and he's already mastered shunpo. That's all impressive, but I've seen much better. The same Byakuya-chan mastered all of this much earlier. And I learned it all easily myself."
Suddenly, Captain tore his gaze from the monitor and looked directly at his subordinate. Gin was momentarily taken aback by the abrupt shift in attention.
"Don't you understand yet, Gin?" Aizen smiled faintly.
"What don't I understand?"
"When you understand, you'll be able to realize everything," the captain said, turning back to his work. "I have certain plans for him."
"What kind of plans?"
"That's a secret."
"Come on, captain…" Gin's tone turned disappointed.
"If I tell you, it won't be a surprise anymore," Aizen chuckled lightly. "Did you bring his data?"
"Yes. Here." Gin handed him everything he needed.
"Marvel…" Aizen murmured. "You can go. For once, you'll have a normal day off."
Gin merely shrugged and left the laboratory. He quickly made his way to the 5th Division building and then slowly toward his room.
Captain Aizen's unusual assignment troubled him.
He had been ordered simply to observe the boy—and even allowed to make contact in order to compile a psychological profile.
What plans did the captain have for Karasumaru?
Gin simply couldn't understand what was supposedly so special about him.
Yes, he was good. Smart. Quick-witted. Calm. Talented. But that was all. There were much more extraordinary souls in the world—against them, Karasumaru looked extremely pale. And yet the captain's interest in him was unmistakably strong.
The mystery refused to reveal itself. And still, Gin felt the answer lingered somewhere nearby—on the surface, even—yet somehow beyond reach.
"Strange child," he muttered, giving up. If there was no way to understand, there was no point in tormenting his mind.
"GIIIIIN!!!"
The scream almost deafened him.
Rangiku stood beside him, breathing heavily, her face flushed.
"Why are you shouting?" he asked.
"I've been trying to get your attention for three minutes!" she pouted. Gin always found her behavior amusing. It was almost impossible to stay mad at her.
"Yare-yare, sorry," he smiled. "I was lost in thought."
"Yes," she sighed. "Thank you for saving Karasumaru."
"You're welcome," he waved dismissively. "I was just passing by."
"Just?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Well…" he hesitated slightly. Yes, indeed. He could fool others easily, but deceiving Rangiku was always difficult. "I was looking for you," he found something to say. And it was almost true—he never minded running into her.
"Me?" she asked in surprise.
"Yeah." He nodded. "I had a day off and ended up in the 10th District. So I decided to check on you while I was there."
"I was working," she sighed. "Next time, let me know in advance."
"Okay, okay," he said quickly, changing the subject. "How's your friend?"
"He's fine," she smiled weakly. "He's been through a lot, but he seems to be holding up."
"And you seem to have taught him a lot."
"Not really."
"What he learned saved his life… but teaching a child Shunpo before the Academy is extremely dangerous," Gin smirked. "It's too early for him."
"What are you talking about? I didn't teach him that," she waved her hands. "I remember very well how hard and dangerous it was for me to learn it. I didn't even show him."
"What?" Gin froze. Genuinely surprised.
So… the boy mastered shunpo on his own. Without a teacher, without guidance. Crude and imperfect, yes—but he used it in battle.
Then that changed everything.
If his talent is sufficient to achieve this on his own, then he—
"Are you okay?" Rangiku asked, worried.
"I'm fine. I just need to hurry," he said. "I have tomorrow off. If you aren't busy."
"Don't worry, I won't be," she smiled—and vanished.
She'd obviously gone to sweet-talk her captain into giving her another day off. And she'll probably get her way.
Gin smiled faintly and quickened his pace. Thoughts of the boy made him slightly tense.
He hadn't expected this turn of events.
A snake-like smile twisted across his face.
"What a horrible child…"