I totally forgot about this fic ^^' Sorry...

Also, no lemon this chapter because it would be the first time when I write lemons and I gotta say it's damn hard ,

So, can you recommend me a good beta-reader (that likes HitsuMatsu, obviously) ?


VIII. Mother Feeling: Fake date

The telephone had ringed before Rangiku was able to complain anything. The red-haired woman looked at her questioning, but the blonde shook her head being sure about the caller. She had been late for hours at home so it was obviously who would call her friend – after all, how many places were there where she might have been? The owner of the house nodded and let the voicemail make its job, both females wondering what excuse would Gin use to bring his fiancée back.

There was a 'beep' and a little green bulb started to flash as the caller was invited to leave a message. Haineko mimed a 'Here we go' refraining herself from laughing.

However, the caller's voice took them both by surprise.

'Oh, darling, are you there? I've been calling you for hours!'

Matsumoto took a deep breath and picked up the phone.

"Hey, mom!"

'Thanks God you're there!' The woman sighed, her voice calming a little, but without losing its worried hint. 'What happened?'

"Nothing, I'm just sleeping-over at Haineko." She tried to be natural, but miserably failed.

'I called you home.' The thought of 'home' was making the blonde sick. 'Gin told me you were taking a shower, but he was angry and you didn't answer your cell phone.'

"Mom, you watch the news too often." The secretary laughed. "Gin would never hurt me." Not that way. "Besides, I never take my cell phone when I take a shower."

'You can never trust men.'

You don't even know how much right you are. "Alright, mom, I'll keep that in mind. Can I call you in the morning? It's getting late and I have to work tomorrow."

'Are you hiding me something?'

"No, I just have a lot of things to think over."

'Promise to tell me if something happens.'

"I promise. Bye!"

'Good night, sweety. I love you!'

"I love you too, mom!" Rangiku closed the phone and turned to her friend with an exasperate face. "How do they always know?"

"Mother feeling? That's how mine used to call it." the red-head shrugged her shoulders.

In childhood, the blonde had been one of the worst kids in the town. She had often ran away for days, leaving her family behind without telling the about the escapade, she had often been found drunk or having a party with lots of alcoholic drinks, she had hung out with wicked persons which were barely at her age, she had smoked back and even tried a smoking drug once at the insistence of a supposed friend, but had gotten ill so he gave up on it. She had always been loud, she had always spoken her mind and she had always gotten punished for her 'adventures'. Very often she had yelled at her parents that she hated them, that she wished to go away and never come back, that she was going to do whatever she wanted and with anybody she wanted – some of these moments were usual fights based of something that she really wanted and they didn't allow her to go there or to do it, but most of them were pretty much Gin's fault. Her father didn't mind the teen, he had found him interesting and protective with Rangiku and he was thinking, hoping, that he would tame his daughter – which he did. Her mother, on the other hand, had considered a deceitful person who would surrender the girl and hurt her in the opportune moment just like a snake that is hunting its prey and, surprisingly enough she had suggested the blonde to spend more time with her best friend although Haineko had always been kind of an early unlawful one. The woman didn't know how to explain her feeling towards Ichimaru, but had kept on her conviction until her child turned eighteen and she had no control over the girl's life.

When that day came, the teen lied that she was going in an excursion and ran to Karakura, the land of all possibilities as she was seeing it back then. Matsumoto planned to remain in that town until she will have gotten old when she will buy a house somewhere near the mounts, but Gin changed her mind after a whole week of negotiations - she had to finished her studies which were about to be paid by her boyfriend and after she would have taken the last exams, they had to move together and have a dreamy life in Karakura. Of course, the agreement was forgotten later when the blonde refused to let him spend his money on her university for the simple reason that she wanted to prove her parents that she was able to take care all of herself.

Forgetting about the late call, the two women put a drama movie to watch and ended crying over the female main character's death. The world seemed so cruel for throwing a leukemia curse over a teen and stealing the life of a young girl who had so many whishes yet so little time to fulfill them. The fact that the boy who had fallen in love with her, continued to live his life for them both was another tear in the full glass. Surprisingly, the 'A walk to remember' movie worked well on the ex-fiancée secretary – she forgot about the cheat and soon fell asleep in the middle of the bed.

Haineko rose on her feet and slipped out of the room with the cell phone in her hand. Before closing the door for the next few minutes, she took a last glimpse of her friend – Rangiku was looking so peaceful and innocent and somehow childish the way she was sleeping now. The red-head lowered the stairs and fell lazily on the couch with her eyes pasted on the mobile's screen. She searched through her many phone numbers until a soft 'Here it is' broke the night's silence and she found the wanted contact. The woman pressed a few cufflinks and started to type a message because a call in the middle of the night wasn't the best idea:

I know it's late, but do you remember about the tickets? You know, those for the concert? Yeah, well, I need them tomorrow so bring them at 7 o'clock when you come to pick us up. Also, 'borrow' your brother's ticket for the race. I'll repay you!

