Chapter 1: Sake Solutions
A sharp slam ricocheted through the bustling restaurant as Matsumoto hung her tipsy head-the sound of a Sake glass contacting a glass table top at relatively high speed.
"Say Hisagi?", Rangiku sighed with a slight slur, "Do you think I'm overreacting to what happened today?"
Rangiku sat blissfully buzzed across from her two concerned comrades, Kira and Hisagi, who were shooting worried glances at each other as their busty and flushing friend poured herself another glass of Sake. "Geez. Where is that waitress when we need her. This bottle is almost empty," she playfully whined, running a delicate finger along the rim of her glass of spirits.
"Say Matsumoto," Kira timidly murmured, softly patting his lips with his napkin, "I think Shuhei and I will take over on the Sake...why don't you just try and explain to us what happened?" Hisagi slowly nodded, lifting his glass and quietly sipping the remainder of the drink.
Rangiku formed a partial scowl as she sat up straight, trying to appear as in control of her intoxication as possible. Brushing her hair out of her face, her chest raised and then fell softly as she heaved a huge sigh. "My captain and I were out with one of our squad members, Tottaki Hitto, scouting this area of the Rukon district for a Hollow that had allegedly killed three ranking officers with it's massive talons." Rangiku lifted one of her hands, seemingly inspecting her fingernails. "We came across it," she curled her fingers into claws, "a giant bird-hollow with amazing spiritual pressure and deep black feathers."
Kira's and Hisagi's eyes widened as she continued to describe the hollow and the hardy battle that ensued. "I called out Heineko, hoping to catch the damned thing by surprise, but.." she stopped fidgeting and lowered her head, "it must have read my thoughts." She lifted her empty glass to her lips, so entranced by her story that she'd forgotten she was out of sake. Kira reached out and grabbed her glass.
"Excuse me," he politely apologized before pouring another serving of Sake from the recently replaced bottle. Handing it back to Matsumoto, he asked, "Continue," looking on as she stared at the glass table top, focusing on her reflection.
"As I flash-stepped in for the final blow, I felt it's talons graze my chest." She quickly pulled aside the small part of her kosode that was covering her breasts to reveal a large but shallow scratch that had grazed her just beneath her collar bone. The color from Kira's face drained out as he laid eyes on the wound. Slowly turning to Hisagi, who too had a ghastly look smeared on his face, Kira tried to mutter a nervous response.
"Well, you look pretty lucky to have escaped with just that," he smiled, trying desperately to pour normalcy back into the conversation.
"I know." Matsumoto set her cup back on the table, "I know because Captain Hitsugaya is the only reason I have just this scratch."
Confused, Hisagi reached out and placed his hand next to Matsumoto's as a show of support; she was clearly distraught, and just very good at hiding it. "Matsumoto," he softly spoke.
"Right before those nasty claws could dig into all this," Matsumoto smushed her large breasts together and let them fall gently back into place, "My captain pushed me aside, taking the brunt of the hit."
"He's alright though...right?" Kira interrupted, concerned wrinkles spread across his forehead.
Matsumoto smirked, letting out a quick giggle, "The wound wasn't as bad as I thought it was. And before I knew it, taichou had released Hyourinmaru, frozen, and shattered that jerk into a million beautiful icicles." the color slowly began returning to the boys faces as relief washed across the two.
"The only thing was," Matsumoto paused, "my clothing had been torn open from the impact of the talons."
Hisagi blushed politely, "May I ask what part tore Rangiku?"
"I will say this. That Tottaki had a nose bleed for hours when he caught a look at my luscious ladies," Rangiku laughed, seemingly breaking from the saddened trance that had previously consumed her. Kira's and Hisagi's jaws dropped as they tried to picture Matsumoto lying on the ground in Rukon, hair mussed from the gentle breeze, and a small trickle of blood dripping from the wound that was so clearly shown on her exposed breasts.
"Tottaki immediately began to tease me about it, knowing I'd be okay with the jokes since we'd gotten closer during his enlistment." Her eyes did not match the levity of the conversation. Speaking as though it were a joke, her soft grey eyes were heavy with sadness. "I got up, with the help of Tottaki, and covered myself with my palms, planning to hurry back and change." She sipped her Sake and set the glass down. "My captain however stopped us, removed his Haori and draped it over me." Rangiku began rubbing the soft fabric of the white Haori between her two fingers, having pulled the borrowed robe of her captain from the back of the chair next to her. "All he said was, "here"...turned away as if to flash-step off and sighed, "You two go on ahead. I want that back in my office by the end of the night." She dropped the fabric she had been fondling and stuttered,"Then he...he just vanished."
Hisagi looked empathetically over at his beautiful friend, who was holding desperately onto the last shreds of her normal ditsy attitude while reviewing the events of the day. "I'm not sure what to say Rangiku-san. That doesn't sound like Captain Hitsugaya" Hisagi stated, standing up slowly. Kira also stood up, looking down at Matsumoto who was currently drinking the last of the Sake.
"Maybe he was just feeling a bit fatigued from the battle. I mean," Kira paused as he walked over to Matsumoto and took her hand as she stood up, "Hinamori has told me time and again that Hitsugaya is not one to hold an unjust grudge. I'm sure everything will be back to normal by tomorrow."
Matsumoto looked out into the moonlit sky, a gentle breeze blowing across the quiet Rukon District. Smiling, she tucked the Haori tightly in between her chest and arm for safe keeping. "Yeah. You're right. He's probably just sulking."
Kira and Hisagi smiled as they walked down the ally, happy to see their efforts to cheer her up were working. Hisagi smirked, looking up at the stars, "Yeah. He's getting to old to be pouting. I'm sure he'll be shouting at you to finish paperwork again in the morning." The three laughed quietly, every now and then bumping into each other from the Sake.
"Oh. Matsumoto?," Kira stopped for a moment, "Are you planning on returning the Haori tonight? Is that why you brought it with you?" Shock struck Kira's face as he looked towards Matsumoto, who somewhere between the restaurant and here had donned the white Haori, her lush strawberry blonde hair shimmering in the moonlight as it twirled softly in the calm, cool breeze. It was tragically short on her; her physique being quite a bit taller than that of her captain. But amidst the silliness, she looked surprisingly elegant and regal adorned in the honors of the captain's rank.
Rangiku burst out in her boisterously drunk laughter, "Well I was going to keep it but...perhaps you're right." She sighed and looked out towards the far away grounds of the tenth squadron. "I did promise to have it back by tonight. I will just drop it off on my way to my room."
Waving goodbye to Kira and Hisagi as they stumbled towards their respective squads together, Rangiku began to run towards her barracks, feeling the cool evening air brush against her cheeks and other exposed flesh. It felt like dipping into a pool of perfect cold water. In tandem with the Haori fluttering in the wind, it made her feel at peace for the first time all day. Having time for reflection, the image of Hitsugaya's almost pained expression was burned in her mind and refused to be excised.
What was wrong? Was he mad at me for my injury? his injury?...why taichou?
"Idiot," Matsumoto whispered under her breath as she flew across the rooftops of the Gotei 13. Without realizing it, Matsumoto began scanning her surroundings for the distinctly cold spiritual pressure of her captain. When no trace was found, a small lump formed in her throat, causing her breathing to become a bit more labored. Jumping gracefully into the open window of their Office, Matsumoto straightened up and glanced back out at the starlit sky, a look of grief across her pale face. She pursed her lips.
Where are you taichou?
...Toshiro?