Hello everyone, you must be thinking—what the hell is taking her so long with the updates?! She used to do them right away! I know... I know, I don't blame you, if you're starting to feel frustrated because of the delays. Lots of stuff are going on, and also I've experienced certain bloom of inspiration on some other stories and personal projects that I'm working on, and for that, I apologize. This is a realllly long chapter.... I just let my mind go and poured all my feelings into paper without thinking about condensing it... which is why Kira's poem is extremely long.... sorry bout that. I hope you like it though. I really enjoyed writing it.... (^_^)

For this chapter, I've included a extra "bonus" scene that I originally had not planned to write out, but suddenly came to me because of the reviews I had received in reaction to Matsumoto's death. I hope you like it.

-Zerolr-

Chapter 12 – Kira Izuru

It was raining, that heavy awful summer rain. Rukia sat at the porch with a simple flowered yukata, staring out at the single dirt path from which they arrived. Kira's car was still there—making her wonder what form of transportation Gin used.

The soft patter of the heavy rain, drops on the rooftops and the hum of the crickets that sang from underneath the porch floor boards was loud in spite of it being the middle of the afternoon.

She thought about it, thought about it so much, it drove her nuts.

–

There's no doubt, just futile denial...

Futile because it's obvious in my heart

And my mind denies it.

I'm in love with that man.

Knowing that he may kill me,

Knowing that he may leave my family in ruin.

–

Nii-sama, you're right.

I'm worthless.

You don't say it, but I know that's what you think whenever you look down at me.

Whenever you avoided me,

You let me go on my own,

Gave me my chance,

And I end up falling for a mad man.

Nothing more, nothing less.

–

"Oi."

Rukia snapped out of her thoughts and found Grimmjow coming , walking towards her from outside. He had a brown paper bag which he shielded the best he can. Dripping soaked and wet, he stepped up on to the porch.

Rukia's gaze was indifferent cold and empty. Grim scoffed as he sat down next to her.

"What the hell you're pissing about?"

"Are you bored?" Rukia replied dryly, "Is that why you're talking to me?"

"Tch," he opened the bag and pulled out a meat bun and began to eat it.

The patter of the rain continued heartlessly. For some reason she hated the rain. It always looked like the whole damn world was crying.

"So, Izuru gave you a break or what?"

"No, he's sleeping, so I snuck out and ended up sitting here."

"I knew the fox said he's gotta watch you but damn, we're not some fuckin blood thirsty monsters or some shit. Hidin you away from us like that."

Rukia chuckled, she was reminded of Renji somehow. She wished she could of opened herself up to him—but knowing how he is Renji would only rattle her and call her crazy.

Crazy?

Surely, I have gone crazy...

"I should kill the guy," he reached in for another bun still talking about Izuru, "Urgh! Damnit, I'm aching for a fight."

"I always hear you clash with what's-his-face," Rukia spat in monotone.

"Nnorita. I'm tired of fighting with that skinny bitch!" he viciously tore at his second bun.

She casually looked over and saw the bag was wide open on his lap. When she had the chance she reached for it. The tiny fingers wrapped around a bun, the dominate hand of Grimmjow's hand gripped tightly around her wrist.

"You wanna get fucked up?" he grip loosened. She pulled back her arm and soothed her wrist with her other hand.

"Ask first—sheesh," he threw a bun and Rukia awkwardly caught it. She smiled but his scowl immediately made her frown again.

"Here," he passed her a second one, "That's before you ask again—that's your last."

She nodded.

A moment of silence passed as they ate and watched the rain fall. Rukia nibbled on the bun savoring the sweet minced meat in the middle.

"Back then, with the police and junk, why'd you do it?" Again it was Grimmjow to break the silence.

"Why ask?"

"Cuz, I've been wanting to ask you, but I've never had the chance to talk to you like this."

"..."

"Haa... whatever," grumbled Grimm gulping down another bun.

"I don't know."

"Really?" he swallowed, "Don't believe you."

"You're right, but I'm not comfortable in telling you."

Silence.

"As long as you're more useful than being a key to a family treasure—you won't die."

"..."

"The more useful you are, the longer he keeps you."

"How long have you been working for him?"

"What do you mean?"

"Aren't you and the others part of some gang that works under him or something?"

"Phfft! The hell?! Hell no. We all got together to do this one thing, that's all. The only guy that's working for him is Izuru.

