A/N: Sorry for the long wait! I just needed a break following the end of the Covid-19 containment period. I needed a bit of time to go back to normal life. I felt the beginning of a writer's block coming and the subsequent depression looming over me. So, I decided to indulge in an unofficial hiatus where I binge-watched on Korean and J-drama. I got my groove back thanks to a guy named Ji Chang-Wook. I hope you will all understand, dear reader that this was a necessity of sorts and still renew your support to this story.
-55-
Reboot
Rangiku Matsumoto
Lieutenant of Squad Ten under Toshiro Hitsugaya
Goddess of Gotei 13
Communication Manager for the Shinigami Women's Association
Lover, Big Sister, and Friend
Her memory was a damaged hard drive that had known too many reboots.
Her precious memories were gathered in a treasure chest. The chest was fragile. It bore the marks, furrows, and scars of the multiple battles, the hundred violations, and betrayals, the young woman had to face over the years. She fought against the rest of the world, against the love she had for that guy. She fought against herself, overcoming her weaknesses. She fought like it was never enough.
She died.
She was revived.
When he suddenly felt Rangiku's breath against his neck, Koshinko Geren froze. A cold chill ran through him just as swiftly. He looked down at his burden while continuing to run across the Garganta. He jumped through the interdimensional hole and fell nimbly in the middle of the Seireitei, not far from the barracks of the Second Division. In the distance, you could hear the explosions of the raging battle. While Ichinose Keikosuki's Bankai shattered like glass over them, he rushed up the stairs of the Sōkyoku Hills.
With the shinigami being occupied elsewhere, the way was clear. He zigzagged between the trees, getting closer to the meeting point.
His hands were burning hot. He opened his eyes wide and stopped dead, skidding on the sandy ground. Rangiku's grey purple aura enveloped them both. She suddenly arched in his arms, her chest rising and falling to the rhythm of her breathing. He was so surprised he could not brake and crashed into a tree, losing his cargo. He was on his back when he watched helplessly Matsumoto Rangiku's body flip back in the air. The woman landed with the grace of a cat goddess on her feet and knees, her eyes still closed.
He gasped. Rangiku looked up groggily, just as disoriented as he was.
"You…"
Her eyes shone bright like that of a feline for half a second. She closed her eyes again and frowned, shaken by the sudden return of her memories. A million thoughts currently collided in her mind at once.
"Don't be afraid! We don't want to hurt you! We just want to talk! "
She stepped back and stumbled against the older boy's chest.
"Enzoraki, my brother, catch her legs! "
Trembling like a leaf, Rangiku had closed her eyes. She remained quiet. She did not care to pray or cry. Or shout. She only wanted one thing, that Gin finds her, that she finds Gin, that they find each other in whatever chronological order. When she opened her eyes, her damaged soul forgot everything. Everything but Gin. What he meant to her. She found Gin, Gin found her. It happened in whatever order, and someone answered her prayers. She did not care at the time what it cost her.
Weeks passed, she realized remembering past events got even more difficult. She knew it made Gin sad because then he would withdraw in a corner and stop talking. Months became years, and Gin changed. He often disappeared. He often abandoned her. Despite his promises, despite his lies, she continued to believe that he would return. Even when he told her that he was leaving for good to join the Shinigami Academy and that he would probably never return. She stupidly waited for him for two months. Then, she gathered her things and followed him blindly.
Rangiku opened her eyes and tried to accommodate to the light. The colors formed regular patterns, the stars, dots of lights, the air sizzled for a fraction of a second, signaling the proximity of a powerful reiatsu. Someone with white hair and a familiar reiatsu. Jū-chan. She watched his fight with two fraccions with indifference. She turned to Geren.
" Hey! Who are you? Don't answer that? That guy?! Where is he? Did he leave again?"
"You are alive? All this time, you were conscious?" Geren said, stunned. He slowly got back on his feet.
Rangiku frowned, feeling a headache coming. She closed her eyes again, momentarily, lost in another flashback. The scent of woods and frankincense. Loud screams. She was standing in a blue yukata, the breeze playing with her hair.
"They are coming."
She turned, and sure enough, he stood by her side in similar clothing, grinning mischievously. She followed his gaze toward the distant mountain. He winked in her direction. At a reasonable distance as the crow flies, a crowd of villagers and monks marched toward the temple erected in the meadow, just at the foot of Mount Miroku. They were chanting and reciting sutras, breathing a new life in the quiet forest. The atmosphere was one of elation. The summer had been warm, and the harvest prolific.
The earth started undulating under Rangiku and Gin's feet. He took a stance, readying himself, His skin draining itself of its colors, ink spilling in his left pupil.
"Let's race. The last to make it is the God of Losers."
"Wait…"
Rangiku lifted her arms in the air slowly, describing circles, as her grey cloud formed around her. The cloud morphed into a grey cat made of ashes. She joined hands and breathed in and out. Gin looked at her prowess with pure wonder.
The leaves turned into particles of reishi, the spirit-matter into clouds of ashes. They were floating in the air.
"You've become quite good at this, Ran-chan."
"Well, I'm an excellent student, Sensei. Also, you share your soul with me, it really made everything easier. It was delicious." She said, her left eye colored with black ink. The left side of her face turned pasty white.
He licked his lips.
