Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Justice is Blind ❯ Chapter One of Two ( Chapter 1 )

Justice is Blind

Chapter One

 

It was Tousen's belief that the very act of sight was not in itself a gift.

 

To see, to look and to observe . . . these were things that were not in themselves blessings, they did not help people, and nor did they serve a purpose that the other senses could not do in themselves.

 

If anything sight was a hindrance. It blinded people to the real reality of what was around them, causing them to ignore the true matters that plagued their world. People who could see had the misguided belief that their eyes could not lie, that solid shapes and identifiable colours were fixed in reality, that they had definitions and purposes that could not be changed. It was because of that a smile could easily manipulate a man, it was because of that a kind expression could fool a man, and it was because of that a visible tear could weaken a man. The very sight of a child crying seemed to cause even the weakest to open their hearts, to give what they could not afford to give, and so even the strongest of men could be torn down into nothing but a pitiable shell, a thing wrapped around the finger of those who were better actors than they could ever hope to comprehend. He had known grown men to shy away from Zaraki's scowl, he had known high-seated officers to shudder in fear at Gin's smile, and all too often he had heard said how Aizen had the sweetest face of all captains, as if that very face was synonymous with a sweet being.

 

Yet what did these things mean? He knew that a wink often symbolised trust, that a thumbs up showed a job well done, and these were actions he could imitate if he so wished. He had felt a face to know what a smile meant, he knew what a frown was when he had often been asked what was wrong each time his serene features faded, and he knew that colours could change a person's feelings. Through his sense of touch and by listening to others it had taught him what most of these things were, what they meant. He had even learnt to associate `black' with death, `red' with lust and knew that the colour of a rose itself as a gift could determine what message was being sent. Yet what did it mean? What were these things? What purpose did they serve?

 

A colour. What was it about the colour of a man's skin that could provoke racism or thought? Why did the colour of a rose determine if it was a symbol of love or friendship? Why did people feel cold in a `blue' room but warm in a `red' room?

 

It did not matter how hard Kaname tried to picture colours, how he tried to envision shades, he simply found he could not. His ears did not pick up any sounds from these `colours', his fingers could not detect any strange touch, his tongue sensed nothing unusual, and so - for Kaname - these things simply did not exist. They were foreign concepts to him, words that meant nothing and yet held meaning, and to hear them spoken in a sentence often took away whatever meaning that sentence once held. If someone liked his scarf orange but disliked Matsumoto-Fukutaichou's scarf pink, what did that mean? A scarf kept one warm, it acted as a decoration, a way of asserting individuality over a uniform common to all. Did it truly matter what it looked like to the eye when it served its function and purpose?

 

It was because of these reasons he was often seen as `handicapped', that he was seen as having a distinct disadvantage not only in the battlefield but in life also. He would often find people touching him unnecessarily in greeting, in parting or sometimes even to guide him along. He would find people fighting over their words when explaining a concept, debating with themselves whether to discuss the idea of appearance, as if Kaname had no theoretical understanding of what appearance meant. The thing he loathed most, however, was the fake and forced nature most people presented to him. They would laugh when it was obvious they were not used to laughing, because they feared being unable to see a smile meant he was also unable to tell the tone of joy or humour, they would moan when they were not used to childish displays, because they feared the captain would not understand their disapproval when he could not see their faces. It was as if he was nothing but a child. He was treated as a being incapable of understanding, a being that was intrinsically weaker than those around him, a being that must be pitied and nurtured because of his lifelong disability. It was due to these prejudices his life had been shaped the way it was, and it was due to these prejudices that Kaname had learnt a simple truth: blindness was a gift.

 

It was not something he would readily say to anyone else. If he were to make such a bold claim he would at once be looked upon with pity, mocked because he could not possibly understand something he had never experienced, he could not possibly realise how much at a disadvantage he was. Regardless he knew he could not miss what he had never had, and nor could they ever understand what they had not experienced. Just as he would never feel the urge to awaken as the sun shone bright on his eyes, they would never understand the benefits that came with not being reliant upon one sense and one sense alone.

