Time apart. It helps. From putting things into perspective, to attaining space and time to think. From clearing misunderstandings, to giving the chance to miss. It does help. In this case, she'd like to forget. Momo had come to conclude, the next day after her birthday when she woke up and didn't see Izuru's face, that it was too uncertain and too scary to find out. Perhaps his leaving factored into it, his leaving being his way of saying…I don't want to.

One definite decision was what she needed, and what she had arrived to, was that she didn't want to sleep in someone's arms and wake up alone the following morning. Especially when she knew…she loved him.

It only made sense to cut down the excessive amounts of time they spent together. Toushirou and Rangiku resumed receiving her twice a week now. She took extra assignments to fill her other free time. And she didn't see him alone anymore. Deep down, she wondered if he knew why, despite his lack of curiosity or complaints about it. Deep down, she wanted him to turn around and change his mind. But she knew, that if she was scared, then surely, so was he.

From there, she began to fill her head with other things, like work, recreational activities, the Women's Association Club. Twenty-four hours of everyday, she used every free space save for her nightly eight hours, to focus on other things. So much, that it had come to the point that Toushirou intervened one afternoon she came by for tea.

"You look like you're going to doze off anytime soon," the younger man observed.

"It's just the hot tea," she said dismissively.

Toushirou placed his cup on the table and leaned back on his seat to give her a searching look.

"I can assure you," she added, without needing to look him in the eye to figure out he was trying to get her to talk, "that I am perfectly fine. I just wanted a change of momentum for a while."

"I don't believe it's because you've grown bored," Toushirou said.

Her eyes fluttered closed and she paused as if to calm herself. "Simply, because I wanted to do something different," she said. "That is all."

"Again," Toushirou said with evident persistence, "to say that, the only reason for you to simply just want a small change in your everyday routine is because everything has become dull." His eyes, green this moment from the lack of light, though not met by hers, were fiercely piercing. She was beginning to feel the pressure. He leaned forward on his knees and she looked at him then. "And I don't believe that," he said.

"What is it about me that I can't just simply do something? I don't have to have a hidden motive for actions some people find unusual of me."

"Because, usually, when you make a big deal out of something, it's because it is a big deal. You're that kind of person, Momo."

She fell silent, thoughtful. And nodded. "I am," she agreed.

Toushirou nodded at her as if prodding her. "Tell me what's up," he said.

At times, she was easy to read. She's had a good day, something happened at work, she's upset. Never had he dreamed he'd be bothered by -

"Have you ever felt anything for Rangiku?"

"Excuse me?" Toushirou had to stop halfway through lifting his tea cup to his lips.

"She's been your vice-captain for years. When you met her, or somewhere earlier on, whatever, at one point, have you ever felt anything for her?" There was an intensity in her eyes that rendered Toushirou unable to laugh hysterically at the absurdity of the question. This was a serious talk, as he had intended, but with how she was turning it around, he wasn't quite sure how to follow.

"Felt anything…like what?" he inquired carefully.

"Or now, maybe," she continued. "You're a grown-up man now. You're the only one that could keep Rangiku somewhat behaved. Has that chemistry ever bordered past a certain line?"

"You're asking me," Toushirou said, still speaking with caution, "and I'm going to be specific here, just so I'm sure…you're asking me if I have ever felt, for Matsumoto -" He narrowed his eyes at her, "- like…desire…love?" His eyes grew wide at the vigour of her nods at the last word.

"Or anyone you've known for so long," she added. "But I want to hear a separate answer regarding Rangiku first."

Toushirou glared at her. "No," he said coldly. "Only feelings of annoyance and frustration, and if she's pushing it, sometimes a desire to pull on my katana to commit a crime I'm tempted to risk my position and sword for." He paused, then said, "The same answer for anyone else you'll think of."

"Okay."

He let out a huge sigh before focusing on the actual topic at hand. "Who is it?" he asked.

