The busy chatter of the streets were louder than he could handle, some were talking about him others about nonsense either way he hated it.

"Dang it, this blows" he really did not like having to go into the town but he had new money to spend wanted to buy something to eat preferably. After finally deciding on which shop to enter he chose to go inside a fruit shop where they had a nice variety of fruits both fresh and dried he could chose from. The long line from the vendors corner was not a good sign and he sighed loudly signaling his impatience.

"What's going on? That girl looks lost" one boy told his companion as she looked over and agreed with him.

"Yes it's like she doesn't know what to pick. She is keeping up the line" the girl's comment irked his attention and he craned a neck over to see who was at the front. A small girl with yellow hair cropped at her neck had her back turned towards him as the vendor crossed his arms in front of her waiting for her to finally make her choice.

"Come on kid your holding up my customers so what will it be the plums or the strawberries" the shopkeeper growled through clenched teeth.

"Um..." she continued to look undecided as het attention swung back and forth between fruits.

"Ya know I personally wouldn't pick plums, but the strawberries lookin' mighty nice this season" Gin had walked over and stood by her side, she stifled a small gasp as she didn't sense his presence the small eruption of spiritual pressure made his eyebrow go up.

"Hey kid no cutting, go back to the end of the line" the shopkeeper now grew impatient at both of them.

"I'm just helpin' her buy. There ain't no law against that is there?" Gin replied nonchalantly as he looked back at the girl. She seemed to fidget standing next to him as she avoided meeting his gaze, her hair covering most of her face he could only see a button nose and rosebud lips.

"Um...I'll pick the strawberries, um I mean the apples" she looked indecisive. The shopkeeper couldn't care less and sighed as he took the apples and wrapped them in a bag putting it on the counter.

"Alright that will be 15 kan" his hand stretched over. She looked at him now bewildered as both males noticed that the price seemed more than expected.

"Now wait a minute, since when were apples 7 and a half kan a piece? That don't make sense the guy down the corner sells them at just 2 kan a piece" Gin saw the unfairness in the owners fixed price.

"Hey kid no one was talking to you so let the girl pay and go back and mind your own f'ckin business" his vulgar language made the girls breathe hitch slightly. She soon felt a tingling sensation that stimulated the nerves on her body it was a feeling had she never felt before and it seemed to come out of the tall boy beside her.

"Look ya obviously rippin' her off and I ain' goin' ta stand back and let ya do that..." the venomous tone from his voice made her afraid. She did not want a fight to break out and soon looked down feeling helpless. Noticing this Gin felt slightly agitated in her feebleness.
"Hey aren't ya goin' say somethin' or ya goin keep standin there lookin' lost" he edged closer making her feel trapped. She broke under pressure and soon whipped back.

"Shut up! No one told you to help me!" she yelled out to as she briefly turned towards him and he stood astounded as an angry flash of blue eyes met his fox like expression. He noticed her beauty instantly and it dulled his senses.

Small hands went to grab the apples as she jetted out of the shop in a flash leaving people surprised. The owner immediately screamed out for someone to stop her but everyone remained dumbfounded. He gritted his teeth and rounded at the boy.

"Your going to pay for that you fox faced brat, little cunt just stole my apples thanks to you and now your going to pay" he was going to go around the counter but Gin laughed loudly unafraid in the man going towards him.

"I ain't payin' ya jack. Watcha goin' ta do 'bout it" he waited as the tall man approached him with a stick held upright in one hand ready to swing. Gin just threw his head back wildly as he laughed making the man even more infuriated.

"Ya gotta be kiddin' me. Just ta be nice I'ma knock ya out with what I like ta call a one-hitter quitter" he naturally let his spirit pressure flow and opened his eyes. He noticed the fear instantly and swung.

The crowd went wild as the shopkeeper laid unconscious on the ground. Taking advantage of the situation they began to loot the place of all it's produce, with Gin just taking several bags of fruit with him.

"Now that was too easy..." he chuckled to himself as he walked out unscathed and more people came rushing through the store hopping to get a share in the spoils.

