Author's note: I do not own Bleach or its characters. This is for the 30 Kisses challenge. This is Slightly AU. Theme 4: Our Distance and That Person.
Harsh Reality
Rangiku was not feeling very feel. This unfortunately was rather common. Morning sickness was making her miserable. She'd had to kiss any thoughts of breakfast goodbye most days. She was also always tired anymore. Unohana said that was fairly normal. Between that and the morning sickness, she really wasn't incredibly happy. She rest a hand on her queasy stomach as she made her way to the Fourth. She was just barely showing now, and her pregnancy was common knowledge. While she hadn't officially announced who the father of her child was, most people knew. There had been a number of varied reactions to that knowledge, but for the most part no one gave her a hard time about it.
As she made her way through the Fourth Division towards Captain Unohana's office, Rangiku found herself face to face with Momo Hinamori. The two women stared at one another. Physically, Hinamori looked better than she had, but Rangiku knew that she hadn't made as much progress when it came to her mind. She was still convinced that Aizen had been manipulated into his actions by Gin. Rangiku knew that her captain was frustrated with this lack of progress. Toushiro had fought with Hinamori the last three times he had visited her. Each time he'd come back to the office in a foul mood.
The younger woman glared at her. Rangiku bit back a sigh. She was not in the mood to deal with Hinamori's prejudices right now. It would only cause an argument, and Rangiku doubt that would do either of them any good.
"Excuse me, I have an appointment I need to get to."
Hinamori didn't move. "Why bother? You're carrying a traitor's baby. If it weren't for him, we wouldn't be in such trouble now."
Rangiku wasn't sure what it was that snapped her temper in that moment.
"You're wrong." Her voice was flat and hard. "Gin might have betrayed Soul Society, but so did Aizen, and it was his plan. That was been clear. You're a sweet person, and my captain loves you. But you need to come to grips with what happened. Denial isn't going to get you any place. Aizen cared very little for you. He used you and discarded you. You're never going to get better unless you can accept that and move on."
"I'm in denial? You're willingly carrying a traitor's baby," the girl sounded incredulous.
"I love Gin. That doesn't make me blind to his faults though. I knew exactly what I was getting into with Gin. I always knew that he would and could leave at any time. He's always been like that." Rangiku sighed. "I know that he betrayed the Seireitei. I also know that he saved my life, and that in his own way, he does care for me. His actions have proven that."
"Oh really?"
Rangiku met Hinamori's eyes. "If you need to know the difference between Gin and Aizen, it's simple. Gin didn't force me to choose. He didn't make me betray my home in any way. I may be pissed as hell at him right now, but I know that he was trying to protect me. Now, I have appointment to get to."
Rangiku walked past Hinamori without looking back. She didn't know if what she had said had gotten through to Hinamori. She wasn't sure she really cared right now. As much as she wanted things to work out, Rangiku didn't have the energy to really worry much about other people. She had enough on her own plate right now.