A little 'bip' and the message was sent, about to be red in the morning, but the secretary had the hope it wouldn't be too late.


An anemic sun was sending pale rays over the ground and inside the houses. The wind that intensified in the last few hours was moving the peachy fabric of the curtain, dancing with it in front of the window and bathing the blonde's milky face in fresh, cool breezes. She was sleeping on her part of the bed, wrapped in a white blanket; a few locks of gold hair were spread along the pillow that her head was resting on and just three or four very thin strands were tickling her figure. One arm was placed next to her head while the other on her stomach, but had the effect of a belt that underlined her slim waist and her generous chest – which was also advantaged by the V-neck night dress that the owner of the house borrowed her.

"Hey, Sleeping Beauty, it's time to wake up." Haineko announced energetically making her appearance in the door frame, leaning on it and dressed in a pencil beige skirt which was reaching her knees and a white chemise with some ruffle that were lowering from the neck to the belly, where the shirt was sucked under the skirt. She closed to the wardrobe to search for fitting cloths for her friend – as taste, because the size was the same – when she heard a whispered comment coming from the bed."Do you want to make Hitsugaya wait you for hours? He's outside for quite a while, with a big bouquet of red roses, waiting for you to show up."

Rangiku woke up instantly at the statement and jump out of the bed looking for her cloths. "Why didn't you say sooner?" she calmed down a little and brought her index finger to her bottom lip smiling shyly and blushing like a teenager girl that just had her first kiss. "Is he really waiting me with roses?"

"No!" the cat-like woman rolled her eyes. "He's not even here, I lied to wake you up." She smirked teasingly again as she continued slowly: "But you'd wished it was true, don't you?" Seeing the annoyed look on her friend she sighed. "Besides, I don't think he's the romantic type of guy."

"I wish someone would bring me a bouquet of beautiful flowers without even a reason…" Matsumoto complained examining the fabrics that had slowly landed on her head.

"Keep on dreaming, men are not intelligent enough to do so." Haineko answered bored, but jumped when she heard a whistling from the kitchen and hurried downstairs. "The coffee!"

The blonde chuckled lightly and mindlessly put the dress she had got on her body then looked in the mirror. The fabric felt soft on her skin, like a snowflake on the lips, the silk slipping down her body in a curled line – the dress was a deep purple without print but a white streak right below the breasts which was highlighting her hourglass waist and two discreet small knots, one on each side, on her shoulders. It was simple, but elegant and pretty much appropriate for a secretary that meets daily important people. The woman played with her hair about a minute to make sure it looked curly and fell perfectly down her back – a more sophisticated hairstyle might have been more appropriate for the dress, but she needed a couple of things from home to arrange it better and she didn't have too much time left - so she decided it was enough. Rangiku put on a pair of mustard yellow shoes which she forgot in Haineko's room last time she had visited.

Downstairs, in the kitchen's doorframe was staying owner of the house with a different outfit – a fact that didn't surprised the blonde. The red-haired woman was wearing the same skirt but with a new top – simple white, cotton probably – and a tie full of golden spangles matched with an electric-blue jacket that was contrasting with her emerald eyes; to complete the outfit there was a pair of intense blue platform-heels, the thin lines from the ankles to the pettitoes being decorated with flowers of the same color. The make-up was a classic smokey eyes and a nude tone of rouge and a bit lip-gloss while the hair was just falling curly on her shoulders. Matsumoto knew all too well the expression spread across the other female's face – the look in the two green glimmering balls framed by long, thick lashes was screaming 'Here comes the sexy lady' and the smirk that her full lips formed a few seconds ago was emphasizing the opinion. The reddish moved her head a little and once they were both outside, locked the door and hid the keys somewhere in the yellow purse.

Rangiku remained in place shifting her eyes from Haineko to the car parked in front of the house and back unknowing what to say or do. She couldn't see the driver because of the smoked glass, but the vehicle was so familiar that she was able to guess who he was in a blink of a second. Her lips parted a little as she wanted to speak, to yell at her friend, to complain but the words wouldn't leave her mouth like they were stuck in her throat. Unable to do more than watch she felt helpless, pathetic really and though she knew she had to move, her body wouldn't comply her mind leaving her like a statue, like some Barbie doll that the owner forgot about. She could feel, almost touch the pulse rising incontrollable when she heard the car's door opening and saw a pair of sneakers falling on the ground and jeans… jeans?

"Calm down, it's not your Prince Charming." the blonde startled at the laugh that came from behind. "It's mine!" the redhead stated waving at the driver.

A confused frown formed on the secretary's face, but her cardiac rhythm returned to normal.


