A/n: yes I am aware how long it has been since I posted the last ch. I've got to write something while heirverse is on hiatus for the forseeable future – possibly indefinitely. Hopefully not forever but im not hopeful enough about that at present. Also have to write something a LOT more canon compliant.

[also no im not procrastinating on Fisher shutup]

Anyway have an 8 year difference comparison between this ch and ch1. If anyone still reads my stuff, enjoy and please excuse any rustiness.

Chapter 2: Target Sighted

Gin grinned at the brown haired man, his smile stretching from ear to ear, and his eyes not once looking away from those dark eyes in front of him.

"Oh, ya mean this guy?" Gin asked innocently as he glanced down at the bloody corpse at his feet. At the dead man whose blood he was covered in. "He were yer third rank? I gotta be honest sir, I aint very impressed."

The tall, mahogany haired, and surprisingly handsome man in front of him raised a curious eyebrow at him.

"Oh?" he asked, though Gin was sure his sudden curiosity was just a show to get him to lower his guard. "And why would that be?"

The smile never left Gin's face as he eyed first the body and then the man in front of him again.

"He left himself open." Gin answered him, still smiling. Half laughing. "He talked too much. I say, if you are going ta kill someone, kill 'em, an' don't stand there talkin' 'bout it!"

It was an honest answer. Well, okay, only partly honest. But it was the best answer Gin could give. And, judging from the man's smile, it appeared to be an answer that pleased him.

"Yes, I do agree with you. He wasn't really the sharpest tool in the box." The man said calmly. "Bit of an arse, actually. I never really liked him, he asked too many questions."

Gin just looked at the man, his squinted eyes locked on the man's serene expression. Listening quietly as the man talked. His words appeared to be merely casual – but one line stood out from the others.

He asked too many questions.

What did that mean, exactly? Gin wondered. But he merely took it as proof that this man was evil. That he was a bastard who was certainly up to no good. That he was a man who hurt people. People like his dear, sweet, innocent Rangiku…

Gin had to stifle his rage at the thought of this man's filthy hands on his Ran-chan. He was here for a reason, and Gin couldn't let his lack of control give him away. Not now. Not after he had worked so hard to get into this place. It would mean his death if he got caught out now. And if he died, Rangiku would be left alone in the world.

So, as tempting as it was to just leap onto the guy, repeatedly stab him, and scream at him 'Just die ya bleedin' bastard!' – Gin kept his composure. And as difficult as he found it, managed to force another generic and unreadable smile.

"Well, tha' serves 'im right don' it." he said, his lips curling into a slyer smile. "He shouldn' be pokin' his nose into other peoples business."

Gin nervously kept the smile plastered across his face, hoping that his answers didn't do anything to raise the man's suspicions. But he needn't have worried. After a short pause, the man's lips curled up into another smile. It was a darker smile this time; one full of intent in place of simple piqued interest.

"I like you, boy." He said, although to Gin he sounded more amused than genuine.

"But this," he added, gesturing to the bloodied corpse by Gin's feet, "This, needs to change. You need to learn some finesse, boy. Make your kills cleaner. Because this is far too messy…"

Gin raised an eyebrow. "Messy?"

"Yes. Messy."

Gin frowned at him. "Messy… how?"

The man laughed at him. Giving a deep, throaty chuckle that seemed to be the only sound in the world at that point. Gin was never more aware of his situation than he was now. This man could actually kill him right now if he really wanted to. But Gin knew that if he could just keep the man talking, then he might actually stand a chance. Thankfully this guy looked like he loved the sound of his own voice, so Gin wouldn't have to really say much.

"Well for one thing, it wasn't quiet. And it wasn't quick. And you being covered in his blood doesn't exactly make you look inconspicuous."

Gin stole a quick glance down at the dead body at his feet, and then wiped his face with the back of his hand, looking down at his blood smeared hand as if assessing his work. Which he was.

"True." He said, after a long pause. Though Gin really couldn't see how killing somebody could be done any cleaner. How could you kill somebody cleanly? It just seemed ludicrous to him.

"I coulda made it much cleaner. Next time I'll pick a guy wi' no blood in 'is veins and then off him… it'd be much cleaner then. Cuz, ya know, blood gets everywhere when ya puncture a vein."

The man laughed again, amused again.

"You're a peculiar one, aren't you?"

"I'm jus' tellin' it like it is." Gin frowned, though the man just smiled gently at him.

"Forgive me, boy." He said calmly, still smiling at him. "I've just never heard anyone put it quite like that before. It is… an interesting perspective."

Gin smiled again. Shrugging. "Jus' tellin' it like it is."

The dark haired man looked at him with approval, still smiling that dark smile of his.

"What division are you with, boy?"

Gin's heart stopped at that question. Division? Weren't all death gods the same? Weren't they all just one unit? Damn, he'd never even thought of this. He just thought they were all just one big group. He never even imagined that they weren't. After all, why would they not be? But this just presented a bigger problem; just, exactly, what group was Gin supposed to be in? Damn it. He had to think of something - and fast, and just hope to the unnamed gods that it was the right answer, because he really didn't have a clue. Not that he would let it show on his face, though. He still kept that generic smile glued to his face.

