"I…….miss……Momo….!" Toushiro cried softly in the embrace of his vice captain.
"It's okay to cry, captain….." Rangiku to soothe him. He had been a nervous wreck ever since Momo had been hospitalized because of the injuries she had sustained, due to the actions of her former captain, Sosuke Aizen.
"…it's….all…..my……fault…!" he whispered harshly, his tears wetting the robes of his lieutenant.
"Shh….you couldn't have changed anything that happened that day…….its not your fault…." She hugged him tighter. "Besides...you know she's getting released in a few days..." He nodded.
"….I……I'm…..sorry….you...had...to...see...me...like...this..." He fell asleep silently in her arms. She carried him to his bed. He needed sleep, he had been up almost every night since that day. He was usually at the hospital with Momo.
"If only she knew……." Rangiku whispered to herself as she laid the small boy onto his bed.
---
"Captain! Wake up!!" The blonde's large chest bounced above his head. He looked up at her, annoyed.
"I'm awake, I'm awake...! What is it..?"
"I have great news! Momo's getting out of the hospital early!!"
He sat up quickly. "What? When did you hear this??"
She smiled. "I heard it from Renji. He heard it from Kenpachi, and he heard from the old man himself. C'mon!! We're gonna go meet her!!" She grabbed his arm and dragged him out the door.