"Waaah~"
Rangiku was sleeping soundly, turning over in the throes of half-awake sleep. Her consciousness was gradually returning, and then she abruptly opened her eyes. Opposite her, Gin Ichimaru was leaning on his side, his muscular upper body exposed, smiling at her.
Rangiku was tinged with a crimson hue, but she was never the shy type. Instead, she reached out and tapped Gin's chest, "Does it look good?"
"Nice"
"Ugh~ Open your eyes wider, squinty eyes aren't handsome."
"I've always had squinty eyes; it's tiring to open them wide."
"Hehe, lazybones!"
Gin stroked Rangiku's cheek and hair, "Are you really okay like this?"
"And you? Why are you hiding from me? Are you protecting me? Are you in some kind of dangerous situation? Or are you the kind of dangerous mastermind behind it all?"
"Sigh~", Gin Ichimaru sighed helplessly, "Yes, I was protecting you, but as for the mastermind behind it all, I'm not one of them. If we're talking about ruthlessness, nobody's as ruthless as your captain."
"Hehe, but I'm very grateful to my captain, otherwise I would still be kept in the dark, and I always felt that you would leave me."
It has to be said that women's intuition is truly amazing. Rangiku's words were exactly the truth. In the original work, Gin Ichimaru died, didn't he? After hearing Rangiku's words, Gin fell silent. Gin was thinking about the current situation. When he woke up this morning, his mind was completely blank. He could stare at Rangiku's sleeping posture for more than an hour.
Now, reflecting on his past thoughts, Gin realizes how ridiculous they seem. His initial motivation for protecting Rangiku was simply to possess Rangiku; he loved her Rangiku, didn't he?
So here's the question: he chose this path to protect Rangiku, even at the cost of his life. Jun had previously asked Gin Ichimaru if Rangiku were to marry someone else and become another man's wife, would Gin Ichimaru be able to accept it?
"Nonsense! If Rangiku were to fall into another man's arms one day, he'd use his Kamishini no Yari to turn that man into a sieve. So here's the problem: he so desperately wants to be with Rangiku, yet he stays away from her for fear of putting Rangiku in danger. But he also can't accept that Rangiku actually has her own life."
This contradiction is incredibly awkward, so what did Gin Ichimaru choose in this situation? He chose to kill Aizen, even though he knew the gap between Aizen was enormous. Why?
Because there was no other choice, as long as Aizen lived, he would forever live in Aizen's shadow. He and Rangiku would never have a peaceful life, Rangiku would always live in danger, and Gin Ichimaru himself never knew when he might suddenly die.
The Shinsō and the Kamishini no Yari were born under these circumstances. The Kamishini no Yari —look at that name, a spear that can even kill gods. In fact, in Gin Ichimaru's eyes, Aizen had already been deified.
The biggest difference between Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tōsen is that Gin Ichimaru is acutely aware of Aizen's evil—the kind of evil that treats everyone as mere entertainment tools. In the original work, he even helped Aizen frame Tōshirō and Momo Hinamori, turning these childhood sweethearts into mortal enemies, and forcing them to part ways.
Gin Ichimaru also harbors this evil within him, which is why he understands Aizen better. It's a subtle feeling; he can see through Aizen to some extent, unlike Kaname Tōsen, who is simply a fool.
Therefore, this inner conflict always existed in Gin Ichimaru's heart. Only at the moment of his death was he able to open his heart to Rangiku and truly realize what he wanted. Unfortunately, it was too late.
But in this timeline, Jun exists. Through Jun's intervention, Gin Ichimaru now takes Rangiku, becoming a true man, and Rangiku becomes his woman. At this moment, Gin Ichimaru finally realizes what he truly wants.
He couldn't accept Rangiku being with another man unless he died, but now he's with Rangiku. Of the three points of logic he previously held—that he would be in danger with Aizen, that Rangiku would be in danger with him, and therefore he should stay away from Rangiku —two of those points have already been broken.
Now that Rangiku is his woman, it's impossible for him to stay away from Rangiku. Aizen will soon find out, because Gin Ichimaru is well aware of Aizen's power. So now there's only one question left: how to protect Rangiku, and also himself, under these circumstances?
He couldn't die. He discarded the idea of sacrificing his life to protect Rangiku, the willingness to give his life at any cost. So what did Gin Ichimaru have left? What could he use to fight Aizen?
At that moment, Gin Ichimaru remembered what Jun had said to him on the main road of the Confession Palace two days ago, and then he sensed the compatibility between himself and the new sword.
"Ugh, I give up."
"What's wrong?" Rangiku, seeing Gin Ichimaru deep in thought, only to be met with this seemingly random question.
Yin pulled the blanket up to his woman, then got up. "Lie down a little longer. I'm just going out for a bit, I'll be right back."
As expected, Gin Ichimaru returned in less than ten seconds, this time with two rings on his hand. "I've heard that the West- style weddings are common in the World of the Living, and rings are a must. I may not be able to give you a wedding, but wedding rings are still possible."
"Ugh~", Rangiku welled up with tears in an instant, deeply moved, and she covered her mouth, unable to speak.
