What's a Daycare?

A little after ten o'clock the next morning, Matsumoto looked up from her place at her desk, laying down her nail file. Hitsugaya walked through the door, smiling softly. Well, she decided, whatever kept him, apparently it was a good thing. He sat at his desk, and she would swear she heard him humming. Smiling herself, she stood and went to their small kitchen to make tea.

She returned with two cups in her hands. She carried one to Hitsugaya's desk and placed it on the corner. "Good morning, Taicho!" she chimed happily. His smile faltered a bit, and he cocked his head to the side, thinking through something.

"I would have guessed you would be excited to call me Toushirou, but maybe I was wrong?" there was the tiniest amount of hurt laced in his voice. Matsumoto stared back at him confusedly for a moment.

When she realized the meaning of his words, she laughed, "No, Toushirou, you're right. I've just never called you anything besides Taicho before, so it's a little strange, that's all." She bent to meet his lips in a quick kiss before she turned and walked to her own desk. Sipping her tea, she realized that she had never bothered to inquire after his tardiness.

"Taicho," she started, then the realization that she didn't have to call him Taicho anymore sunk in. He still looked a bit dazed, so she tried again, a little louder. "Toushirou, why were you so late this morning? You're becoming too much like me!"

His gaze met hers and his cheeks flushed lightly. "I-I um… I overslept," he finished with a small voice, averting his gaze.

"I never knew I was that exhausting…" she mused happily in response.

Hitsugaya looked flabbergasted. He stuttered through his response again, "I n-never… I mean… I was j-just up late… c-couldn't sleep…not, not your fault."

Matsumoto smiled again. "Up late? Not that that in itself is unusual. But it is very unlike you to be late. So, why were you up so late not being able to sleep?" she asked. He narrowed his eyes and gave her his usual scowl. He had some things on his mind he wanted to discuss.

Not quite sure how to ask, or even sure what exactly to ask, Hitsugaya decided to be as straightforward as he could. He hesitated for a moment, long enough for Matsumoto to ask herself.

"Toushirou, what does this make us?" she looked deep in thought, trying to decide for herself, and he looked at her, surprise written in all of his features.

"I could ask you the same. What should we be?" he asked, then as an afterthought, added, "What do you want to be?"

Resuming her normal antics, Matsumoto walked to Hitsugaya's desk and sat on the edge. She pouted her lips just a little for added effect; Hitsugaya quirked an eyebrow. "I suppose, I want to be your sexy office assistant that you just happen to be in love with," she used her flirtiest voice and batted her lashes.

He pulled her to him, effectively pulling her from the desk and into his lap, "I guess you'll just have to settle for being my girlfriend, who just so happens to be my sexy office assistant that I'm in love with." He tugged her scarf, pulling her closer to him, and kissed her.

Neither noticed the presence outside the door.

When the door banged loudly, the two currently engrossed in one another jumped. Hitsugaya looked up, blushing fiercely and scowling, at the intruder.

"What do you want, Kurosaki?"

Kurosaki had the decency to look abashed at his sudden intrusion. "Sorry, Toushirou. No one answered when I knocked so I thought I'd just lay this on your desk…"

"That's Hitsugaya Taicho to you." Hitsugaya glared.

"Sorry, right, Hitsugaya." Kurosaki mumbled a short apology.

A feminine voice called from the corridor. "Ichigo? Where did you go? You were supposed to wait for me!" Kuchiki Rukia said as she came into view. She took up a position behind Kurosaki. "Ichigo, what's wrong? You're blushing," she asked before turning to see what he was focused on. "…Oh."

Matsumoto bit her lip and looked confusedly at Hitsugaya before standing. She turned to face the newcomers just in time for Kuchiki to run straight to her and grab her up in a hug. Both women squeezed each other tightly, Kuchiki offering her congratulations and Matsumoto giving her thanks, amidst many shrill and not entirely pleasant squeals. Hitsugaya shared a knowing look with Kurosaki before dropping his forehead to rest in the palm of his hand, propped up by an elbow on his desk.

Kurosaki cleared his throat loudly to gain the girls' attention. "Ehem, Rukia, just give them the reports. We need to go find Nel. I imagine Byakuya is ready to kill her."

"I know, that's why I'm here," Kuchiki finally stopped talking excitedly with Matsumoto and offered the reports. "Um, Rangiku-san, could I ask a favor from you?"

Hitsugaya looked worried, but Matsumoto looked suddenly excited. "Of course! What is it?"

"Ichigo and I have a mission next week in the world of the living, and I was hoping you could watch Nel for us. I think Nii-sama needs a rest. It'll only be for five days. I hate to ask, but she seems to really like you," Kuchiki looked nervous as she spoke.

Matsumoto squealed delightedly again. "Of course! It will be fun, won't it Toushirou? It can be practice," finishing excitedly, she received a glare from Hitsugaya and questioning looks from Kuchiki and Kurosaki.

"Practice?" Kurosaki inquired. "Practice for what?"

He just has to learn to be observant when no one wants him to be, doesn't he, Hitsugaya thought coldly. Hyourinmaru snickered madly.

"Oh, you know, we were just thinking of opening up a day care center in Seireitei, and we figured that since we'd be spearheading it all we may as well know what we're talking about, eh?" Matsumoto laughed nervously, scratching the back of her head absently.

Kurosaki and Kuchiki stared at her disbelievingly. "If that's what you say. But, thank you. We'll bring her by Sunday evening, since we have to be up early Monday. Stupid Yama-jii thinks dawn is actually a time…" Kurosaki mumbled.

