AN: (Impromptu long author's note ) *HEAVES* I'm alive, real life sucks—college (I'm a double major), work (I quit recently), the summer flu that's going around, and on vacation with dubious internet connection. First and foremost, my reviewers you make my day, seriously. Sorry about the lack of updates, absentmindedness knows no bounds. This chapter was outlined, but because of my writing style it takes forever to put a string of words together. It's like getting from point a, to b then c and then short-circuiting somewhere in the middle—brain fart. And I won't even lie, I lost my thunder for this story, but inspiration has finally struck and here we are. Here's a non sequitur, looking at past chapters, I've gotta say 5 is my favorite, and quite possibly this one with its randomness.
Warning: Dubious internet connection equals me having very sketchy grammar issues, well worse than usual, you've been warned.
*First part takes place when Toushiro mention last chapter when forces began returning to the spirit world from Fake Karakura town.
Words: 5834
Disclaimer: I own nothing, nada, zilch
Heavy in your arms:
I wade through troubled waters,
fighting against the rapids until I tire.
I fall beneath the surface, pulled down by the currents.
But then you catch me and yet you struggle,
for I am so very heavy in your arms.
On September 30th what's past is prologue:
Earlier that day—midmorning:
It is with great hesitance that she steps through the senkaimon and is hit by a wave of unexpected homesickness. As much as she had adapted to the human world, apparently there's no place like home, despite its corrupt politics.
Unlike the blazing midafternoon sun in Karakura town, here dawn and twilight prevail and the sun rises in the east. Such simplistic beauty does not stop the knots of tension from coiling tightly within her.
Beside her is Shinji—Cheshire cat extraordinaire—spokesperson for the vizards, Yoruichi in her human form. Her fellow outcasts are perhaps on the same wavelength as her, but wield mighty poker faces for this here is the first step in righting past wrongs. And for all they know they could be walking into a trap, rather have their guards up then get caught unaware. Considering past grievances this is their right.
The captain commander's words weigh heavily on their minds, echoing in their heads.
"My former lieutenants, return to the Seireitei, there is much to be discussed."
This is a boon, a tether of hope; they fight the urge not grasp onto it desperately.
Rangiku thinks of her son, and how this is just another opportunity to secure his safety and future. And she wonders absently where the hell Geta-boshi is, surely he would want to be present for this, and yet he probably anticipates the outcome of this meeting. Fucking manipulator.
As the trio walk through the barracks of the Seireitei, steadily closing in on division one, they are plagued by memories of halcyon days. Bitter sweetness is a common aftertaste for all three.
The meeting with the Captain Commander does not take place for a few hours. He has other duties to fulfill, and his attention is spread thin as is.
In the meantime Rangiku and her companions were escorted into a waiting room—a glorified holding cell by all accounts. Of course there's the chance to leave, exert that they were here on their own terms, that they were no longer military dogs at beck and call. But that wouldn't be courteous, so they would play this game, but that didn't mean they'd have to like it.
Shinji paces the room and snorts derisively, "After what we've done, of course we can't receive the pretense of freedom."
And that much Rangiku can agree with, she desperately wants to see her son. She sits by the wide window, gaze unreadable. Roaming Soul Society would be preferable to sitting idle, but she supposes this is merely a pretense in restoring order, allowing them freedom would be an infraction, they are after all ryoka.
"Don't bitch Shinji!" Comes Yoruichi's boisterous voice, "At least they're not dragging the lot of us before the Central 46."
"They wouldn't dare, the gotei 13 owes us, and not to mention Ichigo," Shinji declares, he shakes his head, "Speaking of that kid, heard he's going to lose his powers, that last blow took everything out of him."
"Ah, I've spoken to Isshin, he'll be unconscious for a couple of days," Yoruichi becomes uncharacteristically somber, "kid's gonna be devastated when he wakes up."
"Well," Shinji says idly, picking at his ear, "where there's a will, there's a way. And chances are Kisuke's already found a solution for Ichigo's dilemma. Whether he'll share without all his usual cryptic bullshit is another matter."
Yoruichi laughs; it's the truth after all, "If that doesn't work, when the dust settles we'll convince the Captain Commander to help him. Guilt's always a great motivator to play on."
"And trampling on bruised prides," Shinji adds diplomatically.
"Yep got to stick it to the egos," Yoruichi laughs again, the tension as always never seems to faze her. "After all a substitute shinigami saved all our asses. That's got to rankle."