"You are delicious. All of what is mine should be yours. Yet, you are all mine from your soul to your heart. Who's the wealthiest? Or does that make me very greedy?"
He said, looking at her lovingly. The little girl shrugged with a blush. She clapped twice. The clouds compacted at once and enveloped her. Gin watched her "feed" with lust.
She turned with a bright grin.
"Nope, that makes you truly delicious, my love. I'm ready. I'm sorry. You will lose this time."
"I'm not gonna go easy on you simply because you're pretty when you smile. You're also pretty when you cry, Ran-chan. I will savor all your tears." He said, his eyes black like the night, his fangs sharp.
"Promises. This sounds like promises… The only thing my spouse knows how to do. I am more the delivering kind. Watch me fly and prepare to cry."
She disappeared in an explosion of lights and smoke, her laughter ringing in the air hauntingly.
Just where she stood, there was nothing but a crater.
Gin couldn't help but laugh at her boldness. Honestly, there was never a challenge he was not ready to pick up, especially with Ran. Behind him, reality started to undulate again. He faded in a similar explosion of lights.
She was flash-stepping in a forest, the trees around her just a blur. No, it was more like she would dance around the trees and zigzagged. He was faster than her. He's always been more rapid than her. Yet, she closed her eyes, and the world undulated around her. Denshi technique. The stroll. She was gone in a heartbeat. But he grabbed her hand anyway. Their essences entwined together on an atomic level, rendering her dizzy. Thunder rolled. Their mother, the Earth, growled. The children laughed in mischief as they play with the universe as their canvas.
The crowd chanted fervently, bowing in front of the stone statue. They brought more food. They brought more flowers because they knew the little girl likes them. They bend in fervor. Soul Society's Earth started to shake violently, but instead of panicking, the crowd stood their ground. In an explosion of colors and lights, the two children reappeared on the top of the stairs. Gin stood on the roof of the temple. Rangiku stood regally on the edge of the stairs, her strawberry hair adorned with a crow of flowers left by the villagers she picked up on the altar behind him. She turned to Gin triumphantly. His jaw dropped comically.
She outran him. How was that even possible?
"Looks like I'm the God of Losers now. You're…"
"The Goddess of Flowers. That's about right."
The villagers fell to their knees at the sight of them. They looked down placidly, navigating the sea of bland faces. Gin smiled mischievously, addressing the Monk.
"Did you bring it?" He asked with a grin.
With a plate of persimmons, the Monk started to climb the rocky stairs of the temple.
"You can stop there."
Gin said. He faded to reappear in front of the Monk. The man fell ungraciously on his knees and bowed low, touching the ground.
"Your Divine Grace…"
" Rise, loyal servant. Rise. I may have lost a race but not my pride."
The Monk did as he was told but kept his head low.
" Please, your Magnificence. Accept these meager offerings, which are not a reflection of your grander and splendor. How can it be when you're the one commanding over life and death. You blessed us with the sun for our harvest. You made our children stronger."
Rangiku cleared her throat.
"Your Grace, your innocent beauty is revered everywhere we go, your skin is like the crescent moon. Your kindness knows no boundaries."
Gin took a look at the basket offering. There was even a bit of smoked meat.
"Your offerings have become sparse these days. Was the harvest not satisfying this year?" Gin asked.
"It's not that… We are very grateful for your patronage. You are the sun and the light among us all. You are the water quenching our thirst… "
"Well, you don't sound too convincing when I see so little food." Gin remarked, counting again the fruits and vegetable baskets laid down on the side.
"Gin… that's not very nice to say. Maybe that is all they have."
"My goddess is so kind. Her heart is so pure. We are blessed by her otherworldly presence."
She turned playfully toward Gin.
"Did you hear that? He said my heart was pure. He said I have an otherworldly presence."
"Well, he obviously doesn't know how much of a pain you can be. I won't even tell him. I am magnanimous like that. But Ran-chan, you should know otherwordly is another word for alien and strange."
"It's not, is it? Don't answer that. Let's not listen to him, Monk. He is grouchy since he just lost a race. He also didn't have his full ration of dried persimmons yet."
The
"My Goddess. We will keep on making plenty. It's just there are these people… They claim to be the new authority. They made rules regarding offerings and…"
"The men in black." Ran said.
"You know them?"
"One of them brought me here."
"Shinigamis. Death god is what they called themselves. They said they are mandated by the Soul King."
"That is a lie!" Gin snapped angrily. "The Soul King is dead."
"Gin?"
Gin frowned his expression, shifting in anger. Liquid black spilled in his eyes slowly.
"Gin? How do you know that? Do you know who all these people are?" Rangiku asked.
Gin turned to Rangiku slowly, confusing marring his features.
"How? I don't know. He is just… I don't know how I know that! I don't know! I'm not happy with just this! This is not enough. I shelter the village. I protect you from the monster, and you bring me just this. What do you expect? Go! You all managed to offend me, traitors! Go away!"
He rushed inside the temple, slamming the door angrily behind him. The crowd jumped afraid at his sudden outburst. They immediately kneeled and started praying.
"What a drama queen. Sorry, he didn't mean that. We appreciated the offerings. It's just a mood. It's going to pass. I thank you for coming. It made me so warm inside. Please come back next year." She said waving happily.
