She does not have this planned, not the timing, anyway. One of the few things she has in common with Shirayuki—neither of them are about details, at least too specific ones. She knows only what she needs to know now. Renji is here, somewhere not too far. She is grateful to know, sorry she ever doubted he was alive, even for a second. But now her mind is clear, even if it is racing. She can make it to him, if she can walk out of here in one piece. Gin is incapacitated, though briefly. She has a fair idea how long this will hold him. Ironically, it's not very long at all. But still, she watches his eyes go briefly wide before the torrent of snow surrounds and encases him, listens intently for the little cry of shock. Shock, indeed. He never once believed she'd do it, even though he has hoped for it so desperately. She knows this as well as she knows he'll never forgive her for it, that this is the true end of the time they have spent together. She doesn't feel nostalgic for it, for the obvious reasons. It's too soon. . . and she despises him. But the words are on her tongue as she looks at him for hopefully the last time in this place. "Shirayuki holds no grudge against you. I won't either—after a while." It amuses her a little that these are the words that come out. She had thought of saying something much more colorful while hatching her plan.
His eyes narrow as she turns away, his face reddens as it never has. "You don't have enough time, little girl. Turn around and at least face me killing you." She is disobedient, too busy mouthing the words as the light is swelling, red and determined in her hands. Somehow she knows, he thinks. She won't take the door; she'll blast her way through the next couple of cells and go to where she can sense Abarai's flaring strength.
But Gin is angry now. He has a little while before he can move his free hand, and when he does—he licks his lips. All he has to do is distract her. "Stupid little whore. You think you're that strong? You haven't been all this time, so what's changed? And what will you tell your precious Renji? There's no way he can't know. And your noble, cold brother? He'll take one look at you and know all your dirty little time with me. What will you do then? That's if you even make it that far. I won't save you again, you know. No point in that." He moves his arm, feels his zanpaktou, knows it's close. "I had you!"
The red light is gone, the wall is crumbling away, but she is at his throat in an instant. Shirayuki thrums at his pulse. "So you did. And I have you now. What of it?" Her violet eyes are ablaze with something he has never seen. She steps away from him, gazes on the startled look that must be on his face. "Handing me your dirtiness will not make you clean. You only want me to have it because she won't take it. But," she says as she walks away, "killing you here, even if I could, won't make me clean either. I'll give your regards to Matsumoto-fukutaichou, when I see her next."
The ice is melting away as she moves out of his view, but he can only see that golden hair, flowing behind a body that definitely does not belong to the Kuchiki princess. His heart is pounding. Rangiku never looked back at him when she left, and now he knows he never wanted her to. Didn't want to see the look on her face, smiling at a memory that he no longer was. He could never stand when she did that. He moves his hand, feels his zanpaktou. Shinsô is silent. There is no comfort here. He could raise the sword, he could follow the girl and pierce her heart. He does not have the will, not yet.
She has not even defeated him. She has left him intact, and as the last of her reiatsu fades from the room he knows—knows—that this is only another beginning, really. They'll meet again and she'll truly be worth killing when they do. In fact, he's letting her go. He can smooth this over with Aizen, he knows. That'll be all too easy.
He's smiling again before he even knows it.
The hallway is wide and white, and there are glassless windows. She can see the desolate Hueco Mundo landscape, and it is oddly welcome. But for now she is looking forward. She has things to do. Shirayuki is calm and comforting at her side. It really is just another beginning, after all. "I'm coming," she says to no one in particular.
A/N: As you might have guessed, it's been a little hard for me to close this one up and walk away. I had a pretty good idea how I wanted it to end when I started but gosh darn it, I like them both too much for them to just kill each other. In any case, agonizing over it was only going to give me a stroke, so I had to finish. Thanks to all of you for your kind reviews and for sticking it out this long. I'll be watching for you all.