She looked on towards the woman across from her. She was fidgeting lightly with her black Shinigami uniform. Matsumoto Rangiku sighed.
"Hinamori…" The smaller girl's head snapped up.
"Yes Matsumoto-san?" She asked.
Rangiku sighed. Her strawberry-blonde hair falling across her forehead. "I'm sorry."
Momo Hinamori's eye's widened. She gasped. "For what? You've done nothing!"
And she was right. Rangiku had done nothing. And yet, she'd done everything. In truth, their situations were the same, but still, completely different.
Ichimaru Gin had always been an arrogant, evil person.
Aizen Souske had been outwardly kind; Inwardly, he had done many wrong things. Wrong but great.
"I miss him…" Momo whispered.
"I know." Matsumoto turned her eyes on the girl; Sadness and understanding all to clear in them.
"I know they loved us…." Momo sighed.
"But in the end…" Rangiku closed her eyes painfully.
"They loved each other more…"
A silence filled the air of the small café in Rukongai they had chosen to meet at. The two were left to their thoughts.
Ichimaru Gin. Matsumoto had grown up with him. They both helped each other, growing up in Rukongai. And Matsumoto hated him. She hated that he left her. She hated his smile. She hated his slouch, his speech, his breath.
And yet…she loved him. She loved him helping her. She loved his smile. She loved his slouch, his speech, his breath.
And he loved her to. In his own, sick and morbid way. And that's why, when Matsumoto saw him next, she'd kill him. She'd watch as he drew his last breath. Loving and hating every minute of it. And then, she knew he'd reach out to Aizen, calling to him in his last moments because…he loved him more.
Aizen Souske. Momo had been so happy to be placed under him. She worked hard to get there. Training with Kyra over and over. And Momo loved him. She loved his smile. She loved his kind voice. She loved his graceful movements, soft breath, and gentle ways.
And yet…she hated him. She hated his using her. She hated his voice, now laced with a permanent mocking. She hated his, graceful movements, soft breath, and oh-so-gentle ways.
And he loved her. In a twisted way. And that's why, when she next confronted him, she'd kill him by her blade. She'd watch in satisfaction as he drew his last breath. Loving and hating every minute of it. And then, she knew he'd keep trying to protect Ichimaru, crawling to him in his last moments because…he loved him more.
Momo sighed. Her and Rangiku were very much in the same situation, and yet, completely different.
"Rangiku." Momo looked to Matsumoto drawing her attention. The ritual words easily coming to her lips. "On my honor, I solemnly swear to take Aizen Souske's life, while you, Matsumoto Rangiku take Ichimaru Gin's life. Back to back. Blood to blood."
Rangiku smiled a cruel smile, but in no way was it directed towards Momo. "Momo. On my honor, I solemnly swear to take Ichimaru Gin's life, while you, Momo Hinamori take Aizen Souske's life. Back to back. Blood to blood."
0o0o0
Two women stood back to back, cuts and abrasions adorning their bodies. They were panting heavily, their swords drawn. Before them each lay a body.
Before Rangiku a body of a man she dreamed of spending her life with, a cruel smirk still on his lips, even in death; because he loved her. Because he could see the pain in her eyes and loved it. Because he could see the victory in her eyes and hated it.
Before Momo a body of a man she lived for, she breathed for, a kind smile on his lips, even in death; because he loved her. Because he could still mock her, even has he died, and loved it. Because he could see the vengeance in her eye's and hated it.
They say there's a fine line.
A very fine line between love and hate.
Back to back.
Blood to blood.