Grimmjow noticed that she shifted her legs under her and directed her attention more towards him. A bit of her usual spark was beginning to come back.

"How do you meet him?"

"Why so happy all of the sudden?"

"I'm not happy, just curious."

"We clashed, both aiming for the same thing. We had the same job contracted by two different people at the time. In the end, we worked something that benefited us in the end. It was cuz of his quick thinking. Hate to admit, but that fox is a real smart ass.

In the underground world, he's a notorious assassin. I don't really believe it—but I heard he never fails any job he takes on. I like the fight, he loves the kill. Having his prey fall dead, he doesn't care of it's hard or easy to get as long as they bleed. I stick with him sometimes because everybody knows that wherever he is that's where the money is coming from.

He sticks to whatever is good and takes allies that serve him to his advantage—few people are able to take him as a personal hit man—except one. Aizen."

"Professor Aizen?" Rukia asked, "The prestigious history professor? He's an honorable historian!"

"Honorable my ass," laughed Grim amused, "He has a huge fortune behind him and uses that to drive the black market in any direction he wants. Gin's been working for him for the longest. Aizen's the only one that can group everyone together like this.

Nnorita is a bounty hunter looking for a good fight, an idiot with only battle in the brain trying to make himself the strongest. Stark and Tia Halibel are bandits, treasure hunters that only go for rare valuables for the trill of it. Then there's Ulquiorra—no one knows what the hell goes through that man's head; he works for Aizen doing all kinds of odd jobs and shit."

"And what about you?"

"I dunno, I just do what whatever the fuck I want. I fight, I steal, I break in—anything that takes off the boredom."

"A cat goes wherever there's milk huh?"

"Shut up."

There was shouting and from another road came Nnorita holding bags and Halibel holding an umbrella while Stark walked casually beside her.

"Why do I have ta carry these fuckin things?!" he cried.

"Those things, Nnorita, are tonight's dinner." Halibel replied.

"Whose cookin?"

Silence.

Kira walked towards the porch rubbing his eyes.

"Kuchiki-san!" he gasped surprised to find her out especially with Grimmjow by her side.

"It's okay, he doesn't bite," she joked.

"Feh,"

"He didn't say anything to you did he?"

"Like what?" she cleverly countered.

"Uh, um, never mind," he saw the rest of the group approach the shrine house.

"Kira-san is cooking," declared Halibel calmly as she pointed in his direction.

"Again?" the blonde groaned.

"I can do it," piped Rukia.

"Absolutely not," he countered in a worried tone.

She found herself inside the room. The rain was still pounding outside. As she heard the pidder padder of the raindrops , her mind wandered again.

The only guy that works for him is Izuru...

Does he understand him? How? In what way? How long has he been with him?

–

I wonder....

At times...

Does he...

Fear for his life?

–

If so,

How can he cope?

If not,

Why does he feel safe?

Even now I fee,

A little scared, a little nervous.

Not only is my life at risk, but Nii-sama

He is waiting for me.

But when I come back...

–

I like the fight, he loves the kill. Having his prey fall dead, he doesn't care if it's hard or easy to get as long as they bleed...

–

But somehow, somehow...

The tears sprang form her cheeks.

I can't picture him like that... I can't see that...

She wiped them off with her sleeved hand.

No, I just could hear his voice and see his smile—taste the meals he cooked for me every day and the funny things he used to say to me. I see him as a kind, sweet and gentle person. I-I see him as someone whose always looking to find someone to stick with even if it's for a little while, to me he seems so...

An image of him flashed in her memory.

…. lonely

The door slid open and Kira meekly walked in with a meal served on a simple tray.

"Why don't you ever let me eat with the others?"

"To them, you are nothing but a hostage."

He settled down next to her and placed the bowl on the small table in the middle of the room.

"They are not as bad as you make them out to be," She replied coolly as she stared down at her plate with indifference.

"Are you angry at me?"

She looked up and the violet eyes met with the blue dreary ones.

"..."

A sigh. And the silence.

Kira pulled out his composition notebook and began to write again.

The silence reigned with the sound of the rain filling the room with it's symphony. She stared at her meal. It didn't look all that bad, but it didn't smell all that great.

"I'm sorry, I can see it's not to your liking."

She looked up and saw that he paused in his writing.

"That's okay, it's not you, it's my appetite, it's gone."