They both share Cheshire smiles.
Rangiku ignores their musings, she can't bring herself to participate and make sport of their predicament. To lighten the mood and joke is beyond her, for at the moment she feels as if she's drowning as she has for the last thirteen years or so. And this chance here maybe the life raft she's been waiting for, before the world fades to black around her.
In the end this game does not need to be played, for they are all to receive the fool's prize.
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni is a traditionalist, not a fool, and he will not fight the tides of change, rather he embraces them. He sets his cards upon the table, gives his terms and decrees.
And little to no folly can be found.
"….The Academy is not churning out talent like they used to, and I am too old to be surrounded by infants."
Self-deprecation will get one nowhere, only alienate potential allies. However subtle flattery will get one everywhere.
"You will all be reinstated, as I said before. It's a foolish notion to be rid of such talent and power, when it can be put back into use."
Spoken like a true leader, practical and always thinking of the greater good.
The irony of the matter is that they are being reinstated into the tools they were once crafted and molded into, to keep the balance between worlds. If they are insulted, it does not show; these military dogs are occupied with other thoughts.
Rangiku for one is reeling.
It's not what she expects, nor what she considered. Rangiku is gob smacked; she can't bring herself to look at her counterparts, but thinks they are having similar reactions. It can't be this easy, really it can't….
But it is.
The visored will become the fourteenth squad. Matsumoto Rangiku will replace her former captain of the tenth division, Yoruichi and her lot will become diplomats to the human realm—exile will no longer reap bounty upon their heads.
While she silently congratulates her friends on their good fortune, her mind is calculating the possibilities that her own has gifted. This is the position needed to protect her son, giving her a modicum of power in the decisions made in Soul society, for if she cannot stop the corruption in the government, then she must have some sway in the way it affects herself and all that is associated with her.
The possible alliance with Tia Harribel surfaces to the forefront, and Rangiku begins to make plans. There is after all no rest for the wicked, and machinations are what drives them all.
Rangiku thinks she's no longer drowning, finally breaking through the surface, and heaving in greats gasps of air.
But Soutaicho is not finished:
"We will discuss this further, there will be a captain's meeting later on, and I expect you all to be in attendance." Soutaicho proceeds to look at the paper work spread before him, making use of his newly regenerated left arm. That's a clear dismissal for the trio, but they are stock still—thunderstruck.
To her left she finally looks. Beside her Shinji opens and closes his mouth several times; for once witticisms have escaped him. And Yoruichi… well Yoruichi has transformed into her cat persona, and is currently licking her paws—her reaction is left a mystery.
Across from them are the captain commander, and the ever present Unohana Retsu, who smiles benignly and offers her commanding officer more tea.
Rangiku's not surprised to see her. She learned long ago that women has her dainty fingers in every pie. And if Aizen wanted to become omnipotent, he should have followed Unohana's example, she's the closest thing after the Spirit King. Hell that is one of the many reasons why Rangiku's trusted Toushiro's wellbeing to her.
Soutaicho had not allowed much talking on their behalf, not when he handed them vast opportunities on silver platter. On this subject however he cannot offer Rangiku reprieve, "Unohana-taicho, how is Shiro-chan? Is he well—"
Retsu hold up a placating hand, "All is well Matsumoto-taicho, I've taken him on as my protégée. Right now you'll find him with his father."
And that statement alone is enough to set about that drowning sensation Rangiku felt earlier.
Soutaicho looks up, apparently surprised to still see them within the premises. "Unless you are here to help with paper, then you are all dismissed."
Paperwork is the bane of all Shinigami, right next to hollows. So it's not shocking to see the room clears out within seconds.
Count my lucky stars—not these stars,
you fool.
Hark, here my cry—down with love, down with love!
Because ladies and gentlemen,
from here and now it's a slow burn.
And mercy, dare one say hope is a thing with feathers.
Later that day—late afternoon:
She stops and watches.
She's left Shinji and Yoruichi to their own devices; they all have their own agendas to complete.
She hides her reiatsu and observes at a distance.
She's tracked his familiar signature and located him at the headquarters of Central 46. The implications of why he's in such a place are ignored, along with elephant that will soon be in the room; she focuses on her son.
He has a zanpakutou.
One that dwarfs him in height she notes wryly.
