Well...here is the last chapter of 'Reminiscence'. I'll save my ramblings for the end, please enjoy!

My footfalls echo all around me, in the dark void created by La Garganta, despite the fact that my steps are light and soft on the ground. The tunnel is completely empty, bereft of any form of light or life.

It would unnerve me if I were not already accustomed to the feeling of emptiness.

I would like to tell you that I know exactly what I am doing as I make my way down this dark pathway. But in a rare show of honesty… I must admit I do not.

Spur of the moment decisions are something I am not used to making—I'm not sure I've really ever made more than one or two in my long lifetime—but here I am, walking with a purpose I'm not sure I even know of, to the other side of this tunnel.

Where I know you are.

I will make no means to justify this action, other than the fact that it was necessary—so completely crucial to the continuation of my existence.

Which is nothing short of ironic, because I have very little faith that I will be making a return trip down this dark tunnel.

I am doing something positively essential for my own survival—and it will most likely kill me.

Oddly enough, I am fine with that. I've said before that the only person with any right to end my life would be you, should be you…in some twisted sense I want it to be you.

I would like to tell you that I know exactly what I am doing…

But I don't know what I'm expecting to happen when I find you—or if I find you.

I might not even make it that far.

There's nothing saying that Aizen hasn't noticed my disappearance, despite my efforts to conceal my reiatsu and mask my trail. I'm positive that Aizen would not approve of my sneaking off to the real world to see you.

It is something that would certainly put me in the path of Aizen's calm, calculated wrath.

He does not want to risk surprise, or, I'd like to think, his highly trusted second in command.

Who, it turns out, isn't really to be trusted.

A sardonic smile quirks my lips.

Funny, you'd think he would have figured that out by now.

I don't bother glancing over my shoulder, trying to discern if I've been followed. I don't care, and I would have known by now. There is no creature here in Heuco Mundo that can sneak up on me, aside from Aizen, and he is cocky enough not to mask his reiatsu.

I know the path I took here is empty behind me.

And if it's not…it can't be any worse than what I will find in front of me.

I don't know what I'll do when I see you. I don't know what you will do when you see me. Or if anyone else sees me…

I have a feeling your little boy-taicho will not spare me a second glance before he attempts to destroy me. Ichigo and his group of friends might be slower to react…but I have a feeling the substitute shinigami would have no major qualms about killing me either.

And you, Rangiku…would you?

Would you let me try and tell you all of the things that have been going through my mind these months at Las Noches? Would you let me try and explain what it is that you mean to me? Would you listen to my twisted story?

I think you might…but I cannot say for sure.

You probably hate me by now. I'd be surprised if you didn't hate me. I almost hope that you do…it would mean you still feel something towards me.

The path is narrowing in front of me; I know I'm nearing the end of the Garganta. I still have no idea what it is that I am doing.

Only that it is necessary…

What looks like a silver thread runs along the wall that has seemingly materialized in before me. The end of the Garganta.

I raise my hand to pull the thread, opening the jagged gateway, and I notice something: my hand is shaking.

Not violently, not enough to call attention to myself, but it is noticeable to me, as it would be to you.

My hand never shakes. Not once in my life have I been what you would call 'nervous'.

Except for now.

Narrowing my eyes more than usual at my disobedient hand, I slowly pull the silver strand away from the wall. The Garganta makes it's strange, warbling noise and suddenly Karakura is spread out before me.

It's dark out, well past midnight in the human world. The thought makes me feel slightly more at ease. It's refreshing to know that here time does pass in its usual manner, a cycle of light and dark, as apposed to Hueco Mundo, where it is never-ending night.

I am careful to keep a firm grip on my reiatsu now; my shaking hand has told me that my grip on myself is not as strong as it used to be. And I will need my wits about me if I am spotted.

I carefully close the Garganta, not bothering to watch as the sky zips itself back together, and use shunpo to quickly bring myself to the ground, disappearing into a grouping of trees.

Without even searching the area for spirit power, I know where you are.

