Gin Ichimaru's Fate

"Gin Ichimaru?!" Liu Hao's voice suddenly became urgent, his body leaning forward slightly, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes. He thought of the always smiling man, the devoted lover who had endured for a hundred years for a girl, and the complex being who finally revealed his true expression at the last moment.

Unohana watched Liu Hao's reaction, a slight smile playing on her lips. She said softly, "Gin Ichimaru... his situation is a bit special. He voluntarily infiltrated Aizen's inner circle, but he did indeed help Aizen with some things."

The Central 46 initially wanted to imprison him in the Muken- ranking prison), believing that as Aizen's accomplice, he deserved severe punishment. Their reasoning was that, regardless of his motives, Gin Ichimaru had indeed participated in Aizen's Plan and had indeed caused harm to Soul Society.

Liu Hao frowned, a surge of indignation rising within him. He knew why Gin Ichimaru had done everything, he knew the pain and Loneliness that man had endured. If even he was to be imprisoned in the Muken, what fairness remained in this world?

Unohana noticed Liu Hao's emotions and continued, "However, Captain-Commander Yamamoto forcefully suppressed the Central 46's decision. The Captain-Commander said that although Gin Ichimaru was an undercover agent, he also provided a lot of information about Aizen, contributing to the final victory. Moreover, he never truly harmed any of his comrades. Therefore, the Captain-Commander insisted on only removing him from his Captain and not imprisoning him in the Muken."

Liu Hao's brows relaxed, and a smile appeared on his lips. Captain-Commander Yamamoto, that seemingly stern old man, still stood on the side of justice at the crucial moment.

"And then?" Liu Hao asked, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. "What is he doing now?"

Unohana's smile softened further, a hint of mischief in her eyes. "Later, Gin Ichimaru applied to be transferred to the Tenth Division. He's currently the Third Seat in the Tenth Division, serving under Captain Hitsugaya and Vice-Captain Matsumoto."

Liu Hao was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter. His laughter was hearty and unrestrained, echoing throughout the room and making the window frames tremble slightly. He laughed until he was breathless, and tears were almost streaming down his face.

"He went to the Tenth Division?!" Liu Hao finally managed to stop laughing, but the corners of his mouth still couldn't help but turn up. "He went to Rangiku's follower?! Haha, this guy, as expected of Gin Ichimaru! He seems indifferent on the surface, but he's actually more affectionate than anyone else. He's not going to the Tenth Division to become the Third Seat, he's clearly going to chase Rangiku!"

He leaned back on the pillow, his eyes full of smiles, and continued, "You know, Captain, the story of Gin and Rangiku really moved me. Gin left his home for Rangiku, endured for a hundred years, bore the infamy, and suffered Loneliness."

Everything he did was for her. Now, he can finally stand openly by her side. Even though he's only the Third Seat, even though he's just a follower, I bet he's very happy. To be able to see Rangiku every day, to be able to talk to her every day, to be able to protect her every day... that's his greatest happiness."

At this point, Liu Hao's tone suddenly became wistful, a hint of longing flashing in his eyes. "How envious I am! Lovers finally getting married, it's something so many people dream of. Yin waited a hundred years, and finally this day has come. I wonder when I'll be able to win over the Captain and take the beauty in my arms too."

The words were spoken so naturally, as if they were just a casual remark. But as soon as the words left his mouth, Liu Hao felt a subtle change in the atmosphere of the room. His heart suddenly raced, and an unnatural blush appeared on his face.

Upon hearing this, Retsu Unohana's eyes narrowed slightly. Her expression remained gentle, but a dangerous glint flashed in her deep eyes. She looked at Liu Hao, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.

"Little brat," her voice was soft and melodious, but there was a chilling undertone to it, "It's best not to make jokes like that."

Liu Hao felt a chill rise up his spine. He knew Unohana too well; he knew that the gentler her smile, the more dangerous she was. He immediately put on a "I'm a coward" expression, his eyes darting around, not daring to meet Unohana's gaze.

His lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to explain something but didn't know how to begin. He looked like a puppy caught doing something wrong, pitiful yet somewhat adorable.

"I... I was just saying, Captain, don't take it seriously..." Liu Hao muttered softly, his voice growing softer and softer until it was almost inaudible. His gaze roamed the room, but he dared not look at Unohana.

