A/N: Even though I totally failed this week, a special thanks again to Shamork. 8-) And a thanks to everyone who's put up with my insane lack of self discipline.
There's a contest happening over at LiveJournal, in the HitsuMatsu community, of course. Details at the bottom. Go check it out!!
Ah, now, the fun part! Please enjoy!
-Rachel Noelle
Chapter Nine – Surprises
(25-28 wks.)
oOoOo—RN—oOoOo
"Thank you so much, Hanataro," Rangiku greeted her newfound helping hand at the door. Over the last month he'd become rather a regular in the Hitsugaya household, and neither occupant could think of any gift greater. With Hitsugaya still out on missions every chance Ukitake had to send him, it made even the simplest of chores around the home monotonous and insanity inducing for Matsumoto, especially with no one but herself and Haineko for company.
Matsumoto's other friends, mostly Nanao, often dropped by as well, but Hanataro's presence was less of a pull from their daily work, as it had become his new assignment.
"I brought the chocolate like you asked, Rangiku-san," Hanataro offered a weighted box, decorated with a shiny bow atop it. "The lady at the candy counter wanted to make sure I had a special box to put it in," he smiled.
Matsumoto smiled softly back. "Well, then, as soon as I get the living room cleaned, we'll get started on Valentine's chocolates."
Hanataro gave a lopsided smile as he walked through the door and proceeded to help Matsumoto finish up the living room.
After putting the broom away Hanataro and Matsumoto gave identical relieved sighs then laughed together. "Why don't we get washed up and we'll get started on those chocolates. I bought a special mold for you to use for that cute little Megumi in the Eighth." Matsumoto wriggled her eyebrows suggestively, causing Hanataro to blush profusely.
"But, Rangiku-san, how did you-?" Hanataro began stuttering. Matsumoto just smiled a knowing smile.
"I also bought one for Toshiro and Kazuki. Even though Kazuki can't use it yet, not really, I thought he'd like hearing about it later," Matsumoto mused. She proceeded to the kitchen and began washing up.
After Hanataro's blush calmed down, he washed and helped set up the pans and molds for the chocolates. Carefully instructing Hanataro with her understated talents in an understated art form, Matsumoto successfully melted and molded seventy-four 'friends' chocolates, twenty-two 'best friends' chocolates, and three 'romance' chocolates. The chocolate meant for Kazuki was not for romance, but she simply did not possess a 'family' or 'child' mold.
"I think Hitsugaya-san and Kazuki-san will love them, Rangiku-san," Hanataro applauded his and Matsumoto's handiwork.
"Megumi is sure to love hers, too," Matsumoto chimed back. Hanataro blushed again, but not as fiercely.
"Do you really think so, Rangiku-san?" Hanataro mumbled softly. Matsumoto nodded enthusiastically.
Matsumoto started toward the door and into the living room, Hanataro following uncertainly. "I need to rest, my everything aches, and I've done all the precision work I can for one day. I'm becoming rather clumsy as this pregnancy progresses. I, for one, will be most delighted when Kazuki is born and my body goes back to sort of normal," Matsumoto smiled, patting a seat on the sofa beside her, inviting Hanataro to sit.
Hanataro, still ever cautious around Hitsugaya when it came to matters of his family, carefully sat beside Matsumoto. They shared the now cold tea Matsumoto had unintentionally left behind from the morning cleaning, taking turns amusing one another with silly faces as they drank. After a long, restful silence, Hanataro braved asking the one question he had hoped to have answered from the moment he awoke that day.
"Rangiku-san, how can you tell when you love someone?" Hanataro spoke bravely.
"Hm…" Matsumoto considered. "Well, I suppose it depends. Sometimes, it's obvious. Like, with friends and family. Sometimes you fight, but ultimately you get a warm feeling when you think of them. Your heart just feels nice and cozy. And you always want to stick up for them." She paused for a few more moments to think.
Hanataro waited impatiently, trying to disguise his fidgeting as much as possible. "Sometimes, when you fall in love, it happens slowly, and sometimes it happens very fast. And there are several stages and depths to love. For Shunsui and Nanao, she always loved him, initially as something of a big brother, and then she realized her feelings were of attraction. And it was obvious he returned the sentiment. She said it was like being splashed in the face with buckets of ice water when she realized. Cold and shocking, but awaking every nerve ending in your body."
Matsumoto paused again. "So, it feels like that? Does it always feel like that?" Hanataro asked.
Matsumoto shook her head. "No, sometimes it's the fuzzy feeling you get because he came home, came back to you. When you're so excited to see someone again, just to see their creepy smile or hear their sly talk," Matsumoto smiled wryly. "And then, there's the best kind. The kind that sneaks up on you and you never realize it changes until you're falling flat on your back, and there's someone there to catch you. Suddenly, something happens to trip you up, mess up your routine, but someone else is beside you, sticking it out to the end. Agreeing to help you, hold you, no matter what. Your heart just beats so fast you can barely breathe, and then it stops. And you take a breath just in time for your lips to clash, and…" Matsumoto trailed off, not sure how else to explain things.
"And…?" Hanataro prompted.
"Well, it gets kind of graphic from there, really. Then you end up like Toshiro and me."
Waiting a few beats, Hanataro ventured again, "So, when I feel like I- I'm going to faint because she's t-touching me, is that love? Or, or, would it be, erm, when she whispers something, uh, just for, um, me?" Hanataro's blush caused his entire face to heat, spreading to his chest and ears, and any other visible part of his upper body.
Matsumoto laughed sweetly. "That sounds like love to me. I imagine she feels the same way. I've seen her a few times, usually standing in the courtyard in Eighth, talking about the adorable boy from Fourth."
