A/N-Hello! It's me…again…excited aren't ya? Lol. Okay…I am still working on the requests and having the time of my life. I find myself working on those instead of homework …bum …bum …bum …anyway… "Frost Bite" is a request from heidi-mayer87. I hope it lives up to your expectations. I wrote it at work (I work at a call center) in between calls on Saturday..he he he… musicallady1 and her crazy southern mind came up with the question as to whether or not the females shinigami have monthly visitors. I answered her question in "Curiosity is in the Bag". The other two were the result of my inquisitive mind putting my thoughts on "spin cycle." Hope you enjoy. And I don't own the characters…just the stories within…lucky me.

janabananah

My heroes

I disobeyed him. Sometimes intuition outweighs orders. This was one of those times.

Whether or not he didn't want me involved was irrelevant. I am not in need of a hero. It's my job to be a hero…not a victim. He shouldn't waste his chivalry on me. He should be someone else's hero.

As I reached my front door I felt the crushing release of Hyorinmaru. It knocked the wind out of me. I knew that whatever was happening…it wasn't good. I hesitated for a moment. He had ordered me to go home. It wasn't a request. It was an order.

"Oh, hell!" I thought to myself as I took off running to where my Captain was. "Hopefully he will forgive my insubordination."

I ran upon a scene and was it a horrific sight. Poor little Momo was knocked out on the ground. Her petite form was calm and pale. She was bleeding from her hands. I looked up to watch in disbelief as my Captain had Gin within his grasp. I felt the strings on my heart pull tighter. This could not be happening. This could not be happening. All this time…Gin really was behind all of this? My heart sank but I wasn't surprised. I think deep down I knew it all along.

"Ikorose, Shinso." I heard Gin say. Those words always could evoke a feeling of dread deep within my soul. I was relieved when I saw my Captain dodge. This had to end. When Gin's blade did not retract as 

my Captain dodged I was able to ascertain his goal. He was going to kill Momo to get to my Captain. How cruel. I would never let that happen. Never.

I ran as fast as I could and drew my sword to absorb the blow. I felt it crack slightly under my hands but I did not back down. I would not back down. I knew full well that I was no match for him. But I could not watch him murder Momo in cold blood. He would have to kill me first.

It's funny. As I looked at him I didn't recognize who he was. From where I stood he looked like a monster on high. He paused for a moment and then began to retract his blade and then he flashed me his signature smile. I narrowed my eyes to him. I was not amused.

As much as it was not a surprise to me who he turned out to be; he was not surprised that I sided with my Captain over him. Was it out of love? Respect? Concern? Guilt? What was the reason he refused to fight me? Was he still trying to play the hero card on me? I hate it when he plays that card. He makes me feel like an invalid. I hate feeling that I needed him. I don't want to need anybody…least of all him.

He tries to be unreadable. Unfortunately for him I had spent my entire life learning the language of his silence. I looked at him, looking at me, perched on high. I could almost hear his ragged thoughts flowing through his brain.

"Silly Rangiku, brave and tall, I will always be your superhero."

Lucky me.

Watch your step

"Rukia, darling…we have to do something with your hair." I explained to her. She looked rough, worn out and tired. But I suppose that if I were supposed to have been executed only a few days ago…I would 

too. I was glad to see her out and about so soon. Her brother entrusted Nanao and I to take her for a walk but we girls were starving. He wouldn't mind if we took a detour, would he?

"We can't see your pretty face with all of that hair in the way." I continued. Nanao rolled her eyes as she pushed me along the buffet line.

"Never mind her…Ran is not happy unless she is smothering someone. Her breasts aren't the only things that are overbearing." Nanao whispered loudly to Rukia. I flashed her a mock hurt look.

"I don't smother." I pouted.

After lunch and conversation I reached into my purse to retrieve a brush and a hair pin. "Here she goes." Nanao said in between sips of her soda. I stuck my tongue out at her.

I took my time brushing through Rukia's hair being careful to be extremely gentle. She told Nanao and I stories of her time on Earth while I parted and pinned her hair so that it was out of her face. I was surprised that Rukia did not object. No, she took what I dished out without complaint. I was glad that she was absorbing her quasi-makeover. I wanted to give her back some confidence. I wanted to make her feel beautiful. She deserved at least that.