After a while Rukia spoke,

"I want to sleep."

Kira nodded and blew out a candle that lit the room as she settled into bed.

Hours passed into the night and Rukia tossed quietly about. And in the darkness, he mind was filled with thoughts of him. She remembered how he often snuck into her room to spy on her in her sleep. She would pretend to sleep at those times, but he would always know if she was awake or not.

'Good night, Rukia-chan'

"Good night, Gin," she whispered softly to herself.

Kira was awake sitting up on his futon, perfect still in the unnerving darkness. She tossed and then peeked and saw the silhouette of the young man, upright.

As the hours passed the head drooped a bit and towards the dawn, he fell asleep.

Rukia who slept for sprinkle at a time, crawled out of bed stealthy creeping towards the sleeping blonde.

The notebook was nestled underneath his hands. Her habit of looking through people's stuff was still in her and not one ounce of guilt ever passed over her because she knew that what she did was a matter of survival.

Gin himself was sneaky—why can't she do the same?

She crept away and turned on the candle because there wasn't any windows in the room. Quietly she opened his notebook and skimmed the pages.

No-no, I write poems. At least I try to...

They're poems... all writing in prose. Most of them don't rhyme and they don't go by any form of poetry...

She continued to skim through it. She found one titled, "Cutting the Strings" and others as she was beginning to be drawing to his writing... but in the end she sighed in defeat.

They really are just poems... but none that can help me... wait... what's this?

Smile of the Kitsune Demon

Tears of Blood,

Bitter, dry, disdainful--

have fallen down my Cheeks.

–

A pain so forceful brought it's way up

my throat,

Destroying my heart

my feelings--

All spark of hope.

–

The white sheep among a flock of black.

No.

I'd say, that I'm the worst of all.

–

There was nothing else I found,

That could have kept me on this earth...

–

I hung a noose in my room, I made with ties.

Alone in my room, in the dusk of twilight,

All was silent,

Lady Solitude, was here stabbing me,

Urging me,

Accompanying me always.

–

Down from the ceiling fan,

I pushed my bed away,

and I stood on my chair,

As I placed the noose around my neck.

–

The door—

it

opened.

–

A Kitsune Demon stood in it's empty place

–

With a,

smile

on his,

face.

–

"Wha cha doin?"

"Don't come near!"

"Hmm?"

–

"Because I swear—I can't take it anymore. This world, all these people—my hands! Get away! I have nothing to do with my family anymore. I have nothing to do with anything!

Leave me!"

–

I was birthed into a family of convicts and criminals. My mother, my father, my cousins aunts and uncles were all too well involved in that dangerous world.

–

And I always,

apologized,

for their actions.

–

My eyes always,

met,

The cold Earth.

–

I'm sorry,

Forgive them,

I apologize

–

The gentle one,

with the good grades,

with a promised future,

I was not to share,

their

fate.

–

But

"The Apple doesn't' fall to Far from the Tree,"

And this I feared.

And this my mind poured out in worry.

I started to feel guilty for their actions.

Feeling that I was just as bad as they were...

That I was just as evil.

–

With the police knocking on my door,

Constantly asking for members of my family,

Covering for them,

Living in lies after lies after lies,

I forgot what it is to,

smile.

–

The mind spilled out in my studies,

in my books,

books,

of

morbid fascination.

–

of Death

of Killers,

of the Act in between.

–

of Insanity and Sanity,

of the Changes in between.

–

Fascination so great.

And this I feared,

And this my mind poured out in worry.

–

Yes indeed,

I'd say,

That I'm the worst of all.

–

"Yur not scared at all?"

My hands shook in their places,

As the Kitsune,

pushed up the bed next to the chair,

climbing up,

To my level.

"Yur not scared to die?"

–

Don't change my mind. Please.

Please.

I felt the tears fall down my face.

I felt pathetic.

It was

pathetic.

–

"Well, let me help you..."

–

He grabbed the noose,

Held on the knot,

tightened the hold on,

my neck.

–

"Sa, sa—how does that feel?

Really want to die?"

–

A blade was placed at my stomach.

–

"Should I kick the chair too?"

–

He said this with a

smile.

And I was scared,

Scared for my life.

Did I want to live?

To live?

I felt it begin to stab me.

–

He kicked the chair

–

And my body,

Dangled in the air.

–

no,

No...

NO!!!

