A/N: Where did this come from? Don't ask me. Do I like this story? Yes, and I definitely enjoyed writing it. Would I appreciate reviews more than anything? Of course. So review!

"Why?" Gin asked simply.

It was a ridiculous question, really. They were engaged in the most important battle of their lives, but that was all he could say? It was very strange, very out of place, very thought provoking, and very Ichimaru Gin.

"What do you mean why?" Rangiku snarled.

Her sword was held lazily by her side, but her attitude at the moment was anything but lazy. Her eyes were alert, and they followed his every movement with ease. The pink scarf around her neck was almost soaked in blood, but she didn't appear to care about the pain she must have been in.

"Why?" Gin repeated. "Why do ya want ta die, Ran?"

She felt a sting inside her heart as he said that. It was the first time she had heard him say her name in ages, and with the statement came nostalgia that she could not deal with.

"Who says I'm going to die?" she retorted. "Your time just might be up, Gin."

His eyes opened a fraction at the contemptuous mention of his name, and a slight smirk appeared on her face. She had the upper hand, if only for the moment.

"Ya don' fool me for a secon'," Gin chuckled darkly. "I know ya too well. Ya might as well tell me."

He would not allow his emotions to show through. He had a cause, and a mere woman would not be allowed to get in the way of it. No, not even if that woman was Rangiku, the childhood friend, the brave comrade, the amusing drunk, the love of his life.

"I don't want to tell you," Rangiku snapped.

Gin laughed again, softly this time. How far they had come from the days when he was her everything…

"Don' lose your cool," he warned. "I might just kill ya when you're not lookin'."

Rangiku almost rolled her eyes at the casual manner in which he said it. It was as if he was telling her that there was something in her path that she wouldn't want to step on, when really he was telling her that he had the guts to kill her.

"I hate you," she told him quietly.

The words hurt him, and that was something he couldn't hide. Gin's eyes flew open, a combination of pain and rage lighting them up. He didn't hesitate to flash step so that he was right behind her, his sword kissing her throat.

"Tell me why," Gin said.

This was not a request; it was an order, and Rangiku knew that well.

"If you must know," she replied. "It's because you made me feel alive, Gin."

He raised his eyebrows.

"What does that have to do with anything?" he inquired.

Rangiku laughed harshly.

"You just don't get it, do you?" she sighed. "Without you, I feel dead."

Gin smiled, another odd thing to do in such a situation, but Rangiku once again thought it was very Ichimaru Gin. He leaned down, his mouth at her ear.

"Ya don' see me rushing to die, do ya?" he whispered.

She felt herself shiver. The last time they had been this close seemed like too long ago, and she had missed it, this intimacy. As hard as she tried, Rangiku could not deny that.

She felt lips brush over her cheek, so lightly that she just might have imagined it, and then, with one last word, he was gone.

"Live."