When they all left, she joined Gin in the tiny temple. He was sitting next to a statue, sulking.
"Are you crazy?"
"How dare you ask me that? You know they didn't do right by me… by us… I have a right to feel offended. How dare the shinigami interfere in our affairs? Who are they to say who should be honored or not?"
"Well, they represent the authority, and you're not really a god, Gin, that is also true!"
"Who said that? Who said they mean anything to the world? They're just people with reiatsu, dressing fancy in black and white. And who said I'm not a God? Who said that? They don't know that. They don't know me!"
"Well, It's just… Oh ! Gin! Don't be stubborn! You... You said this was a good way for us to get food to prepare for winter. You said this way everybody wins. You said who cares that we are not really gods. But you give these people a false sense of safety and you're exploiting their fears of hollow."
" I've been doing this forever. We've been doing this forever. It's not like we are lying. It's not like we don't protect them."
Ran made a face. They killed one hollow in two centuries. But Gin always had a way with words, sewing nets of truths and lies together was something of his specialty.
"You, little traitor! It's not like that at all! Do you want to go back to starving to death?!"
Ran shook her head in horror.
"I don't! Well, these people, most of them don't even have reiatsu. They don't need that much food! We're helping. They should be honored we're helping. Instead of being ungrateful!"
"They are not ungrateful, Gin."
"Less of them take part in the cult every year. We lost half of our subjects to civil war and disease… and other stupid rules… Their ranks depleting every year… They think they don't have to fear us. Who makes those stupid rules anyway? Soon, somebody's gonna ask me to go fetch my food myself. "
"Well, it's not like we can't. We have a home now."
"That's more like a hut. Let's not exaggerate!"
"To me, who never own anything, it's a castle. It's great! We could try growing some vegetables in the backyard. I know for a fact Gin would be a genius at it. We could build something stable. Settle down."
"Why? Why? You like traveling. We are free."
"The world is changing. There are a lot of bad people roaming the streets of Inuzuri and Kusajishi. They came at us holding torches and pitchforks. It's not like before. Times are changing, and we could still be free in our home. In order to depend less on adults, we could blend in. They are disappointing anyway. You said so yourself. Me. The only person I trust is Gin."
He tilted his head thoughtfully, and she knew the moment he was considering her proposals carefully. The rebellion left his expression, and he seemed lost in thoughts. She smiled. He frowned, remembering the Kusajishi ceremony had been interrupted by a group of crazy fanatics wanting to drink their blood.
"Imagine not having to see them, not having to witness their cruelty, I'd like that too. Mortal souls, they're the cruelest because they have nothing to lose and everything to lose at the same time. They are so full of contradictions. That they fight it or not, they will die anyway." Gin said with a sneer.
"I am mortal, too, am I not?"
He turned to look at her.
"You're different."
"In what way?"
"You're mine. Not even death can do us apart." He said with a boyish grin, his pupils drowning in black ink.
She remembered the intensity of her feelings back then, of their mixed feelings, and she almost stumbled at the aching persistence of that memory. Rangiku held her throbbing head with tears in her eyes.
"You're mine."
Jerking her head back violently, she growled low as a tornado of spiritual pressure pushed against Geren.
"What's with all that reiatsu? You were just a corpse a minute ago?"
Her left pupil starting to fill with black. Blood was rushing in the thin veins of her face. Her very soul was starting to hurt. Her mind became blank. Her eyes rolled in their orbits. Gin. Where was he? Gin. She remembered not following the light. She remembered following him in the shadow. But then nothing…
She blinked twice. Rangiku looked around her quickly, feeling overwhelmed with dread. She turned to Geren. He seemed to have overcome his surprise and started to move toward her. Who was that guy again? Rangiku took a step back. She needed to run. Run away quickly. Danger. Mentally ordering her legs to move, she didn't move one iota. She concentrated and shivered when she finally felt electricity run through her legs. She groaned in pain. She had to move. The man stood over her and lean toward her shoulder. She recognized the uniform of the Onmitsukidō.
" I don't know what's wrong with you. Your reiatsu is all over the place."
Move. Come on, Rangiku! What happened? Move. Rangiku closed her eyes, trying to focus her energy. None of her muscles answered the call. What happened? How long was she asleep? She remembered like it was yesterday. Gin. Gin was dying by Aizen's hands and ... she had to use her bankai to save him. The last stage of her bankai. She opened her eyes again, swallowing hard as
Geren leaned close to her again, amused.
" Your value has just skyrocketed again. I know somebody who is going to be ecstatic to see you!"
Geren grabbed the young woman by the arm and unceremoniously pulled her to her feet. Rangiku uttered a strangled cry before slapping him with all her might. No matter how he wore the shinigami uniform. It did not take long for Rangiku to realize they were not on the same side. If the first slap had not shaken his resolve, the second had the merit of making him let go. Rangiku staggered backward mechanically, seeking her balance like an infant learning to walk. She concentrated on not falling and ended her run against a tree. There she caught her breath.
" Koshinko Geren? Third seat, Koshinko Geren of the second division? Is that right?"
She murmured. He smiled and made a short, mocking curtsy.
"Matsumoto Fuku-taicho. We could do this the easy way or the other not so pleasant way."
"What am I doing here?"
" What do you really want to know?"