–

I fell to the ground the tie rope cut by his blade.

My hands went to my small wound and

felt the warm blood trickle between my fingers...

–

"Not so fun, is it?

Think being dead's gonna help?

Think being dead's gonna feel any better?

Any easier?

Any shorter?

Any faster?

Who said it's all that easy?

I'd like ta know who said that so I can slit his throat...

Seeing this takes all the thrill outta killing..."

–

There was silence pulling down on me

Forcing my gaze to stare at the ground...

–

"Kira Izuru,

If you can't live for yourself, you'll live for my sake.

I need you."

My eyes lifted and I saw

Demon Eyes

for the first time in my life.

–

Confusing unexplainable

but my torture only

continued as the Kitsune

tangled me into the world

I longed to avoid.

I was used for sure—because of my family name. Because of my family business with the trafficking of illegal weapons.

–

But

yes

A but,

an Exception

an excuse

in spite

putting all aside

There was something more

to live for someone else

to Protect someone

gave me purpose

Being taught to watch only for myself

to be alone; this was a

breath

of fresh air

–

There was the

smile

that

smiled

for the person who forgot

how to

smile

–

"If you can't live for yourself, you'll live for my sake."

–

I lived for his sake.

–

Being chased

At a time I remembered

I had the chance to escape,

to leave him,

to go on my own,

–

"This way! Ichimaru-san!"

I couldn't ever bring my self,

to betray him.

–

There was a time I was caught by the police.

Under the light, I was interrogated.

Asked questions after questions

And I asked myself myself

While they asked Me,

–

Why am I doing this?

Why am I helping him?

Why?

–

A puppet can't live without the pullin of the strings...

We can't live, we can't breathe...

–

You'll live for my sake.

–

The place that held me prisoner was bombed and through the smoke, he was there. It was then I knew,

why.

–

My usefulness was wearing thin,

but I saw the more worthless I became,

the closer I found myself to him.

Even after,

Long after,

he found what he searched

through me,

Wabisuke.

The cursed blade hidden by my family's ancestors.

–

"Here, keep it."

"Don't you want this?"

"I got my own."

"But after all that?"

"It was fun, wasn't it?"

–

Looking down at my new found treasure,

I frowned.

–

"Good face, Kira."

Looking up I caught his smile.

"Yur the sadness, I don ever show,

the frown that's never on my face..."

–

Those words, I knew what they meant.

–

You are my partner, my only friend connected to me,

That sees through me...

–

And this he said, with a

Smile.


Rukia slowly closed the notebook, looking back, she saw Kira was slightly snoozing, still in deep sleep.

"We have much more in common then I'd ever dreamed of having... Then it's not a lie... Gin's kindness. It's real. It exists. But it's hidden so well behind an impenetrable mask... But Kira-san has been through hell. It's nothing compared to my life. Compared to me, I had it easy..."

He's always sleeping into the mornings, she thought. Does he have trouble sleeping though the nights? Probably.

She carefully lifted his hands and placed the notebook back in the same way she found it. Rukia crept back into bed and slept for a couple of hours. She felt purring, something warm and furry rub on her face.

"Mew."

Clear light-blue eyes met hers as she awoke.

"Get the fuck outta bed, ya lazy bastard!"

Rukia shot up, but she right away found out that the voice wasn't directed towards her. Kira nervously tumbled out of bed.

"Make something to eat—and make it snappy—damn." Grimmjow stormed off and the white cat quickly followed suit.

"You let them treat you like that?" Rukia asked.

"I-it's alright, I'm fine. Grimmjow rarely treats anybody with respect," he replied.

"Let me help you with the food."

"No, I'd rather—,"

"Please."

"..."

Her eyes never left his nervous shifting gaze.

"Fine, I guess. They never like what I make anyway..." replied rubbing the back of his head.

"Well let's get to work!" she chirped, raising her arm energetically.

His eyes wavered in response to her sudden optimism and a shadow of a smile swept his face for only a tine moment.

He said...

That there was something different about me...

Does Gin...

Feel the same way?

If they share the same feelings...

If they work in the same spirit...

Gin must feel the same way...

Right?

The plates were placed in front of them along with the white tea to accompany the meal.

"Egg rolls... in the morning... for breakfast?" Questioned Ulquiorra as he stared down blankly into his plate.

"There wasn't much we can work with," pouted Rukia.

