NO IT'S NOT; alternate conversation

by Kiwi-kiwi-kii

"Gin ... why'd you betray Kira?" "Betray Izuru? Is that really what you wanted to ask?" "...No. No it's not." SMACK. "WHAT THE HELL, YOU BASTARD! THAT'S what I want to ask!" The conversation between Gin and Rangiku, my way. Minor crack, but gets serious.

'No It's Not': The Conversation I Would Have Preferred

Hi – so was anyone else totally disappointed by the way the whole Gin-Rangiku-Aizen thing ended? (Yes, I know I'm a bit late on this.) She never got the whole story, and things could have worked out so much better (meaning Gin not dead :D) Anyway, this is my version of the events, if Ran would have taken a bit more initiative.

TwoShot – short story given in two chapters. Starts off with a bit of random crack, but moves towards a happy ending, although that part is open for interpretation; I left the true ending unwritten. Also open for interpretation: GinRan as a couple vs. friendship? Rated T for Ran's swearing. Spoilers for those that haven't read up to episode 306. Read and review please!

"Ne, Rangiku, why'd ya come here?"

"Isn't it obvious? Because you're here."

The shaky and immediate reply brought Gin up short, and his smile faded. Rangiku started talking again. "Now, I can finally ask you directly … Gin, why are you working under Aizen? Why … did you betray Kira, who had put his trust in you?" Gin held back a sigh. "Are ya seriously askin' me that? Betray Izuru? Is that what ya came here ta ask me … Ran-chan?"

Maybe it was the sudden use of her old affectionate nickname, or the way he sidestepped her question. Or perhaps it was the condescending way he was talking to her, as if she was now too far below him to be able to reach into his mind – not that she had ever been able too, fully; wasn't that fact so much more obvious now? But something about her old friend's response caused something to snap. And now? Now Rangiku was PISSED.

Gin was surprised when Rangiku suddenly straightened up and put on a brilliant smile. "No, you're right. That's not what I wanted to ask you." She took a step forward, and Gin instinctively took a step back. "No … it's not," she said softly. Then, in a flash, she disappeared.

Flash step? She's gotten better, even in that condition – Gin's thoughts were interrupted by the sudden, hard-to-ignore sensation of getting slapped, hard, across the cheek.

SMACK!

"WHAT THE HELL, YOU BASTARD! THAT'S what I wanna ask!"

Gin took, or rather stumbled, back another step, eyes open for a brief instance. Whatever it was he had expected, it sure as hell wasn't THAT.

Rangiku quickly took a deep, angry breath. "You think you can just disappear, play with our minds like that, with MY mind, and everything will be okay? That I wouldn't care enough to come after you?" Gin was about to interrupt, but the busty lieutenant was on a roll, and rambled on furiously. "Well you're wrong! I want an EXPLANATION, dammit! And it better be a good one! You – do you realize what you did? Me, Kira, everyone in you squad, and I were all devastated that you left!"

Gin quietly noted that she had counted herself twice in that list, but chose – wisely – not to intercede. Not while she was in one of her moods.

Rangiku was far from done. "When the hell did this all start? Were you just being a – a – conniving little bastard from the start, from whenever you met Aizen, because I can't think of any reason you could have – there's nothing for you to gain by following him, besides power! You aren't THAT crazy, are you? Gin! God Dammit! This is what I HATE about you –"

"Rangiku –" "Shut up!" "Rangiku –" "Don't you get it? I'm telling you that I – hate – you!"

There was a beat of dead silence, the Gin quietly said, "I don't think hatin' me and hatin' things about me are the same thing."

"You're right," Rangiku said, breathing heavily. "But I still want an explanation."

More silence.

"I can't do that."

Gin dodged the first hit, aimed at his face, but the punch to his stomach was a direct hit. He doubled over slightly and Rangiku took the opportunity to bring her left hand up in a hook that connected squarely with his jaw. She then grabbed him by his collar with both hands and started shaking him.

"THE FUCK YOU CAN'T! I CAME ALL THIS WAY, FOUGHT, NEARLY DIED AND WATCHED MY FRIENDS NEARLY DIE, JUST SO YOU COULD DISMISS ME WITH FOUR FUCKING WORDS? I DON'T THINK SO!"

"Gaah, Ran, leggo!"

"The hell I will! I – want – an – ex – pla – nation – and it – had better – be GOOD!" Every word was intercepted with an especially violent shake. "Because I'm not leaving here until I get one! Do you have any idea what you put me through? Do you realize how crazy you must be if you're really going along with Aizen's plans? I've half mind to just kill you RIGHT NOW!"

"OKAY! Ran! Let – me – go!"

Gin jerked back (feeling a bit dizzy) and straightened up. He looked over Rangiku (who was breathing quite heavily and had a slightly crazed look in her eyes. Not a good sign).

"…Ow," he muttered. Rangiku was physically strong, much more so than most women. He had forgotten that. Not such a great thing for him.

Said woman raised her head to look – no, glare – at him. His mouth twitched.

"Let's … not do that again," Gin suggested. "It depends," Rangiku said icily. "Are you planning on giving me an answer?"

Oh, boy. Gin paused. Here was dangerous territory. He hadn't planned on it, certainly. Knock her out, deal with Aizen, and the whole thing was over with –

And then?

…Good point, while his actual plan was a good one, perfected by years of observation and planning … his follow up plan wasn't nearly as good. Of course, that was natural, as the fact was that he had no follow up plan. Hell, it was questionable that he would survive the original plan at all – although at times like these, Gin liked being a bit of an optimist. A prepared optimist, sure, but…

"Gin…"

He was jerked out of his thoughts and met a surprise. How was it that her eyes could go from broken to creepy, completely furious, crazy, stern, and then unbelievably sad in the span of three minutes? It was one of her endearing traits … something he was not quite willing to give up, just yet.

"Ya want an answer? 'Cause I can sure give ya a story, here. But I'd prefer ya ta just return ta everyone else 'n' let me take care a this mess."

The words took a couple of seconds to sink in. "Take … care? Gin… what are you…?" Rangiku paused, took a deep breath, and said "YES, I want an answer, thank you very much!"

"Okay then. Here's what happened."

Part one done ;)

I'm assuming everyone knows the story, though there are contradictions and some speculation about this going around: my version, abbreviated, is {SPOILERS!} that one day, Gin saw some people attacking Ran. Then he saw those same people going around and eventually giving Aizen something, and Gin identified Aizen as 'the boss'. That 'something' was a cluster of souls/soul fragments that they had collected from the people with high spiritual power in Rukongai. Aizen then made his own Hogyoku. Gin decided to kill Aizen and take the Hogyoku and give back "what was stolen" from Ran (as he said in the anime/manga). Cause you know if she's a lieutenant NOW, with part of her soul missing and all … how much potential does she REALLY have? :D

So, please review :3 it makes me happy. Part two up … probably in the morning…