"Izuru," she answered. She forced a smile. "I guess I wanted to avoid him as much as possible."

"You shouldn't do that."

"I know," she quickly answered. "It's just…I'm stalling. I mean, what else can I do?" She gripped her fingers around her tea cup and watched Toushirou scratch at his neck thoughtfully, giving him a moment to take the stage. But when he said nothing, which was what she expected in the first place, she shrugged and gave a listless smile. "You're a good captain, Shirou-chan," she said. "Your heart is stronger than your mind and you often found yourself in situations caused by, believe it or not, your impulsive actions. Regarding other people, however, reason and logic is your best bet, which works great for your clan. If I say I want to pursue this with thing with Izuru, you'll tell me not to…right?" She looked morose as Toushirou looked at the floor, because he knew she was right. "You'll tell me it'll only hurt me. That my not doing anything should ensure me from consequences, if there may be consequences." She inhaled sharply, her eyes glassy. "Right?" she asked.

Toushirou didn't know. Putting himself in her position, what would he do? Would he hear himself saying the same words she had spoken? Wouldn't he sound like, as she had sounded, like he had given up? Without knowing anything.

The door opened and into the room entered the tenth-division's vice captain, Matsumoto Rangiku. At the sight of today's visitor, her beautiful face broke into a grin.

"Momo!" she exclaimed excitedly. "You came to visit us again!"

Toushirou watched the two girls begin bonding, though his mind still in thought. How many centuries had it been? His eyes lingered upon his vice-captain's bright face, watching her change expressions every so often. How many centuries would it be? How sad would it be if Momo went on, without having given it a chance?

"Matsumoto!" Toushirou started up, as if an idea had struck him. "That envelope you were waving around yesterday…where is it?"

Rangiku raised an eyebrow. "Why would you want it?" she asked curiously. "You've got your own, haven't you? I put it on your desk. You haven't opened it yet?"

Toushirou stood and went to his desk, and just as Rangiku had said, a square silky white envelope sat atop yesterday's pile of paperwork. He took it and cleanly opened it.

"I've got an invitation, too," Momo said, her tone becoming excited now. "Can you believe it? From the moment they got together, they must have felt like they just couldn't wait." She sighed wistfully. "Kurosaki Rukia. It's got a nice ring to it, don't you think?" She and Rangiku shared giggles. "Oh, and it's awfully nice of Kuchiki-taichou to throw them an engagement party."

"They're nobles, after all," Toushirou said, after finishing reading his invitation. "They have to do such things publicly." He tossed the invitation back onto the desk. "You know," he said matter-of-factly, "everyone will be there."

Momo noticed his meaningful gaze, but she only looked away. It had only been a couple of days since the announcement of Kurosaki Ichigo and Kuchiki Rukia's engagement and the arrival of their invitations to the official engagement party. Everybody's talking about it. It's going to be quite a big event. It's already out in the paper, even. Momo was anxious, because Toushirou was right, everyone will be there. She blew out a nervous breath, feeling her younger brother's gaze still upon her. But what did he mean? Was he prodding her?

"Right," Toushirou said finally, breaking his eyes away from her and resting upon Rangiku, who looked curiously at him. "Matsumoto, the party's this coming weekend. Do you want to be each other's date?"

Rangiku blinked and froze for a good whole minute. "I'm sorry?" she said unsurely.

"I'll escort you," Toushirou tried again.

"But, Taichou, the invitees don't require dates," Rangiku pointed out.

The younger man shrugged. "But wouldn't it be nice to go with one?" he said.

Rangiku let out a breath of disbelief, but smiled all the same. "Well, yes, it would be nice," she said after a moment. "So…"

"So we'll go together," Toushirou said.

"We'll go together." Rangiku nodded, before looking toward Momo, as if asking her of an opinion. But Momo only cleared her throat and stood up.

"If you'll excuse me, I have to get back to my quarters," Momo said quietly.

