Final Day – Chapter 2

"That's crazy!" Apacci hollered at Gin. "We can do that, but if we do…You'll…"

"What'll happen to me?" Ichimaru looked up at Apacci with an indifferent look in his slitted eyes. His voice was calm and controlled.

"You'll die within a day; that's what'll happen." A gruff male voice appeared behind them. The group turned around and saw an injured Grimmjow walk towards them. He had a clearly unamused look on face. His cheek was dripping blood down onto his white Arrancar uniform, which was torn and covered in dirt.

"Sexta, so you survived." Harribel gave Grimmjow a withering look. "I thought the Quinta disposed of you long ago."

"Humph. That weak bastard? I think not." Grimmjow growled and looked down at Gin. "You seem in pretty bad shape, Ichimaru. Where's Aizen?"

Harribel ignored him; Sung Sun sonnido-ed to Grimmjow and whispered in his ear about what had happened in Karakura Town. Mila Rose and her master helped Gin sit up. "Yes, your lifespan will be shortened to a day, Ichimaru-sama," Harribel said. "Are you sure you wish to do such a reckless thing? You should rest first."

Gin considered what the Espada told him. Then he thought of all the people he abandoned in Soul Society. Rangiku, his lietenant Izuru. He knew he could never be completely forgiven for what he had done, but he needed to apologize to them. He just had to.

"I won't live too long considering what state I'm in, anyways. I am sure of my decision. Please open up a Garganta for me."

Harribel smiled behind her mask. "Alright then, Ichimaru-sama. I bid you farewell and I hope you rest in peace."

In Soul Society, Izuru Kira and Rangiku Matsumoto were in Third Company Barracks, visiting Gin's grave. It was late evening on a beautiful spring day. The skies were dark and lit by stars, and cherry blossoms danced in the wind.

The persimmon tree in the barracks had already begun to bear fruit. Izuru picked one of the delicious fruits off of the tree and placed it at Gin's gravestone. "Taichou always loved persimmons," he told Rangiku, who had bought a bouquet of fresh flowers for her former friend. "I wish he could have seen the tree this year."

"Oh, I know he loved them," Rangiku smiled as she placed her bouquet next to Izuru's persimmon. "But he was generous enough to give a few to everyone who cared for him. How many did he give you, Kira?"

Izuru didn't hear her. His eyes grew wide as he slowly turned his head around to look behind him. Rangiku was busy admiring Gin's gravestone. "Kira? Hello? What are you-"

"Look behind you, Matsumoto-san."

Rangiku did as told – and with a gasp, she fell to her knees. She couldn't believe her eyes. There he was, standing in front of her. His face was bruised and his clothes were ragged, but his eyes were shining as brightly as she remembered. "Gin."

Ichimaru Gin smiled weakly back. "Aie, it's me."

Rangiku rushed over to him and threw her arms around his neck. Tears flowed from her eyes and clouded her vision. She could barely speak. "I…I thought you died, Gin," she spluttered. "I can't believe you're here."

Gin let out a pained sound and lost his footing, falling onto the ground. Rangiku fell on top of him, but immediately let go of his neck. "Oh, I'm so sorry! You're still hurt and I…I was being selfish and impulsive."

Gin smiled. "It's alright." He looked sideways and saw his lieutenant who was staring at him with an equally shocked and exuberant expression on his face. Tears were welling up in Izuru's eyes as well. "Kira," he beckoned to his former lieutenant.

"I…Ichimaru-taichou." Izuru walked up to his former captain and knelt down beside him. "I'm so happy," he cried. "I…I'll go tell everyone else you're back!"

He was about to rush off when Gin reached out and grabbed his arm. "No," he said. "Don't go. I…I'm going to die in a few minutes anyways."

Izuru and Rangiku gasped. "What do you mean?" Rangiku lightly touched Gin's face. "You can't die, Gin. You just got here."

Gin gasped, his voice getting weaker and weaker. "It took all my energy to get here, love. I just wanted to see you and Kira one last time before I moved on…To the next world." Tears flowed from his open eyes. Rangiku wiped them away with her fingers.

"Taichou," Izuru's voice was only a whisper. "You should've have."

Rangiku leaned down and lightly touched her lips to Gin's. She tried not to cry as she slowly pulled back. "Stupid Gin," she grieved. "Your life is more important than anything."

"No, he said, "Yours is."

Gin's reiatsu was beginning to fade away. "No!" Izuru struggled to heal his Taichou with his medical kido, but Ichimaru just shook his head. Rangiku brushed Gin's hair with her fingers. She remembered all the experiences she had with him. Growing up together, becoming shinigami, and now this. She let out a weak, but happy laugh.

Gin's reiatsu was near nothing now. He gave Rangiku and Izuru one last smile before he faded away, leaving the two shinigami alone in the night. "I'm not worth crying for," his voice brushed against them like the wind. "Take care of yourselves. I'm sorry for everything, and good bye."

End

I hope you enjoyed this two-shot! This was based off a doujinshi that I drew myself. ^_^ I never published the comic on the internet, though. =P I might do that someday.

I wrote the plot based on canon. That's why Harribel and her fraccion are alive (Kubo confirmed this in the newest BLEACH databook) and Gin still dies in the end. I also included Nel and Grimmjow since their statuses were unconfirmed. I personally thought this would be a logical way to revive Ichimaru, if Kubo ever wanted to do so. ^_^

Please review, and I hope you read my other fanfiction(s) too!