Gin made captain of the Third Division at New Year's as expected, and the family moved into a large house behind the division offices that was designated captain's quarters. It was a separate house of traditional style set back behind the Division's main buildings. It had a beautiful entry, a huge kitchen, and six unfurnished rooms as well as an office that was furnished in the western style. As far as Rangiku was concerned they might as well have been moving into a palace.
She had Miyako and Hisana over immediately to try to help her figure out how she was supposed to furnish such an enormous space. Gin's suggestion that they put the kotatsu in one room, sleep in the next and ignore all the rest didn't seem quite right. Besides they had a furnishing allowance. It was money free and clear for her to spend, and there was no way she wasn't going to use every last penny.
Miyako and Hisana were understandably less impressed by the space than Rangiku was, but she was so enthusiastic that they were soon enjoying themselves as well.
Miyako noticed the room beside the office also had a wooden floor instead of tatami and suggested Rangiku make it into Toshiro's room. "You could put in one of those western beds, a bunk bed," she declared, "And he could have his own bookcase and little desk."
"His own room?" Rangiku said, coming to an abrupt stop. In Rukongai families shared a room, even on the occasion when they had more than one. It was hard enough to keep one room heated in winter. Why would you spread the family out so they couldn't even shared the warmth of everyone's body heat? It didn't make sense. Did rich people do that?
"Shiro is getting older," Hisana agreed. "And he's so independent these days. He used to follow right behind you all the time just like a little duckling, don't you remember? And now he's run off to explore the garden all by himself. He looks so small, but he's really not, is he?"
"No'" Rangiku agreed, and suddenly she felt quite overwhelmingly sad. Her baby was growing up. He was probably already halfway to the Academy, even closer if he went as young as she and Gin had. If he was like Gin, it would be hardly any time at all until he was out fighting hollows.
Tears welled up in her gray eyes, tears she just couldn't stop. It was just so wrong, thinking of her little boy, all grown up and fighting and killing everyday just to stay alive.
"Rangiku, what's wrong?" Hisana said. "Did I say something wrong?"
"No," Rangiku answered, shaking her head and wiping the tears away with the back of her hand. "I'm just getting teary a lot lately. Ask Gin, I practically bawled when the squad turned out to welcomed us here."
Miyako's eyes narrowed. "You haven't been eating much lately either," she pointed out.
Rangiku turned to her other friend. "Because everything's been making me-" she broke off, blushing.
"I think I told you this last time, Rangiku-chan," Miyako said, frowning. "It's not nice to lie to your friends."
"I'm not lying!" Rangiku defended. "I'm not! I-I don't know yet, not for sure. I'm going to Unohana tomorrow. Once she confirmed it I was going to tell everyone, I promise."
Miyako's frown shifted almost instantly into a grin. "Is it another mistake?" she couldn't resist asking.
"No, of course not," Rangiku protested, placing her hands protectively over her abdomen. "We always wanted more than one. We just couldn't afford it till now."
"You're pregnant?" Hisana said.
Rangiku turned worried eyes to Hisana. She wasn't sure how the other woman was going to take the news and had planned to tell her much more carefully. It had been awhile since the miscarriage, but she wasn't sure how well Hisana had gotten over it. They hadn't talked about it again, and there had been no signs Hisana was considering adopting instead, but she seemed mostly alright. "Probably, I am," she admitted, softly.
"That's wonderful, Rangiku," Hisana answered, a huge smile spreading across her face. "I'm so happy for you!"
"Thank you," Rangiku answered, but she couldn't help feeling like she had somehow betrayed her friend.
"Shiro will love having a little brother or sister to play with!" Miyako said.
"No, he won't," A voice answered from the porch.
"Shiro-chan!" Rangiku gasped, turning toward the open door.
He stepped inside, looking a little guilty. "I was going to ask if I can go to the mess hall and see if they'd give me some rice balls to take while I go exploring," he explained.
"Go ahead," Rangiku said a bit helplessly.
He stood frowning at her for a moment before he asked, "Do we have to have a new baby?"
"What's wrong with a new baby?" Rangiku demanded.
"They're loud; they smell funny, and they have to be taken care of all of the time. Why would you want one?" He countered.
"They're sweet, and it doesn't take long for them to grow into children. Don't you think it would be fun to have a little brother or sister? It's like a built-in friend," Rangiku said.
"Couldn't you just get me a dog?" Toshiro suggested.
"We're having a baby!" Rangiku said. She was starting to feel a little annoyed too.
"I'd rather have a dog."
"Well, I'd rather have a baby, and I get to decide because I'm the grownup and you're the kid!"
Toshiro looked at her a little sullenly. He hated that argument. Of all the various arguments she used that one was most unfair. It wasn't his fault he was still a kid, and being a grownup didn't make her smarter or her opinions more important. "I'll bet Dad would rather have a dog, too," he said, as one last parting shot, before taking off once more.
Rangiku sighed. "I suppose I should have expected that."
