Glasses

Multiple drabbles (eventually) with the Tenth Division captain and lieutenant. Mostly friendship and humor. The first one: Rangiku needs glasses.

Disclaimer – Bleach is the property of someone else.

A/N – There's nothing wrong with wearing glasses. But let's face it, Matsumoto wouldn't like them.

/

Hitsugaya had a theory. At the rate that Matsumoto's work performance was declining, one day soon she'd begin to accomplish a negative amount of work. He wanted to witness it when it happened: she would be erasing completed forms, recalling sent memos, possibly even training soul reapers to drop their zanpakuto and run away.

He had tried to be compassionate. He'd ignored her occasional morning hangovers and afternoon naps in the past. But the drinking, he knew, was getting worse, and the "headaches" which required an afternoon rest were a daily occurrence.

So he watched her work that day. He understood that "snail's pace" was just an expression, but if he could train a snail to do paperwork, it would be a tight race. This particular form she was working on, he knew, only needed a signature at the bottom, but it was taking her forever to get through it. And then he noticed – she was squinting. Of course! It was her eyesight. No wonder her paperwork had suffered. That would explain the headaches too. It had never occurred to him that she might be telling the truth about them.

So, all he had to do was…what? Walk up to her and tell her that she needed glasses? How would that go? She'd think he was calling her old - never mind that her friend Nanao had been wearing glasses a lot longer – and she would hate doing anything that would change her appearance. She'd react badly. She'd probably draw on him, and he'd have to defend himself, and end up killing her, and that wouldn't help the work load at all.

And you know what? She's had a lousy year. She's had it as bad as anyone, he thought, with all the chaos and losing Ichimaru. He remembered what it was like to nearly lose his childhood friend. Matsumoto's loss had been even worse. She pretended to be as happy as ever, but he could see how badly she was hurting. He just didn't have the stomach to break it to her that she needed glasses.

There's got to be another way. He considered every option. Unohana couldn't help. Kurotsuchi might have some technique to help her eyesight, but he wasn't letting that madman near her. Urahara? No. Wait, there was that girl, Kurosaki's friend…pretty girl, average build…Orihime! She had the power to heal, right? Maybe she could help. He'd get Rukia to contact her, and maybe she could heal Matsumoto's eyes.

/

A few days later, everything was in place. Orihime believed that she'd not only be able to improve her friend's eyesight, but she could do it gradually over a few nights while Rangiku was asleep and she'd never even notice.

"Matsumoto?"

"Yes, Captain?"

"We've just got word about a problem in Karakura Town. I'd like you to go on a solo mission there for a few days."

"Of course, sir. What's going on?"

"There have been some Snipe sightings around the town."

"Snipes, sir?"

"Yes. They're some kind of mutated Hollow. Remember we had that briefing about them?"

"Of course I remember it. I stay awake through every briefing, you know."

"Division Twelve doesn't know too much about them. I'd like you to go to Karakura Town for the next three days and report on anything unusual. Let's keep this quiet though. I don't want you gossiping to everyone about it like you always do."

"Captain! How dare you say that about me?"

"So, do you have anywhere to stay while you're there?"

"I haven't seen Orihime in a while. Maybe I can stay with her."

/

Hitsugaya allowed himself a smug little smile. Matsumoto was back at work – lazy, but not squinting, and she hadn't had an afternoon headache. It wasn't often these days that he got an unconditional win. He closed his eyes and relaxed. If anyone was going to take a nap this afternoon, it was going to be him.

He must have dozed off, because the next thing he knew, his lieutenant was standing over him. She gave him a big, sloppy kiss on the forehead.

"What was that for?" he snapped, pretending to be angry.

"I know what you did. I'm not stupid, you know."

"What are you talking about?"

"Those three days off to visit Orihime. I really needed the rest. She's such a doll. You're just a little softy, the way you look out for me", she said, tickling his nose.

Tickling his nose? No. Nice was nice, but that was going too far.

"Well, you know, if you feel this much better, I bet it's because you haven't been drinking for the last few days. You should try to keep that up."

She smiled sweetly. "You're cute, but don't push your luck."