 

He had the same basic human experiences as anyone else; he had loved his friend dearly and lost her, he had suffered grief and pain, he had met his current companions and colleagues and experienced a sense of belonging, of renewal and birth. He felt pain when injured, he felt anger when insulted and he felt loved when held. The only difference was that he was able to see people in a light in which those with sight could not; he could see people for what they truly were. His loss of sight and heightened his other senses, and so he had came to rely on different techniques for judging the characters of those around him. He could not judge the class of a person on the clothes they wore, he could not make snap decisions on emotion based on facial expressions, and he could not fear someone different because he could not see those evident differences such as scars or skin tone. It was a blessing for it meant he was able to grow to know Komamura as a person, indifferent to his physical features, and by the time they had grown close enough for Kaname to touch his face, to see his appearance through the use of gifted fingers, the trust was already strong enough to withhold fear and prejudice. How many had shied away from that man, not realising he was as kind as an angel and loyal as the animal to which he embodied? How many had lost out on such a friendship due to their `gifted' eyesight?

 

What he treasured most was his basic ability to read people.

 

When those around Aizen saw a man thoughtful, conservative and clean-cut, Kaname heard a slight edge to all his words and noted well the play on vocabulary, the double meaning that even the slightest of statements seemed to imply. When Gin would smile, joke and play pranks most Shinigami responded with either amusement or horror, unable to comprehend the man who seemed to find life in itself a joke, but to Kaname he could always hear the sharpness to his statements and the underlying tone of longing to his questions. It seemed to him that Gin had a deep, hidden feeling of insecurity that plagued his questions with such a needy quality, he also had a need to distance himself from others that - although not clear with a smile - was clear with his abrupt sentences.

 

Kaname had learnt that audio cues held more meaning than most people gave credit for, and that often they held a deep truth most people took for granted. Aizen-sama, Gin, Byakuya-Taichou and even the likes of Zaraki, Komamura or Ayasegawa-san, they were all so obsessed with how the world saw them, what image they put across, that they channelled all that into how they looked. It was always what clothes they wore, what expression they held, what body language they possessed, and more often than not they forgot that it was the simplest things that were often the most honest. It didn't matter what they looked like because they'd never be able to hide the truth, their words would always betray them.

 

It was perhaps because of this that when his lieutenant had came to him, confided in him a private and personal worry, that he had decided to go straight to the cause himself.

 

His lieutenant could be intimidated by a smile, flustered by close proximity or angered at a misplaced gesture, and because of that he would surely not find a solution to his problem. Kaname had taken on his lieutenant's problems because he knew these things would not irk him, and he knew he could detect a lie from a truth much more simply than his lieutenant. There was no point in reporting the matter to those of higher rank, because the matter was of such delicacy that a full-blown inquiry would cause those concerned to lie and hide what was happening, and in that case nothing would be done except to install a level of secrecy in those participants that would cause more harm than good. So Kaname decided it was best for him to take matters into his own hands.

 

It was an unusually cold day for the Seireitei. A small breeze brushed over his skin, it caused his uniform to rustle annoyingly in his ears and brought small, icy pinprick sensations over his bare flesh. His body was warm under his layers of clothing, protected against the elements, and yet that only served to heighten the contrast he felt in those unprotected areas. There was slight moisture in the air, almost imperceptible, that seemed to hint at the beginnings of frost or snow, but in all the time he had lived he could not remember a single snowflake ever falling from the sky. Perhaps that would change; perhaps today this weather would bring about something new, something never felt before by those who lived in the walls of the Seireitei. What would it feel like to have raindrops cascading down his jawbone, to feel the bitter touch of snow in his hands, or to feel his feet slip on the ice below? What would it be like?

 

His feet walked on. In his mind he counted silently his footsteps, remembering the exact number of paces needed to reach each necessary destination, sensing very careful the spirit pressures of those around him so as to avoid unnecessary collision. Even now as a captain people automatically side-stepped out of his way, assuming he would not know they were there, and on rare occasions some even offered to lead him to his desired location, as if he had not mastered the art of walking long ago as a babe. It was frustrating to him to be treated like an infant, like one who must have their hand taken in order to walk great distances, but he relished in his independence because of this, knowing that with the right techniques he could easily get from point A to B without assistance or sympathy.

 

Soon enough he found himself standing outside what he knew to be the Squad Three barracks. He could hear very little sound from near him, feel very little spirit pressure being exerted close to him, and so he could safely assume he was alone in the vast space outside that large domain.

