Shinigami Kids Society
Chapter 10: New Duties
Unohana quickly pulled Matsumoto to the side after the meeting.
"Sorry for volunteering your quarters without asking you." She said in her quiet way.
"It's fine," said Matsumoto, "This way I can look after taicho."
"As I am now in command of the 13 squads," said Unohana in a stronger voice, "Your duties are to look after him and anyone else I send there, ok?"
"Thank you," Matsumoto said. Unohana really was the kindest captain of all the squads.
"Its already afternoon and I have much work to do so I can't come check up on him now," Unohana said, seeing Matsumoto's worried look she hastily added, "but I'll come by as soon as I can in the morning."
"Ok, but I'm really worried about him."
"You need to get back I'll be sending a few others to your quarters tonight, do you have enough room?"
"Yes, my bed is a king and I have a sofa and loveseat in my living room, plus I could move Hitsugaya's bed in there or use his quarters if I have to."
Matsumoto turned to leave when Unohana called out, "One last question, when was the last time Hitsugaya kept any food down?"
"He threw up the watermelon I gave him all over the office," she grimaced at the memory, "so it's been about two days I think."
Unohana frowned, "That's not good, children especially need food and vitamins, we'll have to do something about that tomorrow."
"Kay," Matsumoto said as she shunpoed off.
When she arrived at her quarters she went to immediately check on Hitsugaya. He was still snuggled up next to Hanataro, who hadn't moved once in his heavy drugged sleep. Satisfied that they both were fine she looked around. Wasn't she missing somebody?
"Rin?" she called.
A moan came from the bathroom. The door was open so she walked right in. She found a pale and sweaty Rin desperately clutching the toilet seat as he knelt in front of it.
"Oh gods just let me die," he said in a pained voice before proceeding to violently void his stomach.
"Not you too," she groaned.
She grabbed a washcloth and wet it with cold water. Rin was panting heavily, staring down into the toilet. She knelt down next to him.
"Are you finished?" she asked softly.
Rin turned to answer her, but quickly turned back and threw up again.
"Ughh," he groaned as he came up again.
He looked truly miserable just kneeling there, panting waiting for it to happen all over again. Matsumoto took the cool washcloth and wiped his sweaty forehead off.
His panting eased a little. He turned to her and said in a tired voice, "I think I'm done now."
"How's your head?" She put her hand to his forehead. He was burning up like the others.
"Horrible," he said bringing a hand to his temple.
She nodded in sympathy for him.
"Are your pajamas in your bag?" she asked.
He nodded.
"Unohana-taicho is sending all the sick kids here, so take a shower and get cleaned up, I'll give you some medicine after, ok."
He nodded again. Matsumoto shrugged then walked out. Rin apparently wasn't very talkative right now, though she doubted she would be if she had just thrown up twice.
"Poor kid," she thought.
Matsumoto brought his bag into the bathroom and left him to do his business. She had just brought out some extra blankets from a closet when she heard a knock on the door. She was surprised to find Renji at the door carrying a boy who was weakly struggling against his grip.
"Renji-san, put me down, I can walk by myself," the boy's voice was slurred he sounded half asleep.
"Quiet, you nearly killed yourself on the way here tripping over air; stop fighting the medicine and go to sleep already," Renji answered the boy.
"But I'm fine, really Renji-san I'm alright," he complained.
"Right, your fine, that's why you vomited all over the floor in front of me and Kuchiki taicho."
Looking at Matsumoto he held out the boy to her said, "Matsumoto they told me to bring him here."
"And who is this," Matsumoto said as she took the boy from Renji's arms.
"Rikichi," Renji answered.
She got a good look at the boy's face. Seeing the unique hair doodad and the Renji-like tattoo above his left eye she exclaimed, "Oh right he's your stalker."
The boy in her arms stopped struggling and his face went bright red. Seeing his reaction Renji burst out laughing.
"You get embarrassed about it now?" Renji said between laughs.
Rikichi's turned even redder and he hid his face in Matsumoto's shoulder. This just made Renji laugh even harder at the boy's antics.
Wiping a few tears from his eyes, Renji cleared his throat and said, "I have to report back now; see you later Matsumoto, get better soon Rikichi."
Renji dropped a bag of what she assumed were Rikichi's things inside the door and left. Once the door was closed Matsumoto tapped the boy on the head.
"You can come out now he's gone."
Rikichi looked up around satisfied that Renji was gone he sighed.
"You don't have to carry me, like I said, I'm fine."
"What, are you embarrassed?" she asked him.
He nodded.
She reached up and felt his forehead, it was warm, but not too hot. The kid looked like he was drugged though. She walked over and sat on her couch with him in her lap.
"When was the last time you had some medicine?"
"I took some about an hour ago; I had just fallen asleep when Renji woke me up and said we had to go," Rikichi said, accepting the fact that she wasn't going to put him down. At least Renji wasn't carrying him anymore, that was just too embarrassing.
"Are you nauseous right now, Renji said you've been throwing up."
Rikichi blushed again, "It was awful, I had finally figured out how to catch that stupid hell butterfly when Renji and the taicho walked in. For the first time I didn't look like a complete idiot in front of him and then I vomited all over the floor."
