A/N: So, chapter 2! Apologies for not updating all weekend, I was in Newcastle visiting my boyfriend~ but I was writing on paper, so all was not lost XD

I've randomly gotten back into Burimyu [Bleach Musical] stuff again. TUTI FTW 8D I love those guys XD I watched Code 001 and a whole load of backstage stoof :3

ANYWAYS, story. I hope you enjoy it, I've worked hard on it! Special thanks to Still Evil Flame for reviewing. It means a lot, thank you :3

WARNING: This fic contains shonen-ai/yaoi, swearing, and possible OOC-ness [though I will try my best to keep them in character!] and is set after the first arc.

Chapter 2 - Return to You

It was still dark when Izuru woke up. He blinked a few times as he slowly remembered why his face was stiff with tear stains. He sat up and swung his legs around, the talk with Shuuhei coming into focus alongside his vision.

He took a look at the clock that sat on his desk. 3am. He must have fallen asleep really early to wake up at this hour. Realising there was no way he was going to go back to sleep, the vice-captain decided that the best thing to do was just get ready for another day of hard work.

He shuffled into the bathroom and splashed water on his face in an attempt to get rid of the swollen eyes, the black bags underneath them and the stiffness on his cheeks. As he did so, a small clatter caught the attention of his sensitive ears.

"Who would be up at this hour?" Izuru wondered. Without a second thought, he quickly slid on his straw sandals and headed off towards the source of the sound - 3rd Division's Captain's quarters.

Slowly but surely, he slid the door open, trying to keep as quiet as possible. "Hello?" he whispered as he entered. He noticed that Renji had put the room back the way it had been before the Izuru went on his violent, anti-Aizen rampage. There was also a note, messily hand written by the red head himself.

"Kira-kun, tidied up your mess for you. Be grateful, Ikkaku won't let me hear the end of it. There's something you might like on the wall behind you, Hisagi-san told me you'd appreciate it. Renji."

Izuru put the note back down and turned around to see what Renji had written about. His tired eyes suddenly became full of life as he spotted the gift hanging on the hook. It was Gin's old Captain haori. Disbelievingly, he approached it. This haori had always been hung there when Gin was off-duty.

The vice-captain's clammy hands clutched the folds of the fabric. It still felt warm and soft, and if he closed his eyes he could even imagine his Captain wearing it. He took it off the hook and held it to his face. It still held a strong scent of Gin; sweet and musky. It was Izuru's favourite smell, and he quickly found himself inhaling the smell like a drug addict desperate to get high. Although it may as well have been a drug, because every time he inhaled, precious memories came flooding back to him.

Seeing him for the first time, fighting off a hollow to save his and his friend's lives.

Becoming vice-captain.

Wandering around Seireitei talking with Gin.

Sitting in the Captain's quarters and writing reports.

Gin breaking him out of jail to have him by his side.

The more he remembered, the more he wanted the sweet smell.

"That's a bit creepy, don't ya think Kira-kun?"

Izuru nearly died of fright, and dropped the haori in a panic, suddenly shattering the memories in oblivion once more. That voice… it couldn't be!

"I…I…Ichimaru-taicho?" Izuru whispered hoarsely.

"Ahh, so ya haven't forgotten me yet? That's nice, Izuru!" the white-haired man said, stepping towards the trembling vice-captain. His smile seemed to stretch further than it usually did. Was he happy to see the vice-captain? Izuru couldn't tell.

"But… dropping my haori on the floor is disrespectful, dontcha think?"

"Taicho, I have so much to ask you! Please don't go back to Hueco Mundo!"

Gin sighed lightly as he picked up the haori that no longer belonged to him. "Ah, Kira-kun. How could I forget your loyalty to me? Unfortunately I don't have much time here, but I guess I can entertain ya for a bit." He hung the haori up on the hook again, and proceeded to go and sit behind the desk.

"Why did you come back?"

"I had something ta take care of. But keep my visit a secret, okay?" he answered, bringing a single finger to his lips.

"Y…yes! But, can't you take me with you?"

"Aizen-sama don't trust ya, Izuru."

Izuru's fists clenched. Of course, Aizen didn't want him getting in the way of his relationship with Gin. Eliminating the competition, as it were. The urge to go on another rampage rose inside him again, but he fought against it.

"What does it matter?! You trust me taicho! I'd take any order from you!"

Gin just chuckled. "You miss me, dontcha?"

"N…no I just-"

"Don't lie to me. I always know when ya lie, ya stutter a tremble," Gin cut in, standing up. He walked around the table towards Izuru. The said, trembling vice-captain looked up at Gin.

"Ya have bags under ya eyes. Ya pale. You've obviously been crying."

Kira looked at the floor, in shame of his Captain knowing of how weak he had been without him.

"Life don't revolve around me, Izuru. Move on. And sort yerself out, you're a complete mess. Go."

"But-!"

"Bai bai~!" Gin waved and turned his back.

"Taicho, I'm in love with you!" Izuru found himself shouting. When he realised what he said, he gasped and blushed deeply, clapping a hand to his mouth.

Gin just stood motionless for what seemed like hours. But in reality, it only took him a few seconds before he used shunpo to deliver a powerful punch to Izuru's toned abdomen. He collapsed, winded.

"I've seen what became of Hinamori. It'd kill me ta see ya like that," the ex-captain said softly, catching Izuru as he fell and picking him up bridal style.

Izuru clung desperately to Gin's new attire. It already smelt sweet and musky. He also rested his head on Gin's chest, the calm, steady heartbeat calming Izuru down completely.

Gin laid his ex-vice-captain on the bed he had recently just risen from, but Izuru refused to let go of the sweet smelling robe. He didn't want to give Gin up again, but the man he adored wasn't making it easy. Gin just stood there, leaning over Izuru calmly, not doing anything to free himself from the firm grasp.

"Taicho… please…"

Gin was no longer smiling. He looked… sad and sympathetic. Izuru wanted to be the reason Gin smiled. He wanted to be loved and adored by him, as much as Izuru did him. Why couldn't he see that? The angry urge was quickly replaced by despair, and he was soon fighting the urge to cry. He was determined not to show his weakness in front of Gin, terrified it would chase him away.

Eventually Gin took hold of Izuru's wrist and gently pried the robes from his grasp. "Sleep, Izuru."

He couldn't help but obey, and again he fell asleep.

As he slept, Gin lightly brushed over Izuru's lips. He remembered them being soft and full of life once, but now they were chapped and pale. Guilt clung to him as Izuru had just done, and he withdrew his hand from the blonde's deathly face as if he'd just been burned.

"Look after yerself Kira-kun, I don't wanna see you like this again…"

He stepped away, towards the window. And with the wind, he disappeared out of the window as the sun began to rise over the white buildings that made up the city of Seireitei.

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A/N: Sorry for it being so short, again x-x; My writing style is usually 'to the point', as it were, which means really short chapters... and urgh, the layout of this is terrible, I'm sorry. Again, it looked fine on the word processor document. I'll probably end up revising these earlier chapters at some point. Ai-yai-yai XD

Chapter 3 is already being written so it shouldn't be too long before another update. Please R&R, I'd appreciate any comments at all! :D