Why, hello there.
I promised GinxMomo on my profile page, and indeed, here it is! Now, quite obviously this isn't canon. In fact, it practically oozes crack out of every pore. But there seem to be very few (if any) two-way, completely-consensual, non-Momo-destroying fics on this site.
So I vowed to change that.
I wrote this at school and typed it up all in one go. My beta's computer is on total downtime and won't start up, so if you spot the odd mistake, let me know, and I'll correct it at the first possible opportunity.
Which might not be for a while, but there you go.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, nor do I own any of its characters, places used etc. etc.
I guess I just like making Gin good. Mostly because, well... I think he still is. Does anyone else find it funny how the only one who was obviously the evil one is the only one with regrets? The only one that said sorry? The only one who seems not to fit in? (A little like Ulquiorra - they're both outcasts in Aizen's domain).
May I draw your attention to something very interesting that he says to Rukia?
"When you fear for the lives of those you care about… Doesn't the thought of death suddenly become more terrifying?"
Doesn't it indeed, Gin.
A guy like you should wear a warning, you're dangerous, I'm falling. (Toxic, Britney Spears)
I realised after I wrote this that parts of the song apply well.
On with the story!
Poison
[He was so deceptively sweet]
"Mornin', Momo," he greeted with a backwards wave. She bowed hurriedly.
"Captain Ichimaru," she replied respectfully, feeling her Captain's gaze on her, then Gin. His smirk didn't waver once.
"Cap'n Aizen," he added, almost as an afterthought.
"Captain Ichimaru," he returned, his voice sounding forced. Momo clasped her hands together. It was well-known that the two Captains didn't get along.
She wished they would at times, though.
She hated herself for going to the garden at the back of Squad 3's Headquarters, yet she did it anyway. Gin – Captain Ichimaru! – had requested it. Anyone else would call her a fool. Even she called herself a fool. But what could she do?
She was… Keeping tabs on him. For the good of the Soul Society. That was it.
"Momo," he remarked as he walked around the back of the building, into the garden. "You came." His voice had the slightest surprised air to it, as though he hadn't expected her to come. But, she supposed that wasn't unreasonable. Captain Aizen hated him. Most of the Soul Society hated him. Why would she go willingly?
"C-captain Ichimaru," she mumbled, her eyes averted. He laughed – it was a kind laugh, totally unlike what she had expected.
"Call me Gin," he offered, trailing a hand idly along the branch of a plum tree. "There's no-one here to tell us otherwise, ne?" Momo glanced around almost automatically. It was true; the garden was deserted, most likely on Gin's orders. After all, it belonged to him, didn't it?
"As you wish… Gin," she agreed with the faintest of smiles. He frowned slightly at that and walked over to her.
"Are you afraid of me?" He asked, crouching down to her level. She looked up at him – his squinty eyes, his false smile – and came to a sudden, unexpected realisation.
"…No," she replied. "No, I… I'm not." His smile broadened, as though it were the last thing he had expected, but also the reply he wanted most.
"Good," he decided.
"Momo?" Her Captain called as she hurried back to her room in the Headquarters of Squad 5. "Where have you been? Are you ok?"
"Nowhere, Captain Aizen… I'm fine, Captain Aizen," she replied quickly, pausing to bow to him. She hated lying to her Captain, but… For some reason, Gin seemed more important. After all, she didn't call her Captain by his first name.
"…You have a twig in your hair," he informed her slowly. Frantically, she searched her hair for said twig, pulling it out of her bun and chucking it out of the nearest window. Her Captain's eyes followed its trajectory.
"Th-thank you for your concern, Captain!" She told him hurriedly, bowing once more and swiftly leaving.
Her summons to the little garden at the back of Squad 3 became more and more frequent. Gin always told her that she was free to refuse, although he looked as though the idea pained him, but she kept going back regardless. He was like a drug, and she found herself simply unable to quit. She would go back, every single time, just for the occasional brush of his hand over hers as they talked, for the rare moments when he would open his eyes, even just for the simple sound of his voice. Even that, with its slight sarcastic edge that it never seemed to hold around her, was like sugar – it made her head rush and her heart beat a little faster, and left her craving more, like some pathetic junky. And she kept crawling back. She didn't have the willpower to give him up. And his touches slowly became more frequent, lingering just a little longer, and although she tried to resist he knew just what to do, to say, every single time to leave her breathless. He was building her up to something.
