Author's Note:

Hi, my name is Renoh. I am eighteen. I am A MAJOR DICK BECAUSE I HAVEN'T UPDATED THIS IN FOREVER AND THE LAST THING I LEGITIMATELY WROTE FOR THIS THEME SET WAS OVER A YEAR AGO. /shot

Okay, so I haven't reeaaally written anything since NaNoWriMo last year, save for some stuff I posted on Quizilla, and ugh it's killing me. And I feel bad 'cause I'm pretty sure this thing is about three years old and I'm no where near finished. So I have made a vow - to finish this before the end of my freshman year in college! (I also like to lie to myself a lot, if you haven't noticed.)

Now, a huge thank you to everyone who has stuck with me through it all, and a huge major thank you to Megan-taichou, sunsetblossom, cy-grl, Dragen Eyez, Charmane, SwirlzSmile, Aiko, katiegirl101199, and CrossroadsofLife for reviewing the last chapter~

Kaleidoscope
a Bleach (© Kubo Tite) fanfiction

Theme #59
festival

Opening Song: "It's Not Fair" - Lily Allen

It had been years since Gin had last attended a festival, and honestly he hardly had any intent on changing that. Unfortunately, when one is friends with Matsumoto Rangiku, one has no say in such matters, especially when one has shrugged her off five times in the past week.

"Don't be angry." Rangiku was pouting, both hands on her hips and a stern expression on her pretty face.

"I'm not angry," he replied nonchalantly, bearing his never ceasing grin.

"I can tell that you're angry," she persisted, only now she looked exasperated. After knowing him for as long as she did, she could easily tell his mood regardless of his outer expression. It was both a blessing and a curse, though at this current moment in time he couldn't help but regard it as nothing more than a curse. "C'mon, Gin, let's just have some fun. Please? Besides, you have to make it up to me, remember?"

He almost winced at the scathing look that accompanied her last question. After working for almost eighteen hours, he had forgotten his dinner date with her last night, leaving one very irate Rangiku sitting by herself in the Korean barbeque house for almost two hours. "I know, I know," he insisted, waving his hand dismissively. "And I'm here, ain't I?" His smile curled further as he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

She breathed slowly, almost uncomfortably, but nodded before latching onto his arm and directing him down the road.

Things had been... awkward between them lately, and he couldn't help but admit that it was probably his fault. He'd drowned himself in his work and he spent most of his time with Aizen and Tousen, and while he appeared to be as friendly as ever, things just... changed? Perhaps it was the cynicism he'd been born with, the skepticism that had grown in him since he was a child, or just the feeling of isolationism from associating with those other two. Whatever it was, it was also effecting his relationship with Rangiku.

He knew she was noticing the changes in him. She could see the way he looked at others, the way his smiles were never genuine, the way he didn't really regard the rest of the Gotei 13 as his companions. He'd never been much of a people person, not really, but something in him was warping even further. She noticed, and it made her uneasy.

Yet, she continued to talk to him, to sit with him, to make plans with him (even when both of them knew he'd probably forget). "It's 'cause we're friends, idiot," she answered once when he questioned her. Was it really that simple?

"Hey, look, fireworks!" Rangiku pointed ahead of them excitedly, a large grin conquering her lips. He didn't have time to even think about protesting; she was already yanking him through the crowds, pulling him to the top of the highest hill, with the best view of the fireworks.

His grin softened into something comfortable, yet, at the same time, it felt so uncomfortable because he had grown so accustomed to his mask. "Kinda nostalgic, huh?" he asked softly, admiring the bursts of color.

"Yeah," was her quiet, simple reply.

Where are you going?

Gin looked down at her, still clutching his arm, eyes distant even as she gazed up at the fireworks.

Gin, where are you going?

A rush of guilt flooded through him as he recalled that winter night, the way she slumped again him, the way she cried into his gi, the way her body shook. "Hey." Her grip around his arm loosened as she looked up at him curiously, cocking her head to the side. "I'm right here."

Her confusion reflected what must have been his expression that one night. "What? What are you talking about?"

"I ain't goin' anywhere. I'm right here," he replied. Her brow furrowed and she shook her head, confirming her confusion, but he said nothing more, only leaned in to press his cold lips against her forehead. "I'm sorry."

Closing Song: "Her Morning Elegance" - Oren Lavie

Word Count: 675

Allusions to theme numbah twenty-three. And... no snarky or fun comment because it's 1:28 in the morning and I'm about to die. Goodnight~!