Disclaimer:I do not own Bleach or any of the characters.
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"So tell me Rangiku, what exactly happened while I was gone?" Asked Toushiro. They were currently residing in the Kusobana Hotel, the one Momo had so eagerly wanted to go to before Gin came along and messed everything up.
Gin was with them while Momo was down in the hot spring. Rangiku wanted to go with her but Toushiro held her back because of said question.
Rangiku sighed, "A lot of things Captain…terrible things."
Toushiro sighed, "How did it start?"
Rangiku glared at Gin, "When Aizen betrayed us."
Toushiro smirked, he always did have a bad feeling about him, Gin too, though he kept that secret from Rangiku because he knew how close they were.
"Tell me everything."
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Orihime took another step towards Uryu, she was going to do this. She needed to know.
But as Uryu turned around, he caught a glimpse of Orihime. Waving he smiled and was about to walk away.
Pushing her fear aside, Orihime ran over to him, "Uryu! I need to talk to you!" She yelled, but she guessed he didn't hear her because kept on walking. He was a very fast walker at that.
Finally though Uryu had come to a dead end and had to face up to her. Taking a deep breath he turned around.
Getting straight to the point he sighed, "I guess I knew this was going to happen sooner or later..."
Orihime knotted her eyebrows together, "That what was going to happen? That I'd want to talk to you?"
Uryu looked towards the ground, "Do you think I'm a jerk?"
Orihime's eyes widened, "Of course not Uryu! I think you're amazing! I'm just confused as to why you keep wanting to avoid me...Do you not like me anymore?"
It was Uryu's turn to be surprised, "What? No!! I could never stop liking you!"
Orihime smiled, "So then...why do you keep running away from me?"
Uryu sighed once more, "The truth is Orihime, I was afraid...I didn't want our friendship to be ruined and after yesterday I felt that it was... I thought that it was going to be very awkward around you and that's why I tried to avoid you...But...every moment that I wasn't with you...I was thinking about you."
Orihime's hands wrapped around Uryu's middle, "So where do we stand now? What am I to you?"
Moving a couple strands of her long, orange hair out of her face he kissed her gently on the lips, "You're everything to me..."
Smiling, Orihime kissed him again and they held each other in a tight embrace.
"I love you Orihime," Whispered Uryu.
"I.....love you too." She mumbled.
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"And that about sums it up." Mumbled Rangiku. To say Toushiro was surprised would be an understatement, no wonder Momo had nightmares...she had witnessed everything. From the moment Aizen betrayed them to the moment when he stabbed her.
When Rangiku first told him about that, it made his blood boil. How dare Aizen lay even one finger on her! She didn't deserve that!! And yet, she still remained loyal. She remained loyal until the final seconds of Aizen's life.
Toushiro knew now why Momow was so closed off, why she didn't take to kindly to him on their first meeting...granted, he was a criminal on the loose...
He wished he could have been there for her, helped her through it...But sadly, he wasn't.
Rangiku thought that Momo was better now, that she no longer thought about Aizen or had nightmares about his death. Toushiro decided not to tell her about the most recent nightmare. Instead he just sighed.
"Well Captain, if you don't mind...I'm going to go join Momo in the hot spring!"
Toushiro smiled, she still called him Captain, even though he had given up the job long ago. He sighed again, "I'm not you're Captain anymore...Toushiro is fine now."
As Rangiku neared the door she smiled, "You'll always be my Captain sir, because I know you're innocent. One way or another, I'll find a way to prove it!"
Toushiro chuckled, "If only you were that determined when it came to paperwork..."
Rangiku frowned and whirled back around to retort but stopped, even though Toushiro was smirking, his eyes were sincere. Walking up to her he sighed, "Thank you Rangiku....for in believing me..."
Rangiku smiled once again, "No problem Captain." And with that said and a small hug, she left for the hot spring.
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Rukia stood beside a grave while it started to rain, she'd been out there for almost an hour and hadn't said a thing.
She usually came here every couple of weeks to pay her respects to him. She was finally at peace with herself and with him. The Shiba family had long since forgiven her and with some comforting words from Byakua, she was able to forgive herself. (She had tried to help Momo when she was in her 'delicate' state. Because Rukia had understood what Momo had been going through.)
But even though she was at peace, it still didn't remove the fact that she had swung her sword through him. She had delivered the finishing blow....that is why it usually took her forever to say anything. It still crushed her when she knew he would never talk back.
Though Rukia had tried to think about happier times with him, it still didn't ease the pain. Especially on rainy days like these.
Taking a deep breath Rukia forced a smile, "Well Kaien...Looks like I've finally reached Lieutenant...sorry I haven't been here in a while...I promise to come sooner."
