A/N:- This is my first attempt at a Bleach fiction and is set during Gin's years as a recruit; it is based on the observation that his dialect and accent are vastly different from his fellow Shinigami.

There will be five chapters in total:

1. Gin

2. Ukitake

3. Love

4. Wisdom

5. Betrayal

It was written entirely for QuinnAstaire in honour of her passing the first year of her course; well done hun, you are made of win!

Chapter One - Gin

Ichimaru Gin scowled deeply, he could already feel his eye starting to bruise from where he'd been hit, picking himself up he looked around for support but nobody was forthcoming. Even the Shinigami instructing the trainees today was looking on with interest; Gin felt the tears rise but fought them down – he didn't know why this still got to him, he should have learnt by now not to expect anybody to be kind to him.

And why?

Because he was different, it was the way he talked. It was painfully obvious he was not as cultured as most of the recruits here and he didn't even have others from his district to stand up for him, like the recruits from Rukongai. He was completely different, his accent was softer and slower, his use of grammar was often atrocious and he always seemed to be speaking informally even when saying the most formal of phrases.

He clenched his fist, his entire frame tensing ready for the fight, it wasn't fair that he was treated this way just because of the way he talked. Putting all his rage and sense of injustice into his attack he swung his fist, it connected with his antagonist's face with a loud crack; Gin felt a real sense of accomplishment as he saw the trail of crimson streaking down from his nose.

"Ichimaru Gin!" The Shinigami's voice rang out like a whip as he ran over. "How dare you strike another recruit, report to 4th Squad for cleaning duties as a punishment. Immediately!"

For a moment Gin simply stared at his instructor incredulously; before flashing him a look of complete hate and stalking off.

--

As he swept up and down the street the Squad Headquarters were located on he bitterly vowed he would have the power one day, he would make others respect him no matter how he talked and, most of all, he would never let anyone see him cry again.

"Hey look, it's the yokel." A voice sneered behind Gin, he whirled around to find himself confronted by four members of his class, smirking and nudging one another.

Before he had chance to do anything to stop them two of them moved to his sides and grabbed his arms, pinning them to his sides; he struggled fiercely, bucking and kicking his legs.

The ringleader sauntered slowly up and drew back his fist leisurely, smiling at Gin's renewed attempts to get loose. Almost casually he smacked Gin directly in the nose, revelling in the sound it made when it broke; Gin yelled out in pain and then gritted his teeth.

"What's going on here?" A calm but firm voice said from behind Gin's shoulder. "Let him go now."

To his surprise his arms were immediately dropped and his opponents fled like they were being chased by a whole army of Hollows; he turned slowly and looked up into the first smiling face he had seen since he had arrived here a year ago and fell hopelessly and irrevocably in love.