Matsumoto Rangiku stared across the decimated ruins of fake Karakura town at her former friend and lover. Nothing about him had changed -his hair still fell across barely open eyes, his posture slightly slouched. His hands were tucked into the pockets of his hakama, and his trademark grin was firmly in place as he watched her step to the fore front of the battle lines.
Looking at him she felt her heart break all over again at the thought of losing him. She wanted nothing more than to rush across the blood stained field and find comfort in his arms. Matsumoto smiled sadly as she suddenly remembered a song she'd heard in the real world.
Her voice was low and soft, yet carried across the field to him louder than any scream could have. "Times have changed, and times are strange. Here I come, but I ain't the same."
Ichimaru's grin faltered slightly as she met his eyes, the heartbreak apparent in her voice, "Times gone by, It seems to be you could have been a better friend to me, you made me cry you told me lies but I can't stand to say good bye."
Ichimaru closed the distance between them, one pale hand reaching out to caress her face only to feel tears streaking her cheek. "Matsumoto…"
"Please don't… nothing you can say will fix this." She turned her face away from his palm and spoke a soft, "Growl Haineko."
Gin flinched at the despair and resolve echoing in her eyes, "I can't raise my sword to you Rangiku."
"You have to; you drew the line in the sand, not me Gin."
He shrugged, hand falling to his side, "Don't matter, I can't do it. I love you. I've always loved you."
"The why did you betray me!" Her scream echoed across the battlefield, filled with anguish.
He shrugged again, "because you wouldn't have left with me."
"Then why did you leave at all?! I loved you. I still love you, Gin."
"Then leave with me," he held out one pale hand, "we can hide in the real world like Kurosaki."
"I can't! I won't abandon my post, my Taichou. You brought us to this. You had to make me choose."
"What will you do, Rangiku? Will you kill me?" Gin stared at the blonde woman in front of him. His choices weighed heavily on him, and he suddenly felt old and weary - tired of fighting.
She was silent for a long second, but when she turned her gaze to his there was a fierceness there that spoke more of her course of action than any words could have.
"If you ever loved me Ichimaru Gin, draw your sword. Don't make me kill an unarmed man."
His hand slowly drifted to the hilt of his zanpaktou, "I'm sorry I brought us to this Rangiku, but I won't fight you, not even on pain of death."
She opened her mouth to respond when suddenly she was melting in to his kiss. His lips were soft and warm on her own and she allowed herself to be tucked into the curve of his body for one last embrace.
He released her as swiftly as he had grabbed her and then he was gone, flash steps carrying him towards an opponent-less Kuchiki Byakuya and certain death – his last words echoing on the wind, "Mama, I'm coming home..."