Loveless

(AU) "I won't marry someone who doesn't love me!" "Oh, is that all you wanted Rangiku?" Ichimaru smiled, tauntingly. "I'm sorry, I don't have any for you." Ichimaru could say cruel things. Even to the woman he wanted to marry.

A/N: Note that, even though it's an alternative universe it only means that some things in the people's live such as their choices are different from both anime and manga and background stories of characters are changed slightly, with additional memories etc. Please take this into note and that no such situations can be found in both anime and manga.

Also note that Ichimaru's accent (Japanese dialect) has been included in this, so he tends not to make complete sense but go with the flow people…go with the flow… This also means that the summary is different for easier reading for people.

Disclaimer: Heck, if I owned Bleach, I'd have a whole lot of canon couples by now. One being Mastumoto and Ichimaru.

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Hitsugaya Toushirou was exhausted as he walked away from his squad office where his new fukutaichou substitute sat, Cho Mameha who seemed over excited when it came to paper work.

He sighed as he entered the 6th squad's holding cell, remembering what he had arrived for. He walked up to the bars of the prison cell.

"It's been a while, Matsumoto."

"'Yo, taichou." Matsumoto greeted casually, managing a smile. "Come to check on me?"

"No. I came to ask you to stop rebelling, stop running away and come to terms with the situation at hand." Hitsugaya replied.

Matsumoto sighed, an irritated look on her face. "I have come to terms with the situation and my decision was already decided long ago. You should already know taichou, that I will not change my mind now that I've made it up." she said stubbornly.

This time, Hisugaya sighed. "Ko'sh. Matsumoto, damn it, just do what you have to do will you? You've already been promised off and the problem with Aizen Sousuke is not working out, you see? It's getting more complicated with you troubling us like this. Can't you just do what he wants? He's even left his place just to come here you know?" Histugaya said, his weariness heard in his voice.

"Tell him to go to--"

"Matsumoto!" Histugaya hissed. He sighed once more and leaned foward against the prison bars. "It's been four years…aren't you tired of running around?" he asked quietly.

It was saddening to see her taichou liked this. She hated to trouble him, but she would not change her mind. She couldn't and she wouldn't. "What if it's a trap?" she asked, knowing the answer already.

"It's not a trap and you know it…" Hitsugaya continued to say in that quiet voice that was causing Matsumoto's guilt. "He's being truthful… I'm sure about it… why else would he be helping us to catch Aizen Sousuke? He's valuable Mastumoto… yet he said, the moment he no longer wants to wait, he'll immediately cause trouble for us. You know he means it."

"Then why don't you just cut off all connections with him, or imprison him so that he doesn't cause trouble?" Matsumoto suggested.

"You know that we can't do that, Matsumoto…" answered Hitsugaya. "If we do, how else will he help us? He'll definitely desert us straight away! Don't make this anymore harder on us Matsumoto!"

Hitsugaya, stood away from the prison bars, his hard expression back on his face. "He's coming now, so I'm going to have the cell opened so that you may talk the situation over. Don't try anything, Matsumoto." Hitsugaya warned seriously.

Matsumoto remained silent as Hitsugaya called the cell guard over to open the door. As the door swung open, Hitsugaya stood in the cell entrance, as if to block any chance of Matsumoto escaping.

"Stand, Matsumoto." he ordered and she immediately obeyed.

"Gotei San Ban Tai taichou!" announced the guard, saluting the person entering the room.

Matsumoto tensed.

"Ichimaru Gin!" the guard announced once more as Hitsugaya stepped out of way so that Matsumoto could see Ichimaru, who stood before the cell entrance.

"My, oh my," Ichimaru said immediately at the sight of Matsumoto standing in the cell before him. "What a sight, wouldn't ya agree Hitsugaya-taichou?" (Note: Ichimaru has a different Japanese dialect to the others(probably Osaka but I don't know…), therefore it sounds like he has an accent with the 'ya' and etc.)

"Yes, what a sight." Hitsugaya said simply. Matsumoto noticed that he was not as relaxed around Ichimaru as he was trying to be. His hand seemed to itch as if wanting to grab his sword. She understood that even though Hitsugaya did believe Ichimaru to be of use, he still did not entirely trust him. And how could he after the past events?

The whole time, Ichimaru had not turned away from Matsumoto who was giving him her best loathing glare. "Ah, Rangiku," Ichimaru said, holding the ku which seemed to torment Matsumoto. "Ohisashiburi, ne?" (Long time no see - A Japanese phrase used when one hasn't seen another for a while)

"Gin." Matsumoto simply replied.

"Oh dear, Rangiku, ya should refer to me as Ichimaru-taichou." Ichimaru corrected, a smile still plastered on his face.