He put his hands on his hips.
"Is the war not over? What's going on? Where am I? Where's Gin? Where's my captain?"
"We're in the epilogue, Sweetheart! War has never been so close to reach a final outcome. And this time, I believe the shinigami won't win. Aizen Sousuke will be released. It's inevitable. As for us, we are on the Sōkyoku hills. Enzo Weavorpine, one of the Primeros, working for Aizen Sousuke, asked me to kidnap you, and we are about to join him at the meeting point. He pretends he is an old friend of yours. I just don't care at this point."
" A Prim ... Primeros ... What?"
"Oh, I almost forgot! Hitsugaya Tōshirō is dead."
Rangiku blinked back the sudden tears in her eyes. Her heart beat wildly in her chest. Geren continued coldly.
"Yup, I stabbed him to death."
"What did you say?"
"Yes, you know how it is. Nothing personal. Gin Ichimaru is dead too. That was your boyfriend, right? Heard you guys had a passionate love affair. Well, I'm sorry about that. I am in no way responsible for that one. I don't have time to explain in detail. I don't know how you regained consciousness, princess. But I can assure you that you chose the wrong time to do it."
Her eyes shone bright again. She took a good breath. Tears gathered in her gray eyes like the clouds above her. It had started to rain over the bare tree forest of Sōkyoku Hill.
"You're lying…"
"Matsumoto, you must know deep down that you have no way out."
She searched immediately, not a way out, but the proof in the air that what he said about Toshiro or Gin was a lie. She took another step back, one hand on her heart. In the past, she could always say where he was at all times. She stared at a lonely leaf detaching from a tree and soaring in the sky.
Audiomachine - Deceit and Betrayal
A part of her always seemed to feel him wherever she was. Rangiku mechanically twisted her necklace between her fingers. But this part was currently silent, to say the least. Gin? She was hysterical internally, calling his name in her mind over and over. She watched the leaf flip lazily in the air. She blinked. She could have missed the leaf turning into a thousand pink cherry blossoms, the scent overpowering. She faced another memory of their never-ending chase.
Gin was standing in his shinigami uniform, his back to her, the wind playing with his haori. She was breathless where she stood, from having to run after that man. An hour earlier, she went by his office in order to talk about the very concerning facts that in those uncertain times, where a ryoka was running wild in the Seireitei, that Toshiro and he found nothing better than to get at each other's throats the night before. Well, she intended to talk business. Protecting her captain was a lieutenant's duty. So, there she had an excuse. She had been wanting to ask him what he was thinking ever since it happened. But she didn't want Toshiro to know about this. So, she waited the late hours to infiltrate the third division and stumble upon him naked with Kira in office. That virtual uppercut was a wake-up call once again. She was such a fool. How many times does that man need to stab her heart for her to say enough?!
"Why are you following me? Leave me alone!" She said.
"Well, you're the one who barged in uninvited. Poor Kira-kun is all flustered and all. Say next time can you knock? Give a poor guy committing a sin a warning?"
She turned and found unsurprisingly that he didn't look bothered or flustered at all. If anything he seemed to be mocking her.
"How long has this been going on?"
He let out a quick laugh.
"That's what you want to know?"
"Well…"
"I can't believe you, Ran. This isn't like you. I'm disappointed."
He turned to her, his eyes narrowing in mischief.
"This is unlike me?! You have such audacity!"
Gin smiled crookedly and shrugged. He thought she looked gorgeous all angry and wrapped in a velvety curtain of dignity.
"You know how it is. Not that I have to explain myself to you. It's not like you don't know this about me."
"Are you and Kira? Do you… Do you love him?" Her voice was hesitant again.
Tilting his head to the side, he shrugged.
"Don't say anything stupid."
"I saw you kissed him! Gin!"
"Well, really, you saw that much? What did it make you feel? Like you wanted to join… Tell me more, please." He teased.
"You knew I was there. You did it anyway."
She shook her head.
"How to explain how these things work, really?"
He leaned over her cruelly.
"Where to start?" He added, playing with her necklace absentmindedly. Rangiku swallowed hard, suddenly lost in the contemplation of his grotesquely long fingers playing with her pendant, remembering when those fingers actually touched her skin. Could she really blame Kira? No. That couldn't be his fault at all. Instead, she slapped Gin Ichimaru so hard it drew blood. He didn't blink and continued to smirk. He simply licked it wiping the stain away with his thumb, seemingly challenging her to do it again.
He grabbed her small wrist tight.
"You saw me with Kira. What can I say? I hardly thought you would notice with you taking all these useless guys to your bed, Ran-chan? I'm glad you were not busy tonight."
"Who's jealous now? I thought we were not friends. I thought you didn't care."
Licking the inside of her wrist passionately, Gin shrugged again.
"I don't care for your pitiful lays. I don't care that you follow me around like a pet. I don't. But darling I will never be your friend. We made other vows long ago."
Her eyes widened at his admission.
"You are unbelievable. But yes, till death do us apart, they say." She retorted coldly, snatching her wrist free. She walked away.
" Goodbye, Captain Ichimaru."
He snorted casually before he froze when he suddenly realized what she just said. What did she mean by that?
"You think this is a matter of time for you, don't you, pet?"
She stopped and turned, her arms crossed over her chest. He frowned.
