Chapter Fifteen

A Talk in the Forest

Before Chapter A/N: This may not have much of everyone else, because I want to see what I make Gin and Rangiku talk about. If anyone reading this is a Renji X Rangiku fan, I'm sorry for anything that is said that offends you.

That Night, World of the Living...

Tabitha was sitting in the living room. Sakura was still asleep in Katie's room, along with Katie who had fallen asleep around an hour earlier. She felt the hell Butterfly coming and extended her finger towards it. She heard Jewel's voice. "Tabitha, he's done it. He's won. Tell Katie as soon as you can that Nick will be home in a few days. Jasmine's patching him up right now. I hope you can find some sort of time to come visit. See you."

Tabitha smiled. "Thank God. Well, I'll just go check up on the two sleeping beauties and then I'll get to bed."

She went to Katie's door and looked in to see Katie sleeping soundly in her bed and Sakura still sleeping like a baby in the crib. She closed the door quietly and went to her room, thinking positively. Well, Nick, Jasmine and Elias will be back in just a few days. Katie will be happy when she finds out.

Soul Society, Visored Base...

Nick woke up feeling fine. He saw Jewel was still next to the bed. "Hey. Feeling better, now?" She asked.

"Yes, I feel fine, thank you. Can I leave, now? I want to go home."

"You can in a couple of days. I need you to stay in order for me to monitor you're inner Hollow to make sure you have enough control over it to keep your head. After that, you can go home."

Nick nodded. "I guess you're right. Well, I'm just going to go for a walk, okay?"

"Sure. Just don't go to far into the forest. Once I can't feel your Spiritual Pressure, I'm coming to get you."

Nick nodded again and left the building, walking towards the forest that surrounded the Rukongai Districts.

Spirit Lake, Somewhere in the Spirit Forest...

Gin Ichimaru was waiting in the branches of a tree. He wondered if Rangiku would be able to get away from Captain Hitsugaya. Now that Toshiro had seen Gin, he probably wouldn't let Rangiku out of his sight.

Rukongai District Five Guest Quarters...

Rangiku was about to go out the door to meet up with Gin. "Where are you going, Lieutenant?" Came the small Captain's voice form behind her.

"I'm going for a walk in the forest." She said.

"No, you're going to meet Ichimaru. Why, Rangiku, after all he put you through?"

"Because, he shouldn't be here to begin with, Captain Hitsugaya!" She screamed, catching Toshiro off guard. "I want to know why he's here. I know he won't hurt me. Don't wait up and no eavesdropping. He wants me there alone, but only just to talk."

Toshiro sighed. "Okay. Just, be careful."

"Didn't you say those exact same words to Momo before the whole Aizen Incident?"

"Please, don't bring that up. She didn't listen to me, but you do."

"Okay, fine. You know I'll be careful." Rangiku left the quarters, heading to the Spirit Forest.

Gin's Location, A Few Minutes Later...

Gin heard a rustling in the bushes around the area he was in. Looking around stealthily, he couldn't find anyone. "Who are you looking for, Gin?" Rangiku's voice came suddenly, causing Gin to jump a little.

"Rangiku... I didn't think Captain Hitsugaya would allow you to come." He said smoothly.

"I told him off about it. Let's not get into that, though. I came to talk."

"Yes, I know. Would you like to join me up here, or do you want me to come down?"

"It doesn't matter, but I'd rather you came down here."

"Okay, then. It's your choice." Gin said, jumping down effortlessly. "So, what do you want to know?"

"I want to know... Why you left?"

"Oh, well, that's a little hard for anyone to believe, but I guess you might not. But, answer me one question first. Have I ever actually lied to you?"

Rangiku was taken aback by the question. She thought back to all their days together that they experienced long ago. "No, no you didn't."

"Just making sure. Okay, the reason I left with Aizen was... Complete Hypnosis."

"You mean, Aizen's Zanpaku-to's ability?"

"I thought you knew better than to doubt me? Of course Aizen's sword's ability. He put me under it, and I guess my mind was too weak, because I stayed under it until right after we had left the Soul Society. Do you know why I broke it after that?"

"Why would I know, Gin?" Rangiku asked, a slightly annoyed tone in her voice.

"It was you, Rangiku," She looked up at him and glared. "As soon as I realized I was under that fucking spell, I realized what I had lost and what I had never wanted to leave. I never wanted to leave you, Rangiku. After we had arrived in Hueco Mundo, Aizen started doing his research with the Hogyoku while ignoring both me and Kaname. Kaname, since he couldn't see to begin with, stayed with Aizen. Myself, however, broke free of the Hypnosis because of you and I fled. I knew I wouldn't be welcome in the Soul Society back home, so I decided to come to the American Soul Society. Here, I have a life without being targeted for death. Do you know why?"

"No, why?" Rangiku asked, slightly tearing.

Gin smiled at her. "Don't cry. It's all because of Spirit King Kurosaki, of course," Rangiku's face became a mask of astonishment. "Surprised? I sure as hell was when I found out he was the Spirit King. But, that didn't stop him from allowing me to stay. I was even seen here by Captain-Commander Yamamoto. Ichigo brought him here and asked what he thought should happen to me. He said to just interrogate me with the Truth Squad."

"The Truth Squad?"