 

Only twenty or thirty paces away he sensed Ichimaru Gin's presence. His spiritual pressure was being exerted to the left-hand side of the building at a very high altitude, and there was a soft sound of fabric rustling at a quick, sharp tempo, so that at a guess he would say that the other man was sitting upon the roof, swinging his legs over the side. The scent of tea that drifted his way on the cool breeze hinted the other was drinking also, the occasionally sipping noise adding to that assumption. It was not far into the morning and so Gin should have been in his office finishing paperwork, instead he'd not only missed that morning's captain's meeting but he was also neglecting his usual duties in favour of drinking tea on the roof, most likely where he was out of sight of any passers-by. It wasn't unusual for Gin of course, it was well known that Zaraki and Ichimaru both were reluctant to work, both famous for missing meetings they deemed `not important' and also both famed for breaking rules. All in all he was not surprised to find his colleague where he was, not at all.

 

Kaname silently walked forward, slow in his movements because Gin had positioned himself in an odd place, a place where Kaname had not ever walked to before. He had no idea what obstacles may or may not be in front of him, nor any idea the exact amount of paces required to reach Gin, and although flash-stepping upon the roof may have been easier it would have been dangerous and garnered too much attention.

 

Eventually he reached the side of the building. He turned respectfully to face the barracks and raised his head, giving the illusion of eye contact to make things feel more comfortable and natural for his colleague. His back was turned to what he assumed was a collection of trees. Behind him there was a sound of rustling at a height above him, a kind of whispered and rough sound, almost like a thousand voices talking at once, a collection of a multitude of individual whisperings, a sound he associated with leaves in a sharp breeze. He could also feel the wind striking him from only one direction, almost as if he were in a tunnel, adding to the image he was standing between nature and a man-made construction. All in all it was likely he was alone with Gin, standing unseen in a hidden part of the building's perimeter, where Gin - sitting high above on the roof - had no doubt full view of anyone in the nearby vicinity.

 

It was a strange hobby of Gin's, people-watching. Sometimes it felt as if the man merely lurked in areas or places where he knew trouble would occur, just to see the thrill of action, and Kaname was often left with the frustrating feeling the man would wait for people he deemed `interesting' in order to torment them. How often would he just `chance' upon the Kuchiki family, installing terror inadvertently upon Rukia? How often would he just arrange a meeting between Kuchiki-Taichou and Zaraki, only to be `surprised' when the two fought like cat and dog? Kaname was not a foolish man. He knew Gin was manipulative, childish and self-serving, because of this he knew to always be on his guard and not give into any of his pranks or fool for his lies. He could only wish Gin was a man of honour and his word, a man who would not play foolish games with his comrades and colleagues, that he could be a man like Aizen-sama who would trust those around him and was above such deceit.

 

When he spoke he made sure to keep his voice clear and calm, refusing to let much expression into his tone lest the rather observant man notice and hold it against him. It was also best to speak about serious matters calmly, after all if he were to hold a tone of anger or accusation it would only alienate Gin and make him defensive, and that would not be productive if he sought justice for any possible offence.

 

“Ichimaru, I require a word with you.”

 

“Eh? What about? I weren't expecting to see ya today, Tousen-san.”

 

There was a slight tone of shock to his voice, an element of surprise showing that he clearly had no expected to see Kaname, and the slight gruffness to his voice also indicated mild annoyance, perhaps at being interrupted during his `break' from work activities. The sound of china clattering slightly seemed to that he had placed his cup of tea to one side, although that did not necessarily mean that Tousen had his full attention. It would be foolish to assume that by setting aside his previous activity he was being attentive, after all Gin was a man whose motivation was yet to be seen, a person who hid his heart and his opinions, a being who even when he made an attempt at honesty often left people more confused than if he had lied.

 

Kaname continued, “I am afraid a complaint has been made against you, Ichimaru, a rather serious complaint in fact.”

 

“Oh? Is that so?”

 

“Yes.”

 

There was a slight pause before the direction of Gin's voice seemed to change slightly, perhaps he'd tilted his head in thought, or perhaps he'd moved somewhat to become more comfortable. When he spoke there was a hint of harshness that spoke of anger and frustration, a sense of either annoyance for being innocent or a sense of anger that someone dared to make a complaint about him. It was likely the latter, in which case Gin was probably already thinking up ways of revenge, a thought that made Tousen tense at once.

 

“If there's a complaint against me,” Gin continued, “Shouldn't the Head-Captain be the one looking into it? Or is this something unofficial? Or better yet, something to do with Aizen-Taichou?”