"You think it's just a matter of time before you will be free. Is that really what you thought just then?"
She avoided his gaze, shook her head sadly, and continued to retreat. He was before her, blocking her path in the blink of an eye.
"Answer me."
"What do you want from me, Gin?" She said wearily.
"Answer me."
"You want me to tell you… Yes, I believe I will be free. One day. Free. Of these feelings. Free from this torture. This long agony will have the sweetest ending. You know what will make it even more delicious. To know how much you will suffer then."
Rangiku was suddenly cold. It's not like she wasn't aware of the dissonance in her own feelings. How she could go from loving him so deeply to hating him! How they could spend so much time fighting each other and so little time actually loving each other! A lonely black tear was streaming down Gin Ichimaru's left cheek, his expression shifting with gravitas, his aura tinted with his anger. Around them, time seemed to freeze and the cherry blossoms had stopped in mid-air. Black ink spilled and drowned his eyelid, his face gradually returning to that of a monster. She recalled thinking bitterly, not really aware where they stood anymore with all the petals surrounding them as if shielding them from the rest of the world, that even the universe respected this guy's privacy when he cried. What about her heart? Maybe she was just as cruel as he was. Perhaps she was just as bad. She recalled licking her own lips as she brushed the tears away softly on his face. Her face was hard as stone. She was cold inside out. Delicious indeed. Remarkable without a doubt. The way his façade could fracture so quickly.
"Death will do us apart, Gin."
His lips shivered almost imperceptibly at the thought. One day, she will vanish from his sight. It was his worst fear. A weakness he couldn't show the world. He shook his head slowly. His belligerent and rebellious soul wouldn't allow it. It was simple. Meanwhile, the innocence was back in his eyes, just like the vulnerability, and every fluctuating emotion he could not control.
"You are immortal. I am not."
He blinked at her words. His mouth opened in a painful gasp. His jaw tightened again as he tried to digest what she just said. Did she realize what she just said? Did she?
He could have been slashed open and bleeding right in front of her, his organs spilling on the ground. It wouldn't have felt this vulnerable a moment.
"What did you say? Do you know? Do you?"
She nodded. His hands were on her neck, pulling her closer, his breath warm on her lips.
"Rangiku…"
"I am broken. I am not dead yet." She whispered against his lips.
He could care less at this point where they were. He could care less. They were standing in the middle of the Sokyouku Hills Garden, where they could get caught any moment now, putting an abrupt end to the longest undercover operation in history. He brushed her lips with his and choked her a little. He could never let go of what was his.
"You hate me now. You don't think I know that? But I'm sorry, Sweetheart, it's always going to be the two of us even when death does us apart. I won't ever let you rest in peace. You will never get to move on. It's going to be the two of us dancing around our issues till this land turned into a pile of dust in the mind of a lunatic. If I have my say… If my plan works… It will end on my terms. Without you not having to shed a tear. That was my promise to you that night."
"Gin."
"Cause you live in my soul. I live in yours. Forever."
"Gin…"
"You love me, Rangiku."
"I love you." She said, pulling in for a sudden deep kiss. She didn't even try to deny the truth. It was the roots of her misery, the love she had for him. She stopped herself short of swallowing right there, filled with even more disgust with herself.
He simply smirked.
"You must know you are here for me. That's what I believe. I wished it so. I wished to walk this earth with someone, and you sprang into existence, Rangiku. I will forget and forgive what you just said. It's the word of someone broken. I believe you also made a promise, remember? Even when you hate me, you shall believe in me. Believe I will never leave you behind, Rangiku. Never. Really."
Her voice was hoarse. She was crying.
"What if I can't believe that anymore? You said you will be my husband, but you're never there. You promised once. Twice. Thousand times already. This story is five hundred years old. It keeps ending this way. The same way. With you leaving me. With me being broken. I am done."
His eyes snapped wide open again.
"You remember us?"
Rangiku could not find the words. She shrugged, suddenly so confused.
"I am done."
"You don't mean that. Answer the damn question, Rangiku. It could change everything. You remember us? You remember…"
She pushed him away from like it was a matter of life and death. She almost couldn't think when they were so close.
"Nothing. I remember nothing. No. Not nothing actually. I remember this pain. This never-ending pain. My love for you. Every night, it turns into shame like cancer. Last night, you dared attack my captain and I… I almost let you get away with it! If I hadn't interrupted when I did, God knows what you would have done!"
He was out of his mind mad now.
"Damn it Ran! I don't care about that! Tell me if you remember! Tell me what you remember!"
"I am tired! This is killing me! I cannot follow you in the shadows this time, Gin. If you ever attack my captain or hurt Kira purposefully. We won't be anything other than enemies. That is the updated state of our relationship. Goodbye."
"Rangiku."
"Enemies. Gin."
That would be her last warning. She faded using shunpo.
"Tell me if you remember our life together. Please. Give me a reason to stop this." Gin whispered to no one in particular.
Back to the leaf, landing squarely on the steps of the hills.
"I'm glad I could apologize to you." She remembered him saying that on his death bed.
"He can't be dead. They can't be dead." Rangiku muttered to herself.
Geren approached her and opened his hand. Recognizing a piece of Toshiro's haori, she gasped, covering her mouth.
