Chapter Ten: Getting Your Woman Back
Two days.
Two days.
That's how long it's been since Toushiro has showered, shaved, eaten, slept, or left his office.
The woman he had loved—correction, was still in love with, had left him. She was completely gone and this time, she wouldn't be coming back. Ever.
Master, you have to get up his ice dragon spoke to him.
Why? What's the fucking point?! He snapped.
You aren't going to win her back by sitting here in your own filth sulking. Now get off your sorry ass and go get her!
What's the fucking POINT?! She's gone damit! She isn't even in Soul Society anymore. She left for the real world on a permanent vacation. She doesn't even want to be in the same realm with me. So what is the fucking POINT?! His reiatsu shot up and he froze everything within his division.
Master, please, try to calm down the ice dragon pleaded with the boy genius captain.
Shutup!
The dragon quickly disappeared back into the shadows of Toushiro's mind and closed his eyes locking itself inside an ice cocoon.
"Yo Toushiro, you in there?" he heard a knock at the door.
"Go away!" he shouted.
"Look man, I know you're upset and all, but you don't have to take your frustration out on me", his visitor snapped.
"Shutup!" he screamed as his reiatsu sky rocketed and his hair turned to ice while his eyes grew dark and vanished into darkness.
"Hey! Just what the hell is—"
But before his visitor could finish their sentence, Toushiro leaped through the door, shattering it into pieces and pinning the annoyance against the wall.
"Ichigo", he grinned as pieces of a hollow mask began to appear around his left eye.
"Toushiro, what happened to you?" Ichigo asked.
"Why, what's the matter? Thought you were the only one who was half hollow?" his grin widened as a small laugh escaped his lips.
"Dude, I know you're upset but—"
"Upset. UPSET!" he throw Ichigo across the hall. "Upset doesn't even begin to describe the pain I feel. How about depressed, angry, hurt, empty, hollow", he chuckled at the last word. "I feel like a damn fool", he shouted.
"And you are if you continue on this way", he saw Ichigo stand from the pile of rubble he created and grab hold of his zanpakuto.
"You wanna play, let's play", Toushiro laughed and grabbed his zanpakuto as well but paused when it didn't respond to him.
"What's the matter?" Ichigo smirked. "Your zanpakuto not working for ya?"
"I don't understand", Toushiro looked at his zanpakuto. "Why won't it work?" he yelled.
"Because, you're being a jackass right now", Ichigo lunged for Toushiro. "Your zanpakuto won't work for you when you're like this", he said as their swords clashed.
"But I've seen yours work a dozen times", Toushiro slashed at Ichigo's head, missing by mere centimeters.
"That's because I'm not in danger of dying and neither are you, yet", Ichigo leaped in the air and pummeled into Toushiro. "And I already got a hair cut so I don't need another one!" he pushed Toushiro back.
"Well, I think you missed a spot", he chuckled.
"That does it", Ichigo pinned him against the wall by the base of his neck. "Listen you cocky bastard, I know you're hurting and you feel like you have nothing to live for, but it was your choice to sit here and not go after her. Until you go after her and she tells you to your face she really doesn't want you anymore, you have no reason to be depressed" he dropped Toushiro to the floor. "Oh, and one more thing", he grabbed the back of Toushiro's neck. "This is going to hurt", he said as he punched Toushiro in the face and the hollow mask shattered into pieces as his hair melted and went back to its original snowy white color.
Ichigo was right. It did hurt but not so much physically as it mentally, still . . . why did he have to hit so damn hard?
"Better?" Ichigo asked pulling Toushiro to his feet.
"Actually, yeah", he punched Ichigo in the face. "I feel much better", he smirked.
"Great. Now what are we going to do?" Ichigo smiled.
"I'm going to go get my woman back", Toushiro smiled back.
"Now that's what I like to hear but first, how about we go see Unohana-taicho and she can fix us up?" Ichigo grabbed he jaw. "I think you knocked a tooth loose", Ichigo laughed.
"Yeah. I think you did as well", Toushiro also laughed.
Toushiro woke up feeling happier than he ever or at least happier than he had felt for the past two days.
"Morning Hitsugaya-taicho", Rukia waved to him from across Ichigo's breakfast table.
"Morning", Toushiro nodded.
