Author's Note: I do not own Bleach or its characters. This is AU.


And Even If You're Not

Gin frowned at the report in front of him. There was something wrong with it even if he couldn't put his finger on exactly what. He knew the results of the latest research project weren't right. At least, the quantitative ones weren't. The results summarized from the interviews were fine, but the statistics looked all wrong. The only problem was he wasn't good enough with the math to figure out where the mistakes might be. The psychology professor knew how to read statistics, not calculate them. He sighed. He'd have to figure out some way of getting this sorted out. This was a major research project, and he was supposed to present it at a conference in a month.

Maybe Ran could help him sort it out. The math used for this would be peanuts to her. He hesitated at that thought. Before he wouldn't have dared to consider it. Anything that indicated that Rangiku was more than just a casual acquaintance to him had been forbidden. Gin had known that Aizen would not have hesitated to use Rangiku against him. And what Aizen hadn't known was it was Rangiku who had brought him down in the end. Gin honestly didn't think he would have acted if it hadn't been for the fact that Aizen had planned to use Rangiku in the stage of his plan. That had been what spurred Gin to betray Aizen. He hadn't been about to let Aizen do anything that might hurt Ran.

He had missed Ran. They had managed to spend some time together since she had arrived at Seireitei University, but it hadn't really been the same as it was marred by Gin's worry that Aizen would focus on her. Rangiku had always been the most precious person in Gin's life, and he had been unwilling to risk her. Even if it did mean he had to keep his distance. Except now he didn't have to. Of course, Gin wasn't entirely sure that Rangiku felt quite the same way. She had always been affectionate with those she cared about, and she could see him simply as a brother.

Gin had time to find out about that though. First things first, he needed to get these statistics sorted out. He reached for the phone.