She truly hoped he wouldn't let her fall. She was deceiving her Captain for him. Captain Aizen, the man who had saved her life…
But hadn't Gin's sword cut through the Hollows as well? Hadn't he, too, been her saviour? And when had he and her Captain gone from the friendship they had shared, as Captain and Lieutenant, to the bitter hatred they now had?
When Gin had been made a Captain. She knew that already.
She and her Captain were walking to a meeting when she saw Gin and Izuru a short way away. Izuru said something to Gin, who nodded with his customary smirk, and Izuru ran over to them.
"Momo," he started. He was panting slightly, and had a light sheen of sweat on his forehead – it looked like the pair of them had been training. She wondered if Gin knew what Izuru's Shikai was.
"Heya, Izuru," she greeted, glancing back at her Captain, who was engaged in frowning darkly at Gin, who smirked back.
"…Try not to take too long," her Captain told her eventually, flashing her a warm smile.
"I won't be late, Captain Aizen," she promised, and he nodded and continued on down the boardwalk path, not even glancing back at her, his gaze on Gin. It was full of a quiet, shimmering hatred, which Gin took like he always did, his smile not faltering.
"Uh, Renji's suggested a get-together," Izuru told her, rubbing the back of his neck. "To celebrate his promotion, you know?" Momo nodded, her eyes travelling just above Izuru's shoulder and lingering on Gin. He flashed her an eyes-open smile, and her heart skipped a beat. "Rangiku invited herself, too…" Izuru continued, oblivious and somewhat rueful. "But it's tomorrow night. Can you make it?" She glanced at Gin again, and he nodded.
"I'll ask my Captain," she promised Izuru. "I've got to go to the meeting now. I can talk to him afterwards."
"Have fun," Izuru told her with a grimace, turning and walking back over to Gin, who made a slight hand movement that only Momo understood.
Tonight.
She walked off in a daze.
"Captain Aizen?" She started as they left the meeting.
"Yes, Momo?" He asked, looking down at her with a smile. With a start, she noticed that while his expression was warmer than Gin's, his eyes were cold. Completely cold.
"Um… Do you have any duties you needed me to do tomorrow night? It's just, Renji and Izuru have invited me to a meal…" She trailed off.
"Don't worry, you can go," he reassured her. "But I need you on a Hollow Hunt tonight, if that's ok."
"…Tonight?" She repeated, thinking of Gin. There was nothing she could really say… "As you wish, Captain. I'll go tell Izuru I can go." Her Captain nodded, watching her run off towards Squad 3's HQ.
She didn't see the slight frown that passed over his face.
She knocked too-quickly on the door to the Squad 3 office, almost hammering it down in her desperation. Izuru opened it, looking rather miffed until he realised who it was.
"Momo?" He started in surprise. "What's the matter? You nearly put a hole in the door!"
"IneedtospeaktoCaptainIchimaruplease!" She replied as quickly as she could manage. Her hands were bunching up the fabric of her shihakushō as she folded her arms over herself, hands tight on the sleeves. She was hoping that Izuru would interpret it as the fear she'd used to hold for Gin.
"I'll take a message, if you like," he started kindly, which was exactly what Momo didn't want to hear, but Gin came up behind Izuru and put a hand on his shoulder, making him start. "C-captain Ichimaru!" He exclaimed, surprised, when he turned to see who it was. "Uh… Uh… Momo wants to speak to you," he admitted, shooting Momo an apologetic glance. She smiled weakly.
"Well, don't leave the poor girl standing on our doorstep, hmm, Izuru?" He replied, and Momo felt his eyes on her. It made her shiver… In a good way.
Izuru glanced from his Captain to Momo warily. It seemed even his trust wasn't total.
"…Yes, Captain," he murmured, standing aside to let Momo pass. Gin's gaze didn't leave her once – it made her skin tingle.
"Oh, um, Izuru?" She started, glancing once at Gin. "Captain Aizen says that he wants me on a Hollow Hunt tonight, but I'm free tomorrow for the meal." Izuru smiled, but Gin frowned almost imperceptibly. His displeasure wasn't aimed at her, though. She knew that.
"I'll let Renji know," Izuru promised.
