A/N: YESSS, I got my first song request! And here it is! Credit for this song idea goes to the anonymous reviewer kitten, thanks so much, I had mild writers' block for this fic for a bit! Anyways, I didn't really pay much attention to the overall key of the song, as it's kinda...cheerful sounding, and only looked at the lyrics. Yeah...my interpretation, so no flames saying "That is completely not what this song is talking about!" please! :)
Anyway, I was very glad to see more reviews for the last chapter in my inbox, so I won't be discontinuing any time soon! (as long as the reviews keep coming MOOAHAHAHAHA!)
Here is everyone who reviewed/favourited:
kitten
dragonballzlover2499
angelprincess ino
sylar1610
splitheart1120
and StarGazeEyes! They are amazing, people, worship them!
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or any of its characters. All credit goes to Kubo Tite, who may sell me Ulquiorra/Yukio/Shinji if I ask nicely enough...I also do not own the song Livin' On A Prayer by Bon Jovi! xx
Livin' on a Prayer
"We've got to hold on to what we've got,
'Cause it doesn't make a difference
If we make it or not.
We've got each other and that's a lot.
For love - we'll give it a shot."
Gin glanced over at Rangiku, ever so slightly alarmed. She was head-banging rather violently to a loud song that had just come on over the radio.
"Uh…Ran-chan? What are ya doin'?"
"Duh! Raving!" she replied enthusiastically.
"Right…Why?"
"It's fun! You should join in!" she laughed, grabbing his hands and spinning him round and round in circles, carefully avoiding the table. She only laughed harder when she saw the bemused expression on Gin's face.
"Hah! Gin, you look like a…a…I dunno what you look like, but it's hilarious!"
"Rangiku. Answer me truthfully. How much chocolate have ya eaten today?" Gin asked seriously.
"Not that muc—woaah!" Rangiku shrieked as she tripped over a chair leg. She went crashing to the floor, closing her eyes and waiting for the impact with the cold tiled floor. But it never came.
She opened her eyes to see Gin's face filling her vision. He had her arms wrapped round her in a tight embrace, holding her to his chest.
"Ya should be more careful, Ran-chan." he whispered into her ear, his breath ghosting over her skin. Rangiku shivered.
Gin hoisted Rangiku onto her feet and grinned at her. "Ya could hurt yerself, ya know?"
"Yeah...thanks, Gin." Rangiku said, still shaken.
"No problem, Ran-chan."
…
Gin sighed. Now, if he was a nice person, he wouldn't care if Rangiku reciprocated his feelings for her. But, as most people knew, has was most definitely not a nice person. And he did care. He cared a lot. So, whenever he had the chance, he would do all short of forcing himself on her. And the infuriating thing was, she barely seemed to notice.
Gin chuckled bitterly. She was so naïve. How could she not see how frickin' irresistible she was! It took all of his willpower not to just-
Anyway. Gin sighed, rubbing his temples. All he could do was pray to whatever God existed that she'd come to love him as well. As soon as possible, or his self-control was going to shatter, like it almost did in the kitchen a few minutes ago, and he'd scare her away from him forever. His mind recalled the name of the song they'd been dancing to before she fell. It had sounded cheerful enough, but he knew the message was something much more serious, that seemed to fit his existence perfectly, ever since they'd been eight.
'Livin' on a prayer, huh?'
…
Rangiku sang loudly while the hot water cascaded around her. Gin had often teased her for her habit of singing in the shower, but right now she really needed something loud and noisy to cover up the turmoil in her head.
Usually, Rangiku was fine with tough situations: if something was wrong, she'd figure it out. There was always a solution. But in this case, that wasn't true. Well, it was true, but this time that mantra just wasn't helping her. She didn't know what was wrong. She just felt...weird. Ever since this morning, when Gin had stopped her from tripping over in the kitchen. At first, she'd passed it off as adrenaline following a 'near-death' experience, but as time passed, and the feeling remained, she had to admit to herself that something was wrong. Something had changed between her and Gin. And she didn't like it.