 

“It is an unofficial complaint, however should after my initial investigation into the matter prove true I will make it official myself. I will be forced to alert Hitsugaya-Taichou, Head-Captain Yamamoto and Aizen-Taichou. After all complaints of abuse are not to be taken lightly.”

 

“Abuse? Really? My, it's way too early in the morning for such serious matters . . .”

 

The sound of a soft sigh from Gin's lips did not escape Kaname. It was a very soft sound, one that perhaps indicated disappointment, a sound that almost died as soon as it was born. It was followed by a sharp thud of flesh on tiles, almost as if Gin had literally jumped in his spot, followed by a sound of flesh on flesh indicating the man had probably slapped his legs in a display of nonchalance.

 

“Right! Well I guess it can't be helped.” He said in a cheerful manner.

 

There was a sound of movement, of fabric rustling and of other indeterminable sounds, then two solid thuds as if Ichimaru had left his spot and decided to stand upon his two feet. When he spoke next his voice carried an air of despondence, his vowels became elongated and his timbre much lower, his dialect was less pronounced but the drawl to his tone made some words oddly thicker with his accent, making parts of his sentences hard to follow.

 

Tousen would not be lying if he said there was no other sound like Gin's voice. His voice was rich with a distinct Kyoto dialect, always formal and polite but with an obvious undertone of facetiousness and arrogance. When he was in an overall good and positive mood his voice would become higher, his accent more noticeable and he'd overuse exclamations, as if he were attempting to redefine the spoken word with audible grammar markers. When sad he would elongate his words with a clear drawl, an almost whining sound that made him seem pitiable and weak, and when angry his accent returned but with a clipped tone, sharper consonants and a timbre that seemed to vary from higher to lower. It was rare indeed when his colleague would speak in a normal tone, forgoing obvious audible displays of emotion and over-dramatisation, but when he did one finally got a true sense of what it meant to be Ichimaru Gin. At the moment he had assumed his `sad' tone, but if he was seeking to elicit sympathy he was looking in the wrong place.

 

“It's no fair,” Gin whined, “Izuru-kun's been looking for me all day, he'd been shouting for me all over the offices and barracks, says he's got too much paperwork to do both mine and his. I figured if I stayed hidden he'd have no choice but to do mine too! Now I got to talk to you it means someone will see me, and now I need a whole new excuse to avoid work . . .” There was a slight pause, then his happier tone returned, “Ja! I know, I'll tell him there's a captains meeting. That way he'll have to do my work for me whilst I'm gone, won't he?”

 

Tousen ignored what he chose to interpret as a rhetorical question.

 

Immediately after Gin spoke there came a sharp gust of air that blew ripples through Kaname's uniform and hair, followed by a sense of someone standing within his personal space, the usual intense sense of spiritual pressure followed by newfound warmth confirmed this. Gin's body was effectively blocking out the breeze, creating a barrier between himself and the cold effects of nature. His jump had caused a loud thud to echo in his ears, a dull sound of a body hitting solid ground, and then just as abruptly there came the rustle of fabric once more. It almost sounded as if Gin had decided to hide his hands inside his haori sleeve, taking warmth from his uniform as opposed to the teacup he'd left behind.

 

Then came the familiar sound of footsteps and the sense of Gin walking away from him. He turned slowly and followed his colleague, he no longer felt the overriding need to count his paces or worry about unseen obstacles, Gin may have been a prankster and rather self-centred but even he would not allow a blind man to walk into danger. It was strange indeed, for Tousen had known many times for Gin to purposely not warn people of dangerous events, of obstacles in their way or of possible eavesdroppers and yet with Tousen he always did. Perhaps the fun for Gin was seeing people who should know better fall prey to their own foolishness or lack of observance, but to see a man already at a disadvantage fall prey to a disability he could not help lacked humour, perhaps even to Gin it seemed cruel to add to the problem rather than to detract from it. Regardless, as much as he and Gin shared a rather . . . unique relationship, for want of a better word, he trusted the man enough not to allow danger to befall him. Therefore he kept pace with his fellow captain and walked alongside him, keeping his head high and his back straight, looking so graceful that none save those who knew him would even be able to tell of his blindness.

 

“So what's the complaint?” Ichimaru's voice startled Tousen somewhat, he hadn't expected an abrupt comment to come despite how he knew that Ichimaru always loved to talk, “Ya said someone accused me of abuse? I don't believe it. Who'd say such a thing and who'd they think I'm hurting?”

