A/N: This is a GinXMatsumoto story. Please read and review let me know what you think about it, Thanks!

A/N : I don't own any of the characters or the series Bleach this story is just for fun and hopefully the enjoyment of others.

Matsumoto sighed as she stepped out into the bright sun. How was she supposed to tell her mother that the banks wouldn't lend then any more money? Wouldn't wasn't the word more like couldn't; they were two months behind on their mortgage. Bills were months past due, it was a lucky thing she had saved a few bucks here and there to keep the electricity on or else they would be living in the dark. She glanced across the street walking in a steady pace to the nearest bus stop.

She took a seat on the bench and glanced down at her watch. The bus should be there any minute. If it wasn't she would be late and Kami knows she can't be late again or she would get fired. As the bus pulled up she took a seat in the back and fished out her cell. She dialed her mom and waited for an answer.

"Hello?" The feeble old voiced crackled through on the phone. She was only 65 yet she looked close into her 80s. The last few years had taken a toll on her mother's body.

"Mom, it's me Matsumoto how are you doing?"

"Oh I'm ok dearie, how did the meeting go?" she could hear drowsiness in her mother's voice.

"Not so well mom, the banks won't give us an extension. I don't know what to do, we have until the end of this month to pay it or they are going to take it mom. I am going to see if I can get a few more hours at work in today. Will you be ok for a few more hours alone?"

"Yes I will be fine, don't worry about me, if I need anything I can always go next door, the young lady that lives there is quite kind."

"Ok love you mom I'll call in a bit." She listened to her mom's goodbye and hung up. She slumped back into her seat defeated. Even if she managed to get three or more hours in during her shift it still wouldn't be enough to pay off the mortgage. She glanced out at the passing cars and buildings as her mind drifted away to two years ago.

"Mom! Mom?" Matsumoto walked through the house searching for her mother. They had just got there about an hour ago. The house wasn't that big so they would be done in no time at all. Usually she started on one side her mother on the other. She had finished hers and made her way to the middle usually her mom would be there done also, but today she wasn't. "Mom!?" She walked around the nicely decorated rooms in search of her mom. She ended up at the last room all the way in the back.

She pushed open the door, and glanced around the room. She found her mom laying on the floor she grabbed her phone dialed 911 and tried to help her mother. She was in the hospital for two weeks recovering from a stroke. When she finally brought her home she looked pale and weak and as the days passed it was obvious she wouldn't be back to her old self anytime soon. Matsumoto started picking up more shifts just to pay for the in house nurse but before long she had to let her go they just couldn't afford to pay her anymore.

Matsumoto jumped out of her reprieve as the bus came to a stop. She scrambled to make it out the door and into the warm sunshine. She walked the few blocks left to her job. She was right on time the manager was opening the door.

"You're here on time Rangiku. I'm a bit surprised."

Matsumoto laughed and nodded her head, it looked as if she was the first person there she would be able to pick the job she wanted. As she went through the list of clients for the day she found one not too far away she could walk and make it by 7:30 if she headed out now. She took up the slip and headed to the front desk.

"Hey Jean, I'm going to head out now."

"Uh Rangiku…" She glanced at the computer then at Matsumotos time card. "Hold on a second let me pull this up."

Matsumoto sighed what was wrong now? Usually she just took the card wrote down the number for the client and let her on her way.

"Actually Rangiku there's a note here that you have to go to 21 Blue Street. Someone special requested you. "

"Huh?" Matsumoto shook her head, "I can't do it, that's way out of the way by the time I get there I won't have any time to do my work …"

"Here, is the note and some taxi fare left for you."

Matsumoto nodded as she grabbed the note and the cash and then had the receptionist call a cab for her.

When the cab arrived she handed the address to the cab driver and read the note.

***Dutiful Maids**

I would like to reserve the service of Rangiku Matsumoto for the weeks of 1/10-2/5. I've heard from a friend that she is a very wonderful housekeeper and she was very respectful of their home. She did an impeccable job, cleaning their house thoroughly and that is just what I am in need of. I will not be in the home until 2/5 but because the home is big I need it to be thoroughly cleaned so when I do arrive I don't have to worry about anything. I will be sending the payment electrionally so each week at the rate of 20.75 an hour and I expect her to be there at least five hours a day. I am sorry I was not able to come in personally but please give her the envelope, the keys and the card which her payments will be loaded onto each week and I will send your fee directly. If you have any questions or need more information you can reach my secretary at 957-365-2966.

From the desk of

Winston incorpate.