"You can go now, if you like, Izuru," Gin allowed, a slight, commanding tone to his voice. Izuru hesitated, unwilling to leave Momo alone with Gin, but he knew when he was being sent away.
"…Thank you, Sir," he mumbled, leaving. Momo watched him go, and he shot a glance back at her almost desperately, but did nothing.
"…Come into my office," Gin told Momo softly, his eyes on Izuru, not her.
She followed, still hooked.
He seemed nervous as he closed the door, and this unsettled Momo – Gin was always calm and composed. In public, at least.
"Captain Ichimaru…" She started, but he held up a hand.
"Gin," he corrected her softly. "You don' need to make excuses. You have duties… As do I." She swallowed slightly. His eyes were open, his face thoughtful, concerned. "You ain't told Cap'n Aizen anything… Have you?" He asked. He seemed truly worried by this, and it threw her. She still didn't know what his intentions were, but she hadn't betrayed him. She did hope she wouldn't end up regretting that.
"I've said nothing," she told him honestly. "But he's been suspicious since the first time." Gin made a surprised noise, clearly unsettled, and stayed still for several moments before sighing and turning away. "Captain Ichi- Gin?" She asked hesitantly, her hands clasped together nervously.
"Take care," he told her, and the sincerity of his statement surprised her. "Enjoy your night out wi' Renji and Izuru. You can come see me the night after, right?" She nodded, her breath catching slightly in her throat as he walked over to her, kneeling down by her. "I wanted this to be special, not clandestine," he muttered to himself, kissing her cheek. "You'd better get back t' Aizen before Izuru gets back." Momo faintly raised a hand to her cheek, then got a hold of herself and nodded.
"Y-yes… Thank you, Capt- Gin," she replied in a rush, then bowed and left, not sure how she felt.
Rangiku dragged Shūhei along to the meeting, a Lieutenant Momo didn't know all that well. She hadn't had any interaction with him since they had both been in the academy, forty years ago, and she, Renji and Izuru had helped him against the Huge Hollow that had taken the lives of both the others with him. She couldn't say 'saved' him – that honour went to Captain Aizen and Gin. But every time she looked at him, saw those claw-mark scars down the side of his face; she was reminded of that day. The screaming of the two other students who had died. The roar of a Hollow that shouldn't have been there. Blood, Shūhei's blood, all over his face, the floor, on her hands. She wondered what he felt, when he looked in the mirror, or ran a hand over his face and felt those scars.
"Rangiku?" Momo started as Shūhei, Renji and Izuru started an argument over whose Captain had the most flaws. "Can… Can I ask you something?" Rangiku down a dish of sake.
"Go for it," she replied. Momo swallowed, feeling guilty for some reason.
"What do you do, if… If you love someone, but don't think it's right?" She asked. "If you don't know… If they really love you back?" Rangiku snorted with laughter, making Momo flush with embarrassment.
"Love isn't pretty, Momo," she replied. "Love is a monster. It does cruel things to people. Even those who have the best love in the world can be torn apart – look at Lord Kuchiki."
"What about Lord Kuchiki?" Momo asked, confused, unaware that the cold head of the Kuchiki family had ever loved.
"Ah, nothing," Rangiku replied with a sigh. "But what I mean is, if you've got something, take it! Even if it screws you over… At least you had something, right? 'Tis better to have loved and lost than never loved at all, as some poet once said." She drank some more sake, clearly unhappy about something – Momo noted the occasional glances she threw at Shūhei, which the other Lieutenant didn't seem to catch. Perhaps she had her own regrets.
"…Thanks, Rangiku," she murmured, looking over at the boys in time to hear Izuru say that at least Renji could trust his Captain to be honest.
As the next few weeks passed, Momo could feel Gin get more and more anxious, especially once Rukia was brought back to the Soul Society. It upset her, to see him so shook up, especially since he always told her nothing was wrong.
It was partly because of this that she was now walking to Captain Aizen's office, to ask him what was really going on with the trouble caused by the Rukia situation. She reached the door and was about to knock, when she heard him talking. Feeling slightly guilty, she waited outside the door.
"You stay away from her, am I clear?" That was her Captain. He sounded angry, and harsh – uncharacteristically so.
