𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐈𝐑 as Rangiku navigated her way through complete and total darkness ——- down long, narrow corridors and winding stairwells illuminated only by the light cast from iron lanterns, carried by anxious guards that had gotten the short end of the stick; forced to accompany the blonde lieutenant on her long, perilous journey to Muken.
Rangiku had offered herself up as a third party ——- A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE FALLEN GOD-KING AND HIS SECOND IN COMMAND ——- to obtain answers, or some sort of understanding as to what had happened between them. Ichimaru Gin remained comatose in the Fourth Division; his recovery was slow, and painful … IT HAD BEEN SO HARD ON HER, watching him, hoping for some kind of miracle. Sleep was hard to come by ——- a luxury Rangiku looked back on fondly as she curled herself up into uncomfortable chairs at Gin’s bedside, waiting for him to stir into consciousness, TO OPEN HIS EYES AGAIN.
The days had been long, but the nights were even longer. While still in recovery herself, Rangiku would daydream about her life before the war ——- WHEN THINGS HAD BEEN MUCH SIMPLER, easier … and not so blatantly defined by her lover’s betrayal. When the midnight hour struck, she found herself tormented by fear; reminiscent of the nightmares Rangiku had as a child, haunted by shadows and a sense of loss that was well beyond her comprehension. So much of Gin’s betrayal didn’t matter to her, now ——- BUT IT MATTERED TO CENTRAL 46; to Yamamoto Genryusai, who demanded answers for Gin’s war crimes.
But Gin was still unable to answer for himself … and Unohana Retsu had no way of knowing when he would emerge from his comatose state. So here Rangiku was ——- making her way through the dark, with a lump in her throat and trembling hands. Aizen’s presence alone evoked post-traumatic stress; a blatant reminder of how fragile life truly was, even for a Shinigami.
To witness Gin’s broken, fallen form ——- to see him like that, bleeding out, his very life-force slipping away as Rangiku tried desperately to keep him breathing; sobbing over him, cradling his body to hers, unable to let go … Rangiku’s chest hurt as she remembered ——- her entire body growing so heavy as her eyes began to sting.
When she finally arrived, the guards pressed towards the back of the room, watching over their exchange in case something went awry. THEY TOO WERE AFRAID ——- terrified of death at the hands of a fallen God-King; a man who had already taken so much from them …. from everyone. But Rangiku wasn’t as afraid as she was FURIOUS, and utterly heartbroken. There was no masking the grief she had felt over the last month, wondering if Gin would even survive Aizen Sosuke’s brutality. And so there she stood, her heart in her throat, her hands balled up into fists at her sides as she regarded him fully.
GIN WAS DEAD, FOR ALL THAT AIZEN KNEW. And Rangiku had no desire to fill him in on the truth. Not yet, at least.
❝ –––––I was told you can hear me ... though it’s still a bit fuzzy to me if you’re capable of speaking. ❞ Ah ... this was proving to be more difficult than she originally thought, facing the man who had nearly taken everything from her. Rangiku closed her eyes and swallowed down the lump that had formed, before willing her voice to return.
❝ I’m sure I’m the last person you’d expect to drop in, here ... and truth be told, I wasn’t leaping at the opportunity to see you. But I need answers ... and seeing as you’ve made sure Gin could NEVER provide them, I’m here to ask you, instead. But this isn’t going to work if you can’t speak. So please, let me know if you can... otherwise I’ll see myself out. ❞ // @keikakudori.