"Hey Ichigo, what's taking you so long?" Rukia shouted in the direction of the kitchen.
"I'm coming, I'm coming. Just keep your shirt on will ya?" he griped at Rukia.
"Well, I would have had someone not tried to rape me last night", she teased Ichigo as he came over and planted a big kiss on her forehead.
"Well, I'm not the one who started it. You're the one who wanted to play naughty nurse and injured patient, remember?" he wriggled his eyebrows. Rukia blushed.
Toushiro truly admired them. They seem to know exactly how to have a good relationship and let nothing stand in the way of their love.
And Ichigo, Toushiro thought was truly amazing. He wasn't even a grown man yet, hell, he wasn't even sixteen yet but he seemed to know everything about relationships that Toushiro had yet to comprehend.
Toushiro sometimes doubted whether he and Rangiku should get married at all. Since neither of them knew how to sustain a good relationship but then he'd see her smiling face lying next to him and all his doubts would melt away.
"I'm sorry, are we embarrassing you?" Ichigo looked at Toushiro concerned.
"Actually, you're making me quite happy", he smiled.
"Really?" they both asked in unison.
"I mean, I look at the two of you and see what I want me and Rangiku to have. I really admire you two", he answered truthfully.
"Wow", Rukia's face lit up. "Thank you".
"Yeah man. That was beautiful", Ichigo wiped a tear from his eye.
"Are you crying Ichigo", she asked.
"No", he snapped. "I've just got something in my eye", he lied.
"Aww Ichigo. It's okay. I thought it was beautiful too", she got up and hugged Ichigo.
Toushiro just had to smile at the two. He truly wanted that for him and Rangiku and wasn't going to stop until they had it. Or some version of it at least.
"So, who wants eggs?" Ichigo wiped his last tear and held up a pan of hot eggs.
"I do", Rukia shrieked.
"No thank you", Toushiro nodded. "I don't eat eggs".
"Oh man. I'm sorry", Ichigo panicked. "I should have asked what you liked. I'll go make something else", he scrambled into the kitchen.
"That's really not necessary", Toushiro shouted in Ichigo's direction.
"You sure?" Ichigo asked.
"I'll just have tea", Toushiro nodded.
"We have French toast too", Ichigo brought over a plate of French toast and a bottle of syrup.
"What's French toast?" Toushiro looked at the plate of browned and cinnamon toast.
"Ooo! Can I tell him Ichigo?" Rukia bounce up and down in her seat, giving everyone at the table a peep show of her boobs.
"Rukia!" Ichigo exclaimed trying to cover up her assets. "Cover those things up, we have company!" he shrieked.
"Sorry. I can't help it. Maybe if you didn't wear such tight shirts all the time they'd fit me", she snapped.
"All the better to show you my assets", he nuzzled her neck.
Toushiro choked on his tea as he began laughing uncontrollably.
"What's so funny?" Ichigo glared at him.
"You two", he laughed tears flowing from his eyes.
"Well, I guess it was kind of funny", Rukia blushed.
"I guess", Ichigo kissed her cheek and sat down next to her.
"Ichigo, we're here!" a bright bubbly voice called from the living room.
Toushiro turned around to see Orihime, smiling brightly in a blue sundress; Chad, in a Hawaiian shirt with black shorts; and Uryuu, with a plain white t-shirt and blue jeans. Then he saw someone else come in behind them, wearing a pink halter top, a beige shirt and pink sandels. When he looked up at the face, his eyes went wide and a small smile formed on his lips.
Just as he was about to say 'hi', Rangiku frowned and said, "What the hell is he doing here?"
"He is here having breakfast", Ichigo glared at her. "Just like you are", he added.
"Suddenly I've lost my appetite", she hmphed and stormed off.
"Get back here!" Ichigo shouted to her. "Now I invited all of you as well as Toushiro to have breakfast with us and damit that's what we're going to do", he slammed his fist on the table. "Now sit down and eat. Do I make myself clear?"
Everyone scrambled to find a seat and sat down at the table not saying a word. Even Rangiku, who took no orders from any man, looked scared to say anything.
"Good", Ichigo smiled. "Oh shit! The bacon", he rushed back into the kitchen.
"So", Rukia cleared her throat. "How has everybody been?" she asked.
