Hitsugaya Toshiro was suddenly startled and had no time to say anything further.
"Matsumoto!"
After seeing Rangiku Matsumoto nod, he immediately rushed toward Central 46.
Hinamori... don't be hurt-
...
At that moment, Hinamori Momo stood at the entrance of Central 46. Her left hand rested on the wall for support as she faced the chilling sight before her.
"How could this be… All the members of Central 46… dead… not one survived…"
"Hitsugaya… he was shocked… and Kira was there… then Hitsugaya chased after him…"
"What's happening… If Captain Aizen was killed by Hitsugaya… then did Hitsugaya also kill Central 46…?"
"But Kira… why is he here…?"
"Captain Aizen…"
Her thoughts tangled in confusion.
Captain Aizen, if only he were here, he'd surely unravel everything with that brilliant mind of his.
Sadly, he would not return.
Behind her, footsteps approached unnoticed until their shadow blanketed the ground at her feet.
"Welcome back… Hinamori."
It was spoken softly and close to her ear. The tone carried no comfort at that distance-only the chill of authority and hidden danger, tightening around her chest without touch.
"Follow me."
...
"Why did you bring me here…? This is the Purification Tower, where Central 46 lived… Why are you bringing me here, Captain Ichimaru?" Hinamori asked, her hands pulling at the front of her uniform as she followed after Ichimaru Gin, confusion knotting in her tone.
"Been here before, Hinamori?" Gin replied without turning around.
Hinamori walked up the long stairs behind him. "No… It's forbidden to enter here. This is my first time."
"Thought so," Gin said, and opened the door ahead of them. Hinamori stepped in behind him.
Inside, the room stretched wide and silent.
Gin stood partly in the shadow from the doorway's edge, while sunlight spilled into the space ahead.
He turned to Hinamori. "Alright... just look back there."
"Back?"
She turned slowly to glance behind her-and her eyes widened as they settled on the figure now standing in the light beyond the doorframe-tall, composed, dressed in white with black-rimmed glasses, wearing the haori of a captain.
"Aizen… Captain…?"
Her pupils dilated at the impossible sight.
It couldn't be true-could it?
Even if it was just her imagination-even if her hand passed through his body like mist-she wished desperately for the illusion to last just one second longer.
Her steps moved on their own, hands trembling as she approached the man she had believed dead.
Bathed in golden light, his form appeared unchanged. Strong. Calm. Warm, even now-like hope given form.
"Long time no see, Hinamori."
"Is it really… you, Captain Aizen?" Her hands trembled as she reached toward him. "You're… not dead…?"
"Don't worry. I'm alive and well." Aizen's tone was composed and measured-his calm unshaken.
Hearing his familiar cadence, Hinamori's knees buckled slightly. She stepped closer and gripped the front of his haori with both trembling hands. The fabric was warm and solid-soothing even as tears welled in her eyes.
"Aizen… Captain…"
His hand moved to her head, gently brushing through her hair. The roughness of calluses along his palm felt familiar-she had always known it to be his hand.
It cleared her mind in one small gesture-just as it had back then during training.
She remembered that day vividly-her first soul-burial internship with Renji and Kira under Shuhei-senpai's leadership. They had been overwhelmed by Hollows, and just when they thought it was over... Aizen had arrived. He had placed this same hand upon her head and told her it would be alright.
Now, just like then-he was here again.
"Really… Captain Aizen…" she whispered as tears streamed down her cheeks. She gripped his haori tightly and leaned her head against his chest.
His hand patted her back in slow rhythm.
"You've lost weight... I'm sorry. I didn't expect to hurt you this much... but please believe me-I had my difficulties."
"It's alright. I don't care anymore. As long as you're alive… that's enough," Hinamori said softly, resting against him.
She couldn't see the expression on his face-the slight smile that didn't match the warmth of his words.
"... Thank you, Hinamori," he said gently. "It's been good… having you as part of my squad. Thank you… Truly."
"A shame… but farewell, Hinamori."
In the next moment, everything fell away.
There was no sound-no visible motion-but suddenly her senses dulled. The vibrant room lost its color, her legs weakened, and the world blurred around her.
There should have been pain-pain so intense it would claw through her-but what followed was strangely gentle, as though the blow passed through her like water and left only silence behind.
Warm liquid ran down her back. She couldn't see the blade slipping out from her chest or the familiar green threads tied to the hilt behind her.
Her eyes fell downward along the familiar white-sleeved arm-tracing its strength back to the face of Captain Aizen-the man she knew-but now held no trace of kindness in his expression.
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