Nozomi was what you would commonly call "upset." She wasn't as pissed off as she was depressed, but she wasn't as depressed as she was relieved. She wanted to break Aizen's nose and smash what was left of his face into a wall, that she was sure of. And with Gin...she wasn't sure.

In basic terms, it was easy to say the cat was out of the bag. Gin knew how she felt, but she didn't know what to do about it. As she left, it was hard for her to look at him. But the glimpse she did get couldn't tell her anything. She was so terribly confused, and she would bet that he was, too.

Anyway, she certainly didn't want to be bothered on her way to her room to pout. But that didn't mean Szayel wasn't going to let her pass by in her blind rage without sticking his pretty little nose in her business.

"Shizikura-sama..." He tilted his head, a slow smirk appearing as she passed him by, his curious gaze not even phasing hers. "Is there something wrong?"

"Go away." She snapped, but knew it was too late since he was already following her.

"Come on, tell me... I'm a rather good shrink." Szayel said, his voice smoothed over and taunting.

"Apporo, I think you need a shrink." Nozomi threw a mocking look over her shoulder before her hand reached back to push him far down the hall, the mad scientist smashing into the wall and turning it to rubble as she made a run for it.

Safe in her room, Nozomi locked the door and fell against it, sliding down the surface to the floor.

Everything...was ruined.

Gin headed straight towards Nozomi's room. He knew that she would hide someplace familiar that she could easily defend. Plus he sensed her reiatsu. He almost half expected to see someone (this someone turned out to be Szayel) laid out and groaning in pain en route to Nozomi's room.

Gin chuckled a little at Szayel's hopeless state before passing him by, flash stepping to Nozomi's room with his fist hovering in front of the door way.

He could hear the faint sobs, and the fluctuating spiritual pressure on the other side of the barrier. His heart broke before he swallowed hard and closed his eyes, gathering his courage before he knocked three good times.

"Nono-chan?"

Inside, Nozomi froze, standing up straight as if Gin could already see here there on the floor crying her eyes out. She wiped off her cheeks diligently before turning to the doorway.

"Go away!" She yelled, trying to sound strong but her voice cracked in spite of her wishes.

"You know I can't do that, Nono-chan..." Gin called sadly. "Open the door."

"I seriously don't want to talk to you right now, Ichimaru." Nozomi lied, running to wash off her face in the bathroom sink.

"Then why are you talking?" Gin mocked. "Open the door or I'll open it myself."

Nozomi narrowed her eyes at the door before sighing, slowly approaching and opening it only an inch, her eye peeking through the crack.

"What?" She snapped.

"Nono-chan..." He said, his tone warning as he pushed the door open farther.

She fell back with a frown, crossing her arms over her chest and staring at the ground as Gin closed the door behind himself and turned to look at her. The room was filled with a brief silence as she tapped her foot impatiently. Gin stared her down, as if demanding her to speak first. But she didn't.

"Nono-chan-"

"Don't say anything." She muttered. "I never meant for you to find out."

"But I want to say something." He told her, his tone solid. "I need to-"

"No, you don't." She finally looked up at him, those silver eyes broken. "You don't need to do anything for my benefit. I'm fine how we were. Aizen just has a things for ruining things beyond repair and-"

"Shizukura Nozomi." Gin's cold voice snapped through her rambling, silencing her. "Stop interrupting me."

She settled into her position, pursing her lips as he shook his head.

"Nozomi, why did you come here?" Gin asked quietly.

"I was forced to." She whispered.

"Why do you stay here? Why do you not put up a fight like I know you want to?" Gin farther questioned. "If I told you to kill me, right here, and make your escape, right now, would you? Don't you want to go back to the Soul Society?"

"Of course I do." She murmured.

"Then kill me." Gin unsheathed his sword, surprising her enough to where she did the same. But he surprised her once again by throwing Shinso on the ground a good distance away. "Kill me and run for your life."

She cut her eyes at him, lifting her blade to his neck. There was intent behind Tomeineko's stance and she tried her best, willing the katana just a few inches closer so it would slice right through Gin's pretty, pale neck. She gulped, eyes narrowing on Gin's frozen figure.

Was he really going to let her do this?
She tested him, slicing his collar bone to draw blood. The sticky, crimson liquid slid perfectly down his skin.

And Gin didn't move an inch.

"Do it." He urged her. "Hurry."

Nozomi's bottom lip trembled before she lowered her sword, the blade dropping to the ground with a deafening cling.

"You know I can't do that..." She cried, tears forming in her eyes.

Gin's head dropped, and his grin reappeared.

"Nono-chan. Do you love me?" He asked quietly.

She shut her eyes tight, nodding quickly.

"Why didn't you say so sooner?" He demanded.

By the time she opened her eyes, he was right there in front of her, leaning down to her level and kissing her soft lips. Nozomi was surprised, her eyes slowly fluttering closed before her hands moved slowly up his arms as he clutched her hips. She tangled her hand in his hair, the other hand shoving him back against the wall.

"Gin..." She whispered against his lips before she broke the kiss, leaning forward to lick away the blood droplets that lingered on his chest.

Gin hissed but didn't stop her as she pressed open-mouthed kisses along his neck. Her hands pushed away his robe to reveal his sharp shoulders and toned chest. Gin looked down at her, his sky blue eyes catching hers for a moment and she smiled.

"Good...look at me." She said, running her fingers through his silver hair. "Don't close your eyes..."

Gin nodded, pushing her back towards the bed. The rest of the night, he only closed his eyes to blink.

The artifical sky above Los Noches turned to it's normal blue, the rays of light sneaking in through the large windows in Nozomi's room. In the bed, the young girl stirred only to find two long, skinny arms wrapped around her. She smiled as she recalled the night before, rolling over to find Gin's sleeping face hardly an inch away.

He was so pretty when he slept...

But the moment was lost as his eyes slid open to reveal those bright blue orbs. He looked at her, his gaze groggy moments before he pulled her closer and planted a soft kiss on her lips.

"You're the most amazing thing to wake up to..." He whispered before he tucked his face into her neck. "But it's time to go back to sleep."

"Gin..." Nozomi laughed a little, his hair tickling her neck. "Come on, we have a meeting today..."
"Ugh...we do?" He frowned against her skin and moved to stretch. "Damn Aizen."

She sat up and he stared at her bare back before sitting up himself and wrapping his arms around her waist. He kissed her shoulder before he placed his chin upon it.

"Please tell me I don't have to keep you a secret..." Gin muttered as he slid his nose along her cheek.

"Secrets don't last very long around here..." She laughed quietly. "Yammy's too much of a loudmouth."

"True..." He grinned, running his hand down her side. "Nono-chan..."

"Hmmm?" She sighed, staring at the fake sky out the window.

"I love you. More than you can imagine." He told her.

She sniffed a laugh. "I think I might have a pretty good idea."

Comments:

I am soooo sorry it took me so long. I've just been so caught up in whatever the freak I've been doing and ughhhh... I haven't even watched the new episodes. -.- **shoots self** Ulquiorra-sama may you forgive me... :P Anywho, this is a short chapter, but just something to get me back up and running. Enjoy and please review! 3