Hi readers, I'm back with the second series; the Academy series!

In this series, there are four short portions. It is not quite as long as
the first series. In the final two portions of this series, Gin is a lieutenant,
but Rangiku is still in the academy. I attempted to get the years of Rangiku's
friends correct (i.e. Renji, Kira, Ikkaku, Shūhei, etc.), directly below.

(If you really don't care, skip all this lol)
Long story short, my reasoning is that Shūhei is in the same year as Gin and
Rangiku, because when Gin saved him as a lieutenant, Shūhei was in his final
year. When Shūhei was in his final year, Kira and Renji were in their first year.
Therefore, Renji and Kira are 6 years behind Gin and Rangiku.
Also, since there is no specification of when Yumichika and Ikkaku were in
the academy, I just put them as 3 or so years behind Gin, Shūhei and Rangiku
(and 3 or so years ahead of Renji and Kira).

Anyway, I'll let you enjoy this series! I don't own Bleach!
[The M-rating will go into effect in the fourth series -
so not the next, but the one after that]

It Was Always You

Written by Illuminate the Shadows

Academy Series

Sweet Dreams
January 3rd
Year 30

The soft sound of breathing filled her ears, echoing within the quiet room. Not too long ago, she found it hard to sleep in silence. Breathing comforted her; lulled her to sleep. But this was not Gin's breathing. Nine other female students slept soundly around her, curled up on their own futons. And Rangiku couldn't even begin to fathom sleep.

It was her first night sleeping in the quarters made for students. She had stayed with Gin in a makeshift hotel for the first three nights in Seireitei. The first day of classes had consisted of simple lectures pertaining to the zanpakuto. The shinigami's source of power. Rangiku found it odd and slightly unnerving that another being lived within her. Perhaps she could blame any impulsive actions on her. Not the Rangiku knew if her zanpakuto was male or female. She simply guessed that it was a female. Yamamoto, the head captain of the shinigami himself, had spoken to them directly. Rangiku couldn't believe how old he was. There were rumors going around the freshmen group that he was over 1,000 years old.

She couldn't wait to learn its name. What it could do. What it looked like. Yamamoto had said it would likely be impossible to know anything about it now, but Rangiku had a feeling hers was female.

She mused over her zanpakuto for what felt like another hour until she was desperate for sleep. Tomorrow would begin her training, and she was exhausted. Rolling onto her side, she heaved a sigh.

Something lightly brushed the fabric on her back, and before she could decide whether to dismiss it or confront it, an arm had slipped around her waist and a hand over her mouth. She tried to wriggle out of the grasp.

"Shh, don' scream, Ran. S'me."

Immediately, she froze. His warmth seeped through her robe. He let go of her mouth. "Gin? What are you doing here? You can't be in here..."

"I know how much ya hate sleepin' without me," he whispered against her ear. "An' I was havin' problems sleepin' too."

"But you'll get in trouble..."

"I'll sneak back b'fore dawn."

She sighed, allowing herself to relax in his embrace. Usually her stubbornness could rival his, but she was just too tired. But she was glad he was with her. She wasn't sure she would be able to get through all this without him.

"Sweet dreams, Ran-chan," he murmured, arm draped over her hip lazily.

Then again, she wouldn't even be in Seireitei if it weren't for him.

Snakes
March 7th
Year 31

"Don't go easy on me, Gin!"

The strawberry blonde smirked at the man standing across the field from her. Their instructor stood a few yards away, joined by the five other students in their class. A gentle breeze drifted through the very meadow where Gin and Rangiku had once watched shinigami train two decades ago. Now they stood in their shoes.

Wordlessly, the silver-haired man shifted into an athletic stance. "You may use any form of hakuda against your opponent. Sparring only. No Kidō and no Hohō."

Rangiku narrowed her eyes. Gin did not move. She realized that she would have to strike first, or their sparring would get nowhere. Running toward him, she jabbed at his midsection with straightened fingers. He turned to the side and dodged, but she hadn't expected fingertips to connect. A series of punches, chops and jabs were exchanged, in which Rangiku administered the majority. "Ichimaru-san, don't hold back!" their instructor yelled through cupped hands. Jumping backwards to avoid yet another strike, Gin made a frustrated face and turned his head toward him.

"I'm no–" A foot connected with the side of his head and he fell to the ground with a grunt. Dust flew from the dirt of the training grounds.

"Well done, Rangiku!" The spectators applauded politely, but Rangiku didn't bask in her glory. She stooped over to hold out a hand, which Gin took. He stood, brushing his hakama off, and grinned at her.

"Maybe yer tha snake, Ran."

And from that very day, Gin continued on to improve rapidly in everything taught at Shinō Academy, except hakuda. During Rangiku's 2nd year in the academy, Gin had already graduated and taken the position of lieutenant of the 5th Division. And Rangiku could still beat him in hand-to-hand combat any day.

Sparks
December 31st
Year 35

"Lieutenant, eh? That's a lot of responsibility for someone straight outta the academy."

