"You done with that paperwork yet?" Rangiku asked with a bounce that turned quickly into a pout as she saw the tall stack her Captain was still buried under.
"You could help, you know," he said.
"Uh, right. And I will. Just as soon as I deliver this to Captain Kuchiki."
She picked up a large rectangular object that was carefully wrapped in red cloth. "I thought that when you're done we could search out south today."
"Whatever," he said, as she bounced out the door, waving with her free hand.
Months had passed since that night, but Rangiku still woke in the night in a cold sweat. As she walked through the streets, she thought of her friend. She never expected that she could care so deeply for someone, and in such a short time as she did for Miki. The loneliness she'd experienced when the human had gone back to the real world was nothing compared to the complete loss she felt over her death.
A small group of people milled about the front of the sixth division captain's office.
"I wouldn't go in there, if you don't have to," warned one. She ignored them and knocked anyway, opening the door at his grumble.
I hope this cheers him up a little. Or at least doesn't make him more sad, she thought.
It had been said that when he'd come back to work, he'd returned to being the same old Captain he always was, all business, except with a bit less patience. But few knew the truth of what had happened that day, and Rangiku felt sure that he had locked his misery inside. Miki would not have wanted things to be this way, but as it was, there wasn't much she could do to help him.
"Matsumoto," said Byakuya, not even looking up from his paper. "Just set the paperwork from your division over there."
"Well, I didn't exactly bring it," she said, leaning the package against the wall.
"Then I take it you're not here on business?"
"No. I brought-"
"Then go. I do not have time to waste on trivial things," he snapped.
"Actually, I was thinking that we should get together sometime. You know, go out for a drink or something?" Rangiku asked, perching on the edge of his desk.
"What makes you think that I would want to go drinking with someone like you?" he said, glaring at her.
"Oh, I just thought that since things have changed some, we might be able to help each other."
"Nothing has changed. You and I work together and nothing more," he said.
Rangiku allowed not even a hint of the hurt his words brought her to show through. She only wanted to make him less sad, but that obviously wasn't going to happen.
She turned toward the door, and jumped as a loud bang issued from behind her. That was enough of a hint for her that she sprinted for the door, colliding with Byakuya's red-haired lieutenant. Once they'd untangled themselves, he knocked on the door that Rangiku had just closed, and a very disgruntled sound came from the other side.
"He's in a bad mood today, Renji," she said, as he opened the door.
"He always is," he replied, disappearing through the entry.
Several seconds later, Renji reemerged, followed by a very well aimed shoe, which hit him in the back of the head. Rangiku hurried to shut the door, but not before a flying book hurtled through it, narrowly missing her.
"What the hell did you say to him?" she asked.
"Oww. I told him he was wearing his cranky-pants," he said, rubbing his head. She winced as another loud crash sounded from inside the room, followed by the tinkling of broken glass.
"Then I told him that you'd be willing to help him get rid of them," Renji continued.
"Oh, you probably shouldn't have said that. Let's get out of here. Want to join me on a mission?" Rangiku asked.