Matsumoto was certain that if Hanataro blushed harder he would simply explode. She smiled and laughed again, her lilting voice catching the ears of Hitsugaya as he walked through the door. Looking from the laughing Matsumoto to the very red Hanataro quizzically, he hung his haori and zanpakuto in their designated spots and took a seat on an armchair.
"Rangiku, what have you done to Yamada-san?" Hitsugaya asked, looking worried now.
Matsumoto shrugged, still chuckling. "Absolutely nothing. I just told him what he wanted to hear, which is also the truth."
A casual conversation among the three – recapping the day's events – later, Hanataro gathered his chocolates, thanking Matsumoto again and again for her help, and bid the couple goodbye.
"He's been such an amazing help, Toshiro. And it's so good to see you home." Matsumoto strode casually over to Hitsugaya, sitting in his lap. "I've missed you and, uh, little Hyourinmaru," Matsumoto glanced lecherously downward, "very much these last couple days."
Hitsugaya, thanking the gods Hanataro had left for the day, blushed lightly himself. Never one to admit defeat prematurely, Hitsugaya huskily growled back, "And I've missed you. 'Little' Hyourinmaru and I have been incredibly lonesome." Hitsugaya placed his hands lightly on Matsumoto's waist.
Matsumoto quickly straightened herself, removing Hitsugaya's hands from her waist. "Good. We can remedy your little problem later. I have something for you first." She smiled cheerfully, as though she hadn't just pushed all of the right buttons and got Hitsugaya turned on just enough to be miserable for a while. He gave her an incredibly miffed look, frowning heavily.
"Matsumoto! If you weren't pregnant I'd show you differently," Hitsugaya grumbled, trying to find any way to get the beginnings of an erection to go away. "Damnable woman. As soon as she's able, I'm going to take her out to the sparring arena and… beat her senseless." Hitsugaya resisted using the swear word he was thinking. Matsumoto decreed that they both should work on learning what not to say and when not to say it, so that when the time came Kazuki would be exposed to as little inappropriate language as possible.
Though, now he considered it, coming from Matsumoto, not learning how to be inappropriate seemed ironic.
Before he could give it further thought, Matsumoto walked through the door of the living room carrying three packages. Two were obviously Valentine's chocolates, while Hitsugaya had little to no clue what the third could contain.
"You're not supposed to get these until tomorrow, but I was too excited to wait any longer," Matsumoto held out on box of chocolates. Hitsugaya opened it, finding a few small chocolates and one large chocolate. He plucked one of the smaller chocolates out of the box and stuck it in his mouth to savor. Matsumoto held the other Valentine box out. "I know he can't use it, or see it, or even understand it, but I made one for Kazuki, too," Matsumoto smiled.
Hitsugaya grinned back to receive a small stream of happy tears from Matsumoto. Hitsugaya stood and hugged her softly, giving her a soft kiss on the cheek. "It's a wonderful idea. I'm sure he loves it."
When Matsumoto composed herself again she presented Hitsugaya with the third box, ornately gift wrapped. It was long and about as wide as it was thick. The green wrapping paper was a vibrant shade that Hitsugaya thought made a beautiful compliment to Matsumoto's skin.
"I promised I'd get you something for your birthday, but you didn't really want it then, and you've been gone every time I turn around for the last month and a half, I haven't been able to give it to you yet." Matsumoto proudly presented the box. Hitsugaya carefully received it, feeling the slight weight to it.
Hitsugaya examined the box carefully, turning it this way and that, to decide the best method of opening with the least damage to the paper. Even with gifts he was a meticulous as with his duties. Carefully sliding a finger beneath a loosened flap pf the paper, he proceeded to remove the decorations and revealed a black velveteen box. Cautiously opening it, he smiled, seeing the object inside.
Laying in black cloth and of the shiniest silver Hitsugaya could remember was a miniature sword. A little less than half the size of Haineko, and a third the weight, the sword bore a simple star-shaped hilt and the inscription of "To our son, with love."
"It's amazing," Hitsugaya gasped.
"I wanted to make sure you would be the first to teach him to wield a sword, so I bought one you can give him when he's old enough," Matsumoto smiled. She hugged Hitsugaya tightly, purposely keeping his head from the middle of her chest.
A moment passed and Hitsugaya laid the box and its contents on the sofa. He grabbed Matsumoto roughly about the waist, growling, "Now, how about we take care of the little situation you left me with a few minutes ago?"
All Matsumoto could do was squeal in excitement.
oOoOo—RN—oOoOo
Notes:
- The clumsy thing is true. A certain hormone in a pregnant woman's body sort of preps her bones and ligaments for child birth. This hormone 'stretches' things, so that when the woman goes into labor it's easier for the baby to come out of the birthing canal. Unfortunately, since it loosens all the ligaments and things, it makes her more prone to accidents, like tripping. So, no flip-flops or heels. Find some comfy flats. (I know, I can't imagine a life without flip-flops... Horrible!!!)
- I still yawn whenever I read that last chapter, Hahaha.
- Megumi means 'Blessing.'
- I didn't really do too much with true Japanese customs on Valentine's, since the differences between White's Day and Valentine's kind of still confuse me. So, don't expect too much about White's.
Also, the HitsuMatsu community on LiveJournal is having a contest. I will be writing and submitting for it, so you'll have to head over there and vote for me (I'll post it here later), and enter yourselves! The theme is Valentine's/White's, and they've given a few prompts. You can enter in fanfic, fanart, and captions. Check it out at: community(dot)livejournal(dot)com/hitsumatsu/93352(dot)html.