Author's note: Thanks to everybody who read and reviewed the story. Here comes the chapter that was the hardest to write. I hope you'll enjoz it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
Matsumoto sighed in frustration. Just where did Gin disappear to today? She was used to his quirks after all the time she had spent in his company, but his disappearing acts never stopped to irk her. Especially because he seemed to be pulling them more and more often lately. Especially when he was needed. And he had to pull one today of all days, the day the paperwork was supposed to be due. And most of the paperwork had to be signed by the captain and it still wasn't, thanks to Ichimaru's habit of leaving everything at the last possible moment. She couldn't begrudge him for it, she hated paperwork even more than he did, but whenever he decided to disappear on the day the paperwork was due, it inevitably led to situations like this.
"Matsumoto-fukutaichou!" one of the lower seated officers ran to her.
"What is it, Kanou?" she asked a bit more sharply than the situation warranted, but her patience was running low. He was the fifteenth person to approach her with some urgent matter today.
"I need Captain Ichimaru to sign this request. Do you know where I can find him?"
"No," she admitted.
"That's bad, I really need him to sign it today," the man grimaced.
"Do you see the stack of forms in my arms?"
"Yes."
"Well, all of them need to be signed by Ichimaru-taichou today and they are really important. And coincidentally, they are all forms people handed to me today. I'll try to make him sign them whenever I find him."
"Can you give him mine as well?" the man asked hopefully. "This one is really important. The dojo is running out of bokken and..."
"I get it," she interrupted him. "Just put it on top. It makes no difference. My arms won't fall off."
"Thank you," Kanou smiled brightly, placing the form on top of the others before he left. Matsumoto sighed. Her load of unsigned documents just got heavier and Gin was still nowhere to be found. And she had checked everywhere. His home. His office. His favorite training grounds. His favorite persimmon grove. His favorite bars. The Fifth Division. And still nothing. No-one she asked had seen the silver-haired man today. And it was already afternoon.
Just then a Hell Butterfly flew to her, refusing to leave. She sighed. She had to take the message. She lifted one finger, careful not to drop her cargo, and allowed the creature to land on it. Then she had to listen to the slightly unfriendly voice of Sasakibe-fukutaichou reminding her that they were supposed to hand in the paperwork today before evening and she'd better make sure it was handed in on time, not like the last time or the one before that. She wanted to shout at the man that it wasn't her fault, but it would help nothing. People needed somebody to blame and when Gin wasn't around, she was their substitute target. It sucked, but she couldn't do anything about it. Where are you, Gin? She wondered. The moment you'll come back, I'm going to strangle you.
Disheartened, she returned to the office. She didn't feel like dragging all the paperwork with her anymore. And as soon as she walked through the door, she noticed the figure sitting behind the desk.
"Ran-chan!" Ichimaru greeted her with his usual foxy grin firmly in place. "Where 'ave ya been? The office is awf'lly lonely 'ithout ya."
"Where have I been?" she repeated incredulously. "Where have you been? I've been looking for you since the morning."
"But I've been 'ere, Ran-chan."
"No, you weren't," she shook her head. "I looked several times and you weren't here."
"I must 'ave gone to lunch at the moment and ya must 'ave just missed me," Ichimaru explained.
"Do you honestly expect me to believe this?" she scowled. "If you were here all day, then explain why is your haori all wrinkled. And what are those stains?"
"What stains?" he asked innocently.
"Those," she pointed. "They look like blood."
"I must 'ave spilled my tea," Ichimaru shrugged.
"That doesn't look like tea," Rangiku replied skeptically.
"Does it matter, Ran-chan? I'm 'ere and our work is finished."
"It doesn't look finished to me," she disagreed and dropped her pile of paperwork in front of him. His ever-present smile faltered slightly at the sight of more work. "This is what you have to sign before evening. So you should better start now."
"Why?" he complained. "There's plenty of time left." His carefree answer pissed her off. She wasn't usually the responsible type, but after a whole day of being bugged by everybody, she wanted to bug someone else for a change. And Gin, the source of her irritation, presented a perfect target.
"Do it now. I have enough of getting scolded for your slacking."
"Aren't ya usually being scolded for your own slacking?" He cocked his head sideways.
"Well, yes," she had to admit. "And I really don't need any more scolding."
"'m sorry, Ran-chan," he smiled a bit warmly. "I'll do it now. Just bring me some tea, will ya?"
"Of course, Gin," she smiled, relieved that the paperwork disaster had been prevented. She walked into the kitchen, preparing a cup of tea. When she returned, she found the office empty and the stack of forms untouched.
"GIN!"