Gin Ichimaru's Secret  

"Come, come, Captain Ailin, let's drink and forget about those troublesome matters for now," Shunsui Kyoraku said, raising his sake cup.

"Hahaha, exactly! Isn't that what sake is for?" Rangiku Matsumoto, who had been playing the role of a silent observer, became excited about drinking.

"Haha, you're right," Ailin agreed. "Cheers!"

With Kyoraku and Rangiku's encouragement, Ailin cast aside his worries and joined the others in a toast.

As the sake flowed, especially with Rangiku leading the way, Tetsuzaemon Iba and Shūhei Hisagi gradually relaxed and opened up.

After several rounds, they were all feeling a bit tipsy.

Rangiku leaned towards Ailin and rested her arm on his shoulder.

"Captain Ailin, I, I heard that Captain Gin Ichimaru of the Third Division was your disciple. Could you tell us a bit about your story with him?"

Although emboldened by the sake, this was a question that had lingered in Rangiku's heart for a long time.

Rangiku and Gin had been childhood friends, supporting each other through thick and thin. However, one day, Rangiku awoke to find Gin leaving her behind, his back turned as he declared his intention to become a Shinigami and journeyed to the Seireitei.

Years later, Rangiku endured hardships and followed Gin to the Seireitei, enrolling in the Shin'ō Academy. She graduated with honors and joined the Tenth Division, eventually rising to the rank of vice-captain.

But to Rangiku's confusion, their encounters in the Seireitei were strained. She sensed a growing distance between them, as if Gin was deliberately trying to sever their connection.

Rangiku, despite her carefree demeanor, was a perceptive and sensitive woman.

Sensing Gin's intentions, she suppressed her feelings of hurt and confusion, choosing not to pursue him further. She couldn't bear the thought of disrupting any of Gin's plans because of her own emotions.

"Gin..."

Ailin glanced at Rangiku, noticing the trace of anticipation and anxiety in her eyes.

She yearned to know everything about Gin, yet feared that the truth would drive them further apart.

After all, within the Seireitei, Captain Gin Ichimaru of the Third Division was known as a traitor who had betrayed his mentor, Ailin.

Recalling the tragic fate of Gin in the original Bleach storyline, Ailin sighed.

Perhaps it was the emotional weight of Byakuya and Hisana's situation that day, but Ailin felt compelled to share. He set down his sake cup.

"Alright, since you're curious, I'll tell you the story of Gin Ichimaru and myself."

His words instantly sobered the others, their ears perked up with interest.

Gossip about powerful figures had always been a source of fascination for those below them. Learning about their private lives brought a sense of amusement and satisfaction.

"I first met Gin over a hundred years ago. I had just become the captain of the Eleventh Division.

Back then, Hollows frequently invaded Soul Society, causing significant harm to the residents of the Rukongai.

As a result, the Eleventh Division barracks were often empty, as all our Shinigami were dispatched to patrol the Rukongai, tasked with eliminating any Hollows they encountered."

Rangiku nodded in understanding. During that time, she and Gin often heard the roars of monsters and the sounds of battle, forcing them to hide in the forest to avoid being attacked. Now she realized those battles were fought by the members of the Eleventh Division.

"One day, after slaying several Hollows, I passed by a small grove. There, I encountered the mastermind behind many of the incidents plaguing Soul Society."

His words captivated the other Shinigami, drawing them into the story as if they were experiencing it firsthand.

Even Kyoraku's eyes narrowed as he listened intently. The mastermind... Could it be you, Captain Ailin?

"As I passed by the grove, I noticed a faint glow," Ailin continued. "But to my surprise, I couldn't sense any reiatsu. Curiosity led me to investigate. I swiftly flew towards the source of the light, eager to uncover its secrets.

What I saw there filled me with rage. A Shinigami in a Shihakushō stood guard while another individual in a black cloak was extracting something from a young girl from the Rukongai.

Scattered around them were remnants of clothing, the last traces left behind after souls from the Rukongai faded away. I knew what I had to do. I took action.

The Shinigami on guard was swiftly eliminated. However, the cloaked individual managed to escape my attack using some unknown means."

"Oh? Someone who could escape your grasp, Captain Ailin? That's quite surprising," Kyoraku remarked playfully.

Ailin rolled his eyes. "Come on, Captain Kyoraku, I wasn't always as strong as I am now. But to escape from me back then, that individual's strength must be comparable to yours now, Captain Kyoraku."

"Oh?"

Kyoraku was taken aback. Was he now a unit of measurement?

And under what circumstances was Captain Ailin making this comparison? How could he be so certain of his strength?

Kyoraku was puzzled.

He had only revealed his Bankai to Old Man Yamamoto during his captain proficiency test and had never used it since.

How could Captain Ailin judge that individual's strength to be on par with his own?

"After the cloaked individual escaped, I checked on the young girl and discovered that her soul was damaged," Ailin continued.

"That individual had torn a fragment of her soul. It was a brutal act. Without immediate treatment, the girl would have perished. But repairing a soul requires another soul as material. I couldn't bring myself to sacrifice someone else's soul to heal this girl.

Then, Gin appeared before me. He offered his own soul as material, allowing me to extract a fragment to repair the girl's soul..."

Clang!

Rangiku's hand trembled, and her sake cup slipped from her grasp, shattering on the table.

Others might not have known, but Rangiku understood. At that time, the only person Gin would have willingly sacrificed his soul for was her.

So, the girl whose soul had been torn... was me?

"Haha, hahahaha, I apologize. I had a bit too much to drink..." Rangiku forced a laugh, trying to explain her sudden outburst.

However, the others were more interested in Gin's past and paid little attention to her. Only Kyoraku glanced at Rangiku thoughtfully..

"I warned Gin that if I made a mistake while extracting his soul fragment, he could die," Ailin said. "But Gin only asked if it would ensure the girl's complete recovery. After receiving my confirmation, he didn't hesitate and allowed me to proceed.

Fortunately, my healing abilities were not lacking. Although Gin sustained some injuries, I successfully extracted a fragment of his soul while preserving his life.

After healing the girl, I told Gin that strength was essential to protect those he cared about. If he didn't want to experience such despair again, he should enroll in the Shin'ō Academy and become a Shinigami.

I promised to personally train him if he chose the Eleventh Division after graduation. And so, not long after, Gin enrolled in the Shin'ō Academy.

Despite his damaged soul, Gin's talent surpassed my expectations. He completed the academy's curriculum within a year and joined the Eleventh Division.

During his training, I knew how much Gin cared for that girl, so I often took him to the Rukongai, allowing him time to visit her secretly.

Later, I heard that the girl wanted to study at the Shin'ō Academy, and Gin even wasted a year of his training time escorting her from the Rukongai to the Seireitei..."

Rangiku covered her face with her hands, tears streaming through her fingers.

So, Gin had never left her side. All these years, she had been safe from harm because of his silent protection...

Gin...

"I never knew Captain Gin had such a past," Tetsuzaemon Iba's eyes started welling up behind his sunglasses. "To be honest, Captain Gin always gave me the creeps, like a snake. I thought he was a sinister individual. But after hearing Captain Ailin's story, I see him in a new light. He's a true man. To embark on a path of seeking power for the sake of protecting his loved one is truly inspiring."