Author's note: I do not own Bleach or its characters. This is for the 30 Kisses challenge. Theme 6: The Space Between Dream and Reality.


While You Dream

Gin perched in the window, watching the silvery moonlight pour over Rangiku's sleeping form. She slept like the girl she had been. Gin remembered long nights in their little cottage with Rangiku asleep beside him. Rangiku was peaceful in sleep and very much like a kitten. She had a tendency to sleep either curled up in a ball or curled around whoever was beside her, and she always took up more space than one would thing was possible. Tonight, she was curled up in a tight ball, her blanket half kicked off.

By all rights, he shouldn't be here. It was a risky move on his part for a number of reasons. But Ran was here in the real world, and he had needed to see her for himself, to know that she was really safe and sound. He supposed it was slightly stalkerish to be sitting in a window watching her sleep. But there was no one to see him. Rangiku shifted in her sleep, hugging the extra pillow tighter to her chest. Gin just drank in the sight of her. He hadn't realized just how much he would miss her presence when he left the Seireitei.

He crept closer to her, sitting down beside the sleeping woman. He supposed he could have found a way to bring her with him. But he hadn't wanted to risk her. Rangiku was the one thing outside of himself that he valued. And Gin had worked hard to keep Aizen from realizing just how much he valued Rangiku. He wasn't about to give the man a weapon that could be used against him. He wrapped a strand of her fiery hair around his finger. Gin had not thought that the simple act of feeding would still be so important, so binding. But in saving Rangiku, she had become his to protect and to care for and precious to him.

Rangiku made a soft noise in her sleep, stirring slightly and heading for that place between dreams and waking, and Gin sighed. He should go. He couldn't be caught here by either side. Gin leaned in close and kissed her cheek.

"Love ya, Ran-chan. Stay safe."

Then he slipped out the window, as silent as the moonlight.


Rangiku blinked sleepily, unsure if she was really awake. She could have sworn that Gin was right beside, but she was alone in the room. With a soft sigh, she closed her eyes again. Just a dream.