"Did you know that to prove the mission is completed, we have to bring back a souvenir? That's the way of the Onmitsukidō."
She closed her fists, her face laced with anger. Thinking she was about to try and strike him, he leaped away in anticipation.
"Look, I don't want to fight you, Matsumoto. In your state, it would be useless. I got a job to do. It's that simple. It's nothing personal. If I survive this, I can get to my daughter. I can find her. Maybe I can even convince these guys to give me back my wife! You, you have nothing more to lose, do you? Your beloved captain is dead. Your lover is dead. You could just give up and go back to be dead yourself."
Her sudden tears watered the ground. Her white yukata stood out from this apocalyptic decor. She tried to catch her breath and looked up at the sky. Geren reached out for her but she skidded back, nimbly. None of this could be true.
She remembered Gin. Gin knew Ran. As long as he knew her, Ran could never get lost. As long as she remembered him, she could live forever. She firmly nodded.
"Don't do that. Matsumoto Rangiku, you are too weak. You don't stand a chance just like your tiny captain."
Rangiku closed her fist, gathering her reiatsu in her ki.
"I see that you don't leave me with much choice."
The ground shook under their feet. Thunder roared in the distance. Her nose bled as her eyes became distant. Spreading open her hand, she stared intently as she gathered enough energy to materialize Haineko.
"The fuck you think you're doing?"
Steadily the blade materialized slowly in the palm of her hand.
"Haineko. Unare Haineko." She said.
The blade instantly vaporized into a cloud of ashes. The fog enveloped Rangiku, almost lifting her from the ground, disintegrating three dead trees in its path. Pushed back two hundred yards further, Geren protected his face from the flying debris as well as he could. The twister embraced Rangiku. Her blank yukata gave way to her shinigami uniform. She had barely touched Haineko's hilt again that her zanpakutō exchanged memories of everything it had seen while she was asleep. Gin at her bedside after the war. Gin, escorted out of the room by the four captains. The multiple visits of her captain. Her abduction. The duel between Tōshirō and Gin. The temporary alliance between them, their separation, the meeting of Tōshirō with Enzo Weavorpine. At last, her captain's defeat against Geren Koshinko. His meeting with Haineko. Rangiku absorbed this knowledge in seconds. Her fist closed around the hilt firmly. The ghost of Haineko behind her let out a feline roar. Finally, the ash cloud was again sucked up inside the reconstituted blade.
When the smoke cleared, Geren realized Rangiku took advantage to break into shunpo. Rangiku was not crazy enough to imagine having a chance against Geren. She barely made it to the pine forest surrounding the hōgyoku hill that she felt her lungs on fire and her heart pounding in her chest. Her face covered in sweat, she continued to run until she had the unpleasant surprise of finding the third seat in front of her.
"You may be vice-captain. But I told you, you are not up to the task."
She dodged at the last minute his dagger and stepped back in time. He took one more step, dagger in hand. Instinctively, she countered with Haineko. He changed angles. She stooped, acting more out of survival instinct than strategy. Geren stabbed the tree been, which soon rotted, releasing hints of toxic smoke. Panting, she took another leap back.
"I don't know why you are so important to Enzo. I never could understand what people found so interesting about you."
Rangiku glided a few meters from the stairs.
"In my eyes, you look ordinary and plain vulgar."
That asshole! Unfortunately, Rangiku was too breathless to answer. She was already drained. Geren took the opportunity to catch her by the hair. She turned around, kicking his right side. Another round kick caught his chin. The burst of spiritual pressure the reunion with her zanpakutō gave her back the use of her legs. But no matter how many times she called Haineko internally, she couldn't trigger her Shikai. She resumed her mad race towards the stairs. But it was clear to Rangiku that she wouldn't go far like that. In one leap, he picked up speed again, and cut her off, his zanpakutō caressing her neck. Rangiku braked as best she could a few millimeters from Cain. She skidded gracefully enough out of reach. Unfortunately, he caught by her impossibly long hair. Grabbing her again by the back of the neck, he propelled them out of the clearing down the ruins of the pillars of Sōkyoku. She crashed loudly on the ground.
"We have arrived. Right on time."
Rangiku struggled and tried in vain to get rid of the hand on her neck. She looked up and froze. A whole part of the Seireitei was missing. Where the East gates of the Senkaimon stood, there was a large crater and ruins, ruins as far as his gaze could go. A new explosion shook the cliff. Something had just gone through the senkaimon and exploded there.
Something tore at her insides. A shiver ran through her neck. Kono reiatsu da? What was this reiatsu?
" You finally woke up, sweetie."
Geren let go at once. Her eyes shining in anger, Rangiku recognized that voice. Geren increased the pressure on her neck to force her to spin. She looked up at Enzo Weavorpine and almost wanted to puke at his creepy smile.
"And please, Matsumoto Rangiku, tell me that you remember Me? That you remember Us?"
Shedding tears uncontrollably, Rangiku shook her head, nervously up and down. The monster may have another face, but she would recognize that voice among all the others. She would always recognize the essence of evil.
"Don't ... Don't hurt me."
Enzo just reached out to grab her hair and bring her closer to him.
"That doesn't really depend on me."
Enzo Weavorpine
The enemy
Killed once by Gin Ichimaru
Formerly, he had had a Shinigami heart. At the time, it was already not the most altruistic of hearts, so people shouldn't question now his less-than-pure intentions.