"Sumimasen, Ichimaru-taichou." Matsumoto spat out as if she were quite disgusted rather than apologetic.

"Now, now, come on out Rangiku, no need to feel caged up, ne?" Ichimaru said, stepping away from the entrance and leaving enough space for Matsumoto to walk through.

Grudgingly, Matsumoto stepped out of the cell and stood face to face with Ichimaru. "Gin…what do you want?" she asked immediately.

"Come now, Rangiku. Don't ya be so cold to me. Just agree as everyone wants ya to." Ichimaru said.

Matsumoto growled, "Don't play around with me!" She turned away from him and made to walk away when Ichimaru grabbed her wrist.

"Rangiku, I've waited 4 years for you, you know…I won't wait forever." he said, his voice suddenly becoming cold and his accent dropped as if he had become serious.

Turning around, Matsumoto snatched her hand away, her face flushed. "I won't marry someone who doesn't love me!" she yelled, her cheeks burning furiously.

Silence filled the air. The guard was staring at both Ichimaru and Matsumoto as if he were watching a soap drama. Hitsugaya was both surprised and bothered by Matsumoto's response. Matsumoto's face was steadily growing more red as she struggled to maintain Ichimaru's gaze. Ichimaru's face remained unreadable. After the pause, Ichimaru spoke up.

"Love? Oh, is that all ya wanted Rangiku?" Ichimaru smiled, tauntingly. "Sumimasen, I ain't have nothin' for ya."

Matsumoto stared at him, too stunned to speak or to even move. He had just said that to her, without even thinking about how she felt or even trying to register her feelings. Her insides twisted and she felt like she were being burned from inside herself. She clenched her fists. No, she would not cry. It would only satisfy him probably.

To be able to say such cold things to someone like that…

"I told you already…Ichimaru-taichou…" Matsumoto began in a shaky voice, returning to formalities. "…I won't marry someone…who doesn't love me…" she whispered, before turning away and heading back into her cell. "This is my final decision…"

"Matsumoto!" Hitsugaya cried.

Yes, taichou. I know the consequences… but do you know how I feel right now? Matsumoto could feel herself being slowly ripped apart. She remained with her back facing Ichimaru.

"…don't come to see me again…I-Ichim-maru…t-t…" she had been going so smoothly but she feared now that her emotions were betraying the cold expression she was desperately trying to cling to. Her words were shaky and her voice was breaking. It wasn't working… it wasn't working…

"Rangiku…what 'bout ya promise…?" Ichimaru asked.

Matsumoto felt as if he had just slapped her with that unwanted memory. She couldn't hold it in any longer. She spun around, no longer caring if tears spilled. "GO AWAY! LEAVE ME ALONE! CRAWL UP AND DIE! DIE DAMN IT! WHY DON'T YOU JUST DIE? LEAVE ME ALONE!" Matsumoto screamed.

"Matsumoto…" Hitsugaya muttered, stunned.

Ichimaru did not say anything but simply stared at Matsumoto's tear-stained face. Ichimaru walked up to her causing her to tense up. He simply remained standing in front of her, looking at her. Too embarrassed from her tears, Matsumoto looked away from him and wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand.

Ichimaru reached into his clothing and pulled out a handkerchief. He placed a hand on Matsumoto's shoulder and reached over her head, dangling the handkerchief in front of her face.

"Don't cry… Rangiku…" he said gently, his breath tickling Matsumoto's cheek.

Matsumoto felt her cheeks burn as she reached up and took hold of his handkerchief, not understanding why she felt she had to do that.

Ichimaru straightened up and turned around, walking out of the cell.

"Ichimaru!" Hitsugaya called.

Ichimaru paused. "Ne, what is it Hitsugaya-taichou?"

"Y-you're not going to leave our side yet are you?" Hitsugaya asked, sweating.

"As long as Rangiku remains here, I won't be taking no leave." Ichimaru replied simply before walking out of the room.

Hitsugaya sighed in relief. "Matsumoto… please… hold out… please…" he said quietly, before ordering the guard to lock the cell door. He left the room, leaving Matsumoto and the guard.

The guard seemed too afraid to speak and the silence suited Matsumoto perfectly.

She unfolded the handkerchief in her hands and tempted, took in the scent of it. She blushed and felt tears burn her eyes again.

It smelt like Ichimaru.

"It's a promise! Ne, Gin?"

Matsumoto, sighed and folded the handkerchief up again before putting it away. These memories were giving her a headache.

-

So, that's chapter one down! An unusually long chapter from me! Well, please leave me a review to tell me what you think so far. The storyline may be confusing for the moment (and so is Ichimaru's accent… 8D) but chapter 2 should clear it up! So review for the next chapter then!