The Love Monster
Teeth
Track 07


It wasn't like it was the first time that had happened.

Rangiku was staring at the back of Gin's head.

Haineko was poised to slit his throat if necessary.

Rangiku's autopilot as a vice captain was the only part of her paying attention.

Rangiku had legitimate reasons for loving him. She wasn't a shallow girl. The past few months of shameless indulgence had been heaven. Nothing like waking your captain up in the middle of the night with screams of ecstasy that you couldn't control. Hitsugaya had learned to sleep with earplugs. Metaphorically and literally Gin consumed her body, mind and soul. When she needed him, he was there. No more leaving.

She thought she'd been living life with no direction or purpose other than getting plastered. All along she'd missed that her direction was anywhere Gin might be. Wherever those irresistible kisses were.

Rangiku's favorite moments were when he'd play with her hair, or surprise her after a long day in the office with dried persimmons. His silent little "I love you"'s. He'd made her better, and she was dedicated.

Gin was captured, the only thing that kept him from killing Rukia was Captain Kuchiki.

From what she could manage, Aizen was after something hidden inside of Rukia and had arranged the entire execution.

Gin just had to fuck shit up, like it was his specialty. Rangiku was no exclusion. Currently, she was throwing back some sake. All inhabitants of the Soul Society were on high alert, and whispers of what would happen next were impossible to escape. This was her means of escape. Usually Rangiku would nest somewhere before drinking, to enjoy the taste more. Tonight she wasn't going for taste.

She wandered the moonlit passageways of the Soul Society, cheap sake bottle in hand. Anyone who passed her was petrified. Their usually cheery carefree vice captain was a wreck and had been on a binge drinking spree in the time since the traitor's departure to Hueco Mundo.

"Rangiku."

"Hitsugaya-taicho!"

"You're drunk."

"You're small."

"You've been drunk."

"You've been small!"

"Cut that out."

"Wha?"

Hitsugaya knew trying to reason with her right now would be pointless, but you couldn't find her sober anymore. "Come on." He grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her along.

"Where we goin'?"

"I'm taking you back to your room so you can't scare people anymore."

"Maybe I wanna."

"You're a childish drunk."

Rangiku went silent. Immediately Hitsugaya felt bad. Even though it made no sense, by reminding her that she was drunk it reminded herself of why she was drunk. Though with the Soul Society on high alert not reminding her of Gin was like trying to hide the giant cow in the room. But maybe if Rangiku drank enough that giant cow would play her some soothing piano music while it was there.

Hitsugaya felt like a mother pulling around a child. The silence had stretched on as they walked. The usually simple air between them had become thick with all sorts of emotions.

"Not my room." Rangiku mumbled.

"Hm? What?" Hitsugaya asked.

Her voice was low, like she herself didn't want to hear it. "Take me to your room. Mine smells like him."

"Alright. You don't have to go back to yours until you feel like it." He truly felt sorry for her.

"Thank you taichou."

"Don't call me taichou right now, call me that awful nickname people give me."

"Shiro-chan?"

"Yeah, that one."

Rangiku smiled. "Okay Shiro-chan."

Hitsugaya opened the door to his room, and Rangiku waltz in like it was her own. She made her way to his futon. "Shiro-chan I'm too tired to move."

"Well you can sleep here then. I think you planned, to anyway."

Rangiku nestled under his blanket and rested her head onto the pillow.

"Did you know?" he asked.

Rangiku stared, seemingly without notice of the question. After a minute or so, Hitsugaya thought she might have fallen asleep with her eyes closed. But then she spoke, "No. I wish I had, I wouldn't have gotten so involved."

"I'm sure he didn't mean for you to."

"Of course he didn't. But it happened anyway. I was used to Gin leaving, but not like this." She grew silent and Hitsugaya knew she was done talking.

"Have a good nights rest Rangiku."

"Thank you."

In the midst of growing chaos Gin turned to face Rangiku. His smile gone, his face slightly drooping. "I'm sorry."

Rangiku stared in disbelief.

"I woulda' like to have been held by ya a bit longer."

And he left, in to that awful hole infested with giant hollows, along with Aizen and Tousen.

Even in her sleep Rangiku knew that this would be her only dream for months, maybe even years, to come. The morning sunlight beckoned her eyes open, and she stretched. She was still in Hitsugaya's room, but he wasn't there. She rolled over to shield her eyes from the light and was astounded. Beside her head on the pillow was a dried persimmon. She grabbed it, and inhaled its scent.

"I love you,"she laughed half-heartedly. "You bastard."


Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, or any songs by Lady Gaga.

So sad, and so sweet! Its over. How did you like it? Let me know!