"MATSU-ACHOO"

Toshiro's eyes widened as he was cut off by a violent sneeze.

"Taicho?"

Toshiro whipped his head up, "What?"

Rangiku's head popped back in the doorway. She had been halfway down the hall when she heard the improvised version of her last name. Intrigued by the abnormality, she had braved the possible wrath of her angry captain and returned to uncover the potential embarrassment.

"Did you...just sneeze?"

"No"

"I think you did"

"I did no such thing"

"Yes you did!"

"No, I just- achoo!"

Toshiro's facial expression melted into a look of horror. He had sneezed. His eyes were red-rimmed and he had been blowing his nose almost constantly for the last few days. He didn't want to admit it to himself, but it seemed Rangiku had no reservations.

"Taicho, do you...do you have a cold?" She asked incredulously, her shoulders shaking with the effort of holding in rambunctious laughter. It seemed this could quite possibly be the height of amusement.

"No" He stated shortly. Usually when Toshiro used that tone, it would mean the end of all discussion; however now, with his bright, red cheeks and sulky tone, Rangiku found his overwhelming adorability quash any fears that he would be any harm in this state.

"Aww, Taicho! Don't deny it! You should go rest, I will...oversee the paperwork," She lied blatantly. Toshiro's eyes narrowed.

"Matsumoto. The day you do paperwork, I will proclaim my love for candy and toys"

"Really?"

"No. Now go do something useful!"

'Strengthening relationships with fellow Shinigami is usefull, right?' Rangiku thought as she sat at the regular table with Shuuhei and Kira, downing sake bottle after sake bottle, 'Though I still wonder how my Taicho could've caught a cold...'

~Flashback~

Momo hummed a cheerful tune as she worked, trying to distract her from her sombre mood. Each brushstroke was carefully placed, as there was no room for mistakes. Ever since Aizen had showed his true colors, Momo had been determined to step up and fill in for the missing leader.

She hadn't been sleeping well, though. Her eyes were rimmed with dark shadows and you only had to look into them to see that a great sadness still weighed heavily on her mind. Because of the lack of sleep, she had come down with a weak cold. Even now, she could feel the throbbing of her throat and the need to blow her nose, rose once again.

As she brought her hand back to make a final stroke on the pristine page, her sleeve caught the small ink pot, tipping it over. She watched almost in slow motion as the black spilled towards her hard work, and felt despair run through her. Then it froze- literally- inches away from the paper.

"Wha..."

"You really ought to be more careful, you know"

Momo started at the familiar voice.

"Toshiro-kun!"

Sure enough, there stood the shortest (and most irritable) captain of the sereitei, amusement written all over his face.

"That's Captain Hits-"

"What are you doing here!"

Toshiro's usually cold and unreadable eyes darted down to the floor and he muttered the words so quietly that Momo could barely hear them.

"...wondered...later..."

"Sorry?"

He took a deep breath and raised his eyes to stare at something over her shoulder.

"I was just wondering if you, ahem...want to, uh...meet up with me...alone...later on this evening..."

Momo was startled at first, then she let a grin steal over her face.

"Why, Toshiro Taicho! Are you asking me on a date?" She asked; a definite teasing note in her voice.

Toshiro glared at her for a moment, not failing to notice the mocking tone when she called him 'taicho'.

"Forget it," he gave in, and turned to walk out the door. He was about to step out when he heard Momo call, "I'll see you under the cherry blossom tree at seven!"

Toshiro paused and smiled to himself before continuing back to his headquarters to finish his paperwork- and Rangiku's- however, now it didn't seem like such a daunting prospect.

~End Flashback~

"Rangiku-san?"

Rangiku looked up at the sound of her name. She had been reading a magazine about the latest styles in the human world when the sound of Momo knocking on her door woke her from her reprieve .

"Come in"

Momo grinned as she slid the door open, "Good, achoo! ...morning, Rangiku-san."

"Morning! What brings you here, Momo-san?"

"I have the paperwork from the SWM. They said it has to be in by next week."

"Oh? There goes my weekend!" Rangiku looked slyly at the small girl and added, "I thought you would be looking for my taichooo, Momo-chan"

Momo blushed furiously, "What? Why would you think that?"

"Oh, no reason...no reason. Say...was that a sneeze I heard before?"

Momo looked up tiredly, "Yes. I've a rather bad cold all week."

Rangiku felt a strange combination of triumph and wild delight, "Is that so? You'll never believe this but my captain seems to have a slight cold as well! How unusual..."

Momo took great interest in her feet.

"Ah, yes. Very...very unusual. Well, I should be going...I'll see you later, Rangiku-san"

As the door slid shut, Rangiku let out a slight maniacal laugh.

"Oh, yes, I've got you all figured out, taicho!" And with that, Rangiku began plotting her scheme to find evidential proof that her captain was up to no good.

A/N I don't know if I'm going to continue this or not, so let me know if you think it's chapter 2-worthy.