It was a forgone conclusion they would end up in love. The only thing she never factored in was that her heart could be cruelly taken away.

They had known each other for many years. She had first met him in a park near her foster home. It had been one of the few occasions she was allowed out there. She remembered the day vividly; it was a clear sky and warm air. There was a buzz of cicadas that wasn't uncommon in the spring. She slowly oscillated back and forth the smallest amount on the swing, not really trying; it was more from subconscious action rather than intention. Today had been rough. Her foster parents hadn't been nice, but that was nothing new. She knew that they were always going to be like that. That's part of what made her so desperate to leave here. She didn't want them to be the only thing she had ever know, nor did she want this town to be the only thing she had ever known. Her gaze was focused absently on the ground; this was probably why she didn't notice when a boy had walked up to where she was until he said something.

"Whatcha doing?"

She blinked in surprise, her head shooting up to look at who said that. Before her stood a boy with strangely silver gray hair. He was smiling at her.

"Nothing." The boy cocked his head to the side.

"Oh? But cha looked like you were thinking." She furrowed her brow.

"Maybe..." He let out a laugh.

"No need to furrow yer brow. It just looked like you were thinking. My name's Gin by the way." She looked over him. He looked like a nice person.

"My name's Rangiku." He smiled at her again.

"Nice to meet cha, Rangiku. Do you come here often?" He took the swing next to hers.

"No. I'm normally not allowed to."

"Ohhh. Strict parents then? My orphanage is kinda strict about curfew." She blinked at him in surprise. He had said that so candidly, without any thought for how it would sound to someone else.

"My foster family... Doesn't really like me to roam around."

"Foster family, huh? That sounds rough."

"Maybe not as rough as being an orphan... I don't remember too much from before they took me in."

"Being an orphan s'not all that bad if you know how to get along. All you gotta do is want to keep living." That hit something inside her. She knew she wanted to talk to him more. She is knew she wanted to be around him again.

"That's true. I've always wanted to leave here. I want to know some place else."

"Me too. I want to see more of the world then this." Hearing that made her crack a smile.

"Say, Gin? Could we... See each other again?"

"I don't see why not."

"Good." She smiled up at the sky, getting off her swing. She had to go, but she felt better knowing that they could meet again one day. "I'll see you around here then."

"Right. See ya, Rangiku."

That had happened in the spring of fifth grade. She didn't get to see him again until the start of sixth grade. By some luck they ended up at the same middle school. She had spotted him first, his hair not that hard to miss.

"Gin!" She called out as she went to him. He turned around, and a grin broke out across his face.

"Hiya, Rangiku. I thought ya had forgotten about me." That made her stop a little. She hadn't meant to not see him again.

"My foster parents..." She was cut off by a wave of his hand.

"I kid, I kid. What classes ya got?" A small smile of relief spread across her lips. She was glad...

From then on they had become close friends. He was there for her always, in his quirky and podunk way. He was the first person to comfort her when she cried, and the one who always made her laugh. It was a beautiful friendship that she would give the world for. There was always some part of her that was forever thankful to that day. It had led her to something great. They continued on at the same school, going to high school together. There they met Kira and Momo. They were kind people, especially Momo. She always smiled. Kira was more quiet and level headed, but it was fun to tease him about Momo. It was also around this time that Rangiku met Aizen. A friend of Gin's in college, he felt off. To her, there was something a little weird in his eyes, but no else had a problem. She always wondered how Gin had come to know him, but she never asked.

It was in this time in high school they started dating. Their pieces to the puzzle finally fell together their junior year.

The sun was just setting, the warmth of an early spring just barely present. They were at the park where they had met for the first time, sitting on a bench instead of a the swings. It was a comfortable quiet, words not really needed.

"Say, Gin? What are you going to do after high school?" She glanced over at him. He hummed, looking up at the sky.

"I'm probably going to go to college somewhere else. Maybe two cities over. Then I leave this place entirely. Move somewhere far away."

"Ah... I don't know what I want to do other then get away from here." She let out a puff of breath. Truth be told she didn't want to be somewhere without him.