Crap. He cursed silently to himself. I'll just have to take a punt and guess...

"Me division?" Gin answered, trying to sound confident and like this was just an innocent question. Which was quite hard, seeing as the man's eyes were boring right into him, making him feel like he were being observed from the inside. "That'll be division four, sir."

The man looked at him, suddenly incredulous. "Four?" he asked, as if he didn't believe Gin's answer. Even though his expression didn't change an iota. If Gin were the type to pray, he'd surely be doing that now.

"Four?" he asked again, clearly testing him. This was a test, surely.

"Yessir," he answered. Nodding. Feigning a confidence he did not feel. "Four."

The older man's expression still didn't move but Gin fancied he saw a shadow of disbelief there in his eyes. A moment of silence passed between them and Gin tried to remain still and calm. Calm like still water. Calm like him.

"Boy, from what I've just seen, you are wasted with those healers." the man said after what felt like the longest silence in the world. And Gin tried not to sigh outloud with relief. Instead he contained himself an watched the man shake his head in disappointment. "Such a waste of talent… just what were they thinking when they placed you? Ah, forgive me, where are my manners, I don't even know your name yet, and here I am making undue assessments on your abilities. Allow me to introduce myself before we continue. I am Aizen Sousuke, it is very nice to meet you."

Relief washed over Gin at that moment. Whatever the test was, he'd passed it.

He took a moment to breathe and let the relief claim him, before he nodded politely and smiled at the man. At Aizen Sousuke.

"Nice ta meet ya too." He said, smirking now that he knew the name of this man he'd come here to kill. "The name's Gin. Ichimaru Gin."

Gin let his smile widen just a fraction as he studied Aizen. "Now, before we continue this pleasant conversation, can ya tell me why exactly it is that I'm being… what was it ya said? Wasted? Aizen-sama?"

Aizen took a step closer to Gin, smiling a little wider when Gin noticeably tensed his shoulders.

"Ah, yes." He said, "I suppose that was a little rude of me. I hope I haven't offended you. I just think that your abilities with that wakizashi of yours aren't being properly honed in the medical field."

Gin nodded and decided to let him continue. After all, he was gaining some valuable information on the shinigami and how they operated. From what Aizen had said so far, Gin could gather that division four dealt with the medical side of things. So Gin assumed that the other divisions dealt with the combat aspect of things. The killing and maiming parts.

"Can I make a proposition, Gin?"

"Uh, sure, I guess." he said, feigning a calm he did not feel. In the Rukongai, 'propositions' never led to anything good.

Aizen smiled at him, although there was something about his smile that sent a cold shiver up Gin's spine. Gin couldn't say what it was, but there was definitely something hiding behind that smile.

"Would you like to transfer into my division? I mean, I'd be more than happy to take you in and refine your skills. And give you some finesse in matters such as these."

Again he pointed to the bloody body lying between them. Gin was amazed at just how casually Aizen referred to the dead man; it was as if he were a sack of potatoes instead of a cadaver.

"We do have a vacant position, now you've disposed of this nuisance for me."

Gin allowed himself a smile, then. A genuine one. He'd made the first step into the viper pit. All he had to do now was walk amid the poisonous snakes and try not to get bitten. He couldn't afford to drop his guard for even a moment.

"Sure thing," Gin smiled and nodded. "I do like killing and lemme say, where I am now there aint many opportunities to do so."

"Come with me then," Aizen said to him, "We'll arrange your transfer. We'll go to my office."

Gin nodded and obeyed, falling into step behind him. Quietly plotting all the ways he could kill him.

. . .

Gin followed him silently, like an obedient little puppy. Making mental notes of his surroundings and of the route they were taking. Just in case he had to make a quick escape. He didn't want to get himself lost and thus captured and thus killed.

Aizen led the through several deserted streets, the only lights being the moon and the streetlamps illuminating the man's silhouette just ahead of him. Gin followed him through the maze of buildings that made up the Seireitei, where the well-to-do of society lived. It was half a world away from the slums of the Rukongai that it made Gin sick, but he had a role to play and goddamn it he was going to play it if it killed him. Though with any luck it would kill Aizen Sousuke.

Aizen took him into one of the buildings and through a load of offices, eventually coming into a large office that must have been his own, because when they arrived he told Gin to sit and make himself comfortable while he made them a cup of tea.

Gin did as he was bid and sat in one of the plush chairs, but kept a careful watch of the older man's actions and movements. Making a mental note to not drink anything this poisonous snake gave him.

When he turned around again a few moments later, Gin smiled sweetly and accepted the cup of tea delicately balanced on a saucer. He watched too, as Aizen sat down with his own cup opposite him.

"Comfortable?" Aizen asked.

Gin nodded. "Yessir."

"Good," Aizen smiled, though Gin couldn't miss those brown eyes flickering wolfishly behind lenses of his glasses. A complete juxtaposition to the benign smile on his face. Gin watched him take a sip of his tea, and knew he had to be careful here.

"Now," Aizen said calmly, "Why don't you tell me who you really are?"