A/N: I reluctantly wrote this at 2 in the morning as an attempt to fall asleep. I doubt it will work. Regardless, enjoy this second chapter. I apologize for any mistakes.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach

Insanity

Rangiku ran back to the Seireitei, still cupping the bloody mound of dirt in her hands. The rain was starting to let up, but she paid no attention to it. She just focused on finding the person she needed. Stopping outside of the destined division, she sent a hell butterfly asking the person to please quietly let her in. She didn't dare barge into this division. A moment later the door clicked open and she was invited inside. Luckily the captain wasn't around.

"I apologize for the late intrusion, but I desperately need a favor and I'm afraid it can't wait"

"What seems to be the problem?"

"Can you..can you analyze this sample?" She uncupped her hands, revealing the bloody dirt. "I need to know who this blood belongs to"

"Im afraid I cannot do that. Master Mayuri would be very displeased if I touched his equipment without his approval"

"I see..sorry to have bothered you, Nemu"

"Wait, Lieutenant Matsumoto, I know of someone who can help you"

"R-really? Who? If its the fourth division I'm afraid I can't. My captain is surely there by now and I can't risk him seeing me. Plus Captain Unohana wouldn't take this news well"

"Do not worry, it's not the fourth division. There is a man in the human world, I am sure you know him"

"..Yes. Thank you, Nemu. I must be going now. Please, don't tell anyone about this"

"Rest assured, I will not. Goodbye Lieutenant Matsumoto"

Rangiku didn't hesitate for a second. She ran back to the Rukon and unsheathed Haineko to open a senkaimon, and stepped out into Karakura town. She flash stepped to the small shop and this time invited herself in. Not surprisingly, the man was waiting for her.

"I received a hell butterfly from Nemu saying you would be here, you sure are a speedy one. What can I do ya for?" The cheery shopkeeper greeted. Rangiku presented the dirt again and he took it carefully.

"Please, tell me who the blood belongs to"

He nodded, sensing her urgency, and placed the sample in a machine. Different graphs appeared on the screen and the hatted man looked shocked for a moment, which made Rangiku think it was indeed his blood, until he spoke.

"Why, it's just boars blood, Rangiku. Why did you need to know that?"

"B-boars..a boar..of course. Sorry to have bothered you, Urahara. I must be going"

She spoke without emotion, rivaling Byakuya and perhaps even Ulquiorra's demeanor, and abruptly ran out of the shop and reopened the senkaimon. She entered into the same area she had left, and went back inside the little shack. She didn't bother to use kido for light, she just huddled in the corner, grabbed the tattered blanket, and began sobbing once again. She was a fool to think it was Gin. It was merely a wild pig, startled by her chasing it, and..ran into the river? That's where the blood had been, right in front of the river. Perhaps..no..no more false hope. She would not do it again. The pig probably turned right or left and avoided the river. She was just to delusional to notice. Yes, that's it. She was really going insane.

She cried for what seemed like hours, and very well could have been, since the rain had finally stopped and the sun was coming up. She hadn't slept all night, but then, what else was new? She suddenly felt a familiar spiritual pressure and groaned. Now was not the time for her irritable captain to start reprimanding her for being out here. She tried to hide her reiatsu but it was too late, and the shabby door swung open revealing an equally shitty looking Toshiro. She winced, waiting for the rant, but it never came. She looked up and saw only concern in his aquamarine eyes.

"Matsumoto..what are you doing out here by yourself? You look terrible!"

"I could say the same to you, captain"

"Did..something happen? I received a hell butterfly from Urahara saying you were acting strange, so I came looking for you. Do you..usually come here?"

"I have not been here in a very long time..but that is unimportant. I'm ok, Taicho. You should rest before training" She said the last part with a little more hate, and didn't care if he noticed.