Obviously an Asauchi was given to him by his godmother or father.
And so the conditioning begins, she thinks grimly. It's not as if she does not trust Toushiro to be on his own here in Soul Society, he's independent most of the time. Rangiku has just worked so hard to give him the freedom of normalcy that would have been achieved had he remained in human guise. She had never wanted Toushiro to lead the life of a military dog, but to defy the call of duty meant facing the consequences.
She sighs, more's the pity. They would have to adjust to their new circumstances, and simply thrive.
Before she approaches, the sight of the soul slayer continues to give her pause. This is another mark of growth for Toushiro, and Rangiku notes once again she will have to let go. The kid's coming into his own. Memories unbidden rise to the surface, and she shakes them away.
No sense in dancing merrily away with nostalgia.
She withdraws Haineko from her sheath, and prepares for a spontaneous entrance.
Best to keep Toushiro on his toes, rearing a genius led to innovative ways to teaching, when he wasn't left to his own devices that is. Besides she wants an idea of what he's learned in the two weeks they've been apart.
Of course she knows Unohana fed his curiosity, anyone who speaks to Toushiro without that undertone of condescension under the supposed threat of his age and intellect is held in high regard. And yet she wonders if his father took him in hand for sword training, and knowing Gin—being familiar with the methods to his madness, she knows her little boy is getting his ass handed to him.
The thought brings forth a fondness that's usually clouded by bitterness and a swirling, twirling tumultuous blend of emotions that she associates with Gin. She smiles… almost.
She grips her sword and looks up at her son again; he's in deep mediation when she flares her reiatsu to warn him of her presence. He tenses and then relaxes, opening his eyes and blinking owlishly. He turns in her direction and smiles a small smile. Nothing like those wide gapped tooth grins he bestowed upon her as a young child, when he was discovering the world around him and accomplishing feats beyond his age.
Nope it's one of genuine happiness.
And this is a moment she wishes to capture on film, her stoic boy barely smiles anymore. "Ka-chan…."
That is until his eyes widen in horror, she flares her reiatsu again this time for intimidation, and leaps into the air, ready to bring Haineko down.
That automatic defense of his kicks into gear and lashes out almost hesitantly. Ice is his shield and he wields it in the form of a barrier thwarting himself from her.
It's a spar honestly; she would never truly harm Toushiro.
And he should know this, even as she cuts down his barrier—he's 300 years too early to truly defeat her, but in 50 years or so, he will be a true challenge.
The ice harbinger has taken the opportunity to brandish his zanpakuto, which sings when her blade comes down, metal meeting metal. There's a question in his usually apathetic gaze, eyes now wide with expression. Rangiku simply grins and chides playfully, "Always be on the defense Shiro-chan, even if it's your mommy raising arms against you."
She trades blows with him, using enough power that does not send the Central 46 into a tizzy, no need for them to think they're under attack again, and their imminent slaughter is upon their heads.
Toushiro struggles somewhat, then gains his footing. She nods approvingly as adrenaline takes its course.
He's caught on quickly to her sudden barrage of swings, she's testing the waters, exploiting some blind spots… testing him to see if he's been productive while she was fighting the good fight.
Rangiku sees Gin's touch in the swiftness of his movements, but that natural grace that Toushiro displays is all her, she thinks smugly.
She uses the sheath of her sword to block his blade, then quickly relieves him of his legs and reacquaints him with gravity.
"You've been busy, and it seems you've learned a lot in a short amount of time, as expected," She remarks, putting away Haineko into her sheath. And Toushiro flushes slightly, regardless of the subtle compliment. "What's your zanpakuto's name?"
"Hyronimaru," Toushiro replies absently as he stares at the cutting edge of his blade, before returning it to its scabbard on his back.
"How long have you known?" She questions.
"As long as I have been cognizant," He says once again distractedly, standing from his sitting position, and moves toward her, eyes flickering over her appearance. No doubt taking in her haggard form: the dark smudges beneath her eyes, hair askew up top her head. Hell Rangiku knows she looks hammered down.
At the sight of her newly acquired white hoari given to her by Unohana, he raises a brow but does not question it, that brilliant mind of his drawing conclusions—neurons firing away in rapid succession.
For once he lifts his arms and initiates an embrace, and she doesn't realize she's crying until her vision blurs. Toushiro's not one for emotional displays, and so awkwardly he says, "Ka-chan it's all right."
