"Hey, sweetheart, where're you off to in such a hurry?"
Rangiku's steps faltered as a group of men lounging by the roadside turned their attention to her. Their laughter grated against her ears like rusted metal, and she wished she'd taken the longer route.
Rangiku wasn't a little girl anymore, and it was becoming harder to ignore the way people—men—looked at her.
It wasn't something she'd thought much about when she was younger, when the compliments were innocent, affectionate even. She had always been beautiful, but now that she was older, with curves she couldn't hide under her worn-out clothes, those compliments were no longer innocent.
She kept her head down, trying to block out the murmurs and sidelong glances that followed her.
Someone stood then, stretching lazily, his eyes roaming over her in a way that made her skin crawl. "Ain't fair, you know, walkin' around with curves like that and not stoppin' to say hi."
She kept her eyes forward, her jaw clenched as she quickened her pace.
"Aw, don't be like that, Ran-chan," another voice called out. "Bet I could show you a better time than that scrawny boy. What's his name again?"
Her hands balled into fists at her sides, but she didn't stop. The warmth of spring felt oppressive now, like it was suffocating her.
"Don't know why you waste your time with him," one of them muttered, his voice loud enough to carry. "Bet he can't even keep you warm at night."
Their laughter echoed behind her, sharp and cruel, until she turned a corner and it finally faded. Her cheeks burned with a mix of anger and humiliation, and she hated the way her heart pounded in her chest, the way her throat tightened.
She didn't stop walking until she reached the outskirts of the village, where the stream sparkled under the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees, the sound of rushing water was a relief.
Gin was already there, crouched by the water's edge, rinsing out a cloth, he didn't look up as she approached.
Rangiku sat down a few feet away, hugging her knees to her chest. She didn't say anything, and for a moment, the only sound was the gentle rush of the stream.
Gin finally glanced at her, his sharp eyes catching the tension in her posture. "What's wrong?" he asked.
She hesitated, staring at the water as she tried to gather her thoughts. The words felt heavy in her throat, and she wasn't sure she wanted to say them out loud.
"Ran-chan?" Gin pressed, his tone light but his sharp eyes catching everything.
"Nothing," she mumbled, not meeting his gaze.
He didn't move, didn't say a word, but she felt his silence press against her, urging her to continue. Rangiku sighed and finally looked at him, her face painted with an awkwardness she couldn't quite hide.
"It's just…" She trailed off, searching for the right words. "Some men… they say things. When I go out."
Gin tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable, but she noticed his hands stiffen just a little.
"They say things," she continued, her gaze shifted to the water again. "About how I look. About my… body." Her cheeks flushed of shame and embarrassment as she said the words. "And about you."
Gin still didn't say anything. He didn't ask questions, didn't press her for more details, and for that, Rangiku was grateful. It wasn't something she wanted to talk about, not really. She just needed him to know.
The silence between them grew, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Gin's gaze dropped back to the stream, his silver hair catching the sunlight as a breeze swept through.
Rangiku picked up a flower, her fingers plucking at it absentmindedly. She didn't need him to say anything, she realized. His presence was enough. She felt the tension in her chest ease, if only a little, as they sat together by the water.
After getting their clothes washed, as they walked back to their shelter, Gin's voice broke through the quiet.
"You know," he said, "if that dress of yours slips any lower you'll have half the town tailing after you just to get a better look."
Rangiku froze mid-step. The comment hit her like a slap to the face. Slowly, she turned to look at him, her wide, disbelieving eyes locking onto his calm, mischievous smirk.
"Excuse me?" she managed, her voice sharp and utterly scandalized.
Gin, unfazed, shrugged nonchalantly. "Just saying. You've got a way of making people lose their minds without even trying. Thought you might wanna know."
Her mouth fell open, but no words came out. She could feel the heat rushing to her face and neck, her skin burning with a mix of embarrassment and shock. "Gin, what the hell—how can you say something like that?"
He tilted his head, his fox-like grin widening as if to pour salt on the wound. "Well, it's true, ain't it? You're walking around looking like that, and they're bound to notice. Pretty sure half the men we passed today already did."
Rangiku stared at him, her mouth opening and closing, utterly at a loss for a response. Then, something inside her snapped. She narrowed her eyes, her initial embarrassment morphing into somethin else.
