Chapter 2.
"Matsumoto, what the hell did you ask Hinamori to do!" demanded Hitsugaya, icily.
"Why, nothing," Rangiku batted her eyes innocently.
"Yeah, right! Why else would Hinamori expose nearly half her –chest- to those perverts?"
"By the way, Unohana- taichou isn't very happy about all the injury you caused," Rangiku tried to change the subject. "The entire fourth division had to stay up all night because of that."
"Well, it was their fault to mess with Hinamori," snapped Hitsugaya "I wanted to freeze them to death or at least let them undergo extreme torture but I guess Hinamori wouldn't like that."
"My, dear little taichou is finally learned to care for other people's feelings!" exclaimed Rangiku, dramatically "Now I can expect hell to have froze over."
Hitsugaya glared his famous You-Better-Shut-Up-Now-Or-I'll-Turn-You-Into-Ice And-Leave-You-To-Slowly-Melt-In-A-Deserted-Island-With-A-Tribe-Of-Maniacal-Cannibals.
Having received the very same glare about nine times a day, Rangiku was almost immune to it. Hitsugaya's glare which was known throughout the entire Gotei-13 as the Death Rattle was Rangiku's wake up call every time she fell asleep in the office.
Hinamori was still horrified about what she had done. She had no idea why Rangiku asked her to open the front of her robes half way in the first place. Being the innocent, naïve girl she was, she assumed that the reason was to let her breathe more easily or something.
"Oh no, Hitsugaya-kun's probably disgusted with me," sighed Hinamori, depressed "What am I going to do?" Then, she brightened, "I know! I'll ask Rangiku for advice! She's really experienced in these things."
Hinamori had obviously forgotten who had gotten her into this mess in the first place.
Rangiku was overjoyed. She was given another chance to torture-no- help her taichou. She was going to make sure she doesn't mess things up this time though or a certain white haired shorty will be after her blood, not to mention he was already sore with her.
"Fear not, Hinamori-chan. I will help you win his heart," declared Rangiku.
"Why does this sound familiar somehow?" thought Hinamori, nervously.
Hitsugaya was having a terrible day. Unohana was being exceedingly cold towards him and the one quarter of the male population of shinigamis that weren't in the fourth division ward were snickering at him for being "overprotective".
The tenth division captain's mood was not improved when he saw the cause of all his problems, namely Rangiku, bounced (literally) towards him happily.
"Good afternoooooon, taichou!" sang Rangiku "How was your day?"
Hitsugaya scowled. Oh course she knew how his day had been. She was right beside him when Unohana gave him a cutting lecture about "irresponsible captains" and "being inconsiderate".
Rangiku's timing was excellent. She was there when Renji, Kira and Hisagi guffawed at him, she was there when Hinamori blushed at walked the opposite direction when she saw him, she was there when Yachiru inquired if males drooled over her chest would he kill them for her and lastly she was there when Zaraki stormed up to him and chased him around The Court Of Pure Souls for causing so much trouble for Unohana.
"Oh, it's been quite unpleasant, thanks to somebody," Hitsugaya gave his specially- reserved-glare-for-his-dumb-vice captain to Rangiku. Even Rangiku wavered under that glare.
"Ohohohoho," Rangiku laughed, nervously "Well, see you around taichou. By the way, do you like hot springs?"
"Why do you want to know?" inquired Hitsugaya, suspiciously.
"It so happens I have a free coupon for the hot springs and I don't have time to go," explained Rangiku, hurriedly "Do you want to go?"
Hitsugaya could see no harm in hot springs, though with Rangiku you'd never know. "Fine, I'll go," he agreed, grudgingly.
"Yay!" cheered Rangiku "I promise you won't regret your decision."
"I'd better not," muttered Hitsugaya, under his breathe. Rangiku heard him and quickly changed the subject, "You must be at the hot springs at midnight tonight until 2 a.m."
"Why?" Hitsugaya demanded but Rangiku was already speeding away, glad that she was still alive.
Hinamori sighed comfortably as she soaked into the warm water. Rangiku had kindly given her free pass to the hot springs! The only catch was that Hinamori had to be there at midnight or the pass won't work. "Mmm..this is so relaxing," mumbled Hinamori, sleepily before slowly closing her eyes.
"I knew I shouldn't have agreed to this," thought Hitsugaya, grumpily for the eightieth time. "Why did I agree to come to the hot springs of all places and at midnight of all times and today of all days."
"Hmm, somebody's here," thought Hitsugaya in surprise. He didn't expect anyone else to be here at there at this hour. Hitsugaya shrugged and dipped into the warm water. He sat as far as he could from the stranger. He didn't like socializing.
However, Hitsugaya was curious at which unfortunate soul got trapped into a hot bath at midnight like him. So, slowly, Hitsugaya approached the unknown figure.