Until that moment, he didn't know how much he and Gin looked alike. He didn't care to see the world ignite and burn. He was not human. Black tears dried on his cheeks at the loss of Barruk. He was not human, but he had felt the void left by Rigor's disappearance. He was not human. He had therefore gloated when he saw the bankai of that bitch Ichinose fall apart. He hoped that no name bitch died, and he would gladly be on his way to finishing the job if that wasn't the case. Until he noticed Geren's arrival, that is. Until he noticed that the shinigami truly managed the impossible and woke Rangiku Matsumoto up.
No, Enzo Weavorpine was not human. He was, therefore, positively ecstatic that this bitch would be awake when he turns her whole world upside down. More than anything in the world, he wanted her to feel the pain.
His spear wedged behind his neck nonchalantly, Enzo took a last look behind him. Zaraki Kenpachi still laid under the pile of rubble he personally buried him earlier. He noticed something moving resembling a pink cat, but Zaraki had not recovered from his last attack. How boring! He was just tired of this world. He was exhausted from having to fight against such weak and uncertain people! He faded in mid-flight to materialize above the Sōkyoku hill.
And in front of this new scene, he found something to smile about. Rangiku Fucking Matsumoto. The Flower girl. The ultimate wet dreams.
"You finally woke up."
He met his gaze, veiled in panic, and his smile increased. She looked so much prettier like this than she just laid there like an inanimate doll.
"And please, tell me that you remember Me? That you remember Us? Otherwise, I should refresh your memory ..."
She had to remember. He hadn't forgotten. She had been his last. How could he ever forget? She represented his old life.
"Don't ... Don't hurt me."
Enzo reached out to grab her hair and pulled her tight against his chest. At the same time, she represented nothing. Her life was so insignificant.
" That doesn't depend on me."
He remembered the way they surrounded this kid back in the day—child's play. Enzo looked at his roadmap and struck her name off the vice-captain's list. Today's harvest had been pretty good. They already crossed five people off the list and almost had enough to fill the little spiritual container. She was different, though. Her reiatsu was insanely potent for such a small and frail frame. He covered her mouth with an evil grin.
"Don't be afraid! We don't want to hurt you! We just want to talk!" Bunrakkuken Izumo, his best friend, told the girl.
She stepped back and bumped against Mizutani's chest, which completed their trio.
"Enzoraki, my brother, catch her legs! "
"We don't have time, Bunra! Aizen-Fukutaicho is waiting for us."
He remembered saying.
"She is so cute, though. Don't tell me you don't wanna taste. "
Bunra had always known how to appreciate the beauty in women. But far from appreciating the compliment, Rangiku tried to run. Mao frowned annoyingly. He disappeared to better materialize before her. He grabbed her by the neck to better lift her and pressed her small body against a tree. She gasped and screamed.
He winced again, covering her mouth, stifling her cry with just one hand. The terror in her eyes was addictive.
"Third seat of the fifth division of Gotei 13, Mao Enzoraki. They are my friends Bunrakukken Izumo and Mizutani Atsushi, the fifth and 8th seats, respectively. "
Rangiku let out a raspy moan again.
" I explain to you. Our master sent us to look for reiatsu particles to feed his machine. If you behave, we will only take a little. But to be honest, whether I take your whole soul or not to put it in a jar, whether you disappear or not, does not matter. My master will make no difference. That you disappear from this world will make no difference, little one. "
She whimpered again. The other two came closer.
"She's really so pretty, Enzo. "
Enzoraki nodded with a simple smile. He made a sign to his associates as he undid his Shihakusho.
"Hold her arms. Bunra, you go first. "
Yes, the years had passed. But even in a new body, under a new name, Enzo could clearly remember the day, he had crossed Rangiku-chan's road for the first time. Their meeting seemed like to rush the end of his first life.
Her fear mixed with air was still the most wonderful scent. The creature grinned cruelly.
"See, I felt a little sad seeing all my comrades fall earlier. But the idea that I could spend the next century making you pay for it fills me with joy, Rangiku Matsumoto. What am I saying? A century? My impatient ass can't wait that long. You're going to die today, you filthy bitch."
A new Garganta opened behind him, and Loly and Menolly appeared with the transgression spellbook and Kīboruto.
"Where's Moon?" Geren asked.
"There was a small incident. She didn't make it. Sorry."
Lolly and Menoly exchanged a knowing look.
"It seems that things did not go smoothly here, either." They turned to the carnage.
Geren frowned. He finally realized that Barruk and Mortis were no more. He had just understood the ramifications of their deaths. Without Rigor Mortis, there was really no chance he could ever revive his wife. Without Barruk, finding his daughter, who didn't have a reiatsu, will be difficult.
Without looking away from his prey, Enzo ordered.
"Okay, Begin the ritual. Open the damn door. I'm in the mood for real chaos. Let's destroy this place!"
When no one moved around him, Enzo brutally pushed Rangiku back on her knees. He turned to Geren.
"What are you waiting for, shinigami?"
"I betrayed my own kind."
"And?"
He shrugged impatiently. It was a bit late for the shinigami to start having second thoughts.
"I…"
"Stop babbling? Who's gonna open the damn door?! Where's Archer?"