"Well," she said, crossing her arms and tilting her head, a cocky smirk of her own tugging at her lips. "Can you blame them, really? Not everyone can look this good in tattered hand-me-downs." She cocked her hip for emphasis, her confidence surging as she watched his reaction.
Gin's eyes widened for a fraction of a second—just barely—but it was enough for her to catch. She knew him too well. And then his smile curved into something almost approving.
"Guess you got a point there," he drawled, his voice lower than before.
She rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the grin spreading across her face. "Idiot," she muttered, shoving past him, though the flustered heat in her chest refused to cool.
Later, as she lay in bed, staring at the worn ceiling of their shelter, Gin's words replayed in her mind. Her initial irritation had dulled, replaced by a strange sense of clarity.
He'd done it on purpose.
She could see it now—why he'd said something so pointed, why he'd made her react the way she did. He wanted her to push back, to fire off a retort, to stand her ground. To act like she wasn't just some pretty girl for others to gawk at, but someone who could makethemfeel flustered instead.
Rangiku smiled faintly to herself, her fingers idly tracing patterns on the rough blanket covering her. Gin's methods were infuriating, but his intentions… they weren't so bad.
"That fox-faced jerk," she whispered into the dark, pulling her blanket tighter as she drifted off to sleep.
The warmth of the afternoon sun rested on her shoulders as she walked, her gigai feeling natural in the human world.
Her companion moved with an easy stride, hands buried in the pockets of his dark jeans. His hoodie hung loose over a plain T-shirt, but his silver hair and sharp features were impossible to ignore. He looked different, out of place yet oddly at home in the chaos of the living world.
Rangiku found herself glancing at him more than she intended. The way his human clothes sat on him, casual yet oddly fitting, was distracting. She frowned and shook her head slightly. She had more important things to focus on than her mission partner's oddly appealing disguise.
Her thoughts drifted back to the conversation that had started all of this, the memory playing out vividly in her mind.
"Matsumoto! You're gonna love this."
Rangiku had leaned against the doorframe of Isshin-taicho's office, arms crossed. She raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? What is it this time? Don't tell me you need snacks smuggled in again."
Isshin grinned like a mischievous child caught red-handed. "Ha! No, no. This is an actual mission. Real work."
She cocked her head, stepping closer as he gestured dramatically toward a map on his desk.
"Reiatsu anomalies," he said, tapping the map. "We've been picking up bursts of weird energy in the living world. Karakura Town, specifically. It's powerful, but it vanishes just as quickly as it appears. Resembles hollows, but that's not it, no visible sources, nothing."
Rangiku studied the map, her brow furrowing. "Sounds complicated and boring. Why isn't the 12th division handling this? This seems like their kind of weird."
Isshin waved a dismissive hand. "I thought the same thing. But honestly, do you really want those creepy scientists snooping around the living world?"
She made a face.
"And besides," Isshin added, with a glint in his eye, "Isuggested you for the mission."
She blinked, caught off guard. "Me? Why?"
"Yep." His grin widened. "Because I know how much you love spending time in your gigai."
Her face lit up instantly. "A gigai mission? Seriously?"
"Seriously," Isshin said, leaning back in his chair, clearly pleased with her reaction.
"Yes!" Rangiku clapped her hands together, already imagining all the shops and outfits she'd explore. "I'm in!"
She was halfway out the door before Isshin's voice stopped her.
"Wait, wait, wait!" he called.
She groaned, turning back. "What now?"
"You're not going alone," he said, leaning forward with a suspicious glint in his eyes.
"Who's coming with me?"
"Aizen suggested someone," Isshin said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Apparently, his lieutenant is perfect for the job. Can't imagine why, but hey, I'm not gonna argue."
Her stomach sank. "You mean—"
"Ichimaru." Isshin finished.
Rangiku stared at him for a long moment, her excitement officially deflated. "You're too lazy to care, aren't you?"
"Bingo!" Isshin replied cheerfully, "And don't look so gloomy! It's just a mission. You'll survive."
"Rangiku?"
The soft, drawling voice snapped her back to the present, and Rangiku finally turned her head to fully meet Gin's gaze.
He was looking at her with that usual smile of his, calm and unreadable. The contrast between his human attire and his distinct presence was jarring, and for a moment, she felt a strange sense of dissonance.
"What's wrong, Ran-chan?"
Her eyes widened slightly at the nickname. He hadn't called her that in—well, how long had it been? She couldn't even remember.