Silver smiled gently, "Alright, let's exchange rings."
Tears streamed down Rangiku's face. She could only nod, then extended her hand for Gin to put the ring on her left ring finger. Gin then offered his hand as well. Rangiku was a little nervous and it took her several tries to put the ring on.
Before Gin could say anything, Rangiku pounced on him, and the two of them engaged in another round of passionate lovemaking.
After their intimacy, the two finally remembered their business. Gin put his arm Rangiku, Rangiku head on his shoulder, and the two began to chat.
"Is your junior Vice-Captain investigating Aizen?"
"Hmm~, do you know something?"
"Of course I know, but why are you helping him?"
"He's my Vice-Captain, and we've been partners for almost twenty years, hehe, Tōshirō is a righteous kid."
"Twenty years, tsk~"
Seeing Gin Ichimaru's helpless expression, Rangiku laughed and kissed him on the cheek. "Haha, I'm all yours now, are you still jealous of Tōshirō? Wow! You're acting like a child! And Tōshirō is still a child!"
Who said I was jealous?
"Hehehe, if you're not jealous, don't turn your head away. Look at me and say it."
Gin felt his masculine dignity had been challenged, and he flipped over, pinning Rangiku beneath him. "So what if I'm jealous?"
Hehehe, wanna come?
"Ugh, what time is it? I need to get up," Gin Ichimaru said, getting up to grab his clothes. Rangiku helped him change, and feeling the intoxicating touch, Gin Ichimaru chuckled, "You little devil~"
"Haha~, my Shikai is Haineko, I'm a woman like a cat~, you even helped me with my Shikai, didn't you already know that?"
"Is that so? Haha, you really want to help your little Vice-Captain, right?"
"Hmm~"
"Tsk~ I disagree. If you don't get too involved, just tell him one piece of information and then leave, I'll tell you that one piece of information. If you don't leave, I won't tell you anything."
"Ugh~ Why are you like this?"
"You still have the nerve to ask me?" Gin Ichimaru was a little angry. "You came here to sleep with me for another man in exchange for information and help. If I didn't know you really liked me, I'd be furious right now, you know that?"
Rangiku then realized what she had done and chuckled mischievously, "Hehehe~, did I really go that far? Gin~ You're the best~ You won't blame me~"
Are you trying to drive me crazy?
Rangiku also realized her problem, and when faced with the choice between Tōshirō and Gin Ichimaru, Rangiku genuinely wanted to support Tōshirō, but she didn't want to hurt Gin Ichimaru either. She couldn't possibly harm her lover for her boss, unless she'd already been cheated on multiple times.
"Okay, okay~, I promise you, but you don't know how hard that kid is working right now, he's all alone."
"I know, I know that kid's situation better than you do, but! You still can't help him too much!" Gin Ichimaru's eyes darted around. "If you really want to help that kid, go ask your bastard captain and see what he thinks. If he lets you help, then go help him."
"Okay, I'll listen to you."
Gin Ichimaru stood up, straightened his clothes, and turned around to see her with her hands resting between her legs, looking up at him. The sheer allure of that pose sent a jolt of adrenaline through Gin Ichimaru.
She pulled the blanket up to cover Rangiku. "You don't want me to go out today, do you?"
"Hehe," Rangiku cutely tugged at the corners of the blanket and swayed it, "Isn't it pretty?"
Gin Ichimaru looked exasperated. "Isn't being pretty enough? Please stop this. I have important business to attend to."
"Okay~, then tell me the information first."
Gin Ichimaru took a deep breath and covered Rangiku's mouth, "Aizen isn't dead."
Fortunately, Gin Ichimaru had given a warning, preventing Rangiku from screaming. Rangiku could only stare at Gin Ichimaru in terror. Gin nodded seriously, "Why would I lie to you? If you're not dead, you're not dead. It was a fake death. Alright, go tell that kid. I'm heading out."
Still reeling from the shock of the news, Rangiku thought for a long time before Rangiku throwing off the covers, quickly dressing herself, and hastily tidying her appearance before running out to find Tōshirō.
However, before she even reached the Tenth Division, she heard news that was hard to believe.
Tenth Division Vice-Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya has massacred the entire Central 46. The entire Gotei 13 is now on high alert, and Soul Society has issued its most wanted warrant for his arrest. All personnel are tasked with capturing the notorious criminal Tōshirō Hitsugaya, who may be executed on the spot without trial.
Rangiku remembered what Gin Ichimaru had said before, "I know that kid's situation better than you do."
"How could this be!?" Rangiku then remembered that Gin Ichimaru had asked her to find Jun, so after a few Shunpo, she found Jun. "Captain!!"
Chun, still leisurely sipping his tea, said, "Judging from your expression, very good. You've won over that squinty-eyed guy, haven't you? And you slept quite well last night."
Rangiku blushed, but she remembered why she was there. However, she forgot what to say and could only shout, "Captain!"
Chun continued leisurely, swirling his tea like a retired cadre, "Calm down, otherwise you won't get anything done."