"I think he's dead."
"Fuck, I'm surrounded by incompetents. You two, open the door."
Loly and Menoly exchange another knowing glance. It didn't seem without risks.
" No ! Geren better do it. We don't know anything about Kido. You're the only shinigami we have on hand, the only one who can use Kīboruto!" Loly noted treacherously.
Enzo swirled his spear with agility above his head before pointing his end at the traitor's carotid artery. Geren took a step back.
"Let me explain to you..."
Rangiku remained frozen on her knees. It started to rain not only in her heart but above her head. Her eyes lost in the distance; she remained there, mourning for her lost innocence, mourning for her love, mourning for the guy who was always one step before her. She could almost picture him taunting her into chasing after him. Was he gone?
"It's very simple, actually. Either you have a utility, or you don't. Unnecessary things I will clean up, shinigami. Make a decision!"
Geren stared at the spear's blade that threatened his neck. He could fight. In fact, there were several options open to him. One of them was to fight. He could fight and die. He could try to regain his lost honor. He could do that ... and in the end ...
Geren reached out to Menoly without a word and retrieved the book of demonic transgression in her hands. He opened it slowly.
" I need… reiatsu."
"Well, that's the thing about incompetent people. They messed up the plan, so they get to eat shit and improvise."
"I could never open…"
"Show me you had it in you to be captain, please."
He turned to Rangiku with a devilish grin.
"I will just bleed this one like a goat as a sacrifice for you. See, I'm in a supportive mood."
Rangiku looked up slowly as if realizing where she was for the first time.
Geren nodded weakly, reading the book. He started reciting slowly.
"Barrier of Black... Five pillars of faith ... All the stars in the universe ... The Guardian of Jigoku ... Kneel down ... The universe bends under the fingers of the fiancée of the Old God."
A pentagon of light appeared on the ground. The cliff trembled.
"Army of Ghost ... Filters the light ... Sharpens the ice ... Moves the queen's sarcophagus."
Geren dropped the ritual book on the floor to join hands.
"Kūkanten'imon Kaiko."
Rangiku grabbed the earth with teary eyes. Gin. In the end, I'm the only one hurting as always! She inhaled sharply again.
"You stupid coward! You good-for-nothing asshole! I hope you die!"
Surprised at her sudden outburst, Geren turned to Rangiku. The energy cylinder created in his hands went from yellowish to orange. He struggled for a few seconds to control it. His face oozing sweat, he let the cylinder grow between his fingers.
Far from being distracted, Menolly and Lolly approached the golden sphere of the energy cylinder concentrating all their wish on their reunion with Lord Aizen.
Rangiku struggled to stand up despite the rising level of spiritual pressure in the air.
" I'm ready. Enzo! Enzoraki! Whatever your name is!" Rangiku suddenly snapped.
Enzo rose an eyebrow at her challenging tone.
"The cat brought your tongue back. Sweet…"
"Shut up!"
Enzo's eyes narrowed in surprise. What did she just say? Fear had disappeared from her magnificent blue eyes. Her pupils were gleaming with a gold tint. What had happened to his magnificent doll?
Rangiku started to walk toward him.
"How dare you call yourself Shinigami, Geren? If you can't even sacrifice yourself for those, who are most dear to you? What the fuck is it you fight for?"
Geren lowered his head, his hands trembling. Tears began to pile up in his eyes. He sniffed loudly.
Enzo changed the direction of his weapon, holding Rangiku back at her reasonable distance.
"So, you want a victim. You want a whimpering girl, is that it? I've been cowardly in the past because I didn't want to give up on Gin. I was dumb enough to think that will make him stay. I wanted to forget and run away. I don't even know what it is I wanted. But it's over today. I am no longer a little girl. "
Rangiku materialized her katana in front of her in an offensive position.
"I'm going to fight with everything I have ..."
Enzo frowned, His left eyebrows ticking frantically. What? She stopped inches from him and smiled.
"I forgot about you. I wanted to forget you so badly. I forgot even who I was because of you. But that's okay, got me a one of a kind fail-safe. The undying kind. A lifeline. His kind of destructive love. Something even better than a memory. I'm Rangiku Matsumoto. I was born the day I met Ichimaru Gin. I met him twice. I died a couple of times just like you. I became shinigami because it was his choice. But I became vice-captain of the tenth division of my own volition with the idea of sending rotten things like you to hell. No matter your name, no matter who you think you are, you were nothing at the time, monster. I forgot you in a blink."
She laughed.
"I Forgot your face. Forgot your scent. Forgot that creepy smile. It's kinda cute the way you're looking at me right now, searching for recognition. I know that look. Gin Ichimaru gave me that look so many times. I am sad I couldn't even indulge him. You? You're just a footnote in my story trying so hard to be an exclamation point. I should as well erase you altogether, don't you agree? Make some room for good and important memories. What do you say?"
Enzo shook wildly, struggling to unleash his wrath. In an unprecedented move, Enzo let his emotion Rise to the surface. A wave of reiatsu shook the hill. He growled like a wounded beast.
Behind them, a vertical line divided the sky and the horizon. Kīboruto rose into the atmosphere. The sphere engaged in an imaginary slot while turning counterclockwise, and the gates of Muken appeared in the sky.