Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, or any of the Bleach characters used in this fic. They all belong to Tite Kubo: the genius behind the captivating manga that started it all. I only own any of my original characters that I choose to include, as well as any of my own original plot ideas.

Caught And Cornered

Prompt: It's like sitting on a cloud...

A/N: For LJ, and a challenge against St. Harridan.

He stood before her, that goofy grin on his face. "Got your message," he chuckled, holding up the envelope. "But a letter? A little old-fashioned, aren't we, Rangiku?"

Damn, she should have known better. That someone like Gin would make fun of her for not being more in-tune with the times. For crying out loud, she could have just as easily called him or sent an email.

There was a moment of weightlessness as she suddenly remembered the context of the letter. She'd been vague, writing it in the form of a puzzle, knowing how much he enjoyed them. At the bottom of the page, she hadn't even signed her name. Instead, she'd used a stamp that had left a bright blue bird behind. How could he have known that she sent it?

"I found this." He raised a hand, placing something into hers. "Nobody has hair as red as yours, you know. If you were trying to make it a challenge, it would have been better if you'd been a bit more careful."

She looked away, blushing furiously. How stupid was she? Of course he would have noticed something so trite as a hair folded into the page. Rangiku felt very much like kicking herself before running off, not once daring to look back.

"Don't worry about it," he said, touching her hand. "I don't mind. In fact, I have a confession myself." Gin reached into his pocket, retrieving a folded piece of paper. "Here."

Rangiku gingerly accepted it, unfolding the sheet with a slackened jaw. On the paper was the question she'd asked: Do you like me? Check yes or no. In one of the boxes, there was a bright orange streak of marker, filling up the space that marked "yes."

Elation. That was all she felt. Who had known that such a little piece of information could feel so good? It was so perfect, like a match made in heaven. She had been daring, having taken a risk and telling him that, for a while now, she'd been interested. In the time it had taken him to respond, her heart had nearly stopped, eyes cranking out tears until they matched the blaze of her hair.

But now, all that fear was dispelled, the clouds lifting her to soar through the sky.

It was so real, but it felt very much like a dream.