 

“If you must know, Ichimaru, the accusation came from my own lieutenant.”

 

Tousen kept his gaze forward, even if his line of sight didn't make any difference in the world it felt more appropriate, that way he'd appear more objective than if he'd turned to face Gin. If he'd looked the other man in the face it may have seemed accusatory, or would perhaps even put him on the spot as if he was compelled to answer, it was best to keep looking away with a calm tone to his voice, that way the conversation would remain casual. That way there'd be no reason to lie.

 

“The complaint came from several other squad members also,” Tousen continued, “It seems Matsumoto-Fukutaichou has been gossiping with her peers about the matter, Abarai-Fukutaichou has chosen to be quiet but is clearly concerned judging by his increased presence in Squad Three grounds, and as for Hinamori-Fukutaichou I had to explicitly command her not to report the issue to Aizen-Taichou. She was very adamant on doing so.”

 

“Nah, I don't believe it! How can four lieutenants all have the same complaint? I don't remember ever hurting anyone . . . least no one still alive. Who do they think I'm hurting?”

 

“The name they gave was your own lieutenant: Kira Izuru.”

 

The silence that followed was almost deafening to Kaname.

 

He could almost sense the tension that followed, the sheer shock to the system that the news presented to Gin. If such a brash and bold complaint was true then the thoughts in the younger man's head must surely be running rampant, he would be forced to consider how to successfully remove himself from the situation whilst maintaining his position as captain, it would be a dramatic and harsh path ahead of him which he would have brought upon himself. Rumours, investigations and accusations . . . it would be a lot to deal with, and with Gin's personality he was unsure that the man could handle to such a stress. It wasn't as if such an accusation was entirely unbelievable either, after all there were many examples of Shinigami being betrayed, abused and even killed by their superiors and those they trusted. His own dear friend had died at the hands of her Shinigami husband, Aizen himself had betrayed his captain a hundred years ago and, if all went to plan, Hinamori-Fukutaichou herself would raise sword against her friend and superior. Would it be such a jump to imagine Gin capable of such actions?

 

Yet it was hard to believe that Gin could be capable of such abuse on any level. It was true the lieutenants were quick to believe such things, making accusations and complaints without even speaking to the supposed victim first, and yet what was their basis for their belief? Abarai had an intrinsic distrust of most people, Hinamori clearly held Gin in low regard, perhaps as frightened of him as Kuchiki Rukia herself was, and his lieutenant Hisagi was not the sort of man to listen to reason, he was a man to take action first and ask questions later. It could be said only Matsumoto had genuine reason to believe the accusations, she had known Gin since childhood and they had their own unique and special relationship, she knew what he was capable of and what he was not. It had to be noted the gossip she spread was what others held to be true, not once had she expressed a belief in such gossip.

 

Likewise perhaps Gin's silence was not due to an upset of being caught, but a feeling of despair that people could believe him capable of such actions. Kaname himself had a deep respect for his own lieutenant, teaching him everything he knew and entrusting him with many and all issues that arose, he treated every problem of his lieutenant's with complete seriousness and a sincere care. If anyone had made such accusations about himself he would have been not only hurt but also gravely insulted. Kaname was a man of justice, he did not cause unnecessary pain or hurt, he did not abuse those weaker than himself and he would not ever dream of doing so, especially not to a man whom worked alongside him not only as a strong lieutenant but as a friend. Gin had murdered, he was planning a mutiny of sorts with Aizen, he played with the hearts of even the strongest of Shinigami, but he was not the sort to abuse another . . . not in that way.

 

After a long silence he began to walk one pace behind Gin. It was a habit to walk one pace behind anyone he was with when allowing them to lead the way, if he kept the same pace and they turned he would not expect it and thus become lost or in the way, by walking one step behind he could effectively follow without becoming a nuisance. He was not sure where Gin was leading him, it seemed they were walking in a circular shape, giving them enough time to talk but effectively leading them back to the barracks.

 

“I got to ask,” Gin said curiously, “What reason have they got to think that? My little Izuru-kun say something about me?”

 

“Ichimaru,” Kaname stated diplomatically, “When Kira-Fukutaichou was in the Academy he was described as being a lively, confident and assertive youth. He was in good health, excelled in most areas, was in the excelled class and had many friends that he still keeps in touch with to this day. He has served in Squad Five and in Squad Four, in both squads not one word of worry had been made for him, however it appears that since joining Squad Three there has been a drastic change in his personality, appearance and even his health.”

