The truth behind the smile
Disclaimer: I own nothing!!
9 months before the execution
"Kira Izuru, how nice to see you again!" said Onabara Gengoro, "It is always a delight when my former students come to visit me. I hope you are doing well?"
Kira bowed, "As well as can be expected sensei."
Onabara nodded looking solemn, "You are of course referring to the impending executions. A sad matter, a truly sad matter. I taught both Tosen and Ichimaru of course." said Onabara, "Indeed Ichimaru was in the very first special advanced class that I undertook as head teacher. Ichimaru was something: so young, so talented, so focused on his studies. He had an almost insatiable thirst for knowledge and the power that went with it. Only thing that could distract him from his almost terrifying pursuit of knowledge was Matsumoto Rangiku. I don't know if I would call it love, mostly because there was something about Ichimaru that made me think he wasn't capable of that emotion, but he certainly liked being with her. He was so very possessive of her. When they were together, he would always hold her hand. He had an intimadating smile for anyone who dared approach her while she was with him. He also sneaked into the girls' dorm every night to be with her. Of course the other girls complained. Not that he did anything but they found his very presence creepy. It got to the point that I had to have a talk with him. The single most frightening experience of my life. He didn't say or do anything. Just sat there listening and grinning. I never would have believed how effective grinning could be as an act of intimidation till I met Ichimaru Gin," Onabara shivered slightly at the very memory of it, "Truth be told Kira, I am not surprised Ichimaru is heading to the gaols. Not the least bit surprised."
"Most people aren't," agreed Kira, "I don't think anyone really trusted him. Even Matsumoto-san didn't have any difficulty believing he was a traitor, though she was surprised by it. Aizen and Tosen came more as a shock."
"I am not surprised. I didn't have Aizen as a student but I did ran into him from time to time when he came to teach his calligraphy course or just to inspect the students. Always found him a polite pleasant man. I never understood how a man like that could tolerate Ichimaru as a vice-captain. Couldn't imagine too people more different from each other. But I guess the truth of the matter was that they were both the same. Ichimaru just never bother hiding his true face or rather, the mask he wore was more overt. Because who really knows what's going on underneath that grin save Gin himself."
Kira nodded, "Sensei, what happened after you had your talk? Did he stop visiting Matsumoto-san?" he wondered.
"He stopped going to the girls' dorm yes. She sneaked into the boys' dorm once or twice. The boys didn't mind, Ichimaru did. They started sleeping out in the grounds. If the weather was unfavorable they would spend the night in the library or in one of the classrooms. In the end, I gave in and had Matsumoto moved to a room by herself and Ichimaru pretty much moved in with her. Though his presence in the room wasn't official due to the fact that the room was in the girls' dorm." he explained, "That was the arrangement for the last six months of the only year he spent in the academy," explained Onabara, "I think you know what happened after. He graduated top of everything. Got offers from almost every squad in the Gotei 13 and the OnmitsukidÅ. He chose squad five, I guess it was because they offered him a seated position. Not the third seat of course, but something fairly high. He got the third seat when the then third seat died during a routine patrol shortly after he joined the squad."
Kira felt no need to inform Onabara that the former third seat of the fifth squad had not died during a routine patrol but had actually been killed by Ichimaru. "Was squad five the only squad to offer him the seated position?" wondered Kira.
"Hmm... come to think of it now, I believe squad three and seven did as well. But I am not certain what seats they were," replied Onabara.
Kira nodded, "Sensei, if it is not too much trouble, may I ask if he continued his visits to Matsumoto-san after he graduated."
Onabara thought for awhile, "I don't think he did. Well not at first. Certainly, I remember this short period of time when Matsumoto missed a lot of classes. Her grades dropped and she came close to failing several of her subjects. Every time I saw her she had this lost expression on her face. She gave up her single room, saying she didn't need it any more. After awhile, things improved with her. She became cheerful again, her grades improved but she wasn't quite what she used to be. But then, all of a sudden she was completely back to her old self and more! Soon after that the girls started complaining about Ichimaru sneaking into the girls' dorm. Certainly he didn't do it every night but he did it frequently enough for me to give Matsumoto her old room back," he shook his head, "I often thought about having a word with Matsumoto in regards to Ichimaru. I mean, she was a child and I knew she didn't have anyone. She certainly had no adult advising her. But I doubt a girl as intelligent as her did not know Ichimaru was not good for her. I think she knew full well, I just don't think she cared."
They sat in silence for awhile before Onabara asked, "How is she taking his impending execution?"
"Not well," answered Kira truthfully, "She tried to kill herself. If it hadn't been for the fortunate presence of Hisagi-san and Captain Komamura, she would be dead by now. After Captain Unohana managed to save her from the poison, she started wasting away. She lost the will to live, was what Captain Unohana said. Captain Unohana had no choice but to move her into his cell. I haven't been back since I helped them move her in, but I hear she is improving. In fact, they say she has improved to the point that Captain-commander Yamamoto is thinking of having her removed back to Sougou Kyuugo Tsumesho."