Another silence passed between Rukia and the grave. With each moment Rukia's face became more sullen than before.
Sighing, Rukia let a tear slip from her eye, "I'm sorry..." She whispered. She always said that when she was about to leave.
However when she turned around, she bumped into someone. Looking up she found it was Ichigo.
"Hey Ichigo." She mumbled, silently relieved that it was raining so he couldn't see that she had been crying.
Ichigo gave her a curt nod, "Rukia."
It wasn't unusual for them to see each other here. Rukia for Kaien, while Ichigo came here for his mom. His dad had requested that a memorial be put up for her a couple years ago. Even though she was a human, Yamamoto respected Isshin enough to do it anyway...Ichigo and his family came here every once and a while. Mainly Ichigo and Isshin though.
Rukia continued to walk towards the exit. Ichigo followed.
He was quite aware that Rukia had been crying, he could hear it in her voice and just by the plain sight of her. Though he didn't try and point it out.
Instead he just hung a loose arm around her shoulders while keeping his gaze straight ahead.
Looking up at Ichigo surprised, Rukia blinked.
"It'll be okay. He forgives you Rukia, it wasn't your fault." Ichigo mumbled.
Averting her gaze to the ground Rukia nodded, "I know...it's just hard to forget sometimes..."
Ichigo's arm tightened just a little bit, "I know, believe me...I know."
Rukia tried to hide the blushed that now consumed her cheeks, "Thank you Ichigo...."
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"Momo!!" Momo turned around and waved, "Hey Captain Matsumoto!"
Said girl made her way to Momo, "Oh please Momo, when we're not in the Seireitei call me Rangiku! And sorry I took so long, I had to talk with the Captain for a bit!"
Momo scrunched her face up, "Captain? Oh, you mean Toushiro?" Rangiku nodded, "Yeah."
Momo grinned, "I assume you used to be his lieutenant then?"
A sad smile developed on Rangiku's face, "Yep....those were the happiest days of my life..." As Rangiku laughed at some memory she was having, Momo tried imagine Toushiro in the tenth division doing paperwork while wearing a the white captain haori...Though she just couldn't.
"Cap--I mean, Rangiku...can you tell me what it was like...working with Toushiro?"
Rangiku's eyes lit up, "Oh it was the best! Well, he could be a little demanding at times, especially with his paperwork! Of course, I will admit that I never really did any...but still, that's no reason to take away my sake!"
Momo laughed as Rangiku continued to tell her about him, "He was always very serious, didn't say much with the exception of me...I was always getting yelled at...I think I have a picture!"
Getting up and walking over to her clothes she dug through them and handed Momo a faded picture. It was Toushiro and the tenth division. Matsumoto had one arm around him while making a peace sign and sticking out her tounge. He had on an annoyed expression and his arms were crossed.
Momo smiled, she couldn't believe that this was Toushiro...but it was.
Handing the picture back her Rangiku she put it up. "You could always count on him having your back...he was a great Captain.... And then..." Momo could see Rangiku's smile start to fade, "...That day came..."
Momo knitted her eyebrows together, "What day?"
Rangiku frowned and bit her lip as she put both her hands on Momo's small shoulders. Ignoring Momo's question Rangiku blurted out, "My Captain's an innocent man... He wouldn't do that, it wasn't his fault. He was framed! The massacre that happened, he could never to that! Not to his own squad or anybody elses! I swear he's innocent!"
Rangiku's grip tightened on Momo's shoulders as tears threatened to fall.
Momo's eyes widened, "W-What massacre? W-what happened?"
Rangiku's grip loosened, "That's not for me to say...you'll have to ask him yourself...but can I ask you a favor first?"
Momo nodded, "Anything!"
Rangiku sighed and pondered on her request...'Would it be to much? Please...please except Momo...' She thought.
"Momo...will you.....let my Captain...go?"
Momo gasped, "W-what?! I-I can't! That would be treason!!" Said Momo angrily.
Rangiku shook her head, "Not if my Captain is innocent!And I know he is!"
Momo was silent for a very long time, to tell you the truth she had completely forgotten about her mission...She was having fun for the first time in many months. When she laughed...she really meant it...when she smiled...it was genuine...and when she was around Toushiro...she was truly happy...
Momo's eyes widened yet again as realization kicked in. In only the short about of time she had spent with him...she had come to noticed that she laughed more, cried less, and had a whole different attitude about life again. Like she had new meaning...
Toushiro had become her friend...and in more ways than one. Though he was distant sometimes and at other times rude and condescending, he was also kind and caring. He was protective and strong, there when she needed him...and he was highly attractive.
So was she really going to turn him in? Actually, the real question was did she want to turn him in...