Matsumoto gasped as she read and reread the letter. She could never imagine getting 20.75 for a housekeeping gig. She sighed if this was true by the end of the month she would then have more than enough to pay for the bills if she stayed a few extra hours each day. She would have to call her mom as soon as found out if this was real or not. She picked up the small envelope and went through the contents. Two small keys and a Visa card with her name on it were tucked inside along with a hundred dollar bill. She glanced around making sure cameras wouldn't pop out of nowhere and she wasn't on some hidden game show or something.

"Hey Lady were here."

Matsumoto pulled out the 100 and handed it to the man he gave her the change and she stepped out a gasp escaped her lips as she stared at the huge mansion that stood a little ways from where she stood. It was beautiful. The outside was painted in a vibrant peach color with white trimmings. She unlocked the huge gate and stepped through into a fantasy land. Well that's the way it seemed to her. The garden was filled with flowers of all different shapes and sizes and the grass was the greenest she had ever seen. She stared around in amazement as she walked to the front door. Even the door knob was exceptional it was carved in what looked like crystal. She opened the door slowly and walked through.

She was amazed at how beautiful and untouched everything looked in there. The floor in the foyer was hardwood that looked like it was worth more than she would ever make in a lifetime. As she made her way through the house checking each room everything looked expensive. She sighed to herself as she ended up in the kitchen. It was tiled and the cabinets were a bright shade of light brown. Everything looked preserved as if no one ever touched them.

She glanced at her watch now seeing the house she could see how they would pay such a huge price for a housekeeper but she wasn't complaining at all. She pulled her hair into a ponytail and took off her jacket she had been wearing and went to the foyer she would start there and work her way to the living room.

Matsumoto had been hard at work for four hours before she went to the kitchen to have lunch. She sat at the huge table and slowly unpacked her lunch. As she ate she let herself imagine what it would be like if she lived there, if this was her house and she wasn't just cleaning it. She would have enough money to pay for the proper care her mother needed. She wouldn't have to worry about bills or any of that other stuff. As that thought rolled out of her head another came in. One filled with him.

She sighed a frown on her pretty face. Gin had promised her this. A big house for them to live in, no thoughts in the world but each other. She was transported back to when she had first met him. He had approached her so charmingly his intention so blatant. She had been taken aback by his forwardness, she had never had a man pay so much attention to he asked her out she could hardly refuse. They met the next night and he took her to dinner. They had fun, she had enjoyed herself immensely he asked her out for another date for the next time and she had accepted again.

That week had been one of the best her life, it felt like a fairytale and she was the princess getting swept off her feet by the prince. She sighed pushing away her food having lost her appetite. She stood packing away the leftovers and called her mom.

"Mom."

"Hi honey, how is work?"

Matsumoto smiled to herself, "Well I have good news mom."

"The bank decided to extend the loan after all?"

She could hear the hopeful ness in her mother's voice which made her smile more " No mom, I got a job that's going to be paying 20.75 and hour for the next month I get paid every week mom, we will be able to keep the house after all."

"Really honey I am so happy, thank Kami!" Her mother's excitement was contagious and she began to laugh with her. "You have to tell me about it when you get home."

"I will mom, love you." She hung up and went back to work finishing in the living room and started on the second living room.

It hit five and she left, locking up behind her. She sighed as she said goodbye to her dream house and stood outside waiting for the cab.

-A week or so later-

Matsumoto sat down for lunch, she had been coming there for a week and half now. She was halfway done with the cleaning, choosing one day to re dust. She munched at the turkey and cheese sandwich. It had been awhile since she was able to have one. Turkey had been out of her budget for a while. She smiled at the simple pleasure and stepped out into the back yard. It was absolutely gorgeous. She wasn't sure but there had to be a maintenance guy that came and took care of the lawn and the different vegetables and fruits in the garden.

She sat underneath a big apple tree and stared across what seemed like acres and acres of land. The glint off her finger caught her eye. She didn't know why she kept it. Her wedding ring. She should have gotten rid of it when she had broken off their marriage but she kept it because in some silly way it reminded her of the better times.

They had only been dating for eight months when he took her the beach; it had been a fun day of frolicking in the water and a nice little picnic under a canopy. Her mother had been there too that was when she could go out and enjoy herself instead of being stuck in the house. AS the sun was setting and they were packing up, Gin had pulled her aside. He took her hand in his and pulled her close kissing her tenderly then reaching into his bag he pulled out a small black box. She had jumped back in surprised knowing what was coming but not believing. He had proposed to her then. Professing his undying love for her. Promising her the sun and the moon if she would be his. Matsumoto frowned then, it had never happen. He hadn't loved her truly. Infatuated maybe but not love why he of would… Her cell rang bringing her out of her thoughts.