The situation felt suddenly unbearably strange. She was walking through the living world, on a mission no less, with Gin Ichimaru—her former companion, her childhood friend, and now someone she didn't quite know anymore.
But Rangiku wasn't about to let the weirdness ruin her mood. She had waited too long for a mission like this, one that allowed her to indulge in the human world and add a little flair to her wardrobe.
She tossed her hair over her shoulder and said, "Let's go shopping."
Gin's grin widened slightly, his sharp eyes glinting with amusement. "Shopping?"
"Yes, shopping," she said, her tone full of exaggerated enthusiasm.
"And the mission?" he asked, his voice laced with that familiar teasing edge.
She waved him off. "The mission can wait. We're in the living world—might as well make the most of it."
Gin chuckled, his grin growing wider. "You do realize you're talking to a lieutenant, right?"
Rangiku rolled her eyes, brushing past him as she reached for his hand. "Whatever. Come on."
Gin didn't resist as she pulled him along, her fingers wrapped around his. She stopped a passerby, smiling sweetly as she asked for directions to the nearest mall.
The stranger pointed them down the street, and Rangiku gave a cheerful "Thank you!" before dragging Gin in that direction.
The stores hummed with the sound of bustling crowds, the air filled with the clink of shopping bags and the quiet melodies drifting from overhead speakers. Rangiku walked through it all with an infectious energy, her gaze darting from one store to the next, eyes wide with excitement. She tugged at Gin's hand, not even noticing that she hadn't let go since they'd entered the mall.
"Look at this place! Oh, that dress is gorgeous! And those shoes!" she exclaimed, pulling him, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm.
Gin walked beside her, his demeanor as cool and distant as ever, one hand in his pocket and the other loosely holding hers. His gaze swept over the mall with indifference, clearly not impressed by the spectacle around them, but his smile never faded.
"You plan on spending the entire day pulling me through these glittering distractions?"
Rangiku grinned, her excitement unfettered. "I do. You got a better idea?"
Gin's gaze flicked from the displays around them to her face, and there it was again—the faintest glimmer of something, a softness in his eyes that didn't quite match his teasing words. "I suppose not," he replied amused.
The closeness between them, despite the years of distance and the complicated past, felt almost natural again. Rangiku still held his hand. It was a strange comfort, one she didn't realize she missed so much. They were in the human world, but it felt like they could be anywhere, like nothing had changed.
"Look at this!" Rangiku gasped suddenly, stopping in front of a display of gorgeous dresses, eyes wide with wonder. "Gin, look at that one! Isn't it beautiful?"
Gin glanced over. "It's… something, I suppose,"
Rangiku spun to face him, her lips pursed in mock offense. "You have no taste! You're hopeless, you know that?"
Gin's eyes narrowed slightly, his smile widening just a fraction, as if her challenge was exactly what he wanted. He leaned in a little closer, his voice dropping to an almost playful whisper. "I wouldn't say that."
Rangiku froze, her heart skipping a beat at the intensity in his gaze. Her cheeks immediately flushed, and an unfamiliar warmth spread across her face. She couldn't remember the last time, or any time, someone's words had made her feel this shy. She quickly turned her face away, hoping he didn't notice how her breath caught in her chest.
She busied herself by picking at the hem of her sleeve, trying to ignore the little voice in her head that was suddenly far too aware of the implications of his words.
Gin, watched her with a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. He said nothing, letting the silence hang in the air for just a moment longer than necessary.
She rolled her eyes. "Come on! Let's go."
They moved to the next store, with Rangiku practically skipping from rack to rack, eyes wide with excitement as she grabbed dress after dress.
"What are you gonna do with all this?" he asked, leaning lazily against a nearby display, watching as she stacked her selections in her arms.
"Try them on, of course!" she answered, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Gin shrugged."Seems like a lot of trouble for a few pieces of fabric."
Rangiku shot him a sly glance. "Unlike you, some of us care about variety."
A soft chuckle escaped Gin, "I'm sure you do, Ran-chan. Whatever makes you happy."
Rangiku felt again a flush creep up her neck, an uncharacteristic warmth spreading across her cheeks. She quickly recovered, shaking off the feeling as she disappeared into the fitting rooms.
Inside, she hung up the dresses and paused in front of the mirror, catching her reflection. Her heart still raced from the excitement of the day, but now there was something else bubbling beneath the surface—a memory of the past and a feeling of familiarity, a connection she hadn't realized she missed until now.
