Title: Winter Sonata

Fandom: Bleach

Disclaimer: Bleach is Tite Kubo's. Really.

Pairing: Ichimaru x Matsumoto

Summary: He promised to come back to her in winter. But will he fulfill the promise that even she had forgotten?

Rating: Teen

A/N: My first GinRangiku. R&R.

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-PROLOGUE: THAT TO LEAVE AND BE LEFT BEHIND-

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It was raining. Another rainy day without anything else but the splashing of water, the roll of thunder and the occasional lightning that lit up the cave's rims.

The cave wasn't big, but it was just enough for the two of them. Gin and Rangiku huddled together, keeping close to the back of the cave; away from the tempest's wrath. All they heard between the symphonies of the storm was a light tingling melody from the district; the annual traditional music that they heard every god damned winter.

And that was that, while they held each other close, fingers entwining with no other meaning but the purest affection. That was the closest they could get; wishing secretly that it would last forever, for it was probably the last moments, the last chances to be together.

"Rangiku-chan", Gin murmured to her, "I'm gonna' leave for Shinigami Academy in two days"

She didn't reply. Her only reaction was a slight; almost undetectable nod.

Gin stopped awhile; as if waiting for a reply. But he was met with stillness.

"Rangiku-chan?"

No answer. He turned his head to face her completely. She wasn't facing him; she seemed to be staring blankly at the rough stone walls of the cave. He sighed; he knew that she'd be like this, but he had no choice either.

He wanted to be stronger, so that one day, when they meet again as grown ups, he'll be ready to protect her. To protect her with every fiber in his body, so that he'd have the courage to face her; to take responsibility of her completely; as more than a friend.

Then, almost unheard by Gin; came a soft sniffle beside him followed by Rangiku's small, high-pitched voice.

"I don't want you to go"

I don't want to go; he looked at her, his smile fading away, I don't want to leave you.

"Don't leave me", she sobbed, her hands holding on to his torn yukata, "don't leave me alone".

Her tone seemed to beg. Her voice, her cries. It distressed him to see her cry. He swore once, that he won't let her cry again, not since the day he saved her. She was unhappy then, and he wanted to change that. Yet now she was crying again, and she was crying because of him.

Her sobs became mellifluous; he didn't say anything. Finally, her sobs stopped, and the cave became engulfed once more in the depths of tranquility.

"Hey, look, the rain stopped", he said as gentle as he could; trying to keep himself composed.

Outside the cave, the storm no longer raged. The whole winter, it had been nothing but storms; rain, thunder and lightning. Matsumoto Rangiku looked up, only to be greeted by the sight of the first snow of the year. Her lips curved to form a little smile.

He clutched her smaller hands inside his own, enveloping it in the most warmth he could give.

"You'll never be alone", his blood red eyes stared intently into hers; pointing into the distance. They could see the faint outline Seireitei from where they were sitting. "I'm jus' somewhere there"

"When will you come back?"

"I don't kn-"but he was cut off by her sudden rambling.

"Shinigami Academy releases you for winter holiday! Right? Then you could come back every year!" she continued, "Then we could be together every winter, then we'll make snow angels and snow men!!"

"So", she tightened her grip on his hands, "you'll come back in the winter right?"

Gin saw a small flicker of tears in the corner of her eyes, threatening to spill. He liberated his hands from hers and placed it on her back; pulling her closer to him, face to face. "I'll be lonelier than you, ya' know, you're all that I've got".

"Then", she hugged him back, "we'll play together in the snow"

Gin nodded, "I'll be back here then, every winter when tha' first snow falls down"

"You promise?"

The scrawny boy kissed her forehead, then murmured a soft yes.

"Gin?"

"Yeah?"

"Will it rain, when you come back?" Rangiku asked, "cause if it rains, then you'll get a cold when you get here; you'll be soaking wet and we won't be able to play in the snow anymore"

"It'll snow"

"Like today?"

"Like today"

She paused for a while, watching him as he stared outside; at the slowly falling snow. The fragile snow that threatened to break; to melt. She felt that it represented them somehow; the snowflakes that bonded together; then when the sun starts to shine; it will melt away and disappear. But Rangiku was determined to not let that happen between her and her precious best friend; and perhaps more than just that.

Rangiku stood up, followed by Gin's curious eyes. She looked down at him as his eyes ceased to open a bit. She extended a hand; offering to help him stand. He accepted and stood.

Ichimaru Gin was taller than Matsumoto Rangiku; you could see it clearly when they stood. But yet she had helped him stand, just like how he had always done to her. His eyes once more gazed at her with an inquiring expression painted.

"Let's play in the snow"

And so they walked out the cave, together; trying to enjoy their last days of togetherness. Trying to accept the upcoming loneliness. To live with the fact that they will be separated from the person they most care about.

But for now, they were just kids; playing in the snow as if tomorrow would never come.

x.x.x a year later; winter x.x.x

The first snow of winter was falling down, and Ichimaru Gin was walking towards Rukongai's poor district. Dressed like a Shinigami Academy student, he walked proudly through the small alleys.

Through the dead trees with no more leaves; and on to the cave. Behind the trees in front of him, he knew; by heart, that there would be a field. A small clearing that would be plain white in winter. Then, the mouth of the cave would be right in front of the small clearing.

His heart pounded wildly at the thought of seeing his Rangiku again. It's been approximately a year since he left; and Gin's been missing her too much. He was lonely, lonely as ever. He thought of losing her, and it made him scared. It made him cold. He could stand the thought of losing everything; everything but her.

Gin drew back the thick sequoia branches from his view; and revealed a scene on the white field.

Rangiku was not alone. She was not sad. And she didn't seem to be waiting for him.

All this time, he felt that he was the only one feeling lonely. He was the only one waiting, he was the only who still remembered. He was hurt.

"All this time" his voice was no louder than the soft wind," ya' never needed me like ya' said ya' did, I was the one who needed ya' beside me"

She seemed so happy, even if she was without him. Gin's smile turned into a disappointed frown. "Goodbye then".

He turned around swiftly without looking back, his steps moving quickly through the forest. Goodbye, my Rangiku.

And so they didn't meet that winter. As if they both forgotten about the promise they made. Years passed, and as they watched the first snow fall; they were as lonely as how they begun.

When he left, and when she was left behind.

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-END PROLOGUE: THAT TO LEAVE AND BE LEFT BEHIND-

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A/N: I hope you all enjoyed that. I will be working on; and hopefully uploading chapter one sometime soon. This is just a flashback, whereas the chapters will be after the Soul Society Arc and during the Arrancar arc. Reviews are hoped for.

Love, erased rainbow. February 2007.