Author's Note: Please don't be harsh me. This is the first time I tried writing a Bleach fanfiction. I just loved this pairing and hated the ending too much, that I had to write about it. I'd appreciate some reviews. Please don't post hate messages.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or these characters.
Sunrises
Rangiku felt her whole body ache miserably as she lie on her back. A group of shinigami had attacked her and drained her of her spiritual pressure. Now she closed her eyes as she heard the sound of a sword being drawn.
"Curse you, stupid girl." A rough voice sneered at her.
She shivered and futilely tried to command her body to move, but she was frozen in place. She didn't dare to open her eyes as a blade was pressed against her throat, and her heart beat fast as she prepared to confront death.
Suddenly, the pressure of the sword was lifted and she heard the man scream and the others shout. As the terrifying noise died down, she hesitantly opened her eyes. At first the whole world was blurred from her vision, and when it focused, she saw a young man around her age holding a fruit to her mouth with the others pressed protectively to his chest.
"Here, eat." The boy said cheerfully.
He was thin, with silver hair, pale skin, squinty eyes and a mischievous grin. He reminded her of a fox.
"If ya can collapse from hunger, ya must hav' 't too." He grinned.
"You too?"
"Yup. Name's Gin. Ichimaru Gin."
"That's an odd name." She thought out loud.
The boy's smile flickered for a moment, but then it returned to its original position. He nudged the fruit closer to her and she looked down. Rangiku's hand slowly reached for it and she took it out of his pale hands. She ate it greedily and he helped her up.
"Ma place ain' far from here."
She blinked and hesitated, but let him take her to his home.
"It ain't much. But, a home's a home." He said, still in his ever-lasting grin.
He set her down on the wooden floor and reached into a nearby chest.
"Here's somethin' dry for ya ta wear. Ya can change inta it. I promis' I won' look."
He went outside, leaving her in the privacy to change her clothes. Part of her wanted to trust him, like she always did with people (and usually got her into trouble), but the other half wondered why he was being so kind to her.
In her district, one of the poorest and most brutal, of Rukongai, it was a miraculous thing if someone helped you up. She then shook off her doubts and changed into the clothes. Rangiku stood up and faint scent of jasmine (which she had begun to associate with him) reached her.
She peered out from the shack and saw the boy sitting outside, leaning against a tree. She took a few shaky steps and toppled over. She didn't even see him move, but suddenly he was there to catch her and lifted her inside.
"Here ya go," He said as she rested in the worn futon.
"Thank you Ichimaru-san."
"Call me Gin. Ya make me soun' so old" He said lightheartedly with a small chuckle.
She replied with a giggle and his grin softened.
"If ya get cold when ya sleep, ya can move closer ta the fire."
She suddenly felt awkward. There was only one futon and her smile faded. He must have sensed it because he said, "I'll sleep on ta other side 'f ta fire."
She was embarrassed to have him sleep on the floor even though it was his own home. But she didn't try to protest because she felt uncomfortable to be so near a boy at night. She pulled the blankets over her, settled in the futon, and fell asleep.
Rangiku screamed as she narrowly escaped the claws of a hollow. She dodged behind a tree, trying to hide from the huge monster. But the hollow reached down and cut down the trees at the edge of the forest, exposing her. The large trunk fell and caught the hem of her yukata, preventing her from running away.
The yellow claws wrapped around her, lifting her far off the ground. She frantically tried to escape the suffocating grasp when she was at the opening of a gaping black hole…
When…
Rangiku woke up in cold sweat, panting hard. She felt a cool hand gently holding her arm and saw Gin. Her first instinct was to sit up and look at herself to see if she had been violated. He realized what she was doing, and released her arm from his grip and blushed. The color that flushed his cheeks stood out conspicuously against his frighteningly pale skin. She felt relieved to see that nothing had happened and looked sheepishly at the boy.
Only a trace of his trademark grin was left on his face. And even though his eyes were still squinted tightly shut, he faced her with unexpected, but genuine concern. She was surprised since they had just met.
"Are ya 'kay? I saw ya turnin' in ta bed and thought ya were havin' a nightmare. 'orry if I woke ya."
"It's okay. Thanks." She replied, ashamed to be having nightmares at her age.
"Ya wanna tell me what happened?"
She shook her head and he didn't question her further.
"Guess ya don' wanna sleep 'more. Com'." He said while pulling her up from the futon.
He led her out from the shack and took her into the woods on the far side of the clearing. She immediately tensed, recalling her terrifying nightmare and stood still. He stopped running a little further off, sensing that she was no longer behind him. He dropped most of his grin and tipped his head inquiringly.
"Com' on." He called to her in his distinct Kyoto accent.
She slowly started towards him, and for some unexplainable reason, the moment his hand came in contact with her arm, she felt at ease.
He gently led her past the forest to a cliff. Rangiku opened her mouth to speak, but he held a finger to her lips, silencing the girl. Then he lifted his finger from her lips and pointed to the sky. She gasped when she saw the fiery sun lift from the mountains beyond.
As the sun rose, it painted the sky with brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow. She laughed gaily and Gin responded with a small chuckle. The two of them sat there at the edge of the cliff watching the sunrise until the last traces of red disappeared from the sky.
And for the first time for as long as she could remember, Rangiku was content.
I hope it's not too cheesy for any of you. Lol.