Blah to working four nights in a row, ewwww. So sleepy now, and I've hardly begun. I'm nearly done with Solar Kitty's one-shot! Finally!

Thanks to: Blueberry Absinth, blackteaplease, CrossroadsofLife, LilyGirl101, Spockie, Beautiful Nightmare07, Care Bear on Fire, PunkRockHolly, and Solar Kitty

CONTEST WINNER: blackteaplease, congratulations! Let me know about one-shot stuff, preferably by PM or e-mail, but review works too.


77. Midnight

The stars were different in Hueco Mundo. There was something a little confusing about it as he stared up; it made him feel a little like being lost down a twisty turn in rukongai, wondering how on earth he was supposed to get back home. Only now, there was no home to go back to, or rather, this strange new place was supposed to be home. He would know the night sky soon enough, though. He had always spent far too much time staring up at the sky late at night.

The moon, though, was the same. The night was still and the moon shone brilliantly. Gin leaned against the balcony railing and sighed. It was still the same moon Rangiku looked up at. He could not help but think of her every time he saw that strange glowing orb; it was she who introduced him to it. Never would he have noticed it without her.

One day they had been out late, until the moon lighted their path instead of the sun.

Rangiku ran into a clearing and looked straight up. "Oh wow," she said and fell backwards into the grass. She pillowed her head with her arms and kept staring up. "Look at the moon, Gin."

He humored her and laid down beside her. Gin looked up at the white circle. "What's so great 'bout th' moon?"

"I dunno. It makes me think of magic," Rangiku said and laughed. "And it's so pretty, and silver like your hair. I love it."

"You sayin' my hair's pretty?"

"No way, it's too messy for that," she said.

"Shouldn' there be one o' them stories 'bout the moon fer ya ta like it so much?"

Rangiku sat up. "Gin, there doesn't always have to be a reason to like something. Sometimes, you just do, just because. I think it makes it even more special, don't you think?"

"Dunno, think there's always reasons fer stuff."

"Okay, why do I like the moon then?"

Gin was not sure whether she was going to laugh or kick him. "'Cause it's pretty, an' even if ya can't see it, it's there every night. It lights a path at nigh, an' ya can look at it better'n th' sun. It won' change like th' stars'll do when yer some place else. We'll still be lookin' at the same moon."

Rangiku had watched him a minute longer. "Maybe that's a good reason, but I still say I like it just because."

"'Course you do."

Rangiku smacked his arm, but then she wrapped her arms around her knees and stared up at the moon again. "Hey Gin?"

"Mm?"

"If you ever leave…" Rangiku said and paused a moment too long. Gin knew why; he had already left several times before. She did not like it when he did that. "Look up at the moon at night, okay? Then we'll be looking at the same thing, right?"

"Yeah, sure thing," he said. It was a promise that did not hurt to make, and if he never kept it no one would get hurt.

Gin let out a quiet sigh. After that, he had at least looked out the window to try to see a sliver of the moon. He had told himself he would not, that he would stop when he came here. It made him think too much of her. He wondered if she kept on looking at the moon and thought of him. His heart wished she did, but the rest of him hoped she did not.


Ah Gin.... you have to know you're stupid.

77. Midnight