And the roles are reversed she notices. Toushiro's comforting her; the sight must be comical considering how short he is, as his face valiantly tries to avoid being smothered by her breasts. Of Course she takes advantage of this, to assure him that she's just fine.
Dramatically she wails, "My Shiro-chan is all grown up! You have your own zanpakutou, what happened to my little boy!?"
And suffocates him in her "hug of doom" and like always he struggles futilely, flushing in embarrassment, "Unhand me women!"
She stops her antics and murmurs, "Ka-chan was so worried, but now I'm relieved." Then she says the endearment she used when he was a young child, "Ka-chan loves her Shiro-chan."
He says nothing, just tightens his hold around her.
And then the moment is ruined when Toushiro says in a rare moment of tactlessness, "Chichiue."
And here's the elephant.
Nonetheless Rangiku should have been on guard, while aware he's in the immediate vicinity, did not she's prepared to face him.
She reacts as any protective mother would to a potentially dangerous foe. She shoves a surprised Toushiro behind her, and her features take on a down right ferocious look as she glares at him. Daring him to mess with her, and when he doesn't speak, simply stares at her with the same eyes he given her son… no their son, she softens somewhat at that thought, and says, "Gin."
Wide eyes do not deter his familiar mocking grin from surfacing, "Ran-chan, long time no see."
She nearly flinches at the sound of his voice and his nickname for her, fighting the tide of memories that accompany it. Somehow she manages to remain indifferent and says formally, "We have a captain's meeting in less than ten minutes. I suggest we get moving."
And with that she turns on her heel, head up and doesn't look back.
Behind her, Toushiro seems torn and after a few moments he follows her lead. Gin behind them laughs, following at more leisurely pace. Rangiku grits her teeth and stops the urge to lash out, as always everything is a joke to him.
It's the longest five minutes of his life.
That's saying something; Toushiro isn't prone to dramatics despite his impending trek into puberty.
Tension is tangible on the tongue; not a word is spoken.
He glances at his mother's back. The insignia of her haori marking her as the captain of the tenth division, and then over his shoulder Toushiro looks to his father, the man's hand are clasped behind his neck and he looks like he does not have a care in the world.
Toushiro looks back and forth between them, once, twice, and thrice… it's surreal to see them so close together, yet eons apart.
He grasps the handle of his zanpakuto needing a sudden anchor, a physical reminder of his surroundings.
Change, change, change, my, my has his world titled upon its axis.
He wonders if he should break the silence, filled with secrets that are now thrust into the open, and no longer better left unsaid. For he—perhaps the greatest secret—stands between them like a dividing factor.
He has the distinct impression that they're being civil for his sake alone. Rangiku's tightly coiled, Gin is falsely nonchalant.
To be honest he expected a confrontation between them, if not here and now, then eventually. It's inevitable.
And he's quite sure he doesn't want to be there when it happens.
But this silence cannot continue.
He opens his mouth to speak, but finds another taking the words from him, in the form of a much needed distraction.
"Ma, ma Ichimaru-san back from the dark side, and eh? What's this? Rangiku-chan, my little kohai and drinking companion, now a captain and back from the dead," comes the lazy drawl.
Gin, forever unfazed lets out a, "Hi yah," and continues in his trek.
Rangiku however seems to find the diversion as welcomed as her son. Life is breathed into her stone façade as she identifies her fellow captain in her usually lively manner, "Kyoraku-taicho!"
Masculine and flamboyantly dressed; an oxymoron wrapped in one—a captain by his white hoari, under his flowered kimono. Kyoraku Shunsui looks up from under his sakkat, a ready smile on his face. Behind him appears to be his fukutiacho who fidgets nervously, readjusting her glasses with a notebook in hand.
She seems to be weary of his father and when she jumps slightly as if startled or perhaps frightened; Toushiro looks over at Gin and finds the king of smiling intimidation's attention on the co-captain, smiling his creepiest grin. And now he knows why.
The prodigal son shrugs, he won't interfere, her fault for showing fear. Gin likes to take the piss out of people. He moves up a few steps and tunes back into his mother's conversation, there's entertainment to be found there.
And then he regrets it immediately.
Out of nowhere she hauls him forward, and he thinks he suffers from whiplash. "This is my Shiro-chan, the protégé you've heard Unohana speaking of."
