GinXRan! I just read Bleach Vol 20, and the part in the beginning where Rangiku remembers waking up and Gin is not there, I have come to my own conclusion to that. Please read.

-Saph

Waking up on a cold winter morning; he is not here. He is not anywhere. Gin, where are you trying to go?

Many Years Ago

Lying on the cold, hard, dry ground, there is nothing here. Nothing but a lone desert flower, a girl. She lies on the dirt, ready to die. It was a futile attempt. She had run from the shack. The others told her not to do it, they told her it was suicide, but she didn't listen to them, she had reasoned that death was better than living like that. Living shamefully, clinging to the kindness of strangers. Living in a dilapidated shed with other orphans, praying some guy from one of the better districts will come and adopt you. A fools life. She had thought. She was done waiting, nobody ever came anyway. The few who did only came to scoff at them, to spit on them and bury what little dignity they had left. That was no way to live, not for her.

Now she lies there, not regretting her choice, but not reveling in it either. She feels nothing, only a little longing as she waits patiently for death. None of her life flashed before her eyes, she had no good memories anyway, why bother remembering them? She waited…

…and waited…

…and waited, but death didn't come. What did come was a gentle voice.

"Are you awake?"

Such a kind, soft voice…she thinks. She wants to go to it, allow that voice to take her back. Back to where?

She opens her eyes, the first thing she sees is a head of silver hair. Silver? An old man, perhaps? She follows the hair, eyes tracing the thin, shaggy bangs that end at smiling eyes. He smile stems from the boy's mouth and flows out in all directions. Such a nice smile, so warm and comforting, she wants to be closer to it.

The boy grins. "You're awake!" He laughs. Such a soft voice, so kind. He shoves a piece of dried fruit in front of you, the closest thing to food in this desert. As you eat he sits with you, talking about himself and such. You learn that his name is Gin, Ichimaru Gin, and he is just like you, an orphan, a runaway, a seeker of a better life, a rebel. Whatever you want to call it, here is someone that is just like you. Another person that wants a better life. Before you know it it has gotten late, you and the boy have been sitting on the dirt for the whole day, just talking. It's not like there was any place either of you had to go, there was no one waiting at home, there wasn't even a home, you were alone. He smiles at you as he stands up. He reaches his hand out to you, without thinking you take it. He gently lifts you from the dirt that would have been your deathbed and smiles his soft smile.

"Let's go home." Are his simple words as he leads you away.

Well, that's chapter one! I'm gonna love writing this!!

-Saph