I would like to take this chance to say that the fact today is Valentine's Day and that I am uploading this story is purely coincidental. Furthermore, it is my wish to find some chocolate behind I keel over from lack of sleep. I hope you enjoy reading my story, as it is my first somewhat lengthy fic in quite some time.

Disclaimer: Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo, and the 'special' article to its writer from Cosmopolitan, although I originally found it on MSN.

On with the show!

"Matsumoto~!"

The buxom strawberry blonde looked up from her pile of magazines before slowly returning her attention to a particular article she was reading. Despite the drop in temperature, she just couldn't take her eyes away from the new information in her hands. However, as per the consequences of ignoring her captain, the temperature suddenly dropped from sixty-five to forty degrees, she had to congratulate herself; she lasted a total of seven minutes.

"Matsumoto, get in here this instant!"

Sweeping up her magazine, she readjusted her top and proceeded to slowly inch herself towards her captain's office. Tentatively peeking in, she ducked just in time to dodge a teacup that was thrown at her. Knowing her small captain was upset earlier that morning, she quickly walked up to his desk and awaited the barrage of complaints.

"Yes taicho?"

"Matsumoto…where are those documents I told you to process last week," Toshiro asked bitingly. "Soutaicho wants them in his hands by three."

Rangiku stared at her captain curiously. She knew of the documents he was asking for, but she had turned them in almost four days ago. Resting her hands on her hips, she leaned forward to inspect her white haired superior. Reaching out, she poked the space between his two eyebrows with her index finger and frowned. Hearing an irritated growl, she pulled back before she lost an appendage.

"Matsumoto, do not touch me," he muttered. "I want those documents handed in today, am I clear?"

"Taicho, you're going to get a severe crease in between your eyebrows and on your forehead if you keep scowling like that," she scolded lightly in an airy voice. "Either way, I turned those documents in four days ago. Don't you remember?"

Toshiro's turquoise eyes narrowed slightly. Picking up the memo from General Commander, he reread the instructions and saw the deadline read March 12th…four days ago. Growling yet again, he crumpled up the square paper and threw it over his shoulder.

"It seems you are correct Matsumoto," he let out with a sigh. "Thank you."

The woman smiled a bit, but her worried expression returned despite the praise. Taking a seat on the large oak desk, she looked down at her captain.

"Taicho, what's wrong? It's not every day things like this slip your mind." She paused before continuing. "Is everything going well with Kurosaki-kun?"

Hitsugaya's frame tensed for a second before loosening. "It does not concern you. Leave it be and finish your paperwork."

"No, something is most definitely bothering you and Kurosaki-kun is the source!" she exclaimed. "He didn't break up with you, did he?"

When she was met by silence, Rangiku gasped and felt tears reach the corners of her eyes. Jumping up, she grabbed her captain and brought him into a hug that greatly resembled a boa constrictor's vice-like grip. Toshiro felt all the air in his lungs leave him as he was picked up and swung about. Apparently, his vice-captain felt very strongly about his relationship with the substitute Shinigami.

"Oh no! I'm so sorry taicho," she cried loudly. "You have every right to be upset with the world. Don't worry, I'll find my bottles of sake and we'll drink until you forget all about that boy!"

"Mahoomoto! Het go of me!" Toshiro shouted against her bosom, trying to wriggle free. He was starting to lose consciousness from the lack of oxygen. "He did not break up with me!"

The tall woman pulled away and pouted. "Well can you blame me for jumping to conclusions when you just sit there staring at me?"

"You shouldn't jump to conclusions," Hitsugaya muttered angrily. "Regardless of the circumstances, do not assume."

Rangiku scoffed, crossing her arms as she made herself comfortable on the desk. "Hitsugaya Toshiro, stop stalling and start telling me what is wrong! I was the first person to find out about you two-"

"You were spying on us; that doesn't count-"

"AND when I found out, I swore I would help in any way I could to help your relationship work out." She continued without missing a beat. "So cough it up now or I'll go and pay Ichigo a little visit."