As he passed by he noticed several shinigami walking towards him and it made him freeze. His flight instincts kicking in he quickly went to go hide in an alleyway and duck behind some crates.

"You sense that?" one loud man said to another.

"Yeah, that seems to be what we are looking for, go scout for whoever caused that spike to happen" the tallest man in the middle commanded the other three to go. Gin didnt want to stay in town a minute longer and soon creeped out into the forest.

When he reached his shack he sighed loudly hoping he had managed to get away. Reaching for several bags he went to go see what he managed to pick up.

"That was really close, let's see what I got in here..." he looked in each bag some making him roll his eyes and others making him smile contently until he reached a prized item.

"Oh sweet Hoshigaki!" he found his favorite treat in the bag and quickly pulled out the dried persimmon to consume it. It's sweet cinnamon flesh brought joy to his taste buds. After eating several he left the remainder in the bag and went to eat the other fruits.

When he filled his stomach with fruits he laid down rubbing his stomach. Feeling full he felt the itus kick in closed his eyes deciding to take a small nap.

"Wake me up in an hour ya guys" he announced to his wooden friends before dozing off.

More than an hour passed and soon the cold chill of fall pricked his skin and he soon stirred groaning as he rose.

Noticing how the sun had passed over the sky he huffed at his wooden fox.

"I told ya to wake me up in an hour...not three hours! Dang, can't depend on ya fo' nothin' " getting up he went for his sandals and went to collect the wood for warming his cold night.

The sun was still up but the chill of autumn signaled an incoming cold winter. He went in search of wood and climbed up through a hill and found several twigs behind a large bush. The voices of men soon caught his attention.

"Here you go Lieutenant Aizen" the man's voice was familiar and Gin peered though a small hole and saw the three shinigami from before bowed down to a taller man in front. His pleased expression soften after reaching out for a small glowing orb. Gin felt something come out of the glowing sphere, something powerful yet mysterious.

"The girl proved to be useful. Her powers made it change" he stated further towards his superior.

After analyzing the object some more a smile arose the man's face his brown hair waving in the wind. He was handsome and kind but Gin could sense something sinister behind that placid smile.

'That guy must be...the boss" Gin whispered to himself. He soon heard a small groan and his eyes focused on a girl laying on the floor, he recognized her delicate features instantly. His mind put the pieces together and he realized they had done something very bad to her.

She laid there near death. Her robes in tatters, her face slightly bruised. His anger rose for how could they harm something so beautiful and delicate, she was innocent. She did not deserve whatever they did to her.

"The girl will die any way...move on to the next district" their leader announced and handed back the orb. Taking it graciously they bowed deeply before flash stepping away. Gin's eyes opened to catch one last glimpse at the man before he could disappear. His image forever imprinted in his mind, burning into his memory for eternity.

"He's the one I gotta...kill" and in that moment they all left leaving him alone with the girl.

He noticed how weak she was as he descended down the hill and he reached into his bag that held all his persimmons and reached one out to her.

"Eat up" he looked at her softly.

She turned her neck slowly to him and tried to nibble on the strange fruit she was offered.

"If ya collapse due to hunger, you must have powers" his smile grew wide, she did not show any sign of fear as he bent closer.

"You too?" she wondered.

"Yup, me too. Ichimaru Gin, nice ta meet ya" he flashed his kindest smile, she looked over and paused after taking another nibble.

"Gin..." she whispered, his ears wrung at how softly his name flowed out her lips. The sweetest and most natural sound he had ever heard, his heart softened.

"That's a weird name..." she followed.

Her comment made him fall forward, true he had known he was strange but her opinion seemed to have a greater impact than others. He just laughed and sat down beside her as he fed her more persimmon, she took bigger bites and he waited until she had her fill.

"And your name?" his question made her look away as if she was reluctant to answer.

"I told ya my weird name, ya can tell me yours" he persuaded her lightly.

"Matsumoto...Rangiku" she responded. He found her name so fitting, like the royal flower. She was beautiful, clear blue eyes so innocent and pure. Full pink lips that was complemented by a beauty mark below it. His eyes went further down and titled slightly at noticing that compared to most girls she was an early bloomer with slanted hips and soft peaks that signaled her body was developing more womanly.