"I don' know what you're talkin' about, cap'n." She repressed a gasp of shock, hands over her mouth. That was Gin! Had they been found out? She didn't want anyone to fight because of her…
"I mean it. You know what must be done. If you, of all people, get in the way…"
"Captain! I would never!" Gin sounded wounded, but she knew that it wasn't sincere Gin talking.
"You'd better not," Aizen muttered. There was a pause.
"Ah, you know me," Gin replied eventually. "But, uh…" He hesitated, perhaps unwilling to say what he wanted to. "You know how, uh… How Izuru feels about her, right? She's… Not gonna be hurt by this, is she? I wan' to tell the kid honestly…" He trailed off, although Momo didn't know why. "Ah, Captain, you know I…" There was the sound of furniture moving, perhaps a chair scraping across the floor, and two sets of footsteps, one hurried, one slow. "Please, Captain, I…" Despite having no idea what was going on, Momo had never heard Gin beg in all her life, so chose that moment to knock determinedly on the door. The footsteps ceased.
"Captain Aizen?" She called. "Can I come in?" She was trying to make it sound like she hadn't been eavesdropping.
"Yes, Momo, do," her Captain replied, his kind voice back once more, and when she pushed open the door, Gin wasn't there.
But she saw blood on the floorboards, and suspected it was his.
She met Gin in the garden again that night.
"Hey, Momo," he greeted, sitting down beside her. He looked tired, weary.
"You've hurt yourself!" She exclaimed, taking his hand. It was cut, a clean slice, as though from a blade.
Her Captain's blade.
"Ah, it's nothin'," he replied, but she shook her head and cast a healing Kidō on him anyway. Gin watched the wound close. "…Thanks, Momo," he murmured. She looked up at him.
"What's going on?" She demanded.
"Nothin's goin' on…" He replied, trying to be evasive but failing miserably. He always said it. He knew she didn't believe him.
"I overheard you talking," she told him, her voice fierce but quiet. "With my Captain. What's going on?" Gin went pale, then pulled her into a tender hug. She started, surprised by the gentleness of an embrace he didn't often give, then leaned into it, grateful for any comfort, any contact with him.
"I don' want you t' get hurt, Momo," he murmured. She closed her eyes tightly. She so badly wanted – needed – him to be sincere. She wanted to trust him… But he was poison. Everyone knew that Gin Ichimaru was evil.
But, her Captain had… Had…
He touched his lips to her forehead gently, sighing softly. He'd never done anything but care… He'd never rushed her, despite his reputation and the want she'd glimpsed in his eyes. She… She trusted him. More than her Captain, more than her friends. She trusted him with her life.
"Tell me," she whispered. Gin lifted her head up with a hand under her chin, and she opened her eyes to look at him. He was sad… And afraid.
"I can't," he replied quietly, before leaning in to kiss her.
She was walking from Captain Aizen's office to the meeting, via a shortcut because she had overslept, with the knowledge that something was inherently wrong. She had hoped that her Captain would tell her, but all he had offered was comforting words, and her faith was starting to waiver. Was he all he seemed? Was he truly-
A streak of red caught her eye as she walked, making her look up in confusion. A scream tore from her throat. It was impossible. Impossible. Her Captain… Dead? Dead?!
"Captain Aizen!!" She wailed, throwing herself to her knees at the foot of the pillar and beating it with her hands. How? How? HOW?!
"Oh, my," she heard Gin remark – his voice had the trademark sarcastic drawl he used for everyone except her. "Not a pretty sight, is it?" Slowly, she stood. Turned. Izuru was there. He was putting on the act for Izuru, wasn't he? Wasn't he? Or had he poisoned her, too? Was this what she had betrayed her Captain for? For poison?
"I HATE YOU!!" She screamed, drawing her zanpaku-tō. "Snap, Tobiume!" Gin didn't move as she ran forwards, Izuru rushing into her path and blocking her sword with his own.
"Momo, no!" He exclaimed. She looked up at him, panting, desperate.
"He did this," she murmured. "HE DID THIS! HE'S POISON!" She slammed her sword down into Izuru's. More were gathering now –Tōshirō, Rangiku. Tōshirō was her friend, right? Right?
"Momo…" Izuru started.
"Move out of the way!" She wailed, striking out at him again, but Tōshirō rushed forwards, his sword barely drawn from his sheath as he blocked them both.
