Gin
Rangiku.
What the hell is she doing here?
I was aware my eyes were still open as it captivated the people around us. Even Aizen seemed to be caught by surprise.
And when her eyes met mine, I felt my heart physically stop.
I couldn't take it anymore.
" 'scuse us, Capt'n." I spoke.
I strode up to Rangiku, grabbing her arm gently with a tight grip, aware of the shock sent between us, before pulling her into the crowd closely behind me.
My eyes were now shut as people cleared a way for me, as I dragged a stunned Rangiku behind me.
Again, what the hell is she doing here?
I dragged us into an empty alley before letting go of her arm.
I turned around, looking at her. My eyes were now slightly open, taking in the sight before me.
She still looked the same, her blonde hair cut to her shoulders, blue eyes brightening her demeanor. Except she was now taller and more built.
Out of all the days she could to come, why today?
"Why're ya here?" I frowned.
My question seemed to wake her back up into reality as she looked at me, mixed emotions boiling in her eyes.
"Isn't it obvious?" She spoke. Oh, how long it has been since I heard her voice. But unlike before, Rangiku sounded more confident in herself.
I stayed silent, continuing to frown.
"You left me all those years before." Rangiku spoke, reminding me.
I continued to stay silent.
"Do you have any idea how much I cried after you left?"
I felt my heart tear a bit at the sound of distress in her voice.
"If you wanted to protect me, Gin, you could have done so without leaving me confused and helpless like you always do."
My flawless demeanor fell down the second Rangiku said my name.
I opened my eyes, looking piercingly into her confused eyes. The same eyes I saw when I left her all those years ago.
I wanted to tell her why. Why I had to. I had thought she knew why, but I guessed wrong. And now here she was, more beautiful than ever, confused and upset.
"That doesn't answer my question. Why are you here?" I repeated myself.
Rangiku kept her eyes steady on mine as she spoke her next words calmly, with deep truth and emphasis on each word.
"Because you're here."
Rangiku
It was true. I meant every word I said. When he left me all those years ago, I was broken. I didn't know what to do without him.
So I decided to myself that when I was older, I would become a soul reaper myself, in hopes to reunite with Gin; in hopes he wouldn't disappear on me ever again.
And I never knew I would see him this soon.
When my eyes fell on him back at the square, his eyes were wide open in astonishment. I guess he'd never thought he'd ever see me again.
My heart froze at the beauty of his eyes; they were more blazing with fire and emotion than ever.
And when he led me away, I allowed him to. At the same time his grip was hard, he was gentle with me, like he had always been.
I was too stunned at the sight of Gin; he had grown so much from the last time I saw him.
And when he dragged me into the alley, I watched his actions; he was confused, astonished; usually he would keep up this strong act to hide his true emotions and intentions. But that wall had seemed to collapse when he saw me.
And then when he asked my why I was here, I wouldn't lie, I felt myself get angry. He couldn't have greeted me with anything else, but he had to say that c
Isn't it obvious, Gin, why I'm here?
"Because you're here."
A few seconds passed after I spoke those three words. Gin's eyes seemed to blaze even more as he continued to look at me.
And then he shut his eyes, putting a foot in front of him.
He was walking towards me.
I tried to keep my body calm, trying so hard to keep my heart from beating so hard it would shoot out of my chest.
And then he was in front of me, looking down at me, eyes shut.
But I knew, his eyes were never really shut.
I stood absolutely still, looking up at his frowning face.
And then his hands were on my shoulders, as they tightened by the second. His expression looked pained and confused.
Oh, how I wish I knew what was going on in that mind of his.
I placed my hands on top of Gin's hands when his grip grew too tight on my shoulders. I felt him loosen his grip. Then I pulled his hand down back to his sides, not releasing my hold on his hands.
Before Gin could react, I stepped forward so we were now inches apart, wrapping my arms around his torso. I felt his entire body tense up at my sudden action. I didn't care for his reaction.
As much as I wanted to kill him right now for leaving me behind, I missed him.
That longing for him overcame my anger as I hugged him tighter, not caring if he would hug me back or not. I missed him. I wanted to see him.
I felt tears stream down my cheek as I felt the warmth of Gin's body onto mine; its been so long since I've felt human comfort.
And then Gin did something that surprised me; he wrapped his arms around me. Pulling me closer into him, as he buried his face in my neck. And that made me cry even more.
"I'm sorry I caused you even more pain, Rangiku... I had no idea." Gin spoke softly.
"But.." Gin pulled his face from my neck, his breath now tickling my neck as he whispered the next few words:
"You need ta leave."
My eyes widened in disbelief. Of course this warm reunion wouldn't last forever. Gin always had to say something that would ruin a moment whenever he started opening up to me.
"Excuse me?" I said, pulling away from his arms and taking a step back.
"You need ta leave. Its not safe for you ta be here. It will be harder for me ta protect you-"
"-I'm not leaving." I interrupted him.
"And I don't need your protection anymore, Gin. Thats why I'm here. So I can protect myself, and you."
Gin's frown deepened. "You don't understand, Rangiku. He'll kill-"
"-well, I won't let him, whoever this guy is." I spoke with confidence.
Gin stared at me for a long time as I met his gaze, frustrated at him.
"Fine." Gin sighed.
I smiled.
"But I can't take that chance."
I rose my eyebrow at Gin, confused by what he meant.
And before I knew it, he was in front of me, with his zanpakuto in his hand, as I felt the world around me go black.
Gin
I would not take the chance of Rangiku in harms way, especially if it was under Aizen.
Her arrival here just made things ten times worse. I had to be more careful with my actions around Aizen now that Rangiku was here.
And I had to make sure they had only a few encounters, if that was even possible.
So I had to knock out Rangiku. She would be furious the minute she woke up. But I didn't care, I would just deal with the consequences later.
And besides, I had sensed Captain Aizen approaching. I had to knock out Rangiku; she would never agree to flee with me.
I had taken Rangiku underneath the Squad 10 Barracks, the closest barracks around. We weren't in the sewers, just in the basement ground of the empty Captain's office.
This was the safest place for now. The basement walls blocked off any spiritual pressure that Rangiku or I let off, making it impossible for any soul reaper to find us easily.
And the fact that Squad 10 right now was without a Captain, and had been without a Captain for a few months, made hiding Rangiku easier. Sure, we had a few people capable of being a Captain, but they mostly declined the invitation.
And I was one of them. I declined under Captain Aizen's orders; he had said I would receive a Captain's seat soon, but just not this one of Squad 10.
I put Rangiku on a couch in the corner of the room after turning the flickering light on.
It was dusty, but it would make do.
I stood at the other side of the room from where Rangiku was laying unconscious, hiding myself in the shadows as I watched her.
Now, all I needed for her to do was wake up so I could explain things to her.
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yay! finally the gin & rangiku encounter :) hope you all enjoyed this part! don't forget to vote! <3