Sighing Momo looked back up at Rangiku, "I'll think about it..." She mumbled and decided to go back to their room. She needed to get her priorities straight.
But before leaving, another realization came to her. Slowly turning back towards Matsumoto, Momo called out, "Speaking of criminals...where's Gin?"
She spat his name like poison. She hated that man to pieces.
Rangiku smiled, "Oh don't worry, Captain said he'd watch over him."
Nodding Momo continued heading for the door.
Once there she quickly brushed through her hair. It had gotten longer in the last couple months and now fell to her mid back. Deciding to leave it down tonight, She sighed. What was she going to do?
Guessing the best thing to do at the moment was to hear Toushiro's story, she walked out of her room and knocked on his door.
"Who is it?" He said.
"It's me...Momo..."
"Come in." He replied and she opened the door. Observing the scene she tried not to laugh. Toushiro was sitting at one end of the room while Gin was at the other. Toushiro was glaring at him while Gin had his usual smile. It actually looked as though they were having a staring contest...daring the other to move...
Only breaking eye contact long enough to ackowledge Momo, Toushiro stared once again at Gin.
"What do you need, Hinamori?"
Momo took a deep breath and bit her lip, "I need to ask you about some things..."
Toushiro glanced at Momo again. This glance was a little longer though, he had never seen Momo with her hair down before...he had to admit that Momo seemed prettier than usual. And she was unbelievbly cute to begin with...
"I'm listening."
Momo glanced at Gin, "In privet."
Toushiro sighed, "In that case, it'll have to wait...I've got to make sure he doesn't get away."
"Uh...Captain Matsumoto said she could take over...just have Gin waiting for her when she got out of the hot spring. " Momo lied. Hoping Rangiku would get the message and give her and Toushiro some time to talk.
Eyeing her wearily, Toushiro nodded and both he and Momo escorted Gin to Matsumoto down stairs.
Once they were back up in Toushiro's room, Momo sat down on his floor.
"So...what's up?"
Momo sighed, "Can I ask you something?"
Toushiro quirked an eyebrow, "Well, what is it?"
"What....happened.......the night you were.....framed?" Momo asked. Expecting him to get angry with her she averted her gaze from his eyes to the floor. This was a rather touchy subject after all.
Instead, Toushiro smirked, "So you're willing to listen now?"
Momo nodded, and Toushiro sighed, "It all started ten years ago, when I was Captain of the Tenth Squad. Rangiku had cut work early that day....like she did every day to go out and drink with friends. Leaving me with all the paperwork..."
*Flashback*
"MATSUMOTO!!!" yelled Hitsugaya as he crumbled up the note Rangiku had left him. He was about to chase after her when a knock was heard on his door.
Opening it, he snapped at the person, "What!!"
The guy, who looked to be the eighth seat from his division, stepped back a couple feet, "Uh, S-sir...C-Captain Commander Yamamoto has given us d-double shift for this week...I've come to deliver the next round of p-paperwork for both you and Lieutenant Matsumoto."
The current room temperature was now zero. As a dark energy started to surround the white haired prodigy, he slowly took the paper work and slammed the door shut.
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The time was now nine o' clock at night and Toushiro was just finishing up all the paperwork. 'Just a few more papers and then I can go find Matsumoto and kick her sorry ass!! No, I'll take all her sake and then forbid any store keeper to sell her some! That'll teach her!' He thought vindictively.
And as soon as he was done, Toushiro ran to her room and practically kicked down the door, "Matsumoto!!" he yelled. But she wasn't there.
His eye started to twitch. 'That's okay, I'll just wait until she comes back...Which should be any minute...'
But Matsumoto never came back. Toushiro, who had dozed off while waiting for her, looked at the clock. He noticed that three hours had gone by and still no sign of her. Wondering where she could be, he jumped out of her window. It wasn't like Matsumoto to stay out this late on her working days...even while drunk Matsumoto always came back before twelve.
And then he felt it. Her spiritual pressure....she was fighting.
Following it, it led him exactly to where Matsumoto was. He showed up just in time to see her get thrown into a building. "Rangiku!" He called out worriedly.
When she got up she looked over to him. "C-captain? You can't be him! You're over there!!" She said, blood was trickling over her face and seemed to be matting into her hair.
Toushiro looked over to where Matsumoto was pointing and indeed saw a person who looked exactly like him. Only, the look alike was smirking evilly and had this evil and murderous glint in his eyes.
"Who are you!!" Yelled Toushiro as he pulled out Hyorinmaru. He ran infront of Rangiku and told her to stand back. Confused as she was, Rangiku complied.
The other Toushiro said nothing, he just smirked and ran towards Toushiro with incredible speed. He was already in Bankai, so that didn't help Toushiro in the slightest.