"Ah well, whadda ya know? The bitch could cook," Nnorita scoffed after he took a bite, "But you shoulda made more," he growled, "Ya think one's enough?"

Rukia fumed but Kira calmed her down.

"Thank you for the meal Kuchiki-san," Stark replied softly, "You didn't have to go so far to do this,"

Rukia smiled.

"Are you going to eat with us?" asked Halibel.

Rukia looked at Kira, he gave in with small nod, so she settled next to Grimmjow, the only person she had contact with personally.

Kira sat on her other side and everyone ate in silence. Kira had retrieved a plate with plenty of extras that he placed in the middle of the table.

Rukia's eyes shifted from person to person. Not direct eye contact, but rather, on shy and hidden glances as not to provoke any arguments.

"Yo fight me," Nnorita began breaking the silence.

"No, I'm tired of kicking your ass all the time."

"Say what?"

"You heard what I said, asshole."

"You fuckin little—,"

"Nnorita, not at the table," corrected Halibel.

"Shut up. I don't take orders from you bitch."

"Whatever..."

Stark just sighed. Ulquiorra remained silent, indifferent to what was going on around him.

"You know what? Fine. Let's go at it. This'll prove what I'm talking about."

"Good, cuz I don't why the hell you're talking so big, everybody here knows that I'm stronger than you, dumbass."

Stark reached for another egg roll while Kira calmly sipped his tea.

Although their conversation was innocent the atmosphere they each carried was heavy and somewhat sinister, creepy the least. From Nnorita's strange appearance, to Grimmjow's violent presence to Ulquiorra's ghostly serenity.

She thought about her brother. The home that was waiting for her. She suddenly longed to be there.

What if Gin wouldn't come back in all of these days? What if he chose to arrive weeks—even months later? In a remote place far from the city where I don't know anybody. No one.

Why did he leave without saying good bye to me? Why did he leave with out even showing his face?

He, truly is what they say?
When I see him again, it may not be the same way as I had met him.

"he's a notorious assassin."

"Kuchiki-san?"

Kira moved his hand, landing gently over her trembling ones.

Trembling.

Since when did I start to shake?

The table became silent.

"Hooo?" Nnorita grinned.

Ulquiorra's emerald eyes met hers.

"Nnorita you're scaring her," commented Halibel.

She suddenly stood up and dashed off.

"Kuchiki-san!" Kira shouted.

"See, I told you..."

"Fuck off."

"No you don't!" growled Grim grabbing her wrist. She kicked his jaw biting his own tongue.

"Phuck!" he sputtered releasing his grip as blood dribbled from his mouth.

Nnorita nearly fell back in laughter.

"Pathetic," muttered Ulquiorra shaking his head.

She stumbled a bit and continued to run.

–

Get out of here. I must get of here somehow...

–

She ran barefooted out the door and Kira dashed off after her. His heart in his hands. The others remained at the table, indifferent to the situation. After all Rukia was Kira's responsibility. She ignored the pain the rocks gave to her tine bare feet. Running as the sun filtered through the forest trees, dappling the ground in various shades of light.

Th birds chirped filling the with their music. The insects hummed. The air was damp heavy with humidity from last night's rain.

Her breathing was heavy. She could hear Kira's voice suddenly die down.

I'm losing him... she thought without looking back. There was a small hill the forest path had and running down she saw in the near distance, a man.

Tall pale skin, eyes curved in the form of a playful demon fox, silver hair glinting in the sunlight. Holding a two bags in one hand and his blade hoisted at his waist on the other side.

She suffocated drowning within that lukewarm feeling. The feeling of poison, of honeyed venom.

His head slowly lifted spotting a young woman in an all blue yukata. Small in stature and size, her eyes large and full wavering in brilliant violet color.

That royal violet-blue, that color suddenly captivated him. He approached her, his smiling face unreadable.

Those tiny hands and feet, everything about her was small delicate, fragile, a butterfly, a pixie, a fairy, something not of this earth.

Yes different.

There was something different about her. And his mind was clear now that he could see this difference with his own eyes, feel it with his own heart.

But he couldn't put it into words.

Kira watched from the distance where he stood, Rukia frozen in her place as Gin reached up to where she stood. He dropped the bags he held, and it fell the ground. Her eyes never leaving his face as his arms when around her...