"Knock it off, Ikkaku-san." Kira glared at him. "The man's a genius. He graduated in just one year! They obviously wouldn't have put him there if he didn't have the ability."

Rangiku rolled her eyes at the other mens' comments. Ikkaku and Kira continued to banter. Renji minded his own business. She leaned over to Gin as they continued down the sidewalk. "Sorry about them. Ikkaku's probably just jealous."

It was the middle of winter, and Rangiku was beginning her 6th and final year at the academy tomorrow. Although she was excited to graduate, she was also apprehensive. She hoped to be placed in the Gotei 13. Maybe she would even go into the 5th Division with Gin. Ikkaku and Kira were relatively "new" friends, Kira and Renji being incoming freshmen and Ikkaku a third-year. Both Kira and Ikkaku were very interested in Rangiku's friendship with the famous Gin Ichimaru. Although, Kira was more awestruck and Ikkaku more... Annoyed. Gin had been a lieutenant for a full three years now, under Captain Aizen Sōsuke of the 5th Division.

The silver-haired man smirked. "S'alrigh'. They're jus' curious."

"Let's go up on this hill," Kira pointed, trotting through the grass. Renji and Ikkaku followed, while Gin and Rangiku brought up the rear.

Humans were quite fond of celebrating New Years, as were shinigami. Although, Kira spoke of something called "fireworks" that she had never seen in Seireitei. From what Rangiku understood, they were similar to the light that kidō caused when cast. Somehow, Gin and Rangiku had been convinced to tag along to see these fireworks. The hard part had been getting permission to go to the human world when the four of them were only academy students. After considering the fact that there had been no hollow activity in that area for months, Yamamoto agreed to let them go for the night, granted that they would had a lieutenant-level shinigami with them.

"Ya cold, Ran?"

Blinking, she turned to look at his fingers as they traced her skin where goosebumps had risen. Before she could answer, he had scooted closer to her. She remembered the nights when she used to sit in his lap when it stormed outside. She still didn't like thunder.

A sudden explosion of light broke her from her reverie, and for a short moment, she thought they were under attack. Another burst of light exploded in the shy, blue this time. The streams of light fell from the blast like rain droplets. Were these fireworks? She watched in awe as many other colors and shapes erupted in the night sky.

After a few minutes, she turned her head to ask Gin if he had ever seen anything like this. He was much closer to her than she had expected, and their noses just barely brushed. All attention now transferred from the colorful fireworks to her, Gin hesitated only a second. That was all he needed.

His lips were soft, like rose petals, and they moved gently and fluidly against hers. He smelt musky – almost woodsy.

It was over as suddenly as it had begun. Fireworks continued to spark in the sky, lighting his eyes different colors. And yet again, she felt special. His eyes were only for her. She couldn't imagine anything more cliché; actual sparks flying during their first kiss. But it felt right. Real. And while Rangiku wasn't one to swoon like a lovesick schoolgirl, she knew she had felt something.

The silence was comfortable, like always. She spent the rest of the night wrapped up in his arms, just like when she was a kid. Nothing had changed.

The Morning After
March 28th
Year 36

The first sense that was awakened was scent. She could smell something slightly musky, which she immediately identified as Gin's scent without difficulty. That was good. If Gin was with her, she was safe from harm.

The second sense was interrupted by an overwhelming wave of nausea. Jumping up – where had she even been laying? – her other senses were forced to come to consciousness. The brightness shining in through the window, the sound of birds singing outside, the wooden floor beneath her bare feet as she ran down the hall and the revolting taste of bile in her throat. Upon entering the bathroom, she fell to her knees and vomited into the toilet.

"Ya really shouldn' drink so much, Ran," Gin murmured, holding her hair back from her face. She winced and took the towel he offered her. At this point, he had seen her sick so many times that she shouldn't feel embarrassed. He was certainly the only man to see her at her worst. She wiped her mouth gingerly. Now she remembered. The previous night had been Kira's birthday. A few of them – Renji, Shūhei, Ikkaku, Yumichika herself and a hesitant Gin – had spent the evening playing stupid drinking games and the Gods knew what else. She couldn't really recall anything after 9pm. Actually, where was she? This wasn't her room. Had she gone back to Gin's room in her drunken stupor? She turned to look at him, mouth still covered by the towel, but he spoke before she did.

"Ya couldn' even walk back ta yer quarters, so I helped ya ta mine. I figured ya wouldn' mind stayin' here, since it was so late and yer barracks were so far."

She blinked, and shook her head. "No, that's okay. I was just wondering..."

"Ya passed out as soon as we got here. I took it upon m'self ta read some books." She smiled faintly. "Ya alrigh' now?" She nodded, and he bent to gently gather her in his arms. Gin's strength surprised her sometimes. He set her down on the couch in the rather large, main room of his quarters. "'M gonna getcha a glass'a water. Jus' stay here, 'kay?" He disappeared, leaving her alone to hug her knees on the plush couch.

What in the hell would she do without him.