Tōshirō lowered the impeccable white stairs mechanically, his attention being attracted by the tie as his fingers were patiently playing with the light blue fabric, carefully binding it in a perfect knot like it was a fragile decorative piece. However, a surprised yell followed by loud laugh distracted him – Momo, dressed in a short green robe and accessorized with an apron, was obviously having fun.

"Don't say a word; it was the only pair remained."

"I thought you hate them!" the girl managed through the laugh series. "And I needed one more white piece to turn on the washer."

"They were in the closet! And you took all of them not just one piece." He looked down at his boxers. "I do hate this pair..."

"I knew they would be useful one day! Just don't show then to her, okay?" Hinamori clapped her palms without losing the big smile spread across the face. "The size was good as well."

"Yes, good after 15 years…" That Christmas was still torturing him every time he was taking a glimpse of the blue boxers patterned with dancing fir trees and over-sized yellow stars. "Wait…her?"

"You know, the girls you're dating today." The confused look pasted on the business man's face didn't disappear. "Hyōrinmaru said you have a date or something like that."

"Well, I don't." Hitsugaya stated putting on the bottom part of the suit to prevent any other jokes. "Do you think I should wear other chemise? I mean, isn't the white too boring?"

"No date, eh?" she sighed. "It's fine, I guess."

He nodded grateful for the help – a bit annoyed by the 'washer necessity' too – and opened the door with the pair of keys in his hand, only to have the surprise of the missing vehicle.

"Didn't Hyōrinmaru say something about my car, too, Momo…?"


Although today was Haineko's free day, she chose to keep her friend some company at the work or rather tease her a bit. Like every girl fight about boys, sex and fantasies would do, theirs was no exception and was madly drawing attention from all the men around and a few other girls. Sure, they had no idea of who the two had been talking about even before they entered the building, but it had no importance. After thirty minutes of accusing statements, defending replies and a silver-haired employee focused on figuring out if the women wanted to make him jealous – because, after all he did, he pretty much deserved it – or talking serious, everyone who heard the door returned to their businesses.

"For the last time," Rangiku was at the end of her patience – if there was any left. "I do not have fantasies!"

"Aha," the reddish doubted. "That's why you moaned, isn't it?"

"I did not!" the blond defended herself once again. "And even if I did, it proves nothing! I might have dreamt about Gin – and you don't get any idea!" she ended the sentence sending a bad look at Ichimaru.

"Oh, yeah? Only if Gin changed his name in-"

"I didn't say any name!"

"Ha! You admitted you had fantasies about you-know-who and, yes, you did say his name. In such a sweet voice – if he has such an effect in a dream, I can't imagine how it would be to feel him for real. Don't you wonder, too? Aw, how can I blame you after that night? I'm so jealous!"

"I did not sleep with my boss, okay?! And I don't have fantasies about him either!"

All the eyes in the room were now to her. Now that everyone got who they were fighting about – or over whom in someone's mind – the subject became even more interesting. No one dared to talk something close to this in this place, not to mention about the person in discussion. The secretary felt a hot wave of embracement rushing across her face and the world suddenly seemed a lot bigger as all those eyes very were accusingly directed to her. Haineko covered her mouth in an attempt to stop the yell that was about to come out and a miserable try to calm down after seeing who had just heard the last words. Gin's immediate question about 'that night' was left behind like it wasn't even pronounced.

"Agreed!" the icy tone that everyone inside knew very well wasn't a good sign, a certain hint that the new-comer wasn't in a good mood – not anymore at least – and that the future hours will seem interminable. "Nobody said you did." The steps approached and only a few dared to look at him in the eyes while the most gulped terrified of the work that might have waited them later. "And, Matsumoto," only then, the woman noticed his presence and the realization that the silence was because he entered and surely heard the fight gave her a shiver down the spine. "Are you free tonight?"

"No, she's not!"

"Yes, she's free!"

Gin and Haineko answered at once, both suddenly forgetting about the shock and replacing it with too much energy. Of course their hopes were totally different: despite of the jealous confession, the secretary so wanted it to be a date – where didn't matter, but a date – while the ex-fiancé all but hoped for that date.

"Perfect." The confirmation of the true intentions came quick enough, probably to prevent any change of mind. "Because I need help to finish some documents until tomorrow morning."

You gotta be kiddin'! Just ask her out! The red-head propped on her elbow with a childish pout – like when you tell a kid he isn't allowed to eat sweets before lunch – disappointed by the affirmation. On the other hand, Ichimaru was more than satisfied, the larger grin which appeared on his face being the proof. The happiness didn't last long, however, because Tōshirō was very skilled in destroying his mood whenever he was bluntly sending the silver-haired man to work.

"Yes, she is free, right? Free to work, thank you very much!" Rangiku turned to her friend who mimed an apology before leaving the room (after she had been 'invited' outside).


That's it for now! Hope you liked it!

By the way, I just added a new HitsuMatsu fic - 'Protecting Death'