Another bill collector she ignored it and went back to work.

Gin sat behind his office desk he flipped open his laptop, typing in his passcodes he pulled up a live stream. He stared intently at the screen a small smile on his face. He had been watching her for the past week, enjoying every moment her beautiful face was on the screen.

He had finally found her after searching for three years. He could remember the last time he had seen her, her face pale, the look of shock then total disgust on her face. She had called him all the names in the book and said she hated him, and then stormed out, leaving everything behind.

He called her constantly but she never answered until one day the line was disconnected. He went to her home, her mother's home, any friend she had but no one knew where she was. She had simply disappeared. He spent countless sleepless hours looking for her until three months ago, when someone called him and gave him her address.

He had been skeptical at first but the person had said that she was worried about her. Her mother was sick and Matsumoto had been working long hours wearing herself out she needed help.

He had waited until he knew she wasn't home and went there, taking in where she lived now. It was a dump. A small one-bedroom shanty. He cursed at how she could have let this happen, why she was living in such a rundown dump with her mother no less. Was she so prideful that she wouldn't ask anyone for help?

He had left surveying her house and done a little research. Finding out that she had left her job when she had left him and moved here because it was cheap. She took a job as a housekeeper with her mother and has been doing that ever since but it wasn't enough money to pay the bills. The house was going to be in foreclosure if they didn't pay. He had wanted to call her and offer to take her away, to pay for her mom to get the best care money could buy but after the way she had stormed out he knew she wouldn't talk to him, much less take any help from him. He had thought up this little plan to kill two birds with one stone.

He could help her out and also get to see her as often as he wanted, which he did. Most of his work hours were spent on his laptop watching her as she went around cleaning his house. Whatever room she went to he followed. She was still the same beautiful girl he married, all though she looked skinnier her hair always up in a ponytail. He sighed; she had always worn her hair down for him, because he had liked it that way. Her strawberry blonde locks are what caught his eye the first time he saw her walking casually down street. She had been so beautiful he was mesmerized by it; he had to just go up and talk to her.

He closed the screen as she went to another room and glanced at his watch. A few more hours and he would go back to the hotel.

"Mr. Gin, you have a call on line one."

"Thank you Diane."

Gin picked up the phone and waited. "Um… hello?" Gin flipped open his laptop and searched through the cameras it was her. Her voice sounded so soft and delicate through the receiver. He watched as she tucked a loose strand behind her hair.

"Yes? May I ask who is speaking?"

"Um, I'm Ran…Rangiku Matsumoto…I'm the housekeeper you hired from Dutiful Maids."

"Is something wrong?"

"Yes…um…no ..."

"What is it Mrs. Matsumoto is it?"

"it's just Ms. And I've been hearing meowing…I was wondering if you had a cat or something because It's been in the back yard every day I come here and a few times its tried to get inside. I wasn't sure if…"

"It's not. Call animal control and get it off my property."

Matsumoto glanced at the receiver and frowned. What a jerk, he had no reason to raise his voice at her, "Ok I'm sorry to bother it won't happen again."

"Ms. Matsumoto."

"Yes sir?"

Gin stood silent for a second racking his brain. He didn't want her to stop talking he missed hearing her voice; it was like music to his ears right now. "The house, it's not too difficult of a job is it?"

"Oh no sir, even though it's huge I've been making my way through it. It's a gorgeous house and the garden is..." she stopped herself, this was her boss she was speaking to.

"Thanks hopefully my wife feels the same."

Of course, no man buys a house like this for himself, maybe that's who she was getting it ready for. It was properly a surprise for his wife and he wanted to make sure everything was perfect.

"I'm sure she will, I should get back to work now."

"Ok Ms. Matsumoto if anything should come up please don't hesitate to call me."

Matsumoto nodded then hung up. She took a seat in the soft plush chair and sighed deeply. He sounded a lot like Gin, yet she knew it was impossible. To have a house like this you would have to be rich and Gin was far from it actually. When they were together he was working a 9-5 at some place but it would have been impossible for him make that much in three years. She shook her head trying to get his voice out of her mind, if there was one person she never wanted to see again it was him.

She marveled at how little it took for her to think about him again, but she wanted to forget him and their sham of a marriage, "Well" she said aloud, "I don't think you could call that a marriage, you weren't even married for two days." She smiled bitterly to herself that was what she got from the man who said he loved her more that life itself, a small Vegas wedding and a few hours of being married before he showed his true colors. She glanced at her watch it was time to go. Her mother would be expecting her.