"Momo… No," he told her softly, looking up at her with care in his set eyes. Momo slowly let go of her sword, watching it clatter to the floor, then fell to her knees soon after, sobbing brokenly.
"Captain Aizen…" She whispered. "Captain… Aizen… I…" Tōshirō shot a deadly look at Gin, making it clear who his suspicions were on.
"If you make Momo bleed… I'll kill you," he spat at him. Gin acted affronted – perhaps he was. She didn't know any more.
"I wouldn't hurt her," he replied, his voice softer than normal, and Tōshirō started after him as he turned and walked away. Momo's head was spinning in confusion. Was he poison?
She fainted.
Momo gritted her teeth as she blew a hole through the kidō prison she was in and cast Hakufuku on her guard. She would find him. She had to find him.
She followed Tōshirō with determination in her eyes. She no longer knew what to believe. Her Captain's death, his letter, his words, everything, none of it made sense. The only thing that truly stuck in her mind were Gin's words – I won't hurt her. He'd told Captain Aizen – ah, her Captain – the same thing – he didn't want her hurt. But how could she believe the trickster? The snake? Wasn't he poison?
But his poison tasted so sweet…
Fighting Tōshirō was a blur to her, she hardly registered anything of what they said, what they did. She was unaware that her hands were bleeding from the tight grip she had on her sword. But she was crying, she didn't understand. Even when Hitsugaya hit her to the side, she still cried.
"My, you didn't have to hit the poor girl so hard, did you?" Gin remarked. Gin. Her poison.
"I promised you if you made Momo bleed, I'd kill you," Hitsugaya spat back. Momo looked at her hands – they were bleeding.
But she couldn't let him hurt Gin.
She struggled to her feet.
"Reign over the frozen sky! Hyōrinmaru!" She held up her sword in weak, shaking hands to block as he flew at Gin. It wasn't his words that had made her bleed. It was Captain Aizen's.
"Don't… Hurt… Him!" She exclaimed, to both of them. She needed them both. Her friend… And her poison.
She didn't know which blow made her pass out.
She walked through the room of bloodied corpses without batting an eyelid. They didn't matter. She ignored Izuru completely. He didn't matter. She ran straight past him, into Gin's arms.
Gin was what mattered.
"Hush," he told her softly. "Hush…" He glanced up at Izuru, who was staring in open-mouthed shock at his Captain's actions. "Go guard the door," he suggested, and Izuru snapped his mouth shut, nodded, and rushed off to do his job.
"Please," Momo begged, "please tell me you didn't kill him." Gin's eyes were sad.
"Nobody killed him," he replied. "I've… Something to show you." He let go of her and straightened up, although he kept a comforting hand on her shoulder. "…I'm sorry."
"F-for what?" She asked, clasping her hands together and looking up at him with worry.
"…Everything," he replied sadly. "Everything but us." He kissed her forehead lightly. "Come with me."
As always, she followed.
"C-captain Aizen!" She exclaimed, rushing over and hugging him tightly. "You're alive, you're alive…" Gin watched, his customary smirk back in place in Aizen's presence.
"Momo," her Captain told her with a smile. "I'm sorry. You must've been scared."
"Captain Aizen…" she whispered softly. "They were all fighting… For nothing…" She glanced back at Gin, whose face didn't change. Of course not. They were in company.
"I know… You were very brave, going after Captain Hitsugaya like you did. Thank you." Momo's hands tightened on Aizen's hakama. She hadn't wanted to hurt Tōshirō. She had only followed him so he would lead her to Gin. It was Gin she wanted – Gin she loved. "…Goodbye, Momo." She looked up in shock just as the blade slammed through her chest. The world seemed to fall into slow motion – she heard Gin scream 'no', the anguish in his voice even greater than when she had screamed at her Captain's death, heard frantic footsteps. Her Captain pulled the blade from her body, and she fell to the floor. She only dimly felt hands picking her up, holding her close. Gin's hands..
"Momo," he managed; his voice a strangled whisper. "Momo… No…" Her vision was started to fade, but she could still feel him, holding her, supporting her. "You promised me she wouldn't be hurt!" The desperate, angry scream was directed at Aizen, not her. Never at her.
"Gin…" She whispered. "I…" Before she could finish, her world went black.
When she came to, he was gone.
A/N - no continuation planned, but if you all want one, and I find the time to squeeze one in, I might do one. Tell me what you think.