A/N: This could probably be considered the sequel of the previous chapter, but could stand alone just as well, I guess, hence the different chapter title. All things considered, it could probably even be a very, very late follow-up to chapter 1, if you squint a little... Hm, whatever.

As always, thanks to: KatonRyuuka, Rachel Noelle, stormwolf527, Absolutely Unsure, lelouchgirl, phppsmss and shiro677.

And one question this chapter left me with that I want to hand on to you: Is Matsumoto physically capable of doing cartwheels? XD

Have fun reading.

#11: Gravitation

Contrary to popular belief and whatever 99% of Soul Society consider an established fact, in all their decades of working together Hitsugaya has never once seriously thought of having Matsumoto transferred to another division, much less having her revoked of her position as fukutaichou.

They have had their rough patches all right, just like any other division's heads had at some point in time (and some still have even now), but between the two of them they have always made it a point to sort out their discrepancies before they could ruin their efficiency as a team.

And finding her strong points isn't as hard as others might expect.

For one, she is sensitive to other people and their varied moods, she knows instinctively when to go easy on someone and when to give him or her a shove into the right direction. She is a quick thinker as well as a loyal companion, but never crossing the line to the point of becoming dependent. She maps out strategies (good ones at that) rather than surge ahead in a battle heedlessly, but when it comes down to fighting she is efficient, almost mercilessly so.

Hitsugaya, for his part, and even though he would never, not even under torture, admit to it, enjoys her company immensely. He likes talking to her, loves snapping at her whenever she has gone and done something incredibly stupid again (or for just dumping all of her paperwork on him again), and completely relies on her to have his back at any point in time.

He trusts her like no second individual, probably himself included.

Sure, she wears her (considerable) flaws out in the open for everyone and their mother to see, wallows in her vices like nobody's business and expects people to like her anyway.

Surprisingly enough, they do.

And it's precisely because she doesn't bother to hide her short-comings, doesn't try to be someone she isn't, that people feel at ease around her.

Or maybe it is merely his biased perception of her that makes him find rights in her wrongs...

Whatever it is, it doesn't exactly help him right now, as he sits in the grass of a park somewhere in Karakura town and watches her do cartwheels like a ten-year-old.

So the sun is shining, and the day is warm enough to warrant some outdoor activities – but is it really necessary to frisk around like that?

And really, Hitsugaya finds himself beyond surprised that she doesn't mind flashing her panties and probably a little too much of her breasts to everyone in the vicinity, seeing as she is still wearing that short short school uniform of hers.

Not that he is looking, mind you.

But they are in the middle of a freaking park in broad daylight, surrounded by a bunch of people who probably aren't used to seeing ... rather well-developed high school girls flip and jump around in scanty clothes like that.

It obviously doesn't bother her at all, however, as she continues her workout diligently, and all his reprimanding and ordering goes unheard. Which, in the end, is just as well, because this way at least he can continue enjoying his ice cream in comparative peace.

But even Matsumoto tires out eventually, and as she plops down beside him with a satisfied grunt a slight sheen of sweat is covering her skin.

And again, he is not looking.

"What's it with you anyway?", he asks instead, "I haven't seen you this energetic in ... well, years probably."

Matsumoto giggles and leans back to stretch out on the grass.

"Must be the weather or something", she answers, her eyes closed to the sunlight, "Either that or the living world inspires me this much..."

He looks at her, one eyebrow raised in disbelief. "How so?"

She hums a little, fiddling the shrilly pink scrunchy that held her mane together in her acrobatic endeavor out of her blond locks. "I don't know. I just like it here. Life here is loud, gaudy, fast... It's exhilarating to see things change from one minute to the next..."

Hitsugaya leans back on his elbows and watches the sky above before his eyes refocus on her again. "To me it seems rather superficial and vacuous."

The corners of her mouth twitch a little in what might be the prelude to a small smile. "As opposed to what? Soul Society doesn't exactly shine with its depth, does it?"

"At least it has a purpose, instead of having its inhabitants running around searching for the meaning of life."

"Except for those without reiatsu who spent their days waiting for better days, who are not even given the chance to improve their life on their own power."

Her tone is bitter, and although Hitsugaya isn't entirely certain what her past had been like, he knows that she is talking out of experience.

"Then you'd prefer this ... wild-goose chase that is constantly taking place here over at least a measure of steadiness?", he asks, honestly bewildered.

"Do I?", she counters, wonderingly, "... It's a moot point anyway, since I'm still too much of a good girl for Yamamoto-chan to just kick me out like that, and I'm not really convinced that the forced relocation has changed Urahara-san's or Yoruichi-san's or even the Vizard's life for the better, in the grand scheme of things, seeing as they belong neither here nor there now ... but as far as normal life in the living world goes, for now it's nice, this change of pace."

He takes a moment to mull her words over in his head. Neither of the two have ever known Urahara Kisuke, Shihoin Yoruichi or any of the Vizards personally before they had to leave Soul Society permanently, but everybody has somehow come into knowledge of at least part of their stories, however confidential those might be, seeing as it had been a rather deep cut into Soul Society's history.

And he has to agree with Matsumoto in that they are still lingering somewhere halfway between here and there, even though they have lived here for a century already. Or maybe because they have lived here for a century already. Banished from Soul Society, but still not fitting for the living world... Must have been rather difficult to come to terms with.

With a sigh Hitsugaya tugs on a blade of grass until it comes loose in his hands.

"So we do at least agree that having some sort of fixed point in your life is a necessity for everyone?", he asks.

"Yup, we do", she agrees readily, "I mean, everybody has his moment of weakness, however often, and where'd he turn when there isn't anywhere to turn to?"

"Where would Matsumoto Rangiku turn to?", he asks, half jokingly.

She smiles wider than, but keeps her eyes shut. "As if that needs asking", she says after a few seconds.

Hitsugaya turns his eyes to the sky again, a smile of his own lingering on his lips.

They should probably do that date-thing more often.