the rumours
a line between truth and lies
Ever since the interview, Hinamori Momo had visibly changed. She was open to others, and a lot more pleasant to be around. No longer did she have the dull look in her eyes. She was exuberant. She was alive again.
And it didn't hurt her mood to have a lunch date with the head of her department every other day.
Hitsugaya Toshiro wasn't the perfect date by any means. But it felt nice to catch up with an old friend. He would make a snide comment, and she would huff indignantly. They would laugh about the good old days. They would talk about their lives, their jobs, and their friends. But never once did the topic of past relationships come up.
Hinamori was infinitely grateful for that.
They would continue this routine, with occasional visits from Abarai Renji and maybe even Matsumoto Rangiku. It was carefree.
At least until the rumour mills got hold of it.
This was the exact reason why Hinamori was standing outside Matsumoto's office.
"Well, well," smiled Matsumoto, "what can I do for you today Momo-chan?"
The younger woman shuffled uncomfortably in her chair, "it's about the rumours, Matsumoto-san. They've gotten out of hand. I need some advice."
Matsumoto wasn't stupid or slow by any means. She knew what Hinamori was talking about. The office was abuzz with so-called news of the relationship between the Head of Finance and his new secretary. Most of it was just rude comments about the poor girl. Not many people wanted to risk their jobs to insult their employer.
"Matsumoto-san," Hinamori's voice was squeaky, almost as if she was pleading, "you know those rumours aren't true. I would never sink as low as to blackmailing someone just to get a job, or a date for that matter. Especially not Shiro-chan, you know that Matsumoto-san. Not that the lunches were actually dates –"
The older woman cut through her ranting; "So what do you want me to do?"
"Stop them. Stop the rumours please."
"Consider it done."
"One more thing," Hinamori hesitated, "please tell Shiro-chan I'm taking a few days off to clear my head."
"Anything else?"
"That's all. Thank you Matsumoto-san."
"Take care then," Matsumoto grinned as she waved the girl out, "and you don't need to be so formal with me."
Hitsugaya was livid when he found out Hinamori went on leave.
"And you just let her go," he growled, clutching the pencil in his hand so hard that it snapped.
Matsumoto stared warily at the pencil, "she said she wanted a few days off. And she's been working so hard –"
"So," he snapped, "I've been working hard for four years now, do you see me taking an impromptu leave. NO. Besides she hasn't even logged enough hours to have a single day off. It's been two weeks and you've already sent her on vacation. You're unbelievable."
"Sorry sir," she added a mocking stress on the formality, "I just thought –"
"NO. That's just it; you weren't thinking. You don't know how mad I am right now. I am behind schedule, and my secretary just went on leave."
Hitsugaya stopped mid rant. He fixed Matsumoto with a delightedly cold look.
"And I guess you can take on her workload," he finished with a satisfied smirk.
"But –"
"No buts. Get on it."
Matsumoto made a rude gesture behind his back and high-tailed out of the office.
On her way to the lounge, Matsumoto passed by two tittering women. They were currently engrossed with the latest gossip. No doubt about Hitsugaya and Hinamori. She chuckled to herself.
An idea popped into her head. She smirked; time for her to have some fun, and possibly get even with her boss.
"And they're always together –"
Matsumoto butted in just then, "Yeah, tell me about it. Some time ago, I heard Momo-chan and Hitsugaya-san stayed all night in his office. Alone."
That caught the women's attention, "Matsumoto-san, so what were they doing?"
"Well...I really shouldn't tell you this," she dragged out the sentence for dramatic effect, "but I suppose I could. You see they had some business to attend to, at least that's what Hitsugaya-chan told me. I had left something at the office that day, so I returned to get it. When I walked by his office, I heard their voices."
The two women were leaning forward, entranced in Matsumoto's story.
"The conversation was very odd," she drifted off, "I remember it something like this..."
"Shiro-chan, don't be so aggressive!"
There was a sound of something ripping.
"Damn it. It's not the right size. Momo, you said that it'd fit."
"The lady at the store said it'd be right. Honestly, how should I know the size you needed?"
"With all the times we've done this; was I wrong to think...never mind, we'll just go on without this. You don't mind do you?"
"You're the one fussing, Shiro-chan."
"Just get back on the couch."
The sound of guttural grunts filled the room
"Shit. It wouldn't go in."
"Can't you stretch the opening?"
"Momo, I'm not going to –"
Matsumoto stopped the story there, "I raced out of the office at that moment."
The women didn't quite care. This was the juiciest piece of gossip yet.
"Matsumoto-san," the braver one of the two spoke up, "you don't think those two..."
"I honestly don't know," the strawberry blond said in a mock hushed tone, "this morning Momo-chan came and told me she was going to take a few days off. She wasn't feeling well or something. She did look quite sick, like she just threw up."
The women caught the implication, or at least what they thought happened, and bade the other goodbye.
Matsumoto hid a feral grin. She thought back to what really happened.
They were in Hitsugaya's office: Matsumoto was yawning on the leather chair, Hinamori was on the couch stapling documents, and Hitsugaya was at his desk looking through the paperwork.
The only male in the room let out a low growl, and promptly snapped the pencil he was holding.
"Shiro-chan, don't be so aggressive!"
He shot a pointed look at the younger woman as he held up two pieces of paper in his hand. One was distinctively longer. Then he proceeded to rip both pieces up.
"Damn it. It's not the right size. Momo, you said that it'd fit."
The brunette bristled. Her boss was such a neat freak. And he could've been a little nicer about it.
"The lady at the store said it'd be right. Honestly, how should I know the size you needed?"
Hitsugaya sighed. He just couldn't argue with the girl.
"With all the times we've done this; was I wrong to think...never mind, we'll just go on without this. You don't mind do you?"
"You're the one fussing, Shiro-chan."
He glared at her. He did not fuss. He was just meticulous. No one accused him of fussing.
He snapped back; "Just get back on the couch."
The sound of guttural grunts filled the room. Hinamori was huffing indignantly, Hitsugaya was growling yet again, and Matsumoto just groaned at the antics. She would do anything for a drink at that moment.
"Shit. It wouldn't go in."
Hitsugaya gestured to the staples and the stapler.
"Can't you stretch the opening?"
Hinamori tried to pry the stapler's opening wider.
"Momo, I'm not going to ruin a stapler just so you don't have to get up. Go get the bigger staplers. The staples should fit in that one."
Matsumoto decided that it was enough and left the room. She wondered where she could get wasted that night.
Hitsugaya was a morning person as much as he was a night person. Let's just leave it at that.
So when he received a fruit basket and a baby stroller, he glared at the unfortunate idiots – employees – who gave him the aforementioned items.
When he asked the old lady three cubicles down from his office what the gifts were for, she giggled and crooned.
"Why, they're probably for the baby. Congratulations to you and Hinamori-chan. A little young perhaps, but I'm sure you both would make great parents."
He just stood there with one thought through his head.
WHEN IN THE CHEESEBURGER LOVING WORLD HAD HE GOTTEN HINAMORI MOMO PREGNANT?
Author's Note: I am so happy with the response on this story. My apologies for the wait. This is probably the last chapter until mid-March due to school.
This update is in celebration of my birthday, February 10.
Also I have enabled anonymous reviews. Please don't abuse that.
I will be eagerly awaiting your feedback. The more reviews, the more likely I'll update before March.
Thank you all for your support, and I hope that everyone enjoyed this chapter.
