Recovery

AN: Thanks to all who reviewed! Y'all are just too kind! I hope this chapter is liked!

Hisagi yawned, feeling the effects of a poor nights sleep setting in. At least he knew Rangiku was in the same boat. He felt so bad for her, and he wanted to know how to make her feel better.

Kira had asked him why he did so much for her, when he had all his duties from work, and baggage of his own. He didn't have a good answer. She was just so deserving of his attention. She was strong, and beautiful and unique, and she meant a lot to him.

"You need to tell her." Kira murmured. Hisagi sighed.

"You need to stop telling me to tell her."

"I just worry about you. You deserve her, anyways." The blonde man muttered, reaching for one of Hisagi's papers, intent on helping him finish his workload.

"I deserve her? I don't think any man deserves a girl like that."

"The fact that you value her so highly only proves that you do." Kira signed another paper. Hisagi considered his words.

"Don't over think what I just said. You over think everything."

"I guess I do." Hisagi agreed softly.

Rangiku rubbed her eyes, feeling the lack of sleep getting to her. At least she knew Hisagi was suffering too. He was so kind to have stayed with her last night, when he had problems of his own.

Nanao has asked her why she didn't ask him out, since they were so close, and she hadn't known what to say. He was a good man: sweet, mature, calm. And he was a big part of her life.

But he thought of her as just a friend, and there was nothing she could do about that.

"We're having a girl's night out again tonight. Perhaps, you could invite him to come along." Nanao suggested calmly.

"Invite who?" She asked, in false confusion.

"The man that you're stewing over right now. Hisagi."

"I don't have feelings for him."

"Then invite him as a friend. He works very hard, and he needs a break. Don't you think?" Nanao reasoned. Rangiku hated it when she got all logical on her.

"Fine, I'll ask him."

"I think that's the right decision," Nanao said, "You should tell him so he knows he's invited."

"I'll will."

"Will what?"

"Hello Kira." Rangiku sang. "We're all going for drinks, and you and Hisagi are invited."

"I'll tell him. But I need this signed in return." He handed a document to her, and she signed. It was funny how much of their Soul Reaper duties involved paperwork, and how little it actually had to do with killing hollows.

Rangiku really didn't feel like going out. Sure, it was the meeting night for the Shinigami's Women's Association, but she really didn't want to go. She didn't feel like doing much of anything. She was bone tired. She missed Gin, and she felt like she would have to put on a happy face for her friends. It sucked.

Fluffing her hair and gathering herself, she headed off to the bar.

Everyone was already there. She was running a little late. Shuuhei waved at her from across the bar.

"There you are! I told 'em you'd show!" He got up from his seat and hugged her. They usually didn't hug upon seeing each other, but then again they had never slept in the same bed before.

"Hello, Rangiku!"

"Boob Chan!"

"Isane! Yachiru! How are you?" She felt like she was on autopilot. Talking normally, trying to carry out a conversation, smiling… She was totally faking everything right now. She wanted to go home. She wanted time alone to think. But everyone wanted something from her, and she hated to disappoint.

"Alright. Let's go sit down. You look tired." Hisagi led her by the arm. She relaxed. Someone knew she was tired. Someone knew she wasn't completely happy. That was a strange comfort in itself.

"You slept about as much as I did last night, so you have to be as tired as I am."

"I am." She wanted to go home. She wanted to go home and sleep while her friends drank. That so wasn't like her.

"You don't owe them all your energy. They're just happy you're here. You can even leave early, if you want to." Shuuhei sipped at his drink, and gave her a reassuring look.

"Thank you." She said. His grey orbs widened in surprise.

"For what?" He looked confused. What did she say? 'Thanks for knowing that I don't want to be here? Thank you for knowing I'm tired?'

Sometimes she felt like just a pretty face, just a Soul Reaper, someone easily lost in a crowd. And he always singled her out, and he knew what she was thinking. It was fantastic.

"I'm going to look for Kira okay? I'll bring him back here." He stood and she watched him leave. He had a cute butt. He really did. Was it okay to think that?

Someone was blocking her view.

"Hey there sweetheart."

Oh shit, of all times for a guy to notice her.

"Hello." She smiled halfheartedly, and begin looking through her menu.

"Surprised to see a lady as pretty as you all by her lonesome."

"I'm actually with someone." She supplied. He was cute enough, but she just wasn't in the mood for flirting. It really wasn't anything personal.

"Who?" He fixed her with a searching look.

"What?" What the hell was he going on about?

"You said you were with someone, I asked who." He walked closer. He was about a foot away, and from her sitting position, she felt a little intimidated.

"That's not any of your business."

"It is. Cause, I get the feeling you're lying to me about being taken." He went to grab her shoulder, and she snapped. He had used up her patience.

He landed with a dull thunk on the bar room floor. He swore and got back up.

"You think you can do whatever you want, just because you're hot! Well, I gotta tell you…"

"Is there a problem? I think you should leave."

"Who the hell are you?" The man snorted, seeming highly offended.

"Hisagi?" Of course it was Hisagi. He had found Kira quickly.

"Her boyfriend died. And there's a grace period." Hisagi grabbed the man by the collar and dragged him outside. The man had a few inches of height on Hisagi, but he was too surprised to fight back. Kira opened the door, and out he went.

"I could have handled that." She scoffed. Both men shrugged.

"You'll have another guy come up to you in twenty minutes. You can handle that one." Kira offered kindly. She laughed softly.

"I got a straight right hook on him." She informed Hisagi.

"You've got a great right hook. Now, order something, okay? You need to eat dinner." Hisagi chided. Kira nodded his agreement. Rangiku rolled her eyes and laughed.

Leave it to her two best friends to worry over her. Maybe tonight would be fun afterall. Maybe she'd drink and talk, and then when she went home, she'd forget.

Maybe she'd go to bed alone that night and not care. Maybe she'd get used to not having Gin anymore. Maybe she would get through this. Maybe, maybe….

"Are you crying?" Kira demanded softly.

"No! Of course not! I have something in my eye! I'll see you two tomorrow!" She wiped her eyes and made a mad dash outside. What was her problem anyways?

"Where are you going?" She heard Kira ask. She stopped, even though she felt like running. Something warm grabbed her and spun her around, and suddenly she was trapped against something warm.

She inhaled, and smiled, still crying. Hisagi smelled so good. Familiar.

"I don't even know what I'm feeling. I'm sorry."

"You lost someone. You've never lost anyone in a war before. So it's silly to expect to know what you'll feel." Kira told her solemnly.

"What he said." Hisagi pressed a kiss on the top of her hair, and he let her go.

"You okay to go back in there?" His eyes were so grey. His scar, his tattoo, his tan skin, she loved everything about his face.

"I wanna go home." Kira patted her shoulder, and returned to the bar.

"Alright, then, let's get you home."

AN: I feel all happy and fluffy now lol.