Disclaimer: Bleach and the characters are created and owned by Tite Kubo.
A/N: This is a drabble-ish fic about the relationship between Gin and Rangiku. I don't quite know how long I'm making this yet, when it will be done, etc. So this is just 1/? of entries. Hope you enjoy! Rated for violence.
You cut me down a tree and brought it back to me
And that's what made me see where I was going wrong
You put me on a shelf and kept me for yourself
I can only blame myself, you can only blame me
And I could write a song a hundred miles long
Well, that's where I belong and you belong with me
And I could write it down or spread it all around
Get lost and then get found, or swallowed in the sea
- "Swallowed in the Sea" by Coldplay
Chapter One: Found
"Rangiku…" He let her name roll off the tip of his tongue, enjoying the way it sounded on his lips. It was a pretty name, for a pretty girl.
His new houseguest glanced up from her cup of water, and he held his breath. Even with her hair still a tangled mess, a face covered in dirt, and clothes tattered and torn, she was the loveliest creature he had ever seen. He was still only a little boy, but he had been so lonesome before he had found her and there was something about her that calmed and comforted him—in spite of the wary look in her large, pale blue eyes.
"Rangiku." He said it again, in a more firm tone, as though he was confirming her existence in his life from now until the end of time. She raised an eyebrow at him and pouted, before she pointed a shaky finger in his direction.
"Hey, I don't remember giving you permission to use my first name." Her voice was hoarse and she coughed painfully once she had finished speaking. His smile grew in return.
"You don't trust me." He said, rather than asked. "It's okay, but I jus' thought since we were going ta be livin' together we might as well get ta know each other."
"Living together?" She replied, slightly dumbfounded. She placed the cup down on his makeshift table and tried to stand—he stopped smiling and adopted an expression of concern. "Y-You've been very kind, but we barely know each other…I mean…what if you…"
"Hurt you?" He finished her sentence when she wouldn't. The jut of her bottom lip remained firm as she managed to stand, and he supposed that she might be the stubborn sort of gal. He stood as well, and approached her—pausing when she flinched from his hand, "Do I frighten you, Rangiku?"
"I…I don't know." She muttered, swaying slightly.
"That's not a yes." His lips slowly curved into a genuine smile, "I could be your friend, Rangiku…I mean, you can trust me." She relaxed only slightly, and he felt even more drawn to her. She was lovely, yes, but she was far from stupid—he liked that about her. He reached out to her again and held her hand gently, and when he spoke he spoke earnestly, "I found you. I would never hurt you, Rangiku."
She stared at him a moment, blinked and then sat back down, "I believe you."
They sat together in silence for a while, as she ate and drank her fill, and he was content. Gin had long since been accustomed to the absence of sound in his broken down shack of a home, but once Rangiku had finished eating, she began to chat with him. And for someone who had never shared anything with anyone, Gin gave up bits and pieces of himself to her with surprising ease. Rangiku made everything easier, clearer.