I wonder if it has simply been the absence of you that had made your pulse this strong, or if it has always been this way and I simply can't remember. The mere suggestion of your presence in the same realm as my own elicits a subtle throb that radiates throughout my entire frame.

You're alone, a stationary pulse no more than a mile from me.

Without a second thought, I am racing silently through the sleeping town.

Millions of things are racing through my mind as I get closer and closer to you.

What do I say to you? Do I even speak? Do I let you know I am even there?

I stop a mere twelve feet from the spot where I feel your reiatsu, unable to answer any of the questions I pose to myself.

You're in a park, at the center of an open grove of trees.

I cannot see you though, as I have positioned myself behind one of the trees encircling you.

My heart is beating so fast and so loud that I wonder why you cannot hear my pulse from where you stand.

You are so close to me, closer than you've been in what seems like eons, and I feel like I can't breathe.

I know that nothing will make this easier, that nothing will make moving myself from the trees, and moving you into my line of vision, a simple task.

With a slow, shallow breath, I take a step from the base of the tree. I close my eyes until I know that I will be able to see through the foliage, and then I open my eyes—truly open them—and my breath is seemingly knocked from my lungs.

Nothing could prepare me for what this moment would feel like.

Your back is to me. You're standing strong, confident as you have always been. The moon's silvery light seems to outline your body and emphasize your curves. It makes breathing that much harder.

Your hair seems to shine more than I remember, falling in soft waves from your head down and over your shoulders. It blows gently in the breeze, and I catch a flash of pink between the gold strands of your hair.

You're still wearing the scarf that I bought for you, so many years ago.

That seems to give me some sort of courage, something I never thought I'd need, and I take another step.

There is no way I can come this close to you and leave without at least seeing your face, or hearing your voice.

I am careful to make myself appear non-threatening. I make my posture as relaxed as I can, let my arms hang loosely at my sides. My eyes remain fully open, and slowly, as slowly as I can, I take another step forward, into the copse of trees. I move carefully into the moonlight, and I let my feet make the faintest of sounds on the cold grass beneath my feet.

You whirl on me instantly, Haineko drawn as you turn.

It falls instantly from your grasp as your eyes fall upon me.

You are beautiful.

Stunning.

Astonishing.

Exquisite.

You're the same and yet completely different from how I remember you.

Your eyes seem brighter, livelier, but yet there are dark circles under them. Oddly enough they do not subtract or belittle the effect you have on me.

Your perfect mouth is open in a small, surprised 'O', and your hands still seem to think they are grasping your trusted hellcat.

I'm positive my eyes are as wide as yours; I am still just as shocked by the reality of your presence as you are from the surprise of mine.

I open my mouth, slowly, not moving any other part of my body aside from my lips. I can feel them moving, but I hear no words, no sound comes from my mouth.

It takes what seems like hours for some sound to emerge from my mouth, and neither of us moves as that time passes.

My voice is hoarse, so completely different from my normal, silken tone.

Only one audible word escapes my lips:

"Rangiku."

So I'm sure many of you are disappointed by this veritable cliff hanger...

But I have a surprise!

A companion piece to 'Reminiscence' is planned/in the works, THIS TIME, from Rangiku's point of view. I love this style of re-visiting Gin and Rangiku's (mostly made-up) past to give it up, but I'm sort of tired of writing it from Gin's point of view. I love Rangiku dearly, and thought I'd give it a shot. Besides, I want to see this reunion in Karakura as much as the rest of you...but I'm just not ready to write it (which is hard to explain). So, Rangiku's turn it is.

I can't promise when it will be up or when it will start, school work trumps fanfiction and so far this has been my busiest/most stressful semester to date, but it will happen. There will probably be an interim period, I was to get some work done on 'Lilies, Everlasting', but it will happen. I promise!

Having said that, I want to thank all of my readers and reviewers for your support and enthusiasm for this series of one-shots. Most of my reviews included the words "cry", "bittersweet", and "tears"...I am sorry for making you all so sad.

Till it happens, please, please, PLEASE review! And take the poll on my profile regarding the companion piece!

-Luin