Summary: As of late, Rangiku has been more and more depressed even though it's been four years since the defeat of Aizen's army. Ichigo has been reclusive of late since their is hardly any hollows to fight since the fall in Hueco Muendo four years ago and rarely finds anything exciting. Friends of both parties have tried everything to cheer them up and yet everythinmg failed. In a last attempt, they bring the two of them together and it's an instantaneous click. But will forces of the unknown threaten to tear the relationship apart?

A/N: I thank all my reviewers so much! They have given me needed advice and confidence in this story. Now for disclaimers ^ ^! I do not own Bleach! (Though I wish I did) The series and manga belong to the author/creator and the animators who brought it to its existance.

"", ''- Speaking Normally, thoughts

''- Private Thoughts

"" or ''- Hichigo, zanpaktou's, etc speaking

Chapter 6: In lies and love

4 months later...

"Ichi-nii! Wake up! Ichi-nii san!"

"Move Yu..."

"What are you going to do Kai?"

"The old fashion way of waking up this slacker." Raising her foot up, Karin brought it down hard upon her brother's unprotected mid-section.

"WHAT THE HELL?!"

"Karin!"

"What? You wanted him up and he's up." Shoving her hands in her pockets, the elder fraternal whistled and left the area.

"Oh..." Cursing underneath her breath, Yuzu knelt next to her injured brother. "Hold on..." removing his hands, she placed her own on in replace. Letting a white energy cover her hands, the blonde quickly healed the bruising area.

"Thanks Yuzu, you're getting better at this."

Standing up, she blushed and played with the hem of her shirt. "It's no big."

"So why did the she-male..."

"HEY! I'm still in the vicinity!" Karin yelled from the kitchen.

"Fuck you!" He yelled back into the kitchen. (A/N: Ah, the love lol) "Anyway, why did she wake me up?"

"Hmm? Oh! I wanted to ask could we train today?" Said Yuzu as she stood up.

Sitting up, the teen dug in his ear and flicked invisible dirt. "Ya know I'm not that good with kido right? How come you don't ask Urahara?"

"I would but I haven't seen for days now. Since the beginning of October.."

"What?"

"Yea, him, and even Jinta and Ururu are gone. I don't even see the mod souls or their bodies there either." Yuzu clasped her hands worriedly

Grabbing a shirt off the nearby chair, he snatched his keys off the table. "Let's go and investigate..."

Watching his lieutenant, Toushirou refrained from turning everything into an ice statue in the five mile radius around him. He was aggravated with how her new attitude was for the past month. "Rangiku, may I ask what is wrong this time?"

Looking over to her captain, she sighed and got up. Ignoring his stare, she opened the doors.

"Where are you going?"

"Some place, I just need a bit of time away from the office." Playing with the pendant, her attention was solely focused on it

"Alright." Giving his permission, he was grateful when she left, the oppressive atmosphere lifted like a warm blanket off of him. 'She was playing with that pendant again.' Word spread fast like wild fire and within a week he had learned that she got the pendant from Ichigo. Pinching the bridge of his nose, Toushirou tried to control the oncoming headache of trying to wrap his head around how to cheer up his lieutenant. "Damnit Kurosaki, what the hell have you done now?"...

(Rangiku's P.O.V)

'How long are they going to keep us here?'Making my way through the seemingly endless walk ways of Sereitei, while some of the soul reapers managed to stay sane, others including me were going stir crazy. My rank as a lieutenant seemed more like a burden than a gift these days. It was god damn ridiculous to hold us here for this amount of time without something to cure our boredom. Hell, even the women's association agreed that there was nothing new they could publish because there was no new news. That's when it hit me that I was actually going out of my damn mind pondering on this shit. "Fuck..." Banging my hand against an adjacent wall in a desolate corridor I lowered myself against it. How stupid was this? I, a lieutenant for more than how many years I can count was being driven to madness at a few weeks of confinement. I've been through so much worse than this but it felt like hell compared to all those other times. 'Than again at least we were able to lounge about without contacting others. Now they're just cooping us up like animals, no wonder I'm going stir crazy.'

"Rangiku."

"Go away."

"Get up first."

Looking up, I saw Nel looming above me and she was not having my attitude. Getting up slowly, I was forced to my feet quickly and drawn to her.

"What the hell did you do? Your captain is contemplating about freezing all of Sereitei over and by god we all know he has the ability to do so."

Looking down, I avoided the question. No sooner I was lowered to my feet but I was quickly pulled with the green haired espada towards her division. Entering the quarters, we made our way past the stunned members.

"May I ask why you have Lieutenant Matsumoto by the arm and looking like you're about to spear her?"

Both of turned to see Captain Kuchki. Releasing my arm for a moment, Nel smiled and ran over to hug him.

"Nel..." He gave her a warning tone though it faltered.

"Awww, you're still too shy."