She smiled faintly at her reflection, then pulled the first dress off the hanger, eager to see how it would look.
Outside the fitting room, Gin waited with casual patience. He'd shifted against the wall again, his gaze slightly distant, though his attention seemed divided between the people around him and the fitting room door. His usual impassive expression remained, but there was a tension in his posture, as if he was waiting for something.
As they stepped out of the mall, the streets were quieter now, the vibrant hum of the city fading as the stores began to close. Rangiku strolled casually beside Gin, her shopping bags swinging in her hands.
Gin's ever-present grin remained fixed, but his eyes flicked around the streets with an alertness that Rangiku couldn't help but notice.
"Give me a minute," he said suddenly, his voice cutting through the silence.
"Huh?" Rangiku turned to him, confused.
Gin tilted his head toward a darkened alley. "I'll be right back."
Before she could ask what he was up to, he was already walking away, his lean frame melting into the shadows.
Rangiku sighed heavily, muttering under her breath, "Always disappearing when he feels like it. Typical Gin."
She adjusted her bags and glanced around, eventually spotting a bench nestled in a quiet alley. With a shrug, she wandered over and sat down, stretching her legs as she let the cool night air wash over her.
It was peaceful for a moment. But then she noticed them.
Two men lingering at the mouth of the alley, their eyes fixed on her. She ignored them at first, her fingers drumming on the bench as she stared up at the flickering streetlights. But when they began to move closer, their murmured conversation carrying low laughter, her annoyance flared.
One of the men sat down next to her. His companion hovered nearby, his arms crossed as he surveyed her with a smirk.
"Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes," the man next to her said, leaning in far too close for comfort. "A pretty thing like you shouldn't be sitting out here all alone."
Rangiku leaned back slightly, her expression blank as she let him talk. She could feel his eyes roving over her, lingering on her curves.
"Got a boyfriend?" he asked, his tone turning mockingly curious. "Or are you just waiting for some lucky guy to come along?"
Rangiku's lips curved into a grin, sharp and dangerous. "Oh, I don't know," she said, her voice light and teasing. "Do you think you'd qualify as lucky?"
The man blinked, momentarily caught off guard by her tone. Then he laughed, leaning in even closer. "Feisty. I like that."
The second man chuckled, stepping closer. "Careful, Yusuke. She might be more trouble than she's worth."
"Trouble?" Rangiku drawled, her grin widening. She crossed one leg over the other, her demeanor casual even as her annoyance simmered beneath the surface. "Honey, you wouldn't know trouble if it bit you."
The man beside her let out another laugh, but it was forced, his grin tightening as her words sunk in. "You've got a smart mouth," he said, his tone losing some of its humor.
Rangiku's eyes gleamed as she leaned in just slightly, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "And you've got about three seconds to take a hint and walk away."
The men exchanged glances, their initial bravado cracking. But instead of backing off, they lingered, their presence growing heavier with each passing second.
Rangiku sighed inwardly, her patience wearing thin. She kept her grin firmly in place, but her fingers itched for the comfort of her zanpakuto—not that she had it in this gigai.
The one sitting beside Rangiku chuckled then, leaning in as his friend stood watch nearby.
"You're a tough one," he said, his voice low and grating. "Bet you're just playing hard to get." Before she could snap back, she felt his hand slide onto her thigh. The heat of his palm against her bare skin sent a jolt of anger coursing through her.
"That's it," Rangiku muttered, her voice sharp as a blade.
In one swift motion, she grabbed his wrist, twisting it hard enough to make him yelp. She stood abruptly, the bags in her hand hitting the ground with a thud.
The man stumbled back, glaring at her as his friend stepped closer. "You little—"
But Rangiku wasn't in the mood to listen. "Touch me again, and I'll break more than your hand," she spat, her voice fierce.
The first man sneered. "Feisty and violent. A real catch." He lunged at her.
Rangiku dodged instinctively, her body moving on reflex as she twisted away. She aimed a kick at his leg, and it connected, sending him staggering back just for a moment, before he was coming closer again.
Rangiku's heart pounded, a sudden wave of panic crashing over her. She swung her fist, but it was slower than it should've been —too slow.
She gasped, realization hitting her like a blow to the gut. Her gigai. She wasn't used to fighting in it . The dull, human body she inhabited felt sluggish, weak compared to her normal strength.
