Behind the Scenes

What goes on in the world of Bleach when off-screen?

Summary of chapter: Someone unexpected manages to cheer Ichimaru Gin up when he is feeling down. Occurs after chapter 250 in the manga—the first part of this will be of a darker tone, while part II will be lighter.

All characters © Kubo Tite


VI.

Foxy Musings, Hidden Sanctuary

PART I: Envy of Simplicity

"Pure beings are always drawn to each other…"

He walked down the stark-white halls of Las Noches, his feet pattering softly on the tiled floors, aqua eyes slitted, as always. His flaxen silver hair hung about his face in a stringy halo. The only difference one would note about Ichimaru Gin's appearance if they saw him now would be that the astute and lopsided grin that perpetually plagued his face was not as wide as it typically was.

In truth, he was actually a bit bothered by what had happened earlier in the monitor room.

"To be honest, I believe anyone would be wary of you…"

Tousen's words wouldn't have irked him as much if they hadn't been true. Gin sighed, a bony hand rubbing the back of his neck. But now, in a time of invasion, such emotions were uncalled for. He supposed he was similar to Ulquiorra in those regards, a phlegmatic being, existing only to serve and carry out duty. But even Ulquiorra didn't like him. No one did. Should that bother him?

His true self was so excellently concealed that at a first glance one would only see the false cheerfulness glazed over it, his ever-present smile like decadent icing on top of a spoiled cake. The icing was thick enough to cover the distasteful mess underneath, but if someone dared take a bite…

Only a select few had possessed the courage to wipe away the frosting. Rangiku had been one of them. A vixen for his foxy smile, she had attempted to remove some of the rotting disarray inside of him, but he had chosen a different path to follow. Rangiku was merely a past remembrance, her life a story that would soon end when Aizen-sama finally carried out his plan. Gin wondered if his life was also some sad story, one that had ended long ago despite the number of blank pages still left.

With a gentle swish of white fabric, Gin glided to the library of Las Noches, a place that was scarcely inhibited by most espada and arrancar. Most of them did not feel the need for such petty luxuries.

He kept the lights dimmed, free at last from the glaring brightness of the edifice. It was quiet, a heavy silence weighing down the air in the deserted library. Just how he liked it.

Closing his eyes fully, Ichimaru placed himself in a chair and let his head rest against the back of it.

"Anyone would be wary…of you."

Was it his fault for possessing such a furtive demeanor? Maybe he had a reason for always smiling. Nobody knew a thing about him, yet they judged him based on the barrier that he put up to protect his true feelings from seeping through. Was there no one who could see past that? Was there--

"Uuuaah."

Gin felt a slight tug at the base of his hakama, and glanced down.

"Well, what do we have here?" He exclaimed nonchalantly at the arrancar at his feet.

"We just keep runnin' into each other, don't we, Wonderweiss-san?"

The blonde hollow only gave a gurgle, surveying the shinigami with saggy violet eyes.

"Uuu... uuah."

Gin smiled and cocked his head. "Sorry, didn't catch that."

Wonderweiss pulled at Gin's white hakama again and waved a hand to the door.

"Ooooo."

The small hollow rose and floated towards an isle in the dim library, turning back to stare at Gin. "I suppose you want me to follow ya," the shinigami said with a sigh as he heaved himself sinuously out of the chair.

I wonder how the retarded child even found this place, Gin thought as he followed the small arrancar, stopping at the isle where Wonderweiss was standing.

"Uuu. Uu." The blonde boy was pointing to a thick white book that lay on one of the higher shelves in the isle, jumping up and down lightly.

"Ya want this one?" Gin inquired foxily, reaching for the book.

"Uuah!"

Gin was nebulously curious, in spite of himself. Stretching lithely, he grabbed the book and extracted it from the shelf, blowing off the caked dust so that he could read the title. Wonderweiss clapped his hands gleefully. How nice it would be, Gin mused, if his life could be as simple and carefree as this child's. No worries, simple pleasures, no pain.

"What's this we have?" he murmured as he read the title, in a slightly more serious tone, more to himself than to Wonderweiss. His turquoise eyes opened fractionally.

Ichimaru Gin was speechless as he stared at the book. What was something like this doing in the private library of Hueco Mundo? More importantly, why was something like this here?

Wonderweiss Margera stared at the shinigami with magenta eyes that sparkled despite the dimness of the library.

"'Fairy Tales?'" Gin read.

"Aaahmn." The small arrancar stuck a finger into his mouth and gave Gin an eager look. He went over to the silver-haired man and flipped open the cover.

Gin chuckled amusedly. "Ah, you want me to read this little ol' book to ya, don't you Wonderweiss-san?"

The only answer he got was a drooly grin.