"So, you have a thing for Ran-chan, huh?" The voice was smooth and soft. Shuhei spun around, searching for the source of the voice, stumbing back when he came face to face with a tall, thin, silver haired man.

"Ichimaru!" Shuhei was reaching for his sword before he even recalled that the man was dead. His Zanpakuto was not at his side. Much to his relief, he realized neither was the other man's. "Am I dreaming?"

"Sorta." Gin shrugged leaning against a tree. "You didn't answer me. Do ya like Rangiku?"

"I... I do." The black haired man swallowed, taking a step back. "So, the rumors that the two of you were together were true?"

"Yeah." Gin nodded and lowered his gaze to the ground. "But she deserved better."

"You left her. She thought you had betrayed her. Do you have any idea how many nights she would get so drunk with us that she forgot she was trying to hide it and cried?"

"I know... And it was all for nothin' in the end. I failed. All the pain I put her through, and I didn't even accomplish what I set out for. Aizen wasn't fooled for a second..."

"You really were trying to bring him down?"

"Since Ran-chan and I were children in the Rukongai. More than century of plottin' and schemin' and I was so sure I had him!" Gin snarled, eyes flashing open as he suddenly went rigid, turning and kicking the tree violently. "I had him!"

"What happened to make you hate him so much that you would leave Rangiku's side for just the chance of defeating him?"

"Defeat him? I wanted to destroy him. His goons attacked Ran-chan and stole a piece of her soul when I wasn't there for her! He fed a piece of her to the Hogyoku!" Gin clenched his fists, then sighed and let his arms fall limp, leaning his head against the tree. "Rangiku woulda been so much happier if I had just stayed by her side... We coulda lived out our lives in the Rukongai and I coulda kept her smilin' every day instead of seekin' vengeance..."

"I would have gone after him too..."

"Don't say that. I want ya to promise me one thing. Make her smile again. That's all I ever really wanted..." Gin cracked his eyes and stared at the other man. "Protect her. Make her smile. She likes ya. I know, I've been watchin'. You've got my blessin', as long as ya make her happy."

"I... I'll do my best. Her smile is enough to make the whole Seireitei a little brighter. If that was what you were fighting for... I think I can see why you did what you did."

"I'm glad she's got a friend like you. Oh, congrats on the promotion, Captain. Muguruma says he's proud of ya." Gin grinned and waved as he turned and began walking away into the trees. "Bye bye."

"Wait! Captain Muguruma is here?!" Shuhei started to run after the silver haired man, but he was already gone.

"Captain! You have a mission in the living world today, remember?" Lieutenant Kuna's voice jerked Shuhei out of his dream.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming." He sat up and sat for a moment, looking at his Zanpakuto leaned against the wall where his idol and father figure's once had. "So, Captain, are you really proud of me?"

"Stop talking to yourself and get up! Captain Hitsugaya isn't going to wait all day!"

Shuhei immediately leaped to his feet. He had forgotten. He had requested that Rangiku join him on this mission. Was that why he had that dream? He shook his head and tossed on his haori, stepping out of his room and nearly tripping over his Lieutenant.

"Mashiro, don't you have paperwork you could be doing? That's why I am taking someone elses Lieutenant, remember? So that one of us is here?"

"Awww, you're no fun!" Mashiro aimed a kick at his head, which he carefully caught and redirected toward the ground. "You keep getting better!"

"Go. Do. Your. Paperwork!" Shuhei rolled his eyes and walked past her and out of the division, toward the Tenth where Rangiku was probably still sleeping. He wondered about his dream, and how odd it had felt.

Even if it wasn't real... You still want to make her smile, right?

Maybe if they finished their mission early, he could take her shopping or something. That always made her smile.