"I see," said Onabara, still digesting the information, "That is sad but not entirely unexpected. I hope she finds the strength in her to face the world without him. She has it. I am certain she does. I would hate to have to attend her funeral," he signed, "No, no, her funeral should be well after mine. As should yours, Kira Izuru, as should yours. Take care of yourself, won't you."
Kira bowed, "Thank you for your kind words Onabara sensei. Let me return them to you by wishing you a long and happy life. I would hate to have to attend your funeral any time soon, too." Onabara laughed and after few more exchanges of pleasantries Kira left.
I think I am beginning to know you a little better Captain, he found himself thinking as he walked back to squad three, At least I know more of your life. But I feel like I am missing something. Some big piece of the puzzle. Why DID you choose squad five? Was it simply because they offered you a higher seat? You couldn't have know about Aizen Souske before you joined as I doubt Vice-captain Aizen Souske would have been a regular at the academy as Captain Aizen Souske. Was your sole motivation the higher seat? How DID you come to kill the third seat? Did Aizen spur you on? It would have been pretty bold to kill the seat on a whim. Even if you succeeded in hiding the crime, there was no guarantee the seat would go to you. Should I just conclude that after you joined squad five, Aizen saw your potential immediately and suggested to you that if you succeed in killing the third seat, the seat will be yours? Should I just assume you did it all because, as you said to Matsumoto-san, you are good with the deadly sins? Would you, Captain, give me a straight answer to any of these question if I ask them of you? Probably not, which is a pity because I am running out of people to ask. But the last person on my list is Neliel Tu Oderschvank and I am keen to hear the history she would tell of you.
"Do I have to leave right now?" wondered Rangiku a little sadly, after Isane explained to her that she was now deemed strong enough to be removed back to Sougou Kyuugo Tsumesho.
"No not immediately," replied Isane with a reassuring smile, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder "But soon. Maybe tomorrow or the day after. Let's make it the day after. The Shingami women's association is meeting on that day. We can have a party to celebrate you regaining your health."
"Now that would be nice, won't it Rangiku," Ichimaru joined in, "Ya always loved a party," Rangiku smiled but it didn't reach her eyes, "What ya worried about. I ain't dy'n for another nine months and Captain commander-san hasn't revoked yer permission ta come visit me. Just don' try ta kill yerself again and they'll let ya out. Then ya can come visit me anytime ya want. I mean, it ain't like I am go'n anywhere."
This time Rangiku did managed a smile that reach all the way to her eyes, "I think I'll do just that!" she agreed.
"Matsumoto-san," whispered Isane, it was then that Rangiku noticed that she hadn't removed her hand from her shoulder, "I think you should come with me right now to see Captain Unohana. I mean, you are strong enough to walk right? I don't want you fatiguing yourself."
Rangiku was a little surprised, "What... sure, yes I can walk. But why the change? I thought you said I could leave tomorrow or the day after even."
"Yes, but that was before I knew you were pregnant," Isane told her, "This room messes with my senses but when I laid my hand on you... I can sense it. It's only a few days old but it's there."
Ichimaru's eyes were open, shock shining through them, "Wait! We actually succeeded? We manage ta make a baby?" he demanded.
Rangiku looked equally shocked but then a look of pure happiness spread over her features, "Gin I am going to have a baby!"
"Wait! Wait! You two were trying to have a baby?" asked Isane, looking slightly scandalized.
"Well we didn' exactly do anything we haven' done thousands of times before," said Ichimaru, "Don' usually manage ta make a baby, except for that one time..." he trailed off, certain that Isane remembered that incident having played a small part in that drama.
Alluding to her previous miscarriage, however, had been a bad move. The happiness immediately left her to be replaced with abject terror, "No! Not this time! Isane," she cried clutching her, "I can't lose this baby too. Please, please, please I'll do anything you and Captain Unohana tell me to. But I can't lose this baby."
"Calm down, Matsumoto-san," said Isane, "Right now the best thing you can do for the baby is calm down. Spirit bodies are not like living bodies. The 'will' matters. That's why accidental pregnancies are so rare in Soul Society but not all that uncommon in the living world. If you were actually trying to have a baby, your chances of success would be significantly higher," she explained as Ichimaru left his own bed and came to sit next to Rangiku, pulling her into his arms. An act that seemed to immediately calm her.
Isane started pacing around the room, thinking. "I think," she said after awhile, "I think you should stay here Matsumoto-san till I go get Captain Unohana. The fact that you had a miscarriage in the past had slipped my mind. I'll bring her and she'll know what to do," with that she left.
They sat in silence for a little while. Still getting used to the news. Finally Rangiku looked him full in the face and said, "Gin we are going to have a baby! I am finally getting my family!" Her smile was back and Gin couldn't remember when he had ever seen her this happy.
He smiled a genuine smile and looked at her fully with those stunning blue eyes of his and said, "Yeah ya are and I am glad. Now ya'll finally have all the love I never manage ta give ya."
Author's note: The whole Rangiku having a miscarriage is from my story September. What can I say, I like trying to have some sort of continuity between my fics if possible. Thanks for reading and thank you for all the reviews, I do like reading them.