 

“Oh? He seems fine to me.”

 

“On the contrary,” Kaname interrupted, “It has been noted that he has become paler, lost a considerable amount of weight, and he also appears to be much more tired of late with bags under his eyes. I am also told he has become rather depressed, indecisive and more prone to drinking in group environments. He at times even seems to exhibit near-suicidal characteristics, although I am sure that point was made for mere dramatic effect.”

 

“So ya saying I made Izuru-kun all depressed by abusing him?”

 

Kaname took a moment to be silent in order to gain his thoughts. He knew well from his own experiences over the years that no one ever stayed the same; people were fluid and changed from environment to environment, their very essences merging with others around them as their mindsets shifted and opinions transformed.

 

He himself could remember a time when his life was filled with smiles, where his dearest friend had brought a beauty to his life, filling his dark world of oblivion with a sense of refreshing energy and platonic love. He could remember the day she was cruelly taken from him, the deep cut in his heart, the blow to his very being, the pain that consumed him as much as any physical wound ever could, and the deep sense of shock and sickness that radiated through him. The loss was great, so much so that even now he felt a void where her friendship and kindness should have been, a sense of loss so great it forced to him to change, to harden himself against those around him and to block out any possible future experiences that would end in the same way. Never - never - did he want anyone to feel the way he had felt, and so he had vowed to enter the Seireitei and become a Soul Reaper, to stop anyone else from feeling the devastating blow he had been dealt. It was then he had lost his permanent smile and his innocence. It was from then on a part of him had turned cold.

 

No one had brought that change in him. No one had abused him, hurt him or attacked him. He had merely experienced a darker side to life that all must experience, a grief and loss that no man or woman could exist without touching just once, and it was that which had changed him. He had no one to blame, not even the gods themselves, but merely the ebbing tide of life that had brought him in a direction unintended, and it was because of that he was loath to assume the worst. It was likely Kira had merely experienced life as he had, had changed his perspective to suit the changing circumstances, and in which case it was cruel to make such false claims on the man who was looking out for Kira the most: his captain.

 

Of course there was two sides to every coin, and just as much as some changes could be brought from within there were those that could be brought from without. He could remember clearly his first encounter with Komamura, he could remember nearly attacking the man by mistake for being unable to sense his spirit energy, and it was that mistake that had brought him to meet Komamura and for Komamura to learn that he was blind. It was because he was blind that the man had felt safe around Kaname, that he had finally found someone he could talk to as an equal and as himself, unafraid of violence, fear or disgust. The two had shared hopes, ideals and dreams and, even though they had not stayed in touch as much as they had wished, Kaname could not deny the impact the other held on him. It was later on in the Seireitei, with their advancements and promotions, that they became almost inseparable once again. Komamura had taught Kaname that it was safe to open his heart, that life meant going on living and letting people in, that by keeping himself shut away he was actually defiling his old friend's memory. He had learnt through Komamura the art of battle, that the path of the least bloodshed is the most desirable, and he had learnt the errors of the previous ideologies he had picked up somewhere between his old friend and his new one . . . He loved Komamura, he would die for Komamura and it was for Komamura that he was partially compelled to follow Aizen . . . It could easily be said that Aizen was not the master manipulator he so believed, for Kaname himself found himself in a sense playing the man the same way he tried to play others. Kaname's future betrayal would not be as simple as it seemed, even if he must lie to and betray his lieutenant and friend in the process.

 

“I do not make any such claims,” He said after a long silence, “I merely repeat what has been said by others. I am a concerned bystander, nothing more.”

 

“Well I ain't done nothing to the guy,” Gin replied somewhat snappishly, “I may overwork him, mess with his head and play games with him, but I ain't ever abused him. If he's lost weight it's cause he overworks himself, and if he's depressed it's probably because of stress. In fact I can prove it ain't me,” At this his tone lightened once more, “See, we're right outside the barracks again. The others have probably spotted me and if I flare my reiatsu I bet my little Kira-kun will come running!”