Kyoraku takes a good look at Toushiro, looks twice at Gin and then Rangiku, and then gapes at the travesty of it all. The cogs and gears, Toushiro notes sarcastically, are not rusted and work fast within this one.
"Eh!? Isshin was right! You two actually have a love child!?" That rhetorical statement alone shocks the studious looking fukutiacho out of her frightened stupor, and she turns to her captain as if needing confirmation to what she's heard. Gin on the other hand looks put out at having his fun for the moment taking away.
Rangiku smiles almost wolfishly, and asks, "Do you want to see pictures?"
Toushiro slaps a palm over his face, to hide his flush of embarrassment or irritation he doesn't know. He moves away to stand next to his father as his mother flashes and fawns her portable "Shiro-chan shrine." His Ka-san is taking this distraction too far, he pinches the bridge of his nose and feels the telltale signs of a headache beginning.
Beside him Gin snickers, and points a particularly nauseating picture of Toushiro at about three clutching Rangiku's leg, and a teddy bear while frowning. The man that lives to embarrass him says, "Why so serious, mama's boy?"
If the air around them suddenly shifts in temperature, Rangiku and Gin ignore it, even if their counterparts seem a bit suspicious. Though they're not speaking, Toushiro wonders what he's done to deserve parents such as these.
When their apparent destination is reached, Toushiro thanks the Spirit King that the madness has stopped… at least for now.
Rangiku looks at Toushiro briefly and... he knows that look. She turns to the fukutaicho, "Nanao-chan is there a fukutaicho meeting going to happen as well?"
There's no way in hell she'll foist him off on some nervous wreck of a co-captain, who cooed at his pictures, and has the audacity to stare at him as if he's a chibi.
Nanao Ise adjusts her glasses and says, "No we'll be attending with the captains as well, with the ranks so displaced, fukutaichos are standing in for former captains."
Foisting has been thwarted.
Rangiku turns and settles her thoughtful gaze upon Toushiro, no doubt thinking of a way to keep him busy and away from this business of shinigami politics. Toushiro does not like to be coddled, but he supposes it's a reflex for her to keep him in the dark.
When she opens her mouth to voice her thoughts, she finds herself interrupted.
Gin has come to the rescue… kind of.
"Bring 'im in with us, it'll be a learning experience and 'sides it's best to let out skeletons now than let Soul Society gossipmongers have a field day. At least the captain's will be able to control the flow of info."
Toushiro takes back any negative things he's thought or said about his father, that man is a godsend.
Grinning widely Gin adds, "This is after all scandalous."
And it is: the prodigal captain turned traitor, who's actually a double agent and would be assassin, has a by-blow with Soul Society's once most wanted beauty, whose back from the dead after thirteen years of being incognito.
Yep it sounds like a really bad soap opera.
As if she really needs the reminder. Rangiku glares at Gin and gives him a rude gesture, the man in question simply laughs.
In parallel lines they stand before each other.
The Gotei 13 has now become an even 14.
The echoes of absent presences still resound as some fukutaichos step awkwardly into the positions of two wayward former captains. Other fukutaichos stand next to their leaders, while others have ascended. Like Abarai Renji, who has taken up the mantle as captain of division five—a position that will forever remain notorious, or Shuhei Hisagi who still feels the thousand bee like stings of betrayal.
Rangiku finds herself in a similar position except Toushiro stands in as her second. The order in which the captains usually align themselves is skewed; Gin takes full advantage of that, having Toushiro juxtaposition between him and Rangiku. To his left is Kira, who peers curiously at their son, and nervously at Gin and Rangiku. The meek Kira is not the only one who's curious; Toushiro's presence garners small questioning glances.
Rangiku and Toushiro ignore them, remaining stoic. Gin simply smiles, and that's enough to quell the looks.
The true spectacle lies at the opposite end of line, where Shinji and Yoruichi are present as leader of the vizards and the corresponding representative for the human world.
This is Soutaicho's attempt at making allies and no longer alienating them.
Speaking of the old man, he has entered the building, followed closely by Unohana-taicho who smiles at Toushiro and takes her place next to Kotetsu Isane.
"Quiet," That single word brings all lingering chatter to a halt. "Let us begin."
And so Soutaicho lays down the law.
May order be restored.
Dare I leave the kingdom of omission and
uncover truths so deeply hidden?
Dare I lay down my weapons at your feet, and bare myself raw?