As he went nearer and nearer, Hitsugaya could tell that the person had dark brown hair. The steam around him prevented him from seeing anything else. Soon, the white haired captain was sitting beside the stranger.
To his surprise, the person didn't back away but leaned against his shoulder. Then he realized the person was fast asleep. Annoyed, Hitsugaya tried to shove the shameless person off his shoulder. His hands pushed against something soft and- round?
Horrified, Hitsugaya realized the person was a female! Before he could react, the female woke up with a start and screamed, noticing someone pressing her –chest.
Hinamori had woken up with a start. Her eyes widened in horror when she realized someone was groping her. "KYYAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
The poor boy was even more horrified when he realized that the female was Hinamori! Thank goodness for the steam though, Hinamori couldn't see who was touching her. Swiftly, Hitsugaya withdrew his hands and disappeared quietly.
Hinamori had finally calmed down to realize that the pervert was gone. She sighed in relief and left the hot springs as fast as she could. Who knows, there might be more perverts in there.
Hovering above the hot springs was a tall, shady tree. Lurking behind leaves was a very hysterically laughing Rangiku clutching a pair of binoculars.
The next day, Hitsugaya walked moodily towards his office. On the way, he saw a group of shinigamis discussing something solemnly. Usually, Hitsugaya would ignore them and walk on but he spotted Hinamori sobbing in the group along with Rangiku, Kira, Renji, Hisagi and even Rukia. Sighing, he stomped towards them and coldly inquired what in the world was going on.
"Hinamori got molested by some sick pervert in the hot springs," growled Renji, angrily.
"Um, really?" Hitsugaya sweat dropped.
"It's true, Shirou-sama!" sniffed Hinamori "It was terrible. I fell asleep, I think and suddenly –sniff- he-he-he touched me!"
"Taking advantage of a sleeping girl. That's unforgivable!" exclaimed Rukia while the others snickered. Shirou-sama!
"Did you-ah- see who it was?" asked Hitsugaya, cautiously.
N-no," sobbed Hinamori "I did sense his spiritual power was familiar as though I met him before."
Hitsugaya hastily blocked his spiritual power from flowing out. He was incredibly enraged with Rangiku who was giving smug looks. He knew she had something to do with all this. After all, he wouldn't have gone to the blasted hot springs in the first place if it weren't for her.
"I'm very sorry to interrupt but Rangiku and I have a lot of work to do in the tenth division," stated Hitsugaya. "Please excuse us." Hinamori gave him a hurt look. Usually he was really concerned about her and will kill anyone who so much as shoves her. Now, she was molested and he didn't even look interested. "He's still mad at me over the robe thing,' Hinamori thought, sadly.
"Matsumoto, explain," Hitsugaya told his nervous vice captain coldly.
"I also gave Hinamori a coupon too," explained Rangiku, hastily "I had two."
"And why did you give me the other coupon?" asked Hitsugaya. The room temperature was getting lower and lower.
"You seem so stressed up so I wanted to give you a chance to relax," replied Rangiku, fidgeting.
"I'm touched," said Hitsugaya, sarcastically.
"Hey, you groped her," muttered Rangiku "I didn't have anything to do with that."
"Oh?" Hitsugaya stated, his eyes brows twitching "Did you have any hidden intentions when you shoved Hinamori and I into the same hot springs at the same time?"
Rangiku flinched as she stared down into her captain's icy green eyes. "N-no," she managed to stutter. "Maybe it's just coincidence that you two –met- there."
Hitsugaya scoffed. There was no "coincidence" where Rangiku was concerned.
"Hey, I can tell everyone who's the "pervert" at the hot springs you know," threatened Rangiku, regaining a little courage.
The captain glared coldly at her and whipped up a book from his robes. It looked awfully familiar to Rangiku, "My diary!' she screamed.
Hitsugaya did something he never done before, he grinned evilly as he read the pages aloud, "Dear diary, Ichimaru Gin is so hot! Gyah! I get shivers just from looking at him. Oooh! The way he talks is just so sexy, don't you think? And-"
"OKAY! I GET YOUR MESSAGE!" shrieked Rangiku, blushing furiously.
"Just another dose, to make sure," smirked Hitsugaya and he read another entry, "Dear Diary, something terrible happened today! I gained weight! NO! Maybe now Ichimaru Gin will think I'm an ugly fat old hag! I must go on a diet. I've decided to call Ichimaru Gin Ichi-kun! Oh-"
I SWEAR NO ONE WILL FIND OUT YOU, HAPPY!" screeched Rangiku. "AMD GIVE ME MY DIARY BACK! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT NO READ IT! YOU'RE SHAMELESS, TAICHOU!"
"I fight dirty with people who fight dirty," replied Hitsugaya, smugly as he pocketed the diary.