Ichimaru Gin Birthday Special 2008!

A/N: Because I'm lame like this. I started this thing over a year ago!

(insert bug-eyes) And then I had the nerve to miss both Gin and Kenpachi's

birthdays. I almost missed Gin's again this year, were it not for the fact that I joined the

livejournal ginxkira community (mainly for research purposes but I've stayed cuz I like it big grin)

So this is way off-the-cuff. As I said before, I just found out I almost missed it again.

Ichimaru Gin didn't like surprises. No- wait- he took that back. He liked to be the one springing the surprise. He just didn't like being the one that was surprised. He turned his head slightly to look at his vice-captain, Izuru Kira.

"To whom do I owe this honor?"

Some of the party-goers shrank back at the aura Gin gave off with this seemingly innocent question. Kira bowed his head and merely replied, "You said you had nothing planned, taichou."

Gin raised his eyebrows at the calm response and a more genuine smile crossed his face. "So I did."

The tension in the air dissipated and the celebration began in earnest.

Taking in his surroundings, Gin nearly pouted when he realized it was much better attended than the ones he planned himself. Really, was he that scary-weird to the rest of them?

The ninth division captain sent his regrets that he could not attend through his vice-captain, Hisagi Shuuhei. The captain of the sixth division did the same through his vice-captain, Renji Abarai. Ah, there was little Hinamori-chan! That completed the band of his vice-captain's academy friends. And that meant that her captain was surely there to keep-

"Congratulations on another birthday, Gin." The bespectacled captain of the fifth division, Aizen Sousuke said. -an eye on her.

Gin gave a slight bow of his head. "Thank you. I'm honored you and your vice-captain were able to attend."

"I regret that we will not be staying long. Enjoy your party." Formalities finished, they parted ways.

And if Hinamori-chan was there, then that also meant the presence of boy-genius captain of the tenth division, Hitsugaya Toushirou. The all-too-serious young man was very protective of the girl and very suspicious of Ichimaru. It was safe to assume the diminutive captain's attendance had very little to do with wanting to celebrate Gin's afterlife in Soul Society. Ah well, Gin shrugged to himself, it can't be helped.

Fortunately, the other captains in attendance were less frosty. (Save, perhaps, Komamura, but one never knew what was going on under that helmet, so Gin really didn't think that made a difference.) He was (truly) delighted that Ukitake Jyuushirou, captain of the thirteenth division, was there. He was always such a pleasant person. Very warm and kind. Gin could only take his company in small doses, as the captain's goodness only seemed to provoke his more mischievous side. Ukitake's third and fourth seats were also present. Fighting, as usual, over who would get their captain his refreshment. It was quite touching, really. The fact that Ukitake had not appointed a new vice-captain after the unfortunate loss of one Kaien Shiba to a powerful hollow. Nah, Gin couldn't help but like the guy.

Unohana Retsu, captain of the fourth division, was also lent her understated presence to Gin's surprise party. He accepted her best wishes with a bow and warm clasp of her pro-offered right hand. He spotted Mayuri Kurotsuchi, captain of the twelfth division, lurking ominously close to the large punch bowl (now half-empty). What bad luck! He hadn't even got to try any before the resident mad scientist tampered with it. As if on cue, Shunsui Kyoraku, captain of the eighth division, shoved a glass into his hand.

"Happy birthday, Ichimaru!" Shunsui slung an arm over Gin's shoulders and clinked their glasses together. "Let's go have some cake!"

Gin's brow furrowed with confusion. Cake? There was cake? He hadn't seen any cake. He heard Yachiru's voice in the background. "Cake! Cake! Yay! Cake!"

Gin looked where Shunsui was guiding him. "Oh."

Kira and Ikkaku, Zaraki's third seat, were wheeling the biggest cake Gin had ever seen to the center of the room. It was huge! But apparently, that wasn't all. His guests were counting.

"1-2-3! Happy Birthday!"

Rangiku burst out from the top of the cake. Wearing a very silly pointed hat, held on her head with an elastic, and blowing a noisemaker in his face. So that's where she had been all this time. He'd been wondering.

Gin shared a smile with the quarter-moon hung high in the clear night sky. It was quiet now. Only the sound of his feet making their way from his division reached his ears. As he got closer to his destination, he could hear the faint tinkle of bells. He found Kenpachi sleeping on the roof. He nudged the softly snoring shinigami with his toe. The snoring stopped. Zaraki's visible eye opened and quickly sighted Gin.

"Yer birthday's over," Kenpachi slurred more from sleep than drink. "What do you want?"

Gin's shoulders shook with laughter over his friend's blunt manner. It never failed to amuse him.

"I just came to thank you."

Zaraki turned his back to Gin with a grunt. "You're welcome. Didn't think you'd want Yumichika jumping out of that cake."

The moral of the story:

Sometimes what we don't get is the best gift of all XD!

Author's end note: Yes, that's the end! Ah, I wanted to mention why Soi Fon wasn't there (she can't be bothered) and Yamamoto wants to avoid complaints of favoritism so he doesn't go to any birthday parties except his own :). But that all didn't fit into what little flow I had going in the story. Yachiru was going to have a bit more to do, too. :( I hope it isn't too bad. Thank you for reading!