Author:

Behold, the not-so-long awaited Epilogue~

If you're scrolling up and down the page wondering, "What is this? I don't get it. What Epilogue?", then you should have read the description. This is an Epilogue to Things That Are Lost, a fanfic by Me. So, misguided reader, scurry up to my profile, scroll down to my list of stories, and click on Things That Are Lost before reading a single word of this~

If you're a reader that has been waiting for the spring that would carry this story, here it finally is. It's in a separate story-like-thingy because it's long, and I like it this way. (It has Pizazz, and its own title!) It will grow to span five chapters, and then lead on into the sequel, unless some unexpected wave of readers vote in the poll that they don't want a sequel after all. But how could that possibly happen?

Enough of my speech! It was pretty pointless anyway. Read!

Matsumoto Rangiku

I wonder why I'm thinking about this now, of all times… I'm picking up my dry cleaning! But Taicho was so sad at her funeral. And finally after finding her too…No! I can't think of this now! I'll get teary again. Oh! I should just organize it, shouldn't I! It should be alright, if I do that.

Alright. Nadeshiko had gone to Kurotsuchi to receive treatment for something, as I've heard. And later, it malfunctioned and killed her. Oh, I remember the scene. Kamaro and I barged in after making the connection and tracing Taicho's reiatsu. Taicho was sitting on a table, and Kurotsuchi-taicho—both him and his fukutaicho—were standing over Nadeshiko…Ah, there was so much blood. But we couldn't see her face from where we entered.

When Kurotsuchi-taicho—wait, that title isn't his anymore—when he noticed us, he spun around and had this look in his eyes…like he was angry and horrified at the same time. I could tell he was worried about his job, but it looked so creepy!

"Get out!" he hissed at us, trying to be heard over the long beep, "Leave!"

That seemed to snap Taicho out of his dazed state. He flinched (he was sitting on a table) and then froze in place. I still didn't see Nadeshiko's face then, but Kamaro did. He made a sick noise, like he was going to puke, and then fell to his knees. Kurotsuchi ran to us and pushed us out. Kamaro and I protested, and I yelled to Taicho, but he didn't seem to be able to hear me. We were shut out.

Moments later, Kamaro brought Unohana-taicho and a bunch of paramedics with cleaning-men back to the Research building. They went inside immediately to clean things up. Taicho came out right after they went in. His feet, shihakusho, and haori all were smothered with red. He walked past me then…

Oh no! I passed it! Gotta turn around…turn around…

Taicho…Where was I? Taicho left the room, partially stained with Nadeshiko's blood. He didn't give me a direct look, but he glanced in my direction, as if to politely acknowledge our presence. (My and Kamaro's presence) His eyes looked so empty. Kamaro took one look at that face and pushed past me into the room.

After that, Kurotsuchi was arrested for murder, operating on a person without a license, and many other things circling the situation. His division members…some of them seemed relieved. I can see why. As for Kurotsuchi Nemu, Kurotsuchi didn't want anyone to use her, so he put her into a data recovery mode where she would continue to repeat data to herself until Kurotsuchi himself stopped it. They put her into a cell.

Up until January first, the new year, Taicho busied himself with work. He created so much and did it so fast…and when he didn't have work, he studied. I had to remind him to sleep sometimes, and even then he didn't want to. Ah, at least it's better now. He gets his sleep. But now, just to make sure he doesn't go back into that state, I've been doing things for him. I've been helping with paperwork, getting him coffee—

Augh! I passed it again~!

—Helping him with coffee, delivering his reports, organizing meetings with Hinamori-san, getting his drycleaning…all of that! But, then again, aren't I helping him to be a hermit?! Aah! Wait, no, he still talks to people. That's good.

Yes! Dry cleaners! What?! They're out to lunch?!

Darn~!

Maybe I should go get lunch with Taicho? That would probably be the best.

"Taicho! Good afternoon, want to go get lunch?...Are you sure? Should I—"

"No, it's fine. Thanks."

"Ah…alright."

He's lounging on the couch, studying. The place on his desk where he usually puts his finished stacks of paperwork is empty, and his entire desk is spotless, like he's been cleaning it for a while. Looking back at him, his book is only open to the beginning pages.

"You can go, if you want." He says, not turning his head.

"Are you sure—"

He puts the book down, holding the page with his thumb, and turns to give me a small smile. "Thanks, Matsumoto."

The smile is so sweet; I just have to return it while I leave. A month after the incident, he started using that face with me. He's smiling, and it's rare to see on him—well, not anymore—but…it's just…sad. His eyes look empty, and the smile has a hollow foundation. As sweet as that expression appears at first glance, it's almost…depressing. It feels as if it's as powerful as Unohana-taicho's smile…Nevermind, I take that back.

Author:

And that ends Matsumoto's portion! Of course, what she's told is only a shell of the story; there's tons more.

You wonderful readers also won't have to think much during the Epilogue, since it's so short. But there will be 'little somethings', like the chapter titles. It might be kinda obvious, but I wonder if you can guess the reason for 'Responsibility' being this title. I bet it's super easy, but I have this nagging feeling someone's not gonna get it straight off the bat. In that case, I should say that titles, like people, mingle. Then again, that hint is more confusing than its problem.

No review poems for the Epilogue either, just because I'm lazy~