His fingertips touched the back of her spine causing it to arch upwards, her lips barely parting. Quite forbidding, the thoughts he had of her. Possible enough that things could sadly turned out the same way as they did before when he let himself get dragged by his feelings. At this time, his mind was clouded at the thought of what her fate may be in his hands. Things weren't so clear anymore.

Bent forward, lips brushing her forehead in a gentle kiss. Rukia's hands clenched his shirt, tight tense. Her lungs took in all the air it could possibly take and he air was slowly very slowly being brought out. It was so hard to breathe normally around him.

She felt his fingertips dance at her spine trickling up and down in play. His lips trailed as she felt his cold cheek brush against hers lightly as his lips reached her ear.

"Ya must have been so scared, Rukia-chan,"

"What took you so long?! Idiot," she gasped barely in harsh whisper, "Why didn't you come back right away? I waited for you! I waited!"

She caught the scent of his body of his sweat, feel the strands of the soft silvery mane tickle her cheeks. Her heart was beating at an uncontrollable rate.

"There, there, Rukia-chan."

She felt the arms suddenly scoop her up into his arms. Rukia sunk her face into her chest nestling deep within the folds of his clothes. She felt her small body pressed against him, as he held her close secure, as if cradling a babe.

"You'll be by my side as long as ya like, Hun."

She nodded into his chest like a crying child after being consoled by a loving parent.

"Don't you worry no more," he cooed.

Kira stood there still. What he saw surprised him. There was something different, way different. From the way he spoke to her—he meant it. He really did. And that time when he drove to the shrine house, Gin smiled at him and it was genuine. Happy to have her rest at his lap—to have her safe at his side. It was something he had to watch a little more before coming to this conclusion.

"Kira,"

"Yes," he piped as he jogged down to meet him.

"Go an' pick up my things."

He nodded slightly and went to pick up the bag. He opened it and found ingredients for food and in the other, a small Chappi plushie.

In shock he lifted his head and saw Gin walking up the small dirt trail.

"Did that mean 'o Kitty scare you?"

"Mmm, no, he shared a meat bun with me,"

"Did you like it?"

"Yes,"

"You want me to make some for you?"

The voices died down as he walked further away. Kira was frozen in his place.

"He's … really not pretending."

END CHAPTER


Your feed back really affects my writing, and this is a perfect example, Here is something I wrote spur of the moment to reconcile with the death scene of Matsumoto Rangiku...

Extra Scene – The Red Poppy

How did they do it? It's almost as if she would wake up at any minute. As if she would open her eyes and comment how sexy she looks sleeping in a flowered coffin...

Kiyone Kotetsu covered her mouth muffling the whines escaping from her throat. She stood before the open casket, tears welling in her eyes threatening to fall over.

It's as if, as if, this had never happened. As if it never...

The tears did fall. Rolling down the once bubbly cheeks. Her sister, Isane, walked up to her and pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Be strong, Kiyo-chan," she said sweetly fighting the lump in her throat, "Matsumoto-san wouldn't want to see you... cry..."

Kiyone felt the tear drops fall onto her forehead and looking up she saw a gentle stream of tears slipping down her sister's cheeks.

"Onee-chan," she whispered burning her face in her bosom.

The authorities found the head, just within hours of the murder, tracing evidence that seemed to be laid out on purpose. Perfectly persevered wrapped carefully in a blood stained silk cloth.

Nanao stood her back not wanting to go to the front. Every now and then, she wiped the corners of her eyes. Blinking rapidly she still managed to hold on to her composure. The door opened behind her and Hitsugaya entered with his girlfriend, Hinamori.

Just in that one second that her eyes had met that icy turquoise, her spine, her body involuntarily shuddered as the young man briskly walked past. Momo rushed to keep up with him.

That look just now, she thought. No trace of sadness, no grief, regrets, or remorse... All I saw, all I could see is rage... hatred.

He stormed towards the front, not even acknowledging the people he bumped into, those he passed, those who called his name. He briskly stormed to the front and stopped at the sight of her exposed figure.

An elegant golden dress etched out her body, a slit cut high at her thigh. Ruby red lipstick colored her lips. Her hair, oh how beautiful it was! The layered tresses fell all about in such wonderful volume a style that everyone knew it was her own. She wore a choker necklace that cleverly covered the tiny stitches done to place it there. Her eyes forever closed, forever hiding the brilliant bluish color.

