Always Come Back
Disclaimer: I don't own anything of or related to BLEACH.
Rangiku sat at her window, staring out at the clouds. Her hair cascaded down her back in waves of strawberry blonde and her crystal eyes were glazed over as if seeing something that wasn't there.
Sayonara, Rangiku. His usually grinning face was formed into a regret-filled frown as he turned back to face her. His silky silver hair swayed lightly in the energy radiating from the beam around him. Gomen.
The fukutaichou shook her head to clear it of the memory though it persistently lingered. What would have happened, if she hadn't let go, or, as he said, 'held on a bit longer'? Would she have gone with him, or would he have stayed with her?
Looking back on it, she knew that she would have gone with him, had he asked her to, despite her undying loyalty to her taichou – she owed the traitor that much at least for all he had done for her. Now, however…
She sighed and leaned her head against the window frame. Now her loyalty was solely to Hitsugaya Toshiro and Soul Society. Despite all his yelling at her and her teasing him, she and her captain were very close, if only because they had both lost someone precious from the betrayal. Hinamori-kun is still in that coma and Gin…
She sighed again and looked at the sake bottle beside her. Since the betrayal, she had immersed herself in her work, her sake and anything else that kept her busy. When she was busy, she didn't think of the past so much, didn't think of Gin so much… She knew Hitsugaya was worried about her, but she was worried about him, too – he had thrown everything he had into the work from not only their division, but the Fifth's as well.
A smile came to her lips as she thought about how he had slowed down recently. He had started after they got back from the living world, after they met Ichigo's sister.
She chuckled a little when she remembered Karin calling him an elementary student and ruffling his hair. It had made such a cute picture.
A grinning face and red eyes crossed her mind again and she sighed. She still remembered how cute he was, back when they were children, before his grin had become a leer, before he met Aizen.
"Gin!" Large crystal eyes looked around frantically. "Gin, please come out!" They had been playing together, like children, when he disappeared. "Gin!"
Suddenly, she was grabbed from behind, causing her to scream. She looked down at the pale arms around her shoulders and calmed. She felt his head on her hair and sighed. "Gomen, Ran-chan, for worryin' you." She leaned back into him, a sort of hug of her own.
He always disappeared without telling her anything, but he always came back, so it was fine with her. Her small hands clasped over his arms, holding him there. "Gin…"
Of course, then he went somewhere I couldn't follow as I was. Rangiku sighed and looked back to the clouds. Will you come back, again? Will you came back like you used to? Or did you want me to follow you like I did when you became a shinigami?
She sighed again and leaned back. She had so many questions but it was too late for them now. She stood and prepared to go to the office, for once leaving a full bottle of sake in her wake. You've made your choice, Gin, and now I've made mine.
Red eyes watched her leave with a sad smile. She had chosen Soul Society over him, and he couldn't blame her. Had he been in the same position, he would have done the same thing. You're stronger now, Ran-chan, but you can still be weak, but when that happens, I'll be there… He turned to leave, making sure to hide his reiatsu completely. I'll always come back as long as you need me, and you still do, whether you know it or not.
AN: You'll find that I love this pairing VERY much, almost as much as HitsugayaKarin. ; Thank you all for reading and please leave a review!