"You could always come with me. You could figure it out after we leave." That brought a small smile to her face. That was so like Gin.

"Thank you. I'll think about," she told him as she looked back over at him. He was looking at her.

There was a silence, a shift in the atmosphere. She swallowed lightly as she looked at him. The way he was looking at her was different from normal.

"Rangiku?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I kiss ya?"

That brought a light blush to her face. She was quiet for a moment, her heart beat quickening. Her eyes drifted down towards his lips, then back up.

"Yes..." She said softly, her cheeks flushing a little more.

His hand came up to cup her cheek, his thumb caressing the apple of it softly for a moment. His hand was so big and warm; she couldn't help but lean into his touch. She closed her eyes, waiting. Soon enough she felt the warmth of his lips against hers. They were warm and slightly chapped, but they weren't unpleasantly so. She pressed back against his hesitantly. The kiss was slow and patient, yet it was also passionate. It made her heart beat more rapidly than before, her hands coming up to tangle themselves in the front of his shirt. This was something she had wanted for a long time now. She had wanted this from the minute she ended up falling for him. Slowly, and much too soon for her, he pulled away. He kept his face close to hers, taking a breath. She opened her eyes, cheeks a rosy pink. She looked down at his lips then up to his eyes again. She couldn't stop herself from the way she chased his lips. She pressed her lips back against his, her eyes closing again. He kissed her back, this time with more force. It wasn't as slow as before, a sense of need prevalent. She licked and suckled on his bottom lip, wanting more of him. He gave a hum as he opened his mouth to her. A soft sigh escaped her as her tongue explored his warm and wet mouth. Both of his hands were on her cheeks now, holding her face close. Her hands pulled him ever closer to her. She was getting drunk off of him. He was so intoxicating. When she needed air she pulled away, her breathing a little heavy.

"Gin..."

"Would ya go out with me?"

She nodded, hugging him close. She buried her face in his neck, taking in his warmth. Everything felt so right.

The rest of their high school career passed fast, and before they knew it, they were deciding where to go to college. Rangiku had barely figured out some vague idea of what she wanted to do. She knew that she wanted to help people. She wasn't sure in what way she was going to take it, but she at least knew what she wanted to do. So, when it came time for them to apply, she applied to schools near where Gin would be. They had decided to live together.

The time during this wasn't exactly happy as it so happened Aizen was also very near. Rangiku tried not to let it get in the way of their happiness. They functioned well together, and it brought warmth to her heart. She finished college, majoring in business, but also minoring in counseling services. It had been a long eight years for her degree, but it was worth it. She could finally bring in more money to help support them. Gin made a fair amount working for Aizen, but she still wanted to contribute. Everything seemed to be going well. That was until one day in winter a year after graduating. She had to stop her work at a firm when a call from her cellphone interrupted her.

She frowned as she heard it. She pulled it out and answered it, her heart stopping as she heard what the voice had to say. Tears slowly fell from her eyes as the voice rang in her head. Over and over again it repeated that Gin had been shot. Her body was numb. It took her a moment before she was able to talk, telling the voice she would be there soon. She left work without a word, hurrying to her car. She made her way to the hospital as fast as possible, praying he was still okay. She hadn't gotten a chance to tell him how much she really loved him. When she arrived she rushed inside, almost harassing the nurse for where Gin was. Part of her withered when she heard he was in surgery. It was a long and excruciating wait to only be told be he died under the scalpel. Never had she experienced such grief. She cried for what seemed like years. It was only later did she learned Aizen had shot him. She cursed him. She hated him for taking away her heart. She hated the fact she was left alone to plan his funeral. She hated the fact she had to do it in the first place. Not even Aizen being locked away in prison made it better. Her heart was gone, and all she could do was grieve. Momo and Kira came to see her every now and then, but her light was gone.

As she stood in front of his grave a year later, it all replayed in her mind. She replayed the life she had known with him. She remembered all the joy they had had. It seemed like a forgone conclusion they would kiss. It was natural they fell in love. The logical assumption. It just never seemed possible her heart could be ripped away.