Black and blue prints at her thighs made his back molars grind harshly. She had been defiled and left to die, his vow for vengeance growing with each passing minute.

"It hurts...everywhere. It hurts" she cried out softly. He found her so pitiful, he went slowly to pick her up. And sat her by a stump, her arms still clung to him.

"Let me give ya a piggy back ride" he turned so her body landed on his back and he lifted her up. She weakly wrapped her arms around his neck and shoulders. Her soft skin tickled his, he could smell her pleasant scent.

When they reached his shack she began to panic and soon struggled against him. She fell on the floor and began to scramble out, he went to pick her back up, his face towards hers. He opened his eyes slightly to reveal his concerned gaze.

"Relax I ain't gonna hurt ya I promise. Trust me please, ya can rest in my home" his words somehow got to her and she nodded her head slowly.

"You promise?" she sounded scared he returned his smile. And hooked his pinky to hers

"I swear it. Cross my heart, hope ta die...stick a needle in my eye" his heart lightened to hear her giggle. A small ray of sunshine poked through he found her laughter irresistible he wished to hear more.

As he brought her inside he laid her down to sit against the wall. Gin went to sit beside her as he watched her eyes roam around the empty room. He showed her where he cooks his meals, his sleeping space near the fire and his 'friends' he brought them all so she could have a closer look at them.

"Ya see this one is my favorite. His name is Gintoki" she smiled at his collection and her hands went to one that was in the figure of a cat.

"And this one?" she asked quietly.

"This one's a troublemaker. Always playin' with Gintoki's tail. I named it Akame" her smile only widened she played it it's hard features.

"Ya can have that one if ya like..." he offered. She looked at him surprisingly.

"Really?"

"Yeah sure...why not I got more" he scratched his head as he looked at his other animals.

"Thank you..." she began stoking the inanimate creature.

"I use to have dolls...I loved dressing them up and playing. They were my only friends I had" she confessed. He would never believe such a pretty girl like her wouldnt have any friends. He noticed her state and soon got up to go outside. She looked frightened so he told her he was only getting a pail of water he keeps in store.

Bringing the pale of water back in he set it over the small fire he started when he entered and waited for the water to warm. He brought forth a wash cloth and then took the water off the fire and brought it over to her. Dipping the water in the bucket he tested it's temperature, swirling it around he squeezed the cloth as he pulled it out and began washing the dirt off her face. She stood still at the warm touch and then tears began to flow from her eyes as he continued to lean closer to her, Rangiku's eyes were lost in tears as she stared at her cat.

Gin did not ask why she cried. It was obvious as all he could do was wash the tangible mess they left on her but he couldn't clean the bruises or scars that had marked her body. He washed her arms, taking note on her torn sleeve. He used the utmost care in washing her legs, going down to caress tiny feet that felt like silk above his palm.

Rangiku did not struggle. He surprised her when he wiped her tears away. "Ya look pretty, even when ya cry. But I prefer it if ya smiled"

"Why are you so nice?" she waited for him to tell her it was because she was pretty.

"Because it looks like ya need a friend. And maybe I could be the one for ya" Gin's answer blew her away. His grin was wide and clear, although he seemed strange his genuine kindness was nothing unfamiliar.

"Ok, we can be friends..." she gave a shy smile that made her tears stop. Gin thought she truly looked like her namesake, such a beautiful flower. Even though her petals are plucked and ripped she still retained a timeless allure.

"Thats great, Im glad we are friends" He offered her more fruit to which she was not shy in taking, quickly taking big bites into a smiling mouth.

They laughed on into the night, playing with their wooden animals. For the first time Gin had felt something born from his heart, a feeling that had made him feel alive in this unforgiving world. He had found some one to care about and with time he hoped she would care about him. But like a flower he would tend to her, feed her and protect her. For now he had found a friend in something so beautiful he found it hard to believe.

"Rangiku...such a beautiful name" he thought to himself.

I am glad for those who reviewed my fic, I wish to hear more feedback for they are what makes my muse happy and content. I promise to deliver more work. By tomorrow I will post Rangiku's side of this fated meeting