The other man recovered and grabbed her arm, his grip bruising. Rangiku struggled, but her movements lacked the power she was accustomed to.
"Let go of me!" she hissed, panic edging her voice as she fought to pull free.
The men only laughed, their confidence growing as they realized her struggle was futile. Her breath caught in her throat, and just as her mind scrambled for a way out, the grip on her arm disappeared. She blinked in confusion, and before she could react, the man who had been holding her was yanked away with such force that he stumbled and hit the wall.
"Wha—?" she gasped, her wide eyes locking onto Gin.
He stood between her and the men, still in his gigai, his shoulders loose. He didn't say anything, not a word, as his sharp eyes glinted with something dangerous.
The men cursed, regaining their footing. "Who the hell are you?" one of them snarled, but Gin didn't respond.
Instead, he moved.
Rangiku's mouth fell open as she watched Gin, usually so collected and controlled, launch himself into the fight with nothing but his bare fists. He moved with unsettling precision, his punches landing with a force that made the men stagger. But they weren't backing down.
Rangiku's heart seized as she watched the man's fist connect with Gin's jaw. His head snapped to the side, and for a moment, she froze. Gin Ichimaru—the calm, untouchable Gin—was actually being hit.
The fight dragged on, though Gin didn't use any of his usual speed or precision. He fought like an ordinary human, trading punches and dodges with the group of men. It was clumsy compared to what she knew he was capable of, yet it was still effective. Eventually, the men, bruised and shaken, muttered curses and stumbled into the shadows, retreating.
Gin stood there, his breathing steady but his appearance far from his usual composed self. His lip was bleeding, his shirt disheveled, but that maddening smile of his remained intact, as if none of it had fazed him.
"Are you out of your mind?" her voice trembled as she stormed toward him, her heels echoing against the pavement. "What were you even thinking?"
Gin turned his gaze toward her, his expression unreadable at first. Then, with a faint curve of his lips, he replied, "Stopping them, obviously."
Her chest felt tight. She stared at him, her hands hovering as though unsure whether to scold him or check his injuries. Then she realized—she was crying. Tears pricked her vision, hot and unbidden.
"You're crying?" he asked quietly, his voice laced with a hint of disbelief. Then he smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes and in fact, Rangiku couldn't remember him ever looking this sad.
"Rangiku… I don't deserve that. Not even a single tear."
She turned her head sharply, brushing her hand against her cheek to wipe away the evidence. "I'm not crying," she snapped, her voice cracking slightly. "Don't get any ideas. You just… look ridiculous, that's all."
Gin chuckled faintly, though his shoulders sagged as he leaned back against the wall. He said nothing for a moment, the silence hanging between them.
Then his gaze turned curious, and he asked, "Why didn't you use Kido?"
"...I can use Kido in a gigai?"
Gin stared at her, his expression unreadable, until finally, his smile widened. "Yes, you can," he said simply.
"Well, uh…" she began awkwardly, but before she could say more, she frowned at him. "Wait. If I can use Kido, why didn't you?"
Gin's grin widened mischievously. "Now, where's the fun in that? Perhaps I needed the exercise."
Her mouth fell open as she stared at him in disbelief. "You're an idiot," she muttered, retrieving her bags.
"So I've been told," he replied, his tone faintly amused.
She shook her head, exasperation coloring her features. "We should get back to the mission before someone realizes a Lieutenant and a seated officer are playing street brawlers in the human world."
Gin's smile faltered for just a moment. Something unreadable flickered in his gaze, but it vanished before she could make sense of it.
"I've already investigated the anomaly," he said, his tone light but distant. "It's nothing worth worrying about."
Rangiku frowned, suspicion prickling at the edges of her mind. "What do you mean, nothing?"
Gin didn't answer right away. Instead, he straightened himself, brushing dust from his clothes as though nothing had happened. Without another word, he stepped forward and opened a Senkaimon, the glowing light spilling into the darkened alley.
He turned to her, his enigmatic smile back in place. "Just nothing worth looking for. I'll write the report, don't worry," he said, his voice maddeningly smooth.
She wanted to argue, to press him further, but the look in his eyes told her she wouldn't get any answers. With a frustrated sigh, she stepped into the Senkaimon after him, her thoughts swirling with questions she wasn't sure she wanted the answers to.