Kissing him in front of me only raised my resentment towards the society further. Turning my back to them I continued to walk down the hallways. I only stopped once to ask for directions to the garden and not before long I was there. Stepping outside, I had to marvel at the serene beauty before I found a rock near the pond and sat down on it. I've been here a couple of times before and each time the beauty stunned and amazing. Gazing into the koi lake, I saw myself for the first time. While people always compliment me on my beauty, in my eyes they weren't as bright as once before and my hair though still pretty was not as voluminous as before.

"You need to see him."

Turning around, I saw Nel and Byakuya approaching me. Rolling my eyes I turned to look at my reflection in the pond. "I have no clue what you are talking about."

"Ran, come on. I've never seen you so down until after you came back from spending that time with Ichigo and his friends."

"It's whatever... I'm fine."

"Liar."

"Byakuya!"

Turning to the two of them, a small laugh escaped my lips at the humorous scene in front of me.

"Ha! We made you laugh! Told you Byakuya you have a sense of humor."

Stifling my laughter, Nel continued.

"They lied when they say there was something crammed in your..."

I couldn't hold it in, I laughed genuinely for the first time in weeks. Those two are piece of work I tell ya.

"There ya go!"

"Ok! Ok! I'll spill." She sat next to me smiling, the dainty cherry blossom pin sitting in her hair holding it back from her face.

"So what gives?"

"I guess I'm just lonely. I'm not used to being cooped up here for a long time."

"Why not? Ya did it for hundreds of years I'm sure."

"Yea... But at least I got to go out and kill hollows... Now it's just nothing but paper work ... That and I am worried about Ichi…" I stopped myself from saying his name.

"Ichigo?"

I nodded.

"You miss him a lot don't you?"

Slumping down, I felt her sit me up before she tapped the forgotten necklace.

"He's here with you, this is why gave it to you so you wont feel lonely. Don't ever forget that..."

Touching the pendant, I knew it was true. "I know, but it was fun staying all those weeks with him. I finally got to know him for him and not the gawky teenager that I remember all those years ago." Smiling back at the memory, Rangiku let out a soft chuckle when the image of him hiding his face to cover the immense blush but still left one eye uncovered to see if the skirt would go higher.

"He never told you about the story did he?"

"Told me what?" I wasn't paying attention fully so all I picked up on was story and life.

"About his mom."

Sitting up, I played with the ends of my hair. "No actually, all I know is that she's dead."

"By Grand Fisher."

"Say what?" I was shocked.

"Rukia told me... Grand Fisher had lured him when he was young. Using an illusion of a young girl wandering close to the river, he got him to come close. In a desperate act, his mother saved him at the cost of her life in the process. He doesn't talk about it often cause of the pain. Always he used to blame himself and never forgave the fact he couldn't save her. But it was when his dad finally kicked some sense into him... The pain ceased and though it comes back... I think it transformed into something more."

She smiled over at me."What the hell are you smiling for? You're plotting something!"

"Ha! As if. Why do you think that you're in possession that necklace? And don't give me some lame excuse cause everyone knows Ichigo doesn't trust easily."

"Ummm, I have no clue then honestly."

"Sweetie, the boy is in love."

"With who?"

"You."

I jumped up in protest but hit my head on a low branch. Rubbing the sore spot, I saw Nel trying not to laugh and even Byakuya cracked a smile.

"You're just in denial."

"That's a lie!"

"Like whats coming from your mouth now? Stop lying to yourself."

This time she looked at me with ferocity only an espada could do. It was if we were on the battle field and she was my enemy instead of my ally.

"Yes we all know how Gin hurt you and you have to come with full terms on that... You'll never learn how to live unless you walk through it. You deny love and have sex to cover up what you need."

Her words hit deep but they were true.

"Stop covering up your damn sorrow and tell it to go fuck its self and walk through it. Otherwise cut that shit and go about your destiny and never look back. Looking back only makes you realize all the god damn mistakes that you made. If you need to look back, remember the actual good times that you had and tell the rest to take a hike. Hell... If I count the times I wanted to kill myself for the stuff I've done under Aizen's control I wouldn't be here. Even though everyone knows it already, I love this hard ass headed captain here."

"Neliel..."

"Oh you know it's true Byakuya."

The tender look that I seen them share was almost straight out a fairy tale. She turned back to me with the same look in her eyes and you could tell how emotional she was. "When I found out about what happened in his past, how he became hard heart and cold... No one should be like that. And we all know how much hell I had to go threw to get where I am and even now I'm learning..."

Getting up, grabbed my hands and held them tight in hers.

"Now you need to learn yourself on where your heart truly stands. If it is with him then you will know and if it doesn't than you know where to go from there. Now... Go to him... Go now."

It was just then I noticed the gold band around her ring and gaped up at her. Seeing her nod, I hugged her and ran off over the roof tops.

"You think it was a good idea to tell her to do that? She'll get in trouble."