I reached back into my bag for some blush and lip gloss; nothing too drastic. "She even has a toilet in there too…in case you need one." Nanao teased, making Rukia crack a smile.

"All done!" I announced with a final dab of lip gloss on her lips.

"That is such a good hair style for you, Rukia. I am surprised Rangiku didn't turn you into a clown." Rukia blushed slightly and put her head down.

"Rukia has more faith in me than you do. Some friend you are." I declared.

"I just know you better, that's all." Nanao always has some sort of sarcastic comment stored up for me. I suppose she gets lots of practice at work. "Anyway, let's blow this joint, I'm losing brain cells just being here."

"Ooooooookay" I whined. I didn't want to go back to work yet. Nanao helped Rukia to the door while I went to throw our trash away.

"Hurry up, Rangiku!" They called to me.

"I'm commmming!" I shouted as I dropped my cup in the trash after one last sip.

I turned around just in time to witness the whole event. It would be an event that was laughed about for years to come. As Nanao and Rukia made their way through the door I noticed Renji and Ichigo coming up the sidewalk. I watched them as they both caught a glimpse of Rukia's new look. It was like a scene out of a movie. She was floating…like she was walking in slow motion. I smiled as her arm reached up to flip her hair with her new found confidence. She was setting them up for disaster.

The boys, infatuated with who they were seeing, didn't pay attention to the park bench that rests beside the sidewalk entrance to the cafeteria. I watched as Renji walked right into the bench. He struggled to regain his balance but he lost that battle. He tumbled over the bench and landed head first in the dirt. Ichigo followed Renji's lead and toppled over Renji's horizontal form. It was a funny sight. Everyone stopped what they were doing to laugh.

I ran to catch up with the girls. "Are you guys okay?" I shouted breathlessly as the boys argued with each other. It couldn't have been better if I had planned it myself. wink, wink

I saw Rukia laugh for the first time since she was released. I don't mean chuckle. She laughed good and hard. Nanao put one arm around me and the other around Rukia. With a vibrant laugh she turned to Rukia. "Congratulations, Rukia darling, welcome to our world, you can stop not only one but two men in their tracks. Your brother will be so proud."

Frost bite

Life was getting to me. How he knew that, I will never know. I tried not to let it show on the outside. Maybe be I am not the master of disguise that I think I am. What can I say? It was just one of those days.

"If you sigh one more time, I am going to lose my cookies, Matsumoto." We were marching our squad back from a mission. Nothing major. We just had to calm some disturbances outside of the Seireitei.

"Sorry Captain." I said in monotone as my head hung low. I wasn't in the mood for jokes.

"What?! No…'I didn't know you had cookies?' Or any other twisted sarcastic comment? You're not yourself today. You'd better cheer up. That's an order."

"Yes, sir." I felt his eyes burn into the back of my head as I opened the door to the equipment room. One by one I helped each member of our squad put away his battle accessories. With all of the men gone, I locked the door and turned to go home.

"Is that all, Sir?" I asked him, my eyes pointed to the ground.

"No." He said plainly. I rolled my eyes internally. It would figure. All I wanted to do was go home and he had plans for me. "I want you to meet me by the lake in fifteen minutes." I reluctantly complied.

My heart missed a beat when I approached the lake fifteen minutes later. The remnants of Hyōrinmaru's release covered the lake's surface. My eyes scanned the horizon for my Captain but I didn't see him anywhere.



"Captain!" I said in desperation as I ran to find him. "Where are you? Answer me!" When I reached the lake I was amazed at how powerful my Captain truly was. All of the trees were frosted over and the lake water was solid ice. It was the first time I was actually able to admire his power without being in the heat of battle. It was an amazing sight; a winter wonderland. I have always had a lot of respect for his power and I feared his frost bite. I know what he is capable of but it is just fascinating to see it in its glorious magnificence as apposed to just a weapon. It was beautiful, just like him.

My mind raced to figure out what could have happened. What would have caused him to release Hyōrinmaru? I slowly backed away from the frozen lake.