She padded across the floor with silent footsteps and silently closed the door behind her. Toushirou watched and as soon as he knew she was out of earshot, he said to Rangiku, who was sitting on the edge of her seat, "Dress nice, Rangiku. And, no, I don't need anything right now, so you can go for the day."

Rangiku was out the door like a bullet. Later that night, she came to visit again, and told Toushirou that everyone knew they were going to the party together, and that the others were beginning to look for dates as well. He learned that Madarame and Ayasegawa are fighting over Ise Nanao, unbeknownst to them that she had already planned, though there was no actual agreement, to go with her captain, Kyoraku. Matsumoto witnessed Renji asking the first girl he came across with after being told about the dates; luckily it was someone he actually liked, Ichigo's younger sister, Yuzu. He also learned that Shuuhei was asked by his officer and fellow reporter, Reiko, and as awkward as it may have felt, it was just too difficult to say no. And he also learned that Izuru had yet to ask anyone.

Perhaps it was because Momo had locked herself up in her quarters, cautious of whoever comes up to her door. So far, no one has asked her yet. Or perhaps no one ever got to. But the seed has been planted. Eventually, Izuru will have to sow. It'll all depend on who he chooses. Then Momo can end what could be unnecessary suffering, or begin a chance at happiness.

****

It must have been ten to ten. She was clad in her sleepwear, about ready to set her futon on the floor, when a silent knocking came from her door. All day there had been knocks, all of which she ignored. Stopping in the middle of unfolding her futon, she waited until the person from the other side would shrug their shoulders and assume that she must have already gone to bed. But another knock came, this time followed by a familiar voice.

"Momo?"

Tingles crawled along her skin and her heart began to beat faster.

"It's Izuru."

She dropped her futon and hurried to the mirror, patting down her hair which she had just taken off from her bun. They were nicely wavy and she gave them a little lift, and with some jelly she glossed her lips.

"Are you really asleep?"

"I'm coming!" she called out. She hurried to the door, but before opening, she stopped. What am I doing? Am I really ready for this?

Nevertheless, Izuru already knew she was up and she still had to open the door.

There was a sort of relieved expression on his face when the light from her room showed on it, and he smiled as he took a small bundle of her long hair. "Quite long," he said.

"Hi," she said shyly, though she didn't mean to. "Um…what's up?"

"Haven't seen you in a while."

"Yeah, I've been doing some stuff."

"I heard."

Momo nodded. What to say, really?

"So…Kurosaki and Kuchiki's engagement party…" Izuru began. "Everybody's going in pairs, did you know?"

"Well…I was there when Shirou-chan asked Rangiku," she said. "I know, it took me by surprise, too. Didn't think he was one for dates."

"I hope nobody's asked you yet. Or rather, you haven't agreed to anyone yet."

"Why do you hope so?" Her heart began beating faster still.

"I hope you'd come with me."

Her chest could explode. But it didn't, and all she could do was lamely stand by the door and look at her feet as her cheeks began to blush. "Well," she said, shrugging, "if nobody else said yes."

"You're the only one I asked."

"Oh. Well. Okay."

Izuru's face broke into a grin. "Okay?"

"Yeah."

"Right, well. Great."

"Okay."

It was an awkward goodnight, Izuru lingered, but there was not much to say. So they waved shyly and he walked away.

She needed to be well-rested and fresh-faced, especially since Toushirou had been teasing her about the dark circles under her eyes. So the night before the actual party, she had to take a strong sleeping aid, because she could hardly sleep with the anxiety and excitement and the nervousness for what she was finally allowing to unfold.

A/N: First of all, Happy New Year to everyone. Hope you had a good time during the holidays.

And second of all, I updated later than I planned, so for that I apologize. I would also like to apologize if there had been some typos (really, I'm not sure where) because I was too lazy to edit. =p

And third of all, I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well. Please don't forget to review. Once again, a Happy New Year to all.