Seeing his expression, Unohana's smile deepened. She stood up, her movements elegant and composed. The hem of her kimono gently brushed against the tatami mat, making a soft rustling sound.

"Alright, you can rest now. I'll head out first," Unohana said, her voice returning to its usual gentle tone. She turned and walked out of the bedroom, her steps light and composed, her long hair swaying gently behind her.

As Liu Hao watched Unohana's departing figure, a complex mix of emotions welled up within him. He gazed at her slender back, her elegant gait, and her cascading hair, and a soft spot in his heart was touched. He lay in bed, his eyes following her figure until she was almost out the door.

As if possessed, a daring thought flashed through Liu Hao's mind. The thought was so strong, so clear, that he completely forgot the caution and restraint he was supposed to maintain. His lips parted slightly, and he murmured to himself, "Just wait, I'll crush you sooner or later..."

Before Liu Hao could even finish his thought, Unohana suddenly turned around. Her movements were incredibly fast, as if she had been waiting for this moment. Her long hair drew a graceful arc in the air, and her deep eyes stared straight at Liu Hao, a dangerous glint in them.

"Kid," Unohana's voice was still gentle, but the pressure it contained made the temperature in the room drop several degrees, "Next time you think about something like this, you'd better not say it out loud."

Liu Hao was jolted awake by Unohana's words, leaping out of bed. His face instantly turned deathly pale, then flushed crimson. He stammered, his voice trembling with panic, "Captain... Captain, I meant... I meant... I'll earn your approval sooner or later, I absolutely didn't mean anything else! Really! I swear! I just wanted to say that I will strive to become a Soul Reaper you approve of, I will strive not to let you down, I will strive..."

"Hmph." Unohana let out a disdainful snort. The sound was soft, but the implication in it made Liu Hao stop speaking abruptly. She looked at Liu Hao's flustered appearance, the corners of her mouth seemed to turn up slightly, and then she turned and left the bedroom.

Her footsteps faded into the distance in the corridor and eventually disappeared.

Liu Hao sat blankly on the bed, still in shock and embarrassment. His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would jump out of his chest, and his face was burning hot. He reached out and touched his cheek, feeling that it was at least forty or fifty degrees Celsius.

"It's all over, it's all over, it's all over..." Liu Hao muttered softly, burying his face in his hands and collapsing onto the bed. "I've really messed up. I actually thought about that kind of thing in front of the Captain... and she could even sense it... I'm doomed. The Captain will definitely think I'm a pervert..."

He buried his face in the pillow, letting out muffled groans. After a long while, he finally lifted his head from the pillow and stared blankly at the ceiling. The moment Unohana turned around kept replaying in his mind—those deep eyes, those slightly upturned corners of her mouth, that meaningful "humph."

"Wait..." Liu Hao suddenly sat up, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, "If the Captain... she's really angry, she wouldn't just snort and walk away, would she? She's Retsu Unohana, you know. If she's really angry, she'll definitely chop me into eight pieces..."

He tilted his head and thought for a moment, the panic on his face gradually fading, replaced by a thoughtful expression.

"And... why did she turn around? Was she watching what I was thinking? Or... was she actually expecting me to say something?"

Thinking of this, Liu Hao's youthful smile returned. He lay back down in bed, put his hands behind his head, and stared blankly at the ceiling.

"Just wait, Captain," he thought to himself. "Sooner or later, I'll make you admit it yourself—that you want to be with me. No matter how long it takes, no matter how difficult it is, I will never give up."

Sunlight streamed into the room through the window, casting a warm glow on Liu Hao's face. He closed his eyes, a faint smile on his lips, and quickly fell into a deep sleep. This time, he slept soundly and peacefully.

In his dream, he saw Retsu Unohana's smile. It was a smile unlike her usual gentle one; it was a tenderness that came from the heart and was undisguised. That smile was so beautiful, so moving, that he would give anything for it.

At the end of the corridor, Retsu Unohana stopped. She turned around, glanced in the direction of her bedroom, and a complex light flashed in her eyes. There was tenderness, helplessness, and some other emotion that she herself couldn't quite explain.

"Little brat," she said softly, a slight smile playing on her lips, before turning and leaving.