"I can say the same thing about your lineage... So don't talk."

Placing an arm around her waist, the noble smiled and pulled her close. "Now I know why I chose you..."

(P.O.V end)

The air rushed around as long hair whipped in the wind. The occupant's feet skidded to a halt as she lowered herself out of view. She watched as the guards patrolled the area and waited until the opportunity to strike. Knocking them both out with ease, she then went to the towers and made herself known.

"Li-Lieutenant!"

"Open the gates..."

"But...! Captain Yamamoto!"

"I'll deal with it later. Do it now..."

Coming to the shouten, Ichigo knocked on the wooden doors. "Urahara! Open up!"

"See? I told you that there was no one here..." Yuzu chewed her lip nervously, the substitute shinigami badge hanging from her belt just in case Ichigo needed it.

"Relax." Opening the doors, the place was stocked well but it looked like no one had been in there for days. Stepping in, Ichigo avoided any floor panels that looked like traps. Opening the doors in the back, he motioned for Yuzu to come in.

Being as careful as her brother, she made her way to the back.

"Look, were going to split up from here, yell if you need any help.

Nodding, the younger Kurosaki went down the left corridor.

Taking the right, Ichigo made sure to listen out for Yuzu just in case she needed help. "Hey! Anyone here?"

"So you finally came? Thank god!"

"What the...?" Pulled into a secret room, it took him a moment to recognize who was in here. "Kukaku? Ganju! Yoruichi? What is going on?"

"It's a meeting brother."

Turning around, he saw Yuzu come in and closed the door behind her.

"You knew about this?"

"You think you'd come willingly if I didn't convince you?" Yuzu hated deceiving people but it was for the best.

"Your sister is sure the little actress isn't she?"

Smiling, she took a seat near Kukaku.

Huffing, Ichigo ran a hand threw his hair, absently reminding himself that it needed to be cut. "So what the hell was this whole meeting necessary for 'cause you know I nearly got a rib or two broken this morning."

Snapping the fan shut, Urahara took off his hat and looked up at Ichigo. "The soul society just sent a message not too long ago. It seems that..."

"Ichigo!"

All eyes looked at the door where the tenth division lieutenant stood.

"Rangik..."

Grabbing his arm, she hauled him out of the room and out of the shouten.

"... Well damn, there goes our meeting." Kukaku ran a hand threw her hair at the sudden intrusion.

"What the hell was that for?" Ganju was still staring at the door.

Smirking, Yoruichi grinned. "Well, well, well, I see a new development coming about."

"What the hell Rangiku?"

Though the short skirt threatened to rise dangerously high, she didn't look back as she pulled the teen into an alley. Slamming him up against the wall, she fisted his shirt in her hands.

"Ran..."

"Shut up."

"What?"

"I said shut up!" Kissing him, she pulled him down to her height since she wasn't wearing heels.

Surprised by the sudden action, he pushed her away and looked for anything to explain her actions. "Rangiku…"

Staring up at him, she brought up and relaxed her palm against his cheek. 'What is this strange feeling?'

Running his hand threw his hair, Ichigo sighed and held her by her waist, pulling her into him.

Relaxing her grip on his shirt, she leaned into the comfort. "... I'm so tired… Of everything… I just want to stay here where I'm safe."

"But it's not safe here Rangiku, anywhere you go there will be trouble." Ichigo sympathized with her but was also a realist at the same time.

"Liar, stop lying..." Releasing the other hand on his shirt, she moved her hand to his face and cupped his other cheek."Right now I'm in the safest place right now."

"Rangiku..."

"Tell me... Will you lie to me?"

"Lie about what?"

"Anything." Looking away from him, she was scared that his eyes would show hidden malice.

"Why would I?"

"Others had... Since I lived in the districts, the Sereitei, what makes it different now?" In her eyes you could see that she was tired of holding everything in. In truth, the talk with Nel opened up feelings she locked long ago in favor of living a life of freedom. But it was becoming clear to Rangiku that she needed someone who would truly love her for her and not just her looks. 'Is this what she was talking about? This feeling… Of wanting to put your trust into someone completely? Not being afraid of what comes next and just following your heart?' Pulling herself together, she stared Ichigo in the eye and waited to see if he would make these questions become solutions to all her issues. 'This will only get resolved if I face this head on this boy… No, young man who has changed my outlook.'

"Cause I am different... Don't compare me to those scum bags who made you cry in the past."

"But you can't prove it!" Her voices were silenced by his lips. Her body pressed against the other wall, being held against it by his body.

Pulling back, Ichigo stared at her. "I can and I will... I will prove it."

Touching his face softly, a tear escaped. "Don't hurt me..."

"I won't."

"Well, well, well what's this?"

Grabbing her close, both of them looked up and their eyes instantly widened.

"Surprised to see me?" Out of the shadows stepped the malicious entity of Gin Ichimaru...

A/N: Edited! :)