Narrowly avoiding the attack, Toushiro called out Bankai as well. "I'll ask you one more time, what's you're name!"
The other Toushiro smirked, "Toushiro....Toushiro Hitsugaya."
Growling Toushiro ran his blade at the other. Their blades collided and set off a loud explosion of ice.
Falling to the ground, the other Toushiro cursed loudly and showed it's true form. It was a hollow. The hollow was medium sized with a long, squid-like body. It had two large grayish wings coming out the back of it's spine and razer sharp teeth. It's mask was still connected with it's face and it's eyes were murderous and unruly.
Toushiro's hands tightened around his sword, how did a hollow get into the Seireitei unnoticed?
The hollow laughed, "Surprised are we? Well, I'm a special type of hollow! I can manipulate my body into any form I please and automatically have the exact power as the thing I'm imitating. Not only that, I can also hide my spiritual pressure when needed. It looks like I've hit the jackpot tonight!"
Toushiro charged at the hollow with as much speed as he could muster and hit the target directly on.
"Damn you! You little brat!!" Yelled the hollow, Toushiro grabbed the hollow and put his sword to the it's throat, "There's no way a hollow like you could have found this place without knowing where to look! Who led you here?!"
The hollow panicked and tried to squirm it's way out of Toushiro's grasp, "I-I can't tell you! They were just orders I had to follow! My goal was to blame you for everything!!"
"Who told you the orders? Answer me dammit!!"
The hollow started laughing and disappeared. Trying not to let the hollow escape, Toushiro followed it.
Well, would have followed it, if the Captains and Lieutenants of all the squads hadn't showed up, "Toushiro Hitsugaya, you are under arrest for the murders of you're squad and attempted murder on you're lieutenant."
Toushiro's eyes widened, "W-What are you talking about? My whole squads been....No way! Matsumoto, tell them I had nothing to do with it!!"
But Rangiku was unconscious at the time.
*Flashback end*
"Not knowing what else to do, I ran away...I haven't been back since...Rangiku's tried to stand up for me...but since she was unconscious she only remembered half the battle and didn't see the part where the hollow revealed it's true form..."
"......Toushiro......" Momo whispered. "I'm so sorry..."
Toshiro nodded.
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"This brings back memories doesn' it Ran...." Said Gin. Both he and she were walking through the town.
Rangiku sighed, "Yes...only back then, you weren't a criminal....and I wouldn't be taking you back for your execution...."
Gin frowned, She was the only one who he ever showed his true emotions too...and only her..."Ya don' understand Ran...I didn' have a choice...it was either kill or be killed....besides, Aizen's the one who killed Central 46...not me."
Rangiku sighed, "I'm sorry Gin, but I have a duty as a Captain...I have to do this..."
Gin chuckled, "Ya don' have to Ran...ya could always jus' let me go..."
Rangiku stopped walking and glared at him. "No! Feelings aside Gin, I have a duty!! I know you're guilty!! I could never, ever help you like that! You knew exactly what you were doing when you betrayed us! When You betrayed me! I--" Though she didn't get to finish, Gin had already kissed her.
At first she was unresponsive, then her feelings overrode her mind and she started kissing him back. She had always been in love with him, and didn't know how long she'd been waiting for this moment, for Gin to say the hell with everything and just kiss her.
Though now she had a choice, choose Gin, which meant happiness...or choose her duties as a Captain which meant fake happiness and an empty life....
"So...what were ya sayin' bout' bringin me in?"
Rangiku closed her eyes as she wrapped her arms around Gin's neck, she had always wanted to do this, to be this near to him without him pulling away or walking off. She relished in this moment, carving it into her memory so she would never forget it, forget him...
"When do we leave?" She asked. Gin smiled, though it wasn't his usual one. No, this one was sincere, "How 'bout tomorrow?"
Rangiku nodded...
Yes, she had chosen Gin...and he, he had finally chosen her.
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Uryu and Orihime were laughing while holding each others hands. "I think it's great!" Said Orihime as she sighed and leaned into him. "But do you think they'll catch on?"
Uryu shook his head, "No...As long as we don't act like we're planning anything, we should be fine. We'll get them together..."
After Uryu and Orihime had admitted their feelings for each other and agreed to try their new relationship out, they had started planning ways to get Ichigo and Rukia together. Because it was so obvious they had a little bit of chemistry between them...
So starting tomorrow, they would try and put their little plan in action.
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Hey guys! Chappie eleven!!
I know that Ichigo and Rukia had the same plan as Uryu and Orihime, but I thought it'd be cool to try and turn the tables on them...See how they like a taste of their own medicine...
Please Review!!
xoxoxo
Blink182lover4life