On equal footing dare I ask to stand,
beseeching to you to come as you are, and once were?
Many things are discussed during that captain's meeting:
Gotei 14's new structure is presented, not much different from the last except for new diversity.
Yoruichi and her lot will act as liaisons between the shinigami and the humans with spiritual awareness and powers. Urahara's products and experiments will be at visiting shinigami's disposal. They'll be able to move freely through the Spiritual and Human realms.
If anyone seems to notice Soifon foaming at the mouth—well her form of excitement as stilted as she is—at the thought of Yoruichi being present in Soul Society... well then they choose ignore it.
The vizards will be stationed in Soul Society and the human realm. Due to the common ground they share with arrancars—hollowification—vizards will act as correspondents with the peaceful Arrancar in Hueco Mundo. This alliance is suggested by Rangiku, who keeps her end of the bargain with Tia Harribel.
Needless to say changes are made, and time will only tell how these new terms and ventures will play out in the future.
And that is enough for Rangiku.
For Gin however it's the aftermath of the meeting that makes him grin in glee.
Mischief is afoot the moment the conference is adjoined. Since he does not have an iota of shame, Kyoraku Shunsui announces without much preamble, "It's time to collect on that bet."
There are murmurs of confusion… which one specifically? There's a lot of betting pools going around, some from years ago, other's made in the last few hours.
"The one from 30 years ago at that drinking contest I held in my division," Kyoraku identifies, and there are more murmurs this time of agreement—division eight's parties were infamous, each one was memorable. "And Shiba Isshin lost miserably." That garners some laughs, that was a very memorable occasion.
"Anyhow he drunkenly bet on my third seat at the time, Rangiku-chan here," Kyoraku has moved a casual arm around a strangely subdued blond—hell the cats about to be let out the bag, obviously she isn't feeling rainbows and sunshine.
Shunsui pauses for the dramatic effect, "Would have a love child with the elusive Ichimaru-taicho here."
Of course at the time it had been taken with a grain of salt, the ravings of a drunken idiot. As his usual wont Isshin was known for spouting nonsense even sober—the goat faced idiot he is. However those still coherent during the drinking contest and knew Shiba Isshin beyond the senseless, perverted façade he presents is a perceptive mind. This number was few, that is for those who were sober at the time.
That fact alone makes Kyoraku smile pleasantly for he knows he will be collecting a large sum. He points to said "love child's" general direction, and continues with the melodrama, "Meet Hitsugaya Toushiro, the result of a torrid love affair."
That causes more than a few choked gasps from their more expressive counterparts other reactions vary and Gin finds them all hilarious. The incoherent grumbling that follows adds to Gin's hilarity, no one likes to lose a bet.
The sad fact is that even while drunk these distinguished shinigami still gambled on something that was supposed to be prosperous, just for the heck of it. The connection between Gin and Rangiku was known by a slim number of people, and was even doubted then, they barely interacted in public. Obviously there's a wide spread addiction that needs to be addressed, or better recreational activities for the masses that be.
However, gambling is a favorite pastime in Soul Society, picked up especially after a stint in the medical ward, where any form of strenuous activity is banned. And any shinigami that has spent time in the division four barracks while injured knows that they are infamous for their pseudo gambling rings.
Yep there's a problem that needs to be addressed.
Toushiro, the current object of scrutiny has suffered more than a few cursory glances during the meeting, probably wondering what the hell an unknown midget was doing amongst them.
At the moment Toushiro is pinching the bridge of his nose and rubbing one temple to relieve his aching head. He's surrounded by morons, fucking morons.
"Yes you heard correctly it's time to pay up ladies and gentlemen—" A swift kick hits Kyoraku in the solar plexus; he falls unceremoniously to the floor groaning. Bemoaning his fate he says, "Nanao-chan you always spoil my fun!"
Glasses gleam with menacing intent as she adjusts them, "Then you should learn to behave yourself captain."
"So," Gin begins happily, and that alone is disturbing, along with the thought of him procreating. "How are we splitting this?"
Rangiku seems to overcome whatever stupor gripped her before and glares at Gin with the strength of a thousand suns.
And Shinji with his usual slyness says, "It appears that the baby-mama is not happy."
Huh, 'course she's mad, but then that makes her a sore loser, Gin's seen the way she handed over money to the prone Kyoraku.