 

Kaname stayed silent, however he believed this approach to things to be incredibly childish in itself and rather dangerous. If the accusations were true then this forward approach could be seen as threatening behaviour, intimidating the younger lieutenant into keeping quiet, pressuring him into not stepping forward. If that were the case it would only add to Gin's sins and create a harsher punishment in the long run. It seemed cruel also to put a young, nervous and introverted man on the spot by forcing him to answer such personal questions before not only his own captain but another also. There was logic in having the victim in question come forward and speak up, to refute such claims and make it clear once and for all they were wrong, inaccurate and offensive, but likewise it was also ridiculously unethical, and another reason for Kaname to dislike his fellow captain.

 

After a moment he sensed the inevitable spirit pressure of Kira Izuru. It seemed the man really did have an undying loyalty to his captain; his love and adoration of the other forced him forward to find Ichimaru as soon as the first opportunity presented itself. He seemed to be half-running and half-walking, his sandaled feet making quick-paced noises on the floor, each step light and heavy at once, as if placed firmly enough to assert himself but light enough so as not to overstep his bounds. His breath was heavy, panting almost, showing that the man was either out of shape or had been on his feet for a long time, searching for his captain despite the obvious fact his captain did not wish to be found. When he finally reached the two men he paused and the sound of his breath came from lower down, indicating he was stooped to perhaps regain his lost breath. Then once again he rose as the sound came from at a reasonable height, and his breathing slowed to a normal and considerable rhythm.

 

“I-I-Ichimaru-Taichou!” Izuru said a little too loudly, “I'm so glad I found you! I'm - I'm sorry for disturbing your meeting with Tousen-Taichou, but the deadline for the paperwork is today and I can't find your -!”

 

“Ah, ya worry too much, Izuru-kun.”

 

That was another thing. His own lieutenant had assured him that his kohai had never previously stuttered; the stutter seemed to be another symptom of his recently developed nervous disposition, a point that made Kaname wonder whether there was any truth to the matter at hand. Then there was the apparent use of given names that Gin seemed to find appropriate. Gin would never dream of referring to Kaname by his given name and they were colleagues, equals, men who had known each other for at least a century, so why did he find it appropriate to address his lieutenant in such a manner? For that matter why did Kira allow no one else to address him as such, but yet have no complaint when his captain did?

 

“I'm glad yer here, Izuru-kun,” Gin said with a slight inflection to his voice, as if he were imitating worry or concern, “Ya see some people have been spreading some nasty rumours about me. You think I'm a nice captain, right? I've never been mean to ya, have I?”

 

“Of - of course not, Captain!”

 

“So ya not made any complaints against me? Said anything to yer friends?”

 

There was a slight pause and a barely audible gasp from Kira. It seemed as if he was truly shocked by what Gin was implying, but of course Kaname couldn't be sure if this as actually the case . . .

 

For the first time in a very long time he actually felt that his blindness was a burden. There was only so much one could depict from sound, only so much that the tone of voice or body movements could reveal, and unless one was in an intimate situation the senses of touch and taste were useless. He couldn't be certain but he had a feeling that there was more to the situation than what he was aware of. He didn't trust Gin, he didn't trust the man not to lean into Kira's personal space, not to express himself through a threatening gesture or facial movement, he didn't trust Gin not to intimidate his lieutenant into silence knowing full well that Kaname would never know. Perhaps this had truly been a bad idea, perhaps he should have passed on the initial investigation of complaints to another captain, one who was not afraid of Gin and yet could see the subtle signs that Kaname could not. One glare, one frown, one silently mouthed word . . . that would be all that was needed to force Kira into submission, assuming such accusation were true. Perhaps he had made a mistake assuming he could handle this.

 

When Kira spoke his voice was shaky and broken, truly indicating that a significant change had occurred in his personality. There was a slight choked sound to his voice, almost as if fighting back tears, along with a stutter and shake to his words showing true nervousness and uncertainty, and the way his Zanpakuto clattered at his side showed that he had begun to fidget also.

 

“I-I'm sorry, sir! I don't understand. W-Why would I feel the need to make a complaint? My friends - they kind of - well sometimes they . . . I - I know we shouldn't talk about our captains at social events but sometimes we do, I mean isn't it normal to - to talk about work? Ah, but I don't think I've ever said anything that could be taken as a complaint! If I have I'm very, very sorry! I really don't have anything bad to say about you, Ichimaru-Taichou! I mean - that is - it would be nice if you did more paperwork, but other than that . . .”

 

“Ah, ya really do take things too seriously, Izuru-kun!”