"Oh, right. You've never heard of them. The Truth Squad are part of Squad Zero, and they well, make sure that people tell the truth during interrogations. They questioned me and when they could tell I was telling the truth, they released me to live here. I decided not to become part of a Squad here because I had heard that some of you guys from the Japanese Soul Society visited here. I didn't want to see you, but when I saw you the earlier, I wanted to talk to you, even though I knew you'd be too surprised to do anything. I'm sorry if I surprised you. I never did forget what you told me that day in private when we were still at the Soul Reaper Academy."

"I never forgot what you said, either. I still do love you, Gin. But, I'm with Renji now."

"Renji? Renji Abarai? How did he get you?"

"I don't know. I wasn't drunk for once. We just sort of got together."

"Well then, you'll be confused to the fact that I still love you as well. I never stopped, and neither did you. Come live with me here. We could even live in the World of the Living. Renji would never have to know about us."

"But, Gin. I have to tell him something. He wants to have a child. I can't just take that away from him."

"You can't? It's not like you're pregnant, right?"

"Right, but I told him I'd stop drinking so we could have a baby."

"Have you stopped drinking?"

"No, but I don't know why I can't. Maybe it's because of what you made me go through when you left. I was just so depressed. I don't know what to do, Gin. If I asked Captain Hitsugaya, he'd say to stay away from you. But, I don't want to anymore. I've been away from you for long enough. I want to be with you, now. I'm so confused now. What am I supposed to do about Renji? When he hears I stayed here, he'll come looking for me."

"Then we won't tell him. We'll ask Ichigo about it."

"How are we supposed to? He's in the Royal Dimension, isn't he?"

"Yes, but he gave me a communication device, in case I ever needed to talk to him about something. Bur, Rangiku, are you sure about this? If you leave Renji, I don't know how much Ichigo can do to prevent him from coming after you."

"I don't care! Gin, I need you. I only think that you can help me stop drinking. Please, let's go ask."

"Okay. Let's talk to him," Ichimaru took out a small orb and waved his hand over it. "King Kurosaki, are you there?"

Ichigo's face appeared in the orb. "Gin? What do you... Rangiku?"

"Hello, Ichigo. We have to talk to you."

"But, I thought you were with Renji?" Ichigo asked, his voice still confused.

"I was, but I have decided that I need to stay with Gin. But, I don't want Renji coming after me about this. I'm leaving the Japanese Soul Society, but I can only tell you and Captain Hitsugaya."

"I understand, and I can keep Renji away from you for as long as you need, but where are you going to go, then? Are you going to stay in the American Soul Society?"

"No. Gin was thinking we could move to the World of the Living."

"Good idea, Gin. I knew you were sneaky, but smart too? Well, I'll arrange everything, but you have to tell Toshiro about this tomorrow, Rangiku."

"I know. Thank you, Ichigo."

"It isn't a problem. Gin, when you both move there, you'll be going with Captain Fiero. He'll make sure that you have a house there. Understood?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"God, you're just like my Hollow. Okay, if that's it, I'll talk to you later."

"Okay. Goodnight, Ichigo." Gin said and deactivated the orb. "Well, are you going to be happy now?"

"I think I may be after this. I'll go tell Toshiro."

"I think I should go with you."

"Why?"

"Because, I have the whole conversation recorded on another orb." Gin smiled that feline smile.

"Okay, then. Let's go." They rushed back to the Guest Quarters.

Guest Quarters, Moments Later...

Toshiro felt Rangiku's Spiritual Pressure returning, but it wasn't alone. He also felt Ichimaru's. "What is she thinking, bringing him here?"

They both came in the door. "Why, hello Toshiro. We both have to talk to you, and we have proof of this decision." Gin said, the smile never coming off his face.

"What decision? Rangiku?" He asked, his bluish eyes narrowing at his Lieutenant.

"I've decided to stay with Gin, in the World of the Living."

Toshiro's eyes became as wide as saucers. "What?"

"I'm sorry, Toshiro, but I still love him, and you know he never lies to me about anything. He still loves me, too. I'm going to stay with him, away from the Soul Society."

"Why, Rangiku? What about Renji?"

"I'm sorry, but I'm not coming back. Ichigo has already made plans for it."

"How do you know?"

Gin took the orb out from his pocket. "Here you go."

Toshiro started watching the message recorded in the sphere.

A Few Minutes Later...

Toshiro had finished watching the orb and had set it down on the table. "Okay, then. I guess it can't be helped. Just, be careful and treat her right, Gin. If I get word that you didn't, I'll personally kill you."

"Understood, Captain. I am sorry about taking your Lieutenant away from you, however. We will be leaving with, I would guess, the new Visored kid and his family."

"Nick? Oh, that explains why he was so excited. He's finally going back. While you're there, help protect them, Gin. The new Visored kid, right, his girlfriend is pregnant, and she still lives in the World of the Living."

"Will do. Well, I have to leave. See you soon, Rangiku." Gin gave her a small kiss and left.

A/N: Well, here's chapter fifteen. The next chapter, I would say, will be the last chapter of this installment in my Bleach story series. Soon enough, Ice of Evathon'Dala will be released on this site and I can continue writing all the Bleach stupidity and greatness that I love so much. Expect the first chapter of the sequel before 1 am Sunday, when Bleach premieres episode 97. See you all later.

Next Time: Seeing as how the last chapter is this one, basically people should be able to tell what'll happen. So, I won't tell you and if you can't figure it out, wait for it to show up. Goodbye.