Author's notes:
Took me some time, but here it comes! This is not really true to the manga, but you have probably figured that one out since chapter one XD Have fun!
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Gin was acting strange.
Not that that was anything new, but the fact remained, that the boy was acting even stranger than his normal strangeness… Matsumoto didn't quite know what to make of it and quite frankly, with his 'I'm-fine-don't-ask'-attitude it was easier to find a treasure in front of their home, than pry anything out of this obstinate blockhead.
"'m goin' ta find some chicken." Was all she heard, before Gin had left their housing.
At least he wasn't moping around about whatever it was that bothered him.
-.-.-.-.-.-
Kicking a pebble ahead of him, Gin stared at the dusty ground.
It hadn't rained for almost a month and their paltry excuse for a vegetable garden had ceased to exist about a week ago, when the water they had carried every day back from the river hadn't been sufficient enough to get anything to grow in the dead earth.
So the two of them had gone back to searching trash cans, earn money by selling straw sandals or –concerning him alone- steal some from whoever happened to pass by his long fingers.
Today he was out to buy another meager chicken though, the money having come from yesterday's time on the market.
The pebble jumped another two meters.
The silver haired boy wasn't feeling too good lately.
He had met that black and white twin guy another three times since then and every time, he had come to with the same mask covering his face. Last time, he had found himself kneeling in front of Ran with his hand on the hilt of shinsou.
It was getting too dangerous.
What he could do about that, he didn't know. That thing was gaining more and more control over his mind and Gin found himself every now and then spacing out whenever he drew shinsou and trained in the woods.
He couldn't tell Ran about this whole situation. It was too complicated to explain, not to mention the fact, that he himself didn't even fully comprehend that thing 100 percent.
The point of his sandal made contact with the pebble and it flew through the hot air.
It stopped its descend midway when it hit a leg.
Frowning, Gin's gaze travelled up the black hakama, coming to rest on the green hilt of a zanpakutou.
Gulping hard, Gin wet his lips and looked up at the face of the owner of the sword. A man in his twenties regarded him with a content smile on his lips, his brown hair looking perfectly combed and at the same time slightly tousled.
"Hello." He said, unwinding his arms where they had been folded against his chest and took a step towards Gin. In his left hand, he was holding an obviously expensive pair of glasses.
The boy watched his opponent wearily, knowing there was nothing good about the presence of a shinigami.
For a rather long second, the two eyed each other, the smile never faltering on the shinigami's lips.
"There anything ya need?" Gin finally retorted, the muscles in his legs tensing as he prepared himself to run away. He had shinsou with him, but he had no doubts that his sword skills were no match to those of that man.
The smile broadened then and a strange sensation rippled through Gin's body, his stomach knotting in anticipation.
"In fact, there is something I need from you." The shinigami began, his head slightly cocked to one side, the pleasantness of his voice giving Gin the chills. "Your name."
He couldn't prevent his brows from knitting together into a frown at the most unexpected question he could think of. His name? That guy was making his alarm bells ring in a wild orchestra and reflexively he took one step away from the grinning man.
His retreat was stopped abruptly when he felt the presence of someone else standing behind him.
Swallowing his surprise, he forced himself not to look across his shoulder at the new threat.
Offence is the best form of defense…
"And who wants ta know that?" He tried to sound nonchalantly, arms hanging limply by his side even though his fingers were itching for shinsou.
"Watch your tongue, impertinent child!" The voice of the second man announced darkly, his reiatsu flaring up in an obvious threat.
"Stop it, Kaname." The exploding energy quieted down instantly and Gin could make out some shuffling and the rustling of clothes.
"Forgive me, Aizen-sama."
The man in question smiled slightly, his dark brown eyes shining with amusement.
"I am Aizen Sousuke. Third seat of the fifth division of the Gotei 13."
A third seat? Gin was far beyond mud…
"I have little time, boy." That Aizen-guy continued without waiting for another comment from Gin. "I've been watching you for some time now and have to admit, that you have gained my interest."
Gin was sure they could see his heart thrumming against his ribcage. He had been watched and never noticed. A cold shiver ran down his spine at the implication of his words.
"What do you want." He sounded braver than he felt and was glad that his voice had remained unwavering.
Aizen didn't reply immediately. Instead he unfolded the glasses and put them carefully back on, pushing them up the bridge of his nose with a long slender finger. An aura of aristocracy surrounded his every move, making Gin feel so very insignificant standing there in his torn yukata.
"You inherit a power I have never seen before." With every word he uttered, his reiatsu increased gradually, engulfing Gin like a heavy mist. His legs began to tremble and in the back of his mind, the spot of compressed darkness began to expand.
The eerie snickering of that black and white twin echoed like a hollow noise in his mind, reverberating from his skull and crashing down upon his mind like hail.
His breathing got heavier as his hand wandered without his consent to shinsou's hilt. "Surely, you have already realized that this power is slipping out of your control." The pressure of Aizen's spirit energy grew even more.
"And one day, you might no longer be able to keep that monster from slicing her throat."
The world around him stopped dead.
The sneering face of his black and white reflection appeared like a hazy picture in his consciousness, his mind fighting against it like the wings of a butterfly caught in the spider's web.
"That girl will die."
"No…"
'Pathetic insect!'
"You will kill her."
"No…"
'YES!!'
"Come with me and become a shinigami."
The calm tone in which the words had been said seemed to clear the mist that had engulfed his mind and Gin's hand went slack, falling off of his zanpakutou's hilt. The darkness retreated into the back of his consciousness again.
There was a long moment of utter silence as Gin stared at the folded arms of his opponent.
"Will you tell me your name?"
Gin had always thought of Rangiku as a small bird. She was fragile and beautiful. But strong enough to defy the order of nature and fly towards the blue sky.
If she was a bird, than he was the wind.
Surrounding her, giving her buoyancy and carrying her towards the skies.
Strong enough to catch her and break her wings.
He had realized that one day, he wouldn't be able to hold back that monster anymore and would be forced to watch his own hands murder her without being able to stop it.
Lifting his gaze from the folded arms, he stared Aizen squarely in the amused eyes.
"The name's Ichimaru Gin."
-.-.-.-.-.-
Rangiku woke with a start.
A cool breeze engulfed her as she sat up slowly on the hard straw mat. Frowning, she eyed the still gleaming coals of the extinguished fire, smelling the last remains of the chicken soup.
It was dark outside, the full moon illuminating the inside of the shack poorly.
An uneasy feeling washed over her senses as she got onto her knees and looked around. Something was amiss. Even though she didn't feel cold, a familiar warmth was missing.
Finally her bleary orbs settled on the second straw mat, her breath catching in her throat in shock.
He was gone.
Gin was gone.
Swiveling around, she stared at the door. It was slightly ajar and in the rays of pale moonlight, she could see the small imprints of sandals leading away from the shack, leaving behind one pair of shoes.
"Don't." She began to sob silently, tears falling as she stared her clenched fists. "Don't leave me alone."
A bundle of crumbled bills rolled down her lap coming to rest between her balled fists.
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FINIS?!
Sigh… wanted to write this part right from the start. Now I feel kinda strange. There'll be another part for sure, but then…? Review anyone?