Chapter 7

I would like to thank everybody who reviewed! It was really nice of you guys Well, here's chapter 7. Enjoy!

There was only one place where Rangiku could take refuge from her captain's wrath. And that place was the fourth division. Although Hitsugaya vehemently denied it, he wouldn't have dared to venture more than a meter within the fourth division grounds.

Unohana and the shinigamis in the fourth division had to camp outside because the number of patients had increased drastically since Hitsugaya practically murdered another two hundred males since the stripping show incident. So, the members of the fourth division had their own rooms converted into temporary wads. Needless to say, Unohana wasn't exactly overly fond of the tenth division captain now.

Rangiku had earned Unohana's forgiveness by working as a part time nurse at the fourth division. It wasn't on Rangiku's favorite job list but she'd rather spend her days cleaning up puke and bandaging perverted male patients who couldn't keep their eyes off her chest than to face her captain.

Hitsugaya felt irritated. He wanted to murder his vice captain but how could he when she was smugly hiding safely in the fourth division which was off limits to him unless he wanted a certain spot to be kicked again.

"This is like some chess game when all the odds are against you," Hitsugaya thought, moodily. Suddenly, the white haired captain grinned in a way that would have sent most people hiding under their beds. After all, he wasn't called a chess master for nothing.

"This is a matter of baiting the king to come out from the safety of the queen and the other pieces," he smirked to himself "And I know just to bait to use: A knight; literally a knight in shining amour.

"Matsumoto-fukutaichou, there is letter for you," a fourth division shinigami said, handing Rangiku an envelope. Curious, Rangiku tore open the envelope and read the letter.

Dear Rangku,

Where've ya been? I've missed ya sooo much. Somebody told me ya'd be in the fourth division. Can you come back to yer room tonight? I'll be waitin' fer ya.

Gin.

Rangiku clutched her chest in amazement. "Ichi-kun had finally begun to take notice of me!" she squealed, happily. "I must put on some make up. Oooh! I must look my very best for tonight! I wonder what his favorite bra color is. Kyah! I'm so excited!"

The poor shinigami who delivered the letter was still standing there, sweat dropping furiously.

That night, a figure with long hair with an impressive bust could be seen skulking back to the tenth division. She was wearing nothing but a revealing yukata that she opened slightly to show off half her chest.

"Hmm….I'm a little early but I can wait," Rangiku thought; as she slid open the door.

Suddenly she gasped in horror. Appearing from the dark shadows was a short figure with white hair.

"Check mate," smirked Hitsugaya as he locked the door.

The next day, Unohana wondered vaguely where Rangiku was. She wasn't in her tent.

That very moment, Rangiku was sobbing over a mountain of paperwork taller than herself. She had to complete all of it before evening or somehow everybody was going to find out about the contents of her diary.

"Taichou, you're so going to die after a finish this," she muttered as she wrote furiously.

Hitsugaya was lazily relaxing on his roof. He had very little work today thanks to his vice captain who had so kindly offered to do an entire month's worth of paperwork. Hitsugaya had given her a choice of punishment: a month's worth of paperwork or a surprise punishment. Of course, Rangiku chose the paperwork this time after her first experience with surprise punishments.

"Too bad though, the surprise punishment was that she would be banned from the tenth division for a week," Hitsugaya grinned.

Hinamori was almost killing herself with shame and embarrassment. She hid in her room and refused to come out. "Hitsugaya-kun was so ashamed of me," she thought, tearfully "He was so disgusted with me that his nose bled!"

"Oi, Hinamori. Open the door," Hinamori heard a very familiar voice order.

"S-Shirou-chan!" Hinamori gasped. Outside, Hitsugaya sighed. Ever since Hinamori woke up from her coma, she had quit calling him by his front name. He dismissed though, as he thought maybe she felt more comfortable with that hated pet name.

"Yeah, yeah. It's me. Now open the damn door,"

"H-hai!" squeaked Hinamori as she slide open the door.

Hitsugaya surveyed Hinamori critically. "What's wrong with you? I heard that you refused to come out from your room,"

Hinamori flushed furiously. She thought frantically about something to change the subject.

"Ano, Shirou-chan. How's your nose bleed?" she asked, desperately.

"Erm….fine thanks," muttered Hitsugaya, blushing slightly.

"And -err- why did your nose bleed in the first place?" asked Hinamori, hoping fervently that the reason wasn't because that he was disgusted with her.

Hitsugaya paled. How on earth was he going to tell his sensitive, shy, sweet friend that he was nose bleeding over her body!

"Ah……erm…..it was –err-," muttered Hitsugaya, nervously.

Hinamori sensed his discomfort and began to jump into conclusion.

"So it's true. He's disgusted with me," she thought sadly. Suddenly tears poured down her cheeks.