"Fine", Orihime gulped. Uryuu and Chad just nodded. Toushiro didn't know what to say and Rangiku just folded her arms.
"Sorry I'm late", a loud voice boomed through the house slamming the door behind their entry.
"There. Saved the bacon", Ichigo sighed then looked at the late guest. "Renji, I told your ass to be here at eight. What part of eight don't you understand?" Ichigo snapped.
"Chill", he waved the angry orange haired chef (Ichigo not Orihime) off. "Don't get your panties in a bunch".
"What the . . . why you . . ." Ichigo's temper began to boil. "Just sit down so we can eat", he glared at the red haired shinigami.
"Hey Hitsugaya-taicho", Renji greeted Toushiro. "How are ya?" he asked.
"Okay", he nodded.
"May I be excused?" Rangiku slammed her fists down on the table as she stood up.
"No", Ichigo said curtly. "Sit back down and eat", he glared at her.
"How can you expect me to eat beside him?!" she pointed to Toushiro, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Because", Ichigo stood up and shouted back. "He is your fiancé—"
"Ex-fiancé", she corrected him.
"Whatever", Ichigo snapped. "The point is, you love him and he loves you and you two are miserable and miss each other".
"Is that true?" she asked Toushiro.
"Well, that's why I came", he smirked goofily.
"Why do we go outside and eat on the patio, eh Ichigo?" Rukia cooed at him.
"Uh sure", he nodded and grabbed the plates. "Guys, let's give them some privacy", he nodded to the screen door.
"But we wanna watch", Renji whined.
"Outside, NOW!" Ichigo bellowed. Then everyone scrambled to their feet, grabbed their plates, glasses, and silverware and raced outside. "Now you two kids kiss and make now ya hear?" Ichigo smiled. "Oh, and one more thing", he paused. "Don't trash the house".
After Ichigo and the others had left, Toushiro stood and walked over to the couch and sat down beside her, but not too close.
"So . . ." Toushiro started. "How have you been?" he asked.
"Miserable", she answered. "And you?"
"Torn to pieces", he replied. "Rangiku, I miss you and I want you back", he confessed.
"I miss you too but I can't overlook the fact that you kissed Momo", she looked at him.
"Damit Rangiku", he stood up and glared at her. "I didn't kiss Momo", he clenched his fists.
"Not the way I saw it", she hmphed.
Toushiro was beginning to loose his cool. It seemed no matter how hard he tried, she wouldn't forget about that stupid kiss.
And that's when it hit Toushiro, Rangiku was never going to forgive him or take him and there was he could do for her to come around on her own, so he would have to force her. And not as her fiancé, but as her captain.
"Get up Matsumoto", he ordered.
"What?" she stared at him confused. "Why? I don't—"
"Matsumoto-fukutaicho", he bellowed. "That was not a request, that was an order".
"Yes taicho", she bowed then stood to her feet.
"Follow me", he commanded.
"Yes taicho", she repeated.
When they got outside, Toushiro stopped and looked at Ichigo.
"Do have an abandoned park or someplace where we can go?" Toushiro asked.
"Uh . . . no", Ichigo answered him. "But you may wanna try the riverbank. It's usually pretty empty and secluded".
"Great. How do we get to this . . . uh . . . riverbank?" he asked.
"Uh, you keep walking til you hit the bridge and the river is right underneath. Just take the steps leading to the bank", Ichigo answered.
"Thank you Ichigo", Toushiro nodded and headed toward the gate, with Rangiku in tow.
"Hey wait!" Ichigo jumped from his chair. "What do you plan to do at the riverbank?" he shouted.
"I plan to fight Matsumoto-fukutaicho", he smirked.
"What?!" everyone shrieked including Rangiku.
Toushiro knew the only way to get her back was to force her hand and that meant dueling her to the death.
If she truly loved him, she wouldn't fight him. Or kill him at least. But if she really hated his guts and wanted him gone, she'd not only beat him to a pulp but rip out his heart and leave him for dead.
Toushiro knew he was putting his life on the line, but if that's what it took to win her heart all over again, then that's what he would do.
Awww . . . sorry, but this where I have to cut you off. But good news is . . . but I can't tell you that either. You'll just have to wait for the next chapter. Please review.