And that also makes her a hypocrite, given her recent stint in deception, but he won't touch that subject with a ten foot pole, at least not yet. Too many things need to be addressed and Gin needs to catch her at the right time to go down that path.
In the meantime Gin shrugs unrepentantly, and repeats his earlier question.
The regal Kuchiki Byakuya answers him, "Four ways so far Ichimaru-taicho. There are still others to take into consideration."
And honestly no one's surprised, even the old man's part of the bet and on the losing end at that. No one has any shame here, and Toushiro wonders if it's too late to leave this forsaken place before he dies of sheer embarrassment.
Gin guesses the four who are on the winning end so far are Kuchiki, himself, Unohana obviously, and Kyorakyu. From what Gin remembers there were over fifty people present that night, it's time to start hunting down those were conscious at the time the bet was made.
Gin turns to his son, "Thanks for being born, little man. For your troubles I'll give ya a cut from my share."
Toushiro does not bother to respond, he thinks he's been traumatized one too many times.
Gin grins; he won't be winning any father of the year awards.
On October 6th dare we come full circle?
It's time.
It could not wait any longer.
The moment of reckoning was upon him.
And damned if he's not dawdling.
Toushiro could not provide apt distraction; the boy must have sensed impending doom and made himself scarce. Probably off playing shoji with the Soutaicho, since he refuses to play with him, accusing his own father of cheating! The kid has no sense of fun.
So for the nth time he's straightening out his quarters in the 3rd division barracks.
It's not avoidance.
Not necessarily.
Really.
He has an excuse.
Nearly a week passes by before things settle down.
It's a weak one at that.
Gin is a complex man, but not the type to deny his emotions. He knows exactly what he feels: peace at the knowledge that Aizen's influence remains in the shadows forever more, far beneath the surface. Indifference at the prospect of remaining captain of squadron 3, at the beginning it was merely a means to an end, and it still remains so.
For his son… fondness, pride, irritation, amusement and a plethora of other things, Gin never thought it possible to love someone so much. The prickly little shit that Toushiro is. But he supposes since the boy is part of him and the women he holds in the highest regard says a lot.
As for Rangiku… shit that's where he becomes muddled.
Betrayal at her deception, mirth—Gin is forever amused—at having the tables turned on him, slight bitterness at being denied the right to at least watch Toushiro through his early years, et cetera.
However Gin would be the first to admit, in his thoughts that is, that he loves Rangiku fiercely. The discovery of Toushiro only makes it burn deeper and greater.
It's so damned convoluted.
Gin stops, he hadn't realized he was pacing, finds his sake stash—the good, expensive kind—pours a cup and downs it in one go.
Now he's fortified, ready for anything… maybe.
She's in the division ten barracks. Specifically the quarters for the captain, Unohana had already been by, packing and picking up Kou's possessions. She feels as if she's invading the space, as if she's a fraud for being here. Perhaps it's just guilt. Regardless the area remains bare, except for the boxes with her son and her own belongings.
She thinks she might move to one of the safer areas of the Rukongai and expose Toushiro to places other than the Seireitei.
The bar and apartment has been abandoned for a life here in Soul Society. Before Rangiku bought the bar she's suffered from wanderlust. They left a note saying they've taken off to the Americas, and left the bar's ownership to the assistant manager.
So it fits the bill with her flighty nature. Besides if anyone bother's looking for they won't find a trace anyway.
In the room over, Toshiro rustles around the kitchen, grabbing pots and ingredients. He's sworn her away, knowing her luck when it comes to cooking; the microwave is the best way to go. Not much has changed, she notes wryly.
Ah, but it has.
She feels him before she sees him. Not at all surprised by his sudden appearance.
Gin appears in the open shoji doors and raps twice on the wood and says by way of greeting, "I come bearing a homecoming gift."
Rangiku looks over her shoulder from where she's taking photographs from out of a box, and says dryly, "Sake? You sure know the way to a girl's heart."
Mild flirtation just is Rangiku's way. Gin relaxes an iota, this is good sign, and she's not biting his head off… yet. "'Course it's the expensive kind Ran-chan, right from my secret stash."
Is that a slight smile? Why yes it is. All he's gotten from her are glares, frowns, rude gestures and barely restrained civility.
She looks him over and wonders is it time to let bygones be bygones, and then rolls her eyes and invites him in, the right one in, "Come on in, have a seat."
Next chapter: The long awaited confrontation, and an epilogue.