Kuchiki strode to Kurosaki's side, taking his arm. "He's right, we should be going," she bowed politely. "Rangiku-san, Hitsugaya Taicho. Thank you again," she barely managed before Kurosaki drug her from the doorway.

When they were safely out of earshot, Hitsugaya huffed, "That was the worst and most unbelievable lie I have heard from you yet. Why in all of Soul Society would I want to open a day care center?"

"I don't know. But it would be good practice." Hitsugaya promptly blushed furiously again.


Somewhere in the thirteenth division barracks, where Kuchiki and Kurosaki technically lived, and certainly did not share a room, much less a bed – at least that's the story Kuchiki Byakuya got and they stuck to it – the two could be heard discussing something.

"Ichigo, what is a daycare?" Kuchiki asked, innocently. Ukitake happened to be passing, Sentarou and Kotetsu in tow, in the hallway outside their room, and as the door was open, felt no hesitance to make his presence known.

He knocked softly before asking, "Am I intruding?" the pair in question shook their heads. "Then might I know this as well? I have heard of this, but I have yet to have it explained."

"Sure," agreed Kurosaki. "Although I thought Rukia would know by now. It's a place where people can leave their kids during the day, and someone takes care of them. Professional babysitters. I think maybe Orihime volunteered at one a few summers ago. Said there were a lot of single parents who used them."

"So, why would Rangiku-san say they were opening a day care? Wouldn't they need kids for that? Really, we only have Nel and Yachiru…" Kuchiki pondered.

Ukitake smiled, not sure if he should indulge in Hitsugaya and Matsumoto's business or not. He decided he may as well, everyone would know soon enough, anyway. "Ah, I think I know. I don't think it's this daycare thing at all. I think they want to play with someone else's 'children,' or as it stands, Nel and Yachiru, before they go about raising their own." Shunsui, friend, you have been rubbing off on me too much of late…

Realization dawned on Rukia's face. "…Oooh. Rangiku-san said she wanted kids with Hitsugaya taicho just last week. Nanao-san told her to just tell him and get it over with. I guess this means he agreed."

Where in all of Seireitei and why, no one knew, but at that moment Madarame Ikkaku walked by, grumbling, "I never thought she'd have the hots for that shrimp."

Those in the room looked up to stare in disbelief at Madarame. "Jealous much?" asked Ichigo. "And here I thought you were more into Ayasegawa… I guess Kira and Hisagi will be pretty upset, too…"


During the Captains' Meeting, Hitsugaya tried his best to ignore all of the stares he received from the other captains. Seemingly, he failed to do well at this task. Glaring at everyone who chanced to look his way, his body flooded with relief when the meeting ended.

Striding out of the thirteenth division, where they now held meetings to accommodate Ukitake, he was well on his way back to the tenth when a familiar and not entirely welcome reiatsu caught up with him.

"Hey, kiddo. What's with this 'day care' bull that I o'erheard some of them pansies from my division talking about?" Zaraki taicho. Never one for formalities.

Sighing, knowing correcting Zaraki about formalities was about as effective as with Kurosaki, Hitsugaya steeled himself to lie his way through it as best he could. "It was just a suggestion that came across my desk today. No idea who sent it or anything. Considering only Kusajishi and Nel would qualify for the care, I have no idea why anyone would want such a thing."

"Hah, I figured. Jus' what are you and yer fukutaicho up to then that ya need to practice?" Hitsugaya cursed low under his breath. Kurosaki now resided on his hit list.

"Nothing of importance," He tried again to bluff his way out of this. "Just something Rangiku misspoke."

Normally, Hitsugaya thought Ukitake had decent timing. Today, however, that opinion was shot to pieces. "So, Hitsugaya-kun, Kuchiki and Kurosaki tell me that you and Rangiku-san have decided to open a daycare… Did she decide she would prefer to take care of others' children than raise her own?" Ukitake smiled pointedly at Hitsugaya and gave him a friendly, congratulatory pat on the back. Hitsugaya blushed and tried to pretend to find his shoes unbelievably interesting. Taking in Hitsugaya's reaction, Ukitake nodded and added, "…Oh, I suppose not."

Groaning, Hitsugaya mumbled under his breath, "That was just the first excuse either of us came up with when Kuchiki asked Rangiku to watch Nel next week. Rangiku said it would be good practice." If possible, he blushed deeper.

"If yer that interested in practicing to raise kids, you can take Yachiru for a couple days," Zaraki added into the conversation, an almost dreamy look crossing his features. Hitsugaya imagined he was thinking of being able to take a few days rest.

Hitsugaya swallowed nervously, "Um, Zaraki taicho, are you sure that would be a good idea? Has she ever really been away from you? Besides, she's a fukutaicho. Why would she need a sitter?" I don't ever want to be left alone with Kusajishi, he thought, but if it's unavoidable, please make it not the same time we're watching Nel… Hitsugaya begged whatever god might be listening.

"Don' worry, I won' leave ya with her and little Nel at the same time. They do like to play together, though, those two… Ya might have a bit o' a rough time with that," Zaraki snickered, "Those pansies in my division sure do." Hitsugaya couldn't have agreed more.

A few long, horrible moments later, the trio passed the eleventh division corridors and Zaraki took his leave, mumbling something about leaving Yachiru with that pansy pretty boy Ayasegawa.

"Hitsugaya-kun, since it is lunch time, would you and Rangiku-san care to join me?" Ukitake invited.

Nodding his thanks, Hitsugaya returned, "Thank you. Let me let Rangiku know and we will meet you in a few seconds."

Finally, something in these few crazy days went somewhat normally. They ate at their favorite place in all of Seireitei, and Hitsugaya ordered his favorite dish, as usual.