haha... a delay to your delay... isn't it crazy how fast these days are flying by?! WIERD.

Just wanted to drop by again to say that your Gin/Bya is one I really like... and I normally don't. It's usually pain and emptyness pushing Byakuya to bottom to Gin, but your take on it has Gin actually in love with Bya, and it's a nice change.
I like Gin's possessiveness here for Byakuya, too, where he really has no more physical power over anyone anymore; but with just his verbal threats and mocking of Shuuhei-- it becomes so clear that Gin is not totally out of the game, yet.
I also think it's really telling that although this fic is about Shuuhei, just that bit at the end with Gin really makes an impact (at least for me)... and it shows just how powerful a character Gin is.

(heehee... if more fab Bya/Gin come out of me linking you to a few manga panels... THAT'S TOTALLY A-OK... i'll sniff quietly in the corner to my lost potential Bya/Ren fic friend... *cries*) :P

((yes!.... 'ku-chan'--'shuu-chan'.... :D you actually have me feeling sorry for GIn... how does that happen??)