Rangiku had always hated change. It scared her, not knowing what was going to happen in the future. If the orphanage hadn't been such a hell-hole, she would never have considered running away. Or if Gin wasn't there to go with her. Gin had been pretty much a constant in her life, never changing, always with that scary grin or whatever. But now he was changing. No, that wasn't right. Gin hadn't changed at all. It was her who had changed! She looked at the world in a different way now, with different eyes. When Gin had caught her, the thought in her head hadn't been, 'Oh, thank God, I nearly died just now!', it had been, 'His face is so close to mine.'
What the hell was with that? She'd been a lot closer to Gin before, she'd even kissed him! On the cheek, of course, but she'd never felt the need to make it anything more. But now...the energy between them was so strange. She knew he felt it too, she could read past his ultimate poker face after all these years, but he wasn't reacting at all! It didn't affect him. Maybe it was a girl thing. Or maybe she was over-thinking things.
Or maybe she'd fallen for him and he didn't return her feelings.
Rangiku shook her head hard. Now she was being ridiculous. Definitely over-thinking things! She was just growing up, that's all. Teenage hormones were a menace. But maybe, just maybe he did think of her as a...girl. Sometimes. Well, there was only one way to find out!
…
"...Gin?" Rangiku padded quietly into the living room where Gin was slouching in the armchair, watching the news.
"Yeah, Ran-chan?" Gin smiled, averting his eyes from the screen.
Rangiku pushed a strand of still-damp hair out of her face. "Why don't you like Toushiro-kun?"
"..."
"I know it's random, but he's a good kid, really, just slightly...cold."
"...Why are you askin' Ran-chan?"
"I just want to know."
Gin sighed and flicked off the telly. "It's not that I don't like him...it's just...he kinda threatens me."
Rangiku felt a small, unexplained flicker of hope. "Huh?" she prompted.
"Like, he's really...I dunno, authoritive and crap."
"...He's a child, Gin."
"I know, I know. But I don't like the way he bosses ya around."
Rangiku's mouth dropped open. "He does not boss me around!" Gin raised an eyebrow. "Well...not much..." she admitted.
"Yeah, well, it bugs me."
"Why?"
"Nuh-uh, Ran-chan, I answered yer question. Ya can't ask me another one." Gin grinned, switching the TV back on.
Rangiku walked over to the chair and plopped down next to Gin, almost on his lap. She put her face a hair's breadth away from his and whispered, "Are you sure you're not jealous I spend most evenings with Toushiro-kun? Even if it is for baby-sitting."
Gin stiffened, leaning ever-so-slightly away from her. "No."
Rangiku was slightly hurt. So, she was wrong then. Gin didn't care whether other boys paid attention to her or not. She knew it'd all been in her head. "Whatever." she said, pushing herself off his knee and flouncing out in a huff. At the doorway, she turned around. "I guess you wouldn't care if I spent my evenings with a 'weird guy' like Kyoraku-san, huh?" She then made tracks to leave.
Gin jumped up and grabbed her by the wrist. "Nah, wait Ran-chan, I didn't mean ta offend ya or anythin'!"
"Well, you did a great job. Congratulations." Rangiku smiled coldly.
"I guess I did. Sorry. Ya got me, I am kinda jealous when ya pay more attention to that lil' brat than me. But only a little." he admitted.
Rangiku's eyes widened. "You lied!"
"...I lie all the time, Ran-chan. You know that."
"Yeah, guess I do. But you don't have to be jealous, Gin, you'll always be my Number One!"
Gin raised an eyebrow. "Will I now?"
"Uh-huh! You're the best guy friend a girl could have!"
"...Right." Gin deflated slightly. 'Che..."guy friend"...'
"Yeah! Like that song said! 'We've got each other, and that's a lot. For love—we'll give it a shot! WOOOAAAH! We're halfway there, Oh! Oh! Livin' on a prayer! Take my hand...'" She danced away, singing at the top of her voice.
Gin was left in the living room, scratching his head. "For love, huh? What kind?" he muttered, half to himself.
A/N: GASP! Is Rangiku-chan finally realising her love for her childhood friend? Or is she just really tired? (lololol)
I didn't like this chapter much, but I'm very happy to know what you think about it, as long as it doesn't take the form of a flame. Constructive criticism welcomed, I need help! Also, song requests very needed here, but please no heavy metal, I don't think I can survive that. No offense to people who like heavy metal, it just ain't my cup of tea. ^o^