And all within the coffin, surrounded completely she was by flowers. Bright yellow daffodils, laced with pink carnations and roses. Dark, dark crimson roses. A single tiger lily was woven in the lock of hair, resting near the peaceful visage.

Just as fast as he had pace towards her, just as face, the steam blew over. The ridge icy expression softened. Hinamori behind him, shyly poked her head over from the side.

"I promise," he whispered, "Right here, standing before you here... I will find whoever took your life. I swear it..."

Hinamori's heart dropped so far she felt it fall to the center of the earth.

What if....?

She closed her eyes and cupped her ears.

What if!

An image of Gin's face surfaced in her mind.

"I SWEAR!"

People looked towards the white haired youth in shock.

Momo who stood behind him, saw that his shoulders here shaking slightly. Her eyes watered. She reached out her tiny hand to rest it on his shoulder. As she did, the pale fingers were suddenly stained in blood. She pulled it back and stared at both of them. Those hands, her hands were stained with blood. Are stained with blood.

I-I-I'm a murderer. I-I killed the professor. Who am I to console him?! Hitsu was covered in blood because of me! And how he has to see this! She-she might have been killed by the same man! I-I helped him! Oh God, I helped him!

Hitsugaya turned and pushed her aside and raced out, tears stinging his eyes. Unohana Retsu, who stood nearby smiled sadly.

"He doesn't like to show his tears to others..." she cooed in a tender whisper. Ukitake nodded softly in agreement.

He raced as the exit door opened once more and the young man bumped into a tall unshaven man with thick wavy hair tied to a ponytail.

"I'm sure you don't mean to leave right now, do you?"

Kyoraku Shunsui stood before him in a tie-less jacket dark blue in color. In his hands he carried a single flower, a red poppy. The young man eyes frantically spilled the tears it held so fiercely. He hissed harshly raising a hand to cover his face, "Get out of my way."

Shunsui stepped aside and the youth left.

Arriving to the open casket Shunsui smiled at what he saw. Ukitake walked up to him.

"I'd thought you wouldn't come."

"I dislike a woman's funeral, it always tears away at me... but something just pulled me here." Looking at the arrangement in the casket he asked, "Who was—,"

"Renji."

The man looked over to his weary friend. He looked more weakened then he usually did. His sunken eyes were darkened slightly and his lips seemed to be exhausted from constantly forcing fake smiles.

"Everyone pitched in with the money, but Renji was the one who ordered everything—the dress, the casket, the place... and..." He paused smiling for real this time, "The flowers," Ukitake began once more.

"Yes, they're perfect." Shunsui finished, "Crimson red roses are the color of mourning, pink carnations, 'I will never forget you', the daffodils, 'You're the only one' a flower of egotism, of vanity, and the tiger lily meaning pride, honor," he closed his eyes and walked up to the casket, closer still.

"And here is my gift," he placed the red poppy flower where her folded hand rested.

Ukitake watched and gazed at the single scarlet flower.

The Poppy.

A red one no less. Red is the flower's color of pleasure, the poppy itself is the flower of eternal sleep, oblivion, the imagination.

"Matsumoto," he whispered

Rest in peace

END CHAPTER

FYI – the daffodil is the flower that reps the 10th squad of Gotei 13.

Notes: The next chap is my personal favorite, and is going to be longer than this one. Why so long? Because I don't want to chop up the chapters any more. This fic will end in chapter 22, with a possible epilogue. So be prepared. Hopefully, I won't make you wait so long for chapter 13, but for now a preview will have to do...

Preview

"Oh thank you!" She squealed practically snatching the toy. Her arms embraced it tightly her cheek rubbing on the bunny's face, "She's so cute, oh god, I love it!"

Gin softly smiled as he looked at her. Watching her he realized how much he wanted to keep her smiling. How beautiful that smile was, that smile and the lips that formed it.

After a moment of spazzing, she looked at him and saw how peaceful he looked. Locks of silver that fell over in bangs over the clever well hidden eyes. He was beautiful. Sickeningly beautiful.

Was he even human?

No, maybe he truly was what he looked like—a yokai fox in human guise.

She flew into his arms, surprising him slightly. He slowly wrapped his arms her in response.

"Thank you, thank you so much," her arms around his neck as she looked over his shoulder avoiding his stare, hiding her blushing face, "I love it... I love... love you," He felt the tiny fingers dig into the shirt it wrapped around so tightly.