Hitsugaya saw and panicked. "She knows! She knows why my nose bled! That's why she's crying. She's probably disgusted with me. That's it! She's crying in disgust!"

"Ne, Hinamori. Don't cry," Hitsugaya said, desperately. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. Honest."

Hinamori glanced at her friend with tear filled eyes. "W-what do you mean?"

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to nose bleed over-" Hitsugaya halted suddenly. Wait a minute! She didn't know what I meant?

"Hinamori, do you know why I was nose bleeding?" he asked gently, yet he was praying fervently that she didn't.

Hinamori sobbed louder. "Y-you're mad at me, aren't you? You're ashamed of me!"

"What?" asked Hitsugaya, blankly. He felt both baffled and deeply relieved.

"The-the striping thing to help those men," sobbed Hinamori.

Hitsugaya sighed. Half in relief, and half in exasperation. "I'm not mad at you," he told her "I know you were just trying to do the right thing. But next time don't be so gullible, okay?"

"Y-you're not angry with me?" asked Hinamori, hopefully.

"No, I'm not angry," replied Hitsugaya, impatiently.

Hinamori smiled in relief. All her tears were forgotten. Suddenly she jumped at the shocked white haired boy and hugged him.

"Oi! Let go off me!" yelled Hitsugaya, blushing furiously.

Hinamori giggled and let him go. Hitsugaya felt both relived and regretful when she did.

"So, what was the reason that your nose bled?" asked Hinamori, curiously. Hitsugaya flushed furiously. Here we go again.

Rangiku had just finished her work. Hers arms were breaking. She was grinning though. The reason? She had an excellent idea for her captain's revenge.

"Oi, Hinamori. Wait up!" called Rangiku, breathlessly as she ran to catch up with her friend.

"Rangiku-san! What's wrong?"

"I just got a brilliant idea for our next plan!" exclaimed Rangiku, excitedly.

"Eh? Demo, Hitsugaya-kun told me that I shouldn't listen to your advice anymore," replied Hinamori, nervously. She didn't want to hurt Rangiku's feelings.

"Damn you, taichou!" thought Rangiku, heatedly. She forced a smile, "Hinamori, my advice on asking taichou if he was mad at you about the hot springs incident worked didn't it?"

"W-well, that's true. But-"

"And you know, I bet he was really touched at your attempts to save those poor men," said Rangiku, solemnly.

"Y-you think?"

"He said he wasn't mad at you about your quest to help those men, right?"

"H-he said he wasn't-"

"There you are! He just killed those men because he was worried about you!" concluded Rangiku.

"But-but-"

"So my advice showed you just how much taichou cares about you!" Exclaimed Rangiku, triumphantly. "I planned all of it, my dear Hinamori, and it worked perfectly."

Hinamori gave up. She just couldn't beat Rangiku when it came to reasoning. "What's your next advice, Rangiku-san?"

Hitsugaya felt oddly uncomfortable. He couldn't put his finger on it though. Hinamori seemed fine enough. Rangiku was sulky but returned to the tenth division to resume her work and everything seemed to proceed normally. He just didn't know what was wrong.

"Taichou!" Hitsugaya snapped out of his reverie.

"Yes?" he growled. It was his vice captain; his suspiciously grinning vice captain.

"I was wondering if you could follow Hinamori and I to Ichigo's place," said Rangiku, innocently "Ichigo gave me permission and his father and sisters are on a vacation."

"Why?" demanded Hitsugaya, suspiciously

"No reason. Hinamori and I are just curious about how humans live," explained Rangiku, innocently "Rukia said that they consume drinks through something called a 'juice box'"

"Do you have any hidden intentions?" interrogated Hitsugaya.

"Why, taichou. I don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about," exclaimed Rangiku, her eyes wide with shock.

"Wouldn't bet on it," muttered Hitsugaya.

Ichigo felt uneasy. "You all better not destroy my house," he told the group that was getting ready for their field trip to his house.

Hitsugaya scowled, "We'd be careful. Not that your house is any worth destroying anyway."

"NANI!" roared Ichigo "Now just wait a minute you bratty shrimp-"

"I am not a shrimp you old geezer!" Hitsugaya glared at Ichigo.

"What? I'm not old! You're 150 years old for crying out loud!"

Rangiku and Hinamori sweat dropped nervously by the side. "A-ano, would you two please stop shout-" began Rangiku, courageously.

"Shut up!" yelled Ichigo and Hitsugaya in unison.

Hinamori smiled slightly. It was very rare to see Hitsugaya arguing. Usually he'd just make a cutting remark that would make any shinigami of lieutenant level and below burst into tears (except for Hinamori and Rangiku. They had grown immune to it)

However, Ichigo had the unique talent to make Hitsugaya loose his temper without hurting Hinamori, which was as easy as sparring with Zaraki Kenpachi without a zanpakuto.