At first, Toshiro was going to brush off his vice-captain's threat, but after seeing a certain mischievous glint in her blue eyes, memories of what occurred after seeing that glint resurfaced. For a brief moment, he wondered if it would be worth it to try and run away, but knowing Matsumoto, she could do practically anything under the sun if she had the proper motivation. With a great deal of effort, Toshiro slowly nodded, letting out an exhausted sigh. A squeal erupted from the well endowed woman, causing her captain to wince, but she ignored his discomfort and dragged him to the couch. Practically dropping him onto the soft cushions, Rangiku quickly sat down next to him and waited for her captain to speak. Her patience paid off when he slowly took a breath, exhaled, and began to talk.

"Kurosaki did not break up with me," the boy murmured softly. "…But he might. I'm not the most extroverted person in Soul Society, but I'd like to think I'm improving…albeit slowly."

Rangiku nodded, easily understanding what the boy meant. When the news of their relationship became known, many Shinigami started placing bets on how long the two would last. To everyone's surprise, Rangiku was strongly against the betting; she knew the substitute and her icy captain would pull through, and she would be damned if she wasn't somehow part of it. Matsumoto tried to keep quiet and allow her captain to speak freely.

"Lately, I've doubted our relationship. I have strong feelings for Kurosaki, and I'm sure he has strong feelings for me, too," he said calmly, surprised at how easy it was to speak to his vice-captain this way. "But I know strong feelings aren't the same as love, and I'm worried that one day…Kurosaki will figure out that all he'll ever feel for me is some 'strong feeling'. And when he realizes it…"

The strawberry blonde nodded once more as a reassuring smile covered her face. She figured Toshiro's insecurities had been based around his seemingly apathetic attitude towards Ichigo's advances and public display of affection. Letting out a breath of air, Rangiku tried to figure out what she was about to say.

"Hmm…so you are worried Ichigo will leave you if he doesn't love you," she said contemplatively. "How long have the two of you been together, five-six months?"

"Seven next week."

"Well, I believe it's time to put my magazines to good use!" Matsumoto exclaimed as she pulled a magazine from her belt, skimming through the pages until she reached a specific article. Her eyes lightened considerably as she scanned the contents before tossing the magazine to her captain.

"Look at page seventy-three!"

Catching the bound glossy papers with ease, Toshiro flipped to the back and immediately found the article Rangiku had prescribed for him. Large block lettering, outrageous coloring, and an over abundance of hearts and flowers were definitely off-putting for the boy genius. The only thing keeping him from throwing the magazine back at his lieutenant was the article's name.

'11 Ways to Know He's Falling for You.'

"What the…"

"Don't you think it's perfect taicho," Matsumoto asked excitedly. "How lucky we found it! And look, they even have descriptions for them. This will definitely help!"

"Matsumoto…This is a girl magazine," Hitsugaya muttered, his male ego taking a definite blow. "I don't see how this will help-"

"You're the uke," she exclaimed in a boisterous voice. "Of COURSE it will help!"

Hearing his title in the relationship caused the boy's cheeks to blush heavily and his eyes to narrow. Before he could reach out to strangle his lieutenant, she was already standing in his office doorway, waving happily.

"Bye-bye Captain," she called out cheerily. "Don't forget to read it! These human magazines are never wrong!"

And with that, the buxom woman was out of sight and out of mind, and his attentions were redirected to the magazine crumpled in his hands. Glaring at the papers, he finally sighed, running a hand through his hair (one of the many bad habits he had contracted due to his close proximity to the substitute Shinigami). Sitting back down on his couch, he looked out his circular window for a few minutes, letting his mind go blank. When he heard his vice-captain's jovial laughter, he snapped out of his daze, got to his feet, and returned to his desk to finish paperwork.

Hours passed and it wasn't until he heard the evening song being played that he looked up from his reports. The sun had already set but the horizon was tinged light orange and mixed with the darkening sky. Hitsugaya sat there, watching the sky until the last remnants of the day had disappeared. With the day finally at an end, he slowly collected his things, neatly piled his paperwork, and flipped the lights off. He was just about to walk to the door when he saw the glossy cover of the discarded magazine.

Rolling his eyes, he briskly walked out of his office, with a barely perceptible rustle of his sleeves, where two pages of heavily decorated pages were now hidden.

Sneak Peak:

"…But, why go to all the trouble?" he asked in a small voice...

"I missed you Toshiro…" Ichigo whispered.