"I..Matsumoto, we need to talk. I realize I've been training a lot lately, and I know we haven't spoken in some time, but please understand I'm only doing it for-"

"For Hinamori. Yes, I know. I know. Have you looked at yourself, Taicho? You've ruined yourself! If you keep this up, you'll die! Then what? All that training for nothing. Momo will wake up and you won't be here. What if she woke up today and saw your condition? She would feel awful and blame herself and you know it. You've been training so much, you've forgotten about yourself and me and the tenth division. I suggest you rethink things before you lose another person"

She stormed out of the shack, leaving a forlorn, shocked Toshiro and flash stepped home. Collapsing in her bed, she began sobbing again, wanting to just end it all. End the misery, the loneliness, the hallucinations of him. She couldn't even say his name anymore. It was like a stab in the heart each time. She hated herself for being so weak and giving up. She hated her captain for destroying himself. She hated her friends for forgetting her. And she hated him for leaving her, only this time it was forever. Rangiku stood again, and the crying stopped as she found a new determination. She left the apartment for the last time and hurried back to the shack, hiding her reiatsu completely to avoid anyone who might be around.

For what she hoped would be the last time, she entered her childhood home. She unsheathed Haineko, whispering her goodbye to the spirit, and slowly brought the blade up to her throat and pressed lightly, wincing as her skin tore. Right before she pressed harder, which would end her life, she felt his weak, spiritual pressure and hesitated. No, she was giving herself false hope. It wasn't..was it? It became a little stronger, but was still very weak. She was about to end it all, when the door opened slowly and her breath hitched. She couldn't move. Whoever it was, would see her about to kill herself, and she only hoped it wasn't someone she knew. A basket of persimmons. That was first to enter. Then white sleeves, white robes, light turquoise obi, silver hair. She gasped. He froze. They stared at each other.

His eyes widened, thus opening in the process and she felt tears fall rapidly as she saw bright blue green eyes stare in shock. He dropped the basket and held out a hand to stop her, and she still couldn't move. He threw her sword aside and dropped to his knees in front of her.

"What are ya doin! Why? Why! Why would ya do that! Don-" She silenced him by slowly reaching up, her hand shaking, as she touched his face, making sure he was there. Her hand drifted down to his heart, and then she pulled it back as if it burned. It was beating. He was solid. He was there and alive. She couldn't speak.

"Ya..were gonna kill yourself. Why? That's not like ya..Ran-chan"

There it was. That was the one thing that made her crack. Hearing him call her that. Her emotions came flooding out and she cried into his chest, gripping him like he would disappear if she let go. He laced one hand through her hair and comforted her, finding it a little bit difficult not to cry himself. But he didn't want to scare her now, did he?

"Shhh Ran-chan it's alright. I'm here, I'm here. Please don't cry, Ran-chan, ya don't have ta cry no more"

She suddenly grew angry and slapped him, hard, across the face, leaving him stunned. She kept crying, only she huddled in the corner and hid her face in her hands. He tried scooting closer, but she raised her hand again, a silent threat to stay away. He reluctantly complied.

"I guess I got some explaining ta do, ne?"

Her sobs ceased for a moment, and she looked up at him with wide, light blue eyes that looked frightened. "You..you're not real. I'm dreaming..or hallucinating..am I dead? Why? Why do you torture me even in death!" She slapped him again. He took it. He deserved it.

"I'm real, Ran-chan. Yer not dead or anything. You're perfectly sane. I promise, I'm here" She allowed him to pull her back into a hug and continued sobbing. She didn't believe him.

"P-prove it then. Tell me how we met. Tell me things only he would know!"

"I found ya lying in the road, starving ta death and gave ya some dried persimmons. I said if ya could feel hunger then ya must have spiritual pressure like me and then I took ya ta live with me in this here shack"

"I still don't believe you..you say that in my dreams too.."

"I'll tell ya..why I left ya..and where I went all those times. I'll tell ya everything, but ya have ta promise to believe me"

"I..." She hesitated. "I promise"

"Pinky promise?" He held out his pinky. She wrapped hers around it and nodded wearily. He smiled.

"Good"

A/N: Cliff hanger! Ah, how sad. Gins back and Rangiku thinks shes finally lost it. Perhaps she really has? Next chapter Gin tells Rangiku everything and she starts to believe he's real. Until some shinigami ruin her moment. Review!