He paused, looking sad. "This has been the worst two days ever, first I embarrassed myself in front of my captain and Renji and then Renji has to carry me here."
Matsumoto poked him in the side to break him out of his sad spell.
"It's ok you know, everybody is getting sick right now and I'm sure embarrassing things are happening to them too; heck even my captain, Hitsugaya, threw up all over his office."
"Hitsugaya-taicho is sick too?" he asked.
"He's sleeping right in there," she pointed to her bedroom door.
Rikichi suddenly looked troubled, like he was afraid of something now.
"What is it?" Matsumoto asked him, wondering about the sudden change.
"I heard he was scary, that he'd freeze you into a solid ice block for the littlest things."
It was Matsumoto's turn to laugh. Rikichi looked worriedly wondering if he had said something stupid again.
"Don't worry," she said finally when she had gotten a hold of herself again, "He's in no condition to do that right now and he's not that bad once you get to know him, just a little on the grumpy side."
"Really?"
"Promise," she said.
There was a knock on the door again. Without waiting for her to even answer it the door was flung open and Kiyone rushed into the room. She was a sickly shade of green with her hand over mouth. She looked at Matsumoto with a sense of urgency. Matsumto pointed to her bedroom door, where the bathroom was. Kiyone ran as fast as she could. A few seconds later they heard the all too familiar sounds off vomiting.
"I hope Rin was out," she thought.
Matsumoto felt Rikichi shudder at the sounds.
"Don't you start know," she told him.
"I don't feel so good anymore," he said. He was panting heavily now.
"Here," she said as she guided his head back down to her shoulder, "Just close your eyes and breathe, let it past."
In the other room they heard Rin's indignant voice, "Jeez Kiyone, warn me next time."
"Ugh, sorry I didn't have time to announce my presence, but I was kinda in a hurry!"
"At least I was dressed, a few mnutes earlier and- move, move Move!"
Matsumto heard the sound of Rin vomiting again and felt the boy in her lap shudder again.
"Man, the boys are really having a tough time aren't they," she thought.
She heard footsteps coming down the hall and Ukitake stepped through the already open door.
"Did Kiyone make it?" he asked worriedly.
"She and Rin are seeing who can upchuck the most right now."
Ukitake made a face at her crude humor. He walked in and set Kiyone's bag down next to Rikichi's.
"Who's that," he asked, looking at the boy in her lap.
"Rikichi," she answered.
"Ah, Renji's stalker."
The said stalker on Matsumto's lap gave a strangled hiccup and tried to bury his head further into Matsumoto's shoulder.
"Be nice, he's embarrassed that everyone calls him that," Matsumoto told Ukitake.
Ukitake opened his mouth to answer when they both heard grunt. Turning they both saw the massive figure of Zaraki Kenpachi standing in the doorway.
"This is where the kid's supposed to go right," he said to them.
Yachiru was sitting on Zaraki's shoulder, leaning back against his head, sleeping. One of Zaraki's massive hands gently held her in place.
Matsumoto nodded.
"Hey," Zaraki said as he gently shook the girl on his shoulder, "We're here."
Yachiru opened her eyes and yawned. Zaraki carefully set her down on the ground. He dropped off her bag and turned to leave when Matsumoto called out to him.
"Zaraki-taicho, can you do me a favor?" she asked.
He turned to face her.
"Could you grab the bed in Hitsugaya-taicho's quarters and bring in here?"
Zaraki let out an annoyed sigh. He walked out of the room and headed towards Hitsugaya's quarters.
Yarichu walked over to Matsumoto and began to poke at Rikichi in her lap. Rikichi brought his face away from Matsumoto's shoulder to glare at her. Yachiru squinted at him studying his face closing before a big smile spread across her face.
"It's the butterfly boy!" she happily exclaimed.
Rikichi's face turned bright red again and he promptly hid his face again in Matsumoto's shoulder. Today was just not going well for him.
Both Matsumoto and Ukitake had to hold back a snicker at Yachiru's description of him.
Zaraki came back in holding the twin size bed with one hand. How he managed to maneuver his large frame plus the bed through the door Matsumoto couldn't figure out, but at least now she would have a place to sleep tonight.
"Just set it over there," Matsumoto said, pointing to a clear wall space. The addition of the bed made the room look hopelessly cluttered but it was serviceable.
Zaraki turned again to go. Yachiru though ran over and hugged his leg.
"Bye Ken-chan," she said.
Zaraki leaned over and patted her head. "You get better now, you hear."
She nodded and let go. Zaraki gave her a smile rarely seen outside of combat, then turned around and left.
"Well I guess I have to going to," said Ukitake, "let me know if you need anything."
"Don't worry I will," said Matsumoto.
Ukitake smiled at the sight of her and Rikichi then turned around and left.
Well as you can see I've added Rikichi, I had forgotten he even existed but a bunch of you reviewers thought he'd make a good addition. I watched the few clips where he's actually in the anime and fell in love with idea, so thanks to all who review. Now please rate and review this chapter.