these bugs he steps on
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
Char./Pairing: Aizen, Gin/Rangiku
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: blood and gore
Summary: He remembers he used to be one of them.
-x-
Nuisances. Worthless, disgusting nuisances. That's what Aizen called them. All the humans, soul reapers—they were nothing to him. Even now, they served no purpose to the god. All they could be were ants.
"It's so hard to walk when you don't wish to crush these ants."
Gin didn't answer at that but he wished he had now. For the people he used to fight besides, he remembers companionship—trust, at some point. Not that it really mattered now because that ship sailed the second he agreed to begin this treachery with Aizen. Everything would change eventually, he figured. But he hadn't thought about the pain that would surely follow after.
Blood spilled everywhere. On the cold ground, staining his clothes, drying on his face. It won't wash off, he knows. Blood never washes off. And with another swipe of his sword, another body hit the dirt at his feet.
"Stop this..." came the shaky command. One glance ahead of him and he spied the very person he had been avoiding all this time. She stood there, oblivious to his distress, holding Haineko fiercely in her hands. Hurt. It's etched over her face, like a beautiful, painful masterpiece. "Gin, this must come to an end, please."
Looking back, Gin thinks that he probably should have killed her as quickly as possible. It would have saved him the regret. But he can only stare at the companion he's known since childhood. The only constant in his life up until the betrayal. He wonders if she knew that he would have done anything to keep her from this battle ground, away from blood and danger. But of course she didn't, because she's always respected him in some twisted way. It hasn't shattered, he knows. She loved him and he loves her.
It all was going to change.
"Gin," she spoke his name so softly, brokenly.
He tried to keep the smile from faltering, so he ducked his head to hide the deep frown.
"Ran, sorry things turn out dis way. Wish it could've been different, ya know?"
Her mouth opened to say something he'll never know because in that second, she collapsed to the ground. Blood—her blood—flowed beneath her. Her blue eyes managed to find his face before closing forever as he finally felt the last piece of himself crumple into nothing.
Sheathing his sword, Aizen stepped over the body and glanced over to his subordinate.
"Ants. It's so hard not to crush them fully."
From then on, Gin doesn't feel much. He listens to what his leader says and he does it. There's no questioning because there's nothing else to doubt.
And all he remembers is that those ants were just like him.