A/N: I would like the thank the first three people to review my story, it really made my day knowing people were actually interested in it! I would also like to thank those of you who either followed or favorited this story :) so I hope you enjoy the second chapter to my first multi chapter story! :D
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach nor any of it's characters. They all belong to Tite Kubo and Tite Kubo only.
A leader or a man of action in a crisis almost always acts subconsciously and then thinks of the reasons for his actions. ~Jawaharlal Nehru
Chapter 2: Counting down the days
"What are you doing, Matsumoto?"
Blue eyes shot up in surprise and she sheepishly flashed him a cheeky grin at his perplexed scowl. It was obvious she wasn't expecting his arrival.
"Ah... Goodmorning, Taicho." She began as he made his way towards his desk, "I thought today was your day off..." He only grunted in response.
"You haven't answered my question."
"Oh... I was just... um, organizing your desk?"
A slow sigh escaped his lips, "There was no need for that. Now, could you please make me a warm cup of tea? I'm not really looking forward to this."
Rangiku frowned, "Yes, sir."
Toshiro massaged the bridge of his nose and he laid back, the migraine he woke up with this morning was still there. It wasn't until then when he noticed a white envelope slightly sticking out of an open drawer, he furrowed his brows and closed it shut.
A few minutes later Rangiku returned with a steaming cup of tea in her hand. She smiled softly at him, "Here you go, Taicho. But if you weren't feeling well then you should've stayed in bed."
Toshiro took a small sip, "It's nothing to concern yourself about. There's paper work that needs to be done so I couldn't take this day off."
"I could've done it for you."
"I'm having trouble believing you."
Another frown pulled on her lips, her eyes aimlessly glancing at his feathered pen. This didn't go unnoticed. "Is something the matter?"
Rangiku shook her head, "Nothing in particular..."
He glanced at her for a brief moment, "It seems like you didn't move anything noticeable but the bottom drawer was open... Is there a reason why you were so fixated on that particular spot?"
"I had just begun cleaning before you walked in, so I didn't have time to look through it's contents." she explained with a shrug, then a mischievous smile appeared, "Is there something in there that you don't want me to see?"
Toshiro scoffed, "Quit saying nonsense, Matsumoto. I was trying to figure out why it was open."
Rangiku laughed whole-heartily, "Don't make such a face, Taicho!" she said between gasps, "I was only joking around with you."
Toshiro rolled his eyes.
And suddenly Rangiku's voice took a more serious tone, '"But I'm having trouble believing you."'
Taking a swig from her sake bottle, Rangiku asked for another one. Then another.
She slumped back on the thin walls of the new sake joint that has recently opened up in the richer parts of the Rukon Districts, her words were now slurring. "Stupid Taicho." she muttered under her breath, her eyes gazing at the bright street lamp that was now illuminating the busy dirt road that evening, "He doesn't trust me enough to tell me the truth about those letters..."
She sighed, running a hand through her short hair. She wondered why he has decided to lie to her like that. She knew who those belonged to, the name itself was a huge clue. Karin Kurosaki was what they said. At first she didn't recognize the name, but then she remembered that the girl was Ichigo Kurosaki's younger sister. She must've sent them so that they could keep in touch.
Some of the letters were open, they must've been the few that he first received from her. Some were left alone, still in the envelope they came in. And some of them were torn apart, but they weren't from Karin, they were his. It was almost like he didn't know what to write down in them, almost like he didn't want to send them to her, it was like he gave up.
Some of his letters were half done, others complete, she remembers one of them saying; '"I'm sorry."'
The most recent one was dated five years ago, and it came from her. That was the last one she ever sent.
Rangiku took another swig, she was beginning feeling noxious. She wondered if she should confront her captain about the letters but then decided against it. There would be no way he would admit to something that happened long ago. He already has enough troubles to deal with, anyway.
A/N: I'm sorry for the short chapter today, but that was the only spot I could end it at without it sounding awkward ;-; It was also insanely hard to write out so that explains the hopefully not-so-late update. Anyway, let me know what you thought about today's chapter in a review! :D
