Nanao and Aiko both looked up at the sound of a heavy knock on the front door. Aiko dropped the puzzle piece she'd been trying, unsuccessfully, to jam into the wooden puzzle upside down, and ran to the front door, pulling it open with a joyous, "It's Jiji!"
Nanao, who'd been dragging herself to her feet, dropped back to the floor without even glancing at the door.
"Hello, my girl!" Kyoraku answered with equal enthusiasm as he scooped up the toddler. "And how are you doing today?"
"Mama's no fun. Will you play with me now?" Aiko answered.
"You didn't need to come check on us, Captain," Nanao said as she started cleaning up scattered puzzle pieces. "We're quite alright."
"Didn't come to check on you," Kyoraku answered. "Came by to pick up Ai-chan since Iwatani-ba-san is making ice cream, and I thought while I was at it I'd drop something off that might cheer you up."
"You think drinking is the solution to everything, but sometimes--" Nanao broke off as someone stepped up beside her, and she raised her head. A choked gasp escaped her lips.
Shuhei stood beside her, looking down at her with darkly shadowed eyes and a strained smile turning up his lips. "I'm home," he said softly.
Nanao burst into tears. Shuhei sank down beside her and she flung her arms around his neck, sobbing even louder. His arms went around her loosely; his every movement showed a bone-deep exhaustion that was not going to be going away any time soon.
"C'mon, Ai-chan, let's go eat some strawberry ice cream," Kyoraku said loudly. "Then we'll try to catch some fireflies, and after that we can lay on the roof and see if we can see any shooting stars. We'll probably be so busy we won't even be back till tomorrow. Mama and Daddy are just going to have to make do on their own." And with that he shut the door behind him, loudly enough he was sure the pair had heard them leave.
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The garden before the Third Division Captain's Residence was dim and shadowy in the twilight, lit only by moonlight and the warm glow of light through rice paper. It was that time just before bed that made the usual outdoor games much more exciting. Kin-chan and Yachiru were tag-teaming Ikkaku, taking swipes at him with wooden swords, while Yumichika, watching from a comfortable seat on the porch gave advice and encouragement.
"That's it, Kin-chan, go for his knees," Yumichika called out.
"My knees?" Ikkaku demanded, after dodging a swipe to one from behind, as he held back the attacks of the pink haired, miniature lieutenant. "The hell sort of attack is that?"
"He's short. He's got to get you on the ground before he can finish you off--oh, hello, Captains," he added as Gin and Toshiro appeared on the porch.
Toshiro stalked into the house without even glancing at the visitors.
Yumichika raised an eyebrow. "Someone's grown into his title quickly," he said coolly.
Kinta, however, did not seem to have noticed his brother's mood. "Nii-chan!" he shouted, charging toward the porch.
Gin caught him as he rushed by and turned to Ikkaku. "I need to talk to Ran, Think you can watch this thing for another five minutes?"
Ikkaku shrugged and caught Yachiru by the collar as she jumped up to take a swing at his head. "No problem, but that baby of yours only stopped crying about five minutes ago. It's your neck if you wake her."
GIn nodded. "It's important," he said and followed Toshiro into the house.
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Gin was not surprised to find Rangiku half asleep with one hand resting on their sleeping daughter's back.
As he pulled the door open she whispered, "Shh," without opening her eyes.
"Ran," he whispered, dropping down onto the futon next to her.
"Shh," she whispered again and patted the baby's back. "Shh."
Gin caught hold of her wrist and slowly pulled her away from the baby. "C'mon, Ran," he whispered. "We gotta talk."
Rangiku blinked drowsy eyes at him. "Not tonight, I'm tired," she murmured, before closing her eyes once more.
Gin sighed. Considering the stress of the day, the news that was constantly changing, being switched back and forth between various guards, and taking care of two impossible children, she probably was exhausted, but she wasn't going to get to sleep anytime soon. "Shiro needs his mother," he said softly.
Rangiku's eyes snapped open and she sat up. Her expression changed instantly from drowsy to high alert. "What do you mean?" she demanded, barely managing to keep her voice at a whisper.
"C'mon," he said, pulling her to her feet. "I'll explain in the hall."
By the time he finished speaking tears were running down Rangiku's cheeks. Gin forgot, sometimes, how close she was to all the other lieutenants. Unlike the captains with all their massive egos constantly at odds, their lieutenants were nearly all friends. The group of Renji, Kira, and Hinamori had only added to the closeness the lieutenants shared. They often worked cooperatively, leading nearly all the inter-division activities that their captains so disliked, and they got together for drinks fairly often.
Their friendships could probably help to bring all of the divisions together, and in time they could be a major boon to the Gotei. Of course, they were also all young, impulsive and emotional which were all traits Aizen had intended to use to pull the Gotei apart. This incident of Hinamori against Hisagi could just be the beginning.
"Is there any chance--" Rangiku broke off. "Do you think Momo-chan is going to wake up?"
"Unohana wouldn't commit herself one way or another," Gin answered gently. "But it would probably be better for her if she waited until this is over and everyone is in a more forgiving mood."
"Oh," Rangiku gasped. "But she wouldn't have--"
The last time Rangiku had looked this distressed Rukia's life had been in danger. "I can explain the mind games Aizen played with her. I'm sure they will take that into consideration."
Rangiku nodded, looking thoughtful. "Gin, this clears Shuhei-kun, doesn't it?" she asked finally.
Gin shrugged. People hated giving up their pet ideas, but with Hinamori having admitted to Shiro that she had done the attacking, not Lieutenant Hisagi, they no longer had any reason to hold him. Unfortunately, in many minds he was still not completely cleared.
"He's been released to Kyoraku," Gin told her. He did not add that Hisagi had been given a week of 'vacation' during which he would be in the Eighth Division Captain's custody while Soifon's people investigated all of the allegations against him thoroughly. It was probably for the best in the end. He needed to have all shadow of doubt lifted before he was going to be able to manage his division effectively, but in Gin's opinion it was a pretty stupid waste of time and resources. He really wished people would just learn to listen to him.
"Good," Rangiku said, managing a faint smile.
Gin agreed, but not because he cared particularly about Hisagi and Nanao; he was glad to see the General still trusted Kyoraku enough to let him take Hisagi out of jail. He had worried their disagreement about Hisagi's guilt might be enough to damage that trust, and when Yamamoto no longer trusted Kyoraku the Gotei really would be in trouble.
Rangiku looked down the hall toward the boys' room where the light shown through the shoji door. "How is Shiro-chan taking it?" she asked.
"I've been doing my best to distract him, but he didn't seem to appreciate it. On the way home he threatened me with Hyorinmaru," Gin told her.
Rangiku smiled faintly. "I'll go talk to him."