"Boo, Matsumoto." I heard him say as my back bumped into his chest. I let out a shriek. I turned around to meet his gaze.

"Captain, what happened?" I said regaining my composure. "Are you okay? I was so worried that you…" Two lips silenced my interrogation.

He pulled away and I opened my eyes slowly. I allowed my eyebrows to furrow when he didn't say anything. What was he up to?

"I thought you could use a snow day." He said suddenly as he took my hand and led me over to a bench with a pink box resting on it.

"In the middle of July?" I questioned still unsure of what he was up to. He pointed to the pink box.

"Open it." He nudged me to sit down and he watched me intently as I opened the present he had given me.

"Ice skates? Really? Can we?" I said with child-like vigor.

"Why else would you need ice skates unless you are going to skate?"

I put on the skates he had given me and he held my hand as I stepped onto the ice.

"Gosh, I haven't been ice skating since…" I trailed off, stopping myself from bringing up a memory that needn't be remembered. We skated on the ice from sunset until midnight. I was comforted by the way the moonlight would catch his eyes. It was the most fun I had had in a very long, long time.

I was so moved by his gesture of kindness and his effort to cheer me up. He was able to pick up on my sour mood and make it all better. It worked. He was right. I needed a break. I needed a snow day. It's ironic how his iciness warmed my soul. We had come a long way from those days that I feared his frost bite more than anything in the world. Now I embrace it.

Curiosity is in the bag

"What's in the bag, Matsumoto?" He asked me as I waltzed through the office door. It had been three weeks since he had taken over and we still had a lot of catching up to do. I was relieved at his innocence yet overwhelmed by his seriousness. For a week or two I thought I was going to have to reach up and pull out whatever was stuck up his butt, however, he was beginning to mellow out. I said beginning to!

"Nutin'" I said nonchalantly. "Just something I picked up for Vice Captain Ise." I set the bag on the couch next to me and plopped down. I turned to face him, sitting backwards on the couch, and flashed him a smile. "How does the division suit you?"

He looked at me pensively. His eyes looked overwrought and tired. Such a pity. "It suits me well, Matsumoto. Thank you for helping me transition." I saw a light blush flutter across his cheeks. I was going to have so much fun plaguing his life with unexpected absurdity. He is such an easy target. "So…uh…is it her birthday?"

I raised an eyebrow to him. "Who? Oh, you mean Nanao? No. Her birthday is still a few months off." I watched him nod as his attention returned to the book he was reading.

I got up to open the blinds to let some sunlight in. I then walked over to my desk to pour him a cup of the tea I had made earlier. I set it on his desk next to his right hand. Without looking up from his book he thanked me. Then there was a knock on the door.

I grabbed the bag and walked over to the door and met Nanao in the hallway.

"Did you get it?" She asked with worry on her breath.

"Have I ever failed you? Don't worry. I got it covered." She motioned with her eyes toward my Captain.

"Does he know anything?" She asked in a hushed tone.

"Nanao! It's good. It is just so weird that it was happening to me and now to you two days later. Don't worry so much. Stress will only make it worse." She leaned in to hug me.

"Thank you so much. You are a life saver. Now I have to take care of this before he gets back." She turned to leave.

"Good luck." I called out to her back. "If you need anything else, let me know."

"Ooooookay!"

I came back into the office and I felt two jade eyes follow my every step until I reached my desk and sat down. 5…4…3…2…1.

"Matsumoto?" Damn, I am good.

"Hmm?" I said turning around to meet his inquisitive stare.

"I know that it really is none of my business…but…what you and Vice Captain Ise are doing…well…it is legal right?"

I burst into laughter. His curiosity knew no bounds. I leaned back in my chair with one arm draped over it. He shifted forward in his chair.

"Do you really want to know what was in that bag?" I asked flatly.

"NO!" He justified. "I just want to make sure it is legal."

I got up and sauntered over to where he was. I folded my arms in front of my chest as I rested my elbows on his desk. He looked up at me with fascinated eyes.

"Captain, they were tampons, she got her period early. Are you happy now?

His eyes slammed shut and his face turned twenty shades of red. Yes indeed, he was an easy target.