Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, or any of the characters used in this fic. They all belong to Tite Kubo. I only own any of my original characters that I choose to include, as well as any of my own original plot ideas.
A Fool's Gambit
Prompt: Betrayal...
A/N: For "Kill Your OTP" on LJ; AU
Even considering the wicked reputation he'd garnered, she'd ended up thinking the world of him. From the start, and even now, there had to have been at least a hundred reasons for her to keep her distance; to listen to the warnings he'd issued; to convince herself that nothing could happen, much less exist.
But it seemed that she had a way of defying all the odds.
In addition to her own doubts, others had brought theirs to her attention as well. They'd told her that it was a vain attempt, breaking through a shell that had been built up over time. It had seemed a perfectly rational argument, to say that trying to communicate with him was like trying to hold a porcupine. But she'd cast them aside, being the people person she was, and had gone right ahead, purposefully ignorant.
And, for what it was worth, she'd chipped away all that she had needed to.
It was just too bad that things had taken a turn, spiraling well out of her hands. She was no god, no genius. She was just good with people, with compassion and healing.
But she couldn't fix everything.
Of course, there were plenty of people who'd want him out of the way, as he'd made a habit of interfering in affairs that were none of his concern. This only went on to prove that curiosity could kill. And, given the numerous ways in which people went about killing one another these days, it had only served to heighten her suspicions. The only difference between her suspicions and the facts that had made their way onto paper, was that one of said people had actually taken the initiative right out of his hands.
She just didn't know which one.
So, a dare was her silent conclusion, one that she'd drawn after constant questioning. He had a thing for challenges, for breaking down methods and ideas that he'd deemed worthy of his attention. He'd likely gone ahead and dared the wrong person to make a move against him, thus leading to this end. One wherein she'd never know the truth. Or rather, she preferred not to know. She'd rather live in ignorance, convincing herself that it had been an accident, just a game he'd lost, and nothing more.
He'd always been horrible at gambling, anyway.