Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who reviewed. I love you like no other. :) Yeah, sorry, this is a day late, but I was up late last night studying for a test I didn't have today (and I was playing Pokemon). I can't say I'm too happy with this one, but I wrote most of it during my New Mexico history class. XD Perfect place to write.

Theme #15
Protect

While Rangiku was growing up in the shack, she and Gin had very little sources to wash themselves. They would have to depend on the small amount of water they had, and there was so little to begin with that they had to be content with just cleaning their hands and faces. Being a female with hygienic needs, it was more than frustrating for poor Rangiku.

It was a scorching, unbearable summer day when she could no longer stand the heat, and shrugged off her chores completely.

"Screw this." With her hair up in a bun, her sleeves pulled back by her scarf, and her kimono rolled up above her knees, she stalked out of the run-down shelter and headed into the wilderness. As she wandered around for what seemed like hours, just enjoying the fresh (if not somewhat humid) air.

"I really have to do this more often," she mumbled as she pushed some branches away. "This is really..." She drifted off and her eyes widened as the river unraveled before her. "Oh wow! This is nice."

The area was isolated, with only trees and brush blocking it off. The water waded far beyond her eyes could see, and the banks were free and clear, minus a couple large rocks.

Rangiku treaded towards the river slowly, savoring the feel of the sand between her toes. She crouched down to peer into the water, only to be revolted by her own reflection. "Eugh, I'm all filthy." She cupped the water in her hands and splashed it onto her face, ridding it of the grime and sweat. Feeling replenished, she suddenly felt the need to wash off completely. She glanced over her shoulder quickly, then swiftly stripped and stepped into the water. Immediately, a pleased "aah" escaped her lips.

Gin, how and covered in sweat from the endless training, trudged through the woods, cursing quietly as he maneuvered towards his destination. Stressed from all the vigorous preparation for the Shinigami Academy, Gin had wandered through these woods one day, and had stumbled upon a nice, quiet creek. For the past couple of weeks, that creek was his heaven.

Pushing aside a pair of stubborn branches, the river finally came into view. With the grin still on his lips, he moved forward, only to be repelled by a sight that would have knocked any man off his feet. There was a woman in his river. Now, if Ichimaru Gin were the typical sick, disgusting, perverted man, he probably would have jumped the woman. But this was Ichimaru Gin, and he certainly was not any ordinary man.

Frustrated more than anything, he couldn't believe his bliss was being taken away by some woman that had stumbled across his river. Yes, his river. In all the time he spent here, there was nobody else that came. So thus, it was dubbed as his river.

"Aaah... This is so relaxing."

And immediately his heart stopped beating.

That voice was unmistakable. "Rangiku," he murmured.

Still oblivious to her intruder, Rangiku continued to bathe, with her back facing Gin. The latter had shrunk among the brush, a feeling of uncertainty washing over him. If he was no ordinary man, than Rangiku certainly wasn't any woman. Watching her seemed... wrong.

In his eyes, the strawberry blonde was pure, untainted. He felt like he was dirtying her just by looking at her.

But still, something kept him there. Even though he kept his back to her, he remained in the same spot, almost unmoving. He told himself that he would stay, just to make sure that she would be safe. Just in case some other person would stumble by.

But he would never turn around, just to take a peek. He would never reach out, longing to touch her. He would never let her know that she was plaguing his dreams. He would never let her know that whenever she reached out to touch his hand, he felt warmth. He would never let her know that he was falling for her.

What he would do was protect her. He would make sure that no man would ever touch her with wrong intentions. He would make sure that she remained pure and untainted.

What he didn't fully realize that what he meant was that he would make sure she remained as his. Even if it was from a distance.

Word Count: 730

The Bleach Beat Collections really make me smile. Especially the 11th Divisions. They've seriously got to be one of my favorite Divisions. Ah! And I finally found a translation for Fuyu no Hanabi. Very tear-jerking.