Life After You

Chapter 10 ~ Yumichika and Rangiku to the Rescue

Disclaimer: Bleach and all characters belong to Kubo Tite.

Author's Notes: Chapter 10 is here! Only a few more chapters to go! I'm just about to write the last big scene before the end of this story. Isn't that a sad thought? But I'm sure after this I'll another Bleach multi-chapter to work on (Is that a hint I detect in my note? You'll just have to wait and see! ;D)! I am excited, though. I found the absolutely perfect song lyrics for one of the more important chapters of this story and I can't wait to use them!

Many thanks to my readers and reviewers PunkRockHolly (Solar-chan has a lot in store for Gin and Rukia, don't worry!), Xaila'n'Eli (Oh, yes. Lots of drama is coming!), Rukes (Everything will be worked out, I promise!), StarPrincess999 (That's right, Gin shouldn't be jumping to conclusions! Foolish boy!), Nnoitra-Szayel (Obviously Ukitake had to appear somewhere!), and falconrukichi (Yeah, Gin doesn't know she's sick yet so he assumes she's cheating!)!

"Oh what a shame, what a rainy ending given to a perfect day/Just walk away, no use defending words that you will never say

And now that I'm sitting here thinking it through/I've never been anywhere cold as you" (Cold As You, Taylor Swift)

Rukia walked the halls of Karakura in a daze. Gin had been avoiding her for a solid week. Any time she tried to get close and explain everything to him he would just turn the other way, his emotions tightly locked behind the smiling mask he wore. The sight of that calm and calculating expression on Gin's face sent a chill down her spine every time she saw it. It was so cold and distant; not at all like the Gin she knew and loved. It was an expression rafted to keep people out and Rukia hated it. She wanted Gin to let her back in; she needed him to. If he didn't let her back in, she felt that she would never be at peace again. The guilt and grief kept her up at night. She had done to Gin the very thing Hisana had done to Byakuya by keeping secrets. Keeping secrets from Gin had hurt him deeply enough to drive him away. She hated herself for what she had done to him.

"You're going to walk into the boys' washroom," a velvety voice purred in her ear. Rukia snapped back to reality just in time to walk into the closed men's room door.

"Careful, Princess. You don't want to taint your sweet little mind," a second voice said. Rukia glanced to each side and found Yumichika and Rangiku standing next to her.

"Th-thank you," the petite girl mumbled.

"What's got you so distracted? Are you still moping about Gin?" Yumichika asked gently and dropped an arm around Rukia's shoulders. He began to guide her away with Rangiku trailing behind them.

"It's... a little more complicated than that," Rukia replied hesitantly.

"Apparently. Gin's been muttering about some white haired geezer," Yumichika said as he led Rukia up to the roof.

Rukia sighed softly and looked up at Yumichika. "Mr. Ukitake is my doctor's boyfriend. He's been like an uncle to me since... since I was diagnosed..." she said, still hesitating. It had been so long since she had admitted she was sick to anyone.

"Diagnosed? What?" Yumichika asked, stunned.

"She's sick, Yumi. It's fatal," Rangiku spoke up softly. Her two dark haired friends turned to look at her in surprise. Rangiku meet Rukia's gaze and held it/ "Ichigo told me," she said.

"You've known this whole time..."

Rangiku nodded. "I still don't like you and Gin together but I couldn't deny a dying girl her chance to be happy. Even if it was at Gin's expense."

"Rangiku... thank you," Rukia said softly.

"Don't thank me yet," Rangiku said, her tone suddenly harsh. Rukia blinked and was about to question Rangiku when Rangiku slapped her. Rukia winced as the sound of Rangiku's palm connecting with her cheek echoed in her ears.

"Ran! What the Hell is wrong with you?" demanded Yumichika as he moved between his two friends.

"You should have told him from the beginning!" Rangiku enarly shouted, her eyes filling with tears. "I knew you were just a selfish girl!"

Rukia's own eyes filled with tears as she stared at Yumichika's back. "I'm sorry. I deserved that. You're right Rangiku. I should have told him. I should have told everyone," Rukia admitted.

"Being the last to know is awful," Rangiku whispered.

"Ran," Yumichika said as he pulled the strawberry haired teen into his arms. Rukia just watched them quietly as she gently cupped her throbbing cheek.

"My dad died five years ago and no one told me what was going on until the very end," Rangiku told Rukia once Yumichika had released her from his embrace.

"I'm sorry," Rukia said sincerely.

"It was hard for and for Gin, My dad was like a father to Gin," Rangiku continued. Rukia nodded solemnly. She understood the point Rangiku was trying to get across.

"We will get him to see you, right Ran?" Yumichika said.

Rangiku nodded. "It's better if he knows the truth."

"We'll take care of the small details, okay? All you need to do is show up at Rangiku's place around seven," Yumichika instructed.

"Why my place? My family might be home," protested Rangiku.

"Because Gin is more likely to seek you out for comfort," answered Yumichika.

Rangiku just sighed softly. "Fine. But you better drag him there by force if he refuses to come over."

"Of course. I'm sure Renji and Ichigo will help," Yumichika agreed.

"In that case, I'll just bring Rukia home with me and pretty her up a bit," Rangiku said, grinning devilishly at Rukia.

"And I'll try not to rough Gin up too much."

Rangiku nodded. "I'll text you if he doesn't agree to come over. Only then do you get to use force."

"See you then!" Yumichika said with an equally devilish grin, He hugged both girls quickly before leaving them alone on the roof.

"Rangiku, why did you keep my secret?" Rukia asked after the stairwell door slammed shut behind Yumichika.

"He probably would have accused me of trying to break you two up," Rangiku replied quietly.

"It was never my intention to come between you and Gin, Rangiku," Rukia said softly. Rangiku just nodded and set her hand on Rukia's shoulder. "Looks like you're getting your wish, though. I don't think Gin will take me back even after I tell him the truth," the smaller girl continued.

"You know, you are pretty good for him," Rangiku admitted, looking away from Rukia. "And I guess there are worse girls out there for Gin."

"It's good to know I'm leaving him in good hands," Rukia told Rangiku. The two young women grinned at one another. "After I talk to Gin, would it be possible for us to start over? And maybe not get into a cat fight?" Rukia asked earnestly.

"I don't know... the other guys think we're hotter when we argue," teased Rangiku.

"You're awful!" groaned Rukia.

Rangiku laughed. "It's all part of my undeniable charm!"

"Sure it is, Ran."

"See? Even you can't deny it Ruki!"

Rukia just shook her head. "Hopeless," she said with a teasing smile.

"C'mon. We should get to class before Yumi sends a search party to make sure I didn't kill you," Rangiku said and began to pull Rukia to the roof's exit. Rukia nodded in agreement and went along with her busty friend.