 

Gin seemed playful again, and judging by the direction of his voice he was leaning into his lieutenant's personal space, and by the slight sound of skin on skin he had perhaps playfully tapped his lieutenant on his cheek. Whilst Gin seemed quite pleased that the accusations had just been `proven' wrong, Kira seemed quite frightened still, his legs shaking by the sound of his hakama rustling and still fidgeting with the handle of his Zanpakuto.

 

Kaname had a memory of long ago relaxing in a bar after work with Komamura and his lieutenant. The bar itself was a place usually frequented by captains and high-ranked officers, and so Kaname had not found it unusual to see a small gathering of lieutenants to one corner of the room, nor was it unusual to see them sneak out after noticing their superiors lurking in a far corner. What he did find unusual - in retrospect - was how he remembered Kira to be quite social, drinking to excess but with such confidence he'd been able to enter Abarai's personal space and become confrontational. How was it that that same man who'd had such confidence, energy and humour, albeit whilst drunk, could be the same man who appeared to quiver in fear at the sight of his captain?

 

“I was only playin' with ya, Izuru, I know you'd never say anything bad about me.” Gin continued cheerfully, “Ja! Well, why don't ya go back to the office, I've gotta finish up with Tousen-Taichou, but I'll be back as soon as I can.”

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

Kaname listened to Kira as he appeared to trip over his feet a couple of times in an attempt to get away, when he did eventually find his balance he left with a quick pace, walking swiftly away from the barracks to the direction of the offices. His quick movements left a strange scent in the air, something natural and perhaps fruitlike, but nothing that Tousen could really place. He did however hear the short, rapid chuckling noises coming from Gin, noises that he was no doubt trying to unsuccessfully cover up.

 

Enough was enough. It was true he held a strong dislike for Gin but he would force himself to come at this issue from an objective approach, for if he allowed himself to be coloured by personal interests he would not be acting justly, and even a man such as Gin deserved the fairness of justice. It seemed to him that the accusations his own lieutenant had made seemed to have some basis in truth, that something truly appeared to be going on between Gin and Kira that should not be taking place. If such things had been consensual then it did not explain Kira's negative change in personality. Yet Kaname so far had no actual proof of so-called events, nor did Kira seem willing to admit to any wrong-doings that may have occurred, and so it would not be right for him to take this to those higher-ranked than him. There was still a chance that he may be wrong, and if that were the case it would be beyond cruel to ruin a man's reputation over nothing . . .

 

He could not help but wonder what was transpiring behind the scenes, just what was happening to that vulnerable lieutenant, and he could not help but wonder what the best course of action would be in order to protect the young man. It would perhaps be best to allow things to take their course, keep a close eye on the situation and intervene as the need arose. It was not an approach that felt right, for if the worst was occurring then Kira would be needlessly suffering until solid proof came, assuming it ever did . . .

 

Kaname no longer wished to play these games with Gin. If he sought to `prove' his innocence by intimidating his subordinates into making false statements then he could fool somebody else, Kaname would not be taken in by such transparent attempts. He quickly turned his back on Gin and mentally counted paces in his head, focussing on the feeling of what little sun there was and the direction of the wind, all in a bid to help him find his bearings. When he spoke his words were cold, clear and simple.

 

“I can see what you're doing, Ichimaru.”

 

“Oh?” There came a rustle of fabric and the tone of Gin's told him just how much his companion was enjoying these unfolding events, “Then do ya know which finger I'm holding up at ya?”

 

It was difficult but he successfully resisted the urge to draw his Zanpakuto. Gin was no doubt playing games, being offensive purposely just to bring about negative feelings within Kaname, trying to perhaps distract him from the issues at hand with petty arguments. It angered him that it was this man that Aizen chose to keep so close to him, that it was this man who was so highly respected. It was not that Kaname felt jealousy, in fact he would consider himself relieved for he felt little respect towards the man who sought to kill thousands all for the Royal Key, and so if his anger stemmed from anything it was the sheer ridiculousness of how someone as intelligent as Aizen could choose a man like Gin to stand at his right-hand side.

 

He walked away from Gin, moving at a natural pace and refusing to turn in his direction in the slightest, he refused to show this man an ounce of respect, he refused to allow himself to even acknowledge the other's presence. It was childish to engage in such games, pathetic even, and he would not lower himself to do so. His only retort came as a thinly veiled warning, spoken as he walked into the distance.

 

“Remember, Ichimaru.